Mycologia最新文献

Panaeolus oligotrophus sp. nov., a species macromorphologically resembling Panaeolus cinctulus, was collected in central Florida. Its macro- and micromorphological features are described and compared with all other known Panaeolus species. Color photos of the fruiting bodies and micrographs of key microscopic features are provided, along with an updated phylogenetic analysis. A microscopic reexamination of the holotype of Panaeolus pumilus supports its synonymy with P. cinctulus. The potential for psilocybin production by P. oligotrophus was determined by the characterization of the psilocybin gene cluster through whole genome sequencing. Phylogenetic and morphological evidence also supports the placement of Crucispora rhombisperma within Panaeolus, for which the new combination Panaeolus rhombispermus is proposed. This paper makes two interesting additions to the genus Panaeolus: P. rhombispermus introduces the novelty of an extremely differentiated spore morphology, and Panaeolus oligotrophus provides a rare example of Panaeolus in the underexplored niche of oligonutritive sandy soil.

The emergence of Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen with unique heterogenic characteristics and clades, raised significant concerns globally, particularly in healthcare settings. C. auris pathogenicity resides in its adaptability and resilience, with the ability to form robust biofilms and adhere to host tissues and medical devices. Adhesins, particularly Als3, primarily mediate these processes. This review explores the variations in expression, copy numbers, and genetic modifications of Als3 in relation to different clades and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the role of Als3 in adhesion, biofilm formation, and invasion is discussed, in addition to its contribution to immune evasion and fungal virulence. Expression profiles of Als3 and copy numbers play important roles in fungal heterogeneity, aggregation, and pathogenicity, with high expression and copy numbers imposing significant effects. Gene mutation, transcriptional and translational controls of Als3, in addition to three-dimensional structure in C. auris, are areas of limited information. The potential of targeting Als3 for therapeutic interventions is also reviewed, including approaches such as the use of C. albicans Als3 vaccine, antibodies, natural ligands, and others, although research in this area is still limited. Future research directions should include in-depth investigation of Als3 structural and molecular differences, in addition to the discovery of target drugs.

Invasive and weedy plants proliferate in disturbed areas, including the margins of agricultural fields where they can be alternative hosts and reservoirs of crop pathogens. Research on plant pathogens focuses on economically important plants, whereas pathogens of weedy and invasive grasses are generally less well characterized. Bipolaris species have the potential to cause disease on many plant species and are common pathogens of grasses and crops in the family Poaceae. This study aimed to identify Bipolaris species causing foliar lesions on common weedy and invasive grasses in disturbed and natural areas in four counties in Florida. Isolation of characteristic Bipolaris conidia from sampled grasses resulted in 22 isolates. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) gene sequences from these isolates identified four Bipolaris and one Curvularia species. B. yamadae was the most common species recovered, followed by B. sorokiniana, B. cynodontis, and B. zeae. To determine whether the Bipolaris isolates were potential crop pathogens, we tested their pathogenicity on seedlings of wheat cultivar "Jamestown." All Bipolaris isolates tested caused moderate to severe disease. Our results indicate that invasive and weedy grasses support populations of Bipolaris pathogens of crops. Knowledge of pathogen natural history can inform management of existing and emerging crop diseases.

Many species in Rhytismataceae exhibit distinct host specificity. The present study focuses on Rhytismataceae associated with needles of Juniperus species. Based on analyses of morphology, phylogeny, and ecology, the new genus Bifusiformispora is proposed, along with five new species: Bifusiformispora ovalis, B. lucida, B. opaca, Hypoderma rostratum, and Lophodermium germanicum. In addition, two new combinations, Bifusiformispora junipericola and Lophodermium junipericola, are proposed. Finally, a key to Rhytismataceae species on Juniperus needles worldwide is provided.

