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Members of the lichen-forming fungal genus Oxneriaria are known to occur in cold polar and high altitudinal environments. Two new species, Oxneriaria crittendenii and O. deosaiensis, are now described from the high altitude Deosai Plains, Pakistan, based on phenotypic, multigene phylogenetic and chemical evidence. Phenotypically, O. crittendenii is characterised by orbicular light-brown thalli 1.5–5 cm across, spot tests (K, C, KC) negative, apothecia pruinose, hymenium initially blue then dark orange in response to Lugol’s solution. Oxneriaria deosaiensis is characterised by irregular areolate grey thalli 1.5–2 cm across, K test (light brown), KC test (dark brown), apothecia epruinose, hymenium initially blue then dark blue in response to Lugol’s solution. Both species share the same characters of thalli with black margins and polarilocular ascospores. The closest previously reported species, O. pruinosa, differs from O. crittendenii and O. deosaiensis in having non-lobate margins, thin thalline exciple (45–80 μm thick), short asci (55–80 × 25–42 μm) and K positive (yellow) and KC negative tests and divergent DNA sequence in the ITS, LSU and mt SSU regions. The newly-described Oxneriaria species add to growing evidence of the Deosai Plains as a region of important arctic-alpine biodiversity.

Circinaria pakistanica sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forests in Pakistan. The morphology, chemistry and ITS sequence support its distinction from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterised by a whitish to blackish grey thallus, greyish white epruinose apothecia, flat to slightly concave areoles, a hymenium 110–200 μm high, large ascospores (22–38 × 18–32 μm) and the absence of pycnidia; it also differs from related species in the ITS region.

Within the family Inocybaceae, many species of Mallocybe have been reported, but there are only a few reports of this genus from Pakistan. In this study, six collections of Mallocybe were studied by morphological and phylogenetic methods. Phylogenetic analyses, based on sequence data from two different loci (ITS and LSU) using Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony methods, have been performed to infer species relationships within Mallocybe. Results indicated that these six collections encompass two new species of Mallocybe i.e. M. pakistanica and M. pinicola, from Pakistan. Their detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are also provided. In addition, comparison with morphologically closely-related taxa is also discussed. Previously, only two species of this genus have been recorded from Pakistan and, with this addition, the total number of reported taxa of Mallocybe has been raised to four from Pakistan. A key to the described taxa of Mallocybe from Pakistan is also provided.

The genus Trichoderma holds economic significance due to its widespread distribution and diverse applications, including biological control, enzyme production, and various biotechnological uses. The accurate identification of Trichoderma species is crucial given their close association with human activities. Despite previous efforts in classification, a comprehensive analysis combining morphological and molecular approaches is necessary. This study focuses on the isolation of four Trichoderma species from industrial wastewater in Pakistan, expanding on the known diversity in the region; isolation involved collecting samples from industrial wastewater effluents at specific sites in Punjab, Pakistan. Trichoderma strains were cultured and purified on solid media, with subsequent biomass production for bisorptional activity. Morphological characterization included colony features and microscopic examinations. DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were conducted for molecular analysis. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm. The study identified three Trichoderma species, viz. T. citrinoviride, T. erinaceum, and T. longibrachiatum. Each species was characterized morphologically and supported by molecular–phylogenetic analysis. Illustrations of microscopic features and a phylogenetic tree based on the ITS-nrDNA region were recorded. T. citrinoviride and T. longibrachiatum, isolated from steel mill and tanneries wastewater, respectively, were differentiated based on morphological characteristics such as phialides and conidia. The combination of morphological and molecular techniques enhances the accuracy of species identification. The study highlights the significance of Trichoderma in industrial wastewater environments and underscores the need for continued research in this area. Future research should focus on exploring the ecological roles and potential applications of the newly identified Trichoderma species. Additionally, further investigations into the biotechnological potential of these species, including enzyme production and bioremediation capabilities, would contribute to their practical applications.

Abstract Many basidiomata of the genus Candolleomyces were found on sandy and loamy soil from the Indus Riverbed, Kot Addu District. A phylogenetic study was conducted to examine the occurrence of Candolleomyces sindhudeltae sp. nov. using a combination of ITS and LSU regions. Our morphological, anatomical, and phylogenetic studies indicated the novelty of Candolleomyces sindhudeltae sp. nov. The distinguishing features of C. sindhudeltae are convex to campanulate and areolate pileus with scalloped to cracked cap margins, branched, and pale reddish lamellae, greenish-brown ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores, polymorphic cheilo, and caulocystidia. The novel taxa formed independent phylogenetic relationships within the genus Candolleomyces. The addition of our new species to the genus Candolleomyces makes us confident that the genus was separated from Psathyrella accurately.

During exploratory surveys of the fungal diversity in Margalla Hills National Park, Islamabad, we collected a new species of the genus Hymenopellis R.H.Petersen. This is the second report of any species of this genus from Pakistan. Hymenopellis areolata F.Razzaq & Khalid sp. nov. is characterized by an areolate pileus, small basidiospores, and transitional pileipellis (hymeniderm and epithelium) with small pileocystidia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the nucleotide sequences of nrITS and nrLSU regions, and morphological data support the description of this new species. A comparison with other closely related species confirmed that the newly described species is distinct from others.

The genus Agaricus includes more than 500 species mostly containing the edible and cultivated species worldwide. As part of the ongoing studies on the biodiversity of genus Agaricus in Pakistan, our objective was to focus on A. sect. Minores which is the largest section of the genus. In the first phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, our sample included specimens of 97 named species, 27 unnamed species, and 31 specimens (29 newly generated sequences in this study) from subtropical climate zones of Pakistan that likely belong to this section based on their morphology. The 31 specimens grouped into five distinct, well-supported clades corresponding to five species: A. glabriusculus already known from Pakistan and India, A. robustulus first recorded from Pakistan and briefly described here but already known from Bénin, Malaysia, China, and Thailand, and three possibly endemic new species described in detail A. badiosquamulosus sp. nov., A. dunensis sp. nov., and A. violaceopunctatus sp. nov. The sixth species currently known in Pakistan, including A. latiumbonatus also found in Thailand, were included in a multigene tree based on ITS, LSU, and Tef-1α sequence data. They all belong to a large pantropical paraphyletic group while most temperate species belong to a distinct clade, which includes about half of the species of the section. The current study aims to propose three novel species of genus Agaricus based on comprehensive morphological as well as molecular phylogenetic evidences from Pakistan.

The genus of basidiomycetous fungi, Leucoagaricus, occurs worldwide, from subtropical to boreal latitudes. Several collections of Leucoagaricus were made during mycological field trips conducted in different forests of Margalla, Pakistan. An integrative framework combining morphological and phylogenetic data was employed for their study. As a result, the two species La. margallensis and La. glareicolor are here described as new to science. Detailed macro- and micro-morphological descriptions, and a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction based on nrITS and LSU sequence data are provided and used to discriminate the new species from morphologically and phylogenetically close taxa. Whereas, our phylogenetic tree inference gave unequivocal support for the inclusion of these two species within the section Leucoagaricus.

The genus Ramaria is globally distributed, inhabiting different substrates. In the present study, samples of R. barenthalensis were collected during a fungal survey from Neelum valley AJK, Pakistan. Identification was carried out through combined morpho-anatomical and molecular data from nrITS region, which confirmed the identification as R. barenthalensis. The taxon is a new record for fungi of AJK, Pakistan.

Two species of Tricholoma , T. bonii and T. triste , are reported as new records for Pakistan. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region clustered the Pakistani collections with T. bonii and T. triste sequences from previous worldwide collections. Detailed descriptions of macro- and microcharacters, habitat, general distribution, and diagnostic features are presented.

Panaeolus punjabensis M. Asif, Q. Firdous, A. Izhar, Niazi & Khalid sp. nov. was collected from three different localities (Bahawalnagar, Kasur, and Lahore) in Punjab, Pakistan. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear encoded internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of large subunit (28S) rDNA confirmed the taxonomic distinctness of this species. The new species is potentially hallucinogenic and characterized by a parabolic pileus with a light brown center, broadly fusiform basidiospores, presence of cheilocystidia, pileocystidia, and caulocystidia, and absence of pleurocystidia and clamp connections. The DNA sequences of the species clustered together in a well-supported distinct clade. We present a detailed description, photographs, and line drawings, and elucidate and discuss the phylogenetic position of the new species. Morphological comparisons with phylogenetically and morphologically allied species are discussed.

During mycological explorations, a new smooth spored species, Inocybe subhimalayanensis Razzaq, Naseer & Khalid sp. nov. was collected from moist temperate sub-Himalayan region, Pakistan. Phylogeny of ITS and LSU regions of nrDNA, and morphoanatomical data make it distinct from other known species of the genus. The taxon is characterized by: a yellowish orange to brown pileus with prominent fibrillose, prominent umbo; ellipsoid to amygdaliform smooth larger basidiospores (8.4‒)8.6‒12.2(‒12.6) × (4.9‒)5.1‒7.1(‒7.3) µm; and lack of velipellis. Molecular phylogenetic analyses further support the recognition of the new species.

ABSTRACT Diploschistes pakistanicus sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forest, Pakistan. ITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Diploschistes and, together with its morphology and chemistry, suggest that it is separate from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by grey to greyish white pruinose thallus, perithecioid-type ascomata, small apothecia 0.1‒0.4 mm wide, hypothecium 20‒25µm thick, ascus of 85‒110 × 9‒17 µm in size, 3‒5 transverse and 2‒4 longitudinal septa in large ascospores 42‒55 × 18‒30; also differing from related species in ITS region.

A new species, Clitopilus cretoalbus A.Izhar, Zaman, M.Asif, H.Bashir, Niazi & Khalid sp. nov., is described herein based on several collections from Punjab, Pakistan. It is characterized by a clitocyboid to somewhat omphaloid stature combined with a white pileus, decurrent lamellae, an almost central to slightly eccentric whitish relatively long stipe, the occurrence of cheilocystidia, and basidiospores with 6 to 9 ridges in polar view. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nrITS and nrLSU performed using the maximum likelihood method supported the novelty of this Pakistani species and its placement within the genus Clitopilus section Scyphoides. A comparison with other morpho-anatomically close species confirmed that the newly described species is distinct from others.

Macrofungi form fruiting bodies that can be detected with the naked eye in the field and handled by hand. They mostly consist of basidiomycetes, but also include some ascomycetes. Mycology in Pakistan is still in its infancy, but there have been many historical reports and checklists of macrofungi occurrence from its 15 ecoregions, which range from Himalayan alpine grasslands and subtropical pine forests to deserts and xeric shrublands. In this work, we searched and reviewed the historical literature and the GenBank database for compiling a comprehensive list of macrofungi reported from Pakistan to date. We recorded 1,293 species belonging to 411 genera, 115 families and 24 orders. These occurrences were updated taxonomically following the classification system currently proposed in the Index Fungorum website. The highest represented order by taxon number is Agaricales (47%) with 31 families, 146 genera and 602 species, followed by Polyporales (11%), Russulales (9%) and Pezizales (8%). Genera occurrence reported therein are presented for each ecoregion to the best of our ability given the data. We also discussed the currently known macrofungi diversity between different ecoregions in Pakistan. Overall, this work should serve as a solid foundation for the inclusion of Pakistan macrofungi in global biodiversity and conservation studies.

In efforts to record fungal biodiversity of Pakistan, specimens of genus Bolbitius Fr., namely B. coprophilus (Peck) Hongo, collected from two different localities with arid to semi-arid climate of Punjab province, have been described and identified based on morphological and ITS-nrDNA sequence data. The genus is not quite common in Pakistan since only one species of Bolbitius has been reported so far. In current study, B. coprophilus is presented as a new record and second report of the genus from the country after 40 years. Distribution records of B. coprophilus and a morphological comparison with closely related taxa are also provided.

Abstract Background Wild edible mushrooms (WEM) are economically significant and used in traditional medicines worldwide. The region of Jammu and Kashmir (Western Himalayas) is enriched with the diversity of edible mushrooms, collected by the rural people for food and income generation. This is the first detailed study on diversity and ethno-medicinal uses of mushrooms from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods Consecutive surveys were conducted to record ethnomycological diversity and socio-economic importance of wild edible mushrooms value chain in rural areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 2015–2019. Ethnomycological data were collected with a semi-structured questionnaire having a set of questions on indigenous mycological knowledge and collection and retailing of wild edible mushrooms. A total of 923 informants from the study area provided the results identifying the gender, type of mushroom species, medicinal uses, and marketing of mushrooms. Diversity of mushrooms was studied by using quadrat and transect methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were also applied to the dataset to analyse the relationship between species distribution, the underlying environmental factors, and habitat types. PCA identified the major species-specific to the sites and put them close to the sites of distribution. Results A total of 131 mushroom species were collected and identified during 2015–2019 from the study area. Ninety-seven species of mushrooms were reported new to the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The dominant mushroom family was Russulaceae with 23 species followed by Agaricaceae, 16 species. Major mushroom species identified and grouped by the PCA were Coprinus comatus, Lactarius sanguifluus, Amanita fulva, Armillaria gallica, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon pyriforme, and Russula creminicolor. Sparassis crispa, Pleurotus sp, and Laetiporus sulphureus were recorded most edible and medicinally significant fungi. Morels were also expensive and medicinally important among all harvested macro-fungal species. These were reported to use against common ailments and various health problems. Conclusions Collection and retailing of WEM contribute to improving the socio-economic status, providing alternative employment and food security to rural people of the area. These mushrooms are used as a source of food and traditional medicines among the rural informants and could be used as a potential source of antibacterial and anticancer drugs in the future.

