Studies on soil fungi III. Seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in some soils of Andhra Pradesh (India)

The seasonal variation and distribution of microfungi in four soil types collected from two districts of Andhra Pradesh (India) were studied.Besides soil type and surface vegetation, it appears from the present study that soil moisture, organic matter, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorus contents also may affect the fungal numbers favourably, while chlorides, total soluble salts, total nitrogen and manganese contents may have an adverse effect.Even alkaline soils harbour greater numbers of fungi, but small fluctuations in the pH seem to influence the fungal numbers in soils inversely.A total of 101 species representing 43 genera were isolated. These included 18 Phycomycetes, 5 Ascomycetes, 72 Fungi Imperfecti, 5 Mycelia Sterilia and a single Myxomycete. The order of occurrence of the chief genera of fungi isolated wasAspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Pythium, Curvularia, Phoma, Cunninghamella, Rhizopus, Alternaria andTrichoderma.A large number of genera and species were found common to the forest, maize field, garden and uncultivated soils; and the fungal flora was also not very much different from those recorded from various parts of the world.     

Rhizosphere soil fungi of some vegetable plants

Summary The fungi from the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of some important vegetable crop plants, viz.,Lycopersicon esculentum, Allium cepa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Daucus carota, Hibiscus esculentus, Raphanus sativus, andBrassica oleradcea were isolated. Some members of Phycomycetes, Acsomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti were isolated.It has also been observed that the pH in the region of the rhizosphere was lower and the moisture content was higher than in the soil away from it. Further, the maximum number of fungi was found in the rhizosphere of young plants. The present studies also supported the view that the number of fungi in the rhizosphere is greater than in the soil away from it. The largest number of fungi was obtained from the rhizosphere ofTrigonella foenum-graecum.     

FUNGI OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. III. THE DISTRIBUTION OF WOOD-INHABITING ASCOMYCETES AND FUNGI IMPERFECTI OF THE PATUXENT RIVER

The effects of changes in salinity and temperature on the distribution of wood-inhabiting Ascomycetes and Fungi Imperfecti in the Patuxent River were studied. Forty-one species of Ascomycetes and 83 species of Fungi Imperfecti were collected; Pyrenomycetes and dematiaceous Hyphomycetes predominated. Salinity was the most important factor affecting the distribution of fungi, and the major change in species composition occurred where freshwater and saltwater mix. The ratio of Ascomycetes to Fungi Imperfecti increased with increasing salinity, while the number of species collected generally decreased. Triadelphia heterospora Shearer and Crane was collected only at low temperatures and appears to be the only regularly occurring species whose distribution was affected by temperature. The interaction of temperature and salinity did not affect the distribution of four species that occurred regularly at wide ranges of temperature and salinity. Species composition differed between two limnetic stations, one above and the other below the discharge points of two sewage treatment plants.     

A comparison of saline tolerance and sporulation in marine and clinical isolates of Allescheria boydii shear

Summary Two marine and 14 clinical isolates ofA. boydii and its byssoid phase,M. apiospermum, were compared with respect to their saline tolerance, morphological development, and sporulation on various commercial and compounded media. Isolates from sea-water and human infections were morphologically alike, and possessed similar saline tolerance. Most strains had salinity optima near 9, about the salinity of blood. Only marine isolates fruited well on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and other routine mycological media. On a medium containing wood and sea-water, and few soluble organics, 12 strains formed mature ascocarps or synnemata, or both. Low nutrient level media containing wood or cellulosic paper, with or without sea-water, were recommended for the propagation and conservation of sporulating cultures of many saprobic Ascomycetes and synnematous Fungi Imperfecti.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuamotuichthys bispinosus</Emphasis>, a new genus and species from off Tuamotu Islands,South Pacific Ocean (Ophiidiformes,Bythitidae)

A new bythitid genus and species, Tuamotuichthys bispinosus, is described from an adult male (88mm SL), caught by dredge in 1990, off Morane Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago (23°0843 S, 137°0919 W, 536m). It is characterized by having large scales on head and body, two opercular spines, few gill rakers (total 11, 3 of them long), depressed head, vertically expanded posterior maxilla, and a short predorsal (29% SL), each of which resembles several known genera (Calamopteryx, Cataetyx, Diplacanthopoma, Grammonus, and Lucifuga). The combination of character states, however, does not fit any of the known bythitid genera.     

