Parvodontia relampaga sp. nov.: A Cystostereaceae fungal pathogen that is the causal agent of relampago blight of woody plants in Florida, USA.

Starting in the fall of 2019, mortality, blight symptoms, and signs of white fungal mycelia were observed on external host tissues of non-native landscape trees as well as numerous native trees, understory shrubs, and vines throughout northern and central Florida, USA. We determined that the fungus is an undescribed species of Basidiomycota based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit (LSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) regions revealed that this novel plant pathogen is an undescribed taxon of the genus Parvodontia (Cystostereaceae, Agaricales). We propose the name Parvodontia relampaga sp. nov. which describes its unique morphological features and phylogenetic placement. We confirmed the pathogenicity of P. relampaga in greenhouse inoculations on host plants from which strains of this novel pathogen were isolated, including the non-native gymnosperm Afrocarpus falcatus, the non-native and commercially important Ligustrum japonicum, and the native tree Quercus hemisphaerica. P. relampaga was also detected on a total of 27 different species of woody host plants, including such economically and ecologically important hosts as Fraxinus, Ilex, Magnolia, Persea, Prunus, Salix, Vitis, and Vaccinium. For this new plant disease, we propose the name "relampago blight," which refers to the lightning-like rhizomorph growth (relámpago means 'lightning' in Spanish). This study presents a newly discovered fungal taxon with a wide host range on both angiosperms and gymnosperms that may be an emerging pathogen of concern in Florida and the Gulf Coast region.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Corticioid Fungi in Auriculariaceae (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota): A New Genus, Five New Species and Four New Combinations.

The Auriculariaceae accounts for most of the species in the Auriculariales, and all species in the family are wood-decaying fungi with gelatinous, crustaceous, or woody basidiomes. Many new taxa were published recently, but the taxonomy and phylogeny of the corticioid species in the Auriculariaceae are far from resolved. We undertook a comprehensive taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the family with emphasis on corticioid specimens collected from East and Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analyses on concatenated ITS and 28S rDNA sequences of representative taxa of the Auriculariaceae and the genera Eichleriella and Heteroradulum were carried out that resolved five new lineages. Heterocorticium gen. nov. is established for two species with resupinate coriaceous basidiomes with smooth, pigmented hymenophores. Five new species, H. bambusicola (generic type), H. latisporum, Eichleriella alpina, E. bambusicola, and Heteroradulum maolanense, are described and illustrated. In addition, Heterochaete delicata, H. discolor, and H. sinensis are transferred to Eichleriella, whereas H. roseola is regarded as a synonym of Kneiffia discolor (= H. discolor). Eichleriella aculeobasidiata is treated as a synonym of Heterochaete sinensis (= E. sinensis). Heterochaete mussooriensis is transferred to Heteroradulum with Heteroradulum semis as a heterotypic synonym. The present study contributes to the understanding of species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of corticioid fungi in Asia.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Cystostereaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota): A New Genus, Five New Species, and Three New Combinations.

This paper aims to understand the species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of Cystostereaceae (Agaricales), which is based primarily on material from East and Southeast Asia. Cystostereaceae is a small, understudied family of saprobes of woody plants with a worldwide distribution. Phylogenetic analyses of the LSU and ITS sequences revealed four distinct clades in the Cystostereaceae, representing the genera Crustomyces, Cystostereum, Effusomyces gen. nov., and Parvodontia. In addition, phylogenetic analyses showed that Cystidiodontia and Rigidotubus are synonyms of Crustomyces for their type of species nested within the Crustomyces clade. The new monotypic genus Effusomyces, based on specimens from Thailand, lacks any distinctive morphological features. Parvodontia, originally erected for a species from South America, is reported for the first time from Asia. The widely distributed and morphologically well-characterized Cystostereum is represented in East Asia by two new species: Cystostereum crassisporum and C. submurrayi. In addition, three new species, viz., Crustomyces albidus, Effusomyces thailandicus, and Parvodontia austrosinensis, are described and illustrated. Finally, three new combinations are proposed: Crustomyces isabellinus, C. laminiferus, and C. tephroleucus. A key to the genera and species of Cystostereaceae is provided. Our results proved that the species diversity of wood-decaying fungi in East and Southeast Asia is rich and suggested that more investigations and studies should be carried out in the future.

Global Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Irpicaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) With Descriptions of Seven New Species and Proposals of Two New Combinations.

The phylogenetic analyses of the family Irpicaceae were carried out based on a complete global sampling. The dataset that included concatenated ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences of 67 taxa of Irpicaceae from around the world was subjected to the maximum likelihood analyses and Bayesian inference. In the phylogenetic tree, species from 14 genera were distributed in nine clades, among which five genera-Irpex, Phanerochaetella, Byssomerulius, Cytidiella, and Meruliopsis, received high support values. The genus Efibula was shown to be paraphyletic and four subclades could be recognized, while Phanerochaete allantospora, Leptoporus mollis, and several species from Ceriporia and Candelabrochaete formed a large clade with relatively strong support. Based on the molecular and morphological evidence, seven new corticioid species- Candelabrochaete guangdongensis, Efibula grandinosa, E. hainanensis, E. shenghuae, E. taiwanensis, Irpex alboflavescens, and Phanerochaetella sinensis, were revealed from the materials mostly from East Asia. The monotypic genus Flavodontia, newly described from southwestern China, is regarded as a later synonym of Irpex, and the new combination I. rosea is proposed. In addition, Phanerochaetella queletii is proposed for a taxon first described from Italy and newly recorded from China; Phanerochaete jose-ferreirae from Portugal is determined to be a later synonym. Descriptions and illustrations of the new species and the newly combined taxa are presented, and morphological comparisons for the known species of Efibula and Phanerochaetella are provided.

