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An investigation on the macrofungal diversity of the National Park “Appennino Lucano, Val D'Agri, Lagonegrese” (Basilicata, southern Italy) was carried out, together with an evaluation of wild edible mushrooms in agro-forest ecosystems and their possible exploitation as a new source of food and revenue in rural and under-developed areas of this region. An unpublished list of 249 mushroom taxa (229Basidiomycotaand 20Ascomycota), mostly belonging to the generaTricholoma,Tuber,Russula,Amanita,Boletus,Lactarius,Mycena,Agaricus,ClitocybeandHygrophorus, growing in this important natural area is provided together with ecological characterization of the recorded specimens.Inonotus obliquusis a new record for Basilicata, whileMycena bresadolanais reported for the first time from southern Italy. The presence ofAmaurodon mustialaënsis, an extremely rare species of the northern hemisphere reported for the first time on white fir, is noteworthy. Among the previous findings, 116 species of edible mushrooms are presented and discussed in view of their relative abundance and edibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As part of an inventory of macrofungi in selected islands of the Aegean Archipelago (Greece), 18 species of heterobasidiomycetes (phylum Basidiomycota) belonging to the orders Auriculariales, Cantharellales, Dacrymycetales and Tremellales were collected and identified from the islands of Agios Efstratios, Amorgos, Andros, Crete, Ikaria, Naxos and Nisyros. Among the heterobasidiomycetous fungi collected,Ceratobasidium cornigerum,Dacrymyces lacrymalis,Exidiopsis effusa,E. galzinii,Thanatephorus amygdalisporus,Tremella aurantia,Tulasnella pallidaandT. pruinosaconstitute first national records, while the generaCeratobasidium,ThanatephorusandTulasnellaare reported for the first time in Greece. All species are listed with information on their hosts/substrates and occurrence in the investigated islands, while the most interesting records are described, illustrated, and critically discussed in the light of existing taxonomic and distribution data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In semi-arid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and abiotic stress to the plant and for sustaining a vegetation cover. Despite the important role that fungi play in habitats stability, mycological data from Mediterranean ecosystems are scarce and fragmentary. We investigated fungal diversity in several areas characterized by Mediterranean maquis, from continental Italy, Sicily, and Greece in order to contribute to the analysis of distribution, ecology, and diversity of macrofungi in evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands at different elevation and distance from the seashore across the Mediterranean Basin. Several fungal taxa that are remarkable due to their ecology, rarity, and limited geographical distribution were recovered. Among them, the ectomycorrhizal speciesAmanita dunensisandA. valenswere recorded for the first time in Italy. The wood-inhabiting macrofungi,Aleurodiscus dextrinoideocerussatus,Peniophorella tsugae,Perenniporia meridionalis,Phanerochaete martelliana,Vararia ochroleuca, and sixPeniophoraspecies were reported for the first time in Greece. Some species, such asGloeodontia columbiensis,Ceriporia aurantiocarnescens,Peniophora pithya, andP. tamaricicolawere collected on new substrates. For the two rare basidiomycetesAmanita eliaeandBattarrea phalloides, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis gave valuable information on their relationship with similar taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Mycoticon project (EU, LdV-ToI), an identification and sustainable exploitation of wild edible mushrooms in rural areas, and mentions the formation of an innovative training package to reach educational and income-generating demands in South Europe, as well as to improve the use of mushrooms as high-value food. Topics include the economic potential of the mushrooms, the biology and ecology of mushroom fungi, and the guidelines mushroom cultivation.

