Search

In this study, we describe Pseudomegasporoporia margallensis as a novel species and report Microporellus subadustus as a new record from Pakistan based on morphology and phylogeny. Both genera are firstly reported in the country. Pseudomegasporoporia margallensis sp. nov. is characterized by light brownish gray poroid hymenphore, grayish brown subiculum surface, frequent generative hyphae in the subiculum with abundant clamp connections, and arboriform-branched skeletal hyphae in subiculum and tubes, and it forms a sister lineage of P. nerricola in the phylogeny. This novel taxon, showing 37 nucleotide differences in ITS nrDNA and 10 in LSU nrLSU sequences from P. nerricola, has GenBank accession numbers PP702233, PP702234, PP702235, PP702236, and PP70223, and is registered under MycoBank no. MB853645. This higlights the genetic distinction and importance of molecular identification in fungal taxonomy. The new species and the new record are described with detail illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is now widely recognized that biological activity occurs throughout the fungal kingdom. Since ancient times so called mushrooms belonging to Basidiomycota have been used for medicinal purpose. Various bioactive compounds show important biological activities such as antioxidative, free radical scavenging, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antibacterial etc. In earlier times, mushrooms were originally regarded as a significant source of medicinal in oriental regions. Discovering new major medicines is becoming a great challenge for scientific community. The present study deals with qualitative analysis and identifies the different classes of bioactive compounds as well as their potential therapeutic properties in three different polypores viz. Earliella scabrosa, Podoscypha petalodes and Polyporus grammocephalous. This information can provide insight about the bioactivity and metabolite production from these Polypore fungi, which can potentially lead to the development of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During studies on the taxonomical delimitation of some species of Funalia, some inconsistencies were observed in the genus. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the generic type Fomitella supina was positioned within the Funalia clade; thus, the synonymization of the genus and the new combination of Funalia supina are proposed. Funalia glabrorigens is also combined in the genus, while F. hainanensis is suggested as a synonym of F. floccosa, and F. rigida is assumed as a distinct species geographically separated from F. floccosa. A table with morphological comparison of the 10 Funalia species confirmed by molecular analyses is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fomes weberianus Bres. & Henn. ex Sacc. is currently the basionym of two very distinct polypores (Basidiomycota), Ganoderma weberianum (Polyporales) and Phylloporia weberiana (Hymenochaetales). This fact has led to almost fifty years of taxonomic confusion. Fomes weberianus was first lectotypified by Steyaert, who accepted the species as G. weberianum. However, studies of Weber's original material in B, duplicate material in S, the protologue, and early interpretations of the name have shown that Steyaert's choice conflicts with the protologue and early interpretations, and that his interpretation as a species of Ganoderma is erroneous. A new lectotype was designated and the species was re-described under the correct interpretation Phylloporia weberiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Polyporales, Cerrena caulinicystidiata and Polyporus minutissimus, are illustrated and described on the basis of morphological studies and phylogenetic analyses from southern China and Vietnam. C. caulinicystidiata is characterized by annual, resupinate, sometimes effused-reflexed basidiocarps, greyish orange to brownish orange pore surface, irregular pores (3–8 per mm), a trimitic hyphal system, pyriform to ventricose cystidia, and subglobose basidiospores 3.2–4.5 × 2.8–3.5 µm in size. P. minutissimus is characterized by annual, solitary, fan-shaped with a depressed center or infundibuliform basidiocarps, obvious black stipe, cream to buff yellow pileal surface with glabrous, occasionally zonate and radially aligned stripes, angular pores (6–9 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and cylindrical basidiospores, 5–9.2 × 2.2–4 μm. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two new species are provided. The differences between the two new species and their morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriolopsis spp. are wood-decaying fungi that inhabit forests. They are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. Strain Epi910 was isolated from the asymbiotically germinated protocorm of Epidendrum sp. and identified as Coriolopsis strumosa. Symbiotic germination and high-throughput sequencing of the endophytic fungal communities of different parts were performed to characterize the function and spatial distribution of the Epi910 isolate. Under symbiotic germination, Epi910 promoted seed germination and seedling formation as an endophytic native fungus of Epidendrum sp. Endophytic fungal communities from seven different parts of Epidendrum sp. were characterized. In total, 645 OTUs were identified; 30 OTUs were shared among all seven parts. The internal transcribed spacer sequence of Epi910 was identical to that of a dominant shared OTU (OTU6). The relative abundance of OTU6 in the seven parts was identified as follows: capsule pericarp > seed > root > asymbiotically germinated protocorm > epiphytic root > ovary > rachis. Our results suggest that the isolate belonging to Coriolopsis strumosa could promote the germination of Epidendrum sp. There may, therefore, be endophytic fungi other than common orchid mycorrhizal fungi with the ability to enhance germination in orchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new wood-inhabiting fungal species, Cerioporus yunnanensis, Perenniporiopsis sinensis, and Sarcoporia yunnanensis, are proposed based on a combination of the morphological features and molecular evidence. Cerioporus yunnanensis is characterized by the pileate basidiomata having a fawn brown to black pileal surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the fusoid cystidioles and cylindrical basidiospores (9–12.5 × 3.5–5 µm). Perenniporiopsis sinensis is distinct from the osseous pileus with verrucose, an