Search

With the change to one scientific name for fungal taxa, generic names typified by species with sexual or asexual morph types are being evaluated to determine which names represent the same genus and thus compete for use. In this paper generic names of the Agaricomycotina (Basidiomycota) were evaluated to determine synonymy based on their type. Forty-seven sets of sexually and asexually typified names were determined to be congeneric and recommendations are made for which generic name to use. In most cases the principle of priority is followed. However, 16 generic names are recommended for use that do not have priority and thus need to be protected: Aleurocystis over Matula; Armillaria over Acurtis and Rhizomorpha; Asterophora over Ugola; Botryobasidium over Acladium, Allescheriella, Alysidium, Haplotrichum, Physospora, and Sporocephalium; Coprinellus over Ozonium; Coprinopsis over Rhacophyllus; Dendrocollybia over Sclerostilbum and Tilachlidiopsis; Diacanthodes over Bornetina; Echinoporia over Echinodia; Neolentinus over Digitellus; Postia over Ptychogaster; Riopa over Sporotrichum; Scytinostroma over Artocreas, Michenera, and Stereofomes; Tulasnella over Hormomyces; Typhula over Sclerotium; and Wolfiporia over Gemmularia and Pachyma. Nine species names are proposed for protection: Botryobasidium aureum, B. conspersum, B. croceum, B. simile, Pellicularia lembosporum (syn. B. lembosporum), Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Polyporus metamorphosus (syn. Riopa metamorphosa), Polyporus mylittae (syn. Laccocephalum mylittae), and Polyporus ptychogaster (syn. Postia ptychogaster). Two families are proposed for protection: Psathyrellaceae and Typhulaceae. Three new species names and 30 new combinations are established, and one lectotype is designated.

Phylogenetic and taxonomic studies on the brown-rot fungi Postia and related genera, are carried out. Phylogenies of these fungi are reconstructed with multiple loci DNA sequences including the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the large subunit (nLSU) and the small subunit (nSSU) of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). Ten distinct clades of Postia s.lat. are recognized. Four new genera, Amaropostia, Calcipostia, Cystidiopostia and Fuscopostia, are established, and nine new species, Amaropostia hainanensis, Cyanosporus fusiformis, C. microporus, C. mongolicus, C. piceicola, C. subhirsutus, C. tricolor, C. ungulatus and Postia sublowei, are identified. Illustrated descriptions of the new genera and species are presented. Identification keys to Postia and related genera, as well as keys to the species of each genus, are provided.

Essential oils from the leaves, stems and flowers of Postia puberula at the flowering stage were analyzed using GC and GC/MS. The results showed that leaves are abundant of cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (10.75%), benzyl benzoate (8.16%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.12%). The main compounds of stems were benzyl benzoate (21.92%), E-nuciferol (11.58%) and dibutyl phthalate (7.08%), while major components of flowers were benzyl benzoate (9.99%), caryophyllene oxide (8.14%) and E-nuciferol (8.13%). The antioxidant activities of methanol extract were evaluated by DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays. The results showed that in both methods, leaves had stronger antioxidant activity than other organs.

Wood-degrading fungi vary in their strategies for deconstructing wood, and their competitive successes shape the rate and fate of carbon released from wood, Earth's largest pool of aboveground terrestrial carbon. In this study, one-on-one interspecific interactions between two model brown rot (carbohydrate-selective) fungi, Gloeophyllum trabeum and Rhodonia (Postia) placenta, were studied on wood wafers where a clearly resolved interaction zone (IZ) could be generated, reproducibly. Comparative RNAseq and proteomics between the IZ and non-interacting hyphae of each species identified combative strategies for each fungus. Glycoside hydrolases were a relatively smaller portion of the interaction secretome compared to non-interacting hyphae. The interaction zone showed higher pectinase specific activity than all other sampling locations, and higher laminarinase specific activity (branched β-glucan proxy) was seen in the IZ secretome relative to equivalent hyphae in single-species cultures. Our efforts also identified two distinct competitive strategies in these two fungi with a shared nutritional mode (brown rot) but polyphyletic ancestral lineages. Gloeophyllum trabeum (Gloeophyllum clade) upregulated more secondary metabolite (SM) synthesis genes in response to a competitor than did R. placenta. R. placenta (Antrodia clade) upregulated a larger variety of uncharacterized oxidoreductases in interacting hyphae, suggesting that these may play a role in mediating competitor response in this fungus. Both species produced several hypothetical proteins exclusively in the interaction zone, leaving questions as to the function of these proteins. This work supports the existence of multiple interaction strategies among brown rot fungi and highlights the functional diversity among wood decay fungi.

