Two novel species belonging to Psathyrella sections Atomatae and Hydrophilae (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) from Yunnan Province, China, based on morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses

Abstract

This study describes two collections of saprobic gilled mushrooms morphologically identified as Psathyrella and collected in Qujing, Yunnan Province, China. Based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of nrITS, nrLSU, and tef - 1 α sequences, two collections were confirmed to belong to the Psathyrella sections Atomatae and Hydrophilae. Morphologically, Psathyrella qujinguniversitatica (Psathyrella sect.

Atomatae) is characterized by small basidiomata, a beige to light brown pileus, large basidiospores, and partially thick-walled cheilocystidia, while P. yunnanensis (Psathyrella sect. Hydrophilae) is characterized by a pileus that gradually changes from orange-brown to lighter towards the margin, with the edge light brown to brown, distinct striations, a fibrillose veil, larger basidia, and partially thick-walled cheilocystidia.

Descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analyses of the two new species are provided. In addition, the present study updates the number of Psathyrella species reported from China to 55, along with their known distribution.