Pieter P. G. van den Boom

Implementing a cumulative supermatrix approach for a comprehensive phylogenetic study of the Teloschistales (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota)

The resolution of the phylogenetic relationships within the order Teloschistales (Ascomycota, lichen-forming-fungi), with nearly 2000 known species and outstanding phenotypic diversity, has been hindered by the limitation in the resolving power that single-locus or two-locus phylogenetic studies have provided to date. In this context, an extensive taxon sampling within the Teloschistales with more loci (especially nuclear protein-coding genes) was needed to confront the current taxonomic delimitations and to understand evolutionary trends within this order. Comprehensive maximum likelihood and bayesian analyses were performed based on seven loci using a cumulative supermatrix approach, including protein-coding genes RPB1 and RPB2 in addition to nuclear and mitochondrial ribosomal RNA-coding genes. We included 167 taxa representing 12 of the 15 genera recognized within the currently accepted Teloschistineae, 22 of the 43 genera within the Physciineae, 49 genera of the closely related orders Lecanorales, Lecideales, and Peltigerales, and the dubiously placed family Brigantiaeaceae and genus Sipmaniella. Although the progressive addition of taxa (cumulative supermatrix approach) with increasing amounts of missing data did not dramatically affect the loss of support and resolution, the monophyly of the Teloschistales in the current sense was inconsistent, depending on the loci-taxa combination analyzed. Therefore, we propose a new, but provisional, classification for the re-circumscribed orders Caliciales and Teloschistales (previously referred to as Physciineae and Teloschistineae, respectively). We report here that the family Brigantiaeaceae, previously regarded as incertae sedis within the subclass Lecanoromycetidae, and Sipmaniella, are members of the Teloschistales in a strict sense. Within this order, one lineage led to the diversification of the mostly epiphytic crustose Brigantiaeaceae and Letrouitiaceae, with a circumpacific center of diversity and found mostly in the tropics. The other main lineage led to another epiphytic crustose family, mostly tropical, and with an Australasian center of diversity--the Megalosporaceae--which is sister to the mainly rock-inhabiting, cosmopolitan, and species rich Teloschistaceae, with a diversity of growth habits ranging from crustose to fruticose. Our results confirm the use of a cumulative supermatrix approach as a viable method to generate comprehensive phylogenies summarizing relationships of taxa with multi-locus to single locus data.

Briancoppinsia, a new coelomycetous genus of Arthoniaceae (Arthoniales) for the lichenicolous Phoma cytospora, with a key to this and similar taxa

Morphological, anatomical, chemical and molecular data suggest that a relatively common lichenicolous coelomycete on Lecanora conizaeoides is conspecific with Phoma cytospora, previously known only from parmelioid lichens, and that further populations on Cladonia and Pertusaria belong to the same species. This species is distinguished from Phoma by several taxonomically important characters and obviously represents a previously unrecognized genus, for which the name Briancoppinsia is introduced. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU and mtSSU sequences of isolates obtained in pure culture suggest that the new genus belongs to the Arthoniaceae (Arthoniales). This is the first obligate lichenicolous, non-lichenized anamorph confirmed to belong to the Arthoniales based on molecular data.

The obligately lichenicolous genus Lichenoconium represents a novel lineage in the Dothideomycetes.

Lichenicolous fungi are obligately lichen-associated organisms that have evolved many times throughout the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Approximately 20% of lichenicolous ascomycetes are recognized only from asexual (anamorphic) characteristics, so the phylogenetic position of many groups has never been resolved. Here we present the first molecular phylogeny of Lichenoconium, a genus of strictly asexual, obligately lichenicolous species with broad geographic distributions and diverse host ecologies. We obtained nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA sequences from fungal cultures isolated from four species in the genus, including a new species, Lichenoconium aeruginosum sp. nov., collected in France, Luxembourg and Netherlands. Our multilocus phylogeny supports the monophyly of fungi in the genus Lichenoconium, and places the genus in the Dothideomycetes, an ascomycete class made up mainly of saprobes and plant-associated endophytes and pathogens. There are only a few recognized groups of lichen-formers in the Dothideomycetes, but Lichenoconium is not supported as being closely related to any of these, nor to any other recognized order within the Dothideomycetes. Given that Lichenoconium is but one of over 100 genera of anamorphic lichenicolous fungi, most of which have never been studied phylogenetically, we suggest that asexual lichenicolous fungi may represent novel and evolutionarily significant phylogenetic groups in the Kingdom Fungi.

A large-scale phylogenetic revision of Roccellaceae (Arthoniales) reveals eight new genera

A two-locus phylogenetic hypothesis of the family Roccellaceae is presented based on data from the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nucLSU) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). This analysis includes 341 sequences (166 newly generated) and 180 specimens representing about 114 species. The genera Lecanactis, Roccellina, Schismatomma and Sigridea were found to be paraphyletic/polyphyletic. In order to make these groups monophyletic, the new genera Crocellina, Diromma, Gyrographa, Gyronactis, Ocellomma, Pseudoschismatomma, Psoronactis and Vigneronia are described. The genus Sagenidium is placed in synonymy with Lecanactis. The new species Enterographa incognita, Gyronactis asiatica and Lecanactis submollis are described. Several species of Opegrapha are transferred to the Roccellaceae. Sorediate morphs are recorded for the first time in the genus Syncesia.

