Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Yombiyeni, Prudence [1], Cony, Decock [2].

Diversity of Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae) from the lower Guineo Congolian rainforest in Gabon.

Phylloporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota) is poorly studied in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest in Central Africa; their taxonomic diversity is little known and their ecological role almost unknown. Worldwide, 25 species of Phylloporia are known, of which 7 are reported in tropical Africa, and 4 from the Guineo-Congolian phytochorion. During our survey of polypores in the lower Guineo-Congolian rain forest in Gabon, several Phylloporia species were collected. Using morphological and molecular (LSU-based characterization) approaches, 5 news species have been found in Gabon and described: (1) Phylloporia afrospathulata, known from the Ipassa Makokou Biosphere Reserve, (2) Phylloporia fulva from Monts de Cristal National Park, (3) Phylloporia inonotoïdes, (4) Phylloporia flabelliforma and (5) Phylloporia gabonensis are known from CTFS-Forest GEO Rabi forest monitoring plot. Two additional undescribed species were also found at CTFS-Forest GEO- Rabi forest monitoring plot and are waiting to be described. Phylloporia inonotoides, P. flabelliforma and P. gabonensis and the two undescribed species are sympatric at CTFS-Forest GEO Rabi forest monitoring plot. These 5 species were found grow on living trunks of small-stemmed trees; P. flabelliforma (3 specimens) and P. gabonensis (2 specimens) were found growing on Dichostemma glaucescens and Anthostema aubryanum (Euphorbiaceae) whereas P. inonotoides (4 specimens) was found growing on Crotonogyne manniana (Euphorbiaceae). The two undescribed species (8 specimens) were found growing on two Melastomataceae, Warneckea and Memecylon. Our work uncovered higher species diversity than expected. It shows also the known Phylloporia species at the CTFS-Forest GEO- Rabi forest monitoring plot are growing (more likely exclusively) on small-stemmed trees, which are an important component of the forest understorey compartment; their ecological role (including possible pathogenicity and impact on the plant fitness) would be worth investigating to better understand the dynamics of the understorey compartment of the Guineo-Congolian rain forest

1 - Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale (IRET), , BP-13354 Gros Bouquet, Libreville, Gabon
2 - Université catholique de Louvain, Mycothèque MUCL, Croix du Sud 2 bte L7.05.06, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Belgium

Keywords:
Phylloporia in gabon.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY001
Abstract ID:471
Candidate for Awards:None