A new Swedish Red List was published April 28th 2015 by the Swedish Species Information Centre in which 786 species of fungi are listed. Compared to the previous Red List published in 2010, 11 species have been down-listed, 51 species have been added and 35 species have changed names or taxonomic rank, thus the list has increased by 41. The changes are mainly due to increased knowledge of taxonomy, ecology and distribution, not to changes in the sta-tus of the species. Here, the members of the Species Specialist Group for Fungi 2011 – 2015 summarize the results of the red listing.

The genus Otidea is one of the more conspicuous members of the Pyronemataceae, with high speciesdiversity in hemiboreal and boreal forests. The genus is morphologically coherent and in previous higher-level multigeneanalyses it formed a highly supported monophyletic group. Species delimitation within Otidea is controversialand much confusion has prevailed in the naming of taxa. To provide a phylogenetic hypothesis of Otidea, elucidatespecies diversity and limits we compiled a four-gene dataset including the nuclear LSU rDNA and three nuclearprotein-coding genes (RPB1, RPB2 and EF-1α) for 89 specimens (total 4 877 nucleotides). These were selected froma larger sample of material studied using morphology and 146 ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and 168 LSU rDNA sequencesto represent the full genetic diversity. Using genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR),Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of the individual datasets resolved 25 species of Otidea. An additionaleight singletons are considered to be distinct species, because they were genetically divergent from their sisters.Sequences of multiple genes were included from 13 holotypes, one neotype and three epitypes. Otidea angusta,O. myosotis and O. papillata f. pallidefurfuracea are nested within O. nannfeldtii, O. leporina and O. tuomikoskii,respectively and are considered synonyms. Otidea cantharella var. minor is shown to be a distinct species. Fivenew species were discovered: O. oregonensis and O. pseudoleporina for North America; and O. borealis, O. brunneoparvaand O. subformicarum for Europe. The analyses of the individual four gene datasets yielded phylogeniesthat were highly concordant topologically, except for the RPB1 that showed supported conflict for some nodes inBayesian analysis. Excluding the RPB1 from the combined analyses produced an identical topology to the four-genephylogeny, but with higher support for several basal nodes and lower support for several shallow nodes. We argueto use the three-gene dataset to retrieve the maximum support for the higher-level relationships in Otidea, but stillutilise the signal from the RPB1 for the delimitation and relationships of closely related species. From the four generegions utilised, EF-1α and RPB1 have the strongest species recognition power, and with higher amplification successEF-1α may serve as the best secondary barcoding locus for Otidea (with ITS being a primary). The phylogenyfrom the three- and four-gene datasets is fully resolved and strongly supported in all branches but one. Two majorclades, as part of six inclusive clades A–F, are identified – and ten subclades within these: A) O. platyspora andO. alutacea subclades, and B) O. papillata, O. leporina, O. tuomikoskii, O. cantharella, O. formicarum, O. unicisa,O. bufonia-onotica and O. concinna subclades. Morphological features in Otidea appear to be fast evolving andprone to shifts, and are poor indicators of higher-level relationships. Nevertheless, a conspicuous spore ornament isa synapomorphy for the O. unicisa subclade (/Otideopsis); all other species in Otidea have smooth or verruculose (inSEM) spores. Exclusively pale to bright yellow apothecia and straight to curved, broadly clavate to distinctly capitateparaphyses are synapomorphies for a restricted O. concinna subclade (/Flavoscypha). The curved to hooked apicesof the paraphyses is suggested to be a symplesiomorphic trait for the genus. The reaction of resinous exudateson the outermost excipular cells that coalesce into amber drops in Melzer’s reagent is likely an ancestral state forclade B. We estimate that Otidea consists of 47 species worldwide, based on all available information (includingmorphology, ITS or LSU sequences, and literature descriptions). Three fifths of the species occur in Europe, with20 species recognised as endemic. At least 14 species occur in North America and 17 in Asia, with eight and tenspecies considered endemic to each continent, respectively. Our knowledge about Otidea in Asia is still fragmentaryand the diversity likely much higher.

