Présentation d'une nouvelle espèce de Periconia Tode (Periconiaceae) et de son hôte récemment identifié en Chine. Une nouvelle espèce, Periconia neroscuroinea M.B. Khan & T.C. Wen, sp. nov., est décrite à partir des montagnes de Gaoligong, dans la province du Yunnan (Chine), sur la base de caractéristiques morphologiques et de données de séquences d'ADN. Elle a été isolée à partir de feuilles mortes de Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton et se caractérise par des colonies de surface noires et velues sur un substrat naturel, ainsi que par de grands conidiophores et de grosses conidies. Une analyse phylogénétique multigénique des séquences concaténées de LSU, SSU, ITS et TEF-1α a permis d'identifier P. neroscuroinea M.B. Khan & T.C. Wen, sp. nov., comme une lignée phylogénétiquement distincte. La combinaison des preuves morphologiques et moléculaires appuie fortement la reconnaissance de P. neroscuroinea M.B. Khan & T.C. Wen, sp. nov., comme une nouvelle espèce.
A new species of Nothocybe Matheny & K.P.D. Latha, N. vanadurgae Manim. & K.P.D. Latha, sp. nov., is described from Kerala State, India, based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. The diagnostic characters of this species include small basidiocarps with a fibrillose-squamulose pileus, a fibrillose-pruinose stipe with a marginate-bulbous base, smooth basidiospores occasionally with a slight angularity, a sterile lamella-edge with cheilocystidia occasionally with a resinous substance at the apex and copious caulocystidia with a resinous coating at the apex. A phylogenetic analysis based on a concatenated dataset of nrITS, nrLSU and rpb2 confirmed the taxonomic position of this species within the genus Nothocybe of the family Inocybaceae. A comprehensive description of this species, photographs and line drawings of the basidiocarps and the microscopic structures, a detailed discussion and a phylogram showing its position within the genus Nothocybe, are provided.
The distinctive features of alpine ecosystems, along with complex evolutionary and migration patterns, contribute significantly to the remarkable species richness found within these environments. This study aimed to investigate the environmental effects of elevation and microsite characteristics on the diversity and community structure of saxicolous lichens in mountain ecosystems. We also explored the hypothesis that lichen species may migrate to more sheltered microsites in response to climate change. We surveyed 406 plots across seven elevation levels (900 to 2700 m a.s.l.), documenting saxicolous lichen species richness and community composition. Microsite factors such as rock aspect, inclination, and sun exposure were recorded. Statistical analyses included generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) for richness and community weighted mean trait (CWM) by growth form, as well as multivariate analyses (CCA and NMS) to assess the influence of environmental variables on lichen community composition. We identified 195 lichen species, with significantly lower richness at 900 m a.s.l. compared to higher elevations. Richness was also greater on steep and south-facing rocks. Crustose CWM varied significantly with rock aspect, while foliose and fruticose CWMs were influenced by rock inclination. Multivariate analyses indicated that elevation, rock inclination, rock aspect, and sun exposure significantly shaped the community structure. The study highlights the combined influence of macro-and micro-environmental factors on lichen diversity. Crustose species tolerate harsher conditions, while foliose and fruticose lichens prefer steeper, south-facing microsites. These findings underscore the importance of considering both scales of environmental variation when analyzing the assembly and biodiversity of lichen communities, especially under scenarios of climate change.
Leucocoprinus beninensis Sarawi, sp. nov., is described here as a new species from Benin, West Africa, based on morphological and phylogenetic investigation. Leucocoprinus beninensis Sarawi, sp. nov., differs from known species of Leucocoprinus Pat. and closely related species of Leucoagaricus (Locq. Ex) Singer by the combination of basidiomata with reddish brown, light brown to brown squamules on a white background, a change of colour of the basidiomata to blue-green or grey-blue when dried, the absence of cheilocystidia, and small amygdaliform to ellipsoid basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nrDNA ITS region reveal that sequences of Lc. beninensis Sarawi, sp. nov., cluster with sequences of Lc. cf. caerulescens (Peck) J.F. Liang, Zhu L. Yang & J. Xu, Lc. cinnamomeodiscus Asif, Saba & M. Raza, Lc. irinellus (Chalange) Kun L. Yang, Jia Y. Lin & Zhu L. Yang, Lc. sericifer (Locq.) Asif, Saba & Uellinga, and Lc. viriditinctus (Berk. & Broome) Asif, Saba & Uellinga.