Fungal succession in rotting wood shows a surprising abundance of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi during the late decomposition stages. To better understand the links between EM fungi and saprotrophic fungi, we investigated the potential capacities of the EM fungus Paxillus involutus to mobilize nutrients from necromass of Postia placenta, a wood rot fungus, and to transfer these elements to its host tree. In this aim, we used pure cultures of P. involutus in the presence of labelled Postia necromass (15N/13C) as nutrient source, and a monoxenic mycorrhized pine experiment composed of labelled Postia necromass and P. involutus culture in interaction with pine seedlings. The isotopic labelling was measured in both experiments. In pure culture, P. involutus was able to mobilize N, but C as well, from the Postia necromass. In the symbiotic interaction experiment, we measured high 15N enrichments in all plant and fungal compartments. Interestingly, 13C remains mainly in the mycelium and mycorrhizas, demonstrating that the EM fungus transferred essentially N from the necromass to the tree. These observations reveal that fungal organic matter could represent a significant N source for EM fungi and trees, but also a C source for mycorrhizal fungi, including in symbiotic lifestyle.

The analysis of the occurrence of aphyllophoroid fungi on islands of the Kiy Archipelago (Onezhskiy District, Arkhangelsk Region) is carried out for the first time. In total, 150 species of aphyllophoroid fungi were revealed. Among them, 10 species (Amylocorticium suaveolens, Athelia phialophora, Atheloderma orientale, Dichomitus campestris, Odonticium septocystidia, Oxyporus millavensis, Postia floriformis, P. perdelicata, Scytinostroma parvisporum, Xylodon detriticus) are indicated for the Arkhangelsk Region for the first time. A majority of the species revealed are saprotrophs on dead wood. The highest number of species (65) was recorded from Pinus sylvestris - the main stand-former in the archipelago. In local areas of floodplain ecotopes 36 alder-associated and 32 willow-associated species were recorded. Because of heavy human pressure on the archipelago's ecosystems, only 7 ground-dwelling aphyllophoroid species were revealed (Coltricia perennis, Hydnellum aurantiacum, H. ferrugineum, H. suaveolens, Phellodon tomentosus, Sarcodon imbricatus, Thelephora terrestris). Botryohypochnus isabellinus was found on fruit bodies of basidiomycetes, and Typhula setipes was spotted on fallen alder leaves. 18 species are considered as indicators of biologically valuable forests, 7 species are included in regional Red Data Books.

Mines and caves are unusual ecosystems containing unique fungi and are greatly understudied compared to other environments. The Soudan Mine in Tower, MN, an iron ore mine that closed in 1963 after operating for 80 years, was sampled to explore fungal diversity and to investigate taxa that tolerate heavy metals for potential bioprocessing technologies or as sources of bioactive molecules for drug discovery and possible biocontrol for white-nose syndrome (WNS) of bats. The mine is 714 m deep, has 18 levels and contains large quantities of wooden timbers, in contrast to many other oligotrophic subterranean environments. Fungi were cultured from samples and the ITS region was sequenced for identification and phylogenetic analysis. Results show Ascomycota are the dominant fungi followed by Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota. Out of 164 identified taxa, 108 belong to the Ascomycota and 26 and 31 to Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota, respectively. There are also 46 taxa that do not match (

