Pseudosperma arenarium (Inocybaceae), a new poisonous species from Eurasia, based on morphological, ecological, molecular and biochemical evidence

Summary

Biology and Botany identify a new *Pseudosperma* **mushroom** in the **Agaricales** order. Its **ecology** under Poplar and Pine trees is distinct. **Chemistry** reveals it harbors a potent **toxin**, muscarine, an **alkaloid** often studied in **chemical synthesis**. The **pileus** contains five times more muscarine (4012-4302 mg/kg) than the stipe, increasing **mushroom poisoning** risk. Crucially, no **ibotenic acid** or **psychedelics** like psilocybin were detected, differentiating it from fungi in **Drug Studies**.

Abstract

In this study, Pseudosperma arenarium is proposed as a new species, based on morphological, ecological, molecular and biochemical evidence. The new species grows on sandy ground under Populus and Pinus sylvestris in north-western China and northern Europe, respectively. It is characterised by the combination of the robust habit, nearly glabrous pileus, large cylindrical basidiospores, thin-walled cheilocystidia and ecological associations with Populus alba × P. berolinensis and Pinus sylvestris and unique phylogenetic placement. Additionally, a comprehensive toxin determination of the new species using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was conducted. Results showed that it was a muscarine-positive species. The content were approximately five times higher in the pilei [4012.2 ± 803.1–4302.3 ± 863.2 mg/kg ( k = 2, p = 95%)] than in the stipes [850.4 ± 171.1–929.1 ± 184.2 mg/kg ( k = 2, p = 95%)], demonstrating the severity of mushroom poisoning when patients consumed different parts of the poisonous mushroom. Amatoxins, phallotoxins, ibotenic acid, muscimol, psilocybin and psilocin were not detected.

Tags