Mycological Survey Research Articles

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal eight novel species of Pestalotiopsis (Sporocadaceae, Amphisphaeriales) from southern China.

Plants play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the biosphere, but often suffer from pathogenic fungi during growth. During our continuing mycological surveys of plant pathogens from terrestrial plants in Jiangxi and Yunnan provinces, China, 24 strains of Pestalotiopsis isolated from diseased and healthy tissues of plant leaves represented eight new species, viz. P.alpinicola, P.camelliicola, P.cyclosora, P.eriobotryae, P.gardeniae, P.hederae, P.machiliana and P.mangifericola. Multi-locus (ITS, tef1-α and tub2) phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference to reveal their taxonomic placement within Pestalotiopsis. Both molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons supported them as eight independent taxa within Pestalotiopsis. Illustrations and descriptions of these eight taxa were provided, in conjunction with comparisons with closely related taxa in the genus. This work highlights the large potential for new fungal species associated with diseased plant leaves.

Microclimate and the spatio-temporal dynamics of natural production of two ectomycorrhizal fungi from the Guineo-Sudanian ecozone in Benin

The study aims to determine the relation between the micro-climate and the natural production of Amanita subviscosa, and Lactifluus gymnocarpoides, in the Guinea-Sudanian ecozone. Nine permanent plots of 50 ×50 m were installed in three different vegetations of the “Ouémé Supérieur” forest reserve in central Benin. The mycological surveys were carried out during three (3) mycological seasons, each from June to October at a frequency of two visits per week and per plot. The number of fruiting bodies and the fresh biomass were recorded. Microclimatic parameters (soil water content, air temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) were measured using a rain gauge and a HOBO micro station data logger installed at the middle of each plot. We tested several Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMM) using the lme4 package to obtain the effect of recorded microclimate factor on the number of fruit bodies of each species and the Linear Mixed Effects Model (LMM) using the package nlme for fresh biomass. The study showed that soil water content is the main driver of fungal fruiting phenology and increased biomass production. The fruiting of A. subviscosa is positively affected by air temperature and soil water content (p = 0.0004) but negatively affected by relative air humidity. The fructification of L. gymnocarpoides is only positively affected by the air temperature and negatively affected by relative air humidity and soil water content. Soil water content significantly affects the fresh biomass of A. subviscosa (p≈0) while the fresh biomass of L. gymnocarpoides is significantly affected by soil water content and relative air humidity (p≈0). All species for their natural production have specific response at microclimate parameters variation.

Integrated morphological and molecular approaches unveil a new species and a new record of the genus Entoloma (Entolomataceae) from southern Punjab, Pakistan

In southern Punjab, Pakistan, the genus Entoloma remains poorly explored. Four collections of the genus Entoloma were collected during the mycological surveys from 2020 to 2022, in different areas of southern Punjab, Pakistan. Morpho-anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and combined ITS-28S sequences revealed that these four collections belong to the genus Entoloma Rusticoides group including a new species named E. khalidii and a new record for Pakistan, named E. phaeocarpum. The new species is characterized by a hemispherical to convex pileus with dark brown depressed center, slightly smaller isodiametric basidiospores, the presence of clavate to utriform cheilocystidia, and pileipellis hyphae with rounded ends. These findings underscore the importance of morphological, microscopical, and molecular approaches in fungal taxonomy and contribute to unveiling the fungal diversity in underexplored regions. The discovery of these species emphasizes the significance of continued exploration and conservation efforts to preserve myco-diversity in southern Punjab, Pakistan. Colored photographs of fresh basidiomata and habitats, illustrations of key anatomical characters, detailed descriptions, phylogenetic trees, and comparisons with closely related species are also provided.

Mycological surveys reveal two new species of genus Lepiota (Agaricaceae) from the semi-arid climatic region of Punjab, Pakistan

Mycological surveys reveal two new species of genus Lepiota (Agaricaceae) from the semi-arid climatic region of Punjab, Pakistan

Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Three New Species of Didymella (Didymellaceae, Pleosporales) from Jiangxi, China.

