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Four epitypes and three new species of Amanita (Amanitaceae, Agaricales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) are described from Guineo-Congolian rainforests of Cameroon. Amanita echinulata, A. fulvopulverulenta, A. robusta, and A. bingensis are epitypified based on collections that are the first since the species were described nearly a century ago. Morphological features of the epitypes are described and enumerated. Amanita minima, Amanita luteolamellata, and A. goossensfontanae are described as new and added to the known macromycota of tropical Africa. Habit, habitat, and known distribution are provided for each species. Sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) locus are provided for types and other collections of all taxa, and a molecular phylogenetic analysis across the genus Amanita corroborates morphology-based infrageneric placement for each.

Amanita is a well established genus corresponding one to the major groups of Agaricales having with a rich systematic story. Several species belonging to this genus were recently reported from Braz...

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This study outlines antioxidant and anti-AChE activities of the polysaccharide (PSH) extract from the mushroom species Amanita strobiliformis. Both the presence of α and ß glucans within the aforementioned extract was recorded. PSH extract displayed a profound scavenging activity of OH radicals (IC50 value, 11.86 ± 0.59 μg/mL) and high potential for reduction of Fe3+ ions (174.11 ± 8.70 mg eq. AA/g d.w.) being almost 48- and 5-fold more effective than mannitol and butylated hydroxytoluene used as a positive control, respectively. Compared with galanthamine (0.001 μg), the same extract exhibited a moderate anti-AChE activity (10 μg) in solid. Since purified PSH extract exhibited higher bioactivity (IC50 value 7.27 ± 0.31 μg/mL, 197.68 ± 9.47 mg eq. AA/g d.w. and 0.1 μg, respectively), it can be predominantly ascribed to the polysaccharide compounds. A. strobiliformis PSH extract may be considered as a promising resource of potent bioactive polysaccharides of natural origin successfully addressing both oxidative stress and lack of acetylcholine.

Some Amanita specimens collected from Malaysia are critically investigated by morphological examination and molecular analysis of two gene fragments, the nuc rDNA partial 28S (28S) gene and the internal transcriber spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) regions. Six phylogenetic species of Amanita section Caesareae are recognized among the studied collections. One of them is described as new, A. malayensis. Four of the phylogenetic species correspond with existing morphology-based taxa: A. aporema, A. javanica, A. princeps, and A. similis. The remaining species is not described because of the paucity of material. Detailed descriptions and the distribution of these southeastern Asian species are provided, along with a key to the species of section Caesareae from Malaysia.

We collected and identified 5,721 ectomycorrhizal fruiting bodies (EcM) from Naejangsan National Park from June 2004 to 2013, belonging to 1 phylum, 1 class, 6 orders, 19 families, 40 genera, and 196 species. Of these, 2,249 individuals were identified as 89 species belonging to 11 genera in 7 families in the Agaricales; 1,511 were identified as 43 species belonging to 2 genera in 1 family in the Russulales; 1,132 were identified as 50 species belonging to 21 genera in 6 families in the Boletales; 793 were identified as 8 species belonging to 3 genera in 2 families in the Cantharellales; 29 were identified as 3 species belonging to 2 genera in 2 families in the Thelephorales; and 7 were identified as 3 species belonging to 1 genus in 1 family in the Gomphales. Thus, most of the EcMs identified belonged to the following 3 orders: Agaricales, Russulales, and Boletales. Russulaceae were most common (43 species), followed by Boletaceae (39 species), and Amanitaceae (27 species); most individuals were Russulaceae (1,511), followed by Hydnagiaceae (1,071) and Boletaceae (804). The monthly distribution showed that the greatest number of individuals and species of EcM, including the dominant ones, occur around July~September at an elevation of 200~299 m, diminishing markedly above 600 m. The greatest number of individuals and species, including the dominant ones, were collected in the period with average temperatures 25.0~26.9℃, lows of 21.0~22.9℃, and highs of 30.0~31.9℃, relative humidity > 76%, and rainfall > 400 mm.

