Search

Amauroderma rugosum is one of the traditional Chinese medicinal mushrooms and is used to reduce inflammation, treat diuretic and upset stomach, and prevent cancer. Here, we present a genomic resource of Amauroderma rugosum (ACCC 51706) for further understanding its biology and exploration of the synthesis pathway of bioactive compounds. Genomic DNA was extracted and then subjected to Illumina HiSeq X Ten and PacBio Sequel I sequencing. The final genome is 40.66 Mb in size, with an N50 scaffold size of 36.6 Mb, and encodes 10 181 putative predicted genes. Among them, 6931 genes were functionally annotated. Phylogenomic analysis suggested that A. rugosum and Ganoderma sinense were not clustered together into a group and the latter was grouped with the Polyporaceae. Further, we also identified 377 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and 15 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. This is the first genome-scale assembly and annotation for an Amauroderma species. The identification of novel secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters would promote pharmacological research and development of novel bioactive compounds in the future.

Context Kyeongok-go (KOG) is a traditional mixed herb preparation consisting of Panax ginseng CA Meyer (Araliaceae), Poria cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae), Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertner) Liboschitz ex Steudel (Orobanchaceae), and honey. Various pharmacological effects of KOG are reported, but the efficacy on respiratory diseases has not been evaluated. Objective The anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antitussive properties of KOG were examined using animal models of respiratory diseases. Materials and methods KOG (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was orally administered to ICR mice (n = 8) once a day for 11 days. Anti-inflammatory effects of vehicle, xylene, KOG and DEXA (1 mg/kg) were determined by monitoring edoema and redness of treated ears, and measuring the relative and absolute weight of each ear. Expectorant properties of vehicle, KOG and AM (250 mg/kg) were evaluated by observing body surface redness, and the amount of mucous secreted by the trachea. The antitussive potential of vehicle, NH4OH, KOG and TB (50 mg/kg) was evaluated by monitoring changes in the number of coughs (for 6 min). Results KOG (400 mg/kg) treated mice showed 31.29% and 30.72% (p

Poria coco F.A.Wolf (Polyporaceae) dispels dampness and promotes diuresis implying hypouricaemic action. To examine hypouricaemic action of Poria coco. Ethanol extract (PCE) was prepared by extracting the sclerotium of P. cocos with ethanol, and the water extract (PCW) was produced by bathing the remains with water. PCE and PCW (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively) were orally administered to hyperuricemic Kunming mice (n = 8) to examine its hypouricaemic effect. Also, molecular docking was performed. P. cocos showed excellent hypouricaemic action, decreasing the serum uric acid of hyperuricaemia (HUA) control (526 ± 112 μmol/L) to 178 ± 53, 153 ± 57 and 151 ± 62 μmol/L (p < 0.01) by PCE and 69 ± 23, 63 ± 15 and 62 ± 20 μmol/L (p < 0.01) by PCW, respectively. According to SCrs, BUNs and H&E staining, PCE and PCW partially attenuated renal dysfunction caused by HUA. They presented no negative effects on ALT, AST and ALP activities. They elevated ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2) mRNA and protein expression in comparison to HUA control. In molecular docking, compound 267, 277, 13824, 15730 and 5759 were predicted as the top bioactives of P. cocos against HUA, which even presented better scores than the positive compound, oestrone 3-sulfate. This paper demonstrated the hypouricaemic and nephroprotective effects of P. cocos in hyperuricemic mice by up-regulating ABCG2. These results may be useful for the development of a hypouricaemic agent.

One new meroterpenoid, antroquinonol Y (1), a new ergostane-type sterol, antcamphin Y (2), and a new ergostane-type triterpenoid, antcamphin Z (3), together with 10 known ones (4–13), were isolated...

The laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidases (MnP), and lignin peroxidase enzymes produced by basidiomycete have been studied due to their potential in bioremediation, therefore, in this study, degradation of diclofenac (DCF), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), indomethacin (IND), gemfibrozil (GFB), and bezafibrate (BZF) by enzymes produced by

A new cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid, microporotriol (1), together with four known compound, 5-methylresorcinol (2), (22E,24R)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (3), (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol (4), (22E,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-ergosta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (5), were isolated from the fermentation broth of the wood decaying fungus Microporus affinis HFG829. The structures of the compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D & 2D NMR, along with HRMS spectroscopic analysis. The relative configuration of 1 was confirmed by NMR calculation. Compound 1 was evaluated for the cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines.

