Inocybaceae and affiliated taxa from West Africa

Inocybaceae and affiliated taxa reported in West Africa were examined through a survey of available publications coupled with field data collections. Twenty-eight Inocyboid taxa have been reported in the region, including six species validly described in the genera Inocybe, Inosperma and Mallocybe. All taxonomic names have been confirmed in Index Fungorum (http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/names.asp). Among them, four taxa were synonyms of other species of Inocybaceae, Crepidotaceae or Chromocyphellaceae. Consequently, only six taxa, Inocybe ghanaensis, Mallocybe africana, Inosperma africanum, I. bulbomarginatum, I. flavobrunneum and Pseudosperma squamatum make the diversity of Inocybaceae from West Africa. Here the distribution of known taxa has been reported along with checklist. In addition, results of BLAST searches including any potential environmental matches (>97%) similarity is reported. Key words: Checklist, Ectomycorrhizal fungi, Inocybe, Distribution, Pseudosperma, West Afric

Phylogenetic and microscopic studies in the genus Lactifluus (Basidiomycota, Russulales) in West Africa, including the description of four new species

Despite the crucial ecological role of lactarioid taxa (Lactifluus, Lactarius) as common ectomycorrhiza formers in tropical African seasonal forests, their current diversity is not yet adequately assessed. During the last few years, numerous lactarioid specimens have been sampled in various ecosystems from Togo (West Africa). We generated 48 ITS sequences and aligned them against lactarioid taxa from other tropical African ecozones (Guineo-Congolean evergreen forests, Zambezian miombo). A Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree was inferred from a dataset of 109 sequences. The phylogenetic placement of the specimens, combined with morpho-anatomical data, supported the description of four new species from Togo within the monophyletic genus Lactifluus: within subgen. Lactifluus (L. flavellus), subgen. Russulopsis (L. longibasidius and L. pectinatus), and subgen. Edules (L. melleus). This demonstrates that the current species richness of the genus is considerably higher than hitherto estimated for African species and, in addition, a need to redefine the subgenera and sections within it

The genus Lactarius s. str. (Basidiomycota, Russulales) in Togo (West Africa) : phylogeny and a new species described

Lactarius s. str. represents a monophyletic group of about 40 species in tropical Africa, although the delimitation of the genus from Lactifluus is still in progress. Recent molecular phylogenetic and taxonomic revisions have led to numerous changes in names of tropical species formerly referred to Lactarius. To better circumscribe the genus Lactarius in Togo, we combined morphological data with sequence analyses and phylogeny inference of rDNA ITS sequences. Morphological and molecular data were generated from specimens sampled in various native woodlands and riverside forests; Lactarioid- and Russula sequences from public GenBank NCBI, and UNITE are included for phylogenetic analysis. The Maximum likelihood phylogeny tree inferred from aligned sequences supports the phylogenetic position of the studied samples from Togo within the subgenera Piperites, and Plinthogali. Lactarius s. str. includes about 13 species described from West Africa, of which eight were not previously known from Togo, including one new species: Lactarius subbaliophaeus identifiable by the presence of winged basidiospores, a pallisadic pileipellis with a uprapellis composed of cylindrical cells, inconspicuous pleurocystidia, and fusiform or tortuous, often tapering apex marginal cells. It can also be recognised by a transparent white latex that turns pinkish and then blackish, and a bluish reaction of the flesh context with FeSO4. These features mentioned do not match any of the morpho-anatomically most similar species, notably L. baliophaeus and L. griseogalus

Ectomycorrhizae of Tomentella badia: description and molecular identification

Species within the genera Tomentella are among the most important ECM in forests. However, our knowledge about their functional characteristics is still rather limited. The ectomycorrhizae of Tomentella badia on Picea abies are described here in detail and compared to the non-identified ECM Piceirhiza obscura. A pseudoparenchymatous mantle formed by epidermoid cells is covered by heaps of epidermoid cells. This mantle type is regarded as a new one and designated as mantle type R. Many cells filled with dark blue contents and/or blue granules, together with clampless hyphae, are distinct characters of these ectomycorrhizae. Molecular-phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region was used for identification

Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms

Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms

Long- and short-read metabarcoding technologies reveal similar spatiotemporal structures in fungal communities

