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Molecular and morphological studies reveal a new species of Panaeolus (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) from Punjab, Pakistan

Muhammad Asif, Qudsia Firdous, Aiman Izhar, Abdul Rehman Niazi, Samina Sarwar, Abdul Nasir Khalid

European Journal of Taxonomy August 10, 2023 DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.888.2215 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Taxonomic and phylogenetic study Peer reviewed
Population Panaeolus punjabensis specimens collected from Bahawalnagar, Kasur, and Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Citations 7
Key points Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 28S rDNA sequences indicate that Panaeolus punjabensis, collected from three localities in Punjab, Pakistan, is a distinct new species forming a well-supported clade. The authors describe it as potentially hallucinogenic and distinguish it by a parabolic pileus with a light brown center, broadly fusiform basidiospores, presence of cheilocystidia, pileocystidia, and caulocystidia, and absence of pleurocystidia and clamp connections.

Abstract

Panaeolus punjabensis M. Asif, Q. Firdous, A. Izhar, Niazi & Khalid sp. nov. was collected from three different localities (Bahawalnagar, Kasur, and Lahore) in Punjab, Pakistan. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear encoded internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of large subunit (28S) rDNA confirmed the taxonomic distinctness of this species. The new species is potentially hallucinogenic and characterized by a parabolic pileus with a light brown center, broadly fusiform basidiospores, presence of cheilocystidia, pileocystidia, and caulocystidia, and absence of pleurocystidia and clamp connections. The DNA sequences of the species clustered together in a well-supported distinct clade. We present a detailed description, photographs, and line drawings, and elucidate and discuss the phylogenetic position of the new species. Morphological comparisons with phylogenetically and morphologically allied species are discussed.