The Helvellaceae encompasses taxa that produce some of the most elaborate apothecial forms, as well as hypogeous ascomata, in the class Pezizomycetes (Ascomycota). While the circumscription of the Helvellaceae is clarified, evolutionary relationships and generic limits within the family are debatable. A robust phylogeny of the Helvellaceae, using an increased number of molecular characters from the LSU rDNA, RPB2 and EF-1α gene regions (4 299 bp) and a wide representative sampling, is presented here. Helvella s.lat. was shown to be polyphyletic, because Helvella aestivalis formed a distant monophyletic group with hypogeous species of Balsamia and Barssia. All other species of Helvella formed a large group with the enigmatic Pindara (/Helvella) terrestris nested within it. The ear-shaped Wynnella constitutes an independent lineage and is recognised with the earlier name Midotis. The clade of the hypogeous Balsamia and Barssia, and H. aestivalis is coherent in the three-gene phylogeny, and considering the lack of phenotypic characters to distinguish Barssia from Balsamia we combine species of Barssia, along with H. aestivalis, in Balsamia. The closed/tuberiform, sparassoid H. astieri is shown to be a synonym of H. lactea; it is merely an incidental folded form of the saddle-shaped H. lactea. Pindara is a sister group to a restricted Helvella, i.e., excluding the /leucomelaena lineage, on a notably long branch. We recognise Pindara as a separate genus and erect a new genus Dissingia for the /leucomelaena lineage, viz. H. confusa, H. crassitunicata, H. leucomelaena and H. oblongispora. Dissingia is supported by asci that arise from simple septa; all other species of Helvellaceae have asci that arise from croziers, with one exception being the /alpina-corium lineage of Helvella s.str. This suggests ascus development from croziers is the ancestral state for the Helvellaceae and that ascus development from simple septa has evolved at least twice in the family. Our phylogeny does not determine the evolutionary relationships within Helvella s.str., but it is most parsimonious to infer that the ancestor of the helvelloids produced subsessile or shortly stipitate, cup-shaped apothecia. This shape has been maintained in some lineages of Helvella s.str. The type species of Underwoodia, Underwoodia columnaris, is a sister lineage to the rest of the Helvellaceae. 

Following the change that eliminated dual naming of sexual and asexual morphs of fungi, generic names of Pezizomycetes have been evaluated to determine which of the competing names should be recommended for use. Evaluation is based on congruence of type species to determine if the names are congeneric and which name is most commonly cited as well as priority. In the Pezizomycetes six pairs of generic names were determined to compete. In all cases the older name, representing the sexual morph, is recommended for use, specifically Caloscypha rather than Geniculodendron, Desmazierella rather than Verticicladium, Miladina rather than Actinosporella, Morchella rather than Costantinella, Sarcoscypha rather than Molliardiomyces, and Trichophaea rather than Dichobotrys. 

The genus Morchella has gone through turbulent taxonomic treatments. Although significant progress in Morchella systematics has been achieved in the past decade, several problems remain unresolved and taxonomy in the genus is still in flux. In late 2019, a paper published in the open-access journal Scientific Reports raised serious concerns about the taxonomic stability of the genus, but also about the future of academic publishing. The paper, entitled “High diversity of Morchella and a novel lineage of the esculenta clade from the north Qinling Mountains revealed by GCPSR-based study” by Phanpadith and colleagues, suffered from gross methodological errors, included false results and artifactual phylogenies, had misapplied citations throughout, and proposed a new species name invalidly. Although the paper was eventually retracted by Scientific Reports in 2021, the fact that such an overtly flawed and scientifically unsound paper was published in a high-ranked Q1 journal raises alarming questions about quality controls and safekeeping procedures in scholarly publishing. Using this paper as a case study, we provide a critical review on the pitfalls of Morchella systematics followed by a series of recommendations for the delimitation of species, description of taxa, and ultimately for a sustainable taxonomy in Morchella. Problems and loopholes in the academic publishing system are also identified and discussed, and additional quality controls in the pre- and post-publication stages are proposed.

