Development of methods for detection and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the sterile,endophytic fungus Muscodor albus

Symbiotic endophytes, unlike plant pathogens, do not usually induce visible host response. This may constraint the researcher's decision whether a plant has been successfully infected by the endophyte. In order to properly study the establishment, development and progress of an endophyte in the host plant and host-endophyte interactions, methods for the identification and localization of endophytic microorganisms are needed. Towards this aim, we focused at two levels: (A) We constructed M. albus-specific primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In vitro, these primers specifically detected only M. albus strains and not isolates of related fungi (such as Daldinia sp. and a Xylariaceae sp.). (B) For direct visualization of the fungi, we inserted a reporter gene (gfp) into M. albus hyphae using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Since M. albus is a sterile fungus (i.e., without spores or fungal fruiting bodies), we used chopped fungal mycelium for the transformation procedure. We transformed three different isolates of M. albus using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Fifty-nine different transformants were collected with a transformation efficacy of 0.0004–0.0026%. Although PCR-based detection and direct visualization of the transformants in planta were unsuccessful, all tested transformants (with one exception) exhibited similar biological activity to their cognate wild type. This work provides a significant step forward in molecular research of the relationships between this endophytic genus and their hosts.     

北京夏植黄瓜内生真菌区系研究

为了解黄瓜植株内生真菌的区系组成及其变化,从而为进一步研究黄瓜内生真菌的生态和功能奠定基础,对采自北京延庆的不同品种和不同生育期的40株黄瓜进行了内生真菌的分离培养。经形态学鉴定和18S rDNA序列分析,分离到的1,024株内生真菌属于18属,其中Exserohilum和Neocosmospora尚未见内生真菌的报道。Alternaria、Aspergillus、Chaetomium、Cladosporium和Fusarium在各生育期和各器官普遍存在。其中,Alternaria在叶中的定殖率达47.0%,远高于在其他器官中的定殖率;Fusarium在根中的定殖率达32.5%,远高于在其他器官中的定殖率。多数真菌类群表现出不同程度的器官偏好性,有些真菌类群则只出现在特定器官中。叶和根的内生真菌类群数量和总定殖率均高于茎和果实。随着黄瓜的生长,各器官内生真菌的类群数在增加,部分真菌的定殖率也呈上升趋势,但Neocosmospora和Chaetomium在各器官中的定殖率则随植株生长呈下降趋势。     

黑果枸杞不同组织内生细菌群落多样性

【目的】黑果枸杞是我国荒漠区特有的药用盐生植物,本研究分析了黑果枸杞不同组织中内生细菌群落多样性特征及分布规律。【方法】应用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术对黑果枸杞内生细菌的16S rRNAV5-V7区域序列进行测定,并分析群落组成、多样性及功能等生物学信息。【结果】黑果枸杞不同组织内生细菌群落多样性及功能均有较大的差异。花、叶、果、茎和根产生的OTUs分别是182、173、119、187和254,群落多样性表现为根花果、茎叶。从门水平上看,变形菌门是优势菌门,在不同组织中均有分布,花、叶、果、茎和根中的相对丰度分别为87.66%、41.51%、81.76%、97.67%和61.85%。在属水平上显示内生细菌的分布表现出器官差异性。花部能够准确分类的优势菌属为沙雷氏菌属和不动杆菌属,相对丰度分别为11.57%和8.55%。叶部为红球菌属和慢生根瘤菌属,相对丰度分别为29.68%和5.53%。果实中为泛菌属、红球菌属和沙雷氏菌属,相对丰度分别为23.12%、5.52%和4.29%。茎部为沙雷氏菌属和假单胞菌属,相对丰度分别为12.03%和17.71%。根部为盐单胞菌属、Fodinicurvata和Lipingzhangella,相对丰度分别为24.18%、5.16%和4.86%。在不同组织中分布较广的盐单胞菌、沙雷氏菌、不动杆菌、红球菌、泛菌等菌属均具有较高耐盐性和促生、生防、降解有机污染物及抗氧化等功能。PICRUSt功能预测分析显示,黑果枸杞组织中内生细菌功能中涉及丰富的多糖、萜类和酮类、酶及维他命等次生代谢产物的生物合成。【结论】黑果枸杞内生细菌具有丰富的群落和功能多样性,拥有多种益生功能性状,也含有多个与人和植物体代谢相关的功能信息。不同组织优势菌属和功能信息各有不同,其中根部的内生细菌物种最丰富,花部和茎部参与各种代谢调控的细菌丰度最高。此外,不同组织中还含有大量未知种属的微生物类群,这些都为内生细菌功能利用和挖掘新的有益微生物资源提供广阔的发展空间。     

