A phylogeny for the plant pathogen Piptoporellus baudonii using a multigene data set.

Piptoporellus baudonii is proposed as a new combination for Laetiporus baudonii in the Polyporales (Basidiomycota) based on morphological and molecular features. This parasitic macrofungus attacks cashew trees, Eucalyptus, cassava, Tectona, and some indigenous trees in southern regions of Tanzania and poses a serious threat to agroforestry and livelihood conditions in the area. Phylogenetic trees were produced from partial sequences of three rDNA gene regions and a portion of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) gene of Laetiporus baudonii for comparisons with samples from the antrodia clade. Our results reveal a strongly supported group of L. baudonii with Piptoporellus in Fomitopsidaceae. Piptoporellus baudonii shares many morphological features with other members of Piptoporellus but differs from them in having broadly ellipsoid or rarely ovoid basidiospores. Both morphological and phylogenetic evidence justify the placement of L. baudonii in Piptoporellus together with the three other known species in the genus.

Morphological plasticity in brown-rot fungi: Antrodia is redefined to encompass both poroid and corticioid species.

Most known brown rot-producing species of Polyporales belong to the so-called "Antrodia clade" that largely consists of poroid species. In this study, we use three genetic markers to revise Antrodia s. str., the core group of this clade. We show that a corticioid species with a smooth hymenophore, Phlebia griseoflavescens, belongs to Antrodia s. str. Accordingly, we revise the generic concept of Antrodia s. str. to accommodate this species and two recently described poroid taxa, A. tenerifensis and A. multiformis. In addition, we describe two new poroid species within Antrodia s. str., A. latebrosa from Africa and A. peregrina from East Asia, and provide new documentation for the Southeast Asian species A. parvula based on recent collections from the type location.

A revised family-level classification of the Polyporales (Basidiomycota).

Polyporales is strongly supported as a clade of Agaricomycetes, but the lack of a consensus higher-level classification within the group is a barrier to further taxonomic revision. We amplified nrLSU, nrITS, and rpb1 genes across the Polyporales, with a special focus on the latter. We combined the new sequences with molecular data generated during the PolyPEET project and performed Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Analyses of our final 3-gene dataset (292 Polyporales taxa) provide a phylogenetic overview of the order that we translate here into a formal family-level classification. Eighteen clades are assigned a family name, including three families described as new (Cerrenaceae fam. nov., Gelatoporiaceae fam. nov., Panaceae fam. nov.) and fifteen others (Dacryobolaceae, Fomitopsidaceae, Grifolaceae, Hyphodermataceae, Incrustoporiaceae, Irpicaceae, Ischnodermataceae, Laetiporaceae, Meripilaceae, Meruliaceae, Phanerochaetaceae, Podoscyphaceae, Polyporaceae, Sparassidaceae, Steccherinaceae). Three clades are given informal names (/hypochnicium,/climacocystis and/fibroporia + amyloporia). Four taxa (Candelabrochete africana, Mycoleptodonoides vassiljevae, Auriporia aurea, and Tyromyces merulinus) cannot be assigned to a family within the Polyporales. The classification proposed here provides a framework for further taxonomic revision and will facilitate communication among applied and basic scientists. A survey of morphological, anatomical, physiological, and genetic traits confirms the plasticity of characters previously emphasized in taxonomy of Polyporales.

Stipitate stereoid basidiocarps have evolved multiple times.

Stipitate stereoid fungi are Basidiomycetes with a stipe, a spathulate-to funnel-shaped pileus, a smooth hymenophore, and hyaline, smooth spores. Representatives of the genera Cotylidia, Cymatoderma, Muscinupta, Podoscypha and Stereopsis were subjected to molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal large subunit, 5.8S and ITS sequences. For four of the genera the type species was included in analyses. Stereopsis radicans, the type species of Stereopsis, forms a lineage with the corticioid species Clavulicium globosum but could not be placed in any of the presently accepted orders within Agaricomycotina. Stereopsis vitellina falls within the Atheliales, making it the first pileus- and stipe-forming fungus recovered in this order. Cotylidia and Muscinupta again are shown to be members of the Hymenochaetales, whereas Cymatoderma and Podoscypha belong in the Polyporales. Cymatoderma is polyphyletic and Cymatoderma sensu stricto is separated from other stipitate stereoid fungi in the Polyporales, whereas the remaining Cymatoderma species are nested within a well supported clade holding all Podoscypha species but also Abortiporus biennis.

