Three new Perenniporia (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) species from China based on morphological and molecular data

Three new Perenniporia species, P. lacerata, P. luteola and P. tianmuensis, are described based on morphological and molecular characters. Perenniporia lacerata is characterized by an annual habit, resupinate and papery basidiocarps with lacerate pores, a dimitic hyphal system with weakly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, truncate and dextrinoid basidiospores. Perenniporia luteola is distinguished by a perennial habit, resupinate basidiocarps with buff-yellow pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, non-truncate and dextrinoid basidiospores. Perenniporia tianmuensis differs in its annual habit, pileate basidiocarps, a dimitic hyphal system with strongly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, non-truncate and dextrinoid basidiospores. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS and LSU-rDNA regions revealed five clades for 29 species of Perenniporia used in this study. Both morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the placement of three new species in Perenniporia and showed its relationships with similar species in the genus.     

Perenniporia cinereofusca sp. nov. (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) evidenced by morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis

A new Perenniporia species, P. cinereofusca, is described based on morphological and molecular characters. It is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with gray to pale brown pore surface, tissues becoming black in 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH), a dimitic hyphal system with weakly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae and hyaline to pale yellowish, distinctly thick-walled and indextrinoid basidiospores (6.5–7.7 × 5.3–6.3 μm), and presence of dendrohyphidia and large rhomboid crystals. Both morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the placement of the new species in Perenniporia sensu stricto and showed its relationships with similar species in the genus.     

Three new species of Inonotus (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetaceae) from China

Three new species of Inonotus are described and illustrated. Inonotus acutus sp. nov. is characterized by having small, thin basidiocarps with a strongly contracted base, a sharp and undulate pileus margin, ventricose hymenial setae, and ellipsoid, yellowish to yellow-brown, slightly thick-walled basidiospores. Inonotus chrysomarginatus sp. nov. differs in having an annual to perennial growth habit, pileate basidiocarps with a distinctly yellowish buff to golden-yellow margin, distinct setal hyphae and hooked hymenial setae, and broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, pale yellowish, slightly thick-walled and weakly cyanophilous basidiospores. Inonotus rigidus sp. nov. is distinguished by its resupinate and hard rigid basidiocarps, the honey-yellow pore surface, and smaller pores; microscopically, it has ellipsoid, yellowish brown and thick-walled basidiospores, and lacks both setal hyphae and hymenial setae. An identification key to the Chinese species of Inonotus sensu stricto is provided.     

Antrodiella pendulina and A. citripileata spp. nov. (Basidiomycota,Polyporales) from subtropical and tropical China

Antrodiella pendulina H. S. Yuan and A. citripileata H. S. Yuan spp. nov. from southern China are illustrated and described. Antrodiella pendulina has disciform basidiocarps, a trimitic hyphal system, cylindrical basidiospores and occur exclusively on angiosperm twigs. Antrodiella citripileata has effused‐reflexed to pileate and lemon‐colored basidiocarps, very small pores, thick‐walled skeletal hyphae with a wide lumen, and small ellipsoid basidiospores.     

Two new polypores (Ceriporiopsis lavendula and Skeletocutis inflata spp. nov.) from Guangdong Province,China

Two new polypores (Ceriporiopsis lavendula B. K. Cui sp. nov. and Skeletocutis inflata B. K. Cui sp. nov.) are described from the Guangdong Province in southern China. Ceriporiopsis lavendula is characterized by having resupinate basidiocarps with lavender to grayish blue pore surface and very thin to almost absent subiculum, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and oblong‐ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores. Moreover, it grows on wood of Castanopsis exclusively. Skeletocutis inflata is characterized by having pileate basidiocarps, smaller pores (8–10 per mm), inflated and partly dissolved skeletal hyphae in KOH. In addition, its tramal skeletal hyphae are parallel along the tubes. Identification keys to species of Ceriporiopsis and Skeletocutis occurring in China are provided.     

Amanita xenokommosis (Agaricales,Basidiomycota), a striking new species from sand dune forest of northeastern Brazil,with a key for phenetically similar species*

Abstract

Amanita is a well established genus corresponding one to the major groups of Agaricales having with a rich systematic story. Several species belonging to this genus were recently reported from Brazil. Recent studies changed drastically its infrageneric classification, recognizing the subgenera Amanita, Amanitina and Lepidella. Within the subg. Amanitina, the ectomycorrhizal species with amyloid basidiospores, appendiculate pileus and stipe base with more globose to subglobose bulb belong to sect. Roanokenses. Amanita xenokommosis belongs to this section and is described here a new species from the Brazilian Coastal Sand Dune. It is characterized by elongate to cylindrical amyloid basidiospores, brown pileus with sharp floccose appendiculate remnants and bulb covered by a large limbate/saccate universal veil. Amanita caojizong, A. manginiana, A. modesta, A. pseudomanginiana and A. pseudoporphyria are similar species, but differ in many aspects, such as basidiospores size, shape of bulb and characteristics of the universal veil.     

