Discomycetes Research Articles

Pseudoplectania mystica (Ascomycota, Pezizales), a new cup fungus with an endophytic habit of a broad range of host plants

A cup fungus producing ascomata on senescing to dead rhizomes of bamboo in East China is described as Pseudoplectania mystica sp. nov. (Ascomycota, Pezizales) based on morphological, ecological and phylogenetic evidence. Some sequences of unidentified endophytic fungi uploaded to the GenBank database by other researchers were also identified as P. mystica in our phylogeny. By checking the original literature of these sequences, P. mystica was further found to act as an endophyte in a broad range of host plants including Aegiceras, Cinnamomum, Dendrobium and Lindera, probably lurking in the tissues of the host plants as invisible mycelium in most cases and only producing visible ascomata following senescence of the host tissues. Such ecology and a combination of all its morphological characteristics make P. mystica recognizable from other known species of Pseudoplectania. This study contributes to the understanding of the species diversity and lifecycle of Pseudoplectania.

A checklist of wild mushroom diversity in Mizoram, India

The northeastern part of India is one of the biodiversity hotspots having a wide variety of flora and fauna. High humidity during monsoon provides ideal conditions for the growth of diverse group of macrofungi. Mizoram is one of the northeastern states of India which has a large number of edible and non-edible mushroom species. Wild edible mushrooms are an important food source for rural communities of Mizoram and provide additional income to the households if sold in regional markets. The key objective of this study was to explore the macrofungal diversity, and its richness in Mizoram with the aim of preparing a checklist along with the present geographical distribution of the important wild edible mushrooms. The macrofungal survey was undertaken during 2017–2020 in 24 different sites in Mizoram. A total of 152 (54 edible and 98 inedible) mushroom species have been documented belonging to 85 genera, 54 families, and 19 orders. Habitat-wise distribution of macrofungi revealed that maximum species were found on soil (61), followed by associated with roots (36), dead wood (30), living trees (22), and associated with termite mound (three). From a morphological point of view, the wild mushrooms have been divided into gilled fungi (95), boletes (18), polypores (17), coral fungi (10), chanterelles (3), puffballs (3), jelly fungi (3), stinkhorns (2), and cup fungi (1). This documentation of wild mushrooms of Mizoram will be a reference database for future.

Re-examination of the Southern Hemisphere truffle genus Amylascus (Pezizaceae, Ascomycota) and characterization of the sister genus Nothoamylascus gen. nov.

Amylascus is a genus of ectomycorrhizal truffles within Pezizaceae that is known from Australia and contains only two described species, A. herbertianus and A. tasmanicus. Species of Amylascus are closely related to truffles (Pachyphlodes, Luteoamylascus) and cup fungi (Plicariella) from the Northern Hemisphere. Here we reevaluate the species diversity of Amylascus and related taxa from southern South America and Australia based on new morphological and molecular data. We identify previously undocumented diversity and morphological variability in ascospore color, ascospore ornamentation, hymenial construction, epithecium structure and the amyloid reaction of the ascus in Melzer's reagent. We redescribe two Amylascus species from Australia and describe seven new Amylascus species, five from South America and two from Australia. This is the first report of Amylascus species from South America. We also describe the new South American genus Nothoamylascus as sister lineage to the Pachyphlodes-Amylascus-Luteoamylascus clade (including Amylascus, Luteoamylascus, Pachyphlodes, and Plicariella). We obtained ITS sequences of mitotic spore mats from Nothoamylascus erubescens gen. & sp. nov. and four of the seven newly described Amylascus species, providing the first evidence of mitotic spore mats in Amylascus. Additional ITS sequences from mitotic spore mats reveal the presence of nine additional undescribed Amylascus and one Nothoamylascus species that do not correspond to any sampled ascomata. We also identify three additional undescribed Amylascus species based on environmental sequences from the feces of two grounddwelling bird species from Chile, Scelorchilus rubecula and Pteroptochos tarnii. Our results indicate that ascomata from Amylascus and Nothoamylascus species are rarely collected, but molecular data from ectomycorrhizal roots and mitotic spore mats indicate that these species are probably common and widespread in southern South America. Finally, we present a time-calibrated phylogeny that is consistent with a late Gondwanan distribution. The time since the most recent common ancestor of: 1) the family Pezizaceae had a mean of 276 Ma (217-337 HPD); 2) the Amylascus-Pachyphlodes-Nothoamylascus-Luteoamylascus clade had a mean of 79 Ma (60-100 HPD); and 3) the Amylascus-Pachyphlodes clade had a mean of 50 Ma (38-62 HPD). The crown age of Pachyphlodes had a mean of 39 Ma (25-42 HPD) and Amylascus had a mean age of 28 Ma (20-37 HPD), falling near the Eocene-Oligocene boundary and the onset of the Antarctic glaciation (c. 35 Ma). Citation: Healy RA, Truong C, Castellano MA, et al. 2023. Re-examination of the Southern Hemisphere truffle genus Amylascus (Pezizaceae, Ascomycota) and characterization of the sister genus Nothoamylascus gen. nov. Persoonia 51: 125-151. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.03.

