Two taxa of Puccinia on Asteraceae collected from China are reported. Puccinia sonidensis on Scorzonera divaricata is described as new species. Puccinia hieracii var. hypochaeridis on Hypochaeris ciliata is firstly recorded in China. Morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided based on Chinese collections. The collections are deposited in the Mycological Herbarium of Chifeng University, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China (CFSZ), and the Herbarium Mycologicum Academiae Sinicae, Beijing, China (HMAS).

Primers were designed to specifically amplify ITS rDNA regions of the fungus Medeolaria farlowii. The fungus was shown to be present not only in stem lesions but in apparently uninfected leaves, stems and rhizomes of the host plant, Medeola virginiana. Since the plant reproduces clonally it is likely that the infection is carried in populations of the host plant through systemic infection of vegetative plant parts. The growth patterns of the plant are reviewed and examples are given of long-term perpetuation of the fungus in populations of the plant.

Rate variation of evolution among-site in rRNA genes is a potential problem leading to a systematic error in phylogenetic inference. In this study, we applied different partitioning strategies based on the characters of rRNA secondary structure to examine this problem. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 52 fungal taxa, we assessed the performance of different partitioning schemes on Bayesian inference. The comparison of evolutionary models demonstrated the relative sensitivities of the best-fit models and parameter estimates to different structural partitions. In contrast to traditional unpartitioned method, partitioning schemes based on loop elements of secondary structure have little effects on phylogenetic analyses, while the use of stem elements improve the marginal likelihoods and the ability to estimate phylogenies. Additionally, despite strong support by Bayes factors, simply including more partition subsets do not to improve ability to estimate phylogenies, which means that biological factors (or secondary structure characters) instead of mathematics ones should be considered to yield a reasonable partitioning strategy for rRNA genes.

Ganoderma triterpenoids are major pharmacologically active components in the fruiting bodies and mycelia of G. lingzhi. Structure-activity relationship, basic biosynthetic pathways and key enzymes, as well as strategies and methods for the fermentation control of triterpenoids from G. lingzhi were reviewed. The main problems in biosynthesis and fermentation control of triterpenoids were put forward and the future research orientation and prospect were discussed.

A checklist of 382 species and 3 varieties of macrofungi in Shandong Province was listed on the basis of field investigation and specimen examination. They belong to 2 phyla 5 classes 18 orders 60 families 162 genera. Among them, 373 species are Basidiomycota and 12 species are Ascomycota. Voucher specimens are deposited at the Herbaria of Ludong University (HMLD) and Beijing Forestry University (BJFC). The habit and distributions in Shandong of each species were also recorded. In addition, the descriptions of morphological characteristics and line drawing of 5 species new to China were given.

Recent collections and herbarium specimens of the genus Scutellinia from different regions of China were examined. Thirty-one species were recognized. Among them, S. neokorfiana, S. oblongispora and S. pseudovitreola are described as new species. The occurrence of S. erinaceus, S. olivascens (as S. lusatiae) and S. lusatiae in China are doubtful. Based on examinations of the related specimens, the previous Chinese records of S. barlae, S. superba and S. vitreola are based on mis-identifications, which should be excluded from the Chinese fungus flora. A key to the known species of the genus from the country is provided.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris are the two best-known species in the genus Cordyceps sensu lato. Here, we review recent research progresses of these two fungi on their taxonomy, distribution, life cycle and mode of sexual reproduction, host range, genetic diversity, molecular genetics and genomics, ecology, artificial cultivation and related-product developments. We also discuss the major issues remaining in the current research for these two fungal organisms and suggest the approaches for future studies.

The publications on Chinese edible fungi were critically reviewed, and 187 previously mentioned edible fungi were excluded and 82 newly found species were added. As a result, 966 taxa including 936 species, 23 varieties, 3 subspecies and 4 forms from China were enumerated in the present checklist. All of the names were checked or revised in accordance with the contemporary taxonomy and the latest version of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code).