Two new polypores from tropical China, and renaming two species of Polyporus and Phellinus

Two new polypores, Inonotus canaricola sp. nov. and Skeletocutis substellae sp. nov., are described. Both of them were found in Hainan, tropical China. I. canaricola is distinct from other species in the genus by bearing a black cuticle at the upper surface, presence of hyphoid setae in the trama and hooked hymenial setae, and having yellowish brown and subglobose to globose basidiospores. S. substellae is very similar to S. stellae but differs from the latter by swollen skeletal hyphae in potassium hytrochloride (KOH) and smaller basidiospores. In addition, Polyporus rhododendri is renamed as P. taibaiensis, because the previous name was illegitimate. A new combination, Phellinus yunnanensis, is proposed.     

Morphological and molecular evidence for a new species of Perenniporia (Basidiomycota) from Tibet, southwestern China

A new polypore, Perenniporia tibetica, collected in Xizang (Tibet), southwestern China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and molecular characters. Perenniporia tibetica is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with a creambuff to pinkish-buff pore surface and white to cream-colored rhizomorphs, a dimitic hyphal system with slightly dextrinoid and distinctly cyanophilous skeletal hyphae, and basidiospores that are ellipsoid, truncate or not, strongly dextrinoid, and cyanophilous, 6.7–8.7 × 5.3–6.8 μm. Its preliminary phylogenetic relationships are inferred based on sequence data from the ribosomal ITS and LSU regions, both suggesting that P. tibetica forms a distinct lineage in the genus Perenniporia.     

Dichomitus hubeiensis sp. nov. and a new record of Dichomitus (Basidiomycota) from China

Dichomitus hubeiensis Hai J. Li & B. K. Cui sp. nov. is described from the Hubei province, central China. It is distinct in the genus by its cream to straw‐yellow pore surface and large pores (1–2 per mm), both inamyloid and indextrinoid skeletal hyphae, presence of cystidioles and dendrohyphidia in the hymenium, more or less ellipsoid basidiospores (10–14 × 5.6–7.0 µm). Dichomitus kirkii originally described from Zimbabwe was found in the Yunan province, it is new to the Chinese fungal flora, and is characterized by its buff‐yellow to cinnamon‐buff pore surface, entire to lacerate pores (1–2 per mm) and large cylindrical basidiospores (20.8–25.0 × 6.8–8.0 µm).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Strobilomyces verruculosus</Emphasis> sp. nov. from Japan

A new species, Strobilomyces verruculosus, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically distinct from other species of Strobilomyces by having a verruculose pileus with small subpyramidal scales, a long and thick stipe with small warty to appressed scales, subdecurrent tubes, and incompletely reticulate basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (cox3) gene support that it belongs to the genus Strobilomyces and is highly differentiated from the other members of this genus found in Japan.     

Lactarius ochrogalactus, a new species of the genus Lactarius (Russulaceae, Russulales) with yellowish-brown latex

Lactarius ochrogalactus Hashiya, invalidly published in 1994, is validated and described in detail here. It is characterized by having yellowish-brown basidiocarps, yellowish-brown latex that stains reddish-brown, lampropalisade pileipellis, lamprotrichoderm stipitipellis, pleuromacrocystidia, and basidiospores that are ornamented with warts connected by fine lines. Because this species shares some characters with Lactarius subgen. Plinthogali as well as with Lactarius subgen. Lactiflui, we prefer to wait for molecular data before defining this species to a subgenus or section.     

New records of minute litter-decomposing basidiomycetes from Japan.Actiniceps thwaitesii (Pterulaceae) new to Japan andAnastrophella podocarpicola sp. nov. (Tricholomataceae)

Actiniceps thwaitesii (Pterulaceae) new to Japan andAnastrophella podocarpicola sp. nov. (Tricholomataceae) are described and illustrated. The former is characterized by forming stipitate-capitate basidiomata under 1 mm tall with encrusted cystidia and acanthophyses. The latter, occurring on a decaying leaf ofPodocarpus macrophyllus, differs from other taxa ofAnastrophella in having undifferentiated hymenial cystidia and smaller basidiospores and basidia. Their cultural features are also presented.     

