Fernando Esteve-Raventós

Tubariomyces, a new genus of Inocybaceae from the Mediterranean region

The taxonomic position of Inocybe inexpectata is reconsidered on the basis of new molecular and morphological data from four published records. Up to three species can be recognized to which the name I. inexpectata has been applied. In addition to distinct morphological features present in this lineage it is proposed here as the new genus Tubariomyces. A complete taxonomical description of the genus and the species Tubariomyces inexpectatus and T. hygrophoroides sp. nov. also is provided.

Molecular typing of Spanish species of Amanita by restriction analysis of the ITS region of the DNA

The genetic relatedness among 29 collections belonging to 20 of the most common species of genus Amanita in the Iberian Peninsula have been studied by means of restriction analysis of the amplified ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 region of rDNA. Sixty restriction fragments were considered for the analysis. The main conclusion is that this technique could be useful to identify and characterize isolates from Amanita species. Although ARDRA did not show an appropriate level of discrimination to unambiguously infer phylogenetic relationships at or below the section level, some general trends could be outlined when the different haplotypes generated were compared by means of neighbour joining analysis. Thus, members from the same sections were frequently grouped together.

Wood and humus decay strategies by white-rot basidiomycetes correlate with two different dye decolorization and enzyme secretion patterns on agar plates.

During several forays for ligninolytic fungi in different Spanish native forests, 35 white-rot basidiomycetes growing on dead wood (16 species from 12 genera) and leaf litter (19 species from 10 genera) were selected for their ability to decolorize two recalcitrant aromatic dyes (Reactive Blue 38 and Reactive Black 5) added to malt extract agar medium. In this study, two dye decolorization patterns were observed and correlated with two ecophysiological groups (wood and humus white-rot basidiomycetes) and three taxonomical groups (orders Polyporales, Hymenochaetales and Agaricales). Depending on the above groups, different decolorization zones were observed on the dye-containing plates, being restricted to the colony area or extending to the surrounding medium, which suggested two different decay strategies. These two strategies were related to the ability to secrete peroxidases and laccases inside (white-rot wood Polyporales, Hymenochaetales and Agaricales) and outside (white-rot humus Agaricales) of the fungal colony, as revealed by enzymatic tests performed directly on the agar plates. Similar oxidoreductases production patterns were observed when fungi were grown in the absence of dyes, although the set of enzyme released was different. All these results suggest that the decolorization patterns observed could be related with the existence of two decay strategies developed by white-rot basidiomycetes adapted to wood and leaf litter decay in the field.

Assessing the Taxonomic Identity of White and Orange Specimens of Cantharellus: Occasional Colour Variants or Independent Species?

Abstract Species of Cantharellus contain carotenoid pigments, which produce yellow, orange and red colours. As microscopic characters are of limited value to separate species, colour has always been an important taxonomic character for species delimitation in Cantharellus. Entirely white Cantharellus or specimens lacking yellow pigments are occasionally reported from Europe, but it is unclear whether these represent independent species or are simply unusual colour variants of otherwise yellow species. The main objective of this study is to assess the taxonomic identity of such white and orange specimens using molecular data. In the context of an ongoing 4-gene phylogeny of European Cantharellus, an ITS2-LSU dataset representing all the European taxa was assembled, including 9 white and 3 orange specimens. Bayesian analyses revealed that white specimens may occasionally occur in C. amethysteus, C. cibarius, C. ferruginascens, C. pallens and C. romagnesianus, whereas orange specimens are found in C. cibarius and C. pallens. We therefore associate white specimens with an albinism phenomenon due to a possible absence of carotenoids. Accordingly, the names C. cibarius var. inodorus and C. cibarius f. pallidus are neotypified and synonymized with C. cibarius, while C. gallaecicus is considered a synonym of C. romagnesianus based on sequences from a paratype specimen of the former. Likewise, the name Cantharellus cibarius var. salmoneus is neotypified and falls in synonymy with C. cibarius.

Inocybe flavobrunnescens, a new species in section Marginatae

The new species Inocybe flavobrunnescens is described on the basis of morphological and genetic features. It is characterized by (sub)isodiametric spores; it has a variable number of low and obtuse knobs, lageniform cystidia, and habitat preference for thermophilous oak woods on calcareous soils. It is compared with type material of Inocybe xanthomelas and I. krieglsteineri, which share with the new species a darkening flesh and small to medium sized basidiomes. ITS analysis revealed a low intraspecific variability within each Inocybe lineage, suggesting their accommodation as independent species. On the basis of this DNA region, I. xanthomelas and I. krieglsteineri are closely related. The present work suggests also updating several names in public databases to accommodate the present taxonomic conclusions. A lectotype for I. xanthomelas is designated.