Observation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization status and measurement of colonization percentage is an important fundamental work in mycorrhizal research. Methods for root staining and quantifying AM colonization percentage is reviewed, compared and evaluated in this paper. Ink-vinegar staining method observing colonization status, root-segment colonization weighting method, and magnified intersections method measuring colonization percentage, are considered to be appropriate approaches in AM studies with greater scientific, accurate and feasible values when compared with other methods. Different observation methods can be used for different purposes. For example, magnified intersection method could be chosen to observe and measure the arbuscule development status of AM fungi, whilst direct counting method could be employed to count the numbers of vesicles and entry points per unit root length. Thus the research results obtained for specific purposes are comparable. It is necessary to establish molecular techniques and fatty acid quantitative method to measure colonization status of one or more species of AM fungi, which will promote studies in physiological and ecological function.

The polysaccharides of Paecilomyces tenuipes mycelia were purified by using DEAE cellulose DE-52 and Sephedex G-100, and pure polysaccharides PtPs1 and PtPs2 were obtained. The structural unit (monosaccharide) of PtPs1 and PtPs2 was analyzed by HPAEC-PAD. The results indicated that both PtPs1 and PtPs2 consisted of glucose, galactose and mannose. The infrared spectral analysis showed that PtPs1 and PtPs2 were all pyranose of α-configuration.

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis indicated that three strains S-1, S-2, and S-3 of endophytic fungi isolated from roots, stems and leaves of Spiranthes sinensis could produce flavonoid. To identify these 3 strains, ITS DNA regions of 3 strains were amplified through PCR reaction and sequenced. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by the software MEGA (version 4.0) using Neighbour-joining methods. Morphological observation and molecular biology identification indicated that the strain S-1 was Curvularia inaequalis., and S-2 and S-3 were Penicillium pinophilum.

Publications dealing with Chinese fungal species were systematically investigated, and 2,849 new species, 129 new varieties and 5,260 new Chinese records have been reported during 1978 to 2010. “Sylloge Fungorum Sinicorum” was published in 1979, listed 6,737 species and 168 varieties based on the reports on Chinese fungal resource until 1973. So 14,846 species and 297 varieties have been found in mainland China by 2010. In addition, 2,122 fungal species were recorded in Hong Kong and 6,207 in Taiwan, among which around 800 and 400 species, respectively, were not found in mainland China so far. Until now there are 16,046 species and 297 varieties have been recorded in the Chinese territory. If 10% of them are the synonyms, the Chinese fungal species are around 14,700. Among them around 300 species are Chromista, 340 are Protoza, and 14,060 are Fungi.

The genus Russula is a group of edible and medicinal fungi with high economic and scientific value. Some Russula are poisonous. Recent research progress of Russula, including species resource, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetic diversity and application study are summarized. Major issues being in urgent need of solution remain in current research, such as misidentification caused by deviation in morphological observation and description, limited taxa and gene segments involved in phylogeny and genetic diversity work, and controversial distribution of massive taxa in China originally described from Europe and North America, etc.

In this paper, the history of understanding and utilization of mushrooms is reviewed. China’s contribution to mushroom cultivation in early era is known to all and the development of mushroom industry at present is in progress. The development course and current situation of mushroom industry in China is presented. The basic situation of global mushroom industry and developing history, especially button mushroom industry in the West and mushroom industry in Asia is discussed. Changes in the production mode and technology of world mushroom industry are analyzed. The transfer trend of global mushroom industry from developed to developing regions will continue. China will accelerate the change of production mode into systematization, large scale, standardization and specialization.

Phytopathogenic fungi causing plant diseases can induce disaster to ecosystems, food security and agricultural production. With the recent development of fungal taxonomy, a large number of new taxa are proposed. In the latest International Botanical Congresses held in Melbourne and Shenzhen, based on the initiative of “one fungus, one name”, some revisions and supplementations concerning fungal nomenclature have been made to the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. These variations have brought numerous changes in the currently applied names of phytopathogenic fungi. In this list, 590 commonly used names of agricultural phytopathogenic fungi appeared in research papers, monographical works and textbooks in China were selected, involving 370 fungal species belonging to 2 kingdoms, 7 phyla, 15 classes, 47 orders, 84 families and 168 genera. According to the latest nomenclature and taxonomic research progress, the comprehensive check and correction of scientific names, Chinese names, taxonomic status and disease names of these pathogenic fungi are made and provided herein, aiming at providing helpful references for researchers and technicians who are involved with plant pathogenic fungi in China.

