Agaricus belongs to Agaricaceae and is one of the most well-known macrofungi, with many edible species. More than 300 Agaricus specimens were collected during a three-year macrofungal resource field investigation in Northeast China. Based on morphological observations and multi-gene (ITS + nrLSU + tef1-a) phylogenetic analyses, six new Agaricus species, i.e., Agaricus aurantipileatus, A. daqinggouensis, A. floccularis, A. griseopileatus, A. sinoagrocyboides, and A. velutinosus, were discovered. These new species belong to four sections within different subgenera: A. (subg. Agaricus) sect. Agaricus, A. (subg. Flavoagaricus) sect. Arvenses, A. (subg. Minores) sect. Minores, and A. (subg. Pseudochitonia) sect. Xanthodermatei. Morphological descriptions, line illustrations, and basidiomata photographs of these new species are provided, and their differences from similar species are discussed.

The genus Agaricus is the most species-rich genus within the Agaricaceae, comprising more than 500 species globally. Here, we describe three new species of Agaricus based on morphological and multi-locus (ITS + nrLSU + tef1-α) phylogenetic analyses: Agaricus aurantifibrillosus, A. fafuinus and A. shenzhenensis. Agaricus aurantifibrillosus and A. fafuinus were collected at Fujian province, while A. shenzhenensis was discovered in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. The morphological descriptions of each new species are accompanied by basidiomata photographs, and illustrations of microscopic structures.

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.

Agaricus subrufescens (AS) is a medicinal mushroom with notable bioactivity and the capacity to accumulate trace elements. In this study, selenium-enriched A. subrufescens (SAS) was cultivated, and its protective effects against alcoholic liver disease (ALD) were investigated, with an emphasis on clarifying the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that the yield and antioxidant capacity of mushrooms in a 10 mg·kg⁻¹ Se treatment group were increased. Nutritional analysis revealed that SAS contained considerable levels of crude protein (350.00 g·kg⁻¹), crude fiber (7.8%), free amino acids (250.20 g·kg⁻¹), and other bioactive constituents. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective effects of AS/SAS were studied in male Kunming mice with alcohol-induced liver injury. The body growth, liver index, serum and liver biochemical parameters, histopathological features of liver, hepatic mRNA levels and liver metabolomics were investigated. The results demonstrated that SAS significantly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, enhanced antioxidant capacity, regulated the mRNA expression of key genes involved in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, and modulated liver metabolic characteristics. These findings provide theoretical evidence for the potential of SAS as a functional food against alcohol-induced liver injury.

Alcoholic liver injury (ALI) represents a global public health crisis with limited therapeutic options. Polysaccharides from edible mushrooms have emerged as promising candidates for liver protection due to their multifaceted biological activities and low toxicity. A mouse model of ALI was established to investigate the protective effect of Agaricus subrufescens polysaccharide on liver injury. The polysaccharide exhibited a non-triple-helix structural, characterized by a rough surface morphology, crack-like features, and a wavy strip structure. The body growth, liver index, serum and liver biochemical parameters, hepatic histopathological characteristics, and hepatic mRNA levels were investigated. The results demonstrated that A. subrufescens polysaccharide significantly alleviated liver injury, decreased serum levels of ALT by 36.22% and AST by 31.65%, lowered hepatic MDA content by 33.19%, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, GSH-P_X, and Cat by 12.04%, 9.76% and 18.45%, respectively. Meanwhile, the polysaccharide also regulated the mRNA expression of key genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses. These findings provide theoretical evidence for the efficacy of A. subrufescens polysaccharide against alcohol-induced liver injury.