A new species of Megasporaceae, Aspicilia nigromaculata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Pakistan. A comparative morpho–anatomical study and ITS– LSU-based molecular analyses confirmed its position within the genus Aspicilia. It differs from the other species of the genus by the following set of features: a well–developed, grey to greenish grey frequently black spotted thick thallus, well– developed thicker peripheral and flat to slightly concave areoles, and small conidia 10–15 × 0.5–1 µm. Its positioning in a separate branch in the phylogenetic tree also makes it distinct from the other known species of the genus

ABSTRACT During our surveys of mushrooms in 2019 and 2020, an interesting species of the genus Lepiota was collected from three different areas of Punjab (Bahawalnagar, Sheikhupura, and Muzaffarghar), Pakistan. These areas vary in their altitude and somewhat climatic conditions, nevertheless, morpho-anatomical comparisons and molecular analyses proved that these collections represented the same taxon, described here as Lepiota brunneogranulosa. This new species is characterized by a pileus with a yellowish-brown central disc, with brown colored granules on a very pale brown background, dextrinoid, ellipsoid basidiospores, frequently bi-sporic basidia, and narrowly clavate cheilocystidia. Because of the hymeniform pileus covering, and the placement in the phylogeny, based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (nrITS) and Larger Subunit (LSU), it belongs to the Lepiota sect. Lilaceae.

ABSTRACT The newly described species, Lecidella iqbalii sp. nov., is so far only known from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. A comparative morpho-anatomical study combined with a phylogenetic analysis based on the marker ITS placed this species together with two accessions from southern South America in a distinct and highly supported group at the base of the Lecidella stigmatea clade. The taxon is characterized by a shiny thallus, strongly convex apothecia, a thin excipulum, a dark brown epihymenium and relatively small ascospores (10-) 11-12 (-13) × (6-) 6.5-8(-9) µm.

Abstract In a recent revision of the genus Agaricus, A. section Xanthodermatei was split into two sections A. sect. Hondenses and A. sect. Xanthodermatei. Our objectives were to investigate the species diversity of both sections in Pakistan and to give an overview of the major clades. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined nucLSU, ITS and TEF1 dataset from 35 specimens of both sections revealed three major clades. Analyses based on ITS dataset and 106 specimens, including 33 from Pakistan, reveal eight new species and one new record species. These nine species are described in detail. It is noteworthy that intraspecific variability as well as interspecific variability between closely related species were very low in ITS sequences in many cases. In the case of the two new species A. xanthochromaticus and A. griseovariegatus, TEF1 sequence data were much more efficient than ITS to distinguish these species from each other. The other new species are A. atroumbonatus, A. fumidicolor, A. macropeplus, A. parviniveus, A. swaticus and A. bambusetorum. The latter is the only new species of A. sect. Hondenses in which it is morphologically atypical and also the unique (sub)tropical species. Agaricus gregariomyces is recorded for the first time in Pakistan. In addition, brief descriptions are provided not only for A. bisporiticus, A. endoxanthus and A. punjabensis, which are reported again in Pakistan, but also for A. californicus, which is reported for the first time in Spain and outside North America. In total 12 species of both sections were reported in Pakistan and half of them were from subtropical climatic areas, underlining the contribution of the climatic diversity to the high species richness in this country.

A new lichen species Lecaimmeria pakistanica K.Habib, R.Zulfiqar & Khalid sp. nov. is described and illustrated from rocks in the temperate forests of the Himalaya of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. This species is characterized by its yellow-brown to brown thallus having areoles 0.4 to 1.5 mm across, branched and anastomosing paraphyses, a tall hymenium, large ascospores 20–32 × 10–16 μm, and no substance detected by thin layer chromatography. All other species of the genus have ascospore dimensions in the range of 14–22 × 5–14 μm. A phylogenetic analysis is provided based on ITS nrDNA sequences, and supports the separation of the novel species. Photographs and a comparative analysis with related species of Lecaimmeria are provided to confirm the status of the species.

