Lignicolous Basidiomycetes Research Articles

Artomyces microsporus (Auriscalpiaceae), a rare species that may be confused with A. pyxidatus

Artomyces microsporus, a lignicolous basidiomycete first reported in Europe from Ukraine almost two decades ago, is morphologically quite similar to A. pyxidatus, the most commonly encountered species of the genus across the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. This survey is aimed at defining useful characters for the reliable distinction of these species in the field, in addition to species identification based on molecular data. Both morphological characters of the basidiomes and host/substrate preferences of A. microsporus are considered. The defined characters for identification of A. microsporus can be widely used by citizen scientists providing observations of the fungal occurrences for biodiversity repositories and social media networks. The reliable data for the species identification will contribute to determining the distribution patterns of A. microsporus regionally and worldwide.

Chemical Characterization and Bioactive Properties of the Edible and Medicinal Honey Mushroom Armillaria mellea (Agaricomycetes) from Serbia

Honey mushroom, Armillaria mellea, is an edible and medicinal lignicolous basidiomycete. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and bioactive properties of its methanolic and acetonic extracts. The chemical characterization of extracts was done with the HPLC-DAD-MS/MS method. The results showed that potassium was the most abundant mineral; chlorogenic acid was the most abundant polyphenol; malic acid was the most abundant organic acid; and among carbohydrates, the most abundant were sorbitol, glucose, fructose, and saccharose. Antioxidative activity was assessed by DPPH (IC50 of the methanolic extract was 608.32 μg/mL and of the acetonic extract 595.71 μg/mL) and reducing power assays (the results ranged between 0.034 and 0.102 μg/mL). Total phenolic content was determined as gallic acid equivalent (methanolic extract: 4.74 mg GAE/g; acetonic extract: 5.68 mg GAE/g). The microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extracts, and the results ranged from 1.25 to 20 mg/mL. The antidiabetic effect of the extracts was tested by the α-amylase (the results ranged from 34.90% to 41.98%) and α-glucosidase assays (the results were in the range of 0.55-2.79%). The neuroprotective activity was explored by the acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay (the results were in the range of 1.94-7.76%). The microtetrazolium assay was used to investigate the cytotoxic activity of the extracts (the IC50 values ranged from 212.06 to > 400 μg/mL). Although some results suggest that some activities of the extracts are relatively moderate, the honey mushroom can still be considered an excellent source of food and bioactive compounds with medicinal value.

Lignicolous Fungi Collected in Northern Italy: Identification and Morphological Description of Isolates

In recent years, fungi, particularly lignicolous fungi, have been re-considered as a source for biotechnological and industrial applications. Lignicolous basidiomycetes are the most effective at degrading wood, particularly cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, which are among the most resistant biopolymers. This study aims to constitute a research collection of lignicolous fungal strains that are useful for further studies and applications in different production fields. The basidiomata used to isolate the strains in a pure culture were, firstly, identified through macroscopic and microscopic characteristics integrated with ecological data. To obtain pure cultures of dikaryotic mycelia, 96 different strains of Agaricomycetes belonging to 76 different species and related to 51 genera (18 families and 5 orders) were isolated using a malt extract agar (MEA) medium enriched with hydrogen peroxide. The identity of the isolated strains was then confirmed by molecular analysis through the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster. All the strains are currently conserved using different methods, and their vitality is periodically tested.

Mechanical and Air Permeability Performance of Novel Biobased Materials from Fungal Hyphae and Cellulose Fibers.

Novel biobased materials from fungal hyphae and cellulose fibers have been proposed to address the increasing demand for natural materials in personal protective equipment (PPE). Materials containing commercially available kraft fibers (KF), laboratory-made highly fibrillated hemp fibers (HF) and fungal fibers (FF) obtained from fruiting bodies of lignicolous basidiomycetes growing in nature were prepared using paper production techniques and evaluated for their mechanical and air permeability properties. SEM and microscopy revealed the network structure of materials. The tensile index of materials was in the range of 8–60 Nm/g and air permeability ranged from 32–23,990 mL/min, depending on the composition of materials. HF was the key component for strength; however, the addition of FF to compositions resulted in higher air permeability. Chemical composition analysis (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) revealed the presence of natural polysaccharides, mainly cellulose and chitin, as well as the appropriate elemental distribution of components C, H and N. Biodegradation potential was proven by a 30-day-long composting in substrate, which resulted in an 8–62% drop in the C/N ratio. Conclusions were drawn about the appropriateness of fungal hyphae for use in papermaking-like technologies together with cellulose fibers. Developed materials can be considered as an alternative to synthetic melt and spun-blown materials for PPE.

