Mycology最新文献

In the era of molecular phylogeny as dominant evidence in fungal taxonomy, the taxonomic framework of fungi adopted from morphological characteristics has been largely updated. Compared with other fungal groups, macrofungi underwent fewer updates at the order and higher level. In this study, the taxonomic placement of a poorly known macro-basidiomycetous genus Xenasmatella is studied. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses inferred from a seven-locus dataset support that the genus represents an order rank lineage. Accordingly, a monotypic order Xenasmatellales and a monotypic family Xenasmatellaceae are newly introduced for Xenasmatella within Agaricomycetes. The species diversity and relationships of Xenasmatella are further clarified with the aid of the phylogenetic analysis inferred from a four-locus dataset. In association with morphological characteristics, a new species Xenasmatella hjortstamii is described. Moreover, the distribution of Xenasmatella ailaoshanensis, X. gossypina, and X. wuliangshanensis previously known only from type localities in Yunnan Province, China are expanded. In addition, two unnamed single-specimen lineages of Xenasmatella from Victoria State, Australia and Sichuan, China are revealed, likely representing two potential new species of this genus. In summary, the current study updates the taxonomic framework of Agaricomycetes and provides a crucial supplement for comprehensively understanding the evolutionary history of this fungal class.

Nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) are the majority of carnivorous microbes to capture nematodes through diverse and sophisticated trapping organs derived from hyphae. They can adopt carnivorous lifestyles in addition to saprophytism to obtain extra-nutrition from nematodes. As a special group of fungi, the NTF are not only excellent model organism for studying lifestyle transition of fungi but also natural resources of exploring biological control of nematodes. However, the carnivorous mechanism of NTF remains poorly understood. Nowadays, the omics studies of NTF have provided numerous genes and pathways that are associated with the phenotypes of carnivorous traits, which need molecular tools to verify. Here, we review the development and progress of gene manipulation tools in NTF, including methodology and strategy of transformation, random gene mutagenesis methods and target gene mutagenesis methods. The principle and practical approach for each method was summarized and discussed, and the basic operational flow for each tool was described. This paper offers a clear reference and instruction for researchers who work on NTF as well as other group of fungi.

Fungal taxonomy is a fundamental discipline that aims to recognise all fungi and their kinships. Approximately 5% of a practical estimate of 2.2-3.8 million species globally are currently known, and consequently the Fungal Tree of Life (FTOL) is very incompletely reconstructed. With the advances of new technologies, mycology is marching into the interdisciplinary and globalisation era. To make fungal taxonomy relevant, innovative sampling methods and phylogenomics analyses should be performed to reconstruct a much more comprehensive FTOL. In association with this densely sampled FTOL, multiomics will reveal what drives fungal species diversification and how fungal traits evolve to adapt to various environments, while metagenomics will facilitate the understanding and protection of the ecological functions of fungi. A coordinated approach to pursuing these research agendas that includes conceiving of and costing a mission to describe all the fungi on the planet will unlock potential of fungi to support sustainable development of our society.

During a field survey of cultivated Morchella mushroom diseases, Diploöspora longispora and Paecilomyces penicillatus, causal agents of pileus rot or white mould disease were detected, which resulted in up to 80% of yield losses. Multi-locus phylogenic analysis revealed that the fungi were affiliated in a distinct clade in Hypocreales. We further constructed a phylogenetic tree with broader sampling in Hypocreales and estimated the divergence times. The D. longispora and P. penicillatus clades were estimated to have diverged from Hypocreaceae around 129 MYA and Pseudodiploösporeaceae fam. nov is herein proposed to accommodate species in this clade. Two new genera, i.e. Pseudodiploöspora and Zelopaecilomyceswere, were introduced based on morphological characteristics and phylogenic relationships of Diploöspora longispora and Paecilomyces penicillatus, respectively. Five new combinations - Pseudodiploöspora cubensis, P. longispora, P. fungicola, P. zinniae, and Zelopaecilomyces penicillatus - were proposed.

Rust fungi in the order Pucciniales represent one of the largest groups of phytopathogens, which occur on mosses, ferns to advanced monocots and dicots. Seven suborders and 18 families have been reported so far, however recent phylogenetic studies have revealed para- or polyphyly of several morphologically defined suborders and families, particularly in Melampsorineae. In this study, a comprehensive phylogenetic framework was constructed based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from rDNA sequences of 160 species belonging to 16 genera in Melampsorineae (i.e. Chrysomyxa, Cerospora, Coleopuccinia, Coleosporium, Cronartium, Hylospora, Melampsora, Melampsorella, Melampsoridium, Milesina, Naohidemyces, Pucciniastrum, Quasipucciniastrum, Rossmanomyces, Thekopsora, Uredinopsis). Our phylogenetic inference indicated that 13 genera are monophyletic with strong supports, while Pucciniastrum is apparently polyphyletic. A new genus, Nothopucciniastrum was therefore established and segregated from Pucciniastrum, with ten new combinations proposed. At the family level, this study further demonstrates the importance of applying morphologies of spore-producing structures (basidia, spermogonia, aecia, uredinia and telia) in higher rank taxonomy, while those traditionally applied spore morphologies (basidiospores, spermatia, aeciospores, urediniospores and teliospores) represent later diverged characters that are more suitable for the taxonomy at generic and species levels. Three new families, Hyalopsoraceae, Nothopucciniastraceae and Thekopsoraceae were proposed based on phylogenetic and morphological distinctions, towards a further revision of Pucciniales in line with the phylogenetic relationships.

