Heikki Kotiranta

Antrodia hyalina, a new polypore from Russia, and A. leucaena, new to Europe

A new polypore species, Antrodia hyalina, is described from Russia. It is morphologically similar to Antrodia pulvinascens, but differs in having annual, thinner and softer basidiocarps, solid skeletal hyphae, and cylindrical spores. Antrodia leucaena, originally described from China, is reported as new from Finland and Russia on Populus tremula. Antrodia wangii is regarded as a synonym of A. bondartsevae.

The Genus Tremella (Basidiomycota, Tremellales) in Finland

Sixteen species of Tremella Pers. are currently known from Finland. Fifteen of them are illustrated and described, and a key to all Finnish species is given. Tremella cetrariicola Diederich & Coppins, T. cladoniae Diederich & M.S. Christ., T. giraffa Chee J. Chen, T. globispora D.A. Reid, T. phaeophysciae Diederich & M.S. Christ., T. polyporina D.A. Reid and T. ramalinae Diederich are reported as new to Finland.

The Genus Inonotus Sensu lato in Iran, with Keys to Inocutis and Mensularia Worldwide

Inonotus plorans, previously known only from Algeria and Morocco, is now reported from NW Iran. The known southern distribution of Inocutis rheades is extended to southern Iran, and Mensularia nodulosa is reported as new to Iran. A key to ten species of Inonotus s. lato occurring in Iran is provided. Most of the species are illustrated and their spore and setal dimensions are given. The earlier reports of I. radiatus and Mensularia hastifera from Iran turned out to be misidentifications. Keys to the accepted species of Inocutis and Mensularia are provided.

Occurrence Patterns, Diversity and Ecology of Aphyllophoroid Fungi on the Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) in an Archipelago in the Baltic Sea

Saproxylic (dead-wood-associated) species of fungi are ecologically and functionally important forest-dwelling species but habitat and substrate associations of these species are still incompletely known. In particular, this applies to species that occur on less common host-tree species. We explored diversity and ecology of polypores and corticioids on the black alder (Alnus glutinosa), a little-studied substrate. In total, we collected 2528 records of 138 fungal species. We found 102 species only once or twice, and they comprised 3.8% of all the records, whereas five most numerous species comprised 59.5% of all the records. In total, 27 species were found solely on the black alder. Our results show that substrates of fungal species varied widely. Several species were restricted to specific alder substrates, while others had a remarkably wide substrate utilization, and we identified potentially at least six generalist and six specialist species. Many of the alder-associated species are rare. We conclude that also less common tree species in boreal forests can host diverse fungal assemblages. Thus, maintaining the black alder in forests enhances the diversity of saproxylic fungi.

Hidden diversity in the Antrodia malicola group (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

Taxonomy of the Antrodia malicola group is revised based on DNA, morphological, ecological, and geographic data. This species complex is not related to Antrodia s. str. but constitutes its own lineage within the large Fomitopsis – Daedalea clade. The A. malicola group includes five species. Antrodia malicola s. str. is distributed in North America and East Asia, and a few records of this species are reported from Azores and Africa. Its European counterpart is A. kuzyana, comb. nova, with wider pores. Infraspecific variability of A. malicola and possible gene flow between it and A. kuzyana in East Asia are detected based on tef1 sequence data. Antrodia cyclopis, sp. nova, is described as a large-spored relative of A. malicola from New Guinea. Antrodia minuta is reported here from several European countries and Siberia, and its morphological characters and host preferences are discussed. Its close relative is A. tuvensis, sp. nova, from Central Siberia, an unusual member of the group with sparse, flexuous skeletal hyphae.

