Helvellosebacina sclerotica sp. nov. was found in Yunnan Province, China, which is described here as a new species based on the morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. It is characterized by the resupinate basidiomata, smooth hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with septate generative hyphae, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores (11–15 × 5.5–8.0 µm). Phylogenetic analyses of the combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit ribosomal RNA (nrLSU) sequence dataset confirmed that the new species belongs to Helvellosebacina. The phylogenetic tree inferred from ITS sequences showed that Helvellosebacina sclerotica was recovered as a sister group to H. granulate. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analyses of one new species are provided.

Introduction:The Asian water plantain, Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a flowering hydrophytic plant that grows in marshes. In traditional Chinese medicine, the rhizome of A. orientale is highly valued for its medicinal properties. Endophytic microbes modulate plant growth and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, however little is known concerning these effects in A. orientale. Methods:Here, high-throughput sequencing and culturing methods were utilized to investigate the endophytic fungal diversity in the rhizomes, flowers, roots and leaves of A. orientale. In vitro assays were employed to screen for strains exhibiting high growth-promoting abilities based on phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, oxidative stress resistance, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. Transcriptomics and whole genome sequencing were employed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results:These data revealed that the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant phyla in all parts, with significant variation in fungal community composition observed at the genus level, as reflected in alpha and beta diversity indices. A total of 19 different endophytic fungal strains were isolated via culturing methods from the four different parts of A. orientale. In vitro assays resulted in the identification of four isolates subsequently used for co-culturing with sterile A. orientale to monitor plant-growth and terpenoid production. These latter results identified one promising strain, RT1, characterized as Pseudothielavia terricola. Isolate RT1 enhanced plant growth by 100-121% with respect to root length and plant height as compared to controls. After 21 days of treatment with strain RT1, the contents of the triterpenoids alisols B-23, C-23, and B were 4.5-5.5 times higher than those of the controls. Transcriptomics revealed enhanced expression of key enzymes involved in plant growth and bioactive compound accumulation, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MVD), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS), farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase (FDFT1), and squalene monooxygenase (SQLE) during RT1 interaction. Whole genome sequencing of P. terricola revealed the presence of several gene clusters involved in tryptophan synthesis. Discussion:This study establishes endophytic fungal enhancement of A. orientale growth and bioactive compound accumulation, thereby increasing crop value and utility.

Inonotus is a globally distributed genus within the Hymenochaetales, with certain species widely used in traditional herbal medicine. Here, a new species, I. chrysosporus, was identified as a sister clade to I. hispidus based on morphological, molecular, and vegetative incompatibility characteristics. The growth of I. chrysosporus on two substrate formulations—(1) 60% (wt:wt) Dicranopteris dichotoma, mixed with 18% corncob, 20% wheat bran, 1% gypsum, and 1% lime (GS), and (2) 78% sawdust wood chips (SS)—was compared in terms of the accumulation of bioactive components and the corresponding biological activities. On both substrates, I. chrysosporus exhibited high nutritional value, with high protein and mineral contents, low fat content, and a high proportion of medicinal amino acids. However, significant variations in the profiles of active constituents were observed, with cultivation on the GS formulation promoting the accumulation of bioactive polysaccharides, whereas growth on SS resulted in the accumulation of polyphenols. Aqueous extracts of I. chrysosporus mushrooms derived from both growth substrates exhibited potent antioxidant activities. Correlation analyses indicated that polysaccharide content was positively associated with ·OH scavenging activity and that polyphenol content was correlated with strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and high ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This study provides a foundation for the comprehensive development and utilization of the newly described I. chrysosporus species.

