Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is the second cultivatable species of Boletales with significant scientific and commercial potential value. To better develop and utilize this wild resource, the morphological and molecular identification and the biological characteristic investigation of a wild strain, JSJ-Bx1, were carried out. The results show that this wild strain belongs to B. xylophilus. The hyphae grow well under the temperature of 35℃ and pH 4.0 on the medium using glucose as carbon source, and yeast extract as nitrogen source with the addition of inorganic salt FeSO₄. The optimal medium formula consists of 20 g glucose, 2 g yeast extract, 1.5 g FeSO₄, 0.3 g 1/2 MS medium, 20 g agar, and 1 L water. The hypha growth rate is 11.38 mm/d. The optimal expanded cultivation substrate formula consists of 20% sawdust, 30% cottonseed hulls, 20% wheat grains, 10% corn flour, 10% red soil, 8% bran, 1% gypsum powder, 1% glucose, 0.1% KH₂SO₄, and 0.1% FeSO₄. The mycelial colonization period is about 20 days; primordial formation takes about 5 days, and the growth and maturation of the fruiting bodies takes about 7 days. The average yield is 96.64 g/bottle and the biological efficiency is 31.58%.

The species and ecological diversity of macrofungi in the Jingdong area of Ailao Mountain National Nature Reserve were investigated. Systematic field surveys and specimen collection in the area were conducted during August 2022 and July 2024. Utilizing morphological and molecular biological methods, comprehensive identifications of the collected specimens together with accumulative specimens in the past two decades were performed. In-depth statistical analyses focusing on species composition, floristic geographical components, resource evaluation, and newly recorded species were complemented. In total, 312 fungal species were documented in the region, encompassing 2 phyla, 7 classes, 22 orders, 66 families, and 131 genera. Among these, 27 species are edible, 13 medicinal, 5 both culinary and medicinal, and 23 poisonous. The dominant families include Russulaceae, Boletaceae, Omphalotaceae, Cortinariaceae, Amanitaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Entolomataceae, Mycenaceae, and Polyporaceae. The dominant genera cover Russula, Cortinarius, Amanita, Lactarius, Mycena, Gymnopus, Entoloma, Helvella, Hygrocybe, Collybiopsis, Xerocomus, and Laccaria. The cosmopolitan (57.25% of the total species), north temperate (29.77%), pantropic (9.92%), and East Asian fungi (3.05%) are predominant. Three species previously unrecorded in China are documented and one new species is decribed. Fungal communities within this ecological niche is in need of further research.

A Coprinellus saccharinus strain was isolated from mycelia on deciduous leaf humus in Nanshan Park (Qinglong County, Hebei, China). Four factors of biological characteristics were investigated. Fruiting bodies of this species were successfully cultivated. The scavenging capacities of both mycelium and fruiting body ethanol extracts against ABTS⁺·and·OH were also evaluated. The results indicated that the optimum carbon source for C. saccharinus strain were sucrose and soluble starch; the optimum nitrogen source was KNO₃; the suitable pH range was 7-9, and the highest mycelial growth rate was observed at 25 ℃. Domestication experiment showed that bottleful mycelial colonization time required 20-25 d at (20±1) ℃; primordium differentiation demanded temperature difference of 2-4 ℃, relative air humidity at 70%-80%, photoperoid of 12 h/d 800-1000 lx under scattered light, and a duration of 10-15 d. Mature fruiting bodies can be harvested after continued cultivation for 2-3 d. The antioxidant activities of C. saccharinus ethanol extracts from mycelia and cultivated fruiting bodies increased gradually as additive amount raising. Scavenging rates against both ABTS⁺· and ·OH peaked at an additive volume of 200 μL. Scavenging rates of ethanol extract of cultivated fruiting bodies reached 97.93% and 67.22%, respectively, significantly higher than those of mycelia (64.73% and 24.74%). Both mycelium and cultivated fruiting body ethanol extracts exhibited stronger scavenging capacity against ABTS⁺· than ·OH. Scavenging rate differentials were 39.99% and 30.71%, respectively. These findings provided a practical basis for further investigations into cultivation techniques, physiological activities, pharmacological effects, and other utilizations of C. saccharinus.

Wolfiporia hoelen is a traditional medicinal and edible fungus in China, with significant medicinal and economic values. Although large-scale cultivation of W. hoelen has been achieved domestically, some problems have to be settled urgently, including varietal admixture, unclear genetic backgrounds, and shortage of elite strains. Therefore, investigating the genetic diversity and establishing an efficient and accurate method for variety identification are of great importance. In this study, representative cultivated and wild strains of W. hoelen from China, as well as strains from Japan, were selected for genetic diversity analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a multi-nucleotide polymorphism (MNP) marker library was constructed. Population genetic structure analysis revealed that the tested strains could be divided into two major genetic groups, of which group A exhibited typical clonal genetic characteristics. The MNP marker library comprises 654 highly specific MNP markers, with genetic similarity (GS) among W. hoelen strains ranging from 9.6% to 100%, and the GS among strains within group A reach 99.8% to 100%. Genome resequencing of subcultured and protoplast-regenerated strains confirmed that the stability of MNP markers was not affected by short-term asexual reproduction. This study provides a reliable method for strain identification and offers support for parental selection in W. hoelen hybrid breeding.

