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Laccases from white-rot fungi catalyze lignin depolymerization, a critical first step to upgrading lignin to valuable biodiesel fuels and chemicals. In this study, a wildtype laccase from the basidiomycete Fomitiporia mediterranea (Fom_lac) and a variant engineered to have a carbohydrate-binding module (Fom_CBM) were studied for their ability to catalyze cleavage of β-O-4 ether and C-C bonds in phenolic and non-phenolic lignin dimers using a nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry-based assay. Fom_lac and Fom_CBM catalyze β-O-4 ether and C-C bond breaking, with higher activity under acidic conditions (pH < 6). The potential of Fom_lac and Fom_CBM to enhance saccharification yields from untreated and ionic liquid pretreated pine was also investigated. Adding Fom_CBM to mixtures of cellulases and hemicellulases improved sugar yields by 140% on untreated pine and 32% on cholinium lysinate pretreated pine when compared to the inclusion of Fom_lac to the same mixtures. Adding either Fom_lac or Fom_CBM to mixtures of cellulases and hemicellulases effectively accelerates enzymatic hydrolysis, demonstrating its potential applications for lignocellulose valorization. We postulate that additional increases in sugar yields for the Fom_CBM enzyme mixtures were due to Fom_CBM being brought more proximal to lignin through binding to either cellulose or lignin itself.

The Ganoderma lucidum complex includes fungi with similar morphologies but which are thought to represent different species. The lack of available type material and associated absence of multiple locus sequence data has complicated identification of these fungi. The aim of this study was to clarify the identity of the laccate Ganoderma species occurring in Finland by inferring a phylogeny using DNA sequences from available boreal-temperate material. DNA from Finnish isolates together with an older G. lucidum isolate originating from the United Kingdom was sequenced, and the morphological features of the Finnish specimens were examined. The phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the elongation factor 1-α (tef1), RNA polymerase II subunit (rpb2), and partial β-tubulin (β-tub) genes revealed that the G. lucidum isolate from the United Kingdom did not fall within a well-supported clade with other G. lucidum sequences or related species. The Finnish isolates were closely related to the G. tsugae lineage in tef1, rpb2, and β-tub phylogenies. However, G. tsugae appears morphologically distinct from the Finnish material. The results suggest that G. tsugae, or a species phylogenetically closely related to it, may occur in Finland. But further investigation into the relationship between G. tsugae and G. lucidum from Europe will be needed to clarify the identity of the laccate Ganoderma species in Finland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of morphological studies and multigene molecular phylogenetic analyses unveiled two significant novel species of boletes namely Anthracoporus indohimalayanus sp. nov. and Boletus dhakuricus sp. nov. from the states of Sikkim and Uttarakhand, respectively. The first novel species, i.e. A. indohimalayanus is also a new generic record of the genus Anthracoporus from India, whereas the second novel species i.e. B. dhakuricus is a member of wild edible porcini mushroom. Both the taxa are described with their morphological details and molecular phylogenetic inferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats (Chiroptera), the second largest group of mammals, are known for their unique immune system and their ability to act as vectors for various zoonoses. Bats also act as important carriers of fungi, which include plant, animal, and human pathogens. Their roosting areas, foraging behaviors, and even migration routes make bats ideal vectors for fungi. We isolated 75 culturable fungal species from bats in Yunnan Province, China, with 36 species representing known pathogens of plants, animals, and humans, while 39 species are non-pathogenic fungi. Among these species, 77% (58 species) belonged to Ascomycota, 9% (seven species) belonged to Basidiomycota, and 13% (10 species) belonged to Mucoromycota. Even though several taxonomic studies on fungi associated with bats have been published, studies exploring the role of bats as fungal vectors are lacking. This study discusses the fungi host-specific traits and pathogenicity and the impact and ecological significance of bats as fungal vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi occupy important environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic roles. However, biological research of this diverse kingdom has lagged behind that of other phylogenetic groups. This is partially the result of the notorious difficulty in culturing a diverse array of filamentous fungal species due to their (i) often unpredictable growth, (ii) unknown preferences for culturing conditions, and (iii) long incubation times compared with other microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts. Given the complexity associated with concurrently culturing diverse fungal species, developing practical methods for preserving as many species as possible for future research is vital. The widely accepted best practice for preserving fungal tissue is the use of cryogenic biobanking at −165 C, allowing for the preservation and documentation of stable genetic lineages, thus enabling long-term diversity-centered research. Despite the extensive literature on fungal cryopreservation, substantial barriers remain for implementation of cryogenic biobanks in smaller mycological laboratories. In this work, we present practical considerations for the establishment of a fungal culture biobank, as well as provide evidence for the viability of 61 fungal genera in cryogenic storage. By providing a pragmatic methodology for cryogenically preserving and managing many filamentous fungi, we show that creating a biobank can be economical for independently owned and operated mycology laboratories, which can serve as a long-term resource for biodiversity, conservation, and strain maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suillus (order Boletales) is a diverse genus of epigeous, mushroom-forming fungi native to temperate forests across the Northern Hemisphere; however, some species are also present in areas where Pinaceae has been introduced in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike the closely related genus Rhizopogon, there are no described hypogeous, sequestrate species of Suillus. Here, we describe Suillus hypogaeus, the first known species of the genus with hypogeous, sequestrate sporocarps. Collections were made on Marys Peak in Benton County, Oregon, USA, at an elevation of 800 m in forests dominated by Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii. The peridium is white, quickly staining pink to purple-reddish where bruised or cut. The gleba is pale yellow when young, becoming purple with maturity, and the basidiospores are obovoid, light yellow in KOH, and amyloid in Melzer's reagent. Multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses support the placement of S. hypogaeus among the Larix specialists in the spectabilis group of Suillus. Although Larix and Pseudotsuga are sister genera, Larix does not occur on Marys Peak or elsewhere in western Oregon. Suillus hypogaeus, therefore, represents both an independent origin of the hypogeous, sequestrate sporocarp within the Boletales and an independent host shift between Larix and Pseudotsuga within the genus Suillus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stipitate