Mycokeys最新文献

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.124.166449.].

Neohelicomyces species comprise a group of helicosporous hyphomycetes, with over 90% of the currently accepted taxa reported from China, occurring in both freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Although the genus has been increasingly documented in recent years, its presence in crop-related ecosystems remains poorly understood, as most species have been reported from unknown hosts. In this study, a survey of fungi associated with Coffea arabica in Yunnan Province, China, was conducted, and fruiting bodies of helicosporous hyphomycetes were found on dead branches of coffee plants. Based on the morphological characteristics of conidiophores, conidiogenous cells, and conidia, in combination with multigene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1-α), two novel species of Neohelicomyces (N. coffeae and N. puerensis) were identified. Morphologically, N. coffeae differs from closely related species N. edgeworthiae by having shorter conidiophores, longer conidiogenous cells, and smaller, multi-septate conidia (vs. aseptate in N. edgeworthiae), while N. puerensis differs from its close relative N. dehongensis by having narrower and distinctly multi-septate conidia, more tightly coiled conidial filaments, and unbranched conidiophores. These results expand the known diversity of Neohelicomyces and contribute to a better understanding of fungal assemblages associated with coffee plants in subtropical China. In addition, detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic trees are provided.

Here, we report the discovery of four new agaricoid fungi in the Gliophorus irrigatus complex of the family Hygrophoraceae. Gliophorus alboviscidus sp. nov. from the UK is morphologically identical to the European G. irrigatus (which we neotypify), except that its basidiome is white or pale Buff-coloured vs. brownish-grey. Two new species from eastern North America, Gliophorus fumosus sp. nov. (provisional name Gliophorus sp. 'irrigatus-IN01') and Gliophorus parafumosus sp. nov. (previously labelled G. irrigatus) resemble G. irrigatus s.s. in grey colour and morphology, but their distributions are restricted to North America. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the two North American groups form distinct clades, with > 10% ITS sequence divergence from European G. irrigatus s.s. and from each other. Though G. alboviscidus sp. nov. is currently known only from two locations in the UK, searches for related sequences from eDNA (environmental DNA) sequence repositories (UNITE/GlobalFungi) suggested that this species is more widely distributed in Eurasia. G. fumosus and G. parafumosus sequences from eastern North America were divergent from both European G. irrigatus and G. alboviscidus; both were more closely related to another species with a strong odour and white/Buff basidiomes from north-western North America, Hygrophorus subaromaticus, for which we sequenced the holotype and recombine in the genus Gliophorus. We also describe a new species from north-western North America, G. calunus sp. nov. (provisional name Gliophorus sp. 'irrigatus-CA01'), based on vouchered specimens photographed and sequenced by a paraprofessional group, CA FUNDIS. We highlight the importance of citizen-scientist groups and paraprofessionals in documenting macrofungal species and their distributions via databases, such as iNaturalist, Mushroom Observer and MycoMap. Further, we discuss reasons that eDNA distributions are often larger than known distributions of basidiomes, including G. alboviscidus and G. fumosus.

During a survey of ascomycetes in Yunnan Province, China, two new wood-inhabiting fungi were collected and identified. These novel species are described based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1 loci. The newly identified species are designated as Amphisphaeria zhaotongensis and Pallidoperidium yunnanense, belonging to the families Amphisphaeriaceae and Pallidoperidiaceae, respectively. These species are confirmed as distinct from their close relatives through phylogenetic analyses and morpho-anatomical comparison. The study provides detailed morphological descriptions, illustrative representations, and a phylogenetic tree, all of which contribute to the taxonomic positioning of these novel species.

Conobolbitina is a morphologically diverse transitional genus within the Bolbitiaceae. However, taxonomic confusion persists, as some of its species remain classified under other genera, and its section Verrucisporae has been recovered as paraphyletic. This study revises the subdivision of Conobolbitina using integrated morphological and phylogenetic analyses of specimens from Jilin Province, China. A combined dataset of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nrLSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) sequences was analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI). Phylogenetic results revealed four major monophyletic clades within Conobolbitina, corresponding to its four sections. In sect. Conobolbitina, new combinations are proposed for two species, Con. sulcata and Con. striipes. In sect. Aeruginosa, Con. atrocyanea is newly combined. For sect. Verrucisporae, its circumscription is revised by excluding the taxa responsible for its paraphyly, and a new combination, Con. australis, is proposed. To accommodate the excluded taxa from sect. Verrucisporae, a new section, sect. Lignicola, is established based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Within this new section, three species, Con. glutinosa, Con. viscosa, and Con. sibirica, are newly combined, and two new species, Con. lignicola sp. nov. and Con. fuscoviolacea sp. nov., are described. Through these revisions, the taxonomic positions of several species are clarified, and the paraphyly of sect. Verrucisporae is resolved. In total, this study revises and recognizes 10 new taxonomic entities, including one new section, two new species, and seven new combinations. An identification key to the Chinese species of Conobolbitina is provided, along with morphological descriptions and line drawings for the two new species.

