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Revisiting the taxonomy of Phanerochaete (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) using a four gene dataset and extensive ITS sampling
Abstract
We amplified RPB1, RPB2, and the ITS and LSU ribosomal genes from species mostly in the phlebioid clade, focusing heavily in phanerochaetoid taxa. We performed Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses for different combinations of datasets. Our results provide a strongly supported phylogenetic picture of the phlebioid clade, representing 89 species in the four genes analyses, of which 49 represent phanerochaetoid taxa. Phanerochaete sensu lato is polyphyletic and distributed across nine lineages in the phlebioid clade. Six of these lineages are associated to already described genera, while we describe the new genus Phaeophlebiopsis to accommodate Phlebiopsis-like species in one of the remaining lineages. We also propose three taxonomic transfers and describe nine new species, with four of those species currently placed in Phanerochaete sanguinea or Phanerochaete velutina. Finally, the placement of Leptoporus mollis along with other potential brown-rot species in the phlebioid clade suggests that, in addition to the Antrodia clade, brown-rot fungi may have evolved more than once in Polyporales.
Copyright © 2015 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
... The phlebioid clade of Polyporales includes lots of wood-decaying fungi, which were distributed in the three well-supported families: Phanerochaetaceae, Irpicaceae, and Meruliaceae (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Miettinen et al., 2016;Justo et al., 2017;Chen et al., 2021). Irpicaceae is a relatively new and small family with 13 corticioid and polyporoid genera accepted at present (Spirin, 2003): Byssomerulius Parmasto, Ceriporia Donk, ...
... and G. pannocinctus (Romell) J. Erikss. were selected as the outgroup (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Chen et al., 2021). The ITS and nrLSU sequences were aligned separately using MAFFT v.7 4 (Katoh et al., 2017) with the G-INS-I iterative refinement algorithm and optimized manually in BioEdit v.7.0.5.3. ...
... In the phylogenetic tree (Figure 1), E. grandinosa and E. shenghuae formed a strongly supported lineage sister to E. clarkii Floudas and Hibbett. Morphologically, although all the three species have grandinioid or tuberculate hymenophore, E. shenghuae and E. clarkii can be easily distinguished from E. grandinosa by lacking hyphal pegs (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015). Etymology-Refers to the type locality in Hainan Province, southern China. ...
The phylogenetic analyses of the family Irpicaceae were carried out based on a complete global sampling. The dataset that included concatenated ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences of 67 taxa of Irpicaceae from around the world was subjected to the maximum likelihood analyses and Bayesian inference. In the phylogenetic tree, species from 14 genera were distributed in nine clades, among which five genera—Irpex, Phanerochaetella, Byssomerulius, Cytidiella, and Meruliopsis, received high support values. The genus Efibula was shown to be paraphyletic and four subclades could be recognized, while Phanerochaete allantospora, Leptoporus mollis, and several species from Ceriporia and Candelabrochaete formed a large clade with relatively strong support. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, seven new corticioid species—Candelabrochaete guangdongensis, Efibula grandinosa, E. hainanensis, E. shenghuae, E. taiwanensis, Irpex alboflavescens, and Phanerochaetella sinensis, were revealed from the materials mostly from East Asia. The monotypic genus Flavodontia, newly described from southwestern China, is regarded as a later synonym of Irpex, and the new combination I. rosea is proposed. In addition, Phanerochaetella queletii is proposed for a taxon first described from Italy and newly recorded from China; Phanerochaete jose-ferreirae from Portugal is determined to be a later synonym. Descriptions and illustrations of the new species and the newly combined taxa are presented, and morphological comparisons for the known species of Efibula and Phanerochaetella are provided.
... nested into phlebioid clade in Polyporales [20]. Revisiting the taxonomy of Phanerochaete (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) using a four gene dataset and extensive ITS sampling indicated that Phanerochaete sensu lato was polyphyletic and distributed across nine lineages in the phlebioid clade, in which six lineages were associated to described genera [21]. Miettinen et al. [22]. ...
... Phanerochaete citrinosanguinea differs from P. rhizomorpha by having yellow to reddish yellow hymenial surface, and smaller cystidia (31-48 µm × 2.3-4.8 µm) [21]; P. pseudosanguinea differs P. rhizomorpha in its light red or dark red hymenial surface, and narrower basidiospores (4-5.5 µm × 2-2.5 µm) [21]; P. sanguinea is separated from P. rhizomorpha by having the thin-walled cystidia and the larger basidia (25-45 µm × 4-6 µm) [1]; in addition, there is some coloration of wood as in P. sanguinea. ...
... Phanerochaete citrinosanguinea differs from P. rhizomorpha by having yellow to reddish yellow hymenial surface, and smaller cystidia (31-48 µm × 2.3-4.8 µm) [21]; P. pseudosanguinea differs P. rhizomorpha in its light red or dark red hymenial surface, and narrower basidiospores (4-5.5 µm × 2-2.5 µm) [21]; P. sanguinea is separated from P. rhizomorpha by having the thin-walled cystidia and the larger basidia (25-45 µm × 4-6 µm) [1]; in addition, there is some coloration of wood as in P. sanguinea. ...
Two new corticioid fungal species, Phanerochaete pruinosa and P. rhizomorpha spp. nov. are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Phanerochaete pruinosa is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with the pruinose hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae and subcylindrical basidiospores measuring as 3.5–6.7 × 1.5–2.7 µm. Phanerochaete rhizomorpha is characterized by having a smooth hymenophore covered by orange hymenial surface, the presence of rhizomorphs, subulate cystidia, and narrower ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS+nLSU nrRNA gene regions of the studied specimens were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. These phylogenetic analyses showed that two new species clustered into genus Phanerochaete, in which P. pruinosa was sister to P. yunnanensis with high supports (100% BS, 100% BT, 1.00 BPP); morphologically differing by a pale orange to greyish orange and densely cracked hymenial surface. Another species P. rhizomorpha was closely grouped with P. citrinosanguinea with lower supports; morphologically having yellow to reddish yellow hymenial surface, and smaller cystidia measuring as 31–48 × 2.3–4.8 µm.
... Zmitrovich et al. (2006) enlarged the genus with eight more species, E. aurata, E. bubalina, E. cordylines, E. corymbata, E. ginnsii, E. subodontoidea, E. subquercina and E. tuberculata. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis (Wu et al. 2010) showed that Efibula sensu Zmitrovich et al. (2006) was polyphyletic and, according to Floudas and Hibbett (2015), only five species were accepted in the genus namely E. americana, E. clarki, E. gracilis, E. tropica and E. tuberculata. ...
... From a morphological point of view, the species included in this genus are characterized by their basidiomata resupinate, effused, subceraceous to ceraceous; smooth hymenophore; compact subiculum, with hyphae densely interwoven; monomitic hyphal system, hyphae mostly without clamps; cystidia absent; basidia with four sterigmata; spores ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, thin-walled, smooth and hyaline, Melzer (-), and acyanophilous (Wu 1990;Floudas and Hibbett 2015). Etymology: Named after the Canary mycologist J. Laura Rodríguez-Armas, "Susi", colleague and friend. ...
... Hyphal system monomitic, subicular hyphae 4-6 µm wide, thin walled, with occasional clamps, and small vesicles; subhymenial hyphae 4 µm wide, without clamps, short celled, sometimes with very thin crystals scattered on the hyphae. Cystidia Fig. 219 Phylogram generated from Bayesian analysis based on new generated ITS + LSU sequences data and including sequences from clades 5 (Phanerochaete s.l.) and 6 (Efibula) in Floudas and Hibbett (2015). The sequence of Efibula tropica (paratype) is included (Floudas and Hibbett 2015: Fig. S5B, 1) and Ceriporiopsis aneirina as outgroup. ...
This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula (Torulaceae), Scolecoleotia (Leotiales genus incertae sedis) and Xenovaginatispora (Lindomycetaceae) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis, Cercophora dulciaquae, Cladophialophora aquatica, Coprinellus punjabensis, Cortinarius alutarius, C. mammillatus, C. quercofocculosus, Coryneum fagi, Cruentomycena uttarakhandina, Cryptocoryneum rosae, Cyathus uniperidiolus, Cylindrotorula indica, Diaporthe chamaeropicola, Didymella azollae, Diplodia alanphillipsii, Dothiora coronicola, Efbula rodriguezarmasiae, Erysiphe salicicola, Fusarium queenslandicum, Geastrum gorgonicum, G. hansagiense, Helicosporium sexualis, Helminthosporium chiangraiensis, Hongkongmyces kokensis, Hydrophilomyces hydraenae, Hygrocybe boertmannii, Hyphoderma australosetigerum, Hyphodontia yunnanensis, Khaleijomyces umikazeana, Laboulbenia divisa, Laboulbenia triarthronis, Laccaria populina, Lactarius pallidozonarius, Lepidosphaeria strobelii, Longipedicellata megafusiformis, Lophiotrema lincangensis, Marasmius benghalensis, M. jinfoshanensis, M. subtropicus, Mariannaea camelliae, Melanographium smilaxii, Microbotryum polycnemoides, Mimeomyces digitatus, Minutisphaera thailandensis, Mortierella solitaria, Mucor harpali, Nigrograna jinghongensis, Odontia huanrenensis, O. parvispina, Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii, Parafuscosporella niloticus, Phaeocytostroma yomensis, Phaeoisaria synnematicus, Phanerochaete hainanensis, Pleopunctum thailandicum, Pleurotheciella dimorphospora, Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense, Pseudodactylaria albicolonia, Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora, Russula paravioleipes, Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi, Seriascoma honghense, Synandromyces makranczyi, Thyridaria aureobrunnea, Torula lancangjiangensis, Tubeufa longihelicospora, Wicklowia fusiformispora, Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora. One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fci, Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis, Camarosporidiella laburni, Canalisporium caribense, Chaetoscutula juniperi, Chlorophyllum demangei, C. globosum, C. hortense, Cladophialophora abundans, Dendryphion hydei, Diaporthe foeniculina, D. pseudophoenicicola, D. pyracanthae, Dictyosporium pandanicola, Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus, Ernakulamia tanakae, Eutypa favovirens, E. lata, Favolus septatus, Fusarium atrovinosum, F. clavum, Helicosporium luteosporum, Hermatomyces nabanheensis, Hermatomyces sphaericoides, Longipedicellata aquatica, Lophiostoma caudata, L. clematidisvitalbae, Lophiotrema hydei, L. neoarundinaria, Marasmiellus palmivorus, Megacapitula villosa, Micropsalliota globocystis, M. gracilis, Montagnula thailandica, Neohelicosporium irregulare, N. parisporum, Paradictyoarthrinium difractum, Phaeoisaria aquatica, Poaceascoma taiwanense, Saproamanita manicata, Spegazzinia camelliae, Submersispora variabilis, Thyronectria caudata, T. mackenziei, Tubeufa chiangmaiensis, T. roseohelicospora, Vaginatispora nypae, Wicklowia submersa, Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis. The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.
