Hypogeous ascomycetous fungi (truffles) are challenging to study because they produce underground sporocarps that may not be encountered during traditional fungal surveys. Genea is one such genus that has garnered considerable attention over the past decades due to its role as an ectomycorrhizal partner and contribution to nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability. Yet, very limited information is available about its taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology worldwide. The current study aims to expand the known distribution of Genea species in Central Europe by integrating morphological, molecular and ecological analyses of new collections as well as the assessment of herbarium materials. Light microscopy and SEM were used to determine morphological characteristics along with FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy measurements, which proved to be a powerful tool for species differentiation. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (28S) of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences to confirm species identity. In this study, a new species, Genea szemereiensis, along with the first report of Genea pinicola from Hungary, was made. In addition, the ecological parameters of the species, including habitat, altitude, soil nutrients and pH, were revised, which has not been reported previously in detail for this genus.

The truffle genus Genea plays an important role as an ectomycorrhizal fungus, yet its taxonomy, evolutionary relationships, and ecological behaviour remain poorly understood globally. This study describes Genea budensis sp. nov. and reports G. arenaria and G. zamorana for the first time from Hungary, based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU sequences. The new species Genea budensis sp. nov., found in the Buda Mountains in Hungary, is characterized by a warty, scale-covered surface peridium; spores ornamented with dense, cone-shaped projections, with some of them being blunt-tipped or bud-like in form. This discovery also marks the first documented occurrence of both Genea zamorana and G. arenaria within Hungary. These findings expand the documented diversity and geographic distribution of Genea in Hungary and provide additional morphological and molecular data for future taxonomic studies of the genus.