Armillaria korhonenii, the sixteenth biological species ofArmillariafrom China

Abstract

ABSTRACTArmillaria korhonenii, designated as Chinese biological species Q (CBSQ) here, is described as a new species based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence as well as the results of mating tests. This species is the sixteenth biological species ofArmillariareported from China following the discovery of 15 previously known biological species. Phylogenetically,A.korhoneniiis the earliest divergent lineage of the genusArmillariaas inferred from the nucleotide sequences of the Elongation Factor 1-Alpha (EF1a). Morphologically, it is characterized by its ellipsoid to elongate basidiospores, yellowish orange to honey yellow pileus with fibrillose squamules. Mating tests indicated thatA.korhoneniiis a tetrapolar heterogeneous species and is inter-sterile with all the tested species except partial compatibility with CBSH.