Microstrobilinia castrans, a new genus and species of the Sclerotiniaceae parasitizing pollen cones of Picea spp.

The fungal pathogens of spruce are well known in Europe and elsewhere. Therefore, it was surprising to discover a new fungal species and genus in Central Europe that attacks the pollen cones of three spruce species. The new ascomycete forms apothecia on stromatized pollen cones of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) in mountain areas and on West Himalayan spruce (Picea smithiana) planted in urban lowland regions of Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. It was also detected in France, based on metabarcode sequences deposited in the GlobalFungi database. Its sudden appearance and the different origins of the host trees in Europe and Asia leave the origin of the fungus unclear. The new fungus might be a neomycete for Europe. A phylogenetic analysis using SSU, LSU, ITS, RPB2, and TEF1 sequences classified the fungus as a member of Sclerotiniaceae (Helotiales, Leotiomycetes). However, it differs morphologically from the other genera of this family in having an ascus without apical apparatus containing four mainly citriform spores with 16 nuclei each. Furthermore, it is the only known cup fungus that parasitizes pollen cones of conifers by stromatizing their tissue and infecting pollen grains. The fungus does not seem to cause major damage to the spruce populations, as only a few pollen cones per tree are affected. All this leads us to describe the newly discovered fungus as the new species and new genus Microstrobilinia castrans, the fungus that castrates pollen cones of spruce.

New and confirmed species of operculate cup fungi (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina) in Tunisia

Three taxa of macromycetes, Otidea alutacea, Otidea bufonia and Phylloscypha phyllogena, were first recorded in Tunisia. Occurrences of Humaria hemisphaerica and Peziza vesiculosa were confirmed from the northwestern part of Tunisia more than 100 years after their first records in the northeast and the southwestern parts of the country, respectively. The species reported belong to three families of the Pezizales order (Otideaceae, Pezizaceae and Pyronemataceae). Short descriptions of their distinctive macroscopic and microscopic features, ecology and geographical distribution in Tunisia are given. The locality, the data of collection and field photographs for each species are also presented.

Two new species of Phaeohelotium (Leotiomycetes: Helotiaceae) from Chile and their putative ectomycorrhizal status.

Species of the genus Phaeohelotium (Leotiomycetes: Helotiaceae) are cup fungi that grow on decaying wood, leaves, litter, and directly on soil. Northern Hemisphere species are primarily found on litter and wood, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere the genus includes a mix of saprotrophs as well as taxa that grow on soil in association with ectomycorrhizal trees. The diversity of this genus has not been fully explored in southern South America. Here we describe two species from Chile, Phaeohelotium maiusaurantium sp. nov. and Ph. pallidum sp. nov., found on soil in Patagonian Nothofagaceae-dominated forests. We present macro- and micromorphological descriptions, illustrations, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The two new species are placed in Phaeohelotium with high support in our 15-locus phylogeny as well as phylogenetic reconstructions based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene. Our ITS phylogeny places both Ph. maiusaurantium and Ph. pallidum in a well-supported subclade that includes ectomycorrhizal root tip samples from Australasia. Similar species can be separated from these new taxa based on morphological characteristics, biogeography, substrate, and sequence data. In addition, two unnamed species from Chilean Nothofagaceae forests (Phaeohelotium sp. 1 and Phaeohelotium sp. 2) are documented from scant collections and sequence data and await description until more material becomes available. Citation: Grupe II AC, Smith ME, Weier A, Healy R, Caiafa MV, Pfister DH, Haelewaters D, Quandt CA (2022). Two new species of Phaeohelotium (Leotiomycetes: Helotiaceae) from Chile and their putative ectomycorrhizal status. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 231-249. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.10.10.