Didymella contains numerous plant pathogenic and saprobic species associated with a wide range of hosts. Over the course of our mycological surveys of plant pathogens from terrestrial plants in Jiangxi Province, China, eight strains isolated from diseased leaves of four host genera represented three new species of Didymella, D. bischofiae sp. nov., D. clerodendri sp. nov., and D. pittospori sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TUB2 sequence data, using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI), revealed their taxonomic placement within Didymella. Both morphological examinations and molecular phylogenetic analyses supported D. bischofiae, D. clerodendri, and D. pittospori as three new taxa within Didymella. Illustrations and descriptions of these three taxa were provided, along with comparisons with closely related taxa in the genus.

ECOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF DOTHIDEOMYCETES IN THE STEPPE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE STEPPE ZONE OF UKRAINE

The article considers the ecological structure of the Dothideomycetes and the peculiarities of its formation in conditions of steppe ecosystems of the steppe zone of Ukraine. The materials of the work were the original mycological collecting carried out within the mycological survey of this territory during 2008-2020, sporadic collections of 2021 and 2023, as well as the materials of the herbarium of the M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany (KW). Herbarium collection and identification of the samples were performed in accordance with the generally accepted methods of cameral processing of xylotrophic, herbotrophic and coprothrophic micromycetes. As a result of our research, characteristic features of the ecological structure of the investigated mycobiota were established. According to the substrate specificity, among the species of Dothideomycetes found in the steppe communities, herbotrophs (74 species) dominate, xylotrophs (28 species), phyllotrophs (14) and coprophiles (7) are also represented. Phytotrophic species of micromycetes develops on 120 species of vascular plants, with the largest number of micromycetes (65 species) noted on plants of the Asteraceae. By trophic specialization, the vast majority of the considered species belong to saprotrophs (103 species), but there are also representatives of pleomorphic hemibiotrophs (20 species). Some hemibiotrophic species at the saprotrophic stage of the life cycle do not have a strict substrate limitation, just like obligate saprotrophs. Species of fungi are discussed. A comparison of the substrate specificity of the studied species of fungi showed that in arid sandy-steppe and sagebrush-steppe plant communities, a wider distribution of herbosaprotrophic species is observed in comparison with meadow-steppe communities. A comparative analysis of the species composition of Dothideomycetes in steppe and forest communities of the steppe zone revealed 13 general species, among which 10 species were found on different plant substrates. The most significant ecological and biological peculiarities of the investigated mycobiota in the conditions of steppe communities of the steppe zone of Ukraine are the formation of stable consortium relationships with a considerable variety of higher plants, zonal and seasonal change of the habitats as a adaptive mechanism for the settlement of the studied species of fungi. The prospect of further research is the study of changes in the species structure of micromycetes under the conditions of anthropogenic influence in the steppe ecosystems of the steppe zone of Ukraine.

A new bulbil-forming species of Sistotrema (Cantharellales, Hydnaceae) from Brazil

During mycological surveys in Floresta Edmundo Navarro de Andrade, Rio Claro province, São Paulo state, a bulbil-forming fungal specimen was collected on dead bark of Eucalyptus grandis. Following morphological and phylogenetic analysis, it was confirmed that the specimen belongs to an undescribed taxon. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-LSU revealed that our strain is related to Sistotrema coronilla s.l., a recognized bulbil-forming lineage within Hydnaceae and other genera that also produce bulbils. This is the first Sistotrema species recorded on Eucalyptus substrates worldwide. A comprehensive morphological and phylogenetic analysis is presented, and Sistotrema bulbilliferum is described and illustrated.

Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses reveal eight novel species of Distoseptispora from southern China.

Plant debris are habitat favoring the growth of various microbial species. Over the course of our mycological surveys in Jiangxi and Yunnan Provinces, China, eight new Distoseptispora species, viz. D. gasaensis, D. guanshanensis, D. jinghongensis, D. longnanensis, D. menghaiensis, D. menglunensis, D. nanchangensis, and D. yichunensis collected on dead branches of unidentified plants, were introduced by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Multi-locus (LSU, ITS, TEF1, and RPB2) phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference to infer their taxonomic positions within Distoseptispora. Both molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters supported them as eight independent taxa within Distoseptispora. This work improves our understanding of the diversity of Distoseptispora in southern China.IMPORTANCEDistoseptispora as a single genus in Distoseptisporaceae was introduced by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Members of this genus occur mainly as asexual morphs, forming effuse, hairy colonies on decaying wood, plant stems, bamboo culms, and fallen leaves and shafts in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. In the present study, saprobic hyphomycetes from plant debris were investigated, and eight new Distoseptispora species were introduced based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, TEF1, and RPB2 sequence data. This study provides important data on the species diversity, ecological environment, and geographical area of Distoseptispora, greatly updates the classification of Distoseptispora, and improves our understanding of the taxonomy of Distoseptispora.

