A new and widely distributed species of Pseudoarachniotus

Summary A new species ofPseudoarachniotus, P. hyalinosporus, is described and illustrated. A total of 54 isolates of this species was studied and their growth was compared on several media.Although certain differences appeared in colonial coloration and growth characteristics, all strains were similar in 2 fundamental characteristics, viz., type of ascospore and type of gametangial initials and their subsequent development. The initials in early stages are often so closely appressed one to another that they give the appearance of a single structure. Further development takes place by the elongation of the ascogonium which forms a loop around the male initial at right angles to the linear plane of that initial. The ascospores ofP. hyalinosporus are small, about 2.2 × 3.3µ, thin-walled, oval, hyaline to very pale yellow, and smooth, thereby differing fromPseudoarachniotus reticulatus which has globose, echinulate-reticulate ascospores, andP. roseus andP. citrinus which have large, thick-walled, oval to oblate ascospores. Furthermore, the colonies ofP. roseus are red, those ofP. citrinus are yellow, and inP. hyalinosporus colonies are white with pale yellow asciferous areas and usually with a great deal of green pigment both above and reverse. Of the 54 strains of this new species, 25 were isolated from rodent lungs, 9 from dung, 19 from soil and one from a tinea pedis condition.Pseudoarachniotus hyalinosporus was found in two collections from India and it appears to be widely distributed in California.Supported in part by Botany Department Research Grant # 1344, University of California, Los Angeles, California.A portion of this study was made possible through laboratory facilities provided by Dr.B. Samantarai, Ravenshaw College, Cuttuck, Orissa, India.     

Spiromastix saturnispora,a new species from indonesian soil

Spiromastix saturnispora, isolated from a soil sample collected from central Java in Indonesia, is described and illustrated as a new species. The new species was compared with the type ofSpiromastix, S. warcupii, and is similar in having brownish ascomata with a peridium of a loose network of delicate hyphae, peridial appendages which are curved in the manner of a scimitar and never completely coiled, and the absence of an anamorph. The ascospores ofS. saturnispora are characterized as large oblate, 3.2–4.8 × 2.5–3µm, punctate, and with an equatorial rim, which serves to distinguish the species fromS. warcupii and other known species.     

Laboulbenia exigua and related taxa (Ascomycetes,Laboulbeniales)

TheLaboulbenia exigua group comprises seven species. Three of these species are described as new to science, and two new varieties ofL. exigua and one new variety ofL. balazucii are distinguished and described. New taxa areL. yamadae, L. consobrina, L. gebleri, L. exigua var.yaeyamae, L. exigua var.melanolabiata andL. balazucii var.exilis. This fungus group is characterized by grayish yellow to gray-brown thalli with simple inner and outer appendages, dark-spotted or streaked receptacles, and perithecia containing narrow ascospores 3–4–(–5) µm in width; the species and varieties occur onChlaenius (Carabidae) and closely allied taxa. The bilobed apex of mature perithecium, owing to the rounded apices of the posterior apical cells of the outer wall cell rows, and 3-celled, curved inner appendage in young thalli, and the deciduous antheridium are also characteristic of this group.     

Studies on the nutrition of the genus Pestalotiopsis II. Chromatographic analysis of the medium during the utilization of various carbohydrates

The utilization of 17 different carbohydrates by four isolates ofPestalotiopsis was studied by the paper chromatographic technique.Among the pentoses, xylose, which was recorded as a poor source, was not consumed even in 15 days by any of the isolates. L-arabinose was exhausted in 6–8 days while L-rhamnose was used up in 9–10 days, both supporting growth equal to glucose as a source. There was a good correlation between the efficiency and the rate of utilization of the three pentose sugars.The utilization of the hexoses had no correlation with dry weight output as was in the case of the pentoses. Glucose from the medium was exhausted between 4–9 days; fructose required 7–10 days. Fructose was much superior than glucose but was consumed slowly as compared to glucose. D-galactose which was a poor source was used up only in 7 days byP. royneae but the other three isolates took longer time, 11–14 days to exhaust the sugar. L-sorbose was used up in 10–15 days. D-mannose, which was a good source for mycelial attainment required 6–12 days for complete utilization.Hydrolytic pathway of utilization of oligosaccharides was recorded for all the isolates; in lactose, however, the component sugars could not be detected and the disaccharide was present up to the end of the incubation period. This was obviously due to slow rate of its breakdown. Sucrose was hydrolysed in the shortest period of 2 days in all cases. Glucose was utilized faster than the other hydrolytic products by three isolates.P. royneae, however, finished both in equal time of 6 days. Maltose, cellobiose and trehalose were used slowly. In maltose, one or two transient oligosaccharides were also detected. Trehalose persisted for the longest time. Melibiose was present till the end of the incubation period during the growth ofP. gracilis andP. paeoniae isolate I. The isolate II ofP. paeoniae andP. royneae consumed it in 9 days. Only one of its hydrolytic products, i.e. glucose was detected in the medium, on raffinose solution only fructose and galactose were spotted.The hydrolytic products of starch could not be detected in the medium. In dextrin, however, glucose was detected in the medium used by three isolates other thanP. paeoniae isolate I.Oligosaccharide synthesis was accomplished by all the isolates ofPestalotiopsis under study. On maltose medium,P. gracilis andP. paeoniae isolate I synthesised two such transient oligosaccharides,P. royneae andP. paeoniae II formed only one.     

