The Japanese mycologist, Yosio Kobayasi, described 16 species of Japanese Dacrymycetes. Almost all of the type specimens were thought to have been destroyed during World War II. In this study, Kobayasi's specimens were surveyed, and holotypes of six species, Dacrymyces adpressus Kobayasi, D. applanatus, D. pezizoides, D. puniceus, D. subalpinus, and Dacryopinax imazekiana, were found and recognized as distinct species. Dacrymyces adpressus Kobayasi, a later homonym of D. adpressus Grognot, was redescribed with a new name, D. kobayasii. The mycoflora of Japanese Dacrymycetes has been updated to 44 species in nine genera.

Two Neurospora crassa mutants—frost (fr), an orthologous gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC1 that encodes a putative mannose-ethanolamine phosphate phosphodiesterase involved in glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor remodeling, and spray (sp), a filamentous fungus-specific gene that encodes a putative Ca²⁺ channel protein—have been known to exhibit reduced hyphal growth and hyperbranched mycelial phenotypes. However, they are suppressed by exogenous Ca²⁺. We characterized a N. crassa deletion mutant of och-1, which encodes an α-1,6-mannosyltransferase required for synthesis of galactomannans attached to N-linked oligosaccharides of cell wall proteins, and found that the mutant showed growth defects quite similar to those of fr and sp single mutants. The abnormal morphologies of the och-1 mutant were also significantly restored by exogenous Ca²⁺, suggesting the contribution of Ca²⁺ in cell wall stress response. Because abnormalities observed in S. cerevisiae CDC1 mutants have been shown to be suppressed by deletion of PER1 that encodes GPI-phospholipase A2, we also characterized a N. crassa strain lacking its sole PER1 ortholog, gpl-1. We found that this strain exhibited growth retardation but not hyperbranching of mycelia. Deletion of gpl-1 in the fr mutant suppressed growth defects seen in the single mutant, just as the PER1 deletion suppressed those in the CDC1 mutant of S. cerevisiae. The deletion of gpl-1 also suppressed defects in N. crassa sp and och-1 single mutants. These results suggest the presence of a genetic interaction(s) between calcium signaling pathways and lipid remodeling processes of GPI-anchored proteins in N. crassa.

Epichloë fungi were isolated from Brachypodium sylvaticum with or without symptoms of choke disease collected at five sites in Japan. The morphological characteristics of the fungi corresponded to the description of Epichloë sylvatica. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that isolates derived from surface-sterilized tillers and single ascospores from stroma on its hosts were included in the same clade with those identified as E. sylvatica. In Japan, to date, Epichloë fungi causing choke disease on B. sylvaticum were listed only as Epichloë typhina. We confirmed that both stroma-forming and symptomless endophytes inhabiting B. sylvaticum in Japan are E. sylvatica, not E. typhina.

A new species in the Ophiostoma piceae complex was isolated from bark beetles and beetle galleries infesting Japanese larch in Japan, and was described as Ophiostoma sugadairense. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal RNA genes region, partial β-tubulin, and elongation factor-1α genes revealed that O. sugadairense was clearly separated from other species of the O. piceae complex. The sexual morph of O. sugadairense morphologically resembled that of O. breviusculum, but the asexual morph was clearly distinguishable based on morphological characteristics of the synnemata, such as their color and shape. Mating compatibility tests indicated that there is some degree of reproductive isolation between O. sugadairense and O. piceae, O. breviusculum, and O. subalpinum.

Amylostereum laevigatum has been reported from Japan growing on Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa. Using morphological and molecular data (internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nrDNA and rpb2 markers), we demonstrate that some specimens under A. laevigatum from Japan belong to A. orientale, a species described from China. Amylostereum orientale differs from A. laevigatum mainly in having smaller basidiospores. This is the first citation of A. orientale in Japan.

A new species of Helicascus, H. mangrovei, on dead intertidal mangrove wood was collected. Morphology of this fungus was studied and DNA sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) ribosomal (r) DNA, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF-1α) and the RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2) were used to determine the phylogeny of this fungus. Helicascus mangrovei possesses semi-immersed lenticular ascomata and stroma-like structures covered with a carbonaceous, dark brown to black pseudoclypeus. Its ascomata do not have a separate locule. The bitunicate asci have an ocular chamber and a long stipe. Ascospores are obovoid, 1-septate, uniseriate, unequally two-celled, slightly constricted at the septum, thick-walled, with larger brownish apical cells and smaller basal cells, one apiculate end, hyaline when young, becoming dark brown when mature. Helicascus mangrovei forms a well-supported clade within Helicascus species and is closely related to marine species within the Morosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales. Based on the morphological features and molecular data, a new marine species of Helicascus is proposed.

