Identifying the mating-type in Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii is important for enhancing breeding and cultivation of this edible mushroom. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of the bipolar mating system in M. aitchisonii, the homeodomain protein gene 2 (Mahd2) was characterized. A genomic DNA fragment of Mahd2 in M. aitchisonii 50005-18 strain was 1,851 bp long and encoded a protein of 614 amino acids. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the expression of Mahd2 was higher in monokaryotic strains that produced clamp cells than in those that did not. The highest relative expression level of Mahd2 was observed in monokaryon TUFC 50005-4, which was capable of forming a true clamp. These results suggested that the formation of clamp cells is regulated by A-mating type homeodomain proteins, and the frequency of clamp cell formation might be promoted by high expression of the Mahd2 gene.

We hypothesised that cadmium exposure would hinder growth and secretion of carbon-degrading enzymes by mycorrhizal fungi, and that this would vary according to their tolerance to cadmium stress. The enzymes measured were β-Glucosidase, β-Xylosidase, β-D-cellubiosidase, N-acetyl-β-Glucosaminidase in three strains of ectomycorrhizal fungi Hebeloma subsaponaceum, Scleroderma sp., Hebeloma sp. and a feremycorrhizal fungus Austroboletus occidentalis. Fungi were subjected to cadmium stress for 28 d (in modified Melin-Norkrans liquid medium). The results showed unanticipated differential response of enzyme activities among the fungal species, including potential hormesis effects. Austroboletus occidentalis showed an increase in enzyme activity under cadmium stress.

Bassiatin which is produced by some fungi, is morpholine-based depsipeptide. Recent studies show that bassiatin inhibits MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation with its anti-oestrogenic effect. In this study, bassiatin's inhibition versus Tamoxifen was examined by comparing the effects on epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor in addition to oestrogen receptor on breast cells. For this purpose, 15 concentrations of bassiatin, tamoxifen and combination of both were treated in terms of cytotoxicity on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3 and SVCT cell lines. For cell cycle analyses, MCF-7 and SVCT cell lines were incubated with 37.5 μM bassiatin, tamoxifen and combined substance for 24 h and 48 h. After treatment, cell distribution in each phase of the cell cycle was measured with flow cytometer. Furthermore, each interaction related to receptors were investigated with immunoassay ELISA kits. As a result, bassiatin-induced MCF-7 cell cycle arrest was shown in G0/G1 and G2/M phases at the presence of bassiatin. It was also found that bassiatin is more effective at all examined receptors on breast cancer cells than tamoxifen. These results show that bassiatin can be used effectively in breast cancer treatment as a new anticancer agent because of its multiple inhibition effects.

The Bipolaris setariae NY1 strain, isolated from a diseased green foxtail plant in Henan Province, China, showed strong pathogenicity towards green foxtail. In order to clarify the role of phytotoxic substances in the fungal pathogenicity, bioassay-directed isolation and bioactivity assays of secondary metabolites produced by the fungal strain were carried out. Five ophiobolins were obtained: 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A, 6-epi-ophiobolin A, 6-epi-ophiobolin B, 3-anhydro-6-epi-ophiobolin B and ophiobolin I. Bioassays on punctured and intact detached leaves of green foxtail indicated that 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A was the most phytotoxic, followed by 6-epi-ophiobolin A. The other three ophiobolins appeared to be inactive against green foxtail. The effects of 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A and 6-epi-ophiobolin A were synergistic. The symptoms on green foxtail caused by 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A or its mixture with 6-epi-ophiobolin A resembled those caused by the fungus. 3-Anhydro-ophiobolin A and 6-epi-ophiobolin A are likely the main pathogenic determinants of B. setariae. 6-epi-Ophiobolin A caused cytotoxicity against five kinds of human cancer cells: human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8), human liver cancer cells (Bel-7402), human gastric cancer cells (BGC-823), human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549), and human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (A2780). The results provide information for the development of herbicides and antitumor potential of the ophiobolin sesterterpenes.

Abstract We describe two new species of deer truffle, Elaphomyces marmoratus and E. fuscus spp. nov., collected from a secondary forest dominated by Quercus serrata, in Tokyo, Japan. Both species have morphological similarities to E. muricatus and E. granulatus; however, the former has a gleba without a purplish color and the latter has reticulated ascospores more closely resembling E. asperulus. Molecular phylogenetic analyses also support the assignment of these specimens as new species. ITS rDNA homologies with known species were low (

Species of Tricholomopsis are known to be lignicolous and to cause white rot. Several collections of Tricholomopsis that grow near bamboo were sampled from southern China and morphologically could not be assigned to any known species of Tricholomopsis. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses inferred from nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the D1-D2 domains of the 28S rDNA large subunit indicated that it is an independent lineage with undescribed species. As a result of morphological data and phylogenetic analyses the new lineage is formally described as T. rubroaurantiacus. This species is characterized by its light orange to yellowish orange squamulose pileus with reddish disc, mostly clavate-shaped cheilocystidia, absence of pleurocystidia, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores 5.0–5.8 × (4.0–)4.3–5.0 μm, a cutis-type pileipellis, and is usually habitat with bamboo. Morphological description, color photos, phylogenetic placement and phenotypic comparison with the closely related taxa within the genus are presented.