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Sugarcane orange rust, caused by Puccinia kuehnii, was first described in Java/Indonesia at the end of the nineteenth century. The disease was confined to Asia and Oceania before appearing in the Western Hemisphere at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In the Western Hemisphere, orange rust was first observed in Florida in 2007 and subsequently also diagnosed in Africa (Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire). Although symptoms of the disease were observed in Gabon as early as 2006, the formal molecular identification of the pathogen was never performed. In this study, leaf samples were collected in Gabon in 2022 from four sugarcane varieties displaying typical symptoms of orange rust. The microscopic characteristics of the foliar lesions (uredinia or pustules) and fungal spores taken from these lesions corresponded to the description of P. kuehnii in the literature. DNA was amplified from urediniospores by multiple displacement amplification and used in a PCR assay with primer pair Pk1F/R specific for P. kuehnii. All 12 tested spore samples (three per sugarcane variety) yielded the expected ~ 500 bp DNA fragment and forward sequenced amplicons matched with P. kuehnii in the GenBank database. DNA amplicons from two varieties (FR94129 and Q203) were cloned and sequenced in both directions. The 524–526 nucleotide sequences of eight clones matched at 99.6–100% with sequences of P. kuehnii in the GenBank database. This is the first report of occurrence of P. kuehnii in Gabon based on microscopy and molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Ficus of the family Moraceae, is one of the largest genera of angiosperms, with diverse pharmaceutical applications and biological activities. The traditional approaches based on the morphological traits have been frequently implemented for taxonomical identification of the different taxa of Ficus, however, encompassing these features are quite laborious, due to the dependence of these phenotypic traits on the environmental conditions. So, authenticating the taxonomical identity of the Ficus taxa with molecular barcoding and metabolic profiling, as relatively stable traits, could be a relevant approach for confirming the traditional phenotypic traits of this genus. Nine species of the genus Ficus namely F. amplissima Sm., F. benjamina L. F. binnendijkii, F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. elastica Roxb., F. microcarpa L., F. religiosa L., F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa and F. virens var. sublancelata in Egypt, were selected for this study. From the anatomical features, three species of subsection Urostigma, F. religiosa, F. virens var. sublanceolata have cystoliths on the abaxial layer, whereas in F. amplissima it was on the adaxial layer. The UPGMA dendrogram of the studied Ficus taxa has been generated from the 21 anatomical characters, categorized the studied taxa into two clusters (I and II) of average distance ~ 3.5, each cluster has been further divided into subclusters I and II. The sub-cluster I includes F. religiosa, F. virens var. sublanceolata and F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa were grouped together to subsection Urostigma, while the sub-cluster II of the cluster I includes F. benjamina and F. amplissima. From the DNA barcoding analysis, three clusters I, II and III were emerged, the cluster I includes F. benjamina, F. binnendjikee, and F. amplissima. The cluster II, F. virens var. sublanceolata and F. religiosa that belong to subsection Urostigma, while, the cluster III includes F. elastica and F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. microcarpa that belongs to subsection Conosycea. From the metabolic profiling of Ficus species, the major compounds; H-cycloprop-azulen-7-ol, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, 2-(9-octadecenyloxy), pentadecanoic acid, phytol, sitosterol and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid were the common among the taxa, with an obvious fluctuation, that could be a chemotaxonomic markers for these species of Ficus. Based on the metabolic profiling, two distinct clusters I and II were evolved, the cluster I involve F. elastica, F. benjamina, F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. amplissima, while, the cluster II had F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa and F. religiosa. The fluctuation on the metabolites of the tested Ficus species could be a metabolic fingerprint for each species. So, the delamination of the tested plants based on their anatomical traits was typically matched to the separation based on the ITS sequence analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides information on the morphology, epistemology, and molecular genetics of the cestode species Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (Yamaguti, 1934), which belongs to the genus Schyzocotyle Akhmerov, 1960. This species is a parasite of the digestive systems of the fish Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, Carassius gibelio Linnaeus, 1758, and Channa argus Cantor, 1842, in the water reservoirs of the Khorezm region. As a result of this study, samples of S. acheilognathi found in carp and the silver crucian carp were compared. Differences were detected, accounting for 0.36% of the total nucleotide variation. This variation can be attributed to the interaction of environmental factors affecting the host and the environment in which the helminth resides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, diseases are a major concern in fish production, particularly in gills, which play a crucial role in blood oxygenation, acid-base balance, osmoregulation, and waste elimination. Fungal infections, particularly Branchiomyces, cause respiratory problems in fish. This study aims to determine the causative agent causing high mortality in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in the middle Euphrates in Iraq. One hundred infected fish were sampled for microbial, histological, and molecular examination. Gill tissue was examined as well for histological alterations, and DNA was isolated from Branchiomyces and amplified with universal primers. Microscopically identifying Branchiomyces spp. using lactophenol staining, non-separated hyphae and spores (5-9 m in size) at various stages inside the structures of gill tissue were present. Histopathological examination revealed hyperplasia of epithelial cells and infusion of gill filaments, while primary gill filaments displayed severe hemorrhage and edema. Hyphae of Branchiomyces have been detected between necrotic and edematous myofiber. The ITS PCR products of the fungal isolate were found to be positive at 540 bp molecular weight. Economic losses can occur as a result of fish infections caused by Branchiomyces. Histopathological lesions in gill tissue indicated the presence of Branchiomyces infection, which was confirmed by molecular and microscopical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The genus Ficus of the family Moraceae, is one of the largest genera of angiosperms, with diverse pharmaceutical applications and biological activities. The traditional approaches based on the morphological traits have been frequently implemented for taxonomical identification of the different taxa of Ficus, however, encompassing these features are quite laborious, due to the dependence of these phenotypic traits on the environmental conditions. So, authenticating the taxonomical identity of the Ficus taxa with molecular barcoding and metabolic profiling, as relatively stable traits, could be a relevant approach for confirming the traditional phenotypic traits of this genus. Nine species of the genus Ficus namely F. amplissima Sm., F. benjamina L. F. binnendijkii, F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. elastica Roxb., F. microcarpa L., F. religiosa L., F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa and F. virens var. sublancelata in Egypt, were selected for this study. From the anatomical features, three species of subsection Urostigma, F. religiosa, F. virens var. sublanceolata have cystoliths on the abaxial layer, whereas in F. amplissima it was on the adaxial layer. The UPGMA dendrogram of the studied Ficus taxa has been generated from the 21 anatomical characters, categorized the studied taxa into two clusters (I and II) of average distance ~ 3.5, each cluster has been further divided into subclusters I and II. The sub-cluster I includes F. religiosa, F. virens var. sublanceolata and F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa were grouped together to subsection Urostigma, while the sub-cluster II of the cluster I includes F. benjamina and F. amplissima. From the DNA barcoding analysis, three clusters I, II and III were emerged, the cluster I includes F. benjamina, F. binnendjikee, and F. amplissima. The cluster II, F. virens var. sublanceolata and F. religiosa that belong to subsection Urostigma, while, the cluster III includes F. elastica and F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. microcarpa that belongs to subsection Conosycea. From the metabolic profiling of Ficus species, the major compounds; H-cycloprop-azulen-7-ol, 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, 2-(9-octadecenyloxy), pentadecanoic acid, phytol, sitosterol and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid were the common among the taxa, with an obvious fluctuation, that could be a chemotaxonomic markers for these species of Ficus. Based on the metabolic profiling, two distinct clusters I and II were evolved, the cluster I involve F. elastica, F. benjamina, F. drupacea var. pubescens, F. amplissima, while, the cluster II had F. tinctoria subsp. gibbosa and F. religiosa. The fluctuation on the metabolites of the tested Ficus species could be a metabolic fingerprint for each species. So, the delamination of the tested plants based on their anatomical traits was typically matched to the separation based on the ITS sequence analysis.

