Phallus rubrovolvatus, a rare edible and medicinal fungus unique to China, has extremely high nutritional values and medicinal potential. Since successful domestication, researchers have increasingly focused their attention on it; however, the research progress is still limited, and the researchers still face a lot of technical problems and bottlenecks. Based on domestic and international literatures, this review focuses on current research status of Ph. Rubrovolvatus, concerning taxonomic status, resource distribution, chemical composition and activities, artificial domestication and variety breeding, strain propagation and identification, and cultivation and management techniques. The existing problems are proposed for future deeper research and application of Ph. rubrovolvatus.
The subgen. Telamonia (Fr.) Trog is the largest subgenus in the genus Cortinarius sensu stricto. This subgenus shows exceptionally high species diversity and is considered as the most taxonomically challenging groups in Cortinarius s. str. In China, species belonging to the subgen. Telamonia represent about 40% of the known Cortinarius s. str. species, however, the species diversity of the subgenus in China probably remains largely underestimated. Here, based on morphological evidence and molecular phylogenetic analyses, two new species within the subgenus from southwestern China are described, namely C. obscuratus and C. alpigenus. Cortinarius obscuratus occurs in subtropical regions of Yunnan, primarily in the Gaoligong Mountains, whereas C. alpigenus is exclusively found from temperate subalpine habitats. Detailed descriptions, habitat photographs, and line drawings are provided, and a comparative discussion of their allied species are given.
Freshwater fungi play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems as key decomposers of submerged woody debris, facilitating nutrient cycling and maintaining ecological balance. Southern China has emerged as a global hotspot for freshwater fungal diversity, with numerous novel species being discovered in recent years. In this study, three fresh collections were collected from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guizhou Province. Based on comprehensive morphological comparisons and multi-locus (LSU, ITS, SSU, tef1-α) phylogenetic analyses, two novel species Neohelicascus multiseptatus and N. nanpanjiangensis were identified and described. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are given. In addition, a key to known species of Neohelicascus is also provided.
Geastrum, the most species-rich genus within the Geastraceae, exhibits a cosmopolitan distribution. Its diagnostic characteristic is the formation of stellate (star-like) basidiomata in most species, which serves as a key morphological feature for field identification. Based on morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis, a new species, Geastrum cangshanense, from Yunnan, southwest China, was described. G. cangshanense exhibits scattered to clustered unexpanded basidiomata (1.5-1.8 × 1.7-2.0 cm), with shallowly saccate to arched and 7-8 exoperidial rays, broadly conical peristome, silkily fibrillose, apically projecting, darker than the endoperidium and sharply delimited, and globose basidiospores (3.7-5.1 μm). Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined nrITS and nrLSU dataset indicated that G. cangshanense formed a distinct lineage within Geastrum. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and phylogenetic results of the new species are presented herein.
Wood-inhabiting fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems. In this study, a new wood-inhabiting fungus, Trechispora jingguensis, is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Trechispora jingguensis is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with grandinioid, white to slightly buff when fresh, turning slightly buff upon drying, a monomitic hyphal system, generative hyphae with clamp connections, and ellipsoid and aculeate basidiospores. Phylogenetic analysis was based on ITS and nLSU sequences, in combination with ML, MP, and BI methods. The results showed that the new species T. jingguensis was sister to T. crystallina. A full description, illustrations and phylogenetic analysis results of the new species are provided.
Bamboos belong to the subfamily Bambusoideae, representing a large group within the family Poaceae. Fungi of the genus Phyllachora are commonly found on bamboos; however, the species diversity of bamboo-inhabiting Phyllachora remains poorly understood. In the present study, two new species of Phyllachora collected from bamboos are described and illustrated using a combination of morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches. These are Phyllachora dendrocalamicola on Dendrocalamus giganteus, and P. phyllostachydicola on Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis. P. dendrocalamicola possesses ellipsoidal ascospores, measuring 13-18 × 5-8 μm. P. phyllostachydicola has long-ovate ascospores, rounded at the apex and acute at the base, measuring 19-26 × 7-10 μm.
