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The foliar applied Silicon (Si) has potential to ameliorate heavy metals especially cadmimum (Cd) toxicity, however Si dose optimization is strategically important for boosting growth of soil microbes and Cd stress mitigation.. Thus, the current research was performed to assess the Si induced physiochemical and antioxidant traits alterations along with Mycorrhizal (VAM) status in maize roots under Cd stress.The trial included foliar Si application at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm while Cd stress was induced after full germination. The response variables included various physiochemical traits such as leaf pigments, protein and sugar contents etc. along with VAM alterations under induced Cd stress. The results revealed that foliage applied Si in higher dose remained effective in improving the leaf pigments,proline, soluble sugar, total proteins, and all free amino acids. Additionally, the same treatment remained unmatched in terms of antioxidant activity compared to lower doses of foliar applied Si.Moreover, VAM was recorded to be at peak under 20 ppm Si treatment. Thus, these encouraging findings may serve as baseline to develop Si foliar application as biologically viable mitigation strategy for maize grown in Cd toxic soils, future studies must test more doses with respect to to varying Cd stress levels along with determining the most responsive crop stage for Si foliar application.

A new species belonging to the Rusticoides clade of Entoloma, with an omphalinoid habit is described from Pakistan with detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and molecular data. Illustrations of microcharacteristics and comparison with closely allied species are provided. Entoloma griseofibrillosus is distinguished based on a greyish brown, hygrophanous fibrillose pileus, sub-isodiametric angular spores, varying shapes of cheilocystidia and a pileipellis as a cutis. Phylogenetic estimation based on nrITS and nrLSU regions with a well-nested position of the described taxon is presented in the current study.

The present study was an attempt to evaluate the antimicrobial and anthelmintic potential of two Amanita species, i.e., A. orsonii and A. glarea, along with their qualitative mycochemical screening. Maceration technique was adopted to make crude extracts in non-polar (petroleum ether and chloroform) and polar (ethanol and distilled water) solvents. Qualitative mycochemical screening revealed the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites like terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and cardiac glycosides. Antimicrobial activities were carried out by using agar well diffusing method against four bacterial and one fungal strain. The antibacterial potential ranged between 4.86 ± 0.088 mm and 34.83 ± 0.166 mm with maximum inhibition zone exhibited by petroleum ether extract against Pseudomonas fluorescens and least potential by distilled water macerate of A. orsonii against the Escherichia coli. The antifungal activity ranged between 14.5 ± 0.288 and 24.76 ± 0.145 mm, with the highest potential provided by chloroform extract of A. orsonii and least capability put forward by A. glarea by petroleum ether extract against Fusarium solanii. Antibiotics and antimycotic discs were used as standard and some of the crude extracts showed bigger zone of inhibition as compared to standard. Different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of both mushrooms were subjected to anthelmintic potential against parasite Haemonchus contortus. All the crude extracts were more potent than standard oxfandazole used. Anthelmintic potential ranged between 9.9 ± 0.057 and 54.93 ± 0.033 minutes for death of parasite, while the paralyzed time ranged between 4.86 ± 0.088 and 24.86 ± 0.088 minutes. From the results obtained it was concluded that both mushrooms can be used as potential source of curative antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelmintic agents against several diseases that might be used in pharmaceutical industries for making medicines and to screen out secondary metabolites in future.

During surveys of macrofungi in Pakistan, eight specimens belonging to the genus Lactocollybia were collected from the plains of Punjab and foothills of Murree. Morphological studies and molecular characterization refer all collections to a single species, Lactocollybia variicystis, previously restricted to Africa and Europe; this is the first report from Asia. Except for geography, no significant differences were found among African, European, and Pakistani collections.

During a survey of the lichens in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, many specimens were collected from the Jhelum and Neelum valley and characterized using morpho-anatomical, molecular and chemical test methods. Two taxa new for Pakistan, i.e., Physciella chloanta and Xanthoparmelia protomatrae s. l., were found in the collection while Physconia enteroxantha represent range extensions within Pakistan. Morpho-anatomical descriptions, ecology and distribution are provided.

Moniliophthora pakistanica sp. nov. is described from Punjab, Pakistan, based on micro- and morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. The taxon is characterized by a creamy to brownish basidiomes, a depressed or subumbonate and tomentose pileus with distinct orange to brown zones, a hairy stipe, oblong to ellipsoid basidiospores (4.7–8.5 × 4–6 μm), frequent clavate to flexuous cheilo- and pleurocystidia with apical projections, common long setiform terminal hairs in both pileipellis and stipitipellis, rhizomophs, and growth on fallen plant debris. A detailed description of macro- and microscopic characters and field photographs of collections are given. Based on our phylogenetic analysis, M. iopus is found to be a close relative of the new species. Two phylograms inferred from the datasets of nrITS and nrLSU sequences, and a comparison with phylogenetically closely related species are provided.