Thelephorales are basidiomycetous, mostly hydnoid, ectomycorrhizal fungi. Some species have declined considerably, and some are threat-listed as vulnerable or endangered. These ecological concerns require a well-resolved taxonomy to understand diversity in this group of fungi and facilitate conservation. However, phylogenetic studies have mostly neglected Southern Hemisphere representatives. This study examines the fleshy species of stipitate Thelephorales from native forests in Australia and New Zealand, using morphological analyses and phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS barcode) and D1–D2 domains at the 5′ end of nuc 28S rDNA (28S) sequences amplified from DNA isolated from fungarium collections and environmental DNA (eDNA) sequences from the Australian Microbiome initiative. Five new species, Sarcodon austrofibulatus, Hydnellum gatesiae, H. nothofagacearum, H. pseudoioeides, and H. variisporum, are described, Sarcodon carbonarius is transferred to Neosarcodon, and a key is provided for the six named species in the region. Boletopsis and Neosarcodon are reported from Australia for the first time based on detections from eDNA in soil samples taken from native forests. The Australasian species of Hydnellum occupy a highly derived position with the phylogeny of the genus, the members of which are otherwise all from the Northern Hemisphere, suggestive of a long-distance dispersal origin for the Australasian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cortinarius (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) is one of the most species-rich fungal genera, with thousands of species reported. Cortinarius species are important ectomycorrhizal fungi and form associations with many vascular plants globally. Until recently Cortinarius was the single genus of the family Cortinariaceae, despite several attempts to provide a workable, lower-rank hierarchical structure based on subgenera and sections. The first phylogenomic study for this group elevated the old genus Cortinarius to family level and the family was split into ten genera, of which seven were described as new. Here, by careful re-examination of the recently published phylogenomic dataset, we detected extensive gene-tree/species-tree conflicts using both concatenation and multispecies coalescent approaches. Our analyses demonstrate that the Cortinarius phylogeny remains unresolved and the resulting phylogenomic hypotheses suffer from very short and unsupported branches in the backbone. We can confirm monophyly of only four out of ten suggested new genera, leaving uncertain the relationships between each other and the general branching order. Thorough exploration of the tree space demonstrated that the topology on which Cortinarius revised classification relies on does not represent the best phylogenetic hypothesis and should not be used as constrained topology to include additional species. For this reason, we argue that based on available evidence the genus Cortinarius should not (yet) be split. Moreover, considering that phylogenetic uncertainty translates to taxonomic uncertainty, we advise for careful evaluation of phylogenomic datasets before proposing radical taxonomic and nomenclatural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on the identification of the novel species Leucoagaricus persicus from Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The species is characterized by convex to broadly convex pileus with a dark reddish‐brown umbo and orangish‐red fibrils on white context. The basidiospores are ellipsoid to elongate, amygdaliform to ovoid (10.2–12.0 × 6.6–7.5 µm), and there are variably shaped cheilocystidia and pileipellis hyphae without clamp connections forming an intricate trichoderm. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic data based on ITS and LSU region of nrDNA separate L. persicus from all other known species in Leucoagaricus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halimium, Cistaceae, is a genus of shrubs restricted to the western part of the Mediterranean basin, where it thrives in diverse habitats. Despite this ecological adaptability, little attention has been devoted to understanding the mycorrhizal biology of Halimium. Through the examination of both sporocarps and ectomycorrhizal root tip collections, together with a thorough study of data previously reported in the relevant literature, we revealed a rich diversity of ectomycorrhizal mycobiota associated with Halimium spp. In this study, we describe the noteworthy diversity of the basidiomycetous family Inocybaceae in Halimium stands. Some 17 species of Inocybe and Pseudosperma are currently reported as linked to Halimium spp., mostly on the basis of sporocarp occurrence in the proximity of the potential host plant. Of these species, over 40% (7 of 17) come from our own study based on observations in pure Halimium stands in southwestern Sardinia, Italy. We also describe two new species of Inocybe, I. halimiphila sp. nov. and Inocybe rupribes sp. nov., that were collected under Halimium and demonstrated to establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with the shrub. We discuss the main morphological and ecological characteristics that distinguish the new species, unveiling their evolutionary relationships by inferring a phylogeny based on multiple loci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the occurrence of endophytic fungi and bacteria in the roots of F. gigantea, a woodland perennial grass common throughout Europe and temperate Asia. The taxonomic assignment was carried out according to the isolate's colony and cytological species morphotype characteristics and confirmed by the assessment of the standard DNA sequences, ITS, RPB2, SSU, and TEF1-a for fungi and 16S rDNA for bacteria. Our study has shown that F. gigantea roots are the habitat to a wide range of fungi and bacteria. The occurrence of fungal structures was determined in ~40% of the roots examined by Trypan Blue staining. In a surface-sterile root-cutting culture on PDA medium, we obtained isolates of six endophytic fungi species: four members of Ascomycota—Alternaria alternata, Cadophora fastigiata, Chaetomium funicola, and Microdochium bolleyi—and two of Basidiomycota—Coprinellus sp. and Sistotrema brinkmannii. In addition, we report bacteria co-occurring endophytically in the roots of this grass. The Firmicutes group was the most prevalent, consisting of four Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacteria taxa. The isolates were identified as Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp., and Priestia aryabhattai. Moreover, two Gram-negative bacteria were detected—Kosakonia sp. (Proteobacteria) and Pedobacter sp. (Bacteroidetes). Thus, applying the isolate-culture approach, we identified a set of microorganisms in the roots of a typical grass native to the deciduous forest floor. The functional roles of these endophytes are diverse, and many of them, saprotrophs and decomposers of wood and plant debris, are linked to the decomposition of organic matter. This is the first detailed report on fungal and bacterial endophytes inhabiting the roots of F. gigantea. This study fills in a research gap on endophytes associated with the below-ground parts of Festuca spp., hitherto extensively studied for Epichloë/Neotyphodium associations in their foliar parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinctoporellus epimiltinus is widely known as a wood-decaying fungus. In the present study, we identified the complete mitochondrial genome of this species using next-generation sequencing technology. Our findings revealed that the genomic structure is a circular molecule with a size of 51,878 bp. Consistent with most Basidiomycota species, it consists of 14 core protein-coding genes, one ribosomal protein gene (rps3), 26 transfer RNA genes, and small and large ribosomal RNA (rns and rnl) genes. Seven additional open reading frames were identified. These included two sequences similar to DNA polymerases, an endonuclease-like sequence, and four hypothetical proteins. The mitochondrial genome exhibited a nucleotide composition of A (36.24%), C (12.04%), G (13.18%), and T (38.55%), resulting in a 25.21% GC content. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the combined mitochondrial gene dataset provided insight into the phylogenetic relationships of this species within the context of Basidiomycota and its members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe genus Fuscoporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota) comprises poroid white-rot fungi characterized by dark brown hymenial setae, a dimitic hyphal system, and encrusted generative hyphae. Despite the ecological and commercial significance of Fuscoporia species, their identification has been challenging owing to their morphological overlap with other genera of Hymenochaetaceae and to the limited resolution of nuclear ribosomal DNA markers. With the advances in molecular research, Fuscoporia has been revised to include species from Inonotus sensu lato and Phellinus sensu lato, and 71 new species have been reported over the past decade. In Korea, a comprehensive taxonomic study elucidating the true diversity of Fuscoporia is yet to be conducted. Among the 11 Fuscoporia species reported in Korea, two were identified solely based on morphological characteristics, and four were identified based on nuclear ribosomal DNA regions, which have limited resolution for species identification in Fuscoporia. To investigate the current status of Fuscoporia species native to Korea, we conducted a phylogenetic study using four genetic markers (ITS + nrLSU + RPB2 + TEF1), along with morphological characteristics, and re-analyzed the GenBank records deposited from Korea. Ten Fuscoporia species were identified, including three previously unrecorded species. A detailed description of the unrecorded species and a list of proposed Korean names for all Fuscoporia species in Korea are provided. This study will guide further taxonomic and applied research of Fuscoporia by providing a species identification key and a verified multigenetic database, in addition to confirming the sequences in public database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During studies on the taxonomical delimitation of some species of Funalia, some inconsistencies were observed in the genus. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the generic type Fomitella supina was positioned within the Funalia clade; thus, the synonymization of the genus and the new combination of Funalia supina are proposed. Funalia glabrorigens is also combined in the genus, while F. hainanensis is suggested as a synonym of F. floccosa, and F. rigida is assumed as a distinct species geographically separated from F. floccosa. A table with morphological comparison of the 10 Funalia species confirmed by molecular analyses is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO2 emission activity of xylotrophic fungi responding to an increase in temperature in the range of 10–30 °C with pure dikaryotic cultures of Fomes fomentarius s. str., F. inzengae, Fomitopsis betulina, F. pinicola, and Phellinus igniarius was analyzed. Emission activity was assessed by the difference in CO2 concentration in 0.5 L exposure chambers with Petri dishes with mycelium growing on agar at the beginning of exposure and an hour later using a Gasmet DX-4030 FTIR spectrometer (Gasmet Technologies Oy, Finland), error measurements ±50 ppm. Specific (μg CO2/cm2/h) and total (μg CO2/h) emission activity and its relationship with temperature and size (area) of the mycelium were assessed. It is shown that in the range of 10–30 °C, the specific and total CO2 emission activity of the mycelium is closely and positively related to temperature. Specific emission, which is an indicator of the respiratory activity of the mycelium, does not depend on its size; its only driver is temperature, the relationship with which is linear: an increase in temperature by 10 °C causes an increase in the specific emission activity of the mycelium by 1.7 times. The total CO2 emission activity, which is an indicator of the total amount of CO2 emitted, is directly proportional to the specific emission activity and the size of the mycelium. In the range of 10–30 °C, an increase in temperature causes an almost equal increase in both the specific emission activity of the mycelium (Q10 1.7) and its growth (Q10 1.5) and causes an exponential increase in the total emission of CO2. This must be taken into account when predicting CO2 emissions from woody debris under climate change, as it could potentially contribute to accelerating climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, yeasts from the gut of O. barnabita larvae were isolated and molecularly identified. It is worth noting that this research provides the first analysis of the gut yeast community in O. barnabita larvae in Lithuania, which is a significant contribution to the field. Two hermit-like L3-praepupa instars were collected from a decaying oak log in Lithuania. The isolation, morphology, biochemistry, and physiology of the yeast isolates were characterized using standards commonly employed in yeast taxonomy studies. The isolates were identified by sequencing the large subunit (26S) rDNA (D1/D2 domain of the LSU). All gut compartments were colonized by the yeast. A total of 45 yeast strains were obtained from the gut of both O. barnabita larvae, with 23 strains originating from Larva 1, 16 strains from Larva 2, and 6 strains from the galleries. According to our identification results of the 45 yeast strains, most of the species were related to Ascomycota, with most of them belonging to the Saccharomycetales order. Yeasts of the genera Candida, Debaryomyces, Meyerozyma, Priceomyces, Schwanniomyces, Spencermartinsiella, Trichomonascus, and Blastobotrys were present in gut of O. barnabita larvae. Species of the Trichosporonales order represented the Basidiomycota phylum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi harbor a vast diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Recently, novel fungal MGEs, tentatively referred to as ‘ambiviruses,’ were described. ‘Ambiviruses’ have single-stranded RNA genomes of about 4–5 kb in length that contain at least two open reading frames (ORFs) in non-overlapping ambisense orientation. Both ORFs are conserved among all currently known ‘ambiviruses,’ and one of them encodes a distinct viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP), the hallmark gene of ribovirian kingdom Orthornavirae. However, ‘ambivirus’ genomes are circular and predicted to replicate via a rolling-circle mechanism. Their genomes are also predicted to form rod-like structures and contain ribozymes in various combinations in both sense and antisense orientations—features reminiscent of viroids, virusoids, ribozyvirian kolmiovirids, and yet-unclassified MGEs (such as ‘epsilonviruses,’ ‘zetaviruses,’ and some ‘obelisks’). As a first step toward the formal classification of ‘ambiviruses,’ the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recently approved the establishment of a novel ribovirian phylum, Ambiviricota, to accommodate an initial set of 20 members with