Basidiomycete Species Research Articles

Новые сведения об агарикоидных грибах (Basidiomycota) национального парка «Койгородский» (Республика Коми, Россия)

The paper provides the data on 148 species of agaricoid basidiomycetes, first recorded in the territory of the Koygorodskiy National Park (Komi Republic, Russia), of which 31 species are new to the republic. New locations of four included in the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic species (Echinoderma echinaceum, Baeospora myriadophylla, Phyllotopsis nidulans, Ripartites tricholoma) are found. Desarmillaria ectypa, a species included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, is registered for the first time for the region.

Malassezia gallinae sp. nov., a new basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from skins of chickens.

Species of Malassezia are lipid-dependent yeasts and integral components of the skin microbiome. Most of the currently known species are isolated from mammals. However, the presence and distribution of Malassezia yeasts on the skin of avian species have not been fully understood or elucidated. During a survey on the occurrence of Malassezia species in chickens, 23 Malassezia strains isolated from the healthy skins of chickens may represent two candidate new species of this genus based on the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) (including 5.8S rRNA) and the D1/D2 domains of 26S rRNA. The combined ITS and D1/D2 phylogenetic analysis showed that those two candidate new species were closely related to Malassezia slooffiae, and differed from the type of M. slooffiae by 51-62 nucleotides in the ITS region and four nucleotides in the D1/D2 domains, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analysis and the phenotypic comparison, we propose a new species, named Malassezia gallinae sp. nov., to include the 21 isolated strains.

New records of three Basidiomycetous species from Iraq using phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses

Wild macrofungi have potential functions in ecosystems and sustainable developments through their roles in waste management, human health and societal upliftment. However, there is limited knowledge of wild macrofungi in Iraq. Three interesting collections within Chlorophyllum, Mycenastrum and Ossicaulis genera related to basidiomycetes were discovered in central and northeastern parts of Iraq in 2022 during a field investigation on wild macrofungi. Molecular identification and morphological characterization were carried out for these collections. The molecular phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses confirmed that isolates are related to three species within two families )Agaricaceae and Lyophyllaceae) belonging to the order Agaricales and class Agaricomycetes. Based on the current publications, these species were the first records from Iraq. Chlorophyllum agaricoides, Mycenastrum corium and Ossicaulis salomii sequences were submitted as the first sequences from Iraq into the international biological database GenBank. The molecular phylogenetic tree formed three independent lineages in each genus with high support. The introduced species can easily be separated from closely related species in an evolutionary framework. The study's results might aid in further investigations into the macrofungi in Iraq.

Cell wall alterations occurring in an evolved multi-stress tolerant strain of the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides

The oleaginous yeast species Rhodotorula toruloides is a promising candidate for applications in circular bioeconomy due to its ability to efficiently utilize diverse carbon sources being tolerant to cellular stress in bioprocessing. Previous studies including genome-wide analyses of the multi-stress tolerant strain IST536 MM15, derived through adaptive laboratory evolution from a promising IST536 strain for lipid production from sugar beet hydrolysates, suggested the occurrence of significant modifications in the cell wall. In this study, the cell wall integrity and carbohydrate composition of those strains was characterized to gain insights into the physicochemical changes associated to the remarkable multi-stress tolerance phenotype of the evolved strain. Compared to the original strain, the evolved strain exhibited a higher proportion of glucomannans, fucogalactomannans, and chitin relative to (1→4)-linked glucans, and an increased presence of glycoproteins with short glucosamine derived oligosaccharides, which have been found to be associated to ethanol stress tolerance and physical strength of the cell wall. Furthermore, the evolved strain cells were found to be significantly smaller than the original strain and more resistant to thermal and mechanical disruption, consistent with higher proportion of beta-linked polymers instead of glycogen, conferring a more rigid and robust cell wall. These findings provide further insights into the cell wall composition of this basidiomycetous red yeast species and into the alterations occurring in a multi-stress tolerant evolved strain. This new information can guide yeast genome engineering towards more robust strains of biotechnological relevance.

