The genus () includes entomopathogenic species known to infect a variety of insects and spiders. In this study, we present the first isolate of characterized by molecular methods, found on dead bodies of the common cave limoniid () in the subterranean spaces of southwestern Germany. In total, seven specimens exhibited distinctive morphological traits that, when compared with historical records, confirm their identification as -particularly noted for its affinity to dipteran hosts. Absent from culture collections and molecular repositories, this species has eluded detailed scientific documentation using modern methods. Our research bridges this knowledge gap, providing the first genetic identification barcodes of five genes, living culture, cultivation requirements, and an updated description. This overlooked fungus is phylogenetically most closely related to the species , , and some other species mostly associated with adult moths. It demonstrates a unique morphological signature with monoblastic phialides forming a layer on the surface of synnemata and produces long, cylindrical, chain-forming conidia. It prefers lower temperatures, exhibiting an inability to grow at 25 °C, coupled with notably slow growth in culture.

The septins are observed at the hyphal tip and septum in the growing vegetative hyphae. In , septin dynamics have been suggested to be regulated by septin phosphorylation through protein kinases such as Cla4. To gain insight into the relationship between septins and Cla4 protein kinase (Cc.Cla4), we conducted disruption of the gene () by CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed the phenotypes of Δ strains. The vegetative hyphae of the Δ strains grow slowly in the zigzag shape and are highly branched compared to the wild-type hyphae. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) tagged Cc.Cdc3 septin in the Δ strain was observed in the growing vegetative hyphae. Although EGFP-Cc.Cdc3 signals localized at the plasma membrane of the hyphal tip region, they did not accumulate as a dome with a hole at the hyphal tip as observed in the wild type. Instead, the Cc.Cdc3 was found to stay at the hyphal tip, which split into two tips thereafter. These results suggest that Cc.Cla4 is required for assembly of the hyphal tip apparatus that enables the rapid linear growth of the apical cells.

is an important wild edible mycorrhizal mushroom in Japan. The domestic matsutake harvest has been declining for 80 y. Nagano Prefecture, a central region of Japan, is the area that has been most productive of matsutake during the past 20 y. To study how matsutake harvesting was affected by forest management, an experimental site was established in a pine forest in Nagano Prefecture in 1980. Two plots were established: a managed plot (MP) in which all trees except pine were cut, pine trees were thinned, and soil litter layer was removed; and a control plot (CP) with no forest management. The numbers of matsutake fruiting bodies were recorded annually in both plots for 41 y. The annual matsutake harvest was stable in the MP but decreased in the CP, while the number of shiro increased in the MP and was stable at the low level in the CP. These trends were suggested to be affected significantly by the thicker humus layer and large root biomass other than pines in the CP. This is the longest record of matsutake harvest in the managed forest, which reveals the importance of such long-term forest management for the sustainable matsutake harvesting.

"" identified as belonging to sect. is an edible mushroom commonly used in Japan. This species has been suggested to include another cryptic species with common morphological characteristics and identical internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nuc rDNA). We compared . specimens sampled in Japan and Denmark, including the holotype. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA ITS and intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) regions, and and genes identified two phylogroups in Japanese . . In addition, both Japanese phylogroups of . were distinguished from European . . Concatenated phylogenetic tree analysis based on these four DNA regions also distinguished two Japanese clades within . . Here, we report two new species, . distributed on Honshu Island under two-needle pines and . on Rishiri Island under a five-needle pine from Japan.

Novel strains, JCM 35526 and 261-2C, were isolated from biofilm formed on a reverse osmosis membrane in the phosphate recovery system of a semiconductor factory. Morphological, biochemical, physiological, and chemotaxonomic analyses as well as sequence analysis of the concatenated internal transcribed spacer region and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene confirmed that strains JCM 35526 and 261-2C, were distinct from all currently known species. The holotype and isotype strains of the new species, which is named , are JCM 35526 and MUCL 58310, respectively.

