Frequency of occurrence of fungi on wood in Malaysian mangroves

Over one hundred fungi have been reported on mangrove wood (Hyde and Jones, 1988; Jones and Kuthubutheen, 1989; Hyde and Jones, unpublished) from tropical and subtropical locations. A variety of factors affect the frequency of occurrence of these fungi, e.g . salinity, length of exposure of substrate, wood species and location within the mangrove. Two aspects are addressed in this paper: a) Comparison of the fungi present at three mangroves in Malaysia (Morib, Kuala Selangor, Port Dickson); and b) The fungi colonising specific mangrove wood, e.g. Avecennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Species diversity was greatest at Port Dickson with 63 fungi recorded while species composition varied from site to site. Common fungi at Morib and Kuala Selangor were Halocyphina villosa and Leptosphaeria australiensis along with Kallichroma tethys and Lulworthia grandispora at the latter site. None of these were common at Port Dickson, the dominant species at this site were Hypoxylon oceanicum and Massarina ramunculicola. A comparison of the fungi occurring on Avicennia marina and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza indicated that Halocyphina villosa was common on both timbers. Species diversity and abundance were greatest on Avicennia with the following fungi listed as common: Eutypa sp., Kallichroma tethys, Marinosphaera mangrovei, Phoma sp. and Julelia avicenniae.     

Studies on the tropical marine fungi of Brunei

Driftwood, mangrove roots and branches, and seaweeds were examined for marine fungi from beaches, rocky shorelines, an artificial lake and mangrove stands. Ninety-five species, some new to science were recorded. This is the largest number of marine fungi reported from a single study. Our knowledge of the geographic distributions of these fungi has been extended. New and rare species are illustrated at the light microscope and SEM levels.     

A new species ofLeptosphaerulina from decaying mangrove wood from Hong Kong

Leptosphaerulina mangrovei sp. nov. (Pleosporaceae, Ascomycota) from decaying mangrove wood ofKandelia candel from subtropical Hong Kong is described and compared to related taxa.     

Lower marine fungi (labyrinthulomycetes) and the decay of mangrove leaf litter

This paper deals with the association of members of the Labyrinthulomycetes (Thraustochytriales and Labyrinthulales) with decaying or decayed leaves at an intertidal mangrove at Morib, Malaysia. Representatives of both orders of these obligately marine unicellular eukaryotes of unresolved taxonomic affinities (Chamberlain & Moss, 1998) were consistently isolated from leaves at all stages of decay from the recently fallen to those in an advanced stage of decay, but not from either green or senescent yellow leaves attached to trees. Baiting experiments using -irradiated leaf discs of Sonneratia and Rhizophora spp. immersed in the aquatic environment of the mangrove, revealed that leaf material was colonised by both labyrinthulids and thraustochytrids within 24 hours of immersion at the test site and these organisms were isolated from the leaf material throughout the 14 day study period. In vitro experiments using axenic cultures of three thraustochytrid genera inoculated onto sterile discs of Sonneratia leaves and incubated for 14 days caused loss of both biomass and structural integrity of the leaf material. Freeze fracture, followed by scanning electron microscopy of leaves inoculated with a thraustochytrid and a strain of Labyrinthula, revealed that penetration of the leaf occured after 4 days and that the thraustochytrid was associated with localised degradation of internal leaf tissues. Cellulase production by an isolate of Schizochytrium aggregatum was detected. The results of all the above investigations are discussed with reference to the role of members of the Labyrinthulomycetes in nutrient cycling in the mangrove.     

Incidence of marine and mangrove bacteria accumulating polyhydroxyalkanoates on the mid-west coast of India

The tropical marine and mangrove microflora from the mid-west coast of India were found to be diverse with respect to enzymatic activities. The bacterial counts and the enzyme activities of the mangrove microflora were found to be influenced by the seasonal variations. The microflora of these ecosystems also possessed a high potential to accumulate important polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Out of a total of 866 bacterial cultures isolated from this region, 337 cultures were scored positive for PHA production. Amongst these isolates, seven cultures accumulated more than 1 g of PHA per litre of culture broth. The TLC profiles of the methyl esters of PHA from the seven cultures showed varied profiles. The sediment samples also showed the presence of PHA with five different monomeric units.     

Seasonal occurrence of water-borne fungi in Konaje stream (Mangalore), India

The Konaje stream near Mangalore University Campus has been surveyed during 1980–1981 for the occurrence of water-borne fungi by using three methods: leaf litter observations, foam analysis and water filtration. A total of twenty species of fungi has been recorded. Three species of fungi, Lunulospora curvula, Triscelophorus monosporus and Triscelophorus sp. were found to occur throughout the year. In all three methods Lunulospora curvula occurred in highest frequency. The occurrence of different species was found to correlate with the rainfall and leaf deposition in this region and not with water temperature.     

海南两种红树林植物内生真菌的多样性分析

以海南红树林植物红海榄和秋茄为对象,研究了两种植物的内生真菌的多样性。结果表明:红海榄和秋茄的枝、叶中分别分离到内生真菌30株和27株,内生真菌的优势属分别是茎点霉属和拟盘多毛孢属;同种植物的枝和叶中内生真菌的定殖率差异显著;红海榄和秋茄内生真菌的多样性指数分别为1.7890和1.7473,均匀度指数分别为0.5260和0.5302。两种红树林植物的内生真菌显示出丰富的多样性。     

Diversity of endophytic fungi in the roots of mangrove species on the west coast of India

Because mangrove plant species are a valuable source of useful metabolites, their endophytes have gained more importance. Randomly sampled surface-sterilized whole root segments of four mangrove plant species, Acanthus ilicifolius, Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, and Sonneratia caseolaris from the mangroves of Udyavara (Karnataka) on the west coast of India, were characterized for fungal communities by direct plating, damp chamber, and bubbling chamber incubation methods. The richness of endophytic fungal species from whole root segments after direct plating and damp chamber incubation was greatest for R. mucronata than for other plants (18 vs. 8-13). Incubation of whole root segments in bubbling chambers yielded conidia of two freshwater hyphomycetes: Mycocentrospora acerina (in Avicennia officinalis) and Triscelophorus acuminatus (in R. mucronata and in S. caseolaris). Surface-sterilized whole root and root bark segments of R. mucronata sampled from the mid-tide level on direct plating yielded more fungi than that of the root segments sampled from low-tide and high-tide levels. The greatest number of isolates, species richness, and diversity of fungi were shown by the whole root segments of R. mucronata from the mid-tide level. Rarefaction indices also revealed the highest expected number of species out of 150 random isolations from the mid-tide level samples of whole root and root bark segments of R. mucronata. The present study showed that fungi in mangrove roots are composed of a consortium of soil, marine, and freshwater fungi.     

红树林生态系统中不同生境不同深度土壤的可培养真菌的多样性

【目的】了解八门湾红树林生态系统中不同生境(潮间带、海洋到红树区的过渡带、海桑红树区)和不同深度土壤的可培养真菌的多样性。【方法】采用稀释涂布平板法分离土壤中的真菌,利用形态学观察和ITS rDNA序列分析技术研究可培养真菌的表观和遗传多样性。【结果】从八门湾红树林生态系统的3个不同生境中分离到257株真菌,分别属于21属28种,其中青霉属(Penicillium)、曲霉属(Aspergillus)和木霉属(Trichoderma)为优势类群。来自不同生境或者同一生境不同采样深度的土壤真菌种类组成不同,并且有些真菌类群只出现在特定的样品中。从空间角度看,红树区土壤样品的真菌多样性高于其他两个生境的土壤样品;从垂直角度看,潮间带和过渡带的表层土壤样品的真菌多样性高于深层土壤样品,而红树区的深层土壤样品真菌多样性高于表层土壤样品。【结论】八门湾红树林生态系统中的可培养真菌资源丰富,种类多样性较高,但不同生境或不同深度的可培养真菌分布存在较大的差异。这些结果揭示了红树林土壤中可培养真菌的生态分布特点,也为红树林真菌资源的开发利用提供了基础的背景资料。     

源于海洋真菌的抗肿瘤天然产物

海洋真菌因其特殊的生存环境和代谢机制而具有产生新型生物活性物质的潜力。近年来随着对海洋微生物研究的深入,从海洋真菌中发现了越来越多的具有抗肿瘤活性且结构新颖的天然产物。这些海洋真菌有的分离自海水、海泥或海洋沉积物,有的来自于海洋生物体。本文综述了近几年来从海洋真菌中分离得到的抗肿瘤天然产物的研究状况。     

