(2744) Proposal to conserve Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. (Tubeufiaceae) against Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. (Hymenogastraceae)

Abstract

(2744) Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. in Fungal Diversity 92: 248. Sep 2018, nom. cons. prop. Typus: P. talbotii (Goos) Y.Z. Lu & K.D. Hyde (Helicosporium talbotii Goos). (H) Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. in Mycol. Res. 104: 739. Jun 2000, nom. rej. prop. Typus: P. albus Garnica & E. Valenz. Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu, Jian K. Liu & K.D. Hyde (in Fungal Diversity 92: 248. 2018) was established as a helicosporous fungal genus in Tubeufiaceae based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence to accommodate five species, viz. P. aquaticus, P. hyalosporus, P. indicus, P. paludosus and P. talbotii (Lu & al., l.c.: 131–344). Jayasiri & al. (in Mycosphere 10: 1–186. 2019) introduced a sixth species to this genus, Pseudohelicomyces quercus, as well as new host records for P. aquaticus and P. talbotii, based on molecular data with morphological characters. Subsequently, based on phylogenetic and morphological analyses, Li & al. (in Fungal Diversity 95: 87–94. 2019) described a new member, Pseudohelicomyces menglunicus, from an unidentified seed coat. However, following the publication of this generic name, it was discovered that there is an older homonym, Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. (in Mycol. Res. 104: 739. 2000), and this renders Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. illegitimate. Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. is a monotypic genus whose only species, P. albus, is based on the asexual morph of Psilocybe merdaria, whose currently accepted name is Deconica merdaria (Valenzuela & Garnica in Mycol. Res. 104: 738–741. 2000; Redhead & al. in Taxon 56: 255–257. 2007; Noordeloos in Österr. Z. Pilzk., N.S., 18: 197–199. 2009; Norvell in Taxon 59: 292–293. 2010). Based on “One Fungus = One Name” (Hawksworth & al. in IMA Fungus 2: 105–112. 2011; Hawksworth in IMA Fungus 3: 15–24. 2012), Pseudohelicomyces albus is a junior synonym of the currently accepted name Deconica merdaria. Therefore, Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. is a junior heterotypic synonym of Deconica under the current generic circumscriptions. Although, because of Art. F.8.1 of the ICN (Turland & al. in Regnum Veg. 159. 2018), it is not a nomenclaturally superfluous and illegitimate name (under Art. 52) and although under current classifications it is unnecessary, it would be available for use if the accepted type of Deconica, D. physaloides (Bull.) P. Karst., were to be considered as distinct generically from Deconica merdaria. However, this is unlikely to happen as Deconica is a non-hallucinogenic group, and the genus Psilocybe is universally associated with its hallucinogenic representatives, both of them are confirmed by molecular data and morphological comparison (Ramírez-Cruz & al. in Botany 91: 573–591. 2013). Deconica merdaria is a non-hallucinogenic species and it is grouped within Deconica based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence (Maruyama & al. in Forensic Sci. Int. 163: 51–58. 2006; Redhead & al., l.c.; Norvell, l.c.), justifying its classification status within the genus Deconica. Furthermore, Helicomyces Link (in Mag. Neuesten Entdeck. Gesammten Naturk. Ges. Naturf. Freunde Berlin 3: 21. 1809) is the oldest described and a well-known helicosporous hyphomycete genus. The members of Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. are morphologically similar to Helicomyces in conidial characteristics (Lu & al., l.c.; Jayasiri & al., l.c.), but Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. is not. In addition, Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. has rarely been used since it was established, while Deconica merdaria, the synonym name of its type, is currently well cited by researchers (Noordeloos, l.c.; Ma & al. in Phytotaxa 156: 211–220. 2014; Coimbra in Mycosphere 6: 441–458. 2015; Uzun & al. in Turkish J. Bot. 41: 516–534. 2017; Wu & al. in Fungal Diversity 98: 1–76. 2019). On the contrary, Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. is highly used compared to Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz., and seven species have been described within the genus Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. (Lu & al., l.c.; Jayasiri & al., l.c.; Liu & al. in Mycol. Progr. 18: 671–682. 2019; Li & al., l.c.). To avoid disadvantageous nomenclatural changes in the future, we propose that Pseudohelicomyces Y.Z. Lu & al. be conserved against Pseudohelicomyces Garnica & E. Valenz. (Hymenogastraceae) in accordance with Art. 14 of the ICN. Y-ZL, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-5782 J-KL, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9232-228X