Lactarius volemus sensu lato (Russulales) from northern Thailand: morphological and phylogenetic species concepts explored

Three New Species of Lactifluus (Basidiomycota, Russulaceae) from Guizhou Province, Southwest China

Lactifluus is a distinct genus of milkcaps, well known as ectomycorrhizal fungi. The characteristics of the genus Lactifluus include grayish-yellow, orange to orange-brown, or reddish-brown pileus, white latex from the damaged lamellae, discoloring to a brownish color, reticulate spore ornamentation, lampropalisade-type pileipellis, and the presence of lamprocystidia. Guizhou Province is rich in wild mushroom resources due to its special geographical location and natural environment. In this study, three novel Lactifluus species were identified through the screening of extensive fungal resources in Suiyang County, Guizhou Province, China, sampled from host species of mostly Castanopsis spp. and Pinus spp. Based on critical morphology coupled with nuclear sequences of genes encoding large subunit rRNA, internal transcribed spacer, and RNA polymerase II, these new species, Lactifluus taibaiensis, Lactifluus qinggangtangensis, and Lactifluus jianbaensis, were found to belong to Lactifluus section Lactifluus. A comparison with closely related species, Lactifluus taibaiensis was distinguished by its lighter-colored pileus, different colors of lamellae, and more subglobose basidiospores; Lactifluus jianbaensis was identified by the height of the spore ornamentation and its subglobose basidiospores; and Lactifluus qinggangtangensis was characterized by having smaller basidiospores, ridges, and pleurolamprocystid.

Semiparametric Time-Series Model Using Local Polynomial: An Application on the Effects of Financial Risk Factors on Crop Yield

This paper proposes a semiparametric local polynomial estimator for modelling agricultural time-series. We consider the modelling of the crop yield variable according to determined financial risk factors in Turkey. The derivation of a semiparametric local polynomial estimator is provided with its fundamental statistical properties to estimate the semiparametric time-series model. This paper attaches importance to precision agriculture (PA) and therefore a local polynomial technique is considered due to some advantages it has over alternative methods. The introduced estimator provides less estimation risk, involving both parametric and nonparametric components that allow the estimator to represent the data structure better. From that, it can be said that the proposed estimator and model is beneficial to agricultural researchers for financial decision-making processes.

Two new Russula species (fungi) from dry dipterocarp forest in Thailand suggest niche specialization to this habitat type

Dry dipterocarp forests are among the most common habitat types in Thailand. Russulaceae are known as common ectomycorrhizal symbionts of Dipterocarpaceae trees in this type of habitat. The present study aims to identify collections of Russula subsection Amoeninae Buyck from dry dipterocarp forests in Thailand. A multi-locus phylogenetic analysis placed Thai Amoeninae collections in two novel lineages, and they are described here as R. bellissima sp. nov. and R. luteonana sp. nov. The closest identified relatives of both species were sequestrate species suggesting that they may belong to drought-adapted lineages. An analysis of publicly available ITS sequences in R. subsect. Amoeninae did not confirm evidence of any of the new species occurring in other Asian regions, indicating that dry dipterocarp forests might harbor a novel community of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Macromorphological characters are variable and are not totally reliable for distinguishing the new species from other previously described Asian Amoeninae species. Both new species are defined by a combination of differentiated micromorphological characteristics in spore ornamentation, hymenial cystidia and hyphal terminations in the pileipellis. The new Amoeninae species may correspond to some Russula species collected for consumption in Thailand, and the detailed description of the new species can be used for better identification of edible species and food safety in the region.

Untangling the Lactifluus clarkeae - Lf. flocktoniae(Russulaceae) species complex in Australasia

The Lactifluus clarkeae complex is a commonly observed, generally brightly coloured, group of mushrooms that are usually associated with Nothofagus or Myrtaceous hosts in Australia and New Zealand. For this study collections labelled as 'Lactarius clarkeae', 'Russula flocktoniae' and 'Lactarius subclarkeae' were examined morphologically and molecularly. Analyses of molecular data showed a high cryptic diversity, with sequences scattered across 11 clades in three subgenera within Lactifluus, and a single collection in Russula. We select epitypes to anchor the currently accepted concepts of Lf. clarkeae s.str. and Lf. flocktoniae s.str. The name Lf. subclarkeae could not be applied to any of the collections examined, as none had a lamprotrichoderm pileipellis. Lactifluus clarkeae var. aurantioruber is raised to species level, and six new species are described, three in subg. Lactifluus: Lf. jetiae, Lf. pagodicystidiatus, and Lf. rugulostipitatus, and three in subg. Gymnocarpi: Lf. albens, Lf. psammophilus, and Lf. pseudoflocktoniae. A new collection of Lf. russulisporus provides a significant range extension for the species. Untangling this complex will enable better identification of species and increase understanding of diversity and specific habitat associations of macrofungi. Citation: Lebel T, Douch J, Tegart L, et al. 2021. Untangling the Lactifluus clarkeae - Lf. flocktoniae (Russulaceae) species complex in Australasia. Persoonia 47: 1-44. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.01.

Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Lactifluus (Russulales, Basidiomycota) of South Korea

Lactifluus (Pers.) Roussel is an ectomycorrhizal genus that was recently recognized to be distinct from the genus Lactarius. To date, 226 Lactifluus species have been reported worldwide. Misidentification of Lactifluus species is common because of intraspecific morphological variation, cryptic diversity, and the limited number of taxonomic keys available. Molecular data are indispensable for species delimitation; a multilocus phylogenetic analysis showed that most Asian Lactifluus species are not conspecific with morphologically similar species present on other continents. In particular, Korea has misused European and North American Lactifluus names. In this study, we evaluated the taxonomy of Lactifluus in Korea using both morphological and multilocus molecular (ITS, nrLSU, rpb1, and rpb2) data. We examined 199 Lactifluus specimens collected between 1980 and 2016, and a total of 24 species across the four Lactifluus subgenera were identified. All Korean species are distinct and clearly separated from European and North American species. Five taxa corresponded to previously described species from Asia and the remaining 19 taxa are confirmed as new species. Herein, we provide keys to the Korean Lactifluus species within their subgenera, molecular phylogenies, a summary of diversity, and detailed description of the new species.

Enlightening the black and white: species delimitation and UNITE species hypothesis testing in the Russula albonigra species complex

Russula albonigra is considered a well-known species, morphologically delimited by the context of the basidiomata blackening without intermediate reddening, and the menthol-cooling taste of the lamellae. It is supposed to have a broad ecological range and a large distribution area. A thorough molecular analysis based on four nuclear markers (ITS, LSU, RPB2 and TEF1-α) shows this traditional concept of R. albonigra s. lat. represents a species complex consisting of at least five European, three North American, and one Chinese species. Morphological study shows traditional characters used to delimit R. albonigra are not always reliable. Therefore, a new delimitation of the R. albonigra complex is proposed and a key to the described European species of R. subgen. Compactae is presented. A lectotype and an epitype are designated for R. albonigra and three new European species are described: R. ambusta, R. nigrifacta, and R. ustulata. Different thresholds of UNITE species hypotheses were tested against the taxonomic data. The distance threshold of 0.5% gives a perfect match to the phylogenetically defined species within the R. albonigra complex. Publicly available sequence data can contribute to species delimitation and increase our knowledge on ecology and distribution, but the pitfalls are short and low quality sequences.

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.

Two new species of Lactifluus (Fungi, Russulales) from tropical Quercus forest in eastern Mexico

Two new species of LactifluussubgenusLactifluus were discovered during a three-year monitoring of the ectomycorrhizal fungi in a tropical oak forest from central Veracruz, Mexico. Systematic sampling of basidiomes allowed recording of the morphological variation of fruit-bodies in different growth stages along with their fructification season. Both new species were distinguished, based on macro- and micromorphological features and on molecular data. A phylogenetic analysis of a concatenated nuc rDNA ITS, D1 and D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (LSU) and the 6–7 region of the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (rpb2) sequence dataset of species of Lactifluus is provided. In the phylogeny inferred, one of the new species is sister to L.dissitus Van de Putte, K. Das & Verbeken and the other belongs to the group of species of L.piperatus (L.) Kuntze, sister to an unidentified species from U.S.A. The studied taxa grow under Quercusoleoides in the study site. The species are presented and illustrated here.

