A comprehensive multigene phylogeny of Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota), with an emphasis on tropical African species

Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae) is becoming a very large and complex genus and the species definition is becoming a challenge, as for many other groups of Hymenochaetaceae. Phylloporia comprises 79 species up to date. However, this number is probably still largely underestimated.

A comprehensive, multigene phylogeny of Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota), inferred from the large subunit nuclear ribosomal region (LSU), portions of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF- 1α), and second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes is presented and discussed. The multigene phylogeny reveals several undescribed paleotropical or neotropical phylogenetic species. On this basis, complemented by both morphological and ecological data, six new species from tropical Africa are described: P. afropectinata, P. cinnamomea, P. memecyli, P. miomboensis, P. pseudoweberiana, and P. warneckeicola.

A new combination, P. microspora (basionym Inonotus microsporus), is also proposed. A synthesis of the taxonomic and ecological knowledge of Phylloporia in tropical Africa is presented, with an identification key for the African species known to date. Although the multigene phylogenetic inferences do not resolve the backbone structure within Phylloporia, it reveals two main lineages, a basal A and a core B lineage.

The basal lineage contains six species whereas the core lineage comprises most of the described species and a number of unnamed taxa. The multigene phylogenetic inferences also resolved several well-supported, multiple species lineages within the core lineage. These lineages are predominantly biogeographically structured with a dichotomy Neotropics vs Paleotropics.

They are discussed in relation to the morpho-ecological types.

Citation

Jerusalem M, Amalfi M, Yombiyeni P, Castillo G, Decock C (2025). A comprehensive multigene phylogeny of Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota), with an emphasis on tropical African species. Persoonia 54: 1–46. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2025.54.01 Received: 9 May 2023; Accepted: 7 October 2024; Effectively published online: 4 April 2025 Corresponding editor: J. Nuytinck