Polyporoid and corticioid fungi are among the most important wood-decay fungi. Not only do they contribute to nutrient cycling by decomposing wood debris, but they are also valuable sources for natural products. Polyporoid and corticioid wood-inhabiting fungi were investigated in Odaesan National Park. Fruit bodies were collected and identified based on morphological and molecular analyses using 28S and internal transcribed spacer regions of DNA sequences. As a result, a total of 149 species, 69 genera, 22 families, and 11 orders were recognized. Half (74 species) of the species were polypores, and the other half (75 species) were corticioid fungi. Most of the species belonged to Polyporales (92 species) followed by Hymenochaetales (33 species) and Russulales (11 species). At the genus level, a high number of species was observed from Steccherinum, Hyphodontia, Phanerochaete, Postia, and Trametes. Concerning distribution, almost all the species could be found below 1,000 m, and only 20% of the species were observed from above 1,000 m. Stereum subtomentosum, Trametes versicolor, T. hirsuta, T. pubescens, Bjerkandera adusta, and Ganoderma applanatum had wide distribution areas. Deciduous wood was the preferred substrate for the collected species. Sixty-three species were new to this region, and 21 species were new to Korea, of which 17 species were described and illustrated.

We present new records of noteworthy aphyllophoroid fungi, mainly polypores and corticioids in Finland. The following 19 rare or infrequently collected species are presented with notes on their substrates: Amylocorticium subsulphureum, Antrodiella parasitica, Ceraceomyces sulphurinus, Clavaria atroumbrina, Clavaria rosea, Gloeophyllum carbonarium, Hyphodontia flavipora, Junghuhnia fimbriatella, Lindtneria chordulata, Odonticium septocystidia, Peniophorella guttulifera, Perenniporia tenuis, Postia immitis, Repetobasidium vile, Resinicium pinicola, Sidera vulgaris, Tomentella coerulea, Trechispora laevis and Xylodon pruni. We also list 41 aphyllophoroid fungi as new to some sections of the boreal vegetation zone in Finland.

A new polypore, Postia hirsuta sp. nov., collected in Shaanxi Province, central China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological characters and molecular data. This fungus is characterized by an annual growth, pileate basidiocarps with a mousegrey and hirsute pileal surface, a white to straw-colored pore surface, a monomitic hyphal system with thick-walled generative hyphae, and allantoid to cylindrical basidiospores (4-4.8 × 1-1.2 µm). Phylogenetic inferences based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and nuclear large subunit (nLSU) ribosomal RNA gene regions supported Postia hirsuta as a distinct species in Postia.

Due to their bluish basidiocarps the Postia caesia (syn. Oligoporus caesius) complex forms a distinctive morphological group within the polypore genus Postia Fr., 1874. Five species of this group occur in Europe: Postia alni Niemelä & Vampola, Postia caesia (Schrad.) P. Karst., Postia luteocaesia (A. David) Jülich, Postia mediterraneocaesia M. Pierre & B. Rivoire and Postia subcaesia (A. David) Jülich. In this study Postia alni is reported for the first time from Hungary. The dichotomous key of the species of the European Postia caesia complex was prepared as well.

Two new ylangene-type sesquiterpenoids, postinins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from cultures of the fungus Postia sp. Structures 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The bioactivity evaluation showed that both compounds had significant inhibitory activities against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, and SH2-containing cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase-1 and -2 with IC₅₀ values of 1.6-6.2 μg/ml.

3 p.-2 tab. Gaskell, Jill et al., We report the genome of Postia (Rhodonia) placenta MAD-SB12, a homokaryotic wood decay fungus (Basidiomycota, Polyporales). Intensively studied as a representative brown rot decayer, the gene complement is consistent with the rapid depolymerization of cellulose but not lignin., The work conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, a DOE Office of Science User Facility, was supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. BH was funded by the AMIDEX foundation (MicrobioE project, grant number ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02).

The study was focused mainly on the biodeterioration of the external wood of the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, Riga (1924), and the sacral wooden buildings in Eastern Latvia (Latgale). The inspected wooden structures included windows, stairs, walls, roofs, fences, benches etc. Roofs, walls and fences were the most commonly decayed outdoor structures, while roof constructions and ceilings were the most often deteriorated indoor structures. Fungi from the phyla Basidiomycota, Ascomycota and Protozoa (Myxomycota) were identified. Common fungal genera were Antrodia, Gloeophyllum, Athelia, Hyphoderma, Hyphodontia, Pharenochaete, Postia and Botryobasidium. Mainly corticoid and poroid species were recorded in the wooden structures. The protection measures against the fungal attack should include a proper maintenance of roofs as well as the decrease/elimination of the vegetation around the buildings. The historical value of biodeteriorated structures should be taken into consideration before applying the protection/renovation measures.