Fungi of the genus Tuber are famous for their hypogeous ascomata (truffles), many of which possess noteworthy organoleptic properties. T. aestivum shows a wide geographic distribution, has many plant symbionts and is well adapted to various climatic conditions. In this study, five Quercus taxa native to Greece (i.e., Q. coccifera , Q. ilex , Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis , Q. pubescens and Q. trojana subsp. trojana ) were inoculated with spore suspensions obtained from a single ascoma of T. aestivum . The fungal colonization of oak roots was evaluated at three, seven and 12 months after inoculation; the respective colonization rates for each time period were as follows: low to medium (17-41%) for Q. pubescens , Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis and Q. trojana subsp. trojana , medium to relatively high (58-80%) for Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis , Q. ilex , Q. pubescens and Q. trojana subsp. trojana , and medium to high (45-87%) for all oak species examined. Positive correlations were assessed between the number of colonized root tips and the total root tips number, but no significant differences were detected between the inoculated plants and the respective control as regards plant growth. The ectomycorrhizae formed by T. aestivum with Q. ithaburensis subsp. macrolepis and Q. trojana subsp. trojana are described for the first time. The outcome of the study evidences the feasibility of generating the seedlings of various indigenous oak species (covering a large range of diverse habitats) successfully inoculated with autochthonous truffles to be readily used for cultivation purposes.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia , Baobabopsis sabindy in leaves of Eragrostis spartinoides , Cortinarius magentiguttatus among deep leaf litter, Laurobasidium azarandamiae from uredinium of Puccinia alyxiae on Alyxia buxifolia , Marasmius pseudoelegans on well-rotted twigs and litter in mixed wet sclerophyll and subtropical rainforest. Bolivia , Favolaschia luminosa on twigs of Byttneria hirsuta , Lecanora thorstenii on bark, in savannas with shrubs and trees. Brazil , Asterina costamaiae on leaves of Rourea bahiensis , Purimyces orchidacearum (incl. Purimyces gen. nov. ) as root endophyte on Cattleya locatellii . Bulgaria , Monosporascus bulgaricus and Monosporascus europaeus isolated from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum . Finland , Inocybe undatolacera on a lawn, near Betula pendula . France , Inocybe querciphila in humus of mixed forest. Germany , Arrhenia oblongispora on bare soil attached to debris of herbaceous plants and grasses. Greece , Tuber aereum under Quercus coccifera and Acer sempervirens . India , Alfoldia lenyadriensis from the gut of a Platynotus sp. beetle, Fulvifomes subramanianii on living Albizzia amara , Inosperma pavithrum on soil, Phylloporia parvateya on living Lonicera sp., Tropicoporus maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum . Indonesia , Elsinoe atypica on leaf of Eucalyptus pellita. Italy , Apiotrichum vineum from grape wine, Cuphopyllus praecox among grass. Madagascar , Pisolithus madagascariensis on soil under Intsia bijuga . Netherlands , Cytosporella calamagrostidis and Periconia calamagrostidicola on old leaves of Calamagrostis arenaria , Hyaloscypha caricicola on leaves of Carex sp., Neoniesslia phragmiticola (incl. Neoniesslia gen. nov. ) on leaf sheaths of standing dead culms of Phragmites australis , Neptunomyces juncicola on culms of Juncus maritimus , Zenophaeosphaeria calamagrostidis (incl. Zenophaeosphaeria gen. nov .) on culms of Calamagrostis arenaria . Norway , Hausneria geniculata (incl. Hausneria gen. nov. ) from a gallery of Dryocoetes alni on Alnus incana . Pakistan , Agrocybe auriolus on leaf litter of Eucalyptus camaldulensis , Rhodophana rubrodisca in nutrient-rich loamy soil with Morus alba . Poland , Cladosporium nubilum from hypersaline brine, Entomortierella ferrotolerans from soil at mines and postmining sites, Pseudopezicula epiphylla from sooty mould community on Quercus robur , Quixadomyces sanctacrucensis from resin of Pinus sylvestris , Szafranskia beskidensis (incl. Szafranskia gen. nov. ) from