This study aimed to identify important mycotoxigenic fungi and accurate detection of mycotoxin in stored maize grains using molecular methods. The current study also optimised the real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assay. The melting curve was established to identify isolated fungal species of Aspergillus (4), Fusarium (3), Penicillium (3), and Alternaria (one). A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) technique was developed for the detection and characterisation of mycotoxin producing fungi, mycotoxin metabolic pathway genes, and the determination of eleven mycotoxins in stored maize grains using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The mPCR results indicated positive signals for potentially mycotoxigenic fungal species tested of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria. A protocol for multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) was tested to distinguish between free and contaminated, stored maize with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The expression pattern of four aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway genes, AFB1 (aflQ, aflP, aflO, and aflD), was a good marker for contaminated, stored maize grains. HPLC analysis showed that maize grain samples were contaminated with mycotoxins, and the concentration was above the detection level. The results indicate that the polyphasic approach might provide a sensitive, rapid, and accurate method for detecting and identifying mycotoxigenic fungal species and mycotoxins in stored maize grains.

Within the supergroup Rotosphaeromycetes, or "Holomycota"/"Nucletmycea", there are several well-recognised unicellular clades in the earliest diverging fungi (EDF). However, we know little about their occurrence. Here, we investigated EDF in the rhizosphere and bulk soils from cropland, forest, orchard, and wetland ecosystems around the Beijing-Hebei area, China, to illustrate their niche and ecosystem preference. More than 500 new operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of EDF were detected based on the 18S rRNA genes. Microsporida and Aphelida constitute dominant groups, whereas Rozellosporida was quite rare. Although the EDF community was site-specific, the soil chemical characteristics, vegetation, and other eukaryotic microorganisms were the key factors driving the occurrence of EDF. Moreover, the stochastic process consisted the most of the EDF community assembly.

A novel species of Hericium was recently collected in the Afrotemperate forests (Knysna - Amatole region) of Southern Africa. The novel species shares many similar, dentate features common to other species in Hericium, and its basidiome first appears stark white and yellows with age. However, the substrate choice and gloeocystidia and basidiospore sizes of the specimens collected were distinct from other Hericium species. This was confirmed by sequencing the ITS and 28S genetic markers, respectively. The novel species is described as Hericium ophelieae sp. nov. and appears unique as it grows on hardwoods indigenous to Southern Africa. The species has larger basidiospores and wider gloeocystidia compared to its closest relative. H. ophelieae sp. nov. is the first endemic species of the medicinal mushroom genus Hericium to be described from Southern Africa, and the second to be described from Africa, after its closest relative, H. bembedjaense, which was isolated in Cameroon. Although this is the first Hericium to be described from the Southern African region, there are likely others to be discovered, and this study highlights the need for further research into the fungal diversity of Afrotemperate environments.

Phyllosticta (Phyllostictaceae, Botryosphaeriales) species are widely distributed globally and constitute a diverse group of pathogenic and endophytic fungi associated with a broad range of plant hosts. In this study, four new species of Phyllosticta, i.e. P. endophytica, P. jiangxiensis, P. machili, and P. xinyuensis, were described using morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) with intervening 5.8S rRNA gene, large subunit of rRNA gene (nrLSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1), actin gene (act), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gapdh). Phyllosticta machili is the first species of this genus reported to infect plants of the Machilus genus.

Wood-rotting basidiomycetes have been investigated in the Chinese forest ecosystem for the past 30 years. Two hundred and five pathogenic wood-decayers belonging to 9 orders, 30 families, and 74 genera have been found in Chinese native forests, plantations, and gardens. Seventy-two species (accounting for 35% of the total pathogenic species) are reported as pathogenic fungi in China for the first time. Among these pathogens, 184 species are polypores, nine are corticioid fungi, eight are agarics and five are hydnoid basidiomycetes. One hundred and seventy-seven species (accounting for 86%) cause white rot, while 28 species (accounting for 14%) result in brown rot; 157 species grow on angiosperm trees (accounting for 76.5%) and 44 species occur on gymnosperm trees (accounting for 21.5%), only four species inhabit both angiosperms and gymnosperms (accounting for 2%); 95 species are distributed in boreal to temperate forests and 110 in subtropical to tropical forests. In addition, 17 species, including Fomitopsis pinicola, Heterobasidion parviporum, and Phellinidium weirii etc. which were previously treated as pathogenic species in China, do not occur in China according to recent studies. In this paper, the host(s), type of forest, rot type, and distribution of each pathogenic species in China are given.