In: Sydowia 76, (2024): 187-200; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia76-2024-0187, Published online on May 06, 2024

The genus Termitomyces: outline, phylogeny, and divergence times estimation with description of a new edible species from Arabian Peninsula

Shah Hussain, Moza Al-Kharousi, Arwa A. Al-Owaisi, Dua’a Al-Maqbali, Marwa A. Al-Muharabi, Zahra Al-Shabibi, Abdullah H. Al-Balushi, Nadiya Al Saady, Rethinasamy Velazhahan, Loay Rashan, Abdullah M. Al-Sadi,* & Mohamed N. Al-Yahya’ei,*

1 Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 34,
AlKhoud 123, Sultanate of Oman
2 Oman Animal and Plant Genetic Resources Center (Mawarid), Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation,
P.O. Box 515, P.C. 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
3 Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care & Research Center, PO Box 566, AlKhoud 123, Sultanate of Oman
4 Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, PO Box 34, AlKhoud 123, Sultanate of Oman
5 Dhofar University Research Center, Biodiversity Unit, Dhofar University, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman

* e-mails: alsadi@squ.edu.om; mohamed.alyahyaei@moheri.gov.om

Hussain S., Al-Kharousi M., Al-Owaisi A.A., Al-Maqbali D., Al-Muharabi M.A., Al-Shabibi Z., Al-Balushi A.H., Saady N.A.,
Velazhahan R., Rashan L., Al-Sadi A.M. & Al-Yahya’ei M.N. (2024) The genus Termitomyces: outline, phylogeny, and divergence
times estimation with description of a new edible species from Arabian Peninsula. – Sydowia 76: 187–200.

The termite-cultivated mushroom genus Termitomyces belongs to the family Lyophyllaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota). In
this study, we present a phylogeny of Termitomyces based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), large subunit
of nuclear ribosomal DNA (28S) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF-1a). The ancestral age of Termitomyces is estimated
around 23 million years. Molecular clock analyses also indicate the presence of two clades, each clade with approximate
age of 18 million years. We think that these clades can be treated for the infrageneric classification of Termitomyces. We also
describe a new species in the genus, Termitomyces dhofarensis from Dhofar region, located in southern Oman. The new species is
edible. Local people have been collecting it for generations for food and even trade it in the local markets. The species is described
here based on a combination of morphological features of basidiomata and multigene phylogenetic analyses. The divergence time
is estimated to be around 1.2 million years for Termitomyces dhofarensis. This is the first report of the genus from Arabian Peninsula.

Keywords: Dhofar, Oman, edible mushroom, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy. – 1 new species.