Six new species and two new records of <i>Morchella</i> in China using phylogenetic and morphological analyses

Abstract

In this paper, species of the genus <i>Morchella</i> are investigated in China. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and the combined data set ITS + nuclear large subunit rDNA (28S) + the translation elongation factor 1-α (<i>TEF1</i>) gene + RNA polymerase II first largest subunit (<i>RPB1</i>) + RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (<i>RPB2</i>), six new phylogenetic species are illustrated and described: <i>M. clivicola, M. confusa, M. odonnellii, M. owneri, M. yangii</i>, and <i>M. yishuica</i>. Furthermore, two new record species, <i>M. dunensis</i> and <i>M. palazonii</i>, which were only known in Europe, are now reported for the first time from Asia. New species of morels will provide additional information on species diversity and genetic resource candidates for improving the cultivation of this economically important fungus.