Variation in the airborne fungal spore population of the Tuscarawas Valley II

For years the medical profession has recognized a relationship between fungal airspora and the incitement of respiratory allergies. An evaluation of outdoor fungal airspora on an eastern Ohio campus during June 1988 revealed significant differences in quality and quantity with respect to microenvironments. Type of vegetation, diurnal periodicities, and daily weather conditions affected the airspora at each site. Shaded lawns within groves and windbreaks, unshaded lawns, and asphalt-covered parking lots presented varying dynamics for fungal spore liberation. Unshaded lawns produced airspora most abundantly during morning and least abundantly during afternoon. Arboreal sites produced airspora most prolifically at midday. A deciduous sycamore grove produced fewer afternoon airspora than evergreen pine and arborvitae stands. Evening airspora at all vegetated sites increased after experiencing afternoon troughs. Frequently encountered molds included Cladosporium spp., brightly pigmented sterile mycelia, and Alternaria spp.     

Effect of a total solar eclipse on the surface crowding of zooplankton in a freshwater lake ecosystem

Zooplankton surface crowding in a freshwater lake ecosystem during a total solar eclipse (maximum eclipse at 06:28:43 Indian Standard Time, 22 July 2009) was studied in relation to ambient physicochemical conditions and compared with the crowding that occurred during pre- and post-eclipse days. Rapid light attenuation on the eclipse day led to changes in zooplankton surface crowding, which manifested as alterations to community structure and statistical parameters. Zooplankton diversity and density varied depending on the day (either the pre-eclipse day, the eclipse day, or the post-eclipse day) and the sampling time considered. A total of 20 zooplankton species were recorded during the study. On the day of the eclipse, the highest zooplankton density in the surface water was recorded just after the end of totality at 06:30 IST. The populations of two adult cladoceran species (Alona rectangula rectangula and Chydorus sphaericus) were particularly prominent in the zooplankton, whereas rotifers were almost absent from the surface water during the eclipse. Rather than decreasing, the primary production of the phytoplankton increased on the day of the TSE compared to that seen on the control days. Comparatively high Lindeman’s efficiency values were observed during the eclipse, indicating particularly efficient utilization of photons in photosynthesis.     

Some observations on fungal succession during decomposition of wool in soil

Fungal succession on woolen baits was studied under laboratory conditions for more than one year. It was found that the initial colonizers on woolen baits are non-keratinophilic fungi, while the late colonizers are keratinophilic fungi. Six phases in total were observed during fungal succession. The successional trends obtained during decomposition of wool in soil samples collected from plain and hilly areas were almost the same, except for the dominant colonization in the last phase, which was constituted byChrysosporium tropicum for the plain, butMicrosporum gypseum andM. fulvum for the hilly area.     

Ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir: a comparison of species richness in native western North American forests and Patagonian plantations from Argentina

The putative ectomycorrhizal fungal species registered from sporocarps associated with ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests in their natural range distribution (i.e., western Canada, USA, and Mexico) and from plantations in south Argentina and other parts of the world are listed. One hundred and fifty seven taxa are reported for native ponderosa pine forests and 514 taxa for native Douglas-fir forests based on available literature and databases. A small group of genera comprises a high proportion of the species richness for native Douglas-fir (i.e., Cortinarius, Inocybe, and Russula), whereas in native ponderosa pine, the species richness is more evenly distributed among several genera. The comparison between ectomycorrhizal species richness associated with both trees in native forests and in Patagonia (Argentina) shows far fewer species in the latter, with 18 taxa for the ponderosa pine and 15 for the Douglas-fir. Epigeous species richness is clearly dominant in native Douglas-fir, whereas a more balanced relation epigeous/hypogeous richness is observed for native ponderosa pine; a similar trend was observed for Patagonian plantations. Most fungi in Patagonian Douglas-fir plantations have not been recorded in plantations elsewhere, except Suillus lakei and Thelephora terrestris, and only 56% of the fungal taxa recorded in Douglas-fir plantations around the world are known from native forests, the other taxa being new associations for this host, suggesting that new tree + ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa associations are favored in artificial situations as plantations.     

