“Black particles”, the major colonizers on the ceiling stone of the stone chamber interior of the Kitora Tumulus, Japan, are the bulbilliferous basidiomycete fungus Burgoa anomala

Integrated analysis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 20 isolates of “black particles” (“Kuro-tsubu” in Japanese), that mainly appeared on the plaster wall of the ceiling tuff stone surface of the Kitora Tumulus stone chamber interior in Asuka village, Nara, Japan, has identified them as the bulbilliferous basidiomycetous anamorphic fungus Burgoa anomala. Our 28S rRNA gene D1/D2 (28S) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions sequence-based phylogenies indicated that the 20 isolates displayed no genetic divergence and firmly clustered with the authentic strain B. anomala CBS 130.38. These isolates and B. anomala CBS 130.38 grouped together with species of the teleomorphic genus Sistotrema and its allies in the Cantharelloid clade. Colonization of biodeteriorated murals, plaster, and stone walls as the substrata or habitats by this fungus colonized, are noteworthy. Additionally, B. anomala is recorded for the first time from Japan. •Black particles found in the Kitora Tumulus were identified as Burgoa anomala.•The phylogenetic relationships of the B. anomala isolates were evaluated with 28S and ITS trees.•Relationships and characteristics of the isolates were clarified.•Deteriorated plaster and stone walls are noteworthy substrata and habitats.•This is the first observation of B. anomala in Japan.