1
|
Haelewaters D, Stallman JK, Henkel TW, Aime MC. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and micromorphology reveal placement of the enigmatic tropical discomycete Polydiscidium in Sclerococcum (Sclerococcales, Eurotiomycetes). Mycologia 2022; 114:626-641. [PMID: 35605135 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2022.2048625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Polydiscidium is an enigmatic, monotypic, and rarely reported genus of Ascomycota of uncertain placement. The morphologically unique Polydiscidium martynii grows on dead wood and forms compound ascomata composed of thick, black, gelatinous somatic tissue that branches out from a common base. Multiple apothecia are located on the branches, mostly toward the tips, and are composed of 8-spored asci and paraphyses embedded in a gelatinous matrix that turns blue in Melzer's reagent. The species was previously known from only three collections from Guyana (holotype), Trinidad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and no sequences exist. Due to its peculiar morphology, taxonomic affinities of Polydiscidium have been debated, with different authors having placed it in Helotiaceae, Leotiaceae, or Leotiomycetes incertae sedis. Recent collections of this species resulting from long-term field work in Guyana and Cameroon led us to revisit the morphology and phylogenetic position of this fungus. Newly generated sequences of P. martynii were added to an Ascomycota-wide six-locus data set. The resulting phylogeny showed Polydiscidium to be a member of order Sclerococcales (Eurotiomycetes). Next, a four-locus (18S, ITS, 28S, mtSSU) phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that Polydiscidium is congeneric with Sclerococcum. A new combination is proposed for this species, Sclerococcum martynii. Micromorphological features, including the gelatinous hymenium composed of asci with amyloid gel cap and septate brown ascospores, are in agreement with Sclerococcum. New combinations are proposed for two additional species: Sclerococcum chiangraiensis and S. fusiformis. Finally, Dactylosporales is considered a later synonym of Sclerococcales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danny Haelewaters
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Research Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jeffery K Stallman
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
| | - Terry W Henkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521
| | - M Catherine Aime
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cazabonne J, Bartrop L, Dierickx G, Gafforov Y, Hofmann TA, Martin TE, Piepenbring M, Rivas-Ferreiro M, Haelewaters D. Molecular-Based Diversity Studies and Field Surveys Are Not Mutually Exclusive: On the Importance of Integrated Methodologies in Mycological Research. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2022; 3:860777. [PMID: 37746218 PMCID: PMC10512293 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2022.860777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and describing the diversity of living organisms is a great challenge. Fungi have for a long time been, and unfortunately still are, underestimated when it comes to taxonomic research. The foundations were laid by the first mycologists through field observations. These important fundamental works have been and remain vital reference works. Nevertheless, a non-negligible part of the studied funga escaped their attention. Thanks to modern developments in molecular techniques, the study of fungal diversity has been revolutionized in terms of tools and knowledge. Despite a number of disadvantages inherent to these techniques, traditional field-based inventory work has been increasingly superseded and neglected. This perspective aims to demonstrate the central importance of field-based research in fungal diversity studies, and encourages researchers not to be blinded by the sole use of molecular methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Cazabonne
- Groupe de Recherche en Écologie de la MRC Abitibi (GREMA), Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Amos, QC, Canada
| | | | - Glen Dierickx
- Research Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yusufjon Gafforov
- Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Institute (SBiK-F), Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tina A. Hofmann
- Centro de Investigaciones Micológicas (CIMi), Herbario UCH, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panama
| | - Thomas E. Martin
- Operation Wallacea Ltd, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, United Kingdom
| | - Meike Piepenbring
- Mycology Working Group, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Mauro Rivas-Ferreiro
- Population Genetics and Cytogenetics Group, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Danny Haelewaters
- Research Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Centro de Investigaciones Micológicas (CIMi), Herbario UCH, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panama
- Operation Wallacea Ltd, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceské Budějovice, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cao B, Haelewaters D, Schoutteten N, Begerow D, Boekhout T, Giachini AJ, Gorjón SP, Gunde-Cimerman N, Hyde KD, Kemler M, Li GJ, Liu DM, Liu XZ, Nuytinck J, Papp V, Savchenko A, Savchenko K, Tedersoo L, Theelen B, Thines M, Tomšovský M, Toome-Heller M, Urón JP, Verbeken A, Vizzini A, Yurkov AM, Zamora JC, Zhao RL. Delimiting species in Basidiomycota: a review. FUNGAL DIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-021-00479-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
4
|
Haelewaters D, Albert M. Introduction to a Special Issue—Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: Overview of Recent Research. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2021. [DOI: 10.1656/045.025.s913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|