Analysis of morphological, ecological and molecular characters of Russula pectinatoides Peck and Russula praetervisa Sarnari, with a description of the new taxon Russula recondite Melera & Ostellari

Melera, S and Ostellari, C and Roemer, N and Avis, PG and Tonolla, Mauro and Barja, François and Narduzzi-Wicht, B (2017) Analysis of morphological, ecological and molecular characters of Russula pectinatoides Peck and Russula praetervisa Sarnari, with a description of the new taxon Russula recondite Melera & Ostellari. Mycological Progress, 16 (2). pp. 117-134.

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Abstract

Fetid Russulas belong to a homogeneous group including species with an unclear taxonomic classification. In particular, the correct interpretation of Russula pectinatoides Peck has remained unresolved, due to the reference collection deposited by C. H. Peck in 1906 consisting of poorly described specimens which were morphologically attributed to at least two different species by subsequent mycologists. Another species considered emblematic is R. praetervisa Sarnari, because it is closely related to R. pectinatoides, from which it was separated on the basis of the morphology of European samples found in Mediterranean habitats. In this paper, we review the interpretation of R. pectinatoides and R. praetervisa according to different authors, and we discuss the taxonomic status of these taxa in the light of molecular analyses carried out on Peck’s reference specimens (n = 3) and 181 samples archived in European and American museums. Sequences of ITS1-5.8S ribosomal RNA-ITS2 regions indicated that R. pectinatoides reference samples deposited by Peck consisted of at least three different species. R. praetervisa was supported as an independent taxon, as it was molecularly distinct from other fetid Russulas. The analysis of museum samples revealed the necessity to describe the species to which in Europe the name R. pectinatoides is commonly applied as a new species, named R. recondita Melera & Ostellari.

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