Response of the wood-decay fungus Schizophyllum commune to co-occurring microorganisms.

Microorganisms are constantly interacting in a given environment by a constant exchange of signaling molecules. In timber, wood-decay fungi will come into contact with other fungi and bacteria. In naturally bleached wood, dark, pigmented lines arising from confrontation of two fungi often hint at such interactions. The metabolites (and pigment) exchange was investigated using the lignicolous basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune, and co-occurring fungi and bacteria inoculated directly on sterilized wood, or on media. In interactions with competitive wood degrading fungi, yeasts or bacteria, different competition strategies and communication types were observed, and stress reactions, as well as competitor-induced enzymes or pigments were analyzed. Melanin, indole, flavonoids and carotenoids were shown to be induced in S. commune interactions. The induced genes included multi-copper oxidases lcc1, lcc2, mco1, mco2, mco3 and mco4, possibly involved in both pigment production and lignin degradation typical for wood bleaching by wood-decay fungi.

The history of mycological studies in Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug: 1) the period of isolated studies, lignicolous basidiomycetes and phytopathological studies

Регулярные микологические исследования на территории Ханты-Мансийского автономного округа-Югры начались во второй половине 20-го века. В настоящее время известно около 100 публикаций, посвященных вопросам изучения микобиоты, экологии, таксономии, лесо- и фитопатологии и охране грибов на территории региона. В публикации проведен обзор всех работ, опубликованных на территории ХМАО по микологической тематике и их систематизация по разным направлениям. Первая часть статьи состоит из введения, упоминания первых разрозненных работ и обзора изучения дереворазрушающих базидиомицетов и фитопатологических исследований. Во второй части будут рассмотрены другие направления, проанализировано состояние коллекций грибов, собранных на территории региона, и обобщены результаты выявления видового разнообразия.
 Одной из наиболее подробно изученных экологических групп на территории ХМАО являются ксилотрофные базидиомицеты: их видовой состав, географическое распространение, экологические ниши, уязвимость под воздействием нефтегазодобычи и природоохранная значимость. Развиваются также лесо- и фитопатологические направления, проведены исследования патогенов лесообразующих пород, а также фитосанитарные обследования городских насаждений города Сургута и других территорий.

The history of mycological studies in Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug: 2) studies of Macromycetes, Lichens and Myxomycetes, state of mycological collections and fungal records database

