Cyanoboletus macroporus (Boletaceae), a new bolete species from Pakistani forests Samina

<em>Cyanoboletus macroporus</em> belonging to <em>C. pulverulentus</em> species complex is designated as a new species from the moist temperate and sub-alpine oak forests of Pakistan after in depth macroscopic, microscopic and phylogenetic analyses using the ITS region of nrDNA as well as comparison with allied taxa. This species belonging to Boletoid group is morphologically distinguished from allied taxa (<em>Cyanoboletus flavosanguineus</em>, <em>C. hymenoglutinosus</em>, <em>C. pulverulentus</em>, <em>C. rainisii</em>, and <em>C. sinopulverulentus</em>) by wider openings of pores. <em>C. macroporus</em> is also phylogenetically distinct from <em>C. sinopulverulentus</em> and <em>C. pulverulentus</em>, the most closely related species. Phylogenetic analysis outlined the existence of previously unknown species of this genus. Field photographs of fresh basidocarps and line drawings of micro-characters are provided along with a phylogenetic tree as well as a comparison table and a key of distinctive features of all the species in this genus. This is the first authentic species belonging to <em>Cyanoboletus</em> from Pakistan. Previously, only <em>C. pulverulentus</em> has been mentioned in literature, but no morphological data is available regarding this report. With the addition of this taxon, species number of <em>Cyanoboletus</em> will increase to eight. From Pakistan, despite of the fact that there is great diversity of mushrooms in moist temperate areas (Yousaf et al. 2012), this is the first study that describes a species belonging to <em>Cyanoboletus</em> genus. Previously only one ambiguous species, <em>Cyanoboletus pulverulentus</em>, has been mentioned in literature (Iqbal & Khalid 1996), but with no available materials that could confirm this finding. In this study, <em>Cyanoboletus macroporus</em> is described as a new to science and increase the current species number of <em>Cyanoboletus</em> to eight.

Cortinarius gueneri: A new species from the Euro-Siberian Floristic Region of Turkey

<em>Cortinarius gueneri</em> (subgen. <em>Telamonia</em> sect. <em>Laeti</em>) is described as a new species from Turkey based on morphological and molecular data. It can be recognized by the somewhat irregular conical to campanulate, translucent-striate, rusty brown pileus; pale yellowish to cinnamon brown broadly attached lamellae; pale salmon to pinkish brown stipe; narrowly amygdaloid to ellipsoid basidiospores; and its putative association with <em>Carpinus orientalis</em>. Full description of the new species is given with field photos, microscopic illustrations, and a short discussion. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region is also provided.

New northern records of Entoloma with three new species of subgenus Rhodopolia and typification of E. nidorosum

Three hemiboreal or boreal species of <em>Entoloma</em> subg. <em>Rhodopolia</em>, <em>E. fluviale</em>, <em>E. quercetorum</em> and <em>E. uvidicola</em>, are described as new based on molecular and morphological data. <em>Entoloma nidorosum</em> is neotypified. New records of <em>E. boreale</em>, <em>E. caeruleopolitum</em>, <em>E. holmvassdalenense</em>, <em>E. lupinum</em>, <em>E. paragaudatum</em>, <em>E. pseudoconferendum</em>, <em>E. radicipes</em>, <em>E. rhodopolium</em> and <em>E. sphagneti</em> are presented from Finland and Sweden with ecological and morphological notices.

