Fomitiporella crystallina sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from China

Abstract

Fomitiporella is an important genus of wood-decaying fungi. Many new species were revealed in the last five years, based on morphological characters and molecular data. During a study on the taxonomy of Fomitiporella, two specimens from China were investigated, which have morphological characteristics close to Fomitiporella. After morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses, a new species was confirmed to be a member of the Fomitiporella clade. Fomitiporella crystallina sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new species, based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. It has perennial, irregular, pileate basidiocarps, an indistinct subiculum (ultrathin to almost lacking), lack of any kind of setae, has brownish, thick-walled basidiospores and causes a white rot. A molecular study, based on the combined ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) and nrLSU (the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit) dataset, supports the new species in Fomitiporella. The differences between the new species and phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species are discussed. A key to species with pileate to effused-reflexed basidiocarps of Fomitiporella is given.