The order Russulales includes fungi with diverse basidiomata types. As one of the most species-rich orders within the phylum Basidiomycota, it comprises over 4,000 described species. These members are important forestry fungi, occurring on both angiosperms and gymnosperms, richly colonizing different substrates ranging from living trees, to rotten wood, to ground in almost all forest ecosystems worldwide. However, numerous species still remain to discovered, and the taxonomy and phylogeny of Russulales is still understudied. To narrow down this study gap to some extent, an in-depth study taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of Russulales was conducted. Specimens collected from East Asia were studied, and taxonomic placements of the taxa were confirmed based on morphological and molecular systematic methods. This study represents the most comprehensive analysis to date of wood inhabiting fungi in Russulales subjected to multi-gene phylogenetic analysis with combined ITS, LSU, mtSSU, rpb2, and tef1-alpha sequence data. comprehensive outline for wood-inhabiting fungi in Russulales is provided, with 14 families and 77 genera having brief notes provided. Two new families, Aleurocystidiellaceae and Gloeodontiaceae, are established to accommodate the genera Aleurocystidiellum and Gloeodontia, respectively, and one new genus, Subulicystidiella is also recognized in the phylogenetic tree of Russulales. Additionally, the family Gloeocystidiellaceae was reactivated to contain Gloeocystidiellum s. str. The divergence time inferred from ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1-alpha sequence data revealed that the order Russulales occurred at a mean crown age of 222.49 Mya (203.38-288.24 Mya, 95% HPD), and the divergence time of the two new families, Aleurocystidiellaceae and Gloeodontiaceae, are 140.94 (87.46-196.71 Mya, 95% HPD) and 178.7 Mya (139.36-218.13 Mya, 95% HPD), respectively. Further, 26 new species belong to six families within the order Russulales were described and illustrated. These are Aleurodiscus yunnanensis, Asterostroma fimbriata, Baltazaria pingbianensis, Confertotrama cremea, C. yunnanensis, Dentipellis yingjiangensis, Gloeocystidiellum membranaceum, G. punctatum, Gloeodontia sinensis, Gloiothele fragilima, G. tuberculata, Laxitextum cremeum, Megalocystidium bambusinum, Stereum convolutomarginatum, S. rigidohymeneum, S. yunnanense, Subulicystidiella murina, Vararia asiana, V. bambusicola, V. bannaensis, V. ferruginosa, V. lacerata, V. membranacea, V. muscicola, V. pingbianensis, and V. wumengshanensis. This study expands the taxonomic framework of Russulales with the contribution of the present new collections from different Chinese sites.
Corticioid and hydnoid fungi play crucial roles in forest ecosystems, particularly in wood degradation and the formation of symbiotic relationships with plants, and exhibit extremely high species diversity in China. However, the taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships among taxa of corticioid and hydnoid fungi remain insufficiently understood. In this study, an extensive survey and sampling was conducted for Thelephorales and Hymenochaetales in subtropical and southern temperate forests of China. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, along with the large and small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (nLSU and nSSU), were used to identify the species and analyze the phylogenetic relationships within different genera, and complemented by a small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU) for the genus Thelephora. Morphological and molecular analyses revealed 30 new species across ten genera of Thelephorales and Hymenochaetales. The novel species described in this paper include Hydnellum carnosum, Hyd. hydrangeoides, Hyd. scopiformis, Xylodon albus, and X. bicystidiatus. Descriptions and illustrations of these newly proposed species are provided, along with notes discussing their distinguishing characters and those of their allied taxa in this paper. Additionally, the delimitation and diversity of these taxa in terms of morphology, ecology, and phylogeny are explored. Three keys to the species of Hydnellum, resupinate and upright Thelephora from China are provided.