... Despite the importance of the phlebioid clade, compared to the antrodia and core polyporoid clades of Polyporales, it has not been intensively studied (Ortiz-Santana et al. 2013;Justo et al. 2017;Cui et al. 2019). Generic delimitation within this clade is still not settled (Binder et al. 2013;Floudas and Hibbett 2015;Justo et al. 2017). Some genera with abundant species are known as paraphyletic or polyphyletic, and their members are scattered in different lineages, not fully consistent with the morphological features, such as Ceriporia (Jia et al. 2014;Chen et al. 2020), Ceriporiopsis (Tomšovský et al. 2010), Phanerochaete (De Koker et al. 2003;Wu et al. 2010;Floudas and Hibbett 2015) and Phlebia (Kuuskeri et al. 2015;Justo et al. 2017). ...
... Generic delimitation within this clade is still not settled (Binder et al. 2013;Floudas and Hibbett 2015;Justo et al. 2017). Some genera with abundant species are known as paraphyletic or polyphyletic, and their members are scattered in different lineages, not fully consistent with the morphological features, such as Ceriporia (Jia et al. 2014;Chen et al. 2020), Ceriporiopsis (Tomšovský et al. 2010), Phanerochaete (De Koker et al. 2003;Wu et al. 2010;Floudas and Hibbett 2015) and Phlebia (Kuuskeri et al. 2015;Justo et al. 2017). Furthermore, there are still a considerable number of new species (especially corticoid species) requiring description, and molecular sequences are lacking for many known species. ...
... Moreover, P. subcarnosa is found in Taiwan on angiosperm, whereas P. carnosa is found in North America primarily on gymnosperm, but rarely on angiosperm (Burdsall 1985). Notes: Phaeophlebiopsis, recently described by Floudas and Hibbett (2015), was retrieved as monophyletic with strong support, including one species from East Asia (P. himalayensis), one species from Europe (P. ...
The phlebioid clade (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) accommodates numerous species of corticioid and polyporoid fungi of the Phanerochaetaceae, Irpicaceae, and Meruliaceae. The present study used morphological and phylogenetic approaches to revise the generic classification of the phlebioid clade and survey species diversity. The phylogenetic analyses were performed using sequences of multiple genes, including the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), the D1-D2 domains of 28S rDNA (28S), the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1). We overall recognize 57 genera including six new ones (Alboefibula, Cremeoderma, Gelatinofungus, Luteochaete, Phanerochaetella and Quasiphlebia). We describe 26 new species belonging to 15 genera (Alboefibula bambusicola, A. gracilis, Crustodontia taiwanensis, Cytidiella albomarginata, Efibula matsuensis, E. turgida, E. subglobispora, Gelatinofungus brunneus, Hydnophlebia aurantia, H. crocata, Irpex lenis, Mycoaciella efibulata, Phanerochaete alpina, P. crystallina, P. guangdongensis, P. rhizomorpha, P. spadicea, P. subcarnosa, Phanerochaetella formosana, Phlebiopsis odontoidea, P. yushaniae, Quasiphlebia densa, Rhizochaete chinensis, Roseograndinia jilinensis, R. minispora, and Scopuloides allantoidea), and present 18 new combinations belonging to 12 genera (Cremeoderma unicum, Crustodontia nigrodontea, C. tongxiniana, Cytidiella albida, Efibula intertexta, Hydnophlebia alachuana, Irpex laceratus, I. latemarginatus, I. rosettiformis, Luteochaete subglobosa, Luteoporia lutea, Phanerochaetella angustocystidiata, P. exilis, P. leptoderma, P. xerophila, Phlebiopsis alba, Rhizochaete lutea, Scopuloides dimorpha). Descriptions, illustrations and notes of new species and some new records are provided, as well as identification keys to genera of each family.
... by morphological and molecular characters [9], in which six species were separated from Phanerochaete and transferred to Rhizochaete. Phylogenetic studies indicated Rhizochaete in the Phanerochaete clade [11] and the Phanerochaetaceae Jülich [6]. Based on studying the parenthesome structure of some corticioid fungi, Bianchinotti et al. [12] reported that three Rhizochaete species had perforate septal dolipore caps or parenthesomes. ...
... sulphurosa (Bres.) Chikowski [11] revealed that Rhizochaete was monophyletic in multigene phylogenetic analyses of the Phanerochaete clade and was represented by four species. Chikowski et al. [10] resolved Rhizochaete as monophyletic in the phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequence data, which included six Rhizochaete species. ...
... Byssomerulius corium (Pers.) Parmasto was selected as an outgroup for the phylogenetic analysis of ITS+nLSU (Figure 1), referred to following [8], and Phaeophlebiopsis caribbeana Floudas & Hibbett was selected as an outgroup taxon in ITS phylogenetic analysis following a previous study [11]. Maximum parsimony analysis was applied to the combined ITS+nLSU and ITS datasets. ...
Wood-decaying fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems. In this study, two new corticioid fungi, Rhizochaete fissurata and R. grandinosa spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Rhizochaete fissurata is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with a cracking hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, presence of subfusiform to conical cystidia encrusted at the apex or coarse on the upper half, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Rhizochaete grandinosa differs in its resupinate basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface, presence of two types of cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were employed, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods on two datasets (ITS+nLSU and ITS). Both dataset analyses showed that two new species clustered into the genus Rhizochaete, in which, based on the ITS+nLSU dataset, R. fissurata was sister to R. belizensis, and R. grandinosa grouped with R. radicata; the phylogram inferred from ITS sequences inside Rhizochaete indicated that R. fissurata formed a monophyletic lineage with a lower support; R. grandinosa grouped closely with R. radicata. In addition, an identification key to all Rhizochaete species worldwide is provided.
... P. Karst. [19]. it is characterized by white-rot, resupinate, and membranaceous basidiocarps; a smooth or tuberculate hymenial surface; a monomitic hyphal system; generative hyphae mostly simple-septate; the presence of smooth or encrusted cystidia; and thin-walled, non-amyloid, and acyanophilous basidiospores [20][21][22][23]. Based on the MycoBank database (http://www.MycoBank.org, ...
... Revisiting the taxonomy of Phanerochaete (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales) based on RPB1, RPB2, and the ITS and LSU revealed that Phanerochaete was further divided into four smaller clades (Phanerochaete sensu stricto, Bjerkandera, Hyphodermella J. Erikss. & Ryvarden, and Phlebiopsis); however, only Phanerochaete s.s. and Phlebiopsis clades have been previously identified [22]. The family Peniophoraceae (Russulales) was a large and rather heterogeneous family, although it appeared monophyletic in most analyses, and it was almost totally dominated by corticioid species, and the prime exception was the clavarioid genus Lachnocladium Lév. ...
Four new wood-inhabiting fungi were found in Southwestern China within the genera Phanerochaete, Phlebiopsis, Asterostroma, and Vararia of the families Phanerochaetaceae and Peniophoraceae, belonging to the orders Polyporales and Russulales individually. Combined with their morphological characteristics and molecular biological evidence, the present study describes them as new fungal taxa. Asterostroma yunnanense is characterized by the resupinate, membranaceous to pellicular basidiomata with a cream to salmon-buff hymenial surface, hyphal system dimitic bearing simple-septa, thin- to thick-walled, yellowish brown asterosetae with acute tips, and thin-walled, echinulate, amyloid, globose basidiospores. Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with a white to cream hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, the presence of subclavate cystidia covered with a lot of crystals, and oblong ellipsoid basidiospores (6–9 × 3–4.5 µm). Phlebiopsis fissurata is characterized by the membranaceous, tuberculate basidiomata with a buff to slightly brown hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa, conical cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid. Vararia yingjiangensis is characterized by a corky basidiomata with a pinkish buff to cinnamon-buff hymenial surface, cracking, yellowish dichohyphae with slightly curved tips, subulate gloeocystidia, and thick-walled, ellipsoid basidiospores (6.5–11.5 × 5–7 µm). The phylogenetic analyses of ITS + nLSU revealed that the two new species were nested into the genera Phanerochaete and Phlebiopsis within the family Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales), in which Phanerochaete tongbiguanensis was sister to P. daliensis; Phlebiopsis fissurata was grouped with P. lamprocystidiata. Two new species were clustered into the genera Asterostroma and Vararia within the family Peniophoraceae (Russulales), in which Asterostroma yunnanense was sister to A. cervicolor; Vararia yingjiangensis formed a single branch.
... The species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of the large phlebioid clade, which includes three families, namely, Phanerochaetaceae, Irpicaceae and Meruliaceae, have been intensively studied in recent years, and the number of taxa has been dramatically increased (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Miettinen et al., 2016;Justo et al., 2017;Nakasone et al., 2017Nakasone et al., , 2021Chen et al., 2018bChen et al., , 2020Chen et al., , 2021Chen et al., , 2022Ma and Zhao, 2019;Huang and Zhao, 2020;Gu and Zhao, 2021;Zhao et al., 2021;Li et al., 2022). To date, 60 genera of poroid, corticioid, and hydnoid fungi are recognized in the three families, which mostly cause white rot on both angiosperms and gymnosperms Nakasone et al., 2021;Lira et al., 2022). ...
... The phylogeny of the Phanerochaetaceae at the generic level is becoming much clearer with some new genera introduced for the independent lineages (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Miettinen et al., 2016;Yuan et al., 2017;Chen et al., 2018bChen et al., , 2021Ma and Zhao, 2019). At present, the family includes 23 genera, most of which are corticioid fungi . ...
The species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of five corticioid genera of Phanerochaetaceae, namely, Hyphodermella, Roseograndinia, Phlebiopsis, Rhizochaete, and Phanerochaete, in East Asia are studied by using the morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses were performed separately for the Donkia, Phlebiopsis, Rhizochaete, and Phanerochaete clades based on ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequence data. In total, seven new species were found, two new combinations are suggested, and a new name is proposed. In the Donkia clade, Hyphodermella sensu stricto was strongly supported with two new lineages, namely H. laevigata and H. tropica, which were recovered. Hyphodermella aurantiaca and H. zixishanensis are members of Roseograndinia, while R. jilinensis is proved to be a later synonym of H. aurantiaca. In the Phlebiopsis clade, P. cana sp. nov. was found on the bamboo from tropical Asia. In the Rhizochaete clade, four new species, R. nakasoneae, R. subradicata, R. terrestris, and R. yunnanensis were recovered based mainly on molecular analyses. In the Phanerochaete clade, P. subsanguinea nom. nov. is proposed to replace Phanerochaete rhizomorpha C.L. Zhao & D.Q. Wang, which is an invalid name because it was published after Phanerochaete rhizomorpha C.C. Chen, Sheng H. Wu & S.H. He, representing another species. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new species, and discussions are given for new taxa and names. Identification keys to Hyphodermella species worldwide and Rhizochaete species in China are given separately.
... P. Karst., is the largest corticioid genus with more than 100 described species in Phanerochaetaceae (Burdsall, 1985;Kirk et al., 2008;Wu et al., 2010;Ghobad-Nejhad et al., 2015). The genus has a worldwide distribution and is characterized by white-rot, resupinate, and membranaceous basidiocarps; smooth or tuberculate hymenial surface; a monomitic hyphal system; generative hyphae mostly simple septate; the presence of smooth or encrusted cystidia; and thin-walled, non-amyloid, and acyanophilous basidiospores (Wu, 2000;Wu et al., 2010;Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Ghobad-Nejhad et al., 2015). The diversity and taxonomy of Phanerochaete s.l. in China have been studied for 30 years (Wu, 1990;Wu, 1995;Wu, 1998;Wu, 2000;Wu, 2004;Wu, 2007;Xiong and Dai, 2009;Wu et al., 2010;Ghobad-Nejhad et al., 2015;Liu and He, 2016;Chen et al., 2018;Wu et al., 2018a;Wu et al., 2018b). ...
