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Cuticle-degrading-proteases (CDPs) secreted by Beauveria spp. are pivotal biocontrol substances, possessing commercial potential for developing bio-pesticides. Therefore, a thoughtful and contemplative understanding and assessment of the structural and functional features of these proteases would markedly assist the development of biogenic pesticides. Computational molecular biology is a new facile alternative approach to the tedious experimental molecular biology; therefore, by using bioinformatics tools, we isolated and characterized an insect CDP gene from Beauveria bassiana 70 s.l. genomic DNA. The CDP gene (1240 bp with GeneBank accession no. KT804651.1) consisted of three introns and four CDS exons, and shared 74-100% sequence identity to the reference CDP genes. Its phylogenetic tree results showed a unique evolution pattern, and the predicted amino acid peptide (PAAP) consisted of 344 amino acid residues with pI, molecular weight, instability index, grand average hydropathicity value and aliphatic index of 7.2, 35.4 kDa, 24.45, -0.149, and 76.63, respectively. The gene possessed 74-89% amino acid sequence similarity to the 12 reference strains. Three motifs (Peptidase_S8 subtilase family) were detected in the PAAP, and the computed 3D structure possessed 79.09% structural identity to alkaline serine proteases. The PAAP had four (three serine proteases and one Pyridoxal-dependent decarboxylase) conserved domains, a disulfide bridge, two calcium binding sites, MY domain, and three predicted active sites in the serine family domains. These results will set the groundwork for further exploitation of proteases and understanding the mechanism of disease caused by cuticle-degrading-serine-proteases from entomopathogenic fungi.

Although environmental factors strongly affect the distribution of macrofungi, few studies have so far addressed this issue. Therefore, to further our understanding of how macrofungi respond to changes in the environment, we investigated the diversityand community composition of fungi based on the presence of fruiting bodies in different environments along an elevation gradient in a subalpine Pine forest at Yulong Snow Mountain in southwest China. Two-hundred and twenty-eight specimens of macrofungi from twelve plots were identified using macro-morphological characteristics. We found that soil temperature had a significantly positive influence on total macrofungal and ectomycorrhizal species richness and diversity, while elevation gradients had a significantly negative influence. Furthermore, total macrofungal and ectomycorrhizal species community composition were significantly influenced by soil temperature and elevation gradients. No significant relationships were found between environment variables and the diversity and community composition of saprotrophic fungi in subalpine pine forest.

The immune system is known to be involved in the etiology as well as pathophysiological mechanisms of many diseases Traditional medicine gives emphasis on the promotion of health a concept of strengthening host defenses against different diseases. Rasayana plants are particularly recommended for the treatment of an immune disorder, Ayurveda may play an important role in modern health care, particularly where satisfactory treatment is not available. Development of agents, capable of moving a patient's immune systems from a state of immune deficiency to normal function, would be able to a significant impact on a patient's disease condition. Such an agent would not be a cure but would control the manifestation and course of the disease. Natural Products, especially from plants, have been used for the treatment of various diseases for thousands of years. Countries such as China, Egypt, India, Greece, and Sri Lanka have practiced the use of herbs as medicines from ancient times and an impressive number of modern drugs have been developed from them. Natural products serve as one source of structurally novel chemicals and are expected to be fruitful for investigation in medicine. Balloon vine plant (botanical name:Cardiospermum Halicacabum)has various pharmacological actions like antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, anti-convulsing, anti-diarrheal, anticancer, fertility, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and etc. Due to the presence of constituents such as beta-sitosterol and its D-glucoside, an alkaloid, oxalic acid, amino acids, saponin, quebrachitol, erucic acid, oleic acid, eicosonic acid, octanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid and rich in tri-terpenoids, therefore these herbs could be valuable for the development of commercial drugs

This study contributes new knowledge on the diversity of conidial fungi in edible pine (Pinus armandii) seeds found in Yunnan Province, China and emphasizes the importance of edible seed products to ensure food safety standards. We isolated two fungal species, one on the pine seed coat and the other on the endosperm of the pine seed. The two fungal species were identified as Pestalotiopsis pinicola sp. nov. and a new host record Cladosporium anthropophilum. Characteristic morphological features of Pestalotiopsis pinicola were used alongside results from multi-gene phylogenetic analysis to distinguish it from currently known species within the genus. Cladosporium anthropophilum was identified as a new host record based on morphological features and phylogenetic analysis. In addition, detailed descriptions, scanned electron microscopy morphology, illustrations, and phylogenetic trees are provided to show the placement of these species.

The authors established the taxonomic status of endophytic fungi associated with leaves of Pandanaceae collected from southern Thailand. Morphotypes were initially identified based on their characteristics in culture and species level identification was done based on both morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data. Twenty-two isolates from healthy leaves were categorised into eight morphotypes. Appropriate universal primers were used to amplify specific gene regions and phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify these endophytes and established relationships with extant fungi. The authors identified both ascomycete and basidiomycete species, including one new genus, seven new species and nine known species. Morphological descriptions, colour plates and phylogenies are given for each taxon.

International audience; Multiple biotic and abiotic parameters influence the dynamics of individual fungal species and entire communities. Major drivers for tropical plant endophytes are undoubtedly seasonality, local habitat conditions and biogeography. However, host specialization and tissue preferences also contribute to the structuring of endophytic mycobiomes. To elucidate such specializations and preferences, we sampled two commercially important, unrelated plant species, Amorphophallus albispathus and Camellia sinensis (tea plant) simultaneously at close proximity. The mycobiomes of different tissue types were assessed with high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer DNA region. Both plants hosted different fungal communities and varied in α-and β-diversity, despite their neighboring occurrence. However, the fungal assemblages of Amorphophallus leaflets shared taxa with the mycobiomes of tea leaves, thereby suggesting common driving forces for leaf-inhabiting fungi irrespective of host plant identity. The mycobiome composition and diversity of tea leaves was clearly driven by leaf age. We suggest that the very youngest tea leaves are colonized by stochastic processes, while mycobiomes of old leaves are rather similar as the result of progressive succession. The biodiversity of fungi associated with A. albispathus was characterized by a large number of unclassified OTUs (at genus and species level) and by tissue-specific composition.This study is the first cultivation-independent high-throughput assessment of fungal biodiversity of an Amorphophallus species, and additionally expands the knowledge base on fungi associated with tea plants.

