The genus Pleurotus in Brazil: a molecular and taxonomic overview

•Recognition of at least five species of Pleurotus certainly known from Brazil.•Pleurotus albidus, P. djamor, P. fuscosquamulosus, P. pulmonarius and P. rickii.•Molecular analysis with ITS sequences confirms the occurrence of these species.•A list including 71 records of Pleurotus names updates the knowledge of the genus in Brazil.

Considering that the knowledge of Pleurotus in Brazil is very dispersed and fragmented, this work presents for the first time a discussion of the recognition of at least five species certainly known from the country. Maximum likelihood analysis was conducted with nrITS sequences to generate a phylogenetic tree with a better resolution, confirming the occurrence of P. albidus, P. djamor, P. fuscosquamulosus, P. pulmonarius, and P. rickii in Brazil. In addition, we present a list of all epithets that were recorded from Brazil and current update of their taxonomic status.