Agaricus sinodeliciosus, a wild huge edible mushroom collected from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, uncultivated before, has been successfully domesticated, and its biological characteristics were investigated for commercial cultivation in future. The optimal cultivation conditions include using glucose as carbon source and soy peptone as nitrogen source, and incubating at 25°C under pH value of 6. This species could be cultivated successfully by using rice straw, wheat straw or reed straw as substrate. The fruiting body formation of this mushroom unnecessitated casing soil, while other cultivated Agaricus species usually needed casing soil. The biological efficiency using reed straw as substrate is 15.01% higher than that using rice straw.

Glomeromycota is a new phylum which was added in Kingdom of Fungi in 2008. This phylum includes one class, four orders, 11 families, 27 genera, 300 species of arbuscular mycorrhzial (AM) fungi. The species name and classification systems were always under changes with the advances of taxonomic researches, bringing about disorder and trouble in the study of AM fungi. On the basis of latest progress of taxonomy of AM fungi, correct names of AM fungal species are listed, and species recorded in China are noted according to literatures and germplasm resources preserved in the Bank of Glomeromycota in China (BGC). Standardized Chinese names are given for each species.

The publications on Chinese edible fungi were critically reviewed, and 187 previously mentioned edible fungi were excluded and 82 newly found species were added. As a result, 966 taxa including 936 species, 23 varieties, 3 subspecies and 4 forms from China were enumerated in the present checklist. All of the names were checked or revised in accordance with the contemporary taxonomy and the latest version of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Vienna Code).

A new leaf spot disease was observed on strawberry Fragaria ananassa in Fangshan District, Beijing in 2013. Isolation of the pathogen was made from symptomatic tissues and isolate CMF4 was obtained. The pathogenicity and host range was examined by inoculation in laboratory. The generated strain CMF4 was able to infect the damaged leaves and fruits of strawberry. Its host range test showed that it could infect the damaged leaves of peony Paeonia suffruticosa, Chinese flowering crabapple Malus spectabilis, Chinese herbaceous peony P. lactiflora, apricot Armeniaca vulgaris, cherry Cerasus pseudocerasus, peach Amygdalus persica and Chinese rose Rosa chinensis, but failed to infect their non-damaged leaves, and the similar fungus could be isolated from these diseased plants. Based on rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis and morphological characters, the pathogen was identified as Pestalotiopsis clavispora. The pathogen was firstly reported in China responsible for Pestalotiopsis leaf spot of strawberry.

The genus Russula is a group of edible and medicinal fungi with high economic and scientific value. Some Russula are poisonous. Recent research progress of Russula, including species resource, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetic diversity and application study are summarized. Major issues being in urgent need of solution remain in current research, such as misidentification caused by deviation in morphological observation and description, limited taxa and gene segments involved in phylogeny and genetic diversity work, and controversial distribution of massive taxa in China originally described from Europe and North America, etc.

In order to obtain the hexanol-degrading fungi, the methods of culture enrichment and UV induction were used in this study. To isolate useful fungi, different materials including apple orchard soil, apple pomace, apple cider mash and vinegar dregs were tested and two valuable fungal strains of TF and TM were obtained from apple orchard soil. The strains showed high ability in degrading hexanol at pH3.8－4.0. During growth in potato dextrose broth (PDB) containing 4.0mg/mL hexanol for 7 days, TM and TF degraded hexanol by 45.60±5.43% and 23.82±9.27%, respectively, significantly different from the control. Based on the morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of 26S rDNA D1/D2 for strain TF and nrDNA ITS for strain TM, TM was identified as Geotrichum sp. and TF as Geotrichum candidum (telemorph, Galactomyces geotrichum).

