Hydnophanerochaete and Odontoefibula, two new genera of phanerochaetoid fungi (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from East Asia

What are the 100 most cited fungal genera?

The global diversity of fungi has been estimated between 2 to 11 million species, of which only about 155 000 have been named. Most fungi are invisible to the unaided eye, but they represent a major component of biodiversity on our planet, and play essential ecological roles, supporting life as we know it. Although approximately 20 000 fungal genera are presently recognised, the ecology of most remains undetermined. Despite all this diversity, the mycological community actively researches some fungal genera more commonly than others. This poses an interesting question: why have some fungal genera impacted mycology and related fields more than others? To address this issue, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to identify the top 100 most cited fungal genera. A thorough database search of the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed was performed to establish which genera are most cited. The most cited 10 genera are Saccharomyces, Candida, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Botrytis, Pichia, Cryptococcus and Alternaria. Case studies are presented for the 100 most cited genera with general background, notes on their ecology and economic significance and important research advances. This paper provides a historic overview of scientific research of these genera and the prospect for further research. Citation: Bhunjun CS, Chen YJ, Phukhamsakda C, Boekhout T, Groenewald JZ, McKenzie EHC, Francisco EC, Frisvad JC, Groenewald M, Hurdeal VG, Luangsa-ard J, Perrone G, Visagie CM, Bai FY, Błaszkowski J, Braun U, de Souza FA, de Queiroz MB, Dutta AK, Gonkhom D, Goto BT, Guarnaccia V, Hagen F, Houbraken J, Lachance MA, Li JJ, Luo KY, Magurno F, Mongkolsamrit S, Robert V, Roy N, Tibpromma S, Wanasinghe DN, Wang DQ, Wei DP, Zhao CL, Aiphuk W, Ajayi-Oyetunde O, Arantes TD, Araujo JC, Begerow D, Bakhshi M, Barbosa RN, Behrens FH, Bensch K, Bezerra JDP, Bilański P, Bradley CA, Bubner B, Burgess TI, Buyck B, Čadež N, Cai L, Calaça FJS, Campbell LJ, Chaverri P, Chen YY, Chethana KWT, Coetzee B, Costa MM, Chen Q, Custódio FA, Dai YC, Damm U, de Azevedo Santiago ALCM, De Miccolis Angelini RM, Dijksterhuis J, Dissanayake AJ, Doilom M, Dong W, Alvarez-Duarte E, Fischer M, Gajanayake AJ, Gené J, Gomdola D, Gomes AAM, Hausner G, He MQ, Hou L, Iturrieta-González I, Jami F, Jankowiak R, Jayawardena RS, Kandemir H, Kiss L, Kobmoo N, Kowalski T, Landi L, Lin CG, Liu JK, Liu XB, Loizides M, Luangharn T, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Makhathini Mkhwanazi GJ, Manawasinghe IS, Marin-Felix Y, McTaggart AR, Moreau PA, Morozova OV, Mostert L, Osiewacz HD, Pem D, Phookamsak R, Pollastro S, Pordel A, Poyntner C, Phillips AJL, Phonemany M, Promputtha I, Rathnayaka AR, Rodrigues AM, Romanazzi G, Rothmann L, Salgado-Salazar C, Sandoval-Denis M, Saupe SJ, Scholler M, Scott P, Shivas RG, Silar P, Souza-Motta CM, Silva-Filho AGS, Spies CFJ, Stchigel AM, Sterflinger K, Summerbell RC, Svetasheva TY, Takamatsu S, Theelen B, Theodoro RC, Thines M, Thongklang N, Torres R, Turchetti B, van den Brule T, Wang XW, Wartchow F, Welti S, Wijesinghe SN, Wu F, Xu R, Yang ZL, Yilmaz N, Yurkov A, Zhao L, Zhao RL, Zhou N, Hyde KD, Crous PW (2024). What are the 100 most cited fungal genera? Studies in Mycology 108: 1-411. doi: 10.3114/sim.2024.108.01.

The role of Phanerochaete australis in enhancing defense activity against Magnaporthe oryzae in upland rice

