Morphological and DNA-based Classification of Cyathus sp. Isolates from Thailand (Basidiomycota, Nidulariaceae)

Cyathus sp. isolates from three areas in Thailand (Khon Kaen University, Nam Nao National Park and Phu Ruea, Loei Province) were morphologically characterized by their peridiocarp, peridioles and basidiospores. This allowed to assign most isolates to five Cyathus species: C. berkeleyanus, C. earlei, C. pallidus, C. stercoreus and C. striatus. Phylogenetic analysis of ribosomal ITS sequence data yielded three groups of Cyathus isolates and unidentified species group. The Pallidum group including KKUNN1, is closely related to C. berkeleyanus (DQ463355.1), KKUITN2 (KU202745) and KKUITN3 (KU202751) are closely related to C. pallidus (DQ463356.1). The Ollum group includes C. africanus and C. hookeri. the Striatum group, such as KKUITP2 (KU202744) and KKUITP3 (KU202743) are closely related to C. stercoreus (DQ463356.1). The LSU sequence data suggest that KKULN2 and KKULN3 are closely related to C. pallidus (DQ463336.1), whereas KKULP2 and KKULP3 are closely related to C. stercoreus.