Screening of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Basidiomycetes Extracts

Background. Basidiomycetes have high biosynthetic capabilities. Their metabolites are capable of exhibiting antimicrobial properties, thereby being promising molecules for use in medicine or for further chemical transformation. The aim of the work. Evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal properties of culture liquid of basidiomycetes from the orders Agaricales and Polyporales, selection of active strains for further research. Materials and methods. The objects of the study were 10 strains of 10 basidiomycetes species from the orders Agaricales and Polyporales. Filtrates of culture liquids obtained as a result of submerged cultivation of fungi, their ethyl acetate extracts and post-extraction liquids were tested. The culture liquid of Fomitopsis betulina was also extracted with chloroform and butanol. Antibacterial and antifungal effects were studied by diffusion from wells into agar. Results. All the studied strains of basidiomycetes showed antibacterial activity. The highest activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was observed in strains of 3 species from the order Polyporales: Fomes fomentarius, F. betulina and F. pinicola. Antifungal activity was shown by 6 out of 10 studied cultures of basidiomycetes. The comparative series of extractants compiled by their effectiveness (ethyl acetate > butanol > chloroform) testified to the advantage of using polar solvents to extract antimicrobial metabolites of F. betulina from the its culture liquid. Conclusion. Three promising strains of basidiomycetes — producers of antimicrobial metabolites were selected.Among the studied species, representatives of the order Polyporales showed the greatest activity. Polar solvents extracted antimicrobial metabolites of F. betulina from its culture liquid more efficiently than non-polar chloroform. The obtained results demonstrate the ability of basidiomycetes to produce metabolites with antimicrobial properties. It is noted that species of the order Polyporales are more active than representatives of Agaricales.

Agaricus karakensis sp. nov. (Agaricaceae, Agaricales), a new species from Pakistan

There are around 500 species of saprobic basidiomycetes in the genus Agaricus, of which 21 are reported from Pakistan. In this study, Agaricus karakensis sp. nov. is described as a new species from the tropical semi-arid District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The taxonomic identification was based on morphological features and ITS-region of rDNA. Both, field data and morpho-anatomical characterizations support that our specimens belong to a new species of Agaricus section Bivelares from family Agaricaceae, order Agaricales. In the phylogenetic tree, A. karakensis fall in section Bivelares forming a sister branch with A. bitorquis. In this paper, the nearest falling species were also compared with our novel finding in morphology.

Functional analysis of basidiomycete specific chitin synthase genes in the agaricomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

Chitin is an essential structural component of fungal cell walls composed of transmembrane proteins called chitin synthases (CHSs), which have a large range of reported effects in ascomycetes; however, are poorly understood in agaricomycetes. In this study, evolutionary and molecular genetic analyses of chs genes were conducted using genomic information from nine ascomycete and six basidiomycete species. The results support the existence of seven previously classified chs clades and the discovery of three novel basidiomycete-specific clades (BI–BIII). The agaricomycete fungus Pleurotus ostreatus was observed to have nine putative chs genes, four of which were basidiomycete-specific. Three of these basidiomycete specific genes were disrupted in the P. ostreatus 20b strain (ku80 disruptant) through homologous recombination and transformants were obtained (Δchsb2, Δchsb3, and Δchsb4). Despite numerous transformations Δchsb1 was unobtainable, suggesting disruption of this gene causes a crucial negative effect in P. ostreatus. Disruption of these chsb2–4 genes caused sparser mycelia with rougher surfaces and shorter aerial hyphae. They also caused increased sensitivity to cell wall and membrane stress, thinner cell walls, and overexpression of other chitin and glucan synthases. These genes have distinct roles in the structural formation of aerial hyphae and cell walls, which are important for understanding basidiomycete evolution in filamentous fungi.

Yeast communities of a North American hybrid wine grape differ between organic and conventional vineyards.

To compare the species diversity and composition of indigenous yeast communities of hybrid grapes from conventionally and organically cultivated vineyards of an emerging cool-climate wine producing region. Illumina MiSeq sequences from L'Acadie blanc grape musts were processed and filtered to characterize indigenous yeast communities in organic and conventional vineyards of the Annapolis Valley wine region in Nova Scotia, Canada. While cultivation practice was not associated with yeast diversity or species richness, there was a strong effect on yeast community composition, with conventional vineyards characterized by higher proportions of Sporidiobolales and Filobasidium magnum, and organic vineyards supporting Filobasidium species other than F. magnum and higher proportions of Symmetrospora. There was also variation in yeast community composition among individual vineyards, and from year to year. This is the first comprehensive assessment of yeasts associated with hybrid grapes grown using different cultivation practices in a North American cool climate wine region. Communities were dominated by basidiomycete yeasts and species composition of these yeasts differed significantly between vineyards employing organic and conventional cultivation practices. The role of basidiomycete yeasts in winemaking is not well understood, but some species may influence wine characteristics.

