A new species of Stropharia from Southern Italy: Stropharia halophila sp. nov., characterized by DNA analysis and mating experiments

The status of a Stropharia species (DSM 4018) collected in sand dunes in Southern Italy was determined by mating experiments with the morphologically very similar yellow form of Stropharia rugosoannulata (DSM 1663) and by DNA analysis of the two species. No interfertility was detected corresponding to a low DNA homology of 63%. DSM 4018 displayed the tetrapolar mating system. The GC content of the nuclear DNA was 43.2 ± 0.4 mol%. All data favour the proposition of a new species. Stropharia halophila sp. nov. is described as new and illustrated.