Abstract: Mycoheterotrophic plants (MHPs) are leafless, achlorophyllous, and completely dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for their carbon supply. Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a mutualistic association with fungi that is undertaken by the majority of land plants, but mycoheterotrophy represents a breakdown of this mutualism in that plants parasitize fungi. Most MHPs are associated with fungi that are mycorrhizal with autotrophic plants, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Although these MHPs gain carbon via the common mycorrhizal network that links the surrounding autotrophic plants, some mycoheterotrophic lineages are associated with saprotrophic (SAP) fungi, which are free-living and decompose leaf litter and wood materials. Such MHPs are dependent on the forest carbon cycle, which involves the decomposition of wood debris and leaf litter, and have a unique biology and evolutionary history. MHPs associated with SAP fungi (SAP-MHPs) have to date been found only in the Orchidaceae and likely evolved independently at least nine times within that family. Phylogenetically divergent SAP Basidiomycota, mostly Agaricales but also Hymenochaetales, Polyporales, and others, are involved in mycoheterotrophy. The fungal specificity of SAP-MHPs varies from a highly specific association with a single fungal species to a broad range of interactions with multiple fungal orders. Establishment of symbiotic culture systems is indispensable for understanding the mechanisms underlying plant-fungus interactions and the conservation of MHPs. Symbiotic culture systems have been established for many SAP-MHP species as a pure culture of free-living SAP fungi is easier than that of biotrophic AM or ECM fungi. Culturable SAP-MHPs are useful research materials and will contribute to the advancement of plant science.

Abstract: Trametes species are efficient wood decomposers that are widespread throughout the world. Mitogenomes have been widely used to understand the phylogeny and evolution of fungi. Up to now, two mitogenomes from the Trametes genus have been revealed. In the present study, the complete mitogenomes of two novel Trametes species, Trametes versicolor and T. coccinea, were assembled and compared with other Polyporales mitogenomes. Both species contained circular DNA molecules, with sizes of 67,318 bp and 99,976 bp, respectively. Comparative mitogenomic analysis indicated that the gene number, length and base composition varied between the four Trametes mitogenomes we tested. In addition, all of the core protein coding genes in Trametes species were identified and subjected to purifying selection. The mitogenome of T. coccinea contained the largest number of introns among the four Trametes species tested, and introns were considered the main factors contributing to size variations of Polyporales. Several novel introns were detected in the Trametes species we assembled, and introns identified in Polyporales were found to undergo frequent loss/gain events. Large-scale gene rearrangements were detected between closely related Trametes species, including gene inversions, insertions, and migrations. A well-supported phylogenetic tree for 77 Basidiomycetes was obtained based on the combined mitochondrial gene set using 2 phylogenetic inference methods. The results showed that mitochondrial genes are effective molecular markers for understanding the phylogeny of Basidiomycetes. This study is the first to report the mitogenome rearrangement and intron dynamics of Trametes species, which shed light on the evolution of Trametes and other related species.

Abstract: Cyanosporus is a cosmopolitan brown-rot fungal genus, recognizable by blue-tinted basidiocarps Species in this genus were usually treated as belonging to the Postia caesia complex, however, recent phylogenetic analyses showed that this complex represents an independent genus During further studies on Cyanosporus, five new species were discovered based on morphological features and molecular data Phylogenetic analyses of Cyanosporus were conducted using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit of mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF); illustrated descriptions of the new species are provided In addition, fifteen species previously belonging to the Postia caesia complex are transferred to Cyanosporus and proposed as new combinations

Abstract: An in-depth study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the corticioid genus Phlebiopsis (Phanerochaetaceae) was conducted Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS1-58S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences demonstrated that Phlebiopsis is a strongly supported clade that is distinct from its sister clade that includes Phaeophlebiopsis, Hapalopilus and Rhizochaete Two genera, Australohydnum and Hjortstamia, are reduced to synonyms under Phlebiopsis because 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 from Sri Lanka and China — P albescens, P brunnea, P cylindrospora, P magnicystidiata, P membranacea and P sinensis Five new combinations are proposed — Phaeophlebiopsis mussooriensis, Phlebiopsis bambusicola, P dregeana, P griseofuscescens and P novae-granatae 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

