Plant diversity increases diversity and network complexity rather than alters community assembly processes of leaf-associated fungi in a subtropical forest

Plant diversity significantly impacts ecosystem processes and functions, yet its influence on the community assembly of leaf fungi remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated leaf epiphytic and endophytic fungal communities in a Chinese subtropical tree species richness experiment, ranging from 1 to 16 species, using amplicon sequencing to target the internal transcribed spacer 1 region of the rDNA. We found that the community assembly of epiphytic and endophytic fungi was predominantly governed by stochastic processes, with a higher contribution of dispersal limitation on epiphytic than on endophytic fungal communities but a higher contribution of selection on endophytic than on epiphytic fungal communities. The plant-epiphytic fungus interaction network was more complex (e.g., more highly connected and strongly nested but less specialized and modularized) than the plant-endophytic fungus interaction network. Additionally, tree species richness was positively correlated with the network complexity and diversity of epiphytic (α-, β- and γ-diversity) and endophytic (β- and γ-diversity) fungi, but was not associated with the contribution of the stochastic and deterministic processes on the community assembly of epiphytic and endophytic fungi. This study highlights that tree species diversity enhances the diversity and network complexity, rather than alters the ecological processes in community assembly of leaf-associated fungi.

Stratocorticium sinensis gen. et sp. nov. and Cericium gloeocystidiatum sp. nov. (Cyphellaceae, Agaricales) from East Asia

Cyphellaceae, a small and under-studied family of Agaricales, includes mostly saprophytic taxa with varied basidiomes. In this study, we focus on wood-decay species with corticioid or stereoid basidiomes. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated ITS-nrLSU sequences uncovered seven generic lineages of corticioid or stereoid fungi-Acanthocorticium, Cericium, Chondrostereum, Cunninghammyces, Gloeostereum, Granulobasidium, and Stratocorticium gen. nov. The genus Cericium is shown to be in the Cyphellaceae family, and two new species, Cericium gloeocystidiatum and Stratocorticium sinensis, are described from East Asia. Morphologically, Ce. gloeocystidiatum is characterized by resupinate basidiomes with smooth hymenophores, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae and micro-binding hyphae, cystidia with resinous-like or golden yellow contents, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Stratocorticium is monotypic, differing from Cericium by a trimitic hyphal system of clamped generative, micro-binding, and brown, thick-walled skeletal-like hyphae, clavate to cylindrical cystidia with homogenous, colorless contents, and hyphidia. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new taxa and Cericium luteoincrustatum, and a key to corticioid or stereoid genera in Cyphellaceae is included.

The Fungal Side of the Story: Saprotrophic- vs. Symbiotrophic-Predicted Ecological Roles of Fungal Communities in Two Meromictic Hypersaline Lakes from Romania

Over three-quarters of Earth's surface exhibits extreme environments where life thrives under harsh physicochemical conditions. While prokaryotes have often been investigated in these environments, only recent studies have revealed the remarkable adaptability of eukaryotes, in particular fungi. This study explored the mycobiota of two meromictic hypersaline lakes, Ursu and Fără Fund, in Transylvania (Romania). The intrinsic and extrinsic fungal diversity was assessed using amplicon sequencing of environmental DNA samples from sediments, water columns, surrounding soils, and an associated rivulet. The fungal communities, illustrated by the 18S rRNA gene and ITS2 region, exhibited contrasting patterns between the lakes. The ITS2 region assessed better than the 18S rRNA gene the fungal diversity. The ITS2 data showed that Ascomycota was the most abundant fungal group identified in both lakes, followed by Aphelidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Basidiomycota. Despite similar α-diversity levels, significant differences in fungal community structure were observed between the lakes, correlated with salinity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and ammonium. Taxonomic profiling revealed depth-specific variations, with Saccharomycetes prevalent in Ursu Lake's deeper layers and Lecanoromycetes prevalent in the Fără Fund Lake. The functional annotation using FungalTraits revealed diverse ecological roles within the fungal communities. Lichenized fungi were dominant in Fără Fund Lake, while saprotrophs were abundant in Ursu Lake. Additionally, wood and soil saprotrophs, along with plant pathogens, were more prevalent in the surrounding soils, rivulet, and surface water layers. A global overview of the trophic relations in each studied niche was impossible to establish due to the unconnected graphs corresponding to the trophic interactions of the analyzed fungi. Plotting the unweighted connected subgraphs at the genus level suggests that salinity made the studied niches similar for the identified taxa. This study shed light on the understudied fungal diversity, distribution, and ecological functions in hypersaline environments.

Fungal diversity and key functional gene abundance in Iowa bioretention cells: implications for stormwater remediation potential

Stormwater bioretention cells are green stormwater infrastructure systems that can help mitigate flooding and remove contaminants. Plants and bacteria improve nutrient removal and degrade organic contaminants; however, the roles of fungi in bioretention cells are less known. Although mycorrhizal fungi aid in plant growth/improve nutrient uptake, there is a notable lack of research investigating fungal diversity in bioretention cells. Other types of fungi could benefit bioretention cells (e.g., white rot fungi degrade recalcitrant contaminants). This study addresses the knowledge gap of fungal function and diversity within stormwater bioretention cells. We collected multiple soil samples from 27 different bioretention cells in temperate-climate eastern Iowa USA, characterized soil physicochemical parameters, sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicon to identify fungal taxa from extracted DNA, and measured functional gene abundances for two fungal laccases (Cu1, Cu1A) and a fungal nitrite reductase gene (nirKf). Fungal biodegradation functional genes were present in bioretention soils (mean copies per g: 7.4 × 105nirKf, 3.2 × 106Cu1, 4.0 × 108Cu1A), with abundance of fungal laccase and fungal nitrite reductase genes significantly positively correlated with soil pH and organic matter (Pearson's R: >0.39; rho < 0.05). PERMANOVA analysis determined soil characteristics were not significant explanatory variables for community composition (beta diversity). In contrast, planting specifications significantly impacted fungal diversity; the presence/absence of a few planting types and predominant vegetation type in the cell explained 89% of variation in fungal diversity. These findings further emphasize the importance of plants and media as key design parameters for bioretention cells, with implications for fungal bioremediation of captured stormwater contaminants.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Reveal Accumulation of Key Metabolites with Medicinal Properties of Phylloporia pulla

Phylloporia pulla, a macrofungal species in the Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota, is known to enhance the nutritional and bioactive properties of rice through co-fermentation; however, its own secondary metabolites are not well understood. In this study, an integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome data revealed that the accumulation of steroids, steroid derivatives, and triterpenoids in P. pulla peaks during the mid-growth stage, while the genes associated with these metabolites show higher expression levels from the early to mid-growth stages. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified several modules containing candidate genes involved in the synthesis of steroids, steroid derivatives, and triterpenoids. Specifically, six key hub genes were identified, along with their connectivity to other related genes, as potential catalysts in converting the precursor lanosterol to celastrol. This study enhances our understanding of the secondary metabolites of P. pulla and is essential for the selective utilization of these bioactive compounds.

Hypoglycemic Properties of Leccinum scabrum Extracts-An In Vitro Study on α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibition and Metabolic Profile Determination

Type-2 diabetes affects an increasing percentage of the world's population and its control through dietary management, involving the consumption of health-promoting foods or their derived supplements, is a common strategy. Several mushroom species have been demonstrated to be endowed with antidiabetic properties, resulting from their ability in improving insulin sensitivity and production, or inhibiting the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase. This study aimed to investigate for the first time the hypoglycemic properties of the edible mushroom Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Gray. Mushroom extracts were prepared through the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique using green solvents with different polarity degrees. The inhibition activity of all the obtained extracts on both α-glucosidase and α-amylase was evaluated and the highest activity was observed for the EtOAc extract which showed an IC50 value about 60-fold lower than the reference compound 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) on α-glucosidase (0.42 ± 0.02 and 25.4 ± 0.6 µg/mL, respectively). As expected on the basis of the literature data concerning both α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, a milder inhibition activity on pancreatic α-amylase was observed. Preliminary in vivo tests on Drosophila melanogaster carried out on the most active obtained extract (EtOAc) confirmed the in vitro observed hypoglycemic activity. Finally, the EtOAc extract metabolic profile was determined through GC-MS and HRMS analyses.

