Abstract
The genera Kernia and Acaulium comprise species commonly isolated from dung, soil, decaying meat and skin of animal. The taxonomy of these fungi has been controversial and relies mainly on morphological criteria. With the aim to clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of these fungi, we studied all the available ex-type strains of a large set of species by means of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the partial 28S rDNA (LSU) showed that the genera Kernia and Acaulium were found to be separated in two distinct lineages in Microascaceae. Based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, LSU, translation elongation factor 1α and β-tubulin genes, the species in Kernia and Acaulium were well separated and two new combinations are introduced, i.e. Acaulium peruvianum and Acaulium retardatum, a new species of Kernia is described, namely Kernia anthracina. Descriptions of the phenotypic features and molecular phylogeny for identification are discussed for accepted species in two genera in this study.
Highlights
The genera Kernia and Acaulium comprise species commonly isolated from dung, soil, decaying meat and skin of animal
Three of the most debated genera of the family, Microascus, Scopulariopsis and Pithoascus were revised by morphology and multigene p hylogeny[11, 16]
Several taxa were excluded from these genera and appeared as a new lineage within the Microascaceae as Acaulium[11]
Summary
The genera Kernia and Acaulium comprise species commonly isolated from dung, soil, decaying meat and skin of animal. The taxonomy of these fungi has been controversial and relies mainly on morphological criteria. K. hyalina is excluded from Kernia by phylogenetic analysis based on a combined LSU and ITS sequence dataset and morphological characteristics[11]. Acaulium is characterised by annellidic conidiogenesis, guttulate conidia and mycelium forming abundant hyphal fascicles and has generally been considered a synonym of Scopulariopsis but recently was re-instated as an accepted genus of Microascaceae with three species as A. acremonium (Delacr.) Sandoval-Denis, Guarro & Gené, A. albonigrescens Sopp, Skr. Vidensk.-Selsk and A. caviariforme (Malloch & Hubart) Sandoval-Denis, Guarro & Gené[16]. Species Acaulium acremonium Acaulium albonigrescens Acaulium album Acaulium caviariforme Acaulium pannemaniae Acaulium peruvianum Acaulium retardatum Cephalotrichum asperulum Cephalotrichum brevistipitatum Cephalotrichum dendrocephalum Cephalotrichum microsporum Gamsia columbina Graphium penicillioides Kernia anthracina Kernia anthracina Kernia anthracina Kernia columnaris Kernia geniculotricha Kernia hippocrepida Kernia nitida Kernia pachypleura Microascus cirrosus Microascus longirostris Microascus senegalensis Petriella musispora Petriella setifera Petriellopsis africana Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea Wardomyces anomalus Wardomyces inflatus Wardomyces pulvinatus
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