Taxonomy and phylogeny of Stereaceae (Russulales, Basidiomycota): two new genera, nine new species and twenty new combinations.

Two new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Tubulicrinis xantha and T. yunnanensis spp. nov., are described based on morphological and molecular characters. Tubulicrinis xantha is characterized by resupinate, furfuraceous basidiomata with buff to yellowish hymenial surface, amyloid lyocystidia and cylindrical to allantoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (5.3–6.3 × 1.2–1.6 μm). Tubulicrinis yunnanensis is characterized by pruinose basidiomata with primrose to olivaceous hymenial surface and encrusted lyocystidia and cylindrical, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (4.2–6.2 × 1.2–2 μm). 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 analyses based on molecular data of ITS and ITS + nLSU sequences showed that T. xantha grouped with T. martinicensis , and T. yunnanensis grouped with T. glebulosus . • ●Phylogenetic analyses revealed that both species grouped in the Tubulicrinis. • ●Two new species of Tubulicrinis were described. • ● Tubulicrinis xantha grouped with T. martinicensis. • ● Tubulicrinis yunnanensis grouped with T. glebulosus.

Four new wood-inhabiting fungi, Trechisporaalbofarinosa, T.bisterigmata, T.pileata and T.wenshanensisspp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Trechisporaalbofarinosa is characterized by the farinose basidiomata with flocculence hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and ellipsoid, warted basidiospores. Trechisporabisterigmata is characterized by the membranous basidiomata with odontioid hymenial surface, rhizomorphic sterile margin, barrelled basidia and subglobose to broad ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores. Trechisporapileata is characterized by the laterally contracted base, solitary or imbricate basidiomata, fan shaped pileus, radially striate-covered surface with appressed scales, odontioid hymenophore surface, and subglobose to broad ellipsoid, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores. Trechisporawenshanensis is characterized by a cottony basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface, and ellipsoid, thin-walled, warted basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and LSU marker of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS+nLSU sequences highlighted that four new species were grouped into the genus Trechispora.

A new wood-inhabiting fungus, Phlebia nigrodontea, is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by a grandinioid hymenophore with vinaceous brown to black colour, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae and ellipsoid, colourless, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (3.9–4.9 × 2.3–3.1 µm). Sequences of ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses carried out using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses based on the molecular data of ITS+nLSU sequences showed that P. nigrodontea nested within the phlebioid clade. A further investigation of more representative taxa from Phlebia, based on ITS+nLSU sequences, demonstrated that the species P. nigrodontea formed a monophyletic lineage with strong support (100% BS, 100% BT, 1.00 BPP) and closely grouped with P. chrysocreas.

A new corticioid fungal species, Hyphodermella zixishanensis, is described based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiomata with reddish hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing simple septa, IKI–, CB– and ellipsoid, colorless, thin‐walled, smooth basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU gene regions were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the species belongs to Hyphodermella and is placed as sister to H. aurantiaca.

Two new species of Steccherinum (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from southern China based on morphology and DNA sequence data.

A new poroid wood-inhabiting fungal species, Cinereomyces fimbriatus sp. nov., is proposed based on morphological and molecular characteristics. The species is characterized by resupinate, brittle basidiomata with cream pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, broad allantoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (3.6–4.6 × 0.8–1.1 µm). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene sequences 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 ITS sequences showed that C. fimbriatus formed a monophyletic lineage with strong supports (100% BS, 100% BT, 1.00 BPP) sister to C. lindbladii.

In this present study, five new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum, Botryobasidium incanum, Botryobasidium yunnanense, Coltricia zixishanensis, and Coltriciella yunnanensis are proposed. Botryobasidium gossypirubiginosum is distinguished by its slightly rubiginous hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, which branches at right angles, and subglobose, smooth basidiospores (14-17.5 × 13-15.5 µm); B. incanum is characterized by its white to incanus basidiomata having a hypochnoid hymenial surface, and ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores (6.5-8.5 × 3.5-5 µm); B. yunnanense is characterized by its buff to slightly yellowish hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, and broadly ellipsoid to globose, smooth, thick-walled basidiospores (11.5-14.5 × 9.5-10.5 µm); Coltricia zixishanensis differs in its rust brown pileal surface, and ellipsoid, thick-walled basidiospores (5-6.5 × 4-4.5 µm). Coltriciella yunnanensis is distinguished by its tiny pilei, short stipe, and navicular, verrucose basidiospores (10.5-12.5 × 6-7 µm). Sequences of ITS and nLSU genes were used for phylogenetic analyses using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic results inferred from ITS sequences revealed that B. gossypirubiginosum was closely related to B. robustius; the species B. incanum was grouped with B. vagum; B. yunnanense was related to B. indicum. The species C. zixishanensis was grouped with C. confluens and C. perennis. ITS sequences revealed that C. zixishanensis was grouped into the genus Coltriciella, in which it was grouped with Co. globosa and Co. pseudodependens.