Looks can be deceiving: the deceptive milkcaps (Lactifluus, Russulaceae) exhibit low morphological variance but harbour high genetic diversity

The ectomycorrhizal genus Lactifluus is known to contain many species complexes, consisting of morphologically very similar species, which can be considered cryptic or pseudocryptic. In this paper, a thorough molecular study is performed of the clade around Lactifluus deceptivus (originally described by Peck from North America) or the deceptive milkcaps. Even though most collections were identified as L. deceptivus, the clade is shown to contain at least 15 species, distributed across Asia and America, indicating that the L. deceptivus clade represents a species complex. These species are morphologically very similar and are characterized by a tomentose pileus with thin-walled hyphae and a velvety stipe with thick-walled hyphae. An ITS1 sequence was obtained through Illumina sequencing for the lectotype of L. deceptivus, dating from 1885, revealing which clade represents the true L. deceptivus. In addition, it is shown that three other described species also belong to the L. deceptivus clade: L. arcuatus, L. caeruleitinctus and L. mordax, and molecularly confirmed that L. tomentoso-marginatus represents a synonym of L. deceptivus. Furthermore, two new Neotropical species are described: Lactifluus hallingii and L. domingensis.

Updated taxonomy of LactifluussectionLuteoli: L.russulisporus from Australia and L.caliendrifer from Thailand

Lactifluusrussulisporus Dierickx & De Crop and Lactifluuscaliendrifer Froyen & De Crop are described from eucalypt forests in Queensland, Australia and different forest types in Thailand, respectively. Both species have recently been published on Index Fungorum and fit morphologically and molecularly in L.sect.Luteoli, a section within L.subg.Gymnocarpi that encompasses species with alboochraceous basidiomes, white latex that stains brown and typical capitate elements in the pileipellis and/or marginal cells.

Lactifluusbicapillus (Russulales, Russulaceae), a new species from the Guineo-Congolian rainforest

The milkcap genus Lactifluus is one of the most common ectomycorrhizal genera within Central African rainforests. During a field trip to the Dja Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon, a new Lactifluus species was found. Molecular and morphological analyses indicate that the species belongs to LactifluussectionXerampelini and we formally describe it here as Lactifluusbicapillussp. nov.

First Report of Eight Milkcap Species Belonging to Lactarius and Lactifluus in Korea

Lactarius and Lactifluus are milkcaps that are characterized by the secretion of latex. These two genera are part of a globally distributed cosmopolitan group of ectomycorrhizal fungi that is an important food resource in various ecosystems. Recently, the taxonomy of Lactarius and Lactifluus has been revised based on molecular phylogenetics. Despite the importance of these taxa, Korean species of both genera are poorly understood. In an effort to describe milkcap species that are indigenous to Korea, a long-term study has been initiated. During a recent survey, eight species of milkcaps that were previously unrecorded in Korea were detected based on morphological observation and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region: five Lactarius species (Lactarius atromarginatus, L. austrotorminosus, L. kesiyae, L. tabidus, and L. vietus) and three Lactifluus species (Lactifluus acicularis, Lf. pilosus, and Lf. pinguis). Detailed morphological descriptions and phylogenetic relationships of these species are provided in this article.

Lactifluus volemus in Europe: Three species in one--Revealed by a multilocus genealogical approach, Bayesian species delimitation and morphology

This study provides morphological and molecular evidence (from nuclear ITS, LSU, and rpb2 DNA sequences) for three previously unrecognized species within the morphospecies Lactifluus volemus from Europe. Phylogenetic species are supported by both a multi-locus tree-based method and Bayesian species delimitation. Lactifluus volemus and Lactifluus oedematopus are provided with a new description, and a third species, Lactifluus subvolemus, is described as new to science. Lactifluus oedematopus can be easily recognized by its short pileipellis hairs. Both L. volemus and L. subvolemus have longer pileipellis hairs and can only be distinguished from each other based on cap colour. Intermediary colour forms, however, occur as well, and cannot be identified as either L. volemus or L. subvolemus without molecular data. Revealing that L. volemus--already considered extinct in the Netherlands and the Belgian Flemish region, and declining in other European countries--is actually a complex of three species that are even more vulnerable to extinction, this study emphasizes the fundamental role of taxonomy in species conservation.

Revisiting the morphology and phylogeny of Lactifluus with three new lineages from southern China