A preliminary inventory of the aphyllophorales. of the "Cazorla, Segura & Las Villas" Natural Park is presented, based on original data augmented by literature references. This catalogue includes 200 species representing to 90 genera. Seven species are new to the catalogue of Spanish mycobiota: Antrodia albidoides, Fibricium subceraceum, Gloeodontia columbiensis, Hyphodermella densa, Oliveonia pauxilla, Postia undosa, and Skeletocutis albocremea. Key word — mycobiota, corticioid fungi, polypores, fungal diversity, Iberian Peninsula

The majority of greenhouse crops are grown on artificial substrates in hydroponic systems. Re-circulating nutrient systems offer an advantageous alternative for controlling nutrient solutions leaching from greenhouses into the environment, which represents an environmental issue in greenhouse production areas. However, the potential for the rapid spread of root diseases, and other diseases, is the main hindrance to the general adoption of re-circulating nutrient systems by the greenhouse industry. In this study, the total bacterial, fungal and oomycete communities present in re-circulating nutrient solutions, were monitored using selective media and direct viable counts. Sequence analysis of 126 main representatives of these three communities showed for Eubacteria the presence of 11 genera of γ-Proteobacteria, 3 genera of Firmicutes, one genus of Actinobacteria and one genus of Flavobacteria. For the fungi, recovered strains belonged to Rhizopus and to Postia. Twenty strains belonged to the Stramenopile lineage, 19 of them to the genus Pythium ( Oomycota) and one to the genus Splachnidium (Phaeophyceae). In addition, the efficacy of ultra-filtration and bio-filtration for eliminating oomycete and bacterial pathogens, artificially added in the re-circulating nutrient solution was assessed, by using a tangential ultrafiltration system, a slow sand filter and a rockwool granule filter. The oomycete Pythium oligandrum and the bacterium Bacillus subtilis were used as model organisms because of their easy culture, their lack of pathogenicity and their similarity with common oomycete and bacterial plant pathogens. Using real time PCR and species specific oligonucleotides showed that ultrafiltration is highly effective in removing P. oligandrum and B. subtilis. No P. oligandrum or B. subtilis were detected by real time PCR in filtrated nutrient solutions. Passage of nutrient solution through the slow sand filters also resulted in complete removal of P. oligandrum but was less effective for B. subtilis removal.

Two new species of Postia are described from China based on morphological characters and molecular data. Postia gloeopora sp. nov. is characterized by pileate and white flabelliform basidiomata, glue pores when dry, gelatinous hyphae at the dissepimental edge, abundant oily substances in context and trama, and ellipsoid basidiospores (4–4.5 × 2–2.5 μm). Postia ochraceoalba sp. nov. is characterized by imbricate basidiomata, ochraceous pileal surface with concentric zones, white pore surface, small angular pores (6–7 per mm) with dentate dissepiments, and allantoid basidiospores (4–4.5 × 1–1.5 μm). Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer and nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA gene regions confirmed the affinity of the new species in Postia and indicated their relationships with other species in the genus.

