Submit to JoF Review for JoF Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Related Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Ecological Interactions of Fungi".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 41840

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress book cover image

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anush Kosakyan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Interests: taxonomy; biodiversity; mycology; protistology; microbial eukaryotes; phylogeny; genomics; transcriptomics; gene expression
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Rodica Catana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Developmental Biology Department, Institute of Biology—Bucharest, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: conservation; biodiversity; plant biotechnology; in vitro techniques; threatened plants, medicinal plants species; urban lakes; environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Alona Biketova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK
2. Mycological Society of Israel, P.O.Box 164, Pardesiya 42815, Israel
Interests: taxonomy, biodiversity, and phylogeny of Boletales; conservation, evolution and diversification of Agaricomycetes; synthetic biology, phage engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The estimation of global biodiversity and its conservation is an old but still unresolved question in biology. From one hand, the number of described species increase constantly especially with accumulation of the modern morphological and molecular data, while from the other hand the existence of many species is threatened in the results of anthropogenic pressure and environmental stress (i.e. global warming, pollution, salinity and drought, emerging parasite alteration, etc.).

Since ancient times, plants provide us many direct benefits (food, medicine, clothes, raw materials, clean water, climate amelioration etc). According to Botanic Gardens Conservation International, at least 25% of the total plant species in the world are now threatened with extinction. The conservation of these plants should be a key component of efforts for biodiversity conservation.

Fungi as well, are essential components of the ecosystem and widely used by humanity (food, medicine, mycelium-based materials, production of biofuel, enzymes, bioremediation, etc.), however they are especially poorly represented in national and international red lists in comparison with plants and animals (i.e. there are only 425 species of Fungi in IUCN Red List, while Plantae – more than 54,000 and Animalia - more than 79,800 species). This is due to a significant lack of knowledge in fungal biodiversity and distribution, especially in tropical areas. And there are no comprehensive studies on how global climate changes affect fungi and their interactions with plants.

This forthcoming Special Issue aims to combine wide spectrum of studies related to biodiversity and conservation of plants and fungi, plant-fungal interactions, effects of global warming, pollution, parasites, and other abiotic factors affecting their conservation, as well as phylogenetic, genomic and transcriptomic studies with the direction of biodiversity estimation and gene expression studies related to environmental stressors.

We invite to submit research articles, review articles as well as short communications for this special issue, which will bring together different but still very interconnected topics and will be a great interest for a broad audience.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Plants.

Dr. Anush Kosakyan
Dr. Rodica Catana
Dr. Alona Biketova
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biodiversity
distribution
species conservation
ecology of plants and fungi
endangered species
red list
plant–fungal interactions
lichens
reactions on environmental stress
effects of global warming
transcriptomics/gene expression

Related Special Issue

Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress in Plants (14 articles)

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 194 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Biodiversity, Distribution, and Conservation of Plants and Fungi: Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress

by Alona Yu. Biketova, Rodica Catana and Anush Kosakyan

J. Fungi 2022, 8(5), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8050441 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1673

Abstract

The estimation of global biodiversity and its conservation is an old, but still unresolved, concern in biology [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

19 pages, 1762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Edible Gray Oyster Fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm a Potent Waste Consumer, a Biofriendly Species with Antioxidant Activity Depending on the Growth Substrate

by Raluca A. Mihai, Erly J. Melo Heras, Larisa I. Florescu and Rodica D. Catana

J. Fungi 2022, 8(3), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8030274 - 09 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3903

Abstract

Nowadays, climate change is not the only threat facing our planet. There are also other types of pollution such as waste that poisons soils and water and kills plants, harming humans and animals. Sustainability represents a key issue for the actual Global Citizen. For this reason, our article is dedicated to offering biofriendly solutions to decrease wastes, give them a positive meaning, such as a substrate for an edible oyster fungus with nutritive and biological properties usefully for humans. Three types of wastes such as coconut coir, pine sawdust, and paper waste—representative symbols of pollution in Ecuador—have been tested as suitable growing substrate for the edible fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm by analyzing parameters such as Biological Efficiency, Mushroom Yield, and Productive Rate. The influence of these “waste” substrates on the nutritive (protein content), biological characteristic (antioxidant activity), and the content of human-health-sustaining compounds (phenols, flavonoids) were also evaluated using the Kjeldahal, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. The results indicate that all the waste products represent desirable substrates for growing the edible fungi, with more focus on coconut coir waste (one of the principal pollution problems in Ecuador), but that also achieved the increase in the fungi’s desirable characteristics. Coconut coir waste could be an environmentally friendly solution that also offers for humans additional nutritive and healthy benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 6209 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Reappraisal of the Genus Exsudoporus (Boletaceae) Worldwide Based on Multi-Gene Phylogeny, Morphology and Biogeography, and Insights on Amoenoboletus

