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Galerina variibasidia, a new species in the Hymenogastraceae, was discovered in Arxan, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. This species is presented with morphological description, illustrations, and supported by phylogenetic analyses using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses with the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences.

Research in the South Urals has revealed 39 species of beetles from 25 genera and 13 families associated with 6 species of wood-destroying basidium fungi of the genus Trametes Fr.: T. gibbosa, T. hirsuta, T. ochracea, T. pubescens, T. suaveolens, and T. versicolor. The dominant inhabitants of these fungi are Octothemnus glabriculus, Sulcacis nitidus, Cis hispidus, C. setiger, C. boleti (Ciidae), Tritoma subbasalis (Erotylidae), and Orchesia fusiformis (Melandryidae). Patterns of colonization of the fungal fruit bodies depending on their physiological state and degree of destruction are described. Significant differences are observed in the composition of the beetle complexes inhabiting living and dead basidiomes. Such beetle species as Cerylon deplanatum, C. ferrugineum, C. histeroides (Cerylonidae), Rhizophagus dispar, Rh. parvulus (Monotomidae), Cucujus haematodes (Cucujidae), Bitoma crenata (Colydiidae), Dircaea quadriguttata, and Orchesia fasciata (Melandryidae) develop under the bark of trees, in white rot of wood, and in the mycelial layer of Trametes fungi in trophic association with these fungi and other fungal species, including ascomycetes and deuteromycetes.

The new genus Schizocorticium (Hymenochaetales) of corticioid fungi is presented with three new species: Schizocorticium magnosporum, Schizocorticium mediosporum, and Schizocorticium parvisporum. Most collections of these three species were made from Taiwan, and only two specimens were collected from Yunnan Province of China. Generic status of Schizocorticium was supported by analyses of DNA sequences inferred from a combined dataset of nuc rDNA 28S+5.8S genetic marker. Taxonomic statuses of the proposed three new species were respectively supported by analyses inferred from the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) genetic marker, and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) genetic marker. Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony algorithms were used to construct phylogenies of these analyses. Schizocorticium is diagnostic in having effused basidiomes; hymenial surface smooth, more or less cracked; hyphal system monomitic with clamped hyphae, oily secreted material usually distributed in subiculum and hymenial layer, cystidia lacking, hyphidia present, clavate basidia, sterigmata fairly stout and rigid when young, thin-walled basidiospores usually have a fairly prominent apiculus; and all microscopic elements are inamyloid, non-dextrinoid, and acyanophilous. These three new species can be simply distinguished by different basidiospore lengths.

A new species Tremella zhejiangensis is described from southeastern China based on phenotypic and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by soft gelatinous, yellowish brown to brownish orange, cerebriform basidioma when fresh, thin-walled, globose to subglobose or broadly ellipsoid basidia with a basal clamp connection, globose to subglobose basidiospores measuring 15.0–19.0 × 14.0–17.5 µm with obvious apiculus, and growth on rotten wood of Liquidambar formosana. The phylogeny of Tremella s.s. is constructed using methods of Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses based on the combined internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and the large subunit (nLSU) dataset. The results indicate that T. zhejiangensis forms a lineage independent of other species of Tremella s.s. An illustrated description of the new species is provided and related species are discussed.

A new gelatinous species, Calocera tibetica, is described from southwest China based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterized by stipitate, tough, gelatinous, dichotomously branched, dendroid or staghorn-like basidioma with blunt tips, subclavate to clavate basidia measuring 45.0–53.0 × 4.8–6.0 µm, and hyaline, oblong-ellipsoid to navicular, 3–4-septate mature basidiospores measuring 9.0–14.0 × 5.0–6.3 μm. In the phylogeny, the new species is closely related to C. viscosa and C. cornea based on the nITS + nLSU dataset, but C. viscosa has basidioma with sharp tips, pale yellow, 1-septate mature basidiospores; C. cornea has cylindrical, subulate, slightly branched basidioma, and sub-hyaline cylindrical to slightly curved-cylindrical, 1-septate mature basidiospores measuring 7–10 × 3–4.5 μm. The new species is unique by its 3–4-septate mature basidiospores among species of Calocera.

A new species of Sistotremastrum J. Erikss. (Basidiomycota, Trechisporales) with (6-8)-spored basidia is described and supported by morphology and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA sequences.

Two new wood-inhabiting fungi, Mycorrhaphium subadustum sp. nov. and Trullella conifericola sp. nov., are proposed and described from Asia based on ITS, nrLSU and tef1 molecular phylogeny and morphological characteristics. Mycorrhaphium subadustum is characterized by a stipitate basidiocarp, velutinate pileal surface concentrically zoned, hydnoid hymenophore, a dimitic hyphal system in spine trama and monomitic in context, absence of gloeocystidia, presence of cystidioles and the non-amyloid, cylindrical to ellipsoid basidiospores. Trullella conifericola is characterized by a laterally stipitate basidiocarp with flabelliform to semicircular pileus, hirtellous pileal surface with appressed coarse hair and concentrically zoned and sulcate, tiny pores (10–12 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, absence of any type of cystidia, short clavate basidia and thin-walled, smooth, cylindrical to allantoid basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses based on a three-marker dataset were performed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The two new species formed isolated lineages with full support in Steccherinaceae . The distinguishing characters of the two new species as well as allied species are discussed, and a key to species of Mycorrhaphium is provided.

Seven new Entomocorticium species (Peniophoraceae) are described based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses. Along with the type species (E. dendroctoni), Entomocorticium comprises eight species of nutritional symbionts of pine bark beetles in North America. Entomocorticium cobbii is the mycangial associate of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, and E. parmeteri is the mycangial associate of the western pine beetle, D. brevicomis. Entomocorticium whitneyi, E. portiae, E. kirisitsii, E. oberwinkleri and the previously described E. dendroctoni have been isolated from galleries of D. ponderosae and D. jeffreyi in western North America. Entomocorticium sullivanii forms an ambrosia-like layer of basidia and basidiospores in the pupal chambers of Ips avulsus in the southeastern USA. Entomocorticium is phylogenetically placed within Peniophora, a corticioid genus of wood decay fungi with wind-dispersed basidiospores. At least four species of Entomocorticium produce basidiospores on basidia with reduced sterigmata that apparently do not forcibly discharge basidiospores. Another basidiomycete, Gloeocystidium ipidophilum, was described from Ips typographus galleries in Europe, but it is phylogenetically and taxonomically placed in another genus of wood decay fungi as Cylindrobasidium ipidophilum (Physalacriaceae). The free-living wood-decay fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea (Phanerochaetaceae) has been occasionally associated with bark beetles but is unrelated to C. ipidophilum or Entomocorticium.