From April 2009 to October 2011, we surveyed the higher fungi in the Byeonsanbando National Park, Korea. In total, we identified 2 kingdoms, 3 divisions, 7 classes, 22 orders, 63 families, 149 genera, and 313 species (including 6 undocumented taxa: 2 families, 2 genera, and 2 species). Seventeen 17 orders, 49 families, 128 genera, and 286 species belonged to Basidiomycota; 7 orders, 9 families, 15 genera, and 21 species were of Ascomycota; and 4 orders, 5 families, 6 genera, and 6 species of primordial fungi. Among the Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes were represented by 47 families, 126 genera, and 282 species. The most common fungi were Boletaceae (33 species), followed by Russulaceae (30), Agaricaceae (27), and Amanitaceae (24). Various species of most of the higher fungi occurred during periods with average temperatures of 23~24.9℃, maximum temperatures of 28~31.9℃, minimum temperatures of 22~23.9℃, > 82% relative humidity, and > 200 mm precipitation.

Due to its pleasant aroma and flavor, Amanita caesarea (Scop.) Pers. (Amanitaceae) has been a famous macrofungus since ancient times. This species is also well known in Turkey where people consume it extensively.Evaluation of the medicinal importance of A. caesarea for human health.Antioxidant capacity of A. caesarea was studied using the methods of a scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, β-carotene-linoleic acid assay, reducing power and estimation of phenolics. Chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts of A. caesarea were tested for their antimicrobial activity against four Gram-positive bacteria, five Gram-negative bacteria and one yeast by applying a micro dilution method. The fatty acids were estimated via the method of gas chromatography analysis.The scavenging effect of A. caesarea on DPPH radicals was measured as 40.91% at 0.5 mg/mL concentration, and its reducing power was 0.451 mg/mL at 1.2 mg/mL concentration. The phenolics found were catechin (32.5 mg/g), ferulic acid (7 mg/g), p-coumaric acid (6 mg/g) and cinnamic acid (6.2 mg/g). The highest minimum inhibitory concentration observed against the test microorganisms were with the acetone extract (4.8 µg/mL concentration) against Candida albicans. Thirty-seven different fatty acids were determined from A. caesarea, and oleic acid (58%) was the dominant component.Amanita caesarea had a high-antioxidant and -antimicrobial activity, and it also had important essential fatty acids required for human health. According to the results, this mushroom can be recommended as a major source of natural food.

The toxic ectomycorhizal fungi Amanita muscaria (Agaricales: Amanitaceae) was first recorded in New Zealand in 1937, and it is now widespread throughout the country. We collected decaying fruiting bodies of the mushroom in 2005 and 2006 and placed them in enclosed emergence traps to determine use by fungivorous insects. This study clarified that the endemic species Mycetophila fagi, M. filicornis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) and Zedura curtisi (Diptera: Trichoceridae), as well as exotic Drosophila busckii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), utilised the exotic A. muscaria in various vegetation types in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. A significant difference was observed in the number of fungivorous insects found on the mushrooms between North and South Islands; the endemic M. fagi was dominant in South Island, while Psychodidae sp. dominated North Island. A significant difference was observed in the number of fungivorous insects between the exotic and endemic vegetation inhabited by A. muscaria. Furthermore, the biodiversity of fungivorous insects on A. muscaria within endemic Nothofagus vegetation was more than three times greater than that within the exotic Betula , Pinus, Pseudotsuga and tsuga vegetation. These observations suggest that the greater diversity of fungivorous insects on A. muscaria in natural Nothofagus forests may reflect the higher diversity found in natural forests compared with plantation forests.