Global Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Wood-Decaying Fungal Genus Phlebiopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota).

An in-depth study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the corticioid genus Phlebiopsis (Phanerochaetaceae) was conducted. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences demonstrated that Phlebiopsis is a strongly supported clade which is distinct from its sister clades of Phaeophlebiopsis, Hapalopilus, and Rhizochaete. Two genera, Australohydnum and Hjortstamia, are reduced to synonyms under Phlebiopsis as generic type species A. griseofuscescens and H. friesii, respectively, are embedded in the Phlebiopsis clade. Twenty-four lineages are resolved in the ITS phylogenetic tree of Phlebiopsis, including six new taxa, viz. P. albescens, P. brunnea, P. cylindrospora, P. magnicystidiata, P. membranacea and P. sinensis, from Sri Lanka and China. Five new combinations, viz. Phaeophlebiopsis mussooriensis, Phlebiopsis bambusicola, P. dregeana, P. griseofuscescens and P. novae-granatae, are proposed. Phlebiopsis crassa is a morphological species complex with three distinct lineages. Phlebiopsis lamprocystidiata is determined to be a later synonym of P. darjeelingensis. The new taxa are described, illustrated, and compared and contrasted to morphologically similar species. An emended description of Phlebiopsis is provided along with an identification key to 27 accepted species.

Phylogenetic and morphological studies in Xylodon (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) with the addition of four new species.

Xylodon (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) is the largest segregate genus of Hyphodontia s.l. Based on molecular and morphological data, 77 species are accepted in Xylodon to date. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 28S sequences, including 38 new ITS and 20 28S sequences of Xylodon species, revealed four species new to science. The new taxa X.exilis, X.filicinus, X.follis and X.pseudolanatus from Taiwan, Nepal, Réunion, Belize, and USA are described and illustrated. In addition, species concepts for Odontiavesiculosa from New Zealand and Xylodonlanatus from U.S.A. are revised and the new name X.vesiculosus is proposed. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS region placed X.spathulatus, X.bubalinus and X.chinensis in a strongly supported clade and demonstrated that they are conspecific. Palifer and Odontiopsis are synonymised under Xylodon based on morphological and sequence data. The following new combinations are proposed: X.erikssonii, X.gamundiae, X.hjortstamii, X.hyphodontinus, X.septocystidiatus and X.verecundus. Line drawings of X.cystidiatus, X.hyphodontinus, X.lanatus and X.vesiculosus, as well as photographs of X.raduloides basidiomata, are provided. A key to X.lanatus and similar species is presented.

Fomitopsis mounceae and F. schrenkii-two new species from North America in the F. pinicola complex.

Two new species, Fomitopsis mounceae and F. schrenkii (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in the F. pinicola species complex in North America, are described and illustrated. Previous molecular phylogenetic analyses identified three well-delimited lineages that represent F. mounceae and F. ochracea from Canada, the Appalachian Mountains, and the northern United States and F. schrenkii from western and southwestern regions of the United States. Fomitopsis pinicola sensu stricto is restricted to Eurasia and does not occur in North America. Morphological descriptions of basidiocarps and cultures for F. mounceae, F. schrenkii, and F. ochracea are presented. The three species are readily differentiated by nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) sequence, geographic distribution, and basidiospore size. Polyporus ponderosus H. Schrenk is an earlier illegitimate synonym of F. schrenkii. Both F. mounceae and F. schrenkii have a heterothallic multiallelic incompatibility system.

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Lopharia s.s., Dendrodontia, Dentocorticium and Fuscocerrena (Basidiomycota, Polyporales).

Eleven taxa of Lopharia s.s., Dendrodontia, Dentocorticium and Fuscocerrena in Polyporales are included in the phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), D1-D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (28S) and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (rpb2) sequences. New species Lopharia resupinata and L. sinensis are described and illustrated. Lopharia resupinata, from south-eastern China, is closely related to L. ayresii, and L. sinensis, from northern China, is related to L. cinerascens and L. mirabilis. Lopharia mirabilis specimens from temperate to tropical areas with varied hymenophore configurations all cluster together in a fully supported clade. Dendrodontia and Fuscocerrena are shown to be synonyms of Dentocorticium, which is phylogenetically related to Lopharia. Four new combinations, Dentocorticium bicolor, D. hyphopaxillosum, D. portoricense and D. taiwanianum, are proposed. Revised generic descriptions of Lopharia and Dentocorticium are provided with keys to the six accepted species in each genus. A list of all names in Lopharia and Dentocorticium are presented with their current taxonomic status. Type specimens of Dentocorticium brasiliense and D. irregulare were examined and determined to be later synonyms of Punctularia subhepatica and Diplomitoporus daedaleiformis, respectively.