Cortinarius pseudofallax (Cortinariaceae, Agaricales), the first records from the Iberian Peninsula and Fennoscandia, and taxonomic notes on the C. parvannulatus / cedriolens group

Diverse collections of Cortinarius pseudofallax from several European countries were studied using morphological characters and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 genes from sequence data. They were compared with some close species such as C. cedriolens, C. neofallax and C. parvannulatus. All these taxa share some features like a light brown pileus, a stipe provided with a more or less developed whitish veil, small and well-ornamented spores and, above all, a typical strong and perfumed acidulous smell; in addition. the phylogenetic tree built with the ITS gene sequences of these vouchers showed that they clustered in a well-supported clade, here treated as section Parvuli. Our specimens of C. pseudofallax are morphologically described and illustrated with pictures of fresh specimens and basidiospores seen under SEM. A discussion of their taxonomic relationships with another group of similar species belonging to the C. decipiens sensu lato complex is presented.

Two new species of Inocybe ( Cortinariales ) from Spain, with a comparative type study of some related taxa

Inocybe barrasae and I. ortegae spp. nov. from Spain are illustrated and described. Type collections of I. cryptocystis, I. cicatricata, I. dolichospora, I. mystica and I. rennyi were compared with the two, and different interpretations of I. confusa in the literature are discussed.

Cortinarius horakii, a new species from Chile

Cortinarius horakii is described as a new species. It belongs to subgenus Phlegmacium, stirps Inflatipes, and is mainly characterized by the brown pileus, the small and ellipsoid spores with a cap-like dense ornamentation at the distal end, and 2-3 septate cheilocystidia. Ecologically, it has been found only in Nothofagus dombeyi forests, and seems to be ectomycorrhizal.

Unraveling the Inocybe praetervisa group through type studies and ITS data: Inocybe praetervisoides sp. nov. from the Mediterranean region

Species in the Inocybe praetervisa group are characterized by producing nodulose to angular basidiospores and a bulbous, marginate, white stipe devoid of any pinkish to reddish tinge. Species delimitation problems and common misinterpretations in the I. praetervisa group have not yet been resolved through type studies and analysis of molecular data. This study seeks to clarify the taxonomy and nomenclature of species around I. praetervisa. Analyses of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed regions (ITS) recovered two major groups within the I. praetervisa group that can be separated on the basis of cystidial morphology. The study of three authentic and topotypic specimens in the Bresadola herbarium revealed that the name I. praetervisa has been misapplied often. The ITS region of one of the specimens was obtained, and this specimen is designated as epitype in support of a lectotype. Inocybe rivularis is demonstrated to be a later synonym of I. praetervisa, while Inocybe phaeocystidiosa is the correct name for the species most often misdetermined as I. praetervisa. Inocybe salicis-herbaceae and I. praetervisa var. flavofulvida are shown to be synonyms of I. phaeocystidiosa based on ITS sequence data from type collections. A new species sister to I. phaeocystidiosa with a Mediterranean distribution is described as I. praetervisoides. Cystidial morphology, distribution of caulocystidia, basidiospore morphology and ecology are shown to be the main diagnostic characters for separating the species. Inocybe praetervisa and I. phaeocystidiosa have a transoceanic distribution in Europe and North America, whereas I. praetervisoides so far is known only from the Mediterranean region.

Xeromphalina setulipes (hygrophoroid clade, Agaricales), a new Mediterranean species

A new Xeromphalina species from Mediterranean evergreen forests of the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula is described. It is characterized by its habitat on soil, arcuate-decurrent lamellae, trama hyphae which turn distinctly orange-brown to red-brown in KOH solution, thick-walled caulocystidia with an attenuate apex reminding setulae, and versiform to irregularly cylindrical cheilocystidia, which are conspicuously branched forming coralloid excrescences. LM microphotographs illustrate its diagnostic features. Additionally, two nuclear ribosomal DNA regions from this new taxon were sequenced and compared with homologue sequences from existing species in the genus Xeromphalina, supporting its recognition as a new species.