Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale insect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps poecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane areas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita pseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of Musa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea umbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi erraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella punctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Aceropalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead corticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass (Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood of Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist soil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of Hibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, Vacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. Neoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves of Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe rupestroides on gravelly soil. Pakistan, Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus on soil. Philippines, Ophiocordyceps philippinensis parasitic on Asilus sp. Poland, Hawksworthiomyces ciconiae isolated from Ciconia ciconia nest, Plectosphaerella vigrensis from leaf spots on Impatiens noli-tangere, Xenoramularia epitaxicola from sooty mould community on Taxus baccata. Portugal, Inocybe dagamae on clay soil. Saudi Arabia, Diaporthe jazanensis on branches of Coffea arabica. South Africa, Alternaria moraeae on dead leaves of Moraea sp., Bonitomyces buffels-kloofinus (incl. Bonitomyces gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Constrictochalara koukolii on living leaves of Itea rhamnoides colonised by a Meliola sp., Cylindromonium lichenophilum on Parmelina tiliacea, Gamszarella buffelskloofina (incl. Gamszarella gen. nov.) on dead insect, Isthmosporiella africana (incl. Isthmosporiella gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothoeucasphaeria buffelskloofina (incl. Nothoeucasphaeria gen. nov.), on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothomicrothyrium beaucarneae (incl. Nothomicrothyrium gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Paramycosphaerella proteae on living leaves of Protea caffra, Querciphoma foliicola on leaf litter, Rachicladosporium conostomii on dead twigs of Conostomium natalense var. glabrum, Rhamphoriopsis synnematosa on dead twig of unknown tree, Waltergamsia mpumalanga on dead leaves of unknown tree. Spain, Amanita fulvogrisea on limestone soil, in mixed forest, Amanita herculis in open Quercus forest, Vuilleminia beltraniae on Cistus symphytifolius. Sweden, Pachyella pulchella on decaying wood on sand-silt riverbank. Thailand, Deniquelata cassiae on dead stem of Cassia fistula, Stomiopeltis thailandica on dead twigs of Magnolia champaca. Ukraine, Circinaria podoliana on natural limestone outcrops, Neonematogonum carpinicola (incl. Neonematogonum gen. nov.) on dead branches of Carpinus betulus. USA, Exophiala wilsonii water from cooling tower, Hygrophorus aesculeticola on soil in mixed forest, and Neocelosporium aereum from air in a house attic. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Costa MM, Kandemir H, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613. Persoonia 51: 280-417. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.08.

Measles outbreak in the Lazio region of Italy: surveillance and impact on emergency departments and hospitalizations

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Europe had committed to 2015 as the year to eliminate measles from the region but several outbreaks have been reported recently from several areas of the continent. Here we describe an outbreak that occurred in 2010-2011 in Lazio region, Central Italy, and its impact on some health care services (i.e., Emergency Departments (EDs) and hospital clinics).

METHODS

We analyzed cases of measles reported to the infectious diseases surveillance system and accesses to EDs and hospitalizations for measles in the Lazio Region (central Italy, population of about 5,730,000 people).

RESULTS

In 2010-2011, 2,956 cases were reported to the surveillance system (incidence rate: 18.4 and 33.3 per 100,000 in 2010 and 2011, respectively). The incidence rates varied greatly with the territory. The outbreak occurred mainly among children <1 year old and among adolescents, most unvaccinated and did not seem to be related to cases imported from Eastern Europe. Complications were reported in 37.4% of the cases. The epidemic was mainly related to an accumulation of adolescents susceptible to measles due to unsatisfactory vaccination coverage in the early nineties. The outbreak had a strong impact on the health system with 2,881 ED visits and 1,168 hospitalizations. Outbreak-associated costs were considerable.

CONCLUSIONS

An additional intervention should be considered aimed at improving routine immunization coverage in children and at planning catch-up vaccination of 6-18 year olds not previously vaccinated. Further, timely surveillance is needed and specific protocols should be implemented to limit secondary cases.

A temporary immersion system improves in vitro regeneration of peach palm through secondary somatic embryogenesis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Secondary somatic embryogenesis has been postulated to occur during induction of peach palm somatic embryogenesis. In the present study this morphogenetic pathway is described and a protocol for the establishment of cycling cultures using a temporary immersion system (TIS) is presented.

