Orphella intropus (Kickxellomycotina), a new insect endosymbiont with an unusual perforating holdfast system and other trichomycetes from Italy

New data about trichomycetes (arthropod gut endosymbionts) from northern Italy (Piedmont [Piemonte] region) are reported, including the description of two new species of Harpellales: Glotzia distorta from mayfly nymphs and Orphella intropus from stonefly nymphs. The latter species is characterized by a cellular bulbous holdfast that perforates the gut lining of its host. Sixteen additional geographical records for Italy are provided, including from the Harpellales, Harpellomyces eccentricus, Graminella bulbosa, Orphella catalaunica, Pennella grassei, Smittium perforatum, Sm. elongatum, Stachylina nana, St. jujuyensis, St penetralis and Tectimyces leptophlebiidarum, and from the Amoebidiales, Paramoebidium chattoni, P. corpulentum, P. curvum, P. ecdyonuridae, P. hamatum and P. inflexum. We provide an emendation of Pennella grassei, a rare, incompletely described and poorly illustrated species that was recovered from Italy nearly 50 y after its last citation from France.

Consolidating the legacy of J.-F. Manier: new species and records of trichomycetes from France

New data about trichomycetes (arthropod-gut endosymbionts) from southern France is documented, including the description of two Harpellales, Legeriosimilis cebennensis from mayfly nymphs (Heptageniidae) and Smittium manierei from Chironomidae larvae. New geographical records from France are provided, including Bojamyces transfuga, Genistellospora homothallica, Lancisporomyces vernalis, Legeriomyces rarus, Orphella catalaunica, O. helicospora, Stachylina pedifer, Smittium hecatei, S. pseudodimorphum and Tectimyces leptophlebiidarum. Most of these records include species with a Mediterranean distribution, reported before from neighboring countries, and a few others are subcosmopolitan.

Examining new phylogenetic markers to uncover the evolutionary history of early-diverging fungi: comparing MCM7, TSR1 and rRNA genes for single- and multi-gene analyses of the Kickxellomycotina

The recently recognised protein-coding genes MCM7 and TSR1 have shown significant promise for phylogenetic resolution within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, but have remained unexamined within other fungal groups (except for Mucorales). We designed and tested primers to amplify these genes across early-diverging fungal clades, with emphasis on the Kickxellomycotina, zygomycetous fungi with characteristic flared septal walls forming pores with lenticular plugs. Phylogenetic tree resolution and congruence with MCM7 and TSR1 were compared against those inferred with nuclear small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes. We also combined MCM7 and TSR1 data with the rDNA data to create 3- and 4-gene trees of the Kickxellomycotina that help to resolve evolutionary relationships among and within the core clades of this subphylum. Phylogenetic inference suggests that Barbatospora, Orphella, Ramicandelaber and Spiromyces may represent unique lineages. It is suggested that these markers may be more broadly useful for phylogenetic studies among other groups of early-diverging fungi.

New species and new records of trichomycetes from Italy

We present the results obtained from a short survey in central Italy to broaden the poorly known diversity of trichomycetous gut symbionts, members of the Kickxellomycotina, in this country. Among the reported fungi, two new species of Harpellales are described: Harpellomyces aprutinus and Orphella italica, as well as 14 other species that are new for Italy. Among these, the remarkable and rare species Gauthieromyces microsporus is included, previously known only from the type locality in France. One species of Asellariales, Asellaria gramenei, also is reported. Taxonomic and biogeographic implications of these records are discussed.