The first records of two rare polyporoid fungi Picipes submelanopus and Picipes ulleungensis in Russia

Abstract

Molecular genetic studies of the morphological genus Polyporus s. l. recently made it possible to detect the presence of several phylogenetic lineages among its representatives, to clarify the boundaries and scope of the taxon. Species with a black cuticle covering the stipe of the basidiomata have been separated in the genus Picipes. Most representatives of this genus are known from China. In Russia, out of 29 species of the genus, there are three widespread species of Picipes – P. badius, P. melanopus, P. tubaeformis, and one rare species – P. rhizophilus. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of selected nrDNA loci obtained from the herbarium materials collected by us, originally assigned to Picipes melanopus, revealed the presence of two rare, morphologically similar species, P. submelanopus and P. ulleungensis, which turned out to be new to Russia. Picipes submelanopus is characterized by a terrestrial fruiting bodies and differentiated from P. melanopus, that grows on dead wood. All specimens of fruiting bodies of Picipes submelanopus collected by us in Western Siberia were found on the roots of woody plants, as in the typе locality in China. Picipes ulleungensis differs from P. melanopus by larger fruiting bodies, slightly larger pores. In order to differentiate Picipes submelanopus and P. ulleungensis from morphologically similar species, in addition to morphological characters and ecological preferences, it is desirable to use DNA barcoding methods.