G.S. Dhingra

Vararia longicystidiata sp. nov. (Agaricomycetes) from India

A new corticioid species, Vararia longicystidiata, is described on decaying wood of Quercus incana from Uttarakhand state in India. While conducting fungal forays in Chaurangi Khal area of district Uttarakashi, Uttarakhand (India), Samita collected an unknown corticioid fungus on decaying wood of Quercus incana. The presence of dichohyphidia and inamyloid smooth basidiospores indicated that the species belonged to araria, but it could not be assigned to any previously described species (Welden 1965, Parmasto 1970, Boidin & Lanquetin 1976, Rattan 1977, Boidin et al. 1980, Hallenberg & Eriksson 1985, Pegler & Young 1993). A detailed description of the specimen along with the microphotographs and line diagrams was sent to Prof. Nils Hallenberg (Sweden), who supported the description of a new species in the genus Vararia.

Athelopsis parvispora (Basidiomycetes), a new species from India

A new corticioid species, Athelopsis parvispora, is described from Manali hills in Himachal Pradesh. While conducting the fungal forays in the oak forest in Gulaba area of Manali hills district Kullu of Himachal Pradesh, India, Avneet and Dhingra collected a corticioid specimen on a stump of Quercus incana. After detailed macroscopic and microscopic comparisons with descriptions of known species of genus Athelopsis (Julich 1971, Eriksson & Ryvarden 1973, Hjortstam 1991, Kotiranta & Saarenoksa 2005), it was found to be close to Athelopsis subinconspicua (Litsch.) Julich . Characters in common were thin, pellicular basidiocarps with smooth hymenial surface and clavate, basally stalked basidia, but the basidiospores in the newly described species differed in being narrowly ellipsoid and smaller (4.3-4.7 × 1.5-1.9 µm) compared to the more broadly ellipsoid and larger (6.5-8 × 4-4.5 µm) spores in A. subinconspicua. This suggests that this new finding represents a species of its own. Athelopsis parvispora Avneet P. Singh, Dhingra & J. Kaur, sp. nov . Figs 1-4 MycoBank MB517012 Basidiocarpum resupinatum, adnatum, effusum, ad 160 µm crassum, pelliculosum; hymenium laevigatum flavescens; systema hyphale monomiticum; hyphae ad 3.1 µm latae, nodoso-septatae; hyphae basales crassitunicatae, incrustatae; subhymenial hyphae tenuitunicatae, non incrustae; basidia 10.9-16 × 3.0-3.9 µm, clavata, stipitata, 4- sterigmata, ad basin fibuligera; basidiosporae 4.3-4.7 × 1.5-1.9 µm, auguste ellipsoideae, tenuitunicatae.

New Records of Hyphoderma (Meruliaceae, Polyporales) for India

An account of eight species of genus Hyphoderma (H. clavatum, H. definitum, H. echinocystis, H. litschaueri, H. nemorale, H. subpraetermissum, H. tibia, and H. transiens) is presented, which is based on collections made from Uttarakhand state during 2009–2014. All these species are cited and fully described for the first time from India.

Some New Records and Status of Genus Steccherinum (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in India

Information on ten species of genus Steccherinum in India is provided. Of these nine are based on the collections made from state of Uttarakhand during 2010–2012, whereas S. laeticolor has been described by earlier workers but could not be collected during the present study. S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. ciliolatum, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, S. robustius, and S. subcrinale are new records for the state of Uttarakhand and described in detail; however for S. fimbriatum, S. laeticolor, and S. ochraceum annotated notes have been given. S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, and S. robustius are being reported for the first time from India.

Evaluation of Antianxiety Potential of Four Ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) Species from India in Mice

The genus Ganoderma consists of widespread polypore mushrooms that have traditionally been used to reduce stress and anxiety. However, scientific evidence for this is not adequate. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic potential of G. applanatum, G. brownii, G. lucidum, and G. philippii collected from Uttarakhand, India. Various extracts of dried, powdered basidiocarps were prepared using different solvents-namely, petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and distilled water-by successive Soxhlet extraction. All the extracts were tested for antianxiety activity using the elevated plus maze (EPM) model in Swiss albino mice. The results showed that the methanol extract of G. lucidum at a dose of 200 mg/kg, administered orally, shows a significant increase in the average time spent in the open arms of the EPM when compared with the control; this was comparable to the effect of the standard drug (diazepam, 2 mg/kg by mouth). This bioactive methanol extract was subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation. The results show that the n-butanol fraction of the methanol extract evinced significant antianxiety activity at a dose of 100 mg/kg. This fraction showed the presence of phenols and flavonoids and thus was standardized with respect to total phenol content and total flavonoid content. The antianxiety activity may be the result of the phenols/flavonoids present. This study clearly demonstrated that the n-butanol fraction from the methanol extract of G. lucidum can be developed as source of new anxiolytic agents.

Inonotus tramisetifer (Agaricomycetes), a new species from India

A new species, Inonotus tramisetifer (Hymenochaetaceae), is described in association with Quercus incana from the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.