Studies on the Rapid and Simple DNA Extraction Method, Antibacterial Activity and Enzyme Activity Involved in Plant Biomass Conversion by Cookeina sulcipes and C. tricholoma (Cup Fungi)

Cookeina sulcipes and C. tricholoma are a cup fungi (Ascomycota) collected in Saraburi, Thailand. The fungi have been isolated, cultured and confirmed as respective species. For morphology, both Cookeina sp. are white mycelium and the growth rate on potato dextrose agar (PDA) result present C. sulcipes is faster than C. tricholoma. The molecular characterization from a rapid and simple DNA extraction method that is modified based on thermolysis method, The DNA extraction is finish in thirty minutes and efficiency to continuous with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to fungi species level identification. The DNA sequence from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene regions by universal primer pairs ITS5/ITS4 is effective to confirm Cookeina species level that C. sulcipes has 616 bp and C. tricholoma has 570 bp. Including, DNA sequence of large subunit (LSU) gene regions by universal primer pairs LROR/LR5 is generate that C. sulcipes has 912 bp and C. tricholoma has 906 bp. The cultures are screened for antibacterial activity by agar plug diffusion method and found that both isolates have been no activity against test strains (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Kocuria rhizophila (Micrococcus luteus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis). In a preliminary screening test of enzymes involved in plant biomass breakdown by agar plate method, both Cookeina sp. show cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymatic activity, and manganese peroxidase (MnP) productivity. In contrast, only C. sulcipes had additional laccase activity. Neither isolate generate pectinolytic and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities. Thus, Cookeina spp. proved the potentiality to break down lignocelluloses.

Cookeina tricholoma of West Java (Indonesia) Based on Morphological and Molecular Identification

The incomplete information on most reported macrofungi is one of the remaining challenges of taxonomic work in Indonesia. Cookeina tricholoma (Ascomycetes, Pezizales, Sarcoscyphaceae), otherwise known as cup fungi, is no exception. In this study, we report C. tricholoma from West Java, Indonesia. Fresh materials were evaluated using morphological and molecular analyses. The specimen was illustrated with macro- and microscopic features. Molecular analyses were performed using the internal transcribed spacer region. Cookeina voucher BO24423 was identified as C. tricholoma. The morphological characteristics of C. tricholoma BO24423 are cup-shaped, pinkish to reddish, and with prominent hairs. The phylogenetic tree analyses confirmed that our specimens were C. tricholoma with 99–100% bootstrap value. This study is the first contribution to the identification of C. tricholoma based on morphological and molecular evidence for Indonesia.

Molecular phylogenetic assessment of the genus Scutellinia (Pezizales: Pyronemataceae)

The genus Scutellinia consists of cup fungi belonging to the Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota). It comprises more than 100 species with a worldwide distribution. Species delimitation is based on morphological characteristics of the ascocarps, such as spore size, form and ornamentation as well as size and morphology of hairs that typically cover the external surface of the ascoma. These characters are, however, highly variable and species recognition challenging. In this paper, ribosomal DNA traits such as the internal transcribed spacer and the large subunit ribosomal gene were sequenced in several Scutellinia samples and, along with all available sequences on public database, used to improve the knowledge about taxonomy and phylogeny of this genus. Based on sequence similarity and trees topology, about 50 phylogenetic species were recognized and their phylogenetic relationships disclosed.

The Pattern Recognition Receptor FLS2 Can Shape the Arabidopsis Rhizosphere Microbiome β-Diversity but Not EFR1 and CERK1

Pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity (PTI) is the first line of plant defense. We hypothesized that the absence of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in plants could influence the rhizosphere microbiome. Here, we report sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and the fungal ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacer region of rhizosphere DNA from three Arabidopsis PRR mutants involved in plant innate immunity (efr1, fls2, and cerk1). We conducted experiments in a growth chamber using native soil from the Red River Farm (Terral, OK, USA) to detect microbial community shifts in the rhizosphere that may occur in the absence of PRR receptors compared to wild-type (WT; Col-0) plants. No difference in the α-diversity of the rhizosphere microbial population was observed between the PRR mutants tested and the WT. Plant host genotype had a significant impact in bacterial β-diversity only between the fls2 mutant and the WT. Surprisingly, no significant changes in fungal β-diversity were observed between the PRR mutants and WT, although we observed an increase in relative abundance for the cup fungi (Pezizaceae) in the cerk1 mutant. This finding suggests that the FLS2 receptor can modulate the rhizosphere-associated microbiome β-diversity and expands the list of current known genotypes that can modulate the rhizosphere microbiota.