A -like hyphomycete was found on a dead petiole of the fern in Taiwan. It differs from all other known fungi by its pale brown cordiform conidia in brown masses on the top of penicillately branched dematiaceous conidiophores, and is described as new genus and species . By its pigmented conidia, this species differs from , which is transferred to another new genus, , . Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU and sequences indicate particularly close relationship of to and in the . An almost identical environmental ITS2 sequence from the USA and a brief morphological characterization from a fungus-distribution database in Denmark indicate that the fungus is probably widespread but rarely encountered.

About 70 y after the first report by Yosio Kobayasi, we collected a little-known synnematous hyphomycete, , on decaying basidiocarps of growing on dead culms of two bamboo species in Tateyama (on ), Chichibu (type locality of ; on ), and Shigakogen (on ) in Japan, and obtained isolates of both the parasite and its host. Kobayasi provided only brief Latin and Japanese descriptions and quite elementary illustrations for , without depositing any herbarium specimens including the holotype. In this paper, a lectotype and an epitype of this species are designated respectively from the original protolog (illustration) of Kobayasi and our new material collected in Chichibu. Phialidic conidiogenesis and 2- to 3-level verticillate conidiophores terminating in a whorl of 2-5 phialides were newly observed in this fungus on the natural substrate. ITS-LSU sequences of five isolates of collected in the three locations were identical. Phylogenetic analyses of these markers placed in , although other species of are classified in at present. A new genus for and a new combination, , are proposed here based on our morphological, ecological and phylogenetic data.

species take up various metal ions from environment. The morphology of strains can vary under the influence of various metal ions. Here, the effects of Ti, V, Sr, Ba, Al, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, and Cu on morphological parameters of strains RIB40 and RIB143 were estimated. Colony diameter, conidiation, vesicle head size, and stipe width in both strains varied with concentration. Ti, Sr, Ba, Al, Fe, and Ca affected conidiation in similar tendency between two strains. The effects of Ti, V, Sr, and Ba on the morphology of are reported here for the first time. Induction of growth of both strains by 0.0001% Ti may help the fermentation industry. Induction of conidiation in RIB40 by 0.001% Cu confirmed previous results that low concentrations of Cu promote the growth of . The most novel finding is that 0.001% Zn increased the vesicle head size in RIB40; possible reasons are discussed.

Rust species classified in , , and were re-examined and re-circumscribed by morphology, host preference, life cycle pattern, and geographic distribution. Macrocyclic heteroecious life cycle was proven for seven species by field observations and experimental inoculations. Partial molecular phylogenetic analyses were also included in the taxonomic decision. Anamorphic fungi and others, that were newly discovered and assumed to be related to these genera, were also examined in the same manner. was synonymized under . One fungus named under and two anamorphic fungi were determined as species of . Fifteen species were recognized in : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Most of species are distributed in eastern Asia. Only is known in northwestern Europe and , , and are known in eastern North America. The disjunct distribution of in the Northern Hemisphere is interpretated by disjunctions of ancestral species once broadly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere and subsequent species diversification, migration, and extinction in each of the three geographic regions.

An aggregated retention system retains several groups of trees within cutblocks to maintain public functions such as biodiversity conservation. We examined ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities associated with regenerating seedlings and their surrounding trees at different locations; inside and at the edge of the retained patches, and in clear-cut areas 10 and 50 m from the edge. The EcM fungi on the roots were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTU) based on the similarity of their ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. Higher OTU richness was found inside (63 OTUs) and at the edge of the patches (59 OTUs) compared to clear-cut areas (33 or 25 OTUs). The ordination analysis inferred that location may influence the EcM fungal communities. However, further studies with more site replications are needed to clarify the effects of the patches on shaping EcM fungal communities.