Porpolomopsis is a species-poor genus with scattered geographic distribution within the family Hygrophoraceae. Prior to this study, it had not been documented in China. Herein, the first confirmed records of the genus are reported from the country. Based on morphological examination and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, nrLSU, and rpb2) of specimens collected from Anhui and Yunnan provinces, three new species are described: P. alba, P. persicina, and P. sinensis. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, microscopic illustrations, and a dichotomous key to the known species of the genus are provided. This study fills a taxonomic and biogeographic gap in the knowledge of Porpolomopsis in China and contributes to a better understanding of its global species diversity.
Yunnan Province of China possesses abundant bamboo resources, providing an ideal ecological environment for the growth of bambusicolous ascomycetes. In recent years, the diversity of bamboo-associated fungi has been increasingly reported. In this study, four specimens were collected from a bamboo forest in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Based on the multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (combined ITS, LSU, tef1-α, and rpb2 loci), detailed morphological comparisons, and nucleotide gap differences, two novel species, Roussoella dehongensis and R. uniseptata are introduced. In addition, R. bambusicola X. Mei Chen, Tibpromma & Karun. (11 Oct. 2024), and R. terricola X.D. Yu & Jian K. Liu (18 Oct. 2024), are proved to be synonymic. Roussoella bambusicola Jayasiri, Tibpromma & Karun is a later homonym of R. bambusicola X. Mei Chen, Tibpromma & Karun., thus, a new name R. ellipsoidea L.S. Han & D.Q. Dai, a new name is proposed. This study provides new data for the study of Roussoella.
Yaoshan National Nature Reserve, located in the karst forest region of northeastern Yunnan, is one of the key regions for biodiversity conservation in China. However, the diversity of macrofungi in this region remains poorly understood. To explore the current status of macrofungal resources, field investigations and specimen collections in this region were conducted from July 2017 to August 2020. Based on morphological and anatomical characteristics as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses, specimen identification was performed. Statistical analyses were conducted on species composition, floristic geographical components at generic level, endemic elements, economically important species, and species endangerment categories in the region. In total, 274 macrofungal species were identified, belonging to 2 phyla, 4 classes, 16 orders, 63 families, and 145 genera. The dominant families included Boletaceae, Russulaceae, Amanitaceae, Polyporaceae, Agaricaceae, Hydnaceae, and Tricholomataceae, accounting for 11.1% of the total number of macrofungal families, with the sum of species accounting for 46.4% of the total number of macrofungal species. The dominant genera were Amanita, Lactarius, Russula, Tricholoma, Laccaria, Suillus, Helvella, and Lactifluus, representing 5.5% of the total genera and 27.1% of the total species. Analysis of floristic geographical components at generic level revealed that the cosmopolitan component constituted the largest proportion (55.5%), and North Temperate component was the next (25.3%). The macrofungal flora also contained 12.3% pantropical elements, 6.2% East Asian elements, and 0.7% endemic elements. The Chinese endemic species account for 11.7% of the total species. There are 65 edible species, 20 medicinal species, 16 edible and medicinal dual-purpose species, and 59 poisonous species. Sequence analyses based on ITS and LSU regions suggest the occurrence of two putative new species (Neosarcodon sp. and Cuphophyllus sp.) in this area. To achieve effective conservation and sustainable utilization of macrofungal resources in the Yaoshan Nature Reserve, it is necessary to systematically further conduct background surveys and floristic studies, strengthen the training of local taxonomic professionals, enhance resource management and science outreach, establish a long-term dynamic monitoring system, and carry out germplasm conservation and artificial domestication of valuable species, so as to finally realize the coordinated development of fungal diversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization.
