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New species of Tropicoporus (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales, Hymenochaetaceae) from India, with a key to Afro-Asian Tropicoporus species

Summary

This research discovered and described four new species of wood-decaying fungi from India. These fungi belong to a group called Tropicoporus that grows on trees and plays important roles in forest ecosystems. The study used both physical characteristics and DNA analysis to prove these were previously unknown species. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps scientists better understand and catalog Earth’s biodiversity • Provides information about fungi that may affect forest health and wood decay • Contributes to knowledge of organisms that could have potential medicinal properties • Aids in monitoring environmental changes through fungal diversity • Helps in identifying potentially harmful fungi that could affect trees or human health

Background

The Inonotus linteus complex, predominantly found in East Asia, Mesoamerica and Caribbean countries, was reclassified into Tropicoporus as a new genus based on morphological and phylogenetic data. Tropicoporus is characterized by annual to perennial, resupinate, effused-reflexed to pileate basidiome with specific microscopic features. While 48 Tropicoporus species have been recorded globally, studies on Indian hymenochaetoid fungi based on molecular data have been limited.

Objective

To describe and characterize four new species of Tropicoporus from India using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and nLSU data.

Results

Four new species were identified and named: T. cleistanthicola, T. indicus, T. pseudoindicus and T. tamilnaduensis. Each species showed distinct morphological traits while sharing some common features like pileate basidiome with mono-dimitic hyphal system, cystidioles and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses supported their classification as distinct species within the Tropicoporus genus.

Conclusion

This study represents the first molecular-based documentation of Tropicoporus species from India, adding four new species to the genus. The research provides detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses, and an identification key for Afro-Asian Tropicoporus species, contributing to our understanding of fungal diversity in the region.
  • Published in:MycoKeys,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Research,
  • Source: 10.3897/mycokeys.102.117067
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