Morchella importuna is a highly priced edible and medicinal mushroom. Crop rotation is an important management technique to improve soil health. In this study, the morphological characteristics, chemical composition, and nutritional quality of the M. importuna fruitbody under five different rotation systems (named RSA to RSE) were investigated. The results showed that the fruitbodies of M. importuna in rotation system C (RSC, Rice–Pea–M. importuna rotation) grew best (with the highest yield of 6804.90 kg/hm²) and were of higher quality, which showed significant increases in crude protein (37.32 g/100 g) and decreases in crude fat (4.04 g/100 g), crude fiber (10.06 g/100 g), and total ash (9.32 g/100 g). The heavy metal contents (Pb, Cd, and Hg) in the fruitbodies from all rotation systems were rare or none, which meets the standards of the Chinese Green Food Standard and the maximum limit in foodstuffs of the European Union Standard. In addition, the free amino acid compositions of morel under different rotation systems were analyzed. The ratio of essential amino acids to total amino acids (EAA/TAA) was highest in RSC (37.11%). The tested morels were abundant in umami, sweet, aromatic, and medicinal amino acids (UAA, SAA, AAA and MAA). Combining amino acid score, chemical score, and other nutrition indexes, RSC had the best impact on the yield and quality of morel. Our results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the cultivation model of rotating “Rice–Vegetables–Fungi” for the production of M. importuna in a way that develops high-quality agriculture.

Helvella leucopus, a wild mushroom species, is considered a valuable food by local residents. In the present work, the nutritional value of H. leucopus was evaluated against some commonly cultivated edible and medicinal fungi as controls. H. leucopus showed significantly higher crude protein content. The amino acid composition of H. leucopus met the FAO/WHO ideal protein standard, with the highest ratio of essential amino acid to total amino acid (EAA/TAA) reaching 58.27%. H. leucopus showed the highest correlation with Ganoderma lucidum. The contents of flavour amino acid (FAA) and medicinal amino acid (MAA) in H. leucopus were significantly higher than those in the controls, and a high ratio of branched-chain amino acid to aromatic amino acid (BCAA/AAA) was observed in H. leucopus. The EAA composition of H. leucopus was 54.74%, 1.56- and 1.10-fold higher than that of the FAO/WHO model and the egg model, respectively. On the basis of the amino acid score, nutrition index, and other indices, H. leucopus could be a good protein source rich in amino acids, particularly in EAA and MAA. Therefore, this mushroom species is worthy of further investigation and utilisation, with huge market potential.

Micropsalliota is a genus of small, slender agaric fungi predominantly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. To explore the species diversity of Micropsalliota in southern China, we carried out both Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on multi-locus sequence data (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1-α), combined with detailed morphological observations. Based on these analyses, six new species are described: Micropsalliota alboglobulata, M. fuanensis, M. meilinensis, M. minutispora, M. pulvericlavata, and M. shenzhenensis. In addition, M. albosericea, M. gracilis, and M. purpureobrunneola are reported for the first time in China. Detailed morphological descriptions, color photographs, line illustrations, and phylogenetic trees are provided.

The Clavicipitaceae family, including saprobes and insect and myco-pathogens, are widely distributed in nature across various trophic regions, and play important roles in insect population control, plant interactions, and symbiotic evolution. Members of the genus Moelleriella within this family primarily specialize in infecting scale insects and whiteflies. Using five genomic loci (SSU, LSU, tef1-α, rpb1, and rpb2), we report on the inferred divergence times among members of Clavicipitaceae using molecular dating analyses. Molecular clock estimates revealed that the ancestor of Moelleriella likely emerged in the Late Cretaceous (91.60 Mya; 95% highest posterior density of 79.29–100.13 Mya). Historical biogeographic reconstruction of Moelleriella, performed using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) method, indicates that it most likely originated in Asia. Moreover, based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, we describe three species within the genus Moelleriella, including one new species (Moelleriella microstroma) and two new records for China (Moelleriella chiangmaiensis and Moelleriella phukhiaoensis).

Inonotus is a globally distributed genus within the Hymenochaetales, with certain species widely used in traditional herbal medicine. Here, a new species, I. chrysosporus, was identified as a sister clade to I. hispidus based on morphological, molecular, and vegetative incompatibility characteristics. The growth of I. chrysosporus on two substrate formulations—(1) 60% (wt:wt) Dicranopteris dichotoma, mixed with 18% corncob, 20% wheat bran, 1% gypsum, and 1% lime (GS), and (2) 78% sawdust wood chips (SS)—was compared in terms of the accumulation of bioactive components and the corresponding biological activities. On both substrates, I. chrysosporus exhibited high nutritional value, with high protein and mineral contents, low fat content, and a high proportion of medicinal amino acids. However, significant variations in the profiles of active constituents were observed, with cultivation on the GS formulation promoting the accumulation of bioactive polysaccharides, whereas growth on SS resulted in the accumulation of polyphenols. Aqueous extracts of I. chrysosporus mushrooms derived from both growth substrates exhibited potent antioxidant activities. Correlation analyses indicated that polysaccharide content was positively associated with ·OH scavenging activity and that polyphenol content was correlated with strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and high ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This study provides a foundation for the comprehensive development and utilization of the newly described I. chrysosporus species.