The species-area relationship is an important factor in the study of species diversity, conservation biology, and landscape ecology. A deeper understanding of this relationship is necessary, in order to provide recommendations on how to improve the quality of data collection on macrofungal diversity in different land use systems in future studies, a systematic assessment of methodological parameters, in particular optimal plot sizes. The species-area relationship of macrofungi in tropical and temperate climatic zones and four different land use systems were investigated by determining the macrofungal species richness in plot sizes ranging from 100 m2 to 10 000 m2 over two sampling seasons. We found that the effect of plot size on recorded species richness significantly differed between land use systems with the exception of monoculture systems. For both climate zones, land use system needs to be considered when determining optimal plot size. Using an optimal plot size was more important than temporal replication (over two sampling seasons) in accurately recording species richness.

The xenobiotic nature and lack of degradability of polymeric materials has resulted in vast levels of environmental pollution and numerous health hazards. Different strategies have been developed and still more research is being in progress to reduce the impact of these polymeric materials. This work aimed to isolate and characterize polyester polyurethane (PU) degrading fungi from the soil of a general city waste disposal site in Islamabad, Pakistan. A novel PU degrading fungus was isolated from soil and identified as Aspergillus tubingensis on the basis of colony morphology, macro- and micro-morphology, molecular and phylogenetic analyses. The PU degrading ability of the fungus was tested in three different ways in the presence of 2% glucose: (a) on SDA agar plate, (b) in liquid MSM, and (c) after burial in soil. Our results indicated that this strain of A. tubingensis was capable of degrading PU. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we were able to visually confirm that the mycelium of A. tubingensis colonized the PU material, causing surface degradation and scarring. The formation or breakage of chemical bonds during the biodegradation process of PU was confirmed using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The biodegradation of PU was higher when plate culture method was employed, followed by the liquid culture method and soil burial technique. Notably, after two months in liquid medium, the PU film was totally degraded into smaller pieces. Based on a comprehensive literature search, it can be stated that this is the first report showing A. tubingensis capable of degrading PU. This work provides insight into the role of A. tubingensis towards solving the dilemma of PU wastes through biodegradation.

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10-15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of ‘Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’ in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the “Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi” published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell & Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. & De Not. (Art. 59)., Dayarathne would like to thank the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) grant no RSA5980068 entitled Biodiversity, phylogeny and role of fungal endophytes on above parts of Rhizophora apiculata and Nypa fruticans, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) entitled Diseases of mangrove trees and maintenance of good forestry practice (Grant number: 60201000201) and Mae Fah Luang University grant “Biodiversity, phylogeny and role of fungal endophytes of Pandanaceae” (Grant number: 592010200112). Hugo Madrid was funded by Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT), Chile, project no. 11140562.” Rafael F. Castañeda-Ruiz is grateful to the Organización Superior de Dirección Empresarial, Grupo Agrícola, (OSDE) from the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture and “Programa de Salud Animal y Vegetal”, project P131LH003033. Dong Qin Dai would like to thank the Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and plants on Yun-Gui Plateau for the support. Ka-Lai Pang thanks Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan for financial support (105-2621-B-019 -002-). Guo Zhu Zhao was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31570019). Mingkwan Doilom acknowledges the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (PHD./0072/2553 in 4.S.M.F./53/A.2. K. Tanaka would like to thank the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; 26291084 and 16K07474). Walter P. Pfliegler was supported through the ÚNKP--16--4--IV New National Excellence Program of the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities. Samantha C. Karunarathna thanks Yunnan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security funded postdoctoral project (number 179122) for supporting his postdoctoral research study. The authors extend their appreciation to the International Scientific Partnership Program ISPP at King Saud University for funding this research work through ISPP#0089. KC Rajeshkumar thanks SERB, DST, Government of India for providing financial support under the project YSS/2015/001590 and Dr. K. M. Paknikar, Director, ARI for providing the facility. Mats Wedin thanks the Swedish Research Council, grants VR 621-2012-3990 and VR 2016-03589. Alan JL Phillips acknowledges the support from Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI, FCT/UID/ Multi/04046/2013). L. Selbmann, L. Zucconi and S. Onofri thank the Italian National Program for Antarctic Researches (PNRA) for the financial support. The Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA) is acknowledged for supporting the Mycological Section and the Culture Collection of Fungi from Extreme Environments (CCFEE).