Favolus is a natural genus that is closely related to Polyporus. A taxonomic study of Favolus was carried out based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and 18S and 28S genes of the nuc rDNA, translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1-α), the mt 16S rDNA gene (mt rrnS), β-tubulin gene (TBB1), and the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1) and second largest subunit (RPB2) genes. Fourteen specimens collected from subtropical to tropical regions in China were shown to be different from existing Favolus species. They are described and illustrated here as four new species, namely, Favolus niveus, F. septatus, F. pseudoemerici, and F. subtropicus.

A new drimane-type sesquiterpene with an isocitric acid moiety, cryptoporic acid S (1), together with six known compounds, cryptoporic acid D (2), β-sitosterol (3), β-daucosterol (4), stigmast-4-en-3-one (5), ergosterol (6), and (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-diene-3β,5α,6β-triol (7), was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Cryptoporus volvatus. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR analysis. In the meanwhile, compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for antioxidant activity using the methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and they exhibited moderate antioxidant activities.

Triterpenes from Poria cocos Wolf (Polyporaceae) have been used to treat various diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the antiepileptic effects and mechanism are not fully understood.The objective of this study is to investigate the antiepileptic properties of total triterpenes (TTP) from the whole P. cocos.The ethanol extract TTP was identified by HPLC fingerprint analysis. Male ICR mice were gavaged (i.g.) with TTP (5, 20, 80 or 160 mg/kg) or reference drugs twice a day for 7 d. Antiepileptic activities of TTP were evaluated by maximal electroshock (MES)- and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice for 30 and 60 min, respectively. Locomotor activity and Rota-rod tests were performed for 60 min and 5 min, respectively. The levels of glutamic acid (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine (Gly) in convulsive mice were estimated. The chronic epileptic model of Wistar rats was built to measure expressions of glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65) and GABAThe LCTTP extracted from P. cocos possessed potential antiepileptic properties and is a candidate for further antiepileptic drug development.

Wolfiporia cocos have been used as diuretic, sedative, and tonic medicine. Although its medicinal effects were reported, its genomic information is rare. In this paper, we report the comple...

Two new triterpenoids, 3β-(2-methoxy-oxalyloxy)-24-methylene-lanost-8-en-21-oic acid (1) and 3β-(2-methoxy-oxalyloxy)-15α-hydroxy-24-methylene-lanost-8-en-21-oic acid (2), were isolated from cultures of the fungus Perenniporia maackiae, together with two previously known triterpenoids (3 and 4). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, and MS analyses. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities on five tumor cell lines.

A new polyoxygenated ergostane-type sterol, 3β,5α,6β,8β,14α-pentahydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergost-22-en-7-one (1), has been isolated from the liquid culture of the basidiomycete Ganoderma applanatum together with four known sterols, 3β,5α,9α-trihydroxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (2), ergosterol peroxide (3), 6-dehydrocerevisterol (4) and cerevisterol (5). Two of these sterols (2, 4) are reported to have been isolated from this species for the first time. The structures of these compounds were determined by chemical and spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, as well as by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.

FBD, a Chinese herbal formula, composed of Fu Ling [the sclerotium of the fungus of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Polyporaceae)], Bai Zhu [the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.(Compositae)], and Danggui [the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Umbelliferae)], has been found beneficial in treating brain ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). In this work, oral pretreatment with supercritical CO2 extract (FBD-CO2, 37. 5 mg/kg) twice daily for 3.5 days, significantly attenuated brain infarction (p < 0.05), blocked neuron specific enolase (NSE) efflux (p < 0.05) in mice subjected to repetitive 10 min of common carotid artery occlusion following 24 h reperfusion, whether coupled with aqueous extract (FBD-H2O, 150 mg/kg) or not. Except atractylenolide I and pachymic acid, atractylenolide II, III, levistolid A, and ferulic acid isolated from FBD-CO2 alone protected neuron-like PC12 cells obviously and concentration-dependently against I/R-like insults (p < 0.05 ~ 0.01) induced by sodium dithionite (10 mM), monos...