orange-yellow to dark reddish-brown pileal surface with a cream margin, a trimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the fusiform cystidioles and ellipsoid basidiospores (9–11 × 5.5–6.5 µm). Sarcoporia yunnanensis is typical of the pileate basidiomata with a salmon to reddish-brown pileal surface, a monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and the presence of the ellipsoid basidiospores (4–5.5 × 2.5–4 µm). Sequences of ITS + nLSU + mt-SSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2 genes were used for the phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods. The multiple genes with six loci analysis showed that the three new species nested within the order Polyporales, in which C. yunnanensis and P. sinensis nested into the family Polyporaceae, and S. yunnanensis grouped into the family Sarcoporiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hymenochaetales, belonging to Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota, comprises most polypores and corticioid fungi and, also, a few agarics. The latest taxonomic framework accepts 14 families in this order. When further exploring species diversity of Hymenochaetales, two corticioid specimens collected from China producing cystidia with large umbrella-shaped crystalline heads attracted our attention. This kind of cystidia was reported only in three unsequenced species, viz. Tubulicrinis corneri, T. hamatus and T. umbraculus, which were accepted in Tubulicrinaceae, Hymenochaetales. The current multilocus-based phylogeny supports that the two Chinese specimens formed an independent lineage from Tubulicrinaceae as well as the additional 13 families and all sampled genera in Hymenochaetales. Therefore, a monotypic family, Umbellaceae, is newly described with the new genus Umbellus as the type genus to represent this lineage. The two Chinese specimens are newly described as U. sinensis, which differs from T. corneri, T. hamatus, and T. umbraculus in a combination of a smooth to grandinioid hymenophoral surface, not flattened, broadly ellipsoid basidiospores with a tiny apiculus, and growth on angiosperm wood. Due to the presence of the unique cystidia, the three species of Tubulicrinis, even though they lack available molecular sequences, are transferred to Umbellus as U. corneri, U. hamatus, and U. umbraculus. Hereafter, all known species with large umbrella-shaped crystalline-headed cystidia are in a single genus. In summary, the current study provides a supplement to the latest taxonomic framework of Hymenochaetales and will help to further explore species diversity and the evolution of this fungal order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerrenaceae is a small family of polypores and hydnoid fungi in the order Polyporales (Basidiomycota). The family consists of white-rot fungi, some of which are serious tree pathogens. Combining morphological evidence with a phylogenetic dataset of six genetic markers, we revise generic concepts in the family and propose a seven-genus classification system for the family. Two genera are introduced as new: the monotypic Acanthodontia for Radulodon cirrhatinus, and Lividopora for the Rigidoporus vinctus complex. We re-introduce the name Somion for the Spongipellis delectans complex. Other recognized genera in the family are Cerrena, Irpiciporus, Pseudolagarobasidium, and Radulodon. New species introduced are Irpiciporus branchiformis from Tanzania, Lividopora armeniaca, and L. facilis from Southeast Asia, and Somion strenuum from East Asia. We provide nomenclatural comments on all the names combined to the above Cerrenaceae genera and typify Cerrena unicolor, C. zonata, Polyporus carneopallens (= L. vincta), Somion occarium, and S. unicolor. The genus Hyphoradulum belongs to Cystostereaceae (Agaricales), and we transfer the type species H. conspicuum to Crustomyces. Our study highlights the importance of integrating different basidiocarp types in analyses when revising genus classification in macrofungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylloporia is a widespread genus of Hymenochaetales (Basidiomycota) with polyporoid basidiomata found mainly in the tropics. Species of Phylloporia are predominantly parasitic of woody plant hosts, while some species grow as saprotrophs. Data on the genus is still scarce for tropical Africa, where we expect a high diversity given the high plant diversity in this area. Two specimens of this genus were collected in Benin (West Africa) and analysed morphologically and phylogenetically based on a multigene dataset (ITS, LSU, EF1a). Strong support for a species new to science was found, described here as Phylloporia mutabilis. It differs from other Phylloporia species by stipitate, coriaceous basidiomata, earth coloured to dark brown when fresh and changing upon drying from golden to yellowish brown, the margin being large in young specimens, becoming narrower with maturity. Basidiomata of Phylloporia mutabilis grow on the soil under angiosperm trees in a dense dry forest, so its lifestyle (saprotrophic, parasitic or mycorrhizal) is not evident, and future ecological studies will be required to elucidate this aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractVanderbylia fraxinea (Bull.) D.A. Reid, 1973 is an important wood-inhabiting fungus that plays a significant role in nutrient recycling in most forest ecosystems. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of V. fraxinea was characterized through de novo assembly using Illumina sequencing data and genome annotation. The mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 115,473 bp with a GC content of 28.66%. It comprises a total of 62 genes. Among these, 36 are protein-coding genes including 21 free-standing open reading frames (ORFs), 24 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. Core gene set commonly found in fungal mitochondrial genomes is also present in this genome, such as the apocytochrome b (cob), three subunits of the cytochrome c oxidase (cox1, cox2, and cox3), seven subunits of the NADH dehydrogenase (nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L, nad5, and nad6), and three subunits of the ATP synthase (atp6, atp8, and atp9), as well as ribosomal RNA subunits (rns and rnl) and a set of transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the protein-coding sequences from the mitochondrial genome revealed a close relationship between V. fraxinea and the Ganoderma species within the Polyporaceae family.

