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Penicillium species are ubiquitous in the environment and are of substantial importance, especially in industrial and medical aspects. During our investigation of the biodiversity of Penicillium, three new species were discovered in soil samples collected from East and Northeast China. They were determined as new to science based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, and were found to belong to the subgenus Penicillium section Robsamsonia and subgenus Aspergilloides sections Aspergilloides and Citrina. Descriptions and illustrations of these species are provided, and their geographic distributions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium species are ubiquitous in all kinds of environments, and they are of industrial, agricultural and clinical importance. In this study, soil fungal diversity in Southwestern China was investigated, and that of Penicillium turned out to be unexpectedly high. The survey included a total of 179 cultures of the genus isolated from 33 soil samples. Three-locus phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons were carried out. The examinations revealed that they belonged to two subgenera (Aspergilloides and Penicillium), 11 sections (Aspergilloides, Canescentia, Citrina, Exilicaulis, Fasciculata, Gracilenta, Lanata-Divaricata, Penicillium, Ramosum, Robsamsonia, and Sclerotiorum), 25 series, and 74 species. Forty-three species were discovered as new to science, and a new series, Simianshanica, was established in sect. Aspergilloides. Additionally, 11 species were recorded for the first time in China. Species isolation frequency and distribution of the group were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal flats have been reported to contain many microorganisms and play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. In surveys of filamentous fungi from tidal flat sediments in China, seven new species of Eurotiales were discovered and described. Morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses of combined datasets of the BenA, CaM, and RPB2 regions support their placements and recognition as new species. Aspergillus liaoningensis sp. nov. and A. plumeriae sp. nov. belong to sections Candidi and Flavipedes of subgenus Circumdati, and A. subinflatus sp. nov. is a member of section Cremei of subgenus Cremei. Penicillium danzhouense sp. nov., P. tenue sp. nov., and P. zhanjiangense sp. nov. are attributed to sections Exilicaulis and Lanata-Divaricata of subgenus Aspergilloides. Talaromyces virens sp. nov. is in section Talaromyces. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these novel taxa are provided. Their differences from close relatives were compared and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helvella lacunosa and its allies are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and perform important functions in ecosystems. A comprehensive study on 101 collections of Helvella lacunosa, including those deposited in four Chinese fungaria or collected recently from 10 provinces, was conducted based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Phylogenies of "Helvella lacunosa clade" inferred from Hsp90, ITS, LSU, and TEF were reconstructed with 49 lineages recognized, of which 25 lineages occurred in China, and each represented an individual species. Sixteen new species were determined with detailed descriptions and illustrations. Two new Chinese records were reported. Species concepts and their distinctions in macro- and micro-features were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst caves are oligotrophic environments that appear to support a high diversity of fungi. Studies of fungi in Thailand's caves are limited. During a 2019 exploration of the mycobiota associated with soil samples from a karst cave, namely, Phu Pha Phet in the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark in Satun Province, southern Thailand, two previously undescribed fungi belonging to Talaromyces (Trichocomaceae, Eurotiales, Eurotiomycetes) were studied using a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic and molecular data. Based on datasets of four loci (ITS, BenA, CaM, and RPB2), phylogenetic trees of the section Trachyspermi were constructed, and two new species—Talaromyces phuphaphetensis sp. nov. and T. satunensis sp. nov.—phylogenetically related to T. subericola, T. resinae, and T. brasiliensis, are described. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided. This study increases the number of cave-dwelling soil fungi discovered in Thailand's Satun UNESCO Global Geopark, which appears to be a unique environment with a high potential for discovering fungal species previously undescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Talaromyces are cosmopolitan and ubiquitous, and some are of industrial and medicinal importance. Species of Talaromyces have been successively reported in China. During our examinations of samples collected from southwestern China, two new species belonging to Talaromyces sect. Talaromyces were further discovered based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. Talaromyces ginkgonis sp. nov., isolated from a partially colonized fruit of Ginkgo biloba, differs from closely-related fungi in the combination of conidia ellipsoidal, smooth and 3.5−4 × 2−3 μm, no growth on CYA at 37 °C and sequence divergences; T. shilinensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its related allies in the combination of smooth conidia, colonies 10−11 mm diameter on CYA at 25 °C and sequence differences. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus species are cosmopolitan and ubiquitous, closely related to human daily life. They are also of food, industrial and medical importance. From the examination of cultures isolated from soil samples collected on tropical islands of China, four new species of the genus were discovered based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. Aspergillus xishaensis sp. nov. and A. neoterreus sp. nov. belong to sections Flavipedes and Terrei of subgenus Circumdati, and A. hainanicus sp. nov. and A. qilianyuensis sp. nov. are in sections Cavernicolarum and Nidulantes of subgenus Nidulantes. To accommodate A. hainanicus, a new series Hainanici was proposed. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal phytochemicals, such as artemisinin and taxol, have impacted the world, and hypericin might do so if its availability issue could be addressed. Hypericin is the hallmark component of Saint John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), an approved depression alleviator documented in the US, European, and British pharmacopoeias with its additional effectiveness against diverse cancers and viruses. However, the academia‐to‐industry transition of hypericin remain hampered by its low in planta abundance, unfeasible bulk chemical synthesis, and unclear biosynthetic mechanism. Here, we present a strategy consisting of the hypericin‐structure‐centered modification and reorganization of microbial biosynthetic steps in the repurposed cells that have been tamed to enable the designed consecutive reactions to afford hypericin (43.1 mg L−1), without acquiring its biosynthetic knowledge in native plants. The study provides a synthetic biology route to hypericin and establishes a platform for biosustainable access to medicinal phytochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gyromitra species are known as "false morels" and produce cerebriform or discoid ascocarps. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and some species are poisonous. Infrageneric phylogenies based on 28S nuc rDNA (28S) are available, but molecular analyses derived from other genes are lacking. In this study, Gyromitra specimens deposited in HMAS were reexamined. Phylogenies inferred from 28S, nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) gene were obtained, and four clades were revealed among 13 species. Two new cryptic species of Gyromitra, G. pseudogigas, sp. nov. and G. tianshanensis, sp. nov., are described. Gyromitra pseudogigas has saddle-shaped apothecia similar to those of G. infula and is sister to G. gigas in the phylogeny. Gyromitra tianshanensis clusters with G. infula and G. xinjiangensis but differs in morphology and sequence data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial plastid DNAs (MTPTs) refer to plastid-derived DNA fragments in mitochondrial genomes. While the MTPTs have been described for numerous species, its overall patterns have not been examined in details. Here, we carried out a systematic analysis of MTPTs among 73 plant species, including 28 algae, 1 liverwort, 2 moss, 1 lycophyte, 1 gymnosperm, 1 magnoliid, 12 monocots, 26 eudicots and 1 relic angiosperm Amborella trichopoda. A total of 300 MTPT gene clusters were found in 39 seed plants, which represented 144 MTPT gene cluster types. The detected MTPT gene clusters were evaluated in seven aspects, and they were found to be enriched particularly in monocots and asterids of eudicots. Some MTPT gene clusters were found to be shared by closely related species. All chloroplast genes were found in MTPTs, suggesting that there is no functional relevancy for genes that were transferred. However, after calculation of the frequency of the 115 chloroplast genes, five hot spots and three cold spots were discovered in chloroplast genome. In summary, this study demonstrated the high degree of diversity in MTPTs. The discovered MTPTs would facilitate the accurate assembly of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes as well as the understanding of organelle genome evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A DNA barcode is a short piece of DNA sequence used for species determination and discovery. The internal transcribed spacer ( ITS/ ITS2) region has been proposed as the standard DNA barcode for fungi and seed plants and has been widely used in DNA barcoding analyses for other biological groups, for example algae, protists and animals. The ITS region consists of both ITS1 and ITS2 regions. Here, a large-scale meta-analysis was carried out to compare ITS1 and ITS2 from three aspects: PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and species discrimination, in terms of the presence of DNA barcoding gaps, species discrimination efficiency, sequence length distribution, GC content