Muscodor sutura, a novel endophytic fungus with volatile antibiotic activities

Muscodor sutura is described as a novel species that is also an endophyte of Prestonia trifidi. Uniquely, this fungus produces a reddish pigment, on potato dextrose agar (PDA), when grown in the dark. In addition, the organism makes some volatile organic compounds that have not been previously reported from this genus, namely, thujopsene, chamigrene, isocaryophyllene, and butanoic acid, 2-methyl. These and other volatile compounds in the mixture possess wide-spectrum antifungal activity and no observable antibacterial activity. Most unusually, on PDA, the newly developing hyphae of this fungus grow in a perfect stitching pattern, in and out of the agar surface. The partial ITS–DNA sequence of this organism is identical to that of Muscodor vitigenus but it differs from all other Muscodor spp. Justification for a new species, as Muscodor sutura, is collectively based on morphological, cultural, chemical, and bioactivity properties.     

Evaluation of new fermentation and formulation strategies for a high endophytic establishment of Beauveria bassiana in oilseed rape plants

Since several years it is known that strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are able to colonize plants as a true endophyte. However, so far no integrated bioprocess engineering approaches have been published where fermentation and formulation strategies are combined to optimize colonization of oilseed rape plant tissues. We therefore aimed at investigating whether and how blastospore (BS) formation can be shifted to resilient submerged conidiospores (SCS) by introducing osmotic stress in different growth phases.When 50 g/L NaCl was added after 48 h to a culture of B. bassiana a yield of 1.4 ± 0.1 × 10¹⁰ SCS/g sucrose in shake flasks and 1.8 ± 0.1 × 10¹⁰ SCS/g sucrose in a stirred tank reactor were obtained. In a bioreactor, 24 h after the addition of NaCl, the formation of BS slowed down, the respiratory quotient decreased and a shift from BS to SCS set in.Following these steps, different formulation strategies, namely encapsulation, film coating and liquid formulation were evaluated. B. bassiana grew out of beads as well as on commercial fungicide-coated seeds. Due to the complete suppression of fungal growth on non-sterile soil, the most suitable option was a foliar application. A liquid formulation consisting of 0.1% Triton X-114, 1% molasses, 1% titanium dioxide and 10⁶ spores/mL was applied on leaf tips. After 14 days, the endophyte was detected by PCR and microscopic analysis in the leaves.Further research should focus on formation of SCS and protection of plants colonized by B. bassiana against herbivorous insects.     

Marine algae of the grampian region of Scotland

The diatom Auliscus pruinosus Bailey was abundant in marine fossil material collected from coastal environments of Florida and Mississippi. Examination of Slide 1786 from the Bailey Collection of the Farlow Herbarium confirmed the present author's initial identification and this slide has been designated as the lectotype. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed the fine structure of the two large ocelli and the enigmatic “frosted” striae. Neither labiate nor strutted processes are present. The epicingulum consists of three open bands—the valvocopula and two ligulate pleurae. Studies of original material led to the conclusion that A. punctatus Bailey and A. moronensis Greville should not be separated from A. pruinosus. The exact distribution of A. pruinosus is unknown since it has been confused with A. similis Hustedt in the past. However, it has been principally collected from Recent and fossil marine localities along the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the USA.     

An ecological framework for understanding the roles of Epichloë endophytes on plant defenses against fungal diseases

Plants harbor a wide diversity of microorganisms in their tissues. Some of them have a long co-evolutionary history with their hosts, likely playing a pivotal role in regulating the plant interaction with other microbes such as pathogens. Some cool-season grasses are symbiotic with Epichloë fungal endophytes that grow symptomless and systemically in aboveground tissues. Among the many benefits that have been ascribed to endophytes, their role in mediating plant interactions with pathogens has been scarcely developed. Here, we explored the effects of Epichloë fungal endophytes on the interaction of host grasses with fungal pathogens. We made a meta-analysis that covered a total of 18 host grass species, 11 fungal endophyte species, and 22 fungal pathogen species. We observed endophyte-mediated negative effects on pathogens in vitro and in planta. Endophyte negative effects on pathogens were apparent not only in laboratory but also in greenhouse and field experiments. Epichloë fungal endophytes had negative effects on pathogen growth and spores' germination. On living plants, endophytes reduced both severity and incidence of the disease as well as colonization and subsequent infection of seeds. Symbiosis with endophytes showed an inhibitory effect on debilitator and killer pathogens, but not on castrators, and this effect did not differ among biotrophic or necrotrophic lifestyles. We found that this protection can be direct through the production of fungistatic compounds, the competition for a common resource, or the induction of plant defenses, and indirect associated with endophyte-generated changes in the abiotic or the biotic environment. Several mechanisms operate simultaneously and contribute differentially to the reduction of disease within grass populations.     