Gymnoascus verticillatus smith

Summary The type specimen ofGymnoascus verticillatus Smith was studied and is described as the type of a new, monotypic genus,Actinodendron. The new genus is characterized by the formation of brown to dark colored ascocarps bearing brown appendages with verticels of short branchlets. Ascospores ofA. verticillatum (Smith)Orr &Kuehn are pale brown and almost discoid. Additional specimens of this species are reported.     

Coprophilous fungi of the horse

A total of 1267 microfungi, including 35 Myxomycetes, were recorded from the fecal samples of the 60 horses; of these 395 were found on 20 saddle-horse feces, 363 on 20 race-horses and 509 on 20 working-horses. Eighty two species representing 53 genera were recorded; of these 7 were Zygomycetes, 18 Ascomycetes, 1 Basidiomycetes and 25 Fungi Imperfecti: 2 Myxomycetes. Common coprophilous fungi are in decreasing orderPilobolus kleinii, Saccobolus depauperatus, Mucor hiemalis, Lasiobolus ciliatus, Podospora curvula, Petriella guttulata, M. circinelloides, Coprinus radiatus, Dictyostelium mucoroides, Sordaria fimicola, C. miser, C. stercorarius, Acremonium sp., Coprotus granuliformis, Graphium putredinis, Iodophanus carneus, Chaetomium murorum, Podospora communis, P. inaequalis, P. setosa, Saccobolus versicolor andCladosporium cucumerinum. Species ofMyrothecium verrucaria, Actinomucor elegans, Kernia nitida, Spiculostilbella dendritica andMucorparvispora were found exclusively in working-horses feces.Badhamia sp., Anixiopsis stercoraria, Echinobotryum state ofD. stemonitis, Geotrichum candidum andOidiodendron sp. were found only in saddle-horses feces.Chlamidomyces palmarum andPhilocopra sp. were found exclusively in race-horses feces.Notes on infrequent or interesting fungi includeThamnostylum piriforme, Phialocephala dimorphospora, Rhopalomyces elegans andSpiculostilbella dendritica.     

Brown rot decay of copper-chromated-phosphorus impregnated fence poles: Characterization by molecular analyses and microscopy

At one location in central Sweden, agricultural pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) fence poles treated with a commercial copper–chromium–phosphorus preservative (CCP) formulation according to use class 4 at retention of 30 kg m⁻³ were prematurely degraded by fungi after only two years in-service. Light- and electron microscopy analyses showed decay to result from primarily brown rot attack. Culture studies produced on different agar and copper-containing media using small wood slivers removed from infected poles allowed establishment of a number of pure cultures of Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Fungi Imperfecti and Basidiomycete fungi. Using morphological characters, PCR and sequencing of isolated strains, Antrodia vaillantii was determined as the most abundant basidiomycete present and as the major causal agent of decay. Compatibility tests and comparison of the ITS nrDNA sequences of our putative A. vaillantii isolate with other A. vaillantii strains and with Antrodia radiculosa showed differences suggesting a hybrid strain. A combination of site characteristics (e.g. hot spots of A. vaillantii), the use of juvenile poles, copper tolerance and overall ineffectivity of CCP against A. vaillantii is suggested as reasons for premature decay.     

Die Zahl der Armschwingen bei den Passeriformes

Zusammenfassung Manche Arten der Passeriformes haben mehr als 9 Armschwingen. Als höchste Anzahl wurden gefunden: 13 A. beiMenura, Chlamydera cerviniventris undParadisaea rudolphi, 14 A. beiChlamydera nuchalis undlauterbachi sowie beiPtilonorhynchus violaceus. Die Zahl der Armschwingen hat sich bei den Oscines als taxonomisch brauchbares Merkmal erwiesen. Der Besitz von mehr als 9 Armschwingen ist bezeichnend für die Alaudidae und für alle vonMayr undAmadon (1951 zu den Shrikes und Allies, Waxwings and Wood Swallows, Crows and Australian Crow-like Birds gestellten Familien.Auf Grund der Tatsache, daßPicathartes, Cinclosoma, Eupetes, Orthonyx, Psophodes, Ifrita, Melampitta, Tylas und alle Oriolidae(Oriolus undSphecotheres) mehr als 9 A. haben, wird die Ansicht vertreten, daß diese Gattungen in den neuesten Systemen nicht am richtigen Platz untergebracht worden sind.Danksagung Besonders zu danken habe ich Herrn Prof. Dr.E. Stresemann, der mich auf die noch offenen Probleme der Singvogel-Systematik und auf die einschlägige Literatur hingewiesen hat. Mein Manuskript ist von ihm kritisch durchgesehen worden. FrauVesta Stresemann verdanke ich wichtige technische Ratschläge, die mir bei der Ermittlung der Armschwingenzahl am trockenen Balg zustatten kamen.     