The voluntary withdrawal of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood from most residential applications has increased the use of non-arsenical copper-based organic wood preservatives. Because the arsenic component of CCA controlled coppertolerant fungi, scientists have renewed interest in and concern about the decay capacity in the important copper-tolerant group of brown-rot fungi. We have demonstrated that the primary means of inactivating copper in preservatives is by excess production of oxalic acid (OA). Oxalic acid production is a key metabolic indicator of brown-rot decay, and our objective was to estimate the production of OA in five commercial or experimental arsenic-free preservatives. Ten aggressive brown-rot fungi, chosen from previous studies and representing the genera Antrodia, Coniophora, Gloeophyllum, Postia, Serpula, Tyromyces, and Wolfiporia, were tested against southern yellow pine (SYP) blocks that were vacuum-treated with ground contact retentions of copper naphthenate, amine copper azole, alkaline copper quat type D (ACQ-D), N,N -naphthaloylhydroxylamine (NHA), and copper borate in a 12week soil-block test. After determination of block weight loss, blocks were also tested for the presence of OA. Weight loss ranged from 0.3% to 8.3% for treated blocks and from 16.4% to 59.6% for untreated controls. We conclude that SYP treated with these five preservatives limited OA production and prevented decay, and thus confirmed the efficacy of the co-biocides against coppertolerant fungi. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The increase in the use of non-arsenical copper-based wood preservatives in response to environmental concerns has been accompanied by interest in copper-tolerant decay fungi. Oxalic acid production by brown-rot fungi has been proposed as one mechanism of copper tolerance. Fifteen brown-rot fungi representing the genera Postia, Wolfiporia, Meruliporia, Gloeophyllum, Laetiporus, Coniophora, Antrodia, Serpula, and Tyromyces were evaluated for oxalic acid production bi-weekly in southern yellow pine (SYP) blocks treated with 1.2% ammoniacal copper citrate (CC). Eleven fungi were designated copper-tolerant based upon weight loss in CC-treated blocks. After 2 weeks, these fungi produced 2–17 times more oxalic acid in CC-treated blocks than in untreated blocks. After 10 weeks, weight loss ranged from 32% to 57% in CC-treated SYP. Four fungi were copper sensitive, producing low levels of oxalic acid and minimal weight loss in CC-treated blocks. Rapid induction of oxalic acid appeared to correlate closely with copper tolerance. We conclude that the brown-rot fungi tested that were able to exceed and maintain an oxalic acid concentration of ⩾600 μmol / g effectively decayed SYP treated with CC.

Postia cana sp. nov. is described as new based on four specimens collected on spruce in Lishan Nature Reserve, Shanxi Province, northern China. The new species is similar to P. tephroleuca, but differs by an upper surface with a clay pink tint when fresh, discoloring to grey or dark grey and becoming coarsely strigose on drying. Additionally, 104 other species of polypores were identified from the area.

The increased interest in copper-based wood preservatives has hastened the need for understanding why some fungi are able to attack copper-treated wood. Due in part to accumulation of oxalic acid by brown-rot fungi and visualization of copper oxalate crystals in wood decayed by known copper-tolerant decay fungi, oxalic acid has been implicated in copper tolerance by the formation of copper oxalate crystals. Nineteen isolates of the brown-rot fungus Wolfiporia cocos were evaluated for oxalic acid production and weight loss on wood treated with 1.2% copper citrate. Twelve of 19 isolates that caused moderate to high weight losses in copper citrate-treated wood produced low oxalic acid in liquid culture, whereas isolates with high oxalic acid production had low weight losses in treated wood. Seven W. cocos isolates demonstrated enhanced weight loss in Cu-treated wood. Wood weight loss was unaffected by the presence of copper citrate for two W. cocos isolates and weight loss was lower for 10 isolates compared to weight losses in untreated wood. Citrate did not significantly influence oxalic acid production in liquid culture. Previous hypotheses linking oxalic acid and copper tolerance were based upon observations of single isolates of Postia and Tyromyces. Although most isolates produced more oxalic acid in copper citrate-treated wood than in untreated wood, we found no statistical relationship between the amount of oxalic acid production in liquid culture or wood and copper tolerance in W. cocos. Production of oxalic acid does not seem to be the factor controlling copper tolerance in W. cocos. The diversity seen within W. cocos demonstrates that caution should be used when reporting results, so that generalizations are not based on the behavior of a single isolate.

A brief history of taxonomic research on New Zealand polypore fungi is given, followed by a checklist of published New Zealand records of these fungi. In total, 169 Poroid taxa a accepted, of which 48 have currently misapplied or uncertain names. A further 359 names used for New Zealand polypore fungi are cited as synonyms, and 33 names are treated as doubtful records. Twelve species are newly recorded from New Zealand: Anomoporia myceliosa, Australohydnum dregeanum, Ceriporiopsis rivulosa var. valdiviana, Coriolopsis strumosa, Junghuhnia separabilima, Phaeolus schweinitzii sens. str., Postia fragilis, Postia tephroleuca, Rigidoporus albostygius, Trechispora regularis, Tyromyces fissilis, and T. hypolateritius. The new combination Postia manuka is proposed. All names are indexed by epithet, followed by a bibliography.