Nowadays, diseases are a major concern in fish production, particularly in gills, which play a crucial role in blood oxygenation, acid-base balance, osmoregulation, and waste elimination. Fungal infections, particularly Branchiomyces, cause respiratory problems in fish. This study aims to determine the causative agent causing high mortality in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in the middle Euphrates in Iraq. One hundred infected fish were sampled for microbial, histological, and molecular examination. Gill tissue was examined as well for histological alterations, and DNA was isolated from Branchiomyces and amplified with universal primers. Microscopically identifying Branchiomyces spp. using lactophenol staining, non-separated hyphae and spores (5–9 m in size) at various stages inside the structures of gill tissue were present. Histopathological examination revealed hyperplasia of epithelial cells and infusion of gill filaments, while primary gill filaments displayed severe hemorrhage and edema. Hyphae of Branchiomyces have been detected between necrotic and edematous myofiber. The ITS PCR products of the fungal isolate were found to be positive at 540 bp molecular weight. Economic losses can occur as a result of fish infections caused by Branchiomyces. Histopathological lesions in gill tissue indicated the presence of Branchiomyces infection, which was confirmed by molecular and microscopical examination.

For this molecular genetic research, helminthological samples were collected from the lungs of 17 samples of Pelophylax terentievi (Mezhzherin, 1992) distributed in Kashkadarya and Surkhondarya regions in the spring and summer of 2024. The difference between the nucleotides of the R. engelbrechti_uz (PQ219671) sample belonging to the Rhabdias genus collected from the southern regions of our republic and the R. engelbrechti (MG428406) sample obtained from the NCBI database was 0.4%. Nucleotide sequence obtained as a result of molecular-genetic study of engelbrechti belonging to Rhabdias genus was placed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This species was recorded for the first time to the best of our knowledge in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxobolus nagaraensis is a myxozoan parasite first reported in freshwater gobies (Rhinogobius spp.) from the Nagara River, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Myxospores of M. nagaraensis form plasmodia in the visceral cavities of gobies, commonly presenting as distended abdomens. Although Rhinogobius is a common fish genus in Japan, details of M. nagaraensis, including genetic information, remain unknown. We compared the nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) of M. nagaraensis from three different host species (R. fluviatilis, R. nagoyae, and R. similis) caught in three different rivers in Japan (Sakai, Sagami, and Kaname). The ITS region (ITS-1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS-2) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA exhibited 49 and 55 variable sites, respectively. The highest nucleotide diversity was observed in the ITS region (0.00962), whereas that of the LSU rDNA was 0.00187. Differences in host species, rather than rivers, were a significant factor for genetic variation in both the ITS region (62.58%; P

The American cranberry is a perennial North American fruit plant that is grown successfully on commercial plantations in Poland. The purpose of this study was to recognize filamentous fungi that colonize roots, leaves, and fruits without visible disease symptoms. Pure fungal cultures were isolated from disinfected plant fragments in agar media and identified by sequencing common taxonomic DNA markers such as the ITS region, the TEF-1α, or RPB2 genes. Of the 141 isolates studied, 59% were identified as closely related to soil saprotrophs. They were classified primarily as showing the greatest similarity to type strains of Trichoderma amoenum, Trichoderma dorothopsis, Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa, and Penicillium murcianum. Additionally, isolates that are most similar to strains of Penicillium crustosum, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus versicolor that produced mycotoxins were detected. The fungi identified as closest to Alternaria geophila, Alternaria senecionicola, Paraphoma radicina, Pestalotiopsis unicolor, Pestalotiopsis scoparia, and Neopestalotiopsis spp., whose hosts are plants other than American cranberry, represented 33.81% of the isolates tested. Only 7.2% of the isolates corresponded to the species of Physalospora vaccinia, Diaporthe vaccinii, and Diaporthe eres, known cranberry pathogens. The results of this study can be used to identify latent plant infection and potential disease risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Curvularia consists of important plant pathogens typically associated with major cereals such as rice, wheat, maize, millets and others and poses a threat to the security of the global food supply. In this study, morphological characteristics of fifty-two Curvularia isolates were analyzed, resulting in the segregation of the isolates into 16 distinct groups based on their morphological traits. The study entailed an in-depth characterization of a range of Curvularia species, including Curvularia aeria, Curvularia affinis, Curvularia australiensis, Curvularia borreriae, Curvularia catenulata, Curvularia clavata, Curvularia eragrostidis, Curvularia geniculata, Curvularia inaequalis, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia pallescens, Curvularia prasadii, Curvularia spicifera, Curvularia trifoli, Curvularia tuberculata, and Curvularia verruculosa. The study includes comprehensive descriptions of their colony appearances, conidiophore structures, and conidial characteristics. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis utilizing ITS, LSU, and SSU gene sequences provides valuable insights into the genetic relationships among these isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truffles represent a resource of great value all over the world. The various species are widespread and occupy various habitats. Methods to identify their value in terms of marketing, cultivation, and the ecological–forestal field are needed. The traditional classification of Tuber species is based on their morphology; nevertheless, the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the fruiting body, spores, and ectomycorrhizae may be absent or insufficiently discriminating. This problem is amplified when dealing with valuable truffle species, which are often replaced by truffles with lower organoleptic qualities and commercial value. Today, molecular biology can help to correctly identify them through several widely used methods that are fast, specific, and sensitive. Molecular methods are mostly PCR-based, with primers designed on various targets, genes, or regions widely variable between species but sufficiently conserved within the same species. The DNA regions analyzed for identifying truffles include ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), ribosomal large subunit (LSU), β-tubulin, and EF-α elongation factor. This review summarizes the main and most reliable DNA-based molecular methods for identifying Tuber species. The methods are listed schematically and clearly for quick consultation and use in all areas of study in which monitoring, and verification of the species is essential.

