A new species of Thelephora, characterized by more or less infundibuliform basidiomes and globose to subglobose strongly echinulate basidiospores, is described from the Dominican Republic based on morphological and molecular data (analyses of LSU and ITS sequences). Phylogenetic insights on genera in the Thelephorales are also provided.

Current knowledge about Italian wood-decay fungi (Basidiomycota and Ascomycota) is surveyed: 1582 taxa belonging to Ascomycota (341) and Basidiomycota (1241) have been reported, including 23 species new to science of Basidiomycota described from Italy within the last five years. Evaluating diversity of wood-decay fungi can provide a more accurate estimation of species richness for fungi which are an important functional component of ecosystems. Aphyllophoroid and Ascomycota species play an important role in habitat conservation and management. Sardinia, Sicily, the Alps and the Apennines are "hot spots" for wood-decay Basidiomycota in Italy.

The new species Pseudowrightoporia dominicana is described from the Dominican Republic based on morphological and molecular data (nrITS and nrLSU sequence analyses). It is mainly characterised by pileate basidiomata with a bright pinkish context and a di-trimitic hyphal system. Phylogenetically, it is sister to the African species P. gillesii and to the Asiatic P. japonica.

The presence of two corticioid taxa belonging to the genus Phlebia (Basidiomycota), collected from Sicily, Italy is reported. A macro-and micromorphological descriptions of P. acanthocystis and P. nothofagi added of ecological and distributional data are here provided. P. acanthocystis is reported as new for Italy.

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