The genus Fomitopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) reconsidered

Based on seven- and three-gene datasets, we discuss four alternative approaches for a reclassification of Fomitopsidaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota). After taking into account morphological diversity in the family, we argue in favour of distinguishing three genera only, viz. Anthoporia, Antrodia and Fomitopsis. Fomitopsis becomes a large genus with 128 accepted species, containing almost all former Fomitopsis spp. and most species formerly placed in Antrodia, Daedalea and Laccocephalum. Genera Buglossoporus, Cartilosoma, Daedalea, Melanoporia, Neolentiporus, alongside twenty others, are treated as synonyms of Fomitopsis. This generic scheme allows for morphologically distinct genera in Fomitopsidaceae, unlike other schemes we considered. We provide arguments for retaining Fomitopsis and suppressing earlier (Daedalea, Caloporus) or simultaneously published generic names (Piptoporus) considered here as its synonyms. Taxonomy of nine species complexes in the genus is revised based on ITS, ITS + TEF1, ITS + TEF1 + RPB1 and ITS + TEF1 + RPB2 datasets. In total, 17 species are described as new to science, 26 older species are reinstated and 26 currently accepted species names are relegated to synonymy. A condensed identification key for all accepted species in the genus is provided. Taxonomic novelties: New species: Fomitopsis algumicola Grebenc & Spirin, F. caseosa Vlasák & Spirin, F. cupressicola Vlasák, J. Vlasák Jr. & Spirin, F. derelicta Vlasák & Spirin, F. dollingeri Vlasák & Spirin, F. fissa Vlasák & Spirin, F. lapidosa Miettinen & Spirin, F. lignicolor Vlasák & Spirin, F. maculosa Miettinen & Spirin, F. pannucea Runnel & Spirin, F. perhiemata Viner & Spirin, F. purpurea Spirin & Ryvarden, F. retorrida Spirin & Kotiranta, F. solaris Rivoire, A.M. Ainsworth & Vlasák, F. tristis Miettinen & Spirin, F. tunicata Miettinen & Spirin, F. visenda Miettinen & Spirin. New combinations: Fomitopsis aculeata (Cooke) Spirin & Miettinen, F. aethalodes (Mont.) Spirin, F. alaskana (D.V. Baxter) Spirin & Vlasák, F. albidoides (A. David & Dequatre) Bernicchia & Vlasák, F. amygdalina (Berk. & Ravenel) Spirin & Vlasák, F. angusta (Spirin & Vlasák) Spirin & Vlasák, F. atypa (Lév.) Spirin & Vlasák, F. caespitosa (Murrill) Spirin & Miettinen, F. calcitrosa (Spirin & Miettinen) Spirin & Miettinen, F. circularis (B.K. Cui & Hai J. Li) Spirin, F. concentrica (G. Cunn.) M.D. Barrett, F. cyclopis (Miettinen & Spirin) Miettinen & Spirin, F. dickinsii (Berk. ex Cooke) Spirin, F. elevata (Corner) Spirin & Miettinen, F. eucalypti (Kalchbr.) Spirin, F. ferrea (Cooke) Spirin & Viner, F. flavimontis (Vlasák & Spirin) Vlasák & Spirin, F. foedata (Berk.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. gilvidula (Bres.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. glabricystidia (Ipulet & Ryvarden) Miettinen & Ryvarden, F. globispora (Ryvarden & Aime) Spirin, F. hartmannii (Cooke) M.D. Barrett & Spirin, F. hyalina (Spirin, Miettinen & Kotir.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. hypoxantha (Bres.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. incana (Lév.) Spirin & V. Malysheva, F. infirma (Renvall & Niemelä) Miettinen & Niemelä, F. juniperina (Murrill) Spirin & Vlasák, F. kuzyana (Pilát ex Pilát) Spirin & Vlasák, F. leioderma (Mont.) Spirin & Vlasak, F. leucaena (Y.C. Dai & Niemelä) Spirin & Miettinen, F. luzonensis (Murrill) Spirin & Miettinen, F. maculatissima (Lloyd) Spirin, F. madronae (Vlasák & Ryvarden) Vlasák & Ryvarden, F. malicola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Spirin, F. marchionica (Mont.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. marianii (Bres.) Spirin, Vlasák & Cartabia, F. mellita (Niemelä & Penttilä) Niemelä & Miettinen, F. microcarpa (B.K. Cui & Shun Liu) Spirin, F. micropora (B.K. Cui & Shun Liu) Spirin, F. modesta (Kuntze ex Fr.) Vlasák & Spirin, F. monomitica (Yuan Y. Chen) Spirin & Viner, F. morganii (Lloyd) Spirin & Vlasák, F. moritziana (Lév.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. neotropica (D.L. Lindner, Ryvarden & T.J. Baroni) Vlasák, F. nigra (Berk.