well-annotated genome sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Cortinarius species in subgenus Leprocybe, Cortinarius hengduanensis and C. yadingensis, are proposed based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Cortinarius hengduanensis has distinct olive tinged basidiomata, a squamulose pileus, and small, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, the ITS sequence differs from that of C. flavifolium by at least 28 substitutions and independent positions. Cortinarius yadingensis has a squamulose pileus and subglobose to broadly ellipsoid coarsely verrucose basidiospores, the ITS sequence has at least 11 substitutions and index position deviations from the other members of the Leprocybe section. Both new species were found in mixed forests of southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nasopharyngeal tract contains a complex microbial community essential to maintaining host homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection changes the microbial composition of the nasopharynx. Still, little is known about how it affects the fungal microbiome, which could provide valuable insights into disease pathogenesis. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 55 patients, during three distinct COVID-19 waves that occurred in the Campania Region (southern Italy). An RNA-seq-based analysis was performed to evaluate changes in mycobiota diversity, showing variations depending on the disease's severity and the sample collection wave. The phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were shown to have higher abundance in patients with severe symptoms. Furthermore, the diversity of the fungal population was greater in the second wave. Conclusion: According to our research, COVID-19 induces significant dysbiosis of the fungal microbiome, which may contribute to disease pathogenesis, and understanding its underlying mechanisms could contribute to developing effective treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habenaria and Liparis are well-known orchid genera that grow in terrestrial habitats in the tropics, subtropics or temperate zones. Three species have been found in subtropical regions of China, inhabiting terrestrial to epiphytic habitats. This study focuses on three species, H. dentata (distributed in Asia), H. yachangensis, and L. gigantea. For H. yachangensis and L. gigantea, there is no information about the mycorrhizal community in these species. This study aims to conduct the fungal community screening of Chinese ground orchids from subtropical regions. We performed a comparative analysis of the fungal community among H. dentata, H. yachangensis, and L. gigantea, determining their ITS regions using NGS paired-end sequences. The results clarified the diversity and the predominance of fungal genera. Ascomycota was abundant compared to Basidiomycota or other fungi groups in all communities, with a high dominance in all populations, especially for L. gigantea. At different root spatial locations, the fungal community diversity and richness were higher in the soil than in the rhizosphere or inner root. However, the results suggest that L. gigantea has a different fungal community compared to Habenaria species. In this order, the subtropical terrestrial orchids have a different fungal network compared to the northern terrestrial orchids. Also, there is a high probability of co-existence and co-evolution of endophytic fungi in these terrestrial orchids, indicating the potential role of host plants in selecting an endophytic fungal community. Furthermore, our results highlight the need to elucidate the microbe interactions of these unique orchids for long-term purposes, such as isolating indigenous fungi for suitable inoculants for further orchid propagation, restoration, and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinctoporellus epimiltinus is widely known as a wood-decaying fungus. In the present study, we identified the complete mitochondrial genome of this species using next-generation sequencing technology. Our findings revealed that the genomic structure is a circular molecule with a size of 51,878 bp. Consistent with most Basidiomycota species, it consists of 14 core protein-coding genes, one ribosomal protein gene (rps3), 26 transfer RNA genes, and small and large ribosomal RNA (rns and rnl) genes. Seven additional open reading frames were identified. These included two sequences similar to DNA polymerases, an endonuclease-like sequence, and four hypothetical proteins. The mitochondrial genome exhibited a nucleotide composition of A (36.24%), C (12.04%), G (13.18%), and T (38.55%), resulting in a 25.21% GC content. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the combined mitochondrial gene dataset provided insight into the phylogenetic relationships of this species within the context of Basidiomycota and its members.

The genus Fuscoporia (Hymenochaetaceae, Basidiomycota) comprises poroid white-rot fungi characterized by dark brown hymenial setae, a dimitic hyphal system, and encrusted generative hyphae. Despite the ecological and commercial significance of Fuscoporia species, their identification has been challenging owing to their morphological overlap with other genera of Hymenochaetaceae and to the limited resolution of nuclear ribosomal DNA markers. With the advances in molecular research, Fuscoporia has been revised to include species from Inonotus sensu lato and Phellinus sensu lato, and 71 new species have been reported over the past decade. In Korea, a comprehensive taxonomic study elucidating the true diversity of Fuscoporia is yet to be conducted. Among the 11 Fuscoporia species reported in Korea, two were identified solely based on morphological characteristics, and four were identified based on nuclear ribosomal DNA regions, which have limited resolution for species identification in Fuscoporia. To investigate the current status of Fuscoporia species native to Korea, we conducted a phylogenetic study using four genetic markers (ITS + nrLSU + RPB2 + TEF1), along with morphological characteristics, and re-analyzed the GenBank records deposited from Korea. Ten Fuscoporia species were identified, including three previously unrecorded species. A detailed description of the unrecorded species and a list of proposed Korean names for all Fuscoporia species in Korea are provided. This study will guide further taxonomic and applied research of Fuscoporia by providing a species identification key and a verified multigenetic database, in addition to confirming the sequences in public database.

Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia triticina Eriksson (Pt), is one of the most severe foliar diseases of wheat. Breeding for leaf rust resistance is a practical and sustainable method to control this devastating disease. Here, we report the identification of Lr47, a broadly effective leaf rust resistance gene introgressed into wheat from Aegilops speltoides. Lr47 encodes a coiled-coil nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein that is both necessary and sufficient to confer Pt resistance, as demonstrated by loss-of-function mutations and transgenic complementation. Lr47 introgression lines with no or reduced linkage drag are generated using the Pairing homoeologous1 mutation, and a diagnostic molecular marker for Lr47 is developed. The coiled-coil domain of the Lr47 protein is unable to induce cell death, nor does it have self-protein interaction. The cloning of Lr47 expands the number of leaf rust resistance genes that can be incorporated into multigene transgenic cassettes to control this devastating disease.

