Porcini mushrooms (Boletus sect. Boletus) from China

Four New Species and a New Combination of Boletaceae (Boletales) from Subtropical and Tropical China

Previous studies have shown that boletes are abundant and diverse in China, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, morphological, ecological, host relationship, and a four-locus (28S, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2) molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to study the family Boletaceae in subtropical and tropical China. Four new bluing species are described from three genera, viz. Boletellus verruculosus (Chinese name), Xerocomellus tenuis (Chinese name), Xer. brunneus (Chinese name), and Xerocomus zhangii (Chinese name). Moreover, the genus Nigroboletus is treated as a synonym of Xerocomellus, and a new combination, namely Xer. roseonigrescens (Chinese name), is proposed.

Complete mitochondrial genomes of edible mushrooms: features, evolution, and phylogeny

Edible mushrooms are an important food source with high nutritional and medicinal value. They are a useful source for studying phylogenetic evolution and species divergence. The exploration of the evolutionary relationships among these species conventionally involves analyzing sequence variations within their complete mitochondrial genomes, which range from 31,854 bp (Cordyceps militaris) to 197,486 bp (Grifolia frondosa). The study of the complete mitochondrial genomes of edible mushrooms has emerged as a critical field of research, providing important insights into fungal genetic makeup, evolution, and phylogenetic relationships. This review explores the mitochondrial genome structures of various edible mushroom species, highlighting their unique features and evolutionary adaptations. By analyzing these genomes, robust phylogenetic frameworks are constructed to elucidate mushrooms lineage relationships. Furthermore, the exploration of different variations of mitochondrial DNA presents novel opportunities for enhancing mushroom cultivation biotechnology and medicinal applications. The mitochondrial genomic features are essential for improving agricultural practices and ensuring food security through improved crop productivity, disease resistance, and nutritional qualities. The current knowledge about the mitochondrial genomes of edible mushrooms is summarized in this review, emphasising their significance in both scientific research and practical applications in bioinformatics and medicine.

Rostrupomyces, a new genus to accommodate Xerocomussisongkhramensis, and a new Hemileccinum species (Xerocomoideae, Boletaceae) from Thailand

A new genus, Rostrupomyces is established to accommodate Xerocomussisongkhramensis based on multiple protein-coding genes (atp6, cox3, tef1, and rpb2) analyses of a wide taxon sampling of Boletaceae. In our phylogeny, the new genus was sister to Rubinosporus in subfamily Xerocomoideae, phylogenetically distant from Xerocomus, which was highly supported as sister to Phylloporus in the same subfamily Xerocomoideae. Rostrupomyces is different from other genera in Boletaceae by the following combination of characters: rugulose to subrugulose pileus surface, white pores when young becoming pale yellow in age, subscabrous stipe surface scattered with granulose squamules, white basal mycelium, unchanging color in any parts, yellowish brown spore print, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores. In addition, Hemileccinuminferius, also from subfamily Xerocomoideae, is newly described. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new genus and new species are presented.

Phylogenetic and Morphological Evidence Reveal Five New Species of Boletes from Southern China

Fungi of the order Boletales are extremely important in both ecology and economy, since most of them are ectomycorrhizal fungi, which play vital roles in maintaining forest ecosystems, water and soil protection, vegetation restoration and so on. Although previous studies have shown that this order has a very high species diversity in China, there are few reports on the species diversity of boletes in Jiangxi Province, China. Based on morphological (macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics) and phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, and TEF1-α sequences), in this study, the wild boletes in Jiangxi Province were investigated, and five new species are described: Austroboletus albus, Xanthoconium violaceipes, Xanthoconium violaceofuscum, Xerocomus rutilans and Xerocomus subsplendidus. Descriptions and hand drawings of the new species are presented.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction optimization of polyphenols from Boletus bicolor and evaluation of its antioxidant activity

Introduction

Boletus bicolor (B. bicolor) mushrooms are widely consumed as a valuable medicinal and dietary ingredient in China, but the active ingredients of this mushroom and their extraction methods were not extensively studied.

