Phlebopus portentosus and mealy bugs form a fungus-insect gall on the roots of host plants. The fungus and mealy bugs benefit mutually through the gall, which is the key link in the nutritional mechanism of P. portentosus. The cavity of the fungus-insect gall provides an ideal shelter for mealy bugs survival and reproduction, but how does P. portentosus benefit from this symbiotic relationship? Anatomical examination of fungus-insect galls revealed that one or more mealy bugs of different generations were living inside the galls. The mealy bug’s mouthpart could penetrate through the mycelium layer of the inside of the gall and suck plant juice from the host plant root. Mealy bugs excreted honeydew inside or outside the galls. The results of both honeydew agar medium and quartz tests showed that the honeydew can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus. A test of the relationship between the honeydew and the formation of the fungus-insect gall showed that honeydew promoted gall formation. All experimental results in this study show that the honeydew secreted by mealy bugs can attract and promote the mycelial growth of P. portentosus, forming a fungus-insect gall, because mealy bugs’ honeydew is rich in amino acids and sugars.

Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is an edible bolete species belonging to the family Boletaceae and the genus Buchwaldoboletus. It is found in tropical and subtropical regions, which are known for their rare wild resources. In this study, wild B. xylophilus was isolated and cultured, and its biological characteristics and artificial cultivation techniques were studied. The results show that the optimal carbon source, nitrogen source, and inorganic salt for the mycelium growth of B. xylophilus were maltose, ammonium tartrate, and magnesium sulfate, respectively. The most appropriate temperature was 28 °C, and the pH value was between 5 and 6. The most effective combination was determined via orthogonal experimentation, as follows: dextrose, ammonium nitrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and 28 °C. The results of artificial cultivation in mushroom houses show that the mycelium of B. xylophilus was strong and grew well on the culture medium. The mycelial growth rate was 4.54 mm/d, and the fungus bags were filled about 50 days after inoculation. The primordia formed 9 to 14 days after covering with soil and the fruiting body matured in 6~8 days. The average yield of fresh mushrooms reached 131.07 ± 29.38 g/bag, and the average biological efficiency reached 28.48 ± 6.39%. In this study, artificial cultivation technology in respect of B. xylophilus in mushroom houses is reported for the first time. The fruiting bodies obtained through cultivation were identified using morphological and molecular biological methods. This technology offers benefits such as affordability, a brief cultivation cycle, substantial yields, and superior quality, making it ideal for industrial-scale and extensive cultivation.

Buchwaldoboletus xylophilus is an edible boletes species belonging to the family Boletaceae and the genus Buchwaldoboletus, is found in tropical and subtropical regions, and is known for its rare wild resources. In this study, wild B. xylophilus was isolated and cultured, and its biological characteristics and artificial cultivation techniques were studied. The results showed that the optimal carbon source, nitrogen source and inorganic salt for the mycelium growth of B. xylophilus were maltose, ammonium tartrate and magnesium sulfate, respectively. The most appropriate temperature is 28 ℃ and the pH value is between 5 and 6. The most effective combination was determined by orthogonal experiment as follows: glucose, ammonium nitrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 28 ℃. The results of artificial cultivation in mushroom houses showed that the mycelium of B. xylophilus was strong and grew well on the culture medium. The mycelial growth rate is 4.54 mm/d, and the fungus bags are filled about 50 days after inoculation. The primordium is formed 9 to 14 days after covering with soil and the fruiting body matured in 6 ~ 8 days. The average yield of fresh mushrooms reached 131.07±29.38 g/bag, and the average biological efficiency reached 28.48±6.39 %. In this study, the artificial cultivation technology of B. xylophilus in mushroom house was reported for the first time. The fruiting bodies obtained through cultivation were identified by morphological and molecular biological methods. This technology offers benefits such as affordability, a brief cultivation cycle, substantial yields, and superior quality, making it ideal for industrial-scale and extensive cultivation.

Callistosporiaceae is a recently established family within the suborder Tricholomatineae, encompassing tricholomatoid, collybioid or pleurotoid morphological forms. While most species of this family exhibit a saprotrophic lifestyle and have been predominantly documented in Europe and Americas, records from Asia remain comparatively sparse. In this study, Pulchragaricus rhodophyllus gen. et sp. nov., discovered in a Pinaceae and Fagaceae mixed forest in southwestern China, is described based on a comprehensive approach integrating both multigene phylogenetic analyses and morphological methods. A concatenated dataset comprising nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS, LSU) and protein-coding genes (rpb2, tef1-α) provides robust statistical support for the placement of Pulchragaricus within Callistosporiaceae. Morphologically, this new taxon is characterized by a tomentose and yellowish-brown pileus, pink to pinkish lamellae, a solid and basally tapering stipe, broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid basidiospores, sparse and subclavate cheilocystidia, and plentiful clamp connections. This discovery not only broadens the known diversity and distribution of the poorly documented Chinese Callistosporiaceae, but also offers a potential clue for understanding the evolutionary origins of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis within the family.

Boletaceae, a family of profound ecological influence and economic value, has been the subject of prolific taxonomic research over the past decade, with new taxa continually being discovered. In this study, Similiboletinus tomentopileatus gen. et sp. nov., collected from a tropical region of China, is proposed based on integrative morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic analyses of a multigene dataset (LSU-rpb2-tef1-α-atp6) strongly support the position of Similiboletinus within the Suillelloideae. Morphologically, it is characterized by a tomentose and yellow–brown pileus, a subdecurrent hymenophore, unchanging context when injured, a boletoid hymenophoral trama, a cutis-type pileipellis, and broadly ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores. The identification of Similiboletinus further underscores the striking and largely unexplored diversity of Boletaceae within tropical China.

Phlebopus portentosus is a favorite wild edible mushroom in the Xishuangbanna region, Yunnan, China and in northern Thailand. This bolete has a unique biotrophy. It can be saprobic but also form a tripartite association with root mealy bugs and plants. P. portentosus is the only edible fungus of Boletales in the world that can be cultivated artificially and anniversary produced at present. Sclerotium is often found at its natural environment and cultivated media, but the regularity and growth characteristics of the sclerotium are unknown. In this study the whole process of birth, growth, death and rebirth of the sclerotium of P. portentosus at the national and lab conditions was reported for the first time. The sclerotium formation in the nature is related to adversity, such as reduced rainfall and low temperature. The more rainfall, the less sclerotia. It seems that the lower temperature increased the sclerotium formation, however the relationship of the sclerotium formation to temperature was not obvious as the rainfall. Under artificial conditions the sclerotium formation of P. portentosus is related to the fungus physiological maturation, and the sclerotium occurrence always accompanied by appearance of the water drops on the colony. The result will set up a platform for research on importance of the sclerotium in life circle of P. portentosus.