Alternaria Chlamydospora Research Articles

Endophytic Fungi from Salt Adapted Plants Confer Salt Tolerance in Barley

Endophytic fungi are known to improve plant tolerance under stressful conditions including salt stress. Considering this, the endophytic fungi, Alternaria chlamydospora, Embellisia phragmospora, Phomabetae, Chaetomium coarctatum, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium graminearum, was isolated from roots of plants growing in salt environments and then, evaluated for their contribution in conferring salt stress tolerance in barley plants. The influence of inoculation with endophytic fungi, on germination, root and shoot lengths of barley seeds under different NaCl levels (0, 200, 300 and 400 mM) was investigated. Results showed that seed germination and root and shoot lengths were higher in seeds pretreated with endophytic fungi cultures than their controls under saline conditions. This study suggests that the tested endophytic fungi might be applied as a strategy for mitigating the stress-imposed salt in plants and, therefore, improving crop growth and productivity.

Species identity and combinations differ in their overall benefits to Astragalus adsurgens plants inoculated with single or multiple endophytic fungi under drought conditions.

Although desert plants often establish multiple simultaneous symbiotic associations with various endophytic fungi in their roots, most studies focus on single fungus inoculation. Therefore, combined inoculation of multiple fungi should be applied to simulate natural habitats with the presence of a local microbiome. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to test the synergistic effects between three extremely arid habitat-adapted root endophytes (Alternaria chlamydospora, Sarocladium kiliense, and Monosporascus sp.). For that, we compared the effects of single fungus vs. combined fungi inoculation, on plant morphology and rhizospheric soil microhabitat of desert plant Astragalus adsurgens grown under drought and non-sterile soil conditions. The results indicated that fungal inoculation mainly influenced root biomass of A. adsurgens, but did not affect the shoot biomass. Both single fungus and combined inoculation decreased plant height (7–17%), but increased stem branching numbers (13–34%). However, fungal inoculation influenced the root length and surface area depending on their species and combinations, with the greatest benefits occurring on S. kiliense inoculation alone and its co-inoculation with Monosporascus sp. (109% and 61%; 54% and 42%). Although A. chlamydospora and co-inoculations with S. kiliense and Monosporascus sp. also appeared to promote root growth, these inoculations resulted in obvious soil acidification. Despite no observed root growth promotion, Monosporascus sp. associated with its combined inoculations maximally facilitated soil organic carbon accumulation. However, noticeably, combined inoculation of the three species had no significant effects on root length, surface area, and biomass, but promoted rhizospheric fungal diversity and abundance most, with Sordariomycetes being the dominant fungal group. This indicates the response of plant growth to fungal inoculation may be different from that of the rhizospheric fungal community. Structural equation modeling also demonstrated that fungal inoculation significantly influenced the interactions among the growth of A. adsurgens, soil factors, and rhizospheric fungal groups. Our findings suggest that, based on species-specific and combinatorial effects, endophytic fungi enhanced the plant root growth, altered soil nutrients, and facilitated rhizospheric fungal community, possibly contributing to desert plant performance and ecological adaptability. These results will provide the basis for evaluating the potential application of fungal inoculants for developing sustainable management for desert ecosystems.

Soil mycoflora of Thi-Qar marshes and their enzymatic activities

A survey on soil mycoflora in Thi-Qar marshes have been studied. A total of 22 fungal species belonging to 13 genera were isolated and identified. The average of the total fungal colony count ranged between 1550-4150 colonies/gm of soil. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Stachybotrys and Phoma were of the mostly occurred genera in soil samples constituting 98.67%, 82.67%, 69.33%, 57.0% and 52.0%, respectively, and the mostly occurred species were; A. terreus, A. flavus, C. cladosporioides and S. atra; constituting 74.67%, 69.33%, 69.33% and 57%, respectively. Nine fungal species: Alternaria chlamydospora, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Bipolaris spicifera, Fusarium oxysporum, Exserohilum rostratum, Trichoderma viride and Ulocladium botrytis were identified to produce the four investigated enzymes: cellulase, amylase, lipase and protease. All the tested isolates were identified as cellulase and amylase producers, A. candidus, A. flavus, B. spicifera and C. cladosporioides were an excellent producer of cellulase, while A. terreus, Stachybotrys atra and T. viride were the most active amylase producers. A. flavus, F. oxysporum and U. atrum showed the highest lipase production. The higher activity of protease was produced by A. candidus, A. flavus and T. viride.
 

