Taxonomic position of the genus Bicornispora and the appearance of a new species Bicornispora seditiosa

Abstract

The discovery of a second species of Bicornispora in Spain, B. seditiosa, which is closely related to B. exophiala but has smaller ascospores, narrower asci and different ecology, gave us the opportunity to culture and sequence the fungus. Phylogenetic analyses of rDNA regions including partial nuc 28S rDNA (28S) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) supported a close relationship with species of the genus Lambertella (Rutstroemiaceae), placing Bicornispora, previously ascribed to Coryneliales, within Helotiales. This result confirmed an evolutionary linkage between certain inoperculate discomycetes such as Lambertella palmeri and derived cleistothecial forms (Bicornispora spp.). Based on analyses of morphological study and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new combination Rutstroemia asphodeli is proposed for Ciboria asphodeli.

• Lambertella
• phylogeny
• Rutstroemiaceae
• taxonomy

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Hans O. Baral (Tübingen, Germany) for advice and for critical reading the first version of the manuscript. We thank Gabriel Moreno (Dpto. de Ciencias de la Vida, Alcalá University, Spain), Mr A. Priego and Mr J.A. Pérez (Electron Microscopy Service, University of Alcalá, Spain) for their technical assistance in processing the SEM samples, and finally, Rubén Martínez (Grupo Micológico Verpa, Logroño) for insertion of specimens into AH.