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Research Article
Descolea quercina (Bolbitiaceae), a new species from moist temperate forests in Pakistan
expand article infoJunaid Khan‡, Hassan Sher‡, Arooj Naseer§, Abdul Nasir Khalid§
‡ University of Swat, Swat, Pakistan
§ University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Corresponding author: Junaid Khan ( junaid.botany@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Kentaro Hosaka
© 2017 Junaid Khan, Hassan Sher, Arooj Naseer, Abdul Nasir Khalid.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Khan J, Sher H, Naseer A, Khalid AN (2017) Descolea quercina (Bolbitiaceae), a new species from moist temperate forests in Pakistan. MycoKeys 27: 65-76. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.27.14730
Open Access

Abstract

A new species, Descolea quercina, is described and illustrated from Northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is characterized by medium to large basidiomata, squamose to squamose-granulose hygrophanous pileus, and limoniform, verrucose basidiospores with partly concrescent verrucae. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S) also confirmed it as a new species. A comparison with similar taxa is provided.

Keywords

Basidiomycota , ectomycorrhiza, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Descolea Singer was based on D. antarctica Singer, which has agaricoid basidiomata with an annulus, thus resembling Rozites or Pholiotina spp. (Horak 1971). Descolea is currently placed in the Bolbitiaceae (Kirk et al. 2008) and is characterized by dry to viscid pileus with or without squamules, central stipe with striated annulus, ochraceous spore deposit, amygdaliform to limoniform, verrucose basidiospores with a smooth apiculus, and a hymeniform pileipellis (Horak 1971). Descolea was once considered to be restricted to the southern hemisphere, however, the known 15 species (Sharma and Kumar 2011) have a wide geographical distribution (Australia, India, Japan, Korea, New Guinae, New Zealand, Pakistan, Siberia, South America) (Horak 1971; Bougher and Malajczuk 1985; Niazi et al. 2007). From Pakistan, only D. flavoannulata (Lj.N. Vassiljeva) E. Horak was reported to date. During our macrofungal surveys, we collected a rare and interesting species of Descolea from two locations in Northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The species appeared unique and based on discrete morphological characteristics and sequences derived from nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S), it is described here as new to science.

Materials and methods

Collection and morphological characterization

Collections were made on routine mycological visits to the moist temperate Quercus dominated mixed forests of Malam Jabba (Swat district) and Toa valley (Shangla district), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Basidiomata were collected following Lodge et al. (2004) and photographed in their natural habitats. Descriptions of the macro-characters are based on fresh collections and colored photographs. Color codes follow Munsell soil color charts (1975) and are presented in parenthesis after common color names.

Microscopic characters are based on free hand sections from fresh and dried specimens mounted in 5% (w/v) aqueous Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) solution. Measurements of anatomical structures are based on calibrated computer based software “PIXIMÈTRE version 5.9” connected to a compound microscope (BOECO, Model: BM120) and visualized through a microscopic camera (MVV 3000). A total of twenty basidiospores, basidia, cystidia and hyphae were measured from all the collections. For measurements; Q is the range of length/width (L/W) ratio of the total measured basidiospores; Qe is the average L/W ratio of all the measured basidiospores; Me is the average L × W of all the measured basidiospores. Surface of the basidiospores was studied both in 5% KOH solution and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

DNA extraction

DNA from herbarium specimens was extracted following the procedure mentioned in Peintner et al. (2001). A primer pair ITS1F (Gardes and Bruns 1993) and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) was used to amplify the ITS region and primer pair LR5 and LR0R (Vilgaly’s lab http://sites.biology.duke.edu/fungi/mycolab/primers.htm) was used to amplify the 28S region. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed in 25 µL volume per reaction. PCR procedure for ITS region consisted of initial 4 minutes denaturation at 94°C, 40 cycles of 1 minute at 94°C, 1 min at 55°C, 1 min at 72°C, and a final extension of 10 minutes at 72°C. PCR procedure for 28S region consisted of initial denaturation at 94°C for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94°C for 1 minute, 52°C for 1 minute, 72°C for 1 minute, and final extension at 72°C for 7 minutes. Visualization of PCR products were accomplished using 1% agarose gel added with 3 µL ethidium bromide and a UV illuminator. Sequencing of the amplified products was accomplished through outsourcing (BGI, Beijing Genomic Institute, Hong Kong).