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic and phylogenetic papers on the fungi where materials were collected from many countries, examined and described. In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections, DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic positions of taxa within appropriate ranks. Wherever new species or combinations are proposed, we apply an integrative approach using morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable. Notes on 112 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper including Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae, Didysimulans gen. nov., 81 new species, 18 new host records and new country records, five reference specimens, two new combinations, and three sexual and asexual morph reports. The new species are Amanita cornelii, A. emodotrygon, Angustimassarina alni, A. arezzoensis, A. italica, A. lonicerae, A. premilcurensis, Ascochyta italica, A. rosae, Austroboletus appendiculatus, Barriopsis thailandica, Berkleasmium ariense, Calophoma petasitis, Camarosporium laburnicola, C. moricola, C. grisea, C. ossea, C. paraincrustata, Colletotrichum sambucicola, Coprinopsis cerkezii, Cytospora gelida, Dacrymyces chiangraiensis, Didysimulans italica, D. mezzanensis, Entodesmium italica, Entoloma magnum, Evlachovaea indica, Exophiala italica, Favolus gracilisporus, Femsjonia monospora, Fomitopsis flabellata, F. roseoalba, Gongronella brasiliensis, Helvella crispoides, Hermatomyces chiangmaiensis, H. chromolaenae, Hysterium centramurum, Inflatispora caryotae, Inocybe brunneosquamulosa, I. luteobrunnea, I. rubrobrunnea, Keissleriella cirsii, Lepiota cylindrocystidia, L. flavocarpa, L. maerimensis, Lophiotrema guttulata, Marasmius luculentus, Morenoina calamicola, Moelleriella thanathonensis, Mucor stercorarius, Myrmecridium fluviae, Myrothecium septentrionale, Neosetophoma garethjonesii, Nigrograna cangshanensis, Nodulosphaeria guttulatum, N. multiseptata, N. sambuci, Panus subfasciatus, Paraleptosphaeria padi, Paraphaeosphaeria viciae, Parathyridaria robiniae, Penicillium punicae, Phaeosphaeria calamicola, Phaeosphaeriopsis yuccae, Pleurophoma italica, Polyporus brevibasidiosus, P. koreanus, P. orientivarius, P. parvovarius, P. subdictyopus, P. ulleungus, Pseudoasteromassaria spadicea, Rosellinia mearnsii, Rubroboletus demonensis, Russula yanheensis, Sigarispora muriformis, Sillia italica, Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola, Strobilomyces longistipitatus, Subplenodomus galicola and Wolfiporia pseudococos. The new combinations are Melanomma populina and Rubroboletus eastwoodiae. The reference specimens are Cookeina tricholoma, Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae, Helvella costifera, Polythrincium trifolii and Russula virescens. The new host records and country records are Ascochyta medicaginicola, Boletellus emodensis, Cyptotrama asprata, Cytospora ceratosperma, Favolaschia auriscalpium, F. manipularis, Hysterobrevium mori, Lentinus sajor-caju, L. squarrosulus, L. velutinus, Leucocoprinus cretaceus, Lophiotrema vagabundum, Nothophoma quercina, Platystomum rosae, Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei, Tremella fuciformis, Truncatella spartii and Vaginatispora appendiculata and three sexual and asexual morphs are Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Dothiora buxi and Hypocrella calendulina.

Within Agaricus subg. Minores, A. sect. Minores remains a little-studied section due generally to its delicate sporocarps often lacking taxonomically relevant morphological characters. To reconstruct the section, using the recent taxonomic system based on divergence times, and to evaluate the species diversity of A. sect. Minores in the Greater Mekong Subregion, 165 specimens were incorporated in phylogenetic analyses. A dated tree based on nuclear ITS, LSU and tef1-α sequence data allowed us to better circumscribe A. subg. Minores and to propose a new subgenus, A. subg. Minoriopsis, which is only known from tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. A larger tree based on ITS sequences indicated that, with 81 phylogenetic species, the reconstructed section Minores is now one of the largest sections in the genus. Within A. subg. Minores, a new section, A. sect. Leucocarpi, and eleven new species are described from the Greater Mekong Subregion. Thirty-eight species of A. sect. Minores from this region of Asia were distributed in multiple clades that successively diverged over the past 24 million years. In contrast, species reported from Europe mostly grouped in a single non-tropical clade, suggesting a major species diversification following the middle Miocene climatic optimum.

Laetiporus sulphureus is an edible wood-rotting basidiomycete, growing on decaying logs, stumps, and trunks of many deciduous and coniferous tree species. This fungus produces relatively large striking yellowish or orange-coloured bracket-like fruitbodies. L. sulphureus is widely consumed as a nutritional food because of its fragrance and texture. In this study, two L. sulphureus strains, MFLUCC 12-0546 and MFLUCC 12-0547, isolated from Chiang Rai, Thailand, were investigated for optimal conditions of mycelia growth. Potato dextrose agar and malt extract agar were observed as the favourable medium for mycelia growth. The optimum pH and temperature for the mushroom mycelia were 6–8 and 25–30°C, respectively.

Dematiopleospora mariae, isolated from Ononis spinosa collected in Forli-Cesena Province in Italy, is introduced as a new ascomycete genus and species based on morphology and combined LSU and SSU sequence analyses. Phylogenetic analysis based on maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Mr Bayes all support Dematiopleospora as being a distinct genus within the Phaeosphaeriaceae. Dematiopleospora is distinguished from other genera in this family in having ascospores whose central cells have longitudinal septa with light end cells, ascomata with a thick peridium and necks comprising short, light brown setae. Phylogenetic analysis also separates Dematiopleospora from other genera in the Phaeosphaeriaceae. Dematiopleospora forms a sister group with Entodesmium and Chaetosphaeronema, but these three genera are clearly separated in the molecular analysis with relatively high bootstrap support (89% and 99% respectively). The new genus is compared with similar genera of Phaeosphaeriaceae and a comprehensive description, and micrographs are provided.