Marthamycetales species are widely distributed, non-lichenized, apothecial ascomycetes that are associated with various woody plants and grasses. Most species are presumed to be saprobes, although a few are pathogens. Apothecia are small and erumpent, with farinose discs that are encircled by ragged, projecting flaps of degraded plant tissue. Marthamycetales is placed in Leotiomycetes and currently circumscribes nine genera: Cyclaneusma, Marthamyces, Mellitiosporiella, Mellitiosporium, Naemacyclus, Phragmiticola, Propolina, Propolis, and Ramomarthamyces. However, because representative species of four genera have not been sampled in previous phylogenetic studies, the circumscription of the order and evolutionary relationships of taxa within it have remained unclear. In this contribution, we obtained a complete sampling of the types of all nine genera. We assembled a four-locus data set and performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Our results are congruent with previous analyses: Marthamycetales is phylogenetically isolated within Leotiomycetes and is composed of two distinct, well-supported clades. One clade includes primarily filiform-spored, leaf-inhabiting species in Marthamycetaceae sensu stricto, whereas the second clade includes primarily cylindrical/elliptical-spored, woody tissue-inhabiting species. We name this latter clade Propoliaceae, fam. nov. Sequences of Everhartia hymenuloides, type of the genus, group within this Propoliaceae clade. Phragmiticola is excluded from Marthamycetales and placed in Arachnopezizaceae, Helotiales. Propolina is synonymized under Propolis, and the new combination Propolis cervina is proposed. Lectotypes are designated for Propolina cervina and Pseudographis phragmitis. A revised and expanded description of Marthamycetales is provided, along with diagnoses for Marthamycetaceae and Propoliaceae. Cryptomycina pteridis is placed in Leotiomycetes based on the first published sequences of this species. However, its ordinal-level phylogenetic relationships remain unknown. Our results provide a taxonomic framework for future studies in the diversity and ecology of Marthamycetales and a starting point for future work on the phylogenetic classification and global diversity of the genus Cryptomycina.

The aboveground endophytes of the genus Epichloë are notable for their mutualistic association with the Poaceae family, conferring benefits such as increased stress tolerance, competitiveness, and ecological dominance to host plants. Here, two endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Elymus kamoji in China, exhibiting morphological characteristics typical of Epichloë species. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood method on tubB and tefA gene sequences revealed that two strains from Elymus kamoji represent a novel Epichloë interspecific hybrid species. Allele 1 grouped within Epichloë bromicola, whereas allele 2 grouped within Epichloë calamagrostidis. We propose the name Epichloë tibetica, extending the diversity of Epichloë species known to colonize Elymus kamoji. Both isolates are mating type B (MTB), and no sexual structures or epiphyllous growth was observed on Epichloë-infected El. kamoji. DNA analysis revealed the absence of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, and 1-aminopyrrolizidines in both isolates. Regarding the pyrrolopyrazine synthetase A gene (ppzA) profiles, the hybrid E. tibetica was found to contain both the ppzA and ppzA-∆R alleles. The ppzA-∆R allele is characterized by large deletions spanning the ppzA-M and ppzA-T2 domains. Within an alternate ppzA allele, we have localized a region downstream of ppzA-A2 whose structural properties block amplification of the ppzA-A2 region using conserved domain-specific primers. These traits characteristics may position E. tibetica as a viable model for studying ppzA allele diversity. Our findings further highlight the necessity of employing diverse primer combinations to elucidate the profiles of alkaloid synthesis genes across hybrid Epichloë species.

As a result of long-term field work in subtropical Texas, USA, three novel genera and three new species are introduced in Pezizomycotina to accommodate new or previously described taxa lacking DNA sequence data. In the Dothideomycetes, Piepenbringia, gen. nov. is established for Taeniolella multiplex (Pleosporales incertae sedis) distant from the type species T. exilis in Kirschsteiniotheliales. Ernakulamia americana, sp. nov. (Tetraplosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales), collected on dead leaves of Sabal minor (Arecaceae), forms a distinct monophyletic lineage distant from representative strains of E. cochinensis, the type species. In the Sordariomycetes, Pseudotaeniolella, gen. nov. is introduced for Taeniolella sabalicola in Distoseptisporaceae (Distoseptisporales), also distant from T. exilis in the Dothideomycetes. Parapenzigomyces ampelinus, gen. et sp. nov. collected on dead stems of hanging vines, forms a strongly supported lineage in Xylariales distant from the type species of Penzigomyces, P. nodipes, in Chaetosphaeriales. A new combination in Parapenzigomyces is proposed for P. flagellatus after examination of ex-type material. Sporidesmina is expanded to accommodate Stanjehughesia floridensis and a few other stanjehughesia-like fungi that cluster together in a distinct lineage incertae sedis in Xylariales. They are distant from St. hormiscioides, the type species in Chaetosphaeriales; therefore, five new combinations in Sporidesmina are proposed. Acrodictys holubovae, sp. nov. (Acrodictyaceae, Sordariomycetes incertae sedis), collected on dead culms of Arundinaria sp. (Poaceae), is phylogenetically distant from other Acrodictys species having clavate or pyriform conidia with 3-4 transverse septa and distinct pores. The identity of Solicorynespora foveolata is revised due to its similarity to several Distoseptispora species. The new combination D. foveolata is proposed, and the name D. bambusae is reduced to its synonym. The genus is also expanded to include previously overlooked tretic conidiogenesis. Pleopunctum ellipsoideum, D. euseptata, and D. meilingensis are newly recorded from North America. Novel phylogenetic placements are provided for Sporidesmium fragilissimum and Tubeufia berkeleyi.

