New data in Porotheleaceae and Cyphellaceae: epitypification of Prunulus scabripes Murrill, the status of Mycopan Redhead, Moncalvo & Vilgalys and a new combination in Pleurella Horak emend.

Abstract

Mycopan is a genus established for Hydropus scabripes by Redhead, Moncalvo & Vilgalys (in Redhead 2013). They considered the genus to be distinct based on morphology and the phylogenetic analysis by Moncalvo et al. (2002) which included a sequence of Hydropus scabripes (AF042635, DAOM 192847) unrelated to the type species of Hydropus (H. fuliginarius). Subsequent sequences of material identified as Hydropus scabripes are not conspecific with the sequence of DAOM 192847. We consider this sequence (obtained from a mycelium culture) to be misidentified. We investigated the true phylogenetic position of authentic Mycopan including genera previously included in Cyphellaceae and Porotheleaceae. Sixteen collections of M. scabripes from Europe and North America were studied on morphological and molecular basis (nrITS and nrLSU sequences). No sequences were obtained from the holotype of Mycopan scabripes, and we designate an epitype to fix the interpretation of this species and the genus Mycopan. Mycopan is maintained as a good genus nested within Cyphellaceae as sister to the mycenoid genus Atheniella. The misidentified Hydropus scabripes AF042635 (DAOM 192847) represents a different species that is closely related to the holotype (and a new Italian collection) of Hebelomina microspora and the monospecific genus Pleurella described from New Zealand. Consequently, Hebelomina microspora is transferred to the emended genus Pleurella, which is sister to Baeospora within the Cyphellaceae. Additionally, based on these phylogenetic results, an updated taxonomic arrangement of Cyphellaceae and Porotheleaceae is proposed, emphasizing once again the polyphyletic nature of Hydropus and Gerronema.