1. Major findings 

(1) Collections and new taxa: We have collected 8000 fungal collections from various parts of China including the northeastern, central, southeastern, southern, southwestern and northwestern parts, but emphasis on collection in the Hengduan Mts. We have studied the diversity, phylogeny and evolution of Agaricaceae, Boletaceae and Physalacriaceae in China. For comparison, relevant materials from other parts of the world were studied. A significant better understanding of the species diversity of the three families have been achieved.

(2) A new dictionary: In collaboration with botanists studying spore-bearing plants from our institute and other institutions in China, our research group has published a book entitled “dictionary of the families and genera of Chinese cryptogamic (spore) plants” (Zang & Li 2011).

(3) Monographic work: Our monographic work on lepiotaceous fungi (Agaricaceae, excluding Agaricus) was successfully reviewed and accepted by the editorial committee of the Cryptogamic Flora of China for publication. Detailed morphological descriptions, line-drawings of habits and microscopic characters, and distribution ranges of 101 taxa of 11 genera are provided (Yang et al. 2012).

(4) Convergent evolution and new systematic arrangements: A new concept of Xerula and Xerula, consisting of six species, were suggested (Wang et al. 2008). One explanation for the strikingly convergent morphologies in the two sections is that these are structural adaptations to exposed rotten wood, rather than buried wood as in sections Radicatae and Dactylosporina (Yang et al. 2009). A new systematic arrangement of Oudemansiella, consisting of four sections, i.e., Oudemansiella, Mucidula, Dactylosporina and Radicatae, was proposed (Yang et al 2009). Based on our newly achievements, we received a five-year project to compile the Fungal Flora of China vol. Physalacriaceae since 2011.

(5) Biogeography: Chroogomphus In our study on boletaceous fungi, we attempted to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of the species within the genus Chroogomphus, to examine the geographic diversity and evolution of plant host specificity of Chroogomphus, and to elucidate the species diversity of Chroogomphus in China.

(6) Evolution of Zangia species: Working on boletaceous species with pinkish to pinkish brown or reddish to vinaceous brown hymenophores, we have found a unique generic lineage which does not fit the existing genera in Boletaceae, and thus, was named as Zangia. Zangia is currently only known from southern, southeastern and southwestern China under forests dominated by Fagaceae mixed with Pinaceae.

(7) Population genetics and conservation: In the last few years, we have studied four species of economically important fungi. Tricholoma matsutake is such an example.

2. Describe how your work contributed to your research field 

In the previous studies of lepiotaceous fungi from China, for example, only 8 new taxa were recognized, and poorly described. We have added to the group 27 new taxa with detailed morphological characters and DNA sequences data, which make it easy to recognize them. In our monographic work, detailed morphological descriptions, line-drawings of habits and microscopic characters, and distribution ranges of 101 taxa of 11 genera are provided.

In the Boletaceae, only Sinoboletus was recognized as an independent new genus in China by earlier mycologists (Zang 1992; Li & Song 2002). Our studies showed that there are many new species and over ten previously unrecognized major clades or new genera in the Boletaceae. Zangia is just one example of the new genera.

In the genus Oudemansiella, we have recognized the convergent evolution of the the fruit-body development in section Oudemansiella and sect. Mucidula, and our recent new systematic treatments of the genera Xerua and Oudemansiella Physalacriaceae have been followed by other mycologists (Liu et al. 2009; Wartchow et al. 2010).

We have studied the population genetics of Matsutake (Tricholoma matsutake) and Dahongjun (Russula griseocarnosa and its allies). Our population genetic study can contribute to improve the management strategy on sustainable resource utilizations of wild mushroom resources in southwestern China.