Cordycepin, the first nucleoside antibiotic isolated from Fungi, has been a hotspot nowadays due to a variety of bio-activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory activities and so on. The previous studies on cordycepin, including the fungal sources, extraction, purification and molecular biology, were summarized in the present paper. The patents on cordycepin both at home and abroad have also been analyzed and evaluated. It was suggested that broadening the fungal strain sources, optimizing the method of extraction and purification as well as deepening the research on biosynthesis pathway are useful to overcome the bottleneck in cordycepin production. In addition, the importance of the scientific names used in the study of mycology was emphasized.

Mitochondria are important cytoplasmic organelles of eukaryotic cells in energy metabolism and cell aging. Gene sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are also an important candidate for phylogenetical study. In the present paper, the whole mitochondrial DNA sequence of Beauveria bassiana, registered in EMBL with the accession number EU371503, was used to clarify the relationship between B. bassiana and 13 fungal species in 11 genera including Lecanicillium, Metarhizium, Hypocrea, Fusarium, Gibberella, Verticillium, Neurospora, Podospora, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Trichophyton of Pezizomycotina. The result showed that rnl, rns, 25 tRNAs and 14 protein genes of B. bassiana were all encoded by the sequences on the same strand and the most of the tRNAs arranged in three conserved trn gene clusters, revealing similarities to other members of Sordariomycetes. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that B. bassiana was highly similar to Lecanicillium muscarium based on the whole mtDNA sequence with querage coverage at 73%, and on 14 protein-coding genes with 100% bootstrap support by both NJ method and MP method.

A total of 103 isolates of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes belonging to 27 species in 15 genera were obtained from soil samples of Mount Taibai and its surrounding area, Shaanxi Province, China. Among them Eladia pachyphialis and Gliomastix pallescens are new species, while Acremoniula sarcinellae, Allescheriella crocea, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannorum are new records to China. The main distinction between E. pachyphialis and its similar species E. saccula is that the phialide of the former is wider and the conidia are smaller than those of the latter. Gliomastix pallescens is characterized by having light colored, long and unbranched conidiophores by which it can be separated from its similar species, G. cerealis. Latin descriptions are given for the new species. Brief descriptions and illustrations of the new records are also provided based on Chinese isolates. The other 21 species being previously known from China in several genera are also listed. All specimens (dried cultures and slides) and living cultures studied have been deposited in the Herbarium of Shandong Agricultural University: Plant Pathology (HSAUP).

Different stages of life cycle of Flammulina velutipes were observed using fluorescence microscopy. Mycelia formed from a single germinating basidiospore was monokaryotic and had no clamp connections. Parts of single-basidiospore isolates could form homokaryotic haplont fruiting bodies. Probasidia of homokaryotic fruiting bodies in the beginning contained one haploid nucleus that underwent once mitosis producing two incompatible nuclei and the development of the basidium became stagnant. Thus, the homokaryotic fruiting bodies were sterile. A pair of monokaryotic mycelia with compatible mating types formed heterokaryotic mycelium via plasmogamy. Heterokaryotic mycelia with two nuclei could produce clamp connections, and formed heterokaryotic fruiting bodies. Probasidia of heterokaryotic fruiting bodies had two compatible haploid nuclei which fused and formed a diploid nucleus subsequently. The diploid nucleus underwent meiosis and produced four haploid nuclei and each of them migrated into four basidiospores respectively through sterigmata. Each basidiosporic nucleus underwent mitosis producing two haploid nuclei. Thus, mature basidiospores of the heterokaryon were dikaryotic but homogeneous. Both homokaryotic mycelia and heterokaryotic mycelia can produce uninuclear iodia.

