Rickiella edulis and its phylogenetic relationships within Sarcoscyphaceae

Abstract

Rickiella edulis se registra por primera vez para la Argentina y se documenta a través de fotografías de materiales frescos y de datos moleculares. Originalmente la especie fue conocida como R. transiens (= Phillipsia transiens) y registrada para Brasil y Paraguay. Análisis filogenéticos basados en los marcadores SSU y LSU muestran su ubicación en la familia monofilética, Sarcoscyphaceae. Sin embargo, las relaciones entre los géneros Rickiella, Phillipsia y Nanoscypha no se pudieron resolver a partir del análisis filogenético basados en los marcadores de ITS, SSU y LSU rDNA. Las características particulares del excípulo de Rickiella, lacunoso y con cavidades, lo diferencian de Phillipsia. Phillipsia y Nanoscypha son morfológicamente distinguibles pero la diversidad dentro de Phillipsia es un tema para futuras investigaciones. Se propone una nueva tribu dentro de Sarcoscyphaceae para acomodar el género Wynnea.

Rickiella edulis is reported from Argentina for the first time and is documented with photographs of fresh specimens and molecular data. Previously the species was known as R. transiens (= Phillipsia transiens) and was reported from southern Brazil and Paraguay. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA and LSU rDNA shows its placement in a monophyletic family, the Sarcoscyphaceae. The relationship of Rickiella, Phillipsia and Nanoscypha however could not be resolved from phylogenetic analyses of the ITS, SSU, and LSU rDNA sequences. The excipular tissue of Rickiella is shot through with regularly spaced channels and cavities. Because of this feature, the genus Rickiella is recognized as distinct from Phillipsia. Phillipsia and Nanoscypha are morphologically distinct but diversity within Phillipsia remains a topic for further research. A new tribe in the Sarcoscyphaceae is proposed to accommodate the genus Wynnea.