Phylogenetic placement and anatomical characterisation of two new West African Tomentella (Basidiomycota, Fungi) species

Tomentella amyloapiculata and T. agbassaensis are described as new species within the genus Tomentella based on materials we collected in the West African, northern Guinean seasonal forests. We used a combination of anatomical characters, sequence analyses and phylogenetic inference of 71 ITS rDNA sequences to characterise the two new species. Anatomically, T. amyloapiculata is characterised by simple septate brown to dark brown, thick-walled subicular and subhymenial hyphae and triangular to slightly lobed brown basidiospores (in frontal view), with isolate aculei of 1–2 μm. Phylogenetically, T. amyloapiculata forms a sister species of T. fuscocinerea with a moderate bootstrap support of 70%. T. amyloapiculata deviates from T. fuscocinerea by 10.07–11.73% in their sequence similarities. As far as T. agbassaensis is concerned, it clusters phylogenetically together with T. bryophila with a strong bootstrap support of 99%. The species is characterised by slightly differentiated rhizomorphs with yellowish hyphae, clamped, thick-walled and yellow to dark yellow subicular hyphae and pale yellow, small basidiospores of 6–8(8.5) μm with aculei of up to 0.5 μm. Both new species deviated from each other by 11.0–11.60% with regard to the ITS rDNA nucleotides.     

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.     

A new species of Amanita section Lepidella from South China

Amanita macrocarpa from Guangdong Province of China is described. The new species is a large, brownish orange to light brown mushroom, characterized by numerous pyramidal warts on the pileus, yellowish lamellae, a large annulus at the middle of the stipe, and amyloid ellipsoidal basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species and related taxa based on the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences are provided. Morphological and molecular data show that A. macrocarpa is a member of Amanita, section Lepidella, and clearly different from any known taxon of the section.     

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.     

Antrodia tropica sp. nov. from southern China inferred from morphological characters and molecular data

Antrodia tropica sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of collections originating from Hainan, southern tropical China. Both the morphology and phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences support this new species. Morphologically, it is characterized by resupinate basidiocarps, an annual growth habit, greyish to pinkish buff pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and cylindrical to subfusiform basidiospores. The hymenophoral trama is dominated by generative hyphae, whereas skeletal hyphae are dominant in the subiculum. Molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS sequence data suggested a close relationship between A. tropica and two other Antrodia species, including A. huangshanensis reported from China and A. ramentacea found mostly in boreal Eurasia.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Luteoamylascus aculeatus</Emphasis> (Pezizomycetes,Pezizaceae): a new genus and species near the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pachyphlodes</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amylascus</Emphasis> lineage

The new taxon Luteoamylascus aculeatus described in this article is proposed to accommodate two collections of a hypogeous ascomycete from central Spain, characterized by a tomentose yellowish peridium, labyrinth-like gleba filled with whitish hyphae, and intensely reacting amyloid asci. ITS, 28S, and RPB2 data suggest that this new taxon is an independent lineage proposed here as the new genus Luteoamylascus. Until now, this lineage was only known from ectomycorrhizal root tips and mitotic spore mats. In phylogenetic analyses, the Luteoamylascus lineage is placed close to the genera Amylascus, Pachyphlodes, and Scabropezia. Morphological data suggest an affinity with Amylascus.     

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.     

Hirticrusta gen. nov. segregated from Neofomitella in Polyporaceae (Polyporales)

Taxonomic studies including morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses were conducted on Japanese “uragin-take”, an unidentified species from Amazonia, Brazil and their allies. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS, nrLSU and RPB2 regions revealed that “uragin-take”, Neofomitella polyzonata and the unidentified species formed a monophyletic clade separate from the clade including the other four Neofomitella spp. and that “uragin-take” is conspecific with N. polyzonata. Morphological investigations on authentic specimens revealed that Polyporus subradiatus is a prior name for N. polyzonata. We propose Hirticrusta gen. nov. typified by H. subradiata segregated from Neofomitella, and we erected H. amazonica sp. nov. for the unidentified species. Hirticrusta is characterized by annual to biennial and sessile basidiocarps, semicircular to dimidiate pileus, velutinous to tomentose hairs on pileus surface, buff to brown context with a crustose layer indicated by a dark brown line forming a longitudinal section below the superficial hairs, a trimitic hyphal system, crustose layer composed of parallel and densely arranged brown hyphae and cylindrical basidiospores. The new species, H. amazonica is distinguishable from other polypores by downy and long tomentum on the pileus surface (up to 20 mm thick), brown context with a dark brown layer below the tomentum and round pores (5–7/mm).     

