Aphyllophorales from Northern Thailand

154 species of Ahyllophorales, mostly Corticiaceae and Polyporaceae are reported from Thailand, 116 out of which are new to the country. Aleurodiscus cremicolor Hjortst. & Ryv., Byssocorticium naviculare Hjortst. & Ryv., Grammothele ochraceus Ryv., Hyphoderma tuberculare Hjortst. & Ryv., Boletopsis atrata Ryv., Ceriporia subreticulala Ryv. and Oxyporus subulatus Ryv. are described as new. A key to all known Byssocorticium species is given.     

Ascomycetes from Northern Thailand

12 pyrenomycetes and 22 discomycetes are recorded from the Chiang Mai Province of Northern Thailand. 25 species are new to Thailand. Pulvinula anthracobia Schum. is described as new, and Xylaria scopiformis (Mont, ex Joly) Schum. comb. nov. is proposed.     

Agarics, clavarioid and some heterobasidiomycetous fungi from Northern Thailand

51 species of agaricoid, clavarioid, and heterobasidiomycetous fungi are recorded from Thailand. 40 species are new to the area. Hohenbuehelia panelloides Hoiland sp. nov. is described and Leccinum intusrubens (Corner) Hoiland comb. nov. is proposed. Comments are given on vernacular names.     

Distribution of chlorophytic phytoplankton in Northern Thailand

The distribution of phytoplankton was investigated in standing water bodies such as reservoirs, ponds and marshes. Thirty sampling sites in Northern Thailand were studied during 1998–2005. The water quality could be classified as oligotrophic-mesotrophic to eutrophic status. Twelve families, 51 genera and 181 species of chlorophytic phytoplankton were found. The dominant genera were Staurastrum spp., Cosmarium spp., Scenedesmus spp. and Pediastrum spp. The distribution of these species was mainly affected by the water quality. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.     

Isolation of entomopathogenic fungi from Northern Thailand and their production in cereal grains

Spore productivity in six entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from insect cadavers at four locations in Chiang Mai province was evaluated in five cereal grains: white-rice, wheat, rye, corn and sorghum. According to sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer regions of these isolates, they were closely related to Beauveria bassiana (2 isolates), Metarhizium flavoviride (1 isolate), Metarhizium anisopliae (1 isolate), Paecilomyces lilacinus (1 isolate) and Isaria tenuipes (1 isolate). Among all fungal isolates, the maximum amount of spores (530.0?×?10⁹ conidia/g) was yielded P. lilacinus CMUCDMT02 on sorghum grain followed by white-rice (399.3?×?10⁹ conidia/g). Moreover, the highest number of spore in M. flavoviride was 102.8?×?10⁹ conidia/g sorghum whereas white-rice yielded the greatest amount of spore for B. bassiana CMUCDMF03 (141.0?×?10⁹ conidia/g) after 60?days incubation. The fungal growth rate was found highest in corn for all strains and rye showed the lowest with the exception of P. lilacinus CMUCDMT02 among the tested grains. Spore viability was over 80?% for all isolates that had been inoculated for 60?days. Fungal conidia suspension of P. lilacinus obtained highest virulence against Bactrocera spp. at a concentration of 1?×?10⁶ spore/ml. The strains isolated, exhibited good production of conidia suggesting a promising strategy for the mass production of inoculum as biocontrol agents with low production cost.     

Some fossil woods from the palaeogene of Northern Kyushu

From the Tsuyazaki Formation (Oligocene) of Tsuyazaki-machi, Fukuoka Prefecture, the following four new species of dicotyledons are described based on woody fossils:Castanea protantiqua M. Suzuki (Fagaceae),Michelia oleifera M. Suzuki (Magnoliaceae),Reevesia oligocenica M. Suzuki (Sterculiaceae) andPlatanus tsuyazakinensis M. Suzuki (Platanaceae).     

