Based on morphological and molecular evidence, two new species, namely Hymenagaricus indicus and Xanthagaricus nigrosquamosus, are described from tropical region of Maharashtra, India. Hymenagaricus indicus is morphologically circumscribed by its small basidiomata, covered with brown plate-like squamules at the centre along with small, numerous squamules scattered towards margin, pileal squamules composed of globose to subglobose elements, and yellowish brown, ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores. Xanthagaricus nigrosquamosus is characterised by its yellowish pileus covered with black squamules, epithelial pileipellis, and broadly ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid, rugulose-rough, basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, and partial 28S rDNA sequences also confirmed that they are distinct from their closest taxa.

In the process of brewing sake, Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces alcohol and a wide range of flavor compounds. A previous study identified a sake yeast mutant with a single-nucleotide insertion in the RIM15 protein kinase gene (RIM15 with an insertion of adenine at position 5067: RIM15ins5067A). In this study, we developed primer sets (P1/P2) with engineered mismatches that introduce restriction sites for the restriction enzyme CspCI. This allowed us to create a simple and rapid polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay to identify Kyokai no. 7 (K7) group sake yeast strains carrying the RIM15ins5067A mutation. We validated the PCR-RFLP method in detecting the RIM15ins5067A mutation in the K7 group of yeast strains. This approach provides a straightforward, effective, and valuable tool for distinguishing specific yeasts used in sake production.

We evaluated biodegradable plastic (BP) degradation abilities of various smut fungi (Ustilaginomycotina), including 8 isolates from 6 species of Ustilaginales, 3 isolates from 2 species of Exobasidiales, 7 isolates from 5 species of Tilletiales, and 3 isolates from 3 species of Microbotryales belonging to the anther smut fungi (Pucciniomycotina). The BP-degrading abilities of these fungal isolates were compared to that of a known BP-degrader, Moesziomyces antarcticus JCM 10317. The BPs tested were polycaprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polylactic acid (PLA). BP-degrading ability was quantified by measuring the clear zones produced by fungi on BP-containing media at temperatures from 10 ℃ to 30 ℃. The experiments revealed 10 isolates from 7 species capable of degrading PBSA and PCL, and 7 isolates from 4 species capable of degrading PBS. No isolates degraded the PLA. Notably, the PBSA-degrading ability of one isolate of Ustilago trichophora was significantly higher than that of JCM 10317 at low temperature. However, JCM 10317 was superior at degrading PCL and PBS. Our results indicate that smut fungi are potentially valuable sources of isolates with superior BP-degrading ability.

We report the discovery of Amanita sinocitrina, a species previously unrecorded in Japan. The specimens were identified using morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions of the fungal nuclear ribosomal RNA gene sequences. We also provided a detailed description of the morphology and anatomy of naturally established ectomycorrhizae of Japanese A. sinocitrina on the host Pinus densiflora. The ectomycorrhizae of A. sinocitrina had a thick mantle with a plectenchymatous structure with ring-like hyphal arrangement in the outer layer and pseudoparenchymatous structure with angular cells in the middle layer. The rhizomorphs showed intracellular crystals and enlarged core hyphae with partially or completely dissolved septa. These ectomycorrhizal morphological characteristics were reproduced by in vitro ectomycorrhizal synthesis using a culture of A. sinocitrina and axenic P. densiflora seedlings.

Microglossum capitatum was originally described based on specimens collected from tropical China. The name was previously considered a synonym for M. longisporum due to similar ascospore characteristics. A recently described species, M. macrosporum, from northern Thailand is very similar to M. capitatum in morphology. Using four recently collected samples from the type locality of M. capitatum, the systematic relationship and taxonomic position of this species were reanalyzed based on morphological and three-locus evidences. Our data suggested that M. longisporum is clearly different from M. capitatum by its cinnamon-brown clavate apothecia and subtropical to temperate ecological habitats. Further studies indicated that M. capitatum and M. macrosporum belong to the same species, and, thus, the latter should be treated as a synonym of the former. Our field observations suggested that M. capitatum has been facing severe threats of habitat loss and degradation, and it is urgent to protect this species.