Contribution to the knowledge of Camillea (Ascomycota, Graphostromataceae) in the Amazon forest in Pará, Brazil

Three species of the Ascomycetes genus Camillea were recorded in a fragment of Amazon rainforest in the region of Santarém, Pará state, Brazil. The occurrence of C. leprieurii, C. cyclops and C. bilabiata expand the range of distribution of these species in the state. Camillea leprieurii has previous records in the regions of Marabá, Oriximiná, Itaituba and Novo Progresso, while C. cyclops had been recorded in the west of the state. This is the first record of C. bilabiata for Pará. We provide a morphological description of the specimens and an identification key for Camillea species found in Pará. (AU)

Qualitative analyses of lignocellulolytic enzymes produced by Emericella sp strain HST9 under diverse culture conditions

Aim: Optimization of cultural conditions for improved lignocellulolytic enzyme production by an ascomycete HST9 isolated from leaf and litter waste. Methodology: The fungus HST9 was isolated from leaf and litter waste collected from Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. Culture experiments were conducted at different temperature, pH, incubation periods and aeration conditions. Effects of addition of different concentrations of various metal ions, different carbon complexes and nitrogen salts on enzyme production were also studied under submerged culture condition. Enzyme activities were measured by standard protocols using spectrophotometer. Results: HST9 grew well and produced optimum enzymes at 30oC on 7th day of incubation at stationary conditions and pH- 6. Overall enzyme activities decreased after addition of metal salts. Carboxymethyl cellulose (300 mg l-1) and alkali lignin (200 mg l-1) were observed to be the best carbon complexes for cellulolytic and ligninolytic activities. Ammonium sulfate was found to be a better nitrogen source compared to others. Under optimum conditions, different enzyme activities observed were 0.011 IU m l-1 FPase, 0.015 IU ml-1 CMCase, 6.5 IU m l-1 Lac, 57.5 IU m l-1 LiP and 4 IU ml-1 MnP. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the strain confirmed that strain HST9 showed closeness with genus Emericella. Interpretation: Lignocellulolytic enzyme activity of Emericella isolate HST9 enhanced at optimum culture conditions, signifying that it can be used as a biological agent to degrade lignocellulosic waste.

Effectiveness of application of lignolytic fungal strains, Cladosporium uredinicola GRDBF21 and Bipolaris maydis GRDBF23 in the treatment of tannery effluent

Aim: This study aims to investigate the ability of laccase producing fungal strains Cladosporium uredinicola GRDBF21 and Bipolaris maydis GRDBF23 isolated from decaying wood bark in decolouration and detoxification of tannery effluent. Methodology: Fungal strains from decaying wood bark samples were isolated by serial dilution technique followed by single spore isolation method. The selected fungal isolates were investigated for their laccase enzyme production. Their effect on physio-chemical properties of tannery effluent collected from final effluent drainage of a leather-tanning factory in Chrompet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India was analysed. Toxicity of treated and untreated tannery effluent was analysed by seed germination test. Results: The lignolytic and constitutive producers of laccase enzyme, C. uredinicola GRDBF21 and B. maydis GRDBF23 exhibited a tolerance index of 1.2 and 1.5, respectively, at 60% effluent concentration. The isolates were able to increase pH and reduce colour, turbidity, total suspended solids and electrical conductivity of the effluent. Besides observing a decrease in the BOD and COD levels, there was also a reduction in the sodium and hexavalent chromium content. C. uredinicola GRDBF21 and B. maydis GRDBF23 treated effluent showed a seed germination percentage of 66.6% and 76.6%, respectively. The untreated effluent completely inhibited the seed germination. Interpretation: The study confirms that the fungal species C. uredinicola GRDBF21 and B. maydis GRDBF23 could be effectively used in decolouration and detoxification of tannery effluent.

First Records of Rare Ascomycete Fungi, Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bartalinia robillardoides, and Collariella carteri from Freshwater Samples in Korea

The distribution and occurrence of rare ascomycete fungi within freshwater samples in Korea was investigated. Three rare fungal strains, CNUFC-YR537-1, CNUFC-CNUP1-1, and CNUFC-NDR3-1, were isolated using serial dilution method. On the basis of their morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of their internal transcribed spacer regions and 28S rDNA sequences, the three isolates were identified as Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Bartalinia robillardoides, and Collariella carteri, respectively. To our knowledge, these are the first records of rare genera Acrostalagmus, Bartalinia, and Collariella from Korea, and the first reports of A. luteoalbus, B. robillardoides, and C. carteri from freshwater samples.

Four New Records of Ascomycete Species from Korea

While evaluating fungal diversity in freshwater, grasshopper feces, and soil collected at Dokdo Island in Korea, four fungal strains designated CNUFC-DDS14-1, CNUFC-GHD05-1, CNUFC-DDS47-1, and CNUFC-NDR5-2 were isolated. Based on combination studies using phylogenies and morphological characteristics, the isolates were confirmed as Ascodesmis sphaerospora, Chaetomella raphigera, Gibellulopsis nigrescens, and Myrmecridium schulzeri, respectively. This is the first records of these four species from Korea.

Banana peel culture as an indigenous medium for easy identification of late‑sporulation human fungal pathogens.