The role of novel forest ecosystems in the conservation of wood-inhabiting fungi in boreal broadleaved forests

Abstract The increasing human impact on the earths biosphere is inflicting changes at all spatial scales. As well as deterioration and fragmentation of natural biological systems, these changes also led to other, unprecedented effects and emergence of novel habitats. In boreal zone, intensive forest management has negatively impacted a multitude of deadwood‐associated species. This is especially alarming given the important role wood‐inhabiting fungi have in the natural decay processes. In the boreal zone, natural broad‐leaved‐dominated, herb‐rich forests are threatened habitats which have high wood‐inhabiting fungal species richness. Fungal diversity in other broadleaved forest habitat types is poorly known. Traditional wood pastures and man‐made afforested fields are novel habitats that could potentially be important for wood‐inhabiting fungi. This study compares species richness and fungal community composition across the aforementioned habitat types, based on data collected for wood‐inhabiting fungi occupying all deadwood diameter fractions. Corticioid and polyporoid fungi were surveyed from 67 130 deadwood particles in four natural herb‐rich forests, four birch‐dominated wood pastures, and four birch‐dominated afforested field sites in central Finland. As predicted, natural herb‐rich forests were the most species‐rich habitat. However, afforested fields also had considerably higher overall species richness than wood pastures. Many rare or rarely collected species were detected in each forest type. Finally, fungal community composition showed some divergence not only among the different habitat types, but also among deadwood diameter fractions. Synthesis and applications: In order to maintain biodiversity at both local and regional scales, conserving threatened natural habitat types and managing traditional landscapes is essential. Man‐made secondary woody habitats could provide the necessary resources and serve as surrogate habitats for many broadleaved deadwood‐associated species, and thus complement the existing conservation network of natural forests.

Habitat Requirements of Peniophora junipericola (Basidiomycota, Russulales)

Peniophora junipericola is a decayer on dead junipers (Juniperus communis). It is locally-common near the shores of the Baltic Sea. The aim of the present study was to characterise its habitat requirements by measuring the diameter of the substrate, as well as the stage of decay and the pH values of the infested twigs. Precipitation at the localities where P. junipericola is present was also taken into account. The results of the study show that the fungus can grow on thin and thick juniper branches as well as on hard, newly dead ones and on twigs more or less decayed. Most of its habitats are situated close to the sea.

Tretomyces gen. novum, Byssocorticium caeruleum sp. nova, and New Combinations in Dendrothele and Pseudomerulius (Basidiomycota)

One new genus, Tretomyces K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Saaren., and two new species, Tretomyces microsporus Kotir., Saaren. & K.H. Larss., and Byssocorticium caeruleum Kotir., Saaren. & K.H. Larss. are described and illustrated. Three new combinations, Tretomyces lutescens (J. Erikss. & Ryvarden) K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Saaren., Dendrothele minutissima (Höhn. & Litsch.) Kotir., K.H. Larss. & Saaren. and Pseudomerulius montanus (Burt) K.H. Larss., Kotir. & Kulju, are proposed.

Caudicicola gracilis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota), a New Polypore Species and Genus from Finland

A new monotypic polypore genus, Caudicicola Miettinen, Kotir. & Kulju, is described for the new species C. gracilis Kotir., Kulju & Miettinen. The species was collected in central Finland from Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris stumps, where it grew on undersides of stumps and roots. Caudicicola gracilis is characterized by very fragile basidiocarps, monomitic hyphal structure with clamps, short and wide tramal cells, smooth ellipsoid spores, basidia with long sterigmata and conidiogenous areas in the margins of the basidiocarp producing verrucose, slightly thick-walled conidia. The genus belongs to the residual polyporoid clade of the Polyporales in the vicinity of Steccherinaceae, but has no known close relatives.

Molecular analysis confirms that Botryodontia millavensis and Oxyporus philadelphi are conspecific

The aim of the present study is to elucidate if Oxyporus philadelphi (Parmasto) Ryvarden and Botryodontia millavensis (Bourdot & Galzin) Duhem & H. Michel are conspecific, as suggested by their similar morphology. The analysis of ribosomal DNA ITS sequences indicate that the specimens of O. philadelphi and B. millavensis belong to a single species. The species is closely related to the type species (B. cirrata) of the genus Botryodontia, and therefore the name B. millavensis should currently be used for this taxon. Botryodontia millavensis grows on a wide selection of host species—Juniperus communis, Philadelphus coronarius, Picea abies, Fraxinus excelsior, Lonicera sp., J. turcomanica—and is distributed widely in temperate Eurasia.