Within the United States, the volume of wood products that was treated with copper-based preservatives grew exponentially during the 1970 s and 1980 s and remains at a high level today. Ultimately, these materials will have to be reused, recycled, or disposed in an environmentally acceptable manner. We are exploring whether copper-tolerant fungi might have utility in bioprocessing spent, treated wood after it is withdrawn from service. In laboratory experiments, Southern Pine sapwood was treated with copper-based wood preservatives, then challenged with wood decay fungi known to be tolerant of copper. For each preservative, fungal isolates were assessed for their potential to reduce the bulk of the treated product, as observed by weight loss. Low retention levels of some preservatives stimulated decay by Wolfiporia cocos, but not Postia placenta. Isolates of the copper-tolerant fungus Wolfiporia cocos (Schw syn. Poria cocos) varied significantly in their ability to degrade wood treated with copper-bearing preservatives and to concentrate copper in the mycelium. Copper was bioaccumulated (w/w basis) in mycelium of some isolates harvested from decayed wood, but the concentration of copper in the decayed wood residue was generally similar or only slightly different from that in the wood before decay.

Three new species are described from misidentified collections of New Zealand polypore fungi. Postia globicystidia sp. nov. is characterised by globular cystidial elements arising from generative hyphae. Diplomitoporus cunninghamii sp. nov. has a pseudo‐dimitic hyphal system, allantoid spores, and effused‐reflexed basidiocarps. Polyporus septosporus sp. nov. is characterised by occasionally septate basidiospores, with 1–3 septa, and basidiocarp tissue staining red in KOH. Inonotus chondromyelus is newly recorded from New Zealand. All but Postia globicystidia also occur in Australia.

Due to their bluish basidiocarps the Postia caesia (syn. Oligoporus caesius) complex forms a distinctive morphological group within the polypore genus Postia Fr., 1874. Five species of this group occur in Europe: P. alni Niemelä & Vampola, P. caesia (Schrad.) P. Karst., P. luteocaesia (A. David) Jülich, P. mediterraneocaesia M. Pierre & B. Rivoire and P. subcaesia (A. David) Jülich. In this study P. alni is reported for the first time from Hungary. The dichotomous key of the species of the European Postia caesia complex was prepared as well.

A new species, Thanatephorus uniygdalisporirs, is described and a number of new combinations and a new name are proposed: Bryoglossum rehmii comb. nov., Lachnellula juniperinu comb. nov., Lactarius torminosulus nom. nov., Lentaria dendroidea comb. nov., Postia ptyhogaster comb. nov., Stecclierinum collabens comb. nov., S. luteoalbum comb. nov., S. nitidum comb. nov., S. pseudozilingiunum comb. nov., S. separabilimum comb. nov., Syzygospora mycophaga comb. nov., Thanatephorus fusisporus comb. nov., Tremella invasa comb. nov., Uncobasidium albidum comb. nov. and Woldmaria filicina comb. nov. A number of notes on clavarioid fungi are given.

A new wood-decaying polypore from southern China, Postia cylindrica, is described and illustrated using morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS sequences. The new species is characterized by resupinate to effused reflexed basidiocarps, cream to buff and azonate pileal surface, reddish-brown and incurved margin, gloeoplerous hyphal cells in cuticular layer, absence of cystidia, and cylindrical, thin-walled basidiospores. Molecular analyses confirm the phylogenetic position of the new species Postia. The discriminating characters of the new species and the closely related species are discussed.

The taxonomic positions of several New Zealand polypore fungi were examined using morphological, cultural, sexual, and nuclear criteria. Postia venata (Rajchenb. & Wright) Rajchenb., previously described from Nothofagus forests in Argentina, is newly recorded in New Zealand on Nothofagus spp. It is distinct from Postia atrostrigosa (Cooke) comb. nov., which has a pileated fruit body and wider, strictly allantoid, IKI+ basidio-spores. Postia venata is also distinct from Tyromyces setiger (Cooke) G.H. Cunn., which has a pileated, uniformly strigose, white, triquetrous fruit body, and strictly allantoid spores. Skeletocutis stramenticus (G.H. Cunn.) comb. nov. is shown to be conspecific with S. australis Rajchenb., also reported from Argentina. Polyporus hemitephrus Berk, is a white rotting wood decay species and belongs in Fomes (Fr.) Fr. Cultural descriptions are given for Fomes hemitephrus (Berk.) Cooke, P. venata, and Schizopora nothofagi (G.H. Cunn.) P.K. Buchanan & Ryv. Cultural evidence suppo...

