Hidden diversity of Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis (Amphisphaeriales, Sporocadaceae) species allied with the stromata of entomopathogenic fungi in Taiwan.

Pestalotiopsissensu lato, commonly referred to as pestalotiopsis-like fungi, exhibit a broad distribution and are frequently found as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens across various plant hosts. The taxa within pestalotiopsis-like fungi are classified into three genera viz. Pestalotiopsis, Pseudopestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis, based on the conidial colour of their median cells and multi-locus molecular phylogenies. In the course of a biodiversity investigation focusing on pestalotiopsis-like fungi, a total of 12 fungal strains were identified. These strains were found to be associated with stromata of Beauveria, Ophiocordyceps and Tolypocladium in various regions of Taiwan from 2018 to 2021. These strains were evaluated morphologically and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer), tef1-α (translation elongation factor 1-α) and tub2 (beta-tubulin) gene regions were conducted for genotyping. The results revealed seven well-classified taxa and one tentative clade in Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis. One novel species, Pestalotiopsismanyueyuanani and four new records, N.camelliae-oleiferae, N.haikouensis, P.chamaeropis and P.hispanica, were reported for the first time in Taiwan. In addition, P.formosana and an unclassified strain of Neopestalotiopsis were identified, based on similarities of phylogeny and morphology. However, the data obtained in the present study suggest that the currently recommended loci for species delimitation of pestalotiopsis-like fungi do not deliver reliable or adequate resolution of tree topologies. The in-vitro mycelial growth rates of selected strains from these taxa had an optimum temperature of 25 °C, but growth ceased at 5 °C and 35 °C, while all the strains grew faster under alkaline than acidic or neutral pH conditions. This study provides the first assessment of pestalotiopsis-like fungi, associated with entomopathogenic taxa.

Two novel freshwater hyphomycetes, in Acrogenospora (Minutisphaerales, Dothideomycetes) and Conioscypha (Conioscyphales, Sordariomycetes) from Southwestern China.

Freshwater fungi are highly diverse in China and frequently reported from submerged wood, freshwater insects, herbaceous substrates, sediments, leaves, foams, and living plants. In this study, we investigated two freshwater species that were collected from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China. Detailed morphological analysis complemented by multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on LSU, SSU, ITS, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequences data revealed them to be two new saprobic species, namely Acrogenosporaalangiisp. nov. and Conioscyphayunnanensissp. nov. in their asexual morphs. Additionally, Acrogenosporaalangiisp. nov. is reported for the first time as a freshwater ascomycete associated with the medicinal plant Alangiumchinense (Alangiaceae). Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and updated phylogenetic relationships of the new taxa are provided herein.

Addition of Five Novel Fungal Flora to the Xylariomycetidae (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) in Northern Thailand.

The deviation of conventional fungal niches is an important factor in the implications of hidden fungal diversity and global fungal numbers. The Xylariomycetidae (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota), which is also referred to as xylarialean taxa, has a wide range of species that demonstrate a high degree of variation in their stromatic characteristics, showing either conspicuous or inconspicuous forms. In this study, samples were collected while focusing on temporal and spatial parameters and substrate characteristics. Based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and ß-tubulin (TUB2) multigene phylogeny and morphology, five new species are introduced as Muscodor brunneascosporus, M. lamphunensis (Xylariaceae), Nigropunctata hydei, N. saccata (Incertae sedis), and Xenoanthostomella parvispora (Gyrotrichaceae). Plant substrates in the early stages of decay and attached to the host were feasible sample niches, with an emphasis on the collection of inconspicuous, hidden xylarialean species. The appearance of inconspicuous saprobic xylarialean forms during the rainy season may be linked to the change in nutritional mode, from endophytic mode during the dry season to saprobic in the wet. Therefore, it would be fascinating to concentrate future research on how seasonal fluctuations affect nutritional mode shifts, especially in northern Thailand, which would provide the optimal spatial characteristics. In order to establish a comprehensive linkage between endophytic and saprobic modes, it is imperative to have a substantial representation of endophytic isolate sequences resembling inconspicuous xylariaceous fungi within publicly accessible databases.

Morpho-Phylogenetic Evidence Reveals New Species of Fuscosporellaceae and Savoryellaceae from Freshwater Habitats in Guizhou Province, China.