Although the use of macrofungi in popular medicine is very common, especially in East Asia, the knowledge about their pharmacological properties is poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of six species of macroscopic fungi: Phellinus rimosus (Berk.) Pilat (Hymenochaetaceae), Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill (Poyporaceae), Hymenochaete rheicolor (Mont.) Lev. (Hymenochaetaceae), Hexagonia papyracea Berk. (Polyporaceae), Datronia caperata (Berk.) Ryvarden (Polyporaceae), and Lepiota sp. (Agaricaceae), collected in the state of Bahia, in north-eastern Brazil. Extracts of these species were obtained and tested to determine their cytotoxicity in normal mouse spleen cells. Immunomodulatory, antineoplasic and antiparasitic activities were investigated. Four macrofungi extracts (Phellinus rimosus, Hymenochaete rheicolor, Lepiota sp., and Datronia caperata) inhibited the lymphoproliferative response stimulated by concanavalin A in 65–96% of inhibition in mitogen-in...

Herb formula FBD is composed of fu ling [or poria, or the sclerotium of the fungus of Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Polyporaceae)], bai zhu [white atractylodes rhizome, or the rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.(Compositae)], and dang gui [or dong quai, Chinese angelica root, or the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Umbelliferae)], the three Chinese medicinal plants used traditionally to improve cognitive disorders. The present study aimed to observe the effects of dual doses of aqueous extracts of FBD (200 and 600 mg/kg) administered orally for 6 days on memory deficit induced by scopolamine, 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) in male imprinting control region (ICR) mice. Aqueous extracts of FBD markedly ameliorated scopolamine induced memory deficit in passive step-through avoidance test and passage water maze test, significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in cortex and hippocampus, and circulating butyrylcholinesterase activity. Moreover, cortical AChE activity in vitro w...

A new acetogenin, polyporolide (1), was isolated from the mycelial solid cultures of a Polyporus basidiomycete. Its structure was elucidated as 4-hydroxy-5-(1-hydroxyhexyl)-dihydrofuran-2-one by spectroscopic methods. Its toxicity to brine shrimps was assessed.

Auriporia brasilica sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimens collected from southern Brazil. It is characterized by a dimitic hyphal system, the shape and size of cystidia, small basidiospores and large pores. This is the first report of an Auriporia taxon registered from the tropics.

Antrodiella dentipora, Ceriporia albobrunnea, C. cystidiata, Diplomitoporus allantosporus, D. stramineus, D. venezuelicus, Flabellophora fasciculata, Navisporus perennis, Nigroporus macroporus, Polyporus albostipes, Rigidoporus aurantiacus, Skeletocutis microcarpa, Tinctoporellus isabellinus, Trametes olivaceopora, T. supermodesta, Trichaptum variabilis, Tyromyces neostrigosus, T. polyporoides and Wrightoporia roseocontexta are described as new. Keys to all, except Trametes, the new neotropical species in their respective genera are included. The combinations Trichaptum griseofuscens (Mont.) Ryvarden & Iturriaga, and Tyromyces americanus (D. Reid) Ryvarden & Iturriaga are proposed.

Three new lanostane triterpenoids, fuscoporianol A (1), B (2), and C (3) were isolated from the petroleum ether extracts of Fuscoporia obliqua and their structures have been determined on the basis of chemical, spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analysis as 25-methoxy-21, 22-cyclolanosta-8-ene-3beta, 21alpha-diol(1), 3beta, 22alpha-dihydroxy-lanosta-8, 23E-diene-25-peroxide (2), 3beta, 22alpha, 25-trihydroxy-lanosta-8, 23E-diene (3).