The diversity of this cryptic yeast group is important for understanding the microbial diversity and ecology of tropical ecosystems. This study focuses on anthophilous cryptic yeasts isolated from flowers in northern Thailand. A total number of 187 yeast strains (73 species) were isolated from 63 flower samples. Analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU), and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA gene of all yeast strains allowed classification into the phyla Ascomycota (22.46%), and Basidiomycota (77.54%). Additionally, new taxa higher than species level were proposed based on the multi-locus phylogenetic analyses including the D1/D2 domain, the ITS, the small subunit rDNA (SSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1-alpha). This study provides morphological descriptions, physiological characteristics, and phylogenetic positions for one new order (Thailandicolales), one new family (Thailandicolaceae), one new genus (Thailandicola), and 33 new species, including three new species belonging to three genera (Priceomyces, Starmerella, Vishniacozyma) in Basidiomycota. Fourteen new geographical records, one new habitat, and 37 new records from flower species across 36 genera, 22 families, 17 orders and 9 classes were identified. Furthermore, the invalidly described Entelexis stigmatis and Starmerella orientalis are validated here as two additional new species. These findings significantly expand our knowledge of anthophilous yeast diversity and distribution in tropical flowers.
The species diversity of Trichaptum s.l., a significant group within the polypore fungi, has expanded substantially in recent years. However, its higher-level taxonomy and evolutionary origins remain underexplored. In this study, the evolutionary history of Trichaptum s.l. is presented using phylogenetic, morphological, and molecular-clock analyses. The results resolve Trichaptum s.l. into four families: Hirschioporaceae, Trichaptaceae, and two newly proposed families, Podocarpioporaceae fam. nov. and Pseudotrichaptaceae fam. nov. Consequently, the Trichaptum complex s.l. now comprises seven genera (Hirschioporus, Nigrohirschioporus, Pallidohirschioporus, Perennihirschioporus, Pseudotrichaptum, Podocarpioporus, and Trichaptum s.s.), and 55 taxa. The six new species from the tropical and subtropical regions are described: Nigrohirschioporus keylargoensis sp. nov., Nigrohirschioporus wuyiensis sp. nov., Perennihirschioporus caymanensis sp. nov., Podocarpioporus hydnoides sp. nov., Trichaptum cystidiolatum sp. nov., and Trichaptum longisporum sp. nov. Molecular clock dating analysis suggests that familial divergence within Trichaptum s.l. occurred during the Cretaceous period (71-119 Mya). Ancestral state reconstruction analysis indicates a complex evolutionary history, potentially originating in Central and East Asia. However, the origins of the four families show notable differences, with two major origin groups in Asia and the Americas. Ecological niche modeling (Maxent) reveals that Trichaptum s.l. likely originated in tropical regions and subsequently expanded into subtropical, temperate, and montane zones, a transition accompanied by the evolution of harder basidiomata. Climatic factors, such as the maximum temperature of the warmest month (Bio5), were identified as primary drivers of the distribution of Hirschioporus, Pallidohirschioporus, and Pseudotrichaptum. The precipitation of the wettest quarter (Bio16) was the dominant factor driving the distribution of Perennihirschioporus. The mean temperature of the coldest quarter (Bio11) was the primary limiting factor for Nigrohirschioporus. The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6), and the annual precipitation (Bio12) showed the highest percentage contribution to the distribution of Trichaptum s.s. This study provides a robust frameworkfor understanding the systematics, evolution, and biogeography of Trichaptum s.l.
Corticioid and hydnoid fungi are a group of aphyllophoroid basidiomycetes that perform important ecological functions. These fungi exhibit high species diversity, play important roles in energy flow and material cycling through saprophytic, symbiotic, or parasitic nutrient acquisition, and are widely distributed in various forest ecosystems around the world. Many of these fungi have important economic value and potential for use in multiple applications, particularly as the most important sources of lead compounds in innovative drug discovery in the pharmaceutical field. In the past decade, research on corticioid and hydnoid fungi in China has increased rapidly, with many new species being described, the phylogenetic positions of many taxonomic units being elucidated, and numerous new potentially available fungal resources being recognized. This study systematically compiled a total of 1,400 corticioid and hydnoid fungal species in China, which belong to 245 genera, 69 families, and 32 uncertain family-level taxa (incertae sedis), as well as 21 orders and three uncertain order-level taxa in two classes (Agaricomycetes and Dacrymycetes). The number of recorded species has increased by 2.8 times compared with that from 2010, with the majority of increases being attributed to the discovery of new species, and this number exceeds that in North America, and ranks first in the world. In this study, a checklist of corticioid and hydnoid fungi in China was compiled, and the available accession numbers of reference nrITS sequences are provided. The value of these fungi for application in the medicinal, environmental, agricultural, and industrial fields was summarized at the genus level. Additionally, ten new species were illustrated and described. This study provides a foundation for taxonomy, resource assessment, conservation, and sustainable utilization of these fungal resources.
