Description ofAvesicladiella gen. nov. (hyphomycetes) for two undescribed leaf litter microfungi

The new hyphomycete genusAvesicladiella with two species,A. britannica sp. nov., type species, andA. microsperma sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Both species are leaf litter microfungi. The genus closely resemblesVesicladiella, Circinotrichum, Gyrothrix, Ceratocladium andVermiculariopsiella, several hyphomycete genera with comparable characters such as superficial hyphal networks; production of setae; absence of conidiophores; lageniform or ampulliform conidiogenous cells; and hyaline aseptate conidia produced in clusters around the apices of conidiogenous cells. The new genus differs from these by its hyaline, septate setae, typical ‘phialidic’ conidiogenous cells, and hyaline, aseptate cylindrical conidia.     

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Synchaetomella Lunatospora, a New Genus and Species of Synnematous Fungi from Southeast Asia

The anamorphic fungus Synchaetomella lunatospora gen. et sp. nov. is described from a culture isolated from leaf litter in Singapore. The genus is characterized by the production of synnematous conidiomata with brown stipes, phialidic conidiogenesis with terminal and acropleurogenous conidiogenous cells, and falcate, 1-septate conidia, aggregating in white, mucilaginous heads. Its phylogenetic relationships, inferred from the partial nuclear small ribosomal subunit (18S) sequence, are with the coelomycetous genera Sphaerographium, Chaetomella, and Hainesia. However, the order and family affinities of this group are unclear.     

The ascigerous state of Candida chodatii

In Candida chodatii, a mycelial yeast having denticulate conidiogenous cells, the asci are formed by conjugating budding cells (conidia) and usually contain 2 hat-shaped, small ascospores. It is classified in Hyphopichia, a new genus of the Ascoideaceae. A key to the genera of the Ascoideaceae is given.     

青藏高原小麦白秆病病原菌——小麦壳月孢的研究

五十年代以来,小麦白秆病先后发生于我国的四川、青海和西藏的高寒地区。由于是一种摧毁性病害,很快受到有关方面的研究,测定出有效的防治措施并推广,从而限制了该病的扩展和危害。但在病原菌方面,过去国内一些研究者虽先后几经研究,不仅未能获得统一的学名且有错误的鉴定。因此,有必要再研究,以便正确地识别此菌的分类位置。作者据川、青、藏高原收集到的该菌标本及培养物切片和染色进行镜检,观察到小麦白秆病菌的产孢结构是瓶梗型的,确实应隶属于壳月孢属(Selenophoma)内,并以此菌的形态特征也不同于壳月孢属内的其它种,因而认为是一新种——小麦壳月孢(Selenophoma tritici sp.nov.),文中对新种作了形态特征的汉文和拉丁文描述和附图。此外,还阐明了现代半知菌类分类中产孢细胞的特征的重要性。模式标本存放于中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室(HMAS)。     

一个有丝分裂孢子真菌中国新记录——稻麦穗孢

Tritirachium Limber (1940) is typified by T. dependens Limber, based on the rachis-like sympodula produced in verticilate arrangements. The genus is close to Beauveria Vuill. In Tritirachium, conidiogenous cells are cicatrized, arising in whorls from ascendent hyphae, while in Beauveria, conidiogenous cells are denticulate, arising in clusters from subtending cells or solitarily from undifferentiated hyphae (Hoog, 1972). There are 25 binames in Tritirachium (Funindex, 2000), however, only …     

Hormonema schizolunatum, a new species of dothideaceous black yeasts from phyllosphere

Two black yeast isolates from plants from the Canary Islands (Spain) are described and illustrated. Absence of Woronin bodies at simple septal pores, local coralloid terminal hyphal cells, indeterminate thallus maturation, the presence of budding cells and local conversion to meristematic growth all indicate a relationship to the Dothideaceae (Dothideales, Ascomycota). Morphological properties were consistent with the genus Hormonema Lagerberg & Melin, as defined by presence of percurrent conidiogenous loci alongside undifferentiated hyphae, and results of PCR-ribotyping supported this classification. The isolates were judged to belong to a hitherto undescribed species, characterized in particular by curved conidia soon developing transverse septa. The physiological profile of this species is also described.     

A new species ofEmbellisia from soil with high levels of heavy metals

Embellisia thlaspis is described as a new species from the roots of the cruciferThlaspi caerulescens. The host plant was growing in soil in an area of disused zinc and lead mines where high levels of heavy metals have been recorded. Examining this novel fungus using SEM, the detailed structure of the conidiogenous loci confirms earlier observations of this genus.     

