Termite mutualistic symbiosis with edible fungus – Termitomyces (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)

The genus <em>Termitomyces </em>R. Heim is of significant importance both economically and ecologically. It is cultivated by termites of the subfamily Macrotermitinae and is widely distributed in Africa and Asia. However, there is limited understanding of <em>Termitomyces </em>species due to insufficient morphological descriptions and a lack of DNA sequence data. Moreover, the misuse of <em>Termitomyces </em>names has contributed to confusion regarding the taxonomy of <em>Termitomyces </em>species. In this study, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on species of <em>Termitomyces</em>, we examined 131 collections, including 44 Chinese, 51 Thailand and 36 specimens were obtained on loan from the Herbarium, the diversity of <em>Termitomyces </em>in China and Thailand are evaluated by employing both morphological and phylogenetic analysis. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis was performed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mtSSU), partial nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU), partial second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (<em>rpb2</em>), translation elongation factor 1-a (<em>tef1-a</em>) and minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (<em>mcm7</em>). A total of 500 sequences were used in the phylogenetic analyses, of which 411 were newly generated, including 67 sequences of ITS, 76 sequences of nrLSU, 77 sequences of mrSSU, 68 sequences of <em>rpb2</em>, 60 sequence of <em>tef1 </em>and 63 sequences of <em>mcm7</em>. Sixty-four species of <em>Termitomyces </em>are treated in this study, including 16 novel species and 49 known taxa, and 16 new <em>Termitomyces </em>species were found in China and Thailand, <em>viz.</em>, <em>Termitomyces brunneocarpu</em>, <em>T. jizongjun</em>, <em>T. longicystidiatus</em>, <em>T. longipes</em>, <em>T. microcarpoides</em>, <em>T. miniatofloccosus</em>, <em>T. miniatoumbonatus</em>, <em>T. mutabilis</em>, <em>T. niveus</em>, <em>T. pseudobulborhizus</em>, <em>T. rubripes</em>, <em>T. stramineus</em>, <em>T. thailandicus</em>, <em>T. torosus</em>, <em>T. umbrosus</em> and <em>T. zangmui</em>, a key <em>Termitomyces </em>species, molecular phylogenies, a summary of species diversity, description and illustrate are provided.