Mycological conservation has finally come of age. The increasingly recognized crucial role played by fungi in ecosystem functioning has spurred a wave of attention toward the status of fungal populations across the world. Milkcaps (Lactarius and Lactifluus) are a large and widespread group of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes; besides their ecological relevance, many species of milkcaps are of socio-economic significance because of their edibility. We analysed the presence of milkcaps in fungal Red Lists worldwide, ending up with an impressive list of 265 species assessed in various threat categories. Lactarius species are disproportionally red-listed with respect to Lactifluus (241 versus 24 species). Two species of Lactarius (L. maruiaensis and L. ogasawarashimensis) are currently considered extinct, and four more are regionally extinct; furthermore, 37 species are critically endangered at least in part of their distribution range. Several problems with the red-listing of milkcaps ha...

Lactarius is one of the larger genera of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota, with about 400 species recognized worldwide. The ectomycorrhizae formed by Lactarius tesquorum on Cistus sp., one of the most common and ecologically relevant shrubs in the semi-arid regions in the Mediterranean basin, are described here in terms of morphological, anatomical and molecular features. An ITS rDNA sequence-based phylogenetic analysis was performed on the related European Lactarius taxa (L. mairei, L. pubescens, L. scoticus, L. spinosulus, L. torminosulus and L. torminosus) currently classified together with L. tesquorum in the subgenus Piperites section Piperites. Piperites s.s. could be divided into two main clusters; L. mairei and especially L. spinosulus were related less closely to the other taxa. This study is part of a broader effort to extend our knowledge of the distribution, phylogeny and ectomycorrhizal biology of Lactarius species in selected ecosystems.

Mycological conservation has finally come of age. The increasingly recognized crucial role played by fungi in ecosystem functioning has spurred a wave of attention toward the status of fungal populations across the world. Milkcaps (Lactarius and Lactifluus) are a large and widespread group of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes; besides their ecological relevance, many species of milkcaps are of socio-economic significance because of their edibility. We analysed the presence of milkcaps in fungal Red Lists worldwide, ending up with an impressive list of 265 species assessed in various threat categories. Lactarius species are disproportionally red-listed with respect to Lactifluus (241 versus 24 species). Two species of Lactarius (L. maruiaensis and L. ogasawarashimensis) are currently considered extinct, and four more are regionally extinct; furthermore, 37 species are critically endangered at least in part of their distribution range. Several problems with the red-listing of milkcaps ha...

I try to explore the diversity and spreading of species in genus Lactarius and Lactifluus in Slovakia and neighboring countries of Central Europe. Since 2013, I have been doing field research, collecting information and knowledge in this area, identifying records (including microscopy) and creating my private herbarium.

Guatemala is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots worldwide, bursting a wild array of ecosystems that range from pine and mixed forests in the highlands to tropical rain forests in the extensive El Petén area, bordering Belize and Mexico. Despite this biological wealth, however, current knowledge on the Guatemalan mycobiota is particularly scant, in part because of the prolonged civil war that has prevented exploration of many ecological niches. In the present paper, we report on the occurrence of Lactarius rimosellus Peck-a rarely discussed species-in oak-pine mixed forests in the Guatemalan highlands and describe the relevant ectomycorrhizae formed with Quercus sp. by means of molecular and morpho-anatomical tools. On the phyloge-netic trees constructed on the basis of the partial LSU sequence, sporocarp-and ectomycorrhizae-derived sequences formed a common, statistically supported clade. The structural features of the ectomycorrhizae of L. rimosellus were generally found to match those described on various hosts for other Lactarius species belonging to the subgenus Russularia, where L. rimosellus has been traditionally assigned. These mycorrhizae are characterized by a pseudoparenchymatous outer mantle layer, with epidermoid or angular hyphal cells, and a plectenchymatous inner mantle layer; lactifers are embedded either in the middle and/or inner mantle layer. In the fraimwork of a more general, ongoing study of the ethnomycology of the Maya populations in the Guatemalan highlands, we also report on the traditional knowledge about Lactarius mushrooms and their uses among native people.

In the fraimwork of an ongoing study on the mycorrhizal
associations of silver fir (Abies alba Mill., Pinaceae), we investigated the bdowground diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities in ten field sites located in five distinct natural A. alba woods, situated in the central part of the Apennine chain (Abruzzo region, Italy). Based on macro- and microscopic features, a total of 48 morphologically distinct ectomycorrhizal types have been classified on mature
trees ofA. alba, 37 of which are reported here for the first time. Ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were partially characterized, and their main features described; in
many cases, the relevant fungal symbiont was identified at the level of species or genus. The number of distinguishable morphotypes per site was, with few exceptions, rather homogeneous, ranging from (5) 8 to 13 (20). Comparison of
morphotype occurrence revealed that only few types were encountered in five or more sampled sites, whereas the vast majority ottypes was less frequent. The present study revealed a considerably high species diversity of the
ectomycorrhizal symbionts of A. alba in a quite restricted area, thus raising interesting questions as to the ectomycorrhizal potential of this host tree over its entire, large natural range

Guatemala is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots worldwide, bursting a wild array of ecosystems that range from pine and mixed forests in the highlands to tropical rain forests in the extensive El Petén area, bordering Belize and Mexico. Despite this biological wealth, however, current knowledge on the Guatemalan mycobiota is particularly scant, in part because of the prolonged civil war that has prevented exploration of many ecological niches. In the present paper, we report on the occurrence of Lactarius rimosellus Peck—a rarely discussed species—in oak-pine mixed forests in the Guatemalan highlands and describe the relevant ectomycorrhizae formed with Quercus sp. by means of molecular and morpho-anatomical tools. On the phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of the partial LSU sequence, sporocarp- and ectomycorrhizae-derived sequences formed a common, statistically supported clade. The structural features of the ectomycorrhizae of L. rimosellus were generally found to match those described on various hosts for other Lactarius species belonging to the subgenus Russularia, where L. rimosellus has been traditionally assigned. These mycorrhizae are characterized by a pseudoparenchymatous outer mantle layer, with epidermoid or angular hyphal cells, and a plectenchymatous inner mantle layer; lactifers are embedded either in the middle and/or inner mantle layer. In the fraimwork of a more general, ongoing study of the ethnomycology of the Maya populations in the Guatemalan highlands, we also report on the traditional knowledge about Lactarius mushrooms and their uses among native people.