Gerhardtia yunnanensis is described as a new species from southwestern China. The species is characterized by its medium to large basidiomata with a yellow-brown to reddish brown pileus with a translucent-striate pale margin, weakly curved stipe, basidia with both cyanophilic and siderophilic reactions, basidiospore walls having a cyanophilic reaction, basidiospores with minute granular or verruculose ornamentation under SEM, narrowly clavate to irregular or curved clavate cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia, and absence of clamp connections. A comparison of all taxa of the genus was performed based on morphological and ITS and LSU molecular data. Furthermore, we provide a key to the known species of Gerhardtia worldwide.

Guepinia alba sp. nov. and G. shanxiense sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Northern China in this paper. Morphologically, G. alba is distinguished from other Guepinia species by whitish basidiomata and 4-spored basidia while G. shanxiense is diagnosed by reddish orange basidiomata and ellipsoid to oblong ellipsoid basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and nrLSU sequences support the establishment of the two new species.

Fuscoporia caymanensis sp. nov. is described from tropical America. It is characterized by perennial, extensive, resupinate to indistinctly effused-reflexed basidiomata; a very thin to almost absent subiculum; multi-layered tubes with a black line between each layer; a dimitic hyphal system with skeletal hyphae occasionally septate; absence of mycelial setae and cystidioles; abundant hymenial setae, 40–55 × 5–7 μm; urniform basidia, and cylindrical basidiospores 4.5–5 × 2–2.4 µm. It was found growing on fallen rotten angiosperm trunks in tropical America. Phylogenetically, it is related to Fuscoporia viticola and F. palomari, but the latter two species have longer basidiospores (7–9 × 1.5–2 µm in F. viticola and 8–10 × 2.7–3.5 μm in F. palomari), and occur in temperate regions.

A new species of Athelia, A. termitophila, from Japan is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Basidiomes of this species are characterized by having hyphae sometimes with clamp connections at the septa, basidia without clamp connections at the basal septa, and ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores measuring 4.5–6 × 3–4.5 μm. In culture, mycelia produce pale brown, orange-brown to brown, globose sclerotia measuring 0.24–0.41 mm diam. The sclerotia are distinctly different in shape and size from those of other Athelia species, and are occasionally found inside the woody substrate beneath basidiomes. They are identical in shape and size to those of Fibularhizoctonia sp., also known as termite balls. Phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data revealed that A. termitophila is the teleomorph of Fibularhizoctonia sp.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade de cinco linhagens de Lentinula edodes (LE-240, LE-241, LE-243, LE-244 e BP-245), e avaliar e comparar seu valor nutricional, inteiros ou em partes, produzidos em toras de um clone de eucalipto. Foram avaliados: a composição química da madeira antes e após o ciclo de cultivo; a massa e o número de basidiomas produzidos pelas linhagens; bem como o teor de proteínas dos cogumelos inteiros, dos estípetes e píleos. As médias do teor de proteínas dos cogumelos inteiros variaram de 11,16 a 15,78%, sendo que as linhagens LE-240 e BP-245 obtiveram as maiores médias. A linhagem LE-241 obteve melhor desempenho produtivo, apresentando maior produção em massa de basidiomas e maior decomposição no teor de holocelulose. O presente estudo evidencia a importância da escolha de uma linhagem adaptada às condições climáticas da região de cultivo, pois as linhagens podem diferir em produtividade e qualidade nutricional.

Exidia glandulosa is a cosmopolitan species, and it was commonly reported from China. Seventeen specimens with close resemblance to the species by having blackish, gelatinous basidiocarps were analyzed based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by the combined ITS+nLSU dataset and the combined ITS+nLSU+TEF1-a + RPB2 dataset, and 20 ITS, 20 nLSU, 22 TEF1-a, and 20 RPB2 sequences were newly generated. Seventeen specimens were gathered into three different lineages in phylogenies, and they were identified as three species, E. glandulosa s. str. and two new species, E. reflexa and E. subglandulosa, respectively. The two new species differ from E. glandulosa s. str. by the absence of papillae on hymenial surface, and E. reflexa differs from E. subglandulosa by obvious effused-reflexed basidiocarps and smaller basidia and basidiospores. Detailed characteristics with morphological photos of two new species were provided here.

A new wood-decaying fungus, Xylobolus austrosinensis, is described and illustrated from southern China based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterized by the thick and pulvinate basidiomata, numerous acanthocystidia, acanthoid basidia, and ovoid to subglobose basidiospores (4–4.5 × 2.8–3.5 µm). The new species is similar to X. frustulatus, but differs in having acanthoid basidia, rounder basidiospores and a subtropical-tropical distribution. In the phylogenetic tree inferred from ITS sequence data of Stereaceae, five species of Xylobolus, including the new species, formed a clade with relatively strong supports. Xylobolus spectabilis and X. illudens are excluded from the genus based on our analyses. Xylobolus ahmadii, X. brasiliensis and X. peculiare are not accepted in the genus according to their morphological descriptions and unpublished sequence data. Xylobolus gongylodes that was not included in the phylogenetic analyses is temporarily accepted in the genus. An identification key to all six accepted species of Xylobolus is provided.

Species of Laccaria (Hydnangiaceae, Agaricales, and Basidiomycota) are well-known ectomycorrhizal symbionts of a broad range of hosts. Laccaria species are characterized by brown, orange, or purple colored basidiocarps, and globose or oblong, echinulate and multinucleate basidiospores. While some Laccaria species are easily identified at the species level using only the morphological characteristics, others are hard to distinguish at the species level due to small differences in morphology. Heretofore, ten Laccaria species have been reported in Korea. While studying the fungal diversity in the National Parks of Korea, two new Laccaria species were discovered. Species identification was done based on molecular analyses (ITS, 28S rDNA, rpb2, and tef1), then were confirmed by their corresponding morphologies. The two newly discovered Laccaria species are proposed here as Laccaria macrobasidia and Laccaria griseolilacina. The unique morphological characters of L. macrobasidia that distinguish it from its closely related species are orange-brown colored basidiocarp, long basidia and the absence of cheilocystidia. L. griseolilacina is characterized by a light grayish lavender-colored pileus and the absence of cheilocystidia. Two new species are described and illustrated in the present paper.