Abstract: Ganodermataceae was introduced by Donk (1948) which belongs to Polyporales and the latest studies indicated that it is a monophyletic group (Costa-Rezende et al. 2020). Currently, eleven genera viz. Amauroderma Murril, Amaurodermellus Costa-Rezende, Cristataspora Costa-Rezende, Foraminispora Robledo, Costa-Rezende & Drechsler-Santos, Furtadoa Costa-Rezende, Robledo & Drechsler-Santos, Ganoderma P. Karst., Haddowia Steyaert, Humphreya Steyaert, Magoderna (Murrill) Steyaert, Sanguinoderma Y.F. Sun, D.H. Costa & B.K. Cui and Tomophagus Murrill are accepted in Ganodermataceae and supported by morphology and phylogeny (Steyaert 1972; Furtado 1981; C orner 1983; Zhao and Zhang 2000; Ryvarden 2004; Thametal 2012; Costa-Rezende et al. 2017; Costa-Rezende et al. 2020; Sun et al. 2020). Ganoderma P. Karst (Ganodermataceae, Polyporales) was introduced to accommodate a laccate and stipitate fungus, Ganodermalucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (Karsten 1881). Ganoderma is characterized by double-walled basidiospores with inter-wall protuberances (Karsten 1881; Moncalvo and Ryvarden 1997). There are 462 records in the Index Fungorum (http://www.Indexfungorum.org/; accessed date: 7 October 2021) and 506 records in MycoBank (http://www.mycobank.org/; accessed date: 7 October 2021). Ganoderma is one of the most taxonomically scrutinized genera among the Ganodermataceae and even in Polyporales (Richter et al. 2015; Costa-Rezende et al. 2020). Most Ganoderma species are wood decomposers, found in all temperate and tropical regions (Pilotti et al. 2004; Cao et al. 2012; Zhou et al. 2015). Ganoderma has long been regarded as one of the most important medicinal fungi in the world (Paterson 2006); they have been used as medicine for over two millennia in China (Dai et al. 2009). Several Ganoderma species are known to be prolific sources of highly active bioactive compounds, especially polysaccharides, protein, sterols, and triterpenoids (Ahmadi and Riazipour 2007; Chan et al. 2007). These compounds are known to possess extensive therapeutic properties, such as antioxidant, antitumor, and antiviral agents, and improve sleep function (De Silva et al. 2013). Species diversity of Ganoderma is abundant in China and more than 30 species have been described (Zhao and Zhang 2000; Wang et al. 2009; Cao et al. 2012; Li et al. 2015; Xing et al. 2016; Hapuarachchi et al. 2018; Liu et al. 2019; He et al. 2019; Wu et al. 2020). Yunnan province is considered as one of the hot-spots for studying biodiversity of polypores, and some new Ganoderma species have been described (Zhao 1989; Wang et Wu 2010; Cao and Yuan 2013). During our investigation into the diversity of Ganoderma in Yunnan province, several specimens of Ganoderma were collected from central and southern Yunnan. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the seven collections formed two distinct lineages and can be recognized as new species, hence two new species, namely G.dianzhongense and G.esculentum are introduced based on morphology and phylogeny.

Abstract: The content of antioxidant compounds varies within fungal species, and the Polyporales order has been recognized for this property. Numerous antioxidant compounds have been identified in Polyporales fungi, including phenolic compounds, β-glucans, ergosterol, ergothioneine, vitamin C, and tocopherols. Each compound contributes differently to the antioxidant potential of fungi. Besides the health benefits for rural communities caused by fungi consumption, their antioxidant composition attracts the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries' interest. In this context, the present review compiles, analyzes, and discusses the bioactive composition of edible fungi of the Polyporales order and its contribution to total antioxidant capacity.