Hericium erinaceus polysaccharides as the main active component extracted from H. erinaceus have many biological activities such as anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, and immune regulation. However, there are some limitations in solubility, bioavailability and activity intensity of natural H. erinaceus polysaccharides. In recent years, certain progress has been made in the studies of chemical modification, and structural features, having effects on the biological activities of H. erinaceus polysaccharides. In this paper, the recent advances in the study of chemical modification and biological activities of H. erinaceus polysaccharides are summarized, and the chemical modification methods of H. erinaceus polysaccharides through introducing new functional groups to substitute hydroxyl groups on the polysaccharide chains are elucidated. The changes in the structure and physicochemical properties of the chemically modified H erinaceus polysaccharides are introduced, and the alterations in biological activities and the underlying mechanisms of the chemically modified H. erinaceus polysaccharides are analyzed and discussed. It is expected that this work might provide a theoretical basis for further exploration of modification of H. erinaceus polysaccharides.

Edible and medicinal fungi are very rich in China. With the continuous deepening research on their species diversity and phylogeny, their species name and taxonomic status are continuously updated. Some species previously reported in China have found to be not existent in China. Some species have proved to be complex species or cryptic species. Previously, the edible and medicinal fungi in China were usually reported in the form of species checklist, and their taxonomic status and species composition were not clearly demonstrated. This article updates the checklist of edible and medicinal fungi in China in the form of species cataloging, with demonstration of their taxonomic status, based on the latest research results. A total of 1 495 species is recorded, belonging to 2 phyla, 10 classes, 29 orders, 115 families, and 353 genera. Among them, 1 013 species are edible, 744 medicinal and 262 simultaneously edible and medicinal. Of which, 33.1% of the species are previously unreported or taxonomically revised. It was found that edible fungi were dominated by species of Agaricales (44%), Russulales (16%) and Boletales (13%) of the Agaricomycetes, as well as Pezizales (6%) of the Pezizomycetes; medicinal fungi were dominated by species of Agaricales (35%), Polyporales (19%), Hymenochaetales (11%), Russulales (7%) and Boletales (7%) of the Agaricomycetes and Hypocreales (6%) of the Sordariomycetes.

Database/Dataset Profile

The in vitro antioxidant effects and mechanisms in protecting human skin fibroblasts (HSF) from oxidative stress damage of the ethyl acetate extract of Inonotus hispidus (EAE) and its main components (fractions Fr1-Fr5 and hispidin) are investigated. Through UPLC-MS detection, in vitro antioxidant experiments, network pharmacology, and other experimental methods, the composition of polyphenolic compounds in EAE, the reducing ability and free radical scavenging ability of EAE, Fr1-Fr5, and hispidin, as well as the potential targets and pathways of hispidin in treating oxidative stress diseases were investigated. Result indicates that EAE contains various polyphenolic compounds, with hispidin being the primary one. EAE, Fr1-Fr5, and hispidin all exhibit certain reducing and free radical scavenging abilities, with antioxidant capacity ranking as EAE>Fr1-Fr5>hispidin. Network pharmacology analysis speculated that hispidin had nine core targets for treating oxidative stress diseases and they were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway and several other signaling pathways. An oxidative stress injury model for HSF cells was established. By using various methods, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, collagen levels, and the expression of related proteins and relative messenger RNA (mRNA) were detected. The results indicate that 200 μg/mL of EAE, Fr4, and hispidin can enhance the survival rate and antioxidant capacity of HSF under oxidative stress, reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) content and ROS levels, promote the synthesis of typeⅠcollagen (COLI), and possibly inhibit its degradation by regulating the MMPs/TIMPs system in the MAPK pathway. EAE has a significant protective effect on HSF under oxidative damage. In summary, this study verified that the ethyl acetate extract of I. hispidus and its active components possess strong antioxidant capabilities and can improve damage caused by oxidative stress by acting on multiple targets through the MAPK signaling pathway.

A wild white macrofungi collected from Leye County of Guangxi was identified as albino Oudemansiella raphanipes through morphological observation and molecular analysis. Optimal conditions for mycelial growth, including carbon source, nitrogen source, pH and temperature were determined using single-factor and orthogonal tests. The results showed that the suitable carbon source and nitrogen source were fructose (30 g/L) and yeast extract powder (8 g/L), respectively. The suitable pH and temperature were 8.0 and 25 ℃ respectively. The optimum combination condition for vigorous growth was fructose of 20 g/L, yeast extract powder of 6 g/L, pH of 7.0 and temperature of 25 ℃. Expanded bag-cultivation trials with 15 cm × 26 cm cultivation bag revealed that the bagful mycelial colonization time, in substrate containing 78% sawdust, was about 25 days, and subsequent cultivation for approximately 20 days resulted in appearance of the brown mottlement. The mushroom button arose approximately 60 days after soil-covering soil on the split of upside-down mushroom bag, and the fruiting bodies could be harvested after 4-6 days of subsequent cultivation. The average fresh fruiting body weight was 41.83 g/bag and the average biological efficiency was 16.09% in two fruiting stages. Albino O. raphanipes was susceptible to Trichoderma harzianum, with 33.04% inhibition rate before contact and 95.55% infection rate after contact. This research provides a theory reference for extended development and utilization of an albino O. raphanipes.

