Kanad Das

Exposing hidden diversity by concordant genealogies and morphology—a study of the Lactifluus volemus (Russulales) species complex in Sikkim Himalaya (India)

Although Sikkim belongs to one of the Global Biodiversity Hotspots, little is known about its ectomycorrhizal fungi, and even less about the main genera of Russulales, i.e. Lactarius, Lactifluus, Multifurca and Russula. Combining a multilocus genealogical and morphological study, we aimed to document the diversity within Lactifluus volemus sensu lato of Sikkim Himalaya. We compared nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA, nuclear rpb1 and rpb2 protein-coding, and mitochondrial atp6 protein-coding genealogies to determine species boundaries. Interspecific relationships were inferred from the combined dataset. Bayesian and maximum likelihood single-locus genealogies are concordant and support recognition of six species. Three of these could be identified by unique morphological characteristics and are described as new species: L. dissitus, L. leptomerus and L. versiformis.

Two new species of hydnoid-fungi from India.

Two taxa, Hericium yumthangense (Russulales, Agaricomycotina) and Mycoleptodonoides sharmae (Polyporales, Agaricomycotina) are described as new to science from the Shingba Rhododendron sanctuary located in the northern district of Sikkim, India. Macro- and micromorphological characters are described and illustrated for both species, which are compared with allied taxa. ITS rDNA sequences supported H. yumthangense as a rather isolated species within Hericium, the species complexes of which were not resolved due to low interspecific sequence divergence. In the case of M. sharmae, 28S rDNA (D1/D2) data rendered this poorly known genus among well-known taxa of the core-polyporoid clade.

Three new species of Lactarius (Russulaceae) from Sikkim, India

Since 2008, fungal explorations have been undertaken in a mycologically unexplored area: West district of Sikkim (India), located in the Esatern Himalaya. Three Lactarius species are proposed here as new taxa: Lactarius elaioviscidus, L. ermineus and L. byssaceus. Extended descriptions and illustrations are given; the taxonomic position and relation to allied species is discussed. Macrofungi / India / Russulales / Lactarius / taxonomy

A New Species of Hericium from Sikkim Himalaya (India)

Abstract Hericium bharengense is described as new to science from subtropical to temperate forests in the West district of Sikkim. The intricate hymenophoral branching pattern, presence of moderately long spines, size and ornamentation pattern of basidiospores separate it from the allied species H. abietis, H. coralloides and H. erinaceus. Its phylogenetic position within the genus Hericium is supported by rDNA sequences in the ITS gene region. Macro- and micromorphological characters are described and illustrated; its relations to other allied species are discussed.

Morphology and phylogeny of four new Lactarius species from Himalayan India

Four new species of Lactarius are described from Himalayan India. Lactarius olivaceoglutinus, L. pyriodorus, and L. yumthangensis belong to L. subg. Piperites and L. indochrysorrheus is closely related to some representatives of L. subg. Russularia. An ITS based phylogeny confirms the phylogenetic placement of the four new species, although the monophyly of neither Lactarius subg. Piperites nor L. subg. Russularia can be confirmed. The ITS data also suggest that the Indian species are closely related to some European and American species.

Austroboletus olivaceoglutinosus, a new mushroom species from Sikkim, India with a distinctive green, glutinous pileus

SummaryAustroboletus olivaceoglutinosus sp. nov., is described from subalpine coniferous forest in northern Sikkim, India. It can be immediately recognised in the field by its glutinous, olive (often umbonate) pileus, overhanging margin that covers the hymenophore completely in young basidiomata, white to yellow lacunose-reticulate or lacerate, exceptionally long (100 – 180 × 13 – 17 mm) stipe and a strong fruity odour. Its relationship with allied taxa is discussed.

