First Record of The Interesting Genus Contumyces in Türkiye: Contumyces rosellus (M.M. Moser) Redhead, Moncalvo, Vilgalys&Lutzoni

Aim of study: The aim is to identify Contumyces rosellus, a species belonging to the genus Contumyces, which has a controversial position within the Rickenellaceae family. According to multigenetic marker phylogenetic analyses, it is classified as monotypic. The aim is also to document it as a new genus record for the Turkish mycobiota. Area of study: The specimen was collected in January 2025 from areas covered with black moss near Akçalı village (Çanakkale). Material and method: The species was primarily identified using morphological characters based on field and laboratory analyses. Nucleotide sequences obtained from the ITS region were then used for phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using the MrBayes method. Main results: The specimen was characterized by a funnel-shaped cap, striated-sulcate margin, downward-pointing lamellae, cylindrical to semi-cylindrical stem structure, and color ranging from yellow to brownish-orange. Microscopically, small, white, smooth-surfaced, and non-amyloid spores were observed. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on ITS sequence analyses confirmed that the sample belongs to Contumyces rosellus. Research highlights: Contumyces rosellus is the first Contumyces species to be recorded in Türkiye. This new record, characterised by morphological and molecular analyses, represents the third species of the genus worldwide, contributing to the diversity of bryophytic macrofungi in Türkiye.