ABSTRACT During screening laboratory mice (Mus musculus) at the Zoology Department of the College of Science, King Saud University, some tiny oxyurid nematodes were detected from the large intestine of these rodents. Worms were identified using morphological and morphometric description. Furthermore, DNA was extracted from worms and subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify 18S rDNA and ITS (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) regions. Worms detected from caecum and colon of mice were detected in 80% of mice investigated. Morphologically, worms showed elongated body with tapered anterior end and narrow posterior part with cuticular annulations. Male worms measured 0.71-1.12 (0.90) long and 0.01-0.12 (0.11) wide. Female worms measured 3.12-5.011 (4.30) long and 0.13-0.29 (0.17) wide. Esophagus followed by intestine which opens at the posterior end via anal opening in females and via cloacal opening in males. Males have a single spicule with a gubernaculum and an accessory hook. Females’ uteri were pack with eggs. Data from 18S rDNA revealed a sequence which was identical to Syphacia obvelata in NCBI GenBank. Similarly, sequences from ITS regions grouped with sequences from S. obvelata confirming the morphological identity of the worm. However, it showed 3 mutations at the ITS2 region from related sequences from S. obvelata at NCBI GenBank.

This study reports on diseased Chelidonichthys spinosus fish that were originally obtained from the Taiwan Strait for exhibition in an aquarium. These fish showed abnormal swimming behavior, eye damage and skin lesions. Gross examination and histopathology revealed that the C. spinosus was suffering from severe nematode infections in the pyloric caeca, liver and mesentery. Marine nematodes from internal organs were verified by partially sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene. Sequencing results revealed that the nematodes shared 99.75% sequence identity with Raphidascaris lophii (GenBank accession No. MW132926). Additionally, secondary Vibrio harveyi infections were also detected in some C. spinosus. This is the first report of R. lophii infection in C. spinosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi colonize the inner tissues and provide direct and indirect benefits to plants. Although Mongolia is rich in medicinal plants, due to climatic and anthropogenic reasons, the resources are being depleted, and many species are under threat of gradual extinction, while the endophytic fungi of Mongolian plants are largely unknown. In this study, a total of 24 culturable endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Cynomorium songaricum (Rupr.), a medicinal and vulnerable plant species of Mongolia. Based on the morphological characteristics and the sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the isolates were identified into six genera: Fusarium (8), Clonostachys (7), Penicillium (6), Alternaria (1), Aspergillus (1), and Madurella (1). The antimicrobial activity was assessed by the agar-diffusion method, revealing that 15 strains were able to inhibit the growth of at least one of the test organisms. Among them, 1 strain showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, 12 against Bacillus subtilis, 13 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 8 against Aspergillus niger, respectively. The ability to solubilize complex phosphorus and zinc minerals was observed in 3 and 21 strains, respectively, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was detected in nine strains in the presence of tryptophan. Our study provides the first insight into the cultivable endophytic fungal composition of C. songaricum, parasitizing the roots of Nitraria sibirica growing in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The resulting fungi, which have antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting properties, were preserved in the national culture collection and can be used to further exploit their biotechnological potential, as well as for the propagation of endangered and vulnerable medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Mulberries (Morus)is a tree species with a considerable plant variety. Molecular techniques are methods used to distinguish between species accurately, easily and quickly. This study examines a Molecular method for distinguishing different Morus species in the Duhok - Kurdistan region/Iraq. The method is based on the use of four techniques: matK gene, the ITS region, PCR-RFLP, and SRAP markers. Twelve Morus species have been selected for this study from different region of Duhok. The ITS region's PCR result was 700 bp, but the matK gene's PCR produce was 900 bp. The same restriction site was found for all utilized cultivars when the 700bp of ITS fragment was used for PCR-RFLP with two restriction enzymes, RsaI GT/AC and HaeIII GG/CC. This study also used six combinations of SRAP markers to aid in grouping and identifying genetic similarities. The results of PCRRFLP demonstrated an insufficient link between Morus physical appearance and genetic traits, but differences across studied cultivars could be identified using SRAP markers. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the possibility of DNA barcoding Morus cultivars, as well as additional sequence analysis and the identification of probable SNP between cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Morphological and molecular data were collected from experimentally reared adult trematodes of Metorchis butoridi, a parasite of the gallbladder of fish-eating birds from the Russian Far East. Phylogenetic relationships within the family Opisthorchiidae were analyzed. The results confirmed that the trematodes under study belong to the genus Metorchis. Some taxonomical issues of the genus are discussed. Adult trematodes of the genus Metorchis were found in the gallbladders of ducklings that had been experimentally fed freshwater fishes of the genera Rhynchocypris and Rhodeus that were naturally infected by Metorchis metacercariae. Some of the trematodes were identified as Metorchis ussuriensis, whose morphology of developmental stages and molecular data had previously been described in detail. The other trematodes were confirmed as species Metorchis butoridi on the basis of morphological features: subterminal oral sucker, vitelline follicles with interrupted bands, and rosette-shaped testes. An analysis of phylogenetic relationships within Opisthorchiidae using nuclear and mitochondrial markers confirmed that the obtained trematodes were actually from the genus Metorchis. The morphological and molecular features indicated that a number of trematodes found in East Asia and described as Metorchis orientalis belong to M. butoridi. Also, the M. orientalis individuals from Europe are, in fact, representatives of another Metorchis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since Mulberries (Morus)is a tree species with a considerable plant variety. Molecular techniques are methods used to distinguish between species accurately, easily and quickly. This study examines a Molecular method for distinguishing different Morus species in the Duhok - Kurdistan region/ Iraq. The method is based on the use of four techniques: matK gene, the ITS region, PCR-RFLP, and SRAP markers. Twelve Morus species have been selected for this study from different region of Duhok. The ITS region's PCR result was 700 bp, but the matK gene's PCR produce was 900 bp. The same restriction site was found for all utilized cultivars when the 700bp of ITS fragment was used for PCR-RFLP with two restriction enzymes, RsaI GT/AC and HaeIII GG/CC. This study also used six combinations of SRAP markers to aid in grouping and identifying genetic similarities. The results of PCR-RFLP demonstrated an insufficient link between Morus physical appearance and genetic traits, but differences across studied cultivars could be identified using SRAP markers. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the possibility of DNA barcoding Morus cultivars, as well as additional sequence analysis and the identification of probable SNP between cultivars.

Pedunculate oak is among the most economically important deciduous forest tree species in Europe and is also a host for many important ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. The aim of this study was to analyse the ECM fungal community in a mature pedunculate oak stand near Morović, Serbia in spring and autumn. ECM fungi were determined by combining morpho-anatomical characterization of ectomycorrhizas with molecular analysis based on PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region of fungal nuclear ribosomal DNA. The number of ECM fungal taxa and the number of different categories of fine roots were counted, diversity indices were calculated, and ECM fungi were classified into exploration types. Twenty-one ECM fungal taxa were recorded in the studied mature pedunculate oak stand, 19 in spring and 13 in autumn. ECM communities consisted of one dominant taxon and a larger number of rare taxa. Lactarius quietus was the most abundant ECM fungus in both seasons which made association with more than half of ECM root tips. At the stand near Morović, contact exploration type (ET) dominated, short-distance ET was less abundant, while medium-distance fringe ET and long-distance ET were rare in both seasons. The most pronounced difference between seasons is recorded in the number of ECM fungal taxa. The number of ECM fungal taxa and diversity indices recorded in the studied pedunculate oak stand were lower or similar compared to values obtained in stands of oak species across Europe.

