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A new subgenus, Pidostria subgen. nov., is described in Podistra Motschulsky, 1839 for a North American member of the genus, all the remaining subgenera thus become confined to the Palaearctic region. The new taxon is retained in Podistra due to the structure of its aedeagus, despite the differences in such morphological characters, as elytral vestiture, shape of ultimate palpomeres and protarsal claw dent. Pseudoabsidia Wittmer, 1969, syn. nov. is proposed as a new synonym of Podistra. Podistra (Absidia) pentheri Ganglbauer, 1922 is transferred to Pakabsidia Wittmer, 1972 as Pakabsidia pentheri (Ganglbauer, 1922), comb. nov. Podistra longicornis Wittmer, 1978 is transferred to Cantharis Linnaeus, 1758 as Cantharis longicornis (Wittmer, 1978), comb. nov. Podistra (Pseudoabsidia) sanbernardensis (Fender, 1972) and Cantharis (Cyrtomoptila) sierrae (McKey-Fender, 1950) are transferred to Podistra incertae sedis. Provided are a key to the subgenera, a list of species of Podistra and a map of their distribution worldwide.

subgenus Absidia Mulsant, 1862 Absidia Mulsant, 1862: 277 type species Cantharis pilosa Paykull, 1798 (= Podistra schoenherri Dejean, 1836) rufotestacea Letzner, 1845: 72 (Cantharis). Forest zone of Europe and northern Asia, from France to East Siberia. = angularis J. R. Sahlberg, 1871: 363 (Cantharis). = discreta Bourgeois, 1887: 134. schoenherri Dejean, 1836: 118 (Cantharis) [replacement name]. Forest zone of Europe and northern Asia, from France to the Russian Far East. = pilosa Paykull, 1798: 264 (Cantharis) [homonym]., Published as part of KAZANTSEV, SERGEY V., 2023, Do the Palaearctic subgenera of Podistra Motschulsky, 1839 really occur in North America: description of P. (Pidostria), subgen. nov. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), pp. 389-400 in Zootaxa 5263 (3) on page 396, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/7804322, {"references":["Mulsant, E. (1862) Histoire Naturelle des Coleopteres de France. Tableaux methodiques des Coleopteres mollipennes de France. Magnin, Blanchard et Co., Paris, [6] + 440, 3 Pl. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 51571"]}

During studies on the diversity of Mucorales associated with traditional fermentation food from China, two Mucor strains were isolated from the surface of Mao-tofu, a fermented soybean food. Phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences revealed that the new isolates belong to the M. mucedo group and are closely related to M. mucedo. However, they differ from other species of this group by producing swollen, tall sporangiophores, sporangia measuring 40–260 µm and irregular sporangiospores. The maximum growth temperature of the new isolates is 33 °C, which is higher than other species in the M. mucedo group. Based on the combination of morphological characteristics, growth experiments and molecular phylogenetics, a new species Mucor tofus is proposed. Detailed phylogenetic trees, descriptions and illustrations are provided.

Mucor tofus Y. N. Wang & R. Y. Zheng, sp. nov. Fig. 3 Index Fungorum: IF559755 Etymology:— Referring to the substrate tofu, a soft white or brown food made from soybeans, from which the species was first isolated. Typification:— CHINA. Anhui Province: Xiuning County, Lantian Town, from raw Mao-tofu, 5 April 2021, Yaning Wang, HMAS 352141 (holotype); prepared from CGMCC 3.16317 (ex-holotype). Description: — Colonies on PDA attaining 9 cm diam. and 25 mm in height after 4 days incubation at 24 °C, growing well at 20–26 °C, development ceased at 33 °C or above, deep olive-buff (Ridgway Plate XL); reverse olivebuff (Ridgway Plate XL). Tall sporangiophores arising directly from the substrate, erect, (10–)15–30 µm in diam. and up to 10 mm in length, often with irregular swelling and no septation when young, then smooth and septate with age, with or without yellowish contents, numerous droplets adhering to walls; lateral sporangiophores sympodially branched, (3–)5–10 µm diam. and 80–340 µm long, smooth, with one septum, hyaline. Sporangia globose and multispored, initially yellowish then yellowish-brown, axial ones 70–260 µm, lateral ones 40–100 µm, walls covered with fine spines, breaking. Columellae obovoid, 30–170 × 35–210 µm, pyriform to cylindric, 50–190 × 70–120 µm, mostly hyaline, rarely yellowish. Collars present or absent. Sporangiospores irregular in shape and size, 8–20(–25) × 5–15(– 20) µm when ovoid to cylindrical-ellipsoid, 10–25 × 8–20 µm when irregular, hyaline, smooth. Chlamydospores not observed. Zygospores unknown. Material examined: — CHINA. Anhui Province: Xiuning County, Lantian Town, from the surface of raw Maotofu, 5 April 2021, Ya-ning Wang, cultures CGMCC 3.16316 and CGMCC 3.16317., Published as part of Wang, Ya-Ning & Zheng, Ru-Yong, 2022, Mucor tofus, a new species isolated from Mao-tofu (a fermented soybean food) in China, pp. 233-244 in Phytotaxa 567 (3) on pages 238-239, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.567.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/7156686