一株海洋放线菌的鉴定及其促生作用机理

【背景】海洋放线菌BM-2是本实验室从连云港海域分离得到的一株具有抗菌和促生作用的优良菌株,具有良好的开发应用前景。【目的】明确海洋放线菌BM-2的分类地位,揭示该菌株的促生作用机理,为菌株的开发应用提供理论依据。【方法】通过形态观察、生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列分析,对海洋放线菌BM-2菌株进行种属鉴定;采用透明圈法、平板划线法测定BM-2菌株解磷、解钾作用、固氮作用和产植酸酶、1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧基(1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate,ACC)脱氨酶的能力;运用沙尔科夫斯基反应(Salkowski法)和铬天青(chromeazurol S,CAS)法分别测定菌株产吲哚乙酸(indole acetic acid,IAA)和产铁载体的能力。【结果】培养特征、菌落形态观察及生理生化试验结果表明,BM-2菌株符合链霉菌属(Streptomyces)的特征,16SrRNA基因序列与GenBank中栗褐链霉菌(Streptomycesbadius)的序列相似性为99.72%;BM-2菌株具有固氮和解有机磷活性,能够产生ACC脱氨酶、铁载体和IAA。【...     

Antimicrobial activity in cultures of endophytic fungi isolated from Garcinia species

The aim of the present study was to screen for antimicrobial activity in endophytic fungi isolated from surface sterilized leaves and branches of five Garcinia plants, G. atroviridis, G. dulcis, G. mangostana, G. nigrolineata and G. scortechinii, found in southern Thailand. Fermentation broths from 377 isolated fungi were tested for antimicrobial activity by the agar diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were obtained for crude ethyl acetate extracts. Seventy isolates (18.6%) displayed antimicrobial activity against at least one pathogenic microorganism, such as Staphylococcus aureus, a clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The results revealed that 6-10%, 1-2% and 18% of the crude ethyl acetate extracts inhibited both strains of S. aureus (MIC 32-512 microg mL(-1)), Ca. albicans and Cr. neoformans (MIC 64-200 microg mL(-1)), and Microsporum gypseum (MIC 2-64 microg mL(-1)), respectively. Isolates D15 and M76 displayed the strongest antibacterial activity against both strains of S. aureus. Isolates M76 and N24 displayed strong antifungal activity against M. gypseum. Fungal molecular identification based on internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that isolates D15 (DQ480353), M76 (DQ480360) and N24 (DQ480361) represented Phomopsis sp., Botryosphaeria sp. and an unidentified fungal endophyte, respectively. These results indicate that some endophytic fungi from Garcinia plants are a potential source of antimicrobial agents.     

Biocontrol of Fusarium Wilt and Growth Promotion of Tomato Plants Using Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Solanum elaeagnifolium Stems

Seven culturable bacterial isolates, obtained from the internal stem tissues of Solanum elaeagnifolium and successfully colonizing the internal stem tissues of tomato cv. Rio Grande, were screened for their in vivo antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) and their growth‐promoting potential on tomato plants. SV101 and SV104 isolates, assessed on pathogen‐challenged tomato plants led to a significant decrease (77–83%) in Fusarium wilt severity and vascular browning extent (76%), as compared to the inoculated and untreated control. Isolates enhanced growth parameters on pathogen‐challenged and unchallenged tomato plants. SV104 and SV101 isolates were most effective in suppressing disease and enhancing plant growth. These two isolates were identified as Bacillus sp. str. SV101 ( KU043040 ) and B. tequilensis str. SV104 ( KU976970 ). They displayed antifungal activity against FOL; pathogen growth was inhibited by 64% and an inhibition zone (11.50 and 19.75 mm) against FOL could be formed using whole cell suspensions. SV101 and SV104 extracellular metabolites also inhibited FOL growth by 20 and 55%, respectively, as compared to control. B. tequilensis str. SV104 was shown to produce protease, chitinase, pectinase, IAA and siderophores. Bacillus sp. str. SV101 displayed pectinase activity and was found to be an IAA‐producing and phosphate‐solubilizing agent. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on S. elaeagnifolium use as a potential source of potent biocontrol and plant growth‐promoting agents.     

