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Fungal pathogens have become an increasingly important topic in recent decades. Yet whilst various cankers and blights have gained attention in temperate woodlands and crops, the scope for fungal pathogens of animals and their potential threat has received far less attention. With a shifting climate, the threat from fungal pathogens is predicted to increase in the future, thus understanding the spread of fungi over landscapes as well as taxa that may be at risk is of particular importance. Cave ecosystems provide potential refugia for various fungi, and roosts for bats. With their well vascularized wings and wide-ranging distributions, bats present potential fungal vectors. Furthermore, whilst bat immune systems are generally robust to bacterial and viral pathogens, they can be susceptible to fungal pathogens, particularly during periods of stress such as hibernation. Here we explore why bats are important and interesting vectors for fungi across landscapes and discuss knowledge gaps that require further research., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the review was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms., (© 2022 The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

While surveying the mycobiomes of dead woody litter in Yunnan Province, China, numerous isolates with affinity to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) were recovered. The present work characterizes two species associated with dead woody twigs found in terrestrial habitats in the Kunming area of Yunnan. The novel taxa were recognized based on a polyphasic approach, including morphological examination and multiple gene phylogenetic analyses (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions). Neokalmusia jonahhulmei sp. nov. is introduced in Didymosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales) as a woody-based saprobic ascomycete that possesses multiloculate ascostromata immersed under a black clypeus-like structure, and three-septate, brown, fusiform, guttulate ascospores. Thyridaria jonahhulmei (Thyridariaceae) is introduced with teleomorphic and anamorphic (coelomycetous) characteristics. The teleomorph has the following characteristics: globose to subglobose ascomata with an ostiolum, a pruinose layer of yellow to reddish- or orange-brown material appearing around the top of the ostiolar necks, and brown, ellipsoid to fusoid, two-to-three-septate, euseptate, rough-walled ascospores; the anamorph features pycnidial conidiomata, phialidic, ampulliform to doliiform, conidiogenous cells, and brown, guttulate, ellipsoidal, aseptate conidia.

During our survey into the diversity of woody litter fungi across the Greater Mekong Subregion, three rhytidhysteron-like taxa were collected from dead woody twigs in China and Thailand. These were further investigated based on morphological observations and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combined DNA data matrix containing SSU, LSU, ITS, and tef 1-α sequence data. A new species of Rhytidhysteron , R.xiaokongense sp. nov. is introduced with its asexual morph, and it is characterized by semi-immersed, subglobose to ampulliform conidiomata, dark brown, oblong to ellipsoidal, 1-septate, conidia, which are granular in appearance when mature. In addition to the new species, two new records from Thailand are reported viz. Rhytidhysterontectonae on woody litter of Betula sp. (Betulaceae) and Fabaceae sp. and Rhytidhysteronneorufulum on woody litter of Tectonagrandis (Lamiaceae). Morphological descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic notes and phylogenetic analyses are provided for all entries., (Guang-Cong Ren, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Rajesh Jeewon, Jutamart Monkai, Peter E. Mortimer, Kevin D. Hyde, Jian-Chu Xu, Heng Gui.)

Three fungal specimens (two sexual and one asexual) were collected during fieldwork conducted in China, Taiwan and Thailand. Both sexual morphs share superficial, black ascomata surrounded by flexuous setae; 8-spored, unitunicate, cylindrical asci, with J+, apical ring, and ellipsoidal to allantoid, aseptate, guttulate ascospores. The asexual morph has ceratosporium-like conidia arising from aerial hyphae with a single arm and are usually attached or with 2-3 arms, brown, often with a subglobose to conical cell at the point of attachment. Morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses of a combined LSU-ITS dataset via maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses indicated that these three collections were new species. Iodosphaeriachiayiensis (sexual morph), I.thailandica (sexual morph) and I.jinghongensis (asexual morph) are therefore introduced as new species in this study. Iodosphaeriachiayiensis has small, hyaline and ellipsoidal to allantoid ascospores, while I.thailandica has large ascomata, cylindrical to allantoid asci and hyaline to pale brown ascospores., (Lakmali S. Dissanayake, Diana S. Marasinghe, Milan C. Samarakoon, Sajeewa S.N. Maharachchikumbura, Peter E. Mortimer, Kevin D. Hyde, Chang-Hsin Kuo, Ji-Chuan Kang.)

