A taxonomic study of Fulvifomes (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) in the Federated States of Micronesia and identification of two new species

Abstract

Fulvifomes (Hymenochaetaceae) is a genus that was separated from Phellinus in the early 2000s based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large ribosomal subunit (nLSU) analyses. Species recognition in the genus is challenging without molecular analysis due to general absence of discrete morphological characteristics. In this study, we examined Fulvifomes diversity in the Federated States of Micronesia (FS Micronesia), primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions. Seven Fulvifomes species were confirmed: two new species, one unrecorded species and four species previously reallocated to Fulvifomes from other genera. We provide sequences including data on two protein-coding genes (RNA polymerase II; RPB2 and translation elongation factor-1 alpha; TEF1), nLSU and different conspecific ITS types.