Phylogeny and comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of Gomphus spp. Pers. (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes), with descriptions of G. matijun J. W. Liu & F. Q. Yu and G. bijiensis sp. nov.

Abstract

The genus Gomphus Pers. presents persistent taxonomic challenges due to its morphological similarities with related genera. In this study, we collected two specimens of Gomphus from Guizhou, China; one specimen is described as a new species, Gomphus bijiensis sp. nov. and the other is identified as G. matijun J. W. Liu & F. Q. Yu based on morphological traits and phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear rDNA large subunit (LSU).

To resolve their evolutionary relationships we assembled and annotated the mitochondrial genomes of both species using next-generation sequencing. Comparative analyses revealed codon usage strongly biased toward A- or U-ending codons, consistent with the low GC content typical of fungal mitochondria. Variation in protein-coding gene lengths and base composition suggests that diverse evolutionary pressures have shaped these genomes.

Divergence time estimation indicates that morphological diversity within Gomphus and related macrofungi has largely resulted from convergent evolution. Phylogenetic reconstruction places G. bijiensis and G. matijun within a distinct clade, supporting their close evolutionary affinity and the coexistence of ancestral and derived traits. This study provides the first comprehensive mitochondrial genomic data for Gomphus, offering new insights into its taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary dynamics, and establishing a framework for future studies within the Gomphaceae.