Abstract
Species of the wood-decay genus Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) are widely distributed in the tropics. Phylloporia species are, however, morphologically and ecologically diverse, which makes morphology-based species identification challenging. In this study, we re-examined species of Phylloporia reported from Benin (West Africa). Using an integrative approach combining morphology, ecology, and phylogenetic analyses, we describe Phylloporia beninensis sp. nov. and report Phylloporia littoralis for the first time outside of its type locality. Phylloporia beninensis sp. nov. is characterized by its annual and imbricate basidiomata, duplex context with a black zone separating the upper context from the lower one, dimitic hyphal system, presence of cystidioles, basidia of 9–12 × 4–5 μm, and subglobose to ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3–4.6 × 2.1–3.6 μm. Detailed descriptions with illustrations for the new species are provided. With the addition of the new species, 15 Phylloporia species are now known to occur in tropical Africa. Our discovery of a new Phylloporia species in Benin should stimulate further mycological investigations in tropical African ecosystems to discover other new polypore species. To facilitate further taxonomy studies on tropical African Phylloporia taxa, a key to the known tropical African species is provided.
Highlights
Species of the wood-decay genus Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) are widely distributed in the tropics
Phylogenetic analyses inferred from the large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-LSU datasets, coupled with macro- and microscopic examinations and ecological analyses, support the recognition of P. beninensis as a new species
Phylloporia beninensis is morphologically distinguished from other Phylloporia species by its annual, sessile, pileate, and imbricate basidiomata, two-layered context with the layers separated by a black line, dimitic hyphal system, and presence of cystidioles that vary in size and shape
Summary
Species of the wood-decay genus Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) are widely distributed in the tropics. We re-examined species of Phylloporia reported from Benin (West Africa). With the addition of the new species, 15 Phylloporia species are known to occur in tropical Africa. Based on phylogenetic analysis inferred from nuc 28S rDNA sequences as well as morphological and anatomical features, Wagner and Ryvarden[7] demonstrated that Phylloporia is monophyletic, with Fulvifomes Murrill as a Scientific Reports | (2021) 11:8879. The current morphological concept for Phylloporia species includes annual to perennial basidiomata with resupinate, pileate-sessile, or pileate-stipitate habits, homogenous to two-layered context, monomitic to dimitic hyphal system, presence or absence of cystidioles, and subglobose to ellipsoid b asidiospores[8, 10, 13, 14]. Douanla-Meli et al.[21] described a new species from Cameroon as P. resupinata Douanla-Meli and Ryvarden, but subsequent molecular phylogenetic analysis placed P. resupinata within the hymenochaetoid Fomitiporella clade and the species was transferred to that g enus[22]
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