Species of Tricholoma are relatively well-studied in Europe and North America. On the contrary, the study of the genus in East Asia is still limited, particularly in China, although nearly 50 species were reported from the country. In this paper, we describe and illustrate two new species of T. sect. Genuina, namely T. orienticolossus and T. orientifulvum, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic evidence. Phylogenetically, T. orienticolossus is close to T. colossus, but differs from the latter by its absence of bitter taste, unchanging context, much longer basidia, wider basidiopores, and association with Abies trees. Tricholoma orientifulvum is similar to T. fulvum, but differs from the latter by its soap odor and association with subtropical trees of Lithocarpus, Quercus and Pinus kesiya.

In Coprinus comatus, we sampled and observed different maturity stages of basidium to find the possible causes of binucleate basidiospores by microscopy using the HCI-Giemsa and DAPI staining methods. In basidium, following karyogamy, a single nucleolus was observed. We found evidence suggesting post-meiotic mitosis following nuclear migration in the spores. Post-meiotic mitosis occurred in the basidiospores, resulting in four binucleate basidiospores. This indicates that the basidiospore is a monokaryon, and that C. comatus shows the same pattern of basidiospore formation as Coprinopsis cinerea. This type of nuclear behavior was defined as pattern D, one of six distinct patterns (pattern A–F) of nuclear behavior during basidiosporogenesis have been described for basidiomycetes by Campos and Costa in 2010.

Laccaria fengkaiensis and L. prava, collected from Heishiding Nature Reserve, South China, are proposed here as new taxa based on morphological and molecular evidences. These two new species along with Hodophilus glaberipes Ming Zhang et al. are described with photographs and line drawings and compared against related species. Morphologically, Laccaria fengkaiensis is characterized by a medium-sized to large pinkish white to light orange, strong striate to rugulose-striate or rugulose-sulcate pileus, a strong, solid stipe of the same color, 4-spored basidia, globose to obellipsoid basidiospores with moderate echinulae, and a pileipellis with abundant pileocystidia. Laccaria prava is characterized by a moderate-sized but very thin pinkish white to light orange, strong striate to rugulose-striate or rugulose-sulcate pileus, a distorted same colored stipe, 4-spored basidia, obellipsoid to globose basidiospores with moderate echinulae, and a stipitipellis with abundant caulocystidia. Hodophilus glaberipes is characterized by a small basidioma, with a pileus and its lamellae white at first, orange white to brownish orange with age, a white stipe, subglobose to globose basidiospores, and discoloring pastel red in wounds. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region provided further evidence that Laccaria fengkaiensis and L. prava are new species which are clearly separated from all other Laccaria species with rDNA sequence data available; Hodophilus glaberipes belongs to the H. micaceus superclade, with H. indicus K.N.A. Raj et al. as a closely related sister species.

A new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Heteroradulum yunnanensis, is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiomata with odontoid hymenial surface (50–100 µm long), more or less pronounced yellow stains in older basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system with thin-walled, clamped generative hyphae and two to three-celled basidia and cylindrical, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, IKI–, CB– basidiospores measuring as 17–24 ×5–8 µm. Sequences of ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data of ITS+nLSU sequences showed that Heteroradulum yunnanensis formed a monophyletic lineage with a strong support (100% BS, 100% BP, 1.00 BPP) and then grouped with H. adnatum.

The Brachybasidiaceae are a family of 22 known species of plant-parasitic microfungi belonging to Exobasidiales, Basidiomycota. Within this family, species of the largest genus Kordyana develop balls of basidia on top of stomatal openings. Basidial cells originate from fungal stroma filling substomatal chambers. Species of Kordyana typically infect species of Commelinaceae. During fieldwork in the neotropics, fungi morphologically similar to Kordyana spp. were found on Goeppertia spp. (syn. Calathea spp., Marantaceae), namely on G. panamensis in Panama and on G. propinqua in Bolivia. These specimens are proposed as representatives of a genus new to science, Marantokordyana, based on the distinct host family and molecular sequence data of ITS and LSU rDNA regions. The specimens on the two host species represent two species new to science, M. oberwinkleriana on G. panamensis and M. boliviana on G. propinqua. They differ by the size and shape of their basidia, molecular sequence data of ITS and LSU rDNA regions, and host plant species. In the past, the understanding of Brachybasidiaceae at order and family level was significantly improved by investigation realized by Franz Oberwinkler and his collaborators at the University of Tübingen, Germany. On species level, however, our knowledge is still very poor due to incomplete species descriptions of several existing names in literature, scarceness of specimens, as well as sequence data lacking for many taxa and for further barcode regions. Especially species of Kordyana and species of Dicellomyces are in need of revision.

Medicinal mushrooms are part of total health delivery system of a nation. A mushroom of recognised health benefits was seen for the first time on a pencil cactus (Euphorbia turicalli L.) in the Greater Accra Region (Adentan Municipal Assembly) in September- October 2021. The fruiting body was gelatinous with the shape of a human ear. The basidiomata were either solitary, densely rosette with caestipose habit either astipitate or with vestigial stipe. The general morphological features were akin to that of Auricularia auricula-judae. Anatomical and morphometric studies showed that the fruiting body had smooth hymenium with a layer of basidia which were cylindrical or club-shaped. The dimensions of the basidia (70.86±4.27 μm long; 9.54± 0.60 μm wide) closely agreed with the range reported for A. auricula-judae. The white/greyish basidiospores were generally sausage-shaped (allantoid) ranging in length (18.47±0.73μm) and width (7.49±0.3μm) closely to reported range. The economical and medicinal values of the mushroom are described and future commercial exploitation through biotechnological technique highlighted.