by Alona Yu. Biketova, Matteo Gelardi, Matthew E. Smith, Giampaolo Simonini, Rosanne A. Healy, Yuichi Taneyama, Gianrico Vasquez, Ádám Kovács, László G. Nagy, Solomon P. Wasser, Ursula Peintner, Eviatar Nevo, Britt A. Bunyard and Alfredo Vizzini

J. Fungi 2022, 8(2), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8020101 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5974

Abstract

The boletoid genera Butyriboletus and Exsudoporus have recently been suggested by some researchers to constitute a single genus, and Exsudoporus was merged into Butyriboletus as a later synonym. However, no convincing arguments have yet provided significant evidence for this congeneric placement. In this study, we analyze material from Exsudoporus species and closely related taxa to assess taxonomic and phylogenetic boundaries between these genera and to clarify species delimitation within Exsudoporus. Outcomes from a multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α and rpb2) clearly resolve Exsudoporus as a monophyletic, homogenous and independent genus that is sister to Butyriboletus. An accurate morphological description, comprehensive sampling, type studies, line drawings and a historical overview on the nomenclatural issues of the type species E. permagnificus are provided. Furthermore, this species is documented for the first time from Israel in association with Quercus calliprinos. The previously described North American species Exsudoporus frostii and E. floridanus are molecularly confirmed as representatives of Exsudoporus, and E. floridanus is epitypified. The eastern Asian species Leccinum rubrum is assigned here to Exsudoporus based on molecular evidence, and a new combination is proposed. Sequence data from the original material of the Japanese Boletus kermesinus were generated, and its conspecificity with L. rubrum is inferred as formerly presumed based on morphology. Four additional cryptic species from North and Central America previously misdetermined as either B. frostii or B. floridanus are phylogenetically placed but remain undescribed due to the paucity of available material. Boletus weberi (syn. B. pseudofrostii) and Xerocomus cf. mcrobbii cluster outside of Exsudoporus and are herein assigned to the recently described genus Amoenoboletus. Biogeographic distribution patterns are elucidated, and a dichotomous key to all known species of Exsudoporus worldwide is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution and Origin of Major, Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Wild Edible Mushrooms: Urban vs. Forest Areas

by Maja Ivanić, Martina Furdek Turk, Zdenko Tkalčec, Željka Fiket and Armin Mešić

J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121068 - 12 Dec 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2883

Abstract

This paper investigates the composition of major, trace, and rare earth elements in 15 different species of wild edible mushrooms and the possible effect of urban pollution on elemental uptake. The collected mushrooms include different species from the green areas of the city, exposed to urban pollution, and from the forests, with limited anthropogenic influence. Through a comprehensive approach that included the analysis of 46 elements, an attempt was made to expand knowledge about element uptake by mushroom fruiting bodies. The results showed a wide variability in the composition of mushrooms, suggesting a number of factors influencing their element uptake capacity. The data obtained do not indicate significant exposure to anthropogenic influences, regardless of sampling location. While major elements’ levels appear to be influenced more by species-specific affinities, this is not true for trace elements, whose levels presumably reflect the geochemical characteristics of the sampling site. However, the risk assessment showed that consumption of excessive amounts of the mushrooms studied, both from urban areas and from forests, may have adverse health effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 31180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Updated Global Species Diversity and Phylogeny in the Genus Wickerhamomyces with Addition of Two New Species from Thailand

by Supakorn Nundaeng, Nakarin Suwannarach, Savitree Limtong, Surapong Khuna, Jaturong Kumla and Saisamorn Lumyong

J. Fungi 2021, 7(11), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110957 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2294

