Tuesday, October 31, 2023

[Fungi • 2023] Mallocybe pakistanica & M. pinicola (Agaricales: Inocybaceae) • New Species of Mallocybe from Pakistan, based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence


Mallocybe pakistanica & B M. pinicola Saba & Khalid,

in Saba, Khalid et Sarwar, 2023. 
 Scale bars: 10 mm 

Abstract
Within the family Inocybaceae, many species of Mallocybe have been reported, but there are only a few reports of this genus from Pakistan. In this study, six collections of Mallocybe were studied by morphological and phylogenetic methods. Phylogenetic analyses, based on sequence data from two different loci (ITS and LSU) using Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods, have been performed to infer species relationships within Mallocybe. Results indicated that these six collections encompass two new species of Mallocybe i.e. M. pakistanica and M. pinicola, from Pakistan. Their detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are also provided. In addition, comparison with morphologically closely-related taxa is also discussed. Previously, only two species of this genus have been recorded from Pakistan and, with this addition, the total number of reported taxa of Mallocybe has been raised to four from Pakistan. A key to the described taxa of Mallocybe from Pakistan is also provided.

Key words: Asia, molecular systematics, phylogeny, Pinaceae

Holotypes A Mallocybe pakistanica (MSM#0061) B Mallocybe pinicola (MSM#0060).
 Scale bars: 10 mm (A, B).

 Mallocybe pakistanica Saba & Khalid, sp. nov.
 
Diagnosis: Most similar to Mallocybe myriadophylla described from north-western Europe, but differs by the absence of a crowded lamellae, different pileal colouration and somewhat larger basidiospores. Phylogenetically separated from other species of Mallocybe due to unique ITS and LSU sequences.

Etymology: Referring to the country where it was discovered.


 Mallocybe pinicola Saba & Khalid, sp. nov.
 
Diagnosis: Most similar to M. siciliana and M. subtomentosa, but differs by the combination of pileal colour, absence of umbo, size of basidiospores, pyriform to broadly clavate, catenate cheilocystidia and an ecological association with Pines. Phylogenetically separated from other species of Mallocybe due to unique ITS and LSU sequences.

Etymology: Referring to its exclusive association with Pinus.


 Malka Saba, Abdul Nasir Khalid and Samina Sarwar. 2023. New Species of Mallocybe (Agaricales, Inocybaceae) from Pakistan, based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence. MycoKeys. 99: 171-186.  DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.99.86844