Isolation and molecular characterization of clinical and environmental dematiaceous fungi and relatives from Iran.

Background and Purpose: The frequency and genetic diversity of black fungi in environmental and clinical settings have not been fully studied in Iran. This study aimed to identify and evaluate intra- and inter-species DNA sequence variation and also understand the phylogenetic relationships of melanized fungi and relatives isolated from different geographical regions of Iran. Materials and Methods: In total, 111 clinical and environmental strains of dematiaceous fungi were isolated, and their internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA (rDNA) regions were sequenced and analyzed. Results: An inter-species nucleotide sequence diversity rate of 1 to 464 nucleotides was observed between the species. Intra-species differences were found in the strains of Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria tenuissima, Curvularia spicifera, Aureobasidium pullulans, Curvularia hawaiiensis, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Alternaria terricola, Alternaria chlamydospora, Didymella glomerata, and Drechslera dematioidea by 0–59, 0–22, 0–4, 0–4, 0–3, 0–2, 0–2, 0–2, 0–2, 0–1, and 0–1 nucleotide, respectively. Conclusion: The internal transcribed spacer rDNA is useful for the discrimination of several taxa of dematiaceous fungi. However, a better understanding of the taxonomy of species of Alternaria requires a larger rDNA region or a library of other gene sequences.

Dark Septate Endophytes Isolated From Wild Licorice Roots Grown in the Desert Regions of Northwest China Enhance the Growth of Host Plants Under Water Deficit Stress.

This study aimed to explore dark septate endophytes (DSE) that may improve the cultivation of medicinal plants in arid ecosystems. We isolated and identified eight DSE species (Acremonium nepalense, Acrocalymma vagum, Alternaria chartarum, Alternaria chlamydospora, Alternaria longissima, Darksidea alpha, Paraphoma chrysanthemicola, and Preussia terricola) colonizing the roots of wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) in the desert areas of northwest China. Moreover, we investigated the osmotic stress tolerance of the DSE using pure culture, along with the performance of licorice plants inoculated with the DSE under drought stress in a growth chamber, respectively. Here, five species were first reported in desert habitats. The osmotic-stress tolerance of DSE species was highly variable, A. chlamydospora and P. terricola increased the total biomass and root biomass of the host plant. All DSE except A. vagum and P. chrysanthemicola increased the glycyrrhizic acid content; all DSE except A. chartarum increased the glycyrrhizin content under drought stress. DSE × watering regimen improved the glycyrrhizic acid content, soil organic matter, and available nitrogen. Structural equation model analysis showed that DSE × watering regimen positively affected soil organic matter, and total biomass, root length, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhizin (Shapotou site); and positively affected soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and glycyrrhizin (Minqin site); and positively affected the root length (Anxi site). DSE from the Shapotou site accounted for 8.0, 13.0, and 11.3% of the variations in total biomass, root biomass, and active ingredient content; DSE from the Minqin site accounted for 6.6 and 8.3% of the variations in total biomass and root biomass; DSE from the Anxi site accounted for 4.2 and 10.7% of the variations in total biomass and root biomass. DSE × watering regimen displayed a general synergistic effect on plant growth and active ingredient contents. These findings suggested that the DSE–plant interactions were affected by both DSE species and DSE originating habitats. As A. chlamydospora and P. terricola positively affected the total biomass, root biomass, and active ingredient content of host plants under drought stress, they may have important uses as promoters for the cultivation of licorice in dryland agriculture.

