Two new species of Verruconis from Hainan, China.

Min Qiao,Zefen Yu,Weiguang Tian,Jianping Xu,Rafael F Castañeda-Ruiz

doi:10.3897/mycokeys.48.32147

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Verruconis, V.hainanensis and V.pseudotricladiata, were described using combined morphological and DNA sequence data. The DNA sequences of respective strains including nuclear ribosomal DNA genes (nuSSU, ITS, nuLSU) and fragments of three protein-coding genes (ACT1, BT2, TEF1) were sequenced and compared with those from closely-related species to genera Ochroconis and Verruconis (Family Sympoventuriaceae, Order Venturiales). Morphologically, both species showed typical ampulliform conidiophores and conidiogenous cells, features not seen in other species of Verruconis. The conidia of V.hainanensis are fusiform and those of V.pseudotricladiata are Y or T shaped, similar to old members of a closely-related genus Scolecobasidium. The addition of these two new species provides a new perspective on the heterogeneity of Scolecobasidium.

Highlights

The genus Verruconis Samerp. et al was proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava
We describe the two fungi as new species and determined their phylogenetic placement based on the combined sequences of SSU, ITS, LSU, BT2, TEF1 and ACT1
O. icarus Samerp.et al with T-shaped conidia fell into a highly-supported sub-clade

Summary

Introduction

The genus Verruconis Samerp. et al was proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava Et al was proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava (W.B. Cooke) de Hoog (Samerpitak et al 2014). The thermophilic characteristic of this genus is remarkable because all three proposed species of Verruconis can grow at 35–42 °C. In addition to the difference in growth temperature, Verruconis and Ochroconis de Hoog & Arx differed in conidia colour (Samerpitak et al 2014). A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis placed the mesophilic V. panacis T. Zhang into Verruconis, a result suggesting that both genera are more heterogeneous in their morphological and growth requirements than previously thought (Zhang et al 2018)

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Conclusion