Phenology of myxomycetes in Turrialba, Costa Rica

Long-term monitoring and phenological patterns of microbial communities are rare in the scientific literature. Myxomycetes have life cycle characteristics that allow both to be documented. The present study summarizes the integrated floristic and bioclimatic components of a 30-month assessment of myxomycete sporocarps in a premontane tropical forest in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Based on monthly visits and a standard sampling effort of 120 minutes per visit, myxomycetes were recorded on leaves, twigs, and logs on the ground by two to three people in 20-minute periods associated with six different collecting sites within a 34-hectare successional forest patch. Biological data were analyzed using three recorded climatic variables obtained <em>in situ</em> during the complete period of study. Also, the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), provided by NOAA, an estimate of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), was evaluated in the analyses. Overall, 54 species and 2245 records of myxomycetes were recorded, with an average of 14.5 species (range between 6-24) and 78.4 records (range between 20-110) detected each month. In general, neither the number of records nor the number of species were associated with individual climate variables, but multiple regression analyses showed that a combination of the accumulated precipitation of the four days before sampling and the average relative humidity can explain most of the fruiting dynamics (R2 = 0.56). When the ONI index was included in the analyses, the explained variability increased (R2 = 0.64), and when a categorization of months based on the same index was used, analyses showed that both the number of records and species evenness were affected by ENSO. At the species level, <em>Hemitrichia calyculata</em> was the only species observed during every month, closely followed by <em>Arcyria cinerea</em>, <em>A. denudata</em>, and <em>Physarum compressum</em>, recorded on most visits. Sporadic fruiting in some species such as <em>Tubifera microsperma</em>, <em>P. tenerum</em>, <em>P. bogoriense</em>, <em>P. melleum</em>, and <em>Metatrichia vesparia</em> could have been associated with local climate oscillations influenced by ENSO patterns. Phenological patterns were observed at the species level, indicating that in the Neotropics, under favorable conditions, myxomycete sporocarps are practically always present, but species assemblages vary temporally. These variations are primarily driven by local climate, but regional climate dynamics also affect fruiting patterns. Presumably, the remaining ecological effect on fruiting patterns in the Neotropics can be attributed to certain finer factors such as ecosystem structure, substrate quality/ availability, and biotic interactions. As such, phenomena such as climate change can have an important effect on the production of sporocarps by tropical myxomycetes, with subsequent effects of their ecological dynamics.

Myxomycetes associated with a residential ecosystem

The myxomycetes associated with samples of the bark of living trees, ground litter, twigs, and aerial litter collected from a residential ecosystem were investigated with the use of moist chamber cultures. A total of 26 species representing 13 genera were recovered from 100 cultures prepared with samples of the four different types of substrates. The distribution patterns and ecology of these species are discussed in the context of the senior coauthor’s more than 40 years studying myxomycetes.

Fungi causing powdery mildew on plants of a Botanical Garden in Southern Finland

Fungi that cause powdery mildew on plants are plant pathogenic parasites (<em>Erysiphales</em>) and can significantly reduce the ornamental value of plants and cause significant yield losses among cultivated plants. In this study, 94 plant accessions infected with powdery mildew were observed in Kumpula Botanic Garden, Helsinki, Finland, in 2015. The taxonomic affiliation and species richness of powdery mildew fungi were investigated. Morphological studies by microscope distinguished only 14 fungal species, whereas further comparisons of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences enabled the identification of 28 species. Hence, ITS sequencing improved the reliability of species determination, as compared with the use of morphological characteristics only. The vegetation in an area of six hectares supported a wide range of fungi that cause powdery mildew as well as hyperparasitic microbes, which may balance the impact of pathogens in host plants. The findings of this study emphasize the role of botanical gardens in protecting biological diversity in urban areas.

A new epiphytic species, Symphytocarpus macrosporus (Myxomycetes) from Western Siberia, Russia

A new species <em>Symphytocarpus macrosporus</em> is described based on collections made in the Khanty- Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, Russia. Thirty- two specimens of the new species were isolated from moist chambers with <em>Picea obovata</em> and <em>Abies siberica</em> bark. The new species is characterized by the presence of pseudoaethalia, without cortex, with peridium remaining as fragments. This new species clearly differs from previously described species of the genus by both morphological and molecular characters. It has large spores, (14)15–17(18) μm diam. with irregular ornamentation of large warts. Such a spore size seems to be the largest for the genus. The holotype specimen of <em>Symphytocarpus macrosporus</em> is stored in the M.G. Popov Herbarium (NSK), Novosibirsk, Russia. It is the first new species described within the genus <em>Symphytocarpus</em> since 1984.