Analysis of scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea) carotenoids in vivo by Raman spectroscopy

AbstractRaman spectroscopy, an established optical method of remote diagnostics of pigments and dyes, is applied here for the first time to the cup fungus Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea or Plectania coccinea or Peziza coccinea) from the order Pezizales (Ascomycota). As‐collected fungi samples are investigated, not subject to any treatment. The dominant vibrational features in the acquired in vivo spectrum, around 1000, 1150, and 1500 cm−1, respectively, clearly indicate it is dominated by carotenoid(s). Contrary to most previous Raman studies of carotenoids, including few studies of fungi, which focused on the latter three strongest fundamental vibrations, we have resolved and analyzed in detail 30 vibrational bands, including rarely studied wavenumber range above 2000 cm−1. We discuss in detail the inferred from our spectral analysis carotenoid species in comparison with those previously reported for Sarcoscypha coccinea by other methods. In particular, we suggest two characteristic ring vibrations, at 1131 and 1283 cm−1, to be used as a measure of the ratio of astaxanthin and plectaniaxanthin to β‐carotene and lycopene in this and similar fungi. In addition, we report the fluorescence spectrum of this fungal species, present as background in the Raman spectrum at visible excitation. The results obtained in this work will facilitate subsequent more quantitative studies of carotenoid composition in other kinds of fungi and other microorganisms using Raman spectroscopy in combination with other techniques.

Sclerencoelia fraxinicola a recently recognised cup fungus on Ash

Sclerencoelia fraxinicola a recently recognised cup fungus on Ash

Maarja Öpik

Maarja Öpik

Macrofungi composition and diversity on deadwood in Ngel Nyaki forest reserve, Mambilla Plateau, Nigeria

Macrofungi are extensive in diversity and play an essential role in sustaining ecosystems. However, the size and quality of their habitat is decreasing and extinction threatens the remaining 95 % of the world’s undiscovered fungal species. This study was carried out to document the diversity and composition of macrofungi in Ngel Nyaki Montane Forest Reserve. A total of seventy-two (72) wood decomposing fungi were identified belonging to 8 classes, 12 Orders and 27 Families. The most abundant species was Trichoglossum hirsutum (Pers). Boud with 23.49% relative frequency of occurrence followed by Russulax erampelina (7.23%), Hemimycena candida (Bres) Singer (5.42%), Termitomyces eurhizus (Berk.) Heim (4.82%), Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel (4.22%) and Ganoderma sp 1 (3.61%). Thirty-eight (52.77%) of the 72 species were rare, as they were seen and collected once during the survey. Eight (8) different fruiting body forms were encountered. Most of the macrofungi were the gilled fungi (Agarics) with 39 species, followed by the Polypores with 21 species, while cup fungi, slime mould and coral fungi were represented in the whole collection by a single species each. Macrofungi diversity varied significantly across pieces of deadwood with wood in later stages of decay having the highest macrofungi diversity. The study documents the first checklist of macrofungi in Nigeria’s rarest forest landscape. Keywords: Macrofungi, Composition, Diversity, Ngel Nyaki, Mambilla Plateau

First Record of Chorioactis geaster from Oklahoma

Chorioactis geaster (Peck) Kupfer, the devil’s cigar fungus, is reported from Oklahoma for the first time. A collection was made in Choctaw County in southeast Oklahoma in January 2017. Chorioactis geaster is a fleshy fungus that belongs to the Ascomycota and is an example of what are commonly referred to as cup fungi. The young ascomata are closed, swollen-elongate, brown and finely hairy. During expansion, the ascomata split into 3–6 rays that are reminiscent of earth star fungi. The hymenophore color is pale yellow to tan. The ascospores are large, measuring 60–70 x 12– 13 μm , and are curved-fusoid in shape. All previous records from the United States have been reported from Texas, and the fungus is also known from Japan. The holotype was collected in Austin, Texas in 1891 and described by Charles H. Peck in the genus Urnula .

