A synopsis of the genusScleromitrula (=Verpatinia) (Ascomycotina: Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae)

The systematics ofScleromitrula andVerpatinia of the family Sclerotiniaceae is reevaluated on the basis of morphological, cultural and molecular criteria.Scleromitrula shiraiana, Verpatinia species andCiborinia candolleana share gross morphological, microanatomical and cultural features which clearly distinguish them from the closely relatedCiborinia andRutstroemia species. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1, ITS2, and the 5.8S gene) of nuclear ribosomal DNA demonstrate that the stipitate-capitate specimens ofScleromitrula andVerpatinia species plus the stipitate-cupulateCiborinia candolleana constitute a monophyletic clade separate from a clade including the type species ofCiborinia. Scleromitrula is emended to includeS. shiraiana, the new speciesS. rubicola, C. candolleana, and specimens formerly assigned toVerpatinia. A key to the accepted species ofScleromitrula is provided.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Colonizing Birch Trees Growing in an Industrial Desert Soil

The results of analyses conducted to determine contents of Cd(II) and Pb(II) in mushrooms of mycorrhizal fungi and selected parts of birches growing in an industrial desert surrounding a nonferrous works are presented in this study. The fruiting bodies of fungi accumulated several times higher contents (up to 80 μg g⁻¹ dry weight) of Cd(II) compared to those found in the soil (20 μg g⁻¹ dry weight). In contrast, the mushroom contents of Pb(II) were only slightly increased (up to 895 μg g⁻¹ dry weight) than those present in the soil (500 μg g⁻¹ dry weight). However, fivefold higher concentrations of the metals were found in the mycorrhizal roots. Comparing the distribution of the metals analysed, the protective role of the ectomycorrhizae in relation to the host tree was indicated. Mycorrhizal fungi persistently fixed heavy metals, forming an efficient biological barrier that reduced movement of the metals in birch tissues.     

A new Rhizopogon species associated with Pinus amamiana in Japan

Pinus amamiana is an endangered Pinus species found only on Yakushima Island and Tanegashima Island, Japan. We surveyed remaining P. amamiana forests and found some sporocarps of Rhizopogon (Boletales), many species of which exhibit strict host specificity to a narrow range of Pinaceae trees and play critical roles in host establishment. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, here we describe Rhizopogon yakushimensis sp. nov. This new species belongs to a new clade, phylogenetically related to the subgenera Versicolores and Rhizopogon. We also confirmed its ectomycorrhizal association with P. amamiana by comparing rDNA ITS sequences between the sporocarps and ectomycorrhizal root tips.     

Three new species of Lactarius (Russulaceae,Russulales) from Northeast China

Three new species of Lactarius are described from Northeast China, based on morphological comparisons and analyses on ITS nrDNA sequences. Samples of these species were mostly collected from deciduous or mixed forests with oaks. Lactarius albidocinereus, a member of L. subg. Plinthogalus is very similar to European L. azonites in the morphology and the sequence data. It differs from L. azonites by more ellipsoid spores with thinner ornamentation and shorter terminal cells in the pileipellis. Lactarius dilutisalmoneus belongs to L. sect. Zonarii of L. subg. Lactarius due to the pale salmoneus subzonate pileus with glabrous margin, unchanging latex and spore ornamentation composed of isolated elements. In comparison with its relatives, i.e. European L. zonarioides and North American L. olympianus, this new species has smaller spores with more prominent ornamentation. Lactarius olivaceorimosellus, a member of L. subg. Russularia, has areolate-rimulose pileus and lacks rosettes in the pileus and stipe cortex. Apart from the concentrically cracked pileus and absence of rosettes, the species can be easily distinguished by the olivaceo-brownish tinge of the pileus and spores with more dispersed elements of the ornamentation. Of the three species, at least L. albidocinereus represents a link with the Lactarius mycota of subtropical China.     

Trichoderma harzianum及其近缘种的分子系统学研究

Thichoderma harzianum是木霉属内最常见的一个“集合种”。本研究对来源不同的T.harzianum及其相似种的46个菌株进行了ITS序列测定,将其ITSl—5．8S—ITS2序列与来自EMBL的参考菌株的序列进行比较,并进行系统发育分析,此外对其中的18个菌株进行了RAPD多态性分析,试图明确T.harzianum的多样性以及与其相似种之间的关系。ITS结果表明,T.harzianum及其相似种可分成2个群(A、B)：A群由T.hamatum、T.asperellum、T.at-roviride、T.koningii和T.viride组成,并形成2个分支,表明T.viride和T.koningii、T.atroviride的亲缘关系较近,而与T.hamatum、T.asperellum较远;B群由T.spirale、T.hamatum、T.inhamatum、T.harzianum和T.anam。Hypocrea vinosa组成,并形成6个分支。T.inhamatum可分成2个群(Ti1、Ti2)、T.harzianum至少可分成5个群(Thl、Th2、Th4、Th5、Th6)。结果还表明T.hamatum的遗传差异较大,T.hamatum的模式菌株归属于A群,而其他的T.hamatum的菌株归属于B群。RAPD结果与ITS的结果基本一致。     

基于ITS序列探讨忍冬属的系统发育关系

以七子花(Heptacodium miconioides)为外类群,运用MEGA软件对20种忍冬属植物进行系统发育分析,采用邻接法(NJ)和最大简约法(MP)构建系统发育树,从分子系统学角度探讨忍冬属下的亲缘关系.结果表明:(1)在NJ和MP系统树中,没有形成系统树的基部分支,忍冬亚属(Subg.Chamaecerasus)和轮花亚属(Subg.Lonicera)没有形成姐妹群关系.(2)在各系统树中,囊管组内的各种没有聚为一支,故认为对囊管组的划分应进一步探讨.(3)忍冬属ITS区(ITS1+ITS2)的信息位点达到11.0%,信息位点比较丰富,证明ITS序列可以为解决忍冬属植物的系统发育问题提供较强的证据.     

Pleurotus opuntiae revisited – An insight to the phylogeny of dimitic Pleurotus species with emphasis on the P. djamor complex

The name Pleurotus opuntiae is indiscriminately used for describing mushrooms with white to off-white to white-grey pilei with short or absent stipe and dimitic hyphal system, which grow on plants of the genera Opuntia, Yucca, Agave, Phytolacca etc. However, the outcome of the present study evidences that this name should be reserved for specimens deriving from the Mediterranean area only; an epitype originating from Italy on Opuntia ficus-indica is designated. Pertinent material was sequenced by using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and found to be phylogenetically related to P. djamor from Kenya and Nigeria, while members of the P. djamor complex from other continents were clearly more distant. Results were further corroborated by examining the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The P. djamor complex shows high intraspecific polymorphism evidenced by sequence divergence and genetic distance values, presents a cosmopolitan distribution and also comprises material initially identified as P. flabellatus, P. opuntiae, P. ostreatoroseus, P. parsonsiae and P. salmoneostramineus. An ITS tree including representative specimens from all major Pleurotus species is provided for the first time and ambiguous taxa are discussed in the context of new findings.