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Postia species from Patagonia with rDNA ITS and LSU sequences, together with morphological, cultural and biological features. All species in the genus were included in a "Postia clade" irrespective of whether their spores were thin- or thick-walled. This clade is characterized by tetrapolar mating, a normal nuclear behavior, metachromatic generative hyphae and absence of fiber hyphae in culture. One subclade merged the austral taxa P. pelliculosa and P. punctata, but otherwise no distinct relationships were found regarding spore shape, spore wall thickness and geographical distribution of taxa. The austral P. venata and the endemic P. carbophila, with thin-walled basidiospores, occupied variable positions in both analyses. Postia caesia from Patagonia grouped within the P. caesia species complex but on a separate branch. In contrast, P. rennyi and P. balsamea from Patagonia corresponded well with strains from other geographic areas. The two austral species in Ryvardenia, R. cretacea and R. campyla, characterized by non-metachromatic hyphae, bipolar mating and an astatocoenocytic nuclear behavior, formed an independent subclade among the dimitic genera of the "Antrodia clade", far from other Postia taxa within which they had been placed previously, supporting their inclusion in a genus of their own. Postia carbophila grouped with other Postia species and not with Postia (Rhodonia) placenta as suggested previously on the basis of morphological comparisons. Instead, the latter species grouped with taxa in the dimitic genus Amyloporia with which it shares heterocytic nuclear behavior. A separation between specimens of Postia pelliculosa and Ryvardenia cretacea from either side of the Pacific (i.e. SE Australia/New Zealand and S Argentina/S Chile) suggests they could be considered different at the species level from a phylogenetic point of view.

Forty species of fungi, representing a range of ecological and taxonomic groups, were tested for their ability to grow on agar media amended with lithium chloride (LiCl) at 1.5, 3 and 6 g l −1 . Species of Trichoderma varied considerably in their sensitivity to LiCl; at one week on 6 g l −1 LiCl medium, the growth of seven species of Trichoderma was considerably inhibited; however, by three weeks at this level, four of the species tested were able to attain ≥30 % of control growth. Of the seven species tested, an isolate of T. viride was the most sensitive to LiCl in agar. Eleven other imperfect fungi also showed a range of ability to grow on agar amended with LiCl, from total inhibition to complete lack of inhibition. Six ascomycete fungi were greatly inhibited by LiCl at all levels; however, an isolate of Chaetomium globosum was highly tolerant of LiCl. Seven basidiomycete wood-decay fungi were quite sensitive to LiCl in agar, showing total to nearly total inhibition even at the lowest level; however, after three weeks, an isolate of Postia placen ta was nearly uninhibited except at 6 g l −1 . Five ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete fungi were totally inhibited by all levels of LiCl; however, one ectomycorrhizal imperfect fungus ( Cenococcum graniforme ) was able to grow at 3 g l −1 and was uninhibited at 1.5 g l −1 . Four zygomycete fungus isolates were nearly unaffected in their growth by all levels of LiCl.

The antifungal properties of poisonous plant extracts from oleanders ( Nerium oleander L.) were determined when used as a wood preservative. The extract was prepared from oleanders leaves and flowers in 96% ethyl alcohol. The wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) were impregnated with the extracts. The abilities of the extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fr.)(brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (L: Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks for 12 weeks by following the soil-block method. While untreated wood specimens have weight loss ranging between 27.37 and 30.66% for P. placenta and 8.64 and 24.06% for T. versicolor, the wood treated with the extracts is of weight loss between 5.54 and 10.98% for P. placenta, and between 5.02 and 28.25% for T. versicolor. The lowest weight loss was found to be for beech wood (5.02%) impregnated with the extract of oleander at a concentration level of 0.25% against T. versicolor. While the highest weight loss was also on the beech wood (28.25%) treated with the same extract at the level of 0.50% concentration against T. versicolor. In conclusion, the extracts could be used as effective wood preservative. C1 Mugla Univ, Fac Technol, Dept Wood Sci & Furniture Design, TR-48000 Mugla, Turkey. Pamukkale Univ, Fac Arts & Sci, Dept Biol, Denizli, Turkey. Mugla Univ, Fac Arts & Sci, Dept Chem, TR-48000 Mugla, Turkey. Adnan Menderes Univ, Fac Agr, Dept Hort, TR-09100 Aydin, Turkey.