Old-growth forests with long continuity are essential for preserving rare wood-inhabiting fungi

An ongoing loss of Europe's old-growth forests urgently calls for improving our understanding of native biodiversity response to habitat changes. Studies disentangling the effects of habitat quantity, quality, and continuity on species diversity are rare, however, understanding the differences between these effects is crucial for forest management and conservation efforts. Here, we investigated the influence of habitat quantity, quality, and continuity on the total and red-listed species richness of wood-inhabiting fungi in old-growth mountain Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) forest in Central Europe. The fruitbody-based mycological survey conducted on permanent plots was combined with the measurements of forest structural characteristics such as deadwood volumes (indicating habitat quantity), dimensions, and decay stages (indicating habitat quality). Additionally, precise dendrochronological measurements were used to estimate the mean age of five oldest trees and the number of >250 years-old-trees (i.e., those that survived a probable logging activity about 250 years ago) as indicators of habitat continuity. Our results showed the total species richness of wood-inhabiting fungi to be best correlated with habitat quantity (volume of low snags and lying deadwood), while the red-listed species richness was best explained by habitat continuity indicated by the number of >250 years-old-trees. Our study provides novel evidence regarding uninterrupted habitat continuity being crucial in supporting red-listed fungal species. Stands with preserved habitat continuity (e.g., the absence of clearcutting and deforestation) as well as old-growth stands with long habitat history should be prioritised for conservation. Greater degree of retention forestry practices should be required in production forests to preserve habitat continuity. Our study shows that such decisions are likely to lead to positive effects that can persist for centuries.

Morphology and Multigene Phylogeny Revealed Three New Species of Helminthosporium (Massarinaceae, Pleosporales) from China

Saprobic hyphomycetes are highly diverse on plant debris. Over the course of our mycological surveys in southern China, three new Helminthosporium species, H. guanshanense sp. nov., H. jiulianshanense sp. nov. and H. meilingense sp. nov., collected on dead branches of unidentified plants, were introduced by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Multi-loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1) phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference to infer their taxonomic positions within Massarinaceae. Both molecular analyses and morphological data supported H. guanshanense, H. jiulianshanense and H. meilingense as three independent taxa within Helminthosporium. A list of accepted Helminthosporium species with major morphological features, host information, locality and sequence data was provided. This work expands our understanding of the diversity of Helminthosporium-like taxa in Jiangxi Province, China.

Segregation of the genus Parahypoxylon (Hypoxylaceae, Xylariales) from Hypoxylon by a polyphasic taxonomic approach.

During a mycological survey of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a fungal specimen that morphologically resembled the American species Hypoxylonpapillatum was encountered. A polyphasic approach including morphological and chemotaxonomic together with a multigene phylogenetic study (ITS, LSU, tub2, and rpb2) of Hypoxylon spp. and representatives of related genera revealed that this strain represents a new species of the Hypoxylaceae. However, the multi-locus phylogenetic inference indicated that the new fungus clustered with H.papillatum in a separate clade from the other species of Hypoxylon. Studies by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS) were carried out on the stromatal extracts. In particular, the MS/MS spectra of the major stromatal metabolites of these species indicated the production of hitherto unreported azaphilone pigments with a similar core scaffold to the cohaerin-type metabolites, which are exclusively found in the Hypoxylaceae. Based on these results, the new genus Parahypoxylon is introduced herein. Aside from P.papillatum, the genus also includes P.ruwenzoriensesp. nov., which clustered together with the type species within a basal clade of the Hypoxylaceae together with its sister genus Durotheca.

Fungi and fungus-like organisms of the Kivertsi National Nature Park “Tsumanska Pushcha”

As a result of mycological surveys of the territory of Kivertsi National Nature Park “Tsumanska Pushcha” during 2004–2021, 203 species of fungi and fungus-like organisms were detected and registered. A comparative analysis of the species composition of the mycoflora of the park was carried out. The most diversified and rich was the phylum Basidiomycota, which comprises 172 species, belonging to 48 genera of 49 families, ten orders of the class Agaricomycetes. Many rare macromycetes that are rare or relatively rare for Ukraine (i.e., Cortinarius bolaris, Craterellus cornucopioides, Entoloma bloxamii, Fistulina hepatica, and Gyroporus castaneus) and listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Grifola frondosa, Phaeolepiota aurea, Pseudoboletus parasiticus, and Sparassis crispa) have been discovered. For two species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (Grifola frondosa and Pseudoboletus parasiticus), new localities have been discovered. As of today, the conducted studies expand information about the mycoflora of the Kivertsi National Nature Park “Tsumanska Pushcha”. However, the mycoflora of the park still requires further, more detailed research and inventory.

Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology Reveal Four Novel Species of Corynespora and Kirschsteiniothelia (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) from China: A Checklist for Corynespora Reported Worldwide.

Plant debris are habitats favoring survival and multiplication of various microbial species. During continuing mycological surveys of saprobic microfungi from plant debris in Yunnan Province, China, several Corynespora-like and Dendryphiopsis-like isolates were collected from dead branches of unidentified perennial dicotyledonous plants. Four barcodes, i.e., ITS, LSU, SSU and tef1-α, were amplified and sequenced. Morphological studies and multigene phylogenetic analyses by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed three new Corynespora species (C. mengsongensis sp. nov., C. nabanheensis sp. nov. and C. yunnanensis sp. nov.) and a new Kirschsteiniothelia species (K. nabanheensis sp. nov.) within Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota. A list of identified and accepted species of Corynespora with major morphological features, host information and locality was compiled. This work improves the knowledge of species diversity of Corynespora and Kirschsteiniothelia in Yunnan Province, China.

Новые для Калужской области виды трутовых грибов (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota)

Eight species of aphyllophoroid fungi with poroid hymenophore were revealed for the first time for the Kaluga Region (European part of Russia) as a result of a mycological survey of forest ecosystems carried out by the author in August 2022 in the southern area of the Kaluzhskie Zaseki State Nature Reserve. The species Poriella subacida is listed for the first time in the Central Russian Upland. Detailed information on recorded wood substrates and habitats, geographical coordinates of findings, and numbers of herbarium specimens deposited in the Mycological Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the RAS (LE) are given for each species. The features of ecology and distribution of new to the Kaluga Region fungal species in the adjacent regions and in Russia as a whole are briefly discussed.

Ethnomycological study of macromycetes used in the Funa district, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The present study is a contribution to the knowledge of fungal species of food interest exploited by the population of Funa district, in Kinshasa city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The aim was to assess the knowledge of Funa district community in mushroom species diversity sold in the market. The mycological surveys were conducted between December 2019 and January 2020. In the study, we used survey-participation technique. A survey-participation was used as a technique, which is a non-probabilistic method where the interviewees were randomly selected. The sample size was of 81 participants. Qualitative and quantitative methods supported by ethnomycological surveys were used to collect data. Out of 81 people interviewed, 97.5% were women; food use was predominant with 93.8%; 80.2% of participants reported that mushrooms were difficult to preserve due to their perishable nature; and 96.2% of participants felt that mushrooms were only available during the dry season. The sale of sporophores in FUNA District remains the only method of supplying households and local markets. Nevertheless, mushrooms are a valued commodity in women's trading activities in Funa District. More studies are needed to have a clear view on different species consumed by the Kinshasa people and create a database of edible mushrooms consumed in DRC. Furthermore, it is required to assess the knowledge of different Congolese tribes to increase the knowledge of ethnomycology and assess their in vitro medicinal activities against different pathologies.

Candolleomyces asiaticus sp. nov. (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales), a novel species from Punjab, Pakistan

During mycological surveys of different areas of Punjab, Pakistan, we collected a new species from the genus Candolleomyces. This is the first report of any species of this genus from Pakistan. Candolleomyces asiaticus M.Asif, A.Izhar, Niazi & Khalid sp. nov. is characterized by ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid (8.2 × 5 µm) basidiospores with indistinct germ pores, lageniform to utriform cheilocystidia without adhering deposits at the apices, absence of pleuro-, pileo- and caulocystidia, pileipellis with spherical, subglobose to columnar cells, and presence of clamp connections. The morpho-anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analysis of nrITS revealed its distinct phylogenetic position, further supporting the recognition of a new species.