Some lignicolous marine fungi from Thailand, including two new species

Sixteen marine fungi are reported from driftwood collected on the beach at Phuket in Thailand. Two new species, Arenariomyces parvulus J. Koch and Corollospora cinnamomea J. Koch are described.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Nosema ceranae isolated from European and Asian honeybees in Northern Thailand

Nosema ceranae was found to infect four different host species including the European honeybee (A. mellifera) and the Asian honeybees (Apis florea, A. cerana and Apis dorsata) collected from apiaries and forests in Northern Thailand. Significant sequence variation in the polar tube protein (PTP1) gene of N. ceranae was observed with N. ceranae isolates from A. mellifera and A. cerana, they clustered into the same phylogenetic lineage. N. ceranae isolates from A. dorsata and A. florea were grouped into two other distinct clades. This study provides the first elucidation of a genetic relationship among N. ceranae strains isolated from different host species and demonstrates that the N. ceranae PTP gene was shown to be a suitable and reliable marker in revealing genetic relationships within species.     

Phosphate solubilization potential and stress tolerance of rhizobacteria from rice soil in Northern Thailand

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to influence plant growth by various direct or indirect mechanisms. A total of 216 phosphate-solubilizing bacterial isolates were isolated from different rice rhizospheric soil in Northern Thailand. These isolate were screened in vitro for their plant growth-promoting activities such as solubilization of inorganic phosphate, ammonia (NH₃), catalase and cell wall-degrading enzyme activity. It was found that 100% solubilized inorganic phosphate, 77.77% produced NH₃ and most of the isolates were positive for catalase. In addition, some strains also produced cell wall-degrading enzymes such as protease (7%), chitinase (1%), cellulase (3%) and β-glucanase (3%), as evidenced by phenotypic biochemical test and quantitative assay using spectrophotometry. The isolates could exhibit more than two or three plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, which may promote plant growth directly or indirectly or synergistically. Part of this study focused on the effect of NaCl, temperature, and pH on a specific the bacterial isolate Acinetobacter CR 1.8. Strain CR 1.8 was able to grow on up to 25% NaCl, between 25 and 55°C, and at pH 5–9. Maximum solubilization of tricalcium phosphate and aluminium phosphate was obtained at neutral pH, and 37°C. Strain CR 1.8 had protease activity but no cellulase, β-glucanase and cellulase activities.     

Weed Diversity and Uses: a Case Study from Tea Plantations in Northern Thailand

Based on concerns that useful weed diversity in agroecosystems as well as associated traditional knowledge may be declining due to agricultural intensification and indiscriminate eradication of weeds, we studied weed diversity and use by local ethnic groups in tea plantations in northern Thailand under different agricultural intensities and landscape complexities, namely agroforestry, organic, and Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) based conventional system. In each system, we sampled five tea plantations using belt-transects of 25 m². Use data were collected through interviews with specialist informants. We recorded 214 weed species (gamma-diversity) of which 66 were useful. Agroforestry system had the highest alpha- and beta-weed diversity, suggesting that the low agricultural intensity and high landscape complexity in this system is associated with higher weed diversity in tea plantations. The common weed species were clearly different in the three systems and only a small fraction (22 species) of widespread weeds was shared among them, resulting in low weed similarity between systems. The 66 useful species of weeds were mostly for food and medicine. Uses of some weeds were shared between systems. Many of the useful weeds are invasive species, suggesting that they are prevalent and inexpensive plant resources for rural people and could represent alternative resources in the future. Because the occurrence of invasive weeds may affect the natural habitats of the native flora, integrating the exploitation of weeds into weed management strategies may reduce the weed population while sustaining agrobiodiversity and conserving associated traditional knowledge in the long term.     