... Early studies focused on fungi of Taiwan Province and were mostly based solely on morphology. Recent studies have confirmed that the genus is highly polyphyletic and its species are distributed throughout the phlebioid clade, comprising a number of Phanerochaete species assembled in a highly supported clade, referred to as the core Phanerochaete clade, containing the type P. velutina (Wu et al., 2010;Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Justo et al., 2017;Chen et al., 2021). ...
Two new corticioid fungi in the family Phanerochaetaceae, Phanerochaete shenghuaii and Rhizochaete variegata, are described and illustrated from Southwest China based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Phanerochaete shenghuaii is characterized by annual, effused, inseparable basidiocarps from substrate, ivory white to cream hymenial surface when juvenile, buff to yellowish brown with age, buff in KOH, a monomitic hyphal system, smooth cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.8–6 × 2.5–3.8 µm. Rhizochaete variegata is characterized by annual, effused, easily separable basidiocarps from substrate, buff-yellow to clay-pink fresh hymenial surface becoming cream to buff upon drying, violet in KOH, a monomitic hyphal system, encrusted cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3–4 × 2.2–3 µm. The phylogenetic analyses based on ITS + nLSU rDNA sequences confirm the placement of the two new species, respectively, in the Phanerochaete clade and the Rhizochaete clade of Phanerochaetaceae. Phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species to these two new species are discussed.
... for Phlebia has repeatedly been shown to be polyphyletic (Larsson et al., 2004;Binder et al., 2013;Floudas & Hibbett, 2015;Justo et al., 2017). ...
... With the addition of molecular data to taxonomic and systematic studies, many new genera have been introduced or resurrected to accommodate some species from Phlebia s.l. (i.e., Allophlebia, Cabalodontia, Crustodontia, Geesterania, Hermanssonia, Lilaceophlebia, Mycoacia, Mycoaciella, Phlebiopsis, Scopuloides and Resinicium) (Floudas & Hibbett, 2015;Papp & Dima, 2017;Westphalen et al., 2018Westphalen et al., , 2021Lira et al., 2022;Liu et al., 2022;among others). Recently, Chen et al. (2021) provided a wide overview of the Phlebioid clade and the Meruliaceae, and showed that Phlebia s.l. is still polyphyletic, with members addressed in all families of the phlebioid clade. ...
Phlebiodontia is proposed as a new genus in the Meruliaceae based on morphological and molecular data. The genus is typified by Phlebiodontia rajchenbergii, a new species proposed for Brazil, and also includes P. acanthocystis (Hawaii) and P. subochracea (Germany), which are new combinations proposed in this study. The species of Phlebiodontia are morphologically characterized by yellowish ceraceous basidiomes, with slightly warted to hydnoid hymenophore, monomitic hyphal system, clamped generative hyphae, presence of smooth thin-walled cystidia and broadly ellipsoid to allantoid basidiospores. The phylogenetic relationships of Phlebiodontia and the related taxa in Meruliaceae were inferred from a 4-locus dataset including nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), the D1-D2 domains of 28S rDNA (28S), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1) and translation elongation factor 1- (tef1). This work presents complete descriptions, comments and discussion about morphology and distribution of Phlebiodontia species.
... It has historically been classified based on the fruit body's general shape and microscopic features, such as the spores, cystidia, and hyphal structure. According to molecular analyses, the genus is polyphyletic, with members scattered over the phlebioid clade of the Polyporales order [99,100]. A study examined the biodegradability of starchblended PVC films using controlled laboratory studies utilizing selected fungus isolates and in-situ burial in soil [101]. ...
Background
The escalating concern regarding the environmental impact of plastic waste necessitates the adoption of biodegradable methodologies to curtail its adverse effects. A profound comprehension of the intricate interplay between bacteria and polymers becomes imperative for devising effective solutions to address plastic-induced environmental challenges.
Main body of the abstract
Numerous microorganisms have evolved specialized mechanisms for the degradation of plastics, rendering them amenable to application in green chemistry for the elimination of hazardous plastics from the ecosystem. This article offers a comprehensive survey of contemporary microbial bioremediation approaches geared towards augmenting plastic waste management and ameliorating plastic pollution. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the potential of microorganisms in mitigating the deleterious repercussions of plastics on ecosystems and human health, underscoring the significance of advanced strategies in green chemistry for sustainable plastic pollution mitigation.
Short conclusion
Current research emphasizes the effectiveness of naturally occurring soil microorganisms, particularly fungi like Aspergillus and bacteria like Bacillus , in breaking down plastics. To harness this potential on a broader scale, optimization of microbial activity conditions and pre-treatment with environmentally beneficial compounds are essential.
... This fungus has an apparent ability to live saprophytically on woody surfaces without causing the degradation of wood lignin. We do not believe that the dispersal and survival of P. australis could pose any risk to other species cultivated in the same soil later, for two reasons, for now: (i) the species related to the infectious process in woody plants is P. chrysosporium (Floudas and Hibbett 2015) and (ii) the introduction of microorganisms into a population, such as epiphytic or rhizospheric, is transient. Furthermore, the dispersal and survival of P. australis could safely contribute to a crop rotation process, increasing the levels of macro-and micronutrients in the cultivated soil, thus enabling a reduction in the use of nitrogen fertilizer (the main nutrient required by rice cultivation) and pesticides. ...
... For two of the mismatches, the inconsistency was most likely explained by erroneous records in GBIF: OTUs classified here as Phlebia subserialis and Sphaerobolus ingoldii. The name P. subserialis is known to have been applied to multiple biological species of corticioid wood decay fungus that are morphologically similar but not very closely related 39,40 , likely creating erroneous records in GBIF (Fig. 5B). The wood-decaying fungus Sphaerobolus ingoldii was described in the 21 st century based on DNA evidence, and it is morphologically similar to S. stellatus 41 . ...
Novel methods for sampling and characterizing biodiversity hold great promise for re-evaluating patterns of life across the planet. The sampling of airborne spores with a cyclone sampler, and the sequencing of their DNA, have been suggested as an efficient and well-calibrated tool for surveying fungal diversity across various environments. Here we present data originating from the Global Spore Sampling Project, comprising 2,768 samples collected during two years at 47 outdoor locations across the world. Each sample represents fungal DNA extracted from 24 m³ of air. We applied a conservative bioinformatics pipeline that filtered out sequences that did not show strong evidence of representing a fungal species. The pipeline yielded 27,954 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Each OTU is accompanied by a probabilistic taxonomic classification, validated through comparison with expert evaluations. To examine the potential of the data for ecological analyses, we partitioned the variation in species distributions into spatial and seasonal components, showing a strong effect of the annual mean temperature on community composition.
... Hjortstam & Ryvarden and Phlebia species. Coprinellus and Phanerodontia species are saprophytes or late invading colonisers, often occurring on fallen decomposed wood (Oliver, 2008;Peiris et al., 2008), whereas species of Phlebia have been reported from apple trees and angiosperms, causing white wood rot (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Huang and Zhao, 2020;Volobuev et al., 2020). ...
... (FP-110227-sp) (Floudas & Hibbett, 2015;Justo et al., 2017) ...
Physisporinus, a genus in Polyporales, Basidiomycota, is a versatile fungus that lives as a wood decomposer, a potential pathogen of standing trees, and an orchid mycobiont. We previously reported that some Physisporinus species inhabiting wet wood in aquatic environments such as streams and waterfalls form synnema-like structures (SSs) bearing acanthophyses at their apices, and that they produce acanthophyses on vegetative hyphae when cultured on agar media. In this study, we investigated the acanthophysis-forming ability in Physisporinus and allied genera, and experimentally demonstrated the function of SSs. Phylogenetic analyses and observations of Meripilus, Physisporinus and Rigidoporus cultures showed that all of the strains forming acanthophyses belonged to Physisporinus, whereas strains of Meripilus and Rigidoporus did not produce acanthophyses. These findings suggest that SS/acanthophysis formation is a useful taxonomic character for members of Physisporinus. When Physisporinus strains were cultured under oxygen (O2) concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40%, most of those cultured under 20% O2 formed the most acanthophyses. According to these experimental data, the SSs/acanthophyses in Physisporinus were considered to have a respiratory function. Physisporinus probably acquired the SS/acanthophysis-forming ability to adapt to moist and/or aquatic habitats and to decay wet wood in which the O2 concentration is often low.
... In the phlebioid clade, most species can produce white-rot decay, with one notable exception, L. mollis, which can produce brown-rot decay (Binder et al., 2013;Chen et al., 2021). This result suggests that brown-rot fungi may have evolved more than once in Polyporales (Floudas and Hibbett, 2015). ...
Leptoporus is a rare and remarkable genus, mainly occurring in coniferous forests in the Northern Hemisphere. Recent phylogenetic studies showed that Leptoporus belongs to Irpicaceae in the phlebioid clade. It is worth noting that most species in the phlebioid clade can cause white-rot decay, except for the Leptoporus species, which can cause a brown-rot decay. In this study, we performed phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of Leptoporus and related genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on sequences from multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1). Combined with morphological characteristics, a new species, Leptoporus submollis sp. nov., is discovered and illustrated from Southwest China.
... The scale bar indicates the number of substitutions per site. (Floudas and Hibbett 2015). Although mitochondrial genome information on the genus Phanerochaete is currently very limited, the present study will assist in future taxonomic studies using mitochondrial genome information. ...
The white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida (Karsten) Eriksson and Ryvarden 1978 is known for its excellent ligninolytic activity and capability to degrade various recalcitrant organic pollutants. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of P. sordida YK-624. The mitochondrial genome is 129,567 bp in length with a GC content of 28.9%, and contains two ribosomal RNA genes, 26 transfer RNA genes, and 50 open reading frames, including 14 conserved proteins. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial genome confirmed that P. sordida belongs to the family Phanerochaetaceae in the order Polyporales, and showed the general phylogenetic relationships.
... According to Larsson et al. (2004), the phlebioid clade has been divided into three subclades, which were also distinct based on morphology. Larsson (2007) called these clades the Byssomerulius family, Phanerochaetaceae, and Meruliaceae, which is in line with subsequent works (Floudas & Hibbett 2015;Miettinen et al. 2016). Members of the clade are characterized by a monomitic hyphal system, a bipolar mating system, and the capability to cause white rot wood decay, with the exception of Leptoporus mollis (Pers.) ...
The book "The Polyporales of Kerala" presents an account on the diversity and taxonomy of the order Polyporales of Kerala State, India. Detailed taxonomic descriptions, keys, and photographs to species belonging to 48 genera and 12 families are provided. Identifications are based on morphological and molecular characterization, and follow the latest phylogenetic concepts in polyporoid taxonomy.