基于DNA高通量测序分析生料酿醋过程中的真菌多样性

【目的】了解生料酿醋不同阶段的真菌群落结构及其变化规律,为生料酿醋工艺优化提供理论指导。【方法】从山西一家生料酿醋企业采集原料、麸曲、发酵缸醋醅、熏醋样、淋醋样等涉及生料酿醋各阶段的样品共51份,扩增真菌ITS1区序列并利用高通量测序技术分析真菌多样性。【结果】除5份样品未扩增成功外,在剩余46份样品中共检测到489个真菌OTU,以子囊菌为主(占88.3%)。原料、麸曲、发酵缸醋醅、熏醋样、淋醋样等不同组别间在真菌群落结构方面存在显著差异。原料和麸曲中的真菌物种丰富度最低,发酵缸醋醅的真菌物种丰富度最高,熏醋样和淋醋样中的真菌物种丰富度又有所降低。原料和麸曲中的优势真菌分别为酿酒酵母和黑曲霉,是发酵阶段真菌的重要来源,但发酵缸醋醅中也检测到大量可能来源于发酵室环境的真菌。发酵缸醋醅在不同发酵时期间也存在明显的真菌群落结构差异,并可据此划分成发酵前期(包括发酵第2–13天的样品)和发酵后期(包括发酵第17–46天的样品)。酿酒酵母和亮白曲霉的丰度在发酵前期显著高于发酵后期,而黑曲霉、一种小戴卫霉科真菌等的丰度在发酵后期显著高于发酵前期。【结论】生料酿醋的不同阶段和发酵缸醋醅发酵的不同时期,其真菌群落结构都存在明显差异。酿酒酵母和黑曲霉是发酵阶段的优势真菌。本研究为生料酿醋工艺优化提供了理论依据。     

Phosphate solubilization by Penicillium spp. isolated from soil samples of Indian Himalayan region

A total of 246 fungal isolates representing 36 genera and 72 species were isolated from the soil samples collected from Indian Himalayan region. Twenty-one species belonged to the genus Penicillium alone. All the Penicillium species were screened for phosphate solubilizing activity on Pikovskaya agar at 21 °C. Eight species of Penicillium, exhibiting formation of halos (zone of solubilization) around the fungal colonies in qualitative plate assays, were selected for quantitative estimations. In quantitative estimations that were conducted upto day 30 (at 3 days interval), seven species of Penicillium brought maximum solubilization after day 15, while P. oxalicum showed maximum solubilization after day 21 of incubation. The increase in solubilization coincided with decrease in pH of the broth. Acid phosphatase activity was 1.5–2.0 times higher in comparison to alkaline phosphatase. Many of these species showed wide range of tolerance for temperature, pH and salt concentration.     

The orientation of the sandhopper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talitrus saltator</Emphasis> during a partial solar eclipse

To acquire more information about the identification and use of the sun and other celestial cues in the sea–land orientation of the sandhopper Talitrus saltator, we carried out releases in a confined environment during a partial solar eclipse and at sunset. The sandhoppers were unable to identify the sun (86% covered) during the eclipse nor to use other celestial compass factors of orientation. This was probably due to the low level of light intensity (close to the minimum level for orientation recorded at sunset) and to the variations in intensity and pattern of skylight polarization.     