Plant-endophyte interplay protects tomato against a virulent <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verticillium</Emphasis>

Endophytes, bacterial, fungal or viral, colonize plants often without causing visible symptoms. More important, they may benefit host plants in many ways, most notably by preventing diseases caused by normally virulent pathogens. Craigella tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) can be infected with Verticillium dahliae Kleb., either race 1 (Vd1) or a non-host isolate Dvd-E6 resulting in susceptibility or tolerance, respectively. The present study sought to determine whether Dvd-E6 is endophytic and can protect tomato against Vd1. The total amount of Verticillium in stems and roots was determined by quantitative PCR; the relative amounts of Vd1 and Dvd-E6 were assessed by restriction fragment polymorphism. When Dvd-E6 infects before or together with Vd1, Vd1 is excluded almost completely from the root but, when Vd1 infects first, Dvd-E6 can compete on an equal basis. Previous studies suggested that Dvd-E6 suppresses symptom-related genes, raising the possibility that Dvd-E6 simultaneously induces tolerance to Vd1. This does not seem to be entirely the case since the minimal symptoms following Vd1 infection of Dvd-E6 tolerant Craigella result, at least in part, from restricted Vd1 colonization. Furthermore, when Vd1 and Dvd-E6 are cultured on PDA plates alone or together, the growth rates are similar and neither is inhibitory to the other. Dvd-E6 does not outgrow or inhibit Vd1, in vitro. The protective effect apparently requires interplay between Dvd-E6 and the plant. Expression analyses of tomato genes involved in resistance and defence support this interpretation.     

Nitrogen compounds in the apoplastic sap of sugarcane stem: some implications in the association with endophytes

Several nitrogen compounds were identified and quantified in the apoplastic and symplastic sap of sugarcane stems. The sap of stems was composed mainly of soluble sugars, which constituted 95% of the total organic compounds detected. Sap also contained nitrogen compounds, with amino acids (50-70% of N) and proteins (20-30% of N), being the main nitrogenous substances, as well as inorganic forms as ammonium, nitrite and nitrate, in low concentrations (<20% of N). Serine, proline, alanine and aspartic acid together represented around 60% of the amino acids of the sap of both field grown and high nitrogen fertilized plants, and non-nitrogen fertilized plants inoculated with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus. The total amino acid content of apoplastic sap was six to nine times lower in non-nitrogen fertilized plants than in fertilized ones. The possible roles of these substances to regulate endophytic associations with sugarcane are also discussed.     

黑麦草内生真菌感染状况的检测及定量分析

选取内生真菌特异性引物,成功建立了利用PCR技术对黑麦草中内生真菌感染状况的检测和定量分析方法。此检测方法的准确性高于常规乳酸-苯胺蓝染色法。利用实时荧光PCR定量分析的结果表明：不同植株之间内生真菌含量差异较大,而同株植物相同龄级分蘖之间内生真菌含量无显著差异。由此可见内生真菌的含量不仅与植物种以及品种有关,也与植物的基因型密切相关。     

华重楼内生菌SS02的分离与抗菌活性的初步研究

从华重楼（Paris polyphylla var．Chinensis Franch）的地下块茎中分离到一株内生细菌（SS02）,试验表明其发酵液对13种作物致病菌的生长有抑制作用。形态和生理生化特征表明SS02属于芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus sp．）细菌。扩增、测序得到SS02的部分16SrDNA序列,GenBank接收号AY842144。用Blastn调出与菌株16SrDNA同源的序列,用Clustalw进行多重序列对比,用Phylip按Neighbor—Joining法构建16SrDNA系统发育树。菌株SS02与Paenibacillus daejeonensis处于同一分支,相似性为97．7％,将其鉴定为Paenibacillus daejeonensisSS02。     

一株产重楼皂甙内生细菌的分离与鉴定

从产自四川彭州的华重楼(Parispolyphyllavar·chinensisFranch)地下块茎中分离得到16株菌。经以薯蓣皂甙元为标准对照的薄层层析分析,表明其中编号为SNUS-1(AY842149)的菌株能分泌重楼皂甙或其类似化合物。16SrDNA序列(约1,500bp)系统发育分析表明:菌株SNUS-1与Pseudomonastolassii(AF255336)和Pseudomonastolassii(D84028)的遗传距离分别为0和0·003,在系统进化树上三者又严格聚为一族,结合形态及生理特征确定其为托氏假单孢菌(Pseudomonastolassii)。     

Plant-fungus mutualism affects spider composition in successional fields

Mutualistic symbionts are widespread in plants and may have strong, bottom-up influences on community structure. Here we show that a grass–endophyte mutualism shifts the composition of a generalist predator assemblage. In replicated, successional fields we manipulated endophyte infection by Neotyphodium coenophialum in a dominant, non-native plant ( Lolium arundinaceum ). We compared the magnitude of the endophyte effect with manipulations of thatch biomass, a habitat feature of known importance to spiders. The richness of both spider families and morphospecies was greater in the absence of the endophyte, although total spider abundance was not affected. Thatch removal reduced both spider abundance and richness, and endophyte and thatch effects were largely additive. Spider families differed in responses, with declines in Linyphiidae and Thomisidae due to the endophyte and declines in Lycosidae due to thatch removal. Results demonstrate that the community impacts of non-native plants can depend on plants' mutualistic associates, such as fungal endophytes.