The Ganoderma curtisii lineage (Basidiomycota, Polyporaceae) in the Neotropics: Ganoderma mexicurtisii sp. nov. from pine-oak forests in Mexico

Abstract

Ganoderma curtisii, a potential medicinal species due to the presence of various lucid-enic acids, was originally described from the southeastern United States. Controversy subsequently developed as it became clear that this was not a single species but a complex. In the present study, 39 collections from the G. curtisii complex, including 30 collections originating from four different states of Mexico and type specimens were analyzed from a phylogenetic, morphological, and ecological point of view. The phylogenetic relationships within the G. curtisii complex were analyzed using sequence data from ITS, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2 regions. A total of six clades were resolved within the G. curtisii complex, that corresponds to G. curtisii, G. myanmarense, G. ravenelii, G. sich-uanense, Ganoderma sp. from Costa Rica, and a clade comprising several collections previously named G. curtisii from Mexico, described here as Ganoderma mexicurtisii sp. nov. Furthermore, G. meredithiae is confirmed as a synonym of G. curtisii.