AUTHOR=Liu Shi-Liang , Shen Zi-Qi , Li Qian-Zhu , Liu Xiang-Yang , Zhou Li-Wei 

TITLE=Alloexidiopsis gen. nov., A Revision of Generic Delimitation in Auriculariales (Basidiomycota)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.894641

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.894641

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Auriculariales</italic> is a fungal order with highly diverse morphological traits of basidiomes, which partially leads to a poor understanding of its taxonomic system at the generic level. To identify our recently collected specimens of <italic>Auriculariales</italic> to a species level, we perform a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the generic relationships in <italic>Auriculariales</italic>. In association with morphological characteristics, a new genus <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic> belonging to <italic>Auriculariaceae</italic> is erected with two new species, namely, <italic>A. australiensis</italic> and <italic>A. schistacea</italic>. Moreover, <italic>Exidiopsis calcea</italic> separated from the generic type <italic>E. effusa</italic> and <italic>Heteroradulum niveum</italic> and <italic>H. yunnanense</italic> recently inaccurately described as members of <italic>Heteroradulum</italic> are recovered in the clade of <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic>. These three species are thus transferred to this new genus. One collection of <italic>Exidiopsis grisea</italic> also falls in the clade of <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic>, whereas another collection of this species is separated far from <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic> and <italic>E. effusa</italic>. Since we have no collection to confirm the species identity of <italic>E. grisea</italic>, its generic position is uncertain. The main taxonomic morphological differences among <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic> and related corticioid genera in <italic>Auriculariales</italic> are summarized. A key to all the five accepted species of <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic> is provided. As two unnamed lineages exist in <italic>Alloexidiopsis</italic> besides the abovementioned five species, it is assumed that more new species will be revealed from this genus under its current circumscription.</p>