Fungal populations of the haulm base of wheat

Abstract In a 2-year field survey, the phylloplane mycoflora on the haulm base of wheat was studied by the dilution plate technique. No significant colonisation was registered before the end of May. Cladosporium spp., 'white' and 'red' yeasts were found to be the most abundant fungi.     

Mycoflora and aflatoxin production in pigeon pea stored in jute sacks and iron bins

The mycoflora, moisture content and aflatoxin contamination of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millisp) stored in jute sacks and iron bins were determined at monthly intervals for a year. The predominant fungi on freshly harvested seeds wereAlternaria spp.,Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium spp. andPhoma spp. These fungi gradually disappeared from stored seeds with time and by 5–6 months, most were not isolated. The fungi that succeeded the initially dominant ones were mainly members of the generaAspergillus, Penicillium andRhizopus. Population of these fungi increased up to the end of one year storage. Higher incidence of mycoflora andAspergillus flavus were recorded in jute-sack samples throughout the storage period. The moisture content of stored seeds was found to fluctuate with the prevailing weather condition, being low during the dry season and slightly high during the wet season. The stored seeds were free of aflatoxins for 3 and 5 months in jute sacks and iron bins respectively. The level of aflatoxins detected in jute-sack storage system was considerably higher than that occurring in the iron bin system. Of 196 isolates ofA. flavus screened, 48% were toxigenic in liquid culture (54% from jute sacks and 41% from iron bins).     

SomeCortinarius spp. (Agaricales) of the Cooloola Sand-Mass,Queensland, Australia

Four distinct species ofCortinarius referable to subg.Dermocybe are described from the Cooloola Sand-Mass, Queensland; two are formally recognized asC. alkalivirens, spec. nova andC. chromobasis, spec. nova, whilst notes are provided for the other two. Chemical methods and cladistic studies are applied and indicate a new section of the subgenus is required.Australodermocybe sect. nova is proposed.     

Some interesting agarics from eastern Austria

Four very rare species ofAgaricales of dry grassland of the Galgenberg near Röschitz (Niederösterreich) are described and their taxonomy, affinities, ecology and distribution are discussed.Marasmiellus graminis (Murr.)Sing. & Hausknecht andCrinipellis subtomentosa (Peck.)Sing. var.mauretanica (Mre.)Sing. & Hausknecht are proposed as new combinations;Campanella inquilina Romagn. apudRedhead is a synonym ofC. caesia Romagn.     

Calcium oxalate crystals inGeastrum

Calcium oxalate crystals are reported for the first time in fiveGeastrum species,G. badium, G. berkeleyi, G. pectinatum, G. pedicellatum andG. striatum, and are illustrated by SEM photographs. Crystal shape, distribution within the genus, precise position in the carpophore, and significance in respect to physiology and taxonomy are discussed.     

Two new aero-aquatic species of the hyphomycete genusHelicodendron from Austria

Two new aero-aquatic species of the genusHelicodendron are described and illustrated:H. coniferarum andH. longitubulosum spp. nov. Both belong to the ecological group of the aero-aquatic fungi which inhabit submerged litter in stagnant pools and ditches. The new species are compared with similar species (H. coniferarum withH. fuscum, H. cumbriense, H. multiseptatum andH. pinicola;H. longitubulosum withH. tubulosum andH. longisporum). In addition, ecology and substrates are recorded: WhereasH. coniferarum was isolated from pine litter submerged in oligotrophic peat bog ditches,H. longitubulosum grew on an oak leaf submerged in a eutrophic woodland pond. The presence of microconidia inH. longitubulosum is discussed.     

Mycoflora of the toxic feeds associated with equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks in Brazil

The mycoflora of 39 feed samples associated with 29 Equine Leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks was studied from 1988 to 1990, in Brazil. Microbiological examination indicatedFusarium spp. as the most frequent mold which occurred in 97.4% of samples followed byPenicillium spp. in 61.5% andAspergillus spp. in 35.9%. The moisture content of feed implicated in death of horses was above 15% which can favor the development ofFusarium spp. From the genus,F. moniliforme was the predominant species with an occurrence of 82.0%. Two additional species, not commonly associated with animal toxicosis, were isolated in low frequency,F. proliferatum (12.8%) andF. subglutinans (2.6%). It is important to emphasize that the isolation ofF. proliferatum andF. subglutinans from feed obtained from the epizootic areas has not been documented previously in Brazil.Part of the thesis of M.C.A. Meireles to get the degree of Doctor Leucoencefalomalácia Eqüina (LEME) no Brasil: Aspectos epizootiológicos, microbiológicos e micotoxicológicos, Preliminary communication in 1989, Congresso Brasileiro de Microbiologia, Rev Microbiol (São Paulo) 20 (Sup. 1): 359 (F 181).     

Mixed Herbs Drugs: Inhibitory Effect on Growth of the Endogenous Mycoflora and Aflatoxin Production

Twenty commercial mixed herbal drugs were examined for mycological profile. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungi found in the drugs. Other fungi harboured in the drugs with less frequency were Paecilomyces species, Eurotium species, Monascus species, Acremonium species, Penicillium species, Cladosporium species, Scopulariopsis species, Phialophora species and Fonseceae species. Fungal count was between 1.0 log₁₀ CFU and 2.4 log₁₀ CFU per gram of sample. When the drugs were incubated in 85% humidity at 25°C, fungal colonies grew on only two of the drugs. The mixed herbal drugs were extracted with water and the extracts were used to grow Aspergillus parasiticus. All extracts reduced aflatoxin B₁ and aflatoxin G₁ production by 62–97%. All but two of the extracts reduced aflatoxin B₂ and aflatoxin G₂ production by 39–95%. It can be concluded that the commercial powdered mixed herbal drugs contained low number of endogenous fungi, and these drugs are inhibitory to the growth of its endogenous fungi and aflatoxins production by aflatoxigenic fungi.     

Effect of soil amendement with root extract ofhibiscus cannabinus L. on its rhizosphere mycoflora

Summary Rhizosphere mycoflora ofH. cannabinus was studied in potted condition after its root extract obtained from two month old plants. Isolations of fungi from the root regions were done at the interval of 15 days by dilution plate method. Estimation of fungi/g dry soil showed a negative rhizosphere effect. A higher number of fungal species was recorded in the treated non-rhizosphere as compared to their number in the rhizosphere. Qalitative analysis of the fungal flora was done and the variation was recorded. Root extract was analysed by paper chromatography. Altogether 7 amino acids and 3 sugars were detected.     

Notes on various plant-inhabiting fungi from Hachijo Island, Tokyo (1)

Among plant-inhabiting fungi collected in June 2001 and in September 2002 on Hachijo Island, Tokyo, four fungi are described in this article. They consist of two new species, namely Stagonospora hachijoensis on Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus and Ascochyta ixorae on Ixora chinensis, and two fungi newly added to the Japanese mycoflora, namely Discosiella cylindrospora on Callistemon speciosum and Robillarda sessilis on Parthenocissus tricuspidatus.