distribution and primer universality. In total, 85 345 sequence pairs in 10 major groups of eukaryotes, including ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, liverworts, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, monocotyledons, eudicotyledons, insects and fishes, covering 611 families, 3694 genera, and 19 060 species, were analysed. Using similarity-based methods, we calculated species discrimination efficiencies for ITS1 and ITS2 in all major groups, families and genera. Using Fisher's exact test, we found that ITS1 has significantly higher efficiencies than ITS2 in 17 of the 47 families and 20 of the 49 genera, which are sample-rich. By in silico PCR amplification evaluation, primer universality of the extensively applied ITS1 primers was found superior to that of ITS2 primers. Additionally, shorter length of amplification product and lower GC content was discovered to be two other advantages of ITS1 for sequencing. In summary, ITS1 represents a better DNA barcode than ITS2 for eukaryotic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Talaromyces species are distributed all around the world and occur in various environments, e.g., soil, air, living or rotten plants, and indoors. Some of them produce enzymes and pigments of industrial importance, while some cause Talaromycosis. Talaromyces marneffei, a well-known and important human pathogen, is endemic to Southeast Asia and causes high mortality, especially in HIV/AIDS patients and those with other immunodeficiencies. China covers 3 of the 35 global biodiversity hotspots. During the explorations of fungal diversity in soil samples collected at different sites of southwestern China, two new Talaromyces species, T. chongqingensis X.C. Wang and W.Y. Zhuang and T. wushanicus X.C. Wang and W.Y. Zhuang, were discovered based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. They are described and illustrated in detail. Six phylogenetic trees of the sections Talaromyces and Trachyspermi were constructed based on three-gene datasets and revealed the phylogenetic positions of the new species. This work provided a better understanding of biodiversity and phylogeny of the genus. The results make the concepts of the two sections of Talaromyces well-established. The discovery will be beneficial for future evaluation of the potential usages and functions of the new species. Southwestern China belongs among the global biodiversity hotspots and the Daba Mountains are recognized as one of the priority conservation areas. During the exploration of fungal biodiversity from soil samples collected from Mount Daba, two species of Talaromyces were discovered as new to science based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. Talaromyces chongqingensis sp. nov. is a sister taxon of T. minioluteus and T. minnesotensis in the section Trachyspermi; and T. wushanicus sp. nov., affiliated to the section Talaromyces, is closely related to T. cnidii and T. siamensis. The new species differ from their sisters in DNA sequences, growth rates, and morphological characteristics. Descriptions and illustrations of them are provided in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the bambusicolous fungus Fusarium bambusae was determined using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 63,593 bp long with a GC content of 31.92%. Gene prediction revealed 44 genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 27 tRNAs, and the large and small ribosomal RNAs. All genes are located on the same strand. The tRNA genes contain codons for all 20 standard amino acids. It turns out to be similar to the previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of Fusarium circinatum and F. verticillioides. The differences lie in the number of introns embodied in protein-coding genes. Four introns exist in the mitochondrial genome of F. verticillioides, 10 in F. bambusae, and 14 in F. circinatum. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed F. bambusae as a member of Fusarium (Nectriaceae). The mitochondrial genome of F. bambusae will contribute to the understanding of phylogeny and evolution of the genus and family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial genome of the important mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea was determined using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 40,921 bp long with a GC content of 27.90%. Gene prediction revealed 42 genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 25 tRNAs, the large and small ribosomal RNAs. All genes are located on the same strand. It is found to be similar to the previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of Acremonium chrysogenum and Nectria cinnabarina. The differences lie in the copy number of trnG-UCC and locations of trnN-GUU and cox2. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed C. rosea as a sister taxon of A. chrysogenumin (Bionectriaceae). The mitochondrial genome of C. rosea will contribute to the understanding of phylogeny and evolution of Hypocreales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the important phytopathogic fungusNectria cinnabarinawas determined using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 69 895 bp long with a GC content of 28.71%. Gene prediction revealed 42 genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 25 tRNAs, the large and small ribosomal RNAs. All genes are located on the same strand. Compared with previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of the other members of Nectriaceae, the composition and order of the protein and rRNA genes are highly conserved; however, the quantity and order of tRNA genes are different. The phylogenetic analysis confirmedN. cinnabarinaas a basal lineage in Nectriaceae. The mitochondrial genome ofN. cinnabarinawill contribute to the understanding of phylogeny and evolution of Nectriaceae and Hypocreales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complete nucleotide sequence of the 78,447 bp mitochondrial genome of the white-rotting fungusGanoderma meredithiaeAdask. & Gilb. has been determined by next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule encodes a set of mitochondrial protein and RNA genes, including 15 conserved proteins, 29 tRNAs, large and small ribosomal RNAs, and 18 homing endonucleases, with a GC content of 26.14%. All structural genes are located on the same strand excepttrnW-CCA. Compared with previously sequenced mtDNAs ofG. lucidumandG. sinense, the gene order of protein and rRNA genes among the three mitogenomes is highly conserved; however, the tRNA composition is slightly different. The mitochondrial genome ofG. meredithiaewill contribute to understanding the phylogeny and evolution ofGanodermaand Ganodermataceae, the group containing many species with high medicinal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the medicinal fungusGanoderma applanatum(Pers.) Pat. using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 119,803 bp long with a GC content of 26.66%. Gene prediction revealed genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 25 tRNAs, the large and small ribosomal RNAs, all genes are located on the same strand excepttrnW-CCA. Compared with previously sequenced genomes ofG. lucidum, G. meredithiaeandG. sinense, the order of the protein and rRNA genes is highly conserved; however, the types of tRNA genes are slightly different. The mitochondrial genome ofG. applanatumwill contribute to the understanding of the phylogeny and evolution ofGanodermaand Ganodermataceae, the group containing many species with high medicinal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Discinaceae are common macrofungi with a worldwide distribution. Some of them are commercially consumed, while a few others are reported as poisonous. Two genera were accepted in the family: the epigeous Gyromitra with discoid, cerebriform to saddle-shaped ascomata and the hypogeous Hydnotrya with globose or tuberous ascomata. However, due to discrepancies in their ecological behaviors, a comprehensive investigation of their relationship was not thoroughly explored. In this study, phylogenies of Discinaceae were reconstructed using sequence analyses of combined and separate three gene partitions (internal transcribed spacer [ITS], large subunit ribosomal DNA [LSU], and translation elongation factor [TEF]) with a matrix containing 116 samples. As a result, the taxonomy of the family was renewed. Eight genera were recognized: two of them (Gyromitra and Hydnotrya) were retained, three (Discina, Paradiscina, and Pseudorhizina) were revived, and three (Paragyromitra, Pseudodiscina, and Pseudoverpa) were newly established. Nine new combinations were made in four genera. Two new species in Paragyromitra and Pseudodiscina and an un-named taxon of Discina were described and illustrated in detail based on the materials collected from China. Furthermore, a key to the genera of the family was also provided. IMPORTANCE Taxonomy of the fungal family Discinaceae ( Pezizales , Ascomycota ) was significantly renewed on the basis of sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU), and translation elongation factor (TEF). Eight genera were accepted, including three new genera; two new species were described; and nine new combinations were made. A key to the accepted genera of the family is provided. The aim of this study is to deepen the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among genera of the group, as well as the associated generic concepts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The widely cultivated Chinese Lingzhi is a famous fungus with significant medicinal and economic value, which has commonly been misidentified as Ganoderma lucidum for a long period of time. The scientific binomial of the fungus is always a hotly debated question that revolves around G . lingzhi and G . sichuanense . To interpret the species concept of the taxon, six specific primers for G . sichuanense and one universal primer were designed. Through directed and nested PCRs, we obtained nine ITS sequences from the holotype (HMAS 42798) of G . sichuanense . By genome sequencing, the ITS sequence of the first cultivated Lingzhi (HMAS 25103) was assembled. Based on a phylogenetic study of the genus Ganoderma , the correct name for widely cultivated Ganoderma species in China was confirmed as G . sichuanense , and G . lingzhi should be a later synonym.