The basidiomycete Moniliophthora roreri causes frosty pod rot of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in the western hemisphere. Moniliophthora roreri is considered asexual and haploid throughout its hemibiotrophic life cycle. To understand the processes driving genome modification, using long-read sequencing technology, we sequenced and assembled 5 high-quality M. roreri genomes out of a collection of 99 isolates collected throughout the pathogens range. We obtained chromosome-scale assemblies composed of 11 scaffolds. We used short-read technology to sequence the genomes of 22 similarly chosen isolates. Alignments among the 5 reference assemblies revealed inversions, translocations, and duplications between and within scaffolds. Isolates at the front of the pathogens expanding range tend to share lineage-specific structural variants, as confirmed by short-read sequencing. We identified, for the first time, 3 new mating type A locus alleles (5 in total) and 1 new potential mating type B locus allele (3 in total). Currently, only 2 mating type combinations, A1B1 and A2B2, are known to exist outside of Colombia. A systematic survey of the M. roreri transcriptome across 2 isolates identified an expanded candidate effector pool and provided evidence that effector candidate genes unique to the Moniliophthoras are preferentially expressed during the biotrophic phase of disease. Notably, M. roreri isolates in Costa Rica carry a chromosome segment duplication that has doubled the associated gene complement and includes secreted proteins and candidate effectors. Clonal reproduction of the haploid M. roreri genome has allowed lineages with unique genome structures and compositions to dominate as it expands its range, displaying a significant founder effect.

Stripe (yellow) rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), can significantly affect wheat production. Cloning resistance genes is critical for efficient and effective breeding of stripe rust resistant wheat cultivars. One resistance gene (Yr10CG) underlying the Pst resistance locus Yr10 has been cloned. However, following haplotype and linkage analyses indicate the presence of additional Pst resistance gene(s) underlying/near Yr10 locus. Here, we report the cloning of the Pst resistance gene YrNAM in this region using the method of sequencing trait-associated mutations (STAM). YrNAM encodes a non-canonical resistance protein with a NAM domain and a ZnF-BED domain. We show that both domains are required for resistance. Transgenic wheat harboring YrNAM gene driven by its endogenous promoter confers resistance to stripe rust races CYR32 and CYR33. YrNAM is an ancient gene and present in wild wheat species Aegilops longissima and Ae. sharonensis; however, it is absent in most wheat cultivars, which indicates its breeding value.

Lichens are multi-component microbial communities where yeasts are common. This work was designed to address the taxonomic diversity and distribution of cultivated endothallic yeasts in terricolous lichens of the genus Cladonia. Lichens Cladonia stellaris, C. rangiferina, C. cornuta, and C. pleurota from arctic, subarctic, and continental boreal climates in Russia in a range of biotopes were studied. In total, 40 yeast species were isolated. It revealed a broad taxonomic range of endothallic yeast with a substantial proportion of basidiomycetes from subphyla Agaricomycotina and Pucciniomycotina. Many common yeast species were found within the epithallic and endothallic yeast communities of some lichens studied. The physiological and ecological characterization of 30 basidiomycetous endothallic yeasts enhances our understanding of lichen habitats and may aid in culturing seldom-isolated lichenicolous fungi. Out of 40 species in this study, 21 new yeast species were discovered, and 10 new yeast species were proposed with their formal descriptions. They are Colacogloea glushakovae sp. nov., Cyrenella lichenicola sp. nov., Microsporomyces wangii sp. nov., Microsporomyces cladoniae sp. nov., Genolevuria nadymea sp. nov., Teunia turchettiae sp. nov., Phaeotremella sibirica sp. nov., Phaeotremella endothallina sp. nov., Piskurozyma altaica sp. nov., and Piskurozyma cladoniicola sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylodon lanatus and closely related species were studied with molecular and morphological means. This species complex contains six species, two of which we describe as new. Species in the complex have minutely odontioid hymenophore projections that consist of encrusted, firm-walled hyphae and ellipsoid spores. We assign an epitype for X. lanatus, for which ITS and 28S rDNA sequences were obtained, and amend the concept of X. pseudolanatus. The two new species, both well supported in our phylogenetic analyses, are X. afromontanus, found in Eastern Africa, and X. mantiqueirensis, found in southeastern Brazil. We show the phylogenetic affinity of X. echinatus with X. lanatus for the first time, and according to new data the range of the previous species extends to Sunda Archipelago. We provide scanning electron microscopy illustrations of the crystalline deposits on projecting hyphae for the above-mentioned species. The sixth member of the complex is X. kunmingensis. Outside the X. lanatus complex, we report additional sequenced specimens of X. hyphodontinus. A new species, X. neotropicus from South America, related to X. hyphodontinus, is described. We also describe X. gloeocystidiifer from Ecuador as new species. It is characterised by globose/broadly ellipsoid spores, gloeocystidia and capitate cystidia with a resinous cap. The heterotypic names Hyphodontia yunnanensis and Xylodon yunnanensis are considered. We suggest the previous one is a synonym of the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although Basidiomycota produce pharmaceutically and ecologically relevant natural products, knowledge of how they coordinate their primary and secondary metabolism is virtually non-existent. Upon transition from vegetative mycelium to carpophore formation, mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe use l-tryptophan to supply the biosynthesis of the psychedelic tryptamine alkaloid psilocybin with the scaffold, leading to a strongly increased demand for this particular amino acid as this alkaloid may account for up to 2% of the dry mass. Using Psilocybe mexicana as our model and relying on genetic, transcriptomic, and biochemical methods, this study investigated if l-tryptophan biosynthesis and degradation in P. mexicana correlate with natural product formation. Results A comparative transcriptomic approach of gene expression in P. mexicana psilocybin non-producing vegetative mycelium versus producing carpophores identified the upregulation of l-tryptophan biosynthesis genes. The shikimate pathway genes trpE1, trpD, and trpB (encoding anthranilate synthase, anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, and l-tryptophan synthase, respectively) were upregulated in carpophores. In contrast, genes idoA and iasA, encoding indole-2,3-dioxygenase and indole-3-acetaldehyde synthase, i.e., gateway enzymes for l-tryptophan-consuming pathways, were massively downregulated. Subsequently, IasA was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized in vitro. This enzyme represents the first characterized microbial l-tryptophan-preferring acetaldehyde synthase. A comparison of transcriptomic data collected in this study with prior data of Psilocybe cubensis showed species-specific differences in how l-tryptophan metabolism genes are regulated, despite the close taxonomic relationship. Conclusions The upregulated l-tryptophan biosynthesis genes and, oppositely, the concomitant downregulated genes encoding l-tryptophan-consuming enzymes reflect a well-adjusted cellular system to route this amino acid toward psilocybin production. Our study has pilot character beyond the genus Psilocybe and provides, for the first time, insight in the coordination of mushroom primary and secondary metabolism.