More than 2000 samples, including soils, plant debris, animal dung and other substrates, were collected from 22 provinces in China during this study. About 220 strains of Mortierella species were isolated by use of the soil-plate method for soil samples and the direct method for other samples. In the classification of the genus, the taxonomic scheme proposed by Gams (1970, 1977) was basically followed with some modifications. Haplosporangium is recognized as a separate genus. Twenty two species and three varieties, including one new species and one new variety (Mortierella wuyishanensis sp. nov. and M. hyalina (Harz) W. Gams var. subtilissima var. nov.) were identified. Fourteen taxa, i.e. Mortierella gemmifera M. Ellis, M. horticola Linnem., M. humilis Linnem., M. hyalina (Harz) W. Gams, M. indica B.S. Mehrotra, M. indohii C.Y. Chien, M. jenkinii (A.L. Sm.) Naumov, M. minutissima Tiegh. var. dubia Linnem., M. mutabilis Linnem., M. parvispora Linnem., M. ramanniana (A. Moller) Linnem. var. angulispora (Naumov) Linnem., M. reticulata Tiegh. & G. Le Monn., M. verrucosa Linnem. and M. verticillata Linnem. are new records for China. Some taxonomic problems and criteria for differentiating species and varieties within the genus are discussed. Keys to subgenera, sections, species and varieties of Mortierella in China are given. Descriptions, line drawings, substrata and distributions in this country are provided for each taxon.

In this paper, the history of understanding and utilization of mushrooms is reviewed. China’s contribution to mushroom cultivation in early era is known to all and the development of mushroom industry at present is in progress. The development course and current situation of mushroom industry in China is presented. The basic situation of global mushroom industry and developing history, especially button mushroom industry in the West and mushroom industry in Asia is discussed. Changes in the production mode and technology of world mushroom industry are analyzed. The transfer trend of global mushroom industry from developed to developing regions will continue. China will accelerate the change of production mode into systematization, large scale, standardization and specialization.

DPPH-TLC and DPPH-Microplate assays were used to determine the free radical scavenging activities of methanol extracts from the fermentation broth and the mycelia of Paecilomyces cicadae P3. The results revealed that the extracts had strong free radical scavenging activities. At the concentration of 5.0mg/mL the methanol extract from fermentation broth of P3 could decrease 74.86% of 0.4mg/mL DPPH radicals after incubating at 37℃ for 10 minutes. An anti-fungal TLC assay was applied to test antimicrobial metabolites of Paecilomyces cicadae P3. Meanwhile, an anti-Candida albicans Oxford Cup assay was made to confirm their anti-fungal activities. At the concentration of 5.0mg/mL the methanol extracts from fermentation broth and mycelia of P3 had significant anti-Candida albicans activities and the diameters of inhibition zone were 21.42mm and 11.23mm respectively.

Observation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization status and measurement of colonization percentage is an important fundamental work in mycorrhizal research. Methods for root staining and quantifying AM colonization percentage is reviewed, compared and evaluated in this paper. Ink-vinegar staining method observing colonization status, root-segment colonization weighting method, and magnified intersections method measuring colonization percentage, are considered to be appropriate approaches in AM studies with greater scientific, accurate and feasible values when compared with other methods. Different observation methods can be used for different purposes. For example, magnified intersection method could be chosen to observe and measure the arbuscule development status of AM fungi, whilst direct counting method could be employed to count the numbers of vesicles and entry points per unit root length. Thus the research results obtained for specific purposes are comparable. It is necessary to establish molecular techniques and fatty acid quantitative method to measure colonization status of one or more species of AM fungi, which will promote studies in physiological and ecological function.

The ultrastructure of conidia produced by the mycelia of Polyporus umbellatus was studied by use of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggested that only clamped (dikaryotic) mycelia produced aerial conidiophores with ovoid to rod-shaped conidia. There was a distinctive bulge near the top of the conidium. The contents of the conidia were dense. This type of conidium could be regarded as arthroconidia.