The availability and the quality of substrates are important drivers of macrofungal biogeography, and thus macrofungal species occurrence is potentially dependent on the availability of different substrates. However, few studies have explored the properties of macrofungal substrates and assessed the relationship between macrofungal diversity and substrate diversity at a landscape level. To address this issue, we conducted a landscape-scale survey of basidiocarp substrates in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). A total of 957 macrofungal species distributed across 73 families and 189 genera were collected. Substrates of these macrofungi were categorized into four main groups (namely, litter, soil, root, and rare substrates) and referenced into 14 sub-substrate types (such as branches, leaves, and fruit). The results revealed that 50% of the observed macrofungal species were symbiotrophs living in ectomycorrhizal association with plant hosts, 30% were saprotrophs decomposing plant litter, 15% lived in soil organic matter, and 5% lived in rare substrates. The most abundant root symbiotic fungi were members of Russula, whereas most litter saprotrophic fungi belonged to Marasmius. Macrofungi commonly favored a single substrate. This specificity was not affected by changes in vegetation or climate. Less than 1% of macrofungi (e.g., Marasmius aff. maximus) could live on multiple substrates. Most of these unusual macrofungi were characterized as highly mobile and were generally found in successional areas. In secondary forests, our survey indicated that significant correlations exist between substrate preference and taxonomic diversity, reflected as higher substrate diversity generally accompanied by higher macrofungal diversity. In conclusion, substrate preference is an important factor driving macrofungal composition and distribution in the GMS. Macrofungi that thrive on multiple substrates constitute pioneer groups that have an important role in establishing macrofungal communities in new habitats. These observations have furthered our understanding of how substrate preferences could explain macrofungal biogeography.

Matsutake mushrooms are an important part of rural livelihoods and forest ecosystems across large parts of China, as well as elsewhere in East Asia, Northern Europe and North America. Mushroom harvesters have developed sophisticated understandings of matsutake ecology and production, and are applying this knowledge in various innovative management strategies. At the same time, Chinese government agencies and scientists are promoting matsutake-based livelihoods to support development and conservation goals. We collaborated with matsutake harvesters in one Yunnan community to carry out a systematic experiment on a popular shiro-level management technique: covering matsutake shiros with either plastic or leaf litter. Our experimental results suggest that although leaf litter coverings are superior to plastic coverings, shiros that are left uncovered may produce the highest yields. Complementing our experimental work is a multi-sited household survey of existing matsutake management practices across Yunnan, which shows that a high proportion of harvesters are already engaged in a broad range of potentially beneficial management strategies. Though both findings highlight limitations of previous initiatives led by government and research actors in China, this existing body of work is an important foundation and opportunity for developing applied mycology in the region. In and beyond China, working with communities to develop site-specific management strategies through rigorous and participatory scientific inquiry can provide salient benefits for both scientists and resource users.

International audience; The genus Agaricus includes both edible and poisonous species, with more than 400 species worldwide. This genus includes many species, which are enormously important as sources of food and medicine, such as the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and the almond mushroom (Agaricus subrufescens). This paper reviews the genus Agaricus in tropical and humid subtropical regions of Asia, including the history, characteristics, pertinent morphological and organoleptic taxonomic traits, molecular phylogeny and taxonomy advances, toxicity and edibility. This review includes Agaricus species that are known to be highly valued as edible and medicinal mushrooms, and provides a comprehensive checklist of species described from the tropical and humid subtropical regions of Asia until the end of 2015.

Mushrooms can be found in forests worldwide and have long been exploited as resources in developed economies because of their important agro-industrial, medicinal and commercial uses. For less developed countries, such as those within the Greater Mekong Subregion, wild harvesting and mushroom cultivation provides a much-needed alternative source of income for rural households. However, this has led to over-harvesting and ultimately environmental degradation in certain areas, thus management guidelines allowing for a more sustained approach to the use of wild mushrooms is required. This article addresses a selection of the most popular and highly sought after edible mushrooms from Greater Mekong Subregion: Astraeus hygrometricus, Boletus edulis, Morchella conica, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Phlebopus portentosus, Pleurotus giganteus, Termitomyces eurhizus, Thelephora ganbajun, Tricholoma matsuake, and Tuber indicum in terms of value, ecology and conservation. The greatest threat to these and many other mushroom species is that of habitat loss and over-harvesting of wild stocks, thus, by creating awareness of these issues we wish to enable a more sustainable use of these natural products. Thus our paper provides baseline data for these fungi so that future monitoring can establish the effects of continued harvesting on mushroom populations and the related host species.

International audience; Agaricus flocculosipes is described as new from northern Thailand and Mayotte based on morphology and ITS sequence analysis. The new species is compared with similar taxa, and a comprehensive description, line drawings, and colored photographs are provided. Agaricus flocculosipes is distinguished among the species in section Agaricus flocculosipes by its relatively large sporocarps (110-180 mm in diameter), erect floccose squamules on the surface of the stipe, and relatively small basidiospores (less than 6.5 mu m long). Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS sequence data using maximum likelihood, parsimony, and Bayesian analyses all support A. Agaricus flocculosipes as being a distinct species within section Agaricus flocculosipes. The new taxon is potentially cultivatable as it is presumably heterothallic, exhibits extensive genetic diversity, and occurs in section Arvenses, a lineage that contains other edible cultivatable taxa such as Agaricus flocculosipes and Agaricus flocculosipes.

In this paper Agaricus megalosporus sp. nov. is introduced with a description, line drawings, color photographs. Its novelty is supported both by its morphology and phylogenetic analysis. A. megalosporus is characterized by medium to large fruiting bodies, a heavily fibrillose squamulose stipe and relatively large basidiospores. This new species is compared with some morphologically similar species. ITS sequence data analysis by maximum likelihood, unweighted parsimony and Bayesian analysis shows that A. megalosporus should be placed in section Minores.

International audience; Medicinal mushrooms have currently become a hot issue due to their various therapeutic properties. Of these, Agaricus subrufescens, also known as the "almond mushroom", has long been valued by many societies (i.e., Brazil, China, France, and USA). Since its discovery in 1893, this mushroom has been cultivated throughout the world, especially in Brazil where several strains of A. subrufescens have been developed and used as health food and alternative medicine. This article presents up-to-date information on this mushroom including its taxonomy and health promoting benefits. Medicinal properties of A. subrufescens are emphasized in several studies which are reviewed here. In addition, safety issues concerning the use of this fungus will be discussed.