A new species of bird’s nest fungus, Cyathus tongxinianus, is proposed based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Cyathus tongxinianus is characterized by the cupulate to obconical basidiomata with the smooth outer and inner surface of the peridium, a dimitic hyphal system of peridium walls with generative hyphae having clamp connections, the presence of the fimbriate mouth, brown black to dark grey peridioles, a monomitic hyphal system bearing the generative hyphae with clamp connections, the presence of crystals, and sub-globose, thick-walled basidiospores (8.5–19.5 × 7.5–11). Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated, and the phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and bayesian inference methods on two datasets (ITS+nLSU and ITS). The analyses showed that the new species clustered into the genus Cyathus within the family Nidulariaceae based on the ITS+nLSU phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data from ITS sequences showed that C. tongxinianus is sister to C. annulatus, and groups with C. renweii.

Two new species of the bird’s nest fungus, Cyathus asiaticus and C. prismaticus are proposed based on a combination of the morphological and molecular evidence. Cyathus asiaticus is characterized by having an obconical, campanulate to cupulate basidiomata with the inconspicuously striation on the inner surface of the peridium, smooth mouth, silver gray to black peridioles with funicular cord, a monomitic hyphal system bearing the generative hyphae with clamp connections and broadly ellipsoid, elliptical, subglobose, ovoid, irregular, thick-walled basidiospores with inconspicuous apiculus. Cyathus prismaticus is characterised by the infundibuliform, obconical to cupulate basidiomata covered with shaggy or hirsute hairs, presence of the striations on the outer and inner surface of the peridium, peridioles with the funicular, a dimitic hyphal system with generative hyphae having clamp connections, prensence of the narrow oblique prisms and subglobose, ovoid, elliptical to broadly ellipsoid, thick-walled basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated, and the phylogenetic analysis were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods on two datasets (ITS+nLSU and ITS). The dataset analysis showed that two new species clustered into the genus Cyathus.

Three new wood-inhabiting fungi, Hyphoderma crystallinum, H. membranaceum, and H. microporoides spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Hyphoderma crystallinum is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with smooth hymenial surface scattering scattered nubby crystals, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and numerous encrusted cystidia present. Hyphoderma membranaceum is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with tuberculate hymenial surface, presence of the moniliform cystidia, and ellipsoid to cylindrical basidiospores. Hyphoderma microporoides is characterized by the resupinate, cottony basidiomata distributing the scattered pinholes visible using hand lens on the hymenial surface, presence of halocystidia, and cylindrical to allantoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS+nLSU rRNA gene regions of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. These phylogenetic analyses showed that three new species clustered into Hyphoderma, in which H. crystallinum was sister to H. variolosum, H. membranaceum was retrieved as a sister species of H. sinense, and H. microporoides was closely grouped with H. nemorale. In addition to new species, map to show global distribution of Hyphoderma species treated in the phylogenetic tree and an identification key to Chinese Hyphoderma are provided.

In the present study, five new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Conferticiumalbocremeum (Stereaceae, Russulales), Dendrocorticiopsisluteoalba (Punctulariaceae, Corticiales), Eichleriellabiluoxueshanensis (Auriculariaceae, Auriculariales), Gloeohypochniciumyunnanense (Incertae sedis, Russulales), and Punctularianigrodontea (Punctulariaceae, Corticiales), collected from southern China, are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and phylogenetic evidence. Conferticiumalbocremeum is characterized by membranaceous and smooth basidiomata with white to cream surface and ellipsoid and verrucose basidiospores (9-11 × 5-7 µm); Dendrocorticiopsisluteoalba is characterized white to buff, membranaceous basidiomata and ellipsoid, thin-walled and smooth basidiospores (7-8 × 4.5-5.5 µm); Eichleriellabiluoxueshanensis is characterized by coriaceous and grandinioid basidiomata with buff to cinnamon-buff hymenophore and allantoid, thin-walled basidiospores (13.5-17.5 × 7-9 µm); Gloeohypochniciumyunnanense is characterized by buff to cream, coriaceous and smooth basidiomata and globose, thick-walled and warted basidiospores (10-12 × 10-11.5 µm), and Punctularianigrodontea is characterized by resupinate to effused-reflexed basidiomata and ellipsoid, thin-walled and smooth basidiospores (8.5-10 × 5-6 µm). Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the large subunit (nLSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers of the studied samples were generated. Phylogenetic analyses performed based on the ITS+nLSUrDNA gene regions with the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods revealed that five new species belong to the genera Conferticium, Dendrocorticiopsis, Eichleriella, Gloeohypochnicium, and Punctularia. Descriptions, illustrations, phylogenetic analysis results, and a comparison with closely related taxa of the five new species are provided.

