Sporisorium warambiense sp. nov., a fourth smut fungus on Xerochloa in Australia

Sporisorium warambiense is described and illustrated from the ovaries of Xerochloa laniflora from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The smut fungus is characterized by sori restricted to the ovaries, presence of three simple, stout, narrowing columellae, dark reddish-brown spore balls, dimorphic spores (darker outer spores and lighter inner spores), and the absence of sterile cells. The differences between Sporisorium warambiense and three other smuts that infect Xerochloa (Sporisorium xerofasciculatum, Tilletia xerochloae, and Ustilago xerochloae), as well as comparable Sporisorium species on other grass genera from the tribe Paniceae are discussed. All Xerochloa smuts are endemic to Australia.     

Deciphering species complexes: Puccinia andropogonis and Puccinia coronata, examples of differing modes of speciation

Species of macrocyclic, heteroecious grass rusts often have been defined with wide host ranges and variation in spore morphology. Consequently, some are species complexes and contain genetically distinct forms. Molecular analyses, together with morphological and biological methods, provide powerful means to dissect these complexes. Puccinia coronata is a complex species that has a broad telial host range including more than 45 genera of grasses and a narrow aecial host range. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequences from 15 aecial and telial collections grouped P. coronata into six distinct clades supporting separation of this complex into four distinct species. Puccinia andropogonis, a common rust of tall prairie grasses in North America, is also a complex species. However, in contrast to P. coronata, P. andropogonis has a narrow telial host range and a broad aecial host range. DNA sequence analysis grouped 15 collections of P. andropogonis into six distinct clades representing at least four distinct species. Speciation of P. coronata appears to have occurred primarily by radiation onto new telial hosts, whereas in P. andropogonis speciation appears to have occurred primarily by radiation onto new aecial hosts.     

Quelques Ustilaginales de l'Andalousie (Espagne)

A list of 14 species of Ustilaginales collected in Andalucia is presented. The records of 12 of those species are new provincial reports and the other two, Sporisorium puellare and Urocystis irregularis, are reported for the first time for the Iberian Peninsula.     

中国团黑粉菌属和团散黑粉菌属

本文报道我国团黑粉菌属10种,团散黑粉菌属22种。其中新组合8种,即:水蔗草团散黑粉[Sporisorium apludae (H. Sydow & Sydow) L. Guo]、营大孢团散黑粉[Sporisorium benguetensis (Zundel) L. Guo]、细柄草团散黑粉[Sporisorium capillipedii (Ling) L. Guo]、营小孢团散黑粉[Sporisorium exsertum (McAlp.) L. Guo]、芒粒团散黑粉[Sporisorium miscanthi (Yen) L. Guo]、黄茅粒团散黑粉[Sporisorium moniliferum (Ell. & Ev.) L. Guo]、光高粱团散黑粉[Sporisorium taianum (Syd.) L. Guo]和鸭嘴草团散黑粉[Sporisorium tanglinensis (Tracy&Earle) L. Guo]。     

Production and Use of Monoclonal Antibodies to Pseudomonas andropogonis

Pseudomonas andropogonis is an important pathogen of worldwide distribution in ornamental and other plant species from 15 families. This paper reports the production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to P. andropogonis and evaluation of their use in the detection of the pathogen in carnation cuttings. Ten stable hybridoma cell lines were produced. Results of indirect ELISA and indirect immuno-fluorescence showed that MAb 6B3 was specific for P. andropogonis; MAb 3D5W1 reacted with both P. andropogonis and P. caryophylli; six other MAbs reacted with all strains of seven species of rRNA group II pseudomonads tested except P. solanacearum and P. pickettii. Eight of the ten MAbs failed to cross-react with other non-fluorescent or fluorescent pseudomonads, xanthomonads and other bacteria tested. P. andropogonis was similar in protein profile to other rRNA group II pseudomonads tested except P. solanacearum and P. pickettii. Epitopes were clearly located within the cell by immunogold labelling. Of four MAbs that were isotyped, two possessed IgGl and two the IgM heavy chain. P. andropogonis was readily detected by combining immunofluorescence and detached carnation leaf assay using an initial inoculum of 4 × 10° colony forming units (cfu) ml^?1 after enrichment at room temperature for 4 days.     