A new collection of Lentinus giganteus from Sri Lanka, where it was originally described, is used to epitypify the species after comparison with the type protologue and drawings held in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; a full description and illustrations are provided. Additional collections were made at three sites in northern Thailand. Phylogenetic ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequence analyses using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference all support the transfer of L. giganteus to Pleurotus. Although the collections from Thailand differ slightly morphologically and phylogenetically from P. giganteus sensu stricto, these differences do not yet merit specific status. Instead, P. giganteus is maintained as one widely variable species represented by relatively large fruiting bodies. Saprobic on buried well-rotted wood in forests, P. giganteus is widely consumed in Sri Lanka and might be profitably cultivated in Thailand.

There have been few studies on the taxonomy and biodiversity of the genus Lentinus in Thailand, which is a genus of edible mushrooms. Recently, collections from 17 sites in northern Thailand yielded 47 specimens of Lentinus sensu lato. Three were shown to be new species of Lentinus sensu stricto and Lentinus roseus, L. concentricus and L. megacystidiatus are introduced in this paper. The new species are described and illustrated with line drawings and are justified and compared with similar taxa. Furthermore, ITS sequence data do not match closely with any species presently lodged in GenBank.

The Greater Mekong River Subregion (GMS) is a global biodiversity hotspot. Macrofungi play an essential role as decomposers, parasites, and symbionts, and are also an important source of medicine, food, and income for many communities in the GMS, however, the diversity and composition of macrofungi in this region remain poorly understood. In order to help address this knowledge gap, we established 20 permanent study plots in the GMS (native forests, tea plantation, pine plantations, mixed rubber and coffee plantation). Macrofungal diversity and community composition were evaluated across four study sites classified to two climate types and two management methods. Heat maps and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were used to show differences in macrofungal community composition, and linear relationships were illustrated in order to analyze how environmental factors influenced macrofungal diversity and community composition. In total, 7028 specimens were collected, belonging to 1360 species, 216 genera, and 79 families. Russula, Lactarius, Amanita, Mycena, Suillus, and Inocybe were found to be the dominant genera in the GMS. We found that ectomycorrhizal fungi were dominant in temperate forests and that saprobic fungi were dominant in tropical forests. We also found that macrofungal community composition in native forests differed from that of plantation forests, indicating that plantations can provide different and complementary habitats for macrofungal growth. Our analysis of environmental factors revealed that macrofungal diversity was weakly correlated with tree species richness, and strongly correlated with elevation and latitude.

The genus Cyphellophora have been reported from plant materials, mammal’s skins and nails, and food. Previous research studies have only provided morphological characteristics of the asexual morphs of this genus. The genus Camptophora was introduced as a new genus segregated from Cyphellophora based on the sickle-shaped septate conidia and phylogenetic lineages. For the first time, we provide morphological characteristics of a sexual morph of Cyphellophora and Camptophora collected and isolated in Yunnan Province of China. Cyphellophora jingdongensis and Camptophora schima are introduced as new species while Ca. hylomeconis is reported as a new record to China based on both morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis with combined ITS and LSU sequence data, and are compared with related taxa. Full descriptions, illustrations, colour photographs and notes are provided for three species.

Two new prenylhydroquinone-derived compounds, Ientinospirol (1) and 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-l-butanone (2), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Lentinus similis BCC 52578, together with the known compounds panepoxydone (3), panepoxydione (4), isopanepoxydone (5), 2,2-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2H-chromene (6), and (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychroman (7). Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against all cell-lines tested, while the other compounds were inactive.

Taxonomic names are key links between various databases that store information on different organisms. Several global fungal nomenclural and taxonomic databases (notably Index Fungorum, Species Fungorum and MycoBank) can be sourced to find taxonomic details about fungi, while DNA sequence data can be sourced from NCBI, EBI and UNITE databases. Although the sequence data may be linked to a name, the quality of the metadata is variable and generally there is no corresponding link to images, descriptions or herbarium material. There is generally no way to establish the accuracy of the names in these genomic databases, other than whether the submission is from a reputable source. To tackle this problem, a new database (FacesofFungi), accessible at www.​facesoffungi.​org (FoF) has been established. This fungal database allows deposition of taxonomic data, phenotypic details and other useful data, which will enhance our current taxonomic understanding and ultimately enable mycologists to gain better and updated insights into the current fungal classification system. In addition, the database will also allow access to comprehensive metadata including descriptions of voucher and type specimens. This database is user-friendly, providing links and easy access between taxonomic ranks, with the classification system based primarily on molecular data (from the literature and via updated web-based phylogenetic trees), and to a lesser extent on morphological data when molecular data are unavailable. In FoF species are not only linked to the closest phylogenetic representatives, but also relevant data is provided, wherever available, on various applied aspects, such as ecological, industrial, quarantine and chemical uses. The data include the three main fungal groups (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Basal fungi) and fungus-like organisms. The FoF webpage is an output funded by the Mushroom Research Foundation which is an NGO with seven directors with mycological expertise. The webpage has 76 curators, and with the help of these specialists, FoF will provide an updated natural classification of the fungi, with illustrated accounts of species linked to molecular data. The present paper introduces the FoF database to the scientific community and briefly reviews some of the problems associated with classification and identification of the main fungal groups. The structure and use of the database is then explained. We would like to invite all mycologists to contribute to these web pages. Fil: Jayasiri, Subashini C.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Hyde, Kevin D.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. World Agro forestry Centre East and Central Asia Office; China. King Saud University. College of Science. Botany and Microbiology Department; Arabia Saudita Fil: Ariyawansa, Hiran A.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology; China Fil: Bhat, Jayarama. Goa University. Department of Botany; India Fil: Buyck, Bart. Museum National D; Francia Fil: Romero, Andrea Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina Fil: Taylor, Joanne E.. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido Fil: Tsui, Clement K. M.. University Of British Columbia; Canadá Fil: Vizzini, Alfredo. University of Turin. Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology; Italia Fil: Abdel wahab, Mohamed A.. Sohag University. Faculty of Science. Department of Botany and Microbiology; Egipto Fil: Wen, Tingchi. Guizhou University. Ministry of Education. Engineering Research Center of Southwest Bio-Pharmaceutical Resources; China Fil: Boonmee, Saranyaphat. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Dai, Dong Qin. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. World Agro forestry Centre East and Central Asia Office; China Fil: Daranagama, Dinushani A.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Microbiology. State Key Laboratory of Mycology; China Fil: Dissanayake, Asha J.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. Institute of Plant and Environment Protection; China Fil: Ekanayaka, Anusha H.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Fryar, S. C.. Flinders University. School of Biology; Australia Fil: Hongsanan, Sinang. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Jayawardena, Ruvishika S.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. Institute of Plant and Environment Protection; China Fil: Li, Wenjing. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. World Agro forestry Centre East and Central Asia Office; China Fil: Perera, Rekhani H.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Phookamsak, R.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Silva, Nimali I. de. Chiang Mai University. Faculty of Science. Department of Biology; Tailandia Fil: Thambugala, Kasun M.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology; China Fil: Tian, Qing. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. World Agro forestry Centre East and Central Asia Office; China Fil: Wijayawardene, Nalin N.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Guizhou University. Ministry of Education. Engineering Research Center of Southwest Bio-Pharmaceutical Resources; China Fil: Zhao, Ruilin. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Microbiology. State Key Laboratory of Mycology; China Fil: Zhao, Qi. World Agro forestry Centre East and Central Asia Office; China. Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science. Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources Institute; China Fil: Kang, Jichuan. Guizhou University. Ministry of Education. Engineering Research Center of Southwest Bio-Pharmaceutical Resources; China Fil: Promputtha, Itthayakorn. Chiang Mai University. Faculty of Science. Department of Biology; Tailandia