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil fungal diversity in rice-wheat-greengram cropping system in eastern Indo-Gangetic plains of South Asia

Introduction

Conservation agriculture (CA) is emerging as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to food production in South Asia. CA, characterized by reduced tillage, soil surface cover through retaining crop residue or raising cover crops, and crop diversification, enhances crop production and soil fertility. Fungal communities in the soil play a crucial role in nutrient recycling, crop growth, and agro-ecosystem stability, particularly in agricultural crop fields.

Methods

This study investigates the impact of seven combinations of tillage and crop residue management practices of agricultural production systems, including various tillage and crop residue management practices, on soil fungal diversity. Using the Illumina MiSeq platform, fungal diversity associated with soil was analysed.

Results and discussion

The results show that the partial CA-based (pCA) production systems had the highest number of unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (948 OTUs) while the conventional production system had the lowest number (665 OTUs). The major fungal phyla identified in the topsoil (0-15 cm) were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota, with their abundance varying across different tillage-cum-crop establishment (TCE) methods. Phylum Ascomycota was dominant in CA-based management treatments (94.9±0.62), followed by the partial CA (pCA)-based treatments (91.0 ± 0.37). Therefore, CA-based production systems play a crucial role in shaping soil fungal diversity, highlighting their significance for sustainable agricultural production.

Unveiling species diversity within early-diverging fungi from China I: three new species of Backusella (Backusellaceae, Mucoromycota)

The species diversity of early-diverging fungi has long lagged behind that of higher fungi, posing a significant obstacle to our comprehensive understanding of the fungal kingdom. Our ongoing research endeavors aim to address this gap by exploring the species diversity of early-diverging fungi in China. In this study, we describe three novel species within the Backusella, namely B.elliptica sp. nov., B.fujianensis sp. nov., and B.variispora sp. nov., based on phylogenetic and morphological analyses. In the phylogenetic analysis of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer), LSU (large subunit of ribosomal RNA gene), and RPB1 (RNA polymerase II largest subunit gene) regions, the B.elliptica and B.fujianensis cluster closely with B.gigacellularis, B.ovalispora, and B.solicola, and the B.variispora is closely related to B.locustae and B.pernambucensis. Morphologically, B.elliptica is distinguished by elliptical sporangiospores, as well as cylindrical and hemispherical columellae. The B.fujianensis is characterized by elliptical sporangiospores, and various types of columellae such as hemispherical, subglobose, depressed globose and conical. The B.variispora is characterized by subglobose to globose sporangiospores, as well as hemispherical, subglobose to globose columellae. Additionally, the sporangiophores are long and monopodially branched in B.elliptica and B.fujianensis, while short and simple or sympodially branched in B.variispora. Physiologically, the maximum growth temperatures of B.elliptica (32 °C), B.fujianensis (35 °C), and B.variispora were (35 °C) were determined. With the inclusion of these newly described taxa, the total number of Backusella species known from China now stands at 12. Finally, we provide a key to facilitate the morphological identification of Backusella species from Asia.

Intra-abdominal nocardiosis and scedosporiosis in a dog: case report and literature review

A 2-y-old, intact female, mixed-breed dog was presented to the veterinary hospital with abdominal distension, anemia, and lethargy following a chronic history of nonspecific gastrointestinal signs. CBC and serum biochemistry revealed moderate nonregenerative anemia with neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoglycemia, decreased urea and creatinine, and hypercholesterolemia. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasound revealed a large heterogeneous mesenteric mass and ascites. Abdominocentesis confirmed septic peritonitis with filamentous bacteria. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass yielded pyogranulomatous inflammation and hyphae. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a large cranial abdominal mass with granulomas present throughout the abdominal cavity. Due to the poor prognosis and disseminated disease, the owner elected euthanasia. Postmortem and histologic examinations detected intralesional mycetomas and bacterial colonies within the mesenteric masses. 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR and sequencing using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections identified Nocardia yamanashiensis, Nocardioides cavernae, and Nocardioides zeicaulis. Fungal culture, PCR, and sequencing confirmed Scedosporium apiospermum. Our report highlights the importance of molecular methods in conjunction with culture and histologic findings for diagnosing coinfections caused by infrequent etiologic agents. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive literature review of Scedosporium apiospermum infections in dogs.

The Prevalence of Killer Yeasts in the Gardens of Fungus-Growing Ants and the Discovery of Novel Killer Toxin named Ksino

Killer toxins are proteinaceous antifungal molecules produced by yeasts, with activity against a wide range of human and plant pathogenic fungi. Fungus gardens of attine ants in Brazil were surveyed to determine the presence of killer toxin-producing yeasts and to define their antifungal activities and ecological importance. Our results indicate that up to 46% of yeasts isolated from specific fungal gardens can be killer yeasts, with an overall prevalence of 17% across all strains tested. Killer yeasts were less likely to inhibit the growth of yeasts isolated from the same environment but more effective at inhibiting yeast isolated from other environments, supporting a role for killer yeasts in shaping community composition. All killer yeasts harbored genome-encoded killer toxins due to the lack of cytoplasmic toxin-encoding elements (i.e., double-stranded RNA satellites and linear double-stranded DNAs). Of all the killer yeasts identified, an isolate of Candida sinolaborantium showed a broad spectrum of antifungal activities against 57% of yeast strains tested for toxin susceptibility. The complete genome sequence of C. sinolaborantium identified a new killer toxin, Ksino, with primary and tertiary structure homology to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae killer toxin named Klus. Genome-encoded homologs of Ksino were found in yeast strains of Saccharomycetes and Pichiomycetes, as well as other species of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota filamentous fungi. This demonstrates that killer yeasts can be widespread in attine ant fungus gardens, possibly influencing fungal community composition and the importance of these complex microbial communities for discovering novel antifungal molecules.

The Systematics and Phylogeny of Myxomycetes: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Abstract-Myxomycetes are amoeboid fungus-like organisms (Amoebozoa) with a unique life cycle characterized by a great morphological diversity of fruiting bodies. Due to the similarity of these structures to the fruiting bodies of some representatives of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, myxomycetes have been classified as fungi since the first known scientific description in 1654. Only in the 19th century, when their life cycle was studied, did the difference of this group from fungi become clear. During the same period, microscopic structures of fruiting bodies, as well as ornamentation of the spore surface, began to be considered as diagnostic features. Due to this, in the period from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, a rather stable system was formed. However, as further studies have shown, both macro- and micromorphological characters are often quite variable, depend on environmental conditions, and often result from convergent evolution, which causes difficulties in defining species and taxonomic units of higher ranks. Since the first decade of the 21st century, due to the development of molecular genetic methods and the accumulation of data on nucleotide sequences of marker genes together with the improvement of microscopic studies, it has been possible to obtain data on the evolutionary relationships of different groups of myxomycetes. A milestone in this process was the publication of the first phylogenetic system of myxomycetes in 2019. This work was the starting point for a number of studies on the relationships between different groups of myxomycetes at a lower taxonomic level. Thus, there has been a surge in the number of studies that bring us closer to constructing a natural system.

From marine neglected substrata new fungal taxa of potential biotechnological interest: the case of Pelagia noctiluca

Introduction

The marine environment is extremely complex and exerts strong evolutionary pressure often leading to the appearance of microbial strains with new metabolic competencies. Microorganisms in marine ecosystems are still largely unknown and should be explored and conserved for biodiversity preservation, possible ecosystem restoring, and other applications. Biodiversity conservation should become a basic ecological strategy of particular significance in relation to global change. In this context, the present research aimed at exploring the culturable mycobiota associated with the jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca, never studied before. In addition, the isolated strains were tested for potential application (antimicrobial activity and presence of genes related to the production of secondary metabolites).

Methods

Five jellyfishes were collected in the coastal area of Giglio Island and processed to isolate epizoic fungi. The strains were identified using a polyphasic approach (morphological, physiological, and molecular) and their salt preference was also investigated. The antifungal and antibacterial activity were tested for each strain with agar plug diffusion test. The presence of some key genes related to the main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, polyketide synthases (PKSs), and non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPSs), was also assessed.