Phylogenetic analyses

The ITS region of the voucher collections MJ-1590, MJ-1590a and AST33 yielded a 725, 732 and 735 bp fragments respectively. Sequences of all the three specimens were used as a reference to BLAST against GenBank. All the query sequences matched 88% with Descolea phlebophora E. Horak (HQ533035) and D. recedens (Sacc.) Singer (KU523938) from New Zealand. Sequences of other genera, Descomyces Bougher & Castellano, Timgrovea Bougher & Castellano and Setchelliogaster Pouzar, were also downloaded for high similarity with query sequences and used in the subsequent phylogenetic analyses. Hebeloma fastibile (Pers.) P. Kumm (AF325643) and H. circinans (Quél.) Sacc. (JF908041) were selected as outgroup taxa (Peintner et al. 2001).

The 28S region yielded a 958 bp fragment for MJ-1590 and AST33, while the third collection (MJ-1590a) yielded a noisy sequence which was not included in the final analyses. The query sequences on blast showed 99% similarity with Descolea recedens (Sacc.) Singer (HQ827174), Descolea maculata Bougher (DQ457664) and Descolea gunnii (Berk. ex Massee) E. Horak (AF261523) from USA. Based on high similarity with query sequences, some unknown Descomyces species were also included in the phylogenetic analyses. Hebeloma fastibile (AY033139) and H. affine Smith, Evenson & Mitchel (FJ436324) were used as outgroup taxa.

DNA Sequences were aligned using online webPRANK tool at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/goldman-srv/webprank/ (Löytynoja and Goldman 2010). Maximum likelihood analyses for individual gene regions were performed via CIPRES Science Gateway (Miller et al. 2010) employing RAxML-HPC v.8. Rapid bootstrap analysis/search for best-scoring ML tree was configured for each dataset. For the bootstrapping phase, the GTRCAT model was selected. One thousand rapid bootstrap replicates were run. A bootstrap proportion of ≥ 70% was considered significant. Maximum parsimony (MP) analyses were performed using PAUP* 4.0b (Swofford 2002), with all characters of type unordered and equally weighted. Gaps were treated as missing data. Heuristic searches were performed with 1000 replicates with random taxon addition. MAXTREES was set to 5000 with MulTrees option in effect and TBR branch swapping. All characters were of type ‘unord’ and equally weighted.

Results

Molecular phylogenetic analyses

The ITS based analysis involved 27 nucleotide sequences. There were a total of 694 characters in the alignment file of which 345 characters were constant, 45 variable characters were parsimony-uninformative while 304 variable characters were parsimony-informative. The tree resulting from the ITS based ML analysis (Fig. 1) was similar to the MP. The distribution of Descolea species among different clades is in conformity with Peintner et al. (2001). The sequences from the Pakistani collections (MJ-1590, MJ-1590a and AST33) formed a separate clade with robust bootstrap support (ML 100% and MP 71%), supporting its independent position.

Figure 1. 

Phylogenetic relationship of Descolaea quercina and associated taxa inferred from ITS data. All positions with less than 70% site coverage were eliminated. Maximum likelihood and Maximum parsimony Bootstraps are shown close to the nodes. Descolea quercina is represented in boldface

The 28S based analysis involved 17 nucleotide sequences with a total of 941 characters, out of which 867 characters were constant, 16 variable characters were parsimony-uninformative and 58 variable characters were parsimony-informative. The ML phylogram (Fig. 2) was found congruent with MP phylogram (not shown). The sequences from Pakistani collections (MJ-1590 and AST33) formed a separate clade (Fig. 2), with was poorly supported by bootstrap values (ML 71% and MP 73 %), but tree topologies further support its unique position.

Figure 2. 

Phylogenetic relationship of Descolaea quercina and associated taxa inferred from 28S data. All positions with less than 70% site coverage were eliminated. Maximum likelihood and Maximum parsimony Bootstraps are shown by the nodes. Descolea quercina is represented in boldface.

Taxonomy

Descolea quercina J. Khan & A. Naseer, sp. nov.

MycoBank No: 820545
Figures 3, 4, 5

Type

PAKISTAN. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Swat district, Malam Jabba valley, 1950 m alt., 25 July 2015, Junaid Khan, MJ-1590, (holotype: SWAT000135).

Diagnosis

Basidiomata medium to large, pileus convex to convex-campanulate with a broad umbo in young stages, light yellowish brown to deep yellowish brown, surface dry, hygrophanous, squamose to squamose-granulose with striate margin; basidiospores limoniform, coarsely verrucose with partly concrescent verrucae.