We reevaluated the species belonging to the genus that were collected from Japan and Malaysia based phylogenetic analyses and morphological investigations. We found that is distinct from . species with setal hyphae include , , , and . , synonymized with in earlier studies, was distinct from . All isolates from trees damaged by brown root rot were accommodated in the same clade with , and the cause of the disease was confirmed as . resembles but is distinguished by a glabrous pileus surface and abundant hymenial setae. species are similar to some species but are distinguished by the duplex context separated by a thin crust composed of nonagglutinated hyphae. Some species produce setal hyphae in the trama and context like some species. However, the hyphae of these species are acuminate at the tip, tapered toward the base, and often swollen toward the tip, whereas those of the species are cylindrical and mostly equal. The following new combinations are proposed: and .

is a well-known medicinal mushroom widely exploited in traditional medicine and nutraceuticals. In this study, we aim to establish a new platform for improving the production of beneficial ingredients in this fungus. We successfully generated uridine/uracil auxotrophic mutants (Δ) in five homokaryotic strains. The efficiency of the deletion by homologous recombination reached 100% in all the strains. Genetic transformation of the Δ strains mediated by using the native auxotrophic marker resulted in high transformation yields of 109-810 transformants per 10 conidia. Additionally, the marker from was also functional for the genetic transformation of Δ We further showed that the and genes were strongly expressed during the mycelial growth of , and their promoter sequences were integrated into binary vectors for enhancing recombinant expression. With the constructed platform, the strong heterologous expression of the DsRed protein was proven, and the genomic integration of the endogenous gene encoding a serine protease under the regulation of the promoter significantly increased the activity of this enzyme in . Our work provides a promising platform for food-grade recombinant expression in .

In nature, only white-rot fungi can completely decompose wood biomass in the environmental carbon cycle. However, their degradation strategy is still unclear. Despite many studies on the lab-scale wood-decay process, investigations on the open-field process have been limited by their difficulty. Here, we aimed to elucidate the degradation strategy of white-rot fungi in nature by monitoring the chemical composition changes of logs exposed to the white-rot fungus, , over 4 y of cultivation using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. began to decompose lignin and deacetylate hemicellulose in the first 2 y and then degraded polysaccharides in the next 1 y. Finally, lignin decomposition recurred after the third year. Thus, our study revealed that decayed wood in a repetitive two-stage process: lignin and polysaccharide degradation. The switching cycle may promote efficient degradation.

The genus (: ) is mostly composed of entomopathogenic fungal species. Many of these species are anamorphic and difficult to distinguish morphologically. Furthermore, most isolates of this genus have a broad host range, making classification based on host-insect species uncertain. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence information distinguishes these species well and revises the taxonomy of . However, in the revisions, the major groups within the genus, such as complex, were classified regardless of their phenotypic differentiation. Therefore, the characteristics of the individual species remain unclear. To explore the species-specific characteristics of spp., the author performed a phylogenetic analysis and characterization of spp. in Japan. The results showed that strains of the and clades exhibited cold-active growth characteristics and preferred forested environments over . In the clade, a specialist of scarab beetles, isolates from different Scarabaeidae species, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle ( spp.) and flower chafer beetle (), formed separate subclades and showed strong virulence against their original hosts. This review describes the current state of understanding of the taxonomy and species-specific characteristics of the genus , and includes the author's own previous study.

We collected in Japan five sporocarpic specimens morphologically identical to those of , a recently described species. Although 18S-ITS-28S nuc rDNA sequences obtained from these sporocarps showed high sequence variability, phylogenetic analyses based on 18S-ITS-28S, the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II () gene, and concatenated sequences of the two loci convincingly demonstrated the identity of these sporocarps to . Importantly, the 18S-ITS-28S+ analyses highlighted the key role of sequences in reconstructing the phylogenies of taxa with strongly divergent rDNA sequences. Upon inoculation with sporocarpic spores, formed mycorrhiza with arbuscules and vesicles, which was not confirmed in the original description of the species. Comparisons of 18S sequences with DNA sequences available in a public database indicated that is a cosmopolitan species and is mainly associated with plants in natural habitats such as grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Phylogenetic analyses also confirmed the autonomy of , another known species of the genus whose sporocarps were originally found in Brazil.

