Re-examination of Psilocybe subaeruginosa and related species with comparative morphology, isozymes and mating compatibility studies

Abstract

Comparative morphology, isozyme analysis and mating compatibility approaches were used to investigate the relationships between Psilocybe subaeruginosa and three closely related taxa, P. australiana, P. eucalypta and P. tasmaniana . The four names were found to represent one species, and the use of microscopic features such as coloured pleurocystidia or neck length of cheilocystidia were shown to be inappropriate taxonomic discriminators in the separation of the four taxa. Zymograms of extracellular enzymes of laccase, peroxidase, acid phosphatase, pectinesterase and polygalacturonase were useful tools for delineation of taxa within the genus Psilocybe . The name P. subaeruginosa is retained and P. australiana, P. eucalypta and P. tasmaniana are reduced to synonyms. A lectotype is designated. Investigation of isozyme bands previously reported to be pectinlyase activities showed that they were non-enzymic in nature, and interpretation of these pectinlyase activities should be approached with caution.