Eastern Cottontail (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvilagus Floridanus)</Emphasis> as Carrier of Dermatophyte Fungi

Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus, fam. Leporidae), introduced into Piedmont (Italy) in the 1960s, was studied as carrier of dermatophyte fungi. Of 216 hair samples collected from animals culled between September 1999 and July 2000 in the Province of Alessandria (Piedmont, Italy) during a pest control project, 57 (26.4%) yielded dermatophyte colonies. As two different species of dermatophytes grew from two samples, a total of 59 fungal isolates (26.5%) were obtained. Six dermatophyte species both geophilic (M. gypseum, M. cookei, Trichophyton ajelloi, T. terrestre) and zoophilic (M. canis, T. mentagrophytes) were identified. No sex-related differences were found but season-related differences were observed. The highest prevalence of dermatophyte-positive samples was recorded in May–September, due to the geophilic fungi whose prevalence decreased during colder and increased during warmer months ( p < 0.001). The presence of zoophilic dermatophytes, T. mentagrophytes, commonly associated with rodents, small mammals and lagomorphs and M. canis, usually correlated with domestic environment, did not change the whole year round. As Eastern cottontail has been showed to be a carrier of dermatophytes transmissible to man (M. canis, T. mentagrophytes and M. gypseum), it may represent a source of infection for gamekeepers, hunters and veterinarians.     

Fungi in healthy and diseased sea fans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gorgonia ventalina)</Emphasis>: is <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus sydowii</Emphasis> always the pathogen?

Caribbean corals, including sea fans (Gorgonia spp.), are being affected by severe and apparently new diseases. In the case of sea fans, the pathogen is reported to be the fungus Aspergillus sydowii, and the disease is named aspergillosis. In order to understand coral diseases and pathogens, knowledge of the microbes associated with healthy corals is also necessary. In this study the fungal community of healthy Gorgonia ventalina colonies was contrasted with that of diseased colonies. In addition, the fungal community of healthy and diseased tissue within colonies with aspergillosis was contrasted. Fungi were isolated from healthy and diseased fans from 15 reefs around Puerto Rico, and identified by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and by morphology. Thirty fungal species belonging to 15 genera were isolated from 203 G. ventalina colonies. Penicillum and Aspergillus were the most common genera isolated from both healthy and diseased fans. However, the fungal community of healthy fans was distinct and more diverse than that of diseased ones. Within diseased fans, fungal communities from diseased tissues were distinct and more diverse than from healthy tissue. The reduction of fungi in diseased colonies may occur prior to infection due to environmental changes affecting the host, or after infection due to increase in dominance of the pathogen, or because of host responses to infection. Data also indicate that the fungal community of an entire sea fan colony is affected even when only a small portion of the colony suffers from aspergillosis. An unexpected result was that A. sydowii was found in healthy sea fans but never in diseased ones. This result suggests that A. sydowii is not the pathogen causing aspergillosis in the studied colonies, and suggests several fungi common to healthy and diseased colonies as opportunistic pathogens. Given that it is not clear that Aspergillus is the sole pathogen, calling this disease aspergillosis is an oversimplification at best. Communicated by Biology Editor Dr Michael Lesser     

Airborne pollen and spores on the Arctic island of Jan Mayen

A survey of airspora collected on Jan Mayen, an isolated North Atlantic island (71°N, 8°30′W), using a Burkard seven-day volumetric trap from 24th April to 31th August, 1988, revealed only very small concentrations. A total of 10 different pollen types were recorded, constituting a seasonal sum of 29 pollen grains. The local pollen season was confined to July, with Oxyria digna and Salix as the most numerous pollen types recorded. Exotic pollen grains, namely Betula, Pinus and Castanea type, were recorded in three periods during June and July. Studies of back trajectories indicate North America and/or Iceland and Greenland as possible source areas for the Betula pollen. There were more diatoms than pollen in the local airspora. Fungal spores mainly occurred in late July and August. Cladosporium constituted less than 5% of the total seasonal sum of fungal spores, while basidiospores contributed nearly 12%. The highest diurnal average of Cladosporium was 27 spores m^?3 air. The seasonal maximum of unidentified fungal spores reached a diurnal average of 639 spores m^?1 air on 27th August.     

