Taxonomic update of species closely related to Fulvifomes robiniae in America

Abstract

Fulvifomes robiniae is a parasitic polypore with distribution in temperate zones of North America. However, specimens morphologically similar to F. robiniae are found in other parts of the Americas. In addition, species such as F. cedrelae and F. coffeatoporus are related to F. robiniae in morphology. In this work, the type material of F. cedrelae, F. centroamericanus, F. coffeatoporus, F. krugiodendri, F. swieteniae and F. robiniae was revised. Furthermore, phylogenetic inferences of species studied were performed. Based on our results, F. swieteniae and F. centroamericanus are synonymized to F. cedrelae and F. krugiodendri to F. coffeatoporus. Also, F. cedrelae and F. coffeatoporus are confirmed as species distinct from F. robiniae based on molecular data and epitypes are selected. Additionally, specimens that resemble F. robiniae were found in northern Argentina and found to be a distinct new species, F. popoffii sp. nov., based on morphological, molecular, and ecological data. Illustrations, taxonomic analyses and discussion of selected species are presented, and a key to the Fulvifomes species is provided.