The antifungal properties of poisonous plant extracts from oleanders ( Nerium oleander L.) were determined when used as a wood preservative. The extract was prepared from oleanders leaves and flowers in 96% ethyl alcohol. The wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) were impregnated with the extracts. The abilities of the extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fr.)(brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (L: Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks for 12 weeks by following the soil-block method. While untreated wood specimens have weight loss ranging between 27.37 and 30.66% for P. placenta and 8.64 and 24.06% for T. versicolor, the wood treated with the extracts is of weight loss between 5.54 and 10.98% for P. placenta, and between 5.02 and 28.25% for T. versicolor. The lowest weight loss was found to be for beech wood (5.02%) impregnated with the extract of oleander at a concentration level of 0.25% against T. versicolor. While the highest weight loss was also on the beech wood (28.25%) treated with the same extract at the level of 0.50% concentration against T. versicolor. In conclusion, the extracts could be used as effective wood preservative.

The ability of Sternbergia candida (SB Candidum Mathew.) extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fries) M. Larsen et Lombard (Mad 698), (a brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (L. ex Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. The extract was dissolved from Sterinbergia Candidum's bulb and leaves in 96% ethyl alcohol. Poisonous extract impregnated into wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). Extract dosages were 0.25, 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00%. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attack for 12 weeks by the soil block method. Only extract dosages of 0.25 and 0.75% were found efficacious in suppressing attack. A tukey studentized test found both dosages significant at 5% level. In conclusion, the poisonous extracts could be used as effective wood preservative when concentration was adjusted.

A new polypore, Postia duplicata, collected in Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and molecular characters. Postia duplicata is characterized by pileate basidiomata with pale brownish to brown pore surface when bruised, duplex context, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, presence of gloeocystidia in the hymenium, and cylindrical basidiospores (3.8–5.8 × 1.8–2.5 µm). Both morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the placement of the new species in Postia and showed its phylogenetic relationships.

Two new multipileate species of Postia (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycotina) are described. Postia brunnea sp. nov. is characterised by a compound fruit-body with imbricate pilei, a brown, dark umbrinous upper pileus surface, hyphal walls that partially dissolve in KOH, and ellipsoid (somewhat pip- or D-shaped) spores with slightly thickened walls. The species has been found in New Zealand and Australia, on decaying logs of Eucalyptus, Libocedrus, Metrosideros and Nothofagus species, and has been confused with Ryvardenia campyla (Berk.) Rajchenb. Grifola rosularis (G.Cunn.) G.Cunn. is recognised as a synonym of R. campyla. Postia punctata sp. nov. is characterised by white, imbricate pilei with a rugose-tuberculate pileus surface and ellipsoid, thin-walled spores. It usually has 'water-soaked' spots on the pileus surface. This species is known from standing or fallen logs of Nothofagus and Eucalyptus species in southern Argentina, Chile and Tasmania.

This survey presents the first species list of the poroid fungi (Polyporales and related genera) from Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Santa Virgínia, the largest area of the Atlantic forest in Brazil. A total of 68 species, 38 genera and ten families were found in the studied area. Antrodiella luteocontexta, Ceriporiopsis flavilutea, Diplomitoporus navisporus, Flaviporus venustus, Grammothele fuligo, Oxyporus latemarginatus, Perenniporia cremeopora, Postia subcaesia and Postia tephroleuca are recorded for the first time to São Paulo State and Dichomitus campestris and Postia undosa represent the first records in Brazil. Full description of the new records in Brazil, comments about the new records in São Paulo State, as well as pictures and an identification key are provided.

The aerial parts of P. bombycina afforded three pseudoguaianolides, four guaianolides, a seco -guaianolide, the known eudesmanolide granilin and the xanthanolide tomentosin. The structures were elucidated by high field 1 H NMR spectroscopy.