AUTHOR=Tohtirjap Ablat , Hou Shi-Xing , Rivoire Bernard , Gates Genevieve , Wu Fang , Dai Yu-Cheng 

TITLE=Two new species of Exidia sensu lato (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota) based on morphology and DNA sequences

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1080290

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1080290

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>In the present study, fourteen <italic>Exidia</italic>-like specimens were collected from China, France, and Australia. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), four species in <italic>Exidia sensu lato</italic>, including <italic>Exidia saccharina</italic> and <italic>Tremellochaete atlantica</italic>, and two new species, <italic>Exidia subsaccharina</italic> and <italic>Tremellochaete australiensis</italic>, were identified. The four species are described and illustrated in detail. <italic>E. saccharina</italic> and <italic>T. atlantica</italic>, two known species from China are reported for the first time. <italic>E. subsaccharina</italic> and <italic>T. australiensis</italic>, two new species from France and Australia, respectively are also described. <italic>E. subsaccharina</italic> is characterized by its reddish brown to vinaceous brown basidiomata, slightly papillate hymenial surface, and narrowly allantoid basidiospores without oil drop measuring 12.5–17.5 × 4.2–5.5 μm. It differs from the similar species, <italic>E. saccharina</italic>, by distinctly larger basidiospores (12.5–17.5 × 4.2–5.5 vs. 10–14.2 × 3.2–4.5 μm). <italic>Tremellochaete australiensis</italic> is characterized by its white to grayish blue basidiomata, obviously and densely papillate hymenial surface, and allantoid basidiospores with oil drop measuring 13.8–16.2 × 4.8–6.5 μm. It also can be distinguished from the similar species, <italic>T. atlantica</italic> and <italic>T. japonica</italic>, by its distinctly larger basidiospores (13.5–17.8 × 4–5.2 vs. 10–11.8 × 4–4.8 μm in <italic>T. atlantica</italic>; 9.4–11.8 × 3.5–4.2 μm in <italic>T. japonica</italic>).</p>