Mitochondrial DNA sequences can be used to estimate phylogenetic relationships among animal taxa and for molecular phylogenetic evolution analysis. With the development of sequencing technology, more and more mitochondrial sequences have been made available in public databases, including whole mitochondrial DNA sequences. These data have been used for phylogenetic analysis of animal species, and for studies of evolutionary processes. We made phylogenetic analyses of 19 species of Cervidae, with Bos taurus as the outgroup. We used neighbor joining, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods on whole mitochondrial genome sequences. The consensus phylogenetic trees supported monophyly of the family Cervidae; it was divided into two subfamilies, Plesiometacarpalia and Telemetacarpalia, and four tribes, Cervinae, Muntiacinae, Hydropotinae, and Odocoileinae. The divergence times in these families were estimated by phylogenetic analysis using the Bayesian method with a relaxed molecular clock method; the results were consistent with those of previous studies. We concluded that the evolutionary structure of the family Cervidae can be reconstructed by phylogenetic analysis based on whole mitochondrial genomes; this method could be used broadly in phylogenetic evolutionary analysis of animal taxa.

A new species of bird's nest fungus, <italic>Cyathus wenshanensis</italic> is proposed based on a combination of the morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterised by the obconical to cupulate basidiomata covered with hirsute hairs, striations on the outer and inner surface of the peridium, funicular peridioles, a trimitic hyphal system of peridium with generative hyphae having clamp connections, a dimitic hyphal system of peridiole middle, and subglobose, elliptical to ellipsoid-elongate, thick-walled basidiospores. Sequence of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) gene region was generated, and the phylogenetic analysis was performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS dataset indicated that <italic>C. wenshanensis</italic> nested within the genus <italic>Cyathus</italic>, in which it formed a monophyletic lineage and grouped with <italic>C. albinus</italic>, <italic>C. amazonicus</italic>, <italic>C. badius</italic>, <italic>C. parvocinereus</italic>,<italic> C. pyristriatus</italic> and <italic>C. uniperidiolus</italic>.

In the present study, four new species, Geastrumartocarpicola, G.fibulatum, G.sinense and G.trachelium collected from China, are proposed based on a combination of morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. Geastrumartocarpicola is characterized by shallowly saccate to deep saccate exoperidium, bubble-shaped to flask shaped basidia, spherical basidiospores. G.fibulatum is characterized by shallowly saccate to deep saccate exoperidium, spherical basidiospores, generative hyphae with clamp connections in the mycelium layer. G.sinense has arched exoperidium, long stipe expanded basidiomata, and spherical basidiospores. G.trachelium has deep saccate exoperidium, flask-shaped basidia, and spherical basidiospores. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), large subunit (nrLSU), the largest subunit of ribosomal polymerase II (RPB1), and subunit 6 of ATP synthase (ATP6) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers of the studied samples were generated, and the phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The results showed that our collection clustered within Geastrum but distinctly from the others. Full morphological descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analyses results for the four new species are provided. In addition, G.sanglinense is treated as a synonym of beijingense.

In the present study, two new genera Paradonkia, and Neodonkiella, and five new species, viz. Paradonkiafarinacea, Neodonkiellayinjiangensis, Phanerochaetealbocremea, Phanerochaetefissurata, and Phanerochaetepunctata collected from southern China, are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Paradonkiafarinacea is characterized by the resupinate, membranaceous basidiomata with pale cream to gray cream hymenial surface and a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa and clamp connections; Neodonkiellayinjiangensis is characterized by soft coriaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5-5 × 2-2.5 µm); Phanerochaetealbocremea is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with white to a pale cream hymenial surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores (3.5-5 × 2-3 µm); Phanerochaetefissurata is characterized by gray-brown and cracked hymenial surface, and ellipsoid basidiospores (4-5.5 × 2-3 µm) and Phanerochaetepunctata is characterized by farinaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the large subunit (nLSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers of the studied samples were generated. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogram based on the ITS+nLSUrDNA gene regions, revealed that two new genera, Paradonkia and Neodonkiella, belong to the family Phanerochaetaceae, and three new species belong to the genus Phanerochaete in the family Phanerochaetaceae.