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. nivosella (Murrill) Spirin & Vlasák, F. oboensis (Decock, Amalfi & Ryvarden) Spirin, F. oleracea (R.W. Davidson & Lombard) Spirin & Vlasák, F. philippinensis (Murrill) Spirin & Vlasák, F. primaeva (Renvall & Niemelä) Miettinen & Niemelä, F. psilodermea (Berk. & Mont.) Spirin & Vlasák, F. pulverulenta (Rivoire) Rivoire, F. pulvina (Pers.) Spirin & Vlasák, F. pulvinascens (Pilát ex Pilát) Niemelä & Miettinen, F. quercina (L.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. ramentacea (Berk. & Broome) Spirin & Vlasák, F. renehenticii (Rivoire, Trichies & Vlasák) Rivoire & Vlasák, F. roseofusca (Romell) Spirin & Vlasák, F. sagraeana (Mont.) Vlasák & Spirin, F. sandaliae (Bernicchia & Ryvarden) Bernicchia & Vlasák, F. sclerotina (Rodway) M.D. Barrett & Spirin, F. serialiformis (Kout & Vlasák) Vlasák, F. serialis (Fr.) Spirin & Runnel, F. serrata (Vlasák & Spirin) Vlasák & Spirin, F. squamosella (Bernicchia & Ryvarden) Bernicchia & Ryvarden, F. stereoides (Fr.) Spirin, F. subectypa (Murrill) Spirin & Vlasák, F. substratosa (Malençon) Spirin & Miettinen, F. tropica (B.K. Cui) Spirin, F. tumulosa (Cooke) M.D. Barrett & Spirin, F. tuvensis (Spirin, Vlasák & Kotir.) Spirin & Vlasák, F. uralensis (Pilát) Spirin & Miettinen, F. ussuriensis (Bondartsev & Ljub.) Spirin & Miettinen, F. variiformis (Peck) Vlasák & Spirin, F. yunnanensis (M.L. Han & Q. An) Spirin, Daedaleopsis candicans (P. Karst.) Spirin, Megasporoporia eutelea (Har. & Pat.) Spirin & Viner, Neofomitella hemitephra (Berk.) M.D. Barrett, Pseudophaeolus soloniensis (Dubois) Spirin & Rivoire, P. trichrous (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Vlasák & Spirin. New synonyms: Antrodia bondartsevae Spirin, A. huangshanensis Y.C. Dai & B.K. Cui, A. taxa T.T. Chang & W.N. Chou, A. wangii Y.C. Dai & H.S. Yuan, Antrodiella subnigra Oba, Mossebo & Ryvarden, Antrodiopsis Audet, Boletus quercinus Schrad., Brunneoporus Audet, Buglossoporus Kotl. & Pouzar, Buglossoporus eucalypticola M.L. Han, B.K. Cui & Y.C. Dai, Caloporus P. Karst., Cartilosoma Kotlaba & Pouzar, Coriolus clemensiae Murrill, C. cuneatiformis Murrill, C. hollickii Murrill, C. parthenius Hariot & Pat., C. rubritinctus Murrill, Daedalea Pers., Daedalea allantoidea M.L. Han, B.K. Cui & Y.C. Dai, D. americana M.L. Han, Vlasák & B.K. Cui, D. radiata B.K. Cui & Hai J. Li, D. rajchenbergiana Kossmann & Drechsler-Santos, D. sinensis Lloyd, Daedalella B.K. Cui & Shun Liu, Dentiporus Audet, Flavidoporia Audet, Fomes subferreus Murrill, Fomitopsis cana B.K. Cui, Hai J. Li & M.L. Han, F. caribensis B.K. Cui & Shun Liu, F. cystidiata B.K. Cui & M.L. Han, F. ginkgonis B.K. Cui & Shun Liu, F. iberica Melo & Ryvarden, F. incarnata K.M. Kim, J.S. Lee & H.S. Jung, F. subfeei B.K. Cui & M.L. Han, F. subtropica B.K. Cui & Hai J. Li, Fragifomes B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai, Leptoporus epileucinus Pilát, Melanoporia Murrill, Neoantrodia Audet, Neolentiporus Rajchenb., Nigroporus macroporus Ryvarden & Iturr., Niveoporofomes B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai, Pilatoporus Kotl. & Pouzar, Piptoporus P. Karst., Polyporus aurora Ces., P. durescens Overh. ex J. Lowe, P. griseodurus Lloyd, Poria incarnata Pers., Pseudoantrodia B.K. Cui, Y.Y. Chen & Shun Liu, Pseudofomitopsis B.K. Cui & Shun Liu, Ranadivia Zmitr., Rhizoporia Audet, Rhodofomes Kotl. & Pouzar, Rhodofomitopsis B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai, Rhodofomitopsis pseudofeei B.K. Cui & Shun Liu, R. roseomagna Nogueira-Melo, A.M.S. Soares & Gibertoni, Rubellofomes B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai, Subantrodia Audet, Trametes fulvirubida Corner, T. lignea Murrill, T. lusor Corner, T. pseudodochmia Corner, T. subalutacea Bourdot & Galzin, T. supermodesta Ryvarden & Iturr., T. tuberculata Bres., Tyromyces multipapillatus Corner, T. ochraceivinosus Corner, T. palmarum Murrill, T. singularis Corner, T. squamosellus Núñez & Ryvarden, Ungulidaedalea B.K. Cui, M.L. Han & Y.C. Dai. Lectotypes: Hexagonia sulcata Berk., Polyporus castaneae Bourdot & Galzin, Poria incarnata Pers., Trametes subalutacea Bourdot & Galzin, Ungulina substratosa Malençon. Neotypes: Agaricus soloniensis Dubois, Boletus pulvinus Pers. Citation: Spirin V, Runnel K, Vlasák J, Viner I, Barrett MD, Ryvarden L, Bernicchia A, Rivoire B, Ainsworth AM, Grebenc T, Cartabia M, Niemelä T, Larsson K-H, Miettinen O (2024). The genus Fomitopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) reconsidered. Studies in Mycology 107: 149-249. doi: 10.3114/sim.2024.107.03.