Comparison of four media for the isolation ofAspergillus flavus group fungi

Four agar media used to isolate aflatoxin producing fungi were compared for utility in isolating fungi in theAspergillus flavus group from agricultural soils collected in 15 fields and four states in the southern United States. The four media wereAspergillus flavus andparasiticus Agar (AFPA, 14), the rose bengal agar described by Bell and Crawford (BCRB; 3), a modified rose bengal agar (M-RB), and Czapek's-Dox Agar supplemented with the antibiotics in BC-RB (CZ-RB). M-RB was the most useful for studying the population biology of this group because it permitted both identification of the greatest number ofA. flavus group strains and growth of the fewest competing fungi. M-RB supported an average of 12% moreA. flavus group colonies than the original rose bengal medium while reducing the number of mucorales colonies and the number of total fungi by 99% and 70%, respectively. M-RB was successfully employed to isolate all three aflatoxin producing species,A. flavus, A. parasiticus andA. nomius, and both the S and L strains ofA. flavus. M-RB is a defined medium without complex nitrogen and carbon sources (e.g. peptone and yeast extract) present in BC-RB. M-RB should be useful for studies on the population biology of theA. flavus group.Abbreviations M-RB Modified Rose Bengal Agar - CZ-RB Czapeks Rose Bengal Agar - BC-RB Bell and Crawford's Rose Bengal Agar - AFPA Aspergillus flavus andparasiticus agar     

Diverse non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes inhabiting an epiphytic,medicinal orchid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrobium nobile</Emphasis>): estimation and characterization

Although the terrestrial and temperate orchids–fungal biology have been largely explored, knowledge of tropical epiphytic orchids–fungus relationships, especially on the ecological roles imparted by non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes, is less known. Exploitation of the endophytic fungal mycobiota residing in epiphytic orchid plants may be of great importance to further elucidate the fungal ecology in this special habitat as well as developing new approaches for orchid conversations. The composition of fungal endophytes associated with leaves, stems and roots of an epiphytic orchid (Dendrobium nobile), a famous Chinese traditional medicinal plant, was investigated. Microscopic imaging, culture-dependant method and molecular phylogeny were used to estimate their entity and diversity. Totally, there were 172 isolates, at least 14 fungal genera and 33 different morphospecies recovered from 288 samples. Ascomycetes, coelomycetes and hyphomycetes were three major fungal groups. There were higher overall colonization and isolation rates of endophytic fungi from leaves than from other tissues. Guignardia mangiferae was the dominant fungal species within leaves; while the endophytic Xylariaceae were frequently observed in all plant tissues; Colletotrichum, Phomopsis and Fusarium were also frequently observed. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS gene revealed the high diversity of Xylariacea fungi and relatively diverse of non-Xylariacea fungi. Some potentially promising beneficial fungi such as Clonostachys rosea and Trichoderma chlorosporum were found in roots. This is the first report concerning above-ground and below-ground endophytic fungi community of an epiphytic medicinal orchid, suggesting the ubiquitous distribution of non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes in orchid plants together with heterogeneity and tissue specificity of the endophyte assemblage. Possible physiological functions played by these fungal endophytes and their potential applications are also discussed briefly. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Dynamics of the fungal symbionts in the gallery system and the mycangia of the ambrosia beetle,Xylosandrus mutilatus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in relation to its life history

The dynamics of the fungal symbionts in the gallery system and the mycangia of the ambrosia beetle,Xylosandrus mutilatus, were studied in relation to its life history using both isolation experiments and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the galleries,Ambrosiella sp. was predominant during the larval stages but its relative dominance gradually decreased during the development of the larvae. In contrast, yeasts (mainlyCandida sp.) andPaecilomyces sp. dominated continuously in the galleries after eclosion.Ambrosiella sp. was consistently stored in the mycangia in all adult stages, except in the teneral and overwintering adults when the other fungi were dominant. No fungal spores occurred in the mycangia of the adult beetles reared under aseptic conditions from the pupal stage, while onlyAmbrosiella sp. was stored in those reared from the teneral-adult stage. These results suggest that: (i) Xmutilatus is associated with at least three fungal species, among whichAmbrosiella sp. is the most essential food resource for development of the broods; (ii) immediately after eclosion, new female adults may take at least four associated fungal species, with no or incomplete selection, into their mycangia from the walls of the cradles; and (iii) conditions may well be produced in the mycangia of both matured and dispersing beetles whereby only the spores ofAmbrosiella sp. can proliferate.     