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Echinodontium and related genera.

The phylogenetic relationship of eight species of Echinodontium, Laurilia, and Perplexostereum of Russulales were analyzed based on sequences of the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS [internal transcribed spacer]) and D1-D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (28S). Our results show that Echinodontium tinctorium, E. ryvardenii, and E. tsugicola represent Echinodontium sensu stricto. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, the new genus Echinodontiellum is established to accommodate Echinodontium japonicum. Amylostereum, Echinodontium, Echinodontiellum, and Larssoniporia form the Echinodontiaceae clade. The Bondarzewiaceae clade includes Bondarzewia, Heterobasidion, Laurilia, and Lauriliella. The new genus Lauriliella is established for the species initially described as Stereum taxodii and Lauriliella taiwanensis new to science. The monotypic genus Perplexostereum forms a distinct clade. A key to the genera in the Echinodontiaceae and Bondarzewiaceae as well to Perplexostereum is provided.

Paravertebral mushroom: identification of a novel species of Phellinus as a human pathogen in chronic granulomatous disease.

We describe a case of paravertebral abscess caused by a Phellinus sp. in a boy with chronic granulomatous disease. Sequence-based identification of this mold, a new agent of disease, suggests a close relation to Phellinus umbrinellus.

Hymenochaetales: a molecular phylogeny for the hymenochaetoid clade.

The hymenochaetoid clade is dominated by wood-decaying species previously classified in the artificial families Corticiaceae, Polyporaceae and Stereaceae. The majority of these species cause a white rot. The polypore Bridgeoporus and several corticicoid species with inconspicuous basidiomata live in association with brown-rotted wood, but their nutritional strategy is not known. Mycorrhizal habit is reported for Coltricia perennis but needs confirmttion. A surprising element in the hymenochaetoid clade is a group of small white to brightly pigmented agarics earlier classified in Omphalina. They form a subclade together with some similarly colored stipitate stereoid and corticioid species. Several are associated with living mosses or one-celled green algae. Hyphoderma pratermissum and some related corticioid species have specialized organs for trapping and killing nematodes as a source of nitrogen. There are no unequivocal morphological synapomorphies known for the hymenochaetoid clade. However almost all species examined ultrastructurally have dolipore septa with continuous parenthesomes while perforate parenthesomes is the normal condition for other homobasidiomycete clades. The agaricoid Hymenochaetales have not been examined. Within Hymenochaetales the Hymenochaetaceae forms a distinct clade but unfortunately all morphological characters supporting Hymenochaetaceae also are found in species outside the clade. Other subclades recovered by the molecular phylogenetic analyses are less uniform, and the overall resolution within the nuclear LSU tree presented here is still unsatisfactory.

Rhizochaete, a new genus of phanerochaetoid fungi.

A new basidiomycete genus, Rhizochaete (Phanerochaetaceae, Polyporales), is described. Rhizochaete is characterized by a smooth to tuberculate, pellicular hymenophore and hyphal cords that turn red or violet in potassium hydroxide, monomitic hyphal system of simple or nodose septate hyphae, cystidia, and small, cylindrical to subglobose basidiospores. It morphologically is most similar to Phanerochaete. Analyses of nuclear ribosomal and internal-transcribed spacer region sequence data support a close relationship between Rhizochaete and Phanerochaete. The new taxon R. brunnea, from southern Argentina, is described and illustrated. In addition, the new combinations R. americana, R. borneensis, R. filamentosa, R. fouquieriae and R. radicata are proposed. A key to the species of Rhizochaete is provided.

Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Phanerochaete inferred from the internal transcribed spacer region.

Phanerochaete is a genus of resupinate homobasidiomycetes that are saprophytic on woody debris and logs. Morphological studies in the past indicated that Phanerochaete is a heterogeneous assemblage of species. In this study the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was used to test the monophyly of the genus Phanerocthaete and to infer phylogenetic relationships of the 24 taxa studied. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses do not support the monophyly of the genus. However, a core group of species represented by Phanerochaete velutina, P. chrysosporium, P. sordida, P. sanguinea and others are closely related and group together in a clade. Other common Phanerochaete species including Phanerochaete rimosa, P. chrysorhiza, P. omnivora, P. avellanea, P. tiberculata, P. flava, and P. allantospora, however, do not cluster with the core Phanerochaete group.

New taxa of Hawaiian corticioid fungi are described with keys to Crustoderma, Radulomyces, and Scopuloides.

Four new species of corticioid fungi from Hawaii are described and illustrated. The new genus Hemmesomyces is described to accommodate the new species H. puauluensis. Radulomyces tantalusensis, Crustoderma fuscatum and Scopuloides magnacystidiata also are described as new. In addition, the new combination Crustoderma vulcanense is proposed. Keys to the species of Crustoderma, Radulomyces and Scopuloides are provided.