New insights into the Usnea cornuta aggregate (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota): Molecular analysis reveals high genetic diversity correlated with chemistry.

Biological processes such as hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting and gene flow can obscure the recognition of distinct evolutionary lineages, particularly in groups of organisms that have recently diverged. Therefore, compiling pieces of evidence from diverse data sources is critical to accurately assess species boundaries in such groups. The increasing availability of DNA sequence data allows for a much deeper understanding of diversification and speciation processes and their consequences on biodiversity. In this study, we applied an integrative approach based on DNA sequence, chemical, geographic and morphological data to attempt to define species boundaries in the lichen-forming genus Usnea (Parmeliaceae), particularly the U. cornuta aggregate, a cosmopolitan species group. We provide the first species delimitation for this group in the neotropics based on the multispecies coalescent (MSC) model. Using ITS rDNA and two protein-coding genes, Mcm7 and RPB1, we estimated the species tree under the MSC model in a Bayesian framework using STACEY. Our results indicate that at least nine strongly supported distinct lineages coexist in the U. cornuta aggregate, which are well chemically characterized. Additionally, we found evidence for the polyphyly of three morphospecies, Usnea brasiliensis, U. cornuta and U. dasaea.

Production of ethanol and xylitol by Trametes membranacea.

The potential to produce ethanol and xylitol from xylose by the macro basidiomycete Trametes membranacea was evaluated. All strains studied showed ethanol and xylitol production. The highest ethanol production of xylose was obtained by T. membranacea strain TM158/10 with 5.65 ± 0.21 g/L at pH 4 and 28 °C with 288 h of fermentation and 5.59 ± 0.05 g/L ethanol concentration at pH 5 and 24 °C with 360 h of fermentation. When the conversion was carried out using sugars generated from enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse, there were higher yields from 74 to 15% for ethanol and xylitol, respectively. Although the ethanol and xylitol production need to be optimized, this study showed for the first time the possibility of using T. membranacea for the simultaneous xylitol and ethanol production from pentose sugars, allowing for the possibility of using all released sugars during the hydrolysis of lignocelluloses.

New genera, species, and combinations of Boletaceae from Brazil and Guyana.

Brasilioporus olivaceoflavidus, gen. et sp. nov., Brasilioporus simoniarum, sp. nov., Neotropicomus australis, gen. et sp. nov., and Nevesoporus nigrostipitatus, gen. et sp. nov. (Boletaceae, Boletales, Basidiomycota), are described from the endangered Atlantic Forest biome of eastern Brazil. New combinations into these new genera are proposed for the Guyanese taxa Xerocomus parvogracilis, Tylopilus rufonigricans, and Tylopilus exiguus. Boletaceae subfamily Chalciporoideae was recircumscribed to include the new genus Nevesoporus. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using a multilocus data set (ITS+28S+TEF1+RPB1+RPB2) from a large taxon set across the Boletaceae justify recognition of the new genera. Morphological, ecological, and DNA sequence data are provided for the new species. A key to known native and introduced bolete species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is provided.

An overview of Favolus from the Neotropics, including four new species.

Favolus is a monophyletic genus of polypores that causes white rot of various woody plants. The genus has a worldwide distribution and is ecologically and economically important. Several taxa have been described or reported from the Neotropics, and F. brasiliensis, described originally from Brazil, is the type species for the genus. Based on molecular investigations, F. brasiliensis is now known to represent a species complex. The species is morphologically and phylogenetically circumscribed and epitypified here, and F. rugulosus is proposed as a new related species. Favolus grammocephalus and Polyporus philippinensis, initially described from Asia, have also recently been recorded from the Neotropics, so these taxa were included in this investigation employing morphological and multigene (mitochondrial, ribosomal, and protein-coding regions) phylogenetic analyses. These latter two species do not occur in the Neotropics, but the misapplied names actually represent three new species: F. pseudogrammocephalus, F. radiatifibrillosus, and F. yanomami. Nine species of Favolus are documented now for the Neotropics. Detailed descriptions of F. brasiliensis and all new taxa are provided, along with comments, illustrations, a map of potential distribution, and a key for neotropical species of Favolus.

