Mycobiology最新文献

Fungal forays have been conducted for more than 150 years, providing valuable, but underutilized, sets of records for studies of fungal ecology. Although foray records have been used to study species composition and phenological change, their potential of revealing internal interactions within fungal communities has not been explored. This paper collates foray records conducted in Yorkshire over the past 150 years focusing on 12 autumn-fruiting, generalist ectomycorrhizal fungal species. Using network and co-occurrence analysis, the study has identified and characterized the community characteristics between the species, identifying highly influential species and significant interactions between species. The results demonstrate the potential of foray records in detecting interspecific fungal interactions and highlight their potential to contribute to future research in fungal community ecology.

To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium (Na⁺) on the growth characteristics of Sanghuangporus baumii mycelia, a single-factor Na⁺ addition experiment was performed. We found that treatment with 10 mmol/L Na⁺ (Na10) significantly increased the growth rate (0.41 ± 0.01 cm/d) and biomass (4.27 ± 0.05 g/L) of S. baumii mycelia, surpassing the control (Ck) group by 3.14% and 4.06%, respectively. In contrast, treatment with 100 mmol/L Na⁺ (Na100) resulted in a significant reduction in growth rate (0.34 ± 0.01 cm/d) and biomass (3.25 ± 0.02 g/L) of S. baumii mycelia compared to the Ck group. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that low Na⁺ concentrations (10 mmol/L) promoted the accumulation of soluble sugars (7.63 ± 0.54 mg/g) and upregulated the expression of pertinent genes, thereby accelerating mycelial growth. On the other hand, high Na⁺ concentrations (100 mmol/L) led to H₂O₂ accumulation (12.18 ± 0.24 μmol/g), causing toxicity in S. baumii mycelia. High Na⁺ concentrations also significantly boosted the production of valuable metabolites, such as triterpenoids (19.65 ± 0.22 mg/g), although the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Overall, we suggest an effective approach for accelerating mycelial growth cycles and enhancing the production of high-value bioactive compounds from S. baumii.

The genus Graphium belonging to order Microascales, comprises known wood pathogens that cause sapstain in timbers and wood degradation. However, this genus has been scarcely studied in Korea. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the genus Graphium in freshwater environments as new habitat in Korea. Three strains, CNUFC PYW4-15, CNUFC BCW49, and CNUFC BCW48 were isolated from freshwater samples. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene sequences, the isolated strain, CNUFC PYW4-15 was identified as Graphium carbonarium as an unrecorded species in Korea. While the strains CNUFC BCW49 and CNUFC BCW48 were discovered as a new species, named Graphium aquaticum sp. nov.

Pine wilt disease caused by pine wood nematodes (PWN) have been reported to give severe damage in many countries worldwide. Many measures of PWN management have been implemented, including using the nematophagous fungus Esteya vermicola as a biological control agent. However, understanding on the interaction between this fungus and pine trees is still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resinous compounds on spore germination and mycelial growth of E. vermicola in vitro. Research results showed that resinous compounds from pine trees significantly affect spore germination and mycelial growth of E. vermicola. In which, (+)α-pinene, (-)α-pinene, and (-)limonene completely inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth, with 100% of spore germination inhibition rate (SGIR) and mycelial growth inhibition rate (MGIR). The mixture of 14 resinous compounds also indicated potent inhibition of spore germination and mycelial growth of E. vermicola, with 100% and 91.8% SGIR and MGIR, respectively. These results suggest that trunk injection of spore suspension of E. vermicola to pine tree could be unsuccessful and ineffective for the control of pine wilt disease.

A morphological and phylogenetic analysis has been conducted on a new species, Aureoboletus pseudorussellii, belonging to the genus Aureoboletus Pouzar (nrLSU + TEF1-α) and provided a detailed description. It grows on the ground under the mixed forest of Fagaceae and Pinaceae in Zhejiang Province, and is named after its similarity to A. russellii. The distinctive features of this species include a pileus uncracked in maturity, with a subtomentose surface, which darkens to reddish brown to blackish brown when injured. It is also marked by a yellowish white to white short veil at the margin. The stipe is adorned with prominent white to pale reddish brown carinate stripes, and its context ranges from yellowish white to orange, showing no discoloration when bruised. Basidiospores (14-)14.5-20.5(-21) × (7.5-)8-9(-9.5) µm. A detailed description of the novel species and its differences from similar species is provided below.

During an investigation of soil microfungi in Korea, a fungal strain designated KNUF-23-236 was isolated from a soil sample collected in Seocheon-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. Molecular analyses using the ITS regions and the LSU, SSU, and RPB2 genes revealed that Scytalidium aurantiacum and Scytalidium album are its close phylogenetic relatives, with sequence similarity levels ranging from 93.8% to 100.0%. However, based on cultural and morphological characteristics strain KNUF-23-236 differs from S. aurantiacum and S. album by having white-to-yellow colonies without reddish pigmentation, smaller hyphae (1.4-3.4 μm vs. 1.6-4.8 μm and 3.2-8.0 μm, respectively), arthrospores that transition from hyaline to brown rather than remaining consistently hyaline, and oval, septate chlamydospores that form singly or in chains, without branching. Furthermore, the phylogenetic trees constructed using the ITS sequence alone, the concatenated ITS and LSU sequences, and the combined sequences of three loci (ITS, SSU, and RPB2) confirmed a distinct phylogenetic position of KNUF-23-236 within the genus Scytalidium. Based on a combination of phylogenetic and morphological evidence, strain KNUF-23-236 is identified as a novel species of the genus, for which the name Scytalidium terrigenum sp. nov. is proposed.

