Brian A. Perry

• PhD
• Professor of Biology at California State University, East Bay

All known bioluminescent fungi are basidiomycetes belonging to the Agaricales. They emit 520–530 nm wavelength light 24 h per day in a circadian rhythm. The number of known bioluminescent fungi has more than doubled in the past 15 years from 64 to 132 species. We currently recognize five distinct lineages of bioluminescent Agaricales belonging to t...

In the original publication [...]

During nocturnal field expeditions in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, an unexpected bioluminescent fungus with reduced form was found. Based on morphological data, the taxon was first identified as belonging to the cyphelloid genus Maireina, but in our phylogenetic analyses, Maireina was recovered and confirmed as a paraphyletic group related to...

The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region has been widely used in fungal diversity studies. Environmental metabarcoding has increased the importance of the fungal DNA barcode in documenting fungal diversity and distribution. The DNA barcode gap is seen as the difference between intra- and inter-specific pairwise distances in...

Mushrooms and allies belong to the Agaricomycetes lineage of Basidiomycota. A total of 260 species, belonging in 109 genera, 51 families and 13 orders have been reported from São Tomé and Príncipe between 1851 and 2020, of which 66 were described as new species. They range in body forms from agarics and boletes to polyporoid, clavarioid, coralloid,...

A Mycena species new to science was obtained from moist chamber cultures of trunk bark of a living American elm tree (Ulmus americana) located in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Tarrant County, Texas. This discovery was part of an ongoing study of corticolous myxomycetes on larger American elm trees occurring in Fort Worth nature parks. More than 15...

A phylogenetically diverse array of fungi live within healthy leaf tissue of dicotyledonous plants. Many studies have examined these endophytes within a single plant species and/or at small spatial scales, but landscape‐scale variables that determine their community composition are not well understood, either across geographic space, across climati...

Five species of hygrophoroid fungi belonging to the genera Cuphophyllus and Hygrocybe are reported from the African island nation, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. These taxa represent two new species (C. laranja, H. macambrarensis), one undetermined taxon, and two new distributional reports. Comprehensive descriptions, line drawings, color photo...

This treatise serves as a preliminary monograph and phylogenetic treatment of Marasmius from the African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe (ST&P), based on data generated from 30 specimens collected in 2008. Twenty-one species are described, seven of which represent species new to science (Marasmius albisubiculosus, M. diversus, M. elaeocephal...

A phylogenetically diverse array of fungi live within healthy leaf tissue of dicotyledonous plants. Many studies have examined these endophytes within a single plant species and/or at small spatial scales, but landscape-scale variables that determine their community composition are not well understood, either across geographic space, across climati...

Two new species of Mycena belonging to Section Longisetae are described from cloud forests of Veracruz State, Mexico, viz., Mycena glaesisetosa and M. punkissima. Sequences of nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 were generated for barcoding purposes and for comparisons with similar species. Comprehensive descriptions, line drawings of salient micromorphologica...

Seven species of bioluminescent fungi are recorded from the cloud forests in Mexico. Six represent new species belonging to the genus Mycena, whereas Mycena globulispora is a new distribution record for the country. Descriptions, illustrations, photographs, and an identification key to bioluminescent fungi species from Mexico are provided. Sequence...

Limited research has been published on the mushroom-forming basidiomycetous fungi of the oceanic islands São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa. Based on field work in April 2006 and 2008, which generated 24 specimens of mycenoid fungi, we recognize 14 species of Mycena, and 5 species belonging to the allied genera Clitocybula, Filoboletus, Hydropus an...

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to am...

Six species of Pluteus are reported from the African island nation, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Two represent new species (P. hirtellus, P. thomensis) and the other four represent new distribution records. Comprehensive descriptions, line drawings, colour photographs, comparisons with allied taxa, a dichotomous key to aid identification, and...

Thirty-one species of gymnopoid fungi are reported from the African island nation, Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. Ten represent new species (Arrhenia cystidiata, Callistosporium elegans, Campanella burkei, Gymnopus billbowesii, G. hirtelloides, G. irresolutus, G. mustachius, G. ocellus, G. pleurocystidiatus, G. rodhallii), four are new nomencla...

Tetrapyrgos atrocyanea, the type species of Tetrapyrgos, and Campanella buettneri, the type species of Campanella, are redescribed and epitypified based on recently collected material from Madagascar and Príncipe, respectively, supported with morphological and LSU, ITS sequences data. Line drawings, colour photographs, and comparisons with similar...

This poster was presented at Fungal Gentetics 2017 in Pacific Grove, California. The project goal was to assess the diversity and evolutionary relationships of Marasmius from Madagascar, and generate a monographic treatment for the country.

Prior to this monographic treatment, limited research on the genus Marasmius (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) had been conducted in Madagascar. Based on field work in January 2013 and January–February 2014, which generated 45 specimens of Marasmius sensu stricto, supplemented by herbarium exsiccatae and published literature, 35 species of Marasmius are...