The inclusion of biological control in the integrated management of rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae [Mo]) reduces pesticide application. Phanerochaete australis (Pha) has been shown to be a potential inducer of resistance to rice blast. Pha was isolated saprophytically from the rice phylloplane and studied for its interaction with Mo in the defense process of upland rice plants against the pathogen attack. Investigating the Pha × Mo interaction in a completely randomized design, the suppression of leaf blast and the epidemiological components of disease development were quantified in vivo, whereas the physiological and biochemical aspects, as defense enzymes and oxidative complex components, were evaluated in vitro during the induction of resistance. In the Pha × Mo interaction, it was found that seed treatment can significantly reduce disease severity by up to 93%, increase the photosynthetic apparatus, mobilize photoassimilates to the defense system, intensify defense enzyme and oxidant complex activities (chitinase [CHI], β-1,3-glucanase [GLU], lipoxygenase [LOX], phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [PAL], poliphenoloxidase [PPO], peroxidase [POX], catalase [CAT], cuperoxide dismutase [SOD]), decrease phenolic compounds (TPCs), and increase photosynthetic pigment levels compared with the negative control (Mo). When treating the seed, we are referring to an induction process where there is no physical contact between the pathogens. The enzymes produced by the interaction between the microorganisms validate this process; thus, Pha acts as an inducer of resistance to upland rice plants challenged with Mo.

New corticioid taxa in Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from East Asia

The species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of five corticioid genera of Phanerochaetaceae, namely, Hyphodermella, Roseograndinia, Phlebiopsis, Rhizochaete, and Phanerochaete, in East Asia are studied by using the morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses were performed separately for the Donkia, Phlebiopsis, Rhizochaete, and Phanerochaete clades based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequence data. In total, seven new species were found, two new combinations are suggested, and a new name is proposed. In the Donkia clade, Hyphodermella sensu stricto was strongly supported with two new lineages, namely H. laevigata and H. tropica, which were recovered. Hyphodermella aurantiaca and H. zixishanensis are members of Roseograndinia, while R. jilinensis is proved to be a later synonym of H. aurantiaca. In the Phlebiopsis clade, P. cana sp. nov. was found on the bamboo from tropical Asia. In the Rhizochaete clade, four new species, R. nakasoneae, R. subradicata, R. terrestris, and R. yunnanensis were recovered based mainly on molecular analyses. In the Phanerochaete clade, P. subsanguinea nom. nov. is proposed to replace Phanerochaete rhizomorpha C.L. Zhao & D.Q. Wang, which is an invalid name because it was published after Phanerochaete rhizomorpha C.C. Chen, Sheng H. Wu & S.H. He, representing another species. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new species, and discussions are given for new taxa and names. Identification keys to Hyphodermella species worldwide and Rhizochaete species in China are given separately.

Two new corticioid species of Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from Southwest China

Two new corticioid fungi in the family Phanerochaetaceae, Phanerochaete shenghuaii and Rhizochaete variegata, are described and illustrated from Southwest China based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Phanerochaete shenghuaii is characterized by annual, effused, inseparable basidiocarps from substrate, ivory white to cream hymenial surface when juvenile, buff to yellowish brown with age, buff in KOH, a monomitic hyphal system, smooth cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.8-6 × 2.5-3.8 µm. Rhizochaete variegata is characterized by annual, effused, easily separable basidiocarps from substrate, buff-yellow to clay-pink fresh hymenial surface becoming cream to buff upon drying, violet in KOH, a monomitic hyphal system, encrusted cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3-4 × 2.2-3 µm. The phylogenetic analyses based on ITS + nLSU rDNA sequences confirm the placement of the two new species, respectively, in the Phanerochaete clade and the Rhizochaete clade of Phanerochaetaceae. Phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species to these two new species are discussed.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Meruliaceae with Descriptions of Two New Species from China

Two new wood-inhabiting fungi Hermanssonia fimbriata sp. nov. and Phlebia austroasiana sp. nov. in the Meruliaceae family are described and illustrated from southwestern China based on molecular and morphological evidence. The characteristics of H. fimbriata include annual, resupinate basidiomata, the absence of cystidia and cystidioles, oblong ellipsoid basidiospores of 5–6 × 2.4–3 μm, and growth on rotten gymnosperm wood in the east Himalayas. Its basidiomata change drastically upon drying, from being a light-coloured, juicy, papillose-to-wrinkled hymenophore, to a dark-coloured, corky-to-gelatinous, and more or less smooth hymenophore. The characteristics of Ph. austroasiana include annual, resupinate basidiomata, a hydnoid hymenophore, 2–3 spines per mm, the presence of tubular cystidia of 20–25 × 3–3.5 µm, oblong ellipsoid basidiospores of 4.4–5.2 × 2.1–3 μm, and growth on angiosperm wood in tropical forests in the southern Yunnan Province. The phylogenetic analyses based on the combined 2-locus dataset (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) + nuclear large subunit RNA (nLSU)) confirm the placement of two new species, respectively, in Hermanssonia and Phlebia s. lato. Phylogenetically, the closely-related species to these two new species are discussed.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Evidence for Recognition of Two New Species of Phanerochaete from East Asia

Two new corticioid fungal species, Phanerochaete pruinosa and P. rhizomorpha spp. nov. are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Phanerochaete pruinosa is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with the pruinose hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae and subcylindrical basidiospores measuring as 3.5-6.7 × 1.5-2.7 µm. Phanerochaete rhizomorpha is characterized by having a smooth hymenophore covered by orange hymenial surface, the presence of rhizomorphs, subulate cystidia, and narrower ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS+nLSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied specimens were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. These phylogenetic analyses showed that two new species clustered into genus Phanerochaete, in which P. pruinosa was sister to P. yunnanensis with high supports (100% BS, 100% BT, 1.00 BPP); morphologically differing by a pale orange to greyish orange and densely cracked hymenial surface. Another species P. rhizomorpha was closely grouped with P. citrinosanguinea with lower supports; morphologically having yellow to reddish yellow hymenial surface, and smaller cystidia measuring as 31-48 × 2.3-4.8 µm.

Fungal diversity notes 1387-1511: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula (Torulaceae), Scolecoleotia (Leotiales genus incertae sedis) and Xenovaginatispora (Lindomycetaceae) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis, Cercophora dulciaquae, Cladophialophora aquatica, Coprinellus punjabensis, Cortinarius alutarius, C. mammillatus, C. quercoflocculosus, Coryneum fagi, Cruentomycena uttarakhandina, Cryptocoryneum rosae, Cyathus uniperidiolus, Cylindrotorula indica, Diaporthe chamaeropicola, Didymella azollae, Diplodia alanphillipsii, Dothiora coronicola, Efibula rodriguezarmasiae, Erysiphe salicicola, Fusarium queenslandicum, Geastrum gorgonicum, G. hansagiense, Helicosporium sexualis, Helminthosporium chiangraiensis, Hongkongmyces kokensis, Hydrophilomyces hydraenae, Hygrocybe boertmannii, Hyphoderma australosetigerum, Hyphodontia yunnanensis, Khaleijomyces umikazeana, Laboulbenia divisa, Laboulbenia triarthronis, Laccaria populina, Lactarius pallidozonarius, Lepidosphaeria strobelii, Longipedicellata megafusiformis, Lophiotrema lincangensis, Marasmius benghalensis, M. jinfoshanensis, M. subtropicus, Mariannaea camelliae, Melanographium smilaxii, Microbotryum polycnemoides, Mimeomyces digitatus, Minutisphaera thailandensis, Mortierella solitaria, Mucor harpali, Nigrograna jinghongensis, Odontia huanrenensis, O. parvispina, Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii, Parafuscosporella niloticus, Phaeocytostroma yomensis, Phaeoisaria synnematicus, Phanerochaete hainanensis, Pleopunctum thailandicum, Pleurotheciella dimorphospora, Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense, Pseudodactylaria albicolonia, Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora, Russula paravioleipes, Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi, Seriascoma honghense, Synandromyces makranczyi, Thyridaria aureobrunnea, Torula lancangjiangensis, Tubeufia longihelicospora, Wicklowia fusiformispora, Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora. One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici, Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis, Camarosporidiella laburni, Canalisporium caribense, Chaetoscutula juniperi, Chlorophyllum demangei, C. globosum, C. hortense, Cladophialophora abundans, Dendryphion hydei, Diaporthe foeniculina, D. pseudophoenicicola, D. pyracanthae, Dictyosporium pandanicola, Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus, Ernakulamia tanakae, Eutypa flavovirens, E. lata, Favolus septatus, Fusarium atrovinosum, F. clavum, Helicosporium luteosporum, Hermatomyces nabanheensis, Hermatomyces sphaericoides, Longipedicellata aquatica, Lophiostoma caudata, L. clematidis-vitalbae, Lophiotrema hydei, L. neoarundinaria, Marasmiellus palmivorus, Megacapitula villosa, Micropsalliota globocystis, M. gracilis, Montagnula thailandica, Neohelicosporium irregulare, N. parisporum, Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum, Phaeoisaria aquatica, Poaceascoma taiwanense, Saproamanita manicata, Spegazzinia camelliae, Submersispora variabilis, Thyronectria caudata, T. mackenziei, Tubeufia chiangmaiensis, T. roseohelicospora, Vaginatispora nypae, Wicklowia submersa, Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis. The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.

Taxonomy of corticioid fungi in Japan : Present status and future prospects

Corticioid fungi form effused basidiomata with various hymenophore configurations, mostly on woody substrates, and they are presently classified into 15 orders in Agaricomycotina in the phylum Basidiomycota. In this review, the corticioid fungi of Japan are treated on the basis of the current classification system, and all currently known species are listed and classified by order. Japanese corticioid fungi number 442 species in 160 genera belonging to 14 orders. Analysis of the distribution of Japanese corticioid species reveals that 375 species (85% of the total) have wide distributions, and that the Japanese corticioid fungal flora is composed of species with diverse patterns of distribution. In the subtropical regions, 146 corticioid species belonging to 77 genera are listed, including 100 species from the Nansei Islands and 76 from the Ogasawara Islands. Although these two island groups are located at similar latitudes, they share only 30 corticioid species-21% of the total reported from the subtropical regions. Along with this summary of the current status, this study presents future directions for the taxonomic research of the Japanese corticioid fungi.