Hematology of Wild Caught Hoplobatrachus rugulosus in Northern Thailand

The rice field frog Hoplobatrachus rugulosus is an important anuran species found in wetlands throughout Thailand. At present, the hematological parameters of wild populations are unknown. Therefore, hematological and morphological characteristics of peripheral blood cells of wild-caught H. rugulosus were examined. Thirty-three adult frogs(17 male and 16 female frogs) were collected from a natural population in Nan Province, northern Thailand during the wet season of 2014. Blood samples were analyzed by packed cell volume(PCV) and blood cell counts from hemocytometer and Giemsa-stained blood smears. The mean PCV of male frogs(30.70% ± 6.07%) was significantly higher than that of the female frogs(25.09% ± 4.85%). The mean number of lymphocytes and neutrophils also showed significant sex-related differences. Moreover, the morphometric analysis of blood cells revealed dimensions as follows: erythrocytes(17.96 ± 1.44 μm length × 11.50 ± 1.09 μm width), immature erythrocytes(14.91 ± 2.20 μm diameter), thrombocytes(13.93 ± 3.14 μm length × 7.05 ± 1.31 μm width), lymphocytes(11.01 ± 2.69 μm diameter), monocytes(12.04 ± 2.40 μm diameter), neutrophils(12.58 ± 2.08 μm diameter), basophils(13.60 ± 2.17 μm diameter) and eosinophils(12.33 ± 2.95 μm diameter). Overall, the hematological parameters obtained in this study could be regarded as the first report and a crucial baseline data of wild H.rugulosus in Thailand that can be used for monitoring the health status of this anuran.     

A New Species of the Genus Leptolalax(Anura: Megophryidae) from Northern Thailand

A new species of the genus Leptolalax is described from Doi Saket, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: 1) adult size large(male SVL 45.8-52.5 mm); 2) tympanum distinct; 3) skin of dorsal surface mostly smooth, with distinct tubercles on dorsal and lateral parts of the body; 4) ventrolateral glandular ridge distinct and complete; 5) lateral body and groin covered with dark brown or black spots; 6) throat, chest, and belly nearly immaculate white; and 7) bi-colored iris, upper onethird golden, and lower two-thirds gray. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial 16S rRNA further distinguishes it from its congeners for which sequences are available.     

Survey of six bee viruses using RT-PCR in Northern Thailand

Six honey bee viruses were surveyed using RT-PCR in Northern Thailand where about 80% of Thai apiaries are located. Tested samples were found to be positive for deformed wing virus (DWV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), sacbrood virus (SBV) and Kashmir bee virus (KBV). In the collected samples, neither chronic bee paralysis virus nor black queen cell virus nucleic acids could be detected. It was found that DWV was the most widespread and ABPV was the second most prevalent. Kashmir bee virus was found only in the Lampang province where high infestation of Varroa destructor mite occurred. Tropilaelaps, European foulbrood, and Chalkbrood diseases were found in some apiaries.     

Myxomycetes from Thailand

Thirty–four species of mycomycetes are reported, mostly from northern Thailand, of which sixteen are new records for Thailand. Cribraria rufa is reported from tropical latitudes for the first time.     

Plant Diversity in Hmong and Mien Homegardens in Northern Thailand

Plant Diversity in Hmong and Mien Homegardens in Northern Thailand. We surveyed 180 homegardens in three Hmong and three Mien villages in northern Thailand to study their floristic diversity and composition and to understand the impact of forced migration and ecological conditions for the development of the rich homegarden flora. We also looked at the role of culturally important species as carriers of cultural identity. We found 406 species: 341 (99 families) and 270 species (90 families) in Hmong and Mien homegardens, respectively. Five lowland villages had the richest homegarden flora, in part due to the presence of many widespread species. Twenty-two species were widespread in tropical countries and found in most Hmong and Mien homegardens, and 14 additional common species were shared between Hmong and Mien homegardens. Seventeen species were exclusive to Hmong homegardens and eight to Mien homegardens; these we have designated as culturally important species. The presence of culturally important species determines the homegardens’ characteristics and reflects the cultural identity related to plant uses of a group. Similarities in floristic composition of the two groups can be attributed to widespread and common species. Floristic variation and diversity in homegardens were strongly related to homegarden geographical location, personal preference, and cultural background of the owners.