Results

A total of 164 isolates were obtained; after the dereplication, 40 morphotypes, and 23 species were identified. The phylogenetic analyses suggested the presence of new taxa belonging to Pleosporales: two new genera and species, and a new species of Tamaricicola. The detected mycobiota showed a relatively high diversity, if compared to other epizoic fungal communities. All isolated strains were marine fungi as confirmed by their salt preference and marked euryhalinism. The genes related to the two main pathways for the production of secondary metabolites in fungi, PKSs and NRPSs, were identified in four and nine strains, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was revealed in 70% of the strains, including the new taxa. The abundance of bioactive strains may be related to the potential involvement of epizoic fungi in host defense strategies. Moreover, these strains could show a high potential for further biotechnological applications particularly in the case of new taxa. All strains are maintained in culture collections.

New Helminthosporium (Massarinaceae, Dothideomycetes) and Nigrospora (Incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes) species associated with walnut (Juglansregia L.) in China

Six collections of ascomycetes were obtained from samples collected from dead branches and leaves of Juglansregia in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, China. By incorporating multigene phylogenetic analysis (ITS, LSU, rpb2, SSU, tef1-α, tub2) supplemented by morphological data, we establish two novel species, namely Helminthosporiumguizhouense and Nigrosporayunnanensis. In morphology, H.guizhouense can be distinguished from H.caespitosum by its narrower conidia (13-16 µm vs. 27.3-35.5 µm), and N.yunnanensis is characterized by black, globose conidia (16.2 × 14.4 µm). The phylogenetic results further substantiated them as novel taxa. The present study contributes to our comprehension of the range of fungi found in Juglansregia, thereby expanding our knowledge of the diversity of fungi within this host.

Temperature governs the community assembly of root-associated ectomycorrhizal fungi in alpine forests on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Unraveling the assembly processes of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities in changing environments is crucial for forecasting the impacts of climate change on forests. However, the assembly processes and key drivers of root-associated ECM fungal communities in alpine coniferous forests remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted sampling in 65 monodominant alpine coniferous forests, which encompass 11 plant species belonging to three genera (Abies, Pinus, and Picea) within the Pinaceae family, all located on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. We employed a combination of null model and multivariate analyses to elucidate the drivers and assembly processes of ECM fungal communities. Our results revealed significant variation in the composition and diversity of root-associated ECM fungal communities among Abies, Pinus, and Picea, indicating specific preferences for ECM fungi among Pinaceae genera. Importantly, mean annual temperature (MAT) emerged as the primary driver of these variations and regulated the assembly processes within the community of root-associated ECM fungi. As MAT temperature, the α-diversity of these fungi significantly decreased, suggesting that increased temperature may reduce the species diversity of root-associated ECM fungi in alpine forests. Furthermore, stochastic processes, such as dispersal limitation and drift, became more influential as MAT increased. Conversely, the role of deterministic processes, particularly heterogeneous selection, in shaping the ECM fungal community assembly weakened with increasing MAT. This study provides novel theoretical insights into the processes of ECM fungal community assembly in alpine forests, emphasizing the pivotal role of temperature in regulating the assembly processes and compositional dynamics of root-associated ECM fungal communities in these unique environments.

Triplex real-time qPCR for the simultaneous detection of Botryosphaeriaceae species in woody crops and environmental samples

Introduction

Species of Botryosphaeriaceae fungi are relevant pathogens of almond causing trunk cankers, extensive gumming, necrosis of internal tissues and plant dieback and dead, threatening almond productivity. A novel triplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was designed for the simultaneous detection and quantification of Neofusicoccum parvum, Botryosphaeria dothidea and the Botryosphaeriaceae family.

Material and methods

The method was validated in symptomatic and asymptomatic almond, avocado, blueberry and grapevine plants and in environmental samples, such as cropping soil and rainwater and in artificially inoculated trapped spores, demonstrating the same performance on several matrices.

Results and discussion

The limit of detection of the triplex qPCR was 10 fg of genomic DNA for the three fungal targets, with high correlation coefficients (R2) and amplification efficiencies between 90 and 120%. Although the triplex qPCR demonstrated to be more sensitive and accurate than the traditional plate culturing and further sequencing method, a substantial agreement (kappa index = 0.8052 ± 0.0512) was found between the two detection methods. The highly sensitive qPCR assay allows for accurate diagnosis of symptomatic plants and early detection of Botryosphaeriaceae fungi in asymptomatic plants (rootstocks and grafting scions from almond nurseries). Furthermore, the triplex qPCR successfully detected Botryosphaeriaceae fungi in environmental samples, such as cropping soils and rainwater. It was also capable of detecting as few as 10 conidia in artificially inoculated tapes. Therefore, the triplex qPCR is a valuable tool for accurate diagnosis, aiding in the implementation of suitable control measures. It enables preventive detection in asymptomatic samples, helping to avoid the introduction and spread of these pathogens in production fields. Moreover, it assists in identifying inoculum sources and quantifying inoculum levels in crop environments, contributing to a precise phytosanitary application schedule, thereby reducing production costs and preserving the environment.

Comparative Mitogenomics Analysis Revealed Evolutionary Divergence among Purpureocillium Species and Gene Arrangement and Intron Dynamics of Ophiocordycipitaceae

The species of Purpureocillium are cosmopolitan and multitrophic fungi that can infect a wide range of invertebrate hosts. This study reports the mitogenome of P. atypicola, a specialized spider pathogenic fungus. The 112,465 bp mitogenome encoded genes typically found in fungal mitogenomes, and a total of 52 introns inserted into seven genes. A comparison with three other Purpureocillium species revealed significant differences in length and intron number, primarily due to intron variation; however, there was no dynamic variation in the introns of the cox1 gene within the same species of the Purpureocillium genus. Different mitochondrial protein-coding genes showed variable degrees of genetic differentiation among these species, but they were all under purifying selection. Additionally, frequent intron loss or gain events were detected to have occurred during the evolution of the Ophiocordycipitaceae mitogenomes, yet the gene arrangement remains conserved. A phylogenetic analysis of the combined mitochondrial gene set gave identical and well-supported tree topologies. The estimated age of the crown of Ophiocordycipitaceae and Purpureocillium were around the Early Cretaceous period (127 Mya) and Late Cretaceous period (83 Mya), respectively. The results of this study advance our understanding of the genomics, evolution, and taxonomy of this important fungal group.

The evolution of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and host-plant switches are the main drivers for diversification of Amanitaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)

BACKGROUND

Evolutionary radiation is widely recognized as a mode of species diversification, but the drivers of the rapid diversification of fungi remain largely unknown. Here, we used Amanitaceae, one of the most diverse families of macro-fungi, to investigate the mechanism underlying its diversification.

RESULTS

The ancestral state of the nutritional modes was assessed based on phylogenies obtained from fragments of 36 single-copy genes and stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen. Moreover, a number of time-, trait-, and paleotemperature-dependent models were employed to investigate if the acquisition of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis and climate changes promoted the diversification of Amanitaceae. The results indicate that the evolution of ECM symbiosis has a single evolutionary origin in Amanitaceae. The earliest increase in diversification coincided with the acquisition of the ECM symbiosis with angiosperms in the middle Cretaceous. The recent explosive diversification was primarily triggered by the host-plant switches from angiosperms to the mixed forests dominated by Fagaceae, Salicaceae, and Pinaceae or to Pinaceae.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides a good example of integrating phylogeny, nutritional mode evolution, and ecological analyses for deciphering the mechanisms underlying fungal evolutionary diversification. This study also provides new insights into how the transition to ECM symbiosis has driven the diversification of fungi.