Uptake of protoplasts from the filamentous fungiAspergillus nidulans andFusarium oxysporum into protoplasts from celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Summary Protoplasts isolated from celery cell suspension cultures, were mixed with fungal protoplasts, from either the saprophytic speciesAspergillus nidulans or the pathogenic speciesFusarium oxysporum. The incubation of protoplast mixtures with PEG caused close adhesion between plant and fungal protoplasts. Subsequent dilution of PEG resulted in the uptake of protoplasts from either fungal species into the plant protoplast cytoplasm. A range of PEG concentrations, incubation times and dilution rates were tested to maximise adhesion and uptake frequencies. Identification of uptake was achieved either by fluorescent staining of nuclei or by electron-microscopy. A maximum of 10% celery protoplasts had taken upA. nidulans protoplasts after PEG treatment. Fungal protoplasts were taken up into celery protoplast cytoplasm by endocytosis, and were maintained within vesicles; two bounding membranes were observed by electron microscopy. Plant protoplast viability was determined during prolonged incubation following fungal protoplast uptake. The presence ofA. nidulans protoplasts tended to maintain celery protoplast viability and although some morphological disintegration occurred intact celery protoplasts remained for at least 92 h after uptake. The uptake ofF. oxysporum protoplasts markedly depressed celery protoplast viability after 24 h incubation and greater celery protoplast disintegration occurred.Abbreviations PEG Polyethylene glycol - DAPI 4,6-diaminido-2-phenylindole - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Three newAspergillus species isolated from clinical sources as a causal agent of human aspergillosis

Three new species ofAspergillus isolated from clinical sources in China are described and illustrated:A. beijingensis, A. qizutongii andA. wangduanlii. The first species is characterized by spreading colonies, yellow to grayish green conidial heads, smooth-walled conidiophores with a clavate vesicle, uniseriate aspergilla and nearly globose, micro-verrucose conidia. The second is characterized by spreading colonies, olive-yellow conidial heads, conspicuously roughened conidiophores with a flask-shaped vesicle, uniseriate but often secondarily proliferating aspergilla and globose, smooth conidia. The third is characterized by rapidly growing colonies, dull green conidial heads, smooth to irregularly roughened conidiophores which are often surrounded by coiled hyphae in the basal part and are terminally swollen into a globose or irregular shaped vesicle, uniseriate aspergilla and globose, micro-verrucose conidia.     

Spring “bleaching” among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pocillopora</Emphasis> in the Sea of Cortez,Eastern Pacific

A mild bleaching event was observed among Pocillopora spp. in the southern Gulf of California in the spring of 2006. Uniform bleaching occurred in numerous colonies on the upper portions of their branches. Most (∼90%) colonies that exhibited bleaching contained a species of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium C1b-c, which differed from the Symbiodinium D1 found inhabiting most unbleached colonies. Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence, indicated a decline in photosystem II photochemical activity, especially among colonies populated with C1b-c. By early August, most affected colonies had recovered their normal pigmentation and fluorescence values were once again high for all colonies. No mortality was observed among tagged bleached colonies nor did symbiont species composition change during recovery. This unusual episode of bleaching did not appear to be a response to thermal stress, but may have been triggered by high levels of solar radiation during a period of unseasonally high water clarity in the early spring.     