Species in the genus Tomentella are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical regions worldwide, but few studies associated with the taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus had been reported from Northwest China. In this paper, molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear ribosomal ITS (internal transcribed spacer: ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and LSU (large subunit: 28S) sequences combined with morphological characteristics identified three new species from Xinjiang Autonomous Region in Northwest China, which were named T.&nbsp, aurantispora, T.&nbsp, kanasensis, and T. schrenkiana. Similar macromorphological and anatomical characteristics are shared by these new species: arachnoid basidiocarps, byssoid sterile margins, utriform basidia with a clamp connection at the base, the absence of rhizomorphs and cystidia, and slightly thick-walled, subglobose to globose basidiospores. Among these new species, the color of the hymenophoral surface, the size of the basidiospores, and some other features can be used for species delimitation. The new species and closely related species in the phylogenetic tree were discussed, and a key to the identified species of Tomentella from China was provided.

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Hymenochaete es el género con el mayor número de especies de la familia Hymenochaetaceae en México, teniendo registradas 25 especies. Se caracteriza por su basidioma principalmente resupinado, aunque puede ser pileado o estipitado, de colores pardos, con presencia de setas y reacción xantocroide. El presente estudio tiene por objetivo describir una nueva especie de Hymenochaete.Métodos: Los materiales estudiados en fresco se describieron macro y micro morfológicamente usando microscopio estereoscópico y óptico, y tomando fotos in situ. Se revisaron ejemplares de los herbarios ENCB y FCME, así como literatura especializada para su descripción.Resultados clave: Hymenochaete liliae sp. nov. se caracteriza por el basidioma resupinado, adnato, carnoso, himenóforo liso, con numerosas setas, margen determinado, abrupto, con sistema hifal monomítico, septos simples; setas subfusiformes, abundantes en el himenio, 69-80 × 6-8 µm, agudas, con cristales y basidiosporas elipsoides, de paredes delgadas, 5-8 × 2-3 µm. Aunque se asemeja a H. rhabarbarina, se diferencia por presentar setas cubiertas con cristales y esporas de 4.8-6 × 2.3-3.3 µm. También se podría confundir con H. minuscula por su color del basidioma; sin embargo, las setas son de menor tamaño (40-60 µm), así como los basidios (15-20 µm). Se separa de H. cinnamomea por no presentar un basidioma estratoso, setas con cristales, de 69-80 × 6-8 µm, basidiosporas de 5-8 × 2-3 µm, elipsoidales.Conclusiones: Se propone Hymenochaete liliae como una especie nueva, que se distribuye en el bosque tropical del estado de Oaxaca, y hasta la fecha solo reportada de la localidad tipo.

International audience; Two novel species of Russula (Russulaceae, Russulales), R. coronaspora Y.Song sp. nov.and R. minor Y.Song sp. nov. belonging to subgenus Russula crown clade, are described based onboth morphological and phylogenetic evidence. In morphology, R. coronaspora sp. nov. is mainlycharacterized by its distinct spores ornamented with sparse, cylindrical and isolated spines, whichresemble coronavirus, and gelatinized pileipellis with pileocystidia mostly septate and sometimesbranched; R. minor sp. nov. possesses a very small basidiocarp with pileus less than 2.5 cm in diameter.,small basidia, easily peeling and gelatinized pileipellis with slender terminal cells and abundant SV+pileocystidia. Positions of the two new species in both phylogenetic trees based on ITS and 5-locussequences (nLSU, mtSSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1) confirm their distinct taxonomic status.

Japanese bladdernut shrub, Staphylea bumalda (Staphyleaceae), was found infected by a fungus in Prefectures of Ibaraki and Tochigi, central Japan. The fungus produced telia beneath the host epidermis and basidiospores on metabasidia emerging from the sori on the abaxial leaf surface. Probasidia were single-celled, sessile, short-cylindrical, thin-walled, and laterally free. A four-celled metabasidium arose from a probasidium by apical elongation. Apparent biotrophic nature and the basidium morphology of the Staphylea fungus suggested its taxonomic affinity to the rust genus Ochropsora. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of D1/D2 region of LSU rDNA showed that two collections of the fungus were grouped with Ochropsora ariae (type species of the genus) and O. nambuana but formed an independent clade. The fungus under consideration was, therefore, classified in Ochropsora, and a new name, O. staphyleae, was proposed for it.

Background. The negative impact of anthropogenic factors on the environment and the wrong way of life of a significant part of the population leads to the need to search and develop new food products and therapeutic and preventive medicines or to improve existing technologies for their production, based on different biological objects, including xylotrophic basidium fungi. Therefore, definition of condition influence of submerged cultivation for strains Grifola frondosa and Laetiporus sulphureus and definition of principal factors which favour the accumulation of mycelial biomass to work out home biotechnologies of receiving food, medical preventive, and cosmetic preparations is relevant. Objective. The purpose of the paper is analysis of strains G. frondosa and L. sulphureus under condition of submerged cultivation on synthetic medium, definition of physiological-biochemical peculiarities of these fungi and determination of liquid medium parameters, promoting the accumulation of biomass. Methods. Submerged cultivation of strains 1707 Grifola frondosa (Dicks: Fr.) S.F. Gray and 1518 Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murrill was carried out in Erlenmeyer flaks on an orbital rocking-chair on liquid synthetic nutrient medium with different pH values, nitrogen and carbon sources, under conditions of constant stirring at temperature of +28 °С. The influence of different values of the studied factors was defined by the level of accumulation of mycelial biomass determined by the weight method. The acidity of the nutrient and culture fluid was determined by potentiometric method. Results. The influence of the initial pH value of a liquid synthetic nutrient medium and various sources of carbon and nitrogen on the biomass accumulation during the cultivation of basidium fungi G. frondosa and L. sulphureus was studied. pH values, as well as sources of carbon and nitrogen favourable for obtaining mycelial biomass were defined. Conclusions. The growth of two species of medicinal xylotrophic basidium fungi Grifola frondosa 1707 and Laetiporus sulphureus 1518 on synthetic medium under condition of submerged cultivation at different initial pH values and with different sources of carbon and nitrogen was studied. The pH value favourable for the growth of submerged mycelium was determined and it was established that the best sources for the accumulation of mycelial biomass for G. frondosa 1707 strain are carbon ones – starch and glucose, and nitrogen source – peptone and ammonium nitraten. For L. sulphureus 1518, the favorable carbon source is starch, a source of nitrogen is peptone. For the submerged cultivation of two types of xylotrophic medicinal basidium fungi, the use of a synthetic medium has been proposed: for G. frondosa 1707 – with an initial pH 6.9, glucose and ammonium nitrate, and for L. sulphureus 1518 – with an initial pH 6.6, starch and peptone.