Figure 3. 

a–e Basidiomata of Descolea quercina sp.nov. a, b AST33 c, d MJ-1590 (Holotype) e Natural habitat (MJ-1590a). Scale bars 12mm for a, b; 40 mm for c–e

Description

Pileus 50–70 mm diameter, convex to convex-campanulate with a broad umbo when young, plane to plano-concave by maturity, light yellowish brown (7.5YR 7/4) to deep yellowish brown (10YR 3/8) with or without olivaceous tinge, surface hygrophanous, squamose to squamose-granulose, scales more or less concentrically arranged, loose, disappearing in age, margin striate; context strong yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), moist, thicker at the center (2–3 mm), color unchanging upon cutting. Lamellae adnexed, close, light grayish brown (7.5YR 6/4) in young specimens, yellowish brown in mature specimens (7.5YR 7/4), lamellar edge even, lamellulae present, mostly 3 in number, rarely single, often crisped at terminals, some lamellae forking near the stipe. Stipe 50–70 × 8–12 mm, central, thickening towards base, light yellowish brown (7.5 YR 7/4) to strong yellowish brown (10YR 4/8) and smooth above the ring , yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and longitudinally fibrillose below the annulus; annulus membranous, concolorous with the lamellae, strongly striate on the upper surface, smooth to slightly scaly below, margin appendiculate; context fibrous, interior hollow at the center, flesh whitish above the annulus, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) below, moist. Smell and taste rancid when cut.

Basidiospores (10–) 11.5–13 (–14) × (6.5–) 6.7–8.6 (–9) µm, Q = 1.4–1.7 (–1.9), Me = 12.0 × 7.9 µm, Qe = 1.5, limoniform, with prominent papilla, coarsely verrucose, verrucae partly concrescent, with prominent smooth apiculus, perispore distinct, without germ-pore, plage smooth, rust brown in KOH. Basidia 25–40 × 8–12 µm, clavate, tetra-sterigmated, rarely bi sterigmated, sterigmata 3–5 µm long, with clamp connections at the bases. Cheilocystidia 40–45 × 10–15 µm, broadly clavate to clavate, some with acute apices 4–6 µm long. Pleurocystidia similar to cheilocystidia, lanceolate to clavate, some with sub-acute to sub-capitate apices, appendix longer (6–8 µm) than with cheilocystidia. Pileipellis a hymeniform layer, consisting of broadly clavate, clavate to fusiform elements, 20–25 × 10–20 µm, strongly encrusted with golden brown pigment. Hyphae of the universal veil thin walled, cylindrical, 3–6 µm in diameter, strongly encrusted with golden brown pigment, clamp connections present.

Figure 4. 

a–d Basidiospores of Descolea quercina (MJ-1590) a, bSEMc, d in KOH solution. Scale bars 10 µm for a, c, d; 2 µm for b.

Known distribution

PAKISTAN, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Swat district, Malam Jabba valley, Kishawra village. PAKISTAN Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Shangla district, Toa valley.

Ecology

Associated with Quercus species. Season July-August

Etymology

The epithet “quercina” refers to association of this taxon with Quercus species.

Conservation status

The species is very rare and is currently reported from two locations in the districts of Shangla and Swat in the northern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Additional specimens examined

Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Shangla district, Toa valley, 2000 m alt., among decomposing litter under Quercus incana, 15 July 2015, Arooj Naseer, AST33, (LAH35218). Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Swat district, Malam Jabba valley, 1900 m alt., on soil under Quercus dilatata Royle, 25 July 2015, Junaid Khan, MJ-1590a, (LAH35219).

Figure 5. 

a–e Microscopic structures of Descolea quercina (Holotype): a, b Pileipellis c Basidia d Cheilocystidia e Pleurocystidia. Scale bars 13 µm for a, b; 16 µm for c–e.

Discussion

Descolea quercina is characterized by medium to large basidiomata, with light yellowish brown to deep yellowish brown color, hygrophanous and squamose to squamose-granulose pileus, light brown to yellowish brown stipe with strongly striated annulus and fibrillose base, and limoniform, coarsely verrucose basidiospores with a smooth apiculus covering the partly concrescent verrucae.

