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| Tuber itzcuinzapotl de la Fuente & Rosales-Rosales, in de la Fuente, Rosales-Rosales, Martínez-González, Martínez-Reyes, Elizondo-Salas et Perez-Moreno, 2024. |
Abstract
Tuber itzcuinzapotl is described as a new species to science. This species is characterized by its pale brown ascomata, finely granular peridium, pale brown to gray gleba, and 22–52 × 15–40 µm alveolate ascospores. The new species is putatively associated with Pinus patula in conifer mixed forests in the state of Veracruz, located in eastern Mexico. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nrITS region places the new species in the Maculatum clade, closely related, but morphologically distinctive, to T. miquihuanense and T. mexiusanum. The new species consumed by the Nahua people, traditionally named “Itzcuinzapotl”, constitutes the first edible truffle with biocultural importance in Mexico. Macro- and micromorphological characterization, results of phylogenetic analysis, and photographs are presented. Ethnomycological aspects related to the species are also briefly discussed.
Key words: biocultural erosion, Ethnomycology, fungi, hypogeous fungi, Mexican truffles, mycorrhizal fungi, traditional knowledge
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| Tuber itzcuinzapotl de la Fuente & Rosales-Rosales, sp. nov. (Holotype). A) Fresh ascomata. B) Dry ascomata. C) Peridium hyphal arrangement. D) Hyphae fromsterile veins. E) 3-spored ascus containing 2 mature ascospores showing alveolate ornamentation. Bar: A–B= 10 mm; C–E=20 μm. |
Tuber itzcuinzapotl de la Fuente & Rosales-Rosales, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—The new species differs from other species within the Maculatum clade by its pale brown ascomata,finely granular peridium, composed of subglobose hyphae, forming pyramid-like structures, clavate terminal cells of11−30 × 6−10 μm, pale brown to gray gleba, and 22−52 × 15−40 μm alveolate ascospores.
Etymology:—Refers to the name used by the Nahua people to designate this edibles species itzcuinzapotl (itzcuin = dog, and zapotl = zapote, a native sweet fruit).
Javier Isaac de la Fuente, Wendy Rosales-Rosales, César Ramiro Martínez-González, Magdalena Martínez-Reyes, Andrea Carolina Elizondo-Salas and Jesus Perez-Moreno. 2024. Tuber itzcuinzapotl sp. nov. (Tuberaceae, Pezizomycetes), the First Edible Truffle reported from Mexico with Traditional Biocultural Importance. Phytotaxa. 635(3); 206-216. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.635.3.2
