A. N. Khalid

Morphological and molecular characterization of three Agaricus species from tropical Asia (Pakistan, Thailand) reveals a new group in section Xanthodermatei.

The genus Agaricus is known for its medicinal and edible species but also includes toxic species that belong to section Xanthodermatei. Previous phylogenetic reconstruction for temperate species, based on sequence data of nuc rRNA gene (rDNA) internal transcribed spacers (ITS), has revealed two major groups in this section and a possible third lineage for A. pseudopratensis. Recent research in Agaricus has shown that classifications need improving with the addition of tropical taxa. In this study we add new tropical collections to section Xanthodermatei. We describe three species from collections made in Pakistan and Thailand and include them in a larger analysis using all available ITS data for section Xanthodermatei. Agaricus bisporiticus sp. nov. and A. fuscopunctatus sp. nov. are introduced based on molecular and morphological studies, whereas A. microvolvatulus is recorded for the first time in Asia. Specimens from Thailand however have a much larger pileus than the type specimens from Congo. In maximum likelihood (ML) and maximum parsimony (MP) phylogenetic analyses these three species cluster with A. pseudopratensis from the Mediterranean area and A. murinocephalus recently described from Thailand. In Agaricus section Xanthodermatei this new group is monophyletic and receives low bootstrap support whereas the two previously known groups receive strong support. Within the new group, the most closely related species share some traits, but we did not find any unifying morphological character; however the five species of the group share a unique short nucleotide sequence. Two putatively toxic species of section Xanthodermatei are now recognized in Pakistan and six in Thailand.

Lepiota himalayensis ( Basidiomycota, Agaricales ), a new species from Pakistan

A new Lepiota species from the Himalayan moist temperate forests in Pakistan is described and illustrated. The orangish-brown basidiocarp with dark blackish scales on the pileus, ellipsoid spores, narrowly clavate to clavate cheilocystidia, and the narrowly clavate to clavate nature of trichodermial elements of pileal covering are striking features of this species. The phylogenetic relationship with related species based on ITS-rDNA sequences is discussed.

Lepiota vellingana sp. nov. ( Basidiomycota , Agaricales ) a new species from Lahore, Pakistan

A new species of Lepiota, L. vellingana, is described and illustrated from Lahore, Pakistan. It is characterized by a campanulate to plano-convex, slightly umbonate, white pileus covered with pinkish brown scales, crowded lamellae, guttulate basidiospores, long trichodermial stipe elements, and long trichodermial pileal elements.

Four new species in Leucoagaricus (Agaricaceae, Basidiomycota) from Asia.

The genus Leucoagaricus has been well studied in Europe. However, species diversity of Leucoagaricus in Asia remains poorly known, especially in the mountains of southwestern China, a hot spot for biodiversity. Based on morphological characters and molecular data, four new species are described, La. asiaticus, La. subcrystallifer, La. subpurpureolilacinus and La. truncatus. Detailed morphological descriptions, drawings of microstructures for novel taxa and comparisons with closely allied taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and region 6–7 of the gene for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) sequences show that the novel taxa are nested within a well-supported clade jointly formed by members of Leucoagaricus section Rubrotincti and subgenus Sericeomyces.

Three new species of rust fungi from Pakistan

During a study of the rust fungi of the northwestern region of Pakistan, three species were collected that are new to science: Puccinia dichanthii on Dichanthium annulatum, P. leersiae on Leersia oryzoides, and P. sporoboli-coromandeliani on Sporobolus coromandelianus. These have been collected from and near the vicinity of Ayubia National Park, Bara Gali, Khanspur and Nathia Gali.

Additions to the rust fungi of Fairy Meadows, the Northern Areas of Pakistan

Puccinia silenigena on Silene sp. is described as a new rust fungus from Fairy Meadows in the Pakistan Northern areas while Leucotelium pruni-persicae is a new record for Pakistan.

The genus Parasola in Pakistan with the description of two new species

Abstract Parasola is a genus of small, veil-less coprinoid mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae (Agaricales). The genus is not well documented in Asia, specifically in Pakistan. In this study we describe two new species Parasola glabra and P. pseudolactea from Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogeny based on three DNA regions: nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS), nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S) and translation elongation factor 1α gene (TEF1α) show that the new taxa are clustered in a clade formed by the members of section Parasola of genus Parasola. Parasola glabra with grayish pileus, slightly depressed pileal disc, lamellae separated from the stipe by pseudocollarium, basidiospores 14.5–16.5 × 9.5–11.5 × 8.0–10.5 µm, in front view broadly ovoid to oblong, some with rhomboidal outline, in side view ellipsoid, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diameter. Parasola pseudolactea with yellowish brown to dull brown pileus, disc indistinctly umbonate, lamellae free, pseudocollarium absent, basidiospores 13.5–14.5 × 10.5–12.0 × 9.5–10.5 µm, in face view rounded triangular to heart shaped, rarely ovoid to subglobose, in side view ellipsoid to oblong, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diam. In addition to these new species, P. auricoma and P. lilatincta were also studied. Morphological descriptions for the new species and comparison with known Parasola species are provided. Our observations highlight the diversity of Parasola in northern Pakistan and further document the need for additional systematic focus on the region’s fungi.

Bovista himalaica sp. nov. (gasteroid fungi; Basidiomycetes) from Pakistan

The gasteroid fungus Bovista himalaica sp. nov. (Agaricaceae; Basidiomycota) is described and illustrated from Himalayan moist temperate forests of Pakistan. Analysis of the ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene suggests B. himalaica is phylogenetically distinct and confirms its position within Bovista section Globaria. Descriptions with SEM images of spores, comparison with closely related taxa, and a key to the Bovista species with ovoid-oblong basidiospores are provided.

Puccinia species new to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.

Puccinia persistens subsp. agropyrina on Elymus semicostatus and P. variabilis on Taraxacum officinale are newly recorded for Pakistan while P. punctiformis on Cirsium arvense and P. absinthii on Artemisia brevifolia are additions to the rust flora of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Puccinia anaphalidis-virgatae, a new species, and a new variety of rust fungi from Fairy Meadows, Northern Pakistan.

Puccinia anaphalidis-virgatae on Anaphalis virgata is described as a new species from Pakistan. Previous records of rusts on genus Anaphalis have been species of Miyagia, Phakopsora, and Uromyces; this is the first Puccinia species recorded on this host genus. A new variety P. helictotrichi var. pakistanica is described based on its resemblance to P. helictotrichi; however, it differs in size and number of germ pores of urediniospores and apical thickness of teliospores.