In the present study, an attempt was made to select a low cost adsorbing material for the removal of endosulfan [C,C'-(1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachloro-8,9,10- trinorborn-5-en-2,3-ylene)(dimethylsulphite)] from water. Various low cost adsorbents like wood charcoal, kimberlite tailings, silica, macro fungi sojar caju were tried with activated charcoal as reference material. The above materials were selected from various sources encompassing organic, inorganic, clayey, and biological sources. For the selection of suitable adsorbent for endosulfan uptake, maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) was chosen as the parameter. Kinetic profiles of removal were generated for all the materials to assess the equilibrium time. Equilibrium studies were carried out for all materials to assess the adsorption equilibrium model that they followed. The model that gave the best correlation coefficient by linear regression analysis, was adopted for the calculation of Qmax of the corresponding adsorbent material. Using linearised forms of equilibrium models like Langmuir, BET, and Freundlich, maximum adsorptive capacities were determined. Activated charcoal showed the best adsorptive capacity with Qmax of 2.145 mg/g followed by wood charcoal 1.773 mg/g, sojar caju 1.575 mg/g, kimberlite tailings 0.8821 mg/g, and silica 0.3231 mg/g. Albeit activated charcoal gave better performance, it was not considered as a candidate material because of its high cost. Wood charcoal was the next best adsorbent with Qmax 1.773 mg/g. Therefore, wood charcoal was chosen as the best material for endosulfan removal. The study of physical and chemical characteristics of wood charcoal revealed that it is a potential adsorbent and can even be improved further.

Canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) of the beetle communities found in the polypore fungi Fomes fomentarius (L. ex Fr.) Kickx and Piptoporus betulinus (Bull. ex Fr.) Karst. from five localities in western Norway was applied to quantify the relative importance of various environmental variables. A total of 2266 adult specimens were identified to 57 species. Ecological qualities of different forest types were more important than qualities of the sporophores per se. The two polypore species have different communities of beetles, which can be explained by different habitat qualities offered by the two species. For F. fomentarius, the most explanatory variable turned out to be whether the sporophore was dead or alive. The sporophore's weight at sampling time was the most explanatory variable for the beetles inhabiting P. betulinus.

ICR mice were treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N'-butanolnitrosoamine BBN), every day for 8 consecutive weeks and the effects of oral administration of edible mushrooms on the induction of urinary bladder carcinoma and on the activities of macrophages and lymphocytes were studied. Bladder carcinoma were found in all 10 mice (100%) treated with BBN alone, while we observed carcinoma only in 9 of 17 mice (52.9%), in 7 of 15 mice (46.7%) and 13 of 20 mice (65.0%) treated with Lentinus edodes, Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus ostreatus, respectively. Chemotactic activity of macrophages was suppressed in mice treated with BBN alone but maintained almost the normal level in mice treated with BBN plus Lentinus, Grifola or Pleurotus. Lymphocytes collected from mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom showed almost normal blastogenic response against concanavalin A, although those from mice treated with BBN alone completely retarded their response. Cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against Yac-1 cells was also maintained at a normal level in mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom. Whereas in mice treated with BBN alone significant depression of NK cell activity occurred. Significantly higher cytotoxic activity against P-815 cells was observed in lymphocytes from mice treated with BBN plus each mushroom than that in lymphocytes from normal mice or mice treated with BBN alone.

Six tyrosinase isozymes were purified from the browned gill of the fruiting body of Lentinus edodes by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sephacel and Q-Sepharose column chromatography, and partially denaturing SDS-PAGE. At the step of Q-Sepharose column chromatography, two active fractions (A and B) were obtained. Each fraction was separated to three further fractions, A1, A2, and A3, and B1, B2, and B3, respectively, by partially denaturing SDS-PAGE. All these isozymes consisted of two types of polypeptides: alpha polypeptide (A alpha or B alpha) and either beta (A beta or B beta) or gamma polypeptide (A gamma or B gamma). The alpha polypeptide contained the consensus amino acid sequence of the active site of known tyrosinases, which is considered to act as a catalytic subunit. From the results of peptide mapping and the amino acid composition, A alpha and B alpha polypeptides were considered to be different proteins. The kinetic properties of the purified tyrosinase isozymes differed greatly according to whether they contained beta or gamma polypeptide, indicating these polypeptides to be a possible regulatory subunit.