Fungal endophytes alleviate salt stress in wheat in terms of growth, ion homeostasis and osmoregulation

This study examined the ability of isolated endophytic fungi to confer salt stress tolerance on wheat. Tolerance of pot-grown wheat in greenhouse to salt stress was measured by estimating emergence rate, growth, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments biosynthesis, Na+ and K+ contents, as well as sugar and proline levels under salt stress in inoculated wheat seedlings. Chaetomium coarctatum (66·7%) and Alternaria chlamydospora (56·7%) improved wheat seedling emergence under moderate salinity (2·5dSm-1 ) compared to noninoculated plant (50%). However, under severe salinity (14dSm-1 ), wheat emergence was enhanced only by A. chlamydospora. Additionally, A. chlamydospora and Fusarium equiseti enhanced root growth under saline conditions. The tested endophytes exhibited high proline content relative to control. Chaetomium coarctatum showed the highest leaf sugar level under saline stress. Endophytic fungi bio-inoculation improved wheat salt stress tolerance. The capacity of endophytic fungi to increase wheat tolerance under salinity stress and to improve growth could be applicable to agriculture.

Isolation, identification and anti-candidal activity of filamentous fungi from Saudi Arabia soil

Ten fungal strains; namely, Penicillium melinii, Petriella setifera, Aspergillus pseudo-niger, Alternaria chlamydospora, Pythium nayoroense, Phoma glomerata, Mucor ramosissimus, Mucor racemosus, Fusarium chlamydosporum and Rhizopus azygosporus were isolated from soil. The extra- and intra-cellular extracts of the fungal strains grown on malt extract and yeast-extract sucrose media were screened for their anticandidal activity against different clinically-isolated Candida species. Most of the fungal extracts showed activity against different Candida species. However, the fungal strains grew on malt extract showed greater activities than those grew on yeast extract sucrose media. The activity of the intracellular was higher than the extracellular metabolites. All fungal extracts (extra and intra) were similar in chemical constituent; they contained carbohydrates and/or glycosides, unsaturated sterols and/or triterpens, tannins and traces of coumarins. Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones and cardenolides were no detected. The intra-cellular extracts contained more compounds than the extra-cellular extracts.

Sodium Chloride Stress Induced Morphological Changes in Some Halotolerant Fungi

Materials and methods: Nine fungal isolates namely Emericill anidulans, Mucor racemosus , Alternaria pluriseptata Penicillium canescens, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria chlamydospora, Aspergillus parasiticus and Ulocladium atrum were isolated from AL – SHEGA area at AL- QASSIM region. Results: The influence of different sodium chloride concentrations on the growth rate, morphological and ultrastructure were studied. Considerable differences in their growth rate and morphology were detected on medium containing different concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl). Low growth rates were obseved on high NaCl concentrations . At 15 % NaCl, low growth of Emericill anidulans, Penicillium canescens, Syncephalastrum racemosum, Aspergillus parasiticus and Mucor racemosus was detected , whereas all fungal isolates were failed to grow at 20% NaCl. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) revealed that all fungal asexual reproduction organs were metamorphosed at higher NaCl concentration, fungal heads and sporangia were speculated or elongated. Sporangiophores and conidiophores were shortened and dwarfed ,little number of conidia or spores were detected.