Biogeography and community assembly of soil fungi from alpine meadows in southwestern China show the importance of climatic selection

Soil fungi are pivotal in alpine and arctic ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate changes. Previous studies have shown broad connections between soil fungi in the arctic and alpine regions, but most of these studies are mainly from Europe and North America, with more sporadic studies from East Asia. Currently, little is known about the biogeographic relationships between soil fungi in alpine meadows of southwestern China (AMSC) and other regions of the world. In addition, the regional-scale spatial patterns of fungal communities in the AMSC, as well as their driving factors and ecological processes, are also poorly understood. In this study, we collected roots and surrounding soils of two dominant ectomycorrhizal plants, Bistorta vivipara and B. macrophylla from the AMSC, and performed bioinformatic and statistical analyses based on high-throughput sequencing of ITS2 amplicons. We found that: (1) fungi from the AMSC were closely related with those from boreal forests and tundra, and saprotrophic fungi had higher dispersal potential than ectomycorrhizal fungi; (2) community compositions exhibited clear divergences among geographic regions and between root and soil samples; (3) climate was the predominant factor driving regional-scale spatial patterns but had less explanatory power for saprotrophic and total fungi from roots than those from soils; (4) homogeneous selection and drift were the key ecological processes governing community assembly, but in communities of saprotrophic and total fungi from soil samples, drift contributed less and its role was partially replaced by dispersal limitation. This study highlights the importance of climatic selection and stochastic processes on fungal community assembly in alpine regions, and emphasizes the significance of simultaneously investigating fungi with different trophic modes and from both roots and soils.

Two new species of Parastagonospora and a new species of Phaeoseptoriella (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales) from grasslands in Yunnan Province, China

During our investigation of microfungi on grasslands in Yunnan Province, China, three new fungal taxa associated with grasses were collected. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of the combined SSU, LSU, ITS, tef1-α, and rpb2 loci based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference were used to reveal the taxonomic placement of these fungal taxa. This study introduces Parastagonosporayunnanensis, Para.zhaotongensis, Phaeoseptoriellapoaceicola. Parastagonosporayunnanensis is characterized by ampulliform or globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells, with conidia that are cylindrical to subcylindrical, 0-1-septate, rounded at the apex and slightly truncate at the base. Parastagonosporazhaotongensis features similar globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells but with 0-3-septate, cylindrical to subcylindrical conidia. Phaeoseptoriellapoaceicola is distinguished by its globose to subglobose conidiogenous cells and phragmosporous conidia that are initially hyaline, turn pale yellowish at maturity, and are 7-septate, cylindrical to subcylindrical, either straight or slightly curved. These discoveries underscore the significance of exploring and accurately identifying fungal taxa within Ascomycota, highlighting the species richness and potential for new species discoveries in grass-based habitats. The findings from this study expand our understanding of the taxonomy and phylogeny of grassland-associated Ascomycota, providing a foundation for further ecological and taxonomic studies of these fungi within their natural environments.

A transition from arbuscular to ectomycorrhizal forests halts soil carbon sequestration during subtropical forest rewilding

Ecological succession and restoration rapidly promote multiple dimensions of ecosystem functions and mitigate global climate change. However, the factors governing the limited capacity to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) in old forests are poorly understood. Ecological theory predicts that plants and microorganisms jointly evolve into a more mutualistic relationship to accelerate detritus decomposition and nutrient regeneration in old than young forests, likely explaining the changes in C sinks across forest succession or rewilding. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a field experiment of root-mycorrhizal exclusion in successional subtropical forests to investigate plant-decomposer interactions and their effects on SOC sequestration. Our results showed that SOC accrual rate at the 0-10 cm soil layer was 1.26 mg g-1 yr-1 in early-successional arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests, which was higher than that in the late-successional ectomycorrhizal (EcM) forests with non-significant change. A transition from early-successional AM to late-successional EcM forests increase fungal diversity, especially EcM fungi. In the late-successional forests, the presence of ectomycorrhizal hyphae promotes SOC decomposition and nutrient cycle by increasing soil nitrogen and phosphorus degrading enzyme activity as well as saprotrophic microbial richness. Across early- to late-successional forests, mycorrhizal priming effects on SOC decomposition explain a slow-down in the capacity of older forests to sequester soil C. Our findings suggest that a transition from AM to EcM forests supporting greater C decomposition can halt the capacity of forests to provide nature-based global climate change solutions.

Distinct planting patterns exert legacy effects on the networks and assembly of root-associated microbiomes in subsequent crops

Soil legacy effects from previous crops can significantly influence plant-soil interactions in crop rotations. However, the microbial mechanism underlying this effect in subsequent root-associated compartments remains unclear. We investigated the effects of planting patterns (four-year continuous maize [MM], three-year winter wheat and one-year maize rotation [WM], and three-year potato and one-year maize rotation [PM]) on the microbial composition and structure of root-associated compartments, the effect of distinct crops on subsequent microbial co-occurrence patterns, and the assembly mechanism by which the root-associated compartments (bulk soil, rhizosphere, and roots) in subsequent crops regulate the microbiome habitat. Compared with MM, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria in WM was 29.7 % lower, whereas that of Bacteroidota in PM was 37.9 % higher in all three compartments. The co-occurrence patterns of the microbial communities exhibited varied responses to different planting patterns. Indicator taxon analysis revealed less shared and specific species in the root bacterial and fungal networks. The planting pattern elicited specific responses from modules within bacterial and fungal co-occurrence networks in all three compartments. Moreover, the planting patterns and root-associated compartments collectively drove the assembly process of root-associated microorganisms. The neutral model showed that, compared with MM, the stochasticity of bacterial assembly decreased under WM and PM but increased for fungal assembly. WM and PM increased the relative effects of the homogenized dispersal of fungal assemblies in roots. We conclude that previous crops exhibit marked legacy effects in the root-associated microbiome. Therefore, soil heritage should not be ignored when discussing microbiome recruitment strategies and co-occurrence patterns in subsequent crops.

Five new species of endophytic Penicillium from rubber trees in the Brazilian Amazon

The Amazon rainforest is the world's most diverse ecosystem, full of fauna and flora. Among the trees that make up the forest are the rubber trees of the genus Hevea (H. brasiliensis and H. guianensis), which stand out for the industrial use of latex. It was previously shown that endophytic fungi colonize the leaves, stems, and roots of Hevea spp. In this study, 47 Penicillium spp. and three Talaromyces spp. isolates were analyzed using specific DNA barcodes: internal transcribed spacers region (ITS), β-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes and additionally, for species delimitation, the genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR) criteria were applied. The phylogenetic analyses placed the Penicillium isolates into four sections Lanata-Divaricata, Sclerotiora, Citrina, and Fasciculata. The morphological and molecular characteristics resulted in the discovery of five new species (P. heveae sp. nov., P. acrean sp. nov., P. aquiri sp. nov., P. amazonense sp. nov., and P. pseudomellis sp. nov.). The five new species were also compared to closely related species, with observations on morphologically distinguishing features and colony appearances. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analysis have supported the placement of P. heveae sp. nov. as a sister group to P. globosum; P. acrean sp. nov. and P. aquiri sp. nov. as sister groups to P. sumatrense; P. amazonense sp. nov. closely related to isolates of P. rolfsii, and P. pseudomellis sp. nov. closely related to P. mellis. The study of endophytic Penicillium species of rubber trees and the description of five new taxa of Penicillium sect. Citrina, Lanata-Divaricata, and Sclerotiora as endophytes add to the fungal biodiversity knowledge in native rubber trees. Reports of fungi in native tropical plants may reveal taxonomic novelties, potential pathogen control agents, and producers of molecular bioactive compounds of medical and agronomic interest.

Impact of mixed-species forest plantations on soil mycobiota community structure and diversity in the Congolese coastal plains

Mixed tree plantations containing nitrogen (N2)-fixing species have the potential to enhance C sequestration, soil biodiversity and forest productivity. Here, we investigated the impact of Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus urophilla x E. grandis mixed plantations in the Congolese coastal plains on soil mycobiota community structure and diversity by ITS metabarcoding sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Higher Faith's phylogenetic diversity and Evenness' was found in Eucalyptus monoculture relative to stands containing Acacia. Differences in beta diversity were found among Eucalyptus and Acacia monoculture, and mixed-species stands highlight the effects of plant species on fungal community structure. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Rozellomycota phyla were predominant in all stands, with both Dikarya (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) accounting for more than 70% in all stands. Correlation analysis revealed that sulfur (S) was the most correlated soil attribute with the three predominant phyla but also with Mucoromycota and Calcarisporiellomycota phyla, although mostly negatively correlated (4 out of 5). Phosphorus was mostly positively correlated to soil attributes (3 out of 4) and nitrogen was correlated twice, positively and negatively. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed a positive correlation of nitrogen (p-value = 0.0019, contribution = 22%) and phosphorus (p-value = 0.0017, contribution = 19%) with soil mycobiota. A high prevalence of generalists (28% to 38%) than specialists (9% to 24%) were found among the different sites. In stands containing Acacia (pure and mixed species) the soil mycobiota harbor the prevalence of generalist strategies with the potential to withstand environmental stresses and utilize a higher number of resources against specialists in Eucalyptus stands. Stronger positive correlation between soil attributes and main fungal taxa, higher generalists' strategies and lower Faith's phylogenetic diversity and Evenness were reported in stands containing Acacia. This highlights the potential of mixed-species in preserving community stability following environmental disturbances and increasing the number of resources confirming their important ecological role in boosting the resilience of the forest ecosystems to climate and land-use (plant species as shown by PCA analysis) changes.