Gyromitra chirripoensis nov. sp.

A new species of operculate discomycetes, Gyromitra chirripoensis is described from the paramo of Chirripo Grande, Talamanca. It beIongs to the complex of G. gigas (Karst.) Harmaja. With this addition, the Helvellaceae are represented in Costa Rica by three taxa: Helvella atra Oed. ex Fr., G. infula ([Schaeff.] Fr.) Quel., and G. chirripoensis, L. D. Gomez.

Fungal Sex: The Ascomycota.

This article provides an overview of sexual reproduction in the ascomycetes, a phylum of fungi that is named after the specialized sacs or "asci" that hold the sexual spores. They have therefore also been referred to as the Sac Fungi due to these characteristic structures that typically contain four to eight ascospores. Ascomycetes are morphologically diverse and include single-celled yeasts, filamentous fungi, and more complex cup fungi. The sexual cycles of many species, including those of the model yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the filamentous saprobes Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, and Podospora anserina, have been examined in depth. In addition, sexual or parasexual cycles have been uncovered in important human pathogens such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, as well as in plant pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum and Cochliobolus heterostrophus. We summarize what is known about sexual fecundity in ascomycetes, examine how structural changes at the mating-type locus dictate sexual behavior, and discuss recent studies that reveal that pheromone signaling pathways can be repurposed to serve cellular roles unrelated to sex.

Cookeina cremeirosea, a new species of cup fungus from the South Pacific

A new species in the Sarcoscyphaceae from the Samoan Islands, Cookeina cremeirosea, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the other eight species that are currently accepted for the genus. It is closely related to the Asian species Cookeina indica from which it can be separated by color and spore morphology.

Bioactive Spirobisnaphthalenes and Lactones from a Cup Fungus Plectania sp. Collected in the Tibet Plateau Region

Five new spirobisnaphthalenes (1–5), one new tetralone derivative (6), and six new lactones (7–12) together with the known compound urnucratin C (13) have been isolated from the solid culture of the cup fungus Plectania sp. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Compounds 1–6 were found to be active against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, the cytotoxicities of 1–13 were evaluated against the HepG2 and K562 cell lines by using the CCK8 assay. Compounds 1–3 and 13 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 and K562 with IC50 values in the range 10.7–38.5 µm. This is the first report of secondary metabolites from this cup fungus.

BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF OLIVE LEAF SCORCH (“BRUSCA”) IN THE SALENTO PENINSULA OF ITALY AND STATE-OF-THE-ART OF THE OLIVE QUICK DECLINE SYNDROME

“Brusca” (leaf scorch or marginal leaf burn) is a disease of olive (Olea europaea) typically characterized by the desiccation and death of tissues at the tip and/or along the edge of the leaf blade, which can be followed by defoliation. Since the end of the 18th century this disorder has reappeared periodically, after long periods of quiescence, in the same olive- growing areas of the province of Lecce (Apulia, Salento pensinsula, southern Italy). Over time, this disease has been the object of repeated investigations, first by a couple of local physician, who were the authors of its description, then, since the beginning of the 20th century, by professional plant pathologists. These studies have established that “brusca” may have multiple origins as determined by abiotic (“brusca non parassitaria” = non parasitic scorching) or biotic (“brusca parassitaria” = parasitic scorching) causes. “Brusca non parassitaria” can be induced by any physical cause that affects water supply to the leaf margin cells (e.g. insufficient moisture in the soil, water is lost too quickly from the leaves to be replaced adequately, damaged roots), or by hot dry winds, salty winds, nutrient deficiency/toxicity. By contrast, weak foliar pathogens (i.e. the discomycete fungus Stictis panizzei) or xylem-invading fungi or bacteria that plug the water conducting vessels can, in principle, be the agents of “brusca parassitaria”. These agents may include Xylella fastidiosa, a xylem-limited bacterium, which has recently been found associated with an olive disease denoted “quick decline syndrome”. This disease occurs in some areas of the Lecce province where severe cases of “brusca” have repeatedly been observed in the past. This coincidence, and the type of symptoms (extensive scorching and desiccation of the canopy) that somewhat recall those described in the early literature, may lead one to speculate that X. fastidiosa has been sitting in the area for about 250 years, rather than being a pathogen of recent introduction. This is not the case, as discussed in the present paper.