Oomycetes play a key role in decomposing and recycling organic materials in freshwater ecosystems. However, their diversity and ecological study gained less attention compared with other organisms. Based on extensive, long-term surveys for freshwater oomycetes, the present study undertakes a comprehensive examination of oomycete diversity and ecology in the Korean freshwater environments. We successfully identified a total of 78 taxa of oomycetes (568 isolates), which are classified into the orders Peronosporales (4%), Pythiales (77%), and Saprolegniales (19%), based on their cultural, morphological, and molecular characteristics. These taxa consist of 57 previously described species, including 22 species new to Korea, and 21 previously unknown lineages. Eight of these taxa were described as new species under the Pythiales, with detailed taxonomic descriptions in this study. Our findings revealed that the distributions of freshwater oomycetes varied depending on substrates and that oomycetes were primarily found in plant-derived sources, such as decaying leaves, stems, and twigs. Across all seasons and freshwater ecosystem types, Pythiales were more frequently isolated than Peronosporales and Saprolegniales. However, isolation frequencies among taxa varied across seasons and habitat types. This study provides extensive strain resources and establishes a fundamental reference for future taxonomic and ecological research on freshwater oomycetes, expanding knowledge of their diversity and functional roles in freshwater ecosystems.
The magnitude and understanding of the Kingdom Fungi are expanding with the application of DNA-based molecular approaches. Non-Dikarya fungi (sometimes referred to as 'basal fungi', 'early divergent fungi' or 'lower fungi'), a large group of fungi that are included in 16 different phyla, comprise approximately 5000 species to date. This paper compiles all existing information on the families of the non-Dikarya fungal phyla. Two phylogenomic analyses are provided separately to show the relationships of the phyla of non-Dikarya and families of Mucoromycota, respectively. A phylogenetic tree based on partial 45S or partial 28S sequences is provided to show the placements of families in Glomeromycota. We provide the descriptions of each family and its type genus, including an illustration of the type species or a well-established other genus in the family. All the genera included in the family are listed with their type species. Bulbosporaceae fam. nov. is introduced to accommodate Bulbospora in Gigasporales (Glomeromycetes, Glomeromycota). Densosporales Tedersoo, Densosporaceae Desiro et al., and Jimgerdemanniaceae Tedersoo are validated. Taxa in Rozellomycota (including Microsporidia) and Aphelidiomycota are currently accepted as groups of fungi. Still, most species names require further revision following the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Caudosporina Y.S. Tokarev & I.V. Issi nom. nov. and Mesnilivella Frolova & Nassonova nom. nov. are provided to accommodate Caudospora J. Weiser (nom. illegit.) and Mesnilia Frolova et al. 2023 (nom. illegit.), respectively. Taxa introduced based on eDNA (by Tedersoo et al. 2024) are listed separately, as currently these taxa are treated as invalid. Fossil non-Dikarya taxa are also provided separately.