Methods

In this paper, we propose an optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method to detect natural antioxidant substances in B. bicolor. The antioxidants were quantitatively and quantitatively determined using UPLC-MS, the polyphenols were evaluated based on response surface methodology (RSM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed.

Results

The results showed that the optimal extraction was obtained under the following conditions: ethanol concentration 42%; solvent to solid ratio 34:1 mL/g; ultrasonic time 41 min; and temperature 40°C. The optimized experimental polyphenol value obtained under these conditions was (13.69 ± 0.13) mg/g, consistent with the predicted value of 13.72 mg/g. Eight phenolic compounds in the extract were identiffed by UPLC-MS: syringic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, rosmarinic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, and quercetin. Chlorogenic acid exhibits the highest HOMO energy (−0.02744 eV) and the lowest energy difference (−0.23450 eV) among the studied compounds, suggesting that the compound might be the strongest antioxidant molecule. Eight phenolic compounds from the B. bicolor signiffcantly inhibited intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduced oxidative stress damage in H2O2-induced HepG-2 cells.

Discussion

Therefore, it was confirmed that the UAE technique is an efficient, rapid, and simple approach for extracting polyphenols with antioxidant activity from B. bicolor.

Boletaceae in China: Taxonomy and phylogeny reveal a new genus, two new species, and a new record

Boletaceae, the largest family in Boletales, has been attracted by mycologists in the world due to its diverse morphology and complex history of evolution. Although considerable work has been done in the past decades, novel taxa are continually described. The current study aimed to introduce three new taxa and one new record of Boletaceae from China. The morphological descriptions, color photographs, phylogenetic trees to show the positions of the taxa, and comparisons with allied taxa are provided. The new genus Hemilanmaoa is unique in the Pulveroboletus group, and Hemilanmaoa retistipitatus was introduced as the type species. It can be distinguished by its bluing basidioma when injured, a decurrent hymenophore, a stipe covered with distinct reticulations, and a fertile stipitipellis. Porphyrellus pseudocyaneotinctus is characterized by its pileipellis consisting of broadly concatenated cells and thin-walled caulocystidia in Porphyrellus. In Phylloporus, Phylloporus biyangensis can be distinguished by its hymenophores that change to blue when injured and yellow basal mycelium. Lanmaoa angustispora, as a new record, is first reported in Northern China. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S rDNA (28S), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), RNA polymerase II subunit 1 (rpb1), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) were employed to execute phylogenetic analyses.

Evaluation of the Nutritional and Health Values of Selected Polish Mushrooms Considering Fatty Acid Profiles and Lipid Indices

Imleria badia, Boletus edulis, and Cantharellus cibarius are popular mushrooms of economic importance in Poland. Since physical and mental development of a person and the maintenance of good health entail providing the body with adequate nutrients, including plant and animal fats, the aim of this study was to determine the fatty acid profiles of three mushroom species from Poland and to assess their nutritional and health values using lipid indices. Studied mushrooms have a favorable fatty acid composition due to the high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Low values of the atherohenic index (AI) and the thrombogenic index (TI) prove that the consumption of the fungi may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. Products with a high hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (H/H) and health-promoting index value are assumed to be more beneficial to human health, granting the possibility for using mushrooms in the nutrition of people with hypertension and in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Chemical profiles and health-promoting effects of porcini mushroom (Boletus edulis): A narrative review

Boletus edulis is an edible mushroom with nutritious, delicacy, and pharmacological properties. It is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and taste compounds, while low in fat and calories. Diverse bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and phytosterols, have been found in B. edulis. In addition, bioactive compounds and chemical extracts from B. edulis have been verified to possess constipation prevention, antioxidant, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. This paper provides an overview of B. edulis research in recent two decades, emphasizing the nutrition constituents, taste and flavor components, bioactive compounds, and health-promoting effects of B. edulis. Boletus edulis appeared to have health-promoting effects that may effectively prevent or treat various chronic diseases. The potential of B. edulis as a functional food and medicine needs to be further investigated and confirmed.