This study aimed to establish an RNAi system based on a dual promoter construct to interfere with the expression of target genes in Flammulina velutipes. In this study, the endogenous laccase gene, which was cloned as a silencing reporter, was introduced into F. velutipes through electroporation-mediated transformation. Our data unequivocally indicate that the dual promoter silencing system significantly reduced the expression and activity of lac6. Additionally, reductions in lac6 mRNA levels and enzyme activity were correlated (minimum of a 50% reduction). The molecular tools developed in this study should facilitate the functional characterization of genes in this important species.

The Pholiota microspora encodes three α-amylase genes (PnAmy1, PnAmy2 and PnAmy3), which were identified and characterized in the current study. PnAmy1, PnAmy2 and PnAmy3 are members of glycoside hydrolase family 13, belonging to subfamily 32, 5 and 1, respectively. Transcription analysis was used to illuminate the physiological role of three α-amylases in P. microspora. Expression of PnAmy1 and PnAmy3 were regulated by various carbon sources in minimal media, which suggests that PnAmy1 and PnAmy3 are involved in starch degradation. In sawdust medium, PnAmy1 and PnAmy2 were closely correlated with fruiting body development, while PnAmy3 seems to play a role during vegetative mycelial growth.

A new species of Aureoboletus, namely, A. quercus-spinosae is described and illustrated from the subalpine regions of Tibet, China. It is characterized by its small and viscid basidioma, light yellow to brownish red pileus with a slightly wrinkled center, a grayish yellow to olive yellow and slightly bluing hymenophore, yellow white to white context staining pastel red when bruised, and large basidiospores (12–)15–21 × 5–6.5 μm. It is strongly supported as a new species in the genus Aureoboletus using a three-gene superalignment on nuclear large subunit, the largest (rpb1) and second largest (rpb2) DNA-directed RNA Polymerase II subunits 1 and 2.

A new poroid wood-inhabiting fungal genus, Geliporus, is proposed based on morphological characters and molecular data. It is typified by G. exilisporus comb. nov. (Basionym: Inonotus exilisporus), and characterized by resupinate basidiomata darkening in potassium hydroxide, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate and hyaline to yellowish generative hyphae, and hyaline, thin-walled, and cylindrical to oblong-ellipsoid basidiospores. Results of phylogenetic analyses inferred from the 5.8S and nLSU rDNA sequences indicate that G. exilisporus belongs to the Phanerochaetaceae in Polyporales and is closely related to the genus of Hyphodermella.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is an important pest. This mite has recently become a serious problem due to the continuous use of acaricides, resulting in resistance. Thus, there is a need to identify alternative control methods to suppress spider mite populations. We screened pathogenic fungi for the control of spider mites using multiple tools to assess virulence and fitness under various environmental conditions. Twelve selected fungal isolates demonstrated the virulence against mites, and their thermotolerance, UV-B tolerance and cold tolerance varied by isolate. The most optimal fungi to control mites were selected based on results that took various tested environmental factors into consideration. Additionally, the antimicrobial activities of the selected fungi were assessed to explore the potential for the dual control of not only mites but also plant pathogens. Antimicrobial activities against both the bacterium Bacillus cereus and the fungus Botrytis cinerea were observed simultaneously in 8 fungal isolates. These results suggested that the fungal isolates Lecanicillium attenuatum 4-1 and Purpureocillium lilacinum 2R-4-6 can be used in an eco-friendly control program against the two-spotted spider mite and Beauveria bassiana s.l. 2R-4-5 and Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. 4-2 would be powerful candidates for the dual control of pests and diseases.

Aleurodiscus tenuissimus and A. tropicus, on dead bamboo, are new species from tropical Asia. Both species have effused basidiocarps and simple-septate generative hyphae. Aleurodiscus tenuissimus, from southern China, lacks acanthophyses and possesses echinulate basidiospores, whereas A. tropicus, from southern China and Vietnam, has abundant acanthophyses and smooth basidiospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region sequences (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) support the recognition of the taxa as distinct. The new species are described and illustrated, and a worldwide key to six species of Aleurodiscus on bamboo is provided.