Dry/wet cycling reduces spore germination and viability in six peatland bryophytes

• Dry/wet cycling driven by water level fluctuation in wetlands may strongly influence the destiny of seeds. However, how dry/wet cycling affects spore survival and germinability in peatland bryophytes is poorly understood.
• Six peatland bryophytes, three hummock- and three hollow-dwelling Sphagnum species, were chosen as study species. We tested the effects of dry (60% air RH)/wet (waterlogging) cycle frequency (once per 12, 8 or 4 days for low, medium or high, respectively) and ratio (3:1, 1:1 or 1:3 dry:wet time per cycle) on spore germinability, viability, dormancy percentage and protonema development.
• Dry/wet cycling significantly reduced spore germination percentage and viability and slowed protonema development in all Sphagnum species, being more pronounced with higher dry/wet cycling frequencies. The hummock species S. capillifolium and S. fuscum had higher spore germination percentage after the continuous dry treatment, while the hollow species S. angustifolium, S. squarrosum and S. subsecundum showed the opposite response, compared to the continuously wet treatment. Except for S. squarrosum, spore viability was higher after the dry than after the wet treatment. Spore viability and dormancy percentage were higher after a dry/wet ratio of 1:3 than after ratios of 3:1 and 1:1.
• Our study shows that both germinability and viability of bryophyte spores are reduced by dry/wet cycling (especially when frequent) in peatlands. This emphasizes the need to ensure constant water levels and low frequencies of water level fluctuation, which are relevant in connection with wetland restoration, to promote Sphagnum spore survival and establishment in peatlands after disturbances.

     

Observations of spore morphology of some Pottiaceae Schimp. species (Bryophyta) in Turkey

The spores of Syntrichia ruralis (Hedw.) F. Weber and D. Mohr., S. princeps (De Not.) Mitt., S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. subulata, S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. angustata (Schimp.) J.J. Amann and S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. graeffii Warnst. were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The apertural region consists of a leptoma in all spores. All taxa of the family are uniform in their spore morphology. The spores of the five taxa are of granuloid type. The spore wall of the Pottiaceae family includes sclerine (the distinction between exine and perine may be difficult to define) and intine. The taxonomy of the genus Syntrichia is discussed on the basis of its spore morphology.     

New species and new records of smut fungi from China

This paper deals with six species of smut fungi which were collected in the provinces Yunnan and Gansu in China. Among them, Anthracoidea yunnanensis and Entorrhiza guttiformis are new species. Sporisorium andropogonis-annulati, which is a new combination, Sporisorium montaniensis, Urocystis pseudoanemones, and Ustilago griffithsii are new records for China.     

Some North American parasites ofAclerda (Hymenoptera,Encyrtidae)

Résumé L'auteur décrit, dans cette note, deux espèces nord-américaines d'Encyrtides, parasites de cochenilles du genreAclerda: Mayridia ferrierei, obtenue deAclerda xalapenseae Mcconnell, etAenasioidea ferrierei, obtenue deA. andropogonis Mcconnell. Chez les deux espèces d'Encyrtides, les males sont ailés, tandis que les femelles possèdent des ailes plus ou moins réduites.      

Identification of Burkholderia andropogonis with a Repetitive Sequence BOX Element and PCR

Burkholderia andropogonis is the causal agent of bacterial leaf stripe in sorghum. Strict import quarantine regulations of numerous countries mandate a need for development of a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic technique for the identification of B. andropogonis. Using a primer corresponding to the bacterial repetitive BOX element and PCR, we developed a DNA fingerprint which differentiated B. andropogonis from other phytobacterial pathogens.     

STUDIES OF PALEOZOIC MARATTIALEANS: NEW SPECIES OF SCOLECOPTERIS (MARATTIALES) FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN OF NORTH AMERICA