resin of Abies alba . Portugal , Ascocoryne laurisilvae on degraded wood of Laurus nobilis, Hygrocybe madeirensis in laurel forests, Hygrocybula terracocta (incl. Hygrocybula gen. nov. ) on mossy areas of laurel forests planted with Cryptomeria japonica . Republic of Kenya , Penicillium gorferi from a sterile chicken feather embedded in a soil sample. Slovakia , Cerinomyces tatrensis on bark of Pinus mugo , Metapochonia simonovicovae from soil. South Africa , Acremonium agapanthi on culms of Agapanthus praecox , Alfaria elegiae on culms of Elegia ebracteata , Beaucarneamyces stellenboschensis (incl. Beaucarneamyces gen. nov. ) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta , Gardeniomyces kirstenboschensis (incl. Gardeniomyces gen. nov .) rotting fruit of Gardenia thunbergia , Knufia dianellae on dead leaves of Dianella caerulea , Lomaantha quercina on twigs of Quercus suber. Melanina restionis on dead leaves of Restio duthieae , Microdochium buffelskloofinum on seeds of Eragrostis cf. racemosa , Thamnochortomyces kirstenboschensis (incl. Thamnochortomyces gen. nov. ) on culms of Thamnochortus fraternus , Tubeufia hagahagana on leaves of Hypoxis angustifolia , Wingfieldomyces cypericola on dead leaves of Cyperus papyrus . Spain , Geastrum federeri in soil under Quercus suber and Q. canariensis , Geastrum nadalii in calcareous soil under Juniperus , Quercus , Cupressus , Pinus and Robinia , Hygrocybe garajonayensis in laurel forests, Inocybe cistophila on acidic soil under Cistus ladanifer , Inocybe sabuligena in a mixed Quercus ilex subsp . ballota/Juniperus thurifera open forest , Mycena calongei on mossy bark base of Juniperus oxycedrus , Rhodophana ulmaria on soil in Ulmus minor forest, Tuber arriacaense in soil under Populus pyramidalis , Volvariella latispora on grassy soils in a Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia stand. Sweden , Inocybe iota in alpine heath on calcareous soil. Thailand , Craterellus maerimensis and Craterellus sanbuakwaiensis on laterite and sandy soil, Helicocollum samlanense on scale insects, Leptosporella cassiae on dead twigs of Cassia fistula , Oxydothis coperniciae on dead leaf of Copernicia alba , Russula mukdahanensis on soil, Trechispora sangria on soil, Trechispora sanpatongensis on soil. Türkiye , Amanita corylophila in a plantation of Corylus avellana . Ukraine , Pararthrophiala adonis (incl. Pararthrophiala gen. nov. ) on dead stems of Adonis vernalis . USA , Cladorrhinum carnegieae from Carnegiea gigantea , Dematipyriformia americana on swab from basement wall, Dothiora americana from outside air, Dwiroopa aeria from bedroom air, Lithohypha cladosporioides from hospital swab, Macroconia verruculosa on twig of Ilex montana , associated with black destroyed ascomycetous fungus and Biatora sp., Periconia floridana from outside air, Phytophthora fagacearum from necrotic leaves and shoots of Fagus grandifolia , Queenslandipenidiella californica Crous PW, Jurjević Z, Balashov S, De la Peña-Lastra S, Mateos A, Pinruan U, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Osieck ER, Altés A, Czachura P, Esteve-Raventós F, Gunaseelan S, Kaliyaperumal M, Larsson E, Luangsa-ard JJ, Moreno G, Pancorbo F, Piątek M, Sommai S, Somrithipol S, Asif M, Delgado G, Flakus A, Illescas T, Kezo K, Khamsuntorn P, Kubátová A, Labuda R, Lavoise C, Lebel T, Lueangjaroenkit P, Maciá-Vicente JG, Paz A, Saba M, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Wingfield MJ, Aas T, Abramczyk B, Ainsworth AM, Akulov A, Alvarado P, Armada F, Assyov B, Avchar R, Avesani M, Bezerra JL, Bhat JD, Bilański P, Bily DS, Boccardo F, Bozok F, Campos JC, Chaimongkol S, Chellappan N, Costa MM, Dalecká M, Darmostuk V, Daskalopoulos V, Dearnaley J, Dentinger BTM, De Silva NI, Dhotre D, Carlavilla JR, Doungsa-ard C, Dovana F, Erhard A, Ferro LO, Gallegos SC, Giles CE, Gore G, Gorfer M, Guard FE, Hanson S-A, Haridev P, Jankowiak R, Jeffers SN, Kandemir H, Karich A, Kisło K, Kiss L, Krisai-Greilhuber I, Latha KPD, Lorenzini M, Lumyong S, Manimohan P, Manjón JL, Maula F, Mazur E, Mesquita NLS, Młynek K, Mongkolsamrit S, Morán P, Murugadoss R, Nagarajan M, Nalumpang S, Noisripoom W, Nosalj S, Novaes QS, Nowak M, Pawłowska J, Peiger M, Pereira OL, Pinto A, Plaza M, Polemis E, Polhorský A, Ramos DO, Raza M, Rivas-Ferreiro M, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Ruszkiewicz-Michalska M, Sánchez A, Santos A, Schüller A, Scott PA, Şen İ, Shelke D, Śliwa L, Solheim H, Sonawane H, Strašiftáková D, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Sudsanguan M, Suwannarach N, Suz LM, Syme K, Taşkın H, Tennakoon DS, Tomka P, Vaghefi N, Vasan V, Vauras J, Wiktorowicz D, Villarreal M, Vizzini A, Wrzosek M, Yang X, Yingkunchao W, Zapparoli G, Zervakis GI, Groenewald JZ (2024). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1614-1696. Citation: Crous PW, Jurjević Z, Balashov S, De la Peña-Lastra S, Mateos A, Pinruan U, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Osieck ER, Altés A, Czachura P, Esteve-Raventós F, Gunaseelan S, Kaliyaperumal M, Larsson E, Luangsa-ard JJ, Moreno G, Pancorbo F, Piątek M, Sommai S, Somrithipol S, Asif M, Delgado G, Flakus A, Illescas T, Kezo K, Khamsuntorn P, Kubátová A, Labuda R, Lavoise C, Lebel T, Lueangjaroenkit P, Maciá-Vicente JG, Paz A, Saba M, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Wingfield MJ, Aas T, Abramczyk B, Ainsworth AM, Akulov A, Alvarado P, Armada F, Assyov B, Avchar R, Avesani M, Bezerra JL, Bhat JD, Bilański P, Bily DS, Boccardo F, Bozok F, Campos JC, Chaimongkol S, Chellappan N, Costa MM, Dalecká M, Darmostuk V, Daskalopoulos V, Dearnaley J, Dentinger BTM, De Silva NI, Dhotre D, Carlavilla JR, Doungsa-ard C, Dovana F, Erhard A, Ferro LO, Gallegos SC, Giles CE, Gore G, Gorfer M, Guard FE, Hanson S-A, Haridev P, Jankowiak R, Jeffers SN, Kandemir H, Karich A, Kisło K, Kiss L, Krisai-Greilhuber I, Latha KPD, Lorenzini M, Lumyong S, Manimohan P, Manjón JL, Maula F, Mazur E, Mesquita NLS, Młynek K, Mongkolsamrit S, Morán P, Murugadoss R, Nagarajan M, Nalumpang S, Noisripoom W, Nosalj S, Novaes QS, Nowak M, Pawłowska J, Peiger M, Pereira OL, Pinto A, Plaza M, Polemis E, Polhorský A, Ramos DO, Raza M, Rivas-Ferreiro M, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Ruszkiewicz-Michalska M, Sánchez A, Santos A, Schüller A, Scott PA, Şen İ, Shelke D, Śliwa L, Solheim H, Sonawane H, Strašiftáková D, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Sudsanguan M, Suwannarach N, Suz LM, Syme K, Taşkın H, Tennakoon DS, Tomka P, Vaghefi N, Vasan V, Vauras J, Wiktorowicz D, Villarreal M, Vizzini A, Wrzosek M, Yang X, Yingkunchao W, Zapparoli G, Zervakis GI, Groenewald JZ (2024). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1614-1696. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13 : 183-440. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.11., (© 2024 Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute.)

The genus Sidera (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) comprises white-rot, mono- or dimitic fungi with poroid or hydnoid hymenophore. It has a worldwide distribution albeit with fewer species present in the Southern Hemisphere. Although recent studies revealed the existence of several new Sidera species, there are still taxonomic inconsistencies and obscure phylogenetic relationships amongst certain taxa of the genus. In this work, a large number of Sidera collections were used to obtain an updated phylogeny, based on ITS and 28S rDNA sequences by including new material from Mediterranean Europe. The monophyly of the genus was strongly supported and all species with poroid hymenophore formed a highly-supported lineage with two major subclades. In total, 23 putative species were recognised. Amongst those, five are considered to possibly represent entities new to science, but further work is required since they are represented by single specimens or environmental sequences. Examined collections originally named S.lenis from southern Europe were grouped within S.vulgaris . Similarly, several collections under various names were hereby identified as S.vulgaris , including those of the recently described species S.tibetica . Furthermore, a critical discussion (based on morphoanatomical findings) is made on the key features that could be used to distinguish S.lenis from S.vulgaris ., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Vassiliki Fryssouli, Elias Polemis, Milton A. Typas, Georgios I. Zervakis.)