Abstract

Ascomycetous yeast species in the genus Wickerhamomyces (Saccharomycetales, Wickerhamomycetaceae) are isolated from various habitats and distributed throughout the world. Prior to this study, 35 species had been validly published and accepted into this genus. Beneficially, Wickerhamomyces species have been used in a number of biotechnologically applications of environment, food, beverage industries, biofuel, medicine and agriculture. However, in some studies, Wickerhamomyces species have been identified as an opportunistic human pathogen. Through an overview of diversity, taxonomy and recently published literature, we have updated a brief review of Wickerhamomyces. Moreover, two new Wickerhamomyces species were isolated from the soil samples of Assam tea (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) that were collected from plantations in northern Thailand. Herein, we have identified these species as W. lannaensis and W. nanensis. The identification of these species was based on phenotypic (morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics) and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of a combination of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA genes support that W. lannaensis and W. nanensis are distinct from other species within the genus Wickerhamomyces. A full description, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of both new species have been provided. Accordingly, a new combination species, W. myanmarensis has been proposed based on the phylogenetic results. A new key for species identification is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 23979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Species Diversity and Distribution Characteristics of Calonectria in Five Soil Layers in a Eucalyptus Plantation

by LingLing Liu, WenXia Wu and ShuaiFei Chen

J. Fungi 2021, 7(10), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100857 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2202

Abstract

The genus Calonectria includes pathogens of various agricultural, horticultural, and forestry crops. Species of Calonectria are commonly collected from soils, fruits, leaves, stems, and roots. Some species of Calonectria isolated from soils are considered as important plant pathogens. Understanding the species diversity and distribution characteristics of Calonectria species in different soil layers will help us to clarify their long-term potential harm to plants and their patterns of dissemination. To our knowledge, no systematic research has been conducted concerning the species diversity and distribution characteristics of Calonectria in different soil layers. In this study, 1000 soil samples were collected from five soil layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm) at 100 sampling points in one 15-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla hybrid plantation in southern China. A total of 1037 isolates of Calonectria present in all five soil layers were obtained from 93 of 100 sampling points. The 1037 isolates were identified based on DNA sequence comparisons of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), β-tubulin (tub2), calmodulin (cmdA), and histone H3 (his3) gene regions, as well as the combination of morphological characteristics. These isolates were identified as C. hongkongensis (665 isolates; 64.1%), C. aconidialis (250 isolates; 24.1%), C. kyotensis (58 isolates; 5.6%), C. ilicicola (47 isolates; 4.5%), C. chinensis (2 isolates; 0.2%), and C. orientalis (15 isolates; 1.5%). With the exception of C. orientalis, which resides in the C. brassicae species complex, the other five species belonged to the C. kyotensis species complex. The results showed that the number of sampling points that yielded Calonectria and the number (and percentage) of Calonectria isolates obtained decreased with increasing depth of the soil. More than 84% of the isolates were obtained from the 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers. The deeper soil layers had comparatively lower numbers but still harbored a considerable number of Calonectria. The diversity of five species in the C. kyotensis species complex decreased with increasing soil depth. The genotypes of isolates in each Calonectria species were determined by tef1 and tub2 gene sequences. For each species in the C. kyotensis species complex, in most cases, the number of genotypes decreased with increasing soil depth. The 0–20 cm soil layer contained all of the genotypes of each species. To our knowledge, this study presents the first report of C. orientalis isolated in China. This species was isolated from the 40–60 and 60–80 cm soil layers at only one sampling point, and only one genotype was present. This study has enhanced our understanding of the species diversity and distribution characteristics of Calonectria in different soil layers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Four New Species of Hemileccinum (Xerocomoideae, Boletaceae) from Southwestern China

by Mei-Xiang Li, Gang Wu and Zhu L. Yang

J. Fungi 2021, 7(10), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100823 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2192