Panaeolus antillarum is reported from material collected on wild elephant dung in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. This new distribution report is supported with morphological and molecular sequence (ITS) data, line drawings, colour photographs and a comparison with material from the Antilles.

Four species of mycenoid fungi are reported as luminescent (or putatively luminescent) on the basis of specimens collected from São Paulo State, Brazil. Two of them represent new species (Mycena oculisnymphae, Resinomycena petarensis), and two represent new reports of luminescence in previously described species (M. deformis, M. globulispora). Comp...

Two new species of Mycena are described from California: Mycena nivicola, a spring taxon from the High Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges is proposed within section Hygrocyboideae, and M. bulliformis from the Coastal Ranges and Sierra Nevada Foothills is proposed in section Rubromarginatae. Both species are fully described, illustrated, and compared...

Eighteen dark-spored species representing members of the lineages Bolbitiaceae (Conocybe-1), Crepidotaceae (Crepidotus-2, Simocybe-1), Gymnopileae (Gymnopilus-2), Hymenogastraceae (Galerina-2), Psathyrellaceae (Coprinellus-2, Coprinopsis-2, Psathyrella-3), and Strophariaceae (Deconica-2, Hypholoma-1) are reported from the islands of São Tomé and Pr...

Tetrapyrgos (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) is recognized as a genus characterized by basidiomes with a central or eccentric, well-developed stipe with a black to bluish black stipe base arising from a basal pad or disc; hyaline, inamyloid, distinctly tetrahedral basidiospores; non-gelatinous or weakly gelatinous pileipellis and pileus tramal tissues;...

Nine clavarioid-coralloid fungi and 14 gasteromycetes are reported from the islands of Sao Tome and Principe. Of these 23 species, 14 are first reports for the Republic. Minimal descriptions, color photographs and comparisons with allied taxa are provided.

Scytinopogon havencampii is described as new from material collected from a non-ectotrophic forest on the West African island of Príncipe. Diagnostic features include brown, non-flattened branches with white tips, small, white, ellipsoid, coarsely echinate basidiospores, 2-spored basidia, non-inflated hyphae, and brittle basidiomes that dry grayish...

We hypothesize that the fungal endophytes of noni may possibly play a role in its overall pharmacological repertoire, especially since the perceived efficacy of the fruit in ethnomedicinal use is associated with the fermented juice. The foremost goal of this study is to explore the role of endophyte-derived secondary metabolites in the purported an...

Pseudobaeospora wipapatiae is described as new based on material collected in alien wet habitats on the island of Hawaii. Unique features of this beautiful species include deep ruby-colored basidiomes with two-spored basidia, amyloid cheilocystidia and a hymeniderm pileipellis with abundant pileocystidia that is initially deep ruby in KOH then chan...

Pine species have become invasive throughout the globe and threaten to replace native biota. The threat of pine invasion is particularly pressing in parts of the tropics where there are no native pines. The factors that govern pine invasion are not often well understood. However, key to pine survival is an obligate and mutualistic interaction with...

Species of Laccaria are described from the eastern Himalayas, in the Xizang Autonomous Region of China, more commonly known as Tibet. Specimens were collected during several expeditions over a 12-year time span. Nuclear ribosomal internally transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 including and 5.8S (ITS) as well as the 5' end of the large subunit (28S)...

Phylogenetic placement of the infrageneric section Hygrometrici (genus Marasmius sensu stricto) in prior molecular phylogenetic studies have been unresolved and problematical. Molecular analyses based on newly generated ribosomal nuc-LSU and 5.8S sequences resolve members of section Hygrometrici to the family Physalacriaceae. The new genus Cryptoma...

Pyronemataceae is the largest and most heterogeneous family of Pezizomycetes. It is morphologically and ecologically highly divers, comprising saprobic, ectomycorrhizal, bryosymbiotic and parasitic species, occurring in a broad range of habitats (on soil, burnt ground, debris, wood, dung and inside living bryophytes, plants and lichens). To assess...

Since the early 20th century, many researchers have attempted to determine how fungi are able to emit light. The first successful experiment was obtained using the classical luciferin-luciferase test that consists of mixing under controlled conditions hot (substrate/luciferin) and cold (enzyme/luciferase) water extracts prepared from bioluminescent...

Since the early 20th century, many researchers have attempted to determine how fungi are able to emit light. The first successful experiment was obtained using the classical luciferin–luciferase test that consists of mixing under controlled conditions hot (substrate/luciferin) and cold (enzyme/luciferase) water extracts prepared from bioluminescent...

Mycena guldeniana (section Polyadelphia) is proposed for an agaric found in alpine areas of south Norway that is here described, illustrated and compared with other species of the section. The new species grows on fallen, decaying leaves under Salix spp. or occasionally on small twigs in the same habitat and is characterized by its small size, grey...