As a rare and traditional medicinal fungus in China, sanghuang is renowned for its multifaceted pharmacological properties, including antitumor, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic activities. Notably, its hypolipidemic effect has drawn significant interest, yet its specific mechanism of action remains unclear. This study employed an integrated approach combining in vitro assays and network pharmacology to investigate the lipid-lowering mechanism of Sanghuangporus quercicola. Pancreatic lipase inhibition assays demonstrated that the fruiting body extract of S. quercicola (40 mg/mL) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase, with an inhibition rate of 89.50%. Additionally, it showed sodium taurocholate and sodium glycocholate binding capacities of 34.59% and 49.12%, respectively, highlighting its hypolipidemic potential. Through ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TOF/MS), 124 metabolites were identified, and 15 candidate bioactive compounds were selected based on drug-likeness rule of five. Subsequent target prediction using OMIM and GeneCards databases identified hyperlipidemia-associated targets, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and analysis, which pinpointed IL6, TNF, and AKT1 as core therapeutic targets. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant associations with the PPAR signaling pathway, the lipid metabolism pathway, and the atherosclerosis pathway, suggesting that S. quercicola may alleviate hyperlipidemia by modulating inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism. Molecular docking analysis confirmed the binding capabilities of the identified compounds with core targets, with binding energies ranging from -3.8 to -9.3 kcal/mol. This study preliminarily elucidates the hypolipidemic mechanism of S. quercicola through a combination of in vitro experiments and network pharmacology, providing a theoretical foundation for the development of lipid-lowering drugs or functional foods.

The chemical constituents of Ganoderma subangustisporum and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were investigated. Two cadinane-type sesquiterpenes, 17-hydroxy-12-ethoxycarbonyl-α-cadinol (1) and 12-hydroxy-α-cadinol (2), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of G. angustisporum mycelial cultures. Their structures were elucidated through high-resolution mass spectrometry, comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis and quantum chemical calculations. Compound 1 is novel due to the acetylation of its 12-hydroxy group, while compound 2 is reported for the first time from the genus Ganoderma. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with IC₅₀ values of (96.72±3.87) μmol/L and (56.82±4.70) μmol/L, respectively. Molecular docking results indicate that compounds 1 and 2 primarily interact with key amino acid residues in the active site of α-glucosidase through hydrogen bonds.

Two crustose lichen species of Acarospora are reported as new to science based on the comprehensive data of morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics, combined with the phylogenetic analyses inferred from tri-locus sequences of the nuclear ribosome internal transcriptional spacer (ITS), the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU), and the nuclear ribosome large subunit (nrLSU). Acarospora aenea is mainly characterized by rust-colored upper surface, immersed apothecia, black and epruinose disc, thick upper cortex, and large ascospores (4-6.5 × 2.5-3.5 µm); whereas Acarospora turpanensis is characterized by its reddish brown to whitish brown upper surface with pruina, uneven algal layer, and its narrowly ellipsoid ascospores with perispore. The assemble species by automatic partitioning (ASAP) analysis of ITS sequence alignment data also supports the recognition of the new species.

In this study, the wild strains of Volvariella bombycina collected from the Qilian Mountains were used as the research object. Through morphological identification and ITS molecular phylogenetic analysis, it was identified as V. bombycina. The biological characteristics and artificial domestication and cultivation conditions were analyzed by using the isolated and purified strains as test materials. Through single factor analysis, it was found that the mycelia of V. bombycina showed the best growth state under the conditions of 28-30 ℃, pH 8.0 and C:N ratio of 40:1. Through orthogonal test, the optimum cultivation conditions were determined as follows: corn flour of 20 g/L, soybean flour of 5 g/L, carbon-nitrogen ratio of 40:1, pH 8.0, and growth temperature of 28 ℃. V. bombycina showed adaptable to a variety of media. The stock culture grows best on substrate containing 75% wheat. It can grow and develop normally on the substrate using sawdust, corncob and cottonseed hull as the main materials, and it can also develop normally on the substrate using corncob as the main material. Growth period from inoculation to fruiting body harvest was about 20-25 days, and the biological conversion rate reached 95%. The 15% mannitol was suitable for storage of the strain. This study provides reference for industrialization and market promotion of V. bombycina production.

Dentiscutata hongfenghuana, a new species of Dentiscutata (Gigasporaceae, Diversisporales, Glomeromycotina), was discovered from rhizosphere soil of Capsicum annuum surrounding Hongfeng Lake in Qingzhen City, Guizhou Province. The species has colorless and transparent spores that are white to light greenish-yellow, with dimensions of 185-191 × 298-460 μm. The sporogenous cells are brownish-yellow, nearly spherical to flask-shaped, with a pale yellow to brownish-yellow germination shield 3-8-lobed. The spore wall consists of three layers: outer wall layers (OWL1-3), middle wall layers (MWL1-2), and inner wall layers (IWL1-3). The OW turns rust-colored to reddish-black in Melzer’s reagent, the MW shows no reaction, and the IW is stained light pink to deep purplish-red. The nuclear rDNA sequence [covering part of the small subunit (SSU), the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and part of the large subunit (LSU)] supports its placement as a unique evolutionary branch within the genus Dentiscutata. Detailed morphological description, characteristic illustrations, and information of the type specimen are provided, and the distinguishing features of closely related species are discussed.