Basidiomycetous yeasts are taxonomically and ecologically diverse. While the phyllosphere of plants in China has been the subject of extensive research on yeast biodiversity, many unique and remote habitats remain significantly underexplored for their yeast species. The objective of this study was to investigate the hidden taxonomic novelty of basidiomycetous yeasts in these distinctive niches to comprehensively refine the current phylogenetic understanding. During intensive investigations, 164 yeast strains were identified from various samples collected from the phyllosphere and tidal flats in China. These isolates underwent detailed multi-gene phylogenetic analyses combined with phenotypic characterization for taxonomic placement. The analyses revealed a remarkable level of hidden diversity. These 164 isolates represent one new order (Sterigmoblongales), two new families (Sterigmoblongaceae and Turchettiaceae), five new genera (Nakasea, Sterigmoblongus, Buzzinia, Gracilitas, Turchettia), and 37 novel basidiomycetous species. Phylogenetically, these new taxa are broadly distributed across the three major subphyla viz Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina, and Ustilaginomycotina, including Ballistosporomyces berchemiae, Bannoa hyperici, Bannoa lonicerae, Bannoa pseudoscolopiae, Bannoa quercus, Bannoa scolopiae, Bulleribasidium pseudosiamense, Bulleribasidium rhois, Bulleribasidium veronicastri, Buzzinia foliicola, Chrysozyma lonicerae, Chrysozyma rubi, Chrysozyma viburni, Chrysozyma yandangensis, Colacogloea woodwardiae, Derxomyces anmaltophilus, Derxomyces rhamni, Derxomyces spathulatus, Derxomyces turchettianus, Dioszegia maricola, Exobasidium cylindricum, Gracilitas littoralis, Kockovaella camelliae, Kockovaella malloti, Kockovaella rosae, Kondoa zhenganensis, Nakasea foliicola, Cystastrum sedimentus, Papiliotrema chongmingensis, Phyllozyma foliicola, Phyllozyma lyoniae, Rosettozyma turpiniae, Ruinenia pseudopyrrosiae, Sterigmoblongus ilicis, Teunia littoralis, Turchettia toddalia, and Yunzhangomyces nandinae. Of particular note, the newly proposed order Sterigmoblongales ord. nov. shows unstable phylogenetic placement within Microbotryomycetes based on multi-gene analyses, suggesting a deep and previously undiscovered evolutionary lineage. By uncovering cryptic diversity in overlooked habitats, this study greatly expands the phylogenetic breadth of basidiomycetous yeasts. These findings emphasize the need to continue exploring undersampled environments and highlight the value of integrating taxogenomics into future studies to resolve deep and basal evolutionary divergences.
The Chinese Chanterelles, or the members of Cantharellus and Craterellus are studied in the paper. They are widely distributed and have significant ecological and economic values. Although there have been several studies especially in recent years focusing on the chanterelle mushrooms in China, the research on their species diversity and phylogenetic relationships is still far from sufficient. In this study, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses on the species diversity, distribution patterns, and interspecific relationships of Cantharellus and Craterellus in China were conducted through morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analyses of multiple loci, including the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), the translation elongation factor 1 gene (tef1), and the small subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA gene (mtSSU). The results demonstrated that the species of Cantharellus formed seven subgenera level clades, and species of Craterellus formed six main clades. In total, 68 chanterelle species are recognized in China, including 42 species of Cantharellus and 26 species of Craterellus. Among them, there are 8 new species of Cantharellus: namely C. albidohymenius sp. nov., C. chrysantyemoides sp. nov., C. danxiashanensis sp. nov., C. pseudoaustrosinensis sp. nov., C. pseudohainanensis sp. nov., C. roseocastaneus sp. nov., C. sinolateritius sp. nov., and C. subtilis sp. nov.; and C. subvaginatus is a new recorded species for China. There are also 12 new species of Craterellus: namely Cr. aprilis sp. nov., Cr. brunneus sp. nov., Cr. guizhouensis sp. nov., Cr. gypseus sp. nov., Cr. parvofuscus sp. nov., Cr. sinensis sp. nov., Cr. Sinocornucopioides sp. nov., Cr. subalpinus sp. nov., Cr. sublutescens sp. nov., Cr. tengii sp. nov., Cr. tropicus sp. nov. and Cr. viridifuscus sp. nov.; and Cr. parvogriseus and Cr. sordidus are two newly recorded species for China. Besides, 5 new combination names are proposed. In addition, one ambiguous taxon was tentatively named as Craterellus sp., and five synonyms, Cr. connatus, Cr. fulviceps, C. laevigatus, Cr. longitipes and Cr. striatus were redefined. Among the accepted species, 36 known species were described in detail based on observations, and the other 9 species were reviewed. Furthermore, two new species, Cr. grisellonigricans sp. nov. and Cr. murinus sp. nov., from Vietnam were also described and introduced in the present study. Keys to the accepted species of Cantharellus and Craterellus in China were provided.