Miscanthus is a widely distributed perennial grass in the family Poaceae that hosts a diverse fungal community. During a mycological survey conducted in the Maolan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China, three fungal isolates were obtained from dead leaves of Miscanthus sinensis. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU), small subunit (SSU), and tef1-α sequence data indicated that the new isolates represent two new species, Periconia guizhouensis and Pe. miscanthusensis, and one new host record of Paramonodictys globosa. Periconia guizhouensis is distinct from its phylogenetically closest species in having globose to fusiform, guttulate, aseptate conidia with an inconspicuously verrucose surface. Periconia miscanthusensis is distinct from its phylogenetically closest species in having apically branched conidiophores produced in acropetal chains and globose, verrucose, aseptate conidia. Comprehensive descriptions, micrographs, and phylogenetic analysis results are provided. Furthermore, these findings enhance understanding of fungi associated with Miscanthus and expand current knowledge of fungal diversity in China.

The diversity and biogeographic patterns of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) remain underexplored in many parts of the world, particularly in southern temperate ecosystems. Here, we present the first molecular characterization of EcMF communities associated with North African populations of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., commonly known as black alder. Root samples over multiple sampling periods were collected from three sites in and around El Kala Biosphere Reserve, northeastern Algeria, and analysed using high-throughput sequencing targeting the full ITS region. We identified 101 EcMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs), representing two phyla, two classes, seven orders, 15 families, and 18 genera-predominantly Basidiomycota (98.6%). The genera Lactarius, Tomentella, and Inocybe consistently dominated across all sites. Community richness and diversity varied significantly among sites. Organic matter content and site identity significantly influenced EcMF community composition, whereas seasonality and other edaphic parameters showed no detectable effects. Comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed minimal overlap with EcMF communities from European, Asian, or American Alnus populations. These findings demonstrate that southern marginal populations of A. glutinosa harbour exceptionally rich and potentially unique EcMF assemblages, likely shaped by relative aridity, geographic isolation, and host lineage divergence. Our study highlights the critical importance of incorporating biogeographically peripheral ecosystems into global fungal diversity assessments, particularly in historically and environmentally distinctive regions.

Ophiocordyceps holds significant value in controlling arthropod populations, maintaining ecosystem balance, and developing bioactive substances. During the natural infection of hosts, Ophiocordyceps fungi, along with other fungal species, form a micro-ecological complex, where these microorganisms also exhibit ecological functions and biological value. In this study, two new species were introduced, from Ophiocordyceps and Leptobacillium, based on morphological observation and multi-gene (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ophiocordyceps ramosa sp. nov. is closely related to Hirsutella satumaensis and H. nodulosa, and Leptobacillium hepiali sp. nov. is closely related to L. latisporum. O. ramosa sp. nov. is characterised by multi-branched or partially forked, lignified and light brown stromata, phialides with a swollen base and tapering neck, and spherical or sub-spherical conidia, distinguishing it from closely related species. L. hepiali sp. nov. is characterized by solitary, unbranched phialides, clearly differentiating it from its relatives, which have 2-3 branched phialides. The distinctiveness of these two new species was strongly supported by both molecular phylogeny and morphology.

Ophiocordyceps species are renowned for their ecological roles and medicinal potential, yet their diversity on dipteran hosts remains insufficiently documented. Here, we investigated the diversity of dipteran-parasitizing Ophiocordyceps from China and Laos, describing two novel taxa-O. calliphoridarum and O. laosensis-and reporting O. muscae as a new record for Laos. Phylogenetic analyses based on a five-locus dataset (ITS, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1, and rpb2) strongly support the recognition of the two new species within the O. dipterigena complex of the hymenostilboid clade. Ophiocordyceps calliphoridarum is closely related to O. muscidarum but differs by parasitizing Lucilia caesar (Calliphoridae) rather than the housefly (Muscidae) and by possessing significantly larger asci and part-spores. O. laosensis closely resembles O. muscae but can be distinguished by its elongated perithecial ostioles and large asci and part-spores. Additionally, the asexual morph of O. muscidarum was newly described. These findings broaden our knowledge of the taxonomy and diversity of dipteran-parasitizing Ophiocordyceps, and further corroborate the phylogenetic monophyly of this lineage, thereby offering valuable insights into the co-evolutionary relationships between Ophiocordyceps fungi and their dipteran hosts.

Derxomyces is a monophyletic genus within the family Bulleribasidiaceae, with species that are both abundant and diverse in China, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, molecular phylogenetic data and phenotypic characteristics were integrated to investigate the species diversity of Derxomyces in Hainan and Henan Provinces of China. A total of nine species were documented, including two new species, D. alseodaphnes sp. nov. (holotype GDMCC 2.534^T) and D. henanensis sp. nov. (holotype GDMCC 2.336^T), as well as one species new to China, D. schimicola. The remaining species included five that were originally described from China and one that was first identified from New Zealand. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two new species are presented, along with comparisons to closely-related species. This study contributes to our understanding of the Derxomyces species diversity in China and lays the foundation for future taxonomic and ecological research.