Lactarius subgenus Russularia (Basidiomycota, Russulales): novel Asian species, worldwide phylogeny and evolutionary relationships

Lactarius subg. Russularia is a large group of milkcaps occurring almost worldwide and dominant in many ecosystems. In this study we focus on new diversity, evolutionary relationships, divergence time, and origin of the subgenus. Six conifer symbionts are described as new to science: Lactarius atrii, L. aurantionitidus, L. dombangensis, L. flavigalactus, L. lachungensis, and L. sikkimensis. Species delimitation is assessed based on the concordance between morphological characteristics and an ITS phylogeny. Infrageneric relationships were studied using a phylogeny constructed from concatenated ITS-rpb2 data using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference. Results show that species in this subgenus do not cluster together according to their geographic origin. Intercontinental sister relationships between Europe/Asia/North America are common but actual conspecificity is rare. This result suggests that allopatric speciation has played an important role within this subgenus. Only few morphological characteristics tend to be phylogenetically informative, with the most important being presence or absence of true cystidia and the pileipellis structure. Two datasets were generated in order to estimate the age of L. subg. Russularia. The results suggest the origin of L. subg. Russularia to be in the Mid Miocene period.

New species of xerocomoid boletes (Boletaceae) from Himalayan India based on morphological and molecular evidence.

Xerocomus doodhcha and Hortiboletus indorubellus (Boletaceae) from broadleaf montane forest in Sikkim, India, are proposed as new. They are described in detail with supporting morphological illustrations and compared with related taxa using molecular phylogenetic analysis of ITS and 28S rDNA sequences. Xerocomus doodhcha is characterized by a pale brown pileus, basidiospores with a finely bacillate surface under SEM, and phylogenetic proximity to the type species of Xerocomus, X. subtomentosus. Hortiboletus indorubellus is characterized by a dark brown to reddish brown pileus, context that turns brownish to brownish orange on bruising, and phylogenetic proximity to Hortiboletus rubellus.

Introducing a novel mushroom from mycophagy community with emphasis on biomedical potency

Mushrooms have been prized by humankind as medicine and culinary wonder since antiquity. Though several species are ethnically valued; many prospective species are still being discovered. One such wild macrofungus has recently been discovered during subsequent field surveys in West Bengal, India which in turn exposed as a traditionally consumed popular myco-food. The collected taxon was found to be unique with regard to its morphological as well as genetical features. After detailed characterizations, the fungus was identified as a novel taxon belonging to the genus Russula (Russulaceae, Basidiomycota). Besides, the investigation was further extended in search of new functional ingredients and in this context, a water soluble crude polysaccharide rich extract (Rusalan) was isolated from dried basidiocarps. Accumulating evidences from GC-MS, HPTLC, FT-IR along with several spectrophotometric methods postulated that the fraction consisted mainly of carbohydrate in triple helical conformation, where glucose was the major monosaccharide mostly with β-type glycosidic linkage. Conversely, Rusalan showed pronounced antioxidant activity in six in vitro assay systems with EC50 value ranging from 190–1328 μg/ml concentration. The crude polysaccharide was also evaluated against six bacterial strains using microdilution method and the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were found to be inhibited effectively. In addition, immune-stimulatory assays demonstrated that Rusalan could evidently promote proliferation, induce phagocytosis, release NO, produce intracellular ROS and upregulate mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, as well as IL-6 genes in in mouse macrophage cells. Therefore, aim of the present study was not only to describe a new taxon to the world mycoflora but also to introduce a potent therapeutic agent that could be explored for food and pharmaceutical purposes. However, isolation of active component and in vivo studies need to be designed further.

Cantharellus sect. Amethystini in Asia

In this contribution on the genus Cantharellus in Asia, C. subvaginatus is described from the Republic of Korea as a close relative to the Chinese C. vaginatus, which is here reported for the first time from India. Both species are here placed in Cantharellus subg. Cantharellus sect. Amethystini, together with the Indian C. pseudoformosus (syn.: C. umbonatus) and the Malayan C. subamethysteus. As such, Asia has suddenly become the continent with the highest diversity for Amethystini. Species delimitation in sect. Amethystini is molecularly supported by a combined phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences obtained for LSU and ITS and additionally suggests the existence of a still undescribed species in North America. Character variability is discussed for all known members of Amethystini, including atypical specimens of the North American C. lewisii that are morphologically more reminiscent of the South Korean C. subvaginatus.