A fruiting body of a basidiomycete fungus was discovered growing on chopped Ficus nitida tree trunks in the student housing on the Assiut University campus during the course of this inquiry and a normal collecting operation in the Assiut Governorate, Egypt. Following the growth of the basidioma's inner tissue on PDA, fungal mycelial growth was achieved. Internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) sequencing has allowed for the identification of the fungus as Tomophagus colossus. On the dry weight basis, chemical analysis of T. colossus AUMC 14536 basidioma revealed that it contains 28.81% carbohydrates, 25.34% crude fats, 23.44% crude fibers, 20.64% crude proteins, and 3.02% ash, in addition to potassium, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, iron, and zinc (133.59, 114.46, 6.27, 3.08, 1.28, and 0.73 mg/100 g dry weight, respectively). The total phenolic compounds (39.26 mg/g) and total flavonoids (5.62 mg/g) were also evaluated. The basidioma extract's antioxidant activity was assessed as %DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 4.15 µg/mL compared with a 1.89 µg/mL IC50 of ascorbic acid. In solid-state fermentation (SSF), the fungus could ferment broad bean straw, palm leaf hay, rice husk, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat bran to produce endoglucanase, exoglucanase, laccase, pectinase, and xylanase in substantial amounts. Specific activity exhibited the highest values for endoglucanase (81.48 U/mg), exoglucanase (114.35 U/mg), pectinase (81.94 U/mg), and xylanase (70.18 U/mg) on the rice husk, while the peak of laccase activity (94.27 U/mg) was gained on bean straw. This is the first assessment of the organism's nutritional value, amino acid content, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic capabilities in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Himalayan region is a biodiversity hotspot. Although much of the flora and fauna has been documented, there are very few studies on fungal diversity. We present the statistical analyses of the sample collections from the last 150 years of data in the fungarium of the Forest Research Institute. We found that the host tree species—pine, oak, deodar, and spruce, had very high Shannon diversity (SD) and species richness (SR), while Dalbergia and Rhododendron had moderate to low SD and SR values; although sal occurs at lower altitudes, it has high SD and SR values. Among fungal families, the highest SD and SR value was found in Polyporaceae. Hymenochaetaceae, Peniophoraceae, Coleosporiaceae, and Stereaceae also showed SD with moderate SR. Fomitopsidaceae, Cronartiaceae, Ganodermataceae, and Thelephoraceae have low biodiversity and species. Thelephoraceae are distributed above 2000 m altitude, and Ganodermataceae and Hymenochaetaceae have wider distribution ranges, namely, 0–3500 m and 0–5000 m, respectively. The Polyporaceae show diverse variations in species distribution and occur between 0 and 4500 m; Coleosporiaceae and Cronartiaceae around 2000 m; Stereaceae, Meruliaceae, Peniophoraceae, and Fomitopsidaceae occur between 1700 and 1800 m, with all Stereaceae and Fomitopsidaceae having different distribution ranges of up to 5000 m. We found that areas with relatively low rainfall had lower species richness, and vice versa, and that high solar radiation negatively affected fungal density and SR, as observed in the distribution of Thelephoraceae. While families with high SD and SR values such as Polyporaceae were found under relatively high rainfall, moderate solar radiation, and high temperatures. Similar studies need to be undertaken in other parts of the Himalayas and the importance of fungi in ethnobotany needs to be understood to ensure sustainable use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The polypores with shallow pores from tropical Asia and America are studied. Our molecular phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) demonstrates six clades are formed among Porogramme and related genera. Two new genera, Cyanoporus and Pseudogrammothele, are established, and the six clades represent Porogramme , Cyanoporus , Grammothele, Epithele, Theleporus, and Pseudogrammothele, respectively. The molecular clock analyses estimate the divergence times of the six clades based on a dataset (ITS + LSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2), and we recognize the mean stem ages of the six genera are earlier than 50 Mya. Three new species in Porogramme were morphologically and phylogenetically confirmed, and they are described as P. austroasiana, P. cylindrica, and P. yunnanensis. Phylogenetic analysis shows that type species of Tinctoporellus and Porogramme are nested in the same clade, and Tinctoporellus is treated as a synonym of Porogramme. Based on our phylogeny, twelve new combinations are proposed, and the differences between the new species and similar or related species are discussed.

Coriolopsis spp. are wood-decaying fungi that inhabit forests. They are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. Strain Epi910 was isolated from the asymbiotically germinated protocorm of Epidendrum sp. and identified as Coriolopsis strumosa. Symbiotic germination and high-throughput sequencing of the endophytic fungal communities of different parts were performed to characterize the function and spatial distribution of the Epi910 isolate. Under symbiotic germination, Epi910 promoted seed germination and seedling formation as an endophytic native fungus of Epidendrum sp. Endophytic fungal communities from seven different parts of Epidendrum sp. were characterized. In total, 645 OTUs were identified; 30 OTUs were shared among all seven parts. The internal transcribed spacer sequence of Epi910 was identical to that of a dominant shared OTU (OTU6). The relative abundance of OTU6 in the seven parts was identified as follows: capsule pericarp > seed > root > asymbiotically germinated protocorm > epiphytic root > ovary > rachis. Our results suggest that the isolate belonging to Coriolopsis strumosa could promote the germination of Epidendrum sp. There may, therefore, be endophytic fungi other than common orchid mycorrhizal fungi with the ability to enhance germination in orchids.

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a part of Western Ghats (India), has diverse ecosystems and constitutes an important biogeographical 'hotspot' which is well known for its species richness and endemism. Since limited information was available on the mycoflora in this area, a survey was conducted to evaluate the macrofungal diversity in the wet evergreen forests of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. The survey was carried out during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2021-2022 and revealed the existence of 62 macrofungal species belonging to 43 genera, 24 families, and eight orders. Out of the eight orders, seven orders belong to the division Basidiomycota and the other order Xylariales belongs to Ascomycota. The family Polyporaceae was identified as the dominant family. The survey also noted the presence of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi. Among the identified species, the maximum density was of Panellus pusillus (6.08) followed by Microporus xanthopus (5.38). Microporus xanthopus (82.14%) exhibited the maximum frequency of occurrence and was identified as the most common species. Coprinellus disseminatus was the most abundant species among macrofungi. The assessment of macrofungal diversity using the Shannon biodiversity index resulted in a value of 2.99, indicating a rich and diverse fungal population within the forest. This finding emphasizes the significant role of the forest ecosystem in supporting a wide variety of fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogeographic analyses are efficient in ecological and evolutionary studies to discover the origin of a lineage, its dispersal routes, and the divergence of ancestral traits. Studies on widespread wood-decay fungi have revealed the phylogenetic division of several polypores based on geographical distribution. In this study, specimens of Gloeoporus dichrous, a cosmopolitan polypore species, were collected globally and analyzed for their geographic distribution. Multi-marker Bayesian molecular clock and haplotype analyses revealed a clear division of G. dichrous populations by continent. The species diverged from its neighboring clades 10.3 (16.0–5.6) million years ago, with Asian and North American populations at the center of divergence. Possible dispersal mechanisms and pathways are predicted and discussed based on the evaluated transfer routes. The biogeography of G. dichrous analyzed in this study represents a fraction of the polypore evolution and may advance the understanding of the overall evolution of wood-decay fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood-inhabiting fungi (WIF), such as polypores, are extremely species-rich and play vital roles in the functioning of forest ecosystems as decomposers. Despite the importance of polypores, our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of these fungi is still poor in general and especially for West Africa. To advance our knowledge we here summarise results from field collections between 2017 and 2021 and present (i) a taxonomic overview, (ii) phylogenetic placements and (iii) an illustrated catalogue of wood-inhabiting polypore fungi with colour pictures. During the field sampling campaigns, we collected 647 specimens. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular barcode data, 76 polypore species belonging to six orders, 15 families and 39 genera were identified. Of the 76 species, 30 are new to the West Africa, 69 new to Benin, and two new combinations Fuscoporia beninensis and Megasporia minuta are proposed. With this summary, we provide new data for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterologous production of fungal ligninolytic cocktails is challenging due to the low yields of catalytically active lignin modifying peroxidases. Production using a natural system, such as a wood-rotting fungus, is a promising alternative if specific or preferential induction of the ligninolytic activities could be achieved. Using transcriptomics, gene expression of the white-rot Dichomitus squalens during growth on mixtures of aromatic compounds, with ring structures representing the two major lignin sub-units, was compared to a wood substrate. Most of the genes encoding lignin modifying enzymes (laccases and peroxidases) categorised as highly or moderately expressed on wood were expressed similarly on aromatic compounds. Higher expression levels of a subset of manganese and versatile peroxidases was observed on di- compared to mono-methoxylated aromatics. The expression of polysaccharide degrading enzymes was lower on aromatic compounds compared to wood, demonstrating that the induction of lignin modifying enzymes became more specific. This study suggests potential for aromatic waste streams, e.g. from lignocellulose pretreatment, to produce a lignin-specific enzyme cocktail from D. squalens or other white-rot fungi.

The extent of carbon catabolite repression (CCR) at a global level is unknown in wood-rotting fungi, which are critical to the carbon cycle and are a source of biotechnological enzymes. CCR occurs in the presence of sufficient concentrations of easily metabolizable carbon sources (e.g., glucose) and involves downregulation of the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the breakdown of complex carbon sources. We investigated this phenomenon in the white-rot fungus Dichomitus squalens using transcriptomics and exoproteomics. In D. squalens cultures, approximately 7% of genes were repressed in the presence of glucose compared to Avicel or xylan alone. The glucose-repressed genes included the essential components for utilization of plant biomass-carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) and carbon catabolic genes. The majority of polysaccharide-degrading CAZyme genes were repressed and included activities toward all major carbohydrate polymers present in plant cell walls, while repression of ligninolytic genes also occurred. The transcriptome-level repression of the CAZyme genes observed on the Avicel cultures was strongly supported by exoproteomics. Protease-encoding genes were generally not glucose repressed, indicating their likely dominant role in scavenging for nitrogen rather than carbon. The extent of CCR is surprising, given that D. squalens rarely experiences high free sugar concentrations in its woody environment, and it indicates that biotechnological use of D. squalens for modification of plant biomass would benefit from derepressed or constitutively CAZyme-expressing strains.IMPORTANCE White-rot fungi are critical to the carbon cycle because they can mineralize all wood components using enzymes that also have biotechnological potential. The occurrence of carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in white-rot fungi is poorly understood. Previously, CCR in wood-rotting fungi has only been demonstrated for a small number of genes. We demonstrated widespread glucose-mediated CCR of plant biomass utilization in the white-rot fungus Dichomitus squalens This indicates that the CCR mechanism has been largely retained even though wood-rotting fungi rarely experience commonly considered CCR conditions in their woody environment. The general lack of repression of genes encoding proteases along with the reduction in secreted CAZymes during CCR suggested that the retention of CCR may be connected with the need to conserve nitrogen use during growth on nitrogen-scarce wood. The widespread repression indicates that derepressed strains could be beneficial for enzyme production.

The 24 taxa comprising of 13 genera belonging to Polyporaceae (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) are described and illustrated on the basis of basidiome collected during the rainy season in the years from 2014-2019 in Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Udhampur districts of Jammu division of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Of these, five (Dichomitus campestris, Perenniporia adnata, Pilatoporus bondartsevae, Polyporus efibulatus, and Tyromyces amazonicus) are new records for India, 14 (Abortiporus biennis, Cerrena zonata, Favolus glaber, Fuscopostia leucomallella, Hexagonia nitida, Lenzites elegans, Lenzites warnieri, Perreniporia fraxniea, P. ochroleuca, Poriella subacida, Polyporus alveolaris, Pycnoporus sanguineus, Tyromyces chioneus, and Trichaptum biforme), are new records for the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, two (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Polyporus squamosus), and the remaining three (Fomes fomentarius, Lenzites betulina, and Trichaptum abietinum) are re-recorded from the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polypores with shallow pores from tropical Asia and America are studied. Our molecular phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), and the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1) demonstrates six clades are formed among Porogramme and related genera. Two new genera, Cyanoporus and Pseudogrammothele, are established, and the six clades represent Porogramme, Cyanoporus, Grammothele, Epithele, Theleporus, and Pseudogrammothele, respectively. The molecular clock analyses estimate the divergence times of the six clades based on a dataset (ITS + LSU + TEF1 + RPB1 + RPB2), and we recognize the mean stem ages of the six genera are earlier than 50 Mya. Three new species in Porogramme were morphologically and phylogenetically confirmed, and they are described as P. austroasiana, P. cylindrica, and P. yunnanensis. Phylogenetic analysis shows that type species of Tinctoporellus and Porogramme are nested in the same clade, and Tinctoporellus is treated as a synonym of Porogramme. Based on our phylogeny, twelve new combinations are proposed, and the differences between the new species and similar or related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perenniporia is an important genus of Polyporaceae. In its common acceptation, however, the genus is polyphyletic. In this study, phylogenetic analyses on a set of Perenniporia species and related genera were carried out using DNA sequences of multiple loci, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) and the b-tubulin gene (TBB1). Based on morphology and phylogeny, 15 new genera, viz., Aurantioporia, Citrinoporia, Cystidioporia, Dendroporia, Luteoperenniporia, Macroporia, Macrosporia, Minoporus, Neoporia, Niveoporia, Rhizoperenniporia, Tropicoporia, Truncatoporia, Vanderbyliella, and Xanthoperenniporia, are proposed; 2 new species, Luteoperenniporia australiensis and Niveoporia subrusseimarginata, are described; and 37 new combinations are proposed. Illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided. Identification keys to Perenniporia and its related genera and keys to the species of these genera are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polyporoid fungi from the Patagonian Andes forests of Argentina and Chile were analyzed from a biogeographic point of view through the optics of phylogenetic studies. A total of 72 species are accepted, including 4 that are still unpublished. Species were distributed as either Cosmopolitan (14 spp.), Antitropical (7 spp.), Pantropical + Austral-antarctic (3 spp.), Neotropical (4 spp.), Southtemperate (= endemic, 28 spp.), Austral-antarctic (14 spp.) or Circum-austral (2 spp.) in distribution. They were recorded in the Valdivian province (71 spp.), but also in the Magellanic province (22 spp.) and the Maule province (21 spp.). Three species were also distributed northward in Chile and other 8 