The Clavicipitaceae family, including saprobes and insect and myco-pathogens, are widely distributed in nature across various trophic regions, and play important roles in insect population control, plant interactions, and symbiotic evolution. Members of the genus Moelleriella within this family primarily specialize in infecting scale insects and whiteflies. Using five genomic loci (SSU, LSU, tef1-α, rpb1, and rpb2), we report on the inferred divergence times among members of Clavicipitaceae using molecular dating analyses. Molecular clock estimates revealed that the ancestor of Moelleriella likely emerged in the Late Cretaceous (91.60 Mya; 95% highest posterior density of 79.29-100.13 Mya). Historical biogeographic reconstruction of Moelleriella, performed using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) method, indicates that it most likely originated in Asia. Moreover, based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, we describe three species within the genus Moelleriella, including one new species (Moelleriella microstroma) and two new records for China (Moelleriella chiangmaiensis and Moelleriella phukhiaoensis).

Members of the genus Moelleriella (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae) are insect pathogens with specificity for scale insects and whiteflies. However, no mitochondrial genomes are available for these fungi. Here, we assembled seven mitogenomes from M. zhongdongii, M. libera, M. raciborskii, M. gracilispora, M. oxystoma, Moelleriella sp. CGMCC 3.18909, and Moelleriella sp. CGMCC 3.18913, which varied in size from 40.8 to 95.7 Kb. Synteny and codon usage bias was relatively conserved, with the mitochondrial gene arrangement being completely homologous to the gene order of 21 other species within the Hypocreales. Nevertheless, significant intron polymorphism was observed between Moelleriella species. Evolutionary analyses revealed that all 15 core protein–coding genes had ka/ks < 1, indicating purifying selection pressure. Sequence variation within the mitochondrial ATP synthase F0 subunit 6 (atp6) gene showed the largest genetic distance, with the ATP synthase F0 subunit 9 (atp9) gene showing the smallest. Comparative analyses of mitogenomes revealed that introns were the primary factor contributing to the size variation in Moelleriella and, more broadly, within Hypocreales mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the seven Moelleriella species examined form a well–supported clade, most closely related to Metarhizium. These data present the first mitogenomes from Moelleriella and further advance research into the taxonomy, origin, evolution, and genomics of Moelleriella.

Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis are classified as pestalotioid fungi, include a diverse range of plant pathogenic, endophytic and saprobic species and are widely distributed in tropical and temperate climates. These fungi are associated with a wide variety of plants worldwide and are exemplified by multi-septate conidia with appendages at both ends. Phytopathogenic members cause various plant diseases, for example, leaf spot, fruit rot, canker, blight and various infections affecting palm, mango, blueberry, tea and other important crops. In this study, six isolates were collected from diseased leaves of Litseaverticillata, Ixorachinensis and an unidentified shrub in Fujian Province, China. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses of combined nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA (ITS), the partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1) and partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2), three new species Neopestalotiopsislitseae sp. nov., Neo.longqishanensis sp. nov. and Pseudopestalotiopsiszhangzhouensis sp. nov. are described and illustrated herein.

China's northeastern black soil region, a global black soil hotspot, is vital for supporting national food security with its fertile and agricultural-friendly soil. The dictyostelids are well-known eukaryotic microorganisms with an unusual multicellular stage in their life cycle, and they inhabit surface soils worldwide. Although numerous species have been isolated from forest ecosystems and their remarkable biological activities have been reported, species of plant-associated dictyostelids of agroecosystems remain surprisingly understudied, especially in the agroecosystems of the black soil region of Jilin Province. In this study, the diversity of this group was evaluated based on corn, cabbage, and soybean soil samples from black soil land, including mollisol and chernozem soil types in Jilin Province of China. Morphological characterization and molecular analyses of the nuclear small subunit (18S) were used for species delineation. A total of 20 strains of dictyostelids were isolated from four localities, and on the basis of morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analyses, five species of dictyostelids are described as new to science. These are Coremiostelium viridiflava, Raperostelium macrosorus, Dictyostelium torta, Cavenderia densissima, and Polysphondylium sparsiramus. These new species are described in detail, with morphological and molecular distinctions from their closest relatives explicitly discussed. This study not only revealed the diversity of dictyostelids in agroecosystems but also provided more research data for further studies in black soil land microbe protection in China. IMPORTANCE:Despite the recognition of the presence of dictyostelids in various ecosystems, only limited information is available on their diversity and characteristics, particularly in the agroecosystems of China's northeastern black soil region. These eukaryotic microorganisms are known for their multicellular life cycle stages and widespread occurrence in surface soils. However, the species of dictyostelid in the black soil region of Jilin Province remain largely unexplored. In this study, a total of 20 dictyostelid strains, including five newly described species, were isolated and characterized from soil samples. Morphological examination and molecular phylogenetic analysis were conducted to document these new species. This research not only revealed the diversity of dictyostelid species in this important agroecosystem but also provided valuable data for future studies on microbe protection in China's black soil land. The discovery and detailed analysis of these new species contribute to our understanding of dictyostelid ecology, biology, and potential roles in agroecosystems.