DNA barcode uses a short gene sequence taken from standardized portions of the genome to identify species. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI), as an animal DNA barcode, has been successfully employed in the species identification. In plants a combination of chloroplast rbcL and matK genes has been accepted as basic DNA barcode. In fungi more genes have being screened and evaluated in all major lineages of fungi by mycologists all over the world. Recently, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) has been recommended as primary DNA barcode of fungi in the Fourth International Barcode of Life Conference. This review summarized the recent progress of fungal DNA barcode, and pointed out the prospect of DNA barcode in future fungal studies.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GPS) are of the key pharmacologically active components of this medicinal fungus. Structure-activity relationship, constituents of monosaccharides of GPS, and basic biosynthetic pathways of the key GPS, IPS-1-1, as well as strategies and methods of fermentation control of GPS were reviewed. Further, future orientation in development of biosynthesis and fermentation control of GPS was discussed.

Insect developed the ability to cultivate fungi as a food source about 40-60 million years ago, and this represented an evolutionary transition from a hunting-gathering to a farming lifestyle. Agricultural life ultimately enabled all of these insect farmers to rise their ecological adaptability. Insect fungiculture shares some defining features of human agriculture including habitual planting ("inoculation"), cultivation, harvest, and nutritional dependency. A handful of insects, notably the well-recognized fungus-farming ants, termites, and beetles, have developed advanced agriculture, which includes seeding new gardens with crop propagules, improving growth conditions, and protecting the fungal crop by using symbiotic actinomycetes. More examples being called “proto-fungiculture” show excellent farming skills, as exemplified by leaf rolling weevils that farm mycangial fungi on leaf cradles, marine snails that farm intertidal fungi on marsh grass, lizard beetles that farm mycangial fungi on bamboos and woodwasps that farm white rot fungi. Investigation of adaptive features of these fungus farming insects would provide much practical value for human agriculture.

Nematophagous fungi are those fungi with the capacity to capture, parasitise or paralyse nematodes at all stages of their life cycles. They play an important role as antagonists of plant-parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes, therefore, there is a great interest in using these fungi as model samples in adaptative evolution researches and as biological control agents against parasitic nematodes. This review presents progress made in the field of fungal antagonists of parasitic nematodes, including trapping fungi, endoparasitic fungi, toxin-producing fungi and opportunistic fungi.

More and more people have recently payed their attention to studies or investigations on medicinal fungi in China. However, many nomenclatural inconsistencies were found in the Chinese reports. The publications on Chinese medicinal fungi were critically reviewed. As a result, 473 medicinal fungi from China were enumerated in the present checklist. All of the names were checked or revised in accordance with the contemporary taxonomy and the latest version of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code). The ‘out-of-date’ names, ill-names, and un-existed names and misapplied names in the previous reports were revised. The common synonyms were listed after their valid names. The main medicinal functions of each species, together with the original or important references, were provided.

The researches on secondary metabolites from Cordyceps and its related fungi were reviewed. There are 272 compounds with activities of pesticide, anticancer, anti-microbes, immune modulation, anti-plasmodium and so on have been reported. These compounds mainly originated from more than 20 species of Cordyceps and their anamorphs and related fungi. The researches concerning bioactive metabolites from Cordyceps have attracted scientists’ attention in various countries of the world. However, there are still more than 90% of the total known species of Cordyceps and their related fungi needing investigation of their bioactive compounds.

