Farook VA, Khan SS, Manimohan P 2013 -A checklist of agarics (gilled mushrooms) of Kerala State, India. Mycosphere 4(1), 97-131, Doi 10.5943 /mycosphere/4/1/6 A literature-based checklist of agarics (gilled mushrooms) occurring in Kerala State, India is provided. It consists of 616 species of gilled mushrooms belonging in 112 genera and 5 orders (Agaricales, Boletales, Gomphales, Polyporales, Russulales) of the Class Agaricomycetes, Phylum Basidiomycota. The relevant original information is contained in about 122 papers, many with only limited distribution and availability. Most of these papers have been published during the last two decades. The geographical distribution of the reports covers all 14 districts of the State. At the order level, Agaricales has the highest number of species (579), followed by Russulales (21). The six most represented genera are Hygrocybe, Entoloma (41 spp. each), Lepiota (39 spp.), Marasmius (27 spp.), Leucocoprinus and Pluteus (22 spp. each). Several of the species are known only from the region and there is a possibility that many are endemic to the region as the level of endemism in the flora and fauna of Kerala is very high. This list covers only a part of the actual diversity of gilled mushrooms in Kerala as studies on the agarics of this region have been uneven, inadequate and therefore inconclusive.

Three new species of Russulaceae, Lactifluus umbonatus and Lactifluus indicus belonging to Lf. subg. Gerardii and Lactarius keralensis belonging to L. subg. Piperites, are described from Kerala State, India. Comprehensive descriptions, photographs, line drawings and comparisons with phenetically similar and phylogenetically related species are given. Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the three species were sequenced and analyzed. In addition, nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nLSU) gene of Lactifluus indicus was sequenced and the sequence was used in BLASTn search to find similar sequences. Maximum likelihood (ML) analysis based on the ITS sequences confirmed both the novelty of these species and their placement within their respective genera. The discovery of Lactifluus umbonatus and Lf. indicus represent the first report of novel species belonging to Lf. subg. Gerardii from India. Lactifluus indicus represents the second record of a pleurotoid Lactifluus species from India.

Marasmius odoratus sp. nov. is described from Kerala State, India, based on morphological and molecular (ITS) phylogenetic data and is assigned to the section Globulares. Comprehensive description, photographs, and comparison with allied species are provided. It is characterized by a deeply sulcate pileus with grayish red grooves on a pale cream background, a long, pale cream to pale orange stipe, narrowly clavate basidiospores [17–23(–25) × 4–5 μm], a fragrant odor recalling jasmine flower, and a distinctive ITS sequence.

Campanella keralensis sp. nov. is described from Kerala State, India and is assigned to subsection Aerugineae of section Campanella. Comprehensive description, photographs and comparisons with phenetically similar taxa are provided. Campanella simulans var. bispora is elevated to the status of species.