Kgaria (Boletaceae, Boletoideae) gen. nov. in Australia: Neither a Tylopilus nor a Porphyrellus

Abstract

Kgaria is described as a new porphyrellus-like genus of Boletaceae to accommodate Tylopilus cyanogranulifer, a dark brown to dull lilac/violet, or rarely, nearly black bolete with a series of oxidation reactions progressing from blue to red then nearly black and a dark brown spore deposit. Idiosyncratic blue-green pigment encrustations (cyanogranules) and a similarly colored reaction of the hyphae located on pileus and stipe surfaces are also diagnostic. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear large-subunit rDNA (nrLSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) infer Kgaria as a unique generic lineage with two species, one of which is newly described (K. similis). Tylopilus olivaceoporus, originally described at the same time and as distinct from T. cyanogranulifer, appears to be conspecific with the latter. Some darkly pigmented taxa with similar oxidation reactions that were recently described from Brazil, Guyana, and China are further supported by morphology and molecular data as discrete lineages in separate genera in subfamily Boletoideae.

Phylogenomics, biogeography, and trait evolution of the Boletaceae (Boletales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota)

“…Primarily these have involved the erection of new genera for phylogenetically unresolved lineages. Many of these new genera are monotypic or composed of only a few species (Castellano et al 2016; Chakraborty et al 2015; Henkel et al 2016; Halling et al 2023). This burdensome proliferation of new genera has made it difficult or impossible to recognize inclusive groupings without requiring knowledge of the species.…”

“…A prominent consequence of this lack of phylogenetic resolution is the recent explosion of new generic names to accommodate newly discovered species, or species that are included in molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time and recovered on long branches with no supported affinity to existing named genera (e.g., Castellano et al 2016;Henkel et al 2016;Badou et al 2022;Halling et al 2023). Few of these studies have followed recommended best practices for naming new genera (Vellinga et al 2015).…”

“…Despite their conspicuous sporocarps (=mushrooms), ecological dominance, and cultural importance, new species of Boletaceae are regularly described from poorly explored habitats around the globe(e.g. Halling et al 2006, 2023; Fulgenzi et al 2007, 2008, 2010; Neves et al 2010; Husbands et al 2013; Castellano et al 2016; Chakraborty et al 2015; Das et al 2015, 2016; Henkel et al 2016; Magnago et al 2017), as well as from wild-collected foods in local markets and even from supermarkets, e.g., (e.g. Das et al 2015; Dentinger and Suz 2014; Halling et al 2014).…”

“…One of the most prominent consequences of this lack of phylogenetic resolution is the recent explosion of new generic names to accommodate newly discovered species, or species that are included in molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time and that are recovered on long branches with no supported affinity to existing generic names (e.g., Castellano et al 2016; Henkel et al 2016; Badou et al 2022; Halling et al 2023). Although this is a predictable pattern for evolutionary radiations, it has resulted in a recent proliferation of new genera, many of which are monotypic or require identification of species to recognize, an impractical solution to the problem.…”

Concordance of multigene genealogy along with morphological evidence unveils five novel species and two new records of boletoid mushrooms (fungi) from India

“…nih. gov/ genba nk) and relevant published phylogenies5,16,18,[22][23][24][36][37][38] . Four raw datasets (ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tef 1-α) were created separately.…”