A pure culture strain (SSJ01) was obtained by isolating and purifying an orange edible mushroom purchased from a market in Kangding City, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and was identified as Laetiporus zonatus based on morphological characteristics and ITS sequence analysis. The mycelial growth conditions of this fungus were optimized through single-factor and orthogonal experiments, and a preliminary domestication study was conducted. The results of the single-factor experiments indicated that the optimal carbon source for mycelial growth was sucrose, the optimal nitrogen source was yeast extract, the optimal C/N was 30:1, the optimal temperature was 25 ℃, the optimal pH was 5.0, and the optimal light conditions were complete darkness; no inorganic salts were required. The orthogonal experiment showed that the effects of the tested factors on mycelial growth rate were ranked as temperature > pH > carbon source > nitrogen source. The optimal combination of culture condition was selecting fructose as the carbon source and peptone as the nitrogen source, and cultivation under 25 ℃ and pH 5.0. For domestication cultivation, substrate composed of 94% cottonseed hulls, 5% wheat bran, and 1% lime with moisture content of 55%-60% was adopted. After 30-35 day incubation in the dark at 25 ℃, the plastic cultivation bags fully colonised by mycelium were transferred to the conditions of 20-25 ℃, 85%-90% relative humidity, illumination of about 12 hours under diffused light and ventilation of three times per day. In about 20-30 days clustered early fruiting bodies formed. This research provides basic data for further studies of domestication, cultivation, development and utilization of Laetiporus zonatus.
A fungus strain Jzg-1 was obtained through tissue isolation from decaying poplar wood in the campus of Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University. Morphological and ITS sequence data indicated that it is Flammulina yunnanensis. Cultivation adaptation observation and amino acid composition analysis were conducted based on single-factor and orthogonal experiments. Results indicate that the optimal formula for Flammulina yunnanensis mycelial growth is: mannitol 12.5 g/L, peptone 2.5 g/L, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 3 g/L, calcium carbonate 1.5 g/L, with carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 5:1, and optimal pH of 5.0. The optimal solid substrate formulation for enlargement cultivation is: 44% barley straw, 30% cottonseed hulls, 22% wheat bran, 2% peanut shell powder, 1% sucrose, 1% gypsum powder, and 0.01% L-tryptophan. The biological efficiency of the first fruiting reached 34.60%. The fruiting bodies contained 17 acid-hydrolyzed amino acids with a total content of 160.50 mg/g. Essential amino acids accounted for 32.76% of the total amino acid content, of which histidine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and leucine appeared high-level. These findings provide reference data for the artificial cultivation and application of this edible fungus.
Ganoderma yunnanense was described in 2022, characterized by its purplish-brown pileus and pure white context. It is a rare Ganoderma resource with a certain foundation of folk application in Yunnan. This study utilized strain HL45, collected from the Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve, as the material. The optimal solid culture conditions for mycelial growth were screened through single-factor experiments combined with orthogonal testing. After spawn preparation, comparative experiments were conducted using two types of soil-covering cultivation modes to analyze differences in main agronomic traits. Fruiting bodies at three growth stages, primordium stage, stipe elongation stage, and maturity stage, were collected. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to analyze the differences in the content and composition of polysaccharides and triterpenoids, aiming at elucidation of the growth characteristics and active component accumulation patterns of G. yunnanense. The results showed that the optimal carbon source for mycelial growth was maltose, the optimal nitrogen source was ammonium sulfate, the optimal inorganic salt was zinc sulfate heptahydrate, and the optimal pH and temperature were 6.5 and 26 ℃, respectively. Four year artificial domestication and cultivation showed that the average growth cycle of bag-cultivation was 26 days, with a mycelial growth rate of 0.78 cm/d, an average yield of 16.62 g per bag, and a maximum biological efficiency of 10.26%. The entire cultivation cycle lasted approximately 4-5 months. The crude polysaccharide content showed a decrease trend with fruiting body maturity, being the highest at primordium stage (41.03 mg/g), moderate at stipe elongation stage (27.68 mg/g), and lowest at mature stage (16.68 mg/g). Conversely, the total triterpenoid content showed an increase trend with the maturity of fruiting bodies. Six triterpenoids were detected at the primordium stage, with a total content of 5 201.00 μg/g; four were detected at the stipe elongation stage, with a total content of 25 778.80 μg/g; nine were detected at the maturity stage, with a total content reaching 21 786.00 μg/g. This study provides reference for the conservation and utilization of germplasm resources, large-scale cultivation, and the exploitation and utilization of active components of G. yunnanense.