A plasmid pLC-bar containing the bialaphos resistance gene derived from Streptomyces hygroscopicus between the Lentinus edodes ras gene promoter and priA gene terminator was constructed. When protoplasts of Pleurotus ostreatus were mixed with the plasmid DNA in the presence of polyethylene glycol and CaCl2, bialaphos-resistant colonies were obtained. This indicated that transformation was successful. Southern blot analysis of total DNAs from transformants showed that the introduced plasmid DNA was integrated into the host chromosome and partly rearranged. A plasmid, pLC-GUS, containing the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under the control of the L. edodes ras gene promoter and priA gene terminator was constructed and introduced into protoplasts of P. ostreatus with pLC-bar by co-transformation. Two of 5 transformants obtained as bialaphos-resistant colonies showed two to twenty times higher specific activity of GUS than the recipient. Southern blot analysis of total DNAs from transformants indicated the presence of the GUS gene only in the two transformants. These results indicated that co-transformation of P. ostreatus was successful, and that the GUS gene was expressed in P. ostreatus. This transformation system will enable us to breed commercial strains of P. ostreatus at the molecular level.

A systematic method of extraction, fractionation, and purification of polysaccharides from Songshan Lingzhi (Ganoderma tsugae) with antitumor activity was established. Seven glycans with strong antitumor activities were obtained from 14 water-soluble, and 15 water-insoluble fractions: FIo-a, FA-1, FII-1, FIII-2, and FIII-2-a, -b, and -c. FIo-a and FA-1 were protein-containing glucogalactans associated with mannose and fucose. FII-1 was a (1--3)-beta-D-glucan having a lower protein content. The water-insoluble fractions FIII-2-a, -b, and -c were extracted with alkali, and were found to be protein-containing (1--3)-beta-D-glucans showing the strongest activity. Chemical properties and structure of each antitumor polysaccharide were compared with three fungi of the Ganoderma family, Kofukitake (G. applanatum), Mannentake (G. lucidum), and Songshan Lingzhi (G. tsugae).

Protein-containing polysaccharides extracted from fruiting bodies of a Chinese fungus named Feng Wei Gu, were fractionated and purified, and their antitumor activities were tested, out of which the following active fractions were obtained. FIo-a: A protein-containing xyloglucan, MW 280,000, polysaccharide: protein = 76:24 (w/w), polysaccharide consisting of Man:Gal:Xyl:Glc = 2:12:42:42 (molar ratio). [alpha]D23 + 25.3 degrees. FA-2: A protein-containing mannogalactan, MW 120,000, polysaccharide: protein = 76:16 (w/w), consisting of Xyl:Man:Gal = 9:35:56 (molar ratio), [alpha]D23 + 98.5 degrees. FII-1: A Protein-containing xylan (62:21 w/w). MW 200,000, [alpha]D23 + 8.7 degrees. FIII-1a: A protein-containing glucoxylan (15:71 w/w), [alpha]D23 + 30.7 degrees, MW 90,000, consisting of Glc:Xyl = 40:44 (molar ratio). FIII-2a: A protein-containing xyloglucan, MW 70,000, polysaccharide:protein = 69:3 (w/w), polysaccharide consisting of Xyl:Glc = 36:62 (molar ratio). [alpha]D23 + 38.6 degrees.

Evolutionary relationships of Lentinus to the Tricholomataceae and Polyporaceae were studied using restriction analysis of nuclear-encoded ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA). Five species of Lentinus, three species in the Polyporaceae and two species in the Tricholomataceae were examined. Ribosomal DNA phenotypes were determined by restriction endonuclease digestion of enzymatically amplified rDNA (PCR fingerprinting). This method generates restriction fragment length polymorphism data without Southern blotting or autoradiography. With five different four-base restriction enzymes, one hundred and one unique restriction fragments were resolved. Among the 16 individuals studied, there were twelve different rDNA types. A similarity matrix based on presence or absence ofcomigrating restriction fragments was analyzed with UPGMA, complete and single-linkage analysis (using the NTSYS computer package), and Fitch-Margoliash and KITSCH analysis (using the PHYLIP computer package). Results of all analytical approaches were highly consistent and strongly suggest that Lentinus tigrinus is more closely related to the Polyporaceae than to the Tricholomataceae. Morphological characters (dimitic hyphae and hyphal pegs) also support this hypothesis. The other species of Lentinus appear to be intermediate between the Polyporaceae and Tricholomataceae and could not be clearly assigned to either family. The results also suggest that Lentinus is paraphyletic and, therefore, that lamellae have

Cultural characteristics of five species ofAntrodia are described: A. gossypia, A. juniperina, A. odora, A. sitchensis, and A. sordida. Each causes a brown-rot decay of conifers. Key patterns and species codes are given for each. Additional data are also provided for six other species ofAntrodia.