A shift in substrate requirement might cause speciation of the lichenized fungi, Varicellaria hemisphaerica and V. lactea (Pertusariales, Ascomycota)

Proper species recognition is required to correctly estimate species preferences and their vulnerability or for eco-evolutionary inference. Varicellaria hemisphaerica and Varicellaria lactea are almost completely morphologically homogeneous species with unclear identification features. To evaluate the importance of morphological, chemical, and ecological characteristics used in recognition of these species, we tested 670 specimens, of which 42 were analyzed phylogenetically using nucITS rDNA, SSU rDNA, and LSU rDNA markers. This integrated taxonomical approach showed that V. hemisphaerica is distinct from V. lactea, and that substrate requirements, together with phylogenetic differences and the size of soredia, differentiate these species. The chemical composition of secondary lichen metabolites in both analyzed species showed similar variation and, therefore, this feature is not diagnostic in species recognition, although suggested by previous studies. The potential speciation of the two species seems to be caused by the shift in the substrate requirements.

Emerging Fungal Infections of the Central Nervous System in the Past Decade: A Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Invasive fungal infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are a major health concern worldwide associated with high mortality rates. Their increased incidence is largely due to an increase in the vulnerable immunocompromised population, changing environmental factors, and development of more accurate diagnostic methods. The aim of this article is to identify fungal causes of CNS infections that are recently emerging or have the potential to become emerging pathogens in the near future, as well as their clinical characteristics, including: Candida auris, Trichosporon spp., Blastomyces spp., Sporothrix spp., Talaromyces marneffei, Lomentospora prolificans, and Scedosporium spp.

METHODS

A review of the literature in PubMed in the last ten years was conducted to identify central nervous system infections caused by each of these fungi.

RESULTS

The review identified 10 cases caused by C. auris, 5 cases by Trichosporon spp., 82 cases by Blastomyces spp., 36 cases by Sporothrix spp., 21 cases by T. marneffei, 22 cases by Lomentospora prolificans, and 42 cases by Scedosporium spp.

DISCUSSION

The exact burden of these diseases remains difficult to ascertain, but their apparent rise underscores the urgent need for improved diagnostic, treatment, and management strategies against CNS fungal pathogens to improve outcomes against these life-threatening infections.

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal eight novel species of Pestalotiopsis (Sporocadaceae, Amphisphaeriales) from southern China

Plants play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the biosphere, but often suffer from pathogenic fungi during growth. During our continuing mycological surveys of plant pathogens from terrestrial plants in Jiangxi and Yunnan provinces, China, 24 strains of Pestalotiopsis isolated from diseased and healthy tissues of plant leaves represented eight new species, viz. P.alpinicola, P.camelliicola, P.cyclosora, P.eriobotryae, P.gardeniae, P.hederae, P.machiliana and P.mangifericola. Multi-locus (ITS, tef1-α and tub2) phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference to reveal their taxonomic placement within Pestalotiopsis. Both molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons supported them as eight independent taxa within Pestalotiopsis. Illustrations and descriptions of these eight taxa were provided, in conjunction with comparisons with closely related taxa in the genus. This work highlights the large potential for new fungal species associated with diseased plant leaves.

Two new species of Pholiota (Agaricales, Strophariaceae) from the southwest of China

Two new mushroom species from Southwest China, Pholiotacylindrospora and P.subterrestris, are described in this study. Pholiotacylindrospora is characterized by its dry pileus with slightly recurved and triangular scales, cylindrical basidiospores, and two types of pleurocystidia-leptocystidia and chrysocystidia-as well as its growth on soil. Pholiotasubterrestris is identified by a brownish-orange pileus with numerous brown fibrillose scales; pale brown lamellae with even edges; a stipe covered with recurved fibrillose scales; elliptical spores with a distinct but small germ pore; and pleurocystidia containing typical amorphous refractive inclusions of chrysocystidia. Both species are described and illustrated, and a phylogenetic analysis of a multigene dataset (ITS + 28S) is presented. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses confirm that P.cylindrospora and P.subterrestris are distinct from the other Pholiota species, and both belong to the subgenus Pholiota. A key to the species of subgenus Pholiota from China is provided.

Leaf Rust Pathogens on Hypericum pseudohenryi: Describing Melampsora danbaensis sp. nov. and M. hyperici-pseudohenryi sp. nov. from China

Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, two novel species of Melampsora were discovered on Hypericum pseudohenryi in China and have been thoroughly characterized. One of these species, designated as M. danbaensis, exhibits distinct features such as aecia of Uredo-type, typically appearing in gregarious or grouped arrangements, and presenting a shallowly pulvinate structure. Aeciospores exhibit tremendous variations in size, ranging in shape from globose to ellipsoidal and bearing pronounced verrucose texture. Telia resemble crusts one-spore deep, covering nearly the entire abaxial leaf surface, with sessile teliospores reaching sizes of up to 65.8 µm, and exhibiting a clavate to cylindrical shape. Another species, designated as M. hyperici-pseudohenryi, is distinguished by Uredo-type uredinia, which are hypophyllous, scattered or grouped, and interspersed with numerous paraphyses. Its urediniospores tend to be globose, ellipsoidal or obovoid, echinulate, and are accompanied by clavate to capitate paraphyses reaching lengths up to 77.6 µm. Phylogenetically, both species form a novel monophyletic clade within the Melampsora genus, with robust support demonstrated by a high Maximum likelihood bootstrap support (MLBS) value of 100% and a Bayesian posterior probability (BPP) of 1. This study enriches our understanding of the diversity and geographical distribution of Melampsora species that infect Hypericum plants in China.

Genomic Characterization and Establishment of a Genetic Manipulation System for Trichoderma sp. (Harzianum Clade) LZ117

Trichoderma species have been reported as masters in producing cellulolytic enzymes for the biodegradation of lignocellulolytic biomass and biocontrol agents against plant pathogens and pests. In our previous study, a novel Trichoderma strain LZ117, which shows potent capability in cellulase production, was isolated. Herein, we conducted multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on DNA barcodes and performed time-scaled phylogenomic analyses using the whole genome sequences of the strain, annotated by integrating transcriptome data. Our results suggest that this strain represents a new species closely related to T. atrobrunneum (Harzianum clade). Genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), transporters, and secondary metabolites were annotated and predicted secretome in Trichoderma sp. LZ117 was also presented. Furthermore, genetic manipulation of this strain was successfully achieved using PEG-mediated protoplast transformation. A putative transporter gene encoding maltose permease (Mal1) was overexpressed, which proved that this transporter does not affect cellulase production. Moreover, overexpressing the native Cre1 homolog in LZ117 demonstrated a more pronounced impact of glucose-caused carbon catabolite repression (CCR), suggesting the importance of Cre1-mediated CCR in cellulase production of Trichoderma sp. LZ117. The results of this study will benefit further exploration of the strain LZ117 and related species for their applications in bioproduction.