Verified the rapid evaluation of the edible safety of wild porcini mushrooms, using deep learning and PLS-DA

BACKGROUND

How to quickly identify poisonous mushrooms is a worldwide problem, because poisonous mushrooms and edible mushrooms have very similar appearances. Even some edible mushrooms must be processed further before they can be eaten. In addition, mushrooms from different geographical origins contain different levels of heavy metals. Eating frequent mushrooms with excessive heavy metal content can also cause food poisoning. This information is very important and needs to be informed to consumers in advance. Through the demand for the safety of porcini mushrooms in the Yunnan area we propose a hierarchical identification system based on Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy to evaluate the edible safety of porcini species.

RESULTS

We found that deep learning is the most effective means to identify the edible safety of porcini, and the recognition accuracy was 100%, by comparing two pattern recognition tools, deep learning and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Although the accuracy of the PLS-DA test set is 96.10%, the poisonous porcini is not allowed to be wrongly judged. In addition, the cadmium (Cd) content of Leccinum rugosiceps in the Midu area exceeded the standard. Deep learning can trace Le. rugosiceps geographic origin with an accuracy of 100%.

CONCLUSION

The overall results show that deep learning methods based on FT-NIR can identify porcini that is at risk of being eaten. This has useful application prospects in food safety. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Elevation Matters More than Season in Shaping the Heterogeneity of Soil and Root Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community

Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi play important roles in forest ecosystems, and their richness and composition can change along with elevation and season changes. However, no study has estimated the relative importance of altitudinal and seasonal heterogeneity in predicting the distribution of EcM fungal communities by simultaneously considering different sample types (root versus soil). In this study, we collected root and soil samples along a > 1,500-m elevation gradient during wet and dry seasons from Baima Snow Mountain, located in "the Mountains of Southwest China," one of the 34 biodiversity hot spots, and we analyzed them using next-generation sequencing. Regardless of the sample type, similar EcM fungal richness pattern with increasing elevation (decline in the forest zone, and an increase at the alpine meadow zone) and strong community turnovers among different elevational zones and between two seasons were detected, and changes of EcM fungal community similarity on 400-m altitude gradient were equivalent to the community turnover between dry and wet seasons. Elevation and edaphic factors were shown to have the largest effects on EcM fungal community. The heterogeneity of richness and community composition was stronger among different elevational zones than across different seasons, mainly because the elevation variations in the EcM fungal community were shaped by the combined effects of different environmental factors, while seasonal changes were mainly controlled by temperature and fast-changing soil nutrients. IMPORTANCE Altitude and season represent two important environmental gradients that shape the structure of biome, including the heterogeneity of EcM fungi. Previous studies have separately considered the influences of altitude and season on EcM fungal communities, but the relative importance of altitude and season is still unknown. The present study revealed that elevation influences the heterogeneity of EcM fungal community more than season; this may be because the variability of environmental factors is higher across different elevations than that across seasons.

Exploring the Relationships between Four New Species of Boletoid Fungi from Northern China and Their Related Species

The family Boletaceae primarily represents ectomycorrhizal fungi, which play an essential ecological role in forest ecosystems. Although the Boletaceae family has been subject to a relatively global and comprehensive history of work, novel species and genera are continually described. During this investigation in northern China, many specimens of boletoid fungi were collected. Based on the study of their morphology and phylogeny, four new species, Butyriboletus pseudoroseoflavus, Butyriboletus subregius, Tengioboletus subglutinosus, and Suillellus lacrymibasidiatus, are introduced. Morphological evidence and phylogenetic analyses of the single or combined dataset (ITS or 28S, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1) confirmed these to be four new species. The evidence and analyses indicated the new species’ relationships with other species within their genera. Detailed descriptions, color photographs, and line drawings are provided. The species of Butyriboletus in China were compared in detail and the worldwide keys of Tengioboletus and Suillellus were given.