Fungi are an understudied resource possessing huge potential for developing products that can greatly improve human well-being. In the current paper, we highlight some important discoveries and developments in applied mycology and interdisciplinary Life Science research. These examples concern recently introduced drugs for the treatment of infections and neurological diseases; application of -OMICS techniques and genetic tools in medical mycology and the regulation of mycotoxin production; as well as some highlights of mushroom cultivaton in Asia. Examples for new diagnostic tools in medical mycology and the exploitation of new candidates for therapeutic drugs, are also given. In addition, two entries illustrating the latest developments in the use of fungi for biodegradation and fungal biomaterial production are provided. Some other areas where there have been and/or will be significant developments are also included. It is our hope that this paper will help realise the importance of fungi as a potential industrial resource and see the next two decades bring forward many new fungal and fungus-derived products., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

During our survey of the diversity of woody litter fungi in China and Thailand, three Hermatomyces species were collected from dead woody twigs of Dipterocarpus sp. (Dipterocarpaceae) and Ehretiaacuminata (Boraginaceae). Both morphology and multigene analyses revealed two taxa as new species ( Hermatomycesturbinatus and H.jinghaensis ) and the remaining collections as new records of H.sphaericus . Hermatomycesturbinatus is characterized by 1) dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and 2) turbinate conidia consisting of two columns with two septa composed of 2-3 cells in each column. Hermatomycesjinghaensis is characterized by dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and clavate or subcylindrical to cylindrical conidia and consisting of one or two columns with 6-8 cells in each column. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS, tub 2, tef 1-α and rpb 2 sequence data supports the placement of these new taxa within Hermatomycetaceae with high statistical support., (Guang-Cong Ren, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Jutamart Monkai, Peter E. Mortimer, Kevin D. Hyde, Jian-Chu Xu, Aimin Pang, Heng Gui.)

Soil fungal communities, which drive many ecosystem processes, vary across soil horizons. However, how fungal communities are influenced by soil horizon layers remains largely unstudied. In this study, soil samples were collected from the organic horizon (O horizon) and mineral matter horizon (M horizon) in two sites of Dabie Mountain, China, and the effects of the two horizons on the soil fungal community composition were assessed based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Our results showed that soil fungal community composition varied with soil horizons, and soil fungal species richness and diversity in the O horizon were significantly higher than that in the M horizon. Total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AHN), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorus (AP) significantly influenced fungal community composition, abundance, and diversity across the two horizons ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, precipitation was found to have a significant effect on fungal community composition. Our results demonstrate changes in fungal communities across soil horizons and highlight the importance of soil organic matter on fungal communities and diversity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Luo, Liu, Shen, Yao, Yang, Mortimer and Gui.)

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula ( Torulaceae ), Scolecoleotia ( Leotiales genus incertae sedis ) and Xenovaginatispora ( Lindomycetaceae ) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis , Cercophora dulciaquae , Cladophialophora aquatica , Coprinellus punjabensis , Cortinarius alutarius , C. mammillatus , C. quercoflocculosus , Coryneum fagi , Cruentomycena uttarakhandina , Cryptocoryneum rosae , Cyathus uniperidiolus , Cylindrotorula indica , Diaporthe chamaeropicola , Didymella azollae , Diplodia alanphillipsii , Dothiora coronicola , Efibula rodriguezarmasiae , Erysiphe salicicola , Fusarium queenslandicum , Geastrum gorgonicum , G. hansagiense , Helicosporium sexualis , Helminthosporium chiangraiensis , Hongkongmyces kokensis , Hydrophilomyces hydraenae , Hygrocybe boertmannii , Hyphoderma australosetigerum , Hyphodontia yunnanensis , Khaleijomyces umikazeana , Laboulbenia divisa , Laboulbenia triarthronis , Laccaria populina , Lactarius pallidozonarius , Lepidosphaeria strobelii , Longipedicellata megafusiformis , Lophiotrema lincangensis , Marasmius benghalensis , M. jinfoshanensis , M. subtropicus , Mariannaea camelliae , Melanographium smilaxii , Microbotryum polycnemoides , Mimeomyces digitatus , Minutisphaera thailandensis , Mortierella solitaria , Mucor harpali , Nigrograna jinghongensis , Odontia huanrenensis , O. parvispina , Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii , Parafuscosporella niloticus , Phaeocytostroma yomensis , Phaeoisaria synnematicus , Phanerochaete hainanensis , Pleopunctum thailandicum , Pleurotheciella dimorphospora , Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense , Pseudodactylaria albicolonia , Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora , Russula paravioleipes , Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi , Seriascoma honghense , Synandromyces makranczyi , Thyridaria aureobrunnea , Torula lancangjiangensis , Tubeufia longihelicospora , Wicklowia fusiformispora , Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora . One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici , Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis , Camarosporidiella laburni , Canalisporium caribense , Chaetoscutula juniperi , Chlorophyllum demangei , C. globosum , C. hortense , Cladophialophora abundans , Dendryphion hydei , Diaporthe foeniculina , D. pseudophoenicicola , D. pyracanthae , Dictyosporium pandanicola , Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus , Ernakulamia tanakae , Eutypa flavovirens , E. lata , Favolus septatus , Fusarium atrovinosum , F. clavum , Helicosporium luteosporum , Hermatomyces nabanheensis , Hermatomyces sphaericoides , Longipedicellata aquatica , Lophiostoma caudata , L. clematidis-vitalbae , Lophiotrema hydei , L. neoarundinaria , Marasmiellus palmivorus , Megacapitula villosa , Micropsalliota globocystis , M. gracilis , Montagnula thailandica , Neohelicosporium irregulare , N. parisporum , Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum , Phaeoisaria aquatica , Poaceascoma taiwanense , Saproamanita manicata , Spegazzinia camelliae , Submersispora variabilis , Thyronectria caudata , T. mackenziei , Tubeufia chiangmaiensis , T. roseohelicospora , Vaginatispora nypae , Wicklowia submersa , Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis . The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© MUSHROOM RESEARCH FOUNDATION 2021.)

