Leucangium microspermum: Re-examination of Japanese L. carthusianum reveals its taxonomic novelty

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Yamamoto K, Sasaki H, Ohmae M, Orihara T (2020) Truffology 3(1): 1–7
Submitted: 8 January 2020
Accepted: 23 March 2020
Published: 31 March 2020

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Abstract

The genus Leucangium (Morchellaceae, Pezizales) is a truffle-like ascomycete that includes the type species L.
carthusianum
from Europe and North America, as well as a variety from China. Two specimens collected from
subalpine conifer forests in Hokkaido in 2004 and 2011 are the only records of the genus in Japan. Since they
were identified as L. carthusianum without detailed examination, in-depth morphological observation and
phylogenetic analysis were necessary to confirm their taxonomic placement. In this study, we critically reexamined the Japanese specimens. Morphologically, the length of ascospores of the Japanese L. carthusianum
was found to be much shorter than that indicated by the original descriptions of the type species and its variety.
Phylogenetic analyses based on two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions showed significant genetic divergence
between the Japanese specimens and other specimens of L. carthusianum, including the variety from China.
Accordingly, we described the second species of the genus Leucangium, L. microspermum, more than a century
after the establishment of the genus.

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