Cunninghamella verrucosa H. Zhao & X.Y. Liu, sp. nov., Figure 2. Fungal Names: FN570978 Etymology: verrucosa (Lat.) referring to the species producing broken pedicels on the surface of vesicles. Holotype: HMAS 351937. Colonies on PDA at 25 ˚C for 5 days, reaching 90 mm in diameter, more than 15 mm high, firstly white, soon becoming gray, floccose, irregular at margin. Hyphae flourishing, branched, aseptate when young, septate when old, 2.8–15.7 μm in diameter. Rhizoids root-like, very developed. Stolons present. Sporangiophores arising from aerial hyphae, erect, or slight bent, always broaden upwards, usually unbranched, occasionally simply branched, monopodial. Septa underneath vesicles if present. Vesicles usually clavate and oval, sometimes subglobose, hyaline or subhyaline, rough, sometimes with lipid droplets, and usually with one to several broken pedicels on surface, 10.8–31.6 μm long and 7.5–20.8 μm wide. Apophyses distinct, hyaline or subhyaline, 2.9–7.8 µm high, gradually widened, 3.3–6.3 µm wide at the base, and 4.5–10.8 µm wide at the top. Pedicels distinct, 2.6–6.1 μm long, bearing pedicels. Sporangiola borne on pedicels, globose with thick spines, 10.9–17.6 μm in diameter. Chlamydospores absent. Zygospores unknown. Materials examined: China, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 23°11’47.59”N, 113°22’50.61”E, from soil sample, 28 February 2022, Ting Zhao and Wen-Ying Wu (holotype HMAS 351937, living ex-holotype culture CGMCC 3.16111, and living culture XY09506)., Published as part of Wang, Yu-Jie, Zhao, Ting, Wu, Wen-Ying, Wang, Mu & Liu, Xiao-Yong, 2022, Cunninghamella verrucosa sp. nov. (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) from Guangdong Province in China, pp. 274-284 in Phytotaxa 560 (3) on page 280, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.560.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7042667

