Phylogenetic analysis shows that Pyrenula (Pyrenulaceae) diversity is larger than expected: three new species and one new record discovered in China

Abstract

The lichenised fungal genus Pyrenula is a very common crustose lichen element in tropical to subtropical forests, but little research has been done on this genus in China. We carried out an integrative taxonomic study on Pyrenula in China using morphological, anatomical, chemical characters, and molecular data (ITS, nuLSU, mtSSU). Three new species with muriform ascospores containing red oil when over-mature were found: Pyrenula submacularis sp. nov., P. yunguiensis sp. nov. and P. rufotetraspora sp. nov. Molecular data and TLC results of P. macularis and P. breutelii are for the first time reported and show that they are not synonyms. This is the first report of P. breutelii in China. Contrary to the previous reports of this genus, we found lichen substances in all the five species in this study, seemingly terpenoids. A key for the Pyrenula species reported in China is provided.