New species and phylogeny of Perenniporia based on morphological and molecular characters

Medullins A-H, Sesquiterpenes from Perenniporia medulla-panis, and Their Cellular Signaling Mechanism in HDF Cells

A chemical investigation of an ethyl acetate-soluble layer in the culture broth of Perenniporia medulla-panis resulted in the isolation of eight novel sesquiterpenes conjugated Gly (1), l-Val (2), l-Ala (3), l-Tyr (4), l-Thr (5), l-Ile (6), l-Leu (7), and l-Phe (8). Elucidation of their structures was performed through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of the sesquiterpene skeleton was ascertained using modified Mosher's methods. The configurations of the amino acid units in compounds 2-8 were identified through acid hydrolysis followed by LC-MS analysis employing Marfey's method. Compounds 1-3 and 5-8 showed significant regulating effect on MAP kinase activity (p-ERK and p-JNK) in human diploid fibroblast (HDF) cells.

Two new species of Perenniporia sensu lato (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from China and two new combinations in Crassisporus

Phylogenetic and morphological analyses on Perenniporia s.l. were carried out. Phylogenies on Perenniporia s.l. are reconstructed with two loci DNA sequences including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the large subunit (nLSU). Two new species from Yunnan Province, southwest China, Perenniporiaprunicola and P.rosicola in Perenniporia s.l., are illustrated and described. Perenniporiaprunicola is characterised by the perennial and resupinate basidiomata with a clay pink pore surface when fresh, a trimitic hyphal system, the presence of clavate to fusiform hymenial cystidia, ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.8-6.2 × 3.6-4.5 µm. Perenniporiarosicola is characterised by annual and resupinate basidiomata with a white pore surface when fresh, a dimitic hyphal system, the presence of dendrohyphidia, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores measuring 5-5.8 × 4-5.2 μm. In addition, Crassisporus is a genus in Perenniporia s.l., in which two new combinations Crassisporusminutus and C.mollissimus are proposed. Main morphological characteristics of species related to new taxa are also provided.

An Updated Phylogenetic Assessment and Taxonomic Revision of Perenniporia sensu lato (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Perenniporia is an important genus of Polyporaceae. In its common acceptation, however, the genus is polyphyletic. In this study, phylogenetic analyses on a set of Perenniporia species and related genera were carried out using DNA sequences of multiple loci, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) and the b-tubulin gene (TBB1). Based on morphology and phylogeny, 15 new genera, viz., Aurantioporia, Citrinoporia, Cystidioporia, Dendroporia, Luteoperenniporia, Macroporia, Macrosporia, Minoporus, Neoporia, Niveoporia, Rhizoperenniporia, Tropicoporia, Truncatoporia, Vanderbyliella, and Xanthoperenniporia, are proposed; 2 new species, Luteoperenniporia australiensis and Niveoporia subrusseimarginata, are described; and 37 new combinations are proposed. Illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided. Identification keys to Perenniporia and its related genera and keys to the species of these genera are provided.

Drimane-Type Sesquiterpenoids Derived from the Tropical Basidiomycetes Perenniporia centrali-africana and Cerrena sp. nov

Five new drimane-type sesquiterpenoids were isolated from cultures of the tropical basidiomycetes, Perenniporia centrali-africana (originating from Kenya) and Cerrena sp. nov. (originating from Thailand). A new pereniporin A derivative (1), a new drimane-type sesquiterpene lactam (2), and the new 6,7-Dehydro-isodrimenediol (3) were isolated from P. centrali-africana. In parallel, the two new drimane-type sesquiterpene lactams 5 and 6 were isolated together with known isodrimenediol (4) from Cerrena sp. This is the first report of drimane-type sesquiterpene lactams from basidiomycetes. The structures were elucidated based on 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data, in combination with high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometric (HR-ESIMS) data. The compounds were devoid of significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.

