Search Results (64)

The complex and diverse phenomenon of fungal bioluminescence has captured human curiosity. Nevertheless, in the field of studies, there are not many attempts made particularly to reveal the new species of these interesting fungi. This study comprehensively reviews the diversity, distribution, evolution, bioluminescence mechanisms, ecological roles, and potential applications of these fungi. Most importantly, we also present an updated list of the reported bioluminescent fungi (122) so far identified from five distinct evolutionary lineages worldwide—Armillaria, Eoscyphella, Lucentipes, Mycenoid, and Omphalotus—mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Bioluminescent fungi are descended from the last common ancestor of the Mycenoid and the Marasmioid clades of Agaricales, which have been maintained for at least 160 million years of evolution. We underscore the potential for future research to understand the ecological role of bioluminescent fungi, inspiring hope and optimism for the future of this field. Full article

Entoloma is a relatively large genus in Agaricales, with a rich diversity of species and a wide distribution. In this study, seven new species of Entoloma belonging to the subgenus Cubospora have been identified based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence from subtropical regions of China. Morphologically, E. excavatum is characterized by the yellow, depressed, estriate pileus and medium-sized basidiospores; E. lacticolor is recognized by the white and papillate pileus, adnexed lamellae, and presence of clamp connections; E. phlebophyllum is identified by the pink-to-maroon and estriate pileus, and lamellae with lateral veins; E. rufomarginatum differs from other cuboid-spored species by the lamellae edge which is red-brown-underlined; E. subcycneum is characterized by the white pileus and carneogriseum-type cheilocystidia; E. submurrayi is recognized by the pileus margin exceeding the lamellae, 2-layered pileipellis with hyphae of different widths, and the presence of clamp connections; E. tomentosum is identified by the tomentose pileus, heterogeneous lamella edge, and versiform cheilocystidia with brown-yellow contents. Their distinct taxonomic status is confirmed by the positions of the seven new species in both the ITS + LSU and 3-locus (LSU, tef-1α, rpb2) phylogenetic trees. Detailed descriptions, color photos, and a key to related species are presented. Full article

To elucidate the biological mechanisms driving the growth of various pumpkin varieties to different sizes under identical management conditions while in the same field, the soil microbial community structures in the rhizospheres of giant-pumpkin (GP) and small-pumpkin (SP) varieties were analyzed. The results revealed that a significantly higher abundance of bacterial communities could be detected in the rhizospheres of the giant pumpkin varieties, such as Gemmatimonadota, norank__f__norank__o_Gaiellales, norank__f__Gemmatimonadaceae, Bryobacter, Sphingomonas, norank__f__JG30-KF-AS9, and norank__f__norank__o___Elsterales, than in those of the small-sized pumpkins. Additionally, norank_f__norank_o__Elsterale, Ellin6067, norank_f__67-14, and Chujaibacter were unique dominant soil bacteria genera in the rhizospheres of the giant pumpkins. By contrast, Arthrobacter, norank_f__Roseiflexaceae, unclassified_f__Rhizobiaceae, Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Nocardioides, Mycobacterium, norank_f__norank_o__Vicinamibacterales, and Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia were the unique dominant soil bacterial genera in the rhizospheres of the small pumpkins. Moreover, at the fungal genus level, unclassified_c__Chytridiomycetes, Podosphaera, and Colletotrichum presented significant differences between the giant-pumpkin (GP) and small-pumpkin (SP) rhizospheres. In addition, unclassified__p__Rozellomycota, unclassified__c__Chytridiomycetes, Penicillium, and unclassified__f__Chaetomiaceae were unique dominant soil fungal genera in the rhizospheres of the giant pumpkins (GPs). By contrast, Podosphaera, Colletotrichum, unclassified__f__Plectosphaerellaceae, unclassified__o_Boletales, Scytalidium, unclassified__p__Rozellomycota, and unclassified__o_Agaricales were the unique dominant soil fungal genera in the rhizospheres of the small pumpkins (SPs). PICRUSt and FUNGuild functional prediction analyses revealed that the giant-pumpkin rhizosphere microbial community had significantly increased translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis, nucleotide transport and metabolism, defense mechanisms, replication, recombination and repair, wood saprotroph, and undefined saprotroph levels. The above results suggest that the soil microbial compositions differed between the rhizospheres of the giant- (GP) and small-pumpkin (SP) varieties, even though the plants were grown in the same field under identical management conditions. Meanwhile, bacterial genera such as norank_f__norank_o__Elsterale, Ellin6067, norank_f__67-14, and Chujaibacter, in addition to fungal genera such as unclassified__p__Rozellomycota, unclassified__c__Chytridiomycetes, Penicillium, and unclassified__f__Chaetomiaceae, can be speculated as potential soil functional micro-organisms associated with improved pumpkin size. Full article