三种红树林植物健康与非健康叶片中真菌的比较

红树林叶片感染真菌后可能会向非健康状态变化,为了比较三种红树林植物海漆、秋茄和桐花树健康与非健康叶片真菌类群,明确其中真菌类群的差异,该研究从广西茅尾海红树林自然保护区采集海漆、秋茄和桐花树健康与非健康叶片,对叶片中真菌分离纯化并进行形态学鉴定,提取真菌的DNA,采用RAPD多样性、ITS序列对真菌进行分子鉴定。经过初步分析,从海漆、秋茄和桐花树中共分离到157株真菌,经过形态学和RAPD分析,可能为19种不同的真菌。采用真菌ITS序列对19种真菌代表性菌株进行分析,结果表明:19种真菌都属于子囊菌门,有15株与已有的真菌ITS序列相似性在97%以上;有4株相似性低于95%,可能为新种。海漆健康和非健康叶片分别分离到真菌7种和5种,健康叶片含了非健康叶片中所有真菌;秋茄健康和非健康叶片分离到真菌1种和9种,且健康叶片中分离到的内生真菌Dothiorella aegiceri也包含于非健康叶片分离的真菌中;桐花树健康和非健康叶片分离到真菌1种和3种,且桐花树分离的内生真菌也是Dothiorella aegiceri,其包含于非健康叶片中分离到的真菌。该研究证明,海漆内生真菌同时也可能是植物病原菌,内生真菌与植物病原菌没有明显界限;另一方面,该研究发现秋茄和桐花树叶片的病变是由外部的病原真菌感染引起,感染的原因可能是昆虫叮咬红树林植物后留下了创口,这些创口有利于真菌的感染。     

Effects of surface fouling organisms on the occurrence of fungi on submerged pine blocks in Hong Kong coastal waters

During an investigation into the distribution of lignicolous marine fungi in Hong Kong coastal waters, pine blocks (Pinus massoniana Lambert) were used as one of the baiting substrates. The results from unscraped and scraped pine blocks showed that, in general, the presence of surface fouling organisms did not affect the pattern of occurrence of fungi either quantitatively or qualitatively. Apart from the presence of a few fungal species on the calcareous substrates provided by barnacles and shipworms, no other associations between fungi and fouling organisms were detected.     

Diversity and abundance of nematode-trapping fungi from decaying litter in terrestrial, freshwater and mangrove habitats

Nematode-trapping fungi are ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats in dung, soils, litter and woody debris and they also occur in freshwater, but only one species has been found in marine habitats. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate whether nematode-trapping fungi occurred in mangrove habitats. To achieve this we assessed the diversity of nematode-trapping fungi on decaying litter from mangroves, freshwater and terrestrial habitats (22 sites) in Hong Kong. Composite samples (n = 1,320) of decaying litter (wood and leaves) were examined and a total of 31 species of nematode-trapping fungi belonging to four genera, Arthrobotrys, Monacrosporium, and Dactylella were recorded. Twenty-nine species reported in this study are new records for Hong Kong and 16 species are new records from mangrove habitats worldwide. Nematode trapping fungi are therefore present in marine environments. Commonly encountered taxa were Arthrobotrys oligospora and Monacrosporium thaumasium which are abundant in all habitats. A. oligospora, M. thaumasium and Arthrobotrys musiformis were frequent (F > 10%). Twenty-six species were rare (0.16–9.32%). Species richness and diversity was higher in terrestrial than in freshwater and mangrove habitats (ANOVA, P < 0.001). A higher mean diversity was observed on decaying leaves as compared to decaying wood in all habitats (P < 0.001). Based on Shannon diversity index, it was also observed that taxa characterized by adhesive nets were more frequent in all habitats. This can be explained by the fact that these taxa may have a better competitive saprotrophic ability which would allow them to compete favourably in nutrient limited environments. Abiotic factors that could be linked to differences in species diversity between decaying wood and leaves are also discussed.     

