Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Veloporphyrellus

Abstract

Veloporphyrellus is a genus known from North and Central America, southeastern Asia, and Africa. Because species of this genus are phenotypically similar to some taxa in several genera, such as Boletellus, Leccinum, Strobilomyces, Suillus and Tylopilus s.l. belonging to Boletales, its phylogenetic disposition has never been addressed. We analyzed four DNA regions, the nuclear ribosomal LSU and tef-1α, and the mitochondrial mtSSU and atp6 genes, to investigate the phylogenetic disposition of Veloporphyrellus. Although the monophyly of the genus and its systematic placement within the Boletaceae was well supported, its relationship to other genera was not resolved. Morphologically Veloporphyrellus is distinguished from other boletoid genera by the combination of the pinkish or grayish pink hymenophore, the membranous veil hanging on the pilea margin, the trichoderm-like pileus covering and the smooth basidiospores. Five species, including two new species and two new combinations, are described and illustrated. A key to the species of Veloporphyrellus also is provided.

• Boletaceae
• mycorrhiza
• new taxa
• phylogeny
• taxonomy

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr Robert Lücking (F) for providing type specimen of V. pantoleucus on loan and granting permission to extract DNA from the type specimens. The authors are very grateful for the help of Dr M. Binder and two anonymous reviewers for the critical review and helpful comments on the manuscript. We also thank Dr L.P. Tang and Mr X.T. Zhu (KUN) for providing collections. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31000012, 31210103919, 31370001), the Independent Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( KSCX2-EW-J-24), the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province ( 2013FB066) and the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams.