Search

A striking species of cyphelloid fungus tentatively identified as a Henningsomyces or Rectipilus was collected in Białowieża virgin forest in Poland since 1962. After search in literature, morphological studies and phylogenetic analyses based on LSU and ITS rDNA sequences, the species turned out to be unknown to science with ≥ 5% difference in LSU rDNA sequence from nearest representatives of both cyphelloid and agaricoid fungi. We describe it here as a new genus Cyphelloporia and new species C. bialoviesensis. The species is still known only from the Białowieża forest, where it produces large basidiomata consisting of a well developed subiculum and densely aggregated, tubular receptacles up to 10 mm long on decaying trunks of Picea abies. A detailed morphological description accompanied by line drawings and photographs is provided, and differences from similar Rectipilus and Henningsomyces species are discussed. Phylogenies based on LSU and ITS sequences show that C. bialoviesensis belongs to the lineage formed by Rectipilus species together with Phyllotopsis nidulans and Pleurocybella porrigens, whereas true Henningsomyces species belong to a highly unrelated lineage labelled Niaceae or Cyphellaceae. Family position of C. bialoviesensis is discussed showing that Phyllotopsidaceae is well justified.

Mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) have the greatest morphological diversity and complexity of any group of fungi. They have radiated into most niches and fulfil diverse roles in the ecosystem, including wood decomposers, pathogens or mycorrhizal mutualists. Despite the importance of mushroom-forming fungi, large-scale patterns of their evolutionary history are poorly known, in part due to the lack of a comprehensive and dated molecular phylogeny. Here, using multigene and genome-based data, we assemble a 5,284-species phylogenetic tree and infer ages and broad patterns of speciation/extinction and morphological innovation in mushroom-forming fungi. Agaricomycetes started a rapid class-wide radiation in the Jurassic, coinciding with the spread of (sub)tropical coniferous forests and a warming climate. A possible mass extinction, several clade-specific adaptive radiations and morphological diversification of fruiting bodies followed during the Cretaceous and the Paleogene, convergently giving rise to the classic toadstool morphology, with a cap, stalk and gills (pileate-stipitate morphology). This morphology is associated with increased rates of lineage diversification, suggesting it represents a key innovation in the evolution of mushroom-forming fungi. The increase in mushroom diversity started during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic radiation event, an era of humid climate when terrestrial communities dominated by gymnosperms and reptiles were also expanding. Fil: Varga, Torda. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; Hungría Fil: Krizsán, Krisztina. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; Hungría Fil: Földi, Csenge. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; Hungría Fil: Dima, Bálint. Eötvös Loránd University; Hungría Fil: Sánchez-García, Marisol. Clark University; Estados Unidos Fil: Lechner, Bernardo Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina Fil: Sánchez-Ramírez, Santiago. University of Toronto; Canadá Fil: Szöllosi, Gergely J.. Eötvös Loránd University; Hungría Fil: Szarkándi, János G.. University Of Szeged; Hungría Fil: Papp, Viktor. Szent István University; Hungría Fil: Albert, László. Hungarian Mycological Society; Hungría Fil: Andreopoulos, William. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Angelini, Claudio. Jardin Botanico Nacional Ma. Moscoso; República Dominicana Fil: Antonín, Vladimír. Moravian Museum; República Checa Fil: Barry, Kerrie W.. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Bougher, Neale L.. Western Australian Herbarium; Australia Fil: Buchanan, Peter. Manaaki Whenua-landcare Research; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Buyck, Bart. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle; Francia Fil: Bense, Viktória. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences; Hungría Fil: Catcheside, Pam. State Herbarium Of South Australia; Australia Fil: Chovatia, Mansi. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Cooper, Jerry. Manaaki Whenua-landcare Research; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Dämon, Wolfgang. Oberfeldstrasse 9; Austria Fil: Desjardin, Dennis. San Francisco State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Finy, Péter. Zsombolyai U. 56.; Hungría Fil: Geml, József. Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Países Bajos Fil: Haridas, Sajeet. United States Department Of Energy. Joint Genome Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Hughes, Karen. University of Tennessee; Estados Unidos Fil: Justo, Alfredo. Clark University; Estados Unidos Fil: Karasinski, Dariusz. Polish Academy of Sciences; Polonia

The family Auriscalpiaceae (Russulales) includes species forming pileate, stipitate-pileate, effused-reflexed, and resupinate basidiomata. The resupinate basidiomata are characteristic only for the genus Dentipratulum, described to accommodate Dentipratulum bialoviesense, found in the Bialowieza Primeval Forest in Poland and later reported from several locations in Eurasia. The materials assigned to this genus were revised and three distinct morphospecies were detected, including Dentipratulum bialoviesense s. str. and two new species, Dentipratulum khuranae from India and Dentipratulum crystallinum from the Kuril Islands and France. The concept of the genus Dentipratulum is emended to include characters omitted in the original diagnosis (stem-like base of spines, rudimentary subiculum) and found in the novel species (presence of naked or encrusted leptocystidia). All Dentipratulum species are illustrated with pictures of basidiomata, line drawings of micro-morphological characters, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of basidiospores. A key to the genus is provided.

A new genus, Anthoporia Karasiński & Niemelä, is proposed for the brown-rot polypore Polyporus albobrunneus Romell [= Antrodia albobrunnea (Romell) Ryvarden]. The new genus is separated from Antrodia P. Karst. s.str. in several morphological features, and it is only distantly related to Antrodia serpens (Fr.) P. Karst. (generic type of Antrodia) in recently published phylogenies. Additionally, Anthoporia albobrunnea (Romell) Karasiński & Niemelä is described and illustrated based on material collected in Białowieża National Park in northeastern Poland.