Pomegranate is a tree species with a significant plant diversity, therefore molecular methods are necessary to define and verify approaches to recognize rapidly and correctly. This research looks at a genetic strategy for identifying pomegranate varieties in Duhok KRG. The approach is based on application of ITS region, PCR-RFLP, sequencing and SNP identification. For this study, 14 pomegranate accessions were taken from various regions, namely the Center of Duhok, Amedi, Akre, Zaxo, the South of Duhok, and Sulav. The PCR product of the 18S–28S rDNA intergenic spacer was 854bp, and the sequence analysis revealed a 99.94 percent similarity with other accession numbers in NCBI, demonstrating the use of the 18S–28S rDNA intergenic spacer for identifying and barcoding pomegranate cultivars. The PCR product of the ITS region was 700bp. This result was then employed for PCR-RFLP using two restriction enzymes namely RsaI GT/AC and HaeIII GG/CC which helped grouping as well as genetic similarities. This study Further involved sequencing examined genes were compared using the NCBI BLASTn tool and clustalo (Version 1.2.4) to determine gene location and SNP. According to this study, the result of PCR-RFLP revealed poor association between pomegranate physical morphology and genetic features, while SNP identification was identified between studied cultivars. Moreover, this result showed possible DNA barcoding of pomegranate cultivars under the study.

Microeukaryotes are vital for maintaining soil quality and ecosystem functioning, however, their communities are less studied than bacterial and fungal ones, especially by high throughput sequencing techniques. Alveolates are important members of soil microbial communities, being consumers and/or prey for other microorganisms. We studied alveolate diversity in soil under the undisturbed steppe (US) and cropped for wheat using two tillage practices (conventional, CT, and no-till, NT) by amplifying the ITS2 marker with ITS3_KYO2/ITS4 primers and sequencing amplicons using Illumina MiSeq. A total of 198 Alveolata OTUs were identified, with 158 OTUs attributed to the Ciliophora phylum, containing five classes: Litostomatea, Spirotrichea and Oligohymenophorea, Nassophorea and Phyllopharyngea. Litostomatea and Phyllopharyngea were more abundant in US as compared with CT and NT. The observed OTU richness was higher in US than in CT and NT. The β-biodiversity of soil ciliates also very distinctly differentiated the US field from CT and NT. In the US, Nassophorea and Spirotrichea correlated positively with sand and negatively with clay, silt and SOM contents. This is the first report about soil ciliates diversity in Siberia as assessed by metabarcoding technique. The revealed clear effect of land use on the relative abundance of some taxa and a lack of tillage effect suggest the importance of the quantity and quality of plant material input for shaping the prey for ciliates. The ITS-metabarcoding technique was used for the first time in the research of ciliates diversity; further studies, embracing diverse aspects of soil ciliates by combining -omics methodology with the traditional one, are needed to get a better insight on the ecological roles of the main ciliate taxa in the complex soil system.

The endophytic fungi present in needles of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus pinaster, Pinus nigra, Pinus taeda and Pinus radiata were investigated in Kerpe Research Forest, İzmit in 2016. Ten trees of each pine species were sampled systematically. Previous years green needles were sampled from the lower part of the canopy, from two equally spaced positions around the tree. Each needle was surface sterilized and cut into 0.5 cm sections then individually placed onto malt extract agar plates. DNA was ex-tracted from reprensentative seven isolates and amplified using primers ITS1 and ITS4 targeting the nuclear 5.8S rDNA gene and the two ITS regions flanked between 18S and 28S rDNA genes. Amplicons sequenced in both directions using the univer-sal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS4. Isolations from a total of 1000 needles (200 from each pine species) yielded 750 fungal isolates. Pestalotiopsis funerea (Desm.) Steyaert was isolated at the highest frequency followed by Acremonium sp., Cladio-sporum sp. and Cyclaneusma minus.

Fungus is the most important disease-causing biotic factor on earth. The study of their genetic diversity is very important for their management and control. For studying Ascochyta rabiei on chickpea blight chickpea samples caused by Ascochyta rabiei were collected and disease-causing organisms were isolated from infected plant parts and their ITS region was sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed that A. rabiei is the causal pathogen of this blight disease. Phylogenetic analysis suggested great diversity among these isolates of A. rabiei. The results confirm that A. rabiei strains collected from Bannu and Lakki Marwat have genetic similarities but are different from other isolated strains of the same species. Similarly, studied strains from Kamber, Shadat Kot, and Larkana. Khairpur and Bhakkar were also similar. However, strains from Khushab and Mianwali showed genetic differences from each other. The current research also reports the plant-mediated synthesis of ZnO NPs via the plant extract of Thevetia peruviana. The ZnO NPs were characterized through UV, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, EDX, and the size of the nanoparticle of 28 nm was calculated. The prepared nanoparticle was used for the antifungal activity against the most severe strain of A. rabiei. The Biosynthesis of ZnO NPs by plant assets is an eco-friendly, consistent process and appropriate for extensive production.

The American cranberry is a perennial North American fruit plant that is grown successfully on commercial plantations in Poland. The purpose of this study was to recognize filamentous fungi that colonize roots, leaves, and fruits without visible disease symptoms. Pure fungal cultures were isolated from disinfected plant fragments in agar media and identified by sequencing common taxonomic DNA markers such as the ITS region, the TEF-1α, or RPB2 genes. Of the 141 isolates studied, 59% were identified as closely related to soil saprotrophs. They were classified primarily as showing the greatest similarity to type strains of Trichoderma amoenum, Trichoderma dorothopsis, Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa, and Penicillium murcianum. Additionally, isolates that are most similar to strains of Penicillium crustosum, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus versicolor that produced mycotoxins were detected. The fungi identified as closest to Alternaria geophila, Alternaria senecionicola, Paraphoma radicina, Pestalotiopsis unicolor, Pestalotiopsis scoparia, and Neopestalotiopsis spp., whose hosts are plants other than American cranberry, represented 33.81% of the isolates tested. Only 7.2% of the isolates corresponded to the species of Physalospora vaccinia, Diaporthe vaccinii, and Diaporthe eres, known cranberry pathogens. The results of this study can be used to identify latent plant infection and potential disease risks.

