Three New Species of <i>Cystolepiota</i> from Laos and Thailand

Cystolepiota Singer is rarely studied in Southeast Asia; here, we survey and describe three new species of Cystolepiota from tropical Laos and Thailand. Cystolepiota pyramidalis is related to C. fumosifolia (Murrill) Vellinga and C. pseudofumosifolia M.L. Xu & R.L. Zhao, but it is distinguished by pale to pastel yellow lamellae. Second, Cystolepiota thailandica differs from other members in the genus by the greyish-orange granulose or powdery pileus and stipe covering made up of globose to subglobose and sphaeropedunculate elements. Furthermore, Cystolepiota rhodella is characterized by the pink-violet granulose covering of the pileus and stipe and white lamellae with distinctly violet edges. Each species is provided with a full description of the morphological characters, photos in situ, line drawings of the microcharacters, discussion of related and similar species, and molecular data

Additions to Hohenbuehelia (Basidiomycota, Pleurotaceae): two new species and notes on H. tristis from northern Thailand

Two new species and a first geographical record of Hohenbuehelia are described from Thailand. Macroscopic and microscopic descriptions with photoplates, as well as a multigene phylogeny are provided. Hohenbuehelia flabelliformis sp. nov. is recognised by large flabelliform basidiomata, densely villose yellowish-white pileus with white hairs near the point of attachment, basidiospores that mostly are ellipsoid in front view and phaseoliform in side view, the absence of cheilocystidia, and a trichoderm pileipellis. Hohenbuehelia lageniformis sp. nov. is characterised by fleshy basidiomata, velutinous pileus with whitish hairs near the point of attachment and the margin, elsewhere pale greyish-yellow and with only sparse white hairs, pale brown to light brown and mucilaginous context, subglobose basidiospores, lageniform cheilocystidia, an ixotrichoderm pileipellis, and the absence of pileoleptocystidia. Hohenbuehelia tristis is characterised by small creamy-white, spathuliform basidiomata that are larger than the type subspecies, minutely pubescent pileus with tiny greyish hairs that disappear when mature, leaving the surface glutinous, faintly translucent and shiny, ellipsoid to sub-ellipsoid basidiospores, lecythiform to sublageniform cheilocystidia, and an ixotrichoderm pileipellis. Hohenbuehelia tristis is recorded for Thailand for the first time. Based on the polymorphism observed in part of the nrLSU gene, the presence of two divergent lineages within H. tristis is discussed

Introduction of two novel species of Hymenopellis (Agaricales, Physalacriaceae) from Thailand

Hymenopellis is the most diverse genus in the group of oudemansielloid/xeruloid taxa (Physalacriaceae). This genus has a worldwide distribution with records mostly from Europe and America. Asian taxa are least represented. In this paper on Hymenopellis from Thailand, two novel species are introduced, and a Hymenopellis collection affine to H. orientalis is described. Macro and micromorphological characters are described. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses were performed on combined ITS and nrLSU regions to confirm taxonomical placement and infer the phylogenetic affinities of the studied species. Hymenopellis straminea sp. nov. is straw-yellow, with medium-sized basidiomata, abundant and diverse in form cheilocystidia, few, narrowly lageniform to fusiform pleurocystidia, and clamp connections at the lower part of the stipe. Hymenopellis utriformis sp. nov. has mostly utriform pleurocystidia and 2-spored basidia. In the inferred phylogenies, the new species from this study formed distinct clades well supported by bootstrap proportions and posterior probabilities. The studied specimen affine to H. orientalis produced 2-spored basidia whereas published descriptions of other specimens mention 4-spored basidia. Moreover, the genetic distance between ITS sequences of this specimen and that of a Hymenopellis orientalis specimen from GenBank was 1.30–2.57%. Therefore, the conspecificity of our specimen with H. orientalis is uncertain, and additional specimens are needed to fully confirm its identity

Description of Lepiotaceous Fungal Species of the Genera <i>Chlorophyllum</i>, <i>Clarkeinda</i>, <i>Macrolepiota</i>, <i>Pseudolepiota</i>, and <i>Xanthagaricus</i>, from Laos and Thailand