To investigate fungi from the Qilian Mountains in Gansu Province, ascomycetous specimens were collected and hypocrealean fungi were examined. Eighteen species belonging to six genera in the families Hypocreaceae and Nectriaceae were identified, including 11 species of Hypomyces and Trichoderma in Hypocreaceae and seven species of Nectria , Stylonectria , Thelonectria , and Thyronectria in Nectriaceae. Among them, Stylonectria qilianshanensis and Trichoderma gansuanum are new to science. DNA sequence analyses of combined ACL1, ITS, RPB2, and TEF1 regions confirmed their taxonomic placements. Morphological distinctions between the new species and their close relatives are discussed. Hypomyces tremellicola is reported for the first time in China., (Zhao-Qing Zeng, Huan-Di Zheng, Xin-Cun Wang, Sheng-Long Wei, Wen-Ying Zhuang.)

The well-known and widely cultivated lingzhi has had a significant impact on Chinese culture and is now an important fungal crop providing medicinal benefits to human health and economic value to social development within China and around the world. The European mushroom name, Ganoderma lucidum, has been misapplied to this species for over 100 years until recently reidentified as G. sichuanense. Soon after this, a new species name, G. lingzhi, was also proposed for the fungus because of an unusual internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence purportedly of the holotype of G. sichuanense. This extraordinary ITS sequence, which apparently belongs to another species, created an inconsistency between morphological characteristics and molecular data of the holotype making it "demonstrably ambiguous"; this led to an epitypification to support the holotype for the precise application of the name, according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. However, arguments concerning the names G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi are still heating up, including attempts to reject the epitype of G. sichuanense. To clarify the confusion, the typification of G. sichuanense is reviewed here to demonstrate that the epitype of G. sichuanense was appropriately designated for the purpose to support the holotype of the name, the fact that both G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi are conspecific, and that the name G. lingzhi was based on the unwarranted ITS sequence claimed to be of the holotype of G. sichuanense. Suggestions are made for this case to make a way forward, especially re-examination of relevant fungarium collections to reach a consensus to stabilize the use of the name.

Helvella species are ascomycetous macrofungi with saddle-shaped or cupulate apothecia. They are distributed worldwide and play an important ecological role as ectomycorrhizal symbionts. A recent multi-locus phylogenetic study of the genus suggested that the cupulate group of Helvella was in need of comprehensive revision. In this study, all the specimens of cupulate Helvella sensu lato with ribbed stipes deposited in HMAS were examined morphologically and molecularly. A four-locus phylogeny was reconstructed using partial sequences of the heat shock protein 90, nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region 2, nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1-α genes. Three clades were revealed in Helvella sensu stricto. Twenty species were included in the analysis, of which 13 are distributed in China. Three new species, H. acetabuloides , H. sichuanensis and H. tianshanensis , are described and illustrated in detail. A neotype was designated for H. taiyuanensis . Helvella calycina is a new record for China, while Dissingia leucomelaena should be excluded from Chinese mycota. Hsp90 and ITS2 are recommended as useful supplementary barcodes for species identifications of the genus., (Xin-Cun Wang, Tie-Zhi Liu, Shuang-Lin Chen, Yi Li, Wen-Ying Zhuang.)