The genus Coltricia in Brazil: new records and two new species.

Genus Coltricia is re-evaluated in Brazil and 10 species are accepted, namely C. barbata, C. cinnamomea, C. duportii, C. focicola, C. globispora, C. hamata, C. montagnei, C. perennis, C. permollis and C. velutina. Coltricia focicola and C. montagnei are reported respectively for the first time from South America and Brazil. Coltricia permollis and C. velutina are described as new species. Description of the new species, illustrations and a key to species of Coltricia known from the Neotropics are provided. The current knowledge of the genus in Brazil is discussed.

Santa Catarina Island mangroves 3: a new species of Fuscoporia.

Fuscoporia bifurcata is described from southern Brazil based on collections from mangrove areas on Santa Catarina Island, in the state of Santa Catarina. The new species is characterized by hymenial setae with a bifurcate or spiny apex. A description with illustrations, an updated key to species of Fuscoporia from southern Brazil and a key to species of Hymenochaetaceae reported from mangroves are provided.

Host and habitat preferences of polypore fungi in Micronesian tropical flooded forests.

The distribution and ecological impacts of plant-associated fungi is determined in large part by their degree of specificity for particular host species or environmental conditions. Here we evaluate the host and habitat preferences among the Aphyllophorales, a guild of wood-decay basidiomycete fungi usually considered to be host generalists. We determined the patterns of host association in three well-defined, floristically distinct, tropical wetlands -- freshwater forested wetlands, saltwater mangrove forests, and peatlands with scattered trees -- on the islands of Kosrae and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Of 33 fungal species, 20 were locally rare. Of the 11 species sufficiently common to evaluate habitat specificity, nine showed significant habitat preferences. Of eight species common enough to evaluate within-habitat host specificity, six showed strong host preferences. All except one of the nine habitat-specialized fungi showed either statistically significant host specificity or strong numerical biases toward single host species. Our results suggest that host preferences may be important in shaping the assemblages of wood-decay fungi, and that the effect of environment on the distribution of susceptible plant species, rather on the fungi themselves, may ultimately drive the apparent habitat specificity of many fungi.

Perenniporiella gen. nov. segregated from Perenniporia, including a key to neotropical Perenniporia species with pileate basidiomes.

Perenniporiella gen. nov. is segregated from Perenniporia. The new combinations Perenniporiella neofulva and Perenniporiella micropora, and the new species Perenniporiella pendula are proposed. Perenniporia piperis and Perenniporia albida are considered as taxonomic synonyms of P. neofulva. The three species are described and their taxonomic position is discussed. A key to the neotropical Perenniporiella and Perenniporia species with pileate basidiomes is presented.

Studies in neotropical polypores 15: new and interesting species from Guyana.

During fieldwork in Guyana several unusual and distinctive taxa of polypores were collected, three of which are described here as new. The first of these, Amauroderma coltricioides is the first species known in the Ganodermataceae with smooth basidiospores. Coltricia verrucata and Coltriciella navispora also are described as new, and a key to the neotropical species of Coltricia is provided. Finally, a checklist of 73 poroid fungi from Guyana is given, of which 29 are new records for the country.

Studies in neotropical polypores 10. New polypores from Venezuela.

Antrodiella dentipora, Ceriporia albobrunnea, C. cystidiata, Diplomitoporus allantosporus, D. stramineus, D. venezuelicus, Flabellophora fasciculata, Navisporus perennis, Nigroporus macroporus, Polyporus albostipes, Rigidoporus aurantiacus, Skeletocutis microcarpa, Tinctoporellus isabellinus, Trametes olivaceopora, T. supermodesta, Trichaptum variabilis, Tyromyces neostrigosus, T. polyporoides and Wrightoporia roseocontexta are described as new. Keys to all, except Trametes, the new neotropical species in their respective genera are included. The combinations Trichaptum griseofuscens (Mont.) Ryvarden & Iturriaga, and Tyromyces americanus (D. Reid) Ryvarden & Iturriaga are proposed.