Elmerina and Protomerulius : novelties from Brazil based in morphological and molecular analyses

The poroid species of Auriculariales have been placed in Aporpium , Elmerina , Protodaedalea and Protomerulius and include resupinate, effused-reflexed or pileate basidiomata, 4-celled basidia and globose, ovoid to allantoid basidiospores. According to recent DNA-based phylogenetic studies, those genera have good support in Auriculariales, but many species without phylogenetic treatment remain in uncertain taxonomic position, especially from the Neotropics. In the present paper, specimens with poroid hymenophore and septate basidia were collected in Brazil and morphological and DNA analyses, based in ITS and LSU regions, evidenced three new species ( Elmerina brasiliensis, E. santanaensis and Protomerulis pedratalhadensis ) and three new combinations ( E. minipora , E. strigosa and E. obtusispora ). Descriptions and illustrations of the new species, the new combinations and a comparative table of species of the genera are provided.