Integrative Taxonomy Reveals First Molecularly Confirmed Records of Geopyxis majalis and Melastiza cornubiensis (Pyronemataceae) in Türkiye

Abstract This study investigated fungal specimens collected from Ankara and İzmir, Türkiye, through an integrative taxonomic framework that combined detailed morphological examination with molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and rDNA sequencing. Macroscopic characteristics were documented from fresh material, and micromorphological features were examined using standard light microscopy techniques. For molecular identification, the nuclear ITS rDNA region, widely accepted as the universal fungal barcode, was amplified, sequenced, and analysed using Maximum Likelihood methods to infer phylogenetic relationships. The specimens were conclusively identified as Geopyxis majalis and Melastiza cornubiensis, representing the first DNA-confirmed records of these taxa in Türkiye. Morphological observations showed strong concordance with the ITS-based phylogenetic placement, supporting species delimitation. In addition to diagnostic features, the study provides comprehensive documentation of collection sites, habitat characteristics, precise geographic coordinates, sampling dates, and high-resolution macro images, thereby contributing valuable baseline data for the mycobiota of Türkiye and enhancing regional fungal biodiversity knowledge.