Luteodorsum huanglongense (Gomphaceae, Gomphales), a New Genus and Species of Gomphoid Fungus from the Loess Plateau, Northwest China

During an investigation of the macrofungal flora in the Huanglong Mountains of the Loess Plateau, northwest China, a unique gomphoid fungus was discovered and collected. After morphological identification and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new genus named Luteodorsum and its type species, L. huanglongense, were proposed. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using datasets of nuclear ribosomal DNA 28S large subunit (LSU), mitochondrial (mt) adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) subunit 6 (atp6), and mt small-subunit rDNA (mtSSU). The results confirmed that L. huanglongense forms an independent clade within Gomphales, with full maximum likelihood bootstrap support (MLBS), maximum parsimony bootstrap support (MPBS), and Bayesian posterior probability (BPP). L. huanglongense is characterized by its sandy-brown, orange-brown, or coffee-brown color; clavate to infundibuliform shape; wrinkled and ridged hymenophore; ellipsoid to obovoid warted basidiospores; cylindrical to clavate flexuous pleurocystidia; and crystal basal mycelium. Overall, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the diversity and evolution of Gomphales and provides valuable insights into the unique fungal flora found in the Huanglong Mountains.

Automated summary

During a macrofungal flora investigation in the Huanglong Mountains, northwest China, a new gomphoid fungus species named Luteodorsum huanglongense was discovered and identified through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The fungus forms an independent clade within Gomphales, as confirmed by phylogenetic analyses using different genetic markers. The study contributes to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of Gomphales and provides insights into the unique fungal flora found in the Huanglong Mountains.