Fungal Diversity in Nam River and Their Biodegradative Activities

145 fungal isolates were obtained from three sampling sites situated within the Nam River basin, located in the southern region of South Korea. Through ITS sequence analysis, the fungal isolates were identified to comprise 55 species of ascomycetes and 11 species of basidiomycetes. The 55 species of ascomycetes exclusively belong to the phylum Pezizomycotina, comprising 33 species of Dothideomycetes, 6 species of Eurotiomycetes, and 16 species of Sordariomycetes. Regarding their plant pathogenicity, an investigation into the fungi’s ability to penetrate solid media revealed Nigrospora chinensis as displaying the highest growth, followed by Pseudopestalotiopsis theae, various Curvularia species, Diaporthe species, and Alternaria alternata. Further research associating this penetration ability with fungal pathogenicity is deemed necessary. Among the 10 fungal species exhibiting penetration abilities, an examination of their capability to degrade biological polymers revealed that two strains of D. phaseolorum displayed exceptional polymer degradation. These strains exhibited remarkable abilities in decomposing malachite green and crystal violet, both recalcitrant dyes. This study underscores the potential utilization of fungal diversity in freshwater environments as a foundational approach to address freshwater pollution issues.

Analysis of Basidiomycete Fungal Communities in Soil and Wood from Contrasting Zones of the AWPA Biodeterioration Hazard Map across the United States

Wood deterioration due to basidiomycetous decay fungi shortens the useful life span of wood and wood-based materials. Prescriptive preservative treatment is the most effective way to reduce the detrimental effects of these microorganisms, particularly in soil contact and areas of critical use (difficult to replace or vital to structure). Current American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) guidelines in the standardized use category system specify 3 zones of severity regarding wood decay fungal hazards but contain very little information on the diversity and abundance of these fungi colonizing soil and wood. In this study, amplicon based sequencing was utilized to compare fungal communities in wood and adjacent soil to provide baseline data on the fungi involved in the process. A thorough understanding of decay hazards is critical for the proper selection and use of wood in soil contact. The goal of this work is to provide baseline data on basidiomycete fungal diversity and species composition in different zones of the existing 3-zone AWPA hazard map as compared to the previous 5-zone hazard map and Scheffer decay indices and discuss the ecological implications for wood decay.

The physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of black cherry tree wood (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and its susceptibility to fungal decomposition in areas where it is secondary and invasive: a case study in the Kampinos National Park (Poland)

The properties of black cherry mature wood (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and its susceptibility to fungal decay were studied in the invaded range of the species on six trees aged between 39 and 47 years old growing in poor, acidic soils with varying levels of moisture and organic carbon and nitrogen content. Wood from trees that grew in wetter and richer soil had better physical properties. Of the 95 parameters analyzed, 80 showed significant differences in favor of this wood. These differences included wider rings that averaged 3.25 mm, a higher density of 662.71 kg/m3 at 12% humidity, and 1.5 times higher content of extractives. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 44 extractives. Out of these, six had antifungal properties and were found in the wood of trees grown in richer soil, corresponding to 62.93% of the peaks area of all identified substances. Only three were found in trees grown in poorer soil, corresponding to 8.68% of the peaks area respectively. The wood of trees grown in more fertile soil was also less prone to fungal decay, which was generally low. Only Trametes versicolor caused a mass loss of more than 10% of the wood in both sites out of the four basidiomycete species tested. The results indicate that even slight variations in soil fertility and moisture can benefit black cherry, leading to differences in wood features and properties in its exotic range.

Pseudosperma calciphilum (Inocybaceae), a new Mediterranean species from Sardinia (Italy), Malta, and Valencia (Spain)

A complete description is provided for Pseudosperma calciphilum (Inocybaceae, Agaricales), a new basidiomycete species from Sardinia (Italy), Malta, and Valencia (Spain) in Europe, along with colour photographs of its macro- and microscopic characters and a comparative study of the similarities and differences from its closest allies. The new species occurs on calcareous soils in Mediterranean habitats preferably under Quercus ilex subsp. ilex and Q. ilex subsp. rotundifolia. Pseudosperma conviviale resembles P. calciphilum in some macro- and microscopic features, but the latter is distinguished by having white velar remnants on pileus, larger spores and by its ecology, as it apparently grows exclusively on calcareous soils. The phylogenetic analyses based on nrITS and nrLSU nucleotide sequence data confirmed that the new species is a member of the former Inocybe section Rimosae sensu stricto, whose species are currently placed in the genus Pseudosperma. The closest relatives are P. melleum, P. conviviale, P. melliolens and P. umbrinellum, from which the new Mediterranean species is well distinguished both morphologically and genetically.

