Search

Revision of the taxonomically complicated European Melanoleuca taxa with well-developed macrocystidia (subgenus Melanoleuca) is presented. The species are delimited by macro- and micromorphological characters and by multilocus molecular data based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), second largest subunit of RNA polymerase I (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes. The study is based on both type material and recent collections. Phylogenetically, these taxa form 10 clades recognized as 11 separate species: M. albomarginata, M. ammophila, M. bataillei, M. cavipes, M. friesii, M. granadensis, M. melaleuca, M. pallidicutis, M. polioleuca, M. strictipes, and M. variabilis. Three species, M. albomarginata, M. ammophila, and M. variabilis, are described as new. Melanoleuca melaleuca is discussed here as the type species of the genus. Discussion of other older names and their taxonomic status is also provided.

Melanoleuca is one of the taxonomically most complicated genera of Agaricomycetes. The aim of this study is taxonomic revision of European specimens confused with M. angelesiana A.H. Sm. and delimitation of four species, M. brachyspora Harmaja, M. graminicola (Velen.) Kühner & Maire, M. rufipes Bon and M. stridula (Fr.) Singer. The research is based on macro- and micromorphological characters and the multigene phylogenetic analyses of a combined (ITS, rpb2, and tef1) dataset. According to the result, the two new species are proposed – M. monticola sp. nov. which accomodates European specimens previously confused with American species M. angelesiana and M. romanensis sp. nov. from Italy. Moreover, American specimens identified as M. angelesiana belongs to three different phylogenetic species (M. angelesiana sensu typi, M. acystidiata aff. and one more separate lineage). M. graminicola is emended and the respective epitype designated. An identification key of the European species of subg. Urticocystis is provided.

Revision of the taxonomically complicated European

Melanoleuca is one of the taxonomically most complicated genera of Agaricomycetes with several taxonomically lineages. The subgenus Urticocystis of the genus Melanoleuca contains species with either urticoid or absent cheilocystidia. In this paper, three new European species, Melanoleuca galbuserae, Melanoleuca fontenlae, and Melanoleuca acystidiata are described as new to science. Melanoleuca galbuserae, related to Melanoleuca stepposa and Melanoleuca tristis, was discovered in alpine grasslands in North Italy. The type specimens and recent collections of Melanoleuca angelesiana, Melanoleuca castaneofusca, Melanoleuca luteolosperma, Melanoleuca pseudopaedida, and Melanoleuca robertiana were sequenced and morphologically examined. Moreover, the related Melanoleuca microcephala and Melanoleuca paedida were included in morphological examination and DNA sequence analyses. All the species were delimited by macro- and micromorphological characters and the multigene phylogenetic analyses of a combined (ITS, rpb2, and tef1) dataset on the basis of the species tree estimation. In accordance with new molecular and morphological data, we suggest taxonomic reappraisal of M. pseudopaedida and M. robertiana, and M. fontenlae and M. acystidiata are proposed as new species. The differences between the type material of M. angelesiana from the USA and European M. angelesiana specimens are discussed.

The aim of the research was to determine some basic biological activities of less biomedically studied but commonly known two fungi from the Boletaceae family Suillellus rubrosanguineus and Tylopilus felleus, which grow in the forests of Middle Europe. The cytotoxicity tests of the ethanol and chloroform extracts were carried out using NIH-3T3 and MCF-7 cell lines. The presence of alkaloids in the extracts was assessed by the reaction with Dragendorff reagent. In all of the extracts the positive reaction with the reagent was observed. In general, the extracts from Suillellus rubrosanguineus were more cytotoxic than the extracts from Tylopilus felleus and exhibited no selectivity of activities on healthy and cancer cell lines. However, the extracts from Tylopilus felleus proved to be selectively cytotoxic for cancer cell line. Tylopilus extracts or their isolated bioactive compounds could be considered for further study in pre-clinical experiments.

Seven Melanoleuca taxa related to M. exscissa were studied based on macromorphological and micromorphological characters, and DNA sequences of three genes of recent collections and herbarium specimens. One species, M. griseobrunnea from the Korea is described as new to science. The type specimens of M. cinerascens, M. diverticulata, M. kuehneri, M. meridionalis, M. subexcentrica, M. stepposa and M. tristis are revised by micromorphological description and DNA sequencing of ITS region. The type analysis confirmed M. cinerascens, M. kuehneri and M. meridionalis are conspecific with M. exscissa and M. subexcentrica is conspecific with M. diverticulata. The lectotype and epitype of M. exscissa and neotype of M. rasilis are proposed here.

The aim of the research was to determine some basic biological activities of less biomedically studied but commonly known two fungi from the Boletaceae family Suillellus rubrosanguineus and Tylopilus felleus, which grow in the forests of Middle Europe. The cytotoxicity tests of the ethanol and chloroform extracts were carried out using NIH-3T3 and MCF-7 cell lines. The presence of alkaloids in the extracts was assessed by the reaction with Dragendorff reagent. In all of the extracts the positive reaction with the reagent was observed. In general, the extracts from Suillellus rubrosanguineus were more cytotoxic than the extracts from Tylopilus felleus and exhibited no selectivity of activities on healthy and cancer cell lines. However, the extracts from Tylopilus felleus proved to be selectively cytotoxic for cancer cell line. Tylopilus extracts or their isolated bioactive compounds could be considered for further study in pre-clinical experiments.

Melanoleuca brevipes (basionym Agaricus brevipes) represents one of the most frequently identified Melanoleuca species. However, there are several concepts of this taxon, and thus the identity of this species is unclear. This species was studied, based on the original table by Bulliard, macromorphological and micromorphological characters, and DNA sequences of recent collections and herbarium specimens. DNA sequences of ITS, RPB2 and tef1 markers revealed that specimens identified as M. brevipes belong to three species (M. humilis, M. grammopodia, and M. malenconii), where M. humilis or M. malenconii may resemble Bulliard’s original species. According to these results, Agaricus brevipes is therefore considered a nomen dubium. A lectotype of M. grammopodia is proposed herein.

A new species, Melanoleuca juliannae is described from Hungary. Its most outstanding character is the presence of a violaceous-blue colour in the stipe base. Sequence comparisons with other Melanoleuca species revealed highly similar but decolourate members of the species, lacking the remarkable colour of the stipe. These specimens are described as Melanoleuca juliannae var. decolorans based on three collections from the Czech Republic and Italy. Detailed macro- and microscopic descriptions of the new species are given. The position of M. juliannae within subgen. Urticocystis was confirmed by DNA sequence data of the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene cluster and translation elongation factor 1-alpha ( tef1 ). Although intra-individual heterogeneity in ITS region was revealed in some specimens of the type variety, the tef1 sequences lack a similar heterogeneity.