An α-galactosidase for raffinose synthesis by a reverse hydrolysis reaction was searched from intracellular of endophytic fungi. About 500 strains were screened, one strain was selected and identified as Paraphaeosphaeria sp. Partially purified α-galactosidase (1 U/ml in the reaction mixture), 100 g/L galactose, and 500 g/L sucrose at 60 °C for 48 h resulted in synthesis of 13.3 g/L raffinose and 4.6 g/L planteose at a ratio of about 3:1. The data suggest that α-galactosidase was able to synthesize raffinose at a ratio higher than that of α-galactosidases derived from other fungi.

During a biodiversity survey of Amazonian jelly fungi, we collected a unique dacrymycetous fungus. This fungus is characterized by stipitate, branched and multi-headed basidiocarps with fascicled marginal hyphae on the sterile parts of the basidiocarps and narrow cylindrical to navicular basidiospores. No dacrymycetous species with these morphological characteristics has been reported. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA sequences, the new specimens belong into the Dacrymycetaceae lineage. As an appropriate genus cannot be inferred from the phylogeny, we describe this fungus as a new species, Calocera arborea, based on its morphological characters.

A new species Chlorolepiota indica is reported from Patiala in Punjab, India. The fungus is characterized by convex brown pileus covered by concentrically arranged brown scales with yellow tinge around the umbo. The stipe of the fruiting body is cream to pale yellow, pinkish to reddish brown near the pileus, and yellowish to dark grey brown towards the base.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal distributions at different distances from one mature Quercus serrata tree were demonstrated in a Japanese cypress stand. After 4 months for field-planted and 3 months for laboratory-incubated Q. serrata seedlings, they were evaluated ectomycorrhiza formations. For the field-planted seedlings, molecular discrimination was conducted to clarify the species diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Ectomycorrhiza formation was confirmed at all distances in both methods. However, the formation and associating fungal species were decreased with increasing distance. These results indicate that the density and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi decrease rapidly within several tens of meters from arbuscular mycorrhizal forest edges.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of water extracts from edible mushroom, Pleurotus citrinopileatus fruiting body on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. The osteoclast differentiation inhibitor from water extracts of P. citrinopileatus was purified by ultrafiltration, size exclusion column chromatography, ethanol precipitation, and treatment with various enzymes. The water extracts from P. citrinopileatus showed significant osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity, and its 50 kDa above fraction from ultrafiltration showed the highest osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity. Fractions 2 and 3 from size exclusion column chromatography clearly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. When these fractions were treated by ethanol precipitation, the precipitates showed high osteoclast differentiation inhibitory activity. Finally, we obtained the precipitates as the purified osteoclast differentiation inhibitor, and it was identified as β-glucan. However, further studies are required to be used as candidate of anti-osteoporotic agent.

Hygrocybe rubida, a new species in subsection Squamulosae of section Coccinea, collected from tropical evergreen forests of Western Ghats of Kerala is formally described. The species is characterized by a bright red, dry pileus and stipe; ovoid to subamygdaliform spores; a distinctly sterile lamella-edge with crowded cheilocystidia and a trichodermial pileipellis.

A powdery mildew fungus belonging to the genus Setoidium (anamorph of Cystotheca) was found on Castanopsis javanica in Cibodas Botanical Garden and mount Tangkuban Perahu, West Java, Indonesia. The fungus is considered as a new species, namely, Setoidium castanopsidis. Phylogenetic analyses of the 28S and ITS rDNA regions showed that S. castanopsidis formed a distinct lineage separated from Cy. tjibodensis, Cy. lanestris, and Cy. wrightii. Setoidium castanopsidis also differs morphologically from Cy. tjibodensis in having distinct appressoria (nipple-shaped), longer conidiophores with longer foot-cells, larger conidia, and being found on Ca. javanica. The teleomorphic state has not been found during the collection.

