Molecular phylogeny uncovers an overlooked species in the macrolichen family Parmeliaceae (Ascomycota) from India

Abstract

Several obligately sexualy reproducing lichen-forming fungal species are disjunctly distributed in pantropical regions. Here, we aim to re-examine species boundaries within the sexually reproducing, disjunctly distributed species, Hypotrachyna intercalanda. We gathered a three-locus DNA sequence data set of Hypotrachyna subgen. Parmelinopsis, especially including the samples from India, and these data were analysed in a phylogenetic framework. Our results show that specimens of H. intercalanda, as currently circumscribed, do not form a monophyletic group but fall into two well-supported independent clades. Morphological and chemical features were re-evaluated. Corroborating with the phenotypic features, the sample recovered in clade 2 occurring in southern India are described as a new species, viz. Hypotrachyna upretii Divakar and A. Crespo sp. nov. Our study adds a further example of a previously overlooked, geographically distinct, lineage that was uncovered using molecular data. Additionally, our study underlines the need of critical reexamination of phenotypic features of samples falling into different clades.