Five New Species of the Lichen-Forming Fungal Genus Peltula from China

Abstract

The genus Peltula is an important cyanobacterial lichen group. We performed a taxonomic study on the Peltula from China using phylogenetic analysis based on three gene loci (ITS, nuSSU, nuLSU) together with additional species delimitation analyses by ABGD, bPTP and GMYC approaches and the phenotypic characteristics. Five new species (Peltula lobulata, P. polycarpa, P. polyphylla, P. pseudoboletiformis and P. submarginata) were found and described. Peltula lobulata is diagnostic in its small thallus with plenty of lobules, rolled down and irregularly lobed margins, and uneven cracked surfaces. Peltula polycarpa has convex and rolled down lobes and numerous apothecia with a thalloid rim covering the whole lobe, and it can be distinguished from fertile P. farinosa (southern Switzerland) by a bright olive-green and epruinose surface, and the absence of isidia. Peltula polyphylla is differentiated from any other known Peltula species by a very small polyphyllous thallus composed of abundant olive-brown to olive-black small lobes growing tightly and sometimes anastomosing and attaching to the substrate by a large and strong umbilical cluster. Peltula submarginata is similar to P. marginata but differs in the presence of encircled epinecral and algae layers, and the absence of a lower cortex. Peltula pseudoboletiformis is different from the similar species P. boletiformis in greener lobes, more yellow–green umbilici and certain phylogenetic differences. Moreover, a key to the species of Peltula in China is also provided here.

Two New Species and Two New Records of the Lichen-Forming Fungal Genus Peltula (Ascomycota: Peltulaceae) from China

“…In the phylogenetic tree, Peltula confusa and the several rock-inhabiting squamulose species are clustered into a clade, among which P. polycarpa and P. lobulata are also distributed in the Beijing area, indicating the three species live in a similar habitat and have evolved from a common ancestor [ 14 ].…”

“…corresponding to the climate. Soil-inhabiting species, e.g., Peltula impressula , P. radicata , P. richardsii , and P. polyspora are distributed in (semi) arid regions, especially in the desert; the rock-inhabiting species, such as P. bolanderi , P. euploca , P. omphaliza , P. placodizans , P. polycarpa , P. sonorensis , P. submarginata , and most subfruticose species, need a dry microenvironment, but also require high levels of precipitation and light [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 ]. The phylogenetic analyses support species groups that correspond to the substrate.…”

“…Yang & X.L. Wei were reported in humid and semi-humid areas [ 13 , 14 ]. Such a high diversity of species indicates that China is an important reservoir of Peltula , and it is likely that more species may be found.…”

A direct PCR approach with low-biomass insert opens new horizons for molecular sciences on cryptogam communities

“…For these lichens, only few DNA sequences are available. Recently, the taxonomy of the cosmopolitan genus Peltula has been revised, which is always the case when newly generated DNA sequences become available, and shows that work on this genus is difficult ( 69 ). The lack of biodiversity information on these groups is reflected not only by the lichen mycobionts but also by their cyanobionts.…”

New Insights into Lichenization in Agaricomycetes Based on an Unusual New Basidiolichen Species of Omphalina s. str.

“…PCR was performed to amplify two gene loci: nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (nuLSU), using primers ITS4 and ITS5 [ 39 ], and LR0R and LR5 [ 40 ], respectively. The PCR procedure followed Yang et al [ 41 ].…”