Issues of anamorphic fungi

Abstract

At the time when there is a move towards the acceptance of one name for one biological fungal species, Fungal Diversity documents the importance of anamorphic fungi with a special issue devoted to them. The present issue comprises 13 papers devoted to various topics concerning the anamorphic fungi with contributions on phylogeny, chemistry, ecology, post harvest importance, molecular detection and descriptions of some plant pathogens. The first paper is a review of the biogeography and phylogeography of Fusarium. This important paper questions several trends in the understanding of this important genus which causes a wide variety of plant diseases, produces a number of mycotoxins and is becoming increasingly recognized as a significant human pathogen. The authors look at several examples where surveys of non agro-systems question the present understanding of this extraordinary genus and must be read. The second paper is also a review of the chemical and bioactive producing capabilities of the remarkable genus Pestalotiopsis. This mostly endophytic genus is especially productive with regard to the accumulation of a diverse array of mostly bioactive compounds. More than 130 different compounds with antifungal, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities have been isolated from various species of this amazing genus. The third and fourth papers deal with post harvest topics. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was previously reported to be the casual agent of anthracnose of most tropical fruits. This taxon, however, was recently epitypified and has been shown to be a species complex. A molecular study of isolates from Laos and Thailand causing anthracnose of eight tropical fruits shows that species other than C. gloeosporioides are responsible for anthracnose of most tropical fruits. This astounding result illustrates an urgent need to carry out research on re-inventory of tropical plant pathogens and should result in an unprecedented increase in phytopathogen research. Thirty one species belonging to 17 fungal genera were found to be associated with sorghum grain samples imported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These anamorphic fungi are important post harvest organisms producing important mycotoxins. The papers recommends that rigorous quarantine and healthy storage conditions should be undertaken to minimize fungal contamination and prevent further hazard to human and animal health. Papers five to seven deal with assessing fungal biodiversity from environmental samples using molecular analysis. Sette et al. profiled the fungal community structure found in a Brazilian energy transmission tower with signs of corrosion and/or biofilm formation using cloning (ITS-rRNA gene libraries), a culture-dependent technique. A total of 31 isolates comprising ten filamentous fungi and four yeasts were recovered from enrichment cultures showing the usefulness of this method. Klaubauf et al. were also successfully able to use RFLP and sequence analysis of clone libraries of the partial ITS/LSU-region as a culture-independent method to survey fungal diversity in four arable soils and one grassland in Lower Austria. Seena et al. show that aquatic hyphomycetes can be directly K. D. Hyde (*) School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Tasud, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand e-mail: kdhyde2@gmail.com