In the absence of specific studies on the Psilocybe genus in Italy, we provide information on the taxonomy, habitat, ecology, and distribution of the nine taxa currently recorded for Italy. A nomenclatural update of Psilocybe taxa reported in the Checklist of Italian Fungi (Basidiomycetes), published in 2005, is provided and seven scientific binomials are confirmed. In addition, P. medullosa and P. serbica, recently found in Trentino-Alto Adige/ Südtirol and Calabria respectively, are added to the list of taxa of the genus Psilocybe in Italy. Data on distribution and ecological categories of each taxon are also reported together with a molecular analysis. Considering how easily Psilocybe species can be found in Italy and their psilocybin and psilocin content, the authors hope that Italy will also legalize the use of psychedelic mushrooms in clinical therapies, as already permitted in many other countries.

Owing to their nutritional, culinary, and nutraceutical, mushrooms are worldwide consumed and appreciated. Moreover, many of these mushrooms are also known as medicinal mushrooms since they possess several pharmacological properties attributable to a huge number of bioactive compounds derived from their sporophores. Several studies are available in the literature about in vitro and in vivo mechanisms of actions of such bioactive compounds. Most of these surveys are focused on macrofungi belonging to the genera Pleurotus, Ganoderma, or specific taxa such as Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus blazei, Boletus eduliInonotus obliquus, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinula edodes, and Grifola frondose. On the other hand, there is a lack of information on the under investigated ecological group of freshwater fungi. These fungi play a very important role in freshwater environments and some of them, belonging to Basidiomycota, are also edible and largely consumed. In this review we collected information about the medicinal properties of freshwater macro- and micromycetes. Among them, macrofungi, such as Amanita vaginata, Armillaria mellea, Armillaria tabescens, Astraeus hygrometricus, Auricularia auricula-judae, Bjerkandera adusta, Bovista nigrescens, Calocybe gambosa, Candolleomyces candolleanus, Collybia dryophila, Coprinus comatus, Cyclocybe cylindracea, Hypsizygus ulmarius, Inonotus hispidus, Lactarius controversus, Lentinus tigrinus, and Schizophyllum commune, observed in riparian habitat, and microfungi, such as Penicillium aculeatum, P. chrysogenum, and Fusarium incarnatum, isolated from aquatic plants, have been reported to have antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunomoludatory, hypoglycaemic, and other pharmaceutical activities. Such fungal species are noteworthy since they represent an important quote of biodiversity to preserve their fundamental ecological role and a possible solution for different health problems for humans and animal farms.

This paper deals with the basidiomycete Pleurotus nebrodensis, one of the rare examples of endemic fungi in Italy and Europe. After clarifying the taxonomy of this taxon, including a comparison with a species from China misidentified as “Pleurotus nebrodensis”, we describe the characteristics of its natural habitat, and provide a new morphological description and information on its pilot-scale cultivation, current conservation status according to IUCN criteria and conservation strategies. New ITS region sequences were deposited in GenBank. Furthermore, the antibacterial and anti-cancer properties of P. nebrodensis are mentioned, making it a potential medicinal mushroom. Finally, a critical analysis, on a phylogenetic basis, of the Italian production of substrates inoculated with “P. nebrodensis” strains is also included.

Periodic observations made on two 800-plus-year-old Quercus pubescens trees in the Madonie Mountains (Sicily) revealed the presence of two saprotroph and occasionally weak parasite fungi. The basiodiomycetes Laetiporus sulphureus and Pseudoinonotus dryadeus were identified by combining morphological and observation of microscopic characters with molecular analysis. The two mushrooms fall in the so-named category of “medicinal mushrooms” showing many properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory. Actions are proposed to safeguard old trees and, simultaneously, preserve ex situ the wood-decay fungi of potential medicinal interest.