Based on phylogenetic analysis, Candolleomyces (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) was established with Psathyrella candolleana as the type species. The basidiomes range from small to large and are typically terrestrial, lignicolous, and rarely fimicolous. We analysed the Candolleomyces species collected during five years in China, and based on morphological and molecular data (nrITS, nrLSU, and tef-1α), we propose seven new Candolleomyces species viz. C. brevisporus, C. gyirongicus, C. lignicola, C. luridus, C. shennongdingicus, C. shennongjianus, and C. sichuanicus. Full descriptions, colour photographs, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses results, and comparisons with related Candolleomyces species of the new taxa are provided. This study enriches the species diversity of Candolleomyces in China. Full article

Conservation Translocation (CT), which includes reintroduction, reinforcement and introduction, is gaining momentum, responding to serious population decline in many orchids. Orchid conservation underpinned by a greater emphasis on understanding biotic and abiotic factors of habitats is critical for successful recovery and restoration programmes. Anacamptis morio, commonly known as green-winged orchid (GWO), is a terrestrial orchid found throughout Europe, but populations in England rapidly declined in its native range in the last several decades. The current study explored the relationship between soil abiotic characteristics and the community composition of key fungal groups. Wild sites in Essex and Cumbria in England, where successful colonies are currently present, were compared to potential sites for CT in Cumbria. The Cumbrian sites managed by cattle grazing include the wild site and three potential CT sites, with two of them hosting no GWO plants. The Essex site, fOxley Meadow, where no cattle is used for grassland management, hosts the largest population of GWO in England. The aim of this study was to understand whether the community composition of fungi and soil characteristics of the potential CT sites in Cumbria are nearly compatible with that of Oxley Meadow. Oxley Meadow, with around 65,000 plants, stands out as a unique habitat compared to all Cumbria sites, as it showed low organic content. Nitrate and phosphate content were smaller for Oxley Meadow compared to other Cumbrian sites. The proportion of Basidiomycota fungi was greater in Oxley Meadow compared to all Cumbrian sites where Ascomycota dominated. The abundant fungal group found in Oxley Meadow was Agaricales. From Agariclaes, Hygrophoraceae or waxcaps fungi are considered an indicator group of fungi and were the most abundant group in Oxley Meadow. They have a negative correlation with targeted key fungal groups and abiotic parameters. More in-depth assessments using additional primers are essential to better understand the fungal diversity and how this diversity translates to the resilience of orchid habitats. This preliminary study points to future studies to assess whether sites are near-compatible to the wild site where large colonies are present using additional primers collected over different time scales. Full article

The aim of this study is to carry out a taxonomic revision of the groups Calamistratum and Geraniodorum of the genus Inosperma sect. Inosperma in Europe. For this purpose, a multigenic phylogenetic analysis was carried out using the ITS, LSU, RPB1 and RPB2 markers, covering a total of 111 sequences, including those generated from the existing type-material collections. This analysis led to the recognition of nine clades or terminal groups for the European continent, correlating with nine morphological species. Three of them, I. calamistratum, I. neohirsutum sp. nov. and I. turietoense sp. nov., are distributed in humid and temperate forests, whereas I. geminum sp. nov., I. geraniodorum, I. gracilentum sp. nov., I. praetermissum comb. nov., I. subhirsutum and I. veliferum seem to be restricted to the colder altimontane, boreal and alpine climates. It is concluded that the study of morphological and ecological characteristics allows the recognition of species without the need for an often-subjective interpretation of organoleptic characteristics. Inocybe hirsuta is considered a synonym of Inosperma calamistratum, Inosperma praetermissum as a different species from I. calamistratum, and Inocybe geraniodora var. gracilenta f. salicis-herbaceae as a synonym of I. praetermissum. Four new species and one new combination are proposed. A key for the recognition of the European species is provided. Illustrations and photographs of macro- and micromorphological characters and SEM spores of all species are presented. Full article

