Species Diversity and Molecular Phylogeny of Cyanosporus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Cyanosporus is a cosmopolitan brown-rot fungal genus, recognizable by blue-tinted basidiocarps. Species in this genus were usually treated as belonging to the Postia caesia complex, however, recent phylogenetic analyses showed that this complex represents an independent genus. During further studies on Cyanosporus, five new species were discovered based on morphological features and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses of Cyanosporus were conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF); illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided. In addition, fifteen species previously belonging to the Postia caesia complex are transferred to Cyanosporus and proposed as new combinations.

Automated summary

Cyanosporus is a cosmopolitan brown-rot fungal genus characterized by blue-tinted basidiocarps. Recent studies have identified five new species within this genus and transferred fifteen species from another complex. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using various genetic markers to support these taxonomic changes.