A multigene phylogeny of Umbellidion revealed a novel lineage in Leotiomycetes

The monotypic genus Umbellidion remains as an incertae sedis in Pezizomycotina. This saprotrophic anamorphic fungus is morphologically distinct and unique, occurring widely in Brazil on several hosts, with only one record in the Caribbean region. During the project Microfungi from Brazil: looking for new species, five strains of U. radulans were obtained from decaying leaves of Eucalyptus spp., in the Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade (FEENA), Rio Claro, SAo Paulo state, Brazil, and were studied based on their morphology and phylogeny. In this study, we conducted a multigene phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF1, and RPB2 sequences of 78 related taxa of Leotiomycetes. Phylogenetic inference showed that strains of Umbellidion form a unique, statistically supported lineage near the base of the Leotiomycetes. Accordingly, a new taxonomic order and family Umbellidiales and Umbellidiaceae were established to classify U. radulans. In addition, U. radulans is epitypified based on a new specimen collected from a Eucalyptus grandis plantation in Brazil.

Automated summary

In this study, five strains of U. radulans were obtained from decaying leaves in Brazil and were studied based on their morphology and phylogeny. The results showed that U. radulans forms a unique lineage near the base of the Leotiomycetes.