Fungi form diverse communities and play essential roles in many terrestrial ecosystems, yet there are methodological challenges in taxonomic and phylogenetic placement of fungi from environmental sequences. To address such challenges, we investigated spatiotemporal structure of a fungal community using soil metabarcoding with four different sequencing strategies: short-amplicon sequencing of the ITS2 region (300-400 bp) with Illumina MiSeq, Ion Torrent Ion S5 and PacBio RS II, all from the same PCR library, as well as long-amplicon sequencing of the full ITS and partial LSU regions (1200-1600 bp) with PacBio RS II. Resulting community structure and diversity depended more on statistical method than sequencing technology. The use of long-amplicon sequencing enables construction of a phylogenetic tree from metabarcoding reads, which facilitates taxonomic identification of sequences. However, long reads present issues for denoising algorithms in diverse communities. We present a solution that splits the reads into shorter homologous regions prior to denoising, and then reconstructs the full denoised reads. In the choice between short and long amplicons, we suggest a hybrid approach using short amplicons for sampling breadth and depth, and long amplicons to characterize the local species pool for improved identification and phylogenetic analyses

Les champignons sauvages comestibles et connaissances endogènes des peuples autochtones Mbènzèlè et Ngombe de la République du Congo

Objectifs: Cette étude vise à sauvegarder les connaissances endogènes sur l’utilisation des champignons de forêts en République du Congo et à documenter scientifiquement ces ressources naturelles encore très peu connues.Méthodologie et Résultats: Les collectes opportunistes et les enquêtes ethnomycologiques au sein des peuples autochtones Mbènzèlè et Ngombe ont permis de recueillir des informations sur les différents types d’usage des champignons, leurs noms vernaculaires et leur signification. Au total, 25 genres et 51 espèces de champignons comestibles ont été enregistrés dans le milieu d’étude dont 32 ont été citées lors des enquêtes. Les genres les plus représentées sont Cantharellus, Marasmius, Russula et Termitomyces. Trois espèces sont utilisées dans la pharmacopée traditionnelle et sept ont fait l’objet de vente ou d’échange sous forme de Troc.Les connaissances sur les espèces de champignons sont détenues par un petit groupe au sein des enquêtés de chaque groupe ethnique. Les résultats de cette étude ne représentant qu’environ 50% de la connaissance endogène de ces deux groupes ethniques étudiés, poussent à intensifier des missions de terrain auprès de ces populations afin de conserver ces connaissances traditionnelles sur les Champignons Sauvages Comestibles (CSC).Conclusions et application des résultats. L’issue des tels travaux futurs sera la réalisation d’un guide sur les CSC en République du Congo. Un tel ouvrage contribuerait à la meilleure connaissance de la mycoflore africaine.Mots clés: Bomassa, connaissances traditionnelles, Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux, macromycètes, Makao, Forêts du Nord Congo, TrocEnglish Title: Wild Edible Fungi and indigenous knowledge of Mbènzèlè and Ngombe populations in the Republic of CongoEnglish AbstractObjectives: This study aims at safeguarding indigenous knowledge on the use of forest fungi and scientifically documenting those natural resources yet not very well known in the Republic of Congo.Methodology and Results: Opportunistic collecting and ethnomycological interviews in Mbènzèlè and Ngombe populations enabled to obtain information on the uses of fungi, their local names and meaning. In total, 25 genera and 51 species of edible fungi were recorded in the study area of which 32 were cited during interview. The most represented genera are Cantharellus, Marasmius, Russula et Termitomyces. Three species are used in traditional medicine and seven were sold or exchanged as in the form of barter. Knowledge on fungal species is hold by a small group of people within each ethnical group. Results of this study only representing about 50% of the indigenous knowledge of the ethnical groups studied lead to intensify fieldworks with those populations in order to conserve traditional knowledge on the Wild Edible Fungi (WEF) in the future.Conclusions et application of findings: The outcome of such works will be to produce a guide of WEF in the Republic of Congo. Such a document will contribute to a better understanding of the african mycoflora.Keywords: Bomassa, traditional knowledge, Non Woody Forest Products, macrofungi, Makao, Forests of Northern Congo, Barte

Three new species of Inosperma (Agaricales, Inocybaceae) from Tropical Africa

Here, we describe three new species of Inosperma from Tropical Africa: Inosperma africanum, I. bulhomarginatum and I. flavobrunneum. Morphological and molecular data show that these species have not been described before, hence need to be described as new. The phylogenetic placements of these species were inferred, based on molecular evidence from sequences of 28S and RPB2. Additional analysis using ITS dataset shows interspecific variation between each species. Phylogenetic analyses resolve I. flavobrunneum in Old World Tropical lade I with weak support, I. bulbomarginatum is sister of Old World Tropical clack 1 and I. africanum is indicated as sister to the rest of Inosperma. Complete description and illustrations, including photographs and line drawings, are presented for each species. A new combination of Inocybe shawarensis into Inosperma is also proposed