A revised genus-level classification for Cerrenaceae (Polyporales, Agaricomycetes)

Cerrenaceae is a small family of polypores and hydnoid fungi in the order Polyporales (Basidiomycota). The family consists of white-rot fungi, some of which are serious tree pathogens. Combining morphological evidence with a phylogenetic dataset of six genetic markers, we revise generic concepts in the family and propose a seven-genus classification system for the family. Two genera are introduced as new: the monotypic Acanthodontia for Radulodon cirrhatinus, and Lividopora for the Rigidoporus vinctus complex. We re-introduce the name Somion for the Spongipellis delectans complex. Other recognized genera in the family are Cerrena, Irpiciporus, Pseudolagarobasidium, and Radulodon. New species introduced are Irpiciporus branchiformis from Tanzania, Lividopora armeniaca, and L. facilis from Southeast Asia, and Somion strenuum from East Asia. We provide nomenclatural comments on all the names combined to the above Cerrenaceae genera and typify Cerrena unicolor, C. zonata, Polyporus carneopallens (= L. vincta), Somion occarium, and S. unicolor. The genus Hyphoradulum belongs to Cystostereaceae (Agaricales), and we transfer the type species H. conspicuum to Crustomyces. Our study highlights the importance of integrating different basidiocarp types in analyses when revising genus classification in macrofungi. Citation: Miettinen O, Vlasák J, Larsson E, Vlasák J Jr., Seelan JSS, Hernawati, Levicky Q, Larsson K-H, Spirin V (2023). A revised genus-level classification for Cerrenaceae (Polyporales, Agaricomycetes). Fungal Systematics and Evolution 12: 271-322. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2023.12.14.