A key to the species and varieties of Cunninghamella Together with the new species proposed in this paper, a total of 22 taxa of Cunninghamella, including 19 species and three varieties, were described in the world (Zheng and Chen 2001, Guo et al. 2015, Hyde et al. 2016, Zhang et al. 2020, Hallur et al. 2021, Suwannarach et al. 2021, Zhao et al. 2021b). Consequently, a key to the 22 taxa is updated herein. 1. Chlamydospores present.............................................................................................................................................. C. saisamornae 1. Chlamydospores absent......................................................................................................................................................................2 2. Zygospores present.............................................................................................................................................................................3 2. Zygospores absent............................................................................................................................................................................10 3. Homothallic................................................................................................................................................................ C. homothallica 3. Heterothallic.......................................................................................................................................................................................4 4. Sporangiola are two types, globose to broadly ellipsoid or ovoid, or dark giant sporangiola exclusively globose...........................5 4. Sporangiola are more types, ovoid, ellipsoid, globose, subglobose, or lacrymoid............................................................................6 5. Sporophores without verticillate branches............................................................................................ C. echinulata var. echinulata 5. Sporophores usually with many whorls of verticillate branches or pseudoverticillate branches.......... C. echinulata var. verticillata 6. Sporangiola reaching 15 µm...............................................................................................................................................................7 6. Sporangiola C. phaeospora 7. Suspensors mainly equal in shape but unequal in length, rarely unequal in shape...................................................... C. polymorpha 7. Suspensors mostly unequal in shape and size, rarely equal...............................................................................................................8 8. Suspensors mainly equal in shape but unequal in length, rarely unequal in shape...................................................... C. polymorpha 8. Suspensors mostly unequal in shape and size, rarely equal...............................................................................................................9 9. Maximum growth temperature ≤ 36 ˚ C.............................................................................................................................. C. elegans 9. Maximum growth temperature> 36 ˚ C..................................................................................................................... C. blakesleeana 10 Sporangioles are globose.................................................................................................................................................................11 10. Sporangioles are globose to subglobose, ellipsoid, ovoid or lacrymoid..........................................................................................15 11. Causing as opportunistic pathogens of mucormycosis................................................................................................... C. arunalokei 11. Not reported causing as opportunistic pathogens until now.............................................................................................................12 12. Vesicles clavate.................................................................................................................................................................................13 12. Vesicles globose to subglobose........................................................................................................................................................14 13. Branches 1–4, single, in pairs, or 3–4 arranged pseudoverticillately, vesicles without warts............................................. C. clavata 13. Usually unbranched, occasionally simply branched, monopodial, vesicles bearing warts............................... C. verrucosa sp. nov. 14. Maximum growth temperature ≤ 43 ˚ C......................................................................................................................... C. intermedia 14. Maximum growth temperature> 43 ˚ C........................................................................................................................ C. globospora 15. Sporophores with many septa.............................................................................................................................................. C. septata 15. Sporophores without septa, or one to serval septa...........................................................................................................................16 16. Sporophores typically nodulous.................................................................................................................. C. echinulata var. nodosa 16. Sporophores not nodulous................................................................................................................................................................17 17. Sporophores sympodial, not verticillate......................................................................................................................... C. vesiculosa 17. Sporophores not sympodial, but verticillate.....................................................................................................................................18 18. Sporophores pseudoverticillate........................................................................................................................................................19 18. Sporophores not pseudoverticillate..................................................................................................................................................20 19. Giant cells present..................................................................................................................................................... C. gigacellularis 19. Giant cells absent.................................................................................................................................... C. echinulata var. antarctica 20. Vesicles subglobose to pyriform........................................................................................................................................ C. bigelovii 20. Vesicles globose to subglobose, ovoid or irregular..........................................................................................................................21 21. Vesicles regular........................................................................................................................................................... C. guizhouensis 21. Vesicles irregular..............................................................................................................................................................................22 22. Sporangiola lacrymoid....................................................................................................................................................... C. binariae 22. Sporangiola not lacrymoid.................................................................................................................................... C. multiverticillata, Published as part of Wang, Yu-Jie, Zhao, Ting, Wu, Wen-Ying, Wang, Mu & Liu, Xiao-Yong, 2022, Cunninghamella verrucosa sp. nov. (Mucorales, Mucoromycota) from Guangdong Province in China, pp. 274-284 in Phytotaxa 560 (3) on pages 280-281, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.560.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7042667, {"references":["Zheng, R. Y. & Chen, G. Q (2001) A monograph of Cunninghamella. Mycotaxon 80: 1 - 75","Guo, J., Wang, H., Liu, D., Zhang, J. N., Zhao, Y. H., Liu, T. X. & Xin, Z. H. (2015) Isolation of Cunninghamella bigelovii sp. nov. CGMCC 8094 as a new endophytic oleaginous fungus from Salicornia bigelovii. Mycological Progress 14: 1 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 11557 - 015 - 1029 - z","Hyde, K. D., Hongsanan, S., Jeewon, R., Bhat, J. D., McKenzie, E. H. C., Jones, E. B. G., Phookamsak, R., Ariyawansa, H. A., Boonmee, S., Zhao, Q., Abdel-Aziz, F. A., Abdel-Wahab, M. A., Banmai, S., Chomnunti, P., Cui, B. K., Daranagama, D. A., Das, K., Dayarathne, M. C., De Silva, N. I., Dissanayake, A. J., Doilom, M., Ekanayaka, A. H., Gibertoni, T. B., Go´es-Neto, A., Huang, S. K., Jayasiri, S. C., Jayawardena, R., Konta, S., Lee, H. B., Li, W. J., Lin, C. G., Liu, J. K., Lu, Y. Z., Luo, Z. L., Manawasinghe, I. S., Manimohan, P., Mapook, A., Niskanen, T., Norphanphoun, C., Papizadeh, M., Perera, R. H., Phukhamsakda, C., Richter, C., de A. Santiago, A. L. C. M., Drechsler-Santos, E. R., Senanayake, I. C. & Tanaka, K. (2016) Fungal diversity notes 367 - 490: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity 80: 1 - 270. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 13225 - 016 - 0373 - x","Zhang, Z. Y., Zhao, Y. X., Shen, X., Chen, W. H., Han, Y. F., Huang, J. Z. & Liang, Z. Q. (2020) Molecular phylogeny and morphology of Cunninghamella guizhouensis sp. nov. (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucorales), from soil in Guizhou, China. Phytotaxa 455: 31 - 39. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 455.1.4","Hallur, V., Prakash, H., Sable, M., Preetam, C., Purushotham, P., Senapati, R., Shankarnarayan, S. A., Bag, N. D. & Rudramurthy, S. M. (2021) Cunninghamella arunalokei a new species of Cunninghamella from India causing disease in an immunocompetent individual. Journal of Fungi 7: 670. https: // doi. org / 10.3390 / jof 7080670","Suwannarach, N., Kumla, J., Supo, C., Honda, Y., Nakazawa, T., Khanongnuch, C. & Wongputtisin, P. (2021) Cunninghamella saisamornae (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucorales), a new soil fungus from northern Thailand. Phytotaxa 509: 291 - 300. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 509.3.4","Zhao, H., Zhu, J., Zong, T. K., Liu, X. L., Ren, L. Y., Lin, Q., Qiao, M., Nie, Y., Zhang, Z. D. & Liu, X. Y. (2021 b) Two new species in the family Cunninghamellaceae from China. Mycobiology 49: 142 - 150."]}

