A new family of ant-associated fungi in Chaetothyriales
- Author(s)
- M Z Wang, R Belmonte-Lopes, T Pan, S A Ahmed, B P Rodrigues Lustosa, Y Quan, A M S Al-Hatmi, Veronika Mayer, H Voglmayr, M E Grisolia, B B J F de Souza Lima, V A Vicente, S Q Zhou, Y Cao, Y Q Kang, G S de Hoog
- Abstract
The order Chaetothyriales comprises the black yeasts and relatives, of which numerous species are prevalent as opportunists on human hosts. The present paper introduces a clade of species that live in ant nests inside hollow structures of tropical plants (so-called domatia) and their closest relatives. To clarify the evolutionary trajectory of the domatia-associated clade, molecular, morphological, and physiological data were analysed. The position of the domatia clade within the Chaetothyriales was assessed by phylogenetic analysis of ITS and LSU. Species delimitations were calculated and genealogical concordance performed with a dataset including the gene of the ribosomal operon, β-tubulin (BT2) and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RBP1). Genome sequencing allowed additional analysis of mating types, mitochondrial genomes, and estimation of a species tree based on the proteins of 770 single copy orthologous genes. A new family with two new genera in Chaetothyriales was introduced to accommodate the taxa from ant-inhabited domatia and a related clade of plant- and rock-colonizing species. The family is monophyletic and has strong statistical support. Although species delimitation criteria suggested the separation of more than 10 species in the domatia-clade, genealogical concordance of ribosomal and housekeeping gene markers indicated genetic exchange. Seven new species were delineated, with species also being characterized by phenotypic features of fungal colony morphology, micromorphology, physiology and ecology. However, intra-specific variability remained exceptionally large and did not always match with ecological and geographic data. It is hypothesized that the high degrees of intra- and interspecific variability of some of the clades acknowledged as separate species might be related to extended periods of molecular evolution. The newly described species seem to have their preferred habitat in tropical ant nests, and they have adapted to this specific environment. Ant-domatia provide a remarkable habitat rich in volatile chemicals, which could be tolerated by the fungi under study. The family is distantly related to the family Herpotrichiellaceae comprising numerous human-opportunistic species, where hydrocarbon tolerance has been hypothesized to play a role in black yeast evolution. Taxonomic novelties: New family: Domatiomycetaceae Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog. New genera: Domatiomyces Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Lapsomyces Meizhu Wang, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog. New species: Domatiomyces globalis Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Domatiomyces clavatus Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Domatiomyces catenatus Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Domatiomyces disarticulatus Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Domatiomyces pauciseptatus Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Domatiomyces germinans Meizhu Wang, Voglmayr, V.E. Mayer, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Lapsomyces furvus Meizhu Wang, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog. New combinations: Lapsomyces behniae (Crous) Meizhu Wang, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Lapsomyces hostae (Crous) Meizhu Wang, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog, Lapsomyces scillae (Deighton) Meizhu Wang, S.A. Ahmed & de Hoog. Citation: Wang MZ, Belmonte-Lopes R, Pan T, Ahmed SA, Rodrigues Lustosa BP, Quan Y, Al-Hatmi AMS, Mayer VE, Voglmayr H, Grisolia ME, de Souza Lima BBJF, Vicente VA, Zhou SQ, Cao Y, Kang YQ, de Hoog GS (2025). A new family of ant-associated fungi in Chaetothyriales. Studies in Mycology 110: 111-143. doi: 10.3114/sim.2024.110.02.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research
- External organisation(s)
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Education Department of Guizhou , Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China., Expertise Centre for Mycology of Radboudumc / CWZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands., Engineering Bioprocess and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil., Natural & Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman., Health Sciences College, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
- Journal
- STUDIES IN MYCOLOGY
- Volume
- 110
- Pages
- 111-143
- No. of pages
- 33
- ISSN
- 0166-0616
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3114/sim.2025.110.02
- Publication date
- 03-2025
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106008 Botany, 106012 Evolutionary research, 106024 Mycology, 106030 Plant ecology
- Keywords
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/9a9e141c-df0a-428e-b93c-c4247b2f3010