Diversity of macrofungi in southeast Xizang, China 2

Southeast Xizang, situated in southwestern China, is a global biodiversity hotspot harbouring exceptionally rich fungal diversity. This study, part of the Second Qinghai-Xizang Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program, undertook a comprehensive survey of macrofungal diversity in the region from 2019 to 2024, resulting in the collection of over 1,600 specimens. As the second instalment in the series of “Diversity of macrofungi in southeast Xizang”, this study identified and documented 480 macrofungal species through combined morphological and molecular evidence, and they are belonging to two phyla, seven classes, 17 orders, 67 families, and 158 genera. Species composition analyses revealed 15 dominant families (each containing ≥ 10 species): Russulaceae, Agaricaceae, Cortinariaceae, Boletaceae, Inocybaceae, Hymenogastraceae, Omphalotaceae, Entolomataceae, Amanitaceae, Strophariaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Mycenaceae, Psathyrellaceae, Hydnangiaceae, and Lycoperdaceae. At the genus-level, 23 dominant genera (each containing ≥ 5 species), including Lactarius, Russula, and Cortinarius, etc., accounted for 265 species (55.21% of the total diversity). Among the documented species, 115 are edible, 15 medicinal, and 53 poisonous. Notably, the study proposed eight new species, i.e. Callistosporium motuoense, Chromosera chayuensis, Clavulinopsis motuoensis, Cudonia linzhiensis, Elaiopezia chayuensis, Sarcoleotia motuoensis, Trichoderma atrosphaericum, and Volvariella parvoalba, with detailed descriptions and illustrations.