Species of Cunninghamella are ubiquitous in soil, flower and plant debris. Its metabolites have various biological activities, such as antifungal and antibacterial functions. In this study, we describe a new species C. verrucosa from soil in Guangdong Province, China. This species is characterized by one to several broken pedicels on the surface of clavate vesicles, unbranched or simply branched sporangiophores, and globose sporangiola. Phylogenetic analyses strongly show that C. verrucosa is sister to C. clavata. Together with this new species, a total of 22 taxa, including 19 species and three varieties, has been described in Cunninghamella. Accordingly, an updated key to the taxa of Cunninghamella is also provided in this study.

Backusella solicola V.G Hurdeal & E. Gentekaki, sp. nov. FIGURES 1 and 2 MycoBank: MB844700 Typification: THAILAND, Chiang Rai province, Mae Suai district, elevation 1052 m, 19°47’19.9”N, 99°33’23.3”E, July 2021, soil from a coffee farm, collected by Eleni Gentekaki and isolated by Vedprakash G. Hurdeal (Holotype MFLU 22-0123; ex-type living culture MFLUCC 22-0067). GenBank: 28S = ON892503; ITS = ON899832. Diagnosis: The protologue of B. gigacellularis (de Souza et al. 2014) described this species with larger sporangia (40–131 μm vs 35.5–71.5 µm diam) and sporangiospores (9–39×5.5–19.5 μm vs 11–14.5×8–10.5 µm) than B. solicola. Furthermore, B. solicola produces unispored sporangiola (rare), as opposed to its sister taxa, whereby this character was not observed in B. gigacellularis culture. Backusella solicola also produces larger multispored sporangiola (22.5– 31.5 × 22.5–35 µm vs 23 μm) and slightly larger columellae (27.5–54.5 × 22–35 µm vs 9.4–53×8.2–46 μm) than B. gigacellularis. The sexual stages of B. solicola to B. gigacellularis were not compared as in both species this stage was not observed. Molecular phylogeny also supported these morphological differences. In all phylogenetic analyses, B. solicola and B. gigacellularis were segregated with high statistical support. The genetic distance in the ITS regions of these two taxa is around 15 %, and gives more resolution to the species delimitation. Etymology: epithet refers to the source from which the fungus was isolated. Description: Asexual morph on MEA at 25 °C for 3-5 days. Substrate mycelia contain inflated regions with brown droplets ending with rhizoid-like filaments. Sporangiophores hyaline to pale brown, variable in length, undulate, transitorily curved when young and erect at maturity, 4.5–17 µm wide (x = 11.5 µm, n = 40), simple or sympodially branched, with a septum occasionally observed below the sporangium. Sporangiophores frequently broader at the base and then tapering slightly near the base of the sporangium. Sporangia pale brown to brown, globose, 34.5–67.5× 35.5–71.5 µm (x = 47.5× 48.5 µm, n = 30), minutely spinulose. Columellae hyaline, subglobose, ellipsoidal, oblong to cylindrical (often constricted in the centre), pyriform, conical, non-collapsing, 27.5–54.5 × 22–35 µm (x = 41.5 × 30.5 µm, n = 30), smooth-walled; collar short (FIG. 2 L–Q). Sporangiola multispored, rarely unispored, pale brown to brown, globose to subglobose, often produced in short sympodially branched sporophores, 22.5–31.5 × 22.5–35 µm (x = 25 × 26µm, n = 30), containing 4–8 sporangiospores each; wall persistent and spinulose (FIG. 2I, J). Columellae of sporangiola hyaline, smooth-walled subglobose or conical. Sporangiospores hyaline to pale, brown ellipsoidal and few irregularly shaped, 11–14.5× 8–10.5 µm (x = 12.5× 9.5 µm, n = 40). Chlamydospores and rhizoids present. Sexual morph was not observed. Culture characteristics as observed in MEA and PDA: In MEA, initially (day 1-24 hours post-inoculation), at 15-28 °C, the colony morphology is flat, moist and yeast-like with only few strands of hyphae observed. On day 2, the morphology remains the same at 15-25 °C. After day 3 at 28 °C, the colony is white and fluffy with both horizontal and lateral growth. At 25 °C, the colony front is white and the reverse white to pale