Abstract

The genus Hemileccinum belongs to the subfamily Xerocomoideae of the family Boletaceae. In this study, phylogenetic inferences of Hemileccinum based on sequences of a single-locus (ITS) and a multi-locus (nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb1, rpb2) were conducted. Four new species, namely H. abidum, H. brevisporum, H. ferrugineipes and H. parvum were delimited and proposed based on morphological and molecular evidence. Descriptions and line-drawings of them were presented, as well as their comparisons to allied taxa. Our study shed new light on the recognition of the genus. The pileipellis of the species in this genus should mostly be regarded as (sub)epithelium to hyphoepithelium, because the pileipellis of most studied species here is composed of short inflated cells in the inner layer (subpellis) and filamentous hyphae in outer layer (suprapellis). The basidiospores of the studied species, including the type species, H. impolitum, have a warty surface. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lack of Phylogenetic Differences in Ectomycorrhizal Fungi among Distinct Mediterranean Pine Forest Habitats

by Irene Adamo, Carles Castaño, José Antonio Bonet, Carlos Colinas, Juan Martínez de Aragón and Josu G. Alday

J. Fungi 2021, 7(10), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100793 - 24 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2207

Abstract

Understanding whether the occurrences of ectomycorrhizal species in a given tree host are phylogenetically determined can help in assessing different conservational needs for each fungal species. In this study, we characterized ectomycorrhizal phylogenetic composition and phylogenetic structure in 42 plots with five different Mediterranean pine forests: i.e., pure forests dominated by P. nigra, P. halepensis, and P. sylvestris, and mixed forests of P. nigra-P. halepensis and P. nigra-P. sylvestris, and tested whether the phylogenetic structure of ectomycorrhizal communities differs among these. We found that ectomycorrhizal communities were not different among pine tree hosts neither in phylogenetic composition nor in structure and phylogenetic diversity. Moreover, we detected a weak abiotic filtering effect (4%), with pH being the only significant variable influencing the phylogenetic ectomycorrhizal community, while the phylogenetic structure was slightly influenced by the shared effect of stand structure, soil, and geographic distance. However, the phylogenetic community similarity increased at lower pH values, supporting that fewer, closely related species were found at lower pH values. Also, no phylogenetic signal was detected among exploration types, although short and contact were the most abundant types in these forest ecosystems. Our results demonstrate that pH but not tree host, acts as a strong abiotic filter on ectomycorrhizal phylogenetic communities in Mediterranean pine forests at a local scale. Finally, our study shed light on dominant ectomycorrhizal foraging strategies in drought-prone ecosystems such as Mediterranean forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5183 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Genus Leccinum (Boletaceae, Boletales) from China Based on Morphological and Molecular Data

by Xin Meng, Geng-Shen Wang, Gang Wu, Pan-Meng Wang, Zhu L. Yang and Yan-Chun Li

J. Fungi 2021, 7(9), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7090732 - 06 Sep 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2484

Abstract

Leccinum is one of the most important groups of boletes. Most species in this genus are ectomycorrhizal symbionts of various plants, and some of them are well-known edible mushrooms, making it an exceptionally important group ecologically and economically. The scientific problems related to this genus include that the identification of species in this genus from China need to be verified, especially those referring to European or North American species, and knowledge of the phylogeny and diversity of the species from China is limited. In this study, we conducted multi-locus (nrLSU, tef1-α, rpb2) and single-locus (ITS) phylogenetic investigations and morphological observisions of Leccinum from China, Europe and North America. Nine Leccinum species from China, including three new species, namely L. album, L.parascabrum and L.pseudoborneense, were revealed and described. Leccinum album is morphologically characterized by the white basidioma, the white hymenophore staining indistinct greenish blue when injured, and the white context not changing color in pileus but staining distinct greenish blue in the base of the stipe when injured. Leccinumparascabrum is characterized by the initially reddish brown to chestnut-brown and then pale brownish to brown pileus, the white to pallid and then light brown hymenophore lacking color change when injured, and the white context lacking color change in pileus but staining greenish blue in the base of the stipe when injured. Leccinumpseudoborneense is characterized by the pale brown to dark brown pileus, the initially white and then brown hymenophore lacking color change when injured, and the white context in pileus and stipe lacking color change in pileus but staining blue in stipe when bruised. Color photos of fresh basidiomata, line drawings of microscopic features and detailed descriptions of the new species are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beneficial Features of Biochar and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza for Improving Spinach Plant Growth, Root Morphological Traits, Physiological Properties, and Soil Enzymatic Activities

by Dilfuza Jabborova, Kannepalli Annapurna, Sangeeta Paul, Sudhir Kumar, Hosam A. Saad, Said Desouky, Mohamed F. M. Ibrahim and Amr Elkelish

