A new species in the Skeletocutis subincarnata complex (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from southwestern China

Abstract

A new polypore species, Skeletocutis pseudo-odora, was collected on fallen branches of Pinus armandii in Guizhou Province, southwestern China. It is described based on molecular data and morphological characteristics. The species belongs to the Skeletocutis subincarnata complex, and macro-morphologically resembles S. albocream and microscopically is similar to Skeletocutis odora. However, S. albocream can be readily distinguished from S. pseudo-odora by having hyphal pegs and wider basidiospores (4-5 × 1.3-1.7 μm). S. pseudo-odora differs from S. odora in having corky basidiocarps without any odour or taste when fresh, smaller pores (6-8 per mm), thick and entire dissepiments. Phylogeny inferred from the ITS dataset indicates that Skeletocutis under the current concept was not a monophyletic genus and S. pseudo-odora was distinct from other sampled species of Skeletocutis, including S. odora.