International audience; This paper is a compilation of notes on 110 fungal taxa, including one new family, 10 new genera, and 76 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new family, Paradictyoarthriniaceae is introduced based on its distinct lineage in Dothideomycetes and its unique morphology. The family is sister to Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae. The new genera are Allophaeosphaeria (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Amphibambusa (Amphisphaeriaceae), Brunneomycosphaerella (Capnodiales genera incertae cedis), Chaetocapnodium (Capnodiaceae), Flammeascoma (Anteagloniaceae), Multiseptospora (Pleosporales genera incertae cedis), Neogaeumannomyces (Magnaporthaceae), Palmiascoma (Bambusicolaceae), Paralecia (Squamarinaceae) and Sarimanas (Melanommataceae). The newly described species are the Ascomycota Aliquandostipite manochii, Allophaeosphaeria dactylidis, A. muriformia, Alternaria cesenica, Amphibambusa bambusicola, Amphisphaeria sorbi, Annulohypoxylon thailandicum, Atrotorquata spartii, Brunneomycosphaerella laburni, Byssosphaeria musae, Camarosporium aborescentis, C. aureum, C. frutexensis, Chaetocapnodium siamensis, Chaetothyrium agathis, Colletotrichum sedi, Conicomyces pseudotransvaalensis, Cytospora berberidis, C. sibiraeae, Diaporthe thunbergiicola, Diatrype palmicola, Dictyosporium aquaticum, D. meiosporum, D. thailandicum, Didymella cirsii, Dinemasporium nelloi, Flammeascoma bambusae, Kalmusia italica, K. spartii, Keissleriella sparticola, Lauriomyces synnematicus, Leptosphaeria ebuli, Lophiostoma pseudodictyosporium, L. ravennicum, Lophiotrema eburnoides, Montagnula graminicola, Multiseptospora thailandica, Myrothecium macrosporum, Natantispora unipolaris, Neogaeumannomyces bambusicola, Neosetophoma clematidis, N. italica, Oxydothis atypica, Palmiascoma gregariascomum, Paraconiothyrium nelloi, P. thysanolaenae, Paradictyoarthrinium tectonicola, Paralecia pratorum, Paraphaeosphaeria spartii, Pestalotiopsis digitalis, P. dracontomelon, P. italiana, Phaeoisaria pseudoclematidis, Phragmocapnias philippinensis, Pseudocamarosporium cotinae, Pseudocercospora tamarindi, Pseudotrichia rubriostiolata, P. thailandica, Psiloglonium multiseptatum, Saagaromyces mangrovei, Sarimanas pseudofluviatile, S. shirakamiense, Tothia spartii, Trichomerium siamensis, Wojnowicia dactylidicola, W. dactylidis and W. lonicerae. The Basidiomycota Agaricus flavicentrus, A. hanthanaensis, A. parvibicolor, A. sodalis, Cantharellus luteostipitatus, Lactarius atrobrunneus, L. politus, Phylloporia dependens and Russula cortinarioides are also introduced. Epitypifications or reference specimens are designated for Hapalocystis berkeleyi, Meliola tamarindi, Pallidocercospora acaciigena, Phaeosphaeria musae, Plenodomus agnitus, Psiloglonium colihuae, P. sasicola and Zasmidium musae while notes and/or new sequence data are provided for Annulohypoxylon leptascum, A. nitens, A. stygium, Biscogniauxia marginata, Fasciatispora nypae, Hypoxylon fendleri, H. monticulosum, Leptosphaeria doliolum, Microsphaeropsis olivacea, Neomicrothyrium, Paraleptosphaeria nitschkei, Phoma medicaginis and Saccotheciaceae. A full description of each species is provided with light micrographs (or drawings). Molecular data is provided for 90 taxa and used to generate phylogenetic trees to establish a natural classification for species.