The microbial communities of the rust layer were influenced by seawater microbial communities

To reveal the responsible microorganisms of microbiologically-influenced-corrosion (MIC), using 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing techniques, we investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in rust layer and seawater. Results show that the corrosion-related genera of Erythrobacter, norank_f__Rhodothermaceae, and Acinetobacter bacteria, as well as Aspergillus fungi, were overrepresented in the rust layer, along with the Pseudoalteromonas and Marinobacterium bacteria in seawater, and Ramlibacter, Aquimarina, and Williamsia bacteria were first detected in the rust layer. SourceTracker analysis revealed that approximately 23.08% of bacteria and 21.48% of fungi originated from seawater. Stochastic processes governed the rust layer and seawater microbial communities, and network analysis showed coexistence and interaction among bacterial and fungal communities. These results indicate that the composition of microbial communities in the rust layer was influenced by the marine environmental microbial communities, which can provide basic data support for the control of MIC in marine-related projects.

A Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Study of Anamorphic Strains of Daldinia (Hypoxylaceae, Xylariales) in Southern China

In an extensive fungal investigation conducted in southern China, a large number of fungal strains were isolated by collecting and treating diseased and decayed leaves. Using internal transcribed spacer regions (ITSs) sequence data for a BLAST search to screen for suspected strains of Daldinia, followed by phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer regions, partial sequences of the large subunit of the rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II (rpb2), and beta tubulin (tub2) sequence data, combined with morphological characteristics of anamorphic species, ninety-four strains of Daldinia were identified. Furthermore, their geographical distribution and host specificity of the genus were thoroughly analyzed and summarized. Additionally, seven new anamorphic species of the genus Daldinia were also detected, Daldinia ehretiae sp. nov., D. jianfengensis sp. nov., D. ledongensis sp. nov., D. menghaiensis sp. nov., D. rhododendri sp. nov., D. spatholobi sp. nov., and D. thunbergiae sp. nov.

Reticulate evolution and rapid development of reproductive barriers upon secondary contact in a forest fungus

Reproductive barriers between sister species of the mushroom-forming fungi tend to be stronger in sympatry, leading to speculation on whether they are being reinforced by selection against hybrids. We have used population genomic analyses together with in vitro crosses of a global sample of the wood decay fungus Trichaptum abietinum to investigate reproductive barriers within this species complex and the processes that have shaped them. Our phylogeographic analyses show that T. abietinum is delimited into six major genetic groups: one in Asia, two in Europe, and three in North America. The groups present in Europe are interfertile and admixed, whereas our crosses show that the North American groups are reproductively isolated. In Asia, a more complex pattern appears, with partial intersterility between subgroups that likely originated independently and more recently than the reproductive barriers in North America. We found pre-mating barriers in T. abietinum to be moderately correlated with genomic divergence, whereas mean growth reduction of the mated hybrids showed a strong correlation with increasing genomic divergence. Genome-wide association analyses identified candidate genes with programmed cell death annotations, which are known to be involved in intersterility in distantly related fungi, although their link here remains unproven. Our demographic modeling and phylogenetic network analyses fit a scenario where reproductive barriers in Trichaptum abietinum could have been reinforced upon secondary contact between groups that diverged in allopatry during the Pleistocene glacial cycles. Our combination of experimental and genomic approaches demonstrates how T. abietinum is a tractable system for studying speciation mechanisms.

Multi-gene analysis of the Russula crown clade (Russulales, Basidiomycota) revealed six new species and Alboflavinae subsect. nov. from Fagaceae forests in China

Introduction

The crown clade is one of two major groups in the Russula subg. Russula.

Methods/material

An analysis of Chinese samples was performed based on the morphology, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, and multi-gene phylogenies of 28S nrLSU, 16S mtSSU, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1-α.

Results

The results supported the independence of six new species: Russula alboflava (sect. Amethystinae), R. chrysantha (subsect. Chamaeleontinae), R. liyui (subsect. Laricinae), R. lutescens (subsect. Olivaceinae), R. paraxerampelina, and R. prunicolor (subsect. Xerampelinae) from Fagaceae forest habitats. Subsect. Alboflavinae was newly proposed in sect. Amethystinae. Members of the new subsection include R. alboflava, R. burlinghamiae, and possibly R. ballouii.

Discussion

Our analyses also supported the claim that two species of R. fulvograminea (subsect. Laricinae) and R. subrubens (subsect. Xerampelinae) have a Eurasian distribution. The habitat and primary hosts of the main phylogenetic clades within related subsections were summarized and discussed.

Biofortification of Mushrooms: A Promising Approach

Mushrooms exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities and are widely used for medical purposes and in nutrition. Numerous bioactive metabolites are responsible for these activities. Their distribution and biological effects differ depending on the fungal species and their chemical composition. Biofortification is a sustainable process that aims to improve the nutritional profile of food crops, as most of them are low in key nutrients. This review aims to delve into the process of fungal biofortification and review the most commonly used elements and species. Through biofortification, it is possible to combat hidden hunger, which affects as many as 2 billion people worldwide. "Hidden hunger" is a phenomenon in which the organism lacks the minerals and vitamins needed for development, growth, and good overall health. Mushrooms are increasingly being considered for biofortification due to their ability to accumulate various elements (both micro- and macroelements).

Genome analysis of the esca-associated Basidiomycetes Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fomitiporia polymorpha, Inonotus vitis, and Tropicoporus texanus reveals virulence factor repertoires characteristic of white-rot fungi

Some Basidiomycete fungi are important plant pathogens, and certain species have been associated with the grapevine trunk disease esca. We present the genomes of 4 species associated with esca: Fomitiporia mediterranea, Fomitiporia polymorpha, Tropicoporus texanus, and Inonotus vitis. We generated high-quality phased genome assemblies using long-read sequencing. The genomic and functional comparisons identified potential virulence factors, suggesting their roles in disease development. Similar to other white-rot fungi known for their ability to degrade lignocellulosic substrates, these 4 genomes encoded a variety of lignin peroxidases and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) such as CBM1, AA9, and AA2. The analysis of gene family expansion and contraction revealed dynamic evolutionary patterns, particularly in genes related to secondary metabolite production, plant cell wall decomposition, and xenobiotic degradation. The availability of these genomes will serve as a reference for further studies of diversity and evolution of virulence factors and their roles in esca symptoms and host resistance.

Cultivation of a Wild Strain of Wood Ear Auricularia cornea from Brazil

Auricularia cornea has become one of the most important cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Although not remarkably flavorful, Auricularia species are very versatile and rehydrate easily after drying, adding a unique and pleasing texture to the dishes. In this study, we collected, identified, and domesticated a wild strain of A. cornea from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The wild strain was evaluated for mycelial growth at different temperatures and substrates, biological efficiency, and nutritional composition. The temperature that best favored the A. cornea mycelium growth was 30 °C, and the substrate was sterile Eucalyptus sawdust. The highest biological efficiency value obtained was 106.90 ± 13.28%. Nutritional analysis showed that the produced wood ears contained 71.02% carbohydrates, 19.63% crude fiber, 11.59% crude protein, 10.19% crude fat, and 4.24% ash on dry matter basis. For the mineral content profile, the elements K and P were the most abundant. This is the first report on cultivation of a wild strain of A. cornea from Brazil.

Microbial response to seasonal variation in arctic biocrusts with a focus on fungi and cyanobacteria

Biocrusts are crucial components of Arctic ecosystems, playing significant roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, especially in regions where plant growth is limited. However, the microbial communities within Arctic biocrusts and their strategies for surviving the harsh conditions remain poorly understood. In this study, the microbial profiles of Arctic biocrusts across different seasons (summer, autumn, and winter) were investigated in order to elucidate their survival strategies in extreme conditions. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses revealed significant differences in microbial community composition among the sites located in different elevations. The bacterial communities were dominated by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, while the fungal communities were mainly represented by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with lichenized and saprotrophic traits prevailing. Cyanobacteria were primarily composed of heterocystous cyanobacteria. Furthermore, the study identified molecular mechanisms underlying cold adaptation, including the expression of heat shock proteins and cold-inducible RNA helicases in cyanobacteria and fungi. Overall, the microbial communities appear to be permanently well adapted to the extreme environment.