Ancient Platycladus orientalis holds significantly historical, cultural, and landscape ecological value. The species of the genus Alternaria are diverse and widely distributed in the world, and they are important pathogens causing leaf blight of P. orientalis. In this study, a large number of Alternaria isolates were collected from blighted leaf specimens of ancient P. orientalis in Beijing. Based on the morphological characteristics of conidia, conidiophores, and conidiogenous cells on PCA medium, in combination with phylogenetic analyses of the ITS, GAPDH, TEF1, RPB2, and ALT gene loci, these isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata, A. subcucurbitae, A. cantlous and a novel species, Alternaria platycladi. A. subcucurbitae and A. cantlous are reported on P. orientalis for the first time. Koch’s postulates confirmed that all four Alternaria species could cause leaf blight of P. orientalis.

Aspergillus cristatus is the dominant fungus in the fermentation process of Fuzhuan brick tea. Osmotic pressure can regulate the pure sexual and asexual reproduction of this fungus. MpdA plays a crucial regulatory role in spore formation and mannitol biosynthesis of fungi, which is also related to the response to osmotic pressure. To elucidate the role of the AcMpdA gene in the development and stress response of A. cristatus, and to investigate the connection between development and metabolites, the AcMpdA-deficient strain (∆AcMpdA) was constructed. By comparing the morphological differences and metabolite changes between the mutant and the wild-type strain, the following results were obtained. The mycelial branches of the mutant increased, ascospores were underdeveloped, and the number of conidia decreased. The mutant is more sensitive to congo red, osmotic stress, and heat stress. The mannitol test results showed that the mannitol content of the mutant strain was 61% less than that of the wild-type strain. Metabolomic result analysis revealed significant differences in 1 555 metabolites between the mutant and the wild-type strain. The differential metabolites included lipid and lipoid molecules, organic heterocyclic compounds, organic acids and their derivatives, among which lipid and lipoid substances accounted for a relatively high proportion. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in metabolism, genetic information processing, environmental information processing, and cellular process pathways. The deletion of AcMpdA significantly affected the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and arachidonic acid metabolism. In conclusion, the AcMpdA gene of A. cristatus influences mycelial branching, ascospore and conidium formation, diminishes the ability to withstand environmental stress, and modulates the metabolic processes of lipids and lipoid molecules. The regulatory impact of this gene on lipid substances and their pathways has not been documented in the Aspergillus.

A distinctive medicinal fungus-insect complex formed by Ophiocordyceps gracilis on the larvae of Ahamus altaicola in the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang, China, has demonstrated considerable potential in immunomodulation, antioxidant, antitumor, and antibacterial activities due to its richness of bioactive compounds, such as nucleosides, polysaccharides, cordycepic acid, and amino acids. This review systematically summarizes the research progress on O. gracilis, covering its taxonomy and nomenclature, resource distribution and biological characteristics, chemical composition, pharmacological activities, and artificial cultivation. Key current challenges are proposed including evaluation of natural distribution and resources, pharmaceutical activities, artificial cultivation, and in vivo efficacy and clinical trials. Future research directions are proposed, emphasizing the need to enhance natural resource ecology and conservation, elucidation of the mechanisms of fungus-host interaction, and establishment of a multi-dimensional quality control system. This review aims at providing a scientific framework to guide the sustainable utilization and advanced development of this valuable medicinal resource.

Inonotus obliquus is a medicinal and edible fungus traditionally used for treating diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hepatitis, and related disorders. In this study, by use of solvent extraction and chromatographic techniques (reversed-phase silica gel, normal-phase silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20), eight compounds were isolated from I. obliquus. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as gallic acid (1), syringic acid (2), caffeic acid (3), 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one (4), inotodiol (5), cortinellin (6), lanosterol (7), and peroxide ergosterol (8). Anti-allergic activity assays demonstrated that inotodiol (5) significantly inhibited mast cell degranulation at concentrations of 4.96, 9.92, and 15.50 μmol/L, with inhibition rates of 51.03%, 30.53%, and 23.07%, respectively, indicating potent anti-allergic efficacy. Notably, inotodiol (5) exhibited unobserved cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 15.50 μmol/L, highlighting its potential as a candidate for novel anti-allergic drug development.

A strain of Irpex was isolated from Auricularia cornea-cultivated substrate using banboo shavings. Through morphological observation and ITS sequencing analysis, the strain was identified as Irpex laceratus. The orthogonal experiment results indicated that the main factor affecting the mycelial growth of I. laceratus was the nitrogen source, followed by the carbon source, pH and temperature. The optimal carbon to nitrogen ratio is 50:1-52:1. Addition of 14.5%-43.5% bamboo shavings significantly accelerated mycelial growth. The content of active substances varied with different formulations of cultivated substrates. Formula B (wood shavings 29%, bamboo shavings 29%, wheat bran 20%, cottonseed hulls 20%, lime 1%, gypsum 1%) exhibited the highest total triterpene content (66.10 mg/g); formula I (bamboo shavings 78%, wheat bran 20%, lime 1%, gypsum 1%) showed the highest total protein content (21.83%); formula CK (wood chips 58%, wheat bran 20%, cottonseed husks 20%, lime 1%, gypsum 1%) exhibited the highest total flavonoid content (0.99 mg/g); formula C (wood chips 14.5%, bamboo chips 43.5%, wheat bran 20%, cottonseed husks 20%, lime 1%, gypsum 1%) had the highest polysaccharide content of 2.80 g/100 g; formula F (bamboo chips 68%, wheat bran 20%, cottonseed husks 10%, lime 1%, gypsum 1%) demonstrated the highest total phenol content of 19.02 mg/g. The results provide valuable reference data for the cultivation and medicinal development of I. laceratus.

