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. 2019 Feb 6;14(2):e0211388.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211388. eCollection 2019.

Hidden fungal diversity from the Neotropics: Geastrum hirsutum, G. schweinitzii (Basidiomycota, Geastrales) and their allies

Thiago Accioly  1 , Julieth O Sousa  1 , Pierre-Arthur Moreau  2 , Christophe Lécuru  3 , Bianca D B Silva  4 , Mélanie Roy  5 , Monique Gardes  5 , Iuri G Baseia  6 , María P Martín  7
Affiliations

Hidden fungal diversity from the Neotropics: Geastrum hirsutum, G. schweinitzii (Basidiomycota, Geastrales) and their allies

Thiago Accioly et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Taxonomy of Geastrum species in the neotropics has been subject to divergent opinions among specialists. In our study, type collections were reassessed and compared with recent collections in order to delimit species in Geastrum, sect. Myceliostroma, subsect. Epigaea. A thorough review of morphologic features combined with barcode and phylogenetic analyses (ITS and LSU nrDNA) revealed six new species (G. neoamericanum, G. rubellum, G. brunneocapillatum, G. baculicrystallum, G. rubropusillum and G. courtecuissei). In additon, the presence of hairs on the exoperidium, a commonly used feature to diagnose Geastrum species, proved to be ineffective because it is a derived character within subsect. Epigaea.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Bayesian trees of ITS (on the left) and ITS/LSU (on the right) nrDNA sequences of Geastrum species.
Geastrum velutinum was used as out-group. Terminal branches are labeled with GenBank accession numbers. For further details, see Table 1. Numbers at the nodes indicate the Maximum Parsimony bootstrap, bootstrap values obtained from Maximum likelihood, and Posterior Probabilities from Bayesian analysis (MPbs /MLbs/ PP). Thick-lined branches are those with higher support (MPbs and MLbs higher than 85%, and PP higher than 0.85). Asterisk denotes fully supported branches in all three analyses.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Type collections of Geastrum hirsutum and Geastrum schweinitzii.
(A) Geastrum hirsutum MA-Fungi 67886, paratype. (B) Geastrum hirsutum UFRN-Fungos 245, holotype. (C) Geastrum schweinitzii K (M) 180188, type. (D) Geastrum schweinitzii K (M) 180187, isotype. Photo credits C, D: Donis Alfredo. A2, B2, C2, D2 bar = 5mm.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Analysis involving species of Geastrum schweinitzii complex.
(A) Bayesian analysis conducted in Beast 2 software along 50 million generations. (B) Topo-phylogenetic and (C) phylogenetic network representations.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Geastrum schweinitzii and allies.
(A). Geastrum neoamericanum sp. nov. (B) Geastrum baculicrystallum sp. nov. (C). Geastrum courtecuissei sp. nov. (D) Geastrum rubropusillum sp. nov. A1, B1, C1, D1 Expanded basidiomata. A2, B2, C2, D2 Unexpanded Basidiomata. A3, C3, D3 Exoperidium detail. B3. Rhizomorphs under SEM. A4, B4, C4, D4 Basidiospores under LM. A5, B5, D5 basidiospores under SEM. A1, B1, D1 bar = 5 mm; C1 bar = 3 mm; A2, B2, C2 bar = 2 mm; A3, D2 bar = 1 mm; A4, B3, C4, D4 bar = 5 μm; A5, B5, D5 bar = 1 μm.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Geastrum hirsutum and allies.
(A) Geastrum brunneocapillatum sp. nov. (B) Geastrum hirsutum. (C) Geastrum pusillipilosum. (D) Geastrum rubellum sp. nov. A1, B1, C1, D1 Expanded basidiomata. A2, B2, C2, D2 Unexpanded Basidiomata. A3, B3, C3, D3 Exoperidium detail. A4, B4, C4, D4 Basidiospores under LM. A5, B5, C5, D5 basidiospores under SEM. A1 bar = 2 mm; A2, A3, C2, bar = 1 mm; B1, B2, B3, C1, D2 bar = 2 mm; C3 bar = 0.1 mm; D1 bar = 4 mm; A4, B4, C4, D4 bar = 5 μm; A5, B5, C5, D5 bar = 1 μm.
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