Generic concepts and taxonomic uncertainties in the family Meruliaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

The most recent phylogenetic studies demonstrated that the phlebioid clade forms three different lineages, which are accepted as Irpicaceae, Meruliaceae and Phanerochaetaceae in family rank. The family name Meruliaceae (= Climacodontaceae, = Phlebiaceae) was proposed by Petter Adolf Karsten in 1881 and published validly by Carleton Rea in 1922, based on Merulius as generic type. The family contains wood-inhabiting white-rot species, which microscopically characterised in general by the monomitic hyphal system with clamp-connections, the smooth, hyaline, thin-walled spores and the presence of cystidia. The annual resupinate basidiocarp form is dominated in the family, with corticioid (e.g. Lilaceophlebia), phlebioid (e.g. Merulius, Phlebia spp.), odontioid (e.g. Crustodontia, Scopuloides), hidnoid (e.g. Climacodon, Hydnophlebia, Mycoacia, Mycoaciella, Sarcodontia) or poroid (e.g. Luteoporia, Phlebiporia) trama. Furthermore, besides the resupinate basidiocarps, the pileate form also occurs in certain poroid genera (e.g. Aurantiopileus, Aurantiporus). Due to the results of the phylogenetic studies on the phlebioid clade, the former generic concepts based on morphological observations had to be revised in some cases. Based on multigene phylogenetic analyses, it seems that certain large genera (e.g. Ceriporia, Ceriporiopsis, Phanerochaete and Phlebia) created by morphological observations are polyphyletic and the species classified in these genera can be found in Meruliaceae as well as in other families within the order Polyporales. Therefore, the correct taxonomic status of many species in the phlebioid clade is uncertain and an extensive molecular sampling is necessary to establish sound generic concepts in the Meruliaceae. In this presentation (i) we aimed to discuss the taxonomic uncertainties and unsolved problems in the family Meruliaceae. Furthermore, based on morphological and phylogenetic perspectives (ii) we aimed to investigate the legitimacy of certain genus names, which formerly placed in the Meruliaceae: e.g. Amaurohydnum; and in addition (iii) we reported the description of a new polypore genus, typified on Aurantiporus alborubescens (≡ Phaeolus alborubescens) evidenced by morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analysis

The Inocybe-Conocybe workshops at Dombås 2021-2022

Some results from the Inocybe(-Conocybe) workshops at Dombås 2021-2022 are presented, with emphasis on the 2021 Inocybe results, based on extensive ITS-DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Among the 60 Inocybe s. lat. species sequence-verified in 2021, 30 were new to Norway. Most species were found in subalpine tall-herb Betula forests and calcareous low alpine Betula nana-Salix thickets, and more than half of the species are believed to be preferentially alpine-subalpine taxa.publishedVersio

DNA barcoding of wild Ganoderma specimens and cultivated strains in Hungary

The cosmopolitan polypore genus Ganoderma (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) has an enormous economic value, due to the caused diseases on different tree plantations (e.g. G. boninense in oil palms) and the medicinal properties of certain species (e.g. G. applanatum, G. lingzhi and G. sinense). The cultivated Ganoderma strains used by Hungarian growers originate both from selected wild strains or more often taxonomically not evaluated isolates with uncertain origin. However, based on morphological characteristics, the species concepts in the genus lack consensus, and the taxonomy of many Ganoderma taxa is thus problematic. Therefore, in addition to the morphological examination, suitable molecular methods have recently been required to the taxonomically correct identification of the wild Ganoderma species and cultivated strains in many cases. DNA barcode is a widely accepted tool for species identification and authentication of commercial products containing Ganoderma species. Among the tested fungal DNA barcoding markers, the application of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) is the most commonly used and it was formally proposed as the primary fungal barcode marker. Besides the ITS, several other DNA barcoding markers were used by different authors to clarify taxonomic difficulties in Ganoderma: e.g. β-tubulin, LSU, rpb1, rpb2, Tef1-α or the mtSSU rDNA sequence. Formerly, the Hungarian Ganoderma species (viz. G. adspersum, G. applanatum, G. carnosum, G. cupreolaccatum, G. lucidum and G. resinaceum) were briefly studied by Papp and Szabó (2013, in Acta Silv. Lign. Hung. 9: 71–83.), however, based on solely morphological charactersitics. In this study we aimed (i) to generate DNA barcoding sequences for all wild Ganoderma species observed in Hungary; furthermore, (ii) to investigate and evaluate the Hungarian cultivated strains labelled as “G. lucidum” and the Ganoderma spp. isolates preserved in culture collections, based on DNA barcoding sequence analysis. Supported by the ÚNKP-17-4 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities

Telamonioide slørsopper (Cortinarius), seksjon Safranopedes i Norge, med fokus på arter i kalklindeskog

The Cortinarius (telamonioid) species of sect. Safranopedes (= sect. Rubricosi s. auct.) in Norway are presented, with emphasis on our calcareous Tilia forest species. Altogether 15 species from the section are now known from Norway. Most of these species must be regarded as so far little known, overlooked or misidentified. The species can be sorted in four groups in Norway; (i) more or less habi- tat-specific calcareous Tilia forest species (Cortinarius elaphinicolor, C. epipurrus, C. milvinicolor, C. parhonestus), (ii) small species in rich Corylus-Quercus-Tilia forests (C. russulaespermus, C. subexitiosus, C. subscotoides), (iii) small species mainly in conifer forests or with Betula (C. annae-maritae, C. comptulus, C. nigrocuspidatus, C. aff. pauperculus, C. subobtusus) (iv) very small taxa associated mainly with Salix spp., including arctic-alpine populations (C. paululus, C. pauperculus, C. scotoides). The calcareous Tilia forests taxa include the core group of sect. Safranopedes; mediumsized taxa with violet KOH-reaction in context and often radicate, saffron yellow spotted stipe and context. This core group includes C. epipurrus (= C. pseudosafranopes) which seems not uncommon in Europe, and three apparently widespread but rare species, only known from a few localities outside SE Norway: C. milvinicolor is distinguished on its initially olivaceous grey brown colours, C. parhonestus on more vivid fulvous colours and C. elaphinicolor being more or less intermediate. A presentation and nomenclatural discussion on the type species of the section, C. safranopes is included, although this species is so far not confirmed from Norway. barcoding, Cortinariaceae, morphology, nrDNA-ITS sequences, taxonomy, TelamoniaTelamonioide slørsopper (Cortinarius), seksjon Safranopedes i Norge, med fokus på arter i kalklindeskogpublishedVersio