Cultivation of the wild Inocutis levis isolated from Populus euphratica in Xiaoguai Town in Karamay of Xinjiang was carried out. It was found that using starch and yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, with the addition of KH₂PO₄ as inorganic salt, the fungus grew well under pH 9 and 35 ℃ conditions. During liquid cultivation, polysaccharide, polyphenol, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, scavenging abilities for free radicals, and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the fungus were determined. The results provide basic data for the protection, evaluation, development, and utilization of this wild medicinal fungus resources in the future.

Cryptococcal infection often leads to fatal cryptococcal meningitis, with the primary pathogens being the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex (CNSC) and the Cryptococcus gattii species complex (CGSC). To date, at least eight cryptococcal lineages have been identified, which exhibit significant differences in geographic distribution and virulence characteristics. This review provides a detailed analysis of various molecular typing methods used in cryptococcal research, including serotyping, multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), PCR fingerprinting, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), mass spectrometry identification (MALDI-TOF MS), and whole genome sequencing (WGS) techniques. In the future, combined application of MALDI-TOF MS, WGS and AI machine learning would improve our understandings of the epidemiological characteristics and evolutionary history of Cryptococcus, and reveal the phylogenetic patterns, origin location and transmission patterns of cryptococcal pathogens, as well as the micro-evolutionary mutations occurring within host niches, which are of great significance to clinical decisions on diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcosis.

Growth conditions of Fomitiporia rhamnoidis are optimized, and bag-culture substrate for inducing and promoting the formation of fruiting bodies is further explored. The effects of carbon source, nitrogen source, temperature, pH and growth factors on the growth of F. rhamnoidis were studied by single factor test and orthogonal test. The results of single factor experiment showed that the optimum carbon source was soluble starch; the optimum nitrogen source was soybean powder, and the optimum growth factor was VB₁. The fungus mycelia grew well at the optimum temperature of 28 °C and the optimum pH of 6.5. The results of orthogonal test showed that the mycelium growth rate was the fastest and the growth condition was the best when soluble starch was used as carbon source, wheat bran as nitrogen source, and VB₇ as growth factor, and adjusting the pH to 6.0. Under the above optimal conditions, the mycelium bagfully colonized and yellowed, but the fruiting bodies were not successfully induced by using five different bag cultivation substrates. Domestication and cultivation of F. rhamnoidis need further study.

Physarum subgalbeum sp. nov. is described through observation of integrated morphological characterization and multigene phylogenetic analyses (nrSSU, mtSSU, α-Tub, and COI). The life cycle of P. subgalbeum was investigated in water agar medium and microscopic structure formation at different stages during sporulation was observed. This species is similar to P. galbeum in having golden yellow sporocarps. However, it differs in that its sporocarps often fuse into clusters, the spore surface is densely covered with small spines, and the lime nodes are elongated fusiform. Phylogenetic analysis results indicate that P. subgalbeum forms an independent monophyletic clade and constitutes a sister group relationship with P. galbeum. The spore germination of P. subgalbeum is split type, the plasmodial type is of phaneroplasmodium and sporulation requires approximately 10-12 hours, with lime nodes and capillitium forming prior to spore maturation. A comprehensive morphological description, including detailed micrographs, results of phylogenetic analyses, as well as a thorough account of its life cycle accompanied by corresponding microscopic images are provided.

Coprinellus micaceus, the most common species of coprinoid fungi with extremely abundant resources, having potential in enhancing seed germination of medicinal orchid Cremastra appendiculata was investigated. Fruiting bodies of Co. micaceus were collected from the wild, and the hyphae were isolated from inner side of hollow stipe. Hyphal tip purification method was used to obtain multiple strains, and the two strains first obtained were named as S-1 and S-2 for subsequent experiments. S-1 was co-cultivated with Cr. appendiculata seeds on oat media to observe seed germination. Acid fuchsin staining was used to observe the morphology of protocorms formed on oat media and the hyphal colonization, and ITS sequencing of S-1 was performed. Spawn of S-2 was fragmented and mixed into potting soil, and covered with soil to induce fruiting bodies, while seeds of Cr. appendiculata were sown to simulate field inoculation. Endogenous strain were isolated from the protocorms, yielding S-3, and ITS sequencing of S-3 was performed. Additionally, dried and ground mycelial fragments of Co. micaceus were added to oat media to test whether the fungus could still promote seed germination under sterile conditions. The results showed that the fruiting body morphology and ITS sequences of both S-1 and S-3 matched those of Co. micaceus. Co. micaceus enhanced seed germination in both oat media and soil substrates. Acid fuchsin staining revealed that protocorms could digest invasive hyphae. Moreover, the mycelial powder of Co. micaceus in sterile oat media could also promote the germination of Cr. appendiculata seeds. This study demonstrates that Co. micaceus possesses potential to support the conservation and cultivation of Cr. appendiculata.

