The taxonomic status of Corethromyces bicolor from New Zealand, as inferred from morphological, developmental, and molecular studies

Abstract

Due to the absence of antheridial characters in collected material the precise placement of Corethromyces bicolor has remained troublesome up until now. Recent re-examination of receptacular and appendage characters present in the holotype led to its transfer to the genus Mimeomyces. Fresh collections of this fungus have provided the opportunity to re-assess its taxonomic position. Based on a combination of morphological and molecular characters, this species is re-instated within the genus Corethromyces.

• Corethromyces
• Laboulbeniales
• Mimeomyces
• Sphaleromyces
• taxonomy

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding for this research provided by the National Science Foundation Biotic Surveys and Inventories Program (Award #DEB 9972083 to A Weir, CE Carlton, and RAB Leschen) and Systematics Program (Award #DEB 9615520 to Meredith Blackwell). Permits to enable collecting in New Zealand were facilitated by Chris Green (Department of Conservation, Auckland, New Zealand) to whom we are also grateful. Chris Carlton (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Rich Leschen, Elena Hilario, Grace Hall, and Robert Hoare (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand) freely made available their collections of New Zealand beetles and provided much needed logistical support. We are also indebted to Dr. Rich Leschen for identification of the hosts, to Dr. FA Rainey (Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University) for assistance with DNA sequencing, to Dr. DH Pfister for loan of Thaxter slides from the Farlow Herbarium, Harvard University, to Dr. BM Spooner for loan of Thaxter slides from the Mycology Collections, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to Dr. P Perkins for the loan of Thaxter host insects from the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, to Dr. S Anagnost (Faculty of Wood Products Engineering, SUNY-ESF) for production of scanning electron micrographs, and to Dr. RK Benjamin (Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont, CA) for helpful comments on an earlier draft.