Two new species of the late Paleozoic fern Scolecopteris (Marattiales) are described and their relationships within the genus are discussed. Scolecopteris charma sp.n., from Steubenville, Ohio (Duquesne Coal, Upper Pennsylvanian), is similar to species in the Oliveri group, while S. gnoma sp.n. from Providence, Kentucky (Baker Coal, Middle Pennsylvanian), compares favorably with the Latifolia species group. Scolecopteris gnoma is most similar to S. fragilis but differs in its smaller synangia and spore type. S. charma appears generally similar to S. iowensis because of its large pedicel and histologically undifferentiated walls, but differs in a number of characters such as vasculature and spore type. Despite its occurrence late in the Pennsylvanian, S. charma is thought to possess a number of primitive character states (large trilete spores, vascularized pedicels, flat pinnules with downturned margins). Using the same criteria for the much older S. gnoma, we note a number of relatively apomorphic character states (small monolete spores, unvascularized pedicels, extended pinnule margins). An outgroup analysis of species-level characters of Scolecopteris gives a better concept of primitive versus derived traits in marattialean and other ferns. Genera in the Paleozoic fern orders Filicales (Ankyropteris) and Zygopteridales (Corynepteris, Musatea) were chosen as outgroups, and the comparisons support suggestions for the polarity of several important characters. Some of these agree with previously proposed evolutionary polarities based on the geological occurrence of marattialean ferns.     

Euduboscquella costata n. sp. (Dinoflagellata,Syndinea), an Intracellular Parasite of the Ciliate Schmidingerella arcuata: Morphology,Molecular Phylogeny,Life Cycle,Prevalence, and Infection Intensity

The syndinean dinoflagellate Euduboscquella costata n. sp., an intracellular parasite of the tintinnid ciliate Schmidingerella arcuata, was discovered from Korean coastal water in November of 2013. Euduboscquella costata parasitized in about 62% of the host population, with infection intensity (= number of trophonts in a single host cell) ranging from 1 to 8. Based on morphology and nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, the parasite is new to science. Euduboscquella costata n. sp. had an infection cycle typical of the genus, but had morphological and developmental features that distinguished it from congeneric species. These features include: (1) episome of the trophont with 25–40 grooves converging toward the center of the shield; (2) a narrow, funnel‐shaped lamina pharyngea extending from the margin of the episomal shield to the nucleus; (3) persistence of grooves during extracellular development (sporogenesis); (4) a single food vacuole during sporogenesis; (5) separation of sporocytes early in sporogenesis, regardless of type of spore formed; and (6) dinospore size (ca. 14 μm in length) and shape (bulbous episome with narrower, tapering hyposome). After sporogenesis, E. costata produced four different types of spore that showed completely identical 18S rRNA gene sequences. The gene sequence was completely identical with a previously reported population, Euduboscquella sp. ex S. arcuata, from Assawoman Bay, USA, indicating that the two populations are likely conspecific. Favella ehrenbergii, a widely recorded tintinnid known to host Euduboscquella spp., co‐occurred with S. arcuata, but was not infected by E. costata in field samples or during short‐term, cross‐infection experiments.     

The effects of meteorological factors on airborne fungal spore concentration in two areas differing in urbanisation level

Although fungal spores are an ever-present component of the atmosphere throughout the year, their concentration oscillates widely. This work aims to establish correlations between fungal spore concentrations in Porto and Amares and meteorological data. The seasonal distribution of fungal spores was studied continuously (2005–2007) using volumetric spore traps. To determine the effect of meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) on spore concentration, the Spearman rank correlation test was used. In both locations, the most abundant fungal spores were Cladosporium, Agaricus, Agrocybe, Alternaria and Aspergillus/Penicillium, the highest concentrations being found during summer and autumn. In the present study, with the exception of Coprinus and Pleospora, spore concentrations were higher in the rural area than in the urban location. Among the selected spore types, spring-autumn spores (Coprinus, Didymella, Leptosphaeria and Pleospora) exhibited negative correlations with temperature and positive correlations both with relative humidity and rainfall level. On the contrary, late spring-early summer (Smuts) and summer spores (Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Ganoderma, Stemphylium and Ustilago) exhibited positive correlations with temperature and negative correlations both with relative humidity and rainfall level. Rust, a frequent spore type during summer, had a positive correlation with temperature. Aspergillus/Penicillium, showed no correlation with the meteorological factors analysed. This knowledge can be useful for agriculture, allowing more efficient and reliable application of pesticides, and for human health, by improving the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory allergic disease.     