... Recently, the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Ceriporia has been revised based on molecular phylogeny of mitochondrial small subunit rDNA (mt SSU) (Kim and Jung, 1999;Lomsadze et al., 2014), the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) region, nuclear 28S rDNA (28S), and the gene encoding the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1) (Jia et al., 2013;Floudas and Hibbett, 2015;Miettinen et al., 2016;Justo et al., 2017;Yuan et al., 2017), but due to insufficient phylogenetic information and gene-specific noise, single or a few loci (multilocus) frequently yield incongruent phylogenies, resulting in several weakly supported nodes. Hence, a denser sampling of larger and identical gene sets across the genome is required to advance Ceriporia phylogeny (Binder et al., 2013;Zhang et al., 2017). ...
Ceriporia lacerata is an endophytic white-rot fungus that has lignocellulolytic and terpenoid-biosynthetic abilities. However, little is known about the genomic architecture of this fungus, even at the genus level. In this study, we present the first de novo genome assembly of C. lacerata (CGMCC No. 10485), based on PacBio long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing. The size of the C. lacerata genome is approximately 36 Mb (N50, 3.4 Mb). It encodes a total of 13,243 genes, with further functional analysis revealing that these genes are primarily involved in primary metabolism and host interactions in this strain’s saprophytic lifestyle. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS demonstrated a primary evolutionary position for C. lacerata, while the phylogenetic analysis based on orthogroup inference and average nucleotide identity revealed high-resolution phylogenetic details in which Ceriporia, Phlebia, Phlebiopsis, and Phanerochaete belong to the same evolutionary clade within the order Polyporales. Annotation of carbohydrate-active enzymes across the genome yielded a total of 806 genes encoding enzymes that decompose lignocellulose, particularly ligninolytic enzymes, lytic polysaccharides monooxygenases, and enzymes involved in the biodegradation of aromatic components. These findings illustrate the strain’s adaptation to woody habitats, which requires the degradation of lignin and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The terpenoid-production potential of C. lacerata was evaluated by comparing the genes of terpenoid biosynthetic pathways across nine Polyporales species. The shared genes highlight the major part of terpenoid synthesis pathways, especially the mevalonic acid pathway, as well as the main pathways of sesquiterpenoid, monoterpenoid, diterpenoid, and triterpenoid synthesis, while the strain-specific genes illustrate the distinct genetic factors determining the synthesis of structurally diverse terpenoids. This is the first genomic analysis of a species from this genus that we are aware of, and it will help advance functional genome research and resource development of this important fungus for applications in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
... The original concept for Phlebia was considerably broadened along the years (Donk 1931, 1957, Nakasone 1991, 1996, 1997, 2002, Nakasone and Burdsall 1984. However, this wide concept for Phlebia proved to be polyphyletic (Larsson et al. 2004, Binder et al. 2013, Floudas and Hibbett 2015, Justo et al. 2017. Several genera have been introduced or resurrected to accommodate different species of Phlebia, e.g., Cabalodontia Piątek, Crustodontia Hjortstam & Ryvarden, Cytidiella Pouzar, Hermanssonia Zmitr., Jacksonomyces Jülich, Mycoacia Donk, Mycoaciella J. Erikss. ...
Allophlebia is proposed as a new genus in Meruliaceae based on morphological characters and molecular data. The genus, so far monotypic, is typified by Peniophora ludoviciana and the new combination A. ludoviciana is proposed. The type species is characterized by a resupinate basidioma, a monomitic hyphal system with clamp connections, two types of cystidia (leptocystidia and metuloids), clavate basidia, and hyaline, thin-walled and ellipsoid basidiospores. A phylogeny for Allophlebia and related taxa was inferred from ITS and nLSU rDNA sequences and new information on the geographic distribution of A. ludoviciana is provided.
... It was then reported, with the same name, in China (Cui et al., 2006;Jia et al., 2014), Korea (Jang et al., 2012) and in Indonesia (Wulandari et al., 2018). In their phylogenetic study, Floudas and Hibbett (2015) also included a voucher specimen of Ceriporia (Emmia) lacerata (FP-55521-T) recovered from a dead Ulmus in Lousiana, United States (see Acc. Nos. KP135024 and KP135202 in the NCBI). ...
Lethal wilting was observed on young olive trees cv Favolosa in a grove in central Italy. White mycelial strands wrapped the basal portion of the stems that had been buried during planting. The bark was rotted and the xylem was discoloured. A fungal morphotype was strictly associated with symptomatic plants and identified as Dematophora (ex Rosellinia) necatrix. Pathogenicity tests on cvs Favolosa, Leccino and Ogliarola demonstrated that D. necatrix was the causal agent of the disease. Our investigations revealed that infections occurring during autumn and winter greatly favour the disease. By applying a marcottage to the inoculation point, we accelerated the course of the disease and mimicked the lethal outcome observed in the field. In in vitro tests, seven systemic (potential) fungicides strongly inhibited D. necatrix. Dentamet, Al-phosphite and Thiophanate methyl were selected to be tested in planta with a curative and preventive modality. Only Thiophanate methyl, in preventive modality, fully protected the plants from disease progression throughout the observation period. An additional fungal species was strictly associated with both diseased and apparently healthy plants. Morphological and molecular features identified the fungus as Emmia lacerata, a polypore species within the Irpicaceae, which is the agent of white rot on dead woody substrates. To our knowledge, this is the first time that E. lacerata has been reported in Italy and worldwide on olive trees. Inoculation of ‛Favolosa' trees revealed that it colonizes the xylem without causing visible alterations. The possible role of E. lacerata in the olive tree-D. necatrix pathosystem is discussed.
Supplementary information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10658-022-02458-1.
... Some of the fungi found in the present study (P. clavispora, Phanerochaete sp. and N. clavispora) have been reported in plant regions that contain lignin and cellulose such as branches, trunks, pedicels, and peduncles (Floudas & Hibbett, 2015;Jayawardena et al., 2015). The berries containing part of the pedicel were used for fungal isolation, which probably favored the isolation of these fungi. ...
... Sequences from six samples of Sarcodontia from the USA and two from the Czech Republic are included in the Sarcodontia ITS + nrLSU dataset as well as seven taxa shown in previous studies to be in the same lineage (see Table 1, Chen and Cui 2014;Tomšovský 2016;Wu et al. 2016;Justo et al. 2017;Papp and Dima 2018;Huang and Zhou 2020;Huang et al. 2020;Liu and Yuan 2020). The outgroup taxa, Scopuloides spp., are in a sister clade to Sarcodontia (Floudas and Hibbett 2015). This dataset of the Sarcodontia group had an aligned length of 1615 characters, 685 for ITS and 930 for nrLSU. ...
Species of Radulomyces (Radulomycetaceae, Agaricales) with spines were studied by morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses and morphological studies show that Radulomyces paumanokensis is a later synonym of Radulomyces copelandii and that Radulomyces licentii is a distinct taxon. Based on morphologic and molecular data, the new genus Noblesia (Meruliaceae, Polyporales) is proposed to accommodate Sistotrema croceum and Peniophora femsjoeensis. Sarcodontia is emended and restricted to three species with 13 taxa excluded from the genus. For many years, Sarcodontia crocea was based on an erroneous concept of Sistotrema croceum. The correct name for the taxon with striking yellow spines found on Malus and Pyrus in Europe is Sarcodontia setosa; its North American sister species is Sarcodontia amplissima comb. nov. Hydnum sulphureum is a synonym of Sarcodontia uda, and Acia flava is a later synonym of Xylodon quercinus. Species excluded from Sarcodontia are discussed, and the new combination Hyalodon sibirica is proposed.
... & Broome) Kotl.) (Brefeld 1888). Recent phylogenetic analyses have demonstrated that Oligoporus and Tyromyces belong to different clades and that they were grouped within families Dacryobolaceae Jülich and Incrustoporiaceae Jülich (Binder et al. 2013;Floudas and Hibbett 2015;Justo et al. 2017). Shen et al. (2019) have proved Oligoporus s. str. is different from Postia s. str. in morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis. ...
Brown-rot fungi are types of fungi that selectively degrade cellulose and hemicellulose from wood and are perhaps the most important agents involved in the degradation of wood products and dead wood in forest ecosystem. Two new brown-rot species, collected from southern China, are nested within the clades of Fomitopsis sensu stricto and Oligoporus sensu stricto, respectively. Their positions are strongly supported in the Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree of the concatenated the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nuSSU), the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) sequences. Fomitopsis bambusae , only found on bamboo, is characterised by its resupinate to effused-reflexed or pileate basidiocarps, small pores (6–9 per mm), the absence of cystidia, short cylindrical to oblong-ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.2–6.1 × 2–2.3 μm. Oligoporus podocarpi is characterised by white to pale cream pore surface, round or sometimes angular pores (5–6 per mm), broadly ellipsoid to reniform basidiospores measuring 3.8–4.2 × 2–2.3 μm and growing on Podocarpus . Illustrated descriptions of these two novel species, Fomitopsis bambusae and Oligoporus podocarpi , are provided.
... Recently, Phanerochaete chrysosporium was confirmed as a member of the genus Phanerochaete s. str. (Floudas and Hibbett 2015). The older names Sporotrichum pruinosum and S. pulverulentum have been regarded as the asexual morph of this species either as one or two species (Burdsall Jr and Eslyn 1974;Burdsall Jr 1985). ...
With the change to one scientific name for fungal taxa, generic names typified by species with sexual or asexual morph types are being evaluated to determine which names represent the same genus and thus compete for use. In this paper generic names of the Agaricomycotina ( Basidiomycota ) were evaluated to determine synonymy based on their type. Forty-seven sets of sexually and asexually typified names were determined to be congeneric and recommendations are made for which generic name to use. In most cases the principle of priority is followed. However, 16 generic names are recommended for use that do not have priority and thus need to be protected: Aleurocystis over Matula; Armillaria over Acurtis and Rhizomorpha; Asterophora over Ugola; Botryobasidium over Acladium , Allescheriella, Alysidium, Haplotrichum , Physospora, and Sporocephalium; Coprinellus over Ozonium; Coprinopsis over Rhacophyllus; Dendrocollybia over Sclerostilbum and Tilachlidiopsis; Diacanthodes over Bornetina; Echinoporia over Echinodia; Neolentinus over Digitellus; Postia over Ptychogaster; Riopa over Sporotrichum; Scytinostroma over Artocreas, Michenera , and Stereofomes; Tulasnella over Hormomyces; Typhula over Sclerotium; and Wolfiporia over Gemmularia and Pachyma. Nine species names are proposed for protection: Botryobasidium aureum, B. conspersum , B. croceum , B. simile, Pellicularia lembosporum (syn. B. lembosporum ), Phanerochaete chrysosporium , Polyporus metamorphosus (syn. Riopa metamorphosa ), Polyporus mylittae (syn. Laccocephalum mylittae ), and Polyporus ptychogaster (syn . Postia ptychogaster ). Two families are proposed for protection: Psathyrellaceae and Typhulaceae . Three new species names and 30 new combinations are established, and one lectotype is designated.
