Phylogenetic overview of the genus Genea (Pezizales, Ascomycota) with an emphasis on European taxa

Abstract

We constructed a comprehensive phylogeny of the genus Genea, with new molecular data from samples collected in several countries in temperate and Mediterranean Europe, as well as North America. Type specimens and authentic material of most species were examined to support identifications. The molecular identity of the most common species in Genea was compared with nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), D1-D2 domains of 28S nuc rDNA (28S rDNA) and translation elongation factor 1-α ene (TEF1) profiles of 10 recently proposed taxa, G. brunneocarpa, G. compressa, G. dentata, G. fageticola, G. lobulata, G. oxygala, G. pinicola, G. pseudobalsleyi, G. pseudoverrucosa and G. tuberculata, supporting their status as distinct species. Genea mexicana and G. thaxteri on the one hand and G. sphaerica and G. lespiaultii on the other are closely related. Multiple lineages were recorded for G. verrucosa and G. fragrans, but we found no morphological traits to discriminate among them, so we tentatively interpreted them as cryptic species. A key to species of the genus Genea is provided to facilitate identification. We provide macroscopic images of fresh specimens and of representative spores of most species. Finally, we conducted a molecular analysis of the divergence time for Genea and discuss the implications of our results.

• hypogeous
• Mediterranean
• phylogeny
• Pyronemataceae
• taxonomy
• truffle fungi

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr A. Priego and Mr J.A. Pérez of the Electron Microscopy Service of the University of Alcalá de Henares for their help with the SEM. We also thank Luis Monje and Ángel Pueblas of the Department of Drawing and Scientific Photography at the Alcalá University for their help with digital treatment of images; we also thank Dr J. Rejos, curator of AH herbarium, for his assistance with specimens examined in the present study. Financial support for ME Smith was provided by University of Florida’s Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences. We also thank P. Chautrand, A. García Blanco, G. Hensel, R. Martínez, D. Mitchell, A. Montecchi, B. Moreno-Arroyo, G. Pacioni, J.-B. Perez, C.M. Pérez del Amo, P. Ribollet, M.A. Sanz, F. Sáinz, T. Sánchez and J.M. Vidal for kindly sending us their collections and images.