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

Cerinomyces (Dacrymycetes, Basidiomycota) is a genus traditionally defined by corticioid basidiocarps, in contrast to the rest of the class, which is characterized by gelatinous ones. In the traditional circumscription the genus is polyphyletic, and the monotypic family Cerinomycetaceae is paraphyletic. Aiming for a more concise delimitation, we revise Cerinomyces s.l. with a novel phylogeny based on sequences of nrDNA (SSU, ITS, LSU) and protein-coding genes (RPB1, RPB2, TEF1-α). We establish that monophyletic Cerinomyces s.s. is best characterized not by the corticioid morphology, but by a combination of traits: hyphal clamps, predominantly aseptate thin-walled basidiospores, and low content of carotenoid pigments. In our updated definition, Cerinomyces s.s. encompasses five well-supported phylogenetic clades divided into two morphological groups: (i-iii) taxa with arid corticioid basidiocarps, including the generic type C. pallidus; and (iv-v) newly introduced members with gelatinous basidiocarps, like Dacrymyces enatus and D. tortus. The remaining corticioid species of Cerinomyces s.l. are morphologically distinct and belong to the Dacrymycetaceae: our analysis places the carotenoid-rich Cerinomyces canadensis close to Femsjonia, and we transfer the clamps-lacking C. grandinioides group to Dacrymyces. In addition, we address genera related to Cerinomyces s.l. historically and morphologically, such as Ceracea, Dacryonaema and Unilacryma. Overall, we describe twenty-four new species and propose nine new combinations in both Cerinomycetaceae and Dacrymycetaceae.

Hydnoporia, an older name for Pseudochaete and Hymenochaetopsis, and typification of the genus Hymenochaete (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota)

The genus name Hydnoporia is reinstated to encompass the Hymenochaete tabacina group currently addressed to Pseudochaete (illegitimate genus) or Hymenochaetopsis. Identity of the type species of Hydnoporia, Sistotrema fuscescens (= Hydnoporia olivacea in current sense), is clarified, and a lectotype is selected. In total, 12 species are combined in Hydnoporia: H. corrugata, H. gigasetosa, H. lamellata, H. laricicola, H. latesetosa, H. lenta, H. rhododendri, H. rimosa, H. subrigidula, H. tabacina, H. tabacinoides, and H. yasudai. Hydnoporia diffissa is described as new. Analyses of all available ITS (94) and newly produced tef1 sequences (20) indicate that there are at least 20-27 species in the genus. Identity of the type species of Hymenochaete, H. rubiginosa, is clarified; the name is retained for the species so named in Europe while other species are present in North America and East Asia. Additionally, three new combinations in Hymenochaete are proposed: H. campylopora (= Cyclomyces fuscus), H. microcycla (= Cyclomyces tabacinus), and H. saepiaria.

A preliminary overview of the corticioid Atractiellomycetes (Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycetes)

The taxonomy of the corticioid fungi from the class Atractiellomycetes (Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycetes) currently addressed to the genus Helicogloea, is revised based on morphological and nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS and LSU) data. The genus is restricted to 25 species with semitranslucent, gelatinous basidiocarps lacking differentiated cystidia and clamps on hyphae, of which 11 are described as new to science. The asexual genus Leucogloea is placed as a synonym of Helicogloea s. str. Since the type species of Saccoblastia, S. ovispora, is combined to Helicogloea, a new genus, Saccosoma, is introduced to encompass Saccoblastia farinacea and six related species, one of which is described as new. In contrast to Helicogloea in the strict sense, the basidiocarps of Saccosoma are arid, not gelatinized, and hyphae are clamped. The third lineage of the corticioid Atractiellomycetes is represented by the Bourdotigloea vestita complex. Species of Bourdotigloea are devoid of clamps but often possess well-differentiated cystidia, as well as long, cylindrical-fusiform basidiospores. Bourdotigloea encompasses nine species, of which six are described here as new.

