Correction to: Two new species of Clavulina and the first record of Clavulina reae from temperate Abies religiosa forests in central Mexico There is an error in the original publication of this paper. Authors first and last names have been interchanged. The correct presentation is given above.

Resolving the phylogenetic position of Caeoma spp. that infect Rhododendron and Chrysomyxa from China Abstract Many rust fungi that infect Rhododendron belong to the genus Chrysomyxa or the anamorph genus Caeoma. Their morphological resemblance suggests a close taxonomical relationship, however, their phylogenetic relatedness remains unknown. To reveal the phylogenetic affinity and clarify informative morphological characters, we analyzed the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of 56 isolates representing four species of Caeoma and their allied genus Chrysomyxa, which infect Rhododendron from China. The analysis revealed that Caeoma and Chrysomyxa cluster in the same clade and intermix, thus new combinations in Chrysomyxa have been provided for Caeoma that infect Rhododendron. We also provide expanded descriptions and illustrations of the aecia of Chrysomyxa yunnanensis and the uredinia of Chrysomyxa zhuoniensis for the first time. This study advances our understanding of evaluating some asexually typified generic names of rust fungi using molecular data to determine their correct placement.

Distribution and genetic diversity of Beauveria species at different soil depths in natural and agricultural ecosystems Abstract This study aimed to analyze vertical distribution and diversity of Beauveria species throughout the soil profile within farmland and forest habitats to obtain an accurate view of Beauveria density and diversity associated with a particular soil layer. The analysis included a total of 72 soil samples collected at four depths: 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, and 15–20 cm. Of the soil samples, 43 (60%) were positive for Beauveria, producing a total of 641 isolates. Of the positive samples, 28 (65%) were from depths of 0–5 and 5–10 cm while only 15 (35%) from depths of 10–15 and 15–20 cm. Further, for the 29 negative samples, 21 (72%) of them were from depths of 10–15 and 15–20 cm. Higher fungal frequency was found in forest habitat, 462 isolates in 21 positive samples (72%), than from farmland, 179 isolates in 22 positive samples (28%). The highest fungal density (577 isolates, 90%) was recorded in the two top layers (0–5 and 5–10 cm) and decreased significantly as the soil depth increased. Only two species B. bassiana and B. pseudobassiana were identified and co-habited along the whole soil profile. Beauveria pseudobassiana was more strongly affiliated with forest (79%) than farmland (27%) and vice-versa for B. bassiana (21% and 73%, respectively). For both species, the haplotypic diversity varied throughout the soil profile and the highest diversity values were recorded within the soil depths 0–5 and 5–10 cm. This study suggested that the soil band 0–10 cm could be adopted as the standardized depth for soil sampling for ecological studies of Beauveria. It will be important to perform exhaustive soil sampling in different seasons and at different soil depths to validate this hypothesis.

A new and unusual species of Hericium (Basidiomycota: Russulales, Hericiaceae) from the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon Abstract Tropical rainforests form the most species-rich biome on the earth. The Dja Biosphere Reserve (DBR) in Cameroon is a biodiverse tropical forest characterized in part by upland monodominant stands of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Gilbertiodendron dewevrei and ECM Uapaca spp. scattered along river banks. This mostly primary Guineo-Congolian evergreen forest harbors natural populations of large megafauna and numerous plant and fungal species. Studies have indicated that some ECM fungal groups of the large order Russulales are abundant in certain localities in the tropics, including the DBR. However, currently, other predominantly wood-decaying families of Russulales are poorly represented in Africa. For example, only three records of the saprotrophic genus Hericium (Russulales, Hericiaceae) are known from the African continent. Here, we describe a new species of Hericium recently collected from the DBR. Morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses support placement of the Cameroonian collection in Hericium and its recognition as a new species within a larger H. coralloides species complex. The new species, H. bembedjaense, differs from H. coralloides in its smaller basidiospores (2.6–3.0 × 1.7–2.2 μm compared to 3.5–5.0 × 2.8–4.2 μm) and longer basidia (up to 27.0 μm compared to 15.0 μm). It differs from all other described Hericium species in the production of pleurocystidia. This is the first species of Hericiaceae known from sub-Saharan lowland tropical evergreen forests. This study highlights the need to increase fungal sampling in species-rich tropical forests such as those of the Congo Basin.

Three new Coccomyces species from Shennongjia National Nature Reserve in China Abstract Shennongjia National Nature Reserve is an old-growth forest in China with high biodiversity. But only three species in Rhytismataceae had been reported here. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, specimens of Coccomyces collected in Hubei were proposed here as three new species, named Coccomyces fagicola, C. quercicola, and C. shennongjiaensis. Phylogenetic analyses were inferred based on combined nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (nrLSU) and mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA (mtSSU) as well as internal transcribed spacer (ITS).

Molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Amanita ovoidea and Amanita proxima are distinct species and suggest their assignment to Roanokenses section Abstract Amanita ovoidea is generally considered edible and is morphologically similar to Amanita proxima that contains nephrotoxins. Both species were assigned to Amanita section Amidella. To study their phylogenetic relationships, we performed nrITS- and RPB2-based analyses of these and other Amanita species. Our analyses show that (i) A. ovoidea and A. proxima are distinct species; (ii) A. ovoidea has an extensively heterogeneous ITS with up to 4.4% pairwise genetic distance between individuals; (iii) in A. ovoidea, pairwise genetic distance between ITS clones from a single basidiome was as high as 3.2%, possibly because of hybridization events and subsequent failure of the rDNA repeats to homogenize; (iv) A. aminoaliphatica and A. proxima are taxonomic synonyms; and (v) A. proxima and A. ovoidea cluster with species belonging to section Roanokenses rather than with those of section Amidella sensu stricto. This study supports the development of species-specific markers for diagnosis of the toxic and the edible species here examined.

Testing a co-formulation of CO 2 -releasing material with an entomopathogenic fungus for the management of subterranean termite pests Abstract Termites cause significant damage to cocoa trees. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) such as Metarhizium brunneum have been considered as a sustainable alternative to abusive use of insecticides against termites. However, potent EPF application is limited by its repellency effects, host avoidance, and termite defense mechanisms such as grooming among nest mates. Termites use CO2 to locate plant roots. This study investigated whether CO2-emitting capsules could attract termites. Capsules formulated without fungus (CEC) as well as those formulated with M. brunneum Cb15-III (CECEPF) were tested for attractiveness to termites with other attractive components using modified four-arm olfactometers. Worker termites’ infection by the fungus growing from the capsules as well as its horizontal transmission was assessed through the autodissemination approach. Significantly, more termites were attracted to CEC compared with other attractive components. Higher number of termites was attracted by CECEPF and cocoa seedlings than dry wood and yeast in a choice test. When termites were directly exposed to sporulating capsules, 100% mortality was obtained within 5 days. However, in the horizontal transmission experiment, no significant differences were observed as regards termites’ mortality in the treatment compared with the control groups. CECEPF did not cause any apparent repellency to termites as compared with CEC. This strategy offers high potential to promote biological termite control using CECEPF as alternative to insecticides. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of these capsules under field conditions and explore their commercialization for termite management.

What is cultivated oyster mushroom? Phylogenetic and physiological study of Pleurotus ostreatus and related taxa Abstract The wild and cultivated isolates of Pleurotus ostreatus were the subject of a phylogenetic analysis, AMOVA of DNA sequences, exact test of population differentiation, estimation of evolutionary divergence, and cardinal temperature measurement. Two significantly genetically separated groups (OA and OB) with limited mutual gene flow were revealed. While OA is identical with P. ostreatus sensu stricto and includes mainly wild isolates, OB is a more genetically variable group of cultivated isolates of unclear geographical origin. The delimitation of the two groups is confirmed by three genetic markers (ITS, TEF1 and RPB2). Limited gene flow between those two groups was detected, but this is comparable to the putative gene flow between OA, OB on the one hand and P. eryngii and P. pulmonarius on the other. This gene flow between OA and OB may be caused by artificial breeding activities, but the number of such hybridisation events is limited. The genetic differences are also confirmed by the different growth rates of the two groups. The centre of distribution of P. ostreatus s. s. is in Eurasia, while the origin of the OB group is unknown. The availability of a validly published taxonomic name for OB is discussed.

Sugarcane glycoproteins control dynamics of cytoskeleton during teliospore germination of Sporisorium scitamineum Abstract Sporisorium scitamineum teliospores possess an organized cytoskeleton involved in important developmental and physiological processes. It has been described that microtubules appear to be fundamental for nucleus translocation during germination and hyphal growth, whereas actin polymerization is necessary for the formation of invaginations during teliospore displacement. Here, a global vision of the actin cytoskeleton organization throughout the life cycle of S. scitamineum cells is shown, providing evidence that a perfectly structured F-actin network is necessary to trigger smut pathogenicity. Moreover, although myosin presence in teliospores had been previously described, herein actin and myosin co-locations are demonstrated by confocal microscopy during both invaginations formation and germination. In turn, F-actin and microtubules (MTs) interact, jointly participating in the establishment of cell polarity. The resistant sugarcane cultivar Mayari 55-14 produces high molecular mass glycoproteins (HMMG) that differently affect F-actin organization at different stages of fungal development. HMMG first supported F-actin to induce the movement of teliospores towards the cytoagglutination points. At later stages of fungal development, HMMG disorganized F-actin which prevented the protrusion of germinative tube. A continuous exposure to HMMG provoked apoptosis in pathogenic, diploid cells and a delay in sporidia conjugation that could be crucial for plant resistance.

Resurrection of Paraisaria in the Ophiocordycipitaceae with three new species from Thailand Abstract Paraisaria is distinct from Ophiocordyceps and is resurrected as a valid genus within Ophiocordycipitaceae. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses and morphological characterization support the split of Paraisaria from Ophiocordyceps. Three new species are named from Thailand including Paraisaria orthopterorum, P. phuwiangensis, and P. yodhathaii. New species combinations are made for Ophiocordyceps amazonica, O. blattarioides, O. coenomyiae, O. gracilioides, O. gracilis, O. heteropoda, O. paramyrmicarum (= Paraisaria myrmicarum), and O. tettigonia.