The ectomycorrhiza <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piceirhiza internicrassihyphis</Emphasis>: A weak competitor of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cortinarius obtusus</Emphasis>?

The ectomycorrhiza (ECM) Piceirhiza internicrassihyphis on Picea abies is described in detail. It is yellowish brown to brown with a mantle of a transitional type between plectenchymatous and pseudoparenchymatous. The inner mantle layers show some thick-walled hyphae, often with a few of them growing in parallel. These thick-walled hyphae contain particles which turn brownish in Melzer’s reagent, and their septa and walls are partially amyloid. Rhizomorphs occur infrequently and are undifferentiated, and are composed of rather loosely woven hyphae of uniform diameter. This combination of characteristics has not yet been identified in any other ECM. The lack of cystidia and the presence of amyloidy suggest that this ECM is formed by a species of the family Thelephoraceae. Piceirhiza internicrassihyphis can be found associated with ECM of Cortinarius obtusus, and the hyphae of the latter species often grow on the surface of P. internicrassihyphis and can even cover the whole tip. Although there is a close association and possibly a penetration between these two fungi, it can be excluded that the thick-walled hyphae of the inner mantle layers originate from C. obtusus. Some emanating hyphae of C. obtusus ECM seem to interact with those of P. internicrassihyphis, as indicated by short, hyphal outgrowths which were found attached to the foreign hyphae.     

A new endophytic species of Arthrinium (Apiosporaceae) from Jatropha podagrica

During study of endophytic fungal diversity in tropical region, a new species of Arthrinium was isolated from healthy petiole of Jatropha podagrica. It is characterized by aseptate, dark brown, circular, lenticular conidia with hyaline margin, broad, hyaline conidiophores with numerous brown septa and ampulliform–lageniform conidiophore mother cells. The new species superficially resembles A. phaeospermum and A. saccharicola in having circular lenticular conidia, but differs in conidia and conidiophore size, and shape of conidiophore mother cells. Phylogenetic study using sequence analysis of ITS region (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) separates the new species (A. jatrophae) from other related species of Arthrinium.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leifiporia rhizomorpha</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. eucalypti</Emphasis> comb. nov. in Polyporaceae (Basidiomycota)

A new poroid wood-inhabiting fungal genus, Leifiporia, is proposed, based on morphological and molecular evidence, which is typified by L. rhizomorpha sp. nov. The genus is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with white to cream pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections and branching mostly at right angles, skeletal hyphae present in the subiculum only and distinctly thinner than generative hyphae, IKI–, CB–, and ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, IKI–, CB– basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data of ITS + nLSU sequences showed that Leifiporia belonged to the core polyporoid clade and was closely related to Diplomitoporus overholtsii and Lopharia cinerascens, and then grouped with Pycnoporus and Trametes. Further investigation was obtained for more representative taxa in the Polyporaceae based on nLSU sequences, in which the results demonstrated that the genus Leifiporia formed a monophyletic lineage with a strong support (100 % BS, 100 % BP, 1.00 BPP). Both morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the placement of the new genus in the core polyporoid clade. In addition, a new combination, Leifiporia eucalypti, is proposed based on examination of its type material and phylogeny.     

Athelia termitophila sp. nov. is the teleomorph of the termite ball fungus Fibularhizoctonia sp.