BACKGROUND The sister yeast species Cryptococcus neoformans (serotype A) and Cryptococcus deneoformans (serotype D) are causative agents of deadly cryptococcosis and fungal meningoencephalitis. These haploid yeasts can hybridise in nature, giving rise to AD hybrids that are predominantly diploid or aneuploid. Despite their increasing prevalence in clinical settings, much remains unknown about the allelic distribution patterns in AD hybrid strains. OBJECTIVES This study aims to characterise allele distributions in AD hybrids derived from the same basidium as well as from multiple basidia in a laboratory-derived C neoformans × C deneoformans hybrid cross. METHODS We dissected a total of 1625 basidiospores from 31 basidia. The 297 basidiospores that successfully germinated were genotyped by molecular characterisation of 33 markers using PCR-RFLP, with at least two markers on each of the 14 chromosomes in the genome. RESULTS Of the 297 strains, 294 contained at least one heterozygous locus, with a mean heterozygosity of ~30% per strain. Most hybrid genomes and chromosomes displayed significantly distorted allele distributions, with offspring originating from the same basidium tended to have alleles at different loci from the same parent. More basidia were skewed in favour of C deneoformans alleles, the mitochondria-donor parent, than the C neoformans alleles. CONCLUSIONS The divergence between C neoformans and C deneoformans genomes has likely created co-adapted allelic combinations, with their co-segregation in hybrid offspring imparting a significant fitness benefit. However, the diversity of genotypes recovered here in a single hybridisation event indicates the enormous capacity of AD hybrids for adaptation and diversification.

Amylosporus annosus sp. nov. sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Malaysia, tropical Asia. It is characterized by perennial, resupinate basidiocarps which are leathery when fresh, woody hard when dry, with white fresh pores which become cream to buff-yellow up on drying, distinct receding sterile margin, a dimitic hyphal structure with dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, generative hyphae bring simple septa only, basidia bearing eight sterigmata, and ellipsoid, fairly thick-walled, finely asperulate, strongly amyloid basidiospore measuring 3–3.7 × 2.4–3 μm. A molecular study based on the combined ITS (internal transcribed spacer region) and nLSU (the large nuclear ribosomal RNA subunit) dataset demonstrated the studied samples formed a new lineage in Amylosporus.

Goal. To carry out an analysis of the spread, peculiarities of the biology of the rust pathogen — the fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.) Wint., the dynamics of the disease, control measures. Methods of investigation. Retrospective analysis of pear rust spread for the period 1960—2010; information and analytical analysis of the peculiarities of biology and the life cycle of the pathogen; field observations of the dynamics of disease development on host plants in 2015—2019; analytical generalization of control measures taking into account the biology of the pathogen. Results. The periods of disease spread in different regions for 1960 — 2019 were established. The main areas of rust spread and harmfulness are: the southern coastal and foothill zone of Crimea, the Black Sea zones of the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, and the Western Georgia. Between 1975 and 2010, the disease did not spread and did not demonstrate itself in other regions. Since 2012, rust has been spreading and accelerating development in Ukraine, Belarus, the Non-Black Soil zone of Russia. In 2016 — 2018, especially in 2019, mass infection of hear was detected — there was a threatening situation of epiphytoty on a large territory. The pear rust is caused by the highly specialized fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae Wint., which develops on two host plants. The main host of the rust pathogen is juniper (Juniperus sp.), the intermediate host is pear (Pyrus sp). The basic information of biology is summarized and disease cycle of the pathogen is presented. The peculiarity of the pathogen biology is an incomplete cycle of development, which consists of two stages: aecio-stage (pear) and telio-stage (juniper), which results in 4 types of spores. The disease cycle lasts almost two years and consists of two consecutive processes: 1 — formation of basidiospores on juniper and their distribution; 2 — germination of basidiospores and formation of aeciospores on pear. Basidiospores are dispersed by wind in the radius of 40—50 km and infects pear in the spring, aeciospores infects juniper in the autumn. The development of the fungus occurs in a wide temperature range from 3 to 30°C (optimum 18°C) and relative humidity of 85%. On pear rust develops over 4—5 months (April — September). The dynamics of disease development depends on the sporulatuion rate of basidiospores on the juniper and their spread to the pear; formation of aecia and ripening of aeciospores on pears. During the growing season, depending on the weather and climatic conditions, there are 4—5 periods of sporulation, which are the most threatening for pear infection. Symptoms of the disease are very clear. In the and late April, small yellowish-green spots of irregular shape with a diameter of about 0.5 cm appear on the upper side of the leaf. They gradually expand, become red or red-orange, affect the tissue and inflate. In the course of the development of the disease from the underside of the leaf on the same spots appear well-visible conical or soy-shaped outgrowths, arranged in groups. They are red-brown or rusty. Infected shoots become thick and short, and severely affected shoots dry up; the fruits grow slower and became deformed. Disease results in a complex of negative effects: causes increased evaporation, premature drying and fall of leaves; in plants, photosynthesis is getting worse and metabolism is impaired. The strong development of the disease leads to the loss of winter hardiness of trees and their death. Protection and prevention measures include sanitary practices aimed at reducing the rust infection, use of disease-resistant varieties, and chemical treatments. Sanitary and organizational measures: in spring — cutting of severely affected shoots and skeletal branches, cleaning of wounds with subsequent disinfection; whitewa­shing of trunks and skeletal branches with a solution of fresh lime with the addition of copper-containing preparations. Collect and burn leaves after the fall; treat the trees with a 7% urea solution. Dig stem circles and treat the soil surface with a 5% solution of copper sulfate. Juniper bushes, severely affected by the disease, dig in and remove. To reduce the risk of tree disease, it is advisable to plant resistant to rust pear cultivars. Curative measures: spraying with copper and sulfur-containing fungicides. Important: the timing and feasibility of chemical treatments in rust control are they are conditioned by periods of basidiospore formation and dispersion and the weather conditions. The application performs in the green cone stage, taking into account 3—4 hours of rainfall during this period and temperature not lower than 9°C. At “white bud” stage and after the fall of 75% of the petals, a rain lasting at least two hours is required. The delay of rainfall shifts the application timing. The following two treatments are carried out during the period of fruit growth, taking into account that young leaves are the most susceptible to disease. For spraying during these periods, one of the following fungicides may be recommended: Cuproksate, 34.5% EC, Kuprosil, 10% SC, Champion, 77% WP, Blue bordo, 77% WG, copper chloride, 90% WP, colloidal sulfur, 77% p or its substitutes (Cumulus DF, 80% WG, Tiowit Jet, 80% WG, Poliram DF, 70% WG. The use of pesticides should be alternated to avoid the formation of resistance. Conclusions. Rust is an extremely dangerous disease that affects all aboveground pear organs and outweighs the damage of scab and cancer taken together. In 2016—2018, especially in 2019 — the disease has become widespread and pear infection had character of epiphytoty. Pear rust is caused by the highly specialized fungus Gymnosporangium sabinae (Dicks.) Wint. — two-host pathogen; the main host of rust pathogen — juniper, intermediate — pear. A characteristic feature of the biology of the rust pathogen is the incomplete disease cycle, which consists of 2 stages resulting in the formation of spores: a telio-stage on juniper (formation of basidiospores) and aecio-stage (formation of aeciospores) on pear. Spores infect juniper and pear in a certain sequence. The disease cycle goes in a circle: the development of basidiospores on juniper and their dispersal on pear; the development of aeciospores on pear and their dispersion on juniper. During this cycle, neither juniper nor pear can infect themselves. Infection begins in spring with the development of basidia and ripening of the basidiospores and their dispersion by wind in a radius of 40—50 km to different organs of the pear. Pear rust develops for 4—5 months (April — September), begins with the penetration of growth tubes and germination of basidiospores in the tissue of the leaf. The dynamics of the disease development depends on the rate of sporulation of basidiospores on juniper and their spread to pear. For effective protection of pear gardens from rust it is necessary to apply a set of measures aimed at preventing of infection. Sanitary and organizational measures: in spring — cutting of severely affected shoots and skeletal branches, cleaning of wounds with subsequent disinfection; whitewashing of trunks and skeletal branches with a solution of fresh lime with the addition of copper-containing preparations. Curative measures — carrying out chemical treatments of copper and sulfur-containing fungicides. It is important to adjust the timing and feasibility of chemical treatments with the periods of formation and dispersion of basidiospores and the weather conditions of the growing season.