The yellow-necked dry-wood termite Kalotermes flavicollis (Fabricius, 1793) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae) is an important pest that infests wood in Europe. An increase in attacks by K. flavicollis has been seen in buildings and in churches in Palermo (Italy), with attacks on both structural elements and artefacts. Future climate changes are expected to lead to increasing temperatures, which will probably affect the pest status of this species, which is difficult to control. In this context, it is important to identify potential natural antagonists of K. flavicollis. During a survey of the K. flavicollis population, several dead individuals with evident fungal efflorescence were found. Therefore, a study aimed at the isolation and identification of these microorganisms was conducted. Fungal colonies isolated from mycelial structures grown on insects were identified based on morphological characteristics and DNA profiling. Three different species were identified: Aspergillus nomius, A. subramanianii, and A. tamarii. This is the first time that fungi have been recorded in association with the yellow-necked dry-wood termite and, in addition, this study reports the first association of A. subramanianii with Isoptera.

Recently, in several locations in the province of Trapani (Sicily, Italy), olive growers have reported cases of decaying olive trees of cv. ‘Nocellara del Belice’, showing symptoms of defoliation, branch drying, xylem browning, and reduced production. Internal symptoms include white and brown wood rot, starting from the base of the trunk. These alterations have been observed in trees irrigated using a pipe system at the trunk with spray sprinklers. To identify the causal agents of decay, some trees were eradicated and dissected, and woody samples were processed to isolate and identify the associated fungal micro-organisms. The most common colonies were identified using morphological (macro- and microscopical observation) and molecular (PCR amplification of the rDNA-ITS region) analyses. Nine fungal taxa were identified, of which four were associated with this decay syndrome (Coriolopsis gallica, Fomitiporia mediterranea, Kirschsteiniothelia sp., and Pleurostoma richardsiae), three were considered ubiquitous and opportunistic fungi (Alternaria spp., Aspergillus amstelodami, and Trichoderma sp.), and the other two were mycelia sterilia. Artificial inoculation satisfied Koch’s postulates, confirming the pathogenicity of the aforementioned fungi, even though the infections in the fields seem to be related to the irrigation system. This hypothesis would seem to be confirmed by the progression of decay over time in the trees subjected to the irrigation system described but not reported in olive groves differently managed. It is therefore considered appropriate to conduct further and more in-depth investigations aimed at studying the correlation between the irrigation system, presence of fungal agents, and manifestation of the syndrome. A further ongoing investigation is aimed at the use of biostimulants (Agrusaver, Savory Sun, VA LLC) on symptomatic trees, with the aim of both improving the vegetative performance of the host and limiting the symptoms detected in the field.

BackgroundThe basidiomycetes Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae Lanzi and P. eryngii var. elaeoselini Venturella et al. belong to the P. eryngii species complex, acting as facultative biotrophs in association with members of Apiaceae family, i.e., Ferula communis L. and Elaeoselinum asclepium L., respectively. The consumption of these fungi has rapidly increased in recent decades, not only thanks to their nutritional properties and pleasant flavor, but also for their bioactive and medicinal properties.MethodsA quantitative study of their hydroalcoholic extracts was carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The potential antimicrobial activity of the extracts was also tested against some phytopathogenic bacteria [Clavibacter michiganensis and Bacillus megaterium (Gram-positive), Pseudomonas viridiflava, Xanthomonas campestris, and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative)] and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium italicum, Monilinia laxa, Botrytis cinerea, Cadophora sp., and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).ResultsThe chemical analysis allowed the identification of secondary metabolites belonging to different classes, as flavonoids, organic acids, amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, nucleic acids, fatty acids, and triterpenoids. Both extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against of the most tested microorganisms.ConclusionThe results can broaden the knowledge on the possible use of these fungal species in the agricultural sector.

Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Gray (Boletaceae) is an edible mycorrhizal species with potential application interest due to its food and medicinal properties. A field investigation carried out during summer in the Białowieża Primeval Forest, located along the border between Belarus and Poland allowed to collect samples for chemical composition analysis and antibacterial activity evaluation. Mushroom extracts were prepared with microwave-assisted as well as ultrasound-assisted extraction techniques (UAE and MAE). The analysis of a dry sample of L. scabrum showed a significant content of vitamins and minerals and also a remarkable content of carbohydrates, protein, dietary fibre, total sugars, total free amino acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The antibacterial activity of L. scabrum aqueous extracts showed inhibitory activity against all tested bacteria. In general, MAE extract exhibits a higher inhibition activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19114. As regards the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values, the high antibacterial activity of MAE extract was detected for L. monocytogenes ATCC 19114 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Regarding UAE, high antibacterial activity was detected for Salmonella enterica ATCC 13076 and L. monocytogenes ATCC 19114. Based on data hereby reported, L. scabrum is a culinary-medicinal mushroom with a promising potential use as a high-quality food and nutraceutical mycological resource.

Fungal biodiversity is still mostly unknown and their presence in particular ecosystems such as freshwater habitats is often underestimated. The ecological role that these fungi play in freshwater environments mainly concerns their activity as decomposers of litter and plant material. At present, it is estimated that 3870 species belong to the ecological group of freshwater fungi (13 phyla and 45 classes). In this survey, we provide an overview of the Italian freshwater fungal diversity on the basis of the field and literature data. In the literature, data on freshwater fungi are fragmentary and not updated, focusing mainly on northern Italy where the most important lakes and rivers are present, while data from central and southern Italy (including Sicily and Sardinia) are almost completely ineffective. In particular, Ascomycota are reported in only 14 publications, most of which concern the freshwater environments of Lombardia, Piemonte, and Veneto. Only one publication explores the biodiversity of freshwater Basidiomycota in the wetlands of the Cansiglio forest (Veneto). The field observation allowed for us to identify 38 species of Basidiomycota growing in riparian forest of Italy. However, the number of fungi in freshwater habitats of Italy is strongly underestimated and many species are still completely unknown.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) are obligate symbionts between roots of higher plants and fungi belonging to the monophyletic phylum Glomeromycota. AM elicit nutrients absorption and efficiency, improving yield and quality of vegetables under optimal, sub-optimal or non-optimal growing conditions. Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element to face human illnesses linked to the sulphite oxidase simple deficiency. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effect of the AM fungi (Glomus intraradices) and different doses of Mo (0, 0.5, 3 or 6 mu mol L-1) on yield, nutritional and nutraceutical traits of 'Golden Italian SS' F-1 sweet pepper grown in a protected environment. AM and a Mo dosage of 3.0 mu mol L-1 significantly enhanced mycorrhizal colonization, total yield, marketable yield and marketable fruit number compared with the control. Regardless of the AM application, Mo-biofortification at 0.5 or 3.0 mu mol L-1 boosted mean mass of marketable fruits. Plants not inoculated with AM and biofortified with 6.0 mu mol Mo L-1 showed a significant increase in terms of soluble solid content and total phenolics. AM fungi enhanced ascorbic acid concentration. Furthermore, ascorbic acid fruit concentration augmented as Mo concentration in the nutrient solution increased. The highest Mo fruit concentration was found in fruits from the +AM x 6.0 combination. Whereas, the lowest Mo concentration was found in fruits from non-biofortified plants. Our data pointed out that AM fungi and Mo-biofortification, with a dosage of 0.5 or 3.0 mu mol Mo L-1 significantly ameliorate crop production and quality of 'Golden Italian SS' sweet pepper. The study also suggests that AM fungi had a buffer action on sweet pepper Mo harmfulness.

The nomenclature of 13 European taxa described by Vincenzo Tineo from Sicily is discussed. Alyssum nebrodense is neotypified on a specimen collected by Tineo and housed in PAL. Bromus tenuis (basionym of Vulpiella tenuis), Carex intricata (Carex nigra subsp. intricata), Ophrys sicula, Orchis markusii (Dactylorhiza markusii), Scilla sicula (Oncostema sicula), and Viola parvula are lectotypified using specimens deposited in PAL; Iris pseudopumila is lectotypified by a specimen preserved in K, Mespilus insegnae (Crataegus insegnae), Scilla ughii (Oncostema ughii), and Statice tenuicula (Limonium tenuiculum) are lectotypified by specimens housed in NAP; Rothia tenuifolia (Andryala tenuifolia) is neotypified by a specimen by Michele Lojacono-Pojero housed in P; Statice parviflora (Limonium parvifolium) is lectotypified on a specimen housed in FI. For each taxon both the currently accepted name and synonymies are provided. The type indication is followed by nomenclatural and taxonomic notes in which the original material found is commented and the reasons for the choice of the types are discussed.

