Molecular systematics and taxonomy reveal three new taxa in Phanerochaete (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales) from the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau, East Asia

Phanerochaete is an important genus of wood-inhabiting fungi that can decompose rotten wood in forest ecosystems. In this study, we describe three new species of Phanerochaete viz. P. daliensis, P. subtropica, and P. subtuberculata from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China. A combination of morphological features and phylogenetic analyses were used to describe these species. Firstly, P. daliensis possesses a cracking basidioma, grandinioid hymenophore with white hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system with simple septate generative hyphae, and ellipsoid to elongate to cylindrical basidiospores. In comparison, P. subtropica possesses a smooth basidioma with rhizomorphic sterile margins, monomitic hyphal system with subhymenial hyphae densely covered by crystals, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Finally, P. subtuberculata is characterized by a tuberculate basidioma with slightly olivaceous to pale brown hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, clavate cystidia with a tapering apex, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of the ITS and LSU rDNA markers of 12 genera related to the genus Phanerochaete within the family Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales) were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three new species belong to the genus Phanerochaete. Further, the phylogram inferred from the ITS dataset revealed that P. subtuberculata is a sister group to P. crystallina and that P. subtropica grouped with P. daliensis.

Automated summary

This study describes three new species of the wood-inhabiting fungal genus Phanerochaete from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China, namely P. daliensis, P. subtropica, and P. subtuberculata. The identification of these species was based on morphological features and phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the relationship between these new species and other genera within the family Phanerochaetaceae.