Panus is a typical wood-rotting fungi, which plays considerable roles in ecosystems and has significant economic value. The genus Panus currently consists of more than 100 species; however, only eight species have been reported from China. This study aims to distinguish and describe two novel species from the Panus similis complex, namely Panus minisporus and Panus baishanzuensis, one new record species from Zhejiang Province, Panus similis and three common species, Panus conchatus, Panus neostrigosus and Panus rudis, based on detailed morphological and phylogenetic studies, relying on Chinese specimens. Panus minisporus is characterised by its reddish-brown pileus, decurrent lamellae with cross-veins, slender stipe, smaller basidiospores, wider generative hyphae and absence of sclerocystidia. Panus baishanzuensis is featured by its pileus with concentric and darker ring zone, decurrent lamellae with cross-veins, shorter stipe, longer basidiospores, diverse and shorter cheilocystidia and smaller sclerocystidia. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU) and translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef-1α) were employed to perform a thorough phylogenetic analysis for genus Panus and related genera, using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood analysis. The results indicate that Panus minisporus and Panus baishanzuensis form two independent clades within the Panus similis complex themselves. Detailed descriptions, taxonomic notes, illustrations etc. were provided. In addition, a key to the reported species of Panus from China is also provided.
A new genus of corticoid wood-inhabiting fungus, Callosus , typified by C. wenshanensis , is proposed here based on morphological and molecular characters. The species is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with smooth, cream-colored hymenial surfaces, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing simple septa, and basidiospores (2.3–3.9 × 1.4–2.3 μm) that are ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, and smooth. The nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (28s) sequences were analyzed using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. Phylogenetic analysis supported Callosus in a monophyletic lineage closely related to Phanerochaete and Rhizochaete .
Three new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Cerioporus yunnanensis, Perenniporiopsis sinensis, and Sarcoporia yunnanensis, are proposed based on a combination of the morphological features and molecular evidence. Cerioporus yunnanensis is characterized by the pileate basidiomata having a fawn brown to black pileal surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the fusoid cystidioles and cylindrical basidiospores (9–12.5 × 3.5–5 µm). Perenniporiopsis sinensis is distinct from the osseous pileus with verrucose, an orange-yellow to dark reddish-brown pileal surface with a cream margin, a trimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the fusiform cystidioles and ellipsoid basidiospores (9–11 × 5.5–6.5 µm). Sarcoporia yunnanensis is typical of the pileate basidiomata with a salmon to reddish-brown pileal surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the ellipsoid basidiospores (4–5.5 × 2.5–4 µm). Sequences of ITS + nLSU + mt-SSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2 genes were used for the phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The multiple genes with six loci analysis showed that the three new species nested within the order Polyporales, in which C. yunnanensis and P. sinensis nested into the family Polyporaceae, and S. yunnanensis grouped into the family Sarcoporiaceae.
Panus conchatus is a species of lentinoid fungi in the family Polyporaceae. This species is characterized by its concave, smooth, deeply decurrent gills, with distinctive purple grey to greyish magenta basidiocarps. This fungus is widely distributed in both tropical and temperate regions. Here, we report a specimen of P. conchatus collected from a temperate region in Yunnan Province, China. The specimen is described and illustrated based on macro-and micro-morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses were done based on the sequence data of ITS and LSU, and the placement of the taxon was confirmed. This is the first time P. conchatus has been reported with molecular phylogenetic data from China. Full description, illustrations, color photographs, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of P. conchatus are provided.
In this present study, three new wood-inhabiting fungal taxa, Hyphoderma niveomarginatum, H. sordidum and H. weishanense, are proposed. Hyphoderma niveomarginatum is characterized by the ceraceous basidiomata having a smooth, cracking hymenial surface and the presence of the moniliform cystidia and ellipsoid basidiospores (7–9 × 3.5–5 µm). Hyphoderma sordidum is characterized by its resupinate basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface with the fimbriate margin, the presence of the tubular cystidia and ellipsoid basidiospores (3–4.5 × 2–3 µm). Hyphoderma weishanense differs in its membranous basidiomata with a slightly buff to buff hymenial surface and the presence of broadly ellipsoid basidiospores (4.5–8.5 × 4–7 µm). Sequences of ITS+nLSU+mt-SSU+RPB1+RPB2 genes were used for the phylogenetic analyses using three methods. The ITS+nLSU+mt-SSU+RPB1+RPB2 analysis of the genus Hyphoderma indicated that the 3 new species of Hyphoderma were nested into genus Hyphoderma, in which H. niveomarginatum formed a single group and then grouped with H. membranaceum and H. sinense; H. sordidum was a sister to H. nudicephalum; and H. weishanense closely grouped with H. crystallinum.
The present study was conducted to isolate and identify white rot fungi (WRF) from wood decayed and to determine their ability to produce lignin modifying enzymes (LMEs) specifically laccase (Lac), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) on solid and liquid media supplemented with synthetic dyes namely 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), azure B, and phenol red. A total of 23 isolates of WRF were isolated from decayed wood and identified to eight different species namely Phanerochaete australis, Perenniporia tephropora, Lentinus squarrosulus, Ganoderma australe, Trametes polyzona, Lentinus sajor-caju, Gymnopilus dilepis, and Fomitopsis palustris based on morphological characteristics, DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and phylogenetic inference. The fungal isolates can be divided into four groups based on the type of LMEs produced, namely A (Lac-LiP-MnP) with 16 isolates, B (Lac-MnP) (three isolates), C (Lac) (three isolates), and D (MnP) (one isolate). This study highlights Phanerochaete australis (BJ38) as the best producer of Lac and LiP while L. squarrosulus (IPS72) is the best producer of MnP. The present study is the first reported P. australis as an efficient lignin degrader by demonstrating the highest activity of two important LMEs.
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.
Six field surveys were carried out in Zixishan area, Yunnan Province, China during 2016–2021, and 1407 specimens of wood-decaying fungi were collected. The paper summarizes the obtained results on the wood-decaying fungi of this area, consisting of 74 species belonging to 49 genera, 24 families and 7 orders. Polyporales is the dominant order (51.35% of the total species), and Hyphoderma, and Peniophorella are the dominant genera (Each accounted for 6.76% of the total) in this area. Their hosts and substrates were also identified and a checklist of wood-decaying fungi is provided. The taxa were identified by morphology and molecular evidence. The sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene region of the studied specimens were generated and the phylogenetic analyses were performed. Five new species were earlier described in Zixishan area viz. Hyphoderma fissuratum C.L. Zhao & X. Ma (2021: 37), H. microporoides C.L. Zhao & Q.X. Guan (2021: 9), H. tenuissimum C.L. Zhao & Q.X. Guan (2021: 153), Hyphodermella zixishanensis C.L. Zhao (2021: 4), and Phanerochaete pruinosa C.L. Zhao & D.Q. Wang (2021: 8). This work aimed to provide an updated checklist of wood-decaying fungi in Zixishan area, Yunnan Province, China, as well as to enrich the knowledge of the fungal diversity in China and worldwide.
Phanerochaete is an important genus of wood-inhabiting fungi that can decompose rotten wood in forest ecosystems. In this study, we describe three new species of Phanerochaete viz. P. daliensis, P. subtropica, and P. subtuberculata from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, China. A combination of morphological features and phylogenetic analyses were used to describe these species. Firstly, P. daliensis possesses a cracking basidioma, grandinioid hymenophore with white hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system with simple septate generative hyphae, and ellipsoid to elongate to cylindrical basidiospores. In comparison, P. subtropica possesses a smooth basidioma with rhizomorphic sterile margins, monomitic hyphal system with subhymenial hyphae densely covered by crystals, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Finally, P. subtuberculata is characterized by a tuberculate basidioma with slightly olivaceous to pale brown hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system, clavate cystidia with a tapering apex, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of the ITS and LSU rDNA markers of 12 genera related to the genus Phanerochaete within the family Phanerochaetaceae (Polyporales) were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three new species belong to the genus Phanerochaete. Further, the phylogram inferred from the ITS dataset revealed that P. subtuberculata is a sister group to P. crystallina and that P. subtropica grouped with P. daliensis.
The genus Hyphoderma is one of the most important corticioid fungi worldwide, which causes white rot in wood and plays an important role in forest ecosystems and carbon cycle. In this study, three new wood-inhabiting fungal species, H. marginatum, H. tropicum and H. yunnanense are proposed based on a combination of the morphological and molecular evidence. Hyphoderma marginatum is characterized by the cracking, hard fragile basidiomata having smooth hymenial surface with the upwarping margin, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and cylindrical basidiospores. Hyphoderma tropicum is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata with tuberculate hymenial surface, presence of the moniliform cystidia, and ellipsoid to cylindrical basidiospores (6.5–7.5 × 3–4 µm), Hyphoderma yunnanense is characterized by the corneus basidiomata, presence of clamped septate cystidia, and ellipsoid to cylindrical basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA genes were used for phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The three new species of Hyphoderma inferred from ITS sequences and form separate lineages within the genus.
Phlebia s.l. (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) accommodates numerous species of wood-inhabiting fungi within the phylum Basidiomycota. The present study employs the morphological and phylogenetic approaches to revise the generic and species classification of Phlebia s.l. and surveys the species diversity. The phylogenetic analyses were performed using multiple gene regions viz. the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2). We overall recognize twenty genera of Phlebia s.l., including three new genera viz. Ceriporiopsoides, Phlebicolorata, and Pseudophlebia, seven new species viz. Crustodontia rhododendri, Hydnophlebia fissurata, Luteoporia straminea, Merulius sinensis, My-coaciella brunneospina, Phlebia niveomarginata, and P. poroides and seventeen new combinations viz. to show the placements, and notes of new taxa are provided.
The brown-rot fungi play an important role in forest ecosystems; they can degrade celluloses and hemicelluloses of wood and maintain nutrient cycling. Some of the brown-rot fungi also have important economic value as medicinal or edible mushrooms. Recent studies showed that the ability to produce brown rot has evolved independently at least five times. Nevertheless, the Polyporales contains the vast majority of the species of the brown-rot fungi. In this study, the classification system of the brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales is revised. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships of brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales are analysed based on DNA sequences of multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The study showed that the brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales formed fourteen lineages, which are assigned at family level, including four new families: Auriporiaceae, Piptoporellaceae, Postiaceae, Taiwanofungaceae, and ten existing families: Adustoporiaceae, Dacryobolaceae, Fibroporiaceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Laetiporaceae, Laricifomitaceae, Phaeolaceae, Pycnoporellaceae, Sarcoporiaceae, and Sparassidaceae. Meanwhile, eleven new genera, viz., Austroporia, Aurantipostia, Austropostia, Daedalella, Nothofagiporus, Pseudoantrodia, Pseudofomitopsis, Rhodoantrodia, Tenuipostia, Wolfiporiella and Wolfiporiopsis are proposed; eighteen new species, viz., Amyloporia nivea, Antrodia subheteromorpha, Aurantipostia macrospora, Austropostia hirsuta, A. plumbea, A. subpunctata, Cystidiopostia subhibernica, Daedalella micropora, Fuscopostia subfragilis, Lentoporia subcarbonica, Melanoporia tropica, Neolentiporus tropicus, Phaeolus fragilis, Postia crassicontexta, Pseudoantrodia monomitica, Pseudofomitopsis microcarpa, Resinoporia luteola and Rhodonia subrancida are described; and twelve new combinations, viz., Austroporia stratosa, Austropostia brunnea, A. pelliculosa, A. punctata, Nothofagiporus venatus, Rhodoantrodia tropica, R. yunnanensis, Tenuipostia dissecta, Wolfiporiella cartilaginea, W. curvispora, W. dilatohypha and Wolfiporiopsis castanopsidis, are proposed. Illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided. Notes on the genera of brown-rot fungi within the Polyporales are provided.