Cordyceps militaris has become one of the well-known edible and medicinal fungi in China and Southeast Asia. Although the fungus has been successfully cultivated and commercialized, it has encountered many problems in industrialized production, e.g. fungal disease caused by Calcarisporium cordycipiticola. In this study, the biological characteristics, pathogenicity and infection characteristics of this parasite were investigated. It was found that the branchy mycelia could produce a large number of conidia in a short time. The optimum growth temperature was 25°C, favouring the rapid spread of the disease. The conidia of the pathogen were more resistant to UV than those of C. militaris. The disease occurs in the later stage of the growth and development of C. militaris, and it can infect the surface of the cultures, and the bottom, middle and top of the fruiting bodies. Inoculation of conidia revealed that the pathogen could infect C. militaris at any stage of growth. Co-cultivation test indicated that C. cordycipiticola could gradually grow onto the mycelium surface of C. militaris. However, intertwinement of the mycelia of both species was not found. This study provides a reference for early detection and prevention of this disease during mass production of C. militaris.

The characteristics of culture, xylanase producing condition and characteristics of enzyme of Geotrichum candidum Ref1 were studied. The result showed that Ref1 was a psychrophile, and the best growing conditions were pH 6, 20℃ and yeast extract as nitrogen source while the best xylanase producing conditions were pH 3－7, 15℃ and yeast extract as nitrogen source. Xylanase activity of optimized Ref1 reached 118.7U/mL and soluble protein 60?g/mL; the specific activity of the crude enzyme was 1250U/mg protein. The xylanase has an optimal activity at 50℃ and pH 5.0, and the relative enzyme activity remains 80% while keeping at the temperatures of 15－40℃. Mg2+, Na+ and 8mmol/L Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ were strong inhibitors, while Ca2+ , 4mmol/L Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and 8mmol/L Mn2+ were stimulators of the enzyme. The maximum velocity of reaction and the Km of the xylanase were 163.38mmol/mg/min and 0.75mg/mL, respectively.

Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris are the two best-known species in the genus Cordyceps sensu lato. Here, we review recent research progresses of these two fungi on their taxonomy, distribution, life cycle and mode of sexual reproduction, host range, genetic diversity, molecular genetics and genomics, ecology, artificial cultivation and related-product developments. We also discuss the major issues remaining in the current research for these two fungal organisms and suggest the approaches for future studies.

Publications dealing with Chinese fungal species were systematically investigated, and 2,849 new species, 129 new varieties and 5,260 new Chinese records have been reported during 1978 to 2010. “Sylloge Fungorum Sinicorum” was published in 1979, listed 6,737 species and 168 varieties based on the reports on Chinese fungal resource until 1973. So 14,846 species and 297 varieties have been found in mainland China by 2010. In addition, 2,122 fungal species were recorded in Hong Kong and 6,207 in Taiwan, among which around 800 and 400 species, respectively, were not found in mainland China so far. Until now there are 16,046 species and 297 varieties have been recorded in the Chinese territory. If 10% of them are the synonyms, the Chinese fungal species are around 14,700. Among them around 300 species are Chromista, 340 are Protoza, and 14,060 are Fungi.

One hundred and seventy-six isolates were obtained from corn sheath blight samples in Huanghuai Plain and Haihe Plain (including Shandong, Henan, Hebei Provinces and Northern regions of Jiangsu Province) of China. Anastomosis group identification and 5.8S rDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis showed that the isolates belonged to multinucleate Rhizoctonia AG1-IA, AG1-IB, AG4-HG-I, AG-5 and WAG-Z and binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A and AG-Ba. Of these, AG-1-IA was the major anastomosis group(AG)（64.20% of total isolates), followed by AG-Ba (12.50%), WAG-Z (10.23%), AG1-IB (5.11%), AG4-HG-I (3.98%), AG-5 (2.27%) and AG-A (1.70%). AG-Ba was isolated for the first time from maize in China. 5.8S rDNA-ITS sequence analysis showed that the isolates could be distinctly separated based on their AG types. The isolates belonging to the same AG (or sub-AG) showed 97%-100% sequence identity.

