Two Novel Species of <i>Talaromyces</i> Discovered in a Karst Cave in the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark of Southern Thailand

Karst caves are oligotrophic environments that appear to support a high diversity of fungi. Studies of fungi in Thailand’s caves are limited. During a 2019 exploration of the mycobiota associated with soil samples from a karst cave, namely, Phu Pha Phet in the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark in Satun Pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Salilaporn Nuankaew, Charuwan Chuaseeharonnachai, Sita Preedanon, Sayanh Somrithipol, Supicha Saengkaewsuk, Papichaya Kwantong, Sarinya Phookongchai, Prasert Srikitikulchai, Noppol Kobmoo, Xin-Cun Wang, Zhi-Feng Zhang, Lei Cai, Satinee Suetrong, Nattawut Boonyuen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/8/825
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Summary:Karst caves are oligotrophic environments that appear to support a high diversity of fungi. Studies of fungi in Thailand’s caves are limited. During a 2019 exploration of the mycobiota associated with soil samples from a karst cave, namely, Phu Pha Phet in the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark in Satun Province, southern Thailand, two previously undescribed fungi belonging to <i>Talaromyces</i> (<i>Trichocomaceae</i>, <i>Eurotiales</i>, <i>Eurotiomycetes</i>) were studied using a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic and molecular data. Based on datasets of four loci (ITS, <i>BenA</i>, <i>CaM</i>, and <i>RPB2</i>), phylogenetic trees of the section <i>Trachyspermi</i> were constructed, and two new species—<i>Talaromyces phuphaphetensis</i> sp. nov. and <i>T. satunensis</i> sp. nov.—phylogenetically related to <i>T. subericola, T. resinae,</i> and <i>T. brasiliensis,</i> are described. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided. This study increases the number of cave-dwelling soil fungi discovered in Thailand’s Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, which appears to be a unique environment with a high potential for discovering fungal species previously undescribed.
ISSN:2309-608X