The present study, initially to resolve the cryptic species within Corollospora maritima, is to determine how to attain taxonomic discrimination at species and generic levels. Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) of the ITS, 28S, and 18S regions of the nuclear ribosomal cistron were separately subjected to pairwise distance assessments, Bayesian, and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses. Morphological descriptions of 15 type strains of Corollospora species, along with MSAs involving representatives of the whole genus Corollospora (268 isolates, many from C. maritima sensu lato) totaling 355 published sequences, allowed phylogenetic assessments conducted to the following p-distance thresholds in the ITS/28S regions: ≥3%/1% for species segregation and ≥8%/2% for generic segregation. This resulted in the introduction of 10 new genera encompassing 13 new combinations of current Corollospora species: Ajigaurospora pseudopulchella, Corollosporella anglusa, Corollosporella ramulosa, Corollosporopsis portsaidica, Garethelia parvula, Honshuriella fusca, Keraliethelia pulcehlla, Nakagariella filiformis, Paracorollospora angusta, Paracorollospora luteola, Paracorollospora marina, Shirahamella gracilis, and Tokuratelia colossa. Furthermore, seven undefined genera considered putative new genera (pNGenus A to G), and 16 undefined putative new species (seven spp. come from the resolution of the C. maritima complex), await re-assessment of their morphology and additional molecular data, which may result in the recognition of new taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the use of fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides in order to limit environmental pollution and health risks for agricultural operators and consumers is one of the goals of European regulations. In fact, the European Commission developed a package of measures (the European Green Deal) to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and strengthen the resilience of European agri-food systems. As a consequence, new plant protection products, such as biostimulants, have been proposed as alternatives to agrochemicals. Their application in agroecosystems could potentially open new scenarios regarding the microbiota. In particular, the vineyard microbiota and the microbiota on the grape surface can be affected by biostimulants and lead to different wine features. The aim of this work was to assess the occurrence of a possible variation in the mycobiota due to the biostimulant application. Therefore, our attention has been focused on the yeast community of grape bunches from vines subjected to the phytostimulant BION®50WG treatment. This work was carried out in the CREA-VE experimental vineyard of Vitis vinifera cv. Barbera in Asti (Piedmont, Italy). The composition of fungal communities on grapes from three experimental conditions such as IPM (integrated pest management), IPM+BION®50WG, and IPM+water foliar nebulization was compared by a metabarcoding approach. Our results revealed the magnitude of alpha and beta diversity, and the microbial biodiversity index and specific fungal signatures were highlighted by comparing the abundance of yeast and filamentous fungi in IPM and BION®50WG treatments. No significant differences in the mycobiota of grapevines subjected to the three treatments were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: Twelve taxa of herbaceous Paeonia species were recorded in Türkiye. All definitions were performed morphologically and/or anatomically and there is no study based on DNA barcode sequences. Three barcode regions were sequenced to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Turkish Paeonia taxa. The chemical comparison of roots was also investigated. Methods and results: The taxons were collected between May and June 2021 from nine cities. Leaf materials were used for DNA isolation and ITS, matK and rbcL regions were amplified and sequenced. There was no difference among taxa in terms of rbcL sequences. But the ITS and matK regions distinguished 12 taxa and structured them in two groups. ITS region distinguished P. peregrina, P. arietina, and P. tenuifolia from other taxa, while matK region distinguished P. arietina and P. witmanniana from other taxa. Both barcode sequences actually showed that the registration of P. mascula subsp. arasicola was actually 100% similar to P. arietina. ITS was the most polymorphic region (n = 54) followed by matK (n = 9). These sequences could successfully discriminate Paoenia species from each other and diploid P. tenuifolia. The methanolic root (100 gr) extracts were examined for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities. Significant variation was found for polyphenolic content, and antioxidant properties (TPC from 204.23 to 2343.89 mg, TFC from 7.73 to 66.16 mg, and FRAP from 523.81 to 4338.62 mg). SC50 values of ABTS and DPPH were ranged from 115.08 to 1115.52 μg/ml and 73.83 to 963.59 μg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that 11 of 12 taxa had differences in terms of ITS and matK sequences and these region must be used for the correct identification of Turkish Paeonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Green algal blooms by Cladophora species are primarily reported in freshwater and coastal regions and cause severe ecological problems. A taxonomic report of the geographic distribution of Cladophora blooms is essential to explore the cause and impact of macroalgal blooms and for eco‐physiological studies. The identification of blooming species is necessary for monitoring and controlling algal blooms. Genetic information of DNA sequences is useful for identifying species in the genus Cladophora. In the coastal area of Sangrok, Korea, a large‐scale Cladophora bloom was reported for the first time in September 2015. In the present study, we identified the taxonomic entity of Cladophora oligocladoidea (Ulvophyceae, Cladophorales) in Korea. We report for the first time a green algal bloom by this species globally. This is the second report about genetic diversity of C. oligocladoidea since the species was established in Japan. Four ribotypes in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA represent the genetic diversity of Korean C. oligocladoidea. The results from this taxonomic report and our analysis of the green algal bloom of Korean C. oligocladoidea can provide valuable data to understand the geographic distribution and the genetic diversity of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil salinization has led to degradation of agricultural soils that negatively impact crop growth and production. Crops which are sensitive to salinity gets affected severely by soil salinity. The endophyte aid their host to survive in harsh environmental conditions by adapting to environment along with host plant. With this background the study was conducted to evaluate the fungal endophytes isolated from the plants of North western Himalayan region to impart salinity stress tolerance in mung bean. Out of forty-eight fungal endophytes screened four were salt tolerant and they were identified as Ulocladium sp., Fusarium avenaceum, Chaetomium sp. and F. tricinctum. The fungal endophytes Fusarium avenaceum found superior over other endophytes in imparting salinity stress tolerance in Mung bean. The effect of fungal endophytes on seedling growth was more pronounced under salinity stress condition than in non-stress conditions. Under pot experiment the plants inoculated with Fusarium avenaceum recorded higher plant growth, yield and physiological parameters. Thus, the fungus was found as potential endophyte for imparting salinity stress tolerance in mung bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podocarpus is the most dominant genus of Podocarpaceae, with higher taxonomical proximity to the Taxaceae, having numerous pharmaceutical applications, however, scarce studies dealing with the physiological and metabolic criteria of Podocarpus in Egypt were reported. Thus, the objective of this work was to assess the physiological and metabolical patterns of the different species of Podocarpus; P. gracilior, P. elongates, P. macrophyllus and P. neriifolius. The highest terpenoids contents were reported in P. neriifolius, followed by P. elongatus, and P. macrophyllus. P. gracilior had the highest antioxidants amount, followed by P. macrophyllus, P. neriifolius and P. elongatus. From the GC/MS metabolic profiling, caryophyllene, β-cadinene, β-cuvebene, vitispirane, β-cadinene and amorphene were the most dominant metabolites in P. gracilior. β-Caryophyllene was the common in P. gracilior, P. elongatus, P. macrophyllus and P. neriifolius with an obvious fluctuation. The plant methanolic extracts have an obvious activity against the multidrug resistant bacteria; E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. pyogenes and S. aureus, and fungi; A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger and C. albicans in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest Taxol yield was assessed in the extracts of P. elongatus (16.4 μg/gdw), followed by P. macrophyllus, and P. neriifolius. The chemical identity of Taxol derived from P. elongatus was resolved by LC/MS, with molecular mass 854.6 m/z, and similar structural fragmentation pattern of the authentic one. The highest antitumor activity of P. elongatus extracted Taxol was assessed towards HCT-116 (30.2 μg/ml), HepG-2 (53.7 μg/ml) and MCF-7 (71.8 μg/ml). The ITS sequence of P. elongatus “as potent Taxol producer” was deposited on Genbank with accession #ON540734.1, that is the first record of Podocarpus species on Genbank.

