Taxonomy and phylogeny of polypores with ganodermatoid basidiospores (Ganodermataceae)

Polypores with complex double-walled basidiospores with a pigmented endosporium ornamented with columns or ridges and a smooth hyaline exosporium are usually classified in the Ganodermataceae. Although the family presents well-delimited morphological features, recent phylogenetic studies have raised divergent evidences about its monophyly. In order to clarify uncertainties of generic delimitation and classification of the group and test its monophyly, morphological analysis and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on Internal Transcribed Spacer, nuclear 28S rDNA, and portions of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II and translation elongation factor 1-alpha were carried out. The main outcomes of the study are (i) Ganodermataceae is recovered as monophyletic, (ii) Amaurodermellus is proposed to accommodate the neotropical Amauroderma ovisporum, (iii) Cristataspora is proposed to accommodate two former species of Ganoderma - G. coffeatum and G. flaviporum - with pale context and truncate basidiospores with endosporic ornamentation as ridges. Comments on other species of Ganodermataceae are also presented.