Twenty nine fungal species spread over 15 genera, (Antrodia leucaena, A. malicola, A. pulvinascens, Coltricia cinnamomea, C. focicola, C. perennis, Fomitiporia rosmarini, Ganoderma australe, G. brownii, G. carnosum, Gloeophyllum abietinum, G. carbonarium, Hymenochaete leonina, H. rheicolor, H. semistupposa, Junghuhnia collabens, J. nitida, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phlebiopsis crassa, Phellinus gilvus, P. nigricans, P. senex, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Radulodon acaciae, Rigidoporus ulmarius, Trametes ljubarskyi, T. versicolor, Trichaptum abietinum and T. biforme) have been described from Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Seventeen species, highlighted in bold are new to the mycoflora of Sirmaur. Among the described species, four species (Gloeophyllum carbonarium, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Radulodon acaciae) are new records for Himachal Pradesh and three species (Antrodia leucaena, A. pulvinascens and Coltricia focicola) are new reports for India. This chapter provides information about the diversity, taxonomy and economic importance of the twenty nine species of poroid and non-poroid Agaricomyceteous fungi.KeywordsHimachal PradeshAgaricomycetousSirmaur
Basidiomycota
Fungi
Trametopsis is a worldwide genus belonging to Irpicaceae in the phlebioid clade, which can cause a white decay of wood. Previously, only three species were ascribed to the genus. In this study, we performed a morphological and phylogenetic study of Trametopsis . Molecular phylogenetic analyses of multiple loci included the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1). Phylogenetic trees were inferred from the combined datasets of ITS+nLSU sequences and ITS+nLSU+RPB1+RPB2+TEF1 sequences by using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. Combined with molecular data, morphological characters and ecological traits, two new species of Trametopsis are discovered. Trametopsis abieticola is characterised by its pileate, solitary or imbricate basidiomata, buff to buff-yellow pileal surface when fresh, becoming pinkish buff to clay-buff when dry, cream to buff pore surface when fresh, becoming pinkish buff to greyish brown upon drying, round to angular and large pores (0.5–1 per mm), cylindrical basidiospores (5.8–7.2 × 1.9–2.6 μm), distributed in the high altitude of mountains and grows on Abies sp. Trametopsis tasmanica is characterised by its resupinate basidiomata, cream to pinkish-buff pore surface when fresh, becoming honey-yellow to snuff brown upon drying, cylindrical basidiospores (5.2–6.3 × 1.8–2.2 μm), and by growing on Eucalyptus sp. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two novel species are provided.
Since 2011, we have collected fungi that form synnema-like structures (SSs) bearing many acanthophyses at the apex on water-splashed wood in streams in various regions of Japan. A provisional phylogenetic analysis of strains isolated from SSs based on their nrDNA sequences implied affinity with Physisporinus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota). However, it has not been reported that this genus forms SSs in freshwater habitats. We found a fungus forming not only SSs on the water-boundary part of wood but also resupinate basidiocarps with poroid hymenophores on nonsubmerged parts, and the morphological characteristics of the basidiocarps matched those of Physisporinus. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between SS-forming fungi and their sexual states by taxonomic approaches. Phylogenetic analyses based on nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) sequences indicated that SS-forming fungi diverged into five clades in Physisporinus. Each clade was discriminated by the color of SSs, morphology of acanthophyses, and cultural characteristics. Of the five clades, Clade 1, which consisted only of sequences of strains isolated from SSs and basidiocarps produced on rhizomorphs, was closely related to P. eminens and P. undatus, but the morphology of basidiocarps and the manner of basidiocarp development differed. Clade 5 was closely related to P. castanopsidis, P. crocatus, P. pouzarii, P. sanguinolentus, P. subcrocatus, P. tibeticus, and P. vitreus, but the basidiocarp morphology differed. Therefore, Clades 1 and 5 were described as two new species. Regarding Clades 2, 3, and 4, further taxonomic studies with additional specimens are required. SS and acanthophysis formation in wet habitats in streams and in culture could be recognized as new taxonomic and ecological characters of Physisporinus.
Two new wood-inhabiting fungi Hermanssonia fimbriata sp. nov. and Phlebia austroasiana sp. nov. in the Meruliaceae family are described and illustrated from southwestern China based on molecular and morphological evidence. The characteristics of H. fimbriata include annual, resupinate basidiomata, the absence of cystidia and cystidioles, oblong ellipsoid basidiospores of 5–6 × 2.4–3 μm, and growth on rotten gymnosperm wood in the east Himalayas. Its basidiomata change drastically upon drying, from being a light-coloured, juicy, papillose-to-wrinkled hymenophore, to a dark-coloured, corky-to-gelatinous, and more or less smooth hymenophore. The characteristics of Ph. austroasiana include annual, resupinate basidiomata, a hydnoid hymenophore, 2–3 spines per mm, the presence of tubular cystidia of 20–25 × 3–3.5 µm, oblong ellipsoid basidiospores of 4.4–5.2 × 2.1–3 μm, and growth on angiosperm wood in tropical forests in the southern Yunnan Province. The phylogenetic analyses based on the combined 2-locus dataset (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) + nuclear large subunit RNA (nLSU)) confirm the placement of two new species, respectively, in Hermanssonia and Phlebia s. lato. Phylogenetically, the closely-related species to these two new species are discussed.
Two new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Steccherinum hirsutum and S. yunnanense spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Sequences of internal transcribed spacer and large subunit region of nuculear ribosomal RNA gene of the studied samples were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and bayesian inference methods. Steccherinum hirsutum is characterized by an annual growth habit, stipitate basidiocarps with scarlet to red, odontioid hymenial surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae negative in Melzer's reaction, and acyanophilous basidiospores measuring 2.5-3.5 × 1.5-2.5 µm. Steccherinum yunnanense is distinguished by resupinate basidiomata with odontioid hymenial surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, strongly encrusted cystidia and ellipsoid, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores (3.5-4.5 × 2-3.5 µm). The phylogenetic analyses comfirmed that two new species nest in Steccherinum, in the residual polyporoid clade.
Two new species of Ceriporia, including C. eucalypti sp. nov. and C. sino-viridans sp. nov., are described based on the morphology and phylogeny of samples from the Asia Pacific region. C. eucalypti is characterized by resupinate and snow white basidiocarps when fresh, abundant crystals and oily substances present in the subiculum and trama, distinct allantoid basidiospores that measure 4–4.4 × 1.1–1.4 µm, and growth on wood of Eucalyptus in Australia. C. sino-viridans is characterized by white to flesh-pink pores when fresh, distinctly curved to lunate basidiospores that measure 3–3.5 × 1.7–2.2 µm. It occurs in tropical China. C. eucalypti, C. sino-viridans, C. aurantiocarnescens, and C. viridans are phylogenetically related, but they can be distinguished by the size of their basidiospores. A key to the accepted species of Ceriporia that are accepted in the Asia-West Pacific area is provided.
A new white-rot corticioid wood-inhabiting fungal genus and species, Flavodontia rosea , collected from subtropical Yunnan, China, is proposed based on morphological and molecular evidence. Flavodontia is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiomes with a pink hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing simple septa, and ellipsoid basidiospores with thin hyaline smooth walls. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and ITS + LSU nuclear RNA gene regions showed that Flavodontia formed a distinct, monophyletic lineage within a subclade that includes Flavodon and Irpex.
Five surveys were carried out in the Wuliangshan area, Yunnan Province, P.R. China, based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Around 2454 specimens of wood-decaying fungi were collected. The paper summarizes the obtained results on the wood-decaying fungi of this area, consisting in 95 species distributed in 59 genera, 23 families and 9 orders. Their hosts and substrates were also identified. A checklist of wood-decaying fungi is given. Sequences of the ITS nrRNA gene region of the studied specimens were generated and phylogenetic analysis was performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The present list of wood-decaying fungi enriches the knowledge of fungal diversity worldwide and supplies the basic data for future applications.
Auriculariales is diverse, embracing a number of corticioid, poroid, and hydnoid genera. The present study covers a new wood-inhabiting fungal species of Heteroradulum niveum sp. nov that is proposed on the basis of a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. The species is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system with generative hyphae with clamp connections; tubular cystidia; two- to four-celled basidia; and allantoid, colorless, thin-walled, smooth, IKI–, CB–, basidiospores (6.5–13.5 × 2.7–5.5 µm). Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA gene regions of the specimens were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were carried out with methods of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. These phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS+nLSU indicated that H. niveum is nested in Heteroradulum within Auriculariales. Further study within Heteroradulum on the basis of ITS+nLSU dataset revealed that it formed a monophyletic lineage with a strong support (100% BS, 100% BP, 1.00 BPP) and then grouped with H. yunnanensis.
Wood-inhabiting fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems and, in this study, two new wood-inhabiting corticioid fungi, Hyphoderma puerense and H. tenuissimum spp. nov. , are proposed, based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Hyphoderma puerense is characterised by effused basidiomata with smooth to floccose hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae and ellipsoid basidiospores. Hyphoderma tenuissimum is characterised by resupinate basidiomata with tuberculate to minutely-grandinioid hymenial surface, septate cystidia and cylindrical to allantoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were generated and phylogenetic analyses were performed with Maximum Likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian Inference methods. These analyses showed that the two new species clustered into Hyphoderma , in which H. puerense grouped with H. moniliforme and H. tenuissimum formed a singleton lineage. In addition, an identification key to Chinese Hyphoderma is provided.
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.
The anthropogenic deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) onto terrestrial ecosystems has accelerated dramatically in the last 160 years as the result of human activity, with future rates of deposition projected to increase further. In some temperate forests, experimental increases in N deposition have reduced decomposition and concomitantly increased soil carbon (C) storage. One mechanism proposed to explain this response is that experimental N deposition negatively affects fungal decomposers of lignin, a recalcitrant constituent of plant cells which limits the overall rate of plant litter decay. More specifically, anthropogenic N deposition is hypothesized to reduce fungal lignolysis, and, as a result, reduce the representation of lignolytic fungi while favoring fungal taxa which are less efficient lignin decomposers. I tested this mechanism by examining the composition and diversity of fungi and the lignolytic genes that they express in a long-term field experiment in a series of northern hardwood forests, which have received experimental N deposition (3 g N m-2 y-1) for nearly 20 years. First, I found that experimental N deposition altered the composition of the active fungal community in the forest floor, whereas it had miminal effect on fungal richness and diversity. In my second experiment, experimental N deposition reduced the abundance of lignolytic fungi occurring on high-lignin and wood substrates; this appeared to be part of an overall change in fungal community composition in response to experimental N deposition, wherein lignolytic taxa declined and cellulolytic fungi increased in relative abundance. In Chapter 3, I found that experimental N deposition altered the composition, but not the richness or diversity, of expressed class II fungal peroxidases in the forest floor. Together, my results revealed that experimental N deposition reduces decomposition of plant litter and increases soil C storage by altering the composition and activity of fungal decomposers. This research improves our understanding of the biological mechanism through which an agent of global change alters biogeochemical cycling in temperate forest ecosystems.