The enzymatic arsenal of several soil microorganisms renders them particularly suitable for the degradation of lignocellulose, a process of distinct ecological significance with promising biotechnological implications. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal diversity and distribution of bacteria and fungi with 16S and Internally Trascribed Spacer (ITS) ribosomal RNA next-generation-sequencing (NGS), focusing on forest mainland Abies cephalonica and insular Quercus ilex habitats of Greece. We analyzed samples during winter and summer periods, from different soil depths, and we applied optimized and combined targeted meta-omics approaches aiming at the peroxidase-catalase family enzymes to gain insights into the lignocellulose degradation process at the soil microbial community level. The microbial communities recorded showed distinct patterns of response to season, soil depth and vegetation type. Overall, in both forests Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria , Acidobacteria were the most abundant bacteria phyla, while the other phyla and the super-kingdom of Archaea were detected in very low numbers. Members of the orders Agaricales , Russulales , Sebacinales , Gomphales , Geastrales , Hysterangiales , Thelephorales , and Trechisporales ( Basidiomycota ), and Pezizales , Sordariales , Eurotiales , Pleosporales , Helotiales , and Diaporthales ( Ascomycota ) were the most abundant for Fungi . By using optimized "universal" PCR primers that targeted the peroxidase-catalase enzyme family, we identified several known and novel sequences from various Basidiomycota , even from taxa appearing at low abundance. The majority of the sequences recovered were manganese peroxidases from several genera of Agaricales , Hysterangiales , Gomphales , Geastrales , Russulales , Hymenochaetales , and Trechisporales , while lignin -and versatile-peroxidases were limited to two to eight species, respectively. Comparisons of the obtained sequences with publicly available data allowed a detailed structural analysis of polymorphisms and functionally relevant amino-acid residues at phylogenetic level. The targeted metagenomics applied here revealed an important role in lignocellulose degradation of hitherto understudied orders of Basidiomycota , such as the Hysterangiales and Gomphales , while it also suggested the auxiliary activity of particular members of Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria , Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia , and Gemmatimonadetes . The application of NGS-based metagenomics approaches allows a better understanding of the complex process of lignocellulolysis at the microbial community level as well as the identification of candidate taxa and genes for targeted functional investigations and genetic modifications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Kalntremtziou, Papaioannou, Vangalis, Polemis, Pappas, Zervakis and Typas.)

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis appears extensively in the Northern Hemisphere, where Mediterranean ecosystems constitute an important ecological area of considerable biodiversity value. Littoral sand dunes are among high-risk habitats, and ectomycorrhizal lifestyle contributes significantly to supporting life in such regions. Mallocybe heimii (Bon) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. (Inocybaceae, Basidiomycota) and the very similar M. arenaria (Bon) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. grow in poor, usually sandy soils, in association with angiosperms or gymnosperms. Basidiomata originally identified under these names were collected from littoral sand dunes of Greece, and their morpho-anatomical characteristics were examined in conjunction with material derived from other European regions. Sequences from basidiomata and root tips corresponding to the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) were obtained and analyzed. Phylogenetic results demonstrated that material identified as M. heimii or M. arenaria form a single well-supported group, while M. agardhii (N. Lund) Matheny & Esteve-Rav. is confirmed to be distinct from M. arenaria (the latter was initially described as a variety of the former, i.e., I. agardhii var. arenaria Bon). A detailed tree of the genus Mallocybe was generated on the basis of concatenated ITS and LSU sequences, and relationships of selected taxa are discussed in the light of morphological and sequence data. In addition, the first morphotype descriptions of M. heimii ectomycorrhizae with Cistus creticus L. and Pinus halepensis Miller are hereby provided. Both morphotypes exhibited the typical characteristics of Inocybe/Mallocybe ectomycorrhizae; however, differences were noted, the most significant being the presence of clamps on mantle hyphae and the type of anastomoses.