В предыдущей части работы мы затронули вопросы актуальности развития микологических исследований на территории севера Западной Сибири (конкретно – ХМАО) и необходимость проведения ревизии уже выполненных за 100 лет работ. Был сделан обзор первых разрозненных работ, проведенных в начале 20 века, описание истории изучения дереворазрушающих базидиомицетов и фитопатологических исследований. Во второй части мы продолжаем анализ других направлений и подводим некоторые итоги.
 Большое внимание на территории ХМАО уделено также изучению наземных макромицетов (в узком смысле – агарикоидных базидиомицетов), однако исследования носят локальный характер. Хорошо изучены две территории – в окр. г. Ханты-Мансийска и Юганский заповедник. Изучается как видовой состав, так и количественная структура сообществ макромицетов лесных и болотных экосистем, а также особенности биологии и экологии отдельных редких видов. Ввиду высокой заболоченности территории округа особое внимание в исследованиях было уделено сообществам грибов верховых болот (макро- и микромицеты, дрожжи, ксилотрофные базидиомицеты, миксомицеты). Выявление видового состава лихенобиоты проходило лишь в отдельных районах ХМАО, однако суммарный список видов достаточно велик. Выявлено видовое разнообразие миксомицетов на территориях некоторых ООПТ. В контексте таксономических исследований всего за период микологической истории ХМАО было описано четыре новых вида и одна комбинация, в работах сообщаются сведения о новых, еще не описанных видах. Охрана грибов в ХМАО началась с выпуска Красной книги региона в 2003 г. (второе издание вышло в 2013 году). За это время вышел ряд публикаций, посвященных микологическим природоохранным мероприятиям. Коллекции грибов являются неотъемлемой частью развития микологических исследований: на территории мы насчитываем около 5 фунгариев. Кроме того, большое число коллекций грибов, собранных в ХМАО, хранятся в исследовательских институтах других регионов. На основе опубликованных работ нами была составлена база данных находок грибов и грибоподобных организмов ХМАО (Fungal Records Database of Yugra). В настоящее время база включает около 14 тыс. записей находок грибов. Ссылка на базу данных размещена на странице сайта Фунгария ЮГУ и база данных доступна для скачивания. Анализ базы данных показал, что для территории ХМАО опубликовано около 2600 видов и подвидовых таксонов грибов и грибоподобных организмов. Из них большая часть приходится на агарикоидные базидиомицеты (30%), лишайники (37%), а также афиллофоровые базидиомицеты (19%).

Identification and development of new polymorphic microsatellite markers using genome assembly for Ganoderma boninense, causal agent of oil palm basal stem rot disease

Ganoderma boninense is a telluric lignicolous basidiomycete and the causal agent of basal stem rot, one of the most devastating diseases of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). While the fight against G. boninense is of major concern in Southeast Asia, little information is available regarding the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the fungus. In this context, the development of an informative molecular marker set to characterize the diversity of G. boninense is a key step towards understanding the biology of this pathogen. A G. boninense draft genome sequence of 63 Mbp, assembled using 454 and Illumina sequencing technology, was used to identify and develop a set of microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs). A total of 2487 SSRs were identified, for which 145 SSR primer pairs were designed. These SSRs are characterized by di- to hexanucleotide motifs with 5 to 34 repetitions. Ninety-seven SSR loci were successfully amplified on an initial small set of G. boninense isolates from Indonesia. A collection of 107 isolates from several regions in Southeast Asia were screened to characterize each locus for allele number, polymorphism information criterion and the presence or absence of null alleles at each locus. These results allowed us to propose an effective set of 17 SSRs for studying genetic diversity within G. boninense.

Substantial production of drosophilin A methyl ether (tetrachloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene) by the lignicolous basidiomycete Phellinus badius in the heartwood of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) trees.

Toxic organohalogen pollutants produced as by-products of industrial processes, such as chloroform and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, also have significant natural sources. A substantial terrestrial source of halogenated organics originates from fungal decay of wood and leaf litter. Here we show that the lignicolous basidiomycete Phellinus badius deposits up to 30,000mg of the halogenated metabolite drosophilin A methyl ether (DAME, tetrachloro-1,4-dimethoxybenzene) per kilogram of decayed heartwood in the mesquite Prosopis juliflora. DAME occurs as clusters of glassy crystals up to 1mm long within the decayed heartwood. In addition, the Phellinus badius basidiocarps contain an average of 24,000mg DAME/kg dried fruiting body, testifying to the significant translocation and accumulation of Cl accompanied by DAME biosynthesis. The high DAME concentrations attest to the substantial Cl content of the heartwood, which averages near 5,000ppm, with Cl/K near 1:1, consistent with an inorganic chloride precursor. Phellinus badius has a circumglobal distribution in the tropics and subtropics, where it is widely distributed on hardwoods and commonly associated with decay of mesquite. There is the potential for extensive DAME formation within decayed heartwood worldwide given the extensive range of Phellinus badius and its propensity to form DAME within mesquites. Further, DAME production is not limited to Phellinus badius but occurs in a range of lignicolous basidiomycetes, suggesting a significant natural reservoir for this chloroaromatic with potential environmental implications.