During a survey of freshwater fungi in Guizhou Province, China, six hyphomycetous collections were founded on decaying wood from freshwater habitats. These taxa were characterized and identified based on morphology, phylogeny, and culture characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, RPB2 and TEF1α sequence data indicated that our six isolates formed three distinct lineages and were distributed within Fuscosporellaceae and Savoryellaceae. They can be organized as three new species: Fuscosporella guizhouensis, Mucisporaaquatica and Neoascotaiwaniaguizhouensis. Fuscosporella guizhouensis and Neoascotaiwania guizhouensis have sporodochial conidiomata, micronematous conidiophores and dark brown conidia. The former possesses irregularly ellipsoidal conidia with apical appendages, while the latter has fusiform to obovoid conidia. Mucispora aquatica is characterized by macronematous conidiophores, elongating percurrently and dark brown, narrowly obovoid conidia. The detailed, illustrated descriptions and notes for each new taxon are provided, and the species of Fuscosporella is reported for the first time in China.

Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Reassessment of Pyrgidium (Mycocaliciales) and Investigation of Ascospore Morphology.

Mycocaliciales comprise non-lichenized either saprotrophic or lichenicolous fungi which occur in temperate and tropical regions. The mazaediate, saprotrophic and monospecific genus, Pyrgidium, is currently assigned to this order, yet the phylogenetic placement of the genus has remained uncertain due to the absence of molecular data. In order to investigate the systematic position of Pyrgidium, two specimens collected in Brazil and Thailand, respectively, were used to generate mtSSU, SSU, LSU and ITS sequences. However, given that most other representatives of this order only have LSU and ITS sequences available, the phylogenetic reconstruction was limited to these two markers. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed placement of the genus within Mycocaliciales, the genus possessing a sister group relationship with the lichenicolous genus Sphinctrina. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, including those for type specimens of the various synonyms subsumed under the hitherto only accepted species, Pyrgidium montellicum (Beltr.) Tibell. The ascospore morphology was investigated using compound and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for the ascospore size using PC-ORD 7. The molecular data and re-examination of the type specimens support the monospecific nature of this genus.

Identification and Pathogenicity of Paramyrothecium Species Associated with Leaf Spot Disease in Northern Thailand.

Species of Paramyrothecium that are reported as plant pathogens and cause leaf spot or leaf blight have been reported on many commercial crops worldwide. In 2019, during a survey of fungi causing leaf spots on plants in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces, northern Thailand, 16 isolates from 14 host species across nine plant families were collected. A new species Paramyrothecium vignicola sp. nov. was identified based on morphology and concatenated (ITS, cmdA, rpb2, and tub2) phylogeny. Further, P. breviseta and P. foliicola represented novel geographic records to Thailand, while P. eichhorniae represented a novel host record (Psophocarpus sp., Centrosema sp., Aristolochia sp.). These species were confirmed to be the causal agents of the leaf spot disease through pathogenicity assay. Furthermore, cross pathogenicity tests on Coffea arabica L., Commelina benghalensis L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., and Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott revealed multiple host ranges for these pathogens. Further research is required into the host-pathogen relationship of Paramyrothecium species that cause leaf spot and their management. Biotic and abiotic stresses caused by climate change may affect plant health and disease susceptibility. Hence, proper identification and monitoring of fungal communities in the environment are important to understand emerging diseases and for implementation of disease management strategies.

Brunneosporopsis yunnanensis gen. et sp. nov. and Allocryptovalsa xishuangbanica sp. nov., New Terrestrial Sordariomycetes from Southwest China.

Three fungal taxa were collected on dead branches of wood during fieldwork in Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, China. The new generic name Brunneosporopsis gen. nov. and species B. yunnanensis sp. nov. are introduced for a novel taxon characterized by globose to subglobose and dark olivacous-brown conidia. Phylogenetic analyses based on combined LSU, SSU and tef1-α loci strongly support the monophyly of this taxon and place it in the subclass Diaporthomycetidae. It could not be assigned to any currently recognized families in the subclass and was, therefore, placed in the Diaporthomycetidae genera incertae sedis. A second taxon represents a new species in Allocryptovalsa based on an analysis of the sequence datasets of ITS and btub loci of the novel, brown-spored sexual morphic species. This taxon is described here as A. xishuangbanica sp. nov. An interesting hypocrealean fungus producing synnemata, Stilbocrea gracilipes, was collected from dead wood of an unknown host from Sichuan Province and is reported here, with asexual morph from both the host and culture as well as LSU, ITS, tef1-α, rpb2 and rpb1 sequence data.

Insight into the Taxonomic Resolution of the Pleosporalean Species Associated with Dead Woody Litter in Natural Forests from Yunnan, China.

In the course of investigating the systematics of woody litter micromycete associates in Yunnan Province, China, we found one new species in Phaeoseptaceae, one new genus and three new species in Sulcatisporaceae from 16 specimens collected (ten collections of ascomycetous teleomorphs, four collections of hyphomycetous and two collections of coelomycetes anamorphs) from Ailaoshan, Chuxiong, Diqing, Honghe, Kunming, Lancang, Mengla and Yuxi in Yunnan Province. These taxonomic novelties were recognized with the aid of morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of multiple gene sequences (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions). Pleopunctum menglaense sp. nov. is accommodated in Phaeoseptaceae (Pleosporales) based on its hyphomycetous anamorph, which is characterized by superficial sporodochia on the host surface, macronematous, mononematous, cylindrical, unbranched, aseptate, hyaline and smooth-walled conidiophores, monoblastic, terminal, hyaline conidiogenous cells, hyaline, muriform α conidia, and brown, muriform ß conidia with tri-lobed wing like basal cells. Kazuakitanaka gen. nov. (type: K. yuxiensis) is introduced in Sulcatisporaceae (Massarineae, Pleosporales) for a saprobic ascomycete with teleomorphic and anamorphic (coelomycetous) features. The teleomorph possesses globose to subglobose ascomata with acentric ostiole, a peridial wall of textura angularis to textura prismatica, cylindric-clavate, pedicellate asci with an ocular chamber, and 1-2-septate, hyaline, fusiform, guttulate ascospores with a distinct mucilaginous sheath. The anamorph features pycnidial conidiomata, phialidic, ampulliform to cylindrical, hyaline conidiogenous cells and ampulliform to cylindrical, one-to-three-septate, hyaline, guttulate conidia. Loculosulcatispora was known only from its anamorph of L. thailandica. We observed the teleomorph of Loculosulcatispora hongheensis sp. nov. and amended the generic description of Loculosulcatispora accordingly. Loculosulcatispora hongheensis is characterized by globose to subglobose ascomata with a central ostiole, a peridial wall of textura angularis to globosa, branched, septate, pseudoparaphyses, clavate asci with a short pedicel and a minute ocular chamber and hyaline, fusiform, 1-septate ascospores with a thick irregular mucilaginous sheath. This study provides some insights into the diversity of fungi on dead woody litter in terrestrial habitats.

Morphology Characterization, Molecular Identification, and Pathogenicity of Fungal Pathogen Causing Kaffir Lime Leaf Blight in Northern Thailand.

Thailand is known to be the largest producer of kaffir lime leaf products in the global market. In 2021, leaf blight was found on kaffir lime plants (Citrus hystrix DC.) in Lamphun Province of northern Thailand. This disease has been associated with significant economic losses. However, there have been no prior reports of leaf blight on kaffir lime plants in Thailand or anywhere else in the world. In this study, causal fungi were isolated from lesions of kaffir lime plants and a total of three fungal isolates were obtained. All causal fungi were identified as Lasiodiplodia chinensis based on morphological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis of combined sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1), ß-tubulin (tub), and RNA polymerase II subunit (rbp2) genes. Pathogenicity tests were conducted and the results revealed that all isolated fungi caused symptoms of leaf blight on inoculated leaves. This outcome was similar to symptoms that naturally occur and have been observed in the field. This is the first report on kaffir lime leaf blight caused by L. chinensis. Our study will provide information of high value for the development of effective strategies for the monitoring and prevention of this disease.

Reassessment of Dyfrolomyces and Four New Species of Melomastia from Olive (Olea europaea) in Sichuan Province, China.

Pleurotremataceae species are saprobes on decaying wood in terrestrial, mangrove, and freshwater habitats. The generic boundary of the family has traditionally been based on morphology. All genera of Pleurotremataceae have a high degree of morphological overlap, of which the generic circumscription of Melomastia and Dyfrolomyces has not been well resolved. Thus, the delimitation of genera has always been challenging. Melomastia traditionally differs from Dyfrolomyces in having 2-septate, oblong, with obtuse-ends ascospores. These main characteristics have been used to distinguish Melomastia from Dyfrolomyces for a long time. However, the above characteristics sometimes overlap among Dyfrolomyces and Melomastia species. Based on the morphology and multigene phylogeny with newly obtained data, we synonymized Dyfrolomyces under Melomastia following up-to-date results. Four novel species (i.e., Melomastia fusispora, M. oleae, M. sichuanensis and M. winteri) collected from the dead branches of Olea europaea L. in Chengdu Olive Base, Sichuan Province in China are introduced based on detailed morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses of sequences based on nuclear ribosomal (LSU and SSU) and protein-coding gene (tef1-α). The 11 new combinations proposed are Melomastia aquatica (=Dyfrolomyces aquaticus), M. chromolaenae (=D. chromolaenae), M. distoseptata (=D. distoseptatus), M. mangrovei (=D. mangrovei), M. marinospora (=D. marinosporus), M. neothailandica (=D. neothailandicus), M. phetchaburiensis (=D. phetchaburiensis), M. sinensis (=D. sinensis), M. thailandica (=D. thailandica), M. thamplaensis (=D. thamplaensis) and M. tiomanensis (=D. tiomanensis).

Occurrence and Morpho-Molecular Identification of Botryosphaeriales Species from Guizhou Province, China.

Botryosphaeriales is an important order of diverse fungal pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes distributed worldwide. Recent studies of Botryosphaeriales in China have discovered a broad range of species, some of which have not been formerly described. In this study, 60 saprobic isolates were obtained from decaying woody hosts in southwestern China. The isolates were compared with other species using morphological characteristics, and available DNA sequence data was used to infer phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit rRNA gene (LSU), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef) loci. Three novel species were illustrated and described as Botryobambusa guizhouensis, Sardiniella elliptica, and Sphaeropsis guizhouensis, which belong to rarely identified genera within Botryosphaeriaceae. Botryobambusa guizhouensis is the second species identified from the respective monotypic genus. The previously known species were identified as Aplosporella hesperidica, Barriopsis tectonae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia mutila, Di. neojuniperi, Di. pseudoseriata, Di. sapinea, Di. seriata, Dothiorella sarmentorum, Do. yunnana, Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, Neofusicoccum parvum, Sardiniella celtidis, Sa. guizhouensis, and Sphaeropsis citrigena. The results of this study indicate that numerous species of Botryosphaeriales are yet to be revealed in southwestern China.

Mendogiadiffusa sp. nov. and an updated key to the species of Mendogia (Myriangiaceae, Dothideomycetes).

BACKGROUND: Mendogia belongs to Dothideomycetes and its members are epiphytic on living bamboo culms or palms and distributed in tropical regions. Currently, the genus comprises seven species. Another collection resembling Mendogia was collected from the leaves of Fagales sp. in Thailand. Morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, using ITS, LSU and SSU sequences, showed that the fungus is new to science, described herein as Mendogiadiffusa. Mendogiadiffusa is characterised by apothecial ascostromata, a carbonised epithecium, dark brown setae on the ascostromatal surface, hyaline paraphysoids, ovoid to clavate asci and oblong to elliptical, muriform ascospores. The fungus has a dark pigmented surface and is occasionally facultatively associated with patches of green algae, but not actually lichenised. Instead, the fungus penetrates the upper leaf surface, forming dark pigmented isodiametric cells below the epidermis. NEW INFORMATION: Re-examination of specimens of M.chiangraiensis, M.macrostroma and M.yunnanensis revealed the absence of algal associations. The status of Mendogiaphilippinensis (= M.calami) and M.bambusina (= Uleopeltisbambusina) was established, based on morphological comparisons and previous studies. Comprehensive morphological descriptions with phylogenetic analyses support M.diffusa as a novel species in Myriangiaceae. An updated key to the known species of the genus is also provided.

Current therapeutic options for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gastric cancer inflicts significant health issues globally despite its declining incidence. The disease is known to be diagnosed at its advanced stages also corresponding with a poor prognosis for patients. The integral therapeutic choices to cure advanced gastric cancer have progressed swiftly in modern days. The preface of molecularly targeted therapeutic techniques would potentiate the personalized approach depending on patient-specific and tumor-specific features, exasperating the advantages of chemotherapy. Here we have reviewed the modern therapeutics such as immune therapy, chemotherapy, m-RNA based therapeutics, alongside evaluating the influence of age, sex and comorbidities-like factors on the occurrence of gastric cancer. Gastric cancer therapy consolidated target agents comprising inhibitors of programmed death-1(PD-1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), mRNA, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EPGF). A combination of trastuzumab to platinum-mediated chemotherapy evolved has a typical front-line therapy in advanced gastric cancer. An attempt has been made to epitomize the contemporary-modern research on targeted therapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Encapsulation of Basil Essential Oil by Paste Method and Combined Application with Mechanical Trap for Oriental Fruit Fly Control.

In this work, the chemical compositions of basils oils, including those of lemon basil, white holy basil, Thai basil, tree basil and red holy basil, were analysed. Methyl eugenol was detected in all types of basils. The essential oils of red and white holy basils possessed a comparable ability (~25%) to attract male Oriental fruit fly to the synthesised fruit fly attractant in the laboratory experiment. To control the release of the active ingredients, the white holly basil oil (WBO) was encapsulated with maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA) by paste method. The essential oil is retained in the wall complex much longer with the addition of MD. The results also revealed that the combination of the MD:GA (25:75) had the highest loading efficiency of the oil (9.40%) as observed by the numerous porous structures by scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the encapsulated polymer confirmed traces of essential oil functional groups. The field test study advised that WBO-encapsulated products improved fruit fly attractive efficiency by maintaining the release rate of basil essential oil.

Recovery of Polyphenolic Fraction from Arabica Coffee Pulp and Its Antifungal Applications.

Coffee pulp is one of the most underutilised by-products from coffee processing. For coffee growers, disposing of this agro-industrial biomass has become one of the most difficult challenges. This study utilised this potential biomass as raw material for polyphenolic antifungal agents. First, the proportion of biomass was obtained from the Arabica green bean processing. The yield of by-products was recorded, and the high-potency biomass was serially extracted with organic solvents for the polyphenol fraction. Quantification of the polyphenols was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), then further confirmed by mass spectrometry modes of the liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF). Then, the fraction was used to test antifungal activities against Alternaria brassicicola, Pestalotiopsis sp. and Paramyrothecium breviseta. The results illustrated that caffeic acid and epigallocatechin gallate represented in the polyphenol fraction actively inhibited these fungi with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.09, 0.31 and 0.14, respectively. This study is also the first report on the alternative use of natural biocontrol agent of P. breviseta, the pathogen causing leaf spot in the Arabica coffee.

Molecular Phylogenetic Diversity and Biological Characterization of Diaporthe Species Associated with Leaf Spots of Camellia sinensis in Taiwan.

Camellia sinensis is one of the major crops grown in Taiwan and has been widely cultivated around the island. Tea leaves are prone to various fungal infections, and leaf spot is considered one of the major diseases in Taiwan tea fields. As part of a survey on fungal species causing leaf spots on tea leaves in Taiwan, 19 fungal strains morphologically similar to the genus Diaporthe were collected. ITS (internal transcribed spacer), tef1-α (translation elongation factor 1-α), tub2 (beta-tubulin), and cal (calmodulin) gene regions were used to construct phylogenetic trees and determine the evolutionary relationships among the collected strains. In total, six Diaporthe species, including one new species, Diaporthe hsinchuensis, were identified as linked with leaf spot of C. sinensis in Taiwan based on both phenotypic characters and phylogeny. These species were further characterized in terms of their pathogenicity, temperature, and pH requirements under laboratory conditions. Diaporthe tulliensis, D. passiflorae, and D. perseae were isolated from C. sinensis for the first time. Furthermore, pathogenicity tests revealed that, with wound inoculation, only D. hongkongensis was pathogenic on tea leaves. This investigation delivers the first assessment of Diaporthe taxa related to leaf spots on tea in Taiwan.

Stemphylium Leaf Blight of Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum): An Emerging Disease in Sanxing, Taiwan.

Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) is one of the main and oldest vegetable crops grown in Taiwan. A severe epidemic of leaf blight in Welsh onion caused by a Stemphylium-like pathogen was found in Sanxing, Taiwan, from 2018 to 2020. However, correct species identification, biology, and control of Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB) of Welsh onion are not well-established. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the causal agent of SLB in Sanxing and evaluate the in vitro sensitivity of Stemphylium-like pathogen to commonly used fungicides. A phylogenetic analysis based on combining the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and glyceraldedyhe-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) and calmodulin (cmdA) gene sequences together with morphological features identified that S. vesicarium is associated with SLB in Sanxing. When inoculated onto Welsh onion leaves, the isolates caused symptoms identical to those observed in the field; therefore, S. vesicarium was reisolated and Koch's postulates were confirmed. We observed a higher incidence of SLB symptoms on the oldest leaves compared with younger leaves. The maximum and minimum temperatures for in vitro mycelial growth and conidial germination (%) of S. vesicarium were 20 to 30°C and 5°C, respectively. Sixteen fungicides were tested for their effectiveness to reduce the mycelial growth and conidial germination of S. vesicarium in vitro. Boscalid plus pyraclostrobin, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, and fluxapyroxad plus pyraclostrobin were highly effective at reducing mycelial growth and conidial germination in S. vesicarium. However, strobilurin fungicides (azoxystrobin and kresoxim-methyl) commonly used in Welsh onion production in Sanxing were ineffective. This study discusses the emergence of SLB caused by S. vesicarium in the foliar disease complex affecting Welsh onion and the management of the disease using fungicides with different modes of action in Taiwan. The research will support the sustainable management of SLB in Sanxing, Taiwan; however, further field assessments of the fungicides are warranted.

Fruit Characteristics, Peel Nutritional Compositions, and Their Relationships with Mango Peel Pectin Quality.

Mango peel, a byproduct from the mango processing industry, is a potential source of food-grade mango peel pectin (MPP). Nonetheless, the influence of fruit physical characteristics and phytochemicals of peels on their correspondent pectin level has never been examined, particularly when high-quality food additives are of commercial need. Subsequently, the ultimate aim of the present study was to comprehend their relationship using chemometric data analyses as part of raw material sourcing criteria. Principal component analysis (PCA) advised that mangoes of 'mahachanok' and 'nam dok mai' could be distinguished from 'chok anan' and 'kaew' on the basis of physiology, peel morphology, and phytochemical characteristics. Only pectin extracted from mango var. 'chok anan' was classified as low-methoxyl type (Mox value ~4%). Using the partial least-squares (PLS) regression, the multivariate correlation between the fruit and peel properties and the degree of esterification (DE) value was reported at R2 > 0.9 and Q2 > 0.8. The coefficient factors illustrated that yields of byproducts such as seed and total biomass negatively influenced DE values, while they were positively correlated with crude fiber and xylose contents of the peels. Overall, it is interesting to highlight that, regardless of the differences in fruit varieties, the amount of biomass and peel proximate properties can be proficiently applied to establish classification of desirable properties of the industrial MPP.

Introducing a new pleosporalean family Sublophiostomataceae fam. nov. to accommodate Sublophiostoma gen. nov.

Collections of microfungi on bamboo and grasses in Thailand revealed an interesting species morphologically resembling Lophiostoma, but which can be distinguished from the latter based on multi-locus phylogeny. In this paper, a new genus, Sublophiostoma is introduced to accommodate the taxon, S. thailandica sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses using combined ITS, LSU, RPB2, SSU, and TEF sequences demonstrate that six strains of the new species form a distinct clade within Pleosporales, but cannot be assigned to any existing family. Therefore, a new family Sublophiostomataceae (Pleosporales) is introduced to accommodate the new genus. The sexual morph of Sublophiostomataceae is characterized by subglobose to hemisphaerical, ostiolate ascomata, with crest-like openings, a peridium with cells of textura angularis to textura epidermoidea, cylindric-clavate asci with a bulbous or foot-like narrow pedicel and a well-developed ocular chamber, and hyaline, fusiform, 1-septate ascospores surrounded by a large mucilaginous sheath. The asexual morph (coelomycetous) of the species are observed on culture media.