An epiphyllous fungus from the Lower Cretaceous

A fungus believed to be a member of the Microthyriales is described from the English Wealden. It occurs on the shoots of an undescribed conifer resembling Frenelopsis Schenk. From the structure of the thyrothecium and the presence of an epicuticular mycelium, the fungus is classified in the family Micropeltaceae, subfamily Stomiopeltoideae, and is described under the name Stomiopeltites cretacea gen. et sp. nov. It is the earliest fossil record of the Microthyriales.     

Hamatispora,a new genus of aquatic fungi in Microthyriales isolated from fallen leaves in Vietnam

A new aquatic fungus was isolated from submerged, decaying leaves collected at Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. The fungus produced hyaline, unique-shaped conidia consisting of a hook-shaped main axis and three arms at the helicoid part of the main axis. Based on its conidial development and morphological characteristics, Hamatispora phuquocensis was newly introduced. Phylogenetic analyses based on LSU nrDNA sequences showed that it clusters with Microthyrium spp. and belongs to Microthyriales. Furthermore, we generated ITS barcode for this hyphomycetous fungus.     

Fossil callimothalloid fungi: Revised taxonomy,modern equivalents and palaeoecology

This paper presents the reinterpretation of the taxonomic position of fossil epiphyllous callimothalloid fungi belonging to the fossil-genera Callimothallus (hitherto classified to the family Microthyriaceae) and Cribrites (?Microthyriales). These fungi thrived from the Late Cretaceous up to the Holocene. Investigation are based on collected material from the Oligocene of Hungary and the Miocene of Poland and on published data. For the common callimothalloid fungus Callimothallus pertusus, a new combination Neomycoleptodiscus pertusus is proposed. Callimothallus quilonensis is assigned to a new fossil-genus Muyocopromyces as a new combination Muyocopromyces quilonensis. We reconsider the fossil-species Ratnagiriathyrites hexagonalis as a younger synonym of the fossil-genus Cribrites. The geographical range of fossil callimothalloid fungi and their recent counterparts are discussed. Fossil Neomycoleptodiscus, Muyocopromyces, and Cribrites are proposed as reliable climate proxy of warm climate conditions in the past.     

Endomycopsis platypodis sp.n. (Ascomycetes): an auxiliary ambrosia fungus ofPlatypus cylindrus Fab. (Col. Platypodidae)

A new species of mycelium-forming yeast,Endomycopsis platypodis Baker et van Rij is described. It occurs as an auxiliary ambrosia fungus of the wood-boring ambrosia beetlePlatypus cylindrus Fab. (Col. Platypodidae) and is the first fungus to become established in new tunnels where it forms a sparse irregular lining. Later a palisade-formingSporothrix becomes the dominant fungus in a mixed ambrosial flora. E. platypodis, which is apparently homothallic, assimilates nitrate and weakly ferments glucose. The asci typically contain 4 hat-shaped ascospores. Assimilation reactions and morphology are described and the affinities of the new species are discussed.     

冬青卫矛上的叶点霉属新种

报道了分离自冬青卫矛植物叶片上的一株内生真菌。在培养基上产生分生孢子器,分生孢子具有一明显的附属物,根据形态特征鉴定为新种,命名为冬青卫矛叶点霉Phyllosticta euonymi-japonici。模式标本(IBE 0000989)保存于大连民族学院生物资源与环境研究所标本室。     

Atkinsiella parasitica sp. nov. isolated from a rotifer,Brachionus plicatilis

A new species ofAtkinsiella (Lagenidiales, Oomycetes),Atkinsiella parasitica is described and illustrated. It was isolated from the eggs and bodies of a rotifer,Brachionus plicatilis, with fungal infection in 1992. The rotifer was reared in a hatchery as the first food supply for seed production of crustaceans and fishes. The fungus is characterized by producing monoplanetic, lateral biflagellate zoospores, and infrequently branched discharge tubes. Optimum temperature for the fungus was 25°C. The fungus was considered an obligate marine fungus, because its growth was observed only on PYGS medium including seawater.     

