Revision of Cerinomyces (Dacrymycetes, Basidiomycota) with notes on morphologically and historically related taxa

Genome assembly of the edible jelly fungus Dacryopinax spathularia (Dacrymycetaceae)

The edible jelly fungus Dacryopinax spathularia (Dacrymycetaceae) is wood-decaying and can be commonly found worldwide. It has found application in food additives, given its ability to synthesize long-chain glycolipids, among other uses. In this study, we present the genome assembly of D. spathularia using a combination of PacBio HiFi reads and Omni-C data. The genome size is 29.2 Mb. It has high sequence contiguity and completeness, with a scaffold N50 of 1.925 Mb and a 92.0% BUSCO score. A total of 11,510 protein-coding genes and 474.7 kb repeats (accounting for 1.62% of the genome) were predicted. The D. spathularia genome assembly generated in this study provides a valuable resource for understanding their ecology, such as their wood-decaying capability, their evolutionary relationships with other fungi, and their unique biology and applications in the food industry.

Diversity of colacosome-interacting mycoparasites expands the understanding of the evolution and ecology of Microbotryomycetes

Mycoparasites in Basidiomycota comprise a diverse group of fungi, both morphologically and phylogenetically. They interact with their hosts through either fusion-interaction or colacosome-interaction. Colacosomes are subcellular structures formed by the mycoparasite at the host-parasite interface, which penetrate the parasite and host cell walls. Previously, these structures were detected in 19 fungal species, usually by means of transmission electron microscopy. Most colacosome-forming species have been assigned to Microbotryomycetes (Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycota), a highly diverse class, comprising saprobic yeasts, mycoparasites, and phytoparasites. In general, these myco- and phytoparasites are dimorphic organisms, with a parasitic filamentous morph and saprobic yeast morph. We investigated colacosome-forming mycoparasites based on fungarium material, freshly collected specimens, and cultures of yeast morphs. We characterised the micromorphology of filamentous morphs, the physiological characteristics of yeast morphs, and inferred phylogenetic relationships based on DNA sequence data from seven loci. We outline and employ an epifluorescence-based microscopic method to assess the presence and organisation of colacosomes. We describe five new species in the genus Colacogloea, the novel dimorphic mycoparasite Mycogloiocolax gerardii, and provide the first report of a sexual, mycoparasitic morph in Colacogloea philyla and in the genus Slooffia. We detected colacosomes in eight fungal species, which brings the total number of known colacosome-forming fungi to 27. Finally, we revealed three distinct types of colacosome organisation in Microbotryomycetes. Taxonomic novelties and typifications: New family: Mycogloiocolacaeae Schoutteten & Yurkov; New genus: Mycogloiocolax Schoutteten & Rödel; New species: Colacogloea bettinae Schoutteten & Begerow, C. biconidiata Schoutteten, C. fennica Schoutteten & Miettinen, C. microspora Schoutteten, C. universitatis-gandavensis Schoutteten & Verbeken, Mycogloiocolax gerardii Schoutteten & Rödel; New combinations: Slooffia micra (Bourdot & Galzin) Schoutteten, Fellozyma cerberi (A.M. Yurkov et al.) Schoutteten & Yurkov, Fellozyma telluris (A.M. Yurkov et al.) Schoutteten & Yurkov; Epitypifications (basionyms): Achroomyces insignis Hauerslev, Platygloea micra Bourdot & Galzin, Platygloea peniophorae Bourdot & Galzin; Lectotypification (basionym): Platygloea peniophorae Bourdot & Galzin Citation: Schoutteten N, Yurkov A, Leroux O, Haelewaters D, Van Der Straeten D, Miettinen O, Boekhout T, Begerow D, Verbeken A (2023). Diversity of colacosome-interacting mycoparasites expands the understanding of the evolution and ecology of Microbotryomycetes. Studies in Mycology 106: 41-94. doi: 10.3114/sim.2022.106.02.

Additions to Dendrodacrys and outline of taxa with branched hyphidia in Dacrymycetes (Basidiomycota)

The genus Dendrodacrys is a monophyletic group that belongs to Dacrymycetes (Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota) and accommodates species distinguished by strongly branched hyphidia in combination with 3-septate basidiospores. While the original circumscription mainly treated European taxa, here we shift the focus to tropical and sub-tropical material and uncover wider variation in morphology within Dendrodacrys. Still united by hyphidia shape and basidiospore septation, the genus is expanded with 10 taxa having pustulate, cerebriform, or stipitate basidiocarps of yellow to dark brown colours, cylindrical to ovoid basidiospores, and hyphal septa with or without clamps. Monophyly of the amended Dendrodacrys is confirmed with a phylogeny based on six markers (SSU, ITS, LSU, TEF1-α, RPB1, and RPB2). As a result, we describe two new species (De. laetum and De. rigoratum), transfer three existing species to Dendrodacrys (De. brasiliense, De. dendrocalami, and De. pezizoideum), and raise one variety to the species level (De. kennedyae ≡ Dacrymyces enatus var. macrosporus). In addition, we provide descriptions for the earlier combined De. paraphysatum and four new informal taxa. Lastly, we present illustrations, a character table, and an identification key that addresses all known dacrymycetes with branched hyphidia. Citation: Savchenko A, Zamora JC, Alvarenga R, Kõljalg U, Miettinen O (2022). Additions to Dendrodacrys and outline of taxa with branched hyphidia in Dacrymycetes (Basidiomycota). Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 103-126. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.10.04.

Dendrodacrys: a new genus for species with branched hyphidia in Dacrymyces s.l., with the description of four new species

A new genus named Dendrodacrys is proposed for a monophyletic group in Dacrymycetaceae, containing species with pulvinate to depressed basidiocarps, distinctly branched hymenial hyphidia, and up to 3-septate mature basidiospores. Four taxa in this group, occurring in Europe, are proposed as new species, viz. De. ciprense, De. concrescens, De. ellipsosporum, and De. oblongisporum, based both on morphological and DNA data (nrDNA, RPB1, RPB2, TEF-1α, 12S). These new species are all described in detail, illustrated, and compared with other published taxa that with which they can be confounded. The new combination De. paraphysatum is proposed after revising the type material of Dacrymyces paraphysatus, but other combinations or potentially new non-European species descriptions are postponed pending further studies of additional specimens.

Citation: Zamora JC, Savchenko A, González-Cruz Á, Prieto-García F, Olariaga I, Ekman S (2022). Dendrodacrys: a new genus for species with branched hyphidia in Dacrymyces s.l., with the description of four new species. Fungal Systematics and Evolution9: 27–42. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.09.04