Forty-eight DNA pools were prepared using standardized DNA extracted from 152 Ganoderma isolates (128 Chinese isolates and 24 non-Chinese isolates) delineated on the basis of ERIC-PCR data. SRAP and ISSR methodologies were used to amplify DNA from the different pools, and four specific marker bands (one SRAP and three ISSR) were selected, cloned and sequenced. After conversion into more stable and more highly specific SCAR markers, a multiplex PCR system was developed and optimized using the corresponding SCAR primers. The feasibility and reliability of adopting strain-specific SCAR markers for the rapid identification of Ganoderma strains were confirmed.

Three fungal isolates, KF-1, HN-14 and K-12, from barnyardgrass leaf blight, which were collected from Hunan and Beijing, were studied morphologically and molecularly. The results showed that there were differences between the three isolates and the two Exserohilum monoceras strains G-9 and X-27 which were accurately identified and deposited in culture collections of China Agricultural University in colonial morphology, sporulation and spore morphology especially septa of spore. G-9, KF-1, X-27 and HN-14 grow quickly and produce abundant spores on PDA plate, but K-12 grows slowly and produced less spores. To further identify the relationship of 5 isolates, 5.8S-ITS sequence were compared. Results indicated that the similarity of ITS sequence of five isolates were over 98% and the phylogenetic tree based on ITS1 and ITS2 sequence also revealed that G-9, KF-1, K-12, X-27, and HN-14 were all clustered into one group and distinct from the other outgroup and suboutgroup. Based on the above data, these three isolates were proved to be E. monoceras.

The regulatory effects of blood glucose, lipid metabolism and free radical elimination were compared in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats among the following treatments: Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (EGB), the biotransformation of EGB by Hericium erinaceus, a cultural filtrate of H.erinaceus, and the cultural filtrate of H.erinaceus plus EGB, together with the normal control, the model control and the positive control (Metformin). The best results were obtained from the biotransformation treatment group, which could significantly reduce the levels of blood glucose and fructosamine. However, the treatment did not increase the blood insulin level. The EGB transformed products could obviously increase the serum superoxide dismutase activity and reduce the malondialdehyde level, but the reduction of malondialdehyde was not obvious as compared with that of the other treatment groups. This study provides a useful information on improving the medical properties of the herb extracts by biotransformation.

Pot experiment was conducted to explore whether nursery inoculation of cucumber with Glomus etunicatum could alleviate fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. Four-week-old seedlings inoculated with Glomus etunicatum were infected with F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum by pouring conidial suspension. Biomass, contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), soluble sugar and free proline in roots, as well as the quantity of bacteria and fungi in rhizosphere were determined. The results indicated that the root dry weight of seedlings preinoculated with Glomus etunicatum increased by 9.3%; contents of soluble sugar and free proline in roots increased, and the quantity of fungi in rhizosphere decreased significantly. The disease incidence and disease index of Fusarium wilt were reduced. On the contrary, root dry weight of seedlings without inoculation with Glomus etunicatum was reduced by 28.0%. It is concluded that Glomus etunicatum is beneficial to biocontrol of Fusarium wilt of cucumber seedlings.