CAULOCHYTRIUM PROTOSTELIOIDES SP. NOV., A NEW CHYTRID WITH AERIAL SPORANGIA

Caulochytrium is a unique genus of chytrids characterized by the production of both sessile zoosporangia and aerial sporangiocarps, the latter unknown in other chytrids. The type species, C. gloeosporii, is an obligate parasite on conidia of the fungus Gloeosporium. The newly described species, C. protostelioides, which was discovered first in the British West Indies and then in North Carolina, is an obligate parasite of the dematiaceous fungus Cladosporium. It differs from the type species in microdimensions, smaller number of zoospores per aerial sporangium, lack of sexuality, production of protostelid-like sporangiocarps that do not parasitize the host and which float freely on water, and an unrelated host fungus. The family Caulochytriaceae and genus Caulochytrium are emended.     

Chemical changes in beech litter due to infection by Marasmius peronatus (Bolt.) Fr

The chemical effect of Marasmius peronatus on beech litter is described, with particular reference to the ecological relation between fungus and substrate. Beech leaves, some infected, and others uninfected by this fungus, were analysed and the results compared.
Analysis shows that a vital process involving loss of carbon is at work, and that the fungus decomposes lignin, converting it into soluble products by the action of exoenzymes. It is suggested that by this process it is contributing to conditions favourable for beech regeneration.
The fact that this fungus can more successfully colonize hardwood litter (e.g. beech) than other types of substrate, is explained by consideration of its physiology.     

Parasitic microfungi of the Tatra Mountains. 3. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spermosporina gymnadeniae</Emphasis> (Hyphomycetes): species new to Slovakia and new records from Poland

Spermosporina gymnadeniae (Hyphomycetes) on Gymnadenia sp. (Orchidaceae) collected in the Polish part of the Tatra Mts was described in 2003. The fungus was recently found at new localities in Poland and Slovakia. It was recorded on Gymnadenia conopsea s.l. and Dactylorhiza fuchsii, which are new hosts of this parasite. The fungus is described and additional illustrations are provided.     

Miricatena prunicola (Hyphomycetes), a new genus and species causing leaf spots of Prunus serotina in the UK

A fungus causing conspicuous leaf spots of Prunus serotina was recently collected in Surrey, UK. It proved to represent an undescribed species which also cannot be referred to any known genus. The species is described as Miricatena prunicola gen. et sp. nov.     

Coprophilin: An anticoccidial agent produced by a dung inhabiting fungus

Coprophilin, a decalin pentanedienoic acid methyl ester, was isolated from an unidentified fungus by bioassay guided separation. It inhibited (MIC = 1.5 μM) the growth of Eimeria tenella in an in vitro assay. The isolation, structure elucidation, absolute stereochemistry and biology are described.     

Obolarina persica sp. nov., associated with dying Quercus in Iran

A new species, Obolarina persica, is described from Iran. It is widely associated with dying Quercus brantii, on which it produces charcoal-like stromata. The fungus described herein differs from the other described species, Ob. dryophila, primarily in its much larger ascospores.     

VOLVARIELLA VOLVACEA AND ITS LIFE HISTORY

Volvariella volvacea (Bull. ex Fr.) Sing. is a large pileate edible fungus of the tropics and sub-tropics. It has two kinds of spores, one being the sexual basidiospores in tetrads and the other the asexual chlamydospores. Both monosporous and vegetative hyphae are multinucleate, and there are no clamp connections. Fifty monospores were isolated from two fruiting bodies, and were cultivated individually with four replicates under controlled laboratory conditions. On the average, 76% of the monosporous progenies were fertile. The fungus is homothallic. The development and life cycle of the fungus are described. The possible mechanisms of homothallism are also discussed.     