Woody litter contributes to the high microbiological diversity of tropical forests, providing both habitat and nutrients. In forest environments, fungi are the most abundant microbial communities associated with woody litter, playing vital roles in the decomposition process. Diversity and abundance of fungal community are influenced by various factors, i.e., the decomposition stage, wood type, moisture content, and substrate size. This paper elaborates the study of morphology, phylogeny, host-recurrence, and diversity patterns across two seasons and three decomposition stages in saprobic microfungi associated with woody litter of Nayariophyton zizyphifolium, Microcos paniculata (Malvaceae), Dipterocarpus alatus (Dipterocarpaceae), Afzelia xylocarpa, Dalbergia cana, and D. cultrata (Fabaceae) at Doi Tung national park, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Fungal communities of woody litter from these host species have not been well-investigated. Furthermore, the relationship of host phylogeny to wood-dwelling microfungal communities has not been established. Fungal isolates were obtained through single spore isolation, and their morphologies were characterized. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI), based on different gene regions specific to each taxon, were conducted to confirm species identify and taxonomic classifications. Host-recurrence of the identified fungi based on morphological and molecular data, and fungal diversity across seasons and decomposition stages were analyzed to evaluate fungal community composition. A total of 125 fungal collections were identified, representing three classes, 24 orders, 45 families, 63 genera, and 91 species (Table S1). Among these taxa, this study provides detailed taxonomic information and phylogenetic analyses for one new family, two new genera, 11 new species, five first reports of sexual or asexual morph connections, and 20 new host fungal records, additional fungal collections, habitat, and new geographical records. The newly introduced taxa are: Chromolaenicola doitungensis, Colletotrichum nayariophyti, Corynespora chiangraiensis, Cylindroconidiis doitungensis, Dictyoarthrinium doitungensis, Nemania doitungensis, Oxydothis dalbergiae, Palmiascoma chiangraiense, Pisorisporium nayariophyti, Striaticonidium chiangraiense, and Xylochrysis chiangraiensis. of these, Novolignincolaceae (Novolignincola doitungensis) is introduced as a new family, and Doitungomyces (Doitungomyces dipterocarpi) and Sporicula (Sporicula chiangraiensis) as new genera. In addition, new sexual or asexual records for Colletotrichum gigasporum, Cytospora heveae, Misturatosphaeria viridibrunnea, Paraconiothyrium archidendri, and Pseudofusicoccum kimberleyense are described. In addition, fungal host-recurrence was also investigated. Hierarchical clustering revealed minor differences in fungal community composition across phylogenetically related hosts, with the highest specificity at the genus level. The early decomposition stage exhibited the highest diversity with distinct dominant genera. Additionally, fungal genus diversity showed distinct seasonal patterns, with more genera displaying high abundance during the dry season.
Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of "magic mushrooms," is synthesized by a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) traditionally associated with Psilocybe species. However, psilocybin production has also been identified in multiple genera across the Strophariaceae, Hymenogastraceae, and Galeropsidaceae families. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 30 putative psilocybin-producing mushroom species from ten genera using PacBio long-read technology. Comparative analysis across 20,608 bacterial, plant, and fungal genomes indicates that the psilocybin BGC most likely originated from endogenous fungal homologs through gene duplication and rearrangement, rather than horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from non-fungal sources. We identified four independent HGT events and three distinct BGC configurations, and propose an evolutionary framework integrating vertical inheritance, HGT, and strong purifying selection. Transcriptomic profiling revealed high expression of PsiK during the mycelial stage, while PsiH and PsiM remained inactive-correlating with the absence of psilocybin in mycelial tissue confirmed by UHPLC-MS/MS, and suggesting stage-specific regulation. Divergence time estimation, coupled with the coprophilous habit of most psilocybin-producing species, supports a post-Cretaceous-Tertiary radiation coinciding with the rise of mammals and novel ecological niches such as grasslands and dung substrates. Pangenomic analysis further reveals that horizontal BGC transfer contributes substantially to genetic innovation, facilitating species diversification and ecological adaptation. These findings highlight the pivotal role of secondary metabolites in fungal evolution and provide a genomic foundation for future research on psilocybin biosynthesis and its therapeutic potential.