Phymatotrichopsis omnivora is a member of Pezizomycetes and causes root rot disease on a broad range of dicotyledonous plants. Using recently generated draft genome sequence data from four P. omnivora isolates, we developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and identified both mating type genes (MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1) in this fungus. To understand the genetic diversity of P. omnivora isolates (n = 43) and spore mats (n = 29) collected from four locations (Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Mexico) and four host crops (cotton, alfalfa, peach, and soybean), we applied 24 SSR markers and showed that of the 72 P. omnivora isolates and spore mats tested, 41 were distinct genotypes. Furthermore, the developed SSR markers did not show cross-transferability to other close relatives of P. omnivora in the class Pezizomycetes. A multiplex PCR detecting both mating type idiomorphs and a reference gene (TUB2) was developed to screen P. omnivora isolates. Based on the dataset we tested, P. omnivora is a heterothallic fungus with both mating types present in the United States in a ratio close to 1:1. We tested P. omnivora spore mats obtained from spatially distinct disease rings that developed in a center-pivot alfalfa field and showed that both mating types can be present not only in the same field but also within a single spore mat. This study shows that P. omnivora has the genetic toolkit for generating sexually diverse progeny, providing impetus for future studies that focus on identifying sexual morphs in nature.

The easily recognised genus Otidea is subjected to numerous problems in species identification. A numberof old names have undergone various interpretations, materials from different continents have not been compared andmisidentifications occur commonly. In this context, Otidea is monographed, based on our multiple gene phylogeniesassessing species boundaries and comparative morphological characters (see Hansen & Olariaga 2015). All namescombined in or synonymised with Otidea are dealt with. Thirty-three species are treated, with full descriptions andcolour illustrations provided for 25 of these. Five new species are described, viz. O. borealis, O. brunneoparva,O. oregonensis,O. pseudoleporina and O. subformicarum. Otidea cantharella var. minor and O. onotica var. brevisporaare elevated to species rank. Otideopsis kaushalii is combined in the genus Otidea. A key to the species of Otideais given. An LSU dataset containing 167 sequences (with 44 newly generated in this study) is analysed to placecollections and determine whether the named Otidea sequences in GenBank were identified correctly. Fourty-ninenew ITS sequences were generated in this study. The ITS region is too variable to align across Otidea, but had lowintraspecific variation and it aided in species identifications. Thirty type collections were studied, and ITS and LSUsequences are provided for 12 of these. A neotype is designated for O. cantharella and epitypes for O. concinna,O. leporina and O. onotica, along with several lectotypifications. The apothecial colour and shape, and spore charactersare important for species identification. We conclude that to distinguish closely related or morphologicallysimilar species, a combination of additional features are needed, i.e. the shape of the paraphyses, ectal excipulumstructure, types of ectal excipulum resinous exudates and their reactions in Melzer’s reagent and KOH, tomentumand basal mycelium colours and exudates. The KOH reaction of excipular resinous exudates and basal myceliumare introduced as novel taxonomic characters.

 Species limits in the small genus Geopyxis

 are debatable because of problems with interpreting

the few phenotypic features and poor documentation

of types. To clarify species boundaries and diversity,

we studied the morphology of 74 specimens of Geopyxis

 from the Northern Hemisphere, including five types,

and sequenced four loci for 57 representatives: the

nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), D1-D2 domains of

nuc 28S rDNA (28S), translation elongation factor

(tef1 ), and (or) part of the second largest subunit of

the RNA polymerase II (rpb 2) (5– 7 region). Eight species

are delimited. Six species are shown to be highly

supported as reciprocally monophyletic: G. aleurioides

 sp. nov., G. alpina  s. l., G. carbonaria , G. delectans , G.

korfii , and G. majalis . In addition, coalescent-based

Bayesian species delimitation shows G. alpina  s. l. constitutes

three cryptic species: G. alpina  s. str., G. deceptiva

 sp. nov., and G. rehmii . ITS-28S sequences of type

material show that G. vulcanalis  and G. foetida  are synonyms

of G. carbonaria . A lectotype is designated for

Humaria delectans  and the name is combined in Geopyxis .

Morphological characters that can be used to distinguish

Geopyxis  species are presence/absence of a

long stipe, spore size and shape, and pigmented resinous

exudates in medullary and ectal excipulum. Geopyxis

carbonaria  and G. delectans  produce apothecia

almost exclusively on burned ground. Bayesian analyses

detected highly supported conflicts among different

loci regarding generic delimitation and species

relationships. Two hypogeous genera, Stephensia  and

Hydnocystis , are confirmed to nest within Geopyxis . The

relationships between species of Geopyxis  and Tarzetta ,

Stephensia shanorii  and Paurocotylis pila , are unresolved.

Six out of eight species of Geopyxis  recognized in this

study have intercontinental disjunct distributions.