Materials for the fungus flora of Japan (57)

Two microfungi are described as new to Japan:Amaurascopsis reticulatus (Amauroascaceae, Ascomycetes), isolated from forest soil in Kamakura, has not been recorded since it was originally found and is characterized by yellow to orange-red ascomata with undifferentiated peridial hyphae and globose ascospores with contorted ridges appearing irregularly punctate-reticulate; andHobsonia mirabilis (helicosporous hyphomycete), isolated from the cut stem of a thistle in Hachijo-jima, is characterized by gelatinous sporodochia and hyaline, tortuously coiled conidia. (56): Okuda, T. and Yamamoto, K., Mycoscience41: 411–414, 2000.     

Action of griseofulvin on geophilic dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi

Summary Growth response to griseofulvin has been studied in 24 strains of 16 species of geophilic dermatophytes and related keratinophilic fungi. Based on their sensitivity to griseofulvin these fungi fall into three groups: (1) Resistant group includesKeratinomyces ajelloi, Trichophyton terrestre andTrichophyton evolceanui which can grow upto 40µg per ml concentration of griseofulvin. (2) Fairly resistant group comprisingMicrosporon cookei, Microsporon vanbreuseghemii, a strain ofMicrosporon gypseum andTrichophyton sp., with growth occurring upto 8–16µg per ml concentration. (3) Sensitive group includes species ofTrichophyton, Keratinophyton, Microsporon, Nannizzia, Chrysosporium andCtenomyces which are completely inhibited at 4–8µg or lower griseofulvin concentrations. Griseofulvin inhibited formation of cleistothecia inK. terreum, delayed pleomorphic growth inT. indicum andN. incurvata, and influenced pigment production in several strains.     

Phaeosphaeria capensis sp. nov. fromAvicennia marina in South Africa

A new species ofPhaeosphaeria is described from mangroves in South Africa. InPhaeosphaeria capensis ascospores are 29–36×7–8 μm, cylindric-fusiform or somewhat clavate, widest at the middle, narrow at the base and rounded at the apex, (6-)7-septate, light brown or brown, minutely verruculose and surrounded by a spreading, mucilaginous sheath. It is compared withP. luctuosa andP. berlesei from grasses.     

Two onygenalean fungi from Russian Far East soil

Two onygenalean fungi isolated from forest soil in the Sikhote-Alin reserve, Russian Far East (east Siberia), are described and illustrated:Gymnostellatospora parvula as a new species andAphanoascus canadensis as a new record.Gymnostellatospora parvula is characterized by psychrophilic growth, pale yellow to pale cinnamon ascomata with a hyphal peridium, small, hyaline discoid ascospores with an equatorial rim and more or less longitudinally ridged wall.     

Plasmodium spp. (Apicomplexa: Plasmodiidae) of the flying lizardDraco volans (Agamidae)

The agamid lizardDraco volans from Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, was found to be parasitised by threePlasmodium species:P. draconis n. sp.,P. volans n. sp. andP. vastator, Laird 1960. BothP. draconis andP. volans, but notP. vastator, were also present inD. volans from Sarawak. The species are readily distinguished by schizont size, merozoite number, and gametocyte size and shape.P. volans has schizonts approximately one-half the size of those ofP. draconis and produces 4–6 merozoites in comparison to 4–16 in the larger species. Gametocytes of both new species are predominantly oval in the Palawan sample and elongate in that from Sarawak.P. draconis gametocytes are approximately twice the size ofP. volans gametocytes, but on average no more than one-half the size of gametocytes ofP. vastator.     