species were also found in Juan Fernández province. Almost 35% of the species are brown woodrotting taxa, representing a relatively high percentage in the polypore funga of Patagonia as compared with other world regions; they are mostly associated with Nothofagaceae, not conifers as in the North Hemisphere. Nothophellinus proved to be the single endemic genus, Neophellinus is shown to be a sub-Amazonian genus, and Arambarria an austral genus with representatives in southern South America (south of the Tropic of Capricorn) and the Cape floristic region. For each species, a detailed account of the phylogeny is presented according to the literature, along with insights into its geographical distribution and relationships with other taxa in the genus where it is accepted. Austral lineages are highlighted at genus level (Gloeoporellus, Macrohyporia, Neolentiporus, Ryvardenia; incl. 5 species) and species level (another 12 taxa). Ongoing and completed speciation processes are pointed out. The following new combinations are proposed: Cyanosporus venatus, Neophellinus livescens and Postia exigua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two triterpenes, ganoaustralins A (1) and B (2), featuring unprecedented 6/6/6/5/6 scaffolds were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Ganoderma australe. The structures were determined by extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of the C-25 in ganoaustralin A was assigned by the phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME) method. The relative and absolute configurations of the polycyclic backbones were determined by NMR and ECD calculations, respectively. The plausible biosynthetic pathways of ganoaustralins A and B were proposed. Ganoaustralin B showed weak inhibition against β-secretase 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Mushrooms are natural sources that have antitumoral effects, immunomodulatory and anti-oxidant effects. One of the fungus which remained intact is Daedaleopsis tricolor that belongs to the family of Polyporaceae. There are limited phytochemical investigations on other species of this genus, so, we aimed at performing a phytochemical analysis of this fungus. Materials and methods: Fungal components were extracted by hexane using maceration method. Then, the extract was concentrated under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator. The concentration extract was subjected to silica gel column chromatography through mobile phases consisting of hexane: ethyl acetate. Three fractions of hexane purified extract were called F3, F2, and F1. They were analyzed by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR Spectroscopy and DEPT 90 and DEPT 135 experiments. Results: After analysis and receiving the spectrum results and comparing them with other studies, we identified ergosterol derived compounds, ergosterol peroxide, ergosta-7, 22-dien-3β-ol, and linoleic acid. Conclusion: The three compounds, including ergosterol peroxide, ergosta-7, 22-dien-3β-ol, and linoleic acid were reported for the first time in this fungus.

At present, 25 species are accepted in Haploporus and are distributed in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa. In this study, two new species, Haploporus ecuadorensis from Ecuador and H. monomitica from China, are described and illustrated based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses. H. ecuadorensis is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiomata with pinkish buff to honey yellow hymenophore when dry, round to angular pores of 2–4 per mm, a dimitic hyphal structure with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections, hyphae at dissepiment edge usually with one or two simple septa, the presence of dendrohyphidia and cystidioles, and oblong to ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 14.9–17.9 × 6.9–8.8 µm. Haploporus monomitica differs from other Haploporus species in that it has a monomitic hyphal system and strongly dextrinoid basidiospores. The differences between the new species and morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are discussed. In addition, an updated key to 27 species of Haploporus is provided.

White-rot fungi, such as Dichomitus squalens, degrade all wood components and inhabit mixed-wood forests containing both soft- and hardwood species. In this study, we evaluated how D. squalens responded to the compositional differences in softwood [guaiacyl (G) lignin and higher mannan content] and hardwood [syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G) lignin and higher xylan content] using semi-natural solid cultures. Spruce (softwood) and birch (hardwood) sticks were degraded by D. squalens as measured by oxidation of the lignins using 2D-NMR. The fungal response as measured by transcriptomics, proteomics and enzyme activities showed a partial tailoring to wood composition. Mannanolytic transcripts and proteins were more abundant in spruce cultures, while a proportionally higher xylanolytic activity was detected in birch cultures. Both wood types induced manganese peroxidases to a much higher level than laccases, but higher transcript and protein levels of the manganese peroxidases were observed on the G-lignin rich spruce. Overall, the molecular responses demonstrated a stronger adaptation to the spruce rather than birch composition, possibly because D. squalens is mainly found degrading softwoods in nature, which supports the ability of the solid wood cultures to reflect the natural environment.

Megasporoporia sensu lato has recently been intensively studied in China and South America, and four independent clades representing four genera have been recognized phylogenetically. In this study, more samples, mostly from subtropical and tropical Asia, Oceania, and East Africa, are analyzed. A phylogeny based on a 4-gene dataset of sequences (ITS + nLSU + mtSSU + tef) has confirmed the presence of four genera in Megasporoporia sensu lato: Jorgewrightia, Mariorajchenbergia, Megasporia, and Megasporoporia sensu stricto. Six new species, Jorgewrightia austroasiana, Jorgewrightia irregularis, Jorgewrightia tenuis, Mariorajchenbergia subleucoplaca, Megasporia olivacea, and Megasporia sinuosa, are described based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Three new combinations are proposed, viz. Jorgewrightia kirkii, Mariorajchenbergia epitephra, and Mariorajchenbergia leucoplaca. To date, 36 species of Megasporoporia sensu lato are accepted and an identification key to these species is provided. In addition, the identification of Dichomitus amazonicus, Dichomitus cylindrosporus, and Megasporoporia hexagonoides is discussed.

