Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the Antrodia heteromorpha complex in China

Five New Species of Wood-Decaying Brown-Rot Fungi within Postiaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from Xinjiang, Northwest China

Brown-rot fungi are an important group of wood-decaying fungi, but there has been limited research on the species diversity of brown-rot fungi in Xinjiang, China. During an investigation of brown-rot fungi in Xinjiang, from July 2018 to July 2023, five new species belonging to the family Postiaceae were discovered based on morphological and molecular evidence. Amaropostia altaiensis is characterized by a conchate pileus, circular pores (5-8 per mm), and growing on Populus. Amaropostia tianshanensis is characterized by a flabelliform-to-conchate pileus, angular pores (5-6 per mm), and growing on Picfea. Cyanosporus latisporus is characterized by a hirsute and dark greyish blue pileal surface with fresh, larger pores (3-6 per mm) and broad basidiospores (4.3-5.9 × 1.4-2 µm). Cyanosporus tianshanensis is characterized by a smooth and white-to-cream pileal surface with fresh, smaller pores (6-9 per mm). Osteina altaiensis is characterized by a light mouse-grey-to-honey-yellow pileal surface, smaller pores (4-6 per mm), and slightly wide basidiospores (5-6 × 1.7-2.2 µm). Each of these five new species form independent lineages in phylogenetic analyses based on the seven gene loci (ITS + nLSU + nSSU + mtSSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2). This research enriches the diversity of brown-rot fungi species, while also demonstrating the substantial discovery potential and research value of brown-rot fungi in Xinjiang.

Two new species of Antrodia (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in western China

Two new species of Antrodia, A. aridula and A. variispora, are described from western China. Phylogeny based on a six-gene dataset (ITS + nLSU + nSSU + mtSSU + TEF1 + RPB2) demonstrates that samples of the two species form two independent lineages within the clade of Antrodia s.s. and are different in morphology from the existing species of Antrodia. Antrodia aridula is characterized by its annual and resupinate basidiocarps with angular to irregular pores of 2-3 mm each and oblong ellipsoid to cylindrical basidiospores measuring 9-12 × 4.2-5.3 μm, growing on gymnosperm wood in a dry environment. Antrodia variispora is characterized by its annual and resupinate basidiocarps with sinuous or dentate pores with a size of 1-1.5 mm each and oblong ellipsoid, fusiform, pyriform, or cylindrical basidiospores measuring 11.5-16 × 4.5-5.5 μm, growing on the wood of Picea. The differences between the new species and morphologically similar species are discussed in this article.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of the remarkable genus Leptoporus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) with description of a new species from Southwest China

Leptoporus is a rare and remarkable genus, mainly occurring in coniferous forests in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent phylogenetic studies showed that Leptoporus belongs to Irpicaceae in the phlebioid clade. It is worth noting that most species in the phlebioid clade can cause white-rot decay, except for the Leptoporus species, which can cause a brown-rot decay. In this study, we performed phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of Leptoporus and related genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on sequences from multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1). Combined with morphological characteristics, a new species, Leptoporus submollis sp. nov., is discovered and illustrated from Southwest China.

Fibroporia gossypium isolated from an indoor environment in Argentina

Using culture studies and molecular techniques, the brown rot polypore Fibroporia gossypium was identified from a cellar in an old building of Buenos Aires city, the second record of the species in an urban environment in Argentina. The fungus formed large mycelial masses hanging from a wooden support and growing on the walls but did not form basidiomes. The conspecificity of specimens from distant regions is considered and the origin of the present finding is discussed.