A new species, , was described from the tropical region of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis. is characterised by its yellowish brown to reddish brown granular scales on the pileus, stipe apex exudes colourless drops, broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores, clavate to cylindrical, catenulate cheilocystidia with subglobose to cylindrical ante-terminal elements. Further, the molecular markers nrITS and nrLSU sequence data analyses of with their sister taxa revealed the distinct phylogenetic position of the new species.

is among the most psychrophilic snow mold pathogen, mainly attacking Poaceae crops such as winter wheat and forage grasses as well as non-Poaceae plants under snow. Isolates were collected through the extensive surveys from North Atlantic islands through European and Asian Russia to Japan. Morphological characterization as well as the effects of temperature and water potential on mycelial growth defined three varieties, i.e., vars. , , and . Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and EF1-α regions of genomic DNA indicated the monophyly of and supported varietal differentiation.

The mushroom is consumed worldwide and has high industrial value because of its rich content of bioactive compounds such as ergothioneine and eritadenine. Currently, mainstream artificial cultivation methods for this mushroom typically use synthetic logs. However, browning of the stem's interior (stem browning) has been observed during the cultivation in some strains. Although browning does not affect the taste or other qualities of the mushroom, it gives consumers a perception of "poor quality", and is a major challenge for producers. To identify the genes responsible for stem browning in this mushroom, we performed differential gene expression analysis during stem browning development and quantified it using real-time PCR. Our results indicated that certain oxidoreductases, such as tyrosinase and laccase, were significantly upregulated during the progression of stem browning. The results obtained in the present study provide valuable insights to address the problem of stem browning in mushroom .

species are valuable edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, particularly in Asia. The partial hypogenous nature of fruit bodies in soil present challenges for sample collection and studying species distribution. In this study, we developed a PCR-based approach for identifying . Two universal primers (AUPF1/AUPR1 and AUPF3/AUPR3) and specific primers for . (AAF4/AAR4), . (AOF4/AOR4), and . (ASF2/ASR4) were designed based on the alignment of internal transcribed spacer sequences from various species. Primer verification was performed by generating amplicons from extracted DNA of fruit bodies and 130 soil samples collected from beneath various host plants of spp. These novel primers were efficient and precise in identifying species. Our results have implications for multi-sample assays for identification and investigations into species distribution through large-scale inventories.

Flowering of Henon bamboo ( var. ) was observed in Japan in 2020s. We estimated that the observation of flowering was recorded for the first time in 120 y. Additionally, stromata of have also been observed in the flower buds, or spikelets, of Henon bamboo. usually forms stromata at the vegetative shoot apex, which presumably originated from ancestral pathogens affecting floral tissues. However, given the infrequent occurrence of bamboo flowering events, it is unclear whether still retains the ability to colonize ovaries of flowers. To ascertain the location where the fungus forms stromata, anatomical and histological analyses were performed. Because flower buds, including floral organs, are fragile, tissue sections were prepared by adhering them to cellophane tape, and subsequently examined using a triple fluorescent staining method. The findings showed that the fungus did not invade the ovaries but formed stromata from the apical rudimentary floret within the flower buds.

is a taxonomically controversial species of Myxomycetes. Currently, it is treated as a synonym for . In this study, two specimens from Lafa Mountain National Forest Park in Jilin Province of China were researched concerning morphology with the light microscope and scanning electronic microscope and compared with the holotype from Japan to confirm that the species was first discovered in China. It is mainly characterized by cushion-shaped plasmodiocarps; single peridium, ornamented with dense flake-like lime crystals on the outer surface; columella absent; capillitium (0.99-)1.29-2.05(-2.30) μm diam, with spindle-shaped enlargement forms at branching points, decorated with dense small warts; spores (5.70-)6.49-6.87(-7.61) μm diam, warted and with clusters of large warts. In addition, the partial nucleotide sequences of nuclear 18S rDNA and elongation factor-1 alpha genes of differed clearly from those of other species. The results supported the rationality that is an independent species. Light microscopic photos, scanning electron microscopic photos, and an emended description of morphological characters are provided.