Aim: Fungi are increasing in incidence as human pathogens and newer and rarer species are continuously being encountered. Identifying these species from growth on regular culture media may be challenging due to the absence of typical features. An indigenous and cheap medium, similar to the natural substrate of these fungi, was standardised in our laboratory as an aid to species identification in a conventional laboratory setting. Materials and Methods: Ripe banana peel pieces, sterilised in an autoclave at 121°C temperature and 15 lbs pressure for 15 min promoted good growth of hyphae and pycnidia or acervuli in coelomycetes, flabelliform and medusoid fruiting bodies of basidiomycetes and fruit bodies such as cleistothecium in ascomycetes. The growth from the primary isolation medium was taken and inoculated onto the pieces of double‑autoclaved ripe banana peel pieces in a sterile glass Petri dish with some moisture (sprinkles of sterile distilled water). A few sterile coverslips were placed randomly inside the Petri dish for the growing fungus to stick on to it. The plates were kept at room temperature and left undisturbed for 15–20 days. At a time, one coverslip was taken out and placed on a slide with lactophenol cotton blue and focused under the microscope to look for fruit bodies. Results: Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Nigrospora sphaerica, Chaetomium murorum, Nattrassia mangiferae and Schizophyllum commune were identified by characteristic features from growth on banana peel culture. Conclusions: Banana peel culture is a cheap and effective medium resembling the natural substrate of fungi and is useful for promoting characteristic reproductive structures that aid identification.

Conservation of PHO pathway in ascomycetes and the role of Pho84.

In budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the phosphate signalling and response pathway, known as PHO pathway, monitors phosphate cytoplasmic levels by controlling genes involved in scavenging, uptake and utilization of phosphate. Recent attempts to understand the phosphate starvation response in other ascomycetes have suggested the existence of both common and novel components of the budding yeast PHO pathway in these ascomycetes. In this review, we discuss the components of PHO pathway, their roles in maintaining phosphate homeostasis in yeast and their conservation across ascomycetes. The role of high-affinity transporter, Pho84, in sensing and signalling of phosphate has also been discussed

Species Diversity of Hypogeous Ascomycetes in Israel

We conducted a species diversity study of the hypogeous Ascomycetes of Israel. The hypogeous Ascomycetes in Israel include members of the families Pyronemataceae, Pezizaceae, and Tuberaceae, which are represented by seven species: Hydnocystis piligera, Terfezia arenaria, T. claveryi, T. oligosperma, Tirmania africana, Tuber asa, and T. nitidum; only T. asa is new to Israeli mycobiota. Synonymy, locations, collection data, general distribution, distribution in Israel, descriptions, a key to identification, illustrations, and taxonomic remarks are provided.

Dactylospora glaucomarioides (Ascomycetes, Dactylosporaceae): A Lichenicolous Fungus New to South Korea

The lichenicolous fungi flora of South Korea is poorly known. During recent field trips to various parts of South Korea and after an extensive examination of herbarium lichen specimens, we encountered a lichenicolous fungi growing over a thallus of the lichen Ochrolechia yasudae Vain., characterized by small black apothecia with mostly three-septate brown ascospores. It was identified as Dactylospora glaucomarioides. This is the first report of this lichenicolous fungus from South Korea. A taxonomic description and comments are presented.

Isolation of Papulaspora halima and a new morphological variety of Halosphaeria tubulifera from seawater of potter cove (King George Island, South Shetland Island, Antarctica) / Aislamiento de Papulaspora halima y de una nueva variedad morfológica de Halosphaeria tubulifera desde agua de mar de Potter Cove (Isla Rey Jorge /25 de Mayo, islas Shetland del Sur, Antártida)

Marine fungi ascribed to the ascomycetes and the hyphomycetes are infrequently reported for the Southern Ocean. For this reason, the main objective of the present work was to detect the presence of these fungi seawater of Potter Cove, King George (25 de Mayo) Island, South Shetland Island, Antarctica. For this purpose marine fungi were grown on wood test panels, placed into plastic nets in the tidal zone, exposed to the Antarctic seawater for different periods of time, which ranged between 2 and 12 months.As a result of this survey, we were able to recover and identify two marine fungi, Papulospora halima (which represents the first report for this environment) and a new morphological variety of Halosphaeria tubulifera.

Los ascomicetes e hifomicetes marinos están escasamente documentados para el océano Atlántico Sur. Por este motivo, el principal objetivo del presente trabajo fue detectar la presencia de dichos hongos en las agua marinas de la Potter Cove, en la isla Rey Jorge/25 de Mayo (islas Shetland del Sur, Antártida). Para este propósito, los hongos marinos se desarrollaron en paneles de madera dentro de una red plástica en la zona tidal, expuestos al agua de mar antártica por diferentes períodos de tiempo que oscilaron entre 2 a 12 meses. Como resultado de este estudio, fuimos capaces de recuperar e identificar 2 hongos marinos, Papulospora halima (que representa el primer reporte para este ambiente) y una nueva variedad morfológica de Halosphaeria tubulifera.

Occurrence of Dumontinia tuberosa in Korea

Thirty-seven single spore isolates were obtained from specimens of ascomycetous fruiting bodies collected from Mt. Suri, Anyang in Korea. The fungal specimens and isolates were identified as Dumontinia tuberosa based on their morphological and cultural characteristics. This is the first record of this fungus occurring in Korea.

Cordyceps venezuelensis mains (hypocreales, clavicipitaceae) sobre Lepidoptera en Venezuela / Cordyceps venezuelensis mains (hypocreales, clavicipitaceae) on Lepidoptera in Venezuela

Cordyceps es un género que presenta diversas potencialidades como controlador biológico de insectos y como productor de compuestos que son utilizados para fines medicinales, entre otros. Hay poca información relacionada con este género en Venezuela; sin embargo, una de sus especies, C. venezuelensis fue descrita por Mains con material de nuestro país. Con la finalidad de entender mejor esta especie, fue examinado el especimen tipo depositado en el Herbario Micológico (VIA). Los resultados de este estudio concuerdan con la descripción obtenida por Mains. La primera ilustración del hongo es presentada.