A new species of Athelia, A. termitophila, from Japan is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Basidiomes of this species are characterized by having hyphae sometimes with clamp connections at the septa, basidia without clamp connections at the basal septa, and ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores measuring 4.5–6 × 3–4.5 μm. In culture, mycelia produce pale brown, orange-brown to brown, globose sclerotia measuring 0.24–0.41 mm diam. The sclerotia are distinctly different in shape and size from those of other Athelia species, and are occasionally found inside the woody substrate beneath basidiomes. They are identical in shape and size to those of Fibularhizoctonia sp., also known as termite balls. Phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data revealed that A. termitophila is the teleomorph of Fibularhizoctonia sp.     

Brunneocorticium pyriforme, a new corticioid fungal genus and species belonging to the euagarics clade

Evidence derived from molecular studies in recent years has revealed that corticioid fungal genera are present in all major clades of Homobasidiomycetes. Brunneocorticium pyriforme, a corticioid fungus is proposed as a new species and placed in a new genus belonging to the euagarics clade. This fungus has been collected in subtropical-tropical Taiwan and southern Yunnan Province, China. Basidiocarps often occur on bark of living Murraya spp. (Rutaceae). Basidiocarps of B. pyriforme are resupinate with a smooth hymenial surface, a dimitic hyphal system, with nodose-septate generative hyphae and abundant yellowish brown skeletal hyphae, and leptocystidia. It has 2-sterigmate basidia and pear-shaped basidiospores. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data derived from LSU rDNA included Brunneocorticium in the euagarics clade of Homobasidiomycetes, allied to the agaricoid genera Marasmiellus, Campanella, etc. The molecular analysis indicated that the Brunneocorticium was independent from other corticioid genera with similar morphological features.     

Chlorolepiota indica sp. nov.—A new species from India

A new species Chlorolepiota indica is reported from Patiala in Punjab, India. The fungus is characterized by convex brown pileus covered by concentrically arranged brown scales with yellow tinge around the umbo. The stipe of the fruiting body is cream to pale yellow, pinkish to reddish brown near the pileus, and yellowish to dark grey brown towards the base.     

A taxonomic study of the Subantarctic Piptoporus (Polyporaceae, Basidiomycetes) II

Morphological and cultural studies of Polyporus maculatissimus and P. portentosus are presented. Neolentiporus gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate P. maculatissimus , a species with a striking macromorphological similarity with the north temperate P. squamosus . The new genus is characterized by medium to large stipitate fruitbodies with a poroid hymenophore, circular to flabellate pilei with a scaly surface and an excentric or lateral stipe that sometimes is reduced to a short, robust umbo. The hyphal system is dimitic with clamped, irregularly thick-walled generative hyphae that do not react with cresyl-blue, and terminal, unbranched, thick-walled skeletal hyphae that are strongly metachromatic in cresyl-blue. Spores are cylindric, hyaline, thin-walled, inamyloid and binucleate. The sexuality is bipolar, the nuclear behavior is astatocoeno-cytic and the associated wood-rot is brown. The new genus is regarded as the poroid counterpart of the agaricoid Neolentinus. Polyporus portenrosus is included in Laetiporus on the basis of its yellowish fruitbodies, its soft, punky context, its hyphal system composed of simple septate generative hyphae and binding hyphae, its holocoenocytic nuclear behavior and its associated brown wood-rot. A new code symbol, i.e. '9s' is proposed to codify the presence, in cultures, of simple-septate generative hyphae with irregularly thickened walls.     

Two new Daedalea species (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) from South China

Two new Daedalea species were described from South China based on morphological and molecular evidences. Daedalea circularis sp. nov. was discovered from Guangdong and Yunnan provinces, it is characterized by its bluish gray to peach, glabrous, concentrically sulcate and zonate pileal surface with irregular, white to cream outgrowth and fuscous to black patches spreading from the base, round hymenophore, colorless, thin-walled cystidioles present in the hymenium which sometimes with branched apiculus and occasionally collapsed and septate. Daedalea radiata sp. nov. was discovered from Yunnan Province, it is easily recognizable by its effused-reflexed, grayish-brown to fuscous, hispid pileal surface with angular to daedaleoid pores, tissue darkening and skeletal hyphae slightly swollen in KOH, and a typical catahymenium formed by apices of skeletal hyphae in the hymenium.