Airborne fungal spores in urban and rural environments in Poland

The concentrations of airborne fungal spores were measured during 2001–2002 in two sites in Poland—one in the city and the other in the countryside. The sites differed in habitat characteristics, such as urbanisation level, vegetation and microclimate. The aim of the study was to determine if, and in which way, land use type would affect spore occurrence. The volumetric method was used, and ten easily identifiable spore types were sampled and anyalysed: Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Epiccocum, Ganoderma, Pithomyces, Polythrincium, Stemphylium, Torula and Drechslera. The season of spore occurrence was determined using the 90% method. The fungal spores studied were very frequent in the air (in most instances at a frequency higher than 50%). The most common spores were those of Cladosporium, with a frequency range of 83.1–90.5%. In both years the proportion of Cladosporium spores was statistically significantly higher in the city. In both 2001 and 2002 the total seasonal sum of all the spores was higher in the countryside than in the city as was the Seasonal Fungal Index (SFI) values and average concentrations of Botrytis, Ganoderma and Torula. These latter three genera are usually represented as pathogens of plants. The mean spore concentrations of most taxa were significantly higher in the rural environment. Correlation coefficients between daily concentrations at both sites for most of the taxa studied were significant, but with lower correlation values between variables. Such results indicate that the values from the sites are weakly interdependent. The study confirms that land use type may very likely have an impact on the course of spore occurrence, the mean daily concentrations of spores as well as SFI values.     

Airborne fungal spores in a sawmill environment in Palakkad District, Kerala, India

Concentration of airborne fungal spores inindoor and outdoor environments of a sawmill in Palakkad district of Kerala, India was studied with Burkard Personal Slide Sampler from January to December 1997. Total spore concentration in the indoor and outdoor showed a 3:2 ratio. Higher spore count was observed in indoor in January and in outdoor in October. Thirty three fungal spore types were identified from the indoor and twenty six from the outdoor. Aspergillus/Penicillium, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Ganoderma, `other basidiospores' and ascospores were the dominant components of the airspora. Aspergillus/Penicillium, the most dominant spore type in the indoor contributed 51.19% and Cladosporium, the most dominant spore type in the outdoor contributed 44.75% of the total spores. The study revealed high prevalence of predominantly allergenic fungal spores in the sawmill environment.     

Taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis of Saprolegniaceae (Oomycetes) inferred from LSU rDNA and ITS sequence comparisons

The aim of this study was to improve our knowledge about the taxonomy and phylogeny of the family Saprolegniaceae, a group of water molds including several pathogens of plants, fish and crustacea. ITS and LSU rDNA were sequenced for representatives of forty species corresponding to ten genera (Achlya, Aphanomyces, Brevilegnia, Dictyuchus, Leptolegenia, Plectospira, Pythiopsis, Saprolegnia, Thraustotheca). Phenetic and cladistic analyses were then carried out. The species Brevilegnia bispora does not appear to belong to the family Saprolegniaceae. Plectospira myrianda clusters with Aphanomyces spp. and they constitute an ancestral group. (Thraustotheca clavata is closely related to the eccentric species of the genus Achlya. The genus Achlya appears polyphyletic, corroborating more or less the three known subgroups, defined by their sexual spore type (eccentric, centric and subcentric). The achlyoid type of spore dehiscence, shared by Aphanomyces and Achlya genera, is shown to be an ancestral character. The saprolegnioid, dictyoid and thraustothecoid types of spore dehiscence are derived characters but their relative evolutionary positions are not resolved.     

Variation in fungal spore concentrations of selected taxa associated

The aim of the study was to determine seasonal variation in concentrations of selected fungal spore types due to meteorological parameters. The presence of spores of thirteen taxa: Cladosporium, Torula, Alternaria, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Stemphylium, Ganoderma, Erysiphales, Entomophthora, Drechslera type, Didymella, Polythrincium and Pithomyces was recorded in Cracow using a Burkard trap. The majority of selected taxa belong to the anamorphic fungi group, the others to Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Zygomycetes. Fungal spores were present in the air in large numbers throughout the summer with the highest levels being reached in June, July and August although their highest concentrations differed with time. For most of the studied spore types: Botrytis, Ganoderma, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Torula, Drechslera type, Polythrincium, Stemphylium and Pithomyces the peak period was recorded in August. Didymella and Entomophthora spores reached their highest concentrations in July while concentrations of Erysiphales and Cladosporium spores were highest in June. Multiple regression analysis was performed for two seasonal periods: pre-peak and post-peak. In the pre-peak period concentrations of 10 spore types: Cladosporium, Botrytis, Epicoccum, Stemphylium, Drechslera type, Pithomyces, Didymella, Erysiphales, Ganoderma and Entomophthora were strongest influenced by minimum temperature while Alternaria, Polythrincium and Torula by maximum temperature (significance level of α=0.05). During the post-peak period the most important factor affecting variation in concentrations of Botrytis, Polythrincium, Didymella, Erysiphales, Ganoderma and Entomophthora spores was the minimum temperature. For Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Torula the maximum temperature appeared to be the most influential, whereas for Drechslera type, Stemphylium and Pithomyces it was sunshine. All correlations between spore concentration, minimum and maximum temperature and sunshine were significant (significance level of α=0.05), and positive although the percentage of explained variation (R²) was low.     