Fungal malignant otitis externa caused by Alternaria chlamydospora: first case report

Introduction: Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is a rare clinical entity, usually observed in diabetic or immunosuppressed patients, with serious morbidity due to associated osteomyelitis, cranial nerve palsies and intracranial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the main pathogen in over 95 % of cases; Aspergillus species and Candida albicans have also been implicated in fungal MOE. Case presentation: Α 79‐year‐old male with type 2 diabetes with otalgia, otorrhoea and granulation tissue occupying the right external ear canal was diagnosed with MOE. Direct microscopy of a tissue biopsy specimen taken from the granulation tissue revealed septate branching hyphae and chlamydospores. An olivaceous‐black colony cultured within 3 days at 30 °C was identified microscopically as Alternaria sp. and molecularly as Alternaria chlamydospora using the restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region on the basis of the 570 bp ITS amplicon, a BstUI largest band of 578 bp and absence of the TaqI 114 bp band. The patient was unresponsive to ciprofloxacin, whereas the pain was relieved after 2 weeks of voriconazole treatment followed by surgical debridement. Conclusion: We present, we believe, the first reported case of MOE for which Alternaria sp. seems to be the causative pathogen. A high index of suspicion was needed in order to reach the diagnosis. We recommend taking tissue cultures when a high‐risk patient is not responsive to the initial antibiotic treatment, as fungal MOE could be a repercussion of unsuccessfully treated bacterial otitis externa or it could represent a de novo presentation of fungal disease.

In vitro evaluation of the ovistatic and ovicidal effect of the cosmopolitan filamentous fungi isolated from soil on Ascaris suum eggs

The ovicidal activity of seven fungal strains: Acremonium alabamense, Alternaria chlamydospora, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium solani, Paecilomyces variotii, Paecilomyces viridis and Penicillium verruculosum isolated from urban soil samples from Poland was determined in vitro. The fungal mycelium was co-cultured with Ascaris suum eggs on plates with 2% water–agar for 28 days. Eggs exposed and unexposed (control) to fungal mycelium were observed weekly by light microscopy and the percentage of malformed eggs were determined. The eggs were classified according to following parameters: type 1 – biochemical and physiological effect without morphological damage to the eggshell; type 2 – lytic effect with morphological alteration of the eggshell and embryo; type 3 – lytic effect with morphological alteration of eggshell and embryo with hyphal penetration and internal egg colonization. All examined species of fungi extended embryogenesis, but the retardation of embryonic development was varied and depended on the species. A. alabamense, A. chlamydospora and P. verruculosum exhibited very high inhibitory activity on A. suum egg development. The fungus-exposed eggs revealed morphological alternations in all stages of embryogenesis. Isolates of F. solani, P. variotii and P. viridis showed hyphal penetration and internal colonization of A. suum eggs (type 3 effect). No appressoria were produced and simple hyphal penetrations were most commonly observed. A. alabamense and P. verruculosum demonstrated morphological destruction, with eggshell destruction. The remaining fungi showed type 1 effect. The results demonstrated that examined strains of F. solani, P. variotii and P. viridis may be considered to be potential limiting factors of parasitic geohelminth populations.

Studies on the activity of defense enzymes against Alternaria Chlamydospora the incitant of leaf blight of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Tzelvev)

Experiments were conducted in chrysanthemum plants to study the induction of various defense enzymes and phenols by the biocontrol agents viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride, Bacillus subtilis in comparison with the plant extracts viz., Abutilon indicum, Datura metel in pot culture. The application of both biocontrol agents and plant extracts triggered the activity of all the three defense enzymes peroxidase, phenyalanine ammonia lyase, polyphenol oxidase and phenols. In general the enzyme activity and phenol was found to be higher in the inoculated control plants than uninoculated plants, but lower than the treated plants. The activity of all the defense enzymes and phenols were found to be highest with treatment of P. fluorescens when compared to the plant products. Among the two plant extracts tested A. indicum was found to be better than the D. metel. The accumulation of total phenols and the activity of the above enzymes started to increase on the third day, reached the maximum level on the ninth day and thereafter declined gradually.

