Four new species of Bacidia s.s. (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales) in the Russian Far East

Abstract

The molecular phylogeny of Bacidia s.s. in the Russian Far East was investigated using 62 nucleotide sequences from the ITS nrDNA region, 22 of which were newly obtained. Phylogenetic reconstructions employed Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood searches using MrBayes and RAxML. In addition, ITS2 secondary structures added further support using Compensatory Base Changes. As a result of morphological and phylogenetic studies, four new species of Bacidia are described. Bacidia areolata sp. nov. belongs to the suffusa group. It was collected once in Khabarovskiy Krai, the Russian Far East, on the bark of Acer tegmentosum and is closely related to B. suffusa but differs in having a smooth, cracked to areolate thallus and shorter spores. Bacidia elongata sp. nov. is a member of the fraxinea group and is similar to B. fraxinea but differs in having a wide zone of cells with enlarged lumina along the edge of the exciple. In fact, this zone of enlarged cells, in combination with its overall habit, places it morphologically close to B. suffusa, B. millegrana and B. campalea. Bacidia kurilensis sp. nov. is a basal member of the laurocerasi group and closely related to B. biatorina, B. heterochroa, B. laurocerasi and B. salazarensis. However, the combination of a granular thallus, large black apothecia and a green hue in the upper part of the exciple edge as well as in the epihymenium sets it apart from the species mentioned above. Bacidia sachalinensis sp. nov. resolves as a strongly supported member of the polychroa group and is known from a single locality in Sakhalin, the Russian Far East. Its thallus structure and apothecium colour are variable, which is typical for the polychroa group, but it differs from B. polychroa by having shorter spores with fewer septa and a mainly smooth to areolate thallus.

Multilocus-phylogeny of the lichen-forming genus Bacidia s. str. (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales) with special emphasis on the Russian Far East

“…This study was based on fresh collections of Bacidia gathered by the authors in the field from 2013 to 2015 in the southern part of the Russian Far East (Primorskiy and Khabarovskiy Krai), and on Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands (as indicated in Gerasimova et al (2018)). The second author collected the Bacidia obtecta specimens on Sakhalin in 2017 (see details under Taxonomy).…”

“…Thallus fragments were removed to minimize the risk of contamination by, for example, lichenicolous fungi. PCR amplification, purification and sequencing were performed as described in Gerasimova et al (2018). Cycling conditions included initial denaturation at 95 °C for 2 min, 5 cycles of 95 °C for 40 s, 54 °C for 60 s, 72 °C for 90 s, 33 cycles of 95 °C for 40 s, 54 °C for 60 s, 72 °C for 90 s, and a final extension step at 72 °C for 7 min.…”

“…In the first molecular study on Bacidia s. str. from the Russian Far East (RFE), taxon sampling was expanded (Gerasimova et al 2018). Four new species were described, and these are currently considered endemic.…”

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of Toniniopsis subincompta s. lat. (Ramalinaceae, Lecanorales) in Eurasia

“…Five to eight apothecia were used from fresh material not older than 5 years and thallus fragments were removed in order to minimize the risk of contamination by, for example, lichenicolous fungi. PCR amplification, purification and sequencing were performed as described in Gerasimova et al (2018). Cycling conditions included initial denaturation at 95 °C for 2 min, 5 cycles of 95 °C for 40 s, 54 °C for 60 s and 72 °C for 90 s, 33 cycles of 95 °C for 40 s, 54 °C for 60 s and 72 °C for 90 s, and a final extension step at 72 °C for 7 min.…”

Three overlooked species of Bacidia from insular Laurimacaronesia

“…Apothecia in the Macaronesian specimens are, however, on average somewhat paler than in the type material, although apothecial colour in the holotype varies from grey‐brown to orange‐brown to purplish black. Similar and possibly closely related species include B. areolata Gerasimova & A. Beck (colourless or pale yellow hypothecium, no crystals or radiating crystal clusters in the proper exciple, distinct 3–4‐layer zone of enlarged cell lumina along excipular edge; Gerasimova et al 2018), B. millegrana (Taylor) Zahlbr. (colourless or pale yellow hypothecium, no crystals or radiating crystal clusters in the proper exciple, distinct 2‐layer zone of enlarged cell lumina along excipular edge; Ekman 1996, p. 69), B. suffusa (Fr.)…”