We performed a planting experiment to investigate the effects of mycorrhizal Cirsium purpuratum on the growth of Clematis stans using sterilized scoria collected from Mount Fuji, Japan. Mycorrhizal or non-mycorrhizal C. purpuratum seedlings of different ages were planted on one side of a rhizobox, and C. stans were sown at 5, 10, and 15 cm from the C. purpuratum. After the growth period, C. stans seedlings closer to C. purpuratum exhibited higher dry weights. Our results suggest that earlier colonizers may promote vegetation succession by providing a common mycelial network of mycorrhizal fungi that facilitates the establishment of later colonizers.

One hundred and eighty one strains were selected among Fusarium verticillioides populations isolated from maize samples collected in three fields located in northern Italy. All the isolates were tested for their pathogenicity on maize seeds by assessing the seed germination percentages and the percentage infection indexes concerning seed colonization, radicle decay and coleoptile rot. Fusarium verticillioides strains did not affect seed germination even in presence of high seed colonization, but showed a variable pathogenic behavior according to the maize growth stages. Seedborne F. verticillioides population as well as strains isolated at maturity was effective in seed colonization and in inducing coleoptile rot, not causing however serious radicle decay. Only populations isolated at seedling and pre-silking stages showed high radicle decay ability. These results provide baseline information on F. verticillioides pathogenicity. They constitute an important input for further investigation of F. verticillioides biology in order to define its evolutionary potential.

Lecanicillium primulinum, a new hyphomycete classified in the Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota), was isolated from soils collected from the Okinawa's main island and the Bonin Islands, Japan. Using a combination of micro-morphological characteristics and sequences of the ribosomal RNA genes and ITS regions, the isolates were identified as a species of Lecanicillium which was previously undescribed. Phylogenetically the species is close to L. acerosum and Lecanicillium sp. 1 and morphologically it is similar to L. longisporum, L. psalliotae and Lecanicillium sp. 1, but its microconidia differ and it is clearly separated phylogenetically.

Type examinations were conducted for 32 species of polypores described by E.J.H. Corner. The following new combinations are proposed: Antrodiella subligativa, Coriolopsis albobadia, C. suberosifusca, Datronia perstrata, D. sepiicolor, Fomitella malaysiana, Fomitopsis subvinosa, Microporus affinis-microloma, M. subvernicipes, Nigrofomes nigrivineus, Perenniporia rufidochmia, Polyporus polyporiformis, and Trichaptum molestum. The following species are accepted in the original genus: Trametes pallidilusor, the appropriate name for T. daedaleoides Corner (nom. illegit.), and T. rugosituba. Daedalea pseudodochmia was already combined with the proper genus. The following species are synonyms: Trametes microporoides and T. multiflabellata, synonyms of M. subvernicipes; T. papuasia, a synonym of Coriolopsis glabro-rigens; T. paxillosa, a synonym of Coriolopsis brunneoleuca; T. perpallida, a synonym of Skeletocutis nivea; T. primulina, a synonym of Coriolopsis sanguinaria; T. rigidiceps, a synonym of M. affinis-microloma; Trametes sublutea, a synonym of Fomitopsis spraguei; T. subincana and T. textulaminata, synonyms of D. pseudodochmia; and T. umbrinopallens, a synonym of T. lactinea. The following species are dubious because of the poor condition of specimens: T. tenacipora, T. turpis, and T. verticalis. No authentic specimens were traced for T. polyblastes, T. rubrigrisea, T. salina, T. sediliensis, and T. substrata. Descriptions and line drawings are given for the little-known species.

Genetic variations of myxomycetes were seldom studied. Different probes were collected in the general vicinity of the city of Siegen, Germany, with a special focus on Fuligo septica. Three different habitats around Siegen were screened for myxomycetes. Fuligo septica var. flava was examined for intraspecific variation using DNA sequence analysis. A 142 bp region of the mitochondrial small subunit was analyzed. Although the sequence analysis did not strictly assign individuals to separate groups related to their geographical regions. Herewith I present the first molecular genetic tree revealing intraspecific variation that occurs within the morphospecies F. septica.