Cercopemyces rickenii (Bohus) Dima & L. Nagy (Agaricales: Tricholomataceae) is a rare species red-listed in Ukraine and in a number of other countries. Before now in Ukraine, the fungus was recorded in five localities, only in the steppe zone. All known localities were confined to sandy soil and plantings of Acer tataricum L. or Robinia pseudoacacia L. It is reported about sixth record of C. rickenii, located outside the steppe zone and the most northern in Ukraine. The fungus was found here in plantings formed by Caprinus betulus L. and Acer platanoides L. on forest soils. Using scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the spore surface of C. rickenii had tuberculate ornamentation. In addition, it was shown that the basidium of the fungus could have more than four sterigmata.

Phlebiella P. Karst. (1890: 271) (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) was typified by P. vaga (Fr.) P. Karst. (1890: 271), which is a cosmopolitan genus characterized by a combination of resupinate to effused basidiocarps, hymenophore smooth to ceraceous to subgelatinous, a monomitic hyphal structure with clamped generative hyphae, basidia pleural and basidiospores hyaline, thin- to thick-walled, warted, subglobose, ellipsoid, cylindrical and acyanophilous (Karsten 1890, Bernicchia & Gorjón 2010). So far about ten species have been accepted in the genus worldwide (Karsten 1890, Bondartsev 1953, Hjortstam & Larsson 1987, Roberts 1995, Bernicchia & Gorjón 2010).

Two new species of Clavulina (Clavulinaceae, Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) from southwestern China are substantiated based on morphological evidence and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Both are consistent with the generic properties of Clavulina that include coralloid, branched basidiomata, amphigenous hymenia, basidia with two cornuted sterigmata, and postpartal septa. The first new species, Clavulina flava, is unique for Clavulina in having bright yellow basidiomata, and the second, Clavulina purpurascens, has pale purple basidiomata. The two new species are described in detail, illustrated with line drawings and photographs, and compared with similar species. Intrageneric relationships were examined with phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the second largest subunit of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU). A key is provided for the known Clavulina species in China.

The genus Hygrophorus is poorly studied from Asia. From Pakistan, only one species has been reported so far. Two new species in the genus have been collected from Himalayan oak forests of Pakistan. Hygrophorusalboflavescens (section Pudorini, subgenus Colorati) is characterised by its pure white, centrally depressed pileus, occurrence of white stipe with yellow patches at lower half and broader (4.98 μm) basidiospores. Hygrophorusscabrellus (section Hygrophorus, subgenus Hygrophorus) is characterised by its yellowish-green stipe with white apex that has fine scales on the entire stipe, an off-white pileus with dark green and greyish fibrils, ovoid to ellipsoid basidiospores and clavate 4-spored basidia. Macro- and micromorphological descriptions have revealed that both these taxa are not yet described. Phylogenetic estimation based on DNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes, is congruent with the morphological characters that help to delimit these as new species of Hygrophorus. Allied taxa are also compared.

An undescribed Nia species was recorded from intertidal decayed wood of Avicennia marina collected from Red Sea mangroves in Saudi Arabia. Nia lenicarpa sp. nov. is characterized by smooth basidiomes, growing singly or in groups of 2 to 10 confluent basidiomes, with a three-layered, thick peridium and 4-spored basidia. Nia lenicarpa differs from N. vibrissa by having smaller basidiomes without peridial hairs but with thick peridia, larger basidia and basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses of SSU and LSU rDNA placed N. lenicarpa in a monophyletic clade with two N. vibrissa clades. There are no molecular data available for the other two Nia species; N. epidermoidea and N. globispora. The morphology of N. vibrissa from driftwood collected from a beach in Japan is illustrated. Vertical sections of basidiomes of the Japanese material showed the presence of an outer peridium that is formed by the tips of the peridial hairs which was not reported before. This supports the presence of several cryptic species in the N. vibrissa complex.