Unveiling tribal treasures: myco-chemical characterization and pharmacological evaluation of an unexplored Russula pers. species

During extensive field explorations of the Lateritic area in West Bengal, one remarkable wild Russuloid macrofungus, ethnically termed "Kend Patra," was collected. The species was known to enrich the diet of the local people, being considered as income source for some tribal groups. Using morphological characters and molecular analysis of this collection, provide a unique placement of the taxon in the Russula subgenus Compactae (Fr.) Bon. Further in order to find functional constituents for biopharma applications, methanolic extract was prepared that shows the existence of a substantial amounts of phenol, flavonoid, ascorbic acid and carotenoids. Antioxidant activity was determined where the fraction demonstrated strong DPPH, ABTS, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, high Fe2+ ion chelating ability, and a reducing power with EC50 values ranging from 538.69 to 891.75 µg/ml. The extract was found to be effective against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the extract exhibited potent anticancer activities as it inhibited A549 cell proliferation, caused morphological changes, elevated ROS levels, hindered the clonogenic ability and migratory potential of cancerous cells, arrested cell cycle progression at S phase, and induced apoptosis by modulating the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Overall, this study contributes a new species to the world's myco-diversity and presents an exciting opportunity for future researchers to conduct comprehensive investigations on this unique species in order to uncover potential new medications for human use.

Molecular phylogenetic and estimation of evolutionary divergence and biogeography of the family Schizoparmaceae and allied families (Diaporthales, Ascomycota)

The Diaporthales includes 32 families, many of which are important plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes, e.g., members of the families Pseudoplagiostomataceae, Pyrisporaceae and Schizoparmaceae. Nucleotide sequences derived from five genetic loci including: ITS, LSU, TEF1-α, TUB2 and RPB2 were used for Bayesian evolutionary analysis to determine divergence times and evolutionary relationships within the Schizoparmaceae. Molecular clock analyses revealed that the ancestor of Schizoparmaceae split during the Upper Cretaceous period approximately 75.7 Mya (95 % highest posterior density of 60.3-91.3 Mya). Reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) with using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) Method to reconstruct the historical biogeography for the family Schizoparmaceae indicated its most likely origin in Africa. Based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, the Pseudoplagiostomataceae and Pyrisporaceae relationships were clarified and a total of four species described herein. For Pseudoplagiostomataceae, three new species and one known species that include, Pseudoplagiostoma fafuense sp. nov., Ps. ilicis sp. nov., Ps. sanmingense sp. nov. and Ps. bambusae are described and a key of Pseudoplagiostomataceae is provided. With respect to Pyrisporaceae, we considered Pseudoplagiostoma castaneae to be a synonym of Pyrispora castaneae. In addition, a new species of Schizoparmaceae, Coniella fujianensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated.

Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Trichoderma asperellum with Antifungal Properties against Colletotrichum acutatum

Managing plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi, such as anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species, is challenging. Different methods have been used to identify compounds with antibiotic properties. Trichoderma strains are a source of novel molecules with antifungal properties, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), whose production is influenced by the nutrient content of the medium. In this study, we assessed the VOCs produced in dual confrontation systems performed in two culture media by Trichoderma strains (T. atroviride IMI206040, T. asperellum T1 and T3, and Trichoderma sp. T2) on Colletotrichum acutatum. We analysed the VOC profiles using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The Luria Bertani (LB) medium stimulated the production of VOCs with antifungal properties in most systems. We identified 2-pentyl furan, dimethyl disulfide, and α-phellandrene and determined their antifungal activity in vitro. The equimolar mixture of those VOCs (250 µM ea.) resulted in 14% C. acutatum diametral growth inhibition. The infective ability and disease severity caused by the mycelia exposed to the VOCs mixture were notably diminished in strawberry leaves. Application of these VOCs as biofumigants may contribute to the management of anthracnose. LB represents a feasible strategy for identifying novel VOCs produced by Trichoderma strains with antifungal properties.

Characterization and quantification of peptaibol produced by novel Trichoderma spp: Harnessing their potential to mitigate moisture stress through enhanced biochemical and physiological responses in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Trichoderma spp. is primarily applied to manage biotic stresses in plants. Still, they also can mitigate abiotic stresses by the stimulation of antioxidative protective mechanisms and enhanced synthesis of secondary metabolites. The study optimized the conditions to enhance peptaibol production by novel Trichoderma spp, characterized and quantified peptaibol- alamethicin using HPLC and LC MS-MS. The present study investigated these isolates efficacy in enhancing growth and the associated physio-biochemical changes in black pepper plants under moisture stress. Under in vitro conditions, out of 51 isolates studied, six isolates viz., T. asperellum (IISR NAIMCC 0049), T. erinaceum (IISR APT1), T. harzianum (IISR APT2), T. harzianum (IISR KL3), T. lixii (IISR KA15) and T. asperellum (IISR TN3) showed tolerance to low moisture levels (5, 10 and 20%) and higher temperatures (35 and 40 °C). In vivo evaluation on black pepper plants maintained under four different moisture levels (Field capacity [FC]; 75%, 50%, and 25%) showed that the plants inoculated with Trichoderma accumulated greater quantities of secondary metabolites viz., proline, phenols, MDA and soluble proteins at low moisture levels (50% and 25% FC). In the present study, plants inoculated with T. asperellum and T. harzianum showed significantly increased growth compared to uninoculated plants. The shortlisted Trichoderma isolates exhibited differences in peptaibol production and indicated that the peptide might be the key factor for their efficiency as biocontrol agents. The present study also demonstrated that Trichoderma isolates T. harzianum and T. asperellum (IISR APT2 & NAIMCC 0049) enhanced the drought-tolerant capabilities of black pepper by improving plant growth and secondary metabolite production.

Fusarium as potential pathogenic fungus of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) wilt disease

The wilt disease of ginger, caused by various Fusarium species, imperils the cultivation of this valuable crop. However, the pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiology of ginger wilt remain elusive. Here, we investigate the association between ginger rhizome health and the prevalence of Fusarium conidia, as well as examine fungal community composition in symptomatic and asymptomatic ginger tissues. Our findings show that diseased rhizomes have reduced tissue firmness, correlating negatively with Fusarium conidia counts. Pathogenicity assays confirmed that both Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani are capable of inducing wilt symptoms in rhizomes and sterile seedlings. Furthermore, Fungal community profiling revealed Fusarium to be the dominant taxon across all samples, yet its relative abundance was significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic tissues. Specifically, there is a higher incidence of Fusarium amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in symptomatic above-ground parts. Our results unequivocally implicate F. oxysporum or F. solani as the etiological agents responsible for ginger wilt and demonstrate that Fusarium is the principal fungal pathogen associated with this disease. These findings provide critical insights for efficacious disease management practices within the ginger industry.

Dominant Tree Species and Litter Quality Govern Fungal Community Dynamics during Litter Decomposition

Litter decomposition is a crucial biochemical process regulated by microbial activities in the forest ecosystem. However, the dynamic response of the fungal community during litter decomposition to vegetation changes is not well understood. Here, we investigated the litter decomposition rate, extracellular enzyme activities, fungal community, and nutrient cycling-related genes in leaf and twig litters over a three-year decomposition period in a pure Liquidamabar formosana forest and a mixed L. formosana/Pinus thunbergii forest. The result showed that during the three-year decomposition, twig litter in the mixed forest decomposed faster than that in the pure forest. In both leaf litter and twig litter, β-cellobiosidase and N-acetyl-glucosamidase exhibited higher activities in the mixed forest, whereas phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and β-xylosidase were higher in the pure forest. The fungal α-diversity were higher in both litters in the pure forest compared to the mixed forest, with leaf litter showing higher α-diversity than twig litter. Fungal species richness and α-diversity within leaf litter increased as decomposition progressed. Within leaf litter, Basidiomycota dominated in the mixed forest, while Ascomycota dominated in the pure forest. Funguild analysis revealed that Symbiotroph and ectomycorrhizal fungi were more abundant in the mixed forest compared to the pure forest. In the third-year decomposition, genes related to phosphorus cycling were most abundant in both forests, with the pure forest having a higher abundance of cex and gcd genes. Fungal community structure, predicted functional structure, and gene composition differed between the two forest types and between the two litter types. Notably, the fungal functional community structure during the first-year decomposition was distinct from that in the subsequent two years. These findings suggest that dominant tree species, litter quality, and decomposition time all significantly influence litter decomposition by attracting different fungal communities, thereby affecting the entire decomposition process.