METHODS

Zygotic embryos were used as explants, and induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet growth were compared in TIS and solid culture medium. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to describe in vitro morphogenesis and accompany morpho-histological alterations during culture.

KEY RESULTS

The development of secondary somatic embryos occurs early during the induction of primary somatic embryos. Secondary somatic embryos were observed to develop continually in culture, resulting in non-synchronized development of these somatic embryos. Using these somatic embryos as explants allowed development of cycling cultures. Somatic embryos had high embryogenic potential (65·8 ± 3·0 to 86·2 ± 5·0 %) over the period tested. The use of a TIS greatly improved the number of somatic embryos obtained, as well as subsequent plantlet growth. Histological analyses showed that starch accumulation precedes the development of somatic embryos, and that these cells presented high nucleus/cytoplasm ratios and high mitotic indices, as evidenced by DAPI staining. Morphological and SEM observations revealed clusters of somatic embryos on one part of the explants, while other parts grew further, resulting in callus tissue. A multicellular origin of the secondary somatic embryos is hypothesized. Cells in the vicinity of callus accumulated large amounts of phenolic substances in their vacuoles. TEM revealed that these cells are metabolically very active, with the presence of numerous mitochondria and Golgi apparatuses. Light microscopy and TEM of the embryogenic sector revealed cells with numerous amyloplasts, large nuclei and nucleoli, and numerous plasmodesmata. Plantlets were obtained and after 3 months in culture their growth was significantly better in TIS than on solid culture medium. However, during acclimatization the survival rate of TIS-grown plantlets was lower.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study confirms the occurrence of secondary somatic embryos in peach palm and describes a feasible protocol for regeneration of peach palm in vitro. Further optimizations include the use of explants obtained from adult palms and improvement of somatic embryo conversion rates.

[A cross-sectional survey on childhood immunization coverage and reasons of non-compliance in Lazio Region, Italy (2007)]

During 2007, Laziosanità conducted a cross-sectional survey on childhood immunization coverage in Lazio Region. The survey, implemented in collaboration with the 12 LHUs of the Region, aimed at assessing immunization coverage among children, with 24 months of age or older, at regional and district level. In addition, the survey assessed reliability of the routine surveillance system and immunization records at peripheral level. Finally, delay in immunization schedule, and major reasons for non-compliance, as reported by the mothers, were analyzed. The survey results allowed to identify weakness in the routine surveillance system, low coverage levels for specific LHUs, and strategies for improvement of immunization coverage.

Somatic embryogenesis in peach palm using the thin cell layer technique: induction, morpho-histological aspects and AFLP analysis of somaclonal variation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The thin cell layer (TCL) technique is based on the use of very small explants and has allowed enhanced in vitro morphogenesis in several plant species. The present study evaluated the TCL technique as a procedure for somatic embryo production and plantlet regeneration of peach palm.

METHODS

TCL explants from different positions in the shoot apex and leaf sheath of peach palm were cultivated in MS culture medium supplemented with 0-600 microM Picloram in the presence of activated charcoal. The production of primary calli and embryogenic calli was evaluated in these different conditions. Histological and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses were conducted to study in vitro morphogenetic responses and genetic stability, respectively, of the regenerated plantlets.

KEY RESULTS

Abundant primary callus induction was observed from TCLs of the shoot meristem in culture media supplemented with 150-600 microM Picloram (83-97%, respectively). The production of embryogenic calli depends on Picloram concentration and explant position. The best response observed was 43% embryogenic callus production from shoot meristem TCL on 300 microM Picloram. In maturation conditions, 34+/-4 somatic embryos per embryogenic callus were obtained, and 45.0+/-3.4% of these fully developed somatic embryos were converted, resulting in plantlets ready for acclimatization, of which 80% survived. Histological studies revealed that the first cellular division events occurred in cells adjacent to vascular tissue, resulting in primary calli, whose growth was ensured by a meristematic zone. A multicellular origin of the resulting somatic embryos arising from the meristematic zone is suggested. During maturation, histological analyses revealed bipolarization of the somatic embryos, as well as the development of new somatic embryos. AFLP analyses revealed that 92% of the regenerated plantlets were true to type. The use of TCL explants considerably improves the number of calli and somatic embryos produced in comparison with previously described protocols for in vitro regeneration of peach palm.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that the TCL somatic embryogenesis protocol developed is feasible, although it still requires further optimization for in vitro multiplication of peach palm, especially the use of similar explants obtained from adult palm trees.