黑果枸杞不同组织内生真菌群落组成及生态功能分析

探究了新疆盐生植物黑果枸杞不同组织中内生真菌群落的组成及多样性,为深入研究盐碱、干旱等环境下内生真菌与宿主的互作机制,筛选和开发促生、防病和抗逆等功能的有益内生真菌资源提供科学依据。利用ITS高通量测序技术比较黑果枸杞不同组织真菌群落组成及差异,并采用FUNGuild数据库预测真菌群落生态功能。测序共获得高质量内生真菌序列354 058条,涉及291个OTUs,分属于9门、19纲、34目、50科、60属。α多样性指数分析表明,根、果中真菌群落多样性和丰富度程度较高,叶居中,花的多样性最低,茎的丰富度最低。对黑果枸杞内生真菌群落组成和优势菌群的分析表明,子囊菌门为优势菌门,花、叶、果、茎和根中相对丰度分别为86.85%、72.36%、75.97%、84.44%和85.02%。链格孢属为黑果枸杞植株中的核心属,不同组织中均有分布,在花、叶、果、茎和根中占比分别为85.41%、69.79%、47.07%、79.94%和36.97%。较优势的菌尚有枝孢属、枝顶孢属、新凸轮孢菌属、茎点霉属和楔孢黑粉菌属等真菌。这些菌多具有促生、抗逆等特性,在宿主对盐碱、干旱等极端环境的适应性方面有着潜在功能。各组织独有属的相对丰度均未超过1%。共有菌和独有菌在不同组织中的组成和相对丰度差异较大。经FUNGuild软件平台解析显示,黑果枸杞中病理-腐生-共生营养型的相对丰度最高,在花、叶、果、茎和根中分别为85.41%、69.84%、47.24%、79.98%和37.09%。果和叶中含多种相对丰度≥1%的条件致病菌,而根中腐生真菌种类较多。黑果枸杞中蕴含着功能丰富的内生真菌菌群,在不同组织中的组成及其生态功能差异较大,同时还含有大量未鉴定出种属和未定义的功能菌群,这些可为黑果枸杞功能菌群发掘提供数据参考。     

Effects of Acacia (Acacia auriculaeformis A. Cunn)‐associated fungi on mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa Bailey) growth in Cd‐ and Ni‐contaminated soils

Aims: To evaluate the effect of Acacia auriculaeformis‐associated fungi on the growth of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa Bailey] in Cd‐ and Ni‐contaminated soils and design novel plant–fungi associations for bioremediation purpose. Methods and Results: Endophytic Trichoderma H8 and rhizosphere Aspergillus G16 were applied for rhizoremediation of Cd‐, Ni‐, and Cd–Ni combination‐contaminated soils through association with B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa. Compared with the noninoculated control plants, inoculation with Trichoderma H8 produced 109%, 41% and 167% more fresh weight (FW) plant yields in the Cd‐, Ni‐, and Cd–Ni‐contaminated soils, respectively (P < 0·05). Similarly, plants inoculated with Aspergillus G16 produced 109%, 47% and 44% more FW plant yields in these contaminated soils, respectively. Plants co‐inoculated with these two strains produced 118%, 100% and 178% more FW plant yields, respectively. The inoculations also increased the translocation factors and metal bioconcentration factors. Conclusions: The efficiency of phytoextraction for B. juncea (L.) Coss. var. foliosa was enhanced after inoculating with Acacia‐associated fungi. Significance and Impact of the study: The use of plant–fungi association may be a promising strategy to remediate metal‐contaminated soils.     

Fossil ovipositions of dragonflies: Review and interpretation

The paper deals with the stratigraphic range and morphology of fossil formations on plants interpreted as insect ovipositions. Our analysis of the insect fossil record has shown that the endophytic ovipositions probably belong to the Kennedyina and Triadophlebiina (in the Paleozoic and Lower Mesozoic) and to the Calopterygina (in the Upper Mesozoic and Cenozoic).     

南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌的分离鉴定

从南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensisvar.mairei)植株分离到内生真菌63株,其中24株经鉴定分属于19个种(属).真子囊菌纲的2个属2株,半知菌纲的14个属22株.真子囊菌纲的无毛毛壳属(Achaetomiumsp.)的1株为新发现种.半知菌纲的葡萄孢属(Botrytissp.)1株和无孢菌群(Mycelia sterlia)2株的培养液,经浓缩萃取,薄层层析检测,Rf值分别为0.404、0.404、0.401,与紫杉醇对照品Rf值一致,为南方红豆杉产紫杉醇内生真菌.