Mitrula aurea sp. nov., A New Aero-Aquatic Species from the Republic of Korea

The genus Mitrula (Mitrulaceae, Helotiales), as also known as swamp beacons, inhabits submerged, decaying vegetation in standing or decaying needles, twigs, leaves, and shallow water. They play an important role in carbon cycling in some freshwater ecosystems. In the herbarium of the Korea National Arboretum (KH), seven Mitrula specimens were collected during mushroom forays in the period from 2019 to 2021. The Korean collections were found to be macromorphologically closely related to M. paludosa and M. elegans, but micromorphologically they could be distinguished by characteristics of slightly narrower asci and aseptate ascospores. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rDNA regions also revealed that our specimens were related to M. paludosa and M. elegans, but formed a distinct clade. Based on these results, we reported our specimens as new to science and discussed the phylogeny and diversity ofMitrula species.

Comparison of Soil Higher Fungal Communities between Dead and Living Abies koreana in Mt. Halla, the Republic of Korea

To improve our understanding of the relationship between soil higher fungi (belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) and Abies koreana, we surveyed A. koreana soil fungal communities in a forest in Mt. Halla, Jeju Island, Korea by next-generation sequencing (Illumina Miseq). To confirm the soil higher fungal communities, we collected two types of soils from a defined plot: soils with dead (AKDTs) and living A. koreana (AKLTs), respectively. Soil fungi were classified into 2 phyla, 19 classes, 64 orders, 133 families, 195 genera, and 229 OTUs (895,705 sequence reads). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed significantly different soil higher fungal communities between AKDTs and AKLTs (p < .05). In addition, the saprophyte composition was significantly affected by A. koreana status (p < .05). The proportion of the mycorrhizal Clavulina spp. was different between soils with AKDTs and AKLTs, suggesting that Clavulina spp. may be a crucial soil fungal species influencing A. koreana. This study will lead to a better understanding of the ecological status of A. koreana in Mt.Halla. In addition, this study could be useful for the conservation and management of A.koreana habitats.

Macrofungal Survey of the Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

The Tian Shan mountain system is one of the large mountain ranges located in Central Asia. This region is globally recognized as mountain ranges, offering inestimable wealth in fauna and flora with significant biodiversity values. We surveyed macrofungal diversity of Tian Shan in Kyrgyzstan from 2016 to 2018. A collection of macrofungi was made, and these were subjected to sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis to ensure the identity of the collected macrofungi. Of those collected, 95 out of 100 specimens were successfully sequenced and compared with those of other related species retrieved from GenBank. The sequenced specimens were classified into 2 phyla, 8 orders, 24 families, 47 genera, and 57 species, based on current taxonomic concepts (combining morphology and phylogeny). To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first well-documented checklist and phylogenetic analysis of macrofungi recovered from the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan.

First Report of Buchwaldoboletus lignicola (Boletaceae), a Potentially Endangered Basidiomycete Species, in South Korea

During the 2014 survey of the mushroom flora of Gwangneung forest in South Korea, we collected two specimens of boletoid mushroom growing on a felled tree of Pinus koraiensis. These specimens were characterized by a light brown to reddish-brown pileus with appressed tomentum, pore surface bluing instantly when bruised, golden-yellow mycelium at the base of stipe, and lignicolous habitat. Both specimens were identified as Buchwaldoboletus lignicola, a rare basidiomycete, based on morphological characteristics and sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS; fungal barcode). Here, we describe these specimens and provide the first report of this genus in South Korea.

New Records of Xylaria Species in Korea: X. ripicola sp. nov. and X. tentaculata

During a Korean mushroom diversity survey from 2011 to 2014, we found one new Xylaria species (X. ripicola sp. nov.) and one Xylaria species that had not been previously observed in Korea (X. tentaculata). To confirm the phylogenetic placement of the new species, we conducted a phylogenetic investigation based on internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA sequences. Additionally, the new species, X. ripicola, was subsequently analyzed for RNA polymerase II subunit sequences. We also evaluated the macroscopic and microscopic features of this species. Herein, X. ripicola is described as a new species that was collected from a natural beach habitat and X. tentaculata is formally reported as newly found in Korea.

Mushroom Flora of Ulleung-gun and a Newly Recorded Bovista Species in the Republic of Korea

We conducted five times surveys, in June, September and October in 2012; June and September 2013, to catalog the mushroom flora in Ulleung-gun, Republic of Korea. More than 400 specimens were collected, and 317 of the specimens were successfully sequenced using the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer barcode marker. We also surveyed the morphological characteristics of the sequenced specimens. The specimens were classified into 2 phyla, 7 classes, 21 orders, 59 families, 122 genera, and 221 species, and were deposited in the herbarium of Korea National Arboretum. Among the collected species, 72% were saprophytic, 25% were symbiotic, and 3% were parasitic. The most common order was Agaricales (189 specimens, 132 species), followed by Polyporales (47 specimens, 27 species), Russulales (31 specimens, 22 species), Boletales (10 specimens, 7 species), and so on. Herein, we also reported the first Bovista species in Korea, which was collected from Dokdo, the far-eastern island of Korea.

Taxonomic Re-evaluation of Megacollybia Species in Korea

The diversity of the genus Megacollybia in Korea was examined based on morphological observation and analysis of molecular data. Currently, the genus is consisted of nine species with a global distribution. However, only M. platyphylla has been reported in the floral survey of Korea. During our re-evaluation of the taxonomic diversity of Megacollybia in Korea, six Megacollybia specimens collected in 2012 were identified based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and morphology. Here, we report two Megacollybia species, M. clitocyboidea and M. marginata, as newly recorded species from Korea. The microscopic features of the two species are provided in this study. To our knowledge, this is the first phylogenetic analysis of Korean Megacollybia species.

Taxonomic Study of Amanita Subgenus Lepidella and Three Unrecorded Amanita Species in Korea

Amanita Pers. is a well-known monophyletic mushroom genus with a broad distribution. However, the diversity of Korean Amanita species has been underestimated, and most taxonomic studies conducted in Korea have only investigated their morphological characteristics. This approach is frequently insufficient for correct identification in fungal classification; therefore, we constructed a phylogeny of Amanita subgen. Lepidella in order to understand the phylogenetic placements of 16 Amanita specimens collected in Korea in 2012. The phylogeny constructed using the sequence data of the internal transcribed spacers and the partial large subunit of ribosomal RNA identified nine Amanita species (A. citrina, A. excelsa var. spissa, A. flavipes, A. fritillaria, A. oberwinklerana, A. pallidorosea, A. rubescens, A. subjunquillea, and A. volvata); of these, A. fritillaria, A. oberwinklerana, and A. pallidorosea are new to Korea.

Four Newly Recorded Amanita Species in Korea: Amanita sect. Amanita and sect. Vaginatae

We collected nearly 70 specimens of Amanita species during a diversity study of Korean mushrooms conducted in 2012. In this study, we primarily investigated 23 Amanita specimens belonging to sections Amanita and Vaginatae. Based on sequence data of the internal transcribed spacers and partial large subunit of ribosomal RNA and morphological characteristics, we identified the following 15 phylogenetic species: A. alboflavescens, A. ceciliae, A. farinosa, A. fulva, A. griseofolia, A. ibotengutake, A. melleiceps, A. orientifulva, A. pantherina, A. rubrovolvata, A. sinensis, A. subglobosa, A. vaginata, A. cf. vaginata f. alba, and an undescribed Amanita species. In this study, four of the identified Amanita species (A. griseofolia, A. ibotengutake, A. orientifulva, and A. sinensis) were reported for the first time in Korea.