Wrightoporia novae-zelandiae Rajchenb. & David is described as a new species on account of the following combination of characters: resupinate habit, monomitic hyphal system, presence of gloeopleurous hyphae and small, ellipsoid, asperulate, amyloid spores.

The fruit bodies of Pleurotus species as a class of "Edible Fungal Foods" have been discovered to have definite nutritive and medicinal values. They are a good source of nonstarchy carbohydrates, dietary fiber (that can help in reducing the plasma cholesterol), most of the essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins of B group, and folic acid (necessary to counteract pernicious anaemia) in particular. Considering the essential amino acid index, biological value, in vitro digestibility, nutritional index, and protein score, Pleurotus species fall between high grade vegetables and low grade meats. Fractions of water-soluble polysaccharides are reported to possess antitumor activity. The physiological processes such as changes in water content, respiratory rate, texture, color, and activities of enzymes like proteases and polyphenol oxidases during the after-harvest life are delineated. The problems and prospects of processing the fruit bodies by various methods are discussed. Potentialities for production and consumption of the fruit bodies in different parts of the world are brought out.

Piptoporus soloniensis causes a butt rot of oaks in the United States. The basidiocarps superficially resemble those of Laetiporus sulphureus, although cultures of the two species are readily distinguishable. Cultural characters of P. soloniensis are given and compared to those of L. sulphureus.

The 174 polyporoid and corticioid species of fungi described by C. Spegazzini were reevaluated. The type specimens for 149 names were located in the Instituto de Botinica Carlos Spegazzini (La Plata, Argentina). Of these, 21 are accepted as valid, 104 are synonyms, 15 types are sterile and indeterminable, 5 are not Basidiomycetes, 2 are tremellaceous fungi of uncertain position, 1 is allied to Stereum Pers. and 1 is allied to Phlebia Fr. Seven new combinations are proposed: Flaviporus subhydrophilus, Grammothelopsis puiggarii, Hypochniciellum iaganicum, Phanerochaete incrustans, Phellinus apiahynus, Phlebia argentina and Trametes versicolor f. antarctica.

underway to determine the extent and means of rhizomorph distribution in these mines, the environmental conditions in which the rhizomorph grows and what other decomposers, particularily white rots, are in these mines and may be associated with the rhizomorphs. Comparisons of fungal growth and decomposition of treated and untreated mine timbers is also being undertaken. We wish to thank Mr. Fred Harry and the Adams Township Water Authority for allowing us access to the mine, Mrs. Francis Lombard of the Center for Forest Mycology Research, Forest Products Lab., Madison, Wisconsin for identification of the fungal isolate and Dr. O. K. Miller, V.P.I. and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia for his suggestions in the preparation of this manuscript.

A new wood-inhabiting basidiomycete, Fibroporia angulopora, is described from the Cascade Mountains in western Oregon. The fungus is associated with a brown-rot decay of Douglas-fir residue in old growth stands. Characteristics derived from studies of fruiting bodies and cultures are presented and incompatibility system (mating type) determined. The generic position of F. angulopora is discussed with reference to Fibuloporia and Strangulidium. In a recent survey of wood-rotting fungi, Gilbertson (1980, 1981) estimated that only 6% of the number of recorded or known species of wood-rotting fungi (approximately 1700) are associated with or known to cause the brown-rot type of decay. This paucity of numbers of brown-rot fungi is extraordinary when the impact they have on conifer biomass decomposition is considered. Furthermore, the importance of the degradative product of these fungi cannot be underestimated. Brown-rotted wood in conifer ecosystems serves numerous and significant ecological functions: e.g., an important site for ectomycorrhizae formation, dinitrogen fixation, a moisture reservoir during dry periods, and a nutrient sink

The status of the species names Meripilus giganteus, Grifola lentifrondosa, and G. sumstinei is reviewed with regard to synonymy. Data from studies of nomenclatural types by light and scanning elec...

A rare polypore: Trametes ljubarskyi Pilat, new to Italy. VII. - The presence of Trametes ljubarskyi Pil. (Polyporaceae) is reported for the first time in Italy.