Discovering the lichen diversity of a remote tropical island: working list of species collected on Reunion (Mascarene archipelago, Indian Ocean)

Abstract: van den Boom, P. P. G., Brand, M., Ertz, D., Kalb, K., Magain, N., Masson, D., Schiefelbein, U., Sipman, H. J. M. & Sérusiaux, E. 2011. Discovering the lichen diversity of a remote tropical island: working list of species collected on Reunion (Mascarene archipelago, Indian Ocean). — Herzogia 24: 325–349. 463 lichen taxa are reported from the island of Reunion (Mascarene archipelago) in the Indian Ocean. This report is based on extensive collections recently made by the authors or hosted in B and LG. A total of c. 600 species is estimated for the number of lichenized fungi present on the island; although this is a low figure for a varied tropical area, this is plausible due to its small size and remoteness. The significance of the lichen diversity of the island lays in its endemics, which need further study for a reliable assessment, and in the occurrence of a poorly known southern hemisphere element (“austral” species). The discovery of the following in Reunion is of special interest as it considerably enlarges their distribution range: Anzia corallophora, Caloplaca caesiosorediata, Coccocarpia delicatula, Fuscopannaria praetermissa, Gomphillus morchelloides, G. pedersenii, Gyalideopsis bispora, Heterodermia koyana, Hypotrachyna evansii, Lithogyalideopsis zeylandica, Lobaria asperula, Megaloblastenia marginiflexa var. dimota, Menegazzia capitata, Myeloconis erumpens and Pannaria squamulosa.

Some new Lecanora species from western and central Europe, belonging to the L. saligna group, with notes on related species

A revision of the Lecanora saligna -group is provided, based on specimens mainly from western and central Europe. Four new Lecanora species related to L. saligna are described: L. calabrica , L. coppinsii , L. pseudosarcopidoides and L. subsaligna , as well as a new variety, L. albellula var. macroconidiata . The species treated have in common relatively short and ± curved or bacilliform conidia and/or isousnic acid as a secondary metabolite. Species without isousnic acid, containing exclusively filiform conidia are excluded. Notes on various types of conidia (macroconidia, microconidia, mesoconidia and leptoconidia), morphology, ecology, chemistry and distribution are given and a key to the treated species is provided. Detailed descriptions are presented for eight related species in order to highlight the distinguishing characters.

The lichen genus Porina in Macaronesia, with descriptions of two new species

Detailed studies on the lichen genus Porina in Macaronesia have led to a reappraisal of the genuine identity of Porina atlantica (Erichsen) P. M. Jorg., a characteristic species that has previously been confused with P. guaranitica, P. heterospora, P. nucula, P. mastoidea or P. rhodostoma in the literature, and is here reported from Madeira, the Canary Islands, Ireland, France and Portugal. Two new species are described: P. effilata Brand & Serus. sp. nov. (known from Madeira, the Canary Islands, Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal) and P. ocoteae Brand & Serus. sp. nov. (restricted to La Palma, Canary Islands, and Sao Jorge in the Azores). Porina leptospora Nyl. is recognized at the species level, and P. isidiata Kalb & Hafellner is reduced into synonymy with P. atlantica. A key to all known species of Porina in Macaronesia is provided.

New or interesting lichen records from Guatemala I

Abstract Boom, P. P. G. van den, Elix, J. A. & Sipman, H. J. M.: New or interesting lichen records from Guatemala I. — Willdenowia 37: 363–375. — ISSN 0511-9618;

New or interesting lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract Boom P. P. G. van den: New or interesting lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). —Willdenowia 40: 359–367. — Online ISSN 1868–6397;

Endohyalina , the genus in the Physciaceae to accommodate the species of the Rinodina ericina -group

The genus Endohyalina is characterized by crustose, autonomous, or obligately lichenicolous thalli, lecideine apothecia with a hymenium often more or less inspersed with oil droplets and a brown hypothecium, Bacidia-type asci, small Dirinaria-type ascospores developing with type B ontogeny, bacilliform conidia and containing diploicin as the major secondary metabolite. The genus is based on four species previously included in Rinodina—R. ericina s. lat., R. insularis, R. interjecta and R. kalbii—and on two lichenicolous species from the Canary Islands described here as new, Endohyalina brandii and E. diederichii. The generic type, Endohyalina rappii, is reduced to synonymy with E. ericina whereas E. circumpallida is excluded from the genus and returned to Buellia s. lat. Except for the thalline growth form and the common lichenicolous habit, the diagnostic characters of Endohyalina are akin to those of Diploicia. New chemical data on Endohyalina insularis and E. kalbii are reported, and a simple method for determining the secondary chemistry of lichenicolous fungi is provided.