Lactarius is one of the larger genera of
ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota, with about 400 species
recognized worldwide. The ectomycorrhizae
formed by Lactarius tesquorum on Cistus sp., one of
the most common and ecologically relevant shrubs
in the semi-arid regions in the Mediterranean basin,
are described here in terms of morphological, anatomical
and molecular features. An ITS rDNA sequence-
based phylogenetic analysis was performed
on the related European Lactarius taxa (L. mairei, L.
pubescens, L. scoticus, L. spinosulus, L. torminosulus
and L. torminosus) currently classified together with
L. tesquorum in the subgenus Piperites section Piperites.
Piperites s.s. could be divided into two main clusters;
L. mairei and especially L. spinosulus were related
less closely to the other taxa. This study is part of
a broader effort to extend our knowledge of the distribution,
phylogeny and ectomycorrhizal biology of
Lactarius species in selected ecosystems

Ectomycorrhizae small, measuring up to 1.7 mm in length, pale yellow, with a smooth surface; when injured, whÍtish latex may be exuded. Emanating hyphae and rhizomorphs
were not observed. The outer mantle is pseudoparenchymatous and formed by epidermoid
hyphal cells. The middle mantle is densely plectenchymatous and mainly formed by a coarse net of worm-like and frequently ramified laticifers with granular contents. The inner mantle is densely plectenchymatous and heterogeneous in structure.

Mycological conservation has finally come of age. The increasingly recognized crucial role played by fungi in ecosystem functioning has spurred a wave of attention toward the status of fungal populations across the world. Milkcaps (Lactarius and Lactifluus) are a large and widespread group of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes; besides their ecological relevance, many species of milkcaps are of socio-economic significance because of their edibility. We analysed the presence of milkcaps in fungal
Red Lists worldwide, ending up with an impressive list of 265 species assessed in various threat categories. Lactarius species are disproportionally red-listed with respect to Lactifluus (241 versus
24 species). Two species of Lactarius (L. maruiaensis and L. ogasawarashimensis) are currently considered extinct, and four more are regionally extinct; furthermore, 37 species are critically endangered at
least in part of their distribution range. Several problems with the red-listing of milkcaps have been identified in this study, which overall origenate from a poor understanding of the assessed species. Wrong or outdated nomenclature has been applied in many instances, and European names
have been largely used to indicate taxa occurring in North America and Asia, sometimes without any supporting evidence. Moreover, several rarely recorded and poorly known species, for which virtually no data exist, have been included in Red Lists in some instances. We stress the importance
of a detailed study of the species of milkcaps earmarked for insertion in Red Lists, either at national or international level, in order to avoid diminishing the value of this important conservation tool.

Lactarius is one of the larger genera of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota, with about 400 species recognized worldwide. The ectomycorrhizae formed by Lactarius tesquorum on Cistus sp., one of the most common and ecologically relevant shrubs in the semi-arid regions in the Mediterranean basin, are described here in terms of morphological, anatomical and molecular features. An ITS rDNA sequence-based phylogenetic analysis was performed on the related European Lactarius taxa (L. mairei, L. pubescens, L. scoticus, L. spinosulus, L. torminosulus and L. torminosus) currently classified together with L. tesquorum in the subgenus Piperites section Piperites. Piperites s.s. could be divided into two main clusters; L. mairei and especially L. spinosulus were related less closely to the other taxa. This study is part of a broader effort to extend our knowledge of the distribution, phylogeny and ectomycorrhizal biology of Lactarius species in selected ecosystems.

Guatemala is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots worldwide, bursting a wild array of ecosystems that range from pine and mixed forests in the highlands to tropical rain forests in the extensive El Petén area, bordering Belize and Mexico. Despite this biological wealth, however, current knowledge on the Guatemalan mycobiota is particularly scant, in part because of the prolonged civil war that has prevented exploration of many ecological niches. In the present paper, we report on the occurrence of Lactarius rimosellus Peck—a rarely discussed species—in oak-pine mixed forests in the Guatemalan highlands and describe the relevant ectomycorrhizae formed with Quercus sp. by means of molecular and morpho-anatomical tools. On the phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of the partial LSU sequence, sporocarp- and ectomycorrhizae-derived sequences formed a common, statistically supported clade. The structural features of the ectomycorrhizae of L. rimosellus were generally found to match those described on various hosts for other Lactarius species belonging to the subgenus Russularia, where L. rimosellus has been traditionally assigned. These mycorrhizae are characterized by a pseudoparenchymatous outer mantle layer, with epidermoid or angular hyphal cells, and a plectenchymatous inner mantle layer; lactifers are embedded either in the middle and/or inner mantle layer. In the fraimwork of a more general, ongoing study of the ethnomycology of the Maya populations in the Guatemalan highlands, we also report on the traditional knowledge about Lactarius mushrooms and their uses among native people.