Peltigeromyces mollisioides sp. nov. (Peltigeromycetaceae fam. nov., Helotiales), the correct name for Parthenope pilatii s. auct., with a revision of the type species P. microsporus and P. goossensiae

Baral, Hans-Otto; Olariaga, Ibai; Matočec, Neven; Kušan, Ivana (2025) Peltigeromyces mollisioides sp. nov. (Peltigeromycetaceae fam. nov., Helotiales), the correct name for Parthenope pilatii s. auct., with a revision of the type species P. microsporus and P. goossensiae. Mycological Progress, 24 . ISSN 1861-8952

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Abstract

The type species of the genus Peltigeromyces, P. microsporus, is redescribed on the basis of the two previously known collections, the holotype from Brazil described by A. Möller and a collection from Bolivia examined by R.W.G. Dennis, both from rotten angiosperm wood in subtropical forests. A morphologically very similar species, P. goossensiae, was described by M. Le Gal based on a collection on unidentified wood in tropical central Africa. It is redescribed here from the holotype and phenetically confirmed as distinct from P. microsporus. Another very similar but European species, P. mollisioides, is newly described. It was earlier reported under the name Parthenope pilatii and is known from numerous collections on rotten wood or sometimes bark of different angiosperms, predominantly Fagus, in temperate to submediterranean forests of central and southern Europe. An emended generic description of Peltigeromyces is given, based on the observed characteristics of the three accepted species. Apothecia of Peltigeromyces resemble an oversized member of Mollisiaceae or Ploettnerulaceae, whereas a resemblance with the lichen genus Peltigera is merely superficial. The ectal excipulum of brown angular cells fits both families, whereas the absence of refractive vacuolar bodies in the paraphyses would forbid placement in Mollisiaceae. Myrioconium-like sporodochia are associated with the apothecia, and their genetic connection was confirmed by rDNA comparison. Their phialides lacking collarettes and the presence of a black stroma extending over the substrate surface below the apothecia are unusual characteristics in both families. Both stroma and sporodochial anamorph are reminiscent of Sclerotiniaceae, but a dark brown excipular cell wall pigment is unknown in that family, and the minute ascus apical ring resembles the Calycina- rather than the Sclerotinia-type. In two previously published combined 5-gene analyses of a Belgian collection of P. mollisioides, the genus Peltigeromyces formed with Drepanopezizaceae and Ploettnerulaceae a supported clade, though on a long branch. This clade represented together with Mollisiaceae and Vibrisseaceae the 'mollisioid clade' of the Helotiales. This distant placement of P. mollisioides close to Drepanopezizaceae and Ploettnerulaceae was confirmed by our combined ITS + LSU analysis which included two newly generated sequences from ana- and teleomorph of a Polish collection of P. mollisioides. For both morphological and phylogenetic reasons, the new family Peltigeromycetaceae is proposed.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11557-025-02060-9
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Drepanopezizaceae; Leotiomycetes; Mollisioid fungi; Myrioconium-like anamorph; Ploettnerulaceae; Sporodochium
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Microbiology
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Unapređenje usluga šumskih ekosustava Hrvatske kroz vrednovanje bioraznolikosti gljiva temeljenoj na DNA barkodiranju-ForFungiDNA Armin Mešić IP-2018-01-1736 HRZZ Gljive hidrološki aktivnih špiljskih ekosustava Dinarida i njihov bioaktivni potencijal-FunCavBioA Ivana Kušan IP-2022-10-4733 HRZZ
Depositing User:	Ivana Kušan
Date Deposited:	11 Dec 2025 15:28
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/10267
DOI:	10.1007/s11557-025-02060-9

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