Fungi associated with the aerial parts of Malaysian mangrove plants

The leaf surface fungi associated with nine species of mangrove plants includingAvicennia alba, A. officinalis, Bruguiera parviflora, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Sesuvium portulacastrum, Sonneratia alba, andXylocarpus mollucensis were studied using direct observation techniques and leaf washings. Over 40 fungal taxa were isolated from the leaf washings. Of these, species ofAspergillus, Choanephora, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Trichoderma, andZygosporium were frequently encountered in the washings of all nine mangrove plants. Fewer species of fungi includingCladosporium oxysporum, Corynespora cassiicola, Fusarium, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, andZygosporium were capable of growth on the washed leaves. The major phylloplane fungus on plants with higher leaf tannin content (e.g.B. parviflora, C. tagal, Rhizophora spp., andX. mollucensis) wasPestalotiopsis. Leaves with relatively lower amounts of tannin supported the proliferation ofFusarium as the major fungus. Fungi were present on the plumule and cotyledonous sheath even before the leaves opened.Pestalotiopsis persisted throughout the development and growth of the leaves. Many of the fungi encountered on senescent leaves have been reported in earlier studies to be the primary colonisers of submerged decaying leaves.     

Mycobiota of the date palm phylloplane: description and interactions

We have analysed the mycobiota of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) leaves using several techniques. Profusely sporulating fungi (Penicillium spp. and Cladosporium spp.) developed when plating leaf fragments and leaf washings. Fusarium oxysporum, was particularly abundant in leaves infested with the red scale insect Phoenicococcus marlatti Cockerell, 1899, but an undescribed Lecanicillium cf. psalliotae was also found. Dual and overlay cultures showed interactions between palm pathogens, entomopathogenic and saprotrophic fungi. The most significant was the strong inhibition of the palm pathogen Penicillium vermoesenii caused by the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana. No symptoms developed when F. oxysporum isolated from scale insects or the entomopathogens B. bassiana or Lecanicillium dimorphum were wound-inoculated on P. dactylifera petioles.     

红树林内生真菌研究进展

红树林作为一种特殊的植物群落具有丰富的内生真菌资源,目前已分离鉴定的红树林真菌超过200种,成为海洋真菌的第二大类群,已报道的红树林内生真菌主要类群是链格孢霉(Alternaria)、曲霉(Aspergillus)、芽枝霉(Cladosporium)、炭疽菌(Colletotrichum)、镰孢霉(Fusarium)、拟青霉(Paecilomyces)、拟盘多毛孢(Pestalotiopsis)、青霉(Penicillium)、茎点霉(Phoma)、拟茎点霉(Phomopsis)、叶点霉(Phyllosticta)和木霉(Trichoderma)等.大部分红树林内生真菌具有较宽的宿主范围,极少数只有单一的宿主,不同红树林植物的内生真菌区系及优势种群有很大差异.红树林内生真菌的定殖因宿主植物不同部位、植株的年龄及季节和环境的变化明显不同.红树林内生真菌能产生多种代谢产物,具有抗菌、抗肿瘤等药用价值.红树林植物内生真菌的研究和开发具有重要意义.本文综述了红树林内生真菌的生物多样性及其分布、生物学功能和次生代谢产物等方面的研究进展.     

Mycological studies on the angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum L. and two of its halophytic hosts

The fungal colonization of the angiosperm root parasiteCynomorium coccineum and the halophytic hostsLimonium delicatulum andArthrocnemum glaucum were investigated in a Mediterranean salt marsh in March 1992. The main fungal inhabitants on the leaves or shoot surface of the test plants wereAspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum andCladosporium herbarum. The qualitative analysis of the fungal species associating the parasite, the hosts and the non-infected plants showed similar pattern. However, the total population exhibited quantitative differences coupled with the amount and the chemical composition of the exudates on plant surface and the quantity of transpired water. The fungal catch from the aerial shoot (inflorescence) of the parasite was higher than that collected from either the leaves or aerial shoots of non-infected or host plants. The fungal density on the leaves ofL. delicatulum was higher than those isolated from the aerial shoots ofA. glaucum. Infection byC. coccineum caused a marked drop in the total fungal population on leaves or shoot surfaces of the hosts as compared to the corresponding non-infected individuals. The stimulative effect of washings on spore germination of some isolated fungal species was matched with the density of fungi on the target plants.     