Discovery and development of new antibiotics is still very important because of the constant appearance of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. The broth microdilution test was applied for screening of antibacterial activity in extracts of higher and endophytic fungi. Among tested extracts, three possessed significant antibacterial activity: extracts of mushrooms Amanita virosa. (Fr.) Bertill. (Amanitaceae) and Cortinarius praestans. Cordier (Cortinariaceae) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. and Staphylococcus aureus., respectively, and extract of endophytic fungus Trucatella hartigii. (Tubeuf) Steyaert (Amphisphaeriaceae) against Enterococcus faecalis. and S. aureus.. The extract of Truncatella hartigii. was further analyzed by one- and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography, and the position of the active compound was determined on the chromatogram.

Four new species of Amanita, Amanitaceae (Agaricales) are described from the eastern Himalaya and adjacent regions of southwestern China. Amanita altipes and A. parvipantherina are members of section Amanita, while A. orientifulva and A. liquii are representatives of section Vaginatae. They are compared with similar species and illustrated with line drawings.

Phylogenetic relationships in the genus Amanita were investigated using sequence data from the nuclear-encoded large subunit ribosomal DNA. Exemplar taxa were selected to represent the all sec- tions from the current classifications of Singer, Bas and Jenkins. Phylogenetic analysis of the nuc-LSU re- gion supports the taxonomic distinction of subgen- era Amanita and Lepidella, as well as all nine sections previously recognized by Singer (R. Singer, 1986, The Agaricales in Modern Taxonomy, 4th ed.) including sections Amanita, Amidellae, Caesareae, Lepidella, Mappae, Phalloideae, Ovigerae, Vaginatae, Validae. Phylogenetic analyses among these nine terminal groups reveal several higher-level relationships which are also supported by morphological and biochemi- cal characters. A phylogenetic classification is pro- posed which recognizes two subgenera (Amanita, Lepidella), four sections (Amanita, Vaginate, Phallo- ideae, Lepidella), seven subsections (Amanita, Oviger- ae, Amidellae, Caesareae, Phalloideae, Vaginatae, Vali- dae), and two series (Mappae, Validae).

A widely distributed Amanita was observed on six of the Hawaiian Islands fruiting in association with Eucalyptus and Casuarina species. Subsequent in? vestigation revealed it to be closely related to A. mar? morata subsp. marmorata. The holotype of A. marmorata was studied and found to be badly molded and mostly destroyed. Some anatomical details were visible and, though it is similar to our material, there are anatom? ical differences. The Hawaiian populations are also quite variable macroscopically and anatomically and, as a result, a new subspecies, A. marmorata subsp. myr? tacearum, is described for the Hawaiian Islands. A third taxon in this complex, A. reidii, recently described from South Africa, is discussed.

Three new species of Amanita including A. basiorubra, A. austroviridis, and A. luteivolvata are described from Western Australia. They are members of subgenus Lepidella and found as mycorrhizal associates of Eucalyptus in the southwestern forests of Western Australia. Amanita austroviridis has a restricted distribution but the other two species are widely distributed.

The well known ectomycorrhizal genus Amanita Pers. and its lesser known relative Limacella Earle are currently believed to be the sole members of the family Amanitaceae (Singer, 1975), but while Amanita species are a common feature of any forest mycoflora, members of the genus Limacella are rarely encountered. Of the twelve North American species listed by Smith (1944), Limacella illinita (Fr.) Murr. is regarded as the most common and widely distributed of these. Current concepts of agaric taxonomy are based almost exclusively on microand macroscopic features ofbasidiomata (Singer, 1975). However, it is now recognized that supplementing studies of the morphological characteristics of these fungi with cultural studies can be useful, as they have been with anamorphs of certain groups of Ascomycetes (Malloch, 1979; Samuels and Rossman, 1979). While Brefeld (1877, 1889) was one of the first to study members of the Agaricales growing in culture, only recently have any truly detailed studies taken place (Kendrick and Watling, 1979; Pantidou et al., 1983). This paper describes the previously unreported conidial anamorph of L. illinita from pure culture and discusses the possible ecological status of this fun