The order Ceraceosorales (Ustilaginomycotina) currently includes the single genus Ceraceosorus, with one species, Ceraceosorus bombacis, parasitic on Bombax ceiba in India. The diversity, biogeography, evolution, and phylogenetic relationships of this order are still relatively unknown. Here, a second species of Ceraceosorus is described from West Africa as a novel species, Ceraceosorus africanus, infecting Bombax costatum in Benin, Ghana, and Togo. This species produces conspicuous fructifications, similar to corticioid basidiomata when mature, but sorus-like in early stages of ontogenetic development. The fructifications cover much of the leaf surface and resemble leaf blight. This contrasts with the inconspicuous fructifications of C. bombacis comprising small spots scattered over the lower leaf surface that resemble leaf spot. Both species of Ceraceosorus differ in several micromorphological traits, infect different host plant species in widely separated geographical areas, and are separated by a considerable genetic distance in 28S rDNA and RPB2 genes. The distinct corticioid fructification of C. africanus is a unique morphological trait within the Ustilaginomycotina. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of a single gene dataset (D1/D2 28S rDNA) supported the monophyly of the two Ceraceosorus species and the Ceraceosorales and their placement within the Ustilaginomycotina. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene dataset (18S/5.8S/28S rDNA/RPB2/TEF1) revealed Exobasidium rhododendri (Exobasidiales) as the closest relative of Ceraceosorus, both clustering together with Entyloma calendulae (Entylomatales), indicating affinities to the Exobasidiomycetes. This phylogenetic placement is in agreement with ultrastructural characteristics (presence of local interaction zone and interaction apparatus) reported for the Ceraceosorales, Entylomatales, and Exobasidiales.

The Białowieża Forest (BF) is one of the best-preserved lowland deciduous and mixed forest complexes in Europe, rich in diverse fungi. This paper summarizes what is known about the poroid fungi of the Polish part of the Białowieża Forest, based on literature data, a re-examination of herbarium materials, and the authors’ studies from 1990–2014. An annotated catalogue of polypores recorded in the forest is presented, including 80 genera with 210 species. All literature and herbarium records are enumerated, and 160 species are illustrated with color pictures. Fourteen species previously reported in the literature have uncertain status because they lack voucher specimens and were not confirmed in recent field studies. Antrodiella subradula (Pilát) Niemelä & Miettinen, previously known from Asia, is reported for the first time from Europe. Fourteen species are newly reported from the Białowieża Forest (mainly from Białowieża National Park), including 8 species with first records in Poland (Antrodia hyalina Spirin, Miettinen & Kotir., Antrodia infirma Renvall & Niemelä, Antrodiella subradula, Junghuhnia fimbriatella (Peck) Ryvarden, Postia folliculocystidiata (Kotl. & Vampola) Niemelä & Vampola, Postia minusculoides (Pilát ex Pilát) Boulet, Skeletocutis chrysella Niemelä, Skeletocutis papyracea A. David), and 6 species reported previously from other localities in Poland [Antrodiella faginea Vampola & Pouzar, Dichomitus campestris (Quél.) Domański & Orlicz, Loweomyces fractipes (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Jülich, Oxyporus latemarginatus (Durieu & Mont.) Donk, Perenniporia narymica (Pilát) Pouzar, Phellinus nigricans (Fr.) P. Karst.]. Several very rare European polypores already reported from the Białowieża Forest in the 20th century, such as Antrodia albobrunnea (Romell) Ryvarden, Antrodiella foliaceodentata (Nikol.) Gilb. & Ryvarden, Buglossoporus pulvinus (Pers.) Donk, Dichomitus albidofuscus (Domański) Domański and Gelatoporia subvermispora (Pilát) Niemelä, were found at new localities, confirming their continuous occurrence in this forest.

Antarctica's severe climate and its geographical isolation are the factors that hinder the arrival of non-native species by natural means. However, the movement of people and cargo associated with national scientific programs and tourism render Antarctica much more accessible to exotic organisms. Both the transport routes and carriers are varied. The wide range of uses to which timber is put means that it is readily freighted to Antarctic stations. However, it can harbor numerous alien organisms. All the timber materials transported to the "Arctowski" station for the 32nd Polish Antarctic Expedition in the 2007/2008 season were scanned as a potential vector for alien species. This study focuses on the non-lichenized fungi and insects which were found on the timber. Four species of perithecia-forming Ascomycota, five species of corticioid and polyporoid Basidiomycota, four unidentified basidiomycetes taxa in form of sterile mycelia, and two insects belonging to Cerambycidae, were detected. Most of these "hitch-hikers" were connected with the untreated parts of the timber. Their enduring survival in harsh Antarctic conditions is regarded as highly improbable. Nevertheless, some ascocarps frequently contained vital spores, and live insect larvae and imago were found in hibernation. The results also emphasize that such organisms can be accidentally transported to Antarctica and that the elementary rules for the eventual safe transport of non-infected goods should be obeyed and respected.

The type specimen of the corticioid fungus Peniophora inflata was re-examined. The term “subicystidium” (plural: subicystidia) is introduced to define basally clamped and encrusted cystidia of subicular or rhizomorphic origin. Peniophora inflata is characterized by the presence of subicystidia and hymenial lamprocystidia, a smooth, resupinate basidioma, a monomitic hyphal system, small, clavate basidia, minute ellipsoidal basidiospores negative in Melzer’s reagent and Cotton Blue, thickening hymenium and the development of rhizomorphs. The morphological similarities of Peniophora inflata with some corticioid species are discussed. Recently the generic name Sceptrulum was erected for this species. Because the introduction of the latter name lacked any discussion and clarity, the aim of this study is to provide a detailed examination of P. inflata.