Taxonomic study of Asian species of Echinochaete (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycota) and description of E-maximipora sp nov.

We carried out a taxonomic investigation of Echinochaete species collected from Japan and Malaysia using molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological observations. Phylogenetic trees based on the LSU and ITS regions detected three main clades among the Echinochaete collections used in this study. The morphology of the type specimen of E. russiceps falls within the range of those collections in one of the detected clades, and we conclude that this name represents that clade. Echinochaete russiceps is characterized by aculeate to lanceolate setoid elements with lateral spines on the pileus surface, but was found to have variable pore size and pileus surface color. Another detected clade was represented by E. brachypora. The morphology of specimens in the residual clade is clearly distinct from other known species in Echinochaete and we describe this taxon as E. maximipora sp. nov. This species is characterized by the large, elongated pores (1)2-4 x (0.5)1-2 mm, cylindrical setoid elements with lateral spines on the pileus surface, and narrow basidiospores. We provide detailed descriptions of Echinochaete species in Asia and an identification key to all species of Echinochaete.