Lepiotaceous fungi of West Bengal, India: the genus Chlorophyllum

The state West Bengal, India was thoroughly investigated and a total of ten specimens belonging to the genus Chlorophyllum was collected. Detailed morphological and molecular studies revealed that the collected specimens were distributed over three species among which two viz. Chlorophyllum hortense and C. molybdites were previously known from the region, and one, Chlorophyllum squamulosum sp. nov., is described herein as new to science. The new species is distinguished by its small plate-like squamules over the pileus coloured greyish brown to reddish brown or dark brown; truncate, hyaline basidiospores with a prominent germ-pore; relatively small (17–25 × 7.5–11.5 μm), clavate or spheropedunculate cheilocystidia; and a tightly packed hymeniderm type pileus covering. A comprehensive morphological description, field photographs of the basidiocarps, comparisons with phenotypically similar and phylogenetically related species and a phylogram showing the placement of each of the collected species are provided. Besides, earlier records of Chlorophyllum species from West Bengal as well as in India are consulted and information related to diversity of the genus in the country are discussed with notes on the previous records. An artificial dichotomous key is provided to aid in the identification of the presently available Chlorophyllum species in India.

Revision of the genera Agrocybe and Cyclocybe (Strophariaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) in Argentina

Agrocybe is characterized by the collybioid to tricholomatoid basidiomata with rusty to dark spore-print, a hymeniform pileipellis, and basidiosspores with a reduced to broad germ-pore. Recently, the species with reduced germ-pore were segregated to Cyclocybe. The knowledge of these genera in Argentina is scanty, although they have been partially studied in the country, but there is not a field that deals exhaustively with it. Macro- and micromorphological characters of specimens obtained in the feld and from different national herbaria (BAFC, CTES, LIL, LPS) were analyzed. Cultivation techniques were used to obtain basidiomata, allowing for a macro- and micromorphological study of fresh developing basidiomes. We concluded that in Argentina there are, so far, 14 species of Agrocybe (one of them with 3 varieties) and two of Cyclocybe including to C. wrightii, which is proposed as a new combination. Sixteen species are described and a key to the Argentinian species of Agrocybe and Cyclocybe is proposed.

A new species of Conocybe (Bolbitaceae) from Punjab, Pakistan

Conocybe punjabensis sp. nov., a species belonging to the saprobic family Bolbitaceae, is illustrated and described from Pakistan based on morphology and molecular evidence. The species can be distinguished on the basis of medium-sized fruiting bodies, a pileus with a dark brown central disc, a fibrillose stipe, forked lamellae near pileus margin, ellipsoid angular basidiospores with an apical germ pore, cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia varying from catenulate, lecythiform to clavate, and lecythiform caulocystidia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region also supports the recognition of this new species in Conocybe. Detailed descriptions, photographs, illustrations and comparison with allied taxa are given.

New species and new records in the genus Conocybe (Bolbitaceae) from China

Two new species of Conocybe cylindrospora sp. nov., C. serrata sp. nov. are described herein with details illustration and morpho taxonomic features. In addition, two species like Conocybe fuscimarginata (Murrill) Singer and Pholiotina vexans (P.D. Orton) Bon are also reported for the first time from China. Molecular phylogenetic studies based on nrITS data help to distinguish the newly described species from all of its relatives. Conocybe cylindropora is characterized by its conical, hygrophanous pileus coloured orange, cylindrical to ellipsoid-oblong basidiospores, presence of lecithyform caulocystidia with a 2–4 μm long neck and a small glabrous head. Conocybe serrata is characterized by dentate veil on the pileus and basidiospores without germ pore.

The genus Parasola in Pakistan with the description of two new species

Parasola is a genus of small, veil-less coprinoid mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae (Agaricales). The genus is not well documented in Asia, specifically in Pakistan. In this study we describe two new species Parasolaglabra and P.pseudolactea from Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogeny based on three DNA regions: nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS), nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S) and translation elongation factor 1α gene (TEF1α) show that the new taxa are clustered in a clade formed by the members of section Parasola of genus Parasola. Parasolaglabra with grayish pileus, slightly depressed pileal disc, lamellae separated from the stipe by pseudocollarium, basidiospores 14.5–16.5 × 9.5–11.5 × 8.0–10.5 µm, in front view broadly ovoid to oblong, some with rhomboidal outline, in side view ellipsoid, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diameter. Parasolapseudolactea with yellowish brown to dull brown pileus, disc indistinctly umbonate, lamellae free, pseudocollarium absent, basidiospores 13.5–14.5 × 10.5–12.0 × 9.5–10.5 µm, in face view rounded triangular to heart shaped, rarely ovoid to subglobose, in side view ellipsoid to oblong, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diam. In addition to these new species, P.auricoma and P.lilatincta were also studied. Morphological descriptions for the new species and comparison with known Parasola species are provided. Our observations highlight the diversity of Parasola in northern Pakistan and further document the need for additional systematic focus on the region’s fungi.