The monotypic genus Leifia was previously considered to be a later synonym of Odonticium. With the morphological and phylogenetic evidence provided by an additional four East Asian specimens, we propose to reinstate Leifia as an independent genus in Hymenochaetales. Leifia morphologically differs from Odonticium by its grandinioid hymenophore with hyphal strands, numerous thick-walled cystidia with an invaginated apical end and narrowly and thick-walled basidia. The phylogeny generated from the current data set of ITS and 28S regions indicates that Leifia forms a sister clade to Odonticium. Besides the generic type Leifiaflabelliradiata in the Leifia clade, two specimens, collected from Hubei, Central China, are newly introduced as Leifiabrevispora. This new species is the second species of Leifia and differs from the generic type by its shorter basidiospores and distribution in warm-temperate to subtropical areas in East Asia. The additional two specimens, collected from Da Lat, Viet Nam, differ morphologically, both from each other and from known species of Leifia, but more samples need to be examined before further taxonomic decisions can be made.

Aim of Study: The specimen identified as Hebeloma subtortum based on both morphological and molecular characterizations. Area of Study: Samples were collected from Bingöl province and the study was conducted at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Van Yüzüncü Yıl University.Material and Methods: Characters of pileus, stipe, lamellae and basidia, cystidia, spores were used as macroscopic and microscopic features, respectively. DNA sequences of two loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the large subunit (LSU) of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene were used to show the evolutionary relationship and taxonomic position of the species within Hebeloma genus. The DNA sequences of the above-mentioned regions of H. subtortum were compared to those of the same and different species of the genus downloaded from NCBI. Main results: In phylogenetic analyses, H. subtortum distinctly clustered with its representatives retrieved from NCBI with high bootstrap value. The ITS tree was more informative compared to LSU. Hebeloma subtortum closely grouped with H. mesophaeum in the ITS tree. Research highlights: Hebeloma subtortum has been described and illustrated as a new record from Turkey., Çalışmanın Amacı: Hebeloma subtortum türü hem morfolojik hem de moleküler karakterizasyonlara dayanarak tanımlanmıştır.Çalışma Alanı: Örnekler Bingöl ilinden toplanmış ve çalışma Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Moleküler Biyoloji ve Genetik Bölümü'nde yapılmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Şapka, sap, lamel yapıları ve bazidya, sistidya, spor yapıları sırasıyla makroskopik ve mikroskopik özellikler olarak kullanılmıştır. Nükleer ribozomal iç aralayıcı bölge (nrITS) ve ribozomal en büyük alt birim (LSU) olmak üzere iki DNA bölgesi çalışılan türün evrimsel ilişkisini ve Hebeloma cinsi içindeki taksonomik konumunu göstermek için kullanılmıştır. Çalışılan türün DNA dizileri, NCBI very tabanından indirilen cinse ait aynı ve farklı türlerle karşılaştırılmıştır.Ana sonuçlar: Filogenetik analizlerde, H. subtortum, yüksek bootstrap değeri ile NCBI'den alınan temsilcileri ile belirgin bir şekilde kümelenmiştir. ITS ağacı, LSU'ya kıyasla daha bilgilendirici olmuştur. H. subtortum, ITS ağacında H. mesophaeum ile yakın gruplanmıştır.Araştırma konuları: Hebeloma subtortum, Türkiye'den yeni bir kayıt olarak tanımlanmış ve gösterilmiştir.

A new species, Michenera incrustata from southern China, is described and illustrated. It is the second species in Michenera and differs from the generic type, M. atrocreas, by its hyaline, thick-walled lamprocystidia and larger basidia and basidiospores. The 5.8S–ITS2 and nrLSU sequence similarities between M. incrustata and M. atrocreas are 83% of 437 base pairs and 95.5% of 870 base pairs, respectively.

Waste from agricultural animals (LHCSH, liquid and solid wastes from agricultural animals) causes severe environmental pollution; which is why many countries have national and regional programs to reduce the negative pressure of these wastes on the environmental state of the environment. The actual task of microbiology is the search for alternative methods of waste disposal, among which the most promising is composting. Unlike other ways of utilizing the LFA (liquid and solid wastes) of the SZHZH (agricultural animals) this method allows obtaining valuable biofertilizers and soil soils that are cheaper than traditional fertilizers. It has now been established that, for composting under production conditions, when only a limited number of microorganisms are possible, the conversion of the initial substrate is most effective when various heterotrophic organisms, in particular fungi with high cellulolytic and lignolytic potential, are used as bioactivators. Since the lignolytic and cellulose potentials are the main characteristics of basidiomycetes determining their biodegradation ability, the selection of effective "white rot" fungus strains will be carried out based on preliminary screening of their ligno- and cellulolytic activity.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycetous encapsulated yeast that can cause life-threatening infections in immunosuppressed humans and animals. C.neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii infections are considered to be acquired via inhalation of aerosolized particles from the environment. Avian guano, decaying tree hollows and soil are known as environmental niches. In recent years, colonization of the woody structures of different trees such as Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Tamarix hispida, Platanus orientalis and Punica granatum has been reported in the environmental study of the western Anatolian region. Based on the results of previous studies, our country may have intensive Cryptococcus colonization niches in the western regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the colonization of C.neoformans niche in chestnut (Castanea spp.) trees on higher altitudes. In the study, the colonization of C.neoformans was screened on chestnut trees (Castanea spp.) in Aydin-Odemis-Denizli geographical area. This area consists of mountainous terrain between the fertile plain formed by two major rivers.This region is one of the widespreading areas of chestnut farming in Anatolia. Two hundred and fourteen chestnut trees that had deep fissures or trunk hollows were screened during mid-summer 2017. A swabbing technique was used, and all samples were cultured on Staib agar medium containing biphenyl and antibiotics. Cultures were checked for ten days for suspicious brown colonies. Suspicious yeast colonies were tested for the identification of pathogenic Cryptococcus by conventional methods and canavanine-glycine-bromothymol agar reactions. ITS 1-4 primers were used for strain PCR tests. We determined the mating type and serotypes by PCR analysis of the STE20 genes using STE20 (Aa), STE20 (Aα), STE20 (Da), and STE20 (Dα) primers. V8 agar medium was used for mating cultivation. Only one (0.47%) strain of C.neoformans was isolated from 214 screened trees. This strain was confirmed by ITS 1-4 sequencing. The serotype A MATα mating type was observed. Basidium, basidiospores and clamp connections in hyphal structure were noted with MATα mating on V8 agar medium. In this study, the first C.neoformans isolate from a chestnut tree (Castanea sativa) was determined from Denizli region. Further studies of distribution of human pathogenic Cryptococcus will be helpful to determine the risk areas for the living organisms in our region.