Assessing variability among culturable phylloplane basidiomycetous yeasts from Italian agroecosystems

This study analysed basidiomycetous yeasts isolated from the phylloplane of crops and spontaneous plants in Italian agroecosystems. A total of 25 species belonging to 17 genera were recognized by analysing 83 isolates from vineyards and orchards, that are not treated with synthetic fungicides, and adjacent natural areas. Rhodotorula graminis and Filobasidium magnum were the most frequent species but 13 others were represented by a single isolate (e.g., Buckleyzyma salicina, Pseudozyma prolifica, and Moniliella megachiliensis). Preliminary analysis of (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting revealed high genetic intraspecific heterogeneity. All isolates were characterized by their production of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and their sensitivity to six commercial fungicides used in Italy. The isolates displayed great variability in these phenotypic traits, which play an important role in the survival of yeast populations in agroecosystems. Most of them exhibited lipolytic, proteolytic, β-glucosidase and pectinolytic activities, but only three (F. magnum, Kwoniella mangroviensis and Ps. prolifica) also had cellulolytic and amylolytic activity. Most isolates were sensitive to four fungicides, and one R. graminis isolate was resistant to all six. This heterogeneity was not related to the geographical origin of the isolates. The lack of selective factors (i.e. pesticide treatments) in the sampling fields and the presence of adjacent natural areas may have favored the maintenance of an elevated level of strain diversity. This study provides new information on phylloplane basidiomycetous yeasts in agroecosystems and opens the way to further investigations into the impact of agricultural practices on the microbial diversity of these natural habitats.

Addition of three new species of Xylariomycetidae fungi on bamboo from Southern China

In our ongoing research on bambusicolous Xylariomycetidae fungi, three new microfungi taxa were collected and identified as members of the genera Amphibambusa, Arecophila, and Nigropunctata. Amphibambusaaureae sp. nov., Arecophilagaofengensis sp. nov., and Nigropunctataxiaohensis sp. nov. are introduced based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses using combined ITS, LSU, tub2, and tef1α loci. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree showcasing the placement of these new taxa are provided. Additionally, keys to Amphibambusa and Nigropunctata are provided.

Introducing palmfungi.org, an integrated fungal-host data platform

Palm fungi are a diverse and unique group mostly found on Arecaceae hosts. They have been studied for approximately 200 years resulting in a large number of known fungal species representing over 700 genera. The timeline of palm fungal studies could be roughly divided into three phases, based on the methods and frequency of reports. They are the "Historical palm fungi era", "Classical palm fungi era" and "Molecular palm fungi era". In the first two periods, the identification of palm fungi was based on morphology, which resulted in a considerable number of morphological species scattered across the data in books, monographs and papers. With the advancement of molecular techniques, studies on palm fungi accelerated. A large number of new species were introduced in the molecular era, especially from Asia, including China and Thailand. However, there is a necessity to link these three generations of studies into a single platform combining data related to host factors, geography and utilisation. Herein, we introduce the palm fungi website: https://palmfungi.org, an integrated data platform for interactive retrieval, based on palm and fungal species. This website is not only a portal for the latest, comprehensive species information on palm fungi, but also provides a new platform for fungal researchers to explore the host-specificity of palm fungi. Additionally, this study uses palmfungi.org and related data to briefly discuss the current status of research on the distribution of palm fungi populations, showing how palmfungi.org links fungi with their palm hosts. Furthermore, the website will act as a platform for collaboration amongst taxonomists, plant pathologists, botanists, ecologists and those who are interested in palms and their relationship with ecological sustainability.

Closing the gap: examining the impact of source habitat proximity on plant and soil microbial communities in post-mining spoil heap succession

Introduction

Revegetation of barren substrates is often determined by the composition and distance of the nearest plant community, serving as a source of colonizing propagules. Whether such dispersal effect can be observed during the development of soil microbial communities, is not clear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate which factors structure plant and soil bacterial and fungal communities during primary succession on a limestone quarry spoil heap, focusing on the effect of distance to the adjoining xerophilous grassland.

Methods

We established a grid of 35 plots covering three successional stages - initial barren substrate, early successional community and late successional grassland ecosystem, the latter serving as the primary source of soil colonization. On these plots, we performed vegetation surveys of plant community composition and collected soil cores to analyze soil chemical properties and bacterial and fungal community composition.

Results

The composition of early successional plant community was significantly affected by the proximity of the source late successional community, however, the effect weakened when the distance exceeded 20 m. Early successional microbial communities were structured mainly by the local plant community composition and soil chemical properties, with minimal contribution of the source community proximity.

Discussion

These results show that on small spatial scales, species migration is an important determinant of plant community composition during primary succession while the establishment of soil microbial communities is not limited by dispersal and is primarily driven by local biotic and abiotic conditions.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal mechanisms underpinning resistance of Chinese wild grape to Colletotrichum viniferum

Grape ripe rot is one of the most important diseases caused by Colletotrichum spp. Chinese wild grape (Vitis davidii) is highly resistant to Colletotrichum viniferum infection. But mechanisms underlying the resistance remain largely unclear. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of V. davidii to C. viniferum were studied before and after 1, 2, 4, and 6 days of inoculation. C. viniferum infection induced the expression of a large number of defense-related genes. KEGG analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were largely those involved in alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, stilbenoid biosynthesis, and other defense-related metabolic pathways. Based on transcriptome data and experimental analysis, we found that jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis was closely related to V. davidii resistance to C. viniferum. In addition, many genes related to the synthesis of lignin and phytoalexin resveratrol are upregulated by pathogen infection, and metabolomic analysis showed that there was an increasing accumulation of resveratrol on day 6 of C. viniferum inoculation. Further analysis indicated that transcription factors, such as VdWRKY75 regulated the biosynthesis of lignin and stilbenes. A working model for V. davidii against C. viniferum infection was proposed. The infection of C. viniferum induced JA production, JA along with transcription factors regulated the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as lignin and resveratrol that enhanced plant resistance to C. viniferum. This study elucidated molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance of Chinese wild V. davidii to C. viniferum which can provide a theoretical basis for grape disease resistance breeding.

Fungal endophytes and leaf litter fungi as sources of novel inhibitor-resistant cellulase for biofuel production: a basic study

Hydrothermal pretreatments are commonly employed prior to the biotechnological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) into value-added products, such as fuels and chemicals. However, the by-products of this pretreatment, including furaldehydes, lignin-derived phenolics, and carboxylic acids, can inhibit the enzymes and microbes used in the biotechnological process. In this study, LCB degrading enzymes of endophytic and litter fungi were screened for their tolerance to potential pretreatment-derived inhibitors. Several fungi produced endo- and exoglucanases that remained functional in the presence of lignocellulose-derived phenolics. Some were also active in the presence of tannic acid. Additionally, thermostable endoglucanase activity was observed in some fungi. The ability of some of these fungi to utilize furaldehyde inhibitors as a sole carbon source was also noted. The culture supernatants of the fungal strains were tested in hydrolysis experiments using microcrystalline cellulose as a substrate, in the presence of lignocellulose phenolics and tannic acid. With some strains, higher sugar yields were obtained in the hydrolysis of cellulose when phenolics were added. Our results highlight the need for more intensive exploration of endophytic and plant litter fungi for novel inhibitor-resistant cellulases for biofuel production.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-04087-3.

A global chromoblastomycosis strategy and development of the global chromoblastomycosis working group

Chromoblastomycosis, an implantation mycosis, is a neglected tropical disease that causes decreased quality of life, stigma, and disability. The global burden of disease is unknown and data on disease epidemiology and outcomes are severely limited by a lack of access to needed diagnostic tools and therapeutics. The World Health Organization outlined targets for chromoblastomycosis in the Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021-2030, but little progress has been made in initiating and implementing an effective control program globally. This lack of guiding policy and progress led to the recent formation of a Global Chromoblastomycosis Working Group which has developed a global chromoblastomycosis strategy. We describe this strategy, which outlines specific steps needed to improve technical progress, strategy and service delivery, and enablers. Clinicians, researchers, public and government officials, patients, and policy makers can align their time, expertise, and resources to improve the lives of communities affected by chromoblastomycosis through this strategy.