The first eleven mitochondrial genomes from the ectomycorrhizal fungal genus (Boletus) reveal intron loss and gene rearrangement

In the present study, eleven novel complete mitogenomes of Boletus were assembled and compared. The eleven complete mitogenomes were all composed of circular DNA molecules, with sizes ranging from 32,883 bp to 48,298 bp. The mitochondrial gene arrangement of Boletus varied greatly from other Boletales mitogenomes, and gene position reversal were observed frequently in the evolution of Boletus. Across the 15 core protein-coding genes (PCGs) tested, atp9 had the least and rps3 had the largest genetic distances among the eleven Boletus species, indicating varied evolution rates of core PCGs. In addition, the Ka/Ks value for nad3 gene was >1, suggesting that this gene was subject to possible positive selection pressure. Comparative mitogenomic analysis indicated that the intronic region was significantly correlated with the size of mitogenomes in Boletales. Two large-scale intron loss events were detected in the evolution of Boletus. Phylogenetic analyses based on a combined mitochondrial gene dataset yielded a well-supported (BPP ≥ 0.99; BS =100) phylogenetic tree for 72 Agaricomycetes, and the Boletus species had a close relationship with Paxillus. This study served as the first report on complete mitogenomes in Boletus, which will further promote investigations of the genetics, evolution and phylogeny of the Boletus genus.

The mitogenomes of two saprophytic Boletales species (Coniophora) reveals intron dynamics and accumulation of plasmid-derived and non-conserved genes

The order Boletales is a group of fungi with complex life styles, which include saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal mushroom-forming fungi. In the present study, the complete mitogenomes of two saprophytic Boletales species, Coniophora olivacea, and C. puteana, were assembled and compared with mitogenomes of ectomycorrhizal Boletales. Both mitogenomes comprised circular DNA molecules with sizes of 78,350 bp and 79,655 bp, respectively. Comparative mitogenomic analysis indicated that the two saprophytic Boletales species contained more plasmid-derived (7 on average) and unknown functional genes (12 on average) than the four ectomycorrhizal Boletales species previously reported. In addition, the core protein coding genes, nad2 and rps3, were found to be subjected to positive selection pressure between some Boletales species. Frequent intron gain/loss events were detected in Boletales and Basidiomycetes, and several novel intron classes were found in two Coniophora species. A total of 33 introns were detected in C. olivacea, and most were found to have undergone contraction in the C. olivacea mitogenome. Mitochondrial genes of Coniophora species were found to have undergone large-scale gene rearrangements, and the accumulation of intra-genomic repeats in the mitogenome was considered as one of the main contributing factors. Based on combined mitochondrial gene sets, we obtained a well-supported phylogenetic tree for 76 Basidiomycetes, demonstrating the utility of mitochondrial gene analysis for inferring Basidiomycetes phylogeny. The study served as the first report on the mitogenomes of the family Coniophorineae, which will help to understand the origin and evolution patterns of Boletales species with complex lifestyles.

137Cs, 40K, and K in raw and stir-fried mushrooms from the Boletaceae family from the Midu region in Yunnan, Southwest China

The parallel batches of the same species and geographical origin mushrooms both raw and stir-fried were investigated to get an insight into the content and intake of ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, and K from mushroom meals. The Boletaceae family species (Baorangia bicolor, Boletus bainiugan, Butyriboletus roseoflavus, Retiboletus griseus, Rugiboletus extremiorientalis, and Sutorius magnificus) were collected from the Midu County (Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture) in 2018. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in the caps of dried raw mushrooms were in the range 14 ± 1 Bq kg^-1 dry biomass (db) (R. griseus) to 34 ± 2 Bq kg^-1 db (R. extremiorientalis), and in stems from 16 ± 1 Bq kg^-1 db (B. bicolor and B. bainiugan) to 23 ± 1 Bq kg^-1 db (R. extremiorientalis). The mean activity concentration in the whole fruiting bodies in all six species was 18 ± 4 Bq kg^-1 db. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs were roughly the same in both dehydrated materials, stir-fried, and raw mushrooms, while the contents of ⁴⁰K and stable K were around 2- to 3-fold smaller in stir-fried than raw product. The raw and stir-fried mushrooms on a whole (wet) weight basis showed activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in the range from 1.2 to 3.2 Bq kg^-1 ww (mean 1.9 ± 0.6 Bq kg^-1 ww) and 6.0 to 9.4 Bq kg^-1 ww (mean 7.0 ± 1.2 Bq kg^-1 ww), respectively. Evidently, when expressed on a whole (wet) weight basis, the cooked mushrooms showed on average around 3.5-fold greater activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs when compared with raw mushrooms. The ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, and total K enrichment in stir-frying (in a whole (wet) weight basis for the meal), confronted with the results for dehydrated raw and fried mushrooms, show the direct correlation with loss of mass (largely moisture) during the cooking procedure but not much of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K. Edible wild mushrooms from Yunnan were little contaminated with radiocaesium. As assessed, the mean radioactivity dose from natural ⁴⁰K in around 9.3-fold exceeded the dose obtained for artificial ¹³⁷Cs from stir-fried mushroom meals, which both were very low doses.