Bambusicolous Fomitiporia revisited: multilocus phylogeny reveals a clade of host-exclusive species.

FOMITIPORIA: is a genus of wood-inhabiting Hymenochaetaceae (Agaricomycetes) that includes pathogens and decomposers occurring on a wide array of plant substrates. Some species decay culms of woody bamboos, a poorly known biotic interaction. Four bambusicolous species of Fomitiporia are currently known. However, no studies concerning their phylogenetic relationships have been performed. In order to assess species boundaries and their relationships to each other, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and portions of nuc 28S rDNA (28S), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1), as well as morphological analyses. Four species that occur on culms of woody bamboos, F. bambusarum, F. spinescens, F. uncinata, and the new species F. bambusipileata, grouped together in an exclusive clade within a primarily Neotropical lineage. The new species differs from all other species in the group by the pileate basidiomata. Hypotheses regarding host-exclusivity are discussed.

New species of Stropharia from Araucaria angustifolia forests of southern Brazil.

Two new agaric species of Stropharia are described from Araucaria angustifolia (Brazilian pine) forests of southern Brazil. Stropharia agaricoides presents Agaricus-like basidiomes, small basidiospores (5-7 microm long) and pyriform cheilochrysocystidia. Stropharia venusta is characterized by the reddish to pinkish pileus, large basidiospores (12-15 microm long) and subclavate cheiloleptocystidia.

Proteomic fingerprinting for the fast and accurate identification of species in the Polyporoid and Hymenochaetoid fungi clades.

Basidiomycotan fungi play significant roles in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon as wood decomposers and are used in the food industry for mushroom production and in biotechnology for the production of diverse bioactive compounds and bioremediation. The correct identification of basidiomycotan isolates is crucial for understanding their biology and being able to expand their applications. Currently, the identification of these organisms is performed by analyzing morphological and genomic characteristics, primarily those based on DNA biomarkers. Despite their efficiency, such methods require considerable expertise and are both time-consuming and error-prone (multistep workflow). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has emerged in the last decade as an accurate, fast, and powerful alternative for the identification of microorganisms. MALDI-TOF MS has been widely applied for the identification and taxonomical characterization of both bacteria and ascomycotan fungi from clinical origins. However, species of Basidiomycota have been poorly evaluated using this method. In the present study, we assessed the performance of MALDI-TOF MS using basidiomycotan isolates of two distinct taxonomical families: Polyporaceae and Hymenochaetaceae. Using a simple protocol, which eliminates the protein extraction step, we obtained high-quality mass spectra data and demonstrated that this method is efficient for the discrimination of isolates at the species level. SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was employed to test its accuracy on the recognition of fungal species with high biotechnological and environmental interest. Using a simple and fast protocol, we obtained high-quality mass-spectra (protein fingerprinting) and proved that MALDI-TOF MS is sufficiently robust to the identification at species level and to evaluate the relationships among the isolates of the polyporoid and hymenochaetoid clades (Basidiomycota).

Fistulinella ruschii, sp. nov., and a new record of Fistulinella campinaranae var. scrobiculata for the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

Fistulinella is a small genus of boletoid fungi in the subfamily Austroboletoideae in the order Boletales. In this paper, F. ruschii from the Atlantic Forest is proposed as new to science and F. campinaranae var. scrobiculata, known from the Brazilian Amazon forest, is recorded for the first time in the Atlantic Forest. Macro- and microscopic descriptions, molecular data (nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nuc 28S rDNA), photographs of the basidiomata, and scanning electron microscopy images of basidiospores are provided for both species. Based on sampling of six taxa, New World Fistulinella is found to be a strongly supported monophyletic group, but the genus at large is nonmonophyletic.

A new Gloeoporus species growing on bamboo from southern Brazil.

Gloeoporus guerreroanus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from specimens collected on bamboo in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. The new taxon presents hymenium continuum along the tubular internal surface and dissepiments and represents an addition into the relatively small, poroid-merulioid genus Gloeoporus.