The genus Cryptococcus is well known for its two species —Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gatii— that are etiological agents of cryptococcosis, an important fungal disease of mammals, including humans, and which is particularly common in immunocompromised patients. Nevertheless, Cryptococcus is a large and widely distributed genus of basidiomycetes occupying a broad range of niches, including mycoparasitism. One such mycoparasitic species is Cryptococcus depauperatus, which was firstly mistakenly described as a pathogen of scale insects under the name Aspergillus depauperatus. The “Aspergillus” conidiophores were later shown to be basidia of a Cryptococcus and the new combination C. depauperatus was proposed. Additionally, instead of an entomopathogen, the fungus was found to be a mycoparasite growing on the entomopathogen Akanthomyces (Lecanicillium) lecanii. Recently, during surveys for mycoparasites of coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in the context of a biocontrol project, white colonies covering rust pustules were observed in Cameroon. Upon close examination, instead of a member of the “white colony forming complex” of Ascomycetes, commonly collected growing on H. vastatrix, such colonies were found to represent a basidiomycete fungus with basidia-bearing chains of basidiospores, typical of the genus Cryptococcus. Morphological and molecular evidence was generated supporting the identification of the fungus on rust pustules as C. depauperatus. This is the first record of C. depauperatus from Africa and of its association with coffee leaf rust.

Gymnopilus is characterized by its ferruginous-yellow basidiomata and lamellae, ferruginous spore print, ellipsoidal basidiospores with warty and rough ornamentation, and lacking a germinative pore. Here, novel data on the Gymnopilus species of Paraguay is presented, macro and microscopic morphological characteristics, distribution, and ecology are described, and a taxonomic discussion is provided. Gymnopilus imperialis is recorded in the Alto Paraná Department, G. lepidotus in the Central Department, G. luteofolius in the Cordillera Department, G. peliolepis in the Paraguarí Department, and G. purpureosquamulosus in the Central Department and Boquerón, all as new records for Paraguay. Photographs of the fresh basidiomata and some microscopic structures such as basidia and basidiospores are attached. Resumen Gymnopilus se caracteriza por poseer basidiomas y laminillas con tonos amarillo ferrugíneos, esporada ferruginosa, basidiosporas elipsoidales con ornamentación verrugosa a rugosa, sin poro germinativo. En el presente trabajo se proporcionan datos novedosos sobre las especies de Gymnopilus de Paraguay, se describen sus características morfológicas, su distribución, ecología y se proporciona una discusión en torno a su taxonomía. Se citaron G. imperialis para el Departamento Alto Paraná, G. lepidotus para el Departamento Central, G. luteofolius para el Departamento Cordillera, G. peliolepis para el Departamento Paraguarí, y G. purpureosquamulosus para el Departamento Central y Boquerón, y todas como nuevos reportes para el Paraguay. Además, se ilustran los caracteres microscópicos distintivos. Se anexan fotografías de los basidiomas en fresco y de algunas estructuras microscópicas como basidios y basidiosporas.

The heterothallic basidiomycetous fungus Cryptococcus neoformans has two mating types, MATa and MAT&alpha, Morphological progression of bisexual reproduction in C. neoformans is as follows: yeast to hyphal transition, filament extension, basidium formation, meiosis, and sporulation. C. neoformans Cdk-related kinase 1 (CRK1) is a negative regulator of bisexual mating. In this study, we characterized the morphological features of mating structures in the crk1 mutant and determined the genetic interaction of CRK1 in the regulatory networks of sexual differentiation. In the bilateral crk1 mutant cross, despite shorter length of filaments than in the wild-type cross, dikaryotic filaments and other structures still remained intact during bisexual mating, but the timing of basidium formation was approximately 18 h earlier than in the cross between wild type strains. Furthermore, gene expression analyses revealed that CRK1 modulated the expression of genes involved in the progression of hyphal elongation, basidium formation, karyogamy and meiosis. Phenotypic results showed that, although deletion of C. neoformans CRK1 gene increased the efficiency of bisexual mating, filamentation in the crk1 mutant was blocked by MAT2 or ZNF2 mutation. A bioinformatics survey predicted the C. neoformans GATA transcriptional factor Gat1 as a potential substrate of Crk1 kinase. Our genetic and phenotypic findings revealed that C. neoformans GAT1 and CRK1 formed a regulatory circuit to negatively regulate MAT2 to control filamentation progression and transition during bisexual mating.

Entoloma clypeatum species complex (ECSC) forms ectomycorrhiza-like roots (EMLR) with host plant species of Rosaceae or Ulmaceae. The EMLR colonized with ECSC are characterized by a thick fungal mantle, absence of a Hartig net structure, and collapse of the apical meristem caused by hyphal invasion. Some researchers have suggested parasitism of ECSC because of this unique mode of colonization; however, the nature of the interaction between ECSC and host plants has not been investigated in co-culture because of the difficulty of culturing this group of fungi. We established a procedure to synthesize EMLR of ECSC on pear seedlings using fungal cultures. Three conspecific strains of ECSC isolated from basidiospores and one strain isolated from EMLR were tested. Cultured mycelia were inoculated onto a modified Norkrans’ C (MNC) or Hyponex-yeast-glucose (HYG) medium slant on the bottom of a polycarbonate jar and covered with autoclaved andosol or a vermiculite/sphagnum moss mixture (VSM); an axenically cultivated Pyrus betulifolia seedling was then planted in the jar. Five months after inoculation, the formation of EMLR with Hartig net-like hyphae was confirmed in all of the experimental plots. However, the rate of root colonization was significantly higher in experimental plots using andosol than in those using VSM. The growth of pear seedlings was similar irrespective of the level of root colonization, suggesting commensalism rather than parasitism of ECSC. One experimental plot using strain A3, an MNC slant, and andosol as a substrate produced ECSC fruiting bodies with mature basidia and basidiospores. The results suggested that our procedure enables the synthesis of EMLR of ECSC and cultivation of their fruiting bodies.