Synaptonemal complex formation and meiosis in the resting sporangium ofBlastocladiella emersonii

Summary Blastocladiella emersonii Cantino etHyatt (Phycomycetes, Blastocladiales) has aBrachyallomyces type of life cycle (sensu Emerson 1941) or aBlastocladiella type of life cycle (sensu Karling 1973), with a regular formation of zoosporangia and resting sporangia and no sexual stages.Synaptonemal complex formation (a characteristic stage in meiotic prophase—pachytene) occurs during development of the resting sporangium inB. emersonii.During resting sporangium germination, two meiotic nuclear divisions give rise to nuclei which have approximately one-fourth of the nuclear volume of the diplotene nucleus. The life cycle ofBlastocladiella emersonii resembles that ofCatenaria anguillulae. The time of diploidization (n2 n) has not been determined.     

The role of insertions, deletions, and substitutions in the evolution of R6 related plasmids encoding aminoglycoside transferase ANT-(2")

Summary In 7% of gram-negative bacteria resistance to gentamicin is mainly mediated by plasmid-encoded aminoglycoside transferase ANT-(2). The genome organization of 15 aadB plasmids (42-110 kb) was analyzed by restriction and hybridization techniques. They appeared to be IncFII-like replicons but were distinct from R6 by virtue of small substitutions in the transfer region. Aminoglycoside resistance genes aadB and aadA were located on Tn21 related elements. Only one of them was able to transpose its resistance genes mer sul aadA and aadB (Tn4000), the other elements were naturally occurring defective transposons. In some of these structures deletions were identified at the termini, at sul, aadA, mer or transposition function-insertions adjacent to aadA or mer. The mode of these rearrangements and their site-specificity were considered with respect to the evolution of the Tn21 transposon family.Abbreviations aadA (genotype) AAD-(3) (phenotype): aminoglycoside 3-adenylytransferase - aadB ANT-(2): aminoglycoside 2-adenylyltransferase - aphA APH-(3)I: aminoglycoside 3-phosphotransferase - aacA AAC-(6): aminoglycoside 6-N-acetyl-transferase - aacC AAC-(3): aminoglycoside 3-N-acetyltransferase - cat CAT: chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase - Ap ampicillin - Su sulfonamides - Tc tetracycline - Sm streptomycin - Spe spectinomycin - Hg mercury - Cb carbenicillin - Dk dibekacin - Gm gentamicin - Km kanamycin - Nm neomycin - Net netilmycin - Pm paromomycin - But butirosin - Tm tobramycin - Sis sisomycin - Cm chloramphenicol - kb kilobase     

Effect of cadmium on growth of potentially pathogenic soil fungi

The effect of Cd on the mycelial growth of some potentially pathogenic soil fungi was investigated. Sixty-four strains from twenty-five fungal species were tested for their susceptibility to Cd. Final colony diameter, radial growth rate and final dry mass of mycelium (for Cd: 1–200 ppm) were measured. EcD₅₀ values were calculated from these parameters. The intra- and interspecific variability in the results obtained is presented. Among the keratinolytic fungal group, the genera Arthrographis, Trichophyton and Chrysosporium (including the Chrysosporium anamorph of Aphanoascus reticulisporus) were the most resistant to Cd. T. mentagrophytes was the most sensitive of all Trichophyton species tested. Among the nonkeratinolytic fungal group, the genera Pseudallescheria, Absida and Rhizopus were highly resistant to Cd. Strains of Aspergillus were more resistant to Cd than strains of Penicillium. Zygomycetes were more resistant to Cd than Ascomycetes with Fungi Imperfecti. Nonkeratinolytic fungi showed higher resistance to Cd than keratinolytic fungi. The two last differences resulted from the extremely high EcD₅₀ values for R. oryzae and A. corymbifera. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of mineralization of tea prunings on some soil characteristics

Summary The effect of incorporating tea prunings with soil on some edaphic characteristics was examined. During the first two months of incorporation tea prunings decomposed rapidly and brought about an increase in the availability of N and K and the organic matter content both in the surface (0–3) and sub-surface (3-6) soil. Incorporation of prunings reduced leaching of added N and K and the application of fertilizer N tend to reduce K availability in soil.     