First record of Inocutis tamaricis in Romania with comments on its cultural characteristics

AbstractInocutis tamaricis is a lignicolous basidiomycete associated exclusively with Tamarix species. The first Romanian record of this species is reported from Constanţa city near the Black Sea coast where it was detected on Tamarix tetrandra. We noticed that in pure culture it forms swollen hyphae in the aerial mycelium, which have not been reported so far for I. tamaricis.

Characterization of Armillaria spp. from peach orchards in the southeastern United States using fatty acid methyl ester profiling

Limited information is available regarding the composition of cellular fatty acids in Armillaria and the extent to which fatty acid profiles can be used to characterize species in this genus. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles generated from cultures of A. tabescens, A. mellea, and A. gallica consisted of 16–18 fatty acids ranging from 12–24 carbons in length, although some of these were present only in trace amounts. Across the three species, 9- cis,12- cis-octadecadienoic acid (9,12-C18:2), hexadecanoic acid (16:0), heneicosanoic acid (21:0), 9- cis-octadecenoic acid (9-C18:1), and 2-hydroxy-docosanoic acid (OH-22:0) were the most abundant fatty acids. FAME profiles from different thallus morphologies (mycelium, sclerotial crust, or rhizomorphs) displayed by cultures of A. gallica showed that thallus type had no significant effect on cellular fatty acid composition ( P > 0.05), suggesting that FAME profiling is sufficiently robust for species differentiation despite potential differences in thallus morphology within and among species. The three Armillaria species included in this study could be distinguished from other lignicolous basidiomycete species commonly occurring on peach ( Schizophyllum commune, Ganoderma lucidum, Stereum hirsutum, and Trametes versicolor) on the basis of FAME profiles using stepwise discriminant analysis (average squared canonical correlation = 0.953), whereby 9-C18:1, 9,12-C18:2, and 10- cis-hexadecenoic acid (10-C16:1) were the three strongest contributors. In a separate stepwise discriminant analysis, A. tabescens, A. mellea, and A. gallica were separated from one another based on their fatty acid profiles (average squared canonical correlation = 0.924), with 11- cis-octadecenoic acid (11-C18:1), 9-C18:1, and 2-hydroxy-hexadecanoic acid (OH-16:0) being most important for species separation. When fatty acids were extracted directly from mycelium dissected from naturally infected host tissue, the FAME-based discriminant functions developed in the preceding experiments classified all samples ( n = 16) as A. tabescens; when applied to cultures derived from the same naturally infected samples, all unknowns were similarly classified as A. tabescens. Thus, FAME species classification of Armillaria unknowns directly from infected tissues may be feasible. Species designation of unknown Armillaria cultures by FAME analysis was identical to that indicated by IGS-RFLP classification with AluI.

Fungivore host‐use groups from cluster analysis: patterns of utilisation of fungal fruiting bodies by ciid beetles

Abstract. 1. Ciid beetles typically live and breed in the fruiting bodies of lignicolous basidiomycete fungi. This study was undertaken to address the lack of an objective examination of patterns of host use by ciids.2. Cluster analysis of ciid host‐use datasets from Britain, Germany, North America, and Japan, and subsequent cross‐dataset comparisons, demonstrated the existence of ciid host‐use patterns of wide geographical occurrence. These patterns were formalised as ciid host‐use groups.3. Six Holarctic ciid host‐use groups, and two host‐use subgroups, were identified, and are described. Each host‐use group comprises an assemblage of fungal genera and the breeding ciids that it supports. Each taxon belongs to only a single host‐use group, but may be associated with several members of that group. There is a strong tendency for closely related taxa to belong to the same host‐use group.4. It is suggested that ciid host‐use groups are defined ultimately by host chemistry, with the ciids that belong to a particular group recognising, and responding positively to, emitted volatiles characterising the fungi belonging to that group.5. The idea of the host‐use group bears comparison with the concepts of niche and guild, but is not equivalent to either.6. Ciid host‐use groups have a valuable role to play in underpinning future studies of ciid ecology, also the systematics of both ciids and their fungal hosts.

