Nine Unrecorded Species of <i>Phanerochaete</i> (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in Korea

<i>Phanerochaete</i> is one of the largest genera of the family Phanerochaetaceae within the order Polyporales, characterized by membranaceous basidiome and ellipsoid to cylindrical basidiospores. As white-rot saprotrophs, <i>Phanerochaete</i> species produce ligninolytic enzymes to degrade lignin and cellulosic materials. Several species have been applied to bioremediation, biopulping, and bioethanol industries due to their enzymatic abilities. While 123 <i>Phanerochaete</i> species have been reported globally, only 13 have been identified in Korea. To narrow this gap, we conducted a nationwide collection of specimens from 2008 to 2024. Subsequently, a comprehensive morphological and multi-marker phylogenetic analyses were performed using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nLSU) regions. From 17 specimens, nine unrecorded <i>Phanerochaete</i> species were identified, namely <i>P. albocremea</i>, <i>P. australis</i>, <i>P. cystidiata</i>, <i>P. fusca</i>, <i>P. parmastoi</i>, <i>P. porostereoides</i>, <i>P. rhizomorpha</i>, <i>P. subcarnosa</i>, and <i>P. taiwaniana</i>. This study contributes to expand the known diversity of <i>Phanerochaete</i> in Korea, elucidating the morphological features and phylogenetic relationships of these previously unrecorded species.