Genetic and Chemical Diversity of Edible Mushroom Pleurotus Species

The genus Pleurotus is one of the most widely cultivated and edible mushrooms with various cultivators. Three molecular characteristics were used to evaluate the genetic diversity of 132 tested samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed five clades for tested samples of the genus Pleurotus by the combined ITS and LSU sequences with strong bootstraps and Bayesian posterior probability supports. A total of 94 polymorphic fragments ranging from 10 to 100 bp were observed by using an intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker. The DNA fragment pattern showed that P. ostreatus cultivator (strain P9) was clearly distinguished from wild strain based on their clear banding profiles produced. DNA GC content of the genus Pleurotus varied from 55.6 mol% to 43.3 mol%. Their chemical composition was also determined, including sugar, amino acid, polar lipid, mycolic acid, quinone, and fatty acid, which presented some high homogeneity. Most of the tested samples contained mycolic acid; glucose and arabinose as the main sugars; aspartic acid, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, and alanine as the main amino acids; and C_16:0, C_18:0, C_18:2cis-9,12, anteiso-C_14:0, and summed feature 8 as the main fatty acids. In addition, their polar lipid profiles were investigated for the first time, which significantly varied among Pleurotus species. The genus Pleurotus contained menaquinone-6 as the sole respiratory quinone, which showed a significant difference with that of its closely related genera. These results of this study demonstrated that the combined method above could efficiently differentiate each Pleurotus species and thus be considered an efficient tool for surveying the genetic diversity of the genus Pleurotus.

Phylogeny and diversity of Bjerkandera (Polyporales, Basidiomycota), including four new species from South America and Asia

Four new species of Bjerkandera, viz. B.ecuadorensis, B.fulgida, B.minispora, and B.resupinataspp. nov., are described from tropical America and Asia. B.ecuadorensis is characterised by dark grey to black pore surface, a monomitic hyphal system, hyaline to yellowish-brown generative hyphae, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3.9–4.5 × 2.7–3 μm. B.fulgida is distinguished from the other species in the genus by clay buff to pale brown and shiny pore surface. B.minispora is characterised by white tomentose pore mouth and small basidiospores measuring 3.1–4.2 × 2–2.8 μm. B.resupinata is characterised by resupinate basidiomata, pinkish buff to pale brownish pore surface, and ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.5–6 × 3.2–4.1 µm. All these new species grow on angiosperm trunks or rotten wood, and cause a white rot. The closely related taxa to four new species are discussed. An identification key to the ten accepted species of Bjerkandera is provided, and a phylogeny comprising all known Bjerkandera species is provided.

Molecular Phylogeny and Global Diversity of the Genus Haploporus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Haploporus were carried out based on a larger number of samples covering a wider geographic range including East Asia, South Asia, Europe, and America, and the species diversity of the genus is updated. Four species, Haploporus bicolor, H. longisporus, H. punctatus and H. srilankensis, are described as new species based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), and the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU). Haploporus bicolor is characterized by the distinctly different colors between the pore surface and the tubes, small pores measuring 5–7 per mm, and narrow basidiospores measuring 10.5–11.9 × 4.5–5 µm; H. longisporus differs from other species in the genus by its large pores measuring 2–3 per mm, hyphae at dissepiment edge with simple septum, and the long basidiospores (up to 22 µm); H. punctatus is distinguished by its cushion-shaped basidiocarps, wide fusiform cystidioles with a simple septum at the tips, the absence of dendrohyphidia and the cylindrical to slightly allantoid basidiospores measuring 9–10.8 × 3.8–5 µm; H. srilankensis is characterized by its perennial habit, small pores measuring 4–5 per mm, dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, the presence of cystidioles and dendrohyphidia. An identification key to accepted species of Haploporus is provided.

Two new species of Perenniporia (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Two new species of Perenniporia, P. pseudotephropora sp. nov. and P. subcorticola sp. nov., are introduced respectively from Brazil and China based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Perenniporia pseudotephropora is characterised by perennial, pileate basidiocarps with distinctly stratified tubes, grey pores, tissues becoming dark in KOH, a dimitic hyphal system with slightly dextrinoid arboriform skeletal hyphae and broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, truncate, weakly dextrinoid, cyanophilous basidiospores, measuring 4.9-5.2 × 4-4.8 μm. Perenniporia subcorticola is characterised by resupinate basidiocarps, yellow pores with thick dissepiments, tissues becoming dark in KOH, flexuous skeletal hyphae, ellipsoid, truncate and slightly dextrinoid basidiospores, measuring 4.2-5 × 3.5-4.2 µm. The morphologically-similar species and phylogenetically closely-related species to the two new species are discussed.

An Italian Research Culture Collection of Wood Decay Fungi

One of the main aims of the University of Pavia mycology laboratory was to collect wood decay fungal (WDF) strains in order to deepen taxonomic studies, species distribution, officinal properties or to investigate potential applications such as biocomposite material production based on fungi. The Italian Alps, Apennines and wood plains were investigated to collect Basidiomycota basidiomata from living or dead trees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the wood decay strains of the Mediterranean area, selecting sampling sites in North and Central Italy, including forests near the Ligurian and Adriatic seas, or near the Lombardy lakes. The isolation of mycelia in pure culture was performed according to the current methodology and the identity of the strains was confirmed by molecular analyses. The strains are maintained in the Research Culture Collection MicUNIPV of Pavia University (Italy). Among the 500 WDF strains in the collection, the most interesting isolates from the Mediterranean area are: Dichomitus squalens (basidioma collected from Pinus pinea), Hericium erinaceus (medicinal mushroom), Inocutis tamaricis (white-rot agent on Tamarix trees), Perenniporia meridionalis (wood degrader through Mn peroxidase) and P. ochroleuca. In addition, strains of species related to the Mediterranean climate (e.g., Fomitiporia mediterranea and Cellulariella warnieri) were obtained from sites with a continental-temperate climate.

