Phlebiodontia rajchenbergii gen. et sp. nov. (Polyporales, Meruliaceae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest based on morphological and molecular evidence

Abstract

Phlebiodontia is proposed as a new genus in the Meruliaceae based on morphological and molecular data. The genus is typified by Phlebiodontia rajchenbergii, a new species proposed for Brazil, and also includes P. acanthocystis (Hawaii) and P. subochracea (Germany), which are new combinations proposed in this study. The species of Phlebiodontia are morphologically characterized by yellowish ceraceous basidiomes, with slightly warted to hydnoid hymenophore, monomitic hyphal system, clamped generative hyphae, presence of smooth thin-walled cystidia and broadly ellipsoid to allantoid basidiospores. The phylogenetic  relationships of Phlebiodontia and the related taxa in Meruliaceae were inferred from a 4-locus dataset including nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), the D1-D2 domains of 28S rDNA (28S), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1) and translation elongation factor 1- (tef1). This work presents complete descriptions, comments and discussion about morphology and distribution of Phlebiodontia species.