Search

Fungal endophytes inhabit a similar ecological niche to that occupied by many phytopathogens, with several pathogens isolated from healthy tissues in their latent phase. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity, the colonisation ability, and the enzyme activity of 37 endophytic fungal isolates recovered from apparently healthy apple shoot and leaf tissues. The pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed on 'Royal Gala' and 'Braeburn' fruit and detached 'Royal Gala' shoots. For the non-pathogenic isolates, their ability to endophytically colonise detached 'Royal Gala' shoots was evaluated. Enzyme activity assays were undertaken to determine whether the pathogenicity of the endophytes was related to the production of the extracellular enzymes, amylase, cellulase, pectinase, protease, and xylanase. Of the 37 isolates studied, eight isolates, representing the genera Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Fusarium, and Penicillium, were shown to be pathogenic on both apple shoots and fruit. Two isolates identified as Trichoderma atroviride, were pathogenic only on shoots, and three isolates, representing the genus Diaporthe, were pathogenic only on fruit. Of the remaining 24 isolates, 22 (Biscogniauxia (n = 8), Chaetomium (n = 4), Trichoderma (n = 3), Epicoccum (n = 2), Neosetophoma (n = 2), Xylaria (n = 1), Daldinia (n = 1), and Paraphaeosphaeria (n = 1)) were recovered from the inoculated apple shoots but two failed to colonise the shoot tissues. Of the isolates tested, 20 produced amylase, 15 cellulase, 25 pectinase, 26 protease, and 13 xylanase. There was no correlation between the range and type of enzymes produced by the isolates and their pathogenicity or ability to endophytically colonise the shoot tissue. The study showed that approximately one-third (13/37) of the isolates recovered from the apparently healthy apple shoot tissues were observed as latent pathogens. The isolates that did not cause disease symptoms may have the ability to reduce colonisation of apple tissues by pathogens including Neonectria ditissima associated with European canker of apple., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Medicinal Earths (MEs), natural aluminosilicate-based substances (largely kaolinite and montmorillonite), have been part of the European pharmacopoeia for well over two millennia; they were used generically as antidotes to 'poison'., Aim of the Study: To test the antibacterial activity of three Lemnian and three Silesian Earths, medicinal earths in the collection of the Pharmacy Museum of the University of Basel, dating to 16th-18th century and following the methodology outlined in the graphical abstract. To compare them with natural clays of the same composition (reference clays) and synthetic clays (natural clays spiked with elements such as B, Al, Ti and Fe); to assess the parameters which drive antibacterial activity, when present, in each group of samples., Materials and Methods: a total of 31 samples are investigated chemically (ICP-MS), mineralogically (both bulk (XRD) and at the nano-sized level (TEM-EDAX)); their organic load (bacterial and fungal) is DNA-sequenced; their bioactivity (MIC 60 ) is tested against Gram-positive, S. aureus and Gram-negative, P. aeruginosa., Results: Reference smectites and kaolinites show no antibacterial activity against the above pathogens. However, the same clays when spiked with B or Al (but not with Ti or Fe) do show antibacterial activity. Of the six MEs, only two are antibacterial against both pathogens. Following DNA sequencing of the bioactive MEs, we show the presence within of a fungal component, Talaromyces sp, a fungus of the family of Trichocomaceae (order Eurotiales), historically associated with Penicillium. Talaromyces is a known producer of the exometabolite bioxanthracene B, and in an earlier publication we have already identified a closely related member of the bioxanthracene group, in association with one of the LE samples examined here. By linking fungus to its exometabolite we suggest that this fungal load may be the key parameter driving antibacterial activity of the MEs., Conclusions: Antibacterial activity in kaolinite and smectite clays can arise either from spiking natural clays with elements like B