Endophytic fungi colonize the inner tissues and provide direct and indirect benefits to plants. Although Mongolia is rich in medicinal plants, due to climatic and anthropogenic reasons, the resources are being depleted, and many species are under threat of gradual extinction, while the endophytic fungi of Mongolian plants are largely unknown. In this study, a total of 24 culturable endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Cynomorium songaricum (Rupr.), a medicinal and vulnerable plant species of Mongolia. Based on the morphological characteristics and the sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the isolates were identified into six genera: Fusarium (8), Clonostachys (7), Penicillium (6), Alternaria (1), Aspergillus (1), and Madurella (1). The antimicrobial activity was assessed by the agar-diffusion method, revealing that 15 strains were able to inhibit the growth of at least one of the test organisms. Among them, 1 strain showed inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, 12 against Bacillus subtilis, 13 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 8 against Aspergillus niger, respectively. The ability to solubilize complex phosphorus and zinc minerals was observed in 3 and 21 strains, respectively, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was detected in nine strains in the presence of tryptophan. Our study provides the first insight into the cultivable endophytic fungal composition of C. songaricum, parasitizing the roots of Nitraria sibirica growing in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The resulting fungi, which have antimicrobial and plant growth-promoting properties, were preserved in the national culture collection and can be used to further exploit their biotechnological potential, as well as for the propagation of endangered and vulnerable medicinal plants.

Objectives: Endophytic fungi are widely known to reside in plant tissues causing no harm to host plants or even no noticeable change. They may colonize host plants for a part of their life cycle or may complete the entire life cycle since host provide a variety of novel metabolites. Despite being in a close relationship with medicinal host plants, the diversity and metabolic spectrum of endophytic fungi have not been researched well. Their diversity and ecological niche as plant symbionts make them attractive targets in the search for novel biochemicals. Methods: We aimed to isolate, purify, and characterize the endophytic fungal population of medicinal host plants cultivated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The goal was achieved through morphological identification and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions in rRNA analyses to determine phylogeny and diversity. Three aromatic and medicinal plants Jasminum sambac, Camellia sinensis, and Ocimum basilicum collected from the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia were investigated. In total, 84 isolates were purified and they were grouped into 20 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) as per their sequences of ITS regions in rRNA. Results: Twenty species of endophytic fungi were grouped in 12 genera i.e. Neopestalotiopsis, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Myrothecium, Chaetomium, Alternaria, Phoma, Curvularia, Cladosporium, Neodidymelliopsis, and Aspergillus and all isolates belonged to Ascomycota phylum. J. sambac was found dominant among other and had a relative frequency of 27%. C. sinensis was next with 18.7% relative frequency. The diversity was prominently recorded in leaf organs over stem and roots while roots exhibited the lowest diversity. Isolates also produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase enzyme, and siderophores with variable magnitudes that could be assigned to their wide range of metabolic variations from species to species. Conclusion: Conclusively, J. sambac, C. sinensis, and O. basilicum are a good source of endophytic fungi with certain plant growth-promoting traits. Overall, Alternaria was found as the most predominant genus in terms of colonization rate. Further deternminations are required to screen the beneficial compounds released by these endophytic fungi.

Phlebopus portentosus is a popular wild edible mushroom that is found growing on both forest trees and fruit trees. Because it can grow either with various trees or without a host tree, it is reported that it is not a mycorrhizal fungus and may not be an obligate ectomycorrhizae. Furthermore, it was recognized that P. portentosus can be found in association with leguminous plants, such as Sesbania javanica Miq. The aims of this study were to cultivate P. portentosus with bioinoculants in solid and liquid forms and track the ectomycorrhizal association with Sesbania javanica Miq. A pure mycelium culture of this fungus was isolated, and the growth parameters, temperature, medium pH, and types of medium were examined. The mycelium grew very well on synthetic media such as MPDA and YM. The optimum pH and temperature were pH 4 and 30o C, respectively. Bioinoculants of P. portentosus were inoculated on seedbeds of Sesbania javanica Miq. After inoculation, ectomycorrhizal-like roots were found at 6 months, and sporocarps were found at 8.5 months. To prove this, the ITS rDNA sequences were aligned, and the results revealed that all sequences of the ectomycorrhizal-like root tips and sporocarps that developed on seedbeds of S. javanica Miq. and black bolete used as a bioinoculant were 100% identical to those of P. portentosus MN962534 (GenBank database). This finding indicates that P. portentosus can form ectomycorrhizae with S. javanica Miq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report on the autumn-flowering species Crocus speciosus, belonging to C. ser. Speciosi from the Bulgarian flora. The species was found in Southeastern Bulgaria, in the area between Ahtopol and Rezovo. Re-examining the Bulgarian collections, the earliest specimen was collected in 1975, was probably overlooked, and most likely determined as C. pulchellus. The nearest known localities of the species are on the territory of Türkiye. In this study, we compared C. pulchellus and C. ibrahimii using DNA sequence data from the nuclear ITS1/2 region and morphological features. Our study showed a close relationship between the specimens from Bulgaria and the recently deposited data of C. speciosus and their separation from the closely related C. pulchellus. Together with the previously cited white anthers as a key feature for determination, the molecular data confirmed a clear distinction between the samples with white anthers in the two species. The morphological data of our taxon overlapped with the description of C. ibrahimii. The molecular data strongly supported the affiliation of C. speciosus s.l., but did not support the recognition of C. ibrahimii as a separate species and it should be referred to as a subspecies of C. speciosus subsp. ibrahimii Rukšāns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwi is one of the best natural sources of vitamin C and has wide applications. During October–November 2021, small brown spots were examined on the Kiwi leaves. The diseased leaf samples were collected and placed on potato dextrose agar nutrient media for diagnosis. Morphological, anatomical, and molecular studies revealed this disease-causing agent to be Rhizopus oryzae. Molecular characterizations of the isolated pathogen were performed by using actin translation elongation factor (EF-1α) and ribosomal deoxyribose nucleotide inter transcribed sequence (rDNA ITS ITS1/ITS4) and elongation factors (EFl-F/EFl-R) primers. A BLAST study of the resultant ITS1/ITS4 sequence showed > 99% resemblance with R. oryzae (MT603964.1), while the EF-1α sequence revealed 100% similarity with translation elongation factor-1α gene of R. oryzae (MK510718.1). The obtained ITS1/ITS4 sequence was submitted to NCBI (MW603842.1). Koch's postulates established the pathogenicity of isolated R. oryzae and proved it to be the brown spot pathogen of Kiwi. For the environmentally-friendly management of Kiwi leaf spot, maize biochar-Zinc Oxide (MB-ZnO) nanocomposite was used. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermo gravitational analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. After successful preparation, MB-ZnO was assessed for its possible antifungal potential against R. oryzae. MB-ZnO displayed substantial growth inhibition, and the highest growth inhibition (79%) was observed at a 19 mg/mL dose rate of nanoparticles. These excellent findings propose that Ball-milled synthesis is a fast, economical, and environmentally friendly method for nanocomposite in the near future. The nanocomposite is used as a nominal substitute for chemical fungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult trematodes of the genus Metorchis were found in the gallbladders of ducklings that had been experimentally fed freshwater fishes of the genera Rhynchocypris and Rhodeus that were naturally infected by Metorchis metacercariae. Some of the trematodes were identified as Metorchis ussuriensis, whose morphology of developmental stages and molecular data had previously been described in detail. The other trematodes were confirmed as species Metorchis butoridi on the basis of morphological features: subterminal oral sucker, vitelline follicles with interrupted bands, and rosette-shaped testes. An analysis of phylogenetic relationships within Opisthorchiidae using nuclear and mitochondrial markers confirmed that the obtained trematodes were actually from the genus Metorchis. The morphological and molecular features indicated that a number of trematodes found in East Asia and described as Metorchis orientalis belong to M. butoridi. Also, the M. orientalis individuals from Europe are, in fact, representatives of another Metorchis species.

