Journal of Biotechnology 15(4): 669-673, 2017 669 FIRST RECORD OF CANTHARELLUS MINOR IN VIETNAM Hung Huu Phan 1, * , Thuan Duc Lao 2 , Thuy Huyen Ai Le 2 , Khanh Quoc Hoang 3 , Nguyen Binh Truong 4 , Giang Thi Lam Ngo 5 1 Tay Nguyen Institute of Scientific Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology 2 Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City 3 Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology 4 Da Lat University, Da Lat 5 NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: huuhung_0478@yahoo.com Received: 02.11.2017 Accepted: 28.12.2017 SUMMARY This species of mushroom with orange fruiting bodies and yellow flesh grows in clumps on the forest land in the coordinates 11 o 56'34.45" N, 108 o 28'33.56" E in the pine (Pinus kesiya) forest, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. The results of analysis on the morphology, both macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of this mushroom showed that, pileus: 5-15 mm wide, infundibuliform; yellowish to orange; margin incurred, wavy-liked margin, non-striate; Pileus surface: smooth, scaleless, yellowish; Lamellae: distant, decurrent, not intervenose, concolorous to pileus; Context: concolourous to the pileus, slight sweetness, aromatic flavor; Stipe: cylindrical shape, surface smooth, concolourous to pileus, 1-2 mm diameter, 20-50 mm length; Basidiospores: 6-11.5 x 4-6.5 µm, ovoid-ellipsoid with smooth surface; Basidia: 65 x 10 µm, cornuted 4-6 spores per basidium. Phylogenetic analysis of nrLSU sequence yielded consistent topology in different taxa of Cantharellus. The phylogenetic position of XC02 was obtained and accepted at sub-generic level: subgenus Parvocantharellus. This clade was suggested to be monophyletic, and separated from other sub-generic levels. Morphologically phylogenetically distinct from the other species of clade 4, such as C. appalachiensis, C. tabernensis, C. aff. Congolensis. The highly supported monophyletic group with referent Cantharellus minor was obtained with the bootstrap value of 99, indicated that XC02 was significant closely to Cantharellus minor. Phylogenetic of nrLSU analysis revealed clades with statistical support corresponding to morphological observation, thus, XC2 was concluded as Cantharellus minor. Keywords: Cantharellus, Cantharellus minor, nrLSU, funnel-shaped fungus,taxonomy INTRODUCTION Cantharellus minor Peck Rep. (Annual) New York State Mus. Nat. Hist. 23. 1872. was originally described by Peck (1872). This species, a popularly known and commercialized fungus, belongs to the genus Cantharellus Adans.: Fr. C. minor has been reported as one of the smallest of the Cantharellus, found on soil, forming ectomycorrhizal association with the tree of Cedrus deodara, Quercus dilatata, etc. The yellowish lamellae are described as very narrow, distant, sparing branched, decurrent, concolourous, and fade to yellowish white in maturity. The pileus range from 0.5 cm to 3.0 cm wide, thin, convex, expanded and depressed, becoming funnel-shaped in some. The stipe is less than 4 cm, base attenuated, central, solid, concolours to the pileus, surface glabrous. They fruit in the summer and fall (Peck, 1872; Kuo, 2006). This species is native to Eastern North America, Canada, Western Ghats, Kerala, India, Japan, etc., however, it was not recorded in Vietnam. During the survey of fungi in Lam Dong (11 o 56'34.45" N, 108 o 28'33.56" E), a province located in the Central highlands (namely Tay Nguyen) region of Vietnam, specimens belonging to Cantharellus were collected. In this study, these Vietnamese specimens were identified based on morphology, molecular phylogenetic analysis and compatibility between our collected specimens and other strains in many countries of the world.