Two new brown rot polypores from tropical China

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Forest Ecology
• Biodiversity

Background:

• Brown-rot fungi are key agents in wood decomposition, selectively degrading cellulose and hemicellulose.
• Understanding fungal diversity is crucial for forest ecosystem health and wood product management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe new species of brown-rot fungi from southern China.
• To phylogenetically place these new species within existing fungal clades.

Main Methods:

• Phylogenetic analysis using concatenated sequences of multiple genetic markers (ITS, nLSU, nuSSU, mtSSU, RPB1, RPB2, TEF1).
• Morphological characterization of basidiocarps and basidiospores.
• Macroscopic and microscopic examination of fungal specimens.

Main Results:

• Two novel brown-rot species, *Fomitopsis bambusae* (on bamboo) and *Oligoporus podocarpi* (on *Podocarpus*), were identified.
• Phylogenetic analyses strongly supported the placement of these species within *Fomitopsis* and *Oligoporus* clades, respectively.
• Distinct morphological characteristics, including basidiocarp structure, pore size, and basidiospore dimensions, were documented for each new species.

Conclusions:

• The discovery of *Fomitopsis bambusae* and *Oligoporus podocarpi* expands the known diversity of brown-rot fungi.
• These findings contribute to a better understanding of fungal roles in wood decomposition and forest ecosystems.
• Detailed descriptions and phylogenetic data provide a foundation for future research on these species.