Production ofbeauveria bassiana [Deuteromycotina. Hyphomycetes] sympoduloconidia in submerged culture

Submerged conidiation of the entomogenous HyphomyceteBeauveria bassiana is reported. Conidiogenous cells produce sympoduloconidia on conidiogenous cells in liquid shaker culture; hyphal bodies and mycelium fragments are also produced. The morphology of these fungal structures is discussed and illustrated. Several simple liquid media are tested for the production of conidia and hyphal bodies. Maximum yields of conidia (170×10⁶ conidia/ml) are produced in a medium consisting of sucrose (2%) — yeast extract (0.5%) and basal salts, and maximum yields of hyphal bodies (740×10⁶ hyphal bodies/ml) in a sucrose (2.5%) — yeast extract (2.5%) medium.      

Leucobacter luti sp. nov., and Leucobacter alluvii sp. nov., two new species of the genus Leucobacter isolated under chromium stress

Two strains designated RF6(T) and RB10(T) were isolated, from activated sludge and from river sediments, respectively, both systems receiving chromium contaminated water. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain RF6(T)and strain RB10(T) represented two new species of the genus Leucobacter. Strain RB10(T) can be distinguished from RF6(T) by its ability to grow at 37 degrees C, by showing a different optimum pH, by cell wall amino acids different relative amount and by having the fatty acid strait C16:0 as the third most abundant fatty acid. On the basis of the distinct peptidoglycan composition, 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, DNA-DNA reassociation values, and phenotypic characteristics we are of the opinion that strain RF6(T) represents a new species of the genus Leucobacter for which we propose the name Leucobacter luti (CIP 108818(T)=LMG 23118) and that strain RB10(T) represents an additional new species of the same genus for which we propose the name Leucobacter alluvii (CIP 108819(T)=LMG 23117).     

Taxonomy of an anamorphic xylariaceous fungus from a termite nest found together with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria angulosa</Emphasis>

Two xylariaceous fungi were isolated from a nest of a termite, Odontotermes formosanus, that was incubated in a laboratory after collecting from Iriomote Is., Okinawa Pref., in Japan. One of the two fungi was identified as Xylaria angulosa on the basis of the morphology of branched stroma produced on medium, tiny asci, and ascospores having a germ slit. Another fungus is an anamorphic fungus that produces synnemata up to 50 mm long from which dendritic conidiophores branch out. Unicellular conidia are holoblastically produced on a sympodially proliferating conidiogenous cell. Such morphological characters resemble those of the genus Geniculosporium. However, its distinctive synnema formation and dendritic conidiophores do not assign the fungus to Geniculosporium or other known genera and warrant establishment of a new genus. The phylogenetic tree based on the ITS regions of rDNA shows that the fungus is nested in the cluster of the genus Nemania (Xylariaceae), whose species have mainly Geniculosporium-like anamorphs. We describe here the present anamorphic fungus as Geniculisynnema termiticola gen. et sp. nov., and discuss its phylogenetic and ecological relationships to xylariaceous fungi, especially termiticolous species.     

The fungicidal activity of an extracellular glycolipid from Sympodiomycopsis paphiopedili sugiyama et al

The yeast Sympodiomycopsis paphiopedili (Ustilaginomycetes) produces an extracellular glycolipid, which possesses the maximum antifungal activity at the pH of the medium equal to 4.0-4.5. Among the approximately 300 tested species of yeastlike and mycelial fungi, more than 80% (including species pathogenic for plants, animals, and humans) were found to be susceptible to this glycolipid.     

Digitomyces, a new genus of hyphomycetes with cheiroid conidia

The new anamorphic genus Digitomyces, based on Dictyosporium verrucosum, is proposed. It is characterized by micronematous or semimacronematous conidiophores, integrated or discrete, holoblastic, determinate conidiogenous cells, and olivaceous to pale brown, verrucose, cheiroid conidia, with a truncate basal cell and (2-)3 arms. The new taxon is compared with morphologically similar anamorph genera.     