In our ongoing research on lepiotaceous taxa (Agaricaceae s.l.) in Laos and northern Thailand, we focus here on Chlorophyllum, Clarkeinda, Macrolepiota, Pseudolepiota, and Xanthagaricus. Collections were obtained from various habitats, including agricultural habitats, grasslands, and rainforests. A total of 12 taxa were examined and investigated. Of these 12, two are new for science; viz. Xanthagaricus purpureosquamulosus with brownish-grey to violet-brown squamules on a pale-violet to violet background; it shares the pileus color with X. caeruleus and X. ianthinus, but differs in other characters; and Macrolepiota excelsa, rather similar to M. procera but related to M. detersa. Two species, Pseudolepiotazangmui and Xanthagaricus necopinatus are recorded for the first time in Thailand. Four species of Chlorophyllum and a total of four species of Macrolepiota were found, viz., C. demangei and C. hortense with white basidiospores, C. molybdites and C. globosum with green basidiospores, M. detersa, M. dolichaula, the new M. excelsa, and M. velosa. Another rather common striking species is Clarkeinda trachodes, with yellow-green basidiospores. Each species is described in detail, with color photographs and line drawings. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal (nrLSU) DNA and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) genes provide evidence for the placement of the species covered

Helvella pseudoatra Q. Zhao 2023, sp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Helvella pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; Q. Zhao, &lt;i&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/i&gt; (Fig. 4) &lt;p&gt;Index Fungorum number: IF 552243, Facesoffungi number: FOF 03268&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Etymology: The specific epithet &lt;i&gt;pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; refers to the morphological similarity of the new species to &lt;i&gt;Helvella atra&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Type: China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, on the ground, under a forest dominated by &lt;i&gt;Quercus&lt;/i&gt;, alt. 1900 m, 29 July 2011, Q. Zhao 1070 (HKAS 74023, &lt;b&gt;holotype&lt;/b&gt;).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Diagnosis: Similar to &lt;i&gt;Helvella atra&lt;/i&gt; but differs in their stipe.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Pileus&lt;/i&gt; saddle-shaped to slightly irregularly lobed, 1&ndash;2.5 cm high, 1&ndash;2.5 cm broad, margin merged each other in several places and fused with stipe, &lt;i&gt;hymenium&lt;/i&gt; even, brown, dark brown to black when fresh, becoming blackish when dried, &lt;i&gt;receptacle surface&lt;/i&gt; pubescent, dark grey to greyish black when fresh, becoming blackish when dried. &lt;i&gt;Stipe&lt;/i&gt; 1.3&ndash;5 cm long, 0.2&ndash;0.5 cm broad, terete, finely pubescent, upward white to brownish, base part white to greyish when fresh, becoming brownish when dried.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Medullary excipulum&lt;/i&gt; 120&ndash;260 &micro;m broad, of &lt;i&gt;textura intricata&lt;/i&gt;, hyaline, composed of 2.5&ndash;4 &micro;m broad hyphae, walls thickened, J-. &lt;i&gt;Ectal excipulum&lt;/i&gt; 40&ndash;85 &micro;m broad, of &lt;i&gt;textura angularis&lt;/i&gt;, hyaline, terminal cells 15&ndash;30 &times; 8&ndash;13 &mu;m, blue in cotton blue, J +. &lt;i&gt;Stipitipellis&lt;/i&gt; 90&ndash;240 &micro;m, of &lt;i&gt;textura angularis&lt;/i&gt;, hyaline, terminal cells 12&ndash;30 &times; 8&ndash;18 &mu;m, blue in cotton blue, J +. &lt;i&gt;Asci&lt;/i&gt; arising from croziers, 8-spored, subcylindrical to clavate, with apex rounded, 190&ndash;235 &times; 15&ndash;20 &micro;m, J- in Melzer&rsquo;s reagent, blue in cotton blue. &lt;i&gt;Paraphyses&lt;/i&gt; filiform, 3&ndash;4 &micro;m broad, slightly exceeding the asci, apex enlarged, 4&ndash;5 &micro;m broad, hyaline, blue in cotton blue, J-. &lt;i&gt;Ascospores&lt;/i&gt; [80/2/2, in H 2 O] 15&ndash;19 (&ndash;20) &times; (10.5&ndash;) 11&ndash;14 &mu;m [Q = 1.26&ndash;1.63, Q = 1.39 &plusmn; 0.08)], broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth-walled under the light microscope.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Habitat and known distribution: Scattered or gregarious on the ground, associated with &lt;i&gt;Quercus&lt;/i&gt;. Currently only known in southwest China.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Other material examined: China, Yunnan Province, Yulong County, on the ground, under a &lt;i&gt;Quercus&lt;/i&gt; forest, alt. 2000 m, 20 July 2008, Q. Zhao 8296 (HKAS 54996).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Notes: Morphologically, &lt;i&gt;Helvella pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; resembles &lt;i&gt;H. atra&lt;/i&gt;, and &lt;i&gt;H. liquii&lt;/i&gt; (Skrede &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2017). However, the receptacle surface of &lt;i&gt;H. atra&lt;/i&gt; is glabrous, and that of &lt;i&gt;H. pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; is pubescent. Additionally, &lt;i&gt;H. atra&lt;/i&gt; is blackish with a dark violet brown tinge stipe (Skrede &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2017). In contrast, &lt;i&gt;H. liquii&lt;/i&gt; exhibits a dark brown to blackish stipe when fresh, while the base part of &lt;i&gt;H. pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; appears white to greyish.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Phylogenetically, &lt;i&gt;H. pseudoatra&lt;/i&gt; forms a sister group with &lt;i&gt;H. liquii&lt;/i&gt; in the fallax-pezizoides lineage (Fig. 1). The pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) value of 1.0, indicates no significant genetic recombination between them and confirms that they are different species (Fig. 2).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Bao, Shu-Xin, Li, Ying, Zhou, De-Qun, Thongklang, Naritsada, Yu, Feng-Ming &amp; Zhao, Qi, 2023, Two new species of the fallax-pezizoides complex in Helvella (Helvellaceae, Pezizales) from Yunnan, China, pp. 279-289 in Phytotaxa 626 (4)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 284-285, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.626.4.5, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10212930"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/10212930&lt;/a&gt

