Three new species of Fuscoporia (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) from southern India revealed by morphological and multigene phylogenetic analyses

Abstract

Fuscoporia Murrill, a cosmopolitan genus of the Hymenochaetaceae, consists of parasitic and saprotrophic fungi characterized by resupinate to pileate, strictly dimitic hyphal systems, encrusted generative hyphae, the presence of hymenial setae, and hyaline, smooth, thin-walled basidiospores. Based on morpho-microtaxonomic examinations and phylogenetic analyses using a combined ITS, nrLSU, partial rpb 2, and tef 1-α dataset, three new species of Fuscoporia — F. indica, F. sirumalaiensis, and F. terminalianae — are described from the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India.

The newly described species form three distinct lineages within the F. torulosa complex. Fuscoporia indica is characterized by imbricate, convex, dimidiate basidiomes, a glabrous, azonate pilear surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5–4.5 × 2.5–2.9 μm). Fuscoporia sirumalaiensis has a smooth to glabrous, concentrically zonate pilear surface, a duplex context, and smaller basidiospores (3.1–3.6 × 2.1–2.6 μm).

Finally, F. terminalianae is recognized by its effused-reflexed to imbricate basidiome, widely zonate and warted pilear surface, and ellipsoidal basidiospores (3.3–4.3 × 2.8–3 μm). This study provides comprehensive descriptions, morphological illustrations, and insights into the differences among these new species and their respective allied taxa, along with the results of phylogenetic analysis.