Ireneia Melo

Megasporia insularis and Porogramme principes are described as new species based on morphological and molecular data of specimens collected on the Island of Príncipe (São Tomé and Príncipe Archipelago). Megasporia insularis is characterized by the hymenophore with large regular pores, a di-trimitic hyphal system with strongly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, apically acuminate hyphal endings at the dissepiments edges, presence of dendrohyphidia, and large, subcylindrical basidiospores. Our phylogenetic analyses of the ITS-nLSU-mtSSU-RPB1-RPB2-TEF regions support the placement of M. insularis within an inclusive clade containing the redefined Megasporia. Porogramme principes has small irregular pores, a dimitic hyphal system with weakly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, and small, oblong-ellipsoid basidiospores. The phylogenetic analyses of Porogramme and related genera place P. principes, together Grammothele taiwanensis, in a supported clade sister to P. subargentea, and separate from the species clade Grammothele s.str. Therefore, we propose to combine the species G. taiwanensis as Porogramme taiwanensis. Illustrations of these two novel species and updated keys to Megasporia and Porogramme genera are provided.

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11^th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.

(2015). New national and regional bryophyte records, 44. Journal of Bryology: Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 228-241.

The genus Brevicellicium encompasses wood-inhabiting corticioid fungi characterized by isodiametric subhymenial hyphae, short basidia, and smooth, often subangular spores with a distinct apiculus. Eight new LSU nrDNA sequences and 13 new ITS nrDNA of this genus, including the type species, were aligned with 47 and 42 accessions respectively of species of Trechisporales obtained from GenBank, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. The order Trechisporales was confirmed as a monophyletic group; the genera Porpomyces, Sistotremastrum, Subulicystidium and Trechispora form a highly supported clade where all Brevicellicium sequences are included. Our analyses also support that this genus belongs to Hydnodontaceae. A new species, Brevicellicium atlanticum from the Azores Archipelago, is described.

The first Italian record of Steccherinum straminellum is reported from Sicily.\ud This collection represents the first record on wood of broadleaved trees. A description and\ud line drawing of the species based on the Sicilian specimens are provided along with notes on\ud the taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of this rare taxon