Pseudolepiota zangmui gen. et sp. nov. (Agaricaceae, Basidiomycota), a new white-spored mushroom from China

Pseudolepiota zangmui, collected from mixed subtropical Fagaceae forests of Southwestern China, is described, illustrated and discussed as new based on unique morphological characters and molecular data. Pseudolepiota is distinctive in having white lamellae, a stipe covered with easily detached band-like floccose squamules, a pileipellis that is a subcutis layer made up of slightly interwoven cylindrical hyphae, dextrinoid basidiospores without a germ pore and hyphae without clamp connections. The combined morphotaxonomy and Maximum Likelihood tree inferred from rpb2 and ITS sequences confirmed that Pseudolepiota is a member of Agaricaceae and is evolutionarily distinct from all other described genera and species within this family.

A NEW RECORD OF THE GENUS CREPIDOTUS (CREPIDOTACEAE, FUNGI) FROM INDIA

A Crepidotus species, C. cinnabarinus is recorded for the first time from India. This species grow on decaying woody plant materials. It is characterized by small to medium sized, pleurotoid, flabelliform, laterally attached basidiomata with convex to applanate pileus. Spores are generally ovoid to subglobose without a germ- pore.

Two new Phragmidium species identified on Rosa plants native to China

Two new Phragmidium species, Phragmidium zhouquensis and Ph. longissima, were identified on two native plants, Rosa omeiensis and R. lichiangensis respectively, during an investigation of the occurrence of rust fungi in western China. Phragmidium zhouquensis is mainly characterized by 3–9-celled teliospores bearing minute verrucae on the surface. Phragmidium longissima differs from other Phragmidium species in that it possesses echinulate urediniospores with a pore membrane at the germ pore. Phylogenetic analyses based on 28S rRNA partial gene sequences revealed that specimens of Ph. zhouquensis and Ph. longissima formed two distinct lineages. Phragmidium longissima is the first Phragmidium species to be identified on R. lichiangensis.

First Report of Puccinia vincae on Vinca spp. in California

In 2000, chlorotic leaves with inconspicuous leaf spots were observed on several Vinca major L. and V. minor L. plants in a 0.8-ha area in Woodside, CA. In August 2001, 80 to 90% of the plants were symptomatic. Uredinia measuring 2 to 3 × 1 mm were present on the lower surface of leaves. Urediniospores were ellipsoidal to oblong, 27 to 36 × 17 to 27 μm, with cinnamon-brown walls 1 to 2 μm thick, echinulate, and with three or four equatorial or slightly supraequatorial germ pores. Telia were produced in the uredinia. Teliospores were 1-septate, ellipsoidal to clavate, slightly constricted at the septum, and 34 to 45 × 19 to 30 μm. Teliospore walls were chestnut brown, 1.5 to 2.5 μm thick, and verrucose, with the verrucae sometimes in longitudinal lines. One germ pore covered by a hyaline papilla was present in each cell, at the apex in the upper cell and adjacent to the short, hyaline pedicel in the lower cell. The rust was identified as Puccinia vincae Berk. (1). P. vincae is widespread in Europe on Vinca species and is common on V. major in the eastern United States, Washington, and Idaho (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. vincae on V. major in California (vouchers BPI 841363, 841364) and on V. minor in the United States (voucher BPI 841365). References: (1) J. C. Arthur. Page 324 in: Manual of Rusts in the United States and Canada. Purdue Research Foundation, Lafayette, IN, 1934. (2) D. F. Farr et al. Pages 35 and 916 in: Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989.

Appressoria in Mycoleptodiscus species

Appressoria formed by germinating conidia of Mycoleptodiscus species in vitro were examined as a possible source of taxonomic information. There were large differences in morphology between appressoria formed by the 12 taxa examined, and it is suggested that characteristics of the appressorium, such as size, shape, curvature, septation and germ pore size, provide additional differentiating criteria which are of use in the taxonomy of the genus. Three new species of Mycoleptodiscus are described, M. coloratus, M. geniculatus, and M. variabilis.