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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]

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]

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]

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]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) deliver potentially significant services in sustainable agricultural ecosystems, yet we still lack evidence showing how AMF abundance and/or community composition can benefit crops. In this study, we manipulated AMF communities in grapevine rootstock and measured plant growth and physiological responses. Glasshouse experiments were set up to determine the interaction between rootstock variety and different AMF communities, using AMF communities originating under their own (i.e., "home") soil and other rootstocks' (i.e., "away") soil. The results revealed that specific AMF communities had differential effects on grapevine rootstock growth and nutrient uptake. It was demonstrated that a rootstock generally performed better in the presence of its own AMF community. This study also showed that AMF spore diversity and the relative abundance of certain species is an important factor as, when present in equal abundance, competition between species was indicated to occur, resulting in a reduction in the positive growth outcomes. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the communities with some AMF communities increasing plant growth and nutrient uptake compared with others. The outcomes also demonstrated that some AMF communities indirectly influenced the chlorophyll content in grapevine leaves through the increase of specific nutrients such as K, Mn, and Zn. The findings also indicated that some AMF species may deliver particular benefits to grapevine plants. This work has provided an improved understanding of community level AMF-grapevine interaction and delivered an increased knowledge of the ecosystem services they provide which will benefit the wine growers and the viticulture industry. [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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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'. 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. 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. 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. 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. Image 1 [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]

The poorly known marine ascomycete Manglicola guatemalensis from Trang and Trat provinces, Thailand, were collected in 2005 and 2006 on the brackish water palm Nypa fruticans. This fungus is known only from two previous collections. This paper reports on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny of this unique marine bitunicate ascomycete. Manglicola guatemalensis has large clavate to obtusely fusiform ascomata, wide ostioles, bitunicate asci, cylindrical, thick-walled, unequally one-septate ascospores, constricted at the septum, apical cell larger, chestnut-brown and a smaller light brown basal cell. Ascospores germinate readily, always from the basal cell. Four isolates from different locations were selected for the phylogenetic study. Regions of the rDNA gene, including SSU and LSU, were sequenced and combined. Molecular data places M. guatemalensis in the Jahnulales with high bootstrap support; all strains are monophyletic. In the combined SSU and LSU analyses the Jahnulales comprises four subclades, A, B, C and D. Subclade A comprises Jahnula species and two anamorphic fungi, Brachiosphaera tropicalis and Xylomyces chlamydosporus. In subclade B Manglicola strains form a sister group of the Aliquandostipite species Aliquandostipite crystallinus, A. khaoyaiensis, Jahnula siamensiae and Patescospora separans. Subclade C comprises Jahnula species, Jahnula aquatica, J. granulosa and J. rostrata, while Megalohypha aqua-dulces constitutes subclade D. Therefore Manglicola forms another lineage of marine fungi. [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 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]