The Hidden Wood-Decaying Fungal Diversity: Rhizochaete from East Asia

Wood-decaying fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems. In this study, two new corticioid fungi, Rhizochaete fissurata and R. grandinosa spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Rhizochaete fissurata is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with a cracking hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, presence of subfusiform to conical cystidia encrusted at the apex or coarse on the upper half, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Rhizochaete grandinosa differs in its resupinate basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface, presence of two types of cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were employed, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods on two datasets (ITS+nLSU and ITS). Both dataset analyses showed that two new species clustered into the genus Rhizochaete, in which, based on the ITS+nLSU dataset, R. fissurata was sister to R. belizensis, and R. grandinosa grouped with R. radicata; the phylogram inferred from ITS sequences inside Rhizochaete indicated that R. fissurata formed a monophyletic lineage with a lower support; R. grandinosa grouped closely with R. radicata. In addition, an identification key to all Rhizochaete species worldwide is provided.

Global Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Wood-Decaying Fungal Genus Phlebiopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

An in-depth study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the corticioid genus Phlebiopsis (Phanerochaetaceae) was conducted. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences demonstrated that Phlebiopsis is a strongly supported clade which is distinct from its sister clades of Phaeophlebiopsis, Hapalopilus, and Rhizochaete. Two genera, Australohydnum and Hjortstamia, are reduced to synonyms under Phlebiopsis as generic type species A. griseofuscescens and H. friesii, respectively, are embedded in the Phlebiopsis clade. Twenty-four lineages are resolved in the ITS phylogenetic tree of Phlebiopsis, including six new taxa, viz. P. albescens, P. brunnea, P. cylindrospora, P. magnicystidiata, P. membranacea and P. sinensis, from Sri Lanka and China. Five new combinations, viz. Phaeophlebiopsis mussooriensis, Phlebiopsis bambusicola, P. dregeana, P. griseofuscescens and P. novae-granatae, are proposed. Phlebiopsis crassa is a morphological species complex with three distinct lineages. Phlebiopsis lamprocystidiata is determined to be a later synonym of P. darjeelingensis. The new taxa are described, illustrated, and compared and contrasted to morphologically similar species. An emended description of Phlebiopsis is provided along with an identification key to 27 accepted species.

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Ceriporia and other related taxa and description of three new species

Species of Ceriporia (Irpicaceae, Basidiomycota) are saprotrophs or endophytes in forest ecosystems. To evaluate the taxonomy and generic relationships of Ceriporia and other related taxa, we used morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) region, nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1). Our results show that Ceriporia sensu lato is polyphyletic and distributed across multiple clades in the Irpicaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, and Meruliaceae. Some species previously considered in Ceriporia are now recovered in Meruliopsis, resulting in four new combinations: M. albomellea, M. crassitunicata, M. nanlingensis, and M. pseudocystidiata. Two new species of Meruliopsis are described: M. leptocystidiata from northeast China and South Korea and M. parvispora from Taiwan. Ceriporia arbuscula is described as a new species from Taiwan. Ceriporia mellita and Meruliopsis nanlingensis are newly recorded from Japan and Taiwan, and M. taxicola is recorded from Taiwan for the first time.

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.

Phylogenetic placement of Paratrichaptum and reconsideration of Gloeophyllales

Paratrichaptum accuratum is a large conspicuous polypore fungus growing on dead or living angiosperm trees in subtropical-boreal areas of China, Indonesia, Japan, and Taiwan. The present study places P. accuratum in the family Gloeophyllaceae that belongs to the order Gloeophyllales within Agaricomycetes (Basidiomycota), based on evidence derived from morphological and ecological characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of nuclear rDNA regions (5.8S, nuc 18S, nuc 28S) and protein-coding genes (rpb1, rpb2, and tef1). The analyses presented in this study also give strong support for including Jaapia in Gloeophyllaceae and Gloeophyllales. Thus, the names Jaapiaceae and Jaapiales are considered here as synonyms of Gloeophyllaceae and Gloeophyllales. Since Paratrichaptum represents the earliest diverging lineage in Gloeophyllales, pileate basidiocarps and brown rot appear to be ancestral states of Gloeophyllales. Paratrichaptum accuratum may represent a relic species, according to its phylogenetic position, peculiar distribution pattern and rare occurrence.