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

Two different collections of the gilled wild fungus Tricholoma terreum, collected in Italy, were subjected to phytochemical analysis. The fungal material was confidently identified by analysis of the ITS genomic sequences. Using both HR-LC-MS and NMR techniques, no evidence was found for the presence in the fruiting bodies of terreolides, terreumols or saponaceolides H-S, in striking contrast with the isolation of these terpenoids by Chinese authors from a mushroom collected in France and identified as T. terreum. The main cytotoxic terpenoid identified and isolated from the extracts of the specimens investigated in this work was the C₃₀ derivative saponaceolide B, which had been previously isolated from T. saponaceum and other T. terreum collections. Although saponaceolide B is a rather labile molecule, easily degradable by heat or in acidic conditions, our study indicated that none of the extraction protocols used produced saponaceolide H-S or terreolide/terreumol derivatives, thus excluding the possibility that the latter compounds could be extraction artifacts. Considered together, these findings point to the need for the unambiguous identification of mushroom species belonging to the complex genus Tricholoma, characterized by high variability in the composition of metabolites. Moreover, based on our data, T. terreum must be considered an edible mushroom. Full article

In this study, five new species from China, Hymenogaster latisporus, H. minisporus, H. papilliformis, H. perisporius, and H. variabilis, are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. Hymenogaster latisporus was distinguished from other species of the genus by the subglobose, broad ellipsoidal, ovoid basidiospores (average = 13.7 μm × 11.6 μm) with sparse verrucose and ridge-like ornamentation (1–1.2 μm high); H. minisporus by the ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal and small basidiospores (average = 11.7 μm × 9.5 μm); H. papilliformis was characterized by the whitish to cream-colored basidiomes, and broadly fusiform to citriform basidiospores with a pronounced apex (2–3 μm, occasionally up to 4 μm high), papillary, distinct warts and ridges, and pronounced appendix (2–3 μm long); H. perisporius by the dirty white to pale yellow basidiomes, broad ellipsoidal to ellipsoidal, and yellow-brown to dark-brown basidiospores with warts and gelatinous perisporium; H. variabilis by the peridium with significant changes in thickness (167–351 μm), and broad ellipsoidal to subglobose basidiospores ornamented with sparse warts and ridges. An ITS/LSU-based phylogenetic analysis supported the erection of the five new species. A key for Hymenogaster species from northern China is provided. Full article

This paper presents an annotated checklist of the Basidiomycota taxa (including lichenicolous fungi and the subdivision Pucciniomycotina) from the Azores archipelago and reviews the published records to account for their taxonomic status. The number of Basidiomycota species recorded in the Azores has increased considerably during the 20th century and now stands at 544 species. This study provides distribution data and includes changes in the nomenclature of the listed taxa. Sampling campaigns contributed to 116 new records of Basidiomycota for the Azores archipelago. In addition, there were new records for eight islands: 162 species found for the first time on São Miguel Island, 55 species new to Santa Maria Island, 33 species new to Flores Island, 15 species new to Terceira Island, 9 species new to Pico Island, 17 species new to São Jorge Island, 4 species new to Graciosa Island, and 2 species new to Corvo Island. The transformation of vegetation cover in the archipelago has been very drastic, and this is reflected in the presence of many foreign fungal species on the islands. From these data, we conclude that within Macaronesia, the diversity of Basidiomycota in the Azores is more similar to that in Madeira than in the Canary Islands. Full article

Long-term plant residue retention can effectively replenish soil quality and fertility. In this study, we collected rhizosphere soil from the residual roots of annual Cenchrus fungigraminus in the Ulan Buh Desert over the past 10 years. The area, depth, and length of these roots decreased over time. The cellulose content of the residual roots was significantly higher in the later 5 years (2018–2022) than the former 5 years (2013–2017), reaching its highest value in 2021. The lignin content of the residual roots did not differ across samples except in 2015 and reached its highest level in 2021. The total sugar of the residual roots in 2022 was 227.88 ± 30.69 mg·g⁻¹, which was significantly higher than that in other years. Compared to the original sandy soil, the soil organic matter and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) contents were 2.17–2.41 times and 31.52–35.58% higher in the later 3 years (2020–2022) and reached the highest values in 2020. The residual roots also significantly enhanced the soil carbon stocks from 2018–2022. Soil dehydrogenase, nitrogenase, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (S-NAG) were significantly affected from 2019–2022. The rhizosphere soil community richness and diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities significantly decreased with the duration of the residual roots in the sandy soil, and there was a significant difference for 10 years. Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Sphigomonas were the representative bacteria in the residual root rhizosphere soil, while Agaricales and Panaeolus were the enriched fungal genera. The distance-based redundancy analysis and partial least square path model results showed that the duration of residual roots in the sandy soil, S-NAG, and SMBC were the primary environmental characteristics that shaped the microbial community. These insights provide new ideas on how to foster the exploration of the use of annual herbaceous plants for sandy soil improvement in the future. Full article