During mycological surveys of different areas of Punjab, Pakistan, we collected a new species from the genus Candolleomyces. This is the first report of any species of this genus from Pakistan. Candolleomyces asiaticus M.Asif, A.Izhar, Niazi & Khalid sp. nov. is characterized by ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid (8.2 × 5 µm) basidiospores with indistinct germ pores, lageniform to utriform cheilocystidia without adhering deposits at the apices, absence of pleuro-, pileo- and caulocystidia, pileipellis with spherical, subglobose to columnar cells, and presence of clamp connections. The morpho-anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analysis of nrITS revealed its distinct phylogenetic position, further supporting the recognition of a new species.

The genus of basidiomycetous fungi Cortinarius occurs worldwide, from subtropical to boreal latitudes. Although molecular systematics has triggered the study of these fungi in the Americas and Europe in the last two decades, there is still limited research on its diversity in large portions of the planet, such as the high mountain ranges of Asia. Several collections of Cortinarius were made during mycological field trips conducted between 2014 and 2018 in pure oak forests in the Pakistan Himalayas. An integrative framework combining morphological and phylogenetic data was employed for their study. As a result, the two species C. pakistanicus and C. pseudotorvus are here described as new to science. Detailed macro- and micro-morphological descriptions, including SEM images of spores, and a molecular phylogenetic reconstruction based on nrITS sequence data are provided and used to discriminate the new species from morphologically and phylogenetically close taxa. Whereas our phylogenetic tree inference gave unequivocal support for the inclusion of C. pseudotorvus within C. sect. Telamonia, the assignment of C. pakistanicus to any known sections remained elusive. These species likely establish ectomycorrhizal associations with trees in the genus Quercus, making this type of forest in the Pakistan Himalayas a promising focus for future research on the diversity of Cortinarius.

During fungal surveys between 2012 and 2014 in pine-dominated forests of the western Himalayas in Pakistan, several collections of Pseudosperma (Agaricales, Inocybaceae) were made. These were documented, based on morphological and molecular data. During this work, three new species came to light, which are here formally described as Pseudosperma brunneoumbonatum, P. pinophilum and P. triacicularis. These species belong in the genus Pseudosperma fide Matheny et al. (2019) = Pseudosperma clade fide Matheny (2005) = Inocybe sect. Rimosae s.s. fide Larsson et al. (2009). Macro- and micro-morphological descriptions, illustrations and molecular phylogenetic reconstructions of the studied taxa are provided. The new species are differentiated from their close relatives by basidiospore size and colouration of basidiomata. Molecular phylogenetic relationships are inferred using ITS (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2), nrLSU and mtSSU sequence data. All three newly-described taxa likely share an ectomycorrhizal association with trees in the genus Pinus. In addition, five names are recombined in Inosperma, Mallocybe and Pseudosperma. These are Inosperma vinaceobrunneum, Mallocybe erratum, Pseudosperma alboflavellum, Pseudosperma friabile and Pseudosperma neglectum.

With only three published reports, the genus Chroogomphus (Boletales, Gomphidiaceae) is poorly studied in Pakistan. During recent sampling events in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province, Pakistan, several collections of Chroogomphus were made, representing undescribed taxa. Based on morphological and molecular data, two new species are described: Chroogomphus pakistanicus and C. pruinosus. We present a description and illustrations for both taxa. A molecular phylogenetic reconstruction, based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) barcode region, shows that C. pakistanicus and C. pruinosus are placed in two different subgenera of Chroogomphus (subg. Chroogomphus and subg. Siccigomphus, respectively).

The genus Hygrophorus is poorly studied from Asia. From Pakistan, only one species has been reported so far. Two new species in the genus have been collected from Himalayan oak forests of Pakistan. Hygrophorus alboflavescens (section Pudorini, subgenus Colorati) is characterised by its pure white, centrally depressed pileus, occurrence of white stipe with yellow patches at lower half and broader (4.98 μm) basidiospores. Hygrophorus scabrellus (section Hygrophorus, subgenus Hygrophorus) is characterised by its yellowish-green stipe with white apex that has fine scales on the entire stipe, an off-white pileus with dark green and greyish fibrils, ovoid to ellipsoid basidiospores and clavate 4-spored basidia. Macro- and micromorphological descriptions have revealed that both these taxa are not yet described. Phylogenetic estimation based on DNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes, is congruent with the morphological characters that help to delimit these as new species of Hygrophorus. Allied taxa are also compared.