yellow. Initially (day 1-2), mostly single branches were observed (tall sporangiophores with terminal sporangium), but with maturity sympodial branches were also observed. As the culture matures, sporangiophores with dark brown sporangia and sporangiola are observed. In PDA (in all tested temperatures), colony white with fluffy and cottony appearance with both lateral and horizontal growth. Lateral growth observed from the point of inoculation but absent at the perimeter of the culture. Both simple and sympodially branched sporangiophores were observed. As the colony matures (day 2 onwards), the colony front and reverse remain white with small dark spots (the sporangia) visible with the naked eye. Mostly simple branches of the sporophores observed but sympodial branches were present as well. The sporangiophores were undulate and some erect. Growth characteristics in MEA: Growth in MEA was slightly faster than in PDA whereby at day 3 the fungus completely covered the inoculated MEA plate in most temperatures (20-28 °C) tested. At day 1, more reproductive structures such as sporangia were observed in MEA than PDA at 20 °C. Growth was observed at temperatures ranging from 15-28 °C. No growth was observed at 4, 8 and 37 °C after 14 days. In all tested temperatures and data obtained from measurements taken after every 24 hours, it was observed that the colony grew faster at 28 °C with better sporulation. Growth characteristics in PDA: Similar to MEA, growth was fastest at 28 °C. Initially (day 1), at low temperature (15 °C), reproductive structures were rare or not produced yet. As the colony matures, a white colony with simple and sympodially branched sporophores were observed. In other temperatures tested, the colony colour and appearance were similar. At temperatures ranging from 20-28 °C, asexual reproductive structures appear within 24 hours post inoculation. The sporangiophores are simple or sympodially branched. Growth was observed at temperatures ranging from 15-28 °C. No growth was observed at 4 °C, 8 °C and 37 °C after 14 days, Published as part of Hurdeal, Vedprakash G., Gareth Jones, E. B., Santiago, André Luiz C. M. De A., Hyde, Kevin D. & Gentekaki, Eleni, 2022, Expanding the diversity of mucoralean fungi from northern Thailand: novel Backusella species from soil, pp. 275-284 in Phytotaxa 559 (3) on page 280, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.559.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7021741, {"references":["de Souza, J. I., Marano, A. V., Pires-Zottarelli, C. L. A., Chambergo, F. S. & Harakava, R. (2014) A new species of Backusella (Mucorales) from a Cerrado reserve in Southeast Brazil. Mycological Progress 13: 975 - 980. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / S 11557 - 014 - 0981 - 3"]}

Backusella is morphologically and phylogenetically related to Mucor. Previously, due to various morphological similarities, distinction between these two genera was difficult and various Backusella species were classified within Mucor. However, in the last decade, with the advent of molecular phylogeny, the phylogenetic placement of the genus and its representative taxa was stabilised. In this study, a Backusella strain was isolated from soil samples in Thailand. A combination of morphology, phylogeny and physiology was used to characterize it. Phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (28S) genetic markers showed that the isolate is sister to Backusella gigacellularis. The new isolate is characterised by the production of simple or sympodially branched sporangiophores bearing a terminal sporangium. Columellae of sporangia are ellipsoidal, oblong to cylindrical, pyriform, and conical, often constricted in the centre. Sporangiola are globose to subglobose, often produced in short sympodially branched sporophores containing 4–8 sporangiospores each. The isolate grows on a relatively narrow temperature range of 15 °C–28 °C. The results of the three approaches indicated the novelty of the species. This is the first record of Backusella in Thailand.