Potencial inibitório de extratos bioativos de cogumelos do sul do Brasil sobre o oomiceto patogênico Pythium insidiosum

ABSTRACT: Pythium insidiosum is an important oomycete pathogen of mammals that causes pythiosis, an endemic disease in warm climates that stands out for its unfavorable prognosis, lethality in the affected species, and difficulties in treatment. This study evaluated in vitro anti-P. insidiosum potential of aqueous, hydroethanolic, and ethanolic extracts of indigenous wild mushrooms from southern Brazil. The extracts were prepared from Amanita gemmata, Amanita muscaria, Auricularia auricula, Gymnopilus junonius, Lactarius deliciosus, Laccaria laccata, Psilocybe cubensis, and Russula xerampelina. In vitro susceptibility assays employed the microdilution technique according to the M38-A2 protocol CLSI. The hydroethanolic and ethanolic extracts of R. xerampelina showed anti-P. insidiosum activity at minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.87-7.50 mg/mL. The other mushroom species extracts showed no inhibitory effects on growth of P. insidiosum. This is the first study to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of mushrooms on oomycetes, evidencing the antimicrobial potential of R. xerampelina on the pathogen P. insidiosum. So, the present study expands new perspectives, since the secondary metabolites produced by mushrooms can be potential targets for the development of new categories of medicines. However, considering the wide biodiversity of Brazilian mushrooms, we suggested that the search for other basidiomycetes species with anti-P. insidiosum action needs to be expanded.

Extracts from Four Species of Xylotrophic Basidiomycetes Growing in the Middle Urals (Russia) Revealed Cytotoxic Effects on Model Object Drosophila melanogaster

In our study, four species of wood-decaying fungi with perennial fruiting bodies were used as the source of biologically active compounds (BACs) - <i>Inonotus obliquus</i> (chaga), <i>Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes fomentarius,</i> and <i>Ganoderma applanatum</i>. Fungi have a wide range of secondary metabolites but are used much less frequently than plants in both folk and official medicine. Fungotherapy could be considered a promising trend in the development of modern natural therapy. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extracts were carried out. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous-alcoholic extracts, obtained from fungal fruiting bodies were assessed after application on <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. The frequency of the larvae lethally, SMART mosaicism, the <i>GstD1</i> gene expression and the DNA damage were studied. The addition of 0.5% of fungal extracts to the food substrate did not cause a significant change in the lethality level in <i>D. melanogaster</i>. All extracts caused an increase in the degree of DNA damage. The greatest effect was caused by extract from <i>I. obliquus</i> and <i>G. applanatum</i>. Chaga extract caused a significant increase in the expression level of the <i>GstD1</i> gene. <i>F. fomentarius</i> extract exhibited the lowest level of DNA damage and reduced <i>GstD1</i> gene expression. The <i>F. fomentarius</i> extract showed a pronounced antiproliferative effect. So, <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> could be used as the preliminary test object for early studies of biological activities from natural raw materials as it is much cheaper compared with cell lines and vertebrate models.

Exploring antioxidant potential in two basidiomycetous mushrooms using high-performance thin-layer chromatography–DPPH–videodensitometry

The antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of fruiting bodies of two basidiomycetous mushroom species (Cyclocybe cylindracea and Leccinum duriusculum) was evaluated by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) combined with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and videodensitometry. The HPTLC separation was achieved on a silica gel layer with acetonitrile–water–acetic acid (75:25:3, V/V). The results were compared with those obtained by the conventional microplate-based DPPH assay. The two methods provided similar results showing that the extract of the C. cylindracea had higher total antioxidant activity than the extract of the L. duriusculum, and the antioxidant activities of both extracts were much weaker than the antioxidant activities of ascorbic acid or gallic acid. Mushroom components in one zone of L. duriusculum extract and three zones of C. cylindracea extract assigned using HPTLC–DPPH–videodensitometry were mainly responsible for the antioxidant activity. Based on a previous study the β-carboline alkaloid C1-S diastereomer of brunnein B in C. cylindracea at hRF 49 contributed to the antioxidant effect the most, which corresponded to 52.0 ± 3.1 ng of ascorbic acid equivalent and 51.7 ± 3.7 ng of gallic acid equivalent.