The Philippines is known for its ecological diversity due to its climatic condition and geographical location. However, despite having a wide range of organisms, the macrofungal species in the country remain poorly documented. Recent mycological research in the tropics states that more species have yet to be discovered in the Philippines. Despite this, a mycological study still focuses on the ethnomycological survey and species listing. In this study, a survey of publications in macrofungi from 1906 to the present revealed that the Philippines have currently 376 validated species names of macrofungi classified under 66 families and 130 genera. Macrofungal species reported in the country belong to class Ascomycota and Basidiomycota with high species diversity under family Agaricaceae, Lycoperdaceae, Marasmiaceae, and Polyporaceae. Most studies were published internationally and were concentrated in Luzon Island, Philippines. Looking into these, we suggest a biodiversity analysis of macrofungi in other regions of the country. A shift into applying molecular systematics and biotechnology would further develop Philippine macrofungal research, given that the historical trend has focused on morphological identification and classification. We hope that this paper will be a call to further fill the gaps in what is known about the macrofungi in the Philippines, given the country's potential for further discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reported a macrofungus specimen with special morphology collected from Liancheng National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province. Morphological characteristics observation and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences were performed. The results show that the specimen is Carcinomyces polyporina, belonging to Basidiomycota, Tremellomycetes, Tremellales, Carcinomycetaceae, which represents a newly recorded genus and species in China, and is the first report of this genus in East Asia. Carcinomyces polyporina is characterized by parasitism on polypores fruitbody, forming gelatinous mycocecidium, basidia with longitudinally septate, and conidia commonly gemmated from basidiospores germination. The specimen is deposited in the Herbarium of Cryptoflora, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences(HKAS 115765). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic polymers, such as plastics, have permeated all aspects of modern life, and nowadays plastic pollution is a major environmental problem. Mycodegradation of these polymers could represent part of the solution to this problem since it calls on a broad toolbox of enzymes and applies non-enzymatic mechanisms to degrade and deteriorate recalcitrant materials. However, not enough is known about this ability for most of the representatives of the fungal kingdom. Another bottleneck is the harmonisation of technologies to analyse plastic degradation. This work involved the design of a biodegradation experiment, where the potential of four fungi representative of Dikarya and Penicillia (Funalia floccosa, Trametes versicolor, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus and Penicillium oxalicum) were tested on their ability to deteriorate the six most used plastics based on gravimetry and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The following correlation between changes in the band signals and the loss of mass after treatment was determined using polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyethylene, poly vinyl chloride, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and nylon. After treatment, the decrease in absorbance of the characteristic bands of the plastics was taken as an indication of the degradation of the corresponding bonds/functionalities. The four fungi used could transform CH, CH 2 , CH 3 , CO, CO, CN, NH and CCl bonds. The best result was obtained using the fungus F. floccosa with 90-day treatments for high density polyethylene (∼ 62.0 %), low density polyethylene (∼ 23.6 %) and nylon (∼ 35.6 %). Therefore, mycodegradation could open up new doors in the fight against plastic pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fungi ( Neolentinus lepideus , Nl , and Trametes versicolor , Tv ) impart wood rot, leading to economic and environmental issues. To overcome this issue, toxic chemicals are commonly employed for wood preservation, impacting the environment and human health. Surface coatings based on antimicrobial chitosan (CS) of high molar mass (145 × 10 5 Da) were tested as wood preservation agents using an innovative strategy involving ultra-pressurizing CS solutions to deposit organic coatings on wood samples. Before coating deposition, the antifungal activity of CS in diluted acetic acid (AcOOH) solutions was evaluated against the rot fungi models Neolentinus lepideus ( Nl ) and Trametes versicolor ( Tv ). CS effectively inhibited fungal growth, particularly in solutions with concentrations equal to or higher than 0.125 mg/mL. Wood samples ( Eucalyptus sp. and Pinus sp.) were then coated with CS under ultra-pressurization at 70 bar. The polymeric coating deposition on wood was confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and water contact angle measurements. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the uncoated and coated samples suggested that CS does not penetrate the bulk of the wood samples due to its high molar mass but penetrates in the surface pores, leading to its impregnation in wood samples. Coated and uncoated wood samples were exposed to fungi ( Tv and Nl ) for 12 weeks. In vivo testing revealed that Tv and Nl fungi did not grow on wood samples coated with CS, whereas the fungi proliferated on uncoated samples. CS of high molar mass has film-forming properties, leading to a thin hydrophobic film on the wood surface (water contact angle of 118°). This effect is mainly attributed to the high molar mass of CS and the hydrogen bonding interactions established between CS chains and cellulose. This hydrophobic film prevents water interaction, resulting in a stable coating with insignificant leaching of CS after the stability test. The CS coating can offer a sustainable strategy to prevent wood degradation, overcoming the disadvantages of toxic chemicals often used as wood preservative agents.