Crustoderma resinosum and two new species, Crustoderma flavescens and C. opuntiae, are described and illustrated. All are associated with brown rots. Cultural characters are included for all species. Cultures previously reported as Unknown A were found to be iden­ tical to polysporous cultures of C. flavescens. Gilbertson recently reported (1980, 1981) that the majority of brown-rot fungi are members of the Polyporaceae. However, six species in the Corticiaceae, in the genera Chaetoderma, Crustoderma, Dacryobolus, and Pseudomerulius, cause brown rots. We have discovered two additional corticiaceous fungi that cause brown rots, Crustoderma flavescens and C. opuntiae. We propose these as new species. Crustoderma resinosum (Jacks. et Deard.) Gilbn. was recently reported also to be a brown-rot fungus (Gilbertson, 1981).

Moller (1897, p. 231) published the genus Henningsia Mll., as monotypic, to accommodate a species that he (1898) considered to have a unique type of hymenial development, an initially thelephoroid hymenial surface that finally becomes polyporoid. Although validly published (Donk, 1960), Henningsia does not appear in Pegler's (1973, p. 402) key to the polyporoid genera, probably because of its obscurity and the lack of a recent account of its features.

Among the white polypores named by Peck, the two species P. anceps Peck and P. immitis Peck are probably the least known, partly because of their rarity, partly because they have been thrown into synonymy by recent students of the Polyporaceae. It was natural to look for P. anceps on hemlock, the wood on which it was collected by Dr. Burt and given as the host in Peck's account. Occasionally I have run across a white Polyporus growing on coniferous wood, a plant which clearly did not belong to any of the white species now fairly well known as grow? ing on conifers. Until within the last half dozen years I had no suspicion that these might belong to Polyporus anceps. After the idea had suggested itself, however, I studied collections more carefully and am strongly inclined to think that my plants belong to that species. Recently I obtained photographs from two such collections, one collected near Ann Arbor, Michigan, on tamarack, the other from Elkmont, Tennessee, on pine. There is no "a priori" reason that I can see, why this species should be limited to hemlock.

Polyporus biennis and its varietal segregates possess quite variable characteristics. They have masqueraded among the poroid Boleti and Polypori, the labyrinthine Daedaleae and the echinoid Sistotremae, not to mention that group of contortionists, the genus Abortiporus, created by Murrill for the reception of a member of this group. They have finally come to rest, as appears most appropriate, in the genus Polyporus. Of the five fungi considered here Polyporus biennis, apparently, has not been collected in North America, but is typically European. The remaining four are varieties of this species. Though the first of these has been reported from the United States this was without justification. Our present knowledge indicates the last three to be wholly American in their distribution. Bulliard (1789) first described and figured Polyporus biennis, and placed it in the genus Boletus. A few years later Persoon (1797) conceived a need for the genus Sistotrema, and subsequently (1801) included Bulliard's species within this group. As first instituted Sistotrema is located between the genera Boletus and Poria, and contained but two species, S. confluens, based upon Hydnum sublamellosum Bull., and S. cinereum, based upon Boletus unicolor Bull. With his customary naivete Persoon changes these specific names without offering excuse or reason. In his "Synopsis" Persoon extends Sistotrema to include twelve species. These are about evenly divided between forms gleaned from the genus Hydnum, and near relatives, and from Boletus as interpreted by Bulliard. In an appended foot-note Persoon says briefly, "Intermedium genus est inter Boletum et Hydnum." Persoon considered Sistotrema as a repository for certain species which he believed transitional in nature and properly located between the Polyporaceae and Hydnaceae.