Green leafy vegetables like Bidens pilosa are valuable sources of nutraceuticals worldwide. However, due to minimal human intervention, these wild-growing plants can be exposed to pollution and pathogenic microorganisms including endophytic fungi that may produce toxic secondary metabolites. Herein, metabolic profiling of methanolic extracts containing endophytic fungi isolated from B. pilosa was conducted using LC-q-TOF-MS and molecular networking. One of the fungi was found to produce a mycotoxin called zearalenone, which is known to be a reproductive system disruptor. The presence of zearalenone was further confirmed using an authentic standard and a series of tandem mass spectrometry approaches. ITS sequencing identified the zearalenone-producing endophytic fungus as Talaromyces, showing sequence similarity to various species within this genus. Findings of this study highlight the importance of exercising caution when consuming green leafy vegetables, as they may contain toxic compounds produced by endophytic fungi, despite being easily accessible and rich in valuable nutraceuticals.

During an investigation of microfungi from various ecosystems in South Korea, two novel fungal species (KNUF-22-094^T and KNUF-23-321C^T) were discovered within the genera Microascus and Tolypocladium. The strain KNUF-22-094^T stands out among other Microascus species due to its distinctive conidiogenous cells and conidial size ranges. The conidiogenous cells of KNUF-22-094^T measured 2.3-4.3 × 2.0-3.6 µm, notably smaller than those of M. rothbergiorum (7.5-11.5 × 2.5-4.5 µm), M. sparsimycelialis (5.0-10.0 × 3.0-5.0 µm), which is considerably larger in both dimensions. For the conidial structures, conidia measured 2.6-4.8 × 2.6-4.4 µm, falling within a distinct range that is smaller than those of M. rothbergiorum (4.0-5.5 × 3.5-4.5 µm), M. verrucosus (5.0-7.0 × 4.5-6.0 µm), and M. restrictus (4.5-6.0 × 4.0-5.5 µm), but comparable in size to M. murinus, which tends to be more elongated (4.0-6.0 × 1.5-1.9 µm). The phialides of KNUF-23-321C^T are globose, with a notably broad length range of 3.7-22.5 µm and a width of 0.9-1.5 µm, making it one of the most variable in length compared to species like T. album (3.5-10 µm) and T. endophyticum (1.3 ± 0.2 µm, 4.1 µm on average). Phylogenetic analyses using a multi-locus sequences supported to confirm their distinctness under the genus Microascus and Tolypocladium species. Thus, these fungal strains isolated from soil in Korea are proposed as a novel species according to their characteristics and are named Microascus microspora sp. nov. and Tolypocladium terrae sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic data are provided to support the recognition of these new species.

The fungal species of the genus Penicillium can be found across a diverse array of environments. The infrageneric classification of the genus Penicillium has been studied with comparison of morphological and phylogenetical features, derived into two subgenus, 32 sections, and 89 series. In this study, 11 fungal strains were isolated from freshwater environments, plant litter, and nearby substrates in Korea and were identified as previously unreported species. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, β-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II subunit (RPB2) genes were analyzed for phylogenetic analyses. A neighbor-joining tree was then constructed using the concatenated DNA sequences, and the strains were compared with closely related species of the genus Penicillium. The strain clustered into distinct phylogenetic lineages, confirming their classification as P. contaminatum, P. jinfoshanicum, P. xuanhanense, and P. soppii. NNIBRFG40229 exhibits monoverticillate conidiophores with flask-shaped phialides, characteristic of P. contaminatum; NNIBRFG1595 presents divaricate conidiophores, consistent with P. jinfoshanicum; NNIBRFG5602 shows a velutinous texture with orange pigmentation, resembling P. xuanhanense; and NNIBRFG4602 shows biverticillate conidiophores with cylindrical metulae, corresponding to P. soppii. This study provides the first report of these species in Korea, enhancing taxonomic understanding.

Root and stem rot, caused by Pythiales (Oomycota), poses a significant threat to chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.) cultivation worldwide. In Korea, previously undocumented rot and blight symptoms were observed on stems, roots, and leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium (=Dendranthema morifolium), a chrysanthemum species with high global production. This study identified the causal agents as Globisporangium ultimum and Phytopythium helicoides based on morphological features and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA (ITS) region and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit mtDNA (cox1 and cox2) genes. Pathogenicity assay demonstrated the high aggressiveness of both species toward chrysanthemums. Fungicide sensitivity testing revealed high sensitivity to picarbutrazox, highlighting its potential as an effective control measure. These findings enhance our knowledge of identifying and managing G. ultimum and P. helicoides in chrysanthemum cultivation.