Bolete mushroom Boletus bainiugan from Yunnan as a reflection of the geographical distribution of 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides, their intake rates and effective exposure doses

This pioneering study aimed to determine the activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb and uranium (²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U) radionuclides in fruit bodies of wild bolete Boletus bainiugan Dentinger and to estimate its edible safety, which may give scientific evidence for the consumption of this species. The analyses were performed using alpha spectrometer after digestion, exchange resins separation and deposition. Measurement data were analysed and interpolation maps reflecting ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb and uranium (²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U) geographical distribution in Yunnan province (China) were presented. In addition, from the perspective of food safety, the possible related effective radiation dose to mushrooms consumers were estimated. The results indicated that ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb and uranium (²³⁴U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U) radionuclides contents in B. bainiugan were significantly different with respect to geographical distribution, and their possible intake in a part of the region was considerably higher. A very interesting observation was done according to the values of ²³⁵U/²³⁸U activity ratio indicating the occurrence of uranium faction from the global fallout of nuclear weapon tests.

Contents and Health Risk Assessment of Elements in Three Edible Ectomycorrhizal Fungi (Boletaceae) from Polymetallic Soils in Yunnan Province, SW China

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) can mobilize mineral elements directly from insoluble mineral sources and accumulate various metallic elements and metalloids from soils to their fruiting bodies. Mushrooms from genus Boletus and its related genus are one of the most important EcMF which are consumed worldwide as wild edible mushrooms. Yunnan province (China) is a high biodiversity of genus Boletus mushrooms but is also an area with potential elevated contents of toxic elements in soil. Total contents of As, Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tl, U, V, and Zn in three edible EcMF species collected from five sites of Yunnan were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The highest contents for As, Cd, and Pb were 7.8 mg kg^-1 dry weight (dw) in the caps of Butyriboletus roseoflavus, 3.4 mg kg^-1 dw in the caps of B. roseoflavus, and 6.4 mg kg^-1 dw in the stipes of Hemileccinum impolitum. Health risk assessment of As, Cd, and Pb indicated that the estimated exposure due to intakes of some mushroom samples from the sites were above the limits recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Since EcMF were considered as bioexclusors of Cr, higher Cr contents in the mushroom samples, compared with previous studies, indicated high geochemical background value of Cr in the sampling sites. Relatively higher V contents in mushrooms from family Boletaceae could also associate with the high V contents in Yunnan soil. Further work is needed to identify the places in Yunnan with geochemical anomalies resulting in high levels of toxic elements in EcMF.

The genus Catathelasma (Catathelasmataceae, Basidiomycota) in China

Two new species, Catathelasmalaorentou and C.subalpinum, are described on the basis of morphological characters, phylogenetic evidence, host preferences and geographic distributions. A taxonomic key to the known species in China is also provided to facilitate identification. Based on samples from temperate Asia, Europe and North America, the phylogeny of Catathelasma was reconstructed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal DNA and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1).The phylogenetic results showed that Catathelasma contains two monophyletic clades: the /subalpinum clade and the /imperiale clade. The Asian species C.laorentou and C.subalpinum are closely related to the North American C. sp. (labelled as C.ventricosum in GenBank) in the /subalpinum clade, whereas C.imperiale and C.singeri are closely related in the /imperiale clade.

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.