The family Hydnaceae, as ordinarily defined, is held to include all autobasidiomycetes in which the hymenium is borne upon downward directed spines, warts or folds. As thus defined most of the genera and species are clearly separated from those of re? lated families. Intermediate forms do occur, however, grading into the Polyporaceae on the one hand and the Thelephoraceae on the other. This fact has influenced various attempts to make the boundaries of the family more distinct. Since the time of Fries, our knowledge of the internal structure and reproduction of these fungi has been greatly increased and it has been necessary to make many changes in taxonomic treatment. The lack of agreement in current literature as to what constitutes the most precise or convenient classification is due largely to our still meager knowl? edge of the natural relationships among these fungi. The family has been insufficiently studied and, therefore, any scheme of classification applied to it must be regarded as tentative. The removal of certain genera and species apparently related to the Polyporaceae but included in the Hydnaceae of Fries and his predecessors was suggested first in 1821 by the work of S. F. Gray.1 He erected the Sistotremideae on Sistotrema, Cerrena and Xylodon, and characterized the new family as " thallus leatherlike; hymenium at first meandering, porous, becoming toothed; teeth lamellar, torn." In 1879 Karsten transferred Irpex, Sistotrema and Phlebia to the Polyporaceae. Patouillard in 1900 included Phlebia, Hydnochaete, Lopharia, Sistotrema and species of Irpex among the polypores. Weir and Hubert (1918) comment on the daedaloid character of the young sporophore of Echinodontium.

poraceae. The forest tree fungi of Montana are not very well known. The earlier collectors paid little attention to this particular class of plants. A few of the most important publications dealing with Montana fungi may be enumerated. A list of fungi published by Seymour' contains 52 species from Montana. Of these 8 were fungi of forest trees. Kelsey2 collecting in the vicinity of Helena published a list of 74 species, of which about 14 are found on leaves or twigs of forest trees. The same author3 published notes on nine species of Erysipheae of which 3 are on forest trees. Anderson4 published a series of papers on the fungi of Montana

The Boletaceae are fleshy tube-bearing fungi, terrestrial for the most part, and, with one or two exceptions, centrally stipitate. They differ from the Polyporaceae chiefly in their fleshy consistency and terrestrial habit. Most of them are edible, but a few species are said to be distinctly poisonous. The family shows few lines of cleavage, although a number of genera have been proposed since Linnaeus included all tubebearing fungi in the single genus Boletus. S. F. Gray, in I821, divided the group into three genera, Suillus, Pinuzza and Leccinum. Strobilomyces was separated by Berkeley in I860, and Boletinus by Kalchbrenner in I877. More recently, Karsten, Quelet, and Patouillard have each originated or adopted a system of classification for the group involving a number of genera, which will be discussed in their proper order in the following

The fungi of Jamaica have been much neglected since the time of Olaf Swartz, who described only a few species, until recent years, when Dr. L. M. Underwood, Professor F. S. Earle, Dr. and Mrs. N. L. Britton, and others, either connected with expeditions sent out by the New York Botanical Garden or registered for investigation at Cinchona, have collected material upon which practically all of our accurate knowledge of the fungi of Jamaica is based.

Several of the Agaricaceae have been described as parasitic on others of the same group. Of these may be mentioned Volvaria Loveiana on Clitocybe nebularis,1 Stropharia coprin,ophila on Coprinus atramentarius,2 and the species of the genus Nyctalis. No instance of a species of the Agaricaceae parasitic on one of the Polyporaceae appears, however, to have been cited. On August 2, I914, the writer discovered such a case in Six Mile Gorge, near Ithaca, N. Y. Polyporus perennis3 occurs in this locality in unusual abundance and a few fruit bodies of this fungus were found parasitized a member of the genus Claudopus. Study has proved this to be a hitherto undescribed species. The fruit bodies of the parasite occur in considerable numbers about the mouths of the tubes and along the stipe of the Polyporus. They are minute, the expanded pilei in no case exceeding 4 mm. in diameter, while the developmental stages or " buttons" are almost microscopic. The lateral stipe and the salmoncolored gills suggest at once the genus Claudopus. The parasitized host plants, if examined superficially, give little evidence of the presence of the parasite. They exhibit the normal appearance of healthy plants, showing neither hypertrophy nor dwarfing, and viewed from above can in no way be distinguished from the uninfected sporophores. An examination with the hand lens reveals the fact that certain of the tubes of the

In Murrill's tenth article on the Polyporaceae of North America, it is stated that Daedalea unicolor* has no choice beyond deciduous wood as regards host. As a rule this is certainly true, but there is no rule without exception. I have seen this species growing on Pinus abies L. (Picea excelsa Lk.) at least two or three times in different places here at Stockholm, but not abundantly. As the fact struck me, I made myself quite sure of the correctness of the observation.