Sri Lanka as an agricultural country requires seed health testing to manage crop diseases. So far no comprehensive research has been carried out for the proper identification of seed mycoflora affecting the seed quality in Sri Lanka. The present study strives to address this issue by identifying seed-borne fungal pathogens from stored seeds using morpho-molecular characterization. Fungal pathogens were isolated from surface-sterilized and non-surface sterilized seeds of Arachis hypogea, Oryza sativa, Vigna radiata, and Vigna sinensis. PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was carried out for molecular identification of pathogens. The germination quality of each seed variety was calculated by pot experiments. Distribution frequencies, percentage of germination, and seedling vigor were calculated and analyzed for each seed variety tested. In total eighteen isolates were recovered from the four seed varieties. Molecular characterization revealed that the fungal isolates recovered from all the four seed varieties belong to seven genera: Aspergillus, Bipolaris, Daldinia, Macrophomina, Orbilia, Rhizopus, and Talaromyces. Rhizopus spp. showed the highest distribution frequency (75%). Arachis hypogea showed the lowest germination percentage (20%) and lowest seedling vigor index (585). The seeds of Oryza sativa showed no germination probably due to their high incidence of fungal pathogens (four out of seven genera). This study is the first comprehensive study analyzing the seed-borne pathogens of the four most commonly consumed Sri Lankan cereal and legume crops. Results reported in this study helps to identify and implement optimum storage facilities and control such fungal pathogens in future agricultural practices.

Rhizopus oryzae Went & Prins. Geerl., Verh. K. Akad. Wet., tweede sect. 4 (2): 16 (1895) Index Fungorum registration number: 433253 Colonies on PDA are rapidly growing, covered the entire 9 cm plate in four days at 28–30 0 C, white, turned brownish with sporulation and aging, reverse white, filamentous, margin filiform, appearance hairy or cottony, mycelia raised (Figure 1a, b, 2d, e, 3a, b, 4a, b.). Sporangiophore 1–2.5 mm (x̄=1.8) in length and 8–14 μm (x̄=9) in width, branched, aseptate, stout with dichotomous or trichotomous branching (Figure 4c.), smooth-walled and ribbon-like, rhizoids present at the base. Sporangia 160–240 μm (x̄=212) diam., globose, black (Figure 1c, 2f, 3c.). Notes: The Rhizopus isolate from Arachis hypogea kernel (MZ314418) and the seed coat (MZ323688) showed 99% percentage similarity to Rhizopus oryzae accessions MH865580 (identity: 582/584, gaps: 2/584) and KJ417528 (identity: 630/635, gaps: 3/635) respectively. The isolate (MZ277274) from Oryza sativa showed 97.90% similarity to KJ417528 (identity: 605/618, gaps: 2/618). This isolate (MZ277277) from Vigna radiata shared a similarity index of 97.93% to Rhizopus oryzae reference sequence MH857485 (identity: 569/581, gaps: 1/581).

Leitão, Joana D. A., Cordeiro, Thalline R. L., Nguyen, Thuong T. T., Lee, Hyang B., Gurgel, Luciana M. S., Santiago, André L. C. M. De A. (2021): Absidia aguabelensis sp. nov.: A new mucoralean fungi isolated from a semiarid region in Brazil. Phytotaxa 516 (1): 83-91, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.516.1.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.516.1.6

A new endophytic fungus, described herein as Cunninghamella saisamornae, was isolated from soil collected from Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. This species was distinguished from the previously described Cunninghamella species by the presence of a chlamydospore formation, the lack of a zygospore stage and a maximum growth temperature of 45°C. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), along with the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1) genes, support the finding that C. saisamornae is distinct from other species within the genus Cunninghamella. A full description, color photographs, illustrations and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of C. saisamornae are provided.

�� ������������������ ������������������������ �������������������� �������������������������� ������������������ ������������������ �� ������������-�������������������� �������������� ������������������ Mucor lusitanicus �� Aspergillus clavatus �� ������������������ �� ���������������������� �������������� ������������ ������������������������ �� ���������������� ��� Pichia kudryavtsevii, Trichophyton benhamiae, Coccidioides immitis, Turicella otitidis �� Klebsiella pneumoniae. ������ ���������������������� ���������������������� ������������������������ �������������� ���������������� M. lusitanicus ���������������� ������������������������ ���������� �������������������������� ��������������������������. ���������� ��������, �� ������������������ ������������������������������������ ���������� ���������� ���������������� �������������������������� ���������������������������� ������������ Val-Tre-Leu-Pro �� Tre-Ile-Tre-Leu-Pro. ������ �������� �������������������������� ������������������ ������������������ ���������� ���������������������� �������������������������� �������������������� �������������� �� ���������� ����������������������������. ������������������ �������� ������������������ ������������������ ������ �������������������������� �������������� ������ ���������������� ��������-������������ �� �������������������� �� ���������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������ ���������������������� ����������������., The results of the reconstruction of the tertiary struc-ture and physicochemical properties of Mucor lusitanicus and Aspergillus clavatus adhesins in comparison with the adhesive proteins of other micromycetes and bacteria including Pichia kudryavtsevii, Trichophyton benhamiae, Coccidioides immitis, Turicella otitidis and Klebsiella pneumoniae are presented in the report. For determination of structural features of the M. lusitanicus adhesin globule, an original method of fragmentary reconstruction was used. In addition, the repetitive amino acid motifs ��Val-Tre-Leu-Pro�� and ��Tre-Ile-Tre-Leu-Pro�� were identified in the primary sequence of this protein. Potential antigenic epitopes in the form of eicosapeptides were predicted by calculation for all of studied adhesins. The role of microbial adhesins as promising targets for creating test-systems and protocols in order to improve laboratory diagnosis of infections have been discussed.

�������� ������������ ���������������������� �� ������������������ ��������������������-������ ���������� ���������������������������� ������-��������-�������������� ��HRM-Zygo-Asp�� �� ������������ ������������������ �������������� (����) �� ���������������� ������������ ������������������ ������-������������������ ���������������� �������������������� (HRM) ������ ������������������ �� �������������������������� ��������������������������. ���������������������� 30 ���������������������� ���������������� ���� 25 �������������� ������������������������: ����������������, ���������������������� ����������������, ������������������������ ����������������, ���������������������� ���������� �� ��������������, ���������������������������� �� ������������������. ���������������� �������������������������� �������������������� ������������������������ ���������������������������� ������������������ ��������������������������, ������������������������������, �������������������������������� �� ��������-���������������������� ����������������. ���������������� ������������������������������ �������������������������� ���������������������������� ������-��������-�������������� ��HRM-Zygo-Asp�� ������ ������������������ �������������������������� ������ �������������������������� �������������������� �������������� ��������������������������, �� ���������� ������ ���������������������� �������������������� ��������������������-���������������������������� ����������������., The purpose of the work was to test the previously devel-oped multiplex PCR test system "HRM-Zygo-Asp" in real time (RV) with the analysis of the melting curves of high-resolution PCR products (HRM) for the detection and identification of mucoromycetes. 30 clinical samples from 25 patients with mucormycosis were examined: biopsies, autopsy material, surgical material, paraffin blocks with tissues fixed in formalin. Comparative results of the study of biological material by molecular, mycological, histological and serological methods are shown. The prospects of using the multiplex PCR test system "HRM-Zygo-Asp" for the detection of mucoromycetes with a negative result of biosubstrate crops, as well as in the diagnosis of combined mucormycosis-aspergillosis infection were noted.

Представлены данные биоинформационного исследования одного из протеолитических ферментов сравнительно редкого возбудителя мукормикоза - Syncephalastrum racemosum. Секретируемые протеазы являются одними из важнейших факторов вирулентности, опосредствующих инвазивный рост возбудителей глубоких микозов в тканях восприимчивого хозяина. С другой стороны, эти же белки можно рассматривать как (1) потенциальные антигенные маркеры для экспресс-обнаружения возбудителя, а также в качестве (2) вероятных молекулярных мишеней для разработки новых средств патогенетической терапии микозов. Современные средства биоинформатики позволяют произвести достаточно подробную ревизию свойств таких метаболитов. Авторами реконструирована вторичная и третичная структура фермента, освещены ее сходства с другими гомологичными (кодируемыми родственными генами) и аналогичными (не родственными, но структурно и функционально сходными) белками. Реконструированы связи сериновой протеазы с вероятными лигандами, а также физико-химические свойства этого фермента, наблюдаемые исследователем при его выделении из клетки и изучении различными методами, в том числе - с помощью масс-спектрометрии., Results of bioinformatic study of one of the proteolytic enzymes from relatively rare pathogen of mucoromycosis - Syncephalastrum racemosum have been presented. Secreted proteases are one of the most important virulence factors that mediate the invasive growth of pathogens of deep mycoses in tissues of susceptible human host. On the other hand, these proteins can be considered as (1) potential antigenic markers for rapid detection of the mycotic pathogen, as well as (2) probable molecular targets for the development of new pathogenetic therapy for mycoses. Modern bioinformatics instruments allow a fairly detailed revision of the properties of such metabolites. The authors reconstructed the secondary and tertiary structure of the enzyme of interest, highlighted its similarities with other homologous (encoded by related genes) and analogous (not related, but structurally and functionally similar) proteins. The linkages of the serine protease with probable ligands were also reconstructed, as well as the physicochemical properties of this enzyme, which could be observed by the researcher when isolated from the cell and studied by various methods, including mass-spectrometry.

