Aquatic hyphomycete diversity and identity affect leaf litter decomposition in microcosms

We conducted a microcosm experiment with monocultures and all possible combinations of four aquatic hyphomycete species, Articulospora tetracladia, Flagellospora curta, Geniculospora grandis and Heliscus submersus, to examine the potential effects of species richness on three functional aspects: leaf litter decomposition (leaf mass loss), fungal production (ergosterol buildup) and reproductive effort (released spores). Both species richness and identity significantly affected fungal biomass and conidial production (number and biomass of released spores), whereas only species identity had a significant effect on leaf mass loss. In mixed cultures, all measures of fungal functions were greater than expected from the weighted performances of participating species in monoculture. Mixed cultures outperformed the most active monoculture for biomass accumulation but not for leaf mass loss and conidial production. The three examined aspects of aquatic hyphomycete activity tended to increase with species richness, and a complementary effect was unequivocally demonstrated for fungal biomass. Our results also suggest that specific traits of certain species may have a greater influence on ecosystem functioning than species number.     

Hirsutella uncinata, a new hyphomycete from Australia

Hirsutella uncinata, collected on follicles of Hakea sp. in New South Wales, Australia, is described as a new anamorph species. The fungus produces stiff, erect, verticillate conidiophores with up to 10 whorls of hooked, phialidic conidiogenous cells that have rough-walled necks. The conidia are subfusiform, flattened on one side and produced in groups of 2-3 in a dense slimy ball at the end of each phialide. Parsimony analysis of aligned internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences suggests that H. uncinata is closely related to the Cordyceps sinensis complex (Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales), which includes species with morphologically similar anamorphs.     

3-Germacren-612-olides,from an undescribed liatris taxon

A previously undescribed variant of Liatris gracilis whose taxonomic status is still uncertain furnished a series of 3-germacren-6,12-olides different from the chapliatrin analogues found in authentic L. gracilis. The stereochemistry of one of the new sesquiterpene lactones was established by X-ray diffraction. A eudesmanolide previously isolated from L. gracilis was also found in the variant.     

Blarney a, a lichenized hyphomycete from southern Ireland

Blarneya hibemica gen. et sp. nov. (Hyphomycetes, Moniliales) is described on the basis of three collections from southern Ireland. It colonizes thalli of Enterographa crassa.Lecanactis abietina and L. premnea , killing their fungal components, and taking over the Trentepohlia they contain for form its own lichenized thallus. Two characteristically lichen metabolites, lecanoric and schizopeltic acids, are formed by B. hibemica , the hyphae of which can become encrusted with crystals of these compounds. Conidiogenesis is holoblastic with conidia delimited by deposition of new wall layers. The occurrence of schizopeltic acid and the method of conidiogenesis suggest that B. hibemica is an imperfect state of a member of the Hysteriales. This is only the second report of a lichenized hvphomycete from Europe.     

Didymobotryum spirillum, a new synnematous hyphomycete from India

A new synnematous hyphomycete, Didymobotryum spirillum D'Souza & Bhat, collected from decaying culms of bamboo, Dendrocalamus strictus, is described and illustrated from the forests of Western Ghats in Goa, India. The fungus produces monotretic, catenate didymoconidia on spirally twisted synnemata.