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on secondary metabolism ofCatharanthus roseus tumor suspension cultures

Summary Addition of various concentrations (0.5–20 mM) of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to tumor lines ofCatharanthus roseus cultivatedin vitro and requiring corn starch as carbon source, produced remarkable effects on secondary metabolite production. An increase of 505% total alkaloids per culture (cells plus liquid medium), 1587% total phenolics (liquid medium), 612% total furanocoumarins (liquid medium) and 1476% total anthocyanins (liquid medium) was detected. 1 mM ASA in combination with other elicitors, such as homogenates ofAspergillus fumigatus or trans-cinnamic acid, did not further increase the metabolite content substantially. The results suggest that ASA could act as a new biotic elicitor of metabolite production inC. roseus cell suspension culture.     

Growth rates of North Sea macroalgae in relation to temperature,irradiance and photoperiod

Three eulittoral algae(Ulva lactuca, Porphyra umbilicalis, Chondrus crispus) and one sublittoral alga(Laminaria saccharina) from Helgoland (North Sea) were cultivated in a flow-through system at different temperatures, irradiances and daylengths. In regard to temperature there was a broad optimum at 10–15° C, except inP. umbilicalis, which grew fastest at 10 °C. A growth peak at this temperature was also found in four of 17 other North Sea macroalgae, for which the growth/temperature response was studied, whereas 13 of these species exhibited a growth optimum at 15 °C, or a broad optimum at 10–15 °C. Growth was light-saturated inU. lactuca, L. saccharina andC. crispus at photon flux densities above 70 µE m^–2s^–1, but inP. umbilicalis above 30 µE m^–2s^–1. Growth rate did not decrease notably in the eulittoral species after one week in relatively strong light (250 µE m^–2s^–1), but by about 50 % in the case of the sublittoralL. saccharina, as compared with growth under weak light conditions (30 µE m^–2s^–1). In contrast, chlorophyll content decreased in the sublittoral as well as in the eulittoral species, and the greatest change in pigment content occurred in the range 30–70 µE m^–2s^–1. Growth rate increased continuously up to photoperiods of 24 h light per day inL. saccharina andC. crispus, whereas daylength saturation occurred at photoperiods of more than 16 h light per day inU. lactuca andP. umbilicalis.     

The influence of color stimuli on visually controlled behavior inAglais urticae L. andPararge aegeria L. (Lepidoptera)

Summary In spontaneous-choice experiments on the butterfliesAglais urticae L. (Nymphalidae) andPararge aegeria L. (Satyridae) the spectral effectiveness and spectral sensitivity of various behaviors were investigated and compared.Pilot experiments with colored PVC films showed indications of an intensity dependence of the feeding reaction inP. aegeria. Moreover, they revealed a color discrimination independent of this intensity discrimination:P. aegeria distinguishes red from grey shades as well as from black and white (Fig. 3).According to subsequent spontaneous-choice experiments using monochromatic light stimuli, the various visually controlled functional categories of behavior can be assigned to the following spectral regions: 1. The open-space reaction corresponds to the UV and violet region, ca. 320–420 nm, inP. aegeria (Figs. 4, 7). 2. The feeding reaction corresponds to the blue region, ca. 420–500 nm, inA. urticae (Fig. 1) andP. aegeria (Fig. 4), and the yellow region, ca. 550–590 nm, inA. urticae (Fig. 1) and the orange-red region, ca. 570–670 nm, inP. aegeria (Fig. 4).In these experiments with monochromatic light stimuli the intensity dependence of the reactions is also obvious (Figs. 2, 5, 6).The open-space reaction is elicited inP. aegeria by white light dependent on its UV content (Fig. 8). This is also valid for the feeding reaction inP. aegeria (Fig. 5b). To elicit this reaction it was necessary to offer light stimuli simultaneously with the odour stimulus of honey water. As the latter was of the same quality in combination with all light stimuli the results can be attributed definitely to the different effectiveness of the various light stimuli.Pure wavelength-specific behavior can be ruled out inA. urticae andP. aegeria. Wavelength-specific behavior and color vision are probably present simultaneously.Abbreviation RNQ relative number of quanta Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Ko 445/5-3     