Podospora anserina (Rabenh.) Niessl is a model fungus that was shown to belong to a complex of seven species with morphologically indistinguishable sexual fruiting bodies. Through the morphological analyses and ITS (Intergenic Transcribed Spacer) sequences of 86 newly-isolated strains, as well as the genome sequences of five strains, we show that members of the P. anserina species complex present different distribution ranges in metropolitan and overseas France. Podospora anserina is present all-over metropolitan France, including Corsica, while P. comata Milovtz. is restricted to the Northern part and P. pauciseta (Ces.) Traverso to the Southern part of continental France. The Guadeloupe hosts P. pseudoanserina C.Boucher, T.S.Nguyen & P.Silar and La R & eacute;union island a species new to science, described here as Podospora reunionensis Silar, sp. nov. This species is closely related to P. comata, but exhibit clear morphological and biological differences.
The cosmopolitan genus Pycnoporus P.Karst. groups together macrofungi that belong to the family Polyporaceae Fr. ex Corda, and these are identified by the dimidiate to flabelliform basidiome, coriaceous, reddish-orange, smooth pileus, hymenophore with 3-8 pores per 1 mm, trimitic hyphal system and smooth spores. During a search for poroid fungi of the genus Pycnoporus in Brazil, 37 specimens coming from herbaria and 66 recently collected were analyzed. The fungi were analyzed for their macro-and micromorphology, and the ITS, LSU and tef regions, which were sequenced and subjected to Bayesian analyses. These analyses showed which characteristics are specific to the genus and new characteristics not previously reported were evidenced. After morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we concluded that some of these specimens were very different from the existing taxa and that they represent a new species of Pycnoporus. In addition, P. puniceus (Fr.) Ryvarden is reported for the first time from the country and P. sanguineus (L.) Murrill from the state of Roraima (Brazil). Furthermore, using the molecular data obtained in this study and ITS, LSU, tef1 and rpb2 sequences from Polyporales G & auml;um. from GenBank, we sought to estimate the time of divergence of Pycnoporus and the species on the order, as a starting point for understanding its biogeographic history. According to our analyses, Pycnoporus and its sister group Trametes Fr. diverged at 36 Mya. Lastly, we discuss the taxonomic relationship between these two groups.
Leiothecium Samson & Mouch. is a genus enclosed into the family Aspergillaceae Link (Eurotiales) including L. ellipsoideum Samson & Mouch. and L. cristatum Y. Mar & iacute;n, Stchigel & Cano, species exhibiting ascospore walls somewhat or irregularly reticulated and prominent crests. During a research on heat-resistant fungi from soil of the semi-arid region of Northern Argentina, several Leiothecium spp. isolates were obtained; morphological and molecular studies were carried out. Phylogenetics showed strong support for the monophyly of the Leiothecium clade and L. ellipsoideum as the sister taxon. Some isolates were identified as Leiothecium ellipsoideum, and a new species provided with reticulate-foveate ascospore ornamentation without prominent crests was described: Leiothecium dictyophorum S.M.Romero & Comerio, sp. nov. Molecular analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images support the description of L. dictyophorum S.M.Romero & Comerio, sp. nov. as a new species.
In the present study, two new species of Geastrum Pers., with distinctive characteristics, are recorded for the first time for science in areas of the Brazilian Cerrado biome: Geastrum complanatum sp. nov. and Geastrum crystallinum sp. nov. Morphological characters and the placement of the species in the phylogenetic analyses indicate that Geastrum complanatum sp. nov. belongs to the Sect. Geastrum, Subsect. Sulcostomata, and G. crystallinum sp. nov. is inside the Sect. Corollina, Subsect. Marginata. Detailed morphological and phylogenetic descriptions of the new taxa are provided, along with a map of the collection site, photographs of macroscopic structures in the field, and images of microscopic structures under light and scanning electron microscopes.