A new record of Ganoderma tropicum (Basidiomycota, Polyporales) for Thailand and first assessment of optimum conditions for mycelia production

In this study a new record of Ganoderma tropicum is described as from Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The fruiting body was collected on the base of a living Dipterocarpus tree. The sample is described on the basis of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses, and compared with closely related taxa. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, and RPB2 highly support the placement of the G. tropicum group with isolates from China and Taiwan (Maximum likelihood 100%, Maximum parsimony 100%, and Bayesian posterior probabilities 1.00). The optimal media, pH, and temperature for mycelial growth of the G. tropicum strain KUMCC18-0046 was also investigated and is reported as: PDA, MEA, and YPD, at pH 7–8 and 25–28 °C, respectively. This is the first report on the successful growing conditions for mycelial production, but unfortunately fruiting could not be achieved

Evidence for further non-coding RNA genes in the fungal rDNA region

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes play important, but incompletely understood, roles in various cellular processes, notably translation and gene regulation. A recent report on the detection of the ncRNA Signal Recognition Particle gene in the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region of several species of three genera of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes prompted a more thorough bioinformatics search for additional ncRNA genes in the full fungal ribosomal operon. This study reports on the detection of three ncRNA genes hitherto not known from the fungal ribosomal region: nuclear RNase P RNA, RNase MRP RNA, and a possible snoRNA U14 in a total of five species of Auricularia and Inocybe. We verified their presence through resequencing of independent specimens. Two completed Auricularia genomes were found to lack these ncRNAs elsewhere than in the ribosomal operon, suggesting that these are functional genes. It seems clear that ncRNA genes play a larger role in fungal ribosomal genetics than hitherto thought

Taxonomy, Diversity and Cultivation of the Oudemansielloid/Xeruloid Taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula with Respect to Their Bioactivities: A Review

The oudemansielloid/xeruloid taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula are genera of Basidiomycota that constitute an important resource of bioactive compounds. Numerous studies have shown antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other bioactivities of their extracts. The bioactive principles can be divided into two major groups: (a) hydrophilic polysaccharides with relatively high molecular weights and (b) low molecular medium polar secondary metabolites, such as the antifungal strobilurins. In this review, we summarize the state of the art on biodiversity, cultivation of the fungi and bioactivities of their secondary metabolites and discuss future applications. Although the strobilurins are well-documented, with commercial applications as agrochemical fungicides, there are also other known compounds from this group that have not yet been well-studied. Polysaccharides, dihydro-citrinone phenol A acid, scalusamides, and acetylenic lactones such as xerulin, also have potential applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and medicinal market and should be further explored. Further studies are recommended to isolate high quality bioactive compounds and fully understand their modes of action. Given that only few species of oudemansielloid/xeruloid mushrooms have been explored for their production of secondary metabolites, these taxa represent unexplored sources of potentially useful and novel bioactive metabolites

Hydnotrya oblongispora L. Li & S. H. Li, sp. nov.