Effect of prior vaccination on experimental Blastomycosis

Immunogens were found associated with particular fractions prepared from spherules ofCoccidioides immitis (Kong, Levine &Smith, 1963) and from yeast cells ofHistoplasma capsulatum (Salvin &Ribi, 1955). However,Blastomyces dermatitidis, another dimorphic systemic fungal pathogen was shown to elicit a minimal immunogenic response in experimental animals (Kong &Levine, 1967). It was therefore deemed pertinent to study factors which might enhance the resistance of mice to infection withB. dermatitidis.     

The distribution of the NADPH regenerating mannitol cycle among fungal species

The mannitol cycle is an important NADPH regenerating system in Alternaria alternata. The cycle is built up of the following enzymes: mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase, mannitol 1-phosphatase, mannitol dehydrogenase and hexokinase. The net reaction of one cycle turn is: NADH+NADP⁺+ATP NAD⁺+NADPH+ADP+P_i. The enzymes needed for an operating cycle were found in Aspergillus, Botrytis, Penicillium, Pyricularia, Trichothecium, Cladosporium and Thermomyces all genera belonging to Fungi Imperfecti. The only genus of this class lacking the cycle was Candida. No genera from the classes Basidiomycetes and Phycomycetes showed any mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase or mannitol 1-phosphatase activities. The genera investigated, belonging to Ascomycetes, Gibberella, Ceratocystis and Neurospora all lacked mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase. It was concluded that the mannitol cycle is an important and widespread pathway for NADH oxidation and NADP⁺ reduction in the organisms belonging to the class Fungi Imperfecti.     

Morphological and cytological observations on conidial formation of the genera Epidermophyton and Microsporon

Some morphological and cytological aspects ofEpidermophyton andMicrosporon were studied according to the classification of the Fungi Imperfecti suggested byHughes.It was found that origin of macroconidia in the genusEpidermophyton is quite different from that of the genusMicrosporon. The macroconidia of the speciesMicrosporon gypseum, M. fulvum andM. canis presented only pseudosepta; true septa were present inM. cookei, M. audouinii andM. vanbreuseghemii. On the basis of the morphological features of macroconidia a simple analytical key for the species ofMicrosporon most frequently isolated in Italy is proposed.These studies were supported by grant of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Italy under contract n.69.01074/115.2798.     

Tissue-distribution of secondary phenolic biosynthesis in developing primary leaves of Avena sativa L.

Primary leaves of oats (Avena sativa L.) have been used to study the integration of secondary phenolic metabolism into organ differentiation and development. In particular, the tissue-specific distribution of products and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis has been investigated. C-Glucosylflavones along with minor amounts of hydroxycinnamic-acid esters constitute the soluble phenolic compounds in these leaves. In addition, considerable amounts of insoluble products such as lignin and wall-bound ferulic-acid esters are formed. The tissue-specific activities of seven enzymes were determined in different stages of leaf growth. The rate-limiting enzyme of flavonoid biosynthesis in this system, chalcone synthase, together with chalcone isomerase (EC 5.5.1.6) and the terminal enzymes of the vitexin and isovitexin branches of the pathway (a flavonoid O-methyltransferase and an isovitexin arabinosyltransferase) are located in the leaf mesophyll. Since the flavonoids accumulate predominantly (up to 70%) in both epidermal layers, an intercellular transport of products is postulated. In contrast to the flavonoid enzymes, L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.3.1.5), 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (EC 6.2.1.12), and S-adenosyl-L-methionine: caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.-), all involved in general phenylpropanoid metabolism, showed highest activities in the basal leaf region as well as in the epidermis and the vascular bundles. We suggest that these latter enzymes participate mainly in the biosynthesis of non-flavonoid phenolic products, such as lignin in the xylem tissue and wall-bound hydroxycinnamic acid-esters in epidermal, phloem, and sclerenchyma tissues.Abbreviations CHI chalcone isomerase - CHS chalcone synthase - 4CL 4-coumarate: CoA ligase - CMT S-adenosyl-L-methionine:caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase - FMT S-adenosyl-L-methionine:vitexin 2-O-rhamnoside 7-O-methyltransferase - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - IAT uridine 5-diphosphate L-arabinose:isovitexin 2-O-arabinosyltransferase - PAL L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase     

