Amanita heishidingensis, a new species of Amanita sect. Lepidella from China

Diversity and taxonomy of the genus Amanita (Amanitaceae, Agaricales) in the Yanshan Mountains, Northern China

Globally, the species of Amanita are key components of ectomycorrhizal ecosystems. Some of them are widely known as poisonous or edible fungi. Although many new Amanita species from China have been described, the species diversity of Yanshan Mountains remains unknown. We here describe three new species, namely, A. borealis sp. nov. (Sect. Amanita), A. brunneola sp. nov. (Sect. Caesareae), and A. yanshanensis sp. nov. (Sect. Validae), based on morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses. In addition, nine known species, namely, A. caesareoides (Sect. Caesareae), A. chiui (Sect. Vaginatae), A. muscaria (Sect. Amanita), A. oberwinklerana (Sect. Roanokenses), A. ovalispora (Sect. Vaginatae), A. subglobosa (Sect. Amanita), A. subjunquillea (Sect. phalloideae), A. vaginata var. vaginata (Sect. Vaginatae), and A. virosa (Sect. phalloideae), were reported from Yanshan Mountains for the first time. Our results emphasize that China has a high diversity of Amanita species and that additional studies are required to understand the exact species number. These findings play a crucial role in Amanita toxin research and ecological conservation. This study investigated the areas where Amanita species-related research is lacking. The study also attempted to better understand Amanita distribution and thus contribute to related research. This study enriches the species diversity of Amanita in Yanshan Mountains and offers additional data supporting the macrofungal systematics, toxin research, and diversity and ecological studies of Amanita in future studies.

Notes, outline and divergence times of Basidiomycota

The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.

Amanitatullossiana, a new species, and two new records of AmanitasectionLepidella from north-western Himalaya, India

Amanitatullossiana, a new species of Amanita [subgenus Lepidella] section Lepidella from India is described. The species is characterised by its ash grey to brownish-grey pileus covered with dark grey to greyish-black universal veil remnants, the upper part of its rooting stipe base covered by several rows of recurved scales, broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores, absence of basidial clamp connections and pileal remnants of universal veil comprising abundant, disordered inflated cells intermixed with scattered filamentous hyphae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphology both support the association of A.tullossiana with species of Bas’ stirps Cinereoconia – A.cinereoconia and A.griseoverrucosa. Two species, A.griseoverrucosa and A.virgineoides are reported here as new records for India.

A review on the diversity, phylogeography and population genetics of Amanita mushrooms

Amanita mushrooms are important for both human beings and ecosystems. Some members in this genus are valued edible species, whereas some others are extremely poisonous, and most species are ectomycorrhizal. Significant progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of the diversity, phylogeography and population genetics of Amanita mushrooms. A significant reason for the progress was due to the increasing application of molecular methods in the analyses. In this review, we summarize the researches in the diversity, phylogeography and population genetics of Amanita mushrooms, with the focus on advances over the past 20 years. We also discussed future research directions, including several unresolved topical issues.