In this study a new record of Ganodermatropicum is described as from Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The fruiting body was collected on the base of a living Dipterocarpus tree. The sample is described on the basis of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses, and compared with closely related taxa. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, and RPB2 highly support the placement of the G.tropicum group with isolates from China and Taiwan (Maximum likelihood 100%, Maximum parsimony 100%, and Bayesian posterior probabilities 1.00). The optimal media, pH, and temperature for mycelial growth of the G.tropicum strain KUMCC18-0046 was also investigated and is reported as: PDA, MEA, and YPD, at pH 7-8 and 25-28 °C, respectively. This is the first report on the successful growing conditions for mycelial production, but unfortunately fruiting could not be achieved.

Powdery mildew disease of rubber affects immature green leaves, buds, inflorescences, and other immature tissues of rubber trees, resulting in up to 45% losses in rubber latex yield worldwide. The disease is often controlled by dusting the diseased plants with powdered sulfur, which can have long-term negative effects on the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to search for alternative and environmentally friendly control methods for this disease. This study aimed to identify mycoparasites associated with rubber powdery mildew species, and characterize them on the basis of morpho-molecular characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of ITS rDNA regions. We observed that the Ampelomyces fungus parasitizes rubber powdery mildew, and eventually destroys it. Furthermore, on the basis of phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics we confirmed that the Ampelomyces mycoparasite isolated from rubber powdery mildew is closely related to other mycohost taxa in the Erysiphe genus. A total of 73 (71 retrieved from GenBank and two obtained from fresh collections of rubber powdery mildew fungi) Ampelomyces spp. were analyzed using ITS rDNA sequences and 153 polymorphic sites were identified through haplotypic analyses. A total of 28 haplotypes (H1-H28) were identified to have a complex network of mutation events. The results from phylogenetic tree constructed on the basis of maximum likelihood analyses, and the haplotype network tree revealed similar relationships of clustering pattern. This work presents the first report on morpho-molecular characterization of Ampelomyces species that are mycoparasites of powdery mildew of Hevea brasiliensis .

This study focuses on assessing the impact of sublethal doses of paraquat on the survival, the emergence, the life span and the parasitic behavior of Diaeretiella rapae M'Intosh (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The impact of sublethal doses was measured at room temperature using different densities of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae. The results reveal that the field dose of paraquat caused 100% mortality in D. rapae. The percentage emergence of D. rapae decreased from 80.5% in the control group to 71.5% when treated with the lowest concentration of paraquat. Similarly, the life span of parasitoids that emerged from the mummy treated with paraquat also decreased significantly. Oviposition capability and ovipositor thrusting frequency of D. rapae also treated with sublethal dose paraquat decreased significantly along with a shortened patch residence time in the foraging area.