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Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Thelonectria discophora (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) species complex

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Abstract

Specimens regarded as Thelonectria discophora (Thelonectria, Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) constitute a conspicuous group of saprobic fungi on decaying plant material, characterized by red perithecia each with a broad mammiform (nipple-like) apex. The asexual state is characterized by a cylindrocarpon-like morphology, with 3–5 septate macroconidia, unicellular microconidia and chlamydospores that are rarely produced in culture. In the past, T. discophora was regarded as one species with a wide geographic distribution. However, a recent study rejected the monophyly and cosmopolitan distribution of this species, and showed the existence of at least 16 cryptic species distributed in three main groups. By combining the results of phylogenetic analyses of six nuclear loci and morphological studies, we revised the taxonomy of the T. discophora species complex, resulting in the description of 12 new species and four new combinations based on historic names. Even though molecular phylogenetic analyses strongly support the segregation of these species, and are in agreement with previous studies, individual diagnostic morphological characters for each species could not be identified. However, discrete morphological traits corresponding to each of the three main groups of species were discovered. Lineages could be differentiated based on the average values of morphological traits as well as the presence/absence of characteristic asexual propagules and colony growth at 30C. Descriptions, illustrations are provided for the recognized species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from United States National Science Foundation (PEET program) DEB-0925696: “Monographic Studies in the Nectriaceae, Hypocreales: Nectria, Cosmospora, and Neonectria” to University of Maryland (P. Chaverri, G.J. Samuels & A.Y. Rossman). Special thanks to Christian Feuillet for helping with Latin names. We are indebted to the Genetic Resources Collection at CABI UK for providing various cultures, Dr. Carlos Mendez (University of Costa Rica) for providing transportation during collecting trips in Costa Rica, Dr. Andrea Romero for her invaluable help during fieldwork in Argentina, Dr. Teresa Iturriaga for collaborating and organizing the collecting trip in Venezuela, Dr. Margaret Dick for providing specimens from New Zealand, Andres de Errasti for providing the specimen and culture from Chile, and Dr. Guu for providing specimens and cultures from Taiwan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, 2112 Plant Sciences Building, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Catalina Salgado-Salazar & Priscila Chaverri

  2. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Amy Y. Rossman & Gary J. Samuels

  3. Biodiversity (Mycology), Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, Canada

    Yuuri Hirooka

  4. Centro de Recursos Renovables de la Zona Semiarida - Cerzos Conicet, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Camino La Carrindanga Km7, B8000FWB, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Romina M. Sanchez

  5. Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Apartado, 11501-2060, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica

    Priscila Chaverri

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  1. Catalina Salgado-Salazar
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  2. Amy Y. Rossman
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  4. Yuuri Hirooka
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  6. Priscila Chaverri
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Correspondence to Catalina Salgado-Salazar.

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Online Resource 2

Majority rule Bayesian phylogram showing relationships among isolates of T. discophora-like and T. beijingensis and T. yunnanica species based on the concatenated analysis of ITS and tub loci. Thick branches indicate Bayesian posterior probabilities >0.95 and ML bootstrap >70 %. No thick branches indicate branch was not recovered/supported. (JPEG 63 kb)

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Online Resource 3

Average colony growth of T. discophora species complex under different temperatures. Bar indicates 95 % confidence interval. (JPEG 874 kb)

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Salgado-Salazar, C., Rossman, A.Y., Samuels, G.J. et al. Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Thelonectria discophora (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) species complex. Fungal Diversity 70, 1–29 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-014-0280-y

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