Preliminary species diversity and community phylogenetics of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the Dabie Mountains, Central China reveal unexpected richness

Wood-inhabiting fungi have important economic values as well as playing a major ecological role in forest ecosystem cycles. The Dabie Mountains, at the junction of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui Provinces, Central China, provide an ideal climate and favorable niches for the speciation and diversification of various forms of life including fungi. We studied the species diversity and community phylogenetics of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi that revealed 175 wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous species, of which 20 represented unidentified species, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of 575 specimens collected from ten sampling sites. These species belonged to two classes, 11 orders, 42 families, and 106 genera of Basidiomycota, and included 12 edible species, 28 medicinal species, four poisonous species, and seven forest pathogens. Four types of fungal distribution pattern at the genus level were recognized for 65 genera, while another 41 genera could not be placed in any known distribution pattern. The five sampling sites in the eastern part of the Dabie Mountains had significantly higher species diversity and phylogenetic diversity of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi than those in the western part, and thus deserve priority in terms of conservation. The community of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the Dabie Mountains is generally affected by a combination of habitat filtering and competitive exclusion. This study provides a basis on which to build actions for the comprehensive recognition, utilization, and conservation of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetous fungi in the region.

SIX SPECIES OF <i>AGARICOMYCETES</i>, NEW TO THE PAMIR-ALAY MOUNTAINS (UZBEKISTAN PART)

New data on basidiomycete species (Crucibulum laeve, Ganoderma resinaceum, Leccinum duriusculum, Lentinus brumalis, Neolentinus cyathiformis, and Volvariella bombycina) recorded for the first time for the Pamir-Alay ranges in Uzbekistan is presented. All collections were made within protected areas of the Zaamin National Nature Park, the Nuratau Nature Reserve, and the Kitab State Geological Reserve. Detailed information on studied specimens deposited in Tashkent Mycological Herbarium of the Institute of Botany of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (TASM), including geographical coordinates, descriptions of localities, substrates and habitats, date of collection, as well as the herbarium numbers, is provided. The history of macrofungi studies in Pamir-Alay is briefly described.

New Data on Agaricoid Basidiomycetes of the Shantar Islands National Park (Khabarovsk Territory, Russia)

The Shantar Islands is an archipelago in the western part of the Sea of Okhotsk, at a distance of about 50 km from the mainland coast. In August 2019, we have carried out mycological studies on the islands of Bolshoi Shantar and Prokofiev. An annotated list is given of 103 species first found in the national park; 21 species of them were found in Khabarovsk Territory for the first time. The Shantar Islands are geographically the northernmost area in the Khabarovsk Territory, where specialized mycological studies were carried out. Such new species for the region as Cortinarius acutus, C. bivelus, C. traganus, Chromosera lilacina, Laccaria bicolor, in the Russian Far East were previously known only from more northern regions: Magadan Region, Kamchatka, Chukotka, Yakutia and from the taiga zone of Amur Region. Taking into account previously published data, a total of 105 species of agaricoid basidiomycetes are known for the national park.

Macrofungi as Medicinal Resources in Uzbekistan: Biodiversity, Ethnomycology, and Ethnomedicinal Practices.

Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi is millennial in terms of their uses in health and food products in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has grown in popularity in recent years. Edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes were collected during field surveys from different regions of Uzbekistan. The morphological characters and similarity assessment of rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data were used to measure diversity and habitat associations. A number of 17 species of medicinal macrofungi of ethnomycological and medicinal interest was found associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs belonging to 11 families and 14 genera. Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae were represented by the highest number of species followed by Ganodermataceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Auriculariaceae, Cerrenaceae, Grifolaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Laetiporaceae, Schizophyllaceae, and Stereaceae. The highest number of medicinal basidiomycete species was reported in the following host genera: Acer, Betula, Celtis, Crataegus, Juglans, Juniperus, Lonicera, Malus, Morus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, and Salix. An updated list of edible and inedible medicinal mushrooms identified in Uzbekistan, their morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic placement are given for the first time. Information is provided on their uses in traditional and modern medicine. Their bioactive compounds and extracts can be applied as medicines, as well as food and cosmetic ingredients.

Checklist, typification details, and nomenclature status of ascomycetous fungi originally described in Sri Lanka

Despite being a biodiversity-rich country, Sri Lanka’s fungal diversity remains largely unexplored. In the 19th century, British mycologists conducted extensive research, leading to the identification of more than 1,800 fungal taxa, including ascomycetous and basidiomycetous species. However, the majority of these taxa have not been revisited since their initial description, and molecular evidence is lacking. Moreover, a significant number of fungal taxa have been deemed invalid or illegitimate, indicating the need for a nomenclatural revision. To address this knowledge gap, this review provides a comprehensive list of ascomycetous taxa (including both lichen-forming and non-lichenized) that were originally described in Sri Lanka. Names are listed according to the original names which were included in the protologue. In the cases where species have been transferred to other genera, the current names and new classifications are provided. The typification details, nomenclature status, and classification are also presented. This checklist will serve as a valuable resource for the future epitypification of old taxa, as much of the existing information is poorly documented and scattered.