Studies on fungi associated with tomato fruits and effectiveness of some commercial fungicides against three pathogens

Among 39 fungal species and one variety belonging to 16 genera isolated from 116 healthy tomato fruits collected from markets in Assiut, Egypt, during 1994,Aspergillus niger was found to be the most prevalent, being isolated from 84.6% of the samples. Of 11 species recovered from 156 diseased tomatoes,Alternaria alternata, Rhizopus stolonifer andA. niger were the most common and isolated from 52.7%, 35.9% and 25.0% of the samples, respectively. Experiments for comparison of the effects of medium containing tomato juice with synthetic medium on the mycelial growth of nine fungal species indicated that, the tomato juice medium was more suitable for growth of all fungal species. The effect of five commercial fungicides and sodium hypochlorite when applied as post-harvest dips after inoculation was studied in laboratory againstA. alternata, A. niger andR. stolonifer. At 10 and 100 µg ml^–1, neither of the fungicide caused a noticeable inhibition ofAlternaria rot. At 1000 µg ml^–1 benlate, rovral and sumisclex completely preventedAlternaria andAspergillus rot, whereas cuprosan and ridomil were ineffective against rotting caused byA. niger. Rhizopus rot development was inhibited by over 50% with one treatment only (rovral at 1000 µg ml^–1). Sodium hypochlorite has good curative properties against fruit rots especially those caused byA. alternata andA. niger.     

Linocarpon angustatum sp. nov., andNeolinocarpon nypicola sp. nov. from petioles ofNypa fruticans, and a list of fungi from aerial parts of this host

Two new ascomycetes,Linocarpon angustatum sp. nov. andNeolinocarpon nypicola sp. nov., are described from petioles ofNypa fruticans in Malaysia.Linocarpon angustatum differs from species in the genus in having needle-shaped ascospores.Neolinocarpon nypicola differs from species in the genus in having filiform ascospores which gradually taper towards the ends, and ascomata developing within well developed stromata. These new species are compared with existing species and illustrated with interference light micrographs. The fungi known from aerial parts ofNypa fruticans are listed.     

Effect of osmolarity and dehydration on alginate production by fluorescent pseudomonads

Alginate is produced as an exopolysaccharide by many fluorescent pseudomonads. However, pseudomonads often have a nonmucoid phenotype in standard laboratory media. Growth in the presence of 0.3M sodium chloride or 3–5% ethanol reportedly can lead to the generation of mucoid variants of nonmucoid strains ofPseudomonas aeruginosa. We wished to determine whether alginate production by other fluorescent pseudomonads is affected by sodium chloride and ethanol. Eight alginate-producing strains of saprophytic and phytopathogenic pseudomonads were grown as broth cultures containing 0–0.7M sodium chloride or 0–5% ethanol for 24–30 h at 28° or 35°C. Culture supernatant fluids were subjected to ethanol precipitation, and the amount of alginate present was estimated by measuring the uronic acid content. The presence of sodium chloride and ethanol caused significant stimulation of alginate production by all strains tested exceptP. viridiflava ATCC 13223 andP. fluorescens W4F1080. The optimal concentration of sodium chloride ranged from 0.2 to 0.5M; that for ethanol ranged from 1 to 3%. Moreover, inclusion of the nonmetabolizable, nonionic solute sorbitol showed a similar stimulation of alginate production. The stimulation of alginate production by high medium osmolarity and dehydration appears to be a trait shared by fluorescent pseudomonads.Reference to brand or firm name does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture overothers of a similar nature not mentioned.     

Growth pattern and cellular nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the dinoflagellate Peridinium penardii (Lemm.) Lemm. causing a freshwater red tide in a reservoir

The population growth pattern and related changes in both the nitrogen and phosphorus contents in the cell of the dinoflagellate Peridinium penardii (Lemm.) Lemm., which formed a freshwater red tide in a reservoir, were studied in situ. An exponential increase with time in population density was found. A specific growth rate of 0.25 d^–1 was observed. The cellular content of phosphorus per cell decreased from 6.0 × 10^–5 µg to 9.2 × 10^–6 µg along with an increase in population density from 8.0 × 10² cells ml^–1 to 2.5 × 10⁴ cells ml^–1. A prominent change in the cellular nitrogen did not occur. Decreasing cell content and continuous uptake of phosphorus were advantageous for P. penardii to form a freshwater red tide under P-limited conditions.     

