Species of the common discomycete genus Bisporella reassigned to at least four genera

Bisporella as typically conceived is a genus of noticeable, bright yellow inoperculate discomycetes. This interpretation of the genus, however, is at odds with Bisporella pallescens, the current name of the type species of the genus; furthermore, the genus has been interpreted as including the unusual species Bisporella resinicola. By comparing morphological and molecular traits of species traditionally included in Bisporella, we show that the genus is polyphyletic, with many typical members of the genus belonging instead in Calycina in Pezizellaceae. Bisporella pallescens is conclusively linked with its asexual morph, Bispora antennata, and the genus Bisporella is abandoned as a later synonym of the monotypic genus Bispora (previously applied only to asexual fungi) and placed as sister to Hymenoscyphus in Helotiaceae. Bisporella resinicola is shown to represent an independent monotypic genus, Eustilbum, which so far is placed incertae sedis in Helotiales. Finally, Bisporella subpallida, like Bispora, belongs to Helotiaceae but is instead related to Phaeohelotium epiphyllum.

Automated summary

By comparing morphological and molecular traits of species traditionally included in Bisporella, the researchers found that the genus is polyphyletic, with many typical members of the genus actually belonging to Calycina in Pezizellaceae. The type species of the genus, Bisporella pallescens, is conclusively linked with its asexual morph, Bispora antennata, and the genus Bisporella is abandoned as a later synonym of the monotypic genus Bispora and placed as sister to Hymenoscyphus in Helotiaceae. Bisporella resinicola represents an independent monotypic genus, Eustilbum, placed incertae sedis in Helotiales. Lastly, Bisporella subpallida is related to Phaeohelotium epiphyllum within Helotiaceae.