CYTOLOGICAL STUDIES IN LACCARIA (AGARICALES). I. MEIOSIS AND POSTMEIOTIC MITOSIS

In the genus Laccaria, basidial formation, dikaryotic basidia, karyogamy, and meiosis were generally similar to structures and phenomena reported for other Agaricales. The haploid nuclei of dikaryotic basidia resided side by side in the basidium prior to karyogamy. Following karyogamy a single nucleolus was observed in L. montana (four-spored species); several nucleoli remained in the nucleus of L. tortilis (two-spored species). The haploid number of chromosomes for L. montana appeared to be n = 9. Postmeiotic mitosis typically occurred in the basidiospores resulting in binucleate basidiospores for four-spored species and quadrinucleate basidiospores for two-spored species. Postmeiotic mitosis sometimes occurred in the sterigmata and basidia proper. In instances where postmeiotic mitosis occurred in basidia, mature basidiospores were not formed and the basidia were collapsed, and contained up to eight nuclei.     

Airborne Ganoderma basidiospores in a country with desert environment

Aerobiological studies to identify Ganoderma basidiospores were conducted using Burkard Volumetric 7-Day Recording Sampler (Burkard Manufacturing Co. Ltd., England) at three separate cities in Saudi Arabia. At one site, Jizan, close to the coast of Red Sea, up to 17% of all basidiospores counted were identified as Ganoderma spp. while less than 1% Ganoderma spp. were identified at the two non-coastal sites. A clear seasonal pattern from late autumn to early summer (October-March) with a peak in December was recorded at Jizan and the maximum concentration of Ganoderma basidiospores reached 1.9×10³?m^?3 in December followed by 1.2×10³?m^?3 in January. The diurnal pattern of Ganoderma spore concentrations, when averaged over the year had late-evening maxima (a nocturnal pattern). However, other sites that showed low concentrations of Ganoderma basidiospores did not exhibit any peak or a high maximal level. The study demonstrates that even in a desert environment, airborne activities of Ganoderma basidiospores can be recorded. The impact of Ganoderma on asthmatic patients, particularly in such environments, needs to be investigated.     

Asterostroma species (Basidiomycota) from mangrove forests in Japan

A new homobasidiomycete, Asterostroma macrosporum, was found in mangrove forests of Iriomote Island, Japan. This species is morphologically characterized by having resupinate basidiomata, a monomitic (asterodimitic) hyphal system, simple septate generative hyphae, dextrinoid asterosetae, four sterigmate basidia and globose, tuberculate and amyloid basidiospores measuring 8.5–11 × 7.5–9 μm. It is similar to A. muscicola, but basidiospores in the latter are smaller (7–8 × 5.5–7 μm). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region revealed that A. macrosporum is distinctly separated from A. muscicola. In Japan, A. muscicola is widely distributed in warm-temperate to subtropical regions, growing on a variety of broadleaved trees including mangroves, while A. macrosporum has been found only on mangroves.     

Musumecia gen. nov. in the Tricholomatoid clade (Basidiomycota,Agaricales) related to Pseudoclitocybe

Musumecia, a new genus of Agaricales, is described to accommodate the new species Musumecia bettlachensis. Based on a combined ITS– and LSU–rDNA Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony analysis, Musumecia clearly clusters within the Tricholomatoid clade, where it is sister to Pseudoclitocybe. Musumecia is distinguished from allied genera by a unique combination of macro‐ and micromorphological characters, including basidiomes with a clitocyboid/hygrophoroid habit, emerging from a fleshy pseudosclerotial mass (pseudosclerotium), decurrent and thick lamellae, a brown darkening of both lamellae and stipe, whitish‐cream spore print, elongated non‐siderophilous basidia, smooth, acyanophilous and inamyloid basidiospores, and the absence of both cystidia and clamp‐connections.     

Spore Liberation and Dispersal in Smut Fungi*

Teliospores are the most important diaspores of smut fungi, albeit not the only ones. The role of basidla, basidiospores, secondary spores, yeast cells, and infected parts of the host for dispersal has often been neglected. Many smut species have soral structures like galls, peridia, and elaters, which cause teliospores to be liberated over prolonged periods. This increases the chance that at least some spores are released under favourable wet climatic conditions and while host plants are susceptible. In this review, the diversity of dispersal units as well as vectors of smut fungi are presented. The importance of timing of diaspore liberation, flexibility in dispersal strategies, and the genetic and evolutionary implications of dispersal strategies of smut fungi are discussed. The general considerations are complemented by examples based on original field and laboratory observations: peridia of Farysia corniculata and certain species of Sporisorium expose the spore mass by hygroscopic movement under wet conditions (hygrochasy) favourable for teliospore germination and infection of a host plant. Basidia with firmly attached basidiospores liberated from spore balls of Doassansiopsis deformans, branched basidiospores of Rhamphospora nymphaeae, needle-shaped basidiospores of species of Entyloma, folded basidiospores of Mycosyrinx cissi, and stellate groups of yeast cells of Trichocintractia utriculicola show enlarged surfaces, which are advantageous for dispersal in water. Galls filled with spore balls of Doassansiopsis limnocharidis and witches' brooms formed by spikelets infected by Cintractia standleyana separate from the host and fall into water where they are dispersed.