Ecology and cultural characteristics of the tooth fungi genus Hericium (Russulales, Basidiomycota) in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia

The current work is aimed to provide data on the first finding of Hericium cirrhatum in the Republic of Dagestan, new localities of Hericium coralloides in the region, their ecological features, as well as to analyze the cultural characteristics of new Hericium strains in vitro. The authors collected the original material during own field mycological inventories of forest ecosystems in the Republic of Dagestan in 2023–2025. Fungal specimens and strains were studied by techniques of light microscopy, solid‐phase cultivation, molecular analysis of nrDNA, as well as qualitative evaluation of enzymatic activity. All samples are deposited at the LE Mycological herbarium and the LE‐BIN culture collection (St. Petersburg). The first data on the record of Hericium cirrhatum in the Samursky National Park and new locations of the red‐listed species H. coralloides in the Kazbekovsky and Magaramkentsky districts of the Republic of Dagestan are presented. The cultural and morphological features of three new dikaryotic strains of H. cirrhatum and H. coralloides are described. Pure culture analyses have been performed to assess the lignocellulolytic and degradation potential of these white‐rot xylotrophic species. The data obtained can contribute to nature conservation practice, including the preservation of the gene pool of rare and little‐known fungal species.