Bamboo is the largest member of the family Poaceae, and these fast-growing plants have many beneficial ecological effects. Both mutualistic and pathogenic fungi associate with bamboo, however, only a limited number of such fungal species have been identified, and information concerning the diversity of fungi that parasitizes bamboo leaves is sparse. Fungi were isolated from diseased leaves of bamboo from Fujian Province, China. Nucleotide sequences of four genetic loci were used for taxonomic and phylogenetic reconstruction. In addition, the morphological characteristics of fungal structures as well as growth parameters were characterized. We report two new fungal species, one each within the Didymosphaeriaceae and Magnaporthaceae, both diverse genera that include saprophytes, endophytes, and pathogens. Based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU), the 18S small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU), the large subunit of RNA polymerase I (rpb1), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), the two new species described herein have been named as Bifusisporella magnum sp. nov., and Letendraea bambusae sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and morphological features of the species are provided. These data identify and describe new species within the Didymosphaeriaceae and Magnaporthaceae, expanding the diversity and distribution of fungi associating with bamboo.

The Cordycipitaceae family of insecticidal fungi is widely distributed in nature, is the most complex in the order Hypocreales (Ascomycota), with members displaying a diversity of morphological characteristics and insect host ranges. Based on Bayesian evolutionary analysis of five genomic loci(the small subunit of ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene, the large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene, the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) gene, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb1), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), we inferred the divergence times for members of the Cordycipitaceae, improving the internal phylogeny of this fungal family. Molecular clock analyses indicate that the ancestor of Akanthomyces sensu lato occurred in the Paleogene period (34.57 Mya, 95% HPD: 31.41–37.67 Mya), and that most species appeared in the Neogene period. The historical biogeography of Akanthomyces sensu lato was reconstructed using reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) analysis, indicating that it most likely originated in Asia. Combined morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify and taxonomically place five species within Cordycipitaceae. These include the following: (i) two new species, namely Akanthomyces baishanensis sp. nov. and Samsoniella sanmingense sp. nov., (ii) a new record species isolated from infected Lepidopteran host, Blackwellomyces lateris, (iii) a new record species in the genus Niveomyces, with sporothrix-like asexual morphs, namely N. multisynnematus, isolated from dipteran insects (flies), and (iv) a known species of the (hyper-) mycoparasite, Liangia sinensis, isolated from the fungus Ophiocordyceps globiceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae) growing on a dipteran host. Our data provide a significant addition to the diversity, ecology, and evolutionary aspects of the Cordycipitaceae.

Fungal biota represents important constituents of phyllosphere microorganisms. It is taxonomically highly diverse and influences plant physiology, metabolism and health. Members of the order Diaporthales are distributed worldwide and include devastating plant pathogens as well as endophytes and saprophytes. However, many phyllosphere Diaporthales species remain uncharacterized, with studies examining their diversity needed. Here, we report on the identification of several diaporthalean taxa samples collected from diseased leaves of Cinnamomum camphora (Lauraceae), Castanopsis fordii (Fagaceae) and Schima superba (Theaceae) in Fujian province, China. Based on morphological features coupled to multigene phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU), the partial beta-tubulin (tub2), histone H3 (his3), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit (rpb2), translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) and calmodulin (cal) genes, three new species of Diaporthales are introduced, namely, Diaporthe wuyishanensis, Gnomoniopsis wuyishanensis and Paratubakia schimae. This study contributes to our understanding on the biodiversity of diaporthalean fungi that are inhabitants of the phyllosphere of trees native to Asia.