Mycotoxin-producing potential of fungi associated with qat (Catha edulis) leaves in yemen

Forty-four fungal species belonging to 20 genera were isolated from 30 samples of qat leaves. The most frequent genera wereAspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, andCladosporium followed byFusarium, Drechslera, Chœtomium, andMucor. The most prevalent species in above genera wereAspergillus niger, A. flavus, A fumigatus, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, andFusarium verticillioides. From these fungi, 17 species (39%) related to 7 genera (35%) proved to be true endophytes. Eleven out of 75 isolates were mycotoxigenic.A. alternata produced alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether whereasA. flavus produced aflatoxins B₁ and B₂. Ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, citrinin and T-2 toxin were produced byA. ochraceus, A. versicolor, P. citrinum andF. oxysporum, respectively. The presence of such toxigenic fungi associated with qat leaves is considered to be a threat to public health.     

Studies on the rhizosphere mycoflora of broad bean and cotton

Investigations were made on the effect of species of fungi isolated from therhizosphere of broad bean (Vicia faba Linn.) variety Giza I, and cotton (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) variety Giza 47, on plant growth. Broad bean rhizosphere fungi differently affected plant growth.Fusarium moniliforme, Penicillium martensii, Rhizopus stolonifer, andCladosporium sphaerospermum stimulated both root and shoot growth.Aspergillus niger andAlternaria tenuis have an inhibitory effect on plant growth. On the other hand, the rhizosphere fungi of cotton namely,Penicillium cyclopium, Aspergillus terreus, Cephalosporium sp.,Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, andFusarium oxysporum stimulated plant growth.     

Seasonal and leaf age-dependent changes in occurrence of phyllosphere fungi of giant dogwood

To examine the relative importance of leaf age and season on the occurrence of phyllosphere fungi, temporal patterns of epiphytic and endophytic phyllosphere fungi of giant dogwood (Swida controversa) were studied with reference to leaf emergence at first occurrence and in the middle of the growing season. A total of 15 and 44 species were isolated from the surface and interior of leaves, respectively. On the leaf surface, detection rate of fungi was consistently 100% and their frequencies increased during the growing season, whereas in the leaf interior, detection rate of fungi and their frequencies were low at leaf emergence and gradually increased during the growing season. Six epiphytic and two endophytic fungi were observed frequently. A white sterile mycelium was frequent only on the surface of newly emerged leaves in the first-order shoot in May. The other 7 species increased during the growing season. The frequencies of Phomopsis sp., Pestalotiopsis sp. 1, and Trichoderma viride were higher on the leaves of first-order shoots than those of higher-order shoots that emerged between July and September, suggesting the possible effects of leaf age on their occurrence. On the other hand, the frequencies of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Clonostachys rosea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Phoma sp. 1 were not different between the first- and higher-order shoots, suggesting the negligible effect of leaf age. The influence of phenological patterns of leaf emergence of deciduous trees on the diversity and composition of assemblages of phyllosphere fungi is discussed.     

5种红树科植物叶片的比较解剖及其生态适应研究

用石蜡切片法对红树（Rhizophora apiculata Bl.）、红海榄（R.stylosa Griff.）、秋茄（Kandelia candel(Linn.) Druce）、木榄（Bruguiera gymnorrhiza(Linn.) Savigny）和海莲（B.sexangula(Lour.) Poir.）等5种红树科植物的叶片进行解剖学的观察和研究,结果表明：5种红树科植物叶片的表皮均有厚的角质膜和下皮层,表皮和下皮层的细胞常含有单宁;上表皮无气孔器;栅栏组织多层;木质部非常发达。说明了红树科植物的叶片具有很强的耐旱能力;同属植物的叶片在解剖结构上有着相似的特征。     

Fungi Isolated from Flue-Cured Tobacco Inoculated in the Field with Storage Fungi

Flue-cured tobacco inoculated in the field with A. amstelodami, A. flavus, A. ochraceus, A. repens, A. ruber, and a species of Penicillium was rarely invaded by these fungi. Regardless of inoculum, the predominant fungi reisolated from green tissue were species of Alternaria and Cladosporium. After curing, A. repens, A. niger, and species of Alternaria and a species of Penicillium were the most commonly isolated fungi. The fungus used as inoculum was not the predominant fungus reisolated from green or cured tissue. Conditions during handling and storage prior to marketing probably determine when storage fungi become associated with the leaf and which species becomes predominant.     