Understanding the diversity of microscopic hyphomycetes is an ongoing effort, and many species remain undescribed. While studying lichen organismal composition in western Canada, metagenomic data revealed the presence of an unknown species of Retiarius (Orbiliaceae, Ascomycota), a genus of pollen-parasitic fungus with no previous records in the region. We developed genus-specific primers to amplify Retiarius DNA in lichen and adjacent substrate extractions, successfully detecting multiple lineages of Retiarius across a wide geographic range within North America. We proceeded to screen accumulations of pollen on the undersurface of lichen thalli to isolate any pollen-associated fungi. Using dilution series and PCR for identification, we isolated two specifically distinct strains of Retiarius with morphology unlike any described member of the genus. Inclusion of DNA from these strains in a multilocus phylogeny using the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), partial nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and nuc small subunit (18S) confirmed their evolutionarily distinct position in the genus. We describe these two species here as Retiarius canadensis and R. crescentus. The former possesses trinacrium-shaped conidia, similar to those of R. bovicornutus and R. revayae but morphometrically different, and the latter is distinguished by its canoe-shaped conidia, a morphological character heretofore unknown from Retiarius.

Trichomeriaceae, the most common sooty mold family under Chaetothyriales, are most common in tropical to subtropical regions worldwide. However, no trichomeriaceous fossil fungi have been reported until now. Here, we report for the first time trichomeriaceous fossil fungi on cuticle fragments of a compressed angiosperm (cf. Fagaceae) leaf recovered from the middle Siwalik (late Miocene; ca. 12-8 Ma) flora of Himachal Himalaya. They are characterized by superficial, septate, cylindrical hyphae; circular, setiferous ascostromata; a 3-septate ascospore; and a 3-armed stauroconidium. The above significant morphological attributes reveal a close resemblance of the Siwalik fungi with modern Trichomerium (Eurotiomycetes: Chaeothyriales: Trichomeriaceae). Here, we describe two new fossil species, namely, Trichomerium palaeoindicum Kundu & Khan, sp. nov. (sexual morph), and T. palaeostauroconidium Kundu & Khan, sp. nov. (asexual morph). Additionally, we discuss their paleoecological significance in terms of the present-day ecological conditions of modern analogues. These new findings play a great role in the evolutionary context and diversification of the Trichomeriaceae in time and space.

Species of Clonostachys and Sesquicillium are commonly found in soils and associated with plants as saprophytes or endophytes. Clonostachys also contains mycoparasitic species used as biocontrol agents. Thirty-three isolates of both genera, obtained from different substrates and locations in Brazil, were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and phylogenetic analysis based on acl1 gene sequences. Ex-type and reference strains of eight species were also included in the MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Multivariate cluster analysis of MALDI-TOF MS data grouped the reference strains in species-specific clusters and classified 26 isolates into clusters corresponding to seven known species, Clonostachys chloroleuca (n = 1), C. farinosa (n = 13), C. pseudochroleuca (n = 5), C. rhizophaga (n = 1), C. rogersoniana (n = 2), C. rosea (n = 2), and Sesquicillium lasiacidis (n = 2). Two additional clusters were composed of three and four isolates having morphological characteristics resembling C. compactiuscula. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses using five loci (acl1, tub2, tef1, rpb1, rpb2) grouped the seven strains in a single lineage consisting of two subclades and corresponding to a novel phylogenetic species, herein described as Clonostachys itumiriensis, sp. nov. This species belongs to subgenus Bionectria and is phylogenetically close to C. cylindrica, C. divergens, C. hongkongensis, C. rogersoniana, and C. samuelsii. Strains of this species were mostly obtained from leaf litter. Our results show the robustness of MALDI-TOF MS for delimiting known and novel species of Clonostachys and validate the use of this technique as a tool for classifying fungi from diverse substrates.