Search

In 2017, two candidate species of Mycena were reported from Japan, with the Japanese names " Togari-sakura-take " and " Mitsuhida-sakura-take ". However, to date, no taxonomic study or formal description has been undertaken for these two species. In the present study, we conducted comprehensive morphological and molecular phylogenetic examinations of " Togari-sakura-take " and " Mitsuhida-sakura-take ", and compared them to known species within the genus Mycena . We performed phylogenetic analyses on a concatenated dataset, including the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal RNA, RNA polymerase II largest subunit, and translation elongation factor-1 alpha genes. " Togari-sakura-take " formed a clade with Mycena subulata , which was recently described from China, whereas " Mitsuhida-sakura-take " formed a distinct independent clade. We identified the former as M . subulata based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological observations. However, the Japanese specimens displayed dextrinoid cheilocystidia and caulocystidia as well as the inamyloidity of basidiospores, which differed from the original description of M . subulata based on the materials from China. " Mitsuhida-sakura-take " was characterized by its remarkably dense lamellae and could be distinguished from known Mycena species by the combination of absent pleurocystidia and presence of bowling pin-shaped cheilocystidia. Here, we describe " Mitsuhida-sakura-take " as a new species, named Mycena densilamellata , in the section Calodontes ., (2024, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

We evaluated the inclusion of a cryptic species in a Japanese Amanita caesareoides population. We sampled A. caesareoides specimens under various vegetation and climate conditions, and then conducted phylogenetic analyses on sequences from seven loci. The A. caesareoides specimens showed two distinct groups, except when the ITS phylogeny was considered. These two phylogroups showed different distributions: subalpine-cool temperate and temperate-subtropical areas. Although these two phylogroups overlapped in terms of basidiospore size, the latter tended to exhibit smaller basidiospores. In addition, only the former showed mycelial growth on nutrient agar. Based on these phylo-morpho-ecophysiological characteristics, we separated the specimens labeled with the name A. caesareoides into two species. As the lectotype of A. caesareoides showed similarity to the former by DNA analysis, the latter was described as a new species, namely A. satotamagotake . Based on the geographic patterns of the two species, A. satotamagotake may have invaded the natural habit of A. caesareoides because of global warming., Competing Interests: The authors of this study have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

Aleurodiscus sagittisporus sp. nov. is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by producing basidiomata with a monomitic hyphal system, clampless-septate hyphae, arrowhead-shaped, amyloid, finely verrucose basidiospores, gloeocystidia, dendrohyphidium-like branched paraphysoid hyphae, and variously shaped swelling cells in the hymenium. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear rDNA LSU and ITS sequences revealed that the species is distinct from the lineage of Aleurodiscus s. str. and related genera in the Aleurodiscus s. lat. clade. Basidiomata of A. sagittisporus have been collected only from dead petioles attached to living trees of Livistona chinensis var. subglobosa on Hachijo Island, Japan., (2023, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

Species of Hypochnicium ( Polyporales , Basidiomycota ) collected from Japan were studied on their taxonomy by morphological and phylogenetic approaches. Phylogenetic analyses based on a nrDNA LSU and ITS dataset including the Japanese specimens and other publicly available ones show that Hypochnicium is polyphyletic. Since the clade containing the type species H. bombycinum was well-supported, we defined this clade as Hypochnicium s. str., and emended Hypochnicium to include restricted taxa with only smooth basidiospores. The new genus Neohypochnicium is proposed to accommodate the remaining taxa excluded from the genus Hypochnicium s. str., which includes both species with smooth basidiospores and ornamented ones. Three new species, Gyrophanopsis japonica , N. asiaticum and N. perlongicystidiosum are described and illustrated based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses using an ITS region dataset. In addition, the following 15 new combinations are proposed: N. albostramineum , N. aotearoae , N. capitulateum , N. cremicolor , N. cystidiatum , N. geogenium , N. guineense , N. huinayense , N. michelii , N. microsporum , N. patagonicum , N. pini , N. punctulatum , N. subrigescens and N. wakefieldiae . An identification key to Japanese species of Bulbillomyces , Gyrophanopsis , Hypochnicium and Neohypochnicium is provided., (2023, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

We describe two new species of resupinate Sistotrema sensu lato ( Cantharellales ) collected in Japan: S. flavorhizomorphae and S. chloroporum . Both species have urniform basidia with more than four sterigmata and monomitic hyphal system, oil-rich hyphae in subiculum, which is typical for this genus. Sistotrema chloroporum is characterized by poroid hymenophore partly yellowish-green, basidia 4-6-spored, medium-sized basidiospores (4.5-6.5 × 3.5-6 µm), and broadleaf forest habitat. Sistotrema flavorhizomorphae is characterized by hydnoid-irpicoid hymenophore, bright yellowish rhizomorphs, basidia 6-8-spored, small basidiospores (3-3.5 × 2.5-3 µm), and pine forest habitat. Phylogenetic trees inferred from the fungal nrDNA ITS and LSU and the rpb2 sequences supported that both species were distinct and grouped with other ectomycorrhizal Sistotrema and Hydnum species, but their generic boundary was unclear. Mycorrhizae underneath basidiomes of both species were identified and described via molecular techniques. Mycorrhizae of S. chloroporum have similar characteristics to those of other Sistotrema s.l. and Hydnum species, i.e., S. confluens and H. repandum , whereas S. flavorhizomorphae has a distinct morpho-anatomy, for example, a distinct pseudoparenchymatous mantle. Comprehensive characterizations of basidiomes and mycorrhizae improve the taxonomic analysis of mycorrhizal species of Sistotrema s.l., (2022, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)

We describe a new species of Gerhardtia from Japan based on basidiomata morphology, live culture characteristics, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Gerhardtia venosolamellata is found on broad-leaf litter, and is characterized by tricholomatoid to marasmioid basidiomata, an off-white to pale salmon-pink pileus surface with faint marginal striae, subdistant lamellae with lateral veins, a tomentose to strigose stipe base with hyphal strands generating arthroconidia measuring 4-7 × 2-3 µm, cyanophilic, elongate-ellipsoid to cylindrical, slightly verrucose or undulate basidiospores measuring 4.5-6 × 2.5-3 µm, and cyanophilic basidia measuring 25-35 × 5-6 µm and containing siderophilous granules. Phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions of the fungal nrDNA indicates that G. venosolamellata is related to G. sinensis and G. highlandensis , but differs from the former with respect to basidiomata color, basidiospore shape, and habitat. An isotype specimen of G. highlandensis exhibited relatively close lamellae without veins, and slightly larger basidiospores (4.5-6.5 × 2.5-3 µm). Cultured mycelia of G. venosolamellata produced arthroconidia measuring 4.5-8.5 × 2.5-3 µm with both schizolytic and rhexolytic secession on MA and PDA media, and chlamydospores occasionally covered with crystals on MA and MYG media., (2022, by The Mycological Society of Japan.)