For centuries, Ganoderma has been used as a traditional medicine in Asian countries to prevent and treat various diseases. Numerous publications are stating that Ganoderma species have a variety of beneficial medicinal properties, and investigations on different metabolic regulations of Ganoderma species, extracts or isolated compounds have been performed both in vitro and in vivo. However, it has frequently been questioned whether Ganoderma is simply a dietary supplement for health or just a useful “medication” for restorative purposes. More than 600 chemical compounds including alkaloids, meroterpenoids, nucleobases, nucleosides, polysaccharides, proteins, steroids and triterpenes were extracted and identified from Ganoderma, with triterpenes serving as the primary components. In recent years, Ganoderma triterpenes and other small molecular constituents have aroused the interest of chemists and pharmacologists. Meanwhile, considering the significance of the triterpene constituents in the development of new drugs, this review describes 495 compounds from 25 Ganoderma species published between 1984 and 2022, commenting on their source, biosynthetic pathway, identification, biological activities and biosynthesis, together with applications of advanced analytical techniques to the characterization of Ganoderma triterpenoids.

The complex and diverse phenomenon of fungal bioluminescence has captured human curiosity. Nevertheless, in the field of studies, there are not many attempts made particularly to reveal the new species of these interesting fungi. This study comprehensively reviews the diversity, distribution, evolution, bioluminescence mechanisms, ecological roles, and potential applications of these fungi. Most importantly, we also present an updated list of the reported bioluminescent fungi (122) so far identified from five distinct evolutionary lineages worldwide—Armillaria, Eoscyphella, Lucentipes, Mycenoid, and Omphalotus—mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Bioluminescent fungi are descended from the last common ancestor of the Mycenoid and the Marasmioid clades of Agaricales, which have been maintained for at least 160 million years of evolution. We underscore the potential for future research to understand the ecological role of bioluminescent fungi, inspiring hope and optimism for the future of this field.

Despite being a biodiversity-rich country, Sri Lanka’s fungal diversity remains largely unexplored. In the 19th century, British mycologists conducted extensive research, leading to the identification of more than 1,800 fungal taxa, including ascomycetous and basidiomycetous species. However, the majority of these taxa have not been revisited since their initial description, and molecular evidence is lacking. Moreover, a significant number of fungal taxa have been deemed invalid or illegitimate, indicating the need for a nomenclatural revision. To address this knowledge gap, this review provides a comprehensive list of ascomycetous taxa (including both lichen-forming and non-lichenized) that were originally described in Sri Lanka. Names are listed according to the original names which were included in the protologue. In the cases where species have been transferred to other genera, the current names and new classifications are provided. The typification details, nomenclature status, and classification are also presented. This checklist will serve as a valuable resource for the future epitypification of old taxa, as much of the existing information is poorly documented and scattered.

The mystery phenomenon of fungal bioluminescence has always captivated human curiosity, although more attempts need to be made, particularly to bring the new species to the surface. In this study, we devoted considerable space to the taxonomy of these fungi while discussing their biogeography, evolution, bioluminescence mechanism, and potential ecological roles. We provide a detailed explanation of how these fungi produce light, including the role of the enzyme luciferase and luciferin. We also discussed their applications. Here, we presented an updated list of 122 bioluminescent fungi identified from five distinct evolutionary lineages viz. Armillaria, Eoscyphella, Lucentipes, Mycenoid, and Omphalotus worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. The bioluminescent fungi descended from the last common ancestor of the mycenoid and the marasmioid clades of Agaricales, which have been maintained for at least 160 million years of evolution. We highlighted the need for further research to understand the ecological role of bioluminescent fungi. Applying bioluminescent fungi in various areas (e.g., environmental and medicinal) demonstrates their validity.

Sri Lanka is considered a mega-biodiversity hotspot, with a rich collection of flora and fauna. Basidiomycota is the second largest and most diverse phylum of fungi, comprising over 31,000 species. The present paper is intended to bring together all reported species with their typification details and updated/current nomenclature status of basidiomycetes in Sri Lanka. The checklist consists of 725 species belonging to a total of 138 genera. The genus Agaricus is represented by the highest number of species (169), followed by Marasmius (62), Polyporus (53), Uredo (49), Corticium (27), Hygrophorus (20), Thelephora (15), Lentinus (15), Hydnum (12), Hymenochaete (11), Poria (11), Clavaria (10), and Puccinia (10). All other genera constitute less than 10 species, whereas 72 of the other genera contain one species each.

Due to its tropical climate, a rich diversity of fungi can be observed in Sri Lanka, and these fungi play crucial roles in ecological processes such as nutrient cycling and forest dynamics. Sri Lanka has been estimated to have more than 33,000 species of fungi, and many of these species of fungi are macrofungi. These macrofungi can be basically categorized into several different groups, such as saprobic, animal and plant parasites, and ectomycorrhizal macrofungi, on the basis of their ecology. Some of these macrofungi are traditionally utilized for culinary and medicinal purposes. However, macrofungi in Sri Lanka face various environmental challenges, including habitat loss and climate change, which threaten their populations. Conservation of these fungi is critical, not only for biodiversity preservation but also for their ecological roles. Furthermore, scientific studies of most macrofungi in Sri Lanka have not been conducted, and there is a potential for phylogenetic studies of their taxonomic relationships, together with biochemical studies and ecological studies.