Spongispora temasekensis, a new boletoid genus and species from Singapore

Dipterocarp forests are a typical and widespread type of vegetation in tropical lowlands of southeast Asia that harbor a high diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi, including boletes. Based on molecular and morphological characters, a unique bolete found in Singapore associated with the dipterocarp Hopea odorata was proven to represent a new species in the proposed new genus Spongispora. Phylogenetic analyses of five loci indicate that Spongispora is nested in the subfamily Leccinoideae of the Boletaceae, most closely related to an inclusive clade of Leccinum, Leccinellum, Octaviania, Rossbeevera, and Turmalinea. However, genetic distances between Spongispora and genera in Leccinoideae are mostly higher than that between any two known genera in this subfamily, which supports the proposal of a new genus. Spongispora temasekensis is characterized by a whitish to pale yellow hymenophore that stains brown where injured, coarsely reticulate stipe, interwoven trichodermial pileipellis, and broadly elliptical to ovoid basidiospores with sponge-like ornamentation perforated by irregular clefts, cracks, and warts under scanning electron microscopy. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comparisons with allied taxa are made, and a key to the genera of the subfamily Leccinoideae is provided.

Taxonomy in the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB): Progress during the past decade (2008-2018) and perspectives on future development

The development of new taxonomical theories and approaches, particularly molecular phylogenetics, has led to the expansion of traditional morphology-based taxonomy into the concept of "integrative taxonomy." Taxonomic knowledge has assumed greater significance in recent years, particularly because of growing concerns over the looming biodiversity crisis. Since its establishment in 1938, the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), which is located in Yunnan province in Southwest China, has focused attention on the taxonomy and conservation of the flora of China. For the forthcoming 80th anniversary of KIB, we review the achievements of researchers at KIB and their associates with respect to the taxonomy of land plants, fungi, and lichen. Major taxonomic advances are summarized for families of Calymperaceae, Cryphaeaceae, Lembophyllaceae, Neckeraceae, Polytrichaceae and Pottiaceae of mosses, Pteridaceae and Polypodiaceae of ferns, Taxaceae and Cycadaceae of gymnosperms, Asteraceae, Begoniaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gesneriaceae, Lamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Orobanchaceae, Poaceae, Theaceae and Urticaceae of angiosperms, Agaricaceae, Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Cantharellaceae, Physalacriaceae Russulaceae, Suillaceae and Tuberaceae of fungi, and Ophioparmaceae and Parmeliaceae of lichens. Regarding the future development of taxonomy at KIB, we recommend that taxonomists continue to explore the biodiversity of China, integrate new theories and technologies with traditional taxonomic approaches, and engage in creative monographic work, with support from institutions, funding agencies, and the public.

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.

Radioactive caesium (134Cs and 137Cs) in mushrooms of the genus Boletus from the Reggio Emilia in Italy and Pomerania in Poland

Activity concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs were determined in mushrooms of the Boletus species B. aereus, B. reticulatus, B. appendiculatus, B. calopus, B. edulis, B. erythropus, B. fechtneri, B. pinophilus, B. pseudoregius, B. rhodopurpureus, B. rhodoxanthus collected in the Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 1993 and 1994 and in B. edulis collected in Pomerania in northern Poland in the period from 1995-2015. Boletus edulis from the Reggio Emilia showed presence of ¹³⁷Cs at 330 ± 220 Bq kg^-1 dry biomass in 1993 and at 370 ± 180 Bq kg^-1 dry biomass in 1994. In B. edulis sampled in the Reggio Emilia in 1993 and 1994, the pre-Chernobyl ¹³⁷Cs from global fallout amounted to 39-46 % of the total activity concentrations of isotope ¹³⁷Cs. B. edulis from Pomerania contained ¹³⁷Cs in caps at 270 ± 15 Bq kg^-1 dry biomass in 1995, and in whole fruiting bodies it was found to be 470 ± 9 Bq kg^-1 dry biomass in 2015. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs determined in fruiting bodies of B. edulis from Pomerania fluctuated but persisted over the period from 1995 to 2015, while the maximum activity concentrations were well below the tolerance limit of 600 Bq kg^-1 fresh product.