Shitai County is located in south of Anhui Province, China. The rich vegetation in this county provides a favorable growth environment for various types of macrofungi. An in-depth investigation of macrofungal resources was conducted at 58 sampling sites in the county in 2024 by using the line transect method and random survey method. In total, 743 specimens were collected. Based on morphological and molecular methods, 285 species of macrofungi were identified, belonging to 2 phyla, 7 classes, 18 orders, 76 families, and 178 genera, of which 14 species of Ascomycota were referred to 3 classes, 4 orders, 8 families, and 13 genera, and 271 species of Basidiomycota to 4 classes, 14 orders, 68 families, and 165 genera. Five dominant families containing more than 10 species each are Polyporaceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Russulaceae, and Omphalotaceae, which comprise 88 species accounting for 30.88% of all the known species. Seven dominant genera containing more than 5 species each are Russula, Trametes, Xylodon, Fuscoporia, Hymenochaete, Peniophora, and Marasmius, which comprise 50 species accounting for 17.54% of all the known species. There are 7 geographical distribution types at the genus level. The cosmopolitan genera and pantropic genera were found to be the most dominant, with 87 and 42 genera respectively. The resource evaluation showed that 19 species are edible, 26 medicinal, 19 simultaneously edible and medicinal, and 9 poisonous. The results provide basic data for the protection and sustainable utilization of macrofungal resources in Shitai County.

This study aims at investigating whether Trichophyton mentagrophytes enhances its host adaptability through homothallic sexual reproduction. The clinical isolate JYP23487, obtained from the hair of a 3-year-old boy suffered from kerion lesion, was identified as T. mentagrophytes via ITS sequencing following purification. Morphological analysis revealed two distinct phenotypes, velvety type and granular type, with evidence of self-fertilization. After isolating these phenotypes individually, the MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 gene fragments were amplified for further analysis. Sequence chromatograms were compared, and a haplotype network diagram was constructed by referencing available data on T. mentagrophytes and related species harboring the MAT1-1-1 gene locus. Sequence comparison revealed that the granular type strain exhibited base doublets at common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites within the T. mentagrophytes complex population, indicating that this strain was heterozygous. Haplotype analysis of the MAT1-1-1 gene demonstrated that 30 strains of T. mentagrophytes and related species could be classified into four haplotypes. The heterozygous strain JYP23487k corresponded to the hypothetical intersection point between Hap 1 and Hap 2 in the haplotype networks. This finding fills a critical gap in the evolutionary continuum of the population and supports the genetic continuity inferred from haplotype analysis. The identification of this heterozygous strain provides evidence that besides colonizing and infecting humans through asexual reproduction, T. mentagrophytes also employs homothallic sexual reproduction as an adaptive strategy to explore potential host transfer and survive in diverse ecological niches.

The informal term ‘dahongjun' or ‘big red mushroom' is a group of red-coloured russulas widely collected and consumed in southern China, originally mistakenly recognized as the European Russula vinosa. Russula griseocarnosa was described from China in 2009, and since then, it has become the only available scientific name for ‘dahongjun'. Nevertheless, several lineages exist within this complex, and whether these lineages represent real species is still an open question. Sampling in major producing areas of ‘dahongjun' and phylogenetic species recognition using multi-locus data were conducted. Besides R. griseocarnosa nine additional species were identified under the commercial name ‘dahongjun', including R. dhakuriana, R. quercina, R. purpureozonata, R. yanheensis and a new species sister to R. griseocarnosa here described as R. occulta. The others were undescribed species close to R. laricina, R. lepida, and R. purpureozonata respectively. Six evolutionary lineages within R. griseocarnosa were defined by genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition based on five-locus DNA data. Conflicts among different genealogies suggested that R. griseocarnosa is best considered as a single phylogenetic species, comprising several infraspecific taxa. Lower coverage whole genome sequencing of R. griseocarnosa holotype discovered that its three individuals belong to three different clades. Lectotypification was made using one of the three individuals. A new variety R. griseocarnosa var. ailaoshanensis is described to name one of the terminal clades that is mainly distributed in Ailao Mountains. This variety differs morphologically from the type variety in its nearly white context, bigger spores and more inflated hyphae in the pileipellis. The morphological and molecular data provided in this study are helpful to identify wild edible mushrooms of Russula subgen. Russula.

Total amino acids are essential in Lentinula edodes for protein synthesis and physiological functions. In this study, protoplast fusion of eight parental strains, Le7, Le8, Le10, Le20, Le25, Le28, Le30 and XT08, resulted in the acquirement of 42 verified hybrids. Hybridization affinity averaged 80.8%. Among the hybrids, 25 (59.5%) exhibited amino acid heterosis, of which R23 was the highest (2.66 mg/g). Through combining ability analysis three elite monokaryons (Le7-8, Le10-46, Le28-3) and four superior hybrids (R23, R5, R32, R36) were identified. SSR analysis with nine primers revealed 100% polymorphism. UPGMA clustering divided the strains into two groups: most hybrids clustered with parents, while some showed significant genetic divergence. These results provide key materials and theoretical support for breeding high-amino-acid L. edodes strains.