Agaricus belongs to Agaricaceae and is one of the most well-known macrofungi, with many edible species. More than 300 Agaricus specimens were collected during a three-year macrofungal resource field investigation in Northeast China. Based on morphological observations and multi-gene (ITS + nrLSU + tef1-a) phylogenetic analyses, six new Agaricus species, i.e., Agaricus aurantipileatus, A. daqinggouensis, A. floccularis, A. griseopileatus, A. sinoagrocyboides, and A. velutinosus, were discovered. These new species belong to four sections within different subgenera: A. (subg. Agaricus) sect. Agaricus, A. (subg. Flavoagaricus) sect. Arvenses, A. (subg. Minores) sect. Minores, and A. (subg. Pseudochitonia) sect. Xanthodermatei. Morphological descriptions, line illustrations, and basidiomata photographs of these new species are provided, and their differences from similar species are discussed. Full article

Marine fungi have been studied for a long history in many realms, but there are few reports on marine mushrooms. In this study, marine fungi with conspicuous subglobose sequestrate basidioma were discovered from mangrove forests in South China. They grow on the deadwood of mangroves in the intertidal zone, periodically submerging into seawater due to the tide. Some marine animals were observed to nest in their basidiomata or consume them as food. The pileus-gleba-inner veil complex (PGI) of the basidioma was observed to be detached from the stipe and transferred into seawater by external forces, and drifting on sea to spread spores after maturity. The detachment mechanism of their PGIs was revealed through detailed microscopic observations. The contrast culturing experiment using freshwater and seawater potato dextrose agar media showed they have probably obligately adapted to the marine environment. Based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence, two new species of Candolleomyces (Basidiomycota, Agaricales), namely C. brunneovagabundus and C. albovagabundus, were described. They are similar and close to each other, but can be distinguished by the size and color of the basidioma, and the size of the basidiospores. Full article

The genus Laccaria is a type of cosmopolitan and ecologically important fungal group. Members can form ectomycorrhizal associations with numerous trees, and some species are common edible fungi in local markets. Although some new species from China are recently published, the species diversity of Laccaria is still unclear in China. In this study, some samples of Laccaria were collected from southern China, and morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses based on the multilocus dataset of ITS-LSU-tef1-rpb2 confirmed five new species. Laccaria miniata, L. nanlingensis and L. neovinaceoavellanea were collected from subtropical broad-leaved forests, and L. rufobrunnea and L. umbilicata were collected from subtropical mixed forests of southwest China. Full descriptions, illustrations, comparisons with similar species and phylogenetic analysis are provided. Full article

The diversity of Lycoperdaceae in Israel was studied. Molecular phylogenetic relationships within the family, and genus Lycoperdon in particular, were inferred using original ITS rDNA sequences of 58 samples belonging to 25 species from Israel and six other countries, together with 66 sequences stored in the GenBank database. The current molecular phylogenetic study recovered the family Lycoperdaceae as a monophyletic group, which was supported in both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. The clades corresponding to the genera Apioperdon, Bovista, Calvatia, Disciseda, and Lycoperdon were revealed. The taxonomic structure of the named genera was partially resolved. Within the genus Lycoperdon, some species received significant statistical support; however, their relationships, as well as the problem of the genus monophyly, mostly remained questionable. As a result of a thorough literature survey, extensive sample collection, and studies of the material stored in the Herbarium of the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa (HAI, Israel), fifteen species representing five genera were found in the territory of Israel. Six species, namely Apioperdon pyriforme, Bovista aestivalis, Calvatia candida, Lycoperdon decipiens, L. niveum, and L. perlatum, are new additions to the diversity of Lycoperdaceae in Israel. Detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions, ecology, geography, and critical notes, together with light microscopy photos and SEM micrographs, are provided. In-depth discussion on some taxonomically challenging species is presented. Full article