International audience; This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa, including five new families, 20 new genera, and 100 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new families, Ascocylindricaceae, Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae (Ascomycota) are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology. The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria (Amniculicolaceae), Heracleicola, Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces (Didymosphaeriaceae), Brunneoclavispora, Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium (Halotthiaceae), Lophiohelichrysum (Lophiostomataceae), Galliicola, Populocrescentia and Vagicola (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ascocylindrica (Ascocylindricaceae), Elongatopedicellata (Roussoellaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria (Latoruaceae) and Pseudomonodictys (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae) are introduced. The newly described species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola (Amniculicolaceae), Flammeascoma lignicola (Anteagloniaceae), Ascocylindrica marina (Ascocylindricaceae), Lembosia xyliae (Asterinaceae), Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola (Botryosphaeriaceae), Caryospora aquatica (Caryosporaceae), Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces palmicola (Didymosphaeriaceae), Floricola viticola (Floricolaceae), Brunneoclavispora bambusae, Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica (Halotthiaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria fagi (Latoruaceae), Keissleriella dactylidicola (Lentitheciaceae), Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi (Lophiostomataceae), Aquasubmersa japonica (Lophiotremataceae), Pseudomonodictys tectonae (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae), Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae (Microthyriaceae), Alloleptosphaeria clematidis, Allophaeosphaeria cytisi, Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora, Dematiopleospora luzulae, Entodesmium artemisiae, Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria, Loratospora luzulae, Nodulosphaeria senecionis, Ophiosphaerella aquaticus, Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Elongatopedicellata lignicola, Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior (Roussoellaceae) and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata (Tetraploasphaeriaceae). The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora, Austropleospora archidendri, Pseudopithomyces chartarum, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Pseudopithomyces sacchari, Vagicola vagans, Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes. The new genera Dictyosporella (Annulatascaceae), and Tinhaudeus (Halosphaeriaceae) are introduced in Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota) while Dictyosporella aquatica (Annulatascaceae), Chaetosphaeria rivularia (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis (Cordycipitaceae), Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum (Discosiaceae), Colletotrichum aciculare, Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola (Glomerellaceae), Tinhaudeus formosanus (Halosphaeriaceae), Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea (Pestalotiopsiceae), Phaeoacremonium tectonae (Togniniaceae), Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica (Valsaceae), Annulohypoxylon palmicola, Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis (Xylariaceae) are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes. The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum (Mycocaliciaceae). Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa (Acarosporaceae), Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis (Graphidaceae), Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella (Lobariaceae) are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes. In class Pezizomycetes, Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa (Helvellaceae) are introduced as new species. The new families, Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae (Basidiomycota) are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella (Neoantrodiellaceae), here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data. In the class Agaricomycetes, Agaricus pseudolangei, Agaricus haematinus, Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus (Agaricaceae), Amanita melleialba, Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina (Amanitaceae), Entoloma calabrum, Cora barbulata, Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa (Inocybaceae), Xerocomellus sarnarii (Boletaceae), Cantharellus eucalyptorum, Cantharellus nigrescens, Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor (Cantharellaceae), Cortinarius alboamarescens, Cortinarius brunneoalbus, Cortinarius ochroamarus, Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii (Cortinariaceae), Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides (Hymenochaetaceae), Xylodon ramicida (Schizoporaceae), Colospora andalasii (Polyporaceae), Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae (Russulaceae), Tremella dirinariae, Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae (Tremellaceae) are introduced. Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea, Neoantrodiella thujae (Neoantrodiellaceae), Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida, Punctulariopsis efibulata (Punctulariaceae) are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota. Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis, Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana (Cunninghamellaceae), Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana (Mortierellaceae) are newly introduced in the Zygomycota, while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis (Neocallimastigaceae) are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota. Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia, Cucurbitaria ephedricola, Austropleospora, Austropleospora archidendri, Byssosphaeria rhodomphala, Lophiostoma caulium, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Massariosphaeria, Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.

The identification of Auricularia species has previously relied on the examination of macroscopic features of mushroom samples collected in Thailand. These features may vary with age, light exposure, moisture and other factors, making such identification prone to error. This study uses morphological characteristics and molecular data to improve upon previous classifications of Auricularia species. Fruiting bodies collected during recent field excursions and previous collections from herbaria were examined and sequenced for two loci, viz. ITS and rpb2. Auricularia asiatica is described as a new species based on both morphological characteristics and molecular data, and is introduced with a full description, illustrations and colour photographs. Auricularia cornea and A. villosula are described as new records from Thailand. A combined ITS and rpb2 phylogenetic tree is provided, showing the placement of five Auricularia species found in Thailand.

The genus Singerocybe (Tricholomataceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) has been the subject of controversy since its proposal in 1988. Its taxonomic foundation, species circumscription and geographical distribution have not yet been examined with molecular sequence data. In this study phylogenetic analyses on this group of fungi were conducted based on collections from Europe, eastern Asia, southern Asia, North America and Australia, with four nuclear markers, ITS, nrLSU, tefl-alpha and rpb2. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, together with morphological observations, strongly support Singerocybe as a monophyletic group and identify the vesicles in the pileal and stipe cuticle as a synapomorphy of this genus. Seven species are recognized in the genus, including one new species and four new combinations. Clitocybe trogioides and Clitocybe trogioides var. odorifera are synonyms of Singerocybe humilis and Singerocybe alboinfundibuliformis respectively. Most of these species are geographically restricted in their distributions. Furthermore our study expands the distribution range of Singerogbe from the North Temperate Zone to Australia (Tasmania) and tropical southern Asia.