Wolfiporia cocos is a wood-decay brown rot fungus belonging to the family Polyporaceae. While the fungus grows, the sclerotium body of the strain, dubbed Bokryeong in Korean, is formed around the roots of conifer trees. The dried sclerotium has been widely used as a key component of many medicinal recipes in East Asia. Wolfiporia cocos strain KMCC03342 is the reference strain registered and maintained by the Korea Seed and Variety Service for commercial uses. Here, we present the first draft genome sequence of W. cocos KMCC03342 using a hybrid assembly technique combining both short- and long-read sequences. The genome has a total length of 55.5 Mb comprised of 343 contigs with N50 of 332 kb and 95.8% BUSCO completeness. The GC ratio was 52.2%. We predicted 14,296 protein-coding gene models based on ab initio gene prediction and evidence-based annotation procedure using RNAseq data. The annotated genome was predicted to have 19 terpene biosynthesis gene clusters, which was the same number as the previously sequenced W. cocos strain MD-104 genome but higher than Chinese W. cocos strains. The genome sequence and the predicted gene clusters allow us to study biosynthetic pathways for the active ingredients of W. cocos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As part of an ongoing natural product chemical research for the discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites with novel structures, wild fruiting bodies of Daedaleopsis confragosa were collected and subjected to chemical and biological analyses. We subjected the fractions derived from the methanol extract of the fruiting bodies of D. confragosa to bioactivity-guided fractionation because the methanol extract of D. confragosa showed antibacterial activity against Helicobacter pylori strain 51, according to our bioactivity screening. The n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed moderate to weak antibacterial activity against H. pylori strain 51, and the active fractions were analyzed for the isolation of antibacterial compounds. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis revealed that the n-hexane fraction contains several compounds which are absent in the other fractions, so the fraction was prioritized for further fractionation. Through chemical analysis of the active n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions, we isolated five ergosterol derivatives (1–5), and their chemical structures were determined to be demethylincisterol A3 (1), (20S,22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β,5α,6β-triol (2), (24S)-ergosta-7-ene-3β,5α,6β-triol (3), 5α,6α-epoxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (4), and 5α,6α-epoxy-(24R)-ergosta-7-en-3β-ol (5) by NMR spectroscopic analysis. This is the first report on the presence of ergosterol derivatives (1–5) in D. confragosa. Compound 1 showed the most potent anti-H. pylori activity with 33.9% inhibition, rendering it more potent than quercetin, a positive control. Compound 3 showed inhibitory activity comparable to that of quercetin. Distribution analysis of compound 1 revealed a wide presence of compound 1 in the kingdom Fungi. These findings indicate that demethylincisterol A3 (1) is a natural antibiotic that may be used in the development of novel antibiotics against H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murinicarpus subadustus described from China is the only species of the genus Murinicarpus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota). There is no other report of this genus from any other country except China. Here, we report M. subadustus as a novelty to the macrofungal biota of India. This unique species is identified based on morphological features and nrDNA ITS-based phylogenetic analysis. A thorough macro- and microscopic characterisation along with field photographs, line drawings of microscopic structures and comparisons with morphologically and phylogenetically related taxa are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicinal tinder polypore Fomes fomentarius is widely distributed in all floristic regions of Armenia on different woody substrates. The phylogenetic analysis of Armenian collections using ITS barcoding revealed that it is taxonomically complex species represented by sublineages A2 and B2 (in ratio 1:1) of European phylogenetic lineages A and B, which correspond to two cryptic sympatric species F. fomentarius sensu stricto and F. inzengae, respectively. These species are phylogenetically almost equidistant from Fomes fasciatus by the level of nucleotide divergence (6.75% and 7.17%, respectively). Nucleotide divergence between these two species is 1.85% which does not exceed the average level of intraspecific ITS variability in basidiomycetes fungi (3.33%). It is suggesting that F. fomentarius s.s. and F. inzengae are possibly not taxonomically separate species, but sympatric cryptic subspecies of F. fomentarius sensu lato. Both taxa significantly differ by their ecology and distribution: F. fomentarius s.s. is mainly found on Betula spp. trees and widespread in temperate forests, while F. inzengae has been recorded on Carpinus sp., Fagus sp., Populus sp. and other deciduous trees in subtropical latitudes. In Armenia, F. fomentarius s.s. was found on Fagus sp. and Quercus sp., while F. inzengae - on Carpinus sp., Juglans sp., Fagus sp., Populus sp., and Salix sp. trees. Although the species rank of Mediterranean subtropical species F. inzengae remains disputable it has been originally described for the mycobiota of Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polypores as components of forest ecosystems are an important group of wood-inhabiting fungi playing a key role in forest regeneration. Previously, studies on polypore funga and diversity were focused on limited areas within one land mass only. What are the polypore funga and species composition for large-scale of China, North America and Europe? The funga and species composition of polypores in the three land masses will supply an important source of reference for the distribution patterns of polypores at species level or higher taxa. In the present study the diversity and species composition of polypores in China, North America and Europe are compared based on published data. Methods: The species diversity, species composition, major genera and nutritional modes of polypores in the three land masses are comparatively analyzed. Results: A grand total of 1,337 polypore species, belonging to 11 orders, 43 families and 168 genera, have been recorded in these three land masses of the Northern Hemisphere, of which 854 species occur in China, 547 species in North America, and 432 species in Europe. Polyporales, Hymenochaetales and Russulales are the three major orders, and Hymenochaetaceae, Polyporaceae, and Fomitopsidaceae are the three major families. The brown rot fungi Antrodia and Postia have highest number of species at generic level in the three land masses. The proportionally highest number of white rot polypore species is in China (78.81%), followed by North America (73.86%) and then Europe (67.82%); conversely, the proportion of brown rot polypores is highest in Europe (28.47%) then North America (21.39%) and then China (15.57%). Conclusions: China had the highest polypore diversity followed by North America, and then Europe although North America is around twice as big as China and Europe. White rot is the major nutritional mode of all the polypores in China, North America and Europe accounting for 77.04% of all polypore species. The white rot species as a proportion of all polypores in each of the three land masses are highest in China, followed by North America and then Europe. The polypore diversity patterns are probably due to tree species diversity and the distribution patterns of angiosperm and gymnosperm trees in the three land masses. More tree species and diverse forest types are in China than those in North America and Europe, and these factors may correspond polypore funga and species composition in the three land masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poria carnegieae was described from Arizona growing on the woody ribs of the saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea, and was transferred to Ceriporiopsis due to morphological evidence. Posterior phylogenetic studies showed a relationship of Poria carnegieae with Bjerkandera. New sequence data and morphologic evidence are presented to support the transfer of Ceriporiopsis carnegieae to Bjerkandera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two triterpenes, ganoaustralins A (1) and B (2), featuring unprecedented 6/6/6/5/6 scaffolds were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the mushroom Ganoderma australe. The structures were determined by extensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of the C-25 in ganoaustralin A was assigned by the phenylglycine methyl ester (PGME) method. The relative and absolute configurations of the polycyclic backbones were determined by NMR and ECD calculations, respectively. The plausible biosynthetic pathways of ganoaustralins A and B were proposed. Ganoaustralin B showed weak inhibition against β-secretase 1.

