Central Asia, located at the heart of Eurasia, is renowned for its varied climate and vertical vegetative distribution, which support diverse biomes and position it as a global biodiversity hotspot. Despite this ecological richness, Central Asia’s fungal diversity, particularly wood-inhabiting macrofungi, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the diversity, ecological roles, and potential distribution of poroid Hymenochaetoid fungi in the region. By conducting field surveys, collecting basidiomes, and reviewing the literature and herbarium records from five Central Asian countries, we compiled a comprehensive checklist of these fungi. In total, 43 Hymenochaetoid species belonging to 18 genera were identified, with Inonotus, Phellinus, and Phylloporia being the most species-rich. Notably, Inonotus hispidus and Phellinus igniarius were found to be the most widespread species. These macrofungi play essential ecological roles as saprotrophs and pathogens of various identified host plant families, aiding in lignin degradation and exhibiting diverse enzymatic activities. For the first time, we modelled the potential distribution patterns of Hymenochaetoid fungi in Central Asia, revealing that their distribution is strongly influenced by host plant availability and temperature-related factors. The three most critical variables were host plant density, annual temperature range (Bio7), and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (Bio10). The distribution of suitable habitats is uneven, with highly suitable areas (4.52%) concentrated in the mountainous border regions between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These results underscore the significance of specific environmental conditions for the growth and survival of Hymenochaetoid fungi in this region. Our findings highlight the urgent need for continued mycological and host plant research and expanded conservation initiatives to document and preserve macrofungal and botanical biodiversity in this under-explored area. In light of climate change, the collected mycological and botanical data provide a valuable reference for promoting forest health management globally.

Two fungal-like organisms (class Oomycetes) and 263 species of fungi from 111 genera, 42 families, 23 orders, and 7 classes have been found on the territory of Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Twenty-two species are found for the first time. The vast majority of species are parasitic (202 species), 56 species belong to saprotrophs, and 7 to symbiotrophs. Classes Taphrinomycetes, Urediniomycetes, and Ustilaginomycetes are represented exclusively by parasites. There have been found 21 saprotrophic, 27 parasitic, and 4 symbiotrophic species in the class Ascomycetes. The most numerous group in the class Basidiomycetes is the group of humus saprotrophs; it contains 15 species. Groups of litter saprotrophs and parasites contain four species each, symbiotrophic species have three species, coprotrophs and xylotrophs have two species each, and litter and humus saprotrophs have one species each. Anamorphic fungi are represented by 91 parasitic and 11 saprotrophic species. In comparison with closely located Sairam-Ugam National Park and the Karatau Nature Reserve, the mycobiota of Aksu-Zhabagly is characterized by a significant number of species in the classes Basidiomycetes, Urediniomycetes, Hyphomycetes, and Coelomycetes. Thirty-one species are common to these protected areas. The most numerous group is parasites.

The mycobiota of the Sievers apple tree on the territory of the fruit forests of Kazakhstan (Tarbagatai, Ketmen, Karatau, Altyn-Emel, Talassky, Zailiysky and Dzhungarsky Alatau ranges) includes 64 species of fungi from threedivisions. The most widely represented division is Ascomycota – 48 species, and for the genera Cytospora, Aspergillus,Alternaria, the largest number of species is noted (4 species, 3 and 3 species, respectively). The largest group of fungi of21 species causes damage to apple fruits. Fungus species causing apple tree trunk rot and wood rot are considered to bethe most harmful.

Представлены данные о распространении на территории юго-востока Казахстана микроскопических грибов родов Nectria и Neonectria, развивающихся как сапротрофы на опавших или отмерших ветвях хозяина, или как раневые паразиты. Материалом для исследований послужили собственные сборы авторов на территории Заилийского Алатау, Джунгарского Алатау, Кунгей Алатау, хребтов Кетмень, Терскей и Алтын-Эмель, а также гербарные образцы, хранящиеся в микологическом гербарии Института ботаники и фитоинтродукции. Выявлено пять видов Nectria и Neonectria, развивающихся на 25 видах питающих растений. Большая часть образцов представлена конидиальной стадией. Наиболее распространенным видом является Nectria cinnabarina. К числу наиболее поражаемых видов относятся представители рода Ribes L., а так же родов Acer L., Betula L., Malus Mill. и Rhamnus L. Максимальное количество видов Nectria и Neonectria отмечено на высоте 1200-1600 м над ур. м., что соответствует поясу степей, мелколиственных и темнохвойных лесов. В степном поясе представители Nectria и Neonectria встречаются в пойменных лесах и в кустарниковых зарослях.

This article provides data on two species of soil zygomycetes, new to Kazakhstan, found in the rhizosphere of various woody plants in the Trans-Ili and Kungey Alatau (Northern Tien Shan) - Piptocephalis cylindrospora and Lichtheimia corymbifera. P. cylindrospora is an obligate parasite of zygomycetous fungi; in the study area, it was found twice in Kungey Alatau on species Absidia spinosa and Lichtheimia corymbifera in the rhizosphere of Populus tremula. It does not cause a noticeable deterioration in the development of the host. Earlier, in Kazakhstan, only Piptocephalis arrhiza was registered in the rhizosphere of Armeniaca vulgaris, Populus tremula, Picea schrenkiana, Juniperus spp. Lichtheimia corymbifera, previously belonging to the genus Absidia, was recorded in the rhizosphere of Populus tremula in Kungey Alatau and in the rhizosphere of Picea schrenkiana, Salix sp., Crataegus sp. in Trans-Ili Alatau. L. corymbifera is characterized by heights of 1677 m in Kungey Alatau, and from 1516 to 2007 m a. s. 1. in Trans-Ili Alatau. Until recently, in Kazakhstan, only a closely related species Absidia spinosa was isolated from the rhizosphere of Malus sieversii, Armeniaca vulgaris, Crataegus spp., Pinus sylvestris, Populus spp.. Sorbus tianschanica, Picea schrenkiana, Salix spp. Descriptions of species colonies based on isolated pure cultures, morphological data, information on ecology and distribution are offered. In L. corymbifera cultures, the so-called "self-parasitism" is observed, in which the fungal hyphae colonize sporangiophores, and the latter look like penetrated by hyphae. The sexual stage of both species was not found in our studies.