Posture and movement in healthy preterm infants in supine position in and outside the nest

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether lying in a nest affects the posture and spontaneous movements of healthy preterm infants.

METHOD

10 healthy preterm infants underwent serial video recording in the supine position, when lying in a nest and outside it, at three ages: 30-33 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) (early preterm), 34-36 weeks PMA (late preterm) and 37-40 weeks PMA (term). The nest was shell-shaped, made by putting two rolled blankets in a form of an oval. Posture was assessed both before and after general movements by scoring the predominant postural pattern. Movements towards and across the midline, elegant wrist movements, abrupt hand and/or limb movements, rolling to side, and frozen postures of the arms and legs were assessed during four general movements. All data relating to motor and postural items were normalised into frequencies of events per minute because the general movements varied in duration.

RESULTS

When lying in the nest, the infants more often displayed a flexed posture with shoulder adduction and elbow, and hip and knee flexion, and the head was frequently in the midline. The nest was also associated with an increase in elegant wrist movements and movements towards and across the midline and a reduction in abrupt movements and frozen postures of the limbs. The nest did not affect the occurrence of asymmetrical tonic neck posture.

CONCLUSIONS

A nest promotes a flexed posture of the limbs with adduction of shoulders, facilitates elegant wrist movements and movements towards and across the midline and reduces abrupt movements and frozen postures of the arms and legs.

Morphohistological analysis and histochemistry of Feijoa sellowiana somatic embryogenesis

Morphohistological analysis and histochemical studies were carried out during the induction and development of Feijoa sellowiana somatic embryos. Zygotic embryos were cultured on LPm medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (20 microM) and glutamine (8 mM). Somatic embryogenesis could be induced from embryogenic cells that originated in meristematic centers or from clusters of cells. The presence of few starch grains and abundant protein bodies was observed in the globular and early torpedo stages, while in torpedo and cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos an enhanced synthesis of starch grains was associated with the accumulation of reserves to be used in the conversion of the embryos to plantlets. Proteins were predominantly observed in protoderm cells, as well as in the meristematic apical region of torpedo and cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos.

[Implications of transgenics for environmental and agricultural sustainability]

The potential risks of GMOs, their impact on human and animal health, and on the environment, as well as their socioeconomic effects, have generated a worldwide discussion which is far from drawing to a close for lack of sufficient information. Part of this information supports risk-hypotheses previously put forward. Thus the presence of transgenic plant genes in other plants and in other organisms has been confirmed in several occasions. Therefore, gene dissemination to plants of the same species as well as to widely different species is already regarded as an actual risk. The principle of substantial equivalence has opened the way for the liberation of transgenic plants for commercial crops, despite short-term tests, which are quantitatively and qualitatively insufficient to certify that the foods deriving from those plants are healthy and safe. Thus, the adoption of the so-called precautionary principle (PP) has turned out to be the most adequate safety measure to date, or else until scientific data should be able to demonstrate the actual impact of transgenic plants on human and animal health, and on the environment.

Tissue, cell culture and micropropagation of Mandevilla velutina, a natural source of a bradykinin antagonist

Leaf, stem and root explants of Mandevilla velutina were cultured in vitro and produced vigorous callus in LS basal medium containing one auxin (2,4-D or NAA) plus BAP. Calli can be subcultured indefinitely with vigorous growth. Subculture of calli to NAA (1.0 mg/l) plus BAP (5.0 mg/l) caused profuse regeneration of shoots. Isolated shoots were rooted in basal medium plus NAA (5.0 mg/l) or IBA (8.0 mg/l). Rapidly growing cell suspensions can be easily obtained from friable callus cultured in liquid medium.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in embryo cultures of Euterpe edulis mart. (palmae)

The induction of somatic embryogenesis in embryo cultures of Euterpe edulis is described. The basal medium was composed of LS salts and Morel & Wetmore vitamins. Activated charcoal was added to prevent explant oxidation. 2,4-D higher than 50 mg/l was necessary for inducing embryogenesis which occurs 45-180 days after the start of cultures. Embryos arise directly from surface proliferating tissues on the matrix structure , without callus formation. The transfer of tissues with embryo clusters to medium with NAA plus 2iP, or without growth regulators, induces embryo development into plantlets.