Early ontogeny of Galeichthys feliceps from the south east coast of South Africa

The early development of Galeichthys feliceps (Valenciennes, 1840) was investigated using a combination of incubator-reared embryos and embryos removed from the buccal cavities of wild-caught parents. The eggs were 15·7 mm in diameter and the average brood size was 49. Hatching occurred at an advanced developmental state after approximately 75–80 days, when branchial and fin differentiation were complete. Exogenous feeding began within the adult buccal cavity shortly after hatching. The young were released as juveniles after approximately 140 days, at a total length of 54 mm.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from soils of Mumbai,India

Eighty-seven soil samples were collected from various areas of Mumbai and its vicinity to determine the prevalence of keratinophilic fungi. From the 55 positive samples (63.21%), a total of four genera with nine species were isolated viz. Chrysosporium indicum (28.73%),C. lobatum (2.29 %), C. sp.I (1.14%), C. sp. II (1.14%),C. tropicum (1.14%),C. zonatum (2.29%),Ctenomyces serratus (2.29%) Malbranchea aurantiaca (2.29%) and Microsporum gypseum complex (21.83%). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Marine mycoflora of south India with special emphasis on lignicolous marine fungi

A study dealing with the marine fungi associated with decaying wood samples in the brackish water mangrove ecosystem and shoreline ecosystem was carried out in south India. A total of 19 marine fungi were isolated from the brackish water mangrove ecosystem. They included 13 Ascomycetes, one Basidiomycete and five Mitosporic fungi. In terms of percent frequency of occurrence, the most frequent species obtained from the brackishwater were the Lignincola longirostris (16.60%) and Savoryella lignicola (12.09%). Nine species were found frequently. Five species were occasionally encoun-tered. Aigialus mangrovei, Aniptodera mangrovei and Halosarpheia marina were the rare species recorded. The average number of isolates per wood sample was 1.53. A total of 27 marine fungi including 15 ascomycetes, one basidiomycete and ten mitosporic fungi were recorded from the shoreline ecosystem. In terms of percent frequency of occurrence, the most frequent species obtained from Kanyakumari were the Arenariomyces trifurcates (13.66%), Corollospora maritima (12.44%), and Cirrenalia pygmea (10.98%). Seven species were found frequently. Fourteen species were occasionally encountered. Three species were found to be rare in occurrence. The average number of isolates per wood sample was 1.21.     

Keratinophilic fungi from the vicinity of meteorite crater soils of Lonar (India)

Thirty-two soil samples were collected from six sites in the vicinity of Lonar lake, a meteorite crater and screened for presence of keratinophilic fungi using hair baiting techniques for isolation. Seventeen isolates were recovered and identified. The cultures were identified by recognition of their macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/Gene bank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Seven species of four genera were isolated viz. Aphanoascus durus (9.38%), Aphanoascus punsolae (3.125%), Auxarthron kuehnii (3.125%), Chrysosporium indicum (25.00%), Chrysosporium tropicum (3.125%), Chrysosporium sp. (3.125%), Chrysosporium state of Ctenomyces serratus (6.25%).     

Dactylospora mangrovei sp. nov. (Discomycetes, ascomycota) from mangrove wood

A new speciesDactylospora mangrovei is described and illustrated and compared withD. haliotrepha andD. canariensis, all marine inhabiting species.Dactylospora haliotrepha andD. mangrovei are tropical/sub-tropical mangrove species collected in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand, whileD. canariensis was described from temperate waters. A map of the geographical distribution of the three marineDactylospora species is presented.     

广西红树林的病原真菌及其生态学特点

报道了广西沿海的山口、钦州、北仑河口 3个主要红树林分布区的病原真菌及其生态学特点 :共鉴定红树林病原真菌 1 4属 2 6个种 (菌株 ) ,其中主要是炭疽菌、拟盘多毛孢菌、交链孢菌和叶点霉菌。 3个分布区红树林病原真菌的物种丰富度指数 DMA在 2 .82 65～ 4 .70 0 4之间 ,多样性指数 H'为 0 .971 8～ 1 .2 768,均匀度指数JSW为 0 .90 0 5～ 0 .91 58;其中山口病原真菌的种数 ( 1 2 )最少 ,物种丰富度指数 ( 2 .82 65)和物种多样性指数( 0 .971 8)最小。红树林病原真菌分布的主要特点是 :高潮地带的较低潮地带的为多 ,尤以河口最多。侵染寄主的部位主要集中在树冠上部 ,叶斑病最常见 ,枝梢病害次之 ,根茎部的病害很少。桐花和海漆的病害种类最多 ,红海榄和老鼠筋最少。