Protea (Protea cynaroides L.) is one of the most important ornamental plants commercially cultivated in Turkey and other parts of the world. In May 2017, protea plants heavily showed wilting symptoms were obtained from the protea growing areas at Hatay province of Turkey. Brown vascular tissue in the stems of the infected plants was observed. To determine the causal agent of the disease, necrotic tissue pieces taken from diseased plants were surface-sterilized with 10% sodium hypochlorite, two times rinsed with sterile distilled water, placed on Petri dishes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 24 oC for seven days. Microconidia were no septate, ovoid, hyaline, single-celled, and 9 to 12 × 1 to 3 μm. Macroconidia were slightly curved, four to six septate, and 27 to 31 × 3 to 5 μm. Based on the morphology and cultural features, the fungus was identified as F. incarnatum, which belongs to the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC). In addition, a pathogenicity test was made using the apple fruits. The pathogen was re-isolated from inoculated apple fruits and both cultural and morphological characteristics of the pathogen were identical. To confirm the identity of one representative isolate, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region including 5.8S rDNA was amplified and sequenced with primers of ITS-1 and ITS-4. Fusarium MLST, Fusarium-ID and GenBank database were used for the identification of sequence. The amplified 465 bp product has 99% nucleotide identity with the sequences of F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex of MLST types and deposited in GenBank under accession number (MH005097). According to the literature, this is the first molecular identification of F. incarnatum on protea plants in Turkey.

Carpinus is a genus of the family Betulaceae that comprises 42 species worldwide. Moreover, more than a third of total Caspian forests are occupied by C. betulus and it has an important role in slope stabilizing. C. orientalis, commonly known as oriental hornbeam, is a small tree or often shrub, rarely over 10 m tall, and a major pioneer species on slopes in shallow humus-poor or rocky soils. This species is distributed from southeastern Europe to the north of Iran, from west to easternmost of the Hyrcanian forest. Due to their peculiar and beautiful fruit cluster, some hornbeams are used as important ornamental plants. Taxonomy of this genus has always been problematic in Iran and the number of species ranges from 2 to 4 in different taxonomic literature. In the current study, we applied morphometric (PCA and cluster analyses) and molecular (ITS region) approaches to delineate the species boundary of the genus in Iran. Thirty-six quantitative and qualitative characters were used for morphological analyses. The PCA plot of morphological data divided the studied population into three groups. However, the cluster analysis revealed two major groups. Moreover, Iranian species of the genus Carpinus formed two distinct clades in the molecular analyses. The results of the present study showed that there are two Carpinus species in Iran, including C. betulus and C. orientalis with two subspecies and C. schuschaensis is introduced as a synonym for C. orientalis subsp. macrocarpa. In addition, the intraspecific morphological diversity has blurred species boundaries.

Although oaks belong to the economically most important hardwood tree species in Europe, data on the diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi on pedunculate oak in the Republic of Serbia are deficient. The aim of our study was to give the first insight into the diversity of ECM fungi in the young stand of pedunculate oak in Morović, Serbia. The combination of morpho-anatomical characterization and molecular analysis was used for determination of ECM fungi on penduculate oak. Studied parameters included: (i) counting of vital ECM root tips, (ii) calculation of diversity indices and (iii) classification of morphotypes of ectomycorrhizae into the exploration types. Eighteen ECM fungal taxa were recorded in the studied young pedunculate oak stand. Seven of them were identified to the level of species, eight fungi to the genus, two to the family level, and one ECM fungus remained unidentified. ECM communities consisted of a small number of abundant taxa and a bigger number of rare taxa. The most abundant ECM fungi were Entoloma sp., Thelephoraceae sp., Russula cf. odorata and Russula lilacea, which made association with the majority of ECM root tips. Short-distance exploration type (ET) dominated, followed by medium-distance smooth ET and contact ET, while long-distance ET and medium-distance fringe ET were rare at the Morović site. Values of diversity indices obtained in the studied pedunculate oak stand were comparable to the ones recorded in different oak stands over Europe. In order to get a deeper insight into the diversity of ECM fungi on pedunculate oak there is a need to continue research on increased number of sites and also to include seasonal dynamics.