In vitro culture of adult and juvenile bud explants of Passiflora species

Cultivar E23, an F1 hybrid of P. edulis and P. edulis f. flavicarpa is usually propagated by shoot-tip grafting. Various media were tested to evaluate the potential of E23 for in vitro propagation. Adult tissue was difficult to culture and did not respond to media containing low (<10 µM) concentrations of growth regulators. Growth of adult buds on intact stem sections was promoted by 1 week of dark incubation on MS basal medium plus 150 µM 2iP, 200 µM adenine sulphate and 17.1 µM IAA (3 mg l^–1), and further developed into shoots on MS medium plus 4.9 µM 2iP (1 mg l^–1) and 5.7 µM IAA (1 mg l^–1). By contrast, juvenile shoots of E23, and Passiflora species: edulis f. flavicarpa, edulis, alata, caerulea, mollissima, coccinea, herbertiana and suberosa grew rapidly on MS medium plus 10 µM kinetin and 5 µM IAA. Rapid multiplication was achieved on MS plus 20 µM BA, 10 µM kinetin, 5 µM IAA, and roots initiated on MS plus 5 µM IAA.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - 2iP N6-iso pentenyl adenine - BA N6-benzyl adenine     

Ascospore formation and morphology in two species of the genusErysiphe remaining immature on the living host plant

Erysiphe cumminsiana andE. galeopsidis, which have immature asci in the current season, have been recorded from Japan, but the ascospores of both fungi have not been described. In the present experiments, some observations before and after overwintering were made on the cleistothecia ofE. cumminsiana on three species ofCacalia and two species ofLigularia, andE. galeopsidis onGeranium thunbergii. After overwintering, the former fungus developed six to eight, rarely four spores in an ascus and the latter fungus always four spores in an ascus. Their teleomorphic characteristics including those of ascospores are also described.     

Induction of de-novo synthesis of tryptophan decarboxylase in cell suspensions of Catharanthus roseus

Tryptophan decarboxylase (EC 4.2.1.27) is synthesized de-novo by Catharanthus roseus cells shortly after the cells have been transferred into culture medium in which monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are formed. The enzyme production, monitored by in-vivo labelling with [³⁵S]methionine and immunoprecipitation, precedes the apparent maximal enzyme activity by 10–12 h. From the time course of the descending enzyme activity after induction, a half-life of 21 h for tryptophan decarboxylase in C. roseus cell suspensions is calculated. A comparison of the polyadenylated-RNA preparations from C. roseus cells indicates that mRNA activity for tryptophan decarboxylase is only detected in cells grown in the production medium. The importance of tryptophan decarboxylase induction with respect to the accumulation of th corresponding alkaloids is discussed.Abbreviation TDC tryptophan decarboxylase     

Responses of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Erica cinerea</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Vaccinium macrocarpon</Emphasis> to<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Glomus mosseae</Emphasis>

An investigation was carried out on the mycorrhizal colonisation, growth and nutrition of two members of the Ericaceae in close proximity to an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association. This was undertaken by separating mycorrhizal (EM) and non-mycorrhizal (NEM) Erica cinerea and Vaccinium macrocarpon from AM (inoculated by Glomus mosseae) and non-mycorrhizal (NAM) Plantago lanceolata using a 30 µm nylon mesh in a sand culture/pot system. Ericoid mycorrhizal colonisation by Hymenoscyphus ericae on root systems of E. cinerea and V. macrocarpon was in the range 14–22% and 58–69%, respectively. The presence of AM P. lanceolata had no effect on the ericoid mycorrhizal colonisation of E. cinerea and V. macrocarpon. NEM E. cinerea showed reductions in shoot biomass and shoot nitrogen concentrations after exposure to AM P. lanceolata after incubations of 6 and 9 weeks but there were no differences in dry mass, length, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of the root systems between the treatment combinations. Reductions were also found, after incubations of 6 and 9 weeks, in shoot dry mass, leaf area and shoot nitrogen concentrations of NEM V. macrocarpon in the presence of AM P. lanceolata but no changes occurred in the length and dry mass of the root systems. There were no differences in maximum photosynthesis in V. macrocarpon between treatment combinations but NEM V. macrocarpon in the presence of AM P. lanceolata had the lowest transpiration rates and stomatal conductance and the highest nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiencies compared with the other treatment combinations. These results are discussed in relation to the type of interaction found in these compatible and incompatible mycorrhizal associations.