狗脊孢壁发育超微结构的研究

鳞毛蕨型孢子类型众多,初步研究表明形态相似的孢子类型其孢壁发育特征存在差异,因此有必要对各代表类群的孢壁发育进行深入地研究。该文利用透射电镜对乌毛蕨科(Blechnaceae)狗脊(Woodwardia japonica)孢壁结构和发育的超微结构进行研究。结果表明:(1)狗脊孢子囊的结构由外向内分别为孢子囊壁细胞、两层绒毡层细胞和孢子母细胞;(2)狗脊孢子具乌毛蕨型(Blechnoid type)外壁,表面光滑,由两层构成,裂缝区域具辐射状的槽;(3)周壁属于空心型(cavity type),由四层构成,从内向外分别为P1、P2、P3和P4层,前三层叠合在一起,层间有不同程度的空隙,P4层与前三层之间具有明显而连续的空腔,并隆起形成片状褶皱纹饰;(4)有小球体和小杆共同参与孢子周壁的形成,周壁部分或全部来源于孢子囊壁细胞。综上所述,狗脊孢子与同属于鳞毛蕨型的贯众(Cyrtomium fortunei)和朝鲜介蕨(Dryoathyrium coreanum)孢壁的发育在周壁结构、周壁各层的发育顺序、周壁来源和参与成壁的特征物质等方面存在差异。该研究有利于进一步理解蕨类植物孢壁所蕴含的分类和演化上的科学意义和价值。     

Acaulosporoid glomeromycotan spores with a germination shield from the 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert

Scutellosporites devonicus from the Early Devonian Rhynie chert is the only fossil glomeromycotan spore taxon known to produce a germination shield. This paper describes a second type of glomeromycotan spore with a germination shield from the Rhynie chert. In contrast to S. devonicus, however, these spores are acaulosporoid and develop laterally in the neck of the sporiferous saccule. Germination shield morphology varies, from plate-like with single or double lobes to tongue-shaped structures usually with infolded margins that are distally fringed or palmate. Spore walls are complex and appear to be constructed of at least three wall groups, the outermost of which includes the remains of the saccule. The complement of features displayed by the fossils suggests a relationship with the extant genera Ambispora, Otospora, Acaulospora or Archaeospora, but which of these is the closest extant relative cannot be determined. The acaulosporoid spores from the Rhynie chert document that this spore type was in existence already ∼400 mya, and thus contribute to a more complete understanding of the evolutionary history of the Glomeromycota. This discovery pushes back the evolutionary origin of all main glomeromycotan groups, revealing that they had evolved before rooted land plants had emerged.     

Sporisorium reilianum possesses a pool of effector proteins that modulate virulence on maize

The biotrophic maize head smut fungus Sporisorium reilianum is a close relative of the tumour-inducing maize smut fungus Ustilago maydis with a distinct disease aetiology. Maize infection with S. reilianum occurs at the seedling stage, but spores first form in inflorescences after a long endophytic growth phase. To identify S. reilianum-specific virulence effectors, we defined two gene sets by genome comparison with U. maydis and with the barley smut fungus Ustilago hordei. We tested virulence function by individual and cluster deletion analysis of 66 genes and by using a sensitive assay for virulence evaluation that considers both disease incidence (number of plants with a particular symptom) and disease severity (number and strength of symptoms displayed on any individual plant). Multiple deletion strains of S. reilianum lacking genes of either of the two sets (sr10057, sr10059, sr10079, sr10703, sr11815, sr14797 and clusters uni5-1, uni6-1, A1A2, A1, A2) were affected in virulence on the maize cultivar ‘Gaspe Flint’, but each of the individual gene deletions had only a modest impact on virulence. This indicates that the virulence of S. reilianum is determined by a complex repertoire of different effectors which each contribute incrementally to the aggressiveness of the pathogen.