The treatment of waterborne micropollutants, such as diclofenac, presents a significant challenge to wastewater treatment plants due to their incomplete removal by conventional methods. Ozonation is an effective technique for the degradation of micropollutants. However, incomplete oxidation can lead to the formation of ecotoxic by-products that require a subsequent post-treatment step. In this study, we analyze the susceptibility of micropollutant ozonation products to enzymatic digestion with laccase from Trametes versicolor to evaluate the potential of enzymatic treatment as a post-ozonation step. The omnipresent micropollutant diclofenac is used as an example, and the enzymatic degradation kinetics of all 14 detected ozonation products are analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS 2 ). The analysis shows that most of the ozonation products are responsive to chemo-enzymatic treatment but show considerable variation in enzymatic degradation kinetics and efficiencies. Mechanistic investigation of representative transformation products reveals that the hydroxylated aromatic nature of the ozonation products matches the substrate spectrum, facilitating their rapid recognition as substrates by laccase. However, after initiation by laccase, the subsequent chemical pathway of the enzymatically formed radicals determines the global degradability observed in the enzymatic process. Substrates capable of forming stable molecular oxidation products inhibit complete detoxification by oligomerization. This emphasizes that it is not the enzymatic uptake of the substrates but the channelling of the reaction of the substrate radicals towards the oligomerization of the substrate radicals that is the key step in the further development of an enzymatic treatment step for wastewater applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Cerrena unicolor is an ecologically and biotechnologically important wood-degrading basidiomycete with high lignocellulose degrading ability. Biological and genetic investigations are limited in the Cerrena genus and, thus, hinder genetic modification and commercial use. The aim of the present study was to provide a global understanding through genomic and experimental research about lignocellulosic biomass utilization by Cerrena unicolor. In this study, we reported the genome sequence of C. unicolor SP02 by using the Illumina and PacBio 20 platforms to obtain trustworthy assembly and annotation. This is the combinational 2nd and 3rd genome sequencing and assembly of C. unicolor species. The generated genome was 42.79 Mb in size with an N50 contig size of 2.48 Mb, a G + C content of 47.43%, and encoding of 12,277 predicted genes. The genes encoding various lignocellulolytic enzymes including laccase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, cytochromes P450, cellulase, xylanase, α-amylase, and pectinase involved in the degradation of lignin, cellulose, xylan, starch, pectin, and chitin that showed the C. unicolor SP02 potentially have a wide range of applications in lignocellulosic biomass conversion. Genome-scale metabolic analysis opened up a valuable resource for a better understanding of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and oxidoreductases that provide insights into the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms for lignocellulosic degradation. The C. unicolor SP02 model can be used for the development of efficient microbial cell factories in lignocellulosic industries. The understanding of the genetic material of C. unicolor SP02 coding for the lignocellulolytic enzymes will significantly benefit us in genetic manipulation, site-directed mutagenesis, and industrial biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fungi for diversified purposes is part of the history of mankind. We sought to report what is known about fungal species used for medicinal purposes by rural populations in Northeastern Brazil. To this end, semi-structured forms were applied to 176 informants from four rural communities located in the southern region of Piauí. The fungi were deposited in the Graziela Barroso Herbarium (TEPB) of the Federal University of Piauí. The use value (UV) and relative importance (RI) of each species were calculated and similarity was estimated with the Sorensen index. Medicinal use was identified for four basidiomycete species belonging to the families Agaricaceae [Podaxis pistillaris (L.) Fr.], Hymenochaetaceae (Fomitiporia sp.) and Polyporaceae [Hexagonia hydnoides (Sw.) M. Fidalgo and Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill]. Indicated for intestinal colic in infants, P. sanguineus was the species that presented the greatest current and potential UV and greater cultural importance. Studies on the chemical and pharmacological composition of the mentioned species were found, indicating their antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant potential. Knowledge about these fungi has been transmitted from generation to generation, with greater similarity among individuals of the female sex and adult age. The results showed that there is ethnomycological knowledge in rural communities still to be explored in the semi-arid region of Brazil and highlighted the importance of studies about the ethnological knowledge of medicinal fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungus Wolfiporia cocos has wide-ranging and important medicinal value, and its dried sclerotia are used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Modern studies have shown that triterpenoid, the active ingredient of W. cocos, have a variety of pharmacological effects. The aim of our research was to determine the key genes related to triterpenoid biosynthesis, which may be useful for the genetic modification of cell-engineered bacteria for triterpenoid biosynthesis. In this study, two monospore strains, DZAC-WP-H-29 (high-yielding) and DZAC-WP-L-123 (low-yielding), were selected from the sexually propagated offspring of strain 5.78 of W. cocos, and the mycelia were cultured for 17, 34, and 51 days, respectively. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) method was used to analyze transcriptional expressions. The results show that eight core genes (ACAT1-b, hgsA, mvd1, SQLE, erg6, TAT, erg26, and erg11) are associated with the triterpenoid synthesis pathway, and Pm20d2 and norA outside the pathway may be important genes that influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of W. cocos triterpenoid. The biosynthesis of W. cocos triterpenoid is closely related to the expression of sterol metabolic pathway genes. The role of these genes in triterpenoid synthesis complements our knowledge on the biosynthesis and accumulation of W. cocos triterpenoid, and also provides a reference for the target gene modification of engineered bacteria for the fermentation production of triterpenoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]