Hypholoma himalayense, a new species is described and illustrated from the Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan. This new taxon can be differentiated from close allies by its reddish-orange to light orange pileus, light yellowish to dull brown lamellae, and larger and broader basidiospores. The new species is also supported by molecular phylogenetic analysis inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

In recent studies, new species and sections were described in Agaricus subg. Spissicaules. We intended to update this subgenus by including all these recent taxa, some interesting sequences retrieved in GenBank, and two new collections from the Punjab Province, Pakistan. Both morphological and phylogenetic approaches were used. Maximum Likelihood tree based on rDNA ITS sequences revealed that the sequences of the new specimens from Pakistan form a clade with five sequences from India retrieved from GenBank. For the seven samples of this clade, we described the new species Agaricus radiatosquamulosus based on the morphology of the two collections from Pakistan. This new species, which belongs to the recently proposed A. sect. Fulventes was compared to the three other species of this section. Except for the small-sized A. nanofulvus, the other species are difficult to recognize without DNA sequence data. The four species differ from each other at a poly T in ITS2. In addition, each of them is distributed on different continents. Agaricus radiatosquamulosus is the first report of a species of A. subg. Spissicaules in Pakistan. In addition, a sequence from GenBank identified as A. lanatoniger matches with another sample from New Zealand in A. sect. subrutilescentes. In absence of formally published taxonomic treatment, we provisionally named these samples A. cf. lanatoniger.

During surveys in the rainy season, a few collections of a novel Volvariella species were found on the decomposed matter, and sandy soil from the bed of the Indus River, Muzaffargarh, and Noorpur Thal, Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) has confirmed that this new species (namely Volvariella variicystidiosa) forms a separate clade from the previously known species of Volvariella. Volvariella variicystidiosa differs from a closely related species, V. taylorii, by its dull brown umbo and grayish brown striations on the pileus toward the margins, dull orange lamellae, and anatomically light yellow to gray pileipellis. Our new taxon is also different from existing species by having cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia with a broad variation of shapes and sizes. Abundant cheilocystidia are cymbiform to mucronate, narrowly to broadly moniliform with a broad base, and rarely broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid with obtuse apex, triangular to conical; pleurocystidia are moderately ellipsoid, rarely flexuous and oblong. Our findings provide evidence that this fungus represents a new taxon and it is a great addition to our current knowledge of the vast diversity of Volvariella species.

During a study of the genus Leucoagaricus in Pakistan, we collected a putatively new species with a distinct morphology, anatomy and ITS nrDNA profile from Changa Manga, Punjab. The new species is characterized by the presence of reddish brown central squamules on a milk-white background, thick-walled and ellipsoid spores, narrowly sub-cylindrical to subclavate cheilocystidia and cylindrical stipe. A full description, color photographs, line drawings and a phylogenetic tree of the new species are provided.

The current study is an attempt to estimate minerals, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of two medicinal mushrooms (Russula foetens and Russula cf. foetentoides) along with their mycochemicals. Among the metal analysis, iron was most abundantly (7.428mg/g) present in R. cf. foetentoides. The mycochemical screening revealed the presence of active secondary metabolites and phenolic composition by HPLC showed five stable compounds with maximum concentration of gallic acid (22.31%). The highest antibacterial activity (27.8±0.152mm) was displayed in ethanol macerate of R. foetens in contradiction of Staphylococcus aureus. Similarly, highest antifungal potential was exhibited by R. foetens (ethanolic macerate) against Fusarium equiseti with zone of inhibition 23±0.572mm. The antioxidant potential was assessed by five assays and the R. foetens exhibited maximum % inhibition (43.045±0.037%) by DPPH radical protocol. Maximum % inhibition by ABTS protocol was exhibited by R. cf. foetentoides i.e., 88.057±0.021. The highest reducing potential was revealed in R. foetens (0.684±0.001mmol/L of FeSO4). The highest flavonoids and total phenolic contents (TPC) were shown by R. cf. foetentoides i.e., 0.115±0.002mg/100g of Catechin and 0.064±0.001mg/100g of GAE (gallic acid equivalents), respectively. All the obtained results were analyzed statistically by applying the ANOVA to determine the significant and non-significant ranges.

Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer, a wild edible macrofungus, possesses confirmed organoleptic, nutritional, and medicinal attributes. During the exploration of fungal biota of Punjab, Pakistan, L. squarrosulus was collected under the Morus alba from University of the Punjab, Lahore. For the domestication of this wild significant species, its culturability and cultivation potential was assessed by using different synthetic culture media and substrates. Among these different media used, maximum cultural growth was observed on the malt-extract agar (MEA) medium at 35°C followed by the potato-dextrose agar (PDA), compost extract agar (CEA), glucose-peptone agar (GPA), and Sabouraud-dextrose agar (SDA). Cultured strains on MEA medium were used to produce spawning material on wheat, sorghum, and barley grains. Sorghum grains at 35°C were found to be the best combination for spawn production of this fungus. Yield and biological efficiency were investigated on a variety of substrates. A mixed substrate of wheat straw and tea waste at 30°C showed the optimum yield. Tea-waste medium was used as the casing material and proved very effective. Mineral analysis of the wild and cultivated strain was carried out and revealed that both forms were enriched with macronutrients. These results showed that the L. squarrosulus strain from Pakistan possesses good nutrient and growth potential and its domestication can compete with nutritional and medicinal properties of commonly growing mushrooms.

Lepiota sindhudeltana sp. nov. was found on sandy soil under Saccharum bengalense during fungal surveys to the deltas of the Indus River and the banks of the River Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan. The new species belongs to section Ovisporae, subsection Felininae and is characterized by dull orange appressed squamules on the pileus, thin pileal context, pale yellow lamellae, a stipe rounded to slightly oblong at base, basidiospores broadly ellipsoid to oblong, neither dextrinoid nor amyloid, short, clavate erect pileal hyphae, and narrowly clavate terminal hyphae of the stipitipellis. The closest described species to the new taxon in the phylogenetic tree, based on analysis of ITS and LSU sequences, is L. angusticystidiata. We present the new species with illustrated morphological description, phylogeny, and comparison with related or similar species.

The 10-page "A checklist of Agaricus from Pakistan" by Niazi, Ghafoor, and Bashir may now be downloaded from Mycotaxon's mycobiota webpage. This brings to 152 the number of free-access Fungae available on http://www.mycotaxon.com/mycobiota/index.html

Tulostoma ahmadii, a new species found in the subtropical pine forest of Malakand, Pakistan, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by parallel to squamulose deep reddish brown scales on stipe with bulbous base, warty exoperidium, and tubular and relatively large-sized basidiospores. Macro- and microscopic features along with sequence data demonstrated that Tulostoma ahmadii is a distinct species from other members of Tulostoma. T. Squamosum, which is represented here as a new record for the country, has also been characterized on a molecular basis.

Infectious diseases caused by etiological agents are still a major threat to public health. Their impact is particularly large in developing countries due to relative unavailability of medicine and the emergence of widespread drug resistance. In the current research, trace metals were detected in lichens species through inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The antimicrobial potency of Pseudevernia furfruracea, Physcia species, Dermatocarpon vellerum and Parmellia species (lichens) extracts have been investigated against three local clinical bacterial isolates i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis through various agar disc and well diffusion methods. The antioxidant potential effect was also evaluated by DPPH and ABTS.+ free radical scavenging methods. Phytochemical constituents were screened through thin layer chromatography (TLC) and qualitative methods. Methanolic extract of P. furfruracea, Physcia spp, and D. vellerum showed a significant inhibition of S. epidermidis (14.3±1.7mm, 12.3±2.0mm, and 11.3±0.9mm) by pouring method of disc diffusion. Moderate zone of inhibition (8.0±1.4 mm) against S. epidermidis was observed by methanolic extract of Parmellia spp, through spreading method. All the results were evaluated by ANOVA and LSD tests at p0.05. The diethyl ether extracts showed considerable antioxidant potential activity with 80%, 81%, 79% and 66%. Thin layer chromatography profiling gave us the idea about the presence of phytochemical constituents such as tannins, phenols, saponins, and terpenoids. Various Rf values on silica gel plates provided the valuable clues about polarity and the selection of solvents for separation of phytochemicals. Significant inhibition of E. coli was also observed through TLC-Bioautography. The findings revealed the considerable inhibitory and antioxidant effect of lichens may be due to the presence of bioactive compounds. Therefore, lichens could be a potential source of new antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.

In modern electronic devices overheating has become a critical issue due to high power density and improved performance. In order to overcome this critical issue, the demands for materials having high thermal conductivity with low and tailorable coefficient of thermal expansions are required. This demand can be fulfilled by synthesizing copper/diamond composites, which show excellent thermo-physical properties, compatible with semiconductors and can be used in heat sink and thermal management applications. Copper/Diamond composites were fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering Method (SPS) by electrolessly copper coated diamond particles pre coated with 1wt% Chromium. The prepared composites were investigated for various properties like thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (S.E.M) and X-ray diffraction (X.R.D) analyses. The effect of process parameters were also taken into account. Thermal conductivity of copper/diamond composites fabricated by SPS at 1100°C under pressure of 40MPa, obtained in this case was 400 W/m•K , which is quite higher than those heat sink materials being already in use.