A new taxonomic division of the suborder Phanerochaetineae of the order Polyporales is presented. The suborder covers five families, i.e. Faerberiaceae Pouzar, Fistuli-naceae Lotsy (including Jülich's Bjerkanderaceae, Grifolaceae, Hapalopilaceae, and Meripi-laceae), Laetiporaceae Jülich (=Phaeolaceae Jülich), and Phanerochaetaceae Jülich. As a basis of the suggested subdivision, features of basidioma micromorphology are regarded, with special attention to hypha/epibasidium ratio. Some generic concepts are changed. New genera Raduliporus Spirin & Zmitr. (type Polyporus aneirinus Sommerf. : Fr.), Emmia Zmitr., Spirin & V. Malysheva (type Polyporus latemarginatus Dur. & Mont.), and Leptochaete Zmitr. & Spirin (type Thelephora sanguinea Fr. : Fr.) are described. The genus Byssomerulius Parmasto is proposed to be conserved versus Dictyonema C. Ag. The genera Abortiporus Murrill and Bjer-kandera P. Karst. are reduced to Grifola Gray. In total, 69 new combinations are proposed. The species Emmia metamorphosa (Fuckel) Spirin, Zmitr. & Malysheva (commonly known as Ceri-poria metamorphosa (Fuckel) Ryvarden & Gilb.) is reported as new to Russia. I. INTRODUCTORY NOTES There is no general agreement how to outline the limits of the forms which should be called phanerochaetoid fungi. The main intention of this paper is to clarify taxonomic position and concept of this group which is, in our opinion, morphologically distinct union of corticioid and some polyporoid homobasidiomycetes, characterized by hyphae and basidia similar to those of the genus Phanerochaete P. Karst. In current taxonomic literature this group is incorporated within polyporoid clade and reveals close relationships with phlebioid and 'core polyporoid' clades (Parmasto, Hallenberg, 2000; De Koker et al., 2003; Binder et al., 2005). Historically, a group in question was established by John Eriksson (1958) as subfamily Phanerochaetoideae of the Corticiaceae Herter, although it was validly published only 30 years later (Parmasto, 1986). Originally, the group of phanerochaetoid fungi was limited to Phanero-chaete P. Karst. with several closely related corticioid genera. In "Conspectus systematis Corti-ciacearum" (Parmasto, 1968), this group was considered as tribe Byssomerulieae of subfamily Athelioideae. Hence, the phylogenetic relationships of Phanerochaete with some merulioid fungi (as Byssomerulius Parmasto) were widely discussed for the first time. However, in this work Phanerochaete genus complex was opposed to the "subfamily" Phlebioideae; therefore, a kind of stereotype was created for further approaches. Jülich (1982) raised Eriksson's Phanerochaetoideae to the family level and placed it in the order Phanerochaetales Jülich, where Phanerochaetaceae Jülich appeared side by side with
We present a phylogenetic and phylogenomic overview of the Polyporales. The newly sequenced genomes of Bjerkandera adusta, Ganoderma sp., and Phlebia brevispora are introduced and an overview of 10 currently available Polyporales genomes is provided. The new genomes are 39 500 000-49 900 00 bp and encode for 12910-16170 genes. We searched available genomes for single-copy genes and performed phylogenetic informativeness analyses to evaluate their potential for phylogenetic systematics of the Polyporales. Phylogenomic datasets (25, 71, 356 genes) were assembled for the 10 Polyporales species with genome data and compared with the most comprehensive dataset of Polyporales to date (six-gene dataset for 373 taxa, including taxa with missing data). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of genomic datasets yielded identical topologies, and the corresponding clades also were recovered in the 373-taxa dataset although with different support values in some datasets. Three previously recognized lineages of Polyporales, antrodia, core polyporoid and phlebioid clades, are supported in most datasets, while the status of the residual polyporoid clade remains uncertain and certain taxa (e.g. Gelatoporia, Grifola, Tyromyces) apparently do not belong to any of the major lineages of Polyporales. The most promising candidate single-copy genes are presented, and nodes in the Polyporales phylogeny critical for the suprageneric taxonomy of the order are identified and discussed.
Type specimens of Peniophora aluticolor Bres. & Torrend, an orphaned species described from Madeira, have been examined and the combination Phanerochaete aluticolor (Bres. & Torrend) Melo, J.Cardoso, M.Duenas, Salcedo & Telleria is proposed. It can be separated from the related and the Mediterranean-distributed Ph. martelliana by smaller spores and thick-walled cystidia and subicular hyphae.
The phylogeny of Trametes and related genera was studied using molecular data from ribosomal markers (nLSU, ITS) and protein-coding genes (RPB1, RPB2, TEF1-alpha) and consequences for the taxonomy and nomenclature of this group were considered. Separate datasets with rDNA data only, single datasets for each of the protein-coding genes, and a combined five-marker dataset were analyzed. Molecular analyses recover a strongly supported trametoid clade that includes most of Trametes species (including the type T. suaveolens, the T. versicolor group, and mainly tropical species such as T. maxima and T. cubensis) together with species of Lenzites and Pycnoporus and Coriolopsis polyzona. Our data confirm the positions of Trametes cervina (= Trametopsis cervina) in the phlebioid clade and of Trametes trogii (= Coriolopsis trogii) outside the trametoid clade, closely related to Coriolopsis gallica. The genus Coriolopsis, as currently defined, is polyphyletic, with the type species as part of the trametoid clade and at least two additional lineages occurring in the core polyporoid clade. In view of these results the use of a single generic name (Trametes) for the trametoid clade is considered to be the best taxonomic and nomenclatural option as the morphological concept of Trametes would remain almost unchanged, few new nomenclatural combinations would be necessary, and the classification of additional species (i.e., not yet described and/or sampled for molecular data) in Trametes based on morphological characters alone will still be possible. Alternative scenarios to divide the trametoid clade in five or ten genera were considered but if any of these options were to be adopted morphological distinction of the segregated genera and the ascription of additional species to any of these genera would be very difficult and in some cases impossible. The genera Artolenzites, Coriolopsis (as currently typified), Coriolus, Cubamyces, Cyclomycetella, Lenzites, Poronidulus, Pseudotrametes and Pycnoporus are considered synonyms of Trametes.
Softwood is the predominant form of land plant biomass in the Northern hemisphere, and is among the most recalcitrant biomass resources to bioprocess technologies. The white rot fungus, Phanerochaete carnosa, has been isolated almost exclusively from softwoods, while most other known white-rot species, including Phanerochaete chrysosporium, were mainly isolated from hardwoods. Accordingly, it is anticipated that P. carnosa encodes a distinct set of enzymes and proteins that promote softwood decomposition. To elucidate the genetic basis of softwood bioconversion by a white-rot fungus, the present study reports the P. carnosa genome sequence and its comparative analysis with the previously reported P. chrysosporium genome.
P. carnosa encodes a complete set of lignocellulose-active enzymes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that P. carnosa is enriched with genes encoding manganese peroxidase, and that the most divergent glycoside hydrolase families were predicted to encode hemicellulases and glycoprotein degrading enzymes. Most remarkably, P. carnosa possesses one of the largest P450 contingents (266 P450s) among the sequenced and annotated wood-rotting basidiomycetes, nearly double that of P. chrysosporium. Along with metabolic pathway modeling, comparative growth studies on model compounds and chemical analyses of decomposed wood components showed greater tolerance of P. carnosa to various substrates including coniferous heartwood.
The P. carnosa genome is enriched with genes that encode P450 monooxygenases that can participate in extractives degradation, and manganese peroxidases involved in lignin degradation. The significant expansion of P450s in P. carnosa, along with differences in carbohydrate- and lignin-degrading enzymes, could be correlated to the utilization of heartwood and sapwood preparations from both coniferous and hardwood species.
Wood is a major pool of organic carbon that is highly resistant to decay, owing largely to the presence of lignin. The only
organisms capable of substantial lignin decay are white rot fungi in the Agaricomycetes, which also contains non–lignin-degrading
brown rot and ectomycorrhizal species. Comparative analyses of 31 fungal genomes (12 generated for this study) suggest that
lignin-degrading peroxidases expanded in the lineage leading to the ancestor of the Agaricomycetes, which is reconstructed
as a white rot species, and then contracted in parallel lineages leading to brown rot and mycorrhizal species. Molecular clock
analyses suggest that the origin of lignin degradation might have coincided with the sharp decrease in the rate of organic
carbon burial around the end of the Carboniferous period.
Cinereomyces clade is a newly proposed monophyletic group of polypores containing currently four genera and five species, including two
promising biopulping fungi, Ceriporiopsis rivulosa and C. subvermispora. The Cinereomyces clade is well-delimited in nrDNA-based phylogenetic analysis, but its position in Polyporales remains unclear. Its closest
relative may be found in the core polyporoid clade. Only a few morphological characters are common for all the species in
the clade, e.g. CB– and CRB+ hyphae, white fruiting bodies, presence of oil, and middle-sized spores. Culturally, the species
are unified by producing simple-septate generative hyhpae in the margin, which produce simple-clamped hyphae backwards. The
genus Gelatoporia is the correct place for Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Two new genera are described in the group: Obba to incorporate C. rivulosa and a new austral species, Obba valdiviana, known from southern Argentina and recorded here also from Tasmania, and Sebipora to accommodate a new species from tropical Asia, S. aquosa. ITS sequences imply that Eurasian Gelatoporia subvermispora may belong to a different species from the North American one. G. subvermispora is recorded as new to Indonesia.
Keywords
Ceriporiopsis rivulosa
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Ceriporiopsis subvermispora
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Diplomitoporus lindbladii
–Taxonomy–Biopulping
The genus Phanerochaete (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) has traditionally been delimited based on the gross morphology of the fruiting body and on the nature of the hyphal structure, cystidia, and spores. However, several recent studies based on molecular data indicate that the genus is polyphyletic as presently circumscribed, although most of its species are found in the phlebioid clade of the Polyporales. To further our understanding of the genus, 54 new sequences from the large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of 45 previously unsequenced Phanerochaete species were obtained and analyzed jointly with a large selection of taxa in the phlebioid clade. The results show that there is a well-supported Phanerochaete core group that includes the type species Phanerochaete velutina (the currently accepted name of the generic type, Thelephora alnea). Representatives of a few satellite genera, including Hjortstamia, Phlebiopsis, and Rhizochaete, are found in the immediate topological vicinity of Phanerochaete.
Outside the core group but still within the phlebioid clade are several taxa that have been referred to as members of Phanerochaete by some authors but that are here assigned to at least five different monophyletic clades. Phanerochaete viticola is found in the Hymenochaetales and is shown to have phylogenetic affinities to the partially symbiotic Rickenellaceae. A new genus, Ginnsia, is erected for this species, and the new combinations Ginnsia viticola, Hjortstamia brunneocystidiata, H. laxa, and Phlebiopsis lamprocystidiata are proposed. A denser taxon and gene sampling in the phleboid clade will be needed to settle the precise taxonomic affiliation of many of the species presently referred to as Phanerochaete, and numerous nomenclatural changes are doubtlessly looming on the horizon.