Morphologically, D. quercina and D. pretiosa E. Horak, resemble each other, in particular because of similar sized basidiomata, color, and limoniform basidiospores. However, D. pretiosa differs from D. quercina by its strongly scaly pileus, somewhat larger basidiospores (12–14.5 × 7–8 µm) with isolated warts, and habitat under conifers (Horak 1971). Descolea majestatica E. Horak, because of similar size, color, and strongly warted basidiospores with a plage could also be misidentified as D. quercina. However, D. majestatica is easily differentiable by its slimy pileus lacking squamules and larger (12.5–15 × 7–8 µm), amygdaliform basidiospores (Horak 1971). Based on these differences and phylogenetic evidence D. majestatica recently was transferred to Cortinarius, C. majestaticus (E. Horak) T.P. Anderson & Orlovich (Anderson and Orlovich 2016). Descolea flavoannulata (Lj.N. Vassiljeva) E. Horak, another large-sized taxon already reported from Pakistan (Niazi et al. 2007), resembles D. quercina by somewhat similar basidiomata colors and limoniform basidospores, however, it has a radially wrinkled pileus and larger basidiospores (12–16 × 8–9 µm) without plage.

Based on phylogenetic evidence, D. quercina is sister to a clade circumscribing D. maculata, D. gunnii and D. recedens. Descolea maculata also has a pileus with appressed squamulae, similar colored basidiomata, and basidiospores of almost the same size (10–13 × 6–7.5 µm). But D. maculata has a rippled or wrinkled pileus surface and amygdaliform to sublimoniform basidiospores, which are minutely verrucose (Bougher and Malajczuk 1985). Comparison of D. quercina with other closely related species is given in Table 1.

Table 1.
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Morphological comparison of Descolea quercina with morphologically similar species.

Characters/ Species Size of fruiting body Color Surface features Size and shape of basidiospores Ornamentation Associated with
D. quercina sp. nov. Pileus 50–70mm, stipe 50–70 × 8–12 mm Light yellowish brown to deep yellowish brown with or without olivaceous tinge Squamose to squamose-granulose, margin striated 11.5–13 × 6.7–8.6 µm, Q = 1.5, limoniform Coarsely verrucose, verrucae partly concrescent Quercus
D. flavoannulata (Lj.N. Vassiljeva) E. Horak. Pileus 50–80 mm, stipe 60–100 × 7–10 mm Melleous ocher to dark brown Radially wrinkled, sprinkled with concentrically arranged, small, floccose scales 12–16 × 8–9 µm , limoniform Coarsely verrucose Castanopsis, Larix, Pinus, Quercus
D. gunnii (Berk. ex Massee) E. Horak Pileus 10–45 mm, stipe 15–60 × 1.5–7 mm Dark brown to ochraceus Densely appressed fibrillose-squamulose, striated at the margin, 9.5–12 × 6–7 µm, sub–limoniform Verrucose with smooth mucro Leptospermum, Nothofagus
D. pallida E. Horak Pileus 10–40 mm, stipe 20–60 × 2–5 mm Yellowish to reddish-brownish Distinctly slimy, radially wrinkled, striated at the margin 10–13 × 5–6.5 µm, amygdaliform–limoniform Isolated minute warts Nothofagus
D. phlebophora E. Horak Pileus 10–30 mm, stipe 30–70 × 2–6 mm, Reddish brown to liver brown Deeply wrinkled at the center and radially veined, striate near the margin, veil remnants absent 8–11.5 × 5–6 µm, amygdaliform Minutely warted Nothofagus
D. pretiosa E. Horak Pileus 70–85 mm, stipe 75–80 × 11–13 mm Fuscous with slight olivaceous tinge to date brown when moist, becoming rich brownish ochraceous with olivaceous tinge Strongly rugulose, with small, floccose, loose scales 12–14.5 × 7–8 µm, limoniform Strongly verrucose by isolated warts Abies, Picea, Pinus, Taxus
Cortinarius majestaticus (E. Horak) T.P. Andreson & Orlovich Pileus 30–70 mm, stipe 40–80 × 8–15 mm Dark brown with a olive-greenish tinge Slimy, without squamules, margin striated and there wrinkled 12.5–15 × 7–8 µm, amygdaliform Strongly warted Nothofagus

Descolea quercina is a striking new species associated with Quercus in temperate areas of Pakistan. The ecology and biogeography of this species are particularly significant since most Descolea species associated with Fagaceae are native to the Southern hemisphere (New-Zealand, Australia, South America). The only known Descolea species associated with Quercus or Castanopsis and occurring in the Northern hemisphere are now D. flavoannulata and D. quercina.

Acknowledgments

The authors are highly thankful to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) for their financial support under NRPU project. We are also indebted to Prof. Dr. Ursula Peintner (Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck) and Dr. Shah Hussain (Center for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Pakistan) for their pre-submission review and technical suggestions for shaping this manuscript.

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