&lt;p&gt;Hydnotrya oblongispora L. Li &amp; S.H. Li, sp. nov.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Plate 1&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Differs from other species in the genus &lt;i&gt;Hydnotrya&lt;/i&gt; by its nearly single-chambered ascomata and long ellipsoidal ascospores.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Etymology.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;oblongispora, refers to the long ellipsoidal ascospores.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Holotype.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; China, Yunnan, Lijiang (26&deg;37.00'N, 99&deg;42.00'E), alt. 3737 m, in the forest of &lt;i&gt;Abies forrestii&lt;/i&gt; Coltm.-Rog, 12 August 2020, Lin Li, BMDLU L20069.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Description.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Ascomata&lt;/i&gt; irregularly globose, 1.0-2.5 cm in diameter when fresh, smooth, sometimes gently folded inward, surface light khaki (4C5) to reddish brown (8D8); nearly single-chambered with a primary apical opening up to 0.2-0.8 cm in diameter, sometimes the opening is just an almost closed seam, white fluffy inside cavity. Elastic and crisp. No special smell was noticed.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Peridium&lt;/i&gt; two-layered, 280-340 &micro;m thick, outer layer 80-100 &micro;m thick, composed of light brown (6D8) ellipsoidal or irregular cells, with a red brown (6E8) pigment deposited on the outermost cells; inner layer, 200-240 &micro;m thick, consists of hyaline interwoven hyphae. Gleba chamber hollow, lined with a milky white (4B2) hymenium, hymenial surface fluffy. &lt;i&gt;Asci&lt;/i&gt; cylindrical, 102.5-138.5 &times; 13.0-25.5 &micro;m, 8-spored, thin-walled, narrowed into a long stalk (20-35 &mu;m) at the base, without croziers, arranged in a palisade. &lt;i&gt;Ascospore&lt;/i&gt; strictly uniseriate, long ellipsoidal, (20.0-) 26.5-39.0 &times; (9.5-) 11.0-21.5 &mu;m, Q = 2.0 &plusmn; 0.03, hyaline when immature, golden yellow (5B7) when mature, with a thickened exosporium, surface pitted. &lt;i&gt;Paraphyses&lt;/i&gt; hyaline, straight stick shape, 2.5-5 &micro;m in diam, septate, exceeding the asci by 60-70 &micro;m.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ecology and distribution.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Hypogeous, solitary, or in groups in soil, under &lt;i&gt;A. forrestii&lt;/i&gt; mixed with shrubs of &lt;i&gt;Rhododendron&lt;/i&gt; spp., fruiting from late summer to early autumn. Known only from Yunnan Province, China.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Additional specimens examined.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; China, Yunnan Province, Lijiang, Jiuhe, (26&deg;38.00'N, 99&deg;42.00'E), alt. 3946 m, in the forest of &lt;i&gt;A. forrestii&lt;/i&gt;, 12.Aug.2020, Lin Li (BMDLU L20067. GenBank: ITS = OM232075, LSU = ON982626); same locality, 19.Sept.2021, Lin Li (BMDLU L21217. GenBank: ITS = OM232084, LSU = ON982625).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Notes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;H. oblongispora&lt;/i&gt; is characterized by its mostly simple-chambered ascomata and golden yellow long-ellipsoid ascospores, especially with pitted surfaces, which differ from all other species of &lt;i&gt;Hydnotrya.&lt;/i&gt; Molecular analysis also shows that &lt;i&gt;H. oblongispora&lt;/i&gt; is distinct from other &lt;i&gt;Hydnotrya&lt;/i&gt; species, although it is closely related to &lt;i&gt;H. michaelis&lt;/i&gt;. However, &lt;i&gt;H. michaelis&lt;/i&gt; has convoluted, lobed ascomata and broadly ellipsoid spores with warty ascospores, which differ from this new species.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Li, Lin, Wan, Shan-Ping, Wang, Yun, Thongklang, Naritsada, Tang, Song-Ming, Luo, Zong-Long &amp; Li, Shu-Hong, 2023, New species of Hydnotrya (Ascomycota, Pezizomycetes) from southwestern China with notes on morphological characteristics of 17 species of Hydnotrya, pp. 49-67 in MycoKeys 100&lt;/i&gt; on page 49, DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.100.10670

Taxonomy, Diversity and Cultivation of the Oudemansielloid/Xeruloid Taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula and with Respect to Their Bioactivities: A Review.

The oudemansielloid/xeruloid taxa Hymenopellis, Mucidula, Oudemansiella, and Xerula are genera of Basidiomycota that constitute an important resource of bioactive compounds. Numerous studies have shown antimicrobial, anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other bioactivities of their extracts. The bioactive principles can be divided into two major groups: (a) hydrophilic polysaccharides with relatively high molecular weights and (b) low molecular medium polar secondary metabolites, such as the antifungal strobilurins. In this review, we summarize the state of the art on biodiversity, cultivation of the fungi and bioactivities of their secondary metabolites and discuss future applications. Although the strobilurins are well-documented, with commercial applications as agrochemical fungicides, there are also other known compounds from this group that have not yet been well-studied. Polysaccharides, dihydro-citrinone phenol A acid, scalusamides, and acetylenic lactones such as xerulin, also have potential applications in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and medicinal market and should be further explored. Further studies are recommended to isolate high quality bioactive compounds and fully understand their modes of action. Given that only few species of oudemansielloid/xeruloid mushrooms have been explored for their production of secondary metabolites, these taxa represent unexplored sources of potentially useful and novel bioactive metabolites