Bao-Kai Cui

Current advances in Phellinus sensu lato: medicinal species, functions, metabolites and mechanisms

Twenty-six species of Phellinus sensu lato, reported as medicinal mushrooms, are enumerated in this review. The species’ names were checked and revised according to contemporary taxonomy and the latest version of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code); two misapplied names of Phellinus baumii Pilát and Phellinus himalayensis Y.C. Dai in previous reports are also discussed. Of the 20 types of medicinal functions, the most shared functions are antitumor and improving immunity, both of which may be viewed as the basal functions of Phellinus s. l. In addition, alleviating septic shock, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidation are also a routine functions mentioned often. The main medicinal metabolites, including several kinds of polysaccharides and polyphenols, are introduced. Different methods and conditions could purify various polysaccharides with difference in activity level even from the same species, while all polyphenols are hispidin and its derivatives in general. Three aspects of mechanism contribute to antitumor activities of polysaccharides: (1) promoting an immune response, (2) inducing cell apoptosis, and (3) inhibiting metastasis. Other general mechanisms of the metabolites in antioxidant activity, and in treating diabetes, as well as complications are summarized. We also elaborate on potential scientific strategies for obtaining the medicinal metabolites from Phellinus s. l., such as artificial cultivation, the discoveries of more species with medicinal functions, the utilization of species growing quickly, and the optimization of culture conditions and media supplements in fermentation.

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Megasporoporia and its related genera

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on Megasporoporia s.l. were carried out. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS and nLSU sequences showed that Megasporoporia s.l. belonging to the core polyporoid clade, however, it is not monophyletic, and four clades were recognized. The Megasporoporia s.s. clade includes M. setulosa and two new species, M. bannaensis and M. minor spp. nov. Two monophyletic clades were segregated from Megasporoporia s.l., and two new genera were established. Megasporia gen. nov. is composed of M. cystidiolophora, M. ellipsoidea, M. hexagonoides, M. major, M. violacea, and two new species, M. guangdongensis and M. hengduanensis spp. nov. Megasporoporiella gen. nov. including M. cavernulosa, M. rhododendri, M. subcavernulosa, and two new species, M. lacerata and M. pseudocavernulosa spp. nov. Megasporoporia quercina grouped with Grammothele fuligo in the Grammothele clade, so it is transferred to Grammothele and a new combination, G. quercina, is proposed. The main morphological characters of Megasporoporia and the two new genera are discussed, and identification keys to the three genera are provided.

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the brown-rot fungi: Fomitopsis and its related genera

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the brown-rot fungi, Fomitopsis and its related genera, are carried out. On the basis of morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence of DNA sequences of multiple loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nSSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences (mtSSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), six new genera, Fragifomes, Niveoporofomes, Piptoporellus, Rhodofomitopsis, Rubellofomes and Ungulidaedalea are established. Four new species, Buglossoporus eucalypticola, Daedalea allantoidea, Piptoporellus hainanensis and P. triqueter are descibed from China. Illustrated descriptions of the novel species are provided. Identification keys to Fomitopsis and its related genera, as well as keys to the species of each genus are provided.

Phylogeny, divergence time estimation, and biogeography of the genus Heterobasidion (Basidiomycota, Russulales)

There have been several investigations into the genus Heterobasidion, however, differentiation of species in these studies have depended on the gene regions analyzed. Reliable defining of species, establishing species divergence times and establishing species biogeographical distributions have been challenging. Here, we used a multilocus phylogenetic approach and maximum parsimony, maximum likehood, and Bayesian analyses to infer the phylogenetic relationships of Heterobasidion species. In addition, we focused on a fungus fossil-based approach and used the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II-the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1-RPB2) dataset to perform maximum likelihood-based estimation and Bayesian binary analyses, to assess the divergence and biogeographical distributions of Heterobasidion species. The Heterobasidion annousum/H. insulare species complex clusters in three groups in the phylogenetic analyses. Molecular dating suggests that ancestral Heterobasidion species originated in Eurasia during the Early Miocene, followed by dispersal and speciation to other continents during the Middle Miocene and Early Pliocene. Our data are compatible with the previous viewpoint that H. irregulare and H. occidentale colonized North America via different routes, which has been interpreted as Beringian and Thulean North Atlantic vicariance. In addition, we propose that the occurrence of H. araucariae in the southern Hemisphere was probably due to recent human-mediated introductions. Plate tectonics and long-distance dispersal are the most likely factors that influenced Heterobasidion speciation and biogeography.

Three new species of Inonotus (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetaceae) from China

Three new species of Inonotus are described and illustrated. Inonotus acutus sp. nov. is characterized by having small, thin basidiocarps with a strongly contracted base, a sharp and undulate pileus margin, ventricose hymenial setae, and ellipsoid, yellowish to yellow-brown, slightly thick-walled basidiospores. Inonotus chrysomarginatus sp. nov. differs in having an annual to perennial growth habit, pileate basidiocarps with a distinctly yellowish buff to golden-yellow margin, distinct setal hyphae and hooked hymenial setae, and broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, pale yellowish, slightly thick-walled and weakly cyanophilous basidiospores. Inonotus rigidus sp. nov. is distinguished by its resupinate and hard rigid basidiocarps, the honey-yellow pore surface, and smaller pores; microscopically, it has ellipsoid, yellowish brown and thick-walled basidiospores, and lacks both setal hyphae and hymenial setae. An identification key to the Chinese species of Inonotus sensu stricto is provided.