It is estimated that there are between 2.2 and 3.8 million species of fungi, but only 3 to 8% are known. The order Agaricales in Argentina is not well known in certain areas and plant communities, as the Reserva Ecol & oacute;gica Costanera Sur (RECS), with a younger than 40 years Tessaria integrifolia Ruiz & Pav. riparian forest, characterized by a humid climate. The objective of this work was to document the diversity of Agaricales in the young forest of the RECS and analyze its diversity in relation to environmental characteristics. Sixteen rectangular plots were established and fungal species were collected monthly for one-year analyzing their macro-and microscopic structures. A total of 48 species belonging to 15 families were recorded with Inocybaceae J & uuml;lich, Pluteaceae Kotl. & Pouzar, and Psathyrellaceae Vilgalys, Moncalvo & Redhead being the most represented. Abundance, measured by the number of basidiomes, and dry weight, were 8 351 and 661.6 grams, respectively. The pH in the study plots was in general neutral and the light ranged from 101 to 48 056 lux. May exhibited the highest basidiome production and species richness. Three species were found for the first time in the area, which had previously been found in latitudes with a subtropical climate sev-eral years ago, potentially indicating climatic changes. Substrate type influenced the diversity, with wood being the preferred substrate for most species. This research contributes to the knowledge of Agaricales diversity in a young protected forest area and emphasizes their role in soil nutrient cycling and biodiversity maintenance.
Wood-inhabiting fungi are important in forest ecosystems and play an essential role in nutrient and carbon recycling. However, the drivers of fungal succession are poorly understood. We assessed the fungal succession of three tree species in a fragment of Atlantic forest in the state of S & atilde;o Paulo, Brazil. Decomposing branches from different locations were sampled every four months for two years. This study identified 2 309 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), predominantly from the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, in freshly cut branch fragments of tropical angiosperm trees. The richness exceeded comparable studies in non-tropical ecosystems, attributed to the unique substrate and sequencing methodology. Despite variations in OTU abundance across time points, no significant differences were observed between the three tree species studied. Decomposition rates exhibited temporal variations, with more intense activity during summer and reduced rates in winter. Nitrogen content increased over time, associated with microbial action. Cellulose degradation predominated, followed by hemicelluloses and lignin. Fungal community structure showed a shift from Ascomycota to Basidiomycota, indicative of a natural decomposition pattern. Factors influencing decomposition included substrate specificity, individual branch history, and the fungal community's resilience and competitiveness. The study emphasizes the complex interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in shaping fungal communities during wood decomposition in tropical forests. Overall, the findings contribute to understanding the intricate dynamics of fungal succession, nutrient cycling, and substrate specificity in tropical wood decay processes.
Two new species of Laboulbeniales Lindau are described: Distolomyces euxinus W.Rossi & Mishustin, sp. nov., occurring on Labidura riparia Pallas from Georgia and Ukraine, and Rhachomyces cimmeritei W.Rossi & Mishustin, sp. nov., occurring on Cimmerites spp. from Russian Federation. Several new records are reported from countries surrounding the Black Sea: 21 from Georgia, 13 from Ukraine, three from Moldova, three from Turkey, two from Russian Federation and one from Romania. Unpublished records from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkmenistan are also reported. The recently proposed split of the genus Stigmatomyces H.Karst. is rejected and the synonymy between Gloeandromyces Thaxt. and Stigmatomyces is suggested.
The usnic acid, cortical pigment, is generally known to protect lichens from extreme radiation. According to earlier studies, the parmelioid lichen Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale contains (+)-usnic acid. Since the production of lichen secondary metabolites - like other physiological activities - is influenced by environmental conditions, we assumed that macroclimatic differences in temperature, radiation and humidity in European and African habitats resulted in differences in the concentrations measured in samples of this species from various geographical areas. Therefore, we analysed samples representing populations in Hungary (17), Serbia (three), Kenya (eight) and Tanzania (two). Using a chiral chromatographic method, the presence of (+)-usnic acid was confirmed in thirteen of the aforementioned specimens, with concentrations ranging from 5.08 to 26.43 mg g(-1) in European samples (12) and 20.27 mg g(-1) in a sample from Kenya. The usnic acid content (mg g(-1) dry weight) was measured by HPLC-PDA. The content of usnic acid shows a substantial variation in both continents, ranging from 5.21 to 19.23 mg g-1 in Europe and from 6.15 to 23.54 mg g(-1) in Africa. The comparison between continents did not result in significant differences. This result can be explained by the supposedly similar microclimatic conditions of the habitats (within macroclimatically different sites) that are probably consistent with the specific niche requirements of F. caperata.