and Al, or from an organic (fungal) load found only within some archaeological earths. It cannot be assumed, a priori, that this organic load was acquired randomly and as a result of long-term storage in museum collections. This is because, at least in the case of medicinal Lemnian Earth, there is historical evidence to suggest that the addition of a fungal component may have been deliberate., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Understanding patterns in the distribution and abundance of functional traits across a landscape is of fundamental importance to ecology. Mapping these distributions is particularly challenging for species-rich groups with sparse trait measurement coverage, such as flowering plants, insects, and microorganisms. Here, we use likelihood-based character reconstruction to infer and analyze the spatial distribution of unmeasured traits. We apply this framework to a microbial dataset comprised of 11,732 ketosynthase alpha gene sequences extracted from 144 soil samples from three continents to document the spatial distribution of putative microbial polyketide antibiotic production. Antibiotic production is a key competitive strategy for soil microbial survival and performance. Additionally, novel antibiotic discovery is highly relevant to human health, making natural antibiotic production by soil microorganisms a major target for bioprospecting. Our comparison of trait-based biogeographical patterns to patterns based on taxonomy and phylogeny is relevant to our basic understanding of microbial biogeography as well as the pressing need for new antibiotics.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associates of the exotic plantation species Pinus radiata were investigated above and below ground over two years in the North Island of New Zealand. ECM species were identified using morphological and molecular (restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing) analysis. Eighteen ECM species were observed fruiting above ground; 19 ECM species were identified below ground. In the above ground study, Wilcoxina mikolae, Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus and Inocybe sindonia were noted for the first time as ECM associates of P. radiata in New Zealand. Below ground, the species W. mikolae, R. pseudoroseolus, Rhizopogon luteorubescens, Pseudotomentella sp., Pseudotomentella tristis and Tomentella sp. were found as new associates of P. radiata in New Zealand. Additionally, six ECM types were found that could not be identified with molecular analysis. The putative ECM taxa Tricholoma pessundatum, Laccaria laccata and Hebeloma crustuliniforme were examined by molecular analysis, and species identifications were proposed to be changed to Tricholoma sp., L. laccata and Hebeloma sp. for specimens associated with P. radiata in New Zealand. The species identity of I. sindonia, previously unidentified to species level, was determined with direct sequencing.

Five unique metabolites, xyloketals A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), and E (5), and the known 6 were isolated from mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. (no. 2508), obtained from the South China Sea. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction experiments. Xyloketal A is a ketal compound with a C(3) symmetry and xyloketals B-E are its analogues. It was found that xytoketal C slowly rearranged to xytoketal B in DMSO-d(6)() solution at room temperature. Xyloketal A exhibited the activity of inhibiting acetylcholine esterase.

Biological control agents (BCAs) are potential alternatives for the chemical fungicides presently used in agriculture to fight plant diseases. Coniothyrium minitans is an example of a promising fungal BCA. It is a naturally occurring parasite of the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a wide-spread pathogen which substantially reduces the yield of many crops. This review describes, exemplified by C. minitans, the studies that need to be carried out before a fungal BCA is successfully introduced into the market. The main aspects considered are the biology of C. minitans, the development of a product by mass production of spores using solid-state fermentation technology, its biocontrol activity and marketing of the final product.