Fusarium species are important pathogens of banana, especially causing such serious diseases as Panama disease and crown rot disease. F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 (Foc 1) and race 4 (Foc 4) were reported as the pathogenic populations of Panama disease in China, but it has been confused with the Fusarium species of crown rot disease. In order to understand the Fusarium diversities associated with banana in both interspecific and intraspecific levels, 143 Fusarium isolates were cultured from 90 banana samples collected from fruit markets and banana orchards in South China in 2008–2011. Based on morphological observation and phylogenetic analyses with partial translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) gene, ten Fusarium species were recognized, including F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. camptoceras, F. pallidoroseum, F. stiloides, F. chlamydosporum, F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. concentricum, F. sacchari, and three undescribed taxa in Gibberella fujikuroi species complex (GFC). F. concentricum is newly recorded in China. F. sacchari is firstly reported from banana. F. concentricum and F. sacchari were the most common GFC species in banana fruits. Phylogenic analyses were conducted for GFC and the F. oxysporum species complex (FOSC). 27 partial EF-1α sequences of GFC strains were employed and seven clades were recognized, including F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. concentricum, F. sacchari and three undescribed lineages recorded as Fusarium sp. 1, Fusarium sp. 2 and Fusarium sp. 3. 50 partial EF-1α sequences of FOSC were employed and their phylogenetic analysis generated two major clades and 12 monophyletic lineages, 21 South China isolates in seven lineages, and 13 pathogenic strains distributing in three of them. The phylogenetic studies showed that the pathogens of Panama disease in China Mainland were closely related to those from Southeast Asia and Taiwan, China and wider genetic differentiation were found among the race 1 strains than the race 4 strains. Race 1 was genetically closer to the isolates obtained from fruits as compared with race 4. It is concluded that more Fusarium species and genetic groups are associated with banana and show plentiful intraspecific diversity.

Edible mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play a vital role in forest ecosystem and generally have nutritional, economic and ecological values. This report summarizes current advances in the study of EMF with particular references to China. Topics covered in this review include resource distribution and utilization, physiological and ecological functioning of EMF, as well as advanced techniques in fungal domestication and cultivation. Opportunities and challenges in the development of EMF in China, and global hotspots in research and development of EMF, are discussed.

Natural Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a traditional Chinese medicine, is endemic to alpine regions on the Tibetan Plateau. Various fungal species have been reported to be associated with natural O. sinensis. In this study, the mycobiota of natural O. sinensis was investigated with the traditional culture-dependent method. In total, 572 fungal cultures were isolated from different parts (stromata, sclerotia, and external mycelial cortices) of natural O. sinensis. Most of these cultures were assigned to 37 genera according to morphological characteristics, and 92 OTUs were identified at the 97% similarity threshold according to their nrDNA ITS sequences following SSCP analyses. The number of isolates and OTUs of Ascomycetes was larger than that of Basidiomycetes and Zygomycetes. More isolates and OTUs were obtained from cortices than from sclerotia and stromata. The most abundant species from stromata was Penicillium chrysogenum, while that from both sclerotia and cortices was Pseudogymnoascus roseus. Several unclassifiable fungal species were also detected in this study, which could be novel species.

DNA molecular markers technique has been introduced as new approaches to study fungal phylogeny and evolution. Nowadays, fungal molecular systematics is a mature discipline, and the history of development and representative research approaches of fungal molecular systematics and the main attributions of these approaches to fungal systematics are discussed in this paper. The organisms studied by mycologists, fungi, are divided into three different groups. The slime moulds and oomycetes do not belong to the Kingdom of Fungi. The recent milestone is the AFTOL (Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life) project, in which a higher-level phylogenetic classification of the Fungi is proposed. The kingdom Fungi traditionally consisted of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota, but more recent classifications of the fungal kingdom now include Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Glomeromycota, Microsporidia and several subphyla incertae sedis, including Mucoromycotina, Entomophthoromycotina, Kickxellomycotina and Zoopagomycotina. The concept of the different taxa in fungi has also been revised. Furthermore, the investigation of molecular markers technique influences the fields such as fungal species concept recognition, the connection of teleomorph and anamorph, and molecular fungal ecology, etc.

Ustilaginoidea virens, the pathogen of rice false smut, was isolated from various diseased samples. The comparison of isolation methods showed that most fresh chlamydospores from earlier mature false smut balls could germinate and isolation time was the key for the successful isolation of the fungus. Prolongation of store period resulted in quick decline of the germination percentage of chlamydospores. Most of the chlamydospores could be killed by sterilizing treatment. It was proved that the sclerotium was the most ideal sample for isolation of the pathogen, which could keep alive for a very long time. However, the central dense hyphae in false smut balls were very difficult to grow into new colonies on medium and just an alternate method for isolation of the pathogen.