This study explores the diversity of hyphomycetous fungi associated with decaying plant material in freshwater habitats of Southwestern China. Approximately 100 specimens were analyzed using combined morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic approaches. The ITS, SSU, LSU, rpb2, tub2, and tef1-alpha loci were employed for phylogenetic analyses of the treated taxa. This study has identified 36 taxa, including a new genus, Bulbocatenulomyces, 28 new species, and 8 new geographical records. Most of these, 24 species belong to Sordariomycetes, followed by Dothideomycetes (11 species) and Orbiliomycetes (1 species). The new species include Acremonium nigrobrunneum, Bactrodesmium wumengense, Bulbocatenulomyces nigricans, Chloridium tongrense, Conlarium phaeoconidium, Distoseptispora longissima, D. quinqueseptata, D. tongrensis, Helminthosporium dichoramosum, H. undecimseptatum, Hawksworthiomyces cylindroconidius, Mariannaea alba, Memnoniella anliuensis, Xenopleopunctum muriformis, Phragmocephala wuliangshanensis, Polyplosphaeria chinensis, Protocreopsis alba, Pyricularia puerensis, Rhamphoriopsis globularis, R. yunnanensis, R. zhaotongensis, Rostriconidium fuscum, R. yunnanense, Sarocladium bambusicola, Torula puerensis, Triplosphaeria irregularis, Tubeufia chinensis, and Xylolentia yibinensis. The new geographical records are Chloridium chlamydosporum, C. fuscum, Dictyocheirospora chiangmaiensis, Nectriella rusci, Orbilia ellipsospora, Parasympodiella cryptomeriae, Pleurothecium lignicola, and Volutella minutissima. In addition, Pseudolophiotrema is synonymized under Clematidis, with its species recombined as C. elymicola comb. nov. These findings significantly enhance the understanding of hyphomycetous fungal diversity in Southwestern China. The discovery of numerous novel species highlights the presence of many undescribed taxa, especially in freshwater habitats, presenting compelling opportunities for further mycological research.
The karst-dominated Nanpan River Basin (flowing through Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China) harbors unique aquatic ecosystems, however, the freshwater fungal diversity remains poorly studied. This study aims to investigate the taxonomic composition, diversity, and distribution patterns of lignicolous freshwater fungi using an integrative approach combining morphological observation and molecular phylogenetics. A total of 352 strains of lignicolous freshwater fungi were isolated from submerged decaying wood from the Nanpan River Basin in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, during 21-25 Nov 2024. Molecular identification via BLASTn analysis of ITS or LSU sequences revealed 189 species across 104 genera, 70 families, 27 orders, and six classes. Guizhou Province exhibited higher species richness, with 136 species identified from 213 strains, compared to 79 species from 139 strains in Guangxi Province. Community composition analysis revealed that only a few genera (32) and species (26) overlapped between the two provinces. Dictyocheirospora and Periconia were the dominant genera common to both provinces; Pseudohalonectria (6.1%), and Myrmecridium (5.2%) dominated in Guizhou, whereas Neokalmusia (7.9%) and Pseudoastrosphaeriella (5%) were the dominant genera in Guangxi. In addition, ten new species are introduced, namely: Apiospora submersa, Lolia guangxiensis, Neomyrmecridium submersum, Ophioceras lignicola, Pseudoteichospora aquatica, Tetraploa guizhouensis, T. nanpanjiangensis, T. verrucispora, Veronaea submersa, and Wongia guizhouensis based on characteristics and phylogenetic evidence. Wongia bandungensis is synonymized under W. suae based on phylogenetic analysis and morphological characteristics. In addition, five known species were collected and are described. These findings significantly expand the known diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi in Southwest China, highlighting the basin as a hotspot for understudied freshwater fungal taxa and providing critical baseline data for the conservation and ecological study of these ecologically important organisms.
Shennongjia, located in the northwestern of Hubei Province, China, has a northern subtropical monsoon climate, along with vast areas of primeval forest. Its unique geography and altitudinal variation have fostered a rich and rare array of natural resources, making it a biodiversity hotspot. While most biodiversity studies in Shennongjia focus on animals and plants, research on microorganisms, particularly yeasts, remains limited. To address this gap, we collected 624 samples from the region, applied enrichment cultures at different temperatures aimed at isolating primarily ascomycetous yeasts, and ultimately obtained 4,451 yeast isolates. Phylogenetic analysis identified these strains as 161 species, belonging to 69 genera, 28 families, 20 orders, and 9 classes within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, including 6 species of Saccharomyces. Importantly, we formally describe 21 new species across 13 genera, namely Ambrosiozyma apicoglobosa sp. nov., Cyberlindnera hubeiensis sp. nov., Cyberlindnera juglandicorticola sp. nov., Cyberlindnera shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Hyphopichia shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Kluyveromyces shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Kregervanrija quercicorticola sp. nov., Kregervanrija shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Middelhovenomyces xyloputricola sp. nov., Nakazawaea arboricola sp. nov., Nakazawaea pterocaryicorticola sp. nov., Nakazawaea shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Pichia shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Pichia xylocola sp. nov., Saccharomycopsis shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Starmera prunicorticola sp. nov., Sugiyamaella irregularis sp. nov., Suhomyces quercicorticola sp. nov., Suhomyces shennongjiaensis sp. nov., Yamadazyma betulicola sp. nov., and Yamadazyma gelatinotortuosa sp. nov., with detailed morphological images. Furthermore, 43 new taxonomic combinations were proposed within these genera to accommodate closely related Candida species. Our study reveals that Shennongjia harbors a rich and diverse yeast community, including many previously unreported species. This research contributes to the global record of yeast diversity and distribution, which will inspire further investigation and conservation efforts in this valuable region.