Twenty-four newly isolated strains of white-rot fungi were cultured on guaiacol- supplemented medium for screening laccase-producible strains, the capacity of laccase production of the 12 strains obtained was analysed in submerged fermentation and solid-state fermentation on different lignocellulosic substrates. The results indicated that there was no significant correlation between the laccase activity detected under submerged fermentation conditions and the ratio of colony diameters to photochromic laps among the 12 test strains (P>0.05). Similarly, no significant association was observed between the laccase activity detected during solid-state fermentation on different lignocellulosic substrates and the ratio of colony diameters to photochromic laps for the various test strains (P>0.05). In submerged fermentation, Cerrena unicolor LKY 798, Trametes hirsuta LKY 831, Funalia trogii LKY 846, and Neofavolus alveolaris LKY 850 exhibited comparatively high laccase activities keeping for a fairly long duration. N. alveolaris LKY 850 and Trametes sp. LKY 797 demonstrated the strongest laccase production capacities under solid-state fermentation condition using leaves of Quercus variabilis, Populus beijingensis, and needles of Pinus tabuliformis as substrates. It seems that leaves of Quercus variabilis and Populus beijingensis are more suitable than needles of Pinus tabuliformis for laccase production under solid-state fermentation condition. Additionally, Trametes sp. LKY 797, F. trogii LKY 846, and N. alveolaris LKY 850 showed relatively good laccase activities in fermentation using needles of Pinus tabuliformis as the substrate, with maximum laccase activities exceeding 3 700 U/mL.

Phialophora verrucosa infection can cause phaeohyphomycosis and chromoblastomycosis, with cutaneous lesions often presenting as black proliferation. Diagnosis and treatment are particularly challenging, especially in immunocompromised patients. In this paper, a case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by P. verrucosa infection in a post-renal transplant patient is reported. The patient was a 66-year-old male farmer presenting a plaque on the lateral aspect of the right hand for four months. He underwent renal transplantation 15 years ago and had been receiving long-term oral immunosuppressive therapy with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. Histopathological examination revealed a large infiltration of inflammatory cells and multinucleated macrophages, along with brown, round, thick-walled spores and pigmented septate hyphae. Culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar produced black velvety colonies, and microscopic examination showed pigmented, branched, and septate hyphae. Slide cultures demonstrated phialide structures resembling bouquets; the phialides were flask-shaped or elliptical, producing oval conidia; the conidia aggregated in clusters around the phialide apex, resembling a flower. The morphological features were consistent with those of P. verrucosa. The illness was diagnosed as phaeohyphomycosis. Oral itraconazole was administered and the dose of the immunosuppressant tacrolimus was reduced. Six months later, the cutaneous lesions largely resolved. The skin lesions caused by P. verrucosa infection are usually black in color, and are often clinically misdiagnosed as malignant melanoma. Timely identification of the pathogen and initiation of antifungal therapy are critical for successful treatment, and it is essential to appropriately reduce immunosuppressive agents in renal transplant recipients.

To improve the utilization of Pseudostellaria heterophylla by-product resources and broaden the sources of feed, the bi-directional solid-state fermentation of medicinal P. heterophylla and Trametes versicolor was carried out. The substrate formula was optimized using mixture design with the mycelial growth rate as response value. The change in the content of bioactive compositions was assayed during the mycelial post-maturation stage. The content of nutritional and bioactive compositions and antioxidant activities of the fermented substrate were determined. The optimal substrate consisted of 59% corncob, 10% P. heterophylla roots, 29% wheat bran, 1% gypsum, and 1% lime. The content of polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharopeptide, and polysaccharides in the substrate increased with time during the mycelial post-maturation stage, while the triterpenoids decreased first and then increased. In scaled-up fermentation in plastic bags, the crude protein content of the fermented substrate was 8.20%, or increased by 31.41% as compared with that of the non-fermented substrate (6.24%). The crude ash content rose from 3.50% to 8.10% or increased by 131.43%. The content of polyphenols reached 6.87 mg/g, 8.70% higher than that of the non-fermented control (6.32 mg/g). The neutral detergent fiber content decreased considerably, while the acidic detergent fiber increased. The scavenging rate of ethanol extract of the fermented substrate against DPPH radicals was almost close to that of the non-fermented control, while that of the water extract was lower than that of the control. ABTS radical scavenging rate of both the water and ethanol extracts of the fermented substrate was lower than that of the non-fermented substrate. The present study provides a useful reference for the utilization of P. heterophylla by-product resources and the development of the fermented substrate as animal feed.

Through germplasm resource collection, protoplast mononuclear hybridization, preliminary screening, plot cultivation comparison, regional trials, and two-year demonstration promotions across five locations, a novel Ganoderma lingzhi cultivar, ‘Xianzhi 5’, was successfully developed. This cultivar exhibits stable traits, high yield, and superior quality. It is characterized by dense, white villous mycelium with slightly fluffy, non-pigmented appearance. The optimal growth temperature for mycelia is 26-28 ℃, while the fruiting temperature ranges from 23 to 28 ℃. The fruiting bodies are kidney-shaped, semicircular, or nearly circular, featuring a reddish-brown surface with radial longitudinal ridges and ring patterns, and a light yellow underside. The stem is partial or central, displaying purple-brown, lacquer-like appearance. On average, the cap diameter is 225.9 mm, the thickness is 42.8 mm, and the stipe length is 111.1 mm. The cultivation period from planting to harvest is approximately 148 days. In multi-segment wood cultivation, ‘Xianzhi 5’ achieves an average absolute biological conversion rate of 3.57%, and the increase of production is 6.9% and 8.5% higher than that of the control cultivars ‘Xianzhi 1’ and ‘Hunong 1’, respectively. In regard to basidiospore powder production, the average absolute biological conversion rate is 3.62%, surpassing the production of ‘Xianzhi 1’ by 7.1% and ‘Hunong 1’ by 10.0%. The fruiting bodies contain 2.67% polysaccharides and 1.39% triterpenic acid, while the basidiospore powder contains 6.50% glycerol trioleate and 1.19% polysaccharides. During the demonstration and promotion phases, the yield of fruiting bodies and basidiospore powder, as well as the content of active components, remained stable. These results demonstrate that ‘Xianzhi 5’ is a cultivar with excellent comprehensive traits, making it a valuable addition to the field of medicinal mushroom cultivation.