Myxomycete diversity on Cryptomeria japonica bark varies with land-use type along montane rivers

Myxomycetes occur globally, but little is known about the mechanism by which myxomycete diversity and community structure respond to environmental gradients and human activity at local scales. The present study assessed the distribution of corticolous myxomycetes living on the bark of <em>Cryptomeria japonica</em> trees along three rivers originating in the Chugoku Mountains in western Japan. Bark samples were collected from 14 sites along each river, which encompass the river sources as well as the upper, middle, and lower reaches. The environmental characteristics of each site were assessed for three variable types: geography, climate, and land-use. A 1 km2 grid was superimposed onto each survey site, consisting of 100 cells of 1 ha each, and each cell was classified using aerial imagery into a broad land-use type. Of these, three land-use types (forest, farmland, and residential) were regularly used as a comprehensive indicator of landscape. The bark samples were cultured using the moist chamber technique, and the resulting myxomycete fruiting bodies were identified. Sporophores formed on 96% of the 1,490 moist chamber cultures and were classified into 27 taxa (26 species and one variety). Species diversity was highest in natural forests near river sources and decreased with proximity to downstream estuaries. Community similarities between survey sites were analysed using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). The first NMDS axis was negatively correlated with distance from estuary and forest coverage. Indicator species were identified for environmental changes along river basins. The relative abundances of <em>Macbrideola argentea</em>, <em>Hemitrichia velutina</em>, and <em>Physarum nutans</em> var. <em>rubrum</em> were positively correlated with forest coverage. In contrast, the relative abundances of <em>Clastoderma debaryanum</em>, <em>Diderma chondrioderma</em>, and <em>Echinostelium minutum</em> were positively correlated with residential area coverage. The distribution of corticolous myxomycetes on C. japonica trees was associated with local landscape changes along the river environments. This is the first report on myxomycetes assemblages along river basins (acting as ecological corridors) and indicates that forest degradation and land-use types strongly affect myxomycete diversity on the bark of living <em>C. japonica</em> trees.

Quick n’ Cheap – a simplified workflow to barcode plasmodial slime molds(Myxomycetes)

We present a workflow for efficient barcoding of myxomycete fructifications, which (i) requires less than 1000 spores, (ii) allows to collect spores with only a needle, (iii) works without any commercial kits, and (iv) is optimized for the use of 96-well PCR plates throughout the process. Specimens of 291 dark-spored nivicolous myxomycetes and 121 bright-spored members of the Trichiaceae were sequenced for the barcode marker 18S rDNA (SSU) with a low rate of failure and no detectable cross-contamination. Crude DNA extracts can be stored for further analyses: the elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF1A), a single-copy marker, was successfully amplified after four weeks of storage.As such our procedure will allow a time- and cost-efficient barcoding of large series of specimens.

Diversity of boreal small species of Cortinarius subgenus Telamonia with Salix

This work presents the genetic and morphological diversity of small <em>Cortinarius</em> subgenus <em>Telamonia</em> species found from moist <em>Salix</em> thickets in Finland. The boreal fungi were compared with several type and other specimens from the alpine zone or similar habitats from the temperate zone. The boreal and alpine zones had many common species: nearly all boreal species grew in the alpine zone with dwarf <em>Salix</em>. The species often had wide distributions, extending to North America. The genetic analyses consisted of ITS and RPB2 sequences. Both genetic and morphological variation was high. The species formed complexes, where the boundaries among species were often obscure. Very close sibling species were delimited based on differences at the same sites. Twenty-three boreal species were recognized. Four of them are described here as new: <em>C. paulus</em> and <em>C. paululus</em> as sibling species to <em>C. pauperculus</em> J.Favre, <em>C. rusticelloides</em> as a sibling species to <em>C. rusticellus</em> J.Favre, and <em>C. vienoi</em> as a sibling species to <em>C. perzonatus</em> Reumaux. <em>Cortinarius sagarum</em>, a sibling species to <em>C. comatus</em> J.Favre and <em>C. vulpicolor</em> M.M.Moser & McKnight, is described as new from arctic-alpine zones.