Phylogenetic classification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: new species and higher-ranking taxa in Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota (class Endogonomycetes)

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi - Glomeromycota and Endogonomycetes - comprise multiple species and higher-level taxa that have remained undescribed. We propose a mixed morphology- and DNA-based classification framework to promote taxonomic communication and shed light into the phylogenetic structure of these ecologically essential fungi. Based on eDNA samples and long reads as type materials, we describe 15 new species and corresponding genera (<i>Pseudoentrophosporakesseensis</i>, <i>Hoforsarebekkae</i>, <i>Kahvenarebeccae</i>, <i>Kelottijaerviashannonae</i>, <i>Kungsaengenashadiae</i>, <i>Langduoadianae</i>, <i>Lehetuaindrekii</i>, <i>Lokrumastenii</i>, <i>Moosteastephanieae</i>, <i>Nikkaluoktamahdiehiae</i>, <i>Parniguacraigii</i>, <i>Riederbergasylviae</i>, <i>Ruuacoralieae</i>, <i>Tammsaareavivikae</i> and <i>Unemaeeanathalieae</i>), the genus <i>Parvocarpum</i> as well as 19 families (Pseudoentrophosporaceae, Hoforsaceae, Kahvenaceae, Kelottijaerviaceae, Kungsaengenaceae, Langduoaceae, Lehetuaceae, Lokrumaceae, Moosteaceae, Nikkaluoktaceae, Parniguaceae, Riederbergaceae, Ruuaceae, Tammsaareaceae, Unemaeeaceae, Bifigurataceae, Planticonsortiaceae, Jimgerdemanniaceae and Vinositunicaceae) and 17 orders (Hoforsales, Kahvenales, Kelottijaerviales, Kungsaengenales, Langduoales, Lehetuales, Lokrumales, Moosteales, Nikkaluoktales, Parniguales, Riederbergales, Ruuales, Tammsaareales, Unemaeeales, Bifiguratales and Densosporales), and propose six combinations (<i>Diversisporabareae</i>, <i>Diversisporanevadensis</i>, <i>Fuscutatacerradensis</i>, <i>Fuscutatareticulata</i>, <i>Viscosporadeserticola</i> and <i>Parvocarpumbadium</i>) based on phylogenetic evidence. We highlight further knowledge gaps in the phylogenetic structure of AM fungi and propose an alphanumeric coding system for preliminary communication and reference-based eDNA quality-filtering of the remaining undescribed genus- and family-level groups. Using AM fungi as examples, we hope to offer a sound, mixed framework for classification to boost research in the alpha taxonomy of fungi, especially the "dark matter fungi".