В сообщении представлены морфологические свойства двух модельных мукоромицетов − Rhizopus oryzae РКПГ F-1537 и Lichtheimia corymbifera РКПГ F-1601, которые применяют в опытах по воспроизведению мукормикоза на лабораторных животных. Оба штамма прошли процедуру экспертной видовой идентификации методом таргетного ДНК-секвенирования по региону внутреннего транскрибируемого спейсера (ITS) и D1/D2-домену рибосомальной РНК большой субъединицы. Результаты исследования включают описания макрои микроморфологического строения культур избранных штаммов, где особое внимание уделено наблюдению интактных посевов в проходящем свете, в том числе с помощью стереомикроскопа. У L. corymbifera более подробно, нежели это отражено в современных атласах и руководствах, определили варианты строения субстратного мицелия, видоизменения ризоидов, а также формы ветвления спорангиеносцев. Наблюдаемый штамм R. oryzae проявил морфологические свойства, характерные для вида. В статье также представлены краткие сведения об истории изучения морфологии и идентификации этих двух видов и группы мукоромицетов в целом., In the present communication the authors described the morphological properties of two model mucoromycetes − Rhizopus oryzae RCPF F-1537 and Lichtheimia corymbifera RCPF F-1601, which are used in experiments for the reproduction of mucormycosis in laboratory animals. Both strains were passed the procedure of expert species identification by targeted DNA sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain of large subunit ribosomal RNA. The results of the study include descriptions of the macroand micromorphological structure of cultures of selected strains, where special attention is paid to the observation of intact passages in transmitted light, including stereomicroscopy. In L. corymbifera, in more details than are reflected in modern atlases and manuals, we determined the structure of the substrate mycelium, the modification of rhizoids, as well as the branching forms of sporangiophores. The observed R. oryzae strain exhibited morphological properties characteristic of the species. The article although provides brief information about the history of the study of morphology and the identification of these two species and the group of mucoromycetes in general, including domestic and foreign sources.

Iron is a key transition metal required by most microorganisms and is prominently utilised in the transfer of electrons during metabolic reactions. The acquisition of iron is essential and becomes a crucial pathogenic event for opportunistic fungi. Iron is not readily available in the natural environment as it exists in its insoluble ferric form, i.e., in oxides and hydroxides. During infection, the host iron is bound to proteins such as transferrin, ferritin, and haemoglobin. As such, access to iron is one of the major hurdles that fungal pathogens must overcome in an immunocompromised host. Thus, these opportunistic fungi utilise three major iron acquisition systems to overcome this limiting factor for growth and proliferation. To date, numerous iron acquisition pathways have been fully characterised, with key components of these systems having major roles in virulence. Most recently, proteins involved in these pathways have been linked to the development of antifungal resistance. Here, we provide a detailed review of our current knowledge of iron acquisition in opportunistic fungi, and the role iron may have on the development of resistance to antifungals with emphasis on species of the fungal basal lineage order Mucorales, the causative agents of mucormycosis.

A new species of soil fungi, described herein asApophysomycesthailandensis, was isolated from soil in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Morphologically, this species was distinguished from previously describedApophysomycesspecies by its narrower trapezoidal sporangiospores. A physiological determination showed thatA.thailandensisdiffers from otherApophysomycesspecies by its assimilation of D-turanose, D-tagatose, D-fucose, L-fucose, and nitrite. A phylogenetic analysis, performed using combined internal transcribed spacers (ITS), the large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions, and a part of the histone 3 (H3) gene, lends support to our the finding thatA.thailandensisis distinct from otherApophysomycesspecies. The genetic distance analysis of the ITS sequence supportsA.thailandensisas a new fungal species. A full description, illustrations, phylogenetic tree, and taxonomic key to the new species are provided. Its metal minerals solubilization ability is reported.

Mucor mucedo Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 2: 1185. 1753. "Habitat in variis putridis: pane, plantis. &c." RCN: 8531. Lectotype (Kirk in Taxon 35: 373. 1986): [icon] " Mucedo capitulo diaphano deinde viridi &postremo nigro" in Malpighi, Anat. Pl. Pars Altera: 64, t. 28, f. 108, A���B, E���G. 1679. Generitype of Mucor Linnaeus: Fr., nom. rej. (vide Sumstine in Mycologia 2: 127. 1910). Current name: Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.: Fr.) Vuill. (Mucoraceae). Note: Mucor L.: Fr., nom. rej. in favour of Mucor Fresen., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part M), pp. 651-689 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 684, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971