We are pleased to announce the 12th International Medicinal Mushrooms Conference. We invite scientists, students, mycologists, medical doctors, immunologists, contagious disease specialists, naturopaths, biochemists, and all those who are interested in studying and discussing the most current research on medicinal mushrooms and their properties.

Beer is one of the oldest and most popular alcoholic beverages and is currently consumed worldwide. The various components used in the brewing process have a physiological impact on the consumer and current research aims to improve its technological and functional properties through the addition of natural compounds (plants or mushrooms). In this work, the addition of two different amounts (5 and 10 g/L) of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii in powder form added at different production stages (PRE and POST alcoholic fermentation) showed the improvement in yeast viability during the alcoholic fermentation, increased the alcoholic content, and improved the sensorial profile. Regarding the organoleptic profile in the experimental samples, cocoa/chocolate and mushroom aromas were found and the samples PRE10 and POST5 received the best ratings with respect to all evaluated parameters.

Soil contamination with microplastics may adversely affect soil properties and functions and consequently crop productivity. In this study, we wanted to verify whether the adverse effects of microplastics in the soil on maize plants (Zea mays L.) are due to a reduction in nitrogen (N) availability and a reduced capacity to establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To do this, we performed a pot experiment in which a clayey soil was exposed to two environmentally relevant concentrations of polypropylene (PP; one of the most used plastic materials) microfibers (0.4% and 0.8% w/w) with or without the addition of N fertilizer and with or without inoculation with AM fungi. The experiment began after the soil had been incubated at 23 °C for 5 months. Soil contamination with PP considerably reduced maize root and shoot biomass, leaf area, N uptake, and N content in tissue. The adverse effects increased with the concentration of PP in the soil. Adding N to the soil did not alleviate the detrimental effects of PP on plant growth, which suggests that other factors besides N availability played a major role. Similarly, although the presence of PP did not inhibit root colonization by AM fungi (no differences were observed for this trait between the uncontaminated and PP-contaminated soils), the addition of the fungal inoculum to the soil failed to mitigate the negative impact of PP on maize growth. Quite the opposite: mycorrhization further reduced maize root biomass accumulation. Undoubtedly, much research remains to be done to shed light on the mechanisms involved in determining plant behavior in microplastic-contaminated soils, which are most likely complex. This research is a priority given the magnitude of this contamination and its potential implications for human and environmental health.

Postharvest fruit loss is caused by the absence of advanced handling and storage technologies and the quiescent presence of fungal pathogens. Therefore, there is a growing demand for sustainable decisions for the planet. This study focused on the use of two types of edible coatings: one was based on the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. viridulum with Aloe arborescens Mill. gel (EC1), and the other was based on the hydrolate only (EC2). These treatments were applied to provide defense against fungal infections in papaya (Carica papaya L. cv Solo), and the storage time was 25 days (T5 ± 1 °C). Fruits coated with EC1 were more contaminated with fungal pathogens than both control (CTR) and EC2 fruit. EC2 showed a statistically lower decay index than CTR and EC1 and maintained its organoleptic characteristics better, showing a 15% loss of firmness after 25 days of storage. Furthermore, the lowest decay index (1.14 after 25 days) was found for the EC1 and CTR. These findings suggest that the use of hydrolate can be useful for extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of papaya fruit, representing an alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides for food safety.