Fungi isolated from tobacco leaves and brown-spot lesions before and after flue-curing

Discs of tissue excised from ripe nonflue-cured and flue-cured tobacco leaves, harvested on six dates and cultured on three selective media, yielded 21 and 24 genera of fungi, respectively. Of 5,094 fungi isolated from 3,240 pieces of nonfluecured leaf tissue, 89.5% comprised five genera, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Trichoderma, and Nigrospora. Of 2,494 fungi isolated from 3,240 pieces of flue-cured leaf tissue, 70.9% were Alternaria, Cladosporium Epicoccum, Aspergillus, and Nigrospora. Flue-cured and nonflue-cured brown-spot lesions harvested at two locations yielded 12 and 14 genera of fungi, respectively. Alternaria, Penicillium, Phoma, and Stemphyllium comprised 91.5% of the 2,245 fungi isolated from noncured and 87.1% of the 1,118 fungi isolated from the cured lesions. The number and kinds of fungi obtained from diseased and healthy tissue were reduced but not eliminated by flue-curing.     

红树林湿地相手蟹科动物摄食生态研究进展

相手蟹科物种是红树林湿地的主要底栖动物类群,在生态系统中起着重要的作用。我国大陆地区目前已记录的相手蟹科物种数量为12种,低于其它红树林地区(国内常用的采样方法会造成螃蟹物种数量和密度的低估),其中褶痕相手蟹(Sesarma plicata)、无齿相手蟹(S.deaani)和双齿相手蟹(S.bidens)等是常见种。红树植物叶片是相手蟹科动物的主要食物来源,相手蟹科动物通过地表摄食和洞穴贮存的形为消耗了大量的红树植物凋落叶,使这些凋落叶的有机质和营养元素得以保留在生态系统内,在凋落叶的周转和物质归还方面起到重要的作用。它们同时也摄食红树植物的繁殖体并且对不同物种的繁殖体具有摄食偏好,这可能对一些红树物种的植被更新能力和红树植被群落结构产生影响。相手蟹科动物对不同物种和不同状态的红树叶片也存在摄食偏好,通常对腐烂的叶片摄食偏好较强;螃蟹的摄食偏好与叶片的营养成份、粗纤维和单宁含量以及C/N比等性质有关;但在恶劣的野外环境下,螃蟹则会表现出随机性摄食。目前关于相手蟹科动物生态学作用的认识仍不充分,例如它们的种群大小和对凋落物的转化作用等,有待于进一步研究。     

Fungi isolated from honey bees, Apis mellifera, fed 2,4-D and Antibiotics

Eighteen species of fungi were isolated and identified from the intestines of 388 honey bees, Apis mellifera. Bees fed a combination of oxytetracycline and fumagillin contained fewer fungi than control bees or bees fed 2,4-D. New records of fungi associated with honey bees include Alternaria tenuissima, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Bipolaris sp., Curvularia brachyospora, Penicillium ochro-chloron, Penicillium urticae, and Rhizopus arrhizus.     

The endophytic fungi from wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

In order to study the species composition of endophytes from wheat healthy plants in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) and to determine their infection frequencies from leaves, stems, glumes and grains, wheat plants were collected from five cultivars at five growth stages from crop emergence to harvest. A total of 1,750 plant segments (leaves, stems, glumes and grains) were processed from the five wheat cultivars at five growth stages, and 722 isolates of endophytic fungi recovered were identified as 30 fungal genera. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Epicoccum nigrum, Cryptococcus sp., Rhodotorula rubra, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium graminearum were the fungi that showed the highest colonization frequency (CF%) in all the tissues and organs analysed. The number of taxa isolated was greater in the leaves than those in the other organs analysed.     

漳江口红树林沉积物真菌多样性分析及抗茶叶致病真菌生物活性筛选

以福建漳江口红树林国家级自然保护区红树林沉积物分离的真菌为对象,研究红树林沉积物真菌的多样性和筛选抗茶叶病原真菌活性的菌株。将分离纯化的135株真菌通过形态学和Ribosomal DNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer(rDNAITS)序列测定进行鉴定及多样性分析,归为40个种类型,分别属于17个属,其中青霉属(25%)为优势菌,木霉属(15%)、曲霉属(10%)和镰刀属(10%)次之,表明红树林沉积物真菌具有丰富的多样性;利用平板对峙法对真菌的发酵粗提物抗茶叶病原真菌生物活性研究,结果发现,共有17株(占42.5%)真菌具有抗茶叶病原真菌活性,其中15株能够抑制茶叶轮斑病(Pestalotiopsis theae)LH13,12株能够抑制茶叶炭疽病(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)LH30,8株能够抑制茶叶溃疡病(Neofusicoccumsp.)LH107,有两株对这三种茶叶致病菌均有较强活性。这些活性菌株分布在6个属中,分别是青霉属(7株)、木霉属(3株)、镰孢属(2株)、枝孢属(2株)、白地霉属(2株)和球腔菌属(1株)。由此可见,红树林沉积物真菌抗菌活性菌株的种属分布具有多样性。     