A review of selected studies on fungal endophytes confirms the paucity of Basidiomycota and basal fungi, with almost 90% attributed to Ascomycota. Reasons for the low number of Basidiomycota and basal fungi, including the Chytridiomycota, Mucoromycota, and Mortierellomycota, are advanced, including isolation procedure and media, incubation period and the slow growth of basidiomycetes, the identification of non-sporulating isolates, endophyte competition, and fungus–host interactions. We compare the detection of endophytes through culture-dependent methods and culture-independent methods, the role of fungi on senescence of the host plant, and next-generation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neocamarosporium aquaticum, collected from a drift dead stem of a halophyte at the Kench Nature Reserve, Hayling Island, UK, is described as a new species in the family Neocamarosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes. Multi-locus analyses based on LSU, SSU, ITS rDNA, and EF1-α placed the new fungus as a distinct species in the genus Neocamarosporium, a sister to Neocamarosporium aesturinum isolated from seawater. The new species is characterized by the asexual morph with pycnidial conidiomata, doliiform, enteroblastic, annellidic conidiogenous cells, and conidia that are initially hyaline, aseptate, with longitudinal and transverse septa when matured, muriform, and turning brown to dark brown on maturity. Neocamarosporium aquaticum and Ne. aesturinum differ in the colour of the conidia, degree of septation, and conidial measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the over 2000 marine fungi and fungal-like organisms documented so far, some have adapted fully to life in the sea, while some have the ability to tolerate environmental conditions in the marine milieu. These organisms have evolved various mechanisms for growth in the marine environment, especially against salinity gradients. This review highlights the response of marine fungi, fungal-like organisms and terrestrial fungi (for comparison) towards salinity variations in terms of their growth, spore germination, sporulation, physiology, and genetic adaptability. Marine, freshwater and terrestrial fungi and fungal-like organisms vary greatly in their response to salinity. Generally, terrestrial and freshwater fungi grow, germinate and sporulate better at lower salinities, while marine fungi do so over a wide range of salinities. Zoosporic fungal-like organisms are more sensitive to salinity than true fungi, especially Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Labyrinthulomycota and marine Oomycota are more salinity tolerant than saprolegniaceous organisms in terms of growth and reproduction. Wide adaptability to saline conditions in marine or marine-related habitats requires mechanisms for maintaining accumulation of ions in the vacuoles, the exclusion of high levels of sodium chloride, the maintenance of turgor in the mycelium, optimal growth at alkaline pH, a broad temperature growth range from polar to tropical waters, and growth at depths and often under anoxic conditions, and these properties may allow marine fungi to positively respond to the challenges that climate change will bring. Other related topics will also be discussed in this article, such as the effect of salinity on secondary metabolite production by marine fungi, their evolution in the sea, and marine endophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces anew genus Delonicicola,toaccommodate D. siamense sp. nov., which was found associated with Delonix regia seed pods, collected in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. ITS sequence data confirmed aclose relationship of Delonicicola with Liberomyces and Asteromella in Xylariomycetidae. Phylogeneticand molecular clock analyses of combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data provide evidence for anew family Delonicicolaceae and anew order Delonicicolales in Xylariomycetidae. Members of Delonicicolaceae are saprobes, endophytes or pathogens of angiosperms and it is characterized by pseudostromatal immersed, papillate ascomata, short pedicellate asci with asimple apex and 1-septate, hyaline ascospores. The asexual morph is coelomycetous with pycnidial conidiomata and allantoid, filiform or bacilloid, hyaline conidia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Halosphaeriaceae is a monophyletic group that shares a common ancestor with Microascaceae and, along with the families Graphiaceae, Ceratocystidiaceae, Chadefaudiellaceae and Gondwanamycetacea, is referred to the order Microascales. It constitutes the largest family in Microascales with 63 genera (166 species) and differs from other families in that most species are aquatic (predominantly marine) and characterised by perithecial ascomata, centrum tissue comprising catenophyses, clavate to fusiform asci that generally deliquesce early, hyaline, unicellular to many times septate ascospores usually with appendages. Although approximately 75% of halosphaeriaceous species have been sequenced, their phylogenetic grouping based on morphological features is not supported. This indicates that certain characters have evolved and been lost several times. New sequences have been generated in this study; a phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S and 28S rDNA was run to determine phylogenetic relationships between genera, and pairwise distance of the partial 28S rDNA was calculated. Arenariomyces is a monophyletic genus, which suggests that its ascospore appendage is a good delineating character for the genus. The genus Aniptodera is shown to be polyphyletic; Aniptodera lignatilis is referred to Aniptosporopsis gen. nov. and Aniptodera longispora is referred to Paraaniptodera gen. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a long term study of fungi colonizing submerged wood in freshwater streams a new Annulatascus species, A. aquatorba, is described and illustrated from Erythrophleum teysmannii test blocks from Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, southern Thailand. It differs from other species in the genus in ascospore measurements, thickness of the cell wall, 1-3-septate, fusoid to lunate shape, with central brown cells and subhyaline end cells and without a mucilaginous sheath. Asci are cylindrical, pedicellate, with a distinct, wedge-shaped and non-amyloid apical ring. Phylogenetic relationships of this species, based on the combined partial 18S and 28S rDNA, place it in the same clade as A. velatisporus (type species), A. hongkongensis and A. nilensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new Kirschsteiniothelia species are proposed in this study; both were collected on decaying wood from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces in northern Thailand. The taxa were isolated and the morphological characters are described and illustrated. ITS, LSU and SSU combined sequence analysis showed taxa of Kirschsteiniothelia separating into three lineages: (I) K. elaterascus grouped within Morosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales); (ii) K. maritima clustered with Mytilinidion spp. as a sister group in the Mytilinidiaceae clade; and (iii) the two new Kirschsteiniothelia species, which produce Dendryphiopsis anamorphs in culture, clustered with K. aethiops (the generic type) and the anamorph D. atra. The new family Kirschsteiniotheliaceae is introduced to accommodate taxa grouping with K. aethiops. K. elaterascus is transferred to Morosphaeria (Morosphaeriaceae) and a new genus Halokirschteiniothelia is introduced to accommodate K. maritima (Mytilinidiaceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi and bacteria on the external surfaces of four gorse-associated insect species: gorse seed weevil Apion ulicis Förster (Coleoptera: Apionidae), light brown apple moth Epiphyas postvittana Walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), gorse pod moth Cydia ulicetana Denis and Schiffermüller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and gorse thrips Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), were recovered by washing and plating techniques. The isolates were identified by morphology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing of internally transcribed spacer (ITS) and 16S rDNA. A culture-independent technique (direct PCR) was also used to assess fungal diversity by direct amplification of ITS sequences from the washings of the insects. All insect species carried Alternaria, Cladosporium, Corallomycetella, Penicillium, Phoma, Pseudozyma spp. and entomopathogens. Ninety-four per cent of the 178 cloned amplicons had ITS sequence similarity to Nectria mauritiicola (syn. Corallomycetella repens) . E. postvittana carried the largest fungal spores (spore mean surface area of 126 μm2) and the most fungal colony forming units per insect. Methylobacterium aquaticum and Pseudomonas lutea were isolated from all four insect species. P. fluorescens was the most abundant bacterium on the lepidopteran insects. This study presents the diversity of microbial taxa on insect exoskeletons, and provides the basis for developing a novel mycoherbicide delivery strategy for biological control of gorse using insects as vectors of a plant pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the endophytic fungi associated with the dominant mangrove plant, Kandelia candel, in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. Bark, woody tissue and leaves from four mature healthy trees were sampled for fungal endophytes in April and June, 2001. A total of 880 isolates was obtained, 595 from the June sampling. The highest number of fungal endophytes was cultured from bark (674 isolates) with only 63 from leaves. Three taxa of ascomycetes, 18 of anamorphic fungi and 29 mycelial morphotypes were identified. These results indicate a degree of tissue recurrence with similar endophytic fungal assemblages in bark and wood, and a different assemblage in the leaf samples. Dominant sporulating fungi of K. candel were Phomopsis sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., Guignardia sp. and Xylaria sp., which are cosmopolitan and common endophytic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of fungi have spores with appendages or mucilaginous sheaths, which are most elaborate