Inventory and Ecology of Macrofungi and Plants in a Northwestern Algerian Forest

In Algeria, forest ecosystems bring together a diversity of fungal species and little data is currently available on forest macrofungi. This preliminary study focuses on the distribution and ecology of macrofungi in two sites in Northwester of Algeria. The mycological surveys carried out for the first time during two successive years made it possible to determine the fungal and floristic diversity as well as the climatic parameters and the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. The results indicate a good relation between the appearance of fungi and environmental factors. The fungal inventory carried out in the two study sites reveals a diversity of macrofungi comprising 44 taxa (84.09% basidiomycetes and 15.9% ascomycetes) distributed in 24 genera and 17 families. This diversity of the macrofungi identified is also linked to the density of the plant cover made up of three strata: tree, shrub and herbaceous. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2021, 7(2): 33-46

A new record of Fusarium metavorans (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) frequent opportunist fungus from Kashmir Himalaya, India

In the course of the mycological survey in several Kashmir Himalayan regions, the collection and isolation of various soil fungi from various sites were performed. The rhizosphere of the important medicinal plant Digitalis purpurea L. from the Kashmir Himalaya was used for the first time to isolate Fusarium metavorans. To isolate the fungi that were present in the soil samples, the serial dilution method was used. Identification of the fungi was carried out based on cultural, microscopic, and molecular characteristics using the ITS gene. Colonies were white and cottony on the upper side and light yellow to yellowish orange on the reverse side. Aerial mycelium, macroconidia as well as microconidia were present. Established upon the closest identification of BLAST analysis, the nucleotide sequences of 20 isolates obtained from GenBank were compared to the GenBank databases and matched at the diverse global similarity. A literature survey was carried out, and we concluded that Fusarium metavorans isolated in our study was a new record from the Kashmir Himalaya, India.

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The present study is a contribution to the improvement of knowledge on fungal species of food and medicinal interest, their frequency of appreciation and consumption as well as their uses. The mycological surveys were carried out between August 10 and November 10, 2020. During this study, we used the survey-participation technique thru an interview. Participants were randomly selected and the sample size was 138. The focus was mainly on the description of macroscopic characters, to identify various taxa encountered. Data coding, analysis, and processing were done with Microsoft Excel 2016 and SPSS version 20.0The statistical analysis was based on association tests of Chi-square and Pearson correlation, at 5%. The findings show that22 taxa of fungi grouped in 5 families divided into 3 orders were listed. Termito mycesgenus was the most represented with 11 species. These species are used as food and as source of drugs. Statistical analysis revealed that the taxa of Termitomyces and Auriculariawere the most appreciated. Taxa of Termitomyces were considered by the majority of respondents to be the most valued while Auricularia are considered to be the most popular all year round, followed by Schizophyllum commune. Statistical analysis did not show any link between age groups and frequency of appreciation We found that the proportion of respondents' gender profiles is predominantly female, which are also involved in mushroom-related activities in this area. However, statistical analysisshowed that women are very highly significantly related to the mycological activity profiles listed. The endogenous mycological knowledge held by the population of Mont-Ngafula, is a good start for constituting the fungal database of Kinshasa city. This study is only the beginning of a research that can be extended to the whole city and other Congolese provinces. In the future, research should be initiated on the inventory of edible and/or medicinal mushrooms of the city of Kinshasa.

Why morphology matters: the negative consequences of hasty descriptions of putative novelties in asexual ascomycetes

ABSTRACTRecent progress in the discovery of fungal diversity has been enabled by intensive mycological surveys in centres of global biodiversity. Descriptions of new fungal species have been almost routinely based on phenotypic studies coupled with single or multigene phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data. However, high accessibility of sequencing services together with an increasing amount of available molecular data are providing easier and less critical support for taxonomic novelties without carefully studying the phenotype, particularly morphology. As a result, the accelerated rate of species descriptions has been unfortunately accompanied by numerous cases of overlooking previously described and well documented species, some of them that have been known for more than a century. Here, we critically examined recent literature, phenotypic and molecular data, and detected multiple issues with putative novelties of asexual Ascomycota traditionally known as hyphomycetes. In order to fix these taxonomic problems, three new combinations within the genera Pleopunctum, Camposporium and Sporidesmium, and two new names in Camposporium are proposed. Moreover, three genera, Aquidictyomyces, Fusiconidium and Pseudohelminthosporium, together with nine species are reduced to synonymy. The examples outlined here clearly show the relevance of morphology in modern phylogenetic studies and the importance of more stringent ‘quality controls’ during biodiversity studies documenting the extensive fungal diversity in a speedy manner.