Polyozellus multiplex(Thelephorales) is a species complex containing four new species

The complete mitochondrial genome of Polyozellus multiplex (Thelephorales)

The complete mitogenome of Polyozellus multiplex (Underw.) Murrill 1910, was first sequenced, assembled, and annotated in the present study. The mitogenome length was 47,054 bp with a GC content of 23.35%, including 14 conserved protein-coding genes, one ribosomal protein (RPS3), two DNA polymerases (DPO), two rRNA genes (RNS and RNL), and 24 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis, based on a combined mitochondrial gene dataset from 17 taxa of four orders within the class Agaricomycetes, was conducted using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. It is revealed that P. multiplex is closely related to Thelephora aurantiotincta Corner 1968, both of them have been clustered into Thelephorales.

Polyozellus vs. Pseudotomentella: generic delimitation with a multi-gene dataset

Polyozellus and Pseudotomentella are two genera of closely related, ectomycorrhizal fungi in the order Thelephorales; the former stipitate and the latter corticioid. Both are widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and many species from both genera seem to be restricted to old growth forest. This study aimed to: a) identify genetic regions useful in inferring the phylogenetic relationship between Polyozellus and Pseudotomentella, b) infer this relationship with the regions identified and c) make any taxonomic changes warranted by the result. RPB2, mtSSU and nearly full-length portions of nrLSU and nrSSU were found to be comparatively easy to sequence and provide a strong phylogenetic signal. A STACEY species tree of these three regions revealed that Polyozellus makes Pseudotomentella paraphyletic. As a result, nearly all species currently placed in Pseudotomentella were recombined to Polyozellus. Pseudotomentella larsenii was found to be closer to Tomentellopsis than Polyozellus, but its placement needs further study and it was hence not recombined.

The Taxon Hypothesis Paradigm-On the Unambiguous Detection and Communication of Taxa

Here, we describe the taxon hypothesis (TH) paradigm, which covers the construction, identification, and communication of taxa as datasets. Defining taxa as datasets of individuals and their traits will make taxon identification and most importantly communication of taxa precise and reproducible. This will allow datasets with standardized and atomized traits to be used digitally in identification pipelines and communicated through persistent identifiers. Such datasets are particularly useful in the context of formally undescribed or even physically undiscovered species if data such as sequences from samples of environmental DNA (eDNA) are available. Implementing the TH paradigm will to some extent remove the impediment to hastily discover and formally describe all extant species in that the TH paradigm allows discovery and communication of new species and other taxa also in the absence of formal descriptions. The TH datasets can be connected to a taxonomic backbone providing access to the vast information associated with the tree of life. In parallel to the description of the TH paradigm, we demonstrate how it is implemented in the UNITE digital taxon communication system. UNITE TH datasets include rich data on individuals and their rDNA ITS sequences. These datasets are equipped with digital object identifiers (DOI) that serve to fix their identity in our communication. All datasets are also connected to a GBIF taxonomic backbone. Researchers processing their eDNA samples using UNITE datasets will, thus, be able to publish their findings as taxon occurrences in the GBIF data portal. UNITE species hypothesis (species level THs) datasets are increasingly utilized in taxon identification pipelines and even formally undescribed species can be identified and communicated by using UNITE. The TH paradigm seeks to achieve unambiguous, unique, and traceable communication of taxa and their properties at any level of the tree of life. It offers a rapid way to discover and communicate undescribed species in identification pipelines and data portals before they are lost to the sixth mass extinction.

Notes, outline and divergence times of Basidiomycota

The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.