In order to explore the systematic relationships of the genus Isaria, 5 genes (nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1 and rpb2) were sequenced and the conjoint analyses were carried out for the species of Isaria and its relatives. Combined the related groups in GenBank, a total of 95 gene datasets were obtained from 58 species with 2-5 genes each. The multi-gene cluster was conducted by using the MEGA and MrBayes softwares. The results showed that Isaria spp. could be divided into 3 groups, i.e., clade A, B and C, with not being monophyletic in the family Cordycipitaceae. The clade A contained Isaria cicadae, I. teniupes, I. coleopterorum, I. fumosorosea and I. cateniannulata. The clade B mainly included I. poprawkii, I. locustica, I. javanica, I. amoenerosea and I. cateniobliqua. Only I. farinosa was filled in the clade C. The 3 groups were partitioned by the species Cordyceps militaris, C. ninchukispora, C. pruinosa etc. The genus Isaria was distinguished from others genera by the characteristics of conidiogenous cell phialophore, consisting of a cylindrical or swollen basal portion, tapering or abrupt into a long distinct neck, and of the chain form of conidium. According to the divergence time based on the distinguished node, it was suggested that Isaria spp. would be firstly diverged 70Mya. While the speciation of Isaria should occur in 60-55Mya. An interesting result was the species formations of the 3 clades in Isaria were quick and simultaneous during this period, and then the genetic stability was kept in most groups. Meanwhile, Mariannaea pruinosa (anamorph of C. pruinosa) and Lecanicillium militaris (anamorph of C. militaris) were closed to the species of Isaria Clade A. Akanthomyces aculeatus (anamorph of C. tuberculata) and L. attenuatum (anamorph of C. confragosa) had close relationships with I. farinosa, while these species were obviously different in traditional classifications. Morphological characteristics were complex in Isaria and its relatives. Thus it is suggested there seems to be some degree of loss and selective adaptive evolution during the quick and simultaneous speciation of the species in the genus.

Twenty species of Aspergillus and their teleomorphs were isolated from naturally fermented soybean pastes collected in 42 regions of China. Of which A. tubingensis, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, A. candidus and A. fumigatus were predominant. The high frequency of A. flavus from the samples indicates that the traditional making method of soybean paste might possibly be harmful to food safety. Some Aspergillus species or strains isolated from the traditional food samples may be hopeful of using in pure leaven making and industrial production of soybean paste with special flavor.

Three new Chinese records, Acaulospora paulinae, Glomus aureum, and Pacispora robigina were found in a survey of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Prunus mume in China. They were redescribed and illustrated in accordance with Chinese materials. These specimens were stored in the Herbarium Mycologicum Academiae Sinicae (HMAS) in Beijing.

The developmental process of Stemonitis herbatica from spore germination to plasmodium formation and sporulation was studied. It is obvious that the spore germinates by opening pore. The plasmodial type is aphanoplasmodium. It forms yellowish coralloid plasmodium before sporulation. Light was necessary for the fructification of S. herbatica. The sporulation process is irreversible which needs about 6-7h.

Nematophagous fungi, one of the natural enemies of nematodes, have been employed in biological control. Extracellular enzymes secreted from nematophagous fungi, including protease, chitinase and collagenase serve as virulence factors of infection. In this study, we found Lecanicillium psalliotae can penetrate the eggs of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and influence development of the eggs. A chitinase gene Lpchi1 was isolated from L. psalliotae using degenerate primers and DNA-walking technique. Comparison of the chitinase amino acid sequences from different pathogenic fungi revealed that the enzymes were highly similar. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the chitinases derived from different fungi were clustered into three main clades corresponding to different molecular weight.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) has been expressed in a variety of organisms and has been used extensively as a marker in the study of host-pathogen interaction. We have expressed GFP in the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana through transformation with a vector that confers resistance to phosphinothricin. Conidia expressed GFP and were readily detected by fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescent hyphae and conidia were easily distinguished in the tissue of the cabbage worm. GFP-tagged strains of B. bassiana could be used to study the developmental fate of the fungus within its insect hosts. Thus, this method is useful for screening and monitoring the engineered strains even after infection.

The genetic diversity of the populations of Phytophthora infestans from some major potato production regions in China were detected by amplified restriction fragment polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. Among 200 combinations of primer pair screened, 12 combinations could generate consistent polymorphic bands using six tested isolates. The twelve combinations were used to amplify the genomic DNA of 50 isolates collected in China from 1997 to 2002. A total of 922 AFLP bands were obtained, and 530 of them，covering 57.5%, showed polymorphism. Cluster analysis using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) separated 50 isolates into five AFLP groups which were correlated to groups defined by geographical origin, however, they were not correlated to groups defined by mating type, or response to metalaxyl and virulence. Parameters of genetic diversity calculated by POPGENE software indicated that the genetic diversity level of Phytophtora infestans population in China was not high.