Ganoderma P. Karst. is a cosmopolitan genus of white-rot fungi which comprises species with highly-prized pharmaceutical properties, valuable biotechnological applications and of significant phytopathological interest. However, the status of the taxonomy within the genus is still highly controversial and ambiguous despite the progress made through molecular approaches. A metadata analysis of 3908 nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences obtained from GenBank/ENA/DDBJ and UNITE was performed by targeting sequences annotated as Ganoderma , but also sequences from environmental samples and from material examined for the first time. Ganoderma taxa segregated into five main lineages (Clades A to E). Clade A corresponds to the core of laccate species and includes G. shanxiense and three major well-supported clusters: Cluster A.1 (' G. lucidum sensu lato') consists of taxa from Eurasia and North America, Cluster A.2 of material with worldwide occurrence including G. resinaceum and Cluster A.3 is composed of species originating from all continents except Europe and comprises G. lingzhi . Clade B includes G. applanatum and allied species with a Holarctic distribution. Clade C comprises taxa from Asia and Africa only. Clade D consists of laccate taxa with tropical/subtropical occurrence, while clade E harbours the highest number of non-laccate species with a cosmopolitan distribution. The 92 Ganoderma -associated names, initially used for sequences labelling, correspond to at least 80 taxa. Amongst them, 21 constitute putatively new phylospecies after our application of criteria relevant to the robustness/support of the terminal clades, intra- and interspecific genetic divergence and available biogeographic data. Moreover, several other groups or individual sequences seem to represent distinct taxonomic entities and merit further investigation. A particularly large number of the public sequences was revealed to be insufficiently and/or incorrectly identified, for example, 87% and 78% of entries labelled as G. australe and G. lucidum , respectively. In general, ITS demonstrated high efficacy in resolving relationships amongst most of the Ganoderma taxa; however, it was not equally useful at elucidating species barriers across the entire genus and such cases are outlined. Furthermore, we draw conclusions on biogeography by evaluating species occurrence on a global scale in conjunction with phylogenetic structure/patterns. The sequence variability assessed in ITS spacers could be further exploited for diagnostic purposes., (Vassiliki Fryssouli, Georgios I. Zervakis, Elias Polemis, Milton A. Typas.)

Chlorophyllum accommodates lamellate agaricoid species as well as sequestrate angiocarpic taxa, which do not form a monophyletic lineage within the genus. To clarify phylogenetic affinities and delimit species boundaries among sequestrate representatives of the genus, we analyzed historical and contemporary material from a broad geographic range, encompassing North America, southern Africa, eastern Asia, the Greek and Iberian peninsulas, and the Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Lesvos. Six sequestrate lineages of Chlorophyllum were identified, which appear to have evolved in at least three independent gasteromycetation events. Multigene analysis of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and portions of the nuc 28S rDNA (28S), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit ( rpb2 ), and translation elongation factor 1-α ( tef1 ) genes revealed the presence of a previously undescribed species, introduced here as Chlorophyllum levantinum , sp. nov. Its sister species C. lusitanicum , previously known only from Spain, is shown to have a wider distribution throughout the Mediterranean basin. A South African collection of Secotium gueinzii , a poorly known taxon described in 1840 and seldom appearing in literature since, was also shown to nest within Chlorophyllum . An epitype for this rare species is designated, Secotium becomes a priority synonym of Chlorophyllum , and nomenclatural implications are discussed. The phylogenetic placement of C. arizonicum is confirmed after successful sequencing of the century-old holotype and an undescribed sister lineage of this species detected. Emended descriptions of sections Chlorophyllum, Endoptychorum , and Sphaerospororum are provided to reflect current results, along with updated descriptions and extensive imagery for all known sequestrate taxa of Chlorophyllum .

Six wild edible mushroom species, Agaricus bisporus, A. bitorquis, A. gennadii, Coprinus comatus, Psathyrella candolleana and Volvopluteus gloiocephalus, were collected from the Greater Athens area (Greece), together with their soil substrates (two depth-layers) for studying bioaccumulation of heavy metals in a densely populated urban environment. Total and bioavailable Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations in soils were assessed along with their respective concentrations in mushrooms, and were evaluated in conjunction with soil properties, including K, P and Na content, CaCO 3 equivalent percentage, mechanical composition, pH and organic matter. In particular, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni displayed a high variability in their total and bioavailable concentrations measured in the upper soil layer. Relatively high Pb and Ni contents were measured in mushrooms, while Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations varied considerably. No significant correlations were detected between total concentrations of heavy metals in soils and mushrooms, whereas bioavailable fractions for several metals were significantly correlated with their respective content in A. bisporus, C. comatus, P. candolleana and V. gloiocephalus. K, Na and P concentrations in soils were associated to the content of several metals in fruit-bodies. The effect of soil texture on metals accumulation by mushrooms was species-dependent since high correlations were found