New genera of Onygenales: their morphology, ecology and molecular phylogeny
Order Onygenales is unique in the sense that most of its members have affinity towards keratin. This feature of keratin degradation is rarely found in any other order in the whole of fungal kingdom. There are around 55 genera currently known in Onygenales and it seems that there are several others that are still undescribed. Recently, we found two of these genera in soil of Maharashtra state of India from keratin rich habitats. These two genera Currahmyces and Canomyces are phylogenetically placed in family Onygenaceae and both are monotypic. Currahmyces has fragile ascomata which on maturity could not be picked up intact by needle. It was isolated from only one soil sample (hen resting area) out of more than 500 analyzed. Its peridial hyphae possess spiny crystals which makes it unique in Onygenales. The second genus Canomyces was also isolated from only one soil sample (collected under a tree) out of >500 analyzed. Phylogenetically both are close to Neogymnomyces and Renispora but morphologically they are distinct. Our study indicates that there is need to explore wider geographical area to unearth rare Onygenalean taxa from keratin rich habitats. It is reiterated that, had we missed to collect the two soil samples in our study we would not have isolated and reported these new genera of Onygenales.