The knowledge of Irpex in China is summarized, and three species in the genus were found. Irpex hydnoides is newly found in China, and it is different from other species in the genus by its yellowish pore surface when fresh, and by ellipsoid basidiospores. The illustrated description of the species is given based on the Chinese materials.

This paper reports the revised method of determining the Ganoderma triterpenoids by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy based on the colorimetric reaction between triterpenoid with perchloric acid and vanillin, from this method the standard curves are derived and optimized. Several main triterpenoids purified from Ganoderma lingzhi fruiting body were analyzed, and our results showed that if coleanolic acid was used as standard to evaluate the triterpenoids, the detection results were far below the true values. Spectral analysis was proved that better linear relationship of the standard curve could be obtained by integrating the area of the UV-visible absorption bands.

Two polypores, Ceriporia camaresiana and Tyromyces transformatus, are newly recorded from Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province, eastern China. Ceriporia camaresiana is different from other species in Ceriporia by its white pore surface when fresh, larger pores and wide allantoid basidiospores. Tyromyces transformatus was originally described from Japan, it may be confused with Tyromyces fissilis by having similar basidiospores (4-6 × 3-4μm), however, the latter species has white to cream pore surface and larger pores (2-3 per mm). The illustrated descriptions of the two species are given based on the Chinese materials.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether Pythium guiyangense, a mosquito-killing fungus isolated in Guiyang, Guizhou Province of China in 1994, is pathogenic to plants. Six common crops, Cucumis sativa, Lycopersicon esculentum, Capsicum annuum, Nicotiana tabacum, Brassica campestris and Oryza sativa were used as subjects for test. Zoospores of the fungus were used to infect the plants with soil inoculation method, caudex injection method and foliage spray method. Both positive control (using P. aphanidermatum) and negative control (using sterile water) were set up in all the experiments. The results showed that no infection was found on the tested plants in soil inoculation experiments. In caudex injection test, callus grew around the wounded tissue in most of the plants. Brownish rottenness could be found only in the injected wounds in a few plants, probably caused by saprophytic bacteria or other fungi, and the germ-carrying plants grew normally. No abnormal appearance was found on the six crops in foliage spray test. It was demonstrated that P. guiyangense could hardly infect plants in nature, and was a safe and promising agent for mosquito biological control.

The white mildew disease on Auricularia auricula-judae was epidemic in recent years in Northeast China. The pathogenic fungi formed a layer of white pull-mesh mycelium on the ventral side of the fruiting body of A. auricula-judae in hot summer. The fungi significantly reduce the yield as well as the quality of the fruiting bodies. In this study, two fungal strains were isolated from the infected fruiting bodies cultivated in Shangzhi of Heilongjiang Province. They were identified as Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium chlamydosporum. Both of them are pathogenic to the fruiting body of A. auricula-judae.

Phytopathogenic fungi causing plant diseases can induce disaster to ecosystems, food security and agricultural production. With the recent development of fungal taxonomy, a large number of new taxa are proposed. In the latest International Botanical Congresses held in Melbourne and Shenzhen, based on the initiative of “one fungus, one name”, some revisions and supplementations concerning fungal nomenclature have been made to the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. These variations have brought numerous changes in the currently applied names of phytopathogenic fungi. In this list, 590 commonly used names of agricultural phytopathogenic fungi appeared in research papers, monographical works and textbooks in China were selected, involving 370 fungal species belonging to 2 kingdoms, 7 phyla, 15 classes, 47 orders, 84 families and 168 genera. According to the latest nomenclature and taxonomic research progress, the comprehensive check and correction of scientific names, Chinese names, taxonomic status and disease names of these pathogenic fungi are made and provided herein, aiming at providing helpful references for researchers and technicians who are involved with plant pathogenic fungi in China.