The Genera of Fungi: fixing the application of type species of generic names

Abstract

To ensure a stable platform for fungal taxonomy, it is of paramount importance that the genetic application of generic names be based on their DNA sequence data, and wherever possible, not morphology or ecology alone. To facilitate this process, a new database, accessible at www.GeneraofFungi.org (GoF) was established, which will allow deposition of metadata linked to holo-, lecto-, neo- or epitype specimens, cultures and DNA sequence data of the type species of genera. Although there are presently more than 18 000 fungal genera described, we aim to initially focus on the subset of names that have been placed on the "Without-prejudice List of Protected Generic Names of Fungi" (see IMA Fungus 4(2): 381-443, 2013). To enable the global mycological community to keep track of typification events and avoid duplication, special MycoBank Typification identfiers (MBT) will be issued upon deposit of metadata in MycoBank. MycoBank is linked to GoF, thus deposited metadata of generic type species will be displayed in GoF (and vice versa), but will also be linked to Index Fungorum (IF) and the curated RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database in GenBank at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This initial paper focuses on eight genera of appendaged coelomycetes, the type species of which are neo- or epitypified here: Bartalinia (Bartalinia robillardoides; Amphisphaeriaceae, Xylariales), Chaetospermum (Chaetospermum chaetosporum, incertae sedis, Sebacinales), Coniella (Coniella fragariae, Schizoparmaceae, Diaporthales), Crinitospora (Crinitospora pulchra, Melanconidaceae, Diaporthales), Eleutheromyces (Eleutheromyces subulatus, Helotiales), Kellermania (Kellermania yuccigena, Planistromataceae, Botryosphaeriales), Mastigosporium (Mastigosporium album, Helotiales), and Mycotribulus (Mycotribulus mirabilis, Agaricales). Authors interested in contributing accounts of individual genera to larger multi-authored papers to be published in IMA Fungus, should contact the associate editors listed below for the major groups of fungi on the List of Protected Generic Names for Fungi.

Keywords: DNA Barcodes; ITS; LSU; fungal systematic; typification; www.GeneraofFungi.org.

Fig. 1.

The first of 1000 equally most parsimonious trees resulting from a parsimony analysis of the LSU sequence alignment. The bootstrap support values are indicated at the nodes and the scale bar represents the number of changes. Thickened branches reflect those branches present in the strict consensus tree. Orders are indicated in coloured blocks and species names in black text. GenBank accession numbers for downloaded sequences are shown before species names and culture collection numbers after species names. The tree was rooted to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Z73326).

Fig. 1.

The first of 1000 equally most parsimonious trees resulting from a parsimony analysis of the LSU sequence alignment. The bootstrap support values are indicated at the nodes and the scale bar represents the number of changes. Thickened branches reflect those branches present in the strict consensus tree. Orders are indicated in coloured blocks and species names in black text. GenBank accession numbers for downloaded sequences are shown before species names and culture collection numbers after species names. The tree was rooted to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (GenBank Z73326).

Fig. 2.

Bartalinia robillardoides (CBS 122705). A. Colony sporulating on PDA. B–D. Section through conidiomatal wall, showing conidiogenous cells. E–G. Conidia. Bars: A = 250 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 3.

Chaetospermum chaetosporum (CBS 154.59). A. Colony sporulating on SNA. B–F. Sections through conidiomata, showing conidiogenous cells. G–I. Conidia. Bars: B = 500 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 4.

Coniella fragariae (CBS 172.49). A. Colony sporulating on PDA. B–C. Sections through conidiomata. D–E. Conidiogenous cells. F. Conidia. Bars: A–B = 500 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 5.

Crinitospora pulchra (CBS 138014). A. Colony sporulating on MEA. B–E. Conidiogenous cells giving rise to conidia. F–G. Conidia. Bars: A = 300 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 6.

Eleutheromyces subulatus (CBS 113.86). A. Colony sporulating on OA. B–F. Conidiophores giving rise to conidia. G. Smaller conidia of unidentified Eleutheromyces sp. (CBS 139.90). Bars: A = 250 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 7.

Kellermania yuccigena (A–D, I = CBS 131727, others = CBS 138015). A. Colony sporulating on OA. B. Section through conidioma showing conidiogenous cells. C–F. Conidiogenous cells giving rise to conidia. G–J. Conidia. Bars: A–B = 300 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 8.

Mastigosporium album (CPC 22946). A. Conidiomata forming on PNA. B–D. Conidiogenous cells giving rise to conidia. E–G. Conidia with lateral and apical appendages (arrows). Bars: A = 300 μm, all others = 10 μm.

Fig. 9.

Mycotribulus mirabilis (CBS 138016). A. Conidiomata on Eucalyptus leaf in vivo. B. Conidiomata forming on PDA. C–D. Conidiogenous cells giving rise to conidia. E–G. Conidia. Bars: A = 300 μm, B = 250 μm, all others = 10 μm.