The Sierra Madre Occidental of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico is inhabited by indigenous Raramuris, mestizos, and other ethnic groups. The territory consists of canyons and ravines with pine, oak and pine-oak forests in the higher plateaus. A great diversity of potentially edible mushrooms is found in forests of the Municipalities of Bocoyna and Urique. Their residents are the only consumers of wild mushrooms in the Northern Mexico; they have a long tradition of collecting and eating these during the “rainy season.” However, despite the wide diversity of edible mushrooms that grow in these areas, residents have a selective preference. This paper aims to record evidence of the knowledge and use of wild potentially edible mushroom species by inhabitants of towns in the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, Mexico. Using a semi-structured technique, we surveyed 197 habitants from seven locations in Urique, Bocoyna, and the Cusarare area from 2010 to 2012. Known fungi, local nomenclature, species consumed, preparation methods, appreciation of taste, forms of preservation, criteria for differentiating toxic and edible fungi, other uses, economic aspects, and traditional teaching were recorded. To identify the recognized species, photographic stimuli of 22 local edible species and two toxic species were used. The respondents reported preference for five species: Amanita rubescens, Agaricus campestris, Ustilago maydis, Hypomyces lactifluorum, and the Amanita caesarea complex. No apparent differences were found between ethnic groups in terms of preference, although mestizos used other species in Bocoyna (Boletus edulis and B. pinophilus). Some different uses of fungi are recognized by respondents, i.e. home decorations, medicine, as food in breeding rams, etc. The studied population shows a great appreciation towards five species, mainly the A. caesarea complex, and an apparent lack of knowledge of nearly 20 species which are used as food in other areas of Mexico. There are no apparent differences among Sierra inhabitants in terms of gender, occupation, or language regarding the recognition and consumption of species. The rejection of certain species is due mainly to fear of poisoning and the traditional selective teaching of families in the mountain communities of the Sierra Tarahumara.

According to records available in the literature, 380 species of fungi and fungus-like organisms are known for the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. We carried out mycological surveys in this state, following the classical methods for collecting, describing, and curating macrofungi. As a result of our research, 21 species are recorded for the first time for Quintana Roo, and Amanita arenicola O. K. Milller & Lodge, Inocybe xerophytica Pegler, and Russula cremeolilacina Pegler are recorded for the first time for Mexico. The distinctive characteristics and photographs are provided for the new records. As a result of this study, 401 species of macrofungi are known for Quintana Roo.

Antecedentes: En el estado de Durango se han realizado diversos estudios para conocer la diversidad de macromicetos, pero no hay reportes sobre este tipo de hongos en el bosque templado del Valle de Poanas. Objetivo: Estimar la diversidad y similitud de especies de macromicetos asociadas al bosque templado del Valle de Poanas, Durango, para ampliar el conocimiento de los recursos fúngicos de esa región. Métodos: Se recolectaron esporomas durante la época de lluvias, en parcelas establecidas en tres localidades. Se realizó la identificación, determinando también sus hábitos de crecimiento y usos. Se utilizaron los índices de Margalef y Jaccard para estimar la diversidad y similitud en las localidades, según especies recolectas. Resultados y conclusiones: Se identificaron 53 especies y algunas recolectas solo se clasificaron a nivel de género. Se detectó alta diversidad en dos localidades, así como diferentes niveles de similaridad entre localidades. La mayoría de los hongos fueron saprobios, y se encontró que el 26 % de las recolectas están reportadas como comestibles. No obstante que se trata de una región de transición hacia las zonas áridas, se tiene una notoria diversidad de macromicetos, contribuyendo a la riqueza de este tipo de hongos en el estado de Durango.

Some interesting Boletales (Basidiomycota) from the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Tuber mixtecorum is described as a new species from Mexico based on morphological and molecular evidence. This species belongs to the Maculatum clade and is characterized by its subtomentose to glabrous, whitish to pale brown peridium, dark brown gleba, ellipsoid reticulate-alveolate ascospores (15–33.9 × 11.3–23.3 µm), and the putative mycorrhizal association with Quercus castanea in Quercus-Pinus dry mixed forests.

Background and Aims: Xerocomellus is a genus of the Boletaceae family, characterized by the small to medium, boletoid to gastroid basidiomata, usually with areolate pileus, and smooth to ornamented basidiospores. So far only two species are known from Mexico. The aim of this study is to describe a new species of Xerocomellus, based on morphological, molecular and ecological data. Methods: Sampling of studied specimens was carried out in Nuevo León state, northeastern Mexico (2009 and 2016). Classic protocols for macrofungi were followed. Hand cut sections of specimens were made and mounted in KOH and Melzer reagent to observe microstructures. The identification of the putative host tree was made in the botanical herbarium CFNL of the Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; the type of forest was identified according to field observations and satellite images. DNA was extracted from three different collections. The ITS region and the gene LSU were obtained and analyzed. The material was deposited in the mycological collections of the herbaria “José Castillo Tovar” (ITCV) of the Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria and CFNL. Key results: Xerocomellus carmeniae differs from other Xerocomellus species by the following combination of characteristics: boletoid basidiomata, reddish areolate pileus, yellowish stipe, and basidiospores of 10.5-13.6 × 5.7-7.8 µm, elongate, sometimes truncate. Conclusions: Xerocomellus carmeniae is the third species of this genus known from Mexico and is putatively associated to Quercus cambyi. Some specimens show an aberrant form, but more studies are recommended to evaluate a possible transition to a secotioid form. Antecedentes y Objetivos: Xerocomellus es un género de la familia Boletaceae, caracterizado por el basidioma pequeño a mediano, boletoide o gastroide, usualmente con píleo areolado y esporas lisas u ornamentadas. Hasta ahora se conocen dos especies de México. El objetivo de este estudio es describir una nueva especie de Xerocomellus basada en datos morfológicos, moleculares y ecológicos. Métodos: El muestreo de los especímenes estudiados se realizó en el estado de Nuevo León, noreste de México (2009 y 2016). Se siguieron los protocolos clásicos para macro hongos. Se hicieron cortes manuales de especímenes y se montaron en KOH y reactivo de Melzer para observar microestructuras. La identificación del hospedero putativo se realizó en el herbario CFNL de la Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León; el tipo de bosque se identificó de acuerdo con observaciones de campo e imágenes de satélite. Se extrajo ADN de tres diferentes colecciones. Se obtuvieron y analizaron la región ITS y el gen LSU. El material se depositó en las colecciones micológicas de los herbarios “José Castillo Tovar” (ITCV) del Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria y CFNL. Resultados clave: Xerocomellus carmena se diferencia de otros Xerocomellus por la siguiente combinación de características: basidiomas boletoides, píleo areolados rojizo, estípite amarillentos y basidiosporas de 10.5-13.6 × 5.7-7.8 μm, elongadas, a veces truncadas. Conclusiones: Xerocomellus carmeniae es la tercera especie de este género conocida de México y está putativamente asociada con Quercus canbyi. Algunos especímenes mostraron una forma aberrante, pero se recomiendan más estudios para evaluar una posible transición a una forma secotioide.