Xi Luo

Rhodotus palmatus is commercially marketed as ‘fruity-scented mushroom’, a novel cultivar first brought into commercial cultivation in China at the end of 2023. It is characterized by a distinct pinkish pigmentation, a pileus with a distinct reticulated surface pattern, and an intense fruity aroma. To date, only a few natural strains have been documented in China, and scientific research on this species remains scarce. This study successfully bred a new variety of Rhodotus palmatus and established corresponding efficient techniques for its industrial-scale cultivation. As a result, strain ZJGWG001, known for its short growth cycle (23 d), high yield potential (177.43 ± 10.08 g·bag⁻¹) and biological efficiency (59.1%), and distinctive, stable phenotypic traits, is well suited for industrial cultivation. This cultivar is the first newly registered Rhodotus palmatus variety in China to receive provincial-level certification and has been officially designated as ‘Zhongjunguoweigu No. 1’. It represents an important discovery in the collection and exploration of wild fungal germplasm resources in recent years.

Bolete specimens collected in Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, were identified as Pseudobaorangia lakhanpalii, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The ITS sequences of our collections exhibited a high similarity with Boletus lakhanpalii (99.53% for KEF13271 and 99.44% for KEF13272). However, because of limited molecular data and complex taxonomic relationships of Boletaceae, the phylogenetic placement of B. lakhanpalii could not be clearly determined. This study conducted a phylogenetic analysis by combining nrLSU, RPB2 and TEF1-α genes, and the results showed that this species has a close phylogenetic relationship with Baorangia, sharing some morphological characteristics, but also having several highlighting differences. Therefore, a new genus Pseudobaorangia is proposed with P. lakhanpalii as the type species and its detailed description is provided.

Lyophyllum decastes, commonly known as Luronggu, is extensively cultivated across China. It exhibits rich germplasm in China. However, the number of cultivars available for commercial production is limited, highlighting the importance of targeted breeding programs. In this study, we utilized selected breeding and SSR molecular markers to develop improved strains of L. decastes for the first time. The breeding process strictly adhered to China’s national standard for ‘Technical inspection for mushroom selecting and breeding’. It encompassed pure strain isolation, biological classification, primary screening, secondary screening, physiological performance determination, molecular characterization, intermediate test, and demonstration cultivation. As a result, strain ZJLZS002, known for its high yield (380 ± 3.6 g·bag⁻¹), shortened growth period (75.6 ± 1.3 d), and stable traits, is well suited for industrial cultivation. This new cultivar has achieved a significant milestone as the first variety in China to be officially recognized at the provincial level, under the name ‘Zhongjunluronggu No. 1’. Its development signifies a crucial advancement in achieving seed source independence and promotes the replacement of imported varieties with domestic ones, contributing to the sustainable development of China’s edible fungi industry.

Stropharia daliensis sp. nov., collected from Dali, Yunnan, China, is proposed based on morphological and molecular analyses. It is characterized by its viscid to glutinous basidiomata, light reddish-brown to reddish-orange pileus covered with white to light yellow squamules, stipe evanescent annulus in the upper part of the stipe, below the annulus densely covered light yellow triangular squamules, acanthocytes absent. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS and nrLSU confirmed the phylogenetic placement of the new species. A comprehensive description, line drawings of microstructures, and comparisons with morphologically similar species are provided in this paper.

Two new wood‐inhabiting fungal species, Lyomyces niveus and L. ochraceoalbus spp. nov. are proposed based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. Lyomyces ochraceoalbus is characterised by resupinate basidiomata with tuberculate, cracking hymenial surface, clavate basidia with a median constriction, gathering numerous irregular crystals, and thin‐walled basidiospores with one or two globules. Lyomyces niveus is characterised by resupinate basidiomata, smooth to grandinioid hymenial surface, presence of three kinds of cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of the ITS and nLSU gene regions were generated, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogenetic reconstruction of Schizoporaceae based on a concatenated ITS+nLSU dataset showed that the two new species are nested in Lyomyces . A second phylogenetic analysis, of the genus Lyomyces , demonstrated that multiple isolates of L. niveus forms a monophyletic lineage which is sister to a clade comprising L. crustosus , L. juniperi , L. ochraceoalbus and L. vietnamensis . Moreover, L. ochraceoalbus is closely related to L. crustosus .

Thirty-seven Phyllachora specimens were collected in China and examined for morphological characteristics. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on a combined sequence dataset of ITS and LSU was also undertaken. Phyllachora cephalostachyi sp. nov. on Cephalostachyum pergracile is described based on its distinct phylogenetic relationships and a comparison of its morphological characteristics with known Phyllachora species on bamboo. Our results indicate a high species diversity of Phyllachora on bamboo in China. A full description and colour photographs of micro-characters are provided for the new species. A phylogenetic tree to show placement of the new species, and a table to compare morphology of the Phyllachora species reported on bamboo are also provided.