A new species from coniferous forests in Pakistan, Amanita ahmadii, is described on the basis of morpho-anatomy and molecular data set analyses. This species is characterized by its medium-sized to large basidiomata, grayish brown to brown pileal surface and rimose pileus margin with gray to dark brown verrucose veil remnants, a cream stipe with bulbous base having grayish brown or brown longitudinal striations above the annulus, a scaly surface towards the base, globose to broadly ellipsoid and amyloid basidiospores, and the absence of clamped septa in all tissues. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU sequences confirmed its identity as a new taxon nested within subgen. Amanitina sect. Validae.

Abstract The Russula globispora lineage is a morphologically and phylogenetically well-defined group of ectomycorrhizal fungi occurring in various climatic areas. In this study we performed a multi-locus phylogenetic study based on collections from boreal, alpine and arctic habitats of Europe and Western North America, subalpine collections from the southeast Himalayas and collections from subtropical coniferous forests of Pakistan. European and North American collections are nearly identical and probably represent a single species named R. dryadicola distributed from the Alps to the Rocky Mountains. Collections from the southeast Himalayas belong to two distinct species: R. abbottabadensis sp. nov. from subtropical monodominant forests of Pinus roxburghii and R. tengii sp. nov. from subalpine mixed forests of Abies and Betula. The results suggest that speciation in this group is driven by a climate disjunction and adaptation rather than a host switch and geographical distance.

Mushrooms with a thin-fleshed pileus that becomes plicate on opening, deliquescent lamellae and dark brown to blackish basidiospores are commonly called coprinoid mushrooms. The genus Coprinellus is one of the important lineages of coprinoid mushroom in the family Psathyrellaceae. Species-level taxonomy in Coprinellus is based mainly on the presence or absence and the structure of veil and cystidia on the pileus, of cystidia on the lamellae and on basidiospore morphology. In this study, four new species of Coprinellus (Co. campanulatus, Co. disseminatus-similis, Co. pakistanicus and Co. tenuis) are described from Pakistan. Species descriptions are based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuc rDNA ITS region show that the new species Co. campanulatus and Co. disseminatus-similis are clustered in a clade including members of section Micacei; Co. tenuis falls in a clade with members of section Domestici; and Co. pakistanicus recovered in a separate clade adjacent to other recently described clades of genus Coprinellus. Morpho-anatomical descriptions of the new species and comparison with closely allied taxa are provided. With this study, the number of known species of Coprinellus in Pakistan has reached eight.

We describe here a new species, Lecidea aptrootii, in Lecidea sensu stricto from Swat Valley, Pakistan. It is most similar to L. fuscoatra in having an areolate thallus and black, lecideine apothecia with a persistent margin. However, L. aptrootii can be readily distinguished by having smaller ascospores (average length 8-10 µm). In phylogenetic analyses, using ITS and nuLSU rDNA sequences, L. aptrootii forms a sister-group relationship to L. grisella, which differs in having a rimose thallus.

Russula subsect. Maculatinae is morphologically and phylogenetically well-defined lineage of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with arctic, boreal, temperate and Mediterranean habitats of Northern Hemisphere. Based on phylogenetic distance among species, it seems that this group diversified relatively recently. Russula ayubiana sp. nov., described in this study, is the fifth in the group known from relatively small area of northern Pakistan situated in southwestern Himalayas. This is the highest known number of agaric lineage members from a single area in the world. This study uses available data about phylogeny, ecology, and climate to trace phylogenetic origin and ecological preferences of Maculatinae in southwestern Himalayas. Our results suggest that the area has been recently colonised by Maculatinae members migrating from various geographical areas and adapting to local conditions. We also discuss the perspectives and obstacles in research of biogeography and ecology, and we propose improvements that would facilitate the integration of ecological and biogeographical metadata from the future taxonomic studies of fungi in the region.

A new species, Descolea quercina, is described and illustrated from Northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is characterized by medium to large basidiomata, squamose to squamose-granulose hygrophanous pileus, and limoniform, verrucose basidiospores with partly concrescent verrucae. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with 5.8S rDNA (ITS) and nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S) also confirmed it as a new species. A comparison with similar taxa is provided.