Fungal root endophytes from natural vegetation in Mediterranean environments with special reference to Fusarium spp

Surveys (in 2002 and 2003) were performed for fungal endophytes in roots of 24 plant species growing at 12 sites (coastal and inland soils, both sandy soils and salt marshes) under either water or salt stress in the Alicante province (Southeast Spain). All plant species examined were colonized by endophytic fungi. A total of 1830 fungal isolates were obtained and identified by morphological and molecular [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor-1alpha gene region (TEF-1alpha) sequencing] techniques. One hundred and forty-two fungal species were identified, belonging to 57 genera. Sterile mycelia were assigned to 177 morphospecies. Fusarium and Phoma species were the most frequent genera, followed by Aspergillus, Alternaria and Acremonium. Fungal root endophytic communities were influenced by the soil type where their respective host plants grew, but not by location (coastal or inland sites). Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria chlamydospora contributed most to the differences found between endophytic communities from sandy and saline soils. Host preference was found for three Fusarium species studied. Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani were especially isolated from plants of the family Leguminosae, while Fusarium equiseti showed a preference for Lygeum spartum (Gramineae). In some cases, specificity could be related to intra-specific variability as shown by sequencing of the TEF-1alpha in the genus Fusarium.

New sources of cytochalasins A and B from dematiaceous hyphomycetes.

One hundred isolates of 27 species belonging to 13 genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes were screened for production of cytochalasins A and B. Most of these isolates (94) were obtained from Assiut University Culture Collection, Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt; three isolates from CBS, The Netherlands; two isolates from DSM, Germany; and one isolate from IMI, UK. The results revealed that 10 isolates of six species representing five genera of fungi produced cytochalasins A and/or B. These species are Alternaria chlamydospora, Cochliobolus spicifer, Diplococcum spicatum, Phoma herbarum, Phoma multipora and Setosphaeria rostrata. This is the first report for the production of cytochalasins A and/or B by these species of dematiaceous hyphomycetes.

Release of reducing sugars from Citrus seedlings, leaves and fruits. Effect of treatment with pectinase and cellulase from Alternaria and Trichoderma

Three species of Citrus tree were found to be differentially infected by the fungal association known in Chile as ‘fumagina’. Grapefruit trees showed a 100% presence of fumagina with 34% foliage coverage, whereas lemon and orange trees showed ca 70% presence of the fungal association with only 0.2% foliage coverage. Treatment of Citrus (orange, lemon and grapefruit seedlings and fruits and leaves from adult trees with pectinase obtained from Alternaria chlamydospora, showed that grapefruit tissues were the most sensitive to the action of the enzyme, as determined by the amount of reducing sugars released during the treatment. Cellulase obtained from Trichoderma harzianum had no effect on intact seedlings and released ca 20-fold less reducing sugars from damaged tissues than pectinase. These results correlate well with the natural infection of Citrus by the fungal association fumagina and also supports the role of pectinases in the initiation of plant cell wall degradation.

Ungual and cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused byAlternaria alternataandAlternaria chlamydospora

Two cases of ungual and cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata and Alternaria chlamydospora are described. Oxiconazole and amorolfine were most effective in vitro against A. alternata and A. chlamydospora respectively. This is the first report of A. chlamydospora as an opportunistic pathogen of skin.

Growth and Lipid Composition of Some Dematiaceous Hyphomycete Fungi Grown at Different Salinities

Summary: The growth of the dematiaceous hyphomycetes (darkly pigmented microfungi) Alternaria phragmospora, Alternaria chlamydospora and Ulocladium chartarum was altered by increasing concentrations of NaCl in the growth medium. U. chartarum demonstrated the greatest sensitivity to salinity changes: chlamydospora-like structures were common at NaCl concentrations > 5%. Lipid analyses of these fungi are presented. Steryl esters and fatty acids were the main lipid classes in the apolar fractions. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylgly-cerol and phosphatidylcholine were the main polar compounds. Most phospholipids decreased at higher salinity. The major fatty acid was oleic acid (18:1) which decreased at 10% NaCl. A similar pattern was observed for palmitic acid (16:0). Myristic acid (14:0) and myristoleic acids (14:2, 14:1) were detected in all isolates cultured at 10% NaCl.