J. Fungi 2021, 7(7), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7070571 - 17 Jul 2021

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 5672

Abstract

Biochar and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote plant growth, improve soil properties, and maintain microbial activity. The effects of biochar and AMF on plant growth, root morphological traits, physiological properties, and soil enzymatic activities were studied in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar and AMF on the growth of spinach. Four treatments, a T1 control (soil without biochar), T2 biochar alone, T3 AMF alone, and T4 biochar and AMF together, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The biochar alone had a positive effect on the growth of spinach, root morphological traits, physiological properties, and soil enzymatic activities. It significantly increased the plant growth parameters, such as the shoot length, leaf number, leaf length, leaf width, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. The root morphological traits, plant physiological attributes, and soil enzymatic activities were significantly enhanced with the biochar alone compared with the control. However, the combination of biochar and AMF had a greater impact on the increase in plant growth, root morphological traits, physiological properties, and soil enzymatic activities compared with the other treatments. The results suggested that the combined biochar and AMF led to the highest levels of spinach plant growth, microbial biomass, and soil enzymatic activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 884 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Inocybe brijunica sp. nov., a New Ectomycorrhizal Fungus from Mediterranean Croatia Revealed by Morphology and Multilocus Phylogenetic Analysis

by Armin Mešić, Danny Haelewaters, Zdenko Tkalčec, Jingyu Liu, Ivana Kušan, M. Catherine Aime and Ana Pošta

J. Fungi 2021, 7(3), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7030199 - 10 Mar 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3520

Abstract

A new ectomycorrhizal species was discovered during the first survey of fungal diversity at Brijuni National Park (Croatia), which consists of 14 islands and islets. The National Park is located in the Mediterranean Biogeographical Region, a prominent climate change hot-spot. Inocybe brijunica sp. nov., from sect. Hysterices (Agaricales, Inocybaceae), is described based on morphology and multilocus phylogenetic data. The holotype collection was found at the edge between grassland and Quercus ilex forest with a few planted Pinus pinea trees, on Veli Brijun Island, the largest island of the archipelago. It is easily recognized by a conspicuous orange to orange–red–brown membranaceous surface layer located at or just above the basal part of the stipe. Other distinctive features of I. brijunica are the medium brown, radially fibrillose to rimose pileus; pale to medium brown stipe with fugacious cortina; relatively small, amygdaliform to phaseoliform, and smooth basidiospores, measuring ca. 6.5–9 × 4–5.5 µm; thick-walled, utriform, lageniform or fusiform pleurocystidia (lamprocystidia) with crystals and mostly not yellowing in alkaline solutions; cheilocystidia of two types (lamprocystidia and leptocystidia); and the presence of abundant caulocystidia only in the upper 2–3 mm of the stipe. Phylogenetic reconstruction of a concatenated dataset of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the nuclear 28S rRNA gene (nrLSU), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) resolved I. brijunica and I. glabripes as sister species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 2135 KiB

Open AccessReview

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Are an Influential Factor in Improving the Phytoremediation of Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Chromium

by Mohammad Reza Boorboori and Hai-Yang Zhang

J. Fungi 2022, 8(2), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8020176 - 12 Feb 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4231

Abstract

The increasing expansion of mines, factories, and agricultural lands has caused many changes and pollution in soils and water of several parts of the world. In recent years, metal(loid)s are one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants, which directly and indirectly enters the food cycle of humans and animals, resulting in irreparable damage to their health and even causing their death. One of the most important missions of ecologists and environmental scientists is to find suitable solutions to reduce metal(loid)s pollution and prevent their spread and penetration in soil and groundwater. In recent years, phytoremediation was considered a cheap and effective solution to reducing metal(loid)s pollution in soil and water. Additionally, the effect of soil microorganisms on increasing phytoremediation was given special attention; therefore, this study attempted to investigate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in the phytoremediation system and in reducing contamination by some metal(loid)s in order to put a straightforward path in front of other researchers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Biodiversity, Distribution and Conservation of Plants and Fungi; Effects of Global Warming and Environmental Stress

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI