Diversity of saprotrophic filamentous fungi on Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze (Brazilian pine).

The biodiversity of filamentous fungi and their ecological relationships in the context of decaying Araucaria angustifolia (an endangered conifer) substrates are still mostly unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the diversity of saprotrophic filamentous fungi, based on morphological identification, associated with A. angustifolia, in addition to assessing possible saprobic/plant affinity relationship, and verifying whether the study areas and substrates affect the composition of the mycobiota. A total of 5000 substrates (decaying needles and twigs) were collected during five expeditions (2014/2015) to two areas: São Francisco de Paula National Forest (FLONA-SFP) and São Joaquim National Park (PARNA-SJ), Brazil. A total of 135 species distributed among 85 genera, 40 families, nine classes, 24 orders, three subphyla, and two phyla were identified. One new genus and five new species that were previously described, and six rare species and five species with affinity for A. angustifolia were also recorded. The twigs showed a community of fungi with greater richness and dominance. Conversely, the values of abundance, Simpson's diversity index, and evenness were lower than those determined for needles. In terms of the study areas, FLONA-SFP showed higher values of richness, abundance, Simpson's diversity index, and evenness than PARNA-SJ. Principal coordinate analysis and similarity percentage analysis showed the influence of both substrate factors and areas in the composition of the fungal communities. The presence of new, rare, and affinity-related species reinforces the study of fungi in the context of the conservation of this conifer, as these species are threatened by co-extinction.

Conidial fungi associated with leaf litter of red cedar (Cedrela odorata) in Belém, Pará (eastern Brazilian Amazon) / Fungos conidiais associados com o folhedo de cedro vermelho (Cedrela odorata) em Belém, Pará (Amazônia Oriental brasileira)

The aim of this study was to investigate the species of conidial fungi associated with leaf litter of Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae), an endangered red cedar species typical of Amazonian terra-firme forests. Conidial fungi were sampled around C. odorata individuals in three forest areas in the municipality of Belém (Pará State, Brazil). A total of 104 species were identified, with 53 new records for the state of Pará, 46 first records for the Brazilian Amazon, including new records for Brazil (Cordana abramovii), for South America (Acarocybiopsis cubitaensis, Xylocladium claviforme) and for the Americas (Dactylaria biguttulata). A review of species of conidial fungi reported on C. odorata is provided, indicating its distribution in Brazil. For each new record in Brazil, South America and the Americas we present a description, illustrations, geographical distribution and taxonomic comments.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as espécies de fungos conidiais associadas com o folhedo de Cedrela odorata, uma espécie de cedro vermelho ameaçada, típica de florestas de terra firme da Amazônia. Fungos conidiais foram amostrados no folhedo ao redor de indivíduos de C. odorata em três áreas florestais no município de Belém (PA). Um total de 104 espécies foi identificado, com 53 novos registros para o Estado do Pará e 46 que representam o primeiro registro para a Amazônia brasileira. Dentre estas, foram encontrados novos registros para o Brasil (Cordana abramovii), para a América do Sul (Acarocybiopsis cubitaensis, Xylocladium claviforme) e para as Américas (Dactylaria biguttulata). Uma revisão das espécies de fungos conidiais relatadas em C. odorata é fornecida, indicando sua distribuição no Brasil. Para cada novo registro no Brasil, América do Sul e Américas apresentamos uma descrição, ilustrações, distribuição geográfica e comentários taxonômicos.

Biological and Chemical Control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using Stachybotrys levispora and Its Secondary Metabolite Griseofulvin.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is responsible for the white mold of soybeans, and the difficulty to control the disease in Brazil is causing million-dollar damages. Stachybotrys levispora has shown activity against S. sclerotiorum. In our present investigation, we analyzed the chemical basis of this inhibition. Eight compounds were isolated, and using spectroscopic methods, we identified their structures as the known substances 7-dechlorogriseofulvin, 7-dechlorodehydrogriseofulvin, griseofulvin, dehydrogriseofulvin, 3,13-dihydroxy-5,9,11-trimethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone, griseophenone A, 13-hydroxy-3,5,9,11-tetramethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone, and 12-chloro-13-hydroxy-3,5,9,11-tetramethoxy-1-methylbenzophenone. Griseofulvin inhibited the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum at 2 µg mL-1. Thus, the antagonistic effect of S. levispora to S. sclerotiorum may well be due to the presence of griseofulvins. Our results stimulate new work on the biosynthesis of griseofulvins, to locate genes that encode key enzymes in these routes and use them to increase the production of these compounds and thus potentiate the fungicide effect of this fungus. S. levispora represents an agent for biocontrol, and griseofulvin represents a fungicide to S. sclerotiorum.

Characterization saprobic fungi on leaf litter of two species of trees in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

We investigated the composition and structure of fungal communities associated with leaf litter generated by Clusia nemorosa and Vismia guianensis that belong to phylogenetically-related botanical families and exist together in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Brazil. Samplings were conducted during wet (June 2011) and dry (January 2013) seasons in Serra da Jibóia. The fungi were isolated using particle filtration and the 1,832 isolates represented 92 taxa. The wet season yielded the largest number of isolates (1,141) and taxa (76) compared with the dry season (641 isolates and 37 taxa). The richness and diversity of fungal species associated with C. nemorosa (64 taxa, Simpson=0.95)were higher compared with those of V.guianensis (59 taxa, Simpson =0.90). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed significant variations in the composition and community structure of fungi isolated from the two plants as a function of seasons. In contrast, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis show that the seasonality was an important influence on the distribution of fungal species. However, the populations of the saprobic fungal communities were dynamic, and several factors may influence such communities in the Atlantic Forest.

Characterization saprobic fungi on leaf litter of two species of trees in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Abstract We investigated the composition and structure of fungal communities associated with leaf litter generated by Clusia nemorosa and Vismia guianensis that belong to phylogenetically-related botanical families and exist together in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Brazil. Samplings were conducted during wet (June 2011) and dry (January 2013) seasons in Serra da Jibóia. The fungi were isolated using particle filtration and the 1,832 isolates represented 92 taxa. The wet season yielded the largest number of isolates (1,141) and taxa (76) compared with the dry season (641 isolates and 37 taxa). The richness and diversity of fungal species associated with C. nemorosa (64 taxa, Simpson=0.95)were higher compared with those of V.guianensis (59 taxa, Simpson =0.90). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed significant variations in the composition and community structure of fungi isolated from the two plants as a function of seasons. In contrast, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis show that the seasonality was an important influence on the distribution of fungal species. However, the populations of the saprobic fungal communities were dynamic, and several factors may influence such communities in the Atlantic Forest.

New species and records of Paliphora from the Brazilian semi-arid region.

In the course of studies about conidial fungi that grow on plant debris in the semi-arid region of Brazil, four species of Paliphora were found on unidentified dicotyledonous plants. Paliphora intermedia and P. porosa are recorded for the first time for South America and the neotropics respectively. Paliphora inflata and P. multiseptata are proposed as new species. A key and synoptic table of characters of the five known species of Paliphora are provided.