The order Phallales (Basidiomycota) is represented by gasteroid fungi with expanded and sequestrate basidiomata, known as stinkhorns and false truffles. In phalloids, the first DNA sequence was published in 1997, and after that, some studies aimed to resolve phylogenetic conflicts and propose new species based on DNA markers; however, the number of families and genera in the order still generates controversies among researchers. Thus, this work aims to provide an overview of Phallales diversity represented by selected DNA markers available in public databases. We retrieved Phallales sequences from DNA databases (GenBank and UNITE) of seven markers: ITS (internal transcribed spacer), nuc-LSU (nuclear large subunit rDNA), nuc-SSU (nuclear small subunit rDNA), mt-SSU (mitochondrial small subunit rDNA), ATP6 (ATPase subunit 6), RPB2 (nuclear protein-coding second largest subunit of RNA polymerase), and TEF1-α (translation elongation factor subunit 1α). To compose our final dataset, all ITS sequences retrieved were subjected to BLASTn searches to identify additional ITS sequences not classified as Phallales. Phylogenetic analyses based on Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches using single and combined markers were conducted. All ITS sequences were clustered with a cutoff of 98% in order to maximize the number of species hypotheses. The geographic origin of sequences was retrieved, as well as additional information on species lifestyle and edibility. We obtained a total of 1,149 sequences, representing 664 individuals. Sequences of 41 individuals were unidentified at genus level and were assigned to five distinct families. We recognize seven families and 22 genera in Phallales, although the delimitation of some genera must be further revisited in order to recognize only monophyletic groups. Many inconsistencies in species identification are discussed, and the positioning of genera in each family is shown. The clustering revealed 118 species hypotheses, meaning that approximately 20% of all described species in Phallales have DNA sequences available. Information related to geographic distribution represents 462 individuals distributed in 46 countries on all continents, except Antarctica. Most genera are saprotrophic with only one putative ectomycorrhizal genus, and 2.1% of the legitimate specific names recognized in Phallales are confirmed edible species. Great progress in the molecular analyses of phalloids has already been made over these years, but it is still necessary to solve some taxonomic inconsistencies, mainly at genus level, and generate new data to expand knowledge of the group.

Software testing is a fundamental software engineering activity for quality assurance that is also traditionally very expensive. To reduce efforts of testing strategies, some design metrics have been used to predict the fault-proneness of a software class or module. Recent works have explored the use of machine learning (ML) techniques for fault prediction. However most used ML techniques can not deal with unbalanced data and their results usually have a difficult interpretation. Because of this, this paper introduces a multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm for fault prediction. It allows the creation of classifiers composed by rules with specific properties by exploring Pareto dominance concepts. These rules are more intuitive and easier to understand because they can be interpreted independently one of each other. Furthermore, an experiment using the approach is presented and the results are compared to the other techniques explored in the area.

Penicillium echinulatum 2HH and Penicillium oxalicum 114-2 are well-known cellulase fungal producers. However, few studies addressing global mechanisms for gene regulation of these two important organisms are available so far. A recent finding that the 2HH wild-type is closely related to P. oxalicum leads to a combined study of these two species. Firstly, we provide a global gene regulatory network for P. echinulatum 2HH and P. oxalicum 114-2, based on TF-TG orthology relationships, considering three related species with well-known regulatory interactions combined with TFBSs prediction. The network was then analyzed in terms of topology, identifying TFs as hubs, and modules. Based on this approach, we explore numerous identified modules, such as the expression of cellulolytic and xylanolytic systems, where XlnR plays a key role in positive regulation of the xylanolytic system. It also regulates positively the cellulolytic system by acting indirectly through the cellodextrin induction system. This remarkable finding suggests that the XlnR-dependent cellulolytic and xylanolytic regulatory systems are probably conserved in both P. echinulatum and P. oxalicum. Finally, we explore the functional congruency on the genes clustered in terms of communities, where the genes related to cellular nitrogen, compound metabolic process and macromolecule metabolic process were the most abundant. Therefore, our approach allows us to confer a degree of accuracy regarding the existence of each inferred interaction.

Many species of mushroom-forming fungi have been harvested in the wild and used for food and medicine for thousands of years. In Brazil, the knowledge of the diversity of wild edible mushrooms remains scattered and poorly studied. Based on new samples, bibliographic records revision, and searches through the GenBank, we recorded 409 species of wild edible mushrooms in Brazil, of which 350 can be safely consumed and 59 are edible but with conditions. Additionally, other 150 species represent taxa with unclear evidence of consumption or unconfirmed edibility status. A total of 86 of the 409 edible species represents consistent records in Brazil based on molecular data and/or Brazilian nomenclatural types. Other 323 names represent species that need further taxonomic investigations to confirm their identity and occurrence in the country, with 41 of them having some record of consumption by part of the Brazilian population. The remaining 282 species can represent new food resources for the country. We generated 143 DNA sequences, representing 40 species within 29 genera. Edible mushrooms are an important non-wood forest product and the knowledge about them adds value to the local biodiversity and the population, increasing the incentive to conservation allied to sustainable rural development.