in aquatic ascomycetes, especially marine species. The form and structure of a wide range of appendaged spores are documented from both taxonomic and ecological fungal groups, and their role in nature is discussed. The effect of environmental factors on appendage development and how ascospores are adapted for release from asci are reviewed. How fungi evolved such a variety of appendages in form and structure is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-nine fungal isolates collected from tropical and subtropical mangrove/marine habitats were screened for the presence of lignocellulose-degrading enzyme activities in agar media. These fungi were ascomycetes, except for a basidiomycete, Calathella mangrovei, and a mitosporic fungus, Cirrenalia tropicalis. Endoglucanase and xylanase were the most common enzymes produced. However, none of the fungi exhibited an ability to decolourise Poly-R-478 dye, indicating the lack of ligninolytic peroxidases. Three groups of fungi were categorised according to their cellulolytic, xylanolytic, and ligninolytic enzymes. Group I contained 21 isolates (ca. 72% of the test fungi) able to produce the three enzymes: endoglucanase, xylanase and laccase. Group II comprised 2 isolates lacking the ability to utilise filter paper and/or xylan, whereas Group III consisted of 6 isolates (ca. 21%) with no laccase activity. Five laccase-producing isolates selected for growth on artificial seawater (ASW) agar supplemented with 2,2′-azino- bis-3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), a substrate for this enzyme, exhibited no laccase activity. Further testing in ASW liquid medium with Hypoxylon species B and Halorosellinia oceanica showed that laccase activity was detectable from culture supernatants that had been dialysed against distilled water. Therefore, care is required in assessing laccase activity when using an agar plate assay in the presence of ASW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halosarpheia Kohlm. et E. Kohlm is a genus of eighteen species, all of which have septate ascospores with unfurling polar appendages. Asci and ascospores of Halosarpheia ratnagiriensis Patil et Borse were examined at the scanning (including freeze-fracture) and transmission electron microscope levels. The ascus wall has two well-defined layers and the apical apparatus comprises a refractive, electron-dense, lens-shaped disk embedded within a less electron-dense thickening. The ascospore wall comprises an episporium and a bipartite mesosporium, and the appendages are formed by extrusion of mucilaginous material through an episporial pore field. Ascospore appendage ontogeny is compared with other genera with unfurling polar appendages: Cataractispora, Diluviocola, Tunicatispora, Tirispora, and Halosarpheia aquadulcis Hsieh, H.S. Chang et E.B.G. Jones and Halosarpheia heteroguttulata S.W. Wong, K.D. Hyde et E.B.G. Jones.Key Words: ascospore appendage ontogeny, marine ascomycetes, unfurling polar appendages, ultrastructure.Le genre Halosarpheia comporte 18 espèces, qui possèdent toutes des ascospores septées avec des appendices polaires déployés. Les auteurs ont examiné les asques et les ascospores de l'Halosarpheia ratnagirensis en microscopie électronique par balayage (avec cryofracture) et par transmission. La paroi de l'asque montre deux couches bien définies et l' appareil apical comprend un disque lenticulaire réfractaire, dense aux électrons, enrobé dans un épaississement moins dense aux électrons. La paroi de l'ascospore comporte un épisporium et un mésosporium bipartite et les appendices sont formés par extrusion de matériel mucilagineux à travers l'ouverture du pore épisporial. On compare l'ontogénèse des appendices de l'ascospore avec celles de d'autres genres possédant des appendices polaires déployés : Cataractispora, Diluviocola, Tunicatispora, Tirispora et l'Halosarpheiaaquadulcis Hsieh, H.S. Chang et E.B.G. Jones et l'Halosarpheia heteroguttulata S.W. Wong, K.D. Hyde et E.B.G. Jones.Mots clés : ontogénie des appendices des ascospores, ascomycètes marins, appendices polaires déployés, ultrastructure.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new metabolite xyloketal H ( 1), was isolated from mangrove fungus Xylaria sp. (No.2508) obtained from the South China Sea. By spectroscopic analyses, primarily 2D NMR methods and X-ray diffraction experiments, its structure was elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the topics and issues discussed at the 5th Asia Mycological Congress and 9th International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium held from November 14 to 19, 2004 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Initially this symposium was concerned only with marine fungi, but it soon became apparent there was an overlap in the organisms occurring in marine and freshwater habitats, while the techniques for their study are often the same. Forty oral presentations were made at the symposium in six sessions, with four devoted to marine fungi: ecological interactions and bioactive compounds, taxonomy and phylogeny of marine fungi, biology of Stramenopiles, and mangrove fungi and their ecology.