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) plays crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems. This study employed high-throughput sequencing to analyze the structure and diversity, ecological distribution patterns, and relationships with soil factors of AM fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil and roots of Allium ramosum at different elevations on Chunkun Mountain in North China. In total, 1 431 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to 95 AM fungal virtual taxa (VTs) encompassing 7 families and 8 genera were obtained from rhizosphere soil and root samples. Among these, the genus Ambispora was exclusively detected in the rhizosphere soil. The genus with the highest relative abundance was Glomus, and Claroideoglomus was the next. Altitude significantly influenced the diversity of AM fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil and roots of A. ramosum. The Chao1 indices for both roots and rhizosphere soil, together with the root Shannon index, peaked in the middle altitude range, whereas the Shannon index of rhizosphere soil reached its highest value in the high-altitude range. The AM fungal alpha diversity index in the rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that in the roots (P<0.05), suggesting that roots exhibit selectivity towards symbiotic AM fungi. The results of the redundancy analysis (RDA) and the Monte Carlo permutation test indicated that soil organic carbon is a key driving factor for the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil and roots of A. ramosum (P<0.001). Total phosphorus also had highly significant influence on the AM fungal community in rhizosphere soil (P<0.001). This study provides reference for the further development and utilization of A. ramosum.

Five wild isolates were selected from 20 wild collections of Ganoderma tsugae based on antagonistic reaction determination and maternal performance examination. Small and medium-scale trials in controlled facilities and variety comparison tests were carried out, and the Ganoderma tsugae strain ‘THsslz-1’, characterized by stable trait, high yield, and superior quality, was ultimately identified. The mycelia are white, thick, and dense, and the fruiting bodies exhibit corky and fan-shaped with reddish-brown color and a width of 12-14 cm. The fruiting body yield of each cultivation bag can reach 98 g, and the period from primordial formation to fruiting body maturity lasts around 25 days. Inoculation for bag cultivation is carried out from March to April; fruiting begins in early May and harvest continues from June to August. Ganoderma tsugae strain ‘THsslz-1’ has an appealing appearance, stable and exceptional characteristics, strong adaptability, and high yield, indicating significant potential for production and applications in Heilongjiang Province.

The effects of different concentrations of carbon sources, inorganic salts, and growth hormones on ergosterol biosynthesis in Sanguinoderma rugosum mycelia during liquid fermentation were systematically investigated using ergosterol yield as the critical evaluation metric. A hybrid methodology integrating single-factor experiments and response surface optimization (RSM) were employed to identify key influencing factors. Statistical analysis revealed the following order of factor significance: growth hormones>inorganic salts>carbon sources, with growth hormones demonstrating a highly significant impact (P<0.01), inorganic salts showing moderate significance (P<0.05), and carbon sources exhibiting no statistical relevance. The optimized fermentation parameters were established as: fermentation medium containing 200 g/L potato, 38.481 g/L composite carbon sources (glucose:sucrose, 1:1, M/M), 4.143 g/L inorganic salts (KH₂PO₄:CaSO₄, 3:1, M/M), and 143.616 μmol/L growth hormone (salicylic acid), with 2% inoculum and 17-day cultivation. Under these conditions, the predicted maximum ergosterol yield reached 3.597 mg/150 mL, while experimental validation yielded a mean value of 3.801 mg/150 mL, representing a 149.41% enhancement compared to the baseline yield (1.524 mg/150 mL). The optimized protocol exhibited robust reproducibility, high efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, producing Sanguinoderma rugosum mycelia enriched with ergosterol. This advancement provides a scalable bioprocess for ergosterol production, supporting its potential utilization in functional foods and pharmaceutical precursors.

Alternaria species can induce multisystem infections in humans, and infections of the skin and skin structures (cutaneous alternariosis) can come in a variety of forms and be easily misdiagnosed. It is crucial to investigate the manifestation of alternariosis, the species of Alternaria spp., and susceptibility. By searching Pubmed, Wanfang, and Chinese full-text journal databases for case reports, descriptive analysis was performed to construct a database. In total, 58 publications appeared during 2010-2022 involving 74 patients were obtained. The major risk factors were organ transplantation, hematologic malignancies, trauma history, and occupational exposure. The infections were caused by ten pathogenic species, the most prevalent of which was Alternaria infectoria group (33.8%) including A. anthropophila, A. atrobrunnea, and A. guarroi, followed by A. alternata (28.4%). A. arborescens, A. chlamydospora, A. rosae, A. tenuissima, and A. triticina are less common pathogens. The predominant manifestation of the skin lesions was skin mass, including nodules, tumors, plaques, papules, etc. Granulomas is the main performance of histopathology. The fungi of this genus are susceptible to posaconazole and itraconazole. Drug-resistance of infection strains is on the rise. The manifestations of cutaneous alternariosis can simulate a variety of diseases. Few cases involving immune abnormality or deep tissue infection warrant special attention.