Isolating high-quality RNA from mangroves without liquid nitrogen

Mangroves form unique communities in tropical coastal regions and tidal lowlands. Isolating RNA from mangrove leaves is difficult because of high amounts of secondary metabolites and polysaccharides. Conventional extraction methods produce poor-quality mangrove RNA. We present a simple, fast, and convenient protocol for isolating RNA from 5 mangrove species:Aegiceras corniculatum, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Kandelia candel, andSonneratia apetala. Isolating RNA from other mangrove species is also possible. Obtained RNA was of high quality and used in an RT-PCR reaction that amplified 0.6 kb of theA. corniculatum CPI-1 gene.     

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。     

Mycoflora of mangrove mud

Summary Thirty-nine species and four varieties of fungi are reported from mangrove mud collected from Kagh Island, Port Canning and Diamond Harbour, West Bengal, India. Of these forms twelve species and two varieties belonged to genusAspergillus and three species belonged, each toMucor, Penicillium andPreussia. Two species both ofFusarium andTrichoderma were also isolated. Two new species,Cladosporium indicum andPaecilomyces indicus and five other interesting fungi are described in detail.     

The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on tomato plant resistance against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in greenhouse conditions

The symbiotic relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) improves plant growth and increases its resistance to pests and diseases. Mycorrhizal fungi are among the specialized fungi associated with the rhizosphere and are completely dependent on plant organic carbon. In this research tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. was used as the host plant to evaluate the interaction effects between inoculation of tomato plant with AMF and feeding of tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). In addition, plant growth parameters and growth rate of insect were assessed. The mycorrhizal treatment included a mixture of four fungal species (Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus intraradices, R. irregularis and Glomus iranicus). The results of the experiment showed that tomato plant roots were well colonized (66.29%) by AMF and there was a significant mutual relationship between the insects feeding on the plants and the fungi. Feeding by the insects on plants inoculated with the fungus increased percentage of colonization by AMF in plants infested with the insect as compared to the control plants. The results also indicated that growth parameters and phosphorus content of the plants inoculated with fungi significantly increased compared to the control group. Moreover, significantly lower growth rate and consumption index observed in the T. absoluta larvae were fed on the leaves of plants treated with AMF compared to leaves of plants not inoculated with AMF.     

Production of Mannitol by Fungi from Cotton Dust

Cotton dust associated with high pulmonary function decrements contains relatively high levels of mannitol. In this study, cotton leaf and bract tissue and dust isolated from cotton leaf tissue were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and capillary gas chromatography. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Epicoccum purpurascens, and Fusarium pallidoroseum were isolated from cotton leaf dust. The fungal samples, cotton dust, and cotton leaf contained mannitol. This study demonstrates that fungi from a late-fall harvest of cotton leaf material produce mannitol and are a probable source of the mannitol found in cotton dust.     

Studies on some fungi isolated from the rhizosphere of tomato plants and the consequent prospect for the control of Verticillium wilt

Summary Biological control of Verticillium wilt disease with antagonistic micro-organisms was studied. Antagonism of some fungi, isolated from tomato rhizosphere, toVerticillium albo-atrum R & B. was observedin vitro. A clearly defined zone, in which the growth of the pathogen was inhibited, was observed withPenicillium spp. (includingPenicillium chrysogenum Thom) andFusarium culmorum (S.G. Sm) Sacc., whileTrichoderma viride pers. ex Fries,Gliocladium spp. andPenicillium vermiculatum Dangeard, suppressed the growth ofV. albo-atrum by penetrating, and overgrowing it. OnlyT. viride andP. vermiculatum culture filtrate added to the Dox's agar, reduced the radial growth ofV. alboatrum. Root-dip application of culture filtrates ofT. viride andP. chrysogenum was found to be most effective in controlling the disease, followed by other species ofPenicillium andGliocladium spp. WhileFusarium culmorum provided no control. Improvement of plant height and vigour with a better yield due to culture filtrate treatment occurred. Root-dip application of antagonistic fungal propagules (T. viride, P. chrysogenum) to tomato seedlings was also very effective in controlling wilt in tomato plants grown inV. albo-atrum infested soil. Dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Ivor Isaac with whom I had the pleasure of working