Type specimens or original specimens of 15 taxa in Coltricia and Coltriciella described by Corner from Southeast Asia were examined. Among these taxa, ten names were published invalidly because no type was designated in the original publication. The following two names are accepted in the original genus: Coltricia hirtipes and C. strigosipes. Two new species, Inonotus parvulus and I. magnus, are described. Validating descriptions are given for the following five species: Coltricia albidipes, C. arenicola, C. kinabaluensis, C. progressus, and Coltriciella corticicola. The original materials of C. grandis, C. gracilipes, and C. hirtipes var. pleuropodalis are, respectively, identical to Coltricia crassa, C. pyrophila, and C. minor. In addition, C. subfastosa seems to be Pyrrhoderma adamantinum, although no basidiospores were found in the type specimen. Illustrated descriptions of eight species are given.

Phlebopus (Ph.) spongiosus was recently described from several pomelo orchards (Citrus maxima) in southern Vietnam. This fungus was suspected to associate with pomelo plants as an ectomycorrhiza, although members of the genus Phlebopus have previously been presumed saprotrophic. To clarify this association, pomelo roots collected from the orchard (in situ roots), and those cultured with Ph. spongiosus (in vitro roots) in test tubes for 12 wk, were examined for ectomycorrhizal colonization. Both in vitro and in situ roots were analyzed for colonization using fungal LSU nuclear ribosomal DNA sequencing. The in situ roots exhibited the anatomical features of ectomycorrhizae: a thick fungal mantle, Hartig net, and extramatrical hyphae. The Hartig net, however, was very rare and showed discontinuous development. The in vitro association between Ph. spongiosus and C. maxima showed ectomycorrhiza-like structures, i.e., mantles and rhizomorphs in the plant roots, but no Hartig net development in the roots. Continuous hyphal penetration was restricted to the exodermis in both in situ and in vitro roots. Although the association between Ph. spongiosus and C. maxima could be considered ectomycorrhizal, its anatomy matches the unique feature known as sheathing mycorrhiza.

An enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae KSK-3, isolated from commercial rice-koji for miso brewing, showed fibrinolytic activity in liquefied rice culture and was analyzed. A culture filtrate of A. oryzae KSK-3 was concentrated by ultrafiltration and subsequently purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be approximately 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE and high-performance liquid chromatography–size exclusion chromatography. Its maximum fibrinolytic activity was observed at pH 6 and 50°C. The purified protease was stable between pH 4 and 9, at temperatures of up to 50°C. The activity of the enzyme was highest with S-2238 and was considerably inhibited by phenylmethylsufonyl fluoride and pefabloc SC. These results indicate that the enzyme is a serine protease. Moreover, the enzyme is edible and exhibited very high productivity (2,960 U urokinase per milliliter of culture broth). Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that the A. oryzae KSK-3 enzyme may be used as a natural agent for oral fibrinolytic therapy and nutraceutical applications.

A new polypore, Perenniporia tibetica, collected in Xizang (Tibet), southwestern China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and molecular characters. Perenniporia tibetica is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with a creambuff to pinkish-buff pore surface and white to cream-colored rhizomorphs, a dimitic hyphal system with slightly dextrinoid and distinctly cyanophilous skeletal hyphae, and basidiospores that are ellipsoid, truncate or not, strongly dextrinoid, and cyanophilous, 6.7–8.7 × 5.3–6.8 μm. Its preliminary phylogenetic relationships are inferred based on sequence data from the ribosomal ITS and LSU regions, both suggesting that P. tibetica forms a distinct lineage in the genus Perenniporia.

Coniochaeta gigantospora collected from submerged wood in a freshwater habitat in France is described and illustrated as a new species in the family Coniochaetaceae (Coniochaetales, Ascomycota). This placement is based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of partial nuclear ribosomal 28S large subunit and complete internal transcribed spacer DNA sequence data. Coniochaeta gigantospora is distinguished from other Coniochaeta species in possessing unusually large, ellipsoid, nearly equilateral, olivaceous to olivaceous-brown ascospores.

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov., collected on dead branches of Tetracera asiatica and Licuala fordiana, respectively, in tropical forests of China, are described and illustrated. Parablastocatena tetracerae is the type species for a new monotypic genus in possessing macronematous conidiophores forming distinct synnemata with holoblastic conidiogenesis and euseptate, short-chained conidia ending in a paler brown rostrum, whereas C. licualae is distinguished from described species by the smaller conidia with long appendages. A key to currently accepted species of Corynesporella is provided.

Cystotheca tjibodensis, formerly known as Lanomyces tjibodensis (Perisporiales), is a fungus found in 1920 in Indonesia. This species, hitherto only known from its type collection, is now regarded as belonging to the Erysiphales. However, molecular data are still required to verify the taxonomic affinity. In March 2011, we rediscovered this fungus at Cibodas Botanical Garden, Java. Detailed characterizations of this tropical powdery mildew are reported in this study based on morphological and molecular examinations. The anamorph of this species that was not found in the type specimen is also reported in this study.

Two species of Gliocephalotrichum were isolated from fallen fruits of the medicinal plant Terminalia chebula collected from the forests of Western Ghats, India. On the basis of morphological characters and ITS1–5.8S– ITS2 sequence similarity, the fungi have been identified as Gliocephalotrichum longibrachium and G. bulbilium. For the former species, this is the first report of its occurrence from India, whereas the latter, showing significant morphological variability, has been known previously from India.

We have optimized a simple and rapid preparation procedure for mushroom DNA extraction from colonies on media or from fruiting bodies for PCR amplification. The protocol combines microwaving twice for 1 min, cooling for 10 min, and centrifuging for 5 min. By using this procedure, more than 100 samples of mushroom DNA can be prepared within 1 h. The DNA obtained can be used for (1) identifying mushroom species by PCR and subsequent sequencing, (2) amplifying low copy number genes (at least 2,000 bp), and (3) screening genetic transformants. This technique will contribute to the mycology of mushroom species.

Twenty taxa of Cordyceps s. l. (belonging to three genera in the latest taxonomic system) from Cicadidae had been described by Kobayasi and Shimizu. Among them, 13 holotype specimens of Cordyceps were rediscovered from preserved specimens partially without ordering, and their registration numbers (TNS-F-number) were given: viz. (1) Elaphocordyceps inegoensis TNS-F-230289, (2) Elaphocordyceps paradoxa TNS-F-230313, (3) Elaphocordyceps toriharamontana TNS-F-230288, (4) Ophiocordyceps heteropoda TNS-F-230294, (5) Ophiocordyceps longissima TNS-F-230285, (6) Ophiocordyceps prolifica f. terminalis TNS-F-230295, (7)Ophiocordyceps pseudolongissimaTNSF- 197983, (8) Ophiocordyceps takaoensis TNS-F-3026, (9) Cordyceps kanzashiana TNS-F-198015, (10) Cordyceps kobayasii Koval’ (≡C. sinclairii Kobayasi, not C. sinclairii Berk.) TNS-F-212384, (11) Cordyceps minuta TNS-F- 11933, (12) Cordyceps ramosopulvinata TNS-F-197979, and (13) Cordyceps ryogamimontana TNS-F-230292. Two specimens were selected as lectotype: viz. (14) Ophiocordyceps prolifica TNS-F-230300 and (15) Ophiocordyceps yakusimensis TNS-F-230287. A paratype specimen of (16) Cordyceps pleuricapitata TNS-F-197965, and an authentic specimen of (17) Cordyceps imagamiana TNS-F- 197966, were also rediscovered.