The family Boletaceae (Boletales) comprises ecologically and economically vital macrofungi with a global distribution in forest ecosystems. Although China is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot for Boletaceae due to its floristic and topographic complexity, its taxonomy remains incompletely understood with numerous new taxa awaiting discovery. Morphological examinations and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (28S, TEF1, RPB1, and RPB2) were integrated using specimens collected from subtropical and tropical China. Studies have demonstrated that three novel genera (Boletellopsis, Chenrenyua, Sudongpoa) were established to accommodate four newly identified species (C. longispora, C. verrucosa, S. rubicarpos, S. rubripes) and one previously described taxon (B. elata). Twenty-two additional taxa were described, comprising fourteen new species in the genera Aureoboletus and Hemileccinum, viz. A. applanatus, A. atrotomentosus, A. canceriformis, A. exiguisquamatus, A. hainanensis, A. macrocarpus, A. magniporus, A. pallidorubellus, A. phaeosquamus, A. urceopileus, H. brunneoalbum, H. dilutibrunneum, H. lutosum, and H. verrucatum. Taxonomic clarifications resolved the A. solus complex into five species; confirmed the phylogenetic distinctness of A. pallidorubellus from A. rubellus; and synonymized A. pseudorussellii with A. wusangongii and H. squamipes with H. parvum. These findings significantly advance Boletaceae systematics, revealing substantial undocumented diversity in China and providing critical data for fungal conservation and sustainable resource utilization. Keys to accepted species of Aureoboletus and Hemileccinum in China were also provided.
Fungi are essential components of ecosystems, serving not only as decomposers and pathogens but also as vital contributors to plant growth, soil health, and food security. With the growing global demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture, the role of fungi has become increasingly important. This review explores the diverse and expanding applications of fungi in modern green agriculture and assesses their ecological mechanisms, agronomic advantages, and potential implementation challenges. From ancient agriculture to the present, mycorrhizae play a central role in regenerative agriculture. These symbiotic relationships are essential for the survival of most plants, while in crops, they significantly improve productivity. This concept has been further expanded to utilise mycorrhizal symbiosis in soil rehabilitation. Recent advancements in fungi as plant growth promoters have shown significant effects in green agriculture. From simple volatile organic compounds to metabolites, fungi enhance and facilitate nutrient solubilization and availability. The application of fungi as biofertilizers, growth promoters, and biological control agents is not a single-directional process. Fungal antagonism involves not only pathogen suppression but also increased plant resistance coupled with growth promotion. For instance, application of Trichoderma species comes with a number of benefits. The use of entomopathogenic fungi has a long history and is now expanding towards the control of viruses and phytoplasma. Moving forward, the involvement of mushrooms in circular agriculture has been highly productive in many regions. In addition, fungi are gaining recognition in aquaculture and livestock production, waste recycling, fungal protein production, mycelium leather, and mulching. However, there are still many barriers to overcome, and the environmental adaptability and evolutionary dynamics of fungi pose ongoing challenges. Recent advancements in gene editing offer promising solutions, yet policy adoption and public acceptance remain hard barriers to overcome. In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), we believe that AI and machine learning will further enhance fungal applications, especially in disease epidemiology and crop management. Overall, this review serves as a comprehensive reference for researchers, farmers, and policymakers, providing insights and future directions while emphasising the urgent need for integrated, nature-based solutions. Fungi are poised to be key drivers in achieving regenerative, resilient, and decentralised food systems amid global climate and food security challenges.