In order to understand the use of micro farming specific local bio-control agents against the foliar pathogens, twenty-one Trichoderma isolates were collected from different cropping locations of Karnataka. In morphological characterization: all colonies were appeared dark green with flat, even/uneven growth with 2–4 concentric rings and sporulation was observed after 2–4 days after inoculation on potato dextrose agar medium. The length × width of conidia and phialides varied from 2.5–4.6 μm × 2.5–4.6 μm and 6–11.3 μm × 2–3.5 μm respectively. In Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of 5.8S-ITS region was amplified using ITS-4 and 5. These results assisted in species identification and classified into five clades (T. harzianum: 11, T. asperellum; 5, T. virde; 2, T. virens; 2 and T. longibrachiatum; 1). Further, in antagonistic activity, RMlO exhibited highest growth inhibition of Asperisporium caricae (96.30%), Pyricularia oryzae (97.03%) and Bipolaris oryzae (100%)) significantly over the commercial isolate (A. caricae (85.93%); P. oryzae (89.38%) and B. oryzae (91.92%)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was aimed to study the sequence, phylogenetic and haplotype analyses of Toxocara cati based on the ITS region, along with the genetic diversity, demographic history and population-genetic structure. The maximum likelihood tree based on Kimura 2-parameter model was constructed using the complete ITS region of all the nucleotide sequences (n = 57) of Toxocara spp. and other related ascarid worms available in the GenBank™. It placed all the sequences of T. cati into four major clades designated as T. cati genotypes 1–4 (TcG1–G4). A total of 66 signature nucleotides were identified in the ITS region between genotypes. The median-joining haplotype network displayed a total of 24 haplotypes, with China exhibiting the highest number of haplotypes (h = 20) followed by India (h = 4), and Japan and Russia (h = 1). It indicated a clear distinction between all the four genotypes. The pairwise FST values between all the genotypes indicated huge genetic differentiation (> 0.25) between different T. cati genotypes. Moreover, the gene flow (Nm) between T. cati genotypes was very low. Results of AMOVA revealed higher genetic variation between genotypes (92.82%) as compared to the variation within genotypes (7.18%). The neutrality indices and mismatch distributions for the G1–G4 genotypes, Indian isolates and the overall dataset of T. cati indicated either a constant population size or a slight population increase. The geographical distribution of all the genotypes of T. cati is also reported. This is the first report of genotyping of T. cati on the basis of the ITS region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of Thlaspi s.l. is still problematic. Earlier phylogenetic research of the genus focused on several small groups within Thlaspi s.str. and lacked detailed morphological observations. The relationships among Eurasian taxa and the value of fruit morphology in defining them have yet to be studied. The aim of this study was to analyze 22 taxa belonging to the Nomisma, Thlaspi and Pterotropis sections of Thlaspi s.l. from Turkey using maximum likelihood (ML) analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. We also analyzed the morphological features of the fruit. According to the results, the examined taxa fell into 2 main clades. Moreover, clade II showed 3 sub-clusters. Thlaspi huetii and T. aghricum were the most distant taxa with a distance of 0.49%; however, T. ochroleucum and T. violascens were found to be 99% similar. According to ITS region data based on multiple populations of each taxon, T. arvense, T. huetii, T. perfoliatum, T. violascens, T. cataonicum, T. elegans, T. rosulare and T. aghricum were placed together in one cluster, which indicates that they are monophyletic. Thlaspi elegans was found to be a polyploid complex based on bootstrap (BS) (a resampling technique that uses replacement sampling to estimate statistics in a population) values, which varied widely among the studied T. elegans taxa (98, 65 and 49%). Fruit morphology also supported the inter-specific relationships based on molecular data, and relationships found by ITS region data were compatible with fruit type and geographic distribution. A diagnostic key based on fruit morphology is provided for the identification of the examined Thlaspi taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most valuable oilseed crops in the world. It is not only an oil seed crop and feed for livestock, but also valuable mineral and vitamins sources for the human diet. The soybean yield is affected by various biotic and abiotic stress factors in all growing seasons. Diseases are one of the most significant biotic factors that reduce soybean growth and yield. Fungi are important pathogens affecting yield and quality by attacking plants during the growth period and after harvest. This study was conducted to detect and identify the seed-borne fungi associated with the soybean seed. From this context, 150 soybean seeds were randomly chosen from the experimental fields of Akdeniz University in Antalya province of Turkey. These seeds were sterilized with 70% ethanol for 1 min, followed by 10% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min and then rinsed with sterile water and then placed in Petri plates by using the agar plate method. A total of four seedborne fungi species namely Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp. and Fusarium spp. were isolated from the soybean seeds. Additionally, Genomic DNAs of these fungal species were extracted and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA was amplified with the ITS-1 and ITS-4 primers using a thermal cycler. After sequencing of amplified products, the sequences were aligned. BLASTn analysis of each sequence showed that the sequences of the fungi had the similarity (99%) to the fungal isolates deposited in the GenBank.

The present study, initially to resolve the cryptic species within Corollospora maritima, is to determine how to attain taxonomic discrimination at species and generic levels. Multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) of the ITS, 28S, and 18S regions of the nuclear ribosomal cistron were separately subjected to pairwise distance assessments, Bayesian, and Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses. Morphological descriptions of 15 type strains of Corollospora species, along with MSAs involving representatives of the whole genus Corollospora (268 isolates, many from C. maritima sensu lato) totaling 355 published sequences, allowed phylogenetic assessments conducted to the following p-distance thresholds in the ITS/28S regions: ≥3%/1% for species segregation and ≥8%/2% for generic segregation. This resulted in the introduction of 10 new genera encompassing 13 new combinations of current Corollospora species: Ajigaurospora pseudopulchella, Corollosporella anglusa, Corollosporella ramulosa, Corollosporopsis portsaidica, Garethelia parvula, Honshuriella fusca, Keraliethelia pulcehlla, Nakagariella filiformis, Paracorollospora angusta, Paracorollospora luteola, Paracorollospora marina, Shirahamella gracilis, and Tokuratelia colossa. Furthermore, seven undefined genera considered putative new genera (pNGenus A to G), and 16 undefined putative new species (seven spp. come from the resolution of the C. maritima complex), await re-assessment of their morphology and additional molecular data, which may result in the recognition of new taxa.

In spring 2018, melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants with wilting of the leaves and dry rot of the crowns were observed in Dashti county, Bushehr province, southern Iran. Nine fungal isolates were recovered from the symptomatic crowns. Based on the morphological characteristics and DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA gene, the fungus was identified as Paramyrothecium foliicola L. Lombard and Crous. The pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed on melon under greenhouse conditions to fulfil the Koch's postulates. Host range determination showed except for pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.), several other cucurbit crops exhibited high disease incidence. To our knowledge, this is the first report of crown dry rot of melon caused by P. foliicola in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and classification of strains of Acanthamoeba, a potentially pathogenic ubiquitous free-living amoeba, are largely based on the analysis of 18S rDNA sequences, currently delineating 23 genotypes, T1 to T23. In this study, the sequences of the ITS region, i.e., the 5.8S rDNA and the two internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2), and those of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA of Acanthamoeba were recovered from amoeba genomes; the sequences are available in GenBank. The complete ITS–LSU sequences could be obtained for 15 strains belonging to 7 distinct lineages (T4A, T4D, T4F, T4G, T2, T5, and T18), and the site of the hidden break producing the 26Sα and 26Sβ was identified. For the other lines, either the LSU is partial (T2/T6, T7) or the ITS is fragmentary (T7, T10, T22). It is noteworthy that a number of sequences assigned to fungi turned out to actually be Acanthamoeba, only some of which could be affiliated with known genotypes. Analysis of the obtained sequences indicates that both ITS and LSU are promising for diagnostic and phylogenetic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]