ABSTRACTMetacampanella is proposed as a new genus in Family Marasmiaceae to accommodate a small group of six species morphologically resembling Tetrapyrgos or Campanella but molecularly distinct from both genera. Newly described taxa include M. costaricensis, M. sinecystidia, and M. dendrophora f. washingtonensis; species epithets transferred are M. caesia, M. dendrophora, M. olivaceonigra, and M. subdendrophora. Members of this complex habitually fruit on dead monocot stems and in one case, dead dicot wood. A comparison of nrITS sequences deposited in GenBank indicates that some members of Metacampanella include or are related to grass endophytes. Metacampanella appears to be global in distribution.

AbstractThe undescribed phosphatidylcholine (1), along with twelve known compounds, was isolated from the cultures of white rot fungus Microporus xanthropus PP17-20. In this work the fungus was cultivated in Yeast-Malt extract medium to explore active compound production. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and HRESIMS data. Several isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against A549 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fomes weberianus Bres. & Henn. ex Sacc. is currently the basionym of two very distinct polypores (Basidiomycota), Ganoderma weberianum (Polyporales) and Phylloporia weberiana (Hymenochaetales). This fact has led to almost fifty years of taxonomic confusion. Fomes weberianus was first lectotypified by Steyaert, who accepted the species as G. weberianum. However, studies of Weber's original material in B, duplicate material in S, the protologue, and early interpretations of the name have shown that Steyaert's choice conflicts with the protologue and early interpretations, and that his interpretation as a species of Ganoderma is erroneous. A new lectotype was designated and the species was re-described under the correct interpretation Phylloporia weberiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemical and biological exploration of the European polypore Dentipellis fragilis afforded two previously undescribed natural products (1 and 2), together with three known derivatives (3–5). Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed through 1D/2D NMR spectroscopic analyses, mass spectrometry, and by comparison with the reported literature. The relative and absolute configurations of 1 were determined according to the ROESY spectrum and time-dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD), respectively. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of dentipellinol (3) was revisited and revealed to be of (R) configuration. All the isolated compounds were assessed for their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities, with some being revealed to have weak to moderate antimicrobial activity, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gypsum Karst of Sorbas, Almeria, southeast Spain, includes a few caves whose entrances are open and allow the entry and roosting of numerous bats. Caves are characterized by their diversity of gypsum speleothems, such as stalactites, coralloids, gypsum crusts, etc. Colored biofilms can be observed on the walls of most caves, among which the Covadura and C3 caves were studied. The objective was to determine the influence that bat mycobiomes may have on the fungal communities of biofilms. The results indicate that the fungi retrieved from white and yellow biofilms in Covadura Cave (Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota) showed a wide diversity, depending on their location, and were highly influenced by the bat population, the guano and the arthropods that thrive in the guano, while C3 Cave was more strongly influenced by soil- and arthropod-related fungi (Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota), due to the absence of roosting bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood‐decay fungi are major contributors to damage wood and logs, resulting in substantial economic losses. This study assessed the decay caused by Trametes flavida and Daldinia eschscholtzii on Gmelina arborea, Samanea saman, Albizia lebbeck, Acacia auriculiformis and Swietenia mahagoni. Both fungi demonstrated their ability to decay wood. However, the extent of damage varied significantly among the tested hardwood species. Findings showed that Trametes flavida caused greater wood mass and density loss than Daldinia eschscholtzii. Among the tested hardwood species, G. arborea was found to be more susceptible to the decay fungi, followed by S. saman, A. lebbeck, A. auriculiformis and S. mahagoni, respectively. The study will encourage the scientific management of timber and logs in sawmill depots to minimize the decay of wood and incurred economic loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field investigation in different localities in the Brazilian Amazon Forest reveals two new species of Cyathus: C. pallidistipitatus and C. macauanensis. In addition, a second record for science and the first record for South America and Amazonia of C. tenuicorticalis is proposed. Based on morphological and molecular data, the new taxa were described, and the phylogenetic positioning of both new species was discussed. Comparative analyses with related taxa and a detailed discussion of the new record and the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The biogeographic history of most fungi is still poorly known, as well as the patterns and processes responsible for their diversification. Recent studies uncovered that most fungi have originated and present higher diversification rates in the temperate zone. The distributional pattern known for fungi is also different from many plants, animals and microbes. Using the most comprehensive phylogeny of the saprotrophic genus Coprinopsis, we aim to infer the biogeographic history and test evolutionary hypotheses in the genus. Location: Worldwide. Taxon: Fungi, Basidiomycota, Psathyrellaceae, Coprinopsis. Methods: We used a four‐gene alignment with 100 species to estimate divergence times using two fossil calibrations within Agaricales. The chronograms were used to estimate diversification rates and geographic state‐dependent models were applied. We further reconstructed the ancestral range history of the genus. Results: Molecular dating estimated that the genus has diverged ca. 41 Ma (Eocene) and was originated in the Palaearctic region. Diversification rates showed a decreasing pattern towards the present across Coprinopsis, especially after the Miocene (ca. 14 Ma). The diversification models dependent on distribution showed cosmopolitan lineages with a higher net‐diversification rates. When we compared temperate and tropical regions, we found that temperate lineages have higher net‐diversification rates. The biogeographic history of Coprinopsis estimated different routes of dispersal. The most common dispersal route was from Palaearctic to the Nearctic (15 times), followed by Palaearctic to the Neotropics (14 times). Main Conclusions: The study is the first to estimate the diversification rates and the historical biogeography of the coprinoid genus Coprinopsis. The diversification dynamics estimates in Coprinopsis are in agreement with the 'generalized diversification rates model', where we found higher diversification rates in temperate regions compared with tropical regions. In general, the ancestral area and major dispersals routes recovered in the genus are similar to findings in other groups of fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Arctic tree and shrub ecosystems of Central Siberia are distinctive in their ability to perform crucial biosphere functions. However, such forests have been the subject of relatively limited research. The understanding of the dynamics of these forests, including their composition and structure, is of significant relevance for the conservation of permafrost ecosystem biodiversity. Nevertheless, the species composition of the mycobiota of this region remain under investigation. The aim of the present study is to determine the macromycetes diversity in the main ecotopes of the Krasnoyarsk Arctic (Norilsk). An understanding of the ecological attributes of macromycetes within these ecosystems is essential for understanding of the decomposition of organic matter, the absorption of nutrients by trees and shrubs, and other fundamental ecological processes. Moreover, basidiomycetes may be utilized as indicator species in ecological studies. The research was aimed at studying the taxonomic diversity, habitat specialization, and trophic characteristics of mycobiota, including Basidiomycota, in the northern ecosystems of the Krasnoyarsk Krai (Central Siberia) near Norilsk. Larch forests and woodlands in the Siberian permafrost zone are distinctive and Basidiomycota, as a component of these ecosystems, plays an essential role in their functioning. Currently, there is a paucity of information about this group in Arctic ecosystems, both in terms of floristic and ecological aspects. Seventy species of macromycetes belonging to different trophic groups were discovered and identified. Only 15% of species occur regularly, while most species are found rarely or only once. The identified species belong to 44 genera, 25 families, and 8 orders, which are included in the class Agaricomycetes. The leading families in terms of the number of species are Russulaceae, Polyporaceae, Tricholomataceae, Suillaceae, Strophariaceae, and Cortinariaceae. Mycorrhizal fungi and wood decay fungi dominate the structure of mycobiota of the study area (the total share is 71%). The rest of the species (29%) are fungal decomposers inhabiting plant litter, the forest floor, and humus. The largest number of species occur in forest ecosystems, which are dominated by mycorrhizal and wood decay fungi (up to 70%), which are trophically associated with woody plants and debris. The fungal decomposers inhabiting plant litter, the forest floor, and humus dominate (about 80%) in the species composition of tundra, where, in the absence of woody substrate, wood decay fungi have not been found at all. The species richness of tree and shrub Arctic ecosystems is low, yet the taxonomical and ecological structure of Basidiomycota is similar to that observed in taiga and temperate forests. These data permit a more comprehensive description of the biodiversity of the Arctic and may prove useful in studying biological processes in these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new fungi from Xizang in southwest China, Calocera ramaria, Ceraceomyces rhizomorphus, Leptosporomyces linzhiensis, and Ramaria xizangensis are described and illustrated based on the morphological and molecular evidence. Calocera ramaria is characterized by the ramal and bright orange basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa generative hyphae, usually 4-septate basidiospores; Ceraceomyces rhizomorphus is characterized by the cream to yellowish basidiomata with rhizomorphs, cylindrical basidiospores; Leptosporomyces linzhiensis is characterized by white with pink basidiomata, cylindrical to oblong ellipsoid basidiospores; Ramaria xizangensis is characterized by flesh pink basidiomata, branched dichotomously in 4–5 ranks, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, ellipsoid to cylindrical and densely warted basidiospores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma is a large and diverse genus containing fungi that cause white rot to infect a number of plant families. This study describes G. phyllanthicola and G. suae as new species from Southwest China, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Ganoderma phyllanthicola is characterized by dark brown to purplish black pileus surface with dense concentric furrows, pale yellow margin, irregular pileipellis cells, small pores (5–7 per mm) and ellipsoid to sub-globose basidiospores (8.5–10.0 × 6.0–7.5 µm). Ganoderma suae is characterized by reddish brown to oxblood red pileus surface and lead gray to greyish-white pore surface, heterogeneous context, wavy margin and almond-shaped to narrow ellipsoid basidiospores (8.0–10.5 × 5.0–7.0 μm). The phylogeny of Ganoderma is reconstructed with multi-gene sequences: the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the large subunit (nrLSU), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF-1α) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The results show that G. suae and G. phyllanthicola formed two distinct line-ages within Ganoderma. Descriptions, illustrations and phylogenetic analyses results of the two new species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conocybe commonly occur as saprobes, are distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones worldwide. In the present study, two new species in Conocybe section Conocybe, viz.Conocybe qujingensis and Conocybe qujinguniversitatis, are proposed based on morphological investigations and phylogenetic analyses. Molecular analyses based on sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal ITS loci support the taxonomic position of the two new species in the genus Conocybe. We also provide illustrations, line drawings, comparisons with closely related taxa, and descriptions of the new taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light controls the developmental, physiological, morphological, and metabolic responses of many fungi. Most fungi respond primarily to blue, red, and green light through their respective photoreceptors. In this study, a screening of different light wavelengths' effects on submerged Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation in baffled flasks was conducted. P. ostreatus growth was not inhibited in all tested conditions, while an equal or higher protein content was observed in comparison with dark conditions. Red and green light favored exopolysaccharide (EPS) production while red and blue light favored intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) production. To focus on EPS production, the effect of red and green light wavelengths on the production of the polysaccharide via submerged cultivation of P. ostreatus LGAM 1123 was tested. Submerged cultivation using red light in baffled flasks resulted in EPS production of 4.1 ± 0.4 g/L and IPS content of 23.1 ± 1.4% of dry weight (dw), while green light resulted in EPS production of 4.1 ± 0.2 g/L and 44.8 ± 5.2% dw IPS content. Similar production levels were achieved in a 3.5 L bioreactor using red light. The EPS produced using red light revealed a polysaccharide with a higher antioxidant activity compared to the polysaccharides produced by green light. In addition, the analysis of the crude polysaccharides has shown differences in biochemical composition. The structural differences and β glucan's existence in the crude polysaccharides were confirmed by FT-IR analysis. Overall, these polysaccharides could be used in the food industry as they can enhance the functional health-promoting, physicochemical, and sensory properties