As a recent group mainly defined by molecular data the genus Lactifluus is in need of further study to provide insight into the morphological and molecular variation within the genus, species limits and relationships. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), D1 and D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and part of the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (rpb2) (6-7 region) sequences of 28 samples from southern China revealed three new lineages of Lactifluus. Two of them are nested in a major clade that includes the type of Lactifluus and here is treated as two new sections: L. sect. Ambicystidiati and L. sect. Tenuicystidiati. Lactifluus ambicystidiatus, described here as a new species (= sect. Ambicystidiati), has both lamprocystidia and macrocystidia in the hymenium, a unique combination of features within Russulaceae. Furthermore, only remnants of lactiferous hyphae are present in L. ambicystidiatus and our results suggest that the ability to form a lactiferous system has been lost in this lineage. Lactifluus sect. Tenuicystidiati forms a strongly supported monophyletic group as a sister lineage to L. sect. Lactifluus. We recognize it based on the thin-walled macrocystidia and smaller ellipsoid spores with an incomplete reticulum compared with L. sect. Lactifluus. The former placement of L. tenuicystidiatus in the African L. sect. Pseudogymnocarpi is not supported. Using genealogical concordance we recognize five phylogenetic species within L. sect. Tenuicystidiati and describe two of these as new, L. subpruinosus and L. tropicosinicus. The third lineage, represented by L. leoninus, forms a sister group to L. subg. Lactariopsis sensu stricto. The three lineages provide further evidence for morphological features in Lactifluus being homoplasious. Some sections and species complexes are likely to be composed of more species and merit further investigations. Subtropical-tropical Asia is likely a key region for additional sampling.

Phylogenetic and microscopic studies in the genus Lactifluus (Basidiomycota, Russulales) in West Africa, including the description of four new species

Despite the crucial ecological role of lactarioid taxa (Lactifluus, Lactarius) as common ectomycorrhiza formers in tropical African seasonal forests, their current diversity is not yet adequately assessed. During the last few years, numerous lactarioid specimens have been sampled in various ecosystems from Togo (West Africa). We generated 48 ITS sequences and aligned them against lactarioid taxa from other tropical African ecozones (Guineo-Congolean evergreen forests, Zambezian miombo). A Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree was inferred from a dataset of 109 sequences. The phylogenetic placement of the specimens, combined with morpho-anatomical data, supported the description of four new species from Togo within the monophyletic genus Lactifluus: within subgen. Lactifluus (L. flavellus), subgen. Russulopsis (L. longibasidius and L. pectinatus), and subgen. Edules (L. melleus). This demonstrates that the current species richness of the genus is considerably higher than hitherto estimated for African species and, in addition, a need to redefine the subgenera and sections within it.

Phylogeny and phylogeography of the Tuber brumale aggr

The Tuber brumale (winter truffle) is a black truffle reported from most European countries, belonging to the Melanosporum group. Its significance in the economy is ambivalent as the winter truffle has been shown to be a frequent contaminant species in the orchards of the Perigord truffle and occasionally in those of the summer truffle, yet owing to its delicate fragrance, its trade is worthy of note. The phylogeny and phylogeography of economically important truffles are relatively well-explored; however, no thorough research has been published on these aspects of the winter truffle. Therefore, here, we report the first phylogeographic analyses based on samples representing the entire distribution of the species. ITS sequences were used in this survey for haplotype and coalescent analyses, while phylogenetic analyses were based on the ITS, LSU and PKC loci. According to all loci, the samples clustered into two big clades imply the existence of two phylogenetic species. Based on our results, one of these appears to be endemic to the Carpathian Basin. In the other more widespread species, two main phylogeographic groups can be distinguished that show east-west separation with a zone of overlap in the Carpathian Basin, suggesting that they survived the latest glacial period in separate refugia.

Concordance of seven gene genealogies compared to phenotypic data reveals multiple cryptic species in Australian dermocyboid Cortinarius (Agaricales)

This study aims to delimit species of Australian dermocyboid fungi (Cortinarius, Agaricales) using genealogical concordance on well-characterised phenotypic species and to assess the utility of seven loci for DNA barcoding Australian Cortinarius taxa. Eighty-six collections of dermocyboid Cortinarius were sampled from across southern Australia. Phenotypic species were first recognised by performing clustering analyses on a comprehensive phenotypic dataset including morphological, colour and pigment data. Then phylogenetic species were delimited from the concordance of seven locus genealogies (ITS, nLSU, gpd, mcm7, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1). Seventeen phenotypic species were recognised while the concordance of gene genealogies recovered 35 phylogenetic species. All loci except for LSU recovered most phylogenetic species, although only rpb1 correctly identified all phylogenetic species. The ITS region is confirmed as an effective barcode for Cortinarius and a standard pairwise distance threshold of 2.0% is proposed to DNA barcode Australian Cortinarius taxa. Australian dermocyboid fungi belong in separate clades to the boreal clade Dermocybe, mostly in the clade Splendidi. This study provides a solid foundation for future ecological, taxonomic and systematic research on one of the most diverse genera of mushrooms worldwide.