The bioluminescent agaric, Agaricus gardneri Berk., was rediscovered recently in central Brazil. The new combination, Neonothopanus gardneri, is proposed for this long-forgotten taxon supported by morphological and molecular data.

Using a combination of morphological and molecular data, the genus Micropsalliota is shown to represent a monophyletic lineage in the Agaricaceae sister to Hymenagaricus. Features that distinguish the genus from Agaricus and allied genera include usually small, gracile basidiomes with a membranous partial veil, dextrinoid basidiospores with an apic...

Mycoheterotrophic plants are achlorophyllous plants that obtain carbon from their mycorrhizal fungi. They are usually considered to associate with fungi that are (1) specific of each mycoheterotrophic species and (2) mycorrhizal on surrounding green plants, which are the ultimate carbon source of the entire system. Here we review recent works revea...

Seven species of Mycena are reported as luminescent, representing specimens collected in Belize, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Japan (Bonin Islands), Malaysia (Borneo) and Puerto Rico. Four of them represent new species (Mycena luxaeterna, M. luxarboricola, M. luxperpetua, M. silvaelucens) and three represent new reports of luminescence in p...

Sixty-four taxa of Marasmius are reported representing fifty-seven species from northern Thailand. Comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, photographs, a dichotomous key to aid in their identification,. and comparisons with phenetically similar taxa are provided. Seventeen species are described as new: Marasmius araneocephalus, M. auratus, M. bo...

A new lignicolous species of phalloid fungi, discovered recently on the western African island of São Tomé, is described as Phallus drewesii. A comprehensive description, photographs and comparison with phenetically similar species are provided.

A total of 43 species of Marasmius sensu stricto belonging to six sections (Globulares, Hygrometrici, Leveilleani, Marasmius, Neosessiles and Sicci) are reported from Peninsular Malaysia. Macro- and micromorphological characters in combination with ITS sequence data were used to circumscribe species. Of the 43 species reported herein, 9 represent n...

A total of 43 species of Marasmius sensu stricto belonging to six sections (Globulares, Hygrometrici, Leveilleani, Marasmius, Neosessiles and Sicci) are reported from Peninsular Malaysia. Macro- and micromorphological characters in combination with ITS sequence data were used to circumscribe species. Of the 43 species reported herein, 9 represent n...

Marasmius sensu stricto in Peninsular Malaysia. Fungal Diversity 37: 9-100. A total of 43 species of Marasmius sensu stricto belonging to six sections (Globulares, Hygrometrici, Leveilleani, Marasmius, Neosessiles and Sicci) are reported from Peninsular Malaysia. Macro-and micromorphological characters in combination with ITS sequence data were use...

GenBank, the public repository for nucleotide and protein sequences, is a critical resource for molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology. While some attention has been drawn to sequence errors ([1][1]), common annotation errors also reduce the value of this database. In fact, for

Chaetothiersia vernalis, a new genus and species of Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales) from California. Fungal Diversity 28: 65-72. Chaetothiersia vernalis, collected from the northern High Sierra Nevada of California, is described as a new genus and species. This fungus is characterized by stiff, superficial, brown excipular hairs, smooth, egu...

Partial sequences of nuLSU rDNA were obtained to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Pyronemataceae, the largest and least studied family of Pezizales. The dataset includes sequences for 162 species from 51 genera of Pyronemataceae, and 39 species from an additional 13 families of Pezizales. Parsimony, ML, and Bayesian analyses suggest th...

A growing body of molecular research is discovering a high diversity of pezizalean ectomycorrhiza (EcM), yet most remain unidentified at the genus or species level. This study describes EcM-forming taxa within the Pezizales. EcM-forming Pezizales were revealed by morphotyping and sequencing of EcM root tips from forests in Estonia and Denmark. The...

Parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses of SSU rDNA sequences of representative taxa of Pezizomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes, all strongly support the cleistothecial fungi Orbicula parietina and Lasiobolidium orbiculoides to be of pezizalean origin. Previous hypotheses of close affinities wit...

Parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses of SSU rDNA sequences of representative taxa of Pezizomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes, all strongly support the cleistothecial fungi Orbicula parietina and Lasiobolidium orbiculoides to be of pezizalean origin. Previous hypotheses of close affinities wit...

Agaricus (Mycena) californiensis, first described by M.J. Berkeley and M.A. Curtis in 1860, represents a common species found in the oak woodlands of California. The species is redescribed, illustrated, and compared with morphologically similar taxa. Mycena elegantula Peck is proposed as a synonym.

Marasmius villosipes, first described from material collected under Monterey pines in Australia, represents a common collybioid agaric native to California. The species is redescribed and illustrated, and a formal transfer to Gymnopus is proposed.