of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entoloma is one of the largest genera of Agaricales in terms of species diversity and is widespread throughout the world. In the present study, four new species, namely Entoloma brunneofibrillosum, E. humidiphilum, E. ochraceodiscum, and E. colchicum, are introduced as new to science. These species are described based on specimens collected in Cyprus, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Türkiye, including morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Entoloma brunneofibrillosum is recognized by its brown to dark brown pileus with conspicuous dark, radial fibrils, a pale brown stipe with glistening fibrils, and usually fusiform to broadly clavate cheilocystidia. It belongs to the /Undulatosporum clade. Entoloma humidiphilum (subg. Alboleptonia) is close to E. niveum from New Zealand but differs by a completely pruinose or minutely squamulose pileus surface, narrowly cylindrical to cylindrical pileipellis elements with a deep median constriction, and by occurring in riparian habitats. Entoloma ochraceodiscum is characterized by funnel-shaped basidiomata with a deeply depressed yellowish-brown pileus and belongs to the section Griseorubida. Entoloma colchicum (subg. Nolanea) is similar to E. ortonii but differs by its distinctive radially fibrillose or velutinous pileus and the absence of odour. The new species are presented with photographs, line drawings, and comparisons with similar taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the fungal forays conducted in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh (India) several specimens of corticioid fungi were collected. Based on morphological characterization, these fungi have been identified as Aphanobasidium pseudotsugae, Cytidiella albida, C. nitidula, and Phlebia viridesalebrosum. These four species are new additions to the Indian mycobiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, five species of Marasmius namely, M. bambusiniformis, M. haematocephalus, M. leveilleanus, M. midnapurensis, and M rotalis, plus Paramarasmius palmivorus are described, based on morphotaxonomic and molecular characters. Sequence data from internal transcribed spacers were used for phylogenetic analyses of the six species, supporting their identification based on macro and micromorphological characters. All of these species are reported for the first time from Puducherry region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a survey of agarics in the Mediterranean region of southwestern Türkiye, some noteworthy mushrooms were collected. Among the specimens, we discovered two new species of Inocybe, which are proposed and illustrated in this study as Inocybe pseudogeophylla and I. succinea. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and partial 28S rDNA (LSU) dataset reveal that these species belong to the Inocybe geophylla group. The sequences of the new species form two independent lineages and differ from the known species of Inocybe by a unique combination of morphological characteristics. Detailed macroand micromorphological features, colour photographs, habitat, and distribution data for the two novel species are provided, and their relationships with closely related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Coltricia, C. raigadensis is described from tropical region of Maharashtra, India. The species is recognized on the basis of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, partial 28S rDNA and partial 18S rDNA sequences. Coltricia raigadensis is characterized by centrally stipitate basidiocarps, adpressed velutinate to tomentose pileal surface, small pores (2–4 per mm), globose to subglobose, thick walled basidiospores measuring 5.6–7 × 5–6.64 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species from China, Hymenogaster pseudoniveus and H. zunhuaensis, are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. Hymenogaster pseudoniveus is distinguished from other species of the genus based on the color of peridium, which is snow white to white when unexcavated but then turns yellowish to earth yellow, and the basidiospores, which are ornamented with nearly longitudinally arranged ridges up to 2 μm high. H. zunhuaensis is diagnosed by its dirty white to pale yellow peridium, yellow brown to brown gleba, and the smaller (Lm × Wm = 11.7 μm × 9.8 μm) broadly ellipsoidal to subglobose basidiospores (Q = 1.1–1.3). ITS/LSU-based phylogenetic analysis supports the erection of the two new species, each placed in distinct clades with strong statistical support, suggesting that they represent two distinct species novel to science. Based on the morphological and molecular evidence, we have published two new species of Hymenogaster. A key for Hymenogaster species from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first occurrence of Marasmiellomycena and Pulverulina in the Chinese mycobiota are reported, M. tomentosa and P. flavoalba, two new species and M. albodescendens, a new combination, revealed by phylogenetic analyses and morphological study. These newly-recorded genera, Marasmiellomycena, which can be distinguished by their agaricoid basidiomata, dark-coloured stipe, sarcodimitic tramal structure, stipitipellis with yellow to yellowish-brown pigments and yellow-pigmented thick-walled caulocystidia and Pulverulina, which differs from other genera of Porotheleaceae by its pruinose stipe, decurrent lamellae, inamyloid basidiospores and absence of hymenial cystidia. We also formally describe three other new species of Porotheleaceae collected from Chinese temperate to subtropical zones of Fujian and Zhejiang Provinces: Clitocybula fuscostriata, Gerronema brunneosquamulosum and Leucoinocybe subglobispora. Furthermore, we include the results of a phylogenetic analysis of Porotheleaceae, based on a multi-locus (ITS , nrLSU and rpb2) dataset. According to this analysis, Chrysomycena, Clitocybula, Delicatula, Hydropodia, Hydropus, Leucoinocybe, Marasmiellomycena, Megacollybia, Pulverulina, Trogia and Vizzinia are monophyletic. However, Gerronema is identified as polyphyletic and, additionally, Porotheleum does not form a monophyletic group either because Porotheleum parvulum and Porotheleum albidum are "unassigned" in phylogenetic analysis. The results of our phylogenetic analyses, coupled with morphological observations, confirm recognition of these new taxa. Morphological descriptions, photographs, line drawings and comparisons with closely-related taxa are presented for the new species. A key to the 22 species belonging to nine genera of Porotheleaceae in China is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teunia, belonging to the family Cryptococcaceae of the order Tremellales, is a genus of plant-inhabiting fungi distributed across the globe. Its members form associations with different plant parts, including flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, and twigs. Recent efforts have aimed to explore the diversity of Teunia in China, however, many geographical regions have not yet been explored. In this study, we included results of five Teunia yeast strains that were isolated from plant materials collected in Fujian, Guizhou and Henan provinces, with descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analyses of three new species: T. acericola, T. mussaendrae isolated from leaf surfaces in Fujian, Guizhou and Henan Provinces, and T. qingyuanensis obtained from rotting wood in Fujian Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]