A new acidophilic fungus Teratosphaeria acidotherma (Capnodiales, Ascomycota) from a hot spring

A novel acidophilic fungus was isolated by an acidic enrichment culture of microbial mats and biofilms collected at an extremely acidic and high temperature hot spring. In culture studies, this fungus was revealed to produce ascomycetous teleomorph structures. Molecular phylogenetic study and morphological observation showed this fungus is a new species of the genus Teratosphaeria (Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes) and is phylogenetically close to Acidomyces acidophilus and Bispora sp., which were previously reported as acidophilic anamorphic fungi. This new fungus is described here as a new species of Teratosphaeria, and its physiological properties adapting to its habitat are demonstrated. This is the first report of a teleomorphic fungus having highly acidophilic and thermophilic properties.     

Estimation of the growth rate of Pleurotus on stacked straw

A simple visual method to estimate the linear growth rate of fungal mycelia on stacked straw is described. It has been used to evaluate the growth of the fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju on pasteurized and steam-exploded straw. The maximum linear growth rates ranged from 0.92 to 1.0 cm/d with the two treatments; the fungus seemed to be able to overcome inhibition of its growth. No growth was observed on straw treated with ammonia.     

微生物对偶氮染料的脱色及其基因工程研究进展

偶氮染料广泛应用在纺织印染、造纸印刷等行业中。染料废水的排放将会导致严重的环境污染,使用微生物处理染料废水是解决此问题的有效方法。该文概述了微生物对偶氮染料的脱色的研究,包括细菌对偶氮染料的脱色,真菌对偶氮染料的脱色,脱色产生的芳香胺并进一步被降解,以及基因工程技术在微生物对偶氮染料脱色的研究进展。     

A new non-zoosporic species of Pythium from Algeria

Pythium ramificatum n.sp. isolated from Algeria is described. It is a non-zoosporic fungus, reproducing asexually be means of hyphal bodies and sexually by oogonia with much branched antheridia. Its morphological and reproductive characters as well as it relationship with other species of Pythium of the same group are described.     

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladosporium bantianum in Kerala (India)

A case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladosporium bantianum is reported from India for the first time. It is also the first known case of infection involving the foot caused by this fungus. The cultural characteristics and animal pathogenicity of the isolate are described.     

A synnematous species of Dictyoarthrinium from Thailand

Genus Dictyoarthrinium is reviewed. Dictyoarthrinium synnematicum, collected on decaying banana leaves in Thailand, is illustrated, described as a new species and compared with related taxa. The fungus differs from other Dictyoarthrinium species in having a synnematous structure. This species is the first synnematous record of an anamorphic fungus with basauxic conidiophores. A key to species of Dictyoarthrinium is provided.     

THALASSOCHYTRIUM GRACILARIOPSIDIS (CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA), GEN. ET SP. NOV., ENDOSYMBIOTIC IN GRACILARIOPSIS SP. (RHODOPHYCEAE)

Thalassochytrium gracilariopsidis gen. et sp. nov. is an endosymbiotic, polycentric, zoosporic fungus that infected cultures of the red alga Gracilariopsis sp. Based on the posteriorly uniflagellate zoospore and the platelike cristae of the mitochondria, the fungus is placed in the Chytridiomycota. Ultrastructurally, the fungal zoospore is distinguished by the anterior position of the kinetosome, a unique microbody-lipid globule complex, an electron-opaque helix associated with the kinetosome and lipid globules, and a beaked nucleus. Zoospores are positively phototactic, and the unusual helix might constitute part of the photosensory apparatus. Zoospores lack certain taxonomically important structures, such as a rumposome, props, a nonflagellated kinetosome, and flagellar roots. The organism does not fit into any described genus, and the features of its zoospore differ from those of any described order. The fungal thallus is polycentric with multinucleate, septate hyphae. Haustoria form within the algal cells. The fungus does not appear to cause major harm to its host and seems to be host specific. However, during intense sporulation of the fungus, degradation of host chloroplasts was observed in medullary cells.