Generic circumscriptions in Geoglossomycetes.

ABSTRACT

The class Geoglossomycetes is a recently created class of Ascomycota, currently comprised of one family (Geoglossaceae) and five genera (Geoglossum, Nothomitra, Sarcoleotia, Thuemenidium and Trichoglossum). These fungi, commonly known as earth tongues, have long been a subject of mycological research. However, the taxonomy within the group has historically been hindered by the lack of reliable morphological characters, uncertain ecological associations, and the inability to grow these fungi in culture. The phylogenetic relationships of Geoglossomycetes were investigated by conducting maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses using a 4-gene dataset (ITS, LSU, MCM7, RPB1). Five well-supported monophyletic clades were found that did not correspond exactly with the currently recognised genera, necessitating a taxonomic revision of the group. Two new genera are proposed Glutinoglossum to accommodate G. glutinosum and the newly described species G. heptaseptatum, and Sabuloglossum to accommodate S. arenarium. The type species of Thuemenidium, traditionally included within the Geoglossaceae, is confirmed as belonging to a separate lineage that is only distantly related to Geoglossomycetes.