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the bambusicolous fungus Fusarium bambusae was determined using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 63,593 bp long with a GC content of 31.92%. Gene prediction revealed 44 genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 27 tRNAs, and the large and small ribosomal RNAs. All genes are located on the same strand. The tRNA genes contain codons for all 20 standard amino acids. It turns out to be similar to the previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of Fusarium circinatum and F. verticillioides . The differences lie in the number of introns embodied in protein-coding genes. Four introns exist in the mitochondrial genome of F. verticillioides , 10 in F. bambusae , and 14 in F. circinatum . The phylogenetic analysis confirmed F. bambusae as a member of Fusarium (Nectriaceae). The mitochondrial genome of F. bambusae will contribute to the understanding of phylogeny and evolution of the genus and family., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Phylogeny of Penicillium section Sclerotiora is still limitedly investigated. In this study, five new species of Penicillium are identified from the samples collected from different places of China, and named P. austrosinicum, P. choerospondiatis, P. exsudans, P. sanshaense and P. verrucisporum. The conidiophores of P. austrosinicum and P. exsudans are monoverticillate like most members of the section, while the rest species are biverticillate similar to the only two species P. herquei and P. malachiteum previously reported in the section Sclerotiora. The phylogenetic positions of the new taxa are determined based on the sequence data of ITS, BenA, CaM and RPB2 regions, which reveals that all the species with biverticillate condiophores form a well-supported subclade in the section. The new Penicillium species clearly differ from the existing species of the genus in culture characteristics on four standard growth media, microscopic features, and sequence data. Morphological discrepancies are discussed between the new species and their allies.

The complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial genome of the important mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea was determined using the next-generation sequencing technology. The circular molecule is 40,921 bp long with a GC content of 27.90%. Gene prediction revealed 42 genes encoding 15 conserved proteins, 25 tRNAs, the large and small ribosomal RNAs. All genes are located on the same strand. It is found to be similar to the previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes of Acremonium chrysogenum and Nectria cinnabarina . The differences lie in the copy number of trnG-UCC and locations of trnN-GUU and cox2 . The phylogenetic analysis confirmed C. rosea as a sister taxon of A. chrysogenum in (Bionectriaceae). The mitochondrial genome of C. rosea will contribute to the understanding of phylogeny and evolution of Hypocreales., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the manuscript. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31270073 to W.-Y. Zhuang) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 7154224 to X.-C. Wang). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript., (© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Ling-zhi, a widely cultivated fungus in China, has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. Although the name 'Ganoderma lucidum', a species originally described from England, has been applied to the fungus, their identities are not the same. This study aims to clarify the identity of this medicinally and economically important fungus. Specimens of Ling-zhi from China (field collections and cultivated basidiomata of the Chinese 'G. lucidum'), G. lucidum from UK and other related Ganoderma species, were examined both morphologically and molecularly. High variability of basidioma morphology was found in the cultivated specimens of the Chinese 'G. lucidum', while some microscopic characters were more or less consistent, i.e. short clavate cutis elements, Bovista-type ligative hyphae and strongly echinulate basidiospores. These characters were also found in the holotype of G. sichuanense, a species originally described from Sichuan, China, and in recent collections made in the type locality of the species, which matched the diagnostic characters in the prologue. For comparison, specimens of closely related species, G. lucidum, G. multipileum, G. resinaceum, G. tropicum and G. weberianum, were also examined. DNA sequences were obtained from field collections, cultivated basidiomata and living strains of the Chinese 'G. lucidum', specimens from the type locality of G. sichuanense, and specimens of the closely related species studied. Three-gene combined analyses (ITS+IGS+rpb2) were performed and the results indicated that the Chinese 'G. lucidum' shared almost identical sequences with G. sichuanense. Based on both morphological and molecular data, the identity of the Chinese 'G. lucidum' (Ling-zhi) is considered conspecific with G. sichuanense. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided in addition to discussion of nomenclature implications.