Inorganic carbon fluxes at the water–sediment interface in five littoral systems in Spain (southern Europe)

The assemblage of littoral oligochaetes in six crater lakes in Central Mexico, was studied throughout a yearly cycle. To establish species composition, richness, density and biomass, 14 localities were sampled in the lakes. A total of eight species belonging to the families Naididae (five species), Tubificidae (two species), and Enchytraeidae (one species) were found. The dominant species, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, contributed with up to 99% in both abundance and biomass. Sediment organic matter is the most important environmental variable explaining the differences in density and biomass. Seasonal (dry and rainy seasons) changes were not significant for density and biomass. Higher density and lower biomass values characterized these lakes in contrast to other tropical and subtropical lakes worldwide. The small size of the dominant species L. hoffmeisteri was recorded in all lakes and explained the low biomass recorded in the area of study. The correlation between L. hoffmeisteri and four other species (Dero (Dero) nivea, D. (D.) digitata, Nais variabilis and Tubifex tubifex) was negative. The naidid species were positively correlated (>0.5) to each other.     

Airborne fungal spores in a sawmill environment in Palakkad District, Kerala, India

Concentration of airborne fungal spores inindoor and outdoor environments of a sawmill in Palakkad district of Kerala, India was studied with Burkard Personal Slide Sampler from January to December 1997. Total spore concentration in the indoor and outdoor showed a 3:2 ratio. Higher spore count was observed in indoor in January and in outdoor in October. Thirty three fungal spore types were identified from the indoor and twenty six from the outdoor. Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Ganoderma, `other basidiospores' and ascospores were the dominant components of the airspora. Aspergillus/Penicillium, the most dominant spore type in the indoor contributed 51.19% and Cladosporium, the most dominant spore type in the outdoor contributed 44.75% of the total spores. The study revealed high prevalence of predominantly allergenic fungal spores in the sawmill environment.     

Patterns of colonization and incipient nest survival inAcromyrmex niger andAcromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary Patterns of colonization by queens and incipient nest survival of the leaf-cutting antsAcromyrmex niger andAcromyrmex balzani were studied by means of belt transects and individually marked incipient nests. No relation was found between colony density and the number of colonization attempts. Both species are not claustral, and high rates of queen mortality were attributed to conspecific executions and predation. Of other discernable mortality factors, failure of fungal garden establishment was the most important. Only 34 of 296A. balzani and 13 of 154A. niger marked colonies were alive at the end of one year. These figures are higher than those reported for species ofAtta. These results are contrasted with those of claustral-foundingAtta species. Small colonies are occasionally raided by larger colonies which robbed brood.     

六种海桑属红树植物根际真菌特征及其影响因子

真菌多样性是植物根际生态系统的重要构成与植物健康稳定的重要指标。海桑属是红树林的先锋物种,采用真菌ITS1区高通量测序方法,分析了六种海桑属红树根际真菌的组成和多样性,结合土壤理化性质探讨影响不同植物根际真菌群落组成差异的因素。结果显示,根际真菌隶属于7门、96科、155属,子囊菌门作为优势菌门在海桑属不同红树中相对丰度无显著差异,都超过27%,但次优势的担子菌门丰度含量有差异;属水平上,优势菌属的丰度含量不同,曲霉属在卵叶海桑的丰度最高(29.57%),在海南海桑最低(3.47%)。六种红树植物根际存在特有的代表类群,如无瓣海桑的马拉色菌(9.31%)和毛腐菌属(10.05%),海南海桑中的Talaromyces(19.61%)和Acremonium(13.58%)。比较多样性指数Simpson和Shannon,发现拟海桑是六种植物中丰度最高的,卵叶海桑最低。RDA分析发现子囊菌门与全磷含量呈显著负相关,担子菌门与速效钾呈明显正相关。六种海桑属红树植物根际核心物种分析表明,优势真菌类群曲霉属和一些低丰度的真菌类群,通过降解有机质参与碳循环,对根际土壤生态系统的稳定起重要作用。六种海桑...