IntroductionCortinarius are globally distributed mushrooms, all of whom form mycorrhizae, and are characterized by rust-brown to brownish-red spores. The high species richness of the genus results in significant morphological diversity overall, alongside high similarity among closely related species, leading many taxonomists to concentrate their studies on specific infrageneric groups.MethodsSpecimens were noted and collected from Fujian Province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from specimens and the nucleotide sequences of two loci (ITS AND nr LSU) were determined and used to construct phylogenetic trees. Microscopic features were observed using an optical microscope. Fluorescence reactions were examined using a fluorescence microscope.ResultsWe describe two new species of Cortinarius, C. griseoaurantinus (subgenus Leprocybe) and C. yonganensis (subgenus Dermocybe), from Fujian Province, Southern China. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, color photographs of fresh basidiomata, photographs of microscopic characters, and phylogenetic trees are provided.DiscussionThese data identify new species of Cortinarius, enhancing the understanding of the genus and the ecological relationships. The developed keys provide a reference for the further analysis of the evolution and geographic distribution of these fungi.

IntroductionEntomopathogenic fungi play a crucial role in the ecological regulation of insect populations and can be exploited as a resource for pest control, sustainable agriculture, and natural products discovery. These fungi and their infected hosts are sometimes highly coveted as part of traditional medicine practices. Here, we sought to examine the biodiversity of entomogenous fungi in subtropical forests of China.MethodsFungal-infected insect specimens were collected from various sites in Fujian Province, China, and purified isolates were obtained through laboratory cultivation and isolation techniques. Molecular characterization of specific target genomic loci was performed on the fungal isolates, and used for phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods to elucidate their taxonomic relationships. Microscopy was used to describe the morphological features of the isolates.ResultsThrough a comprehensive two-year survey of Fujian Province via multilocus molecular phylogenetic analysis targeting the nrSSU, nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb1, and rpb2 loci of collected specimens, we identified three novel species within the Clavicipitaceae herein described as: Albacillium fuzhouense sp. nov., Conoideocrella gongyashanensis sp. nov. and Neoaraneomyces wuyishanensis sp. nov., as well as the recently recorded, Metarhizium cicadae. Each new species was also distinguished from its closest relatives by unique morphological characteristics.DiscussionThese discoveries enrich our understanding of biodiversity within the Clavicipitaceae family and can contribute to the development of new pest control strategies and natural products discovery.

The Diaporthales includes 32 families, many of which are important plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes, e.g., members of the families Pseudoplagiostomataceae, Pyrisporaceae and Schizoparmaceae. Nucleotide sequences derived from five genetic loci including: ITS, LSU, TEF1-alpha, TUB2 and RPB2 were used for Bayesian evolutionary analysis to determine divergence times and evolutionary relationships within the Schizoparmaceae. Molecular clock analyses revealed that the ancestor of Schizoparmaceae split during the Upper Cretaceous period approximately 75.7 Mya (95 % highest posterior density of 60.3-91.3 Mya). Reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) with using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) Method to reconstruct the historical biogeography for the family Schizoparmaceae indicated its most likely origin in Africa. Based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, the Pseudoplagiostomataceae and Pyrisporaceae relationships were clarified and a total of four species described herein. For Pseudoplagiostomataceae, three new species and one known species that include, Pseudoplagiostoma fafuense sp. nov., Ps. ilicis sp. nov., Ps. sanmingense sp. nov. and Ps. bambusae are described and a key of Pseudoplagiostomataceae is provided. With respect to Pyrisporaceae, we considered Pseudoplagiostoma castaneae to be a synonym of Pyrispora castaneae. . In addition, a new species of Schizoparmaceae, Coniella fujianensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated.