Results of phylogenetic analyses are often not translated into formal classifications, because only a portion of the taxa have been sequenced, making the placement of the remaining taxa unclear. This is the case for Gomphillaceae Walt. Watson ex Hafellner, which currently includes 422 accepted lichenized and 18 lichenicolous or fungicolous species, with only 27% having sequence data available. A separate, expanded phylogeny of the family recognized at least 19 further genus-level lineages, in addition to the 27 genera thus far distinguished, for a total of 46, making it necessary to reassess generic placement of a large number of non-sequenced species and to test the stability of the newly proposed classification. In the present study we applied the phenotype-based phylogenetic binning approach to address this problem. We selected 310 taxa, leaving out most species of Gyalidea Lettau ex V & ecaron;zda and part of Gyalideopsis V & ecaron;zda and Gyalectidium M & uuml;ll. Arg., because the phylogenetic framework was either not yet well established (Gyalidea, Gyalideopsis) or the genus was well-defined phenotypically (Gyalectidium). Of the 310 selected species, 72 had sequence data available and served as reference taxa. The binning analysis for the 238 remaining taxa for which no molecular data were available placed 157 taxa (66%) with absolute support (100%) into a single node in the reference tree. Further 35 taxa appeared on two or more alternative nodes but had at least 90% support for one of these nodes. Another 24 taxa had between 70% and 89% support for a given node, resulting in a total of 216 out of 238 taxa (91%) with a supported placement in the tree. Of these, 181 were placed within one of the 46 genus-level lineages, whereas 35 clustered with unnamed nodes, indicating further, potentially unrecognized genera. These mostly included non-foliicolous species of Gyalideopsis and relatives for which no sequenced taxa were in the molecular reference tree. Three further species of Gyalideopsis were placed with the outgroup. Most of the placements obtained through phylogenetic binning were consistent with anticipated placements from earlier studies. Only for a small portion of the taxa (about 10%), the binning results were in conflict with their current or previously predicted placement.
This study describes a new species of genus Rhodocybe (Fr.) Maire, R. pakistanica sp. nov., from Pakistan. The novel species can be recognized morphologically by convex to hemispherical or applanate to planoconvex and centrally depressed pileus which is dull reddish brown at the center and dull orange pale at margins having bright patches, light yellow to orange or light to gray lamellae, dull to pale reddish or light reddish gray to grayish red stipe having whitish fibrillose surface and basal mycelial threads. Microscopically, it is recognized by ovoid or oblong and cyanophilic basidiospores, lanceolate, subulate or ventricose-rostrate cheilo- and pleurocystidia with golden ochre or pale yellowish refringent contents, and the presence of gloeoplerous hyphae in lamellar and pileal trama having golden refractive contents. Macro and microscopic data and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on two nrDNA regions including internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of large subunit (28S) indicate that the present taxon is a new species.
An unknown species of Roccellaceae Chevall. was collected in 2022 and 2023 on the bark of trunks in a rainforest in Basse-Terre island (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles). Phylogenetic analyses using mtSSU, nuLSU and RPB2 sequences reveal the placement of the species in the genus Mazosia A.Massal. (Roccellaceae). The lichen is unusual for the genus by being the first species of Mazosia developing a byssoid thallus. It is described as Mazosia byssoidea Lebreton & Ertz, sp. nov. Besides it byssoid thallus, the new species is characterized by 1-septate ascospores, stipitate pycnidia and a chemistry with roccellic acid. Together, all these features make the new species a distinctive and important addition to the Arthoniales Henssen ex D.Hawksw. & O.E.Erikss. So far, it is only known from two large trees in a dense humid forest at low elevation, a locality that needs to be included in a protected area. A key to the corticolous species of Mazosia is provided.