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.

Crassisporus gen. nov. (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycota) evidenced by morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses with descriptions of four new species

A new poroid wood-inhabiting fungal genus, Crassisporus gen. nov., is proposed on the basis of morphological characters and molecular evidence. The genus is characterized by an annual growth habit, effused-reflexed to pileate basidiocarps with pale yellowish brown to yellowish brown, concentrically zonate or sulcate, and velutinate pileal surface, a trimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, tissues turning to dark in KOH, oblong to broadly ellipsoid, hyaline, smooth, and slightly thick-walled basidiospores. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS+nLSU sequences indicate that Crassisporus belongs to the core polyporoid clade. The combined ITS+nLSU+mtSSU+EF1-α+RPB2 sequences dataset of representative taxa in the Polyporaceae demonstrate that Crassisporus is grouped with Haploporus but forms a monophyletic lineage. In addition, four new species of Crassisporus, C. imbricatus, C. leucoporus, C. macroporus, and C. microsporus are described.

Phylogeny and diversity of Haploporus (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycota)

Four species of Haploporus, H.angustisporus, H.crassus, H.gilbertsonii and H.microsporus are described as new and H.pirongia is proposed as a new combination, based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU) sequences. Haploporusangustisporus, H.crassus and H.microsporus occur in China, H.gilbertsonii occurs in the USA, and the distribution of H.pirongia is extended from New Zealand to Australia. Haploporusangustisporus is characterized by the distinct narrow oblong basidiospores measuring 10.5-13.5 × 3.9-5 µm. Haploporuscrassus is characterized by the presence of ventricose cystidioles occasionally with a simple septum, dissepimental hyphae usually with a simple septum, unique thick-walled basidia and distinctly wide oblong basidiospores measuring 13.5-16.5 × 7.5-9.5 µm. Haploporusgilbertsonii is characterized by its large pores (2-3 per mm), a dimitic hyphal structure with non-dextrinoid skeletal hyphae and wide oblong basidiospores measuring 12-15 × 6-8 µm. Haploporusmicrosporus is characterized by distinctly small pores (7-9 per mm), the presence of dendrohyphidia, and distinctly small ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 5.3-6.7 × 3-4.1 µm. Haploporuspirongia is proposed as a new combination. Haploporusamarus is shown to be a synonym of H.odorus and Pachykytosporawasseri is considered a synonym of H.subtrameteus.

Genetic Diversity in Echinococcus multilocularis From the Plateau Vole and Plateau Pika in Jiuzhi County, Qinghai Province, China

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a highly endemic area of alveolar echinococcosis where a series of intermediate hosts, especially voles and pikas, are infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. The metacestodes of E. multilocularis are fluid-filled, asexually proliferating cysts, and they are mainly found in the host's liver in the form of tumor-like growths. In this study, we investigated the genetic variations of E. multilocularis in four mitochondrial (mt) genes, namely, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5), adenosine triphosphate subunit 6 (atp6), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1). The complete nad5, atp6, cox1, and nad1 genes were amplified separately from each hydatid cyst isolate using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were then generated based on the combined mt genes using MrBayes 3.1.2 and PAUP version 4.0b10. The results showed that thirty of 102 voles and two of 49 pikas were infected with E. multilocularis. The genetic variation distances among all E. multilocularis samples were 0.1–0.4%, 0.2–0.4%, 0.1–0.6%, and 0.1–0.4% for nad5, atp6, nad1, and cox1, respectively. Compared to previous studies of the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis based on the cox1 gene, the genetic distances within the same group were 1.3–1.7% (Mongolia strain), 0.6–0.8% (North American strain), 0.3–0.6% (European strain), and 0.1–0.4% (Asian strain). Based on concatenated sequences of the nad5, atp6, cox1, and nad1 genes all haplotypes were divided into two clusters. In conclusion, the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis based on mt genes on a small local area is at low level but between different regions with long distance and different ecological environment each other, the genetic diversity is at relatively high level; genetic variation is higher in the nad1 gene than that in the other three mt genes. The results on a local scale provide basic information for further study of the molecular epidemiology, genetic differences and control of E. multilocularis in Qinghai Province, China.