Bamboo is an economically important crop that has gained prominence as an alternative to wood to reduce deforestation and ecosystem destruction. Diseases of bamboo that typically occur on leaves and stems can cause significant loss, reducing the quality and yield of the bamboo. However, there are few reports identifying the fungal species diversity and potential pathogens of bamboo. Here, we describe four new species of plant fungi from the leaves of bamboo within Fujian provinces, China. Fungi were isolated from diseased leaves collected within Fujian province and identified based on their morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenies using nucleotide sequences derived from combined datasets of the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), the large subunit of RNA polymerase I (rpb1), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), and the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2). These analyses helped reveal and clarify taxonomic relationships in the family Magnaporthaceae. The new species of bambusicolous fungi identified include two species of Bifusisporella, described as B. fujianensis sp. nov. and B. bambooensis sp. nov., and two species of Apiospora, described as A. fujianensis sp. nov. and A. fuzhouensis sp. nov. This study further expands the characterization and distribution of fungi associated with bamboo.

Leaves of Camellia sinensis plants are used to produce tea, one of the most consumed beverages worldwide, containing a wide variety of bioactive compounds that help to promote human health. Tea cultivation is economically important, and its sustainable production can have significant consequences in providing agricultural opportunities and lowering extreme poverty. Soil parameters are well known to affect the quality of the resultant leaves and consequently, the understanding of the diversity and functions of soil microorganisms in tea gardens will provide insight to harnessing soil microbial communities to improve tea yield and quality. Current analyses indicate that tea garden soils possess a rich composition of diverse microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) of which the bacterial Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi and fungal Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycota are the prominent groups. When optimized, these microbes’ function in keeping garden soil ecosystems balanced by acting on nutrient cycling processes, biofertilizers, biocontrol of pests and pathogens, and bioremediation of persistent organic chemicals. Here, we summarize research on the activities of (tea garden) soil microorganisms as biofertilizers, biological control agents and as bioremediators to improve soil health and consequently, tea yield and quality, focusing mainly on bacterial and fungal members. Recent advances in molecular techniques that characterize the diverse microorganisms in tea gardens are examined. In terms of viruses there is a paucity of information regarding any beneficial functions of soil viruses in tea gardens, although in some instances insect pathogenic viruses have been used to control tea pests. The potential of soil microorganisms is reported here, as well as recent techniques used to study microbial diversity and their genetic manipulation, aimed at improving the yield and quality of tea plants for sustainable production.

A new species of Amanita, A. minqingensis, is described from Fujian province, China, based on morphological and multi-phylogenetic sequencing including the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU), nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), RNA polymerase large subunit-2 (rpb2), and translation elongation factor-α (tef1-α) loci. We identify the species as a member in Amanita section Vaginatae, subg. Amanita. The new species is characterized by its tan pileus with putty verrucose volval remnants, the absence of clamps and globose to sub-globose basidiospores ((9‒)9.2‒10.3‒11 × (8.5‒)9‒9.5‒10.5). Detailed descriptions, color photographs of fresh basidiomata, line drawing of microscopic characters and a phylogenetic tree based on ITS sequence data are are provided.

Members of the fungal order Diaporthales are sac fungi that include plant pathogens (the notorious chestnut blight fungus), as well as saprobes and endophytes, and are capable of colonizing a wide variety of substrates in different ecosystems, habitats, and hosts worldwide. However, many Diaporthales species remain unidentified, and various inconsistencies within its taxonomic category remain to be resolved. Here, we aimed to identify and classify new species of Diaporthales by using combined morphological and molecular characterization and coupling this information to expand our current phylogenetic understanding of this order. Fungal samples were obtained from dead branches and diseasedleaves of Camellia (Theaceae) and Castanopsis (Fagaceae) in Fujian Province, China. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses derived from the combined nucleotide sequences of loci of the internal transcribed spacer regions with the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1), the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2), and partial RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit gene (rpb2), three new species of Diaporthales were identified and characterized. They are as follows: Chrysofolia camelliae sp. nov., Dendrostoma castanopsidis sp. nov., and Pseudoplagiostoma wuyishanense sp. nov. They are described and illustrated. This study extends our understanding of species diversity within the Diaporthales.

