Broadening the distribution of Mattirolomyces mexicanus Kovács, Trappe & Alsheikh (Pezizales, Ascomycota), a rare truffle-like fungus from Mexico

Abstract

Mattirolomyces mexicanus Kovács, Trappe & Alsheikh is recorded for the first time from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, based on morphological and molecular data. This species is characterized by the whitish membranous peridium with inflate hyphae over 100 µm in diameter, pale gleba, subreticulat-ed ascospores of 15–21 µm, and the putative association with Fabaceae species. This is first record of a sequestrate Ascomycota from the Yucatan Peninsula and the second record of the species worldwide. A description, photographs, and a molecular analysis of two DNA markers (ITS and LSU) are presented.

Keywords

• Hypogeous fungi
• macrofungi
• Pezizaceae
• tropical