Postia caesia complex (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) in temperate Northern Hemisphere

Taxonomy of the Postia caesia complex is revised based on morphology and two genetic markers, ITS and tef1. In total, we recognize 24 species, multiplying the known species diversity in the complex. We provide descriptions for 20 temperate Northern Hemisphere taxa. Identity of the core species, P. caesia, is re-established, and a neotype from the type locality is selected. Four new combinations are proposed, and 10 new species are described: P. arbuti, P. auricoma, P. bifaria, P. comata, P. cyanescens, P. glauca, P. livens, P. magna, P. populi, and P. yanae.

Freezing in Ising ferromagnets

We investigate the final state of zero-temperature Ising ferromagnets that are endowed with single-spin-flip Glauber dynamics. Surprisingly, the ground state is generally not reached for zero initial magnetization. In two dimensions, the system reaches either a frozen stripe state with probability approximately 1/3 or the ground state with probability approximately 2/3. In greater than two dimensions, the probability of reaching the ground state or a frozen state rapidly vanishes as the system size increases; instead the system wanders forever in an isoenergy set of metastable states. An external magnetic field changes the situation drastically-in two dimensions the favorable ground state is always reached, while in three dimensions the field must exceed a threshold value to reach the ground state. For small but nonzero temperature, relaxation to the final state proceeds first by formation of very long-lived metastable states, as in the zero-temperature case, before equilibrium is reached.

Fate of zero-temperature Ising ferromagnets

We investigate the relaxation of homogeneous Ising ferromagnets on finite lattices with zero-temperature spin-flip dynamics. On the square lattice, a frozen two-stripe state is apparently reached approximately 3/10 of the time, while the ground state is reached otherwise. The asymptotic relaxation is characterized by two distinct time scales with the longer stemming from the influence of a long-lived diagonal stripe defect. In greater than two dimensions, the probability to reach the ground state rapidly vanishes as the size increases and the system typically ends up wandering forever within an iso-energy set of stochastically "blinking" metastable states.

Coarsening in a driven Ising chain with conserved dynamics

We study the low-temperature coarsening of an Ising chain subject to spin-exchange dynamics and a small driving force. This dynamical system reduces to a domain diffusion process, in which entire domains undergo nearest-neighbor hopping, except for the shortest domains-dimers-which undergo long-range hopping. This system exhibits anomalous ordering dynamics due to the existence of two characteristic length scales: the average domain length L(t) approximately t(1/2) and the average dimer hopping distance l(t) approximately square root[L(t)] approximately t(1/4). As a consequence of these two scales, the density of short domains decays as t(-5/4), instead of the t(-3/2) decay that would arise from pure domain diffusion.

Childhood Lead Poisoning in Russia: A Site-specific Pediatric Blood Lead Evaluation

Lead poisoning in children is an international concern. Health effects vary according to a child's blood lead level. Historically, the problem of lead poisoning in Russia had been defined by analysis of hair samples. In Saratov, Russia, during the spring of 1996, the authors conducted the first evaluation of blood lead levels among Russian children. The mean blood lead level of 579 samples analyzed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was 7.7 µg/dL (range 3.0 to 35.7 µg/dL). The sensitivity of hair analysis in identifying blood lead levels above 10 µg/dL was 50%. Most of the environmental samples evaluated (including water, dust, paint, and soil) were within acceptable U.S. remediation standards. Almost one-fourth of the Russian children evaluated during this site-specific investigation had blood lead levels capable of causing adverse health effects in children. Hair analysis is not an adequate method for identifying these children. Additional investigations in other Russian cities are necessary in order to determine the extent of lead poisoning in Russia's children.