Abstract: The fruiting bodies of bracket fungi are a specific microhabitat colonized by various invertebrates of which mites (Acari) are rarely studied, and if they are, the study is usually faunistic. The aim of the research was to determine whether the diversification of mite assemblages (Mesostigmata, Oribatida) inhabiting the fruiting bodies of Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.) P. Karst. (Polyporales) are connected with the character of the forests and/or the degree of decay (DD) of the fruiting bodies. The research was conducted at Bialowieza National Park (BNP), in forests close to natural ones and in Karkonosze National Park (KNP) which was affected by a large-scale forest dieback in the 1980s. Eighty fruiting bodies (40 at each study site) of F. pinicola belonging to four DD categories were collected. In total, 4,345 individuals of 120 mite species were recorded at BNP, and 13,912 individuals of 96 species were recorded at KNP. Analyses revealed that the sample dispersion at each study site was comparable, nevertheless the samples from each study site were clearly grouped into slightly overlapping sets which allow observation of the differences between them. In the less decayed fungi (DD 1 and 2) there were fewer mite species and individual mites than in the more decayed samples (DD 3 and 4). There were also significant differences between the fauna of the fungi in each particular DD: the fauna of DD 1 differed from all others, whereas the fauna of heavily decayed fungi (DD 3 and 4) was more comparable.

Abstract: Four different species of Trametes were collected during a field survey in Malakand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Based on morphological characteristics and the molecular data from internal transcribed spacer rDNA and large subunit nLSU, the species were identified as T. elegans, T. gibbosa, T. hirsuta and T. trogii. A literature review confirms T. elegans, T. gibbosa and T. hirsuta species to be the first records from Pakistan and comparison with herbarium specie confirms its identity.

Abstract: Panus is a genus of the order Polyporales with a gilled hymenium. Although Panus was earlier considered as a sub genus of the genus Lentinus, molecular phylogenetic studies support the independent status of the genus. As a result, many species were transferred from Lentinus to Panus. Many more species of Lentinus that are more related to Panus, still await critical taxonomic studies and formal transfers. Morphological and molecular data obtained from L. bambusinus and L. roseus reveal that these are Panus species. Two new combinations in the genus Panus are proposed here.

Abstract: Research in the South Urals has revealed 39 species of beetles from 25 genera and 13 families associated with 6 species of wood-destroying basidium fungi of the genus Trametes Fr.: T. gibbosa, T. hirsuta, T. ochracea, T. pubescens, T. suaveolens, and T. versicolor. The dominant inhabitants of these fungi are Octothemnus glabriculus, Sulcacis nitidus, Cis hispidus, C. setiger, C. boleti (Ciidae), Tritoma subbasalis (Erotylidae), and Orchesia fusiformis (Melandryidae). Patterns of colonization of the fungal fruit bodies depending on their physiological state and degree of destruction are described. Significant differences are observed in the composition of the beetle complexes inhabiting living and dead basidiomes. Such beetle species as Cerylon deplanatum, C. ferrugineum, C. histeroides (Cerylonidae), Rhizophagus dispar, Rh. parvulus (Monotomidae), Cucujus haematodes (Cucujidae), Bitoma crenata (Colydiidae), Dircaea quadriguttata, and Orchesia fasciata (Melandryidae) develop under the bark of trees, in white rot of wood, and in the mycelial layer of Trametes fungi in trophic association with these fungi and other fungal species, including ascomycetes and deuteromycetes.