Protected areas are widely considered an essential strategy for biodiversity conservation. Dictyostelids are unique protists known to have important ecological functions in promoting soil and plant health through their top-down regulation of ecosystem processes, such as decomposition, that involve bacterial populations. But the relationship between dictyostelid diversity within protected areas remains poorly understood, especially on a large scale. Herein, we report data on the distribution of dictyostelids, identified with ITS + SSU rRNA molecular and morphology-based taxonomy, from soil samples collected in the Fanjing Mountain protected area of Guizhou Province, Southwest China. We compared the biodiversity data of dictyostelids in Fanjing Mountain with similar data from previously sampled sites in four other protected areas, including Changbai Mountain (CB), Gushan Mountain (GS), Baiyun Mountain (BY), and Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QT) in China. We identified four species of dictyostelids belonging to three genera (Dictyostelium, Heterostelium, and Polysphondylium) and herein provide information on the taxonomy of these species. Two species (Heterostelium pallidum and Dictyostelium purpureum) are common and widely distributed throughout the world, but one species (Polysphondylium fuscans) was new to China. Our data indicate that there is no distinguishable significant correlation between the dictyostelid species studied and environmental factors. Overall, the similarity index between Baiyun Mountain in Henan Province and Fanjing Mountain in Guizhou Province, located at approximately the same longitude, is the highest, and the Jaccard similarity coefficients (Jaccard index) of family, genus, and species are 100%, 100%, and 12.5%, respectively. From a species perspective, species in the same climate zone are not closely related, but obvious geographical distributions are evident in different climate zones. This preliminary study provided evidence of the ecological adaptation of dictyostelids to different biological niches.

The characterization of natural fungal diversity impacts our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes and can lead to novel bioproduct discovery. Russula and Lactarius, both in the order Russulales, represent two large genera of ectomycorrhizal fungi that include edible as well as toxic varieties. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), the ribosomal mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α) gene sequences, we here describe and illustrate two new species of Russula and one new species of Lactarius from southern China. These three new species are: R. junzifengensis (R. subsect. Virescentinae), R. zonatus (R. subsect. Crassotunicatae), and L. jianyangensis (L. subsect. Zonarii).

The Asian water plantain, Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. The dried tubers of the Alisma orientale, commonly referred to as Alismatis rhizome (AR), have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of diseases. Soil properties and the soil microbial composition are known to affect the quality and bioactivity of plants. Here, we sought to identify variations in soil fungal communities and soil properties to determine which would be optimal for cultivation of A. orietale. Soil properties, heavy metal content, and pesticide residues were determined from soils derived from four different agricultural regions around Shaowu City, Fujian, China, that had previously been cultivated with various crops, namely, Shui Dao Tu (SDT, rice), Guo Shu Tu (GST, pecan), Cha Shu Tu (CST, tea trees), and Sang Shen Tu (SST, mulberry). As fungi can either positively or negatively impact plant growth, the fungal communities in the different soils were characterized using long-read PacBio sequencing. Finally, we examined the quality of A. orientale grown in the different soils. Our results show that fungal community diversity of the GST soil was the highest with saprotrophs the main functional modes in these and SDT soils. Our data show that GST and SDT soils were most suitable for A. orientale growth, with the quality of the AR tubers harvested from GST soil being the highest. These data provide a systematic approach at soil properties of agricultural lands in need of replacement and/or rotating crops. Based on our findings, GST was identified as the optimal soil for planting A. orientale, providing a new resource for local farmers.