Four collections were isolated from submerged decaying wood in freshwater habitats. These species are characterized by scattered, capitate setae, straight, smooth, unbranched, brown conidiophores, phialidic conidiogenous cells, and cylindrical conidia. The phylogeny analysis using multi-gene sequences (ITS, LSU and TEF1-alpha) placed these isolates within Sporoschisma Berk. & Broome and formed a distinct clade separate from other species. Consequently, two new species, namely S. lignicola R.J.Xu & Q.Zhao, sp. nov. and S. verruculosa R.J.Xu & Q.Zhao, sp. nov. were introduced, based on the phylogenetic analysis and morphological features. Illustrations of these species were provided and compared with the similar species.
Major role of peroxidases in plant biomass degradation is well-established in the white rot basidiomycetes. On the contrary, peroxidases are not used for this purpose by brown rot basidiomycetes, which use instead a non-enzymatic mechanism. In the case of the ascomycetes, not much is known although these fungi have peroxidase genes. Here, we identify and characterize the peroxidase genes of Podospora anserina (Rabenh.) Niessl, an ascomycete used to study development and lignocellulose degradation. We show that this fungus has one class II peroxidase, one hybrid B peroxidase, one haloperoxidase, four functional aromatic peroxygenases, one glutathione peroxidase, one cytochrome C peroxidase and one alkyl peroxidase, but lacks a dye peroxidase. We show that potentially secreted peroxidases (i.e., the class II, hybrid B, haloperoxidase and aromatic peroxygenase peroxidases) present a patchy phylogenetic distribution compatible with an accessory role in finely adapting the different fungal species to their ecological niche, rather than being involved in fundamental roles in fungal biology. Accordingly, targeted gene deletions of the different P. anserina peroxidase genes identified only one phenotype, seemingly an alteration of the timing of ascospore maturation at intermediate concentration of vanillic acid. However, direct measure of peroxidase activity did not show drastic loss of activity in the tested mutants, suggesting compensation between the enzymes. Hence, in P. anserina peroxidases appears to have a minor role in biomass degradation, unlike what has been described in white rot fungi, and thus in this regard appears to be similar to the brown rot fungi.
Glycerol uptake as a carbon source has been investigated in a few fungi, mainly in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen ex E.C.Hansen, Aspergillus spp., and Neurospora crassa Shear & B.O.Dodge. In the present study, we aimed at understanding glycerol use as food source in another fungus, the model Podospora anserina (Rabenh.) Niessl. Gene deletion is easy in this ascomycete and it has been used to study various biological phenomena including biomass degradation. We show that P. anserina is unable to use glycerol as a sole carbon source to fuel its vegetative growth; glycerol is even toxic to the fungus. However, P. anserina is able to use glycerol during perithecium maturation, albeit inefficiently. Genome mining identified possible glycerol uptake and catabolic pathways of P. anserina, and the two genes coding for enzymes of the glycerol-3-phosphate pathway were deleted. Deletions resulted in a lack of perithecium production on glycerol media, but not on optimal media containing dextrin as a carbon source. Intriguingly, the presence of bacteria in co-culture with the fungus greatly helps P. anserina to use glycerol both during vegetative growth and perithecium production. This offers new perspectives for improved biotransformation of glycerol into high-value products.
A novel species of Neotropicomus A.C.Magnago, Alves-Silva & T.W.Henkel is proposed from tropical India. Neotropicomus indicus sp. nov. is described as new, based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic studies. Detailed descriptions, colour photographs, and a phylogenetic tree based on ITS and 28S sequence analysis are presented. A taxonomic key to the described species of Neotropicomus is also provided. This forms the first report of the genus from the paleotropics.
A new species is described, Polymeridium stromatocorticatum B.Barbosa, Aptroot, L.A.Santos & M.Caceres, sp. nov. found in the Caatinga Biome, collected at Raso da Catarina Ecological Station (Bahia, Brazil). The new species is characterized by the combination of a corticated thallus and aggregated ascomata, while the ascospores exhibit the typical characteristics of a Polymeridium (Mull.Arg.) R.C.Harris. The genus has its greatest absolute world diversity in this region of NE Brazil, especially in areas of the Caatinga. Most of the species found in this region express peculiar characteristics related to the chemistry of the thallus, due to the presence of lichexanthone and the lack of inspersion of hamathecium. In addition, an updated checklist of Brazilian species is provided.