for V. gloiocephalus and C. comatus only. Interactions between metals content in fruit-bodies seem to be species-specific except for Ni vs. Fe and Mn vs. Fe, which are positively correlated in all cases. Overaccumulation of metals in fruit-bodies was established only in respect to the bioavailable fractions of Cu, Mn, Zn and Ni in soil. The levels of toxicity for Pb were exceeded in mushrooms of five species, whereas the rest of the heavy metals (with the exception of Cu) were detected at lower contents than their recommended dietary allowances or tolerable upper intake levels., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The name Pleurotus opuntiae is indiscriminately used for describing mushrooms with white to off-white to white-grey pilei with short or absent stipe and dimitic hyphal system, which grow on plants of the genera Opuntia, Yucca, Agave, Phytolacca etc. However, the outcome of the present study evidences that this name should be reserved for specimens deriving from the Mediterranean area only; an epitype originating from Italy on Opuntia ficus-indica is designated. Pertinent material was sequenced by using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and found to be phylogenetically related to P. djamor from Kenya and Nigeria, while members of the P. djamor complex from other continents were clearly more distant. Results were further corroborated by examining the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The P. djamor complex shows high intraspecific polymorphism evidenced by sequence divergence and genetic distance values, presents a cosmopolitan distribution and also comprises material initially identified as P. flabellatus, P. opuntiae, P. ostreatoroseus, P. parsonsiae and P. salmoneostramineus. An ITS tree including representative specimens from all major Pleurotus species is provided for the first time and ambiguous taxa are discussed in the context of new findings., (Copyright © 2018 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Knowledge on the diversity of hypogeous sequestrate ascomycetes is still limited in the Balkan Peninsula. A new species of truffle, Tuberpulchrosporum , is described from Greece and Bulgaria. Specimens were collected from habitats dominated by various oak species (i.e. Quercusilex , Q.coccifera , Q.robur ) and other angiosperms. They are morphologically characterised by subglobose, ovoid to irregularly lobed, yellowish-brown to dark brown ascomata, usually with a shallow basal cavity and surface with fissures and small, dense, almost flat, trihedral to polyhedral warts. Ascospores are ellipsoid to subfusiform, uniquely ornamented, crested to incompletely reticulate and are produced in (1-)2-8-spored asci. Hair-like, hyaline to light yellow hyphae protrude from the peridium surface. According to the outcome of ITS rDNA sequence analysis, this species forms a distinct well-supported group in the Aestivum clade, with T.panniferum being the closest phylogenetic taxon.

An updated overview of the outcome of studies conducted on the culinary-medicinal mushroom Pleurotus nebrodensis is presented by placing emphasis on the clarification of the taxonomic identity of P. nebrodensis and other related taxa possessing entirely white to cream basidiomes, which grow in association with different plants of the family Apiaceae. Cultivation techniques, quality of the product sold and sales price, as well as nutritional and medicinal aspects are discussed. Taking also into consideration the high economic importance of P. nebrodensis, it is essential to proceed with the verification of the commercial strains currently available in the international market under the name of "P. nebrodensis" since it is very probable that many (or most) of them do not represent the real P. nebrodensis. TO confirm this hypothesis, an in silico analysis was conducted on a large of number of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA sequences deposited in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database under the name P. nebrodensis. Results demonstrated that all "P nebrodensis" material examined from China (plus several sequences of no reported origin) corresponded to P. eryngii subsp. tuoliensis, with only 2 exceptions, which were grouped within P. eryngii sensu stricto. The real P. nebrodensis biological material from Italy and Greece is certified and is available upon request by the authors at the University of Palermo and the Agricultural University of Athens.

The Pleurotus eryngii species-complex comprises choice edible mushrooms growing on roots and lower stem residues of Apiaceae (umbellifers) plants. Material deriving from extensive sampling was studied by mating compatibility, morphological and ecological criteria, and through analysis of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and IGS1 rRNA sequences. Results revealed that P. eryngii sensu stricto forms a diverse and widely distributed aggregate composed of varieties elaeoselini, eryngii, ferulae, thapsiae, and tingitanus. Pleurotuseryngii subsp. tuoliensis comb. nov. is a phylogenetically sister group to the former growing only on various Ferula species in Asia. The existence of Pleurotusnebrodensis outside of Sicily (i.e., in Greece) is reported for the first time on the basis of molecular data, while P. nebrodensis subsp. fossulatus comb. nov. is a related Asiatic taxon associated with the same plant (Prangos ferulacea). Last, Pleurotusferulaginis sp. nov. grows on Ferulago campestris in northeast Italy, Slovenia and Hungary; it occupies a distinct phylogenetic position accompanied with significant differences in spore size and mating incompatibility versus other Pleurotus populations. Coevolution with umbellifers and host/substrate specificity seem to play key roles in speciation processes within this fungal group. An identification key to the nine Pleurotus taxa growing in association with Apiaceae plants is provided., (Copyright © 2014 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)