Egg parasitoids are important natural enemies of several insect pests. The ability to kill the pest before it can inflict damage to the plant makes egg parasitoids ideal candidates for biological control. Several studies have shown that egg parasitoids exploit oviposition-induced plant volatiles (OIPVs) to locate host eggs laid on plant organs. Yet such studies have often overlooked that, in nature, plants frequently suffer concurrent attack by insect herbivores and phytopathogens. These dual attacks can modify the emission of induced plant volatiles, which may potentially interfere with the host location abilities of egg parasitoids. We investigated this research question using the following study organisms: the broad bean Vicia faba, the plant pathogen Stemphylium sp., the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula and its associated egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis. We showed that T. basalis is able to exploit OPIVs in order to locate N. viridula egg masses even when V. faba plants were previously infected by Stemphylium sp. Chemical analyses indicate that the egg parasitoid ability to exploit OIPVs persists despite significant alterations of the volatile blends emitted by plants suffering multiple biotic stresses. This study highlights the importance of incorporating the complexity of multiple biotic stresses when studying parasitoid foraging behavior, in order to comprehend how to enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies in crop protection.

Seeds of Abies nebrodensis were subjected to laboratory tests aimed to detect fungal contaminants and to obtain xenobiotic-free seedlings, by the use of different surface sterilising agents. Moreover, hot water at 60 degrees C was used to suppress any fungal microorganisms colonizing the inner tissues. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus and Stemphylium vesicarium were the most frequent fungal contaminants. Non-contaminated seeds showed germination values ranging from 0 to 36.4% depending on the applied sterilization protocol. Further analyses will be carried out to establish the influence of these fungi on the seed germination process and their relationship with seedlings of A. nebrodensis.

Objetivo. Evaluar la potencialidad del consorcio microbiano Curvularia kusanoi L7- Trichoderma pleuroticola como método biológico de pretratamiento de alimentos altos en fibra destinados a la producción animal. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron las cepas Curvularia kusanoi L7 y Trichoderma pleuroticola. Se evaluó el potencial degradativo a través de las cinéticas de producción de las enzimas celulolítica (endo-1,4-β- glucanasa y exo-1,4-β- glucanasa) y ligninolíticas (lacasa y peroxidasa) en fermentación sólido sumergido de salvado de trigo y de bagazo de caña de azúcar. Se analizó el crecimiento del cocultivo en placas. Se determinó el efecto del consorcio sobre la mineralización del carbono de la paja de trigo cruda y se evaluó el grado de degradación de la fibra por espectroscopía infrarroja (IR). Resultados. Ambas cepas mostraron alta producción celulolítica . Solo C. kusanoi L7 mostró actividad ligninolítica, con actividad lacasa máxima de 1400 U/L. No se encontró antagonismo entre las cepas y los resultados de mineralización del carbono y evaluación de sus productos finales mediante IR, indican la efectividad del consorcio para degradar la pared celular de forma más eficiente que cada una de las cepas de manera individual. Conclusiones. Se concluye que el consorcio microbiano C. kusanoi L7-T.pleuroticola presenta grandes potencialidades para emplearse en la modificación estructural de fuentes fibrosas destinadas a la alimentación animal.

Objective. To evaluate the potentiality of the microbial consortium Curvularia kusanoi L7- Trichoderma pleuroticola as biological pretreatment of high fiber sources destined for animal production. Materials and methods. The Strains used where Curvularia kusanoi L7 and Trichoderma pleuroticola. The degradative potential was evaluated through the production kinetics of cellulolytic (endo-1,4-beta-glucanase and exo-1,4-beta-glucanase) and ligninolytics enzymes (laccase and peroxidase) in solid submerged fermentation of bran wheat and sugarcane bagasse. The growth of the co culture in plates was analyzed. The effect of the consortium on the carbon mineralization of raw wheat straw was determined and the degree of fiber degradation was evaluated by infrared spectroscopy (IR). Resulted. Both strains showed high cellulolytic production. Only C. kusanoi L7 showed ligninolytic activity, with a maximum laccase activity of 1400 U/L. No antagonism was found between the strains and the results of carbon mineralization and evaluation of their final products by IR indicate the effectiveness of the consortium to degrade the cell wall more efficiently than each of the strains individually. Conclusions. It is concluded that the microbial consortium C. kusanoi L7-T. pleuroticola has great potential for structural modification of fibrous sources destined for animal feeding.