Abstract: Fungi that decay wood have characteristic associations with certain tree species, but the mechanistic bases for these associations are poorly understood. We studied substrate-specific gene expression and RNA editing in six species of wood-decaying fungi from the 'Antrodia clade' (Polyporales, Agaricomycetes) on three different wood substrates (pine, spruce, and aspen) in submerged cultures. We identified dozens to hundreds of substrate-biased genes (i.e., genes that are significantly upregulated in one substrate relative to the other two substrates) in each species, and these biased genes are correlated with their host ranges. Evolution of substrate-biased genes is associated with gene family expansion, gain and loss of genes, and variation in cis- and trans- regulatory elements, rather than changes in protein coding sequences. We also demonstrated widespread RNA editing events in the Antrodia clade, which differ from those observed in the Ascomycota in their distribution, substitution types, and the genomic environment. Moreover, we found that substrates could affect editing positions and frequency, including editing events occurring in mRNA transcribed from wood-decay-related genes. This work shows the extent to which gene expression and RNA editing differ among species and substrates, and provides clues into mechanisms by which wood-decaying fungi may adapt to different hosts.

Abstract: Mushroom strains of Polyporales from the genera Coriolus, Trametes, Pycnoporus, Ganoderma, and Formitella were explored in terms of mycelial growth characteristics for the application of mushroom m...

Abstract: Wood-decaying fungi tend to have characteristic substrate ranges that partly define their ecological niche. Fomitopsis pinicola is a brown rot species of Polyporales that is reported on 82 species of softwoods and 42 species of hardwoods. We analyzed gene expression levels of F. pinicola from submerged cultures with ground wood powder (sampled at 5 days) or solid wood wafers (sampled at 10 and 30 days), using aspen, pine, and spruce substrates (aspen was used only in submerged cultures). Fomitopsis pinicola expressed similar sets of wood-degrading enzymes typical of brown rot fungi across all culture conditions and time points. Nevertheless, differential gene expression was observed across all pairwise comparisons of substrates and time points. Genes exhibiting differential expression encode diverse enzymes with known or potential function in brown rot decay, including laccase, benzoquinone reductase, aryl alcohol oxidase, cytochrome P450s, and various glycoside hydrolases. Comparing transcriptomes from submerged cultures and wood wafers, we found that culture conditions had a greater impact on global expression profiles than substrate wood species. These findings highlight the need for standardization of culture conditions in studies of gene expression in wood-decaying fungi. IMPORTANCE All species of wood-decaying fungi occur on a characteristic range of substrates (host plants), which may be broad or narrow. Understanding the mechanisms that allow fungi to grow on particular substrates is important for both fungal ecology and applied uses of different feedstocks in industrial processes. We grew the wood-decaying polypore Fomitopsis pinicola on three different wood species—aspen, pine, and spruce—under various culture conditions. We found that F. pinicola is able to modify gene expression (transcription levels) across different substrate species and culture conditions. Many of the genes involved encode enzymes with known or predicted functions in wood decay. This study provides clues to how wood-decaying fungi may adjust their arsenal of decay enzymes to accommodate different host substrates.

Abstract: Lignin biodegradation has been extensively studied in white-rot fungi, which largely belong to order Polyporales. Among the enzymes that wood-rotting polypores secrete, lignin peroxidases (LiPs) have been labeled as the most efficient. Here, we characterize a similar enzyme (ApeLiP) from a fungus of the order Agaricales (with ~13,000 described species), the soil-inhabiting mushroom Agrocybe pediades. X-ray crystallography revealed that ApeLiP is structurally related to Polyporales LiPs, with a conserved heme-pocket and a solvent-exposed tryptophan. Its biochemical characterization shows that ApeLiP can oxidize both phenolic and non-phenolic lignin model-compounds, as well as different dyes. Moreover, using stopped-flow rapid spectrophotometry and 2D-NMR, we demonstrate that ApeLiP can also act on real lignin. Characterization of a variant lacking the above tryptophan residue shows that this is the oxidation site for lignin and other high redox-potential substrates, and also plays a role in phenolic substrate oxidation. The reduction potentials of the catalytic-cycle intermediates were estimated by stopped-flow in equilibrium reactions, showing similar activation by H2O2, but a lower potential for the rate-limiting step (compound-II reduction) compared to other LiPs. Unexpectedly, ApeLiP was stable from acidic to basic pH, a relevant feature for application considering its different optima for oxidation of phenolic and nonphenolic compounds.