Notes on the molecular phylogeny of the ‘Polyporellus’ group within Polyporus: identity of collections from Canada and Ecuador, and relationships with Lentinus

Krüger, D., Hughes, K. W. & Petersen, R. H. (200X) Notes on the molecular phylogeny of the ‘Polyporellus’ group within Polyporus: identity of collections from Canada and Ecuador, and relationships with Lentinus.

Sydowia 60 (2): 213–233

The basidiomycetous polypore genus Polyporus s. str. can be subdivided into several infrageneric groups, one of which is ‘Polyporellus’. This publication mainly discusses four widespread species within the ‘Polyporellus’ group: Polyporus arcularius, P. brumalis, P. ciliatus, and P. tricholoma. As morphological characters may be ambiguous in identifying similar specimens in this group, this paper expands on an earlier study determining phylogenetic species entities in ‘Polyporellus’. A total of 35 additional ITS rDNA (ITS I – 5.8S – ITS II) sequences was inserted into the phylogenetic analysis. The presence of P. ciliatus or P. tricholoma in temperate North America could not be confirmed by morphology or molecular data. Spore ranges for the three species P. arcularius / P. brumalis / P. ciliatus were found to overlap. Our study indicates a closer relationship of the gilled Lentinus tigrinus (= Polyporus gerdai) to P. tricholoma than to any other of the ‘Polyporellus’ species investigated.

Keywords: Polypores, Basidiomycota, systematics.