Abstract
ABSTRACT A large polyporoid mushroom from the West Usambara Mountains in North-eastern Tanzania produces dark brown, up to 60-cm large fruiting bodies that at maturity may weigh more than 10 kg. It has a high rate of mycelial growth and regeneration and was found growing on both dry and green leaves of shrubs; attached to the base of living trees, and it was also observed to degrade dead snakes and insects accidentally coming into contact with it. Phylogenetic analyses based on individual and concatenated data sets of nrLSU, nrSSU and the RPB2 and TEF1 genes showed it, together with Laetiporus, Phaeolus, Pycnoporellus and Wolfiporia, to form a monophyletic group in Polyporales. Based on morphological features and molecular data, it is described as Kusaghiporia usambarensis.
Highlights
Polyporales is an order of fungi in Basidiomycota containing more than 1800 species in 216 genera and 13 families (Kirk et al 2008)
Etymology Kusaghiporia refers to the sambaa name of the mushroom “Kusaghizi”, which means the collector or accumulator, and –poria (Lat.): with pores; usambarensis (Lat.): referring to the Usambara mountain range
We found Kusaghiporia to be nested within the “antrodia clade” in all analyses; Figure 4
Summary
Polyporales is an order of fungi in Basidiomycota containing more than 1800 species in 216 genera and 13 families (Kirk et al 2008). Justo et al (2017) recognised 37 families in Polyporales. Seven clades have been recognised in Polyporales: the “antrodia”; “core polyporoid”; “residual polyporoid”; “phlebioid”; “tyromyces”; “gelatoporia” and “fragiliporia” clades (Binder et al 2013; Zhao et al 2015). The “antrodia clade” was first identified by Hibbett and Donoghue (2001) and currently more than 26 genera are recognised in this clade (Ortiz-Santana et al 2013). Members in the “antrodia clade” are of economic importance as a source of food, and of pharmaceutical and biotechnological products. It contains species that are plant pathogens detrimental to forests and forest plantations (Dai et al 2007; Banik et al 2010). The “antodia clade” is morphologically diverse and includes species that have resupinate, stipitate or pileatebasidiomata that are either annual or perennial; the hyphal system is monomitic, dimitic or trimitic; the basidiospores are hyaline thin- to thick-walled, subglobose to cylindricaland they cause brown rots (Ryvarden and Melo 2014)
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