The Genus Pachyma (Syn. Wolfiporia) Reinstated and Species Clarification of the Cultivated Medicinal Mushroom "Fuling" in China

The fungus "Fuling" has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for more than 2000 years, and its sclerotia have a wide range of biological activities including antitumour, immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-aging etc. This prized medicinal mushroom also known as "Hoelen" is resurrected from a piece of pre-Linnean scientific literature. Fries treated it as Pachyma hoelen Fr. and mentioned that it was cultivated on pine trees in China. However, this name had been almost forgotten, and Poria cocos (syn. Wolfiporia cocos), originally described from North America, and known as "Tuckahoe" has been applied to "Fuling" in most publications. Although Merrill mentioned a 100 years ago that Asian Pachyma hoelen and North American P. cocos are similar but different, no comprehensive taxonomical studies have been carried out on the East Asian Pachyma hoelen and its related species. Based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological examination on both the sclerotia and the basidiocarps which are very seldomly developed, the East Asian samples of Pachyma hoelen including sclerotia, commercial strains for cultivation and fruiting bodies, nested in a strongly supported, homogeneous lineage which clearly separated from the lineages of North American Wolfiporia cocos and other species. So we confirm that the widely cultivated "Fuling" Pachyma hoelen in East Asia is not conspecific with the North American Wolfiporia cocos. Based on the changes in Art. 59 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, the generic name Pachyma, which was sanctioned by Fries, has nomenclatural priority (ICN, Art. F.3.1), and this name well represents the economically important stage of the generic type. So we propose to use Pachyma rather than Wolfiporia, and subsequently Pachyma hoelen and Pachyma cocos are the valid names for "Fuling" in East Asia and "Tuckahoe" in North America, respectively. In addition, a new combination, Pachyma pseudococos, is proposed. Furthermore, it seems that Pachyma cocos is a species complex, and that three species exist in North America.

A phylogeny for the plant pathogen Piptoporellus baudonii using a multigene data set

Piptoporellus baudonii is proposed as a new combination for Laetiporus baudonii in the Polyporales (Basidiomycota) based on morphological and molecular features. This parasitic macrofungus attacks cashew trees, Eucalyptus, cassava, Tectona, and some indigenous trees in southern regions of Tanzania and poses a serious threat to agroforestry and livelihood conditions in the area. Phylogenetic trees were produced from partial sequences of three rDNA gene regions and a portion of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) gene of Laetiporus baudonii for comparisons with samples from the antrodia clade. Our results reveal a strongly supported group of L. baudonii with Piptoporellus in Fomitopsidaceae. Piptoporellus baudonii shares many morphological features with other members of Piptoporellus but differs from them in having broadly ellipsoid or rarely ovoid basidiospores. Both morphological and phylogenetic evidence justify the placement of L. baudonii in Piptoporellus together with the three other known species in the genus.

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.

Morphological plasticity in brown-rot fungi: Antrodia is redefined to encompass both poroid and corticioid species

Most known brown rot-producing species of Polyporales belong to the so-called "Antrodia clade" that largely consists of poroid species. In this study, we use three genetic markers to revise Antrodia s. str., the core group of this clade. We show that a corticioid species with a smooth hymenophore, Phlebia griseoflavescens, belongs to Antrodia s. str. Accordingly, we revise the generic concept of Antrodia s. str. to accommodate this species and two recently described poroid taxa, A. tenerifensis and A. multiformis. In addition, we describe two new poroid species within Antrodia s. str., A. latebrosa from Africa and A. peregrina from East Asia, and provide new documentation for the Southeast Asian species A. parvula based on recent collections from the type location.

Phylogenetic position and taxonomy of Kusaghiporia usambarensis gen. et sp. nov. (Polyporales)

A large polyporoid mushroom from the West Usambara Mountains in North-eastern Tanzania produces dark brown, up to 60-cm large fruiting bodies that at maturity may weigh more than 10 kg. It has a high rate of mycelial growth and regeneration and was found growing on both dry and green leaves of shrubs; attached to the base of living trees, and it was also observed to degrade dead snakes and insects accidentally coming into contact with it. Phylogenetic analyses based on individual and concatenated data sets of nrLSU, nrSSU and the RPB2 and TEF1 genes showed it, together with Laetiporus, Phaeolus, Pycnoporellus and Wolfiporia, to form a monophyletic group in Polyporales. Based on morphological features and molecular data, it is described as Kusaghiporia usambarensis.