Frontiers in Microbiology (Aug 2020)

First Report of a Neotropical Agaric (Lepiota spiculata, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) Containing Lethal α-Amanitin at Toxicologically Relevant Levels

  • Claudio Angelini,
  • Alfredo Vizzini,
  • Alfredo Justo,
  • Alberto Bizzi,
  • Paolo Davoli,
  • Ertuğrul Kaya

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01833
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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A recent collection of Lepiota spiculata from the Dominican Republic is presented here. Macro- and micromorphological features of L. spiculata are described in detail, and its evolutionary (phylogenetic) position within Lepiota sect. Ovisporae, in the subincarnata/brunneoincarnata clade, is assessed on the basis of a combined nrLSU + nrITS + rpb2 + tef1 analysis. Additionally, high levels of deadly amatoxins were detected and quantified in L. spiculata for the first time by HPLC analysis; in particular, α-amanitin was found at concentrations up to approximately 4 mg/g dry weight, which render L. spiculata a potentially lethal mushroom, if ingested.

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