Morphological and molecular characterization ofAquaticheirospora and phylogenetics of Massarinaceae (Pleosporales)

A morphologically interesting hyphomycete was collected from submerged wood in a stream in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand. It is described as Aquaticheirospora lignicola gen. and sp. nov., and is characterized by euseptate conidia with divergent arms, which are vertically inserted in different planes to a basal cell. The genus differs from other chirosporous genera in having synnematous conidioma and conidia that are produced on conidiogenous cells borne at the apices of synnemata. The morphological characterization of this new fungus is reported and compared with similar chirosporous genera. To investigate the teleomorphic and phylogenetic relationships of this new taxon, three different regions of the ribosomal gene [18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) including 5.8S] were sequenced and analysed. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 18S, 28S, and partial ITS including 5.8S rDNA, employing different tree-making methods, indicate that Aquaticheirospora lignicola is closely related to the ascomycetes family Massarinaceae (Order: Pleosporales). The Massarinaceae as currently circumscribed is monophyletic. Massarina australiensis and M. bipolaris , however, appear to belong to the Lophiostomataceae.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 155 , 283–296.     

Characterization of an antifungal glycolipid secreted by the yeast Sympodiomycopsis paphiopedili

An antifungal glycolipid was purified from the culture liquid of the ustilaginomycetous yeast Sympodiomycopsis paphiopedili by column and thin-layer chromatography. According to nuclear magnetic resonance and mass-spectroscopy experiments it was a cellobioside containing 2,15,16-trihydroxypalmitic acid as an aglycon. The minimal effective concentrations leading to ATP leakage and growth inhibition were 45 and 160 microg ml(-1) for Cryptococcus terreus and Candida albicans, respectively.     

Isolation of the Lembadion-factor,A morphogenetically active signal,that induces Euplotes cells to change from their ovoid form into a larger lateral winged morph

A morphogenetically active substance released by the predatory ciliate Lem-badion bullinum is recognized by ciliates of the genus Euplotes, which are potential prey organisms of Lembadion. The substance (L-factor) induces cells of the genus Euplotes to become less compact, which reduces their likelihood of becoming engulfed. Under the influence of this Lembadion- derived signal, E. octocarinatus develops extended wings and dorsal and ventral ridges and transforms within a few hours from its typical ovoid morph into an enlarged circular morph. This takes place without cell division. We have isolated the L-factor and report that it is a protein with a mass of 31,500 Da. The factor has been purified to chromatographic and electrophoretic homogeneity and was found to be active at concentrations as low as 10^?12 mol/L. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Bullera anomala sp. nov. and Bullera pseudovariabilis sp. nov., two new ballistoconidium-forming yeast species from Yunnan,China

Two ballistoconidium-forming yeast strains, CH 2.504 and CH 2.509, were isolated from the wilting leaves of Parthenocissus sp. collected in Yunnan, China in 1996. These two strains were assigned to the genus Bullera Derx by the characteristics of forming rotationally symmetric ballistoconidia, containing xylose in the cell hydrolysates and having Q-10 as the major ubiquinone. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (18S rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences revealed that CH 2.504 is closely related to B. variabilis Nakase & Suzuki, while CH 2.509 is located in a clearly separate clade among the described Bullera species and related taxa. The results indicated that CH 2.509 represents a new species, for which Bullera anomala sp. nov. is the proposed name (type strain AS 2.2094^T). Further DNA-DNA reassociation data showed that CH 2.504 also represents a distinct species, for which the name Bullera pseudovariabilis sp. nov. is given (type strain AS 2.2092^T). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A revision of the genus Lomaantha, with the description of a new species

Lomaantha phragmitis sp. nov. is described and illustrated from a specimen collected on dead culms of Phragmites communis in southern China. The fungus differs from other described Lomaantha species in its conidiophores, conidiogenous cells and conidial appendages. Conidial morphology and presence or absence of percurrent proliferation of conidiogenous cells are the main characters distinguishing species within this genus. We provided a key and synoptic table of morphological characters of all three Lomaantha species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capitulocladosporium clinodiplosidis</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., a hyphomyceteous ustilaginomycete from midge

A hyphomyceteous fungus producing light-colored ramoconidia was isolated from midge (Clinodiplosis sp.) in southern China. In this study, this fungus was compared with 16 morphologically similar Cladosporium-like genera, but could not be assigned to any of them due to its distinct morphological characteristics, namely absence of sympodial conidiogenous cells and presence of swollen head-like conidiogenous regions. Moreover, on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), 5.8S rDNA, and 28S rDNA, as well as genes for the RNA polymerase II subunit and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha, this fungus was identified as a member of the Ustilaginomycetes in Basidiomycota. Therefore, Capitulocladosporium clinodiplosidis gen. et sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the new taxon, and its morphology is described and illustrated herein. The new genus is placed in Ustilaginomycetes but without further specification on order and family level (incertae sedis), since its teleomorph and lifestyle are currently unclear.