Paleobotanical studies inFagaceae of the European Tertiary

A systematic reassessment of megafossil records ofFagaceae in Central Europe has been undertaken on the basis of leaf cuticular characters. The oldest representatives date back to the Eocene:Quercus subhercynica spec. nova,Dryophyllum furcinerve (Rossm.)Schmalh.,Trigonobalanopsis rhamnoides (Rossm.) gen. & comb. nov. In the Oligocene other members of extant genera appear:Quercus rhenana (Weyl. & Kilpp.)Knobloch & Kvaek,Fagus attenuata Goepp.,Lithocarpus saxonicus spec. nova. In the Neogene these ancient taxa (except inFagus lineage), are gradually replaced by deciduous species ofQuercus andCastanea. Trigonobalanus andCastanopsis are recorded by fruits (or wood) only.     

Variation in the substrate specificity of allozymes catalyzing flavone-O-glucoside biosynthesis in Silene plants

The 7-O- and 2-O-glycosylation of the flavone isovitexin (6-C-glucosylapigenin) in the petals of Silene plants is accomplished by allozymes which differ in their specificity toward the sugar to be transferred. The g locus controls the 7-O-glycosylation; allele gG controls the binding of glucose, and allele gX that of xylose. In the present paper it is shown that at least two different forms of gG exist. The enzyme activities encoded by these two different alleles differ with respect to the flavone acceptor to which glucose is transferred. Allele gGm encodes a 7-O-glucosyltransferase that transfers glucose to isovitexin but that is not able to glycosylate isovitexin 2-O-rhamnoside. The 7-O-glucosyltransferase encoded by allele gGd preferentially transfers glucose to isovitexin 2-O-rhamnoside and not to isovitexin. The allozymes encoded by gGm and gGd were partly purified. Linearity of incorporation, pH optimum, effect of divalent cations and EDTA, apparent molecular weight, substrate specificity, and Michaelis enzyme kinetic parameters were determined for both enzyme activities. The simultaneous presence within a plant of gene glR, which controls the biosynthesis of isovitexin 2-O-rhamnoside, with either gGm or gGd leads to different glycosylation types. In gGm/glR plants two monoglycosides accumulate in the petals, isovitexin 7-O-glucoside and isovitexin 2-O-rhamnoside, respectively, whereas in gGd/glR plants the corresponding diglycoside, isovitexin 7-O-glucose 2-O-rhamnoside, is synthesized. The distribution of the two alleles over chemical races of Silene pratensis in Europe is described; possible evolutionary relations between the various glycosyltransferases in Silene are discussed.These investigations were supported by the Foundation for Fundamental Biological Research (BION; Grant 14-15-01), which is subsidized by the Netherlands Organization for the Advancement of Pure Research (ZWO).     

A passage saturation transfer paramagnetic resonance study of the rotational diffusion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase

A study was made of the dependence on temperature of the saturation transfer ESR spectra obtained from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles labeled withN-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)-maleimide. When the spin-labeled preparation was heated, some change occurred that was accompanied by an increase in the spectral parametersL/L andH/H (Thomaset al. (1976).J. Chem. Phys. 65, 3006–3024). This heat-induced increase inL/L andH/H competed with the reduction in these parameters that would normally accompany a reduction in ₂, with the result that a biphasic response to increasing temperature was observed. The heat-induced perturbation was partially irreversible. Consequently, although the preparation also exhibited a biphasic response to cooling, the heating and cooling curves did not coincide. It is suggested that a heat-induced re-orientation of the nitroxide probe with respect to the membrane normal, together with the anisotropic nature of the rotational motion, could be the cause of the departure from the expected monotonic relationship between the spectral parameters and temperature.