Lentzea isolaginshaensis sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from desert soil

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NX62^T, was isolated from desert soil obtained from Isolaginsha, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. Its taxonomic position was determined using a polyphasic approach. The strain shows the typical morphological and chemotaxonomic features of members of the genus Lentzea: slight to dark yellow substrate mycelia and white to greyish white aerial hyphae fragmenting into rod-shaped elements; meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan; MK-9(H₄) and MK-9(H₂) as menaquinones; diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol as main polar lipids; iso-C_16:0 and iso-C_17:0 as major cellular fatty acids; and DNA G+C content of 70.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain NX62^T shows high similarity to Lentzea cavernae SYSU K10001^T (99.3%) and Lentzea albida IFO 16102^T (98.9%), and formed a monophyletic clade with L. cavernae SYSU K10001^T in the phylogenetic tree. Based on a comparison of the phenotypic properties and the low level of DNA-DNA relatedness, strain NX62^T can be distinguished from phylogenetically related Lentzea species. Therefore, it is concluded that strain NX62^T represents a novel species of the genus Lentzea, for which the name Lentzea isolaginshaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NX62^T (= CGMCC 4.7522^T = KCTC 49179^T).

Studies on diversity of higher fungi in Yunnan, southwestern China: A review

Yunnan is exceedingly rich in higher fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). Given that the number of fungi (including lichens) occurring in a given area is, as Hawksworth suggested, roughly six times that of local vascular plants, a total of approximately 104,000 fungal species would be expected in Yunnan. However, to date only about 6000 fungal species, including roughly 3000 species of higher fungi, have been reported from the province. Although studies on Yunnan's fungi started in the late nineteenth century, significant progress has been made only in the last forty-five years. Over the first twenty-five years of this period, studies on fungal diversity in this area have largely been about taxonomy based on morphological characters and partially on geographical distribution. Over the past twenty years, the combination of both morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches has become the preferred method to help understand the diversity and evolution of higher fungi. This review focuses on our current knowledge of how geological, geographical, and ecological factors may have contributed to the diversity patterns of higher fungi in Yunnan. Based on this knowledge, three aspects for future studies are suggested.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Polyporus Group Melanopus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from China

Melanopus is a morphological group of Polyporus which contains species with a black cuticle on the stipe. In this article, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on Melanopus group were carried out on the basis of morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence of DNA sequences of multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF1-α), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and β-tubulin gene sequences (β-tubulin). The phylogenetic result confirmed that the previously so-called Melanopus group is not a monophyletic assemblage, and species in this group distribute into two distinct clades: the Picipes clade and the Squamosus clade. Four new species of Picipes are described, and nine new combinations are proposed. A key to species of Picipes is provided.

Morphological and molecular identification of four new resupinate species of Perenniporia (Polyporales) from southern China

Four new resupinate species, Perenniporia hainaniana, P. macropora, P. russeimarginata and P. subtephropora, are described as new from southern China on the basis of morphological and molecular examination. Perenniporia hainaniana is characterized by a perennial growth habit, cream to buff pore surface, a dimitic to trimitic hyphal system with amyloid skeletal hyphae and presence of dendrohyphidia. Perenniporia macropora is distinguished by an annual growth habit, large pores (2-3 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system with branched skeletal hyphae and presence of dendrohyphidia. Perenniporia russeimarginata differs from other species in the genus by a perennial growth habit, white to cream pore surface and reddish to reddish brown sterile margin. Perenniporia subtephropora is characterized by a perennial growth habit, cream-buff to grayish buff pore surface, hymenophoral trama becoming black in KOH and a dimitic hyphal system with branched skeletal hyphae. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the ITS and LSU-rDNA regions revealed eight clades for Perenniporia sensu lato with the four new species recognized in Perenniporia sensu stricto. The Perenniporia ochroleuca group, P. vicina group, P. martia group, P. subacida, Microporellus, Perenniporiella and Abundisporus, formed monophyletic entities respectively, and they are not related to P. medulla-panis (generic type), which belongs to Perenniporia sensu stricto. Abundisporus, Microporellus and Perenniporiella were widely applied as generic names. Other generic or clade names, Hornodermoporus, Truncospora, Vanderbylia and the P. subacida clade, have not been widely applied, but they are valid higher level taxa containing former species of Perenniporia. A key to genera and clades allied with Perennioporia sensu stricto and a key to species of Perennioporia are provided.