فهرست مطالب معصومه قبادنژاد

The new corticioid species Waitea guianensis was described and illustrated from French Guiana, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. It was characterized by thin, resupinate basidiomata on wood, isodiametric subhymenial hyphae, lack of clamps, tetrasporic clavate basidia with median constriction, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Ex-holotype DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal regions ITS, nLSU, and nSSU were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed a close relationship of the new species to Waitea circinata. In addition, the new combination Waitea arvalis is proposed, based on Laetisaria arvalis. The monotypic genus Disporotrichum is revealed to belong in the Corticiales, Corticiaceae. A key to the accepted species in Waitea is provided.

A first annotated checklist of agarics and boletes in Iran is presented based on literature and new collections. A total number of 128 new DNA sequences, obtained from the ITS region as well as the nrLSU, is provided. Based on vouchered specimens, 19 species are newly recorded from Iran, all provided with nrDNA data from basidiomata. Overall, 585 species (comprising 556 agarics and 29 bolete species) are recorded from Iran, representing 147 genera and 34 families. The order Agaricales encompasses 82% of the species. Twenty-eight species are excluded from the Iranian mycobiota. The Hyrcanian forests harbor 79% of the species, with Mazandaran being the most species-rich province in the country. The three largest genera are Russula, Cortinarius, and Inocybe. We also scrutinized the available DNA sequences of Iranian agarics and boletes deposited in public databases. It is shown that 64 species of agarics and boletes in Iran are from environmental sequences, and nine species have been retrieved as plant endophytes. In total, only 24% of Iranian species are shown to have at least one nrITS sequence in GenBank or UNITE. Our analyses reveal that 42% of records in Iran arise merely from abstracts presented at various conferences, most of which lacking sufficient characterization and are suggested to be considered tentatively. General recommendations are given to avoid dissemination of low quality and ambiguous species records. This study fills in some of the gaps in our knowledge of agarics and boletes in Iran and provides a framework for biodiversity and phylogenetic studies.

Inocutis levis is a polypore basidiomycete from the Hymenochaetaceae family. Members of this family have well-known medicinal properties. Recently, anti-diabetic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects of I. levis have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial activities and antioxidant properties of the extracts of I. levis.

After the sampling and fungus identification, the methanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts of the dried fruiting bodies of I. levis were prepared. The antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH method, and antibacterial activities by microdilution method against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the identification and quantification of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the extracts were investigated by spectrophotometers and HPLC.

The results showed that the methanolic extract had the highest DPPH scavenging activity, with an IC50 value of 555 µg/ml. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed the same antibacterial effects, and Streptococcus mutansATCC35665 was more sensitive than other bacteria, with the MIC and MBC values of 12.5 and 25 mg/ml, respectively. Total phenolic (34.15mg gallic acid) and total flavonoid contents (5.4mg quercetin) per 1 gram dry methanolic extract were higher than other extracts. Furthermore, in the HPLC analysis, ascorbic acid, resorcinol, caffeic acid, catechin and, vanillic acid were determined.

This is the first study presenting the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of I. levis. The results can be considered for future studies in the design of new antibiotics and antioxidant compounds from natural resources applying native fungi.

Zarde-Kija mushroom(Cantharellus alborufescens) is one of the edible mushrooms belong to the Cantharellaceae family. It is widely distributed in the northern forests of Iran and is desirable for local residents in these areas. Despite the economic importance of this genus, litthe is known about their habitat requirements. This study was conducted to identify the environmental factors affecting the distribution of this mushroom in a plain forest of Noor city (Mazandaran province, northern Iran) with 120 ha area. For this purpose, 20 pair plots (20 m × 20 m) with at least 100 m distance were established (20 plots with Cantharellus and 20 non-Cantarellus plots). To analyze the species-environment relationship (soil characteristics), three groups of plant species were identified by the TWINSPAN method. The results showed this mushroom presents in oak-hornbeam stands with following conditions: clay-loam soils, pH value 5.7-7.2, soil C content 2.2-3.7%, total N 0.16-0.27%, C:N ratio 10.8-18.9, water content 29.4-46.2% and litter thickness 4.8-19 mm. In this regard, soil C content, C/N ratio, amount of sand and clay in plots with Cantharellus was 36, 71, 30 and 18 percent greater than those in plots without Cantharellus. Also, Nitrogen concentration (N), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3–), litter thickness and amount of silt in non-Cantarellus plots were respectively 30, 20, 19, 48 and 28 percent lesser than those in plots containing Cantharellus. Overall, our findings showed that C content, C:N ratio, sand (%) and clay (%) were the most important factors influencing the presence of C. alborufescens.

Diets rich in simple carbohydrates can induce obesity and metabolic syndrome. In this study we investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Inocutis levis on the levels of serum lipids and liver tissue in high sucrose fed (HSF) rats. Thirty two male wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 1- control, 2- a group that were fed with high sucrose solution for 12 weeks and 3&4- groups were intraperitoneally treated with doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg body weight aqueous extract I. levis for two weeks following high sucrose drinking. After 12 weeks serum lipids, liver enzymes and liver tissue were evaluated.  Liver tissue was stained with hematoxylin & eosin. The results showed that HSF in rats increased triglyceride and liver enzymes and induced low grade inflammation in liver tissue compared to control group (P<0.001). In HSF rats treated with aqueous extract of I. levis, the levels of triglyceride were reduced in blood serum, and liver enzymes levels as AST were also lowered (P<0.001) (P<0.01). Moreover, aqueous extract of I. levis decreased leukocyte infiltration in liver tissue. On the Base of these results, I. levis may have the potential to control hypertriglyceridemia, and may reduce inflammation in liver tissue.

Polypore fungi are an important group of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes that have significant roles in biomass recycling in forests and woodland ecosystems. Figures on the polypore diversity in Iran have been partly made available through few checklists, but there have been no comparative studies on the pattern of geographic distribution of the species. The prevalence of the Mediterranean bioclimate in Iran, and scattered Mediterranean vegetation in the country have been well-documented. Here, intensive analyses were made for the first time to compare the composition of the polypore species in Iran and the Mediterranean area, based on field records and well-curated explicit checklists. Our analyses reveal a high resemblance of the polypore composition of Iran to the Mediterranean area. It is shown that the majority of the polypore species in Iran (87%) are shared with the Mediterranean region. Noteworthily, there are several rare to very rare, as well as extra European taxa among the shared species in Iran. Moreover, it is shown that about 5% of the Iranian polypore species seem to be ‘true Mediterranean’, with their major world distribution being in the Mediterranean region. Remarkable shared species are discussed and illustrated. The results of this study would be important in conservation management of the vulnerable forests ecosystems in Iran, especially in the Hyrcanian forests where most of the rare to very rare species arise.