Understanding the evolutionary history of living organisms is a central problem in biology. Until recently the ability to infer evolutionary relationships was limited by the amount of DNA sequence data available, but new DNA sequencing technologies have largely removed this limitation. As a result, DNA sequence data are readily available or obtainable for a wide spectrum of organisms, thus creating an unprecedented opportunity to explore evolutionary relationships broadly and deeply across the Tree of Life. Unfortunately, the algorithms used to infer evolutionary relationships are NP-hard, so the dramatic increase in available DNA sequence data has created a commensurate increase in the need for access to powerful computational resources. Local laptop or desktop machines are no longer viable for analysis of the larger data sets available today, and progress in the field relies upon access to large, scalable high-performance computing resources. This paper describes development of the CIPRES Science Gateway, a web portal designed to provide researchers with transparent access to the fastest available community codes for inference of phylogenetic relationships, and implementation of these codes on scalable computational resources. Meeting the needs of the community has included developing infrastructure to provide access, working with the community to improve existing community codes, developing infrastructure to insure the portal is scalable to the entire systematics community, and adopting strategies that make the project sustainable by the community. The CIPRES Science Gateway has allowed more than 1800 unique users to run jobs that required 2.5 million Service Units since its release in December 2009. (A Service Unit is a CPU-hour at unit priority).
A new species, Phlebia brevispora (Corticiaceae, Aphyllophorales), is proposed for the fungus previously identified on the basis of cultural traits only as Peniphora A. Basidiocarp and culture descriptions of the fungus are provided. The fungus causes a white rot, and is shown, by soil-block testing, to be capable of causing substantial decay in southern pine wood. This capability, coupled with its past isolation from internally decayed utility poles and posts, shows P. brevispora to be important in the decay of these structures.
A new basidiomycete genus, Rhizochaete (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales), is described. Rhizochaete is characterized by a smooth to tuberculate, pellicular hymenophore and hyphal cords that turn red or violet in potassium hydroxide, monomitic hyphal system of simple or nodose septate hyphae, cystidia, and small, cylindrical to subglobose basidiospores. It morphologically is most similar to Phanerochaete. Analyses of nuclear ribosomal and internal-transcribed spacer region sequence data support a close relationship between Rhizochaete and Phanerochaete. The new taxon R. brunnea, from southern Argentina, is described and illustrated. In addition, the new combinations R. americana, R. borneensis, R. filamentosa, R. fouquieriae and R. radicata are proposed. A key to the species of Rhizochaete is provided.
Six species of Phlebia (Meruliaceae, Basidiomycotina) with toothed hymenophores are described and illustrated. The genus name Mycoacia is placed in synonymy under Phlebia. Four new combinations are proposed: P. aurea, P. fuscoatra, P. nothofagi, and P. uda. Phlebia gilbertsonii sp. nov. is described from Louisiana and Florida, U.S.A., and P. albofibrillosa, from Nepal and northern India, is redescribed.
In timberline forests, Picea glauca and P. mariana were commonly infested by fungi, mostly by Porodaedalea piceina and Trichaptum abietinum.-from Author
This seventh part deals with the Thelephoraceae as traditionally conceived, not with the family in its modern strongly emended sense.
The correct name for the genus often referred to as Hypolyssus Berk. (or Podostrombium G. Kunze) seems to be Caripia O.K. (as already previously accepted by some authors).
The typifications of Gloeotulasnella Höhn. & L., Hypochnus Fr. (non Ehrenb.), Lyomyces P. Karst., and several other names are recommended for consideration.
Two proposals for conservation are repeated: Craterellus Pers. against Craterella S. F. Gray and Hymenochaete Lév. against Hymenochaete [P. Beauv. corn] Nees.
A new species, Phlebia brevispora (Corticiaceae, Aphyllophorales), is proposed for the fungus previously identified on the basis of cultural traits only as Peniphora A. Basidiocarp and culture descriptions of the fungus are provided. The fungus causes a white rot, and is shown, by soil-block testing, to be capable of causing substantial decay in southern pine wood. This capability, coupled with its past isolation from internally decayed utility poles and posts, shows P. brevispora to be important in the decay of these structures.
A survey of higher fungi in the mamane-naio vegetation zone on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawai'i yielded 71 species of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Eight xylariaceous ascomycetes are reported. Fifteen species of gasteromycetes are reported. Of these Battarrea phalloides, Disciseda anomala, D. verrucosa, Geastrum campestre, G. fornicatum, Tulostoma fimbriata var. campestre, and T. involucratum are new reports from the Hawaiian Islands. Forty-eight species of wood-rotting basidiomycetes are reported. Brevicellicium vulcanense, Crustoderma gigacystidium. Henningsomyces separatus, Hyphoderma sphaeropedunculatum, Hyphoderma naiophila, Hyphodermella maunakeaensis, Phanerochaete crescentispora, Radulomyces kama 'aina, and Radulomyces poni are described as new. Thirty other species of wood-rotting basidiomycetes are new reports from the Hawaiian Islands.
Global conversion of organic carbon to CO2 with concomitant reduction of molecular oxygen involves the combined metabolic activity of numerous microorganisms. The most abundant source of carbon is plant biomass, composed primarily of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Many microorganisms are capable of degrading and utilizing cellulose and hemicellulose as carbon and energy sources, however, a much smaller group of filamentous fungi has evolved with the ability to breakdown lignin, the most recalcitrant component of plant cell walls. Collectively known as white rot fungi, they possess the unique ability to efficiently degrade lignin to CO2 in order to gain access to the carbohydrate polymers of plant cell walls for use as carbon and energy sources.
Twenty-six type specimens of corticioid basidiomycetes in the genera Corticium, Cytidia, Grandinia, Hydnum, Kneiffia, Merulius, Odontia, Peniophora and Radulum described by Bresadola, alone or with others, were examined. The new taxon, Phlebia cryptocystidiata, is described and illustrated, and an epitype for Hydnum flavicans is designated. Ten new combinations are proposed: Cristinia eichleri, Dendrothele crustulina, Hyphoderma crustulinum, Hyphodermella rosae, Kneiffiella stereicola, Odonticium flavicans, Phanerochaete queletii, Resupinatus stictoideus, Scytinostroma quintasianum, and Thujacorticium zurhausenii. The following thirteen taxa were found to be synonyms: Corticium aureolum (= Cerocorticium molle), Corticium leprosum (= Ramaricium polyporoideum), Corticium lloydii (= Phanerochaete burtii), Corticium luteum (= Gloeocystidiellum luridum), Cytidia wettsteinii (= R. stictoideus) Grandinia bondarzewii (= Intextomyces contiguus), Grandinia schweinitzii (= Radulomyces cremoricolor), Kneiffia frangulae (= Cylindrobasidium evolvens), Odontia brassicicola (= Sistotrema brinkmannii), Odontia cremorina (= Hyphodontia bugellensis), Odontia pannosa (= Hyphodermella corrugata ), Odontia torrendii (= Dentipellis leptodon), and Peniophora subcremea (= Hypochnicium eremicolor). Four taxa could not be identified to species: Hydnum ochroleucum (= Mycorrhaphium sp.), Merulius fuscescens, Merulius tessellatus (Sclerodermatineae or Paxillineae), and Odontia lilacina (= Grammothele sp). Corticium crustulinum / Corticium queletii / Corticium quintasianum / Corticium zurhausenii / Cyphella stictoidea / Hyphodontia orasinusensis / Odontia rosae / Odontia stereicola / Odonticium monfraguense / Phanerochaete jose-ferreirae / Radulum crustulinum / Radulum eichleri / Thujacorticium mirabile
Phylogenetic relationships of resupinate Homobasidiomycetes (Corticiaceae s. lat. and others) were studied using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences from a broad sample of resupinate and nonresupinate taxa. Two datasets were analysed using parsimony, a ‘core’ dataset of 142 species, each of which is represented by four rDNA regions (mitochondrial and nuclear large and small subunits), and a ‘full’ dataset of 656 species, most of which were represented only by nuclear large subunit rDNA sequences. Both datasets were analysed using traditional heuristic methods with bootstrapping, and the full dataset was also analysed with the Parsimony Ratchet, using equal character weights and six‐parameter weighted parsimony. Analyses of both datasets supported monophyly of the eight major clades of Homobasidiomycetes recognised by Hibbett and Thorn, as well as independent lineages corresponding to the Gloeophyllum clade, corticioid clade and Jaapia argillacea. Analyses of the full dataset resolved two additional groups, the athelioid clade and trechisporoid clade (the latter may be nested in the polyporoid clade). Thus, there are at least 12 independent clades of Homobasidiomycetes. Higher‐level relationships among the major clades are not resolved with confidence. Nevertheless, the euagarics clade, bolete clade, athelioid clade and Jaapia argillacea are consistently resolved as a monophyletic group, whereas the cantharelloid clade, gomphoid‐phalloid clade and hymenochaetoid clade are placed at the base of the Homobasidiomycetes, which is consistent with the preponderance of imperforate parenthesomes in those groups. Resupinate forms occur in each of the major clades of Homobasidiomycetes, some of which are composed mostly or exclusively of resupinate forms (athelioid clade, corticioid clade, trechisporoid clade, Jaapia). The largest concentrations of resupinate forms occur in the polyporoid clade, russuloid clade and hymenochaetoid clade. The cantharelloid clade also includes many resupinate forms, including some that have traditionally been regarded as heterobasidiomycetes (Sebacinaceae, Tulasnellales, Ceratobasidiales). The euagarics clade, which is by far the largest clade in the Homobasidiomycetes, has the smallest fraction of resupinate species. Results of the present study are compared with recent phylogenetic analyses, and a table summarising the phylogenetic distribution of resupinate taxa is presented, as well as notes on the ecology of resupinate forms and related Homobasidiomycetes.
The genus Phlebia has long been regarded as a polyphyletic or paraphyletic taxon, including distinct groups of more closely related species. Consequently, the delimitation of the genus has been given different interpretations and several rearrangements have been proposed by various authors. In the present study, DNA sequences (25S, rDNA) were obtained for twenty species of the genus Phlebia and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. Because of the presumably paraphyletic nature of the genus, different outgroups were used for different sets of taxa. A core group of species, including the type Ph. radiata, is well distinguished. For the delimitation of the genus, however, the wider scope of a more weakly supported clade is proposed. This clade also includes Phlebiopsis gigantea and its combination in Phlebia is reaffirmed. Two species, Ph. griseoflavescens and Ph. tristis, are distinctly separated from this clade and should be removed from the genus. Morphological characters were used in a separate phylogenetic analysis but the result did not conform with analysis from sequence data.
We have designed two taxon-selective primers for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in the nuclear ribosomal repeat unit. These primers, ITS1-F and ITS4-B, were intended to be specific to fungi and basidiomycetes, respectively. We have tested the specificity of these primers against 13 species of ascomycetes, 14 of basidiomycetes, and 15 of plants. Our results showed that ITS4-B, when paired with either a ‘universal’ primer ITS1 or the fungal-specific primer ITS1-F, efficiently amplified DNA from all basidiomycetes and discriminated against ascomycete DNAs. The results with plants were not as clearcut. The ITS1-F/ITS4-B primer pair produced a small amount of PCR product for certain plant species, but the quantity was in most cases less than that produced by the ‘universal’ ITS primers. However, under conditions where both plant and fungal DNAs were present, the fungal DNA was amplified to the apparent exclusion of plant DNA. ITS1-F/ITS4-B preferential amplification was shown to be particularly useful for detection and analysis of the basidiomycete component in ectomycorrhizae and in rust-infected tissues. These primers can be used to study the structure of ectomycorrhizal communities or the distribution of rusts on alternate hosts.