Antrodia tropica sp. nov. from southern China inferred from morphological characters and molecular data

Antrodia tropica sp. nov. is described and illustrated on the basis of collections originating from Hainan, southern tropical China. Both the morphology and phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences support this new species. Morphologically, it is characterized by resupinate basidiocarps, an annual growth habit, greyish to pinkish buff pore surface, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, and cylindrical to subfusiform basidiospores. The hymenophoral trama is dominated by generative hyphae, whereas skeletal hyphae are dominant in the subiculum. Molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS sequence data suggested a close relationship between A. tropica and two other Antrodia species, including A. huangshanensis reported from China and A. ramentacea found mostly in boreal Eurasia.

Trichaptum (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from China with a description of three new species.

Trichaptum imbricatum, T. perenne and T. podocarpi are three new species from China. They are described, illustrated and compared in this paper with similar species. Trichaptum imbricatum is unique in its imbricate basidiocarps, white to cream hymenophores, small and regular pores, and scattered and thin-walled cystidia. Trichaptum perenne differs from other species in the genus in its perennial and pileate habit, its large pores and entire dissepiments, and oblong, ellipsoid basidiospores. Trichaptum podocarpi is distinguished in having totally resupinate basidiocarps, distinctly long cystidia, and in its habitat on Podocarpus. A key to species of Trichaptum occurring in China is provided; statistical variations of spore dimensions for each species are included in the key.

Morphological and molecular evidence for two new species of Laetiporus (Basidiomycota, Polyporales) from southwestern China

Two Laetiporus species, L. ailaoshanensis and L. zonatus spp. nov., are described from southwestern China based on morphological and molecular characters. Laetiporus ailaoshanensis is characterized by orange-yellow to reddish orange pileal surface and cream to buff pores when fresh, azonate to faintly zonate pileus, ovoid to ellipsoid basidiospores (5.0–6.2 × 4.0–5.0 μm), and it has been observed only on Lithocarpus. Laetiporus zonatus is characterized by white to cream pileal surface with buff to clay-buff base when fresh, concentrically zonate basidiocarps, ellipsoid to pyriform or drop-shaped basidiospores (5.8–7.2 × 4.3–5.5 μm), and it has been found only on Quercus. The phylogenetic relationships of all recognized Laetiporus species were inferred from a combined dataset of ITS and nLSU-rDNA sequences, and L. ailaoshanensis and L. zonatus represent two new lineages in this group.

Phellinus castanopsidis sp. nov. (Hymenochaetaceae) from southern China, with preliminary phylogeny based on rDNA sequences

Phellinus castanopsidis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from southern China. This species is characterized by resupinate, annual basidiomata, a dimitic hyphal system, hooked hymenial setae, and ovoid to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores that are colorless, thick-walled, weakly dextrinoid, and moderately cyanophilous. Most of these morphological features are shared by Fomitiporia ellipsoidea, P. gabonensis, and P. caribaeo-quercicolus, although in the two latter species, the basidiospores are not dextrinoid. In a phylogenetic perspective, parsimony inferences based on LSU and ITS DNA sequence data show that these four species are closely related, forming a monophyletic clade. Furthermore, this clade is more closely related to the Phellinus ignarius clade (Phellinus s.s.) than to the Fomitiporia clade. Hence, F. ellipsoidea is transferred to Phellinus, and a new combination P. ellipsoideus is proposed also.

Morphological and molecular identification of four new resupinate species of Perenniporia (Polyporales) from southern China

Four new resupinate species, Perenniporia hainaniana, P. macropora, P. russeimarginata and P. subtephropora, are described as new from southern China on the basis of morphological and molecular examination. Perenniporia hainaniana is characterized by a perennial growth habit, cream to buff pore surface, a dimitic to trimitic hyphal system with amyloid skeletal hyphae and presence of dendrohyphidia. Perenniporia macropora is distinguished by an annual growth habit, large pores (2–3 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system with branched skeletal hyphae and presence of dendrohyphidia. Perenniporia russeimarginata differs from other species in the genus by a perennial growth habit, white to cream pore surface and reddish to reddish brown sterile margin. Perenniporia subtephropora is characterized by a perennial growth habit, cream-buff to grayish buff pore surface, hymenophoral trama becoming black in KOH and a dimitic hyphal system with branched skeletal hyphae. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the ITS and LSU-rDNA regions revealed eight clades for Perenniporia sensu lato with the four new species recognized in Perenniporia sensu stricto. The Perenniporia ochroleuca group, P. vicina group, P. martia group, P. subacida, Microporellus, Perenniporiella and Abundisporus, formed monophyletic entities respectively, and they are not related to P. medulla-panis (generic type), which belongs to Perenniporia sensu stricto. Abundisporus, Microporellus and Perenniporiella were widely applied as generic names. Other generic or clade names, Hornodermoporus, Truncospora, Vanderbylia and the P. subacida clade, have not been widely applied, but they are valid higher level taxa containing former species of Perenniporia. A key to genera and clades allied with Perennioporia sensu stricto and a key to species of Perennioporia are provided.