Seven collections of Phallus species were made in surveys of a subtropical forest in Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province, China, during the wet season of 2012. Macro and micro characters, together with nrITS sequence data, were used to separate the collections into three species. Phallus mengsongensis and P. serrata are introduced as species new to science, while a further Phallus species is described, but not formally introduced, due to paucity of material. Macro and micro descriptions, colour photographs, line drawings and nrITS phylogenetic data for all three species are provided, which are discussed in relation to similar species in these genera.

DNA phylogenetic comparisons have shown that morphology-based species recognition often underestimates fungal diversity. Therefore, the need for accurate DNA sequence data, tied to both correct taxonomic names and clearly annotated specimen data, has never been greater. Furthermore, the growing number of molecular ecology and microbiome projects using high-throughput sequencing require fast and effective methods for en masse species assignments. In this article, we focus on selecting and re-annotating a set of marker reference sequences that represent each currently accepted order of Fungi. The particular focus is on sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region in the nuclear ribosomal cistron, derived from type specimens and/or ex-type cultures. Reannotated and verified sequences were deposited in a curated public database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), namely the RefSeq Targeted Loci (RTL) database, and will be visible during routine sequence similarity searches with NR_prefixed accession numbers. A set of standards and protocols is proposed to improve the data quality of new sequences, and we suggest how type and other reference sequences can be used to improve identification of Fungi., B.R. and C.L.S. acknowledge support from the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine

The novel species Laccaria rubroalba is described from Southwestern China by using both morphological characteristics and molecular data. It is characterized by small basidiomata; reddish white pileus when moist or young, white to pale when dry; 4-spored basidia and globose to broadly ellipsoid, hyaline, moderately echinulate basidiospores. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from ITS sequence data confirmed the separation of this new species from other closely related species in the genus Laccaria. The new species is compared with similar taxa. A description, line drawings and colour photographs of the new species, and phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species are provided.

Four specimens of Phallus were collected during surveys in a Pinus armandii forest in Baoshan, Yunnan Province, China. Macro- and micro-characteristics, together with Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequence data, showed that the four specimens belong to a new species, here named Phallus haitangensis. The ITS phylogenetic analyses, morphological descriptions, color photographs, and line drawings are provided, and compared with closely related species in the genus.

Two collections of Pleurotus giganteus and one collection of Pl. tuber-regium from Mengsong in Yunnan Province, China, and commercially grown strains of Pl. giganteus and Pl. tuber-regium from Jiangxi Province, China were identified using macro and micro morphological characters. The identification was also confirmed by phylogenetic analysis using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) universal primers. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequence data of collections of Pl. giganteus from Sri Lanka (epitype), Thailand, Malaysia and Pl. tuber-regium from Australia, Cameroon, China, Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Papua New Guinea using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference showed that Pl. giganteus forms a strongly supported clade with Thai and Chinese Pl. giganteus, while the Chinese Pl. tuber-regium clade with Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria samples with strong support. In this paper, we clarify the identifications of the two edible cultivated mushrooms, Pl. giganteus and Pl. tuber-regium in China.

International audience; Agaricus (Basidiomycota) is a genus of saprobic fungi that includes edible cultivated species such as Agaricus bisporus, the button mushroom. There has been considerable ecological, nutritional and medicinal interest in the genus, yet the extent of its diversity remains poorly known, particularly in subtropical and tropical areas. Classification of tropical species has for a large part followed the classification of temperate species. The objective of our study was to examine to what extent this system of classification is appropriate for tropical Agaricus species. Species from temperate sections were therefore compared to the major clades of tropical species using a phylogenetic approach. ITS1 + 2 sequence data from 128 species were used in the phylogenetic analysis. Specimens included four species of genera closely related to Agaricus, 38 temperate species representing the eight classical sections of the genus, and 86 putative species of Agaricus from tropical areas of Africa, Asia and the Americas. Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses produced relatively congruent trees and almost identical clades. Our data show that (i) only about one-third of tropical species belong to the classical sections based on temperate species; the systematics of the genus therefore needs to be expanded; (ii) among the remaining two-thirds of tropical species, those from the Americas and those from Africa and/or Asia group in distinct clades, suggesting that secondary diversification occurred in these two areas; (iii) in contrast, several clades of classical sections contain American and African + Asian species along with temperate species. In this study, we used approximately 50 distinct species from a small area of northern Thailand, most probably being novel species. This diversity indicates that Agaricus is a species-rich genus in the tropics as well as in temperate regions. The number of species and the hypothetical paleotropical origin of the genus are discussed.

Two new prenylhydroquinone-derived compounds, lentinospirol (1) and 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-butanone (2), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Lentinus similis BCC 52578, together with the known compounds panepoxydone (3), panepoxydione (4), isopanepoxydone (5), 2,2-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2 H-chromene (6), and (3 R,4 S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychroman (7). Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against all cell-lines tested, while the other compounds were inactive.

Auricularia is an important genus among the jelly fungi due to its popular consumption and medicinal properties. A new species of Auricularia, A. thailandica is described from fresh collections made from the Philippines, Thailand and Southern China based on morphological and molecular characters. Auricularia thailandica differs from other species by having short and loosely arranged abhymenial hairs on the basidiomata and in the different size of the zones in a cross section of the basidiomata. The species is found to be widely distributed in Southeastern Asia. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The new species is introduced with full description and illustrations.

A new bluing species of Psilocybe in sect. Caerulescentes is described from subtropical China. It is closely related to P. cubensis but can be differentiated by the lack of an annulus and the buff-yellow to yellowish brown, hemispheric to hemispheric-convex pileus without an umbo or papilla. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, nrLSU and combined rpb2 - tef1 -α datasets using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference also indicate its uniqueness. The relationship with P. cubensis is well-supported by molecular data with high support values in all three datasets. Psilocybe chu xiongensis sp. nov. is presented here with a description, photographs, and line drawings.