The basidiomycete genus Polyporus – an emendation based on phylogeny and putative secondary structure of ribosomal RNA molecules

AbstractThe fungal genus Polyporus is an assemblage of white‐rotting lignicolous basidiomycetes. It has undergone considerable expansion and contraction over a period of two and three quarter centuries. Current generic circumscription of Polyporus has kept the genus non‐monophyletic. Species of Polyporus infrageneric group Polyporellus are closely related to some species of Lentinus. We introduce data for ITS2 spacer rRNA secondary structure evolution by quasi‐independent comparison with large subunit rRNA phylogeny, and suggest a fraction of primary nuclear rDNA ITS sequence data as novel taxonomic character. A major taxonomic shift is suggested, supported by molecular and morphological characters, and allowing inclusion of species with gilled hymenophores in Polyporus. Two new names are proposed: Polyporus phyllostipes D.Krüger, nom. nov. and Polyporus gerdai D.Krüger, nom. nov. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Species recognition, geographic distribution and host-pathogen relationships: a case study in a group of lignicolous basidiomycetes, Phellinus s.l.

Morphological, phylogenetic (sequencing of the ribosomal ITS region) and, if applicable, biological (pairings of single-spore testers) species recognition have been used to resolve relationships among 69 collections belonging to the Hymenochaetales genera Phellinus s.str. and Fomitiporia. The isolates originate from a variety of host plants in Europe, North America and Asia. Separate application of recognition modes led to differing results concerning the number of species, geographic distribution and host range. Sole application of morphological criteria was of limited value, especially in taxa exhibiting a wide distribution, both in terms of geographic origin and ecological niche. Relationships of putatively con-specific collections originating from different continents preferably should be resolved by using an integrative approach. In this study, application of a strict morphological approach led to the recognition of seven species. When using molecular and pairing test data, at least 12 species were detectable. Two of them, F. hesleri and F. polymorpha, are described as new. The number of Phellinus s.str. and Fomitiporia species supposed to have Northern Hemispheric or cosmopolitan distribution, when morphological characters are applied for species recognition, has been reduced significantly. As firm tendencies within morphological species, genetic divergence was more distinct in uniparental than in biparental taxa. In the latter, a strong correlation was observed between phylogenetic and biological species recognition. Overall length of the ribosomal ITS region clearly separated Phellinus s.str. and Fomitiporia but was of limited value as a diagnostic tool at species level. The level of innerspecific morphological plasticity of fruit bodies differs widely between even closely related species, suggesting that morphological transitions occur quite frequently in this fungal group. Considerable instability of the reproduction mode was evident in strains belonging to Phellinus tremulae and among closely related species of Fomitiporia.

Systematics of pleurotoid Russulaceae from Guyana and Japan, with notes on their ectomycorrhizal status

Three species of pleurotoid, putatively lignicolous basidiomycetes previously described in the genus Lactarius sect Panuoideiwere redescribed from fresh material collected in Guyana and Japan. In Guyana, Lactarius panuoides and Lactarius campinensis were restricted to forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal Dicymbe species (Caesalpiniaceae) and basidiomata of both pleurotoid species were subtended by ectomycorrhizal rootlets. This suggested an ectomycorrhizal nutritional mode for these fungi. Analysis of DNA sequences in the nuclear large subunit region taken from basidiomata and co-occurring ectomycorrhizae of L. panuoides and L. campinensis confirmed that these fungi are ectomycorrhizal and that their fruiting habit on organic deposits and well rotted wood at elevated positions is not due to saprotrophy, as previously assumed. Lactarius uyedae was collected in Japan from mature temperate forests dominated by Fagaceae, yet ectomycorrhizal rootlets were not found in association with the basidiomata. Morphological features and analysis of DNA sequences suggested that L. panuoides and L. uyedae have affinities with established sections of the genus Lactarius, regardless of the pleurotoid morphology of their basidiomata, and that L. campinensis should be transferred to the genus Russula. Discussion is provided for the genus Pleurogala, which was erected to accomodate putatively lignicolous, pleurotoid species of Lactarius.

RFLