Taxonomic and molecular characterization of two new species of <i>Auricularia</i> from tropical India

Two novel species of wild edible mushrooms, which were collected from different tropical areas of India (West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) are proposed as Auricularia andamanica and A. tropica. The first species, A. andamanica is characterized by glabrescent abhymenial surface and merulloid to strongly branched, vennose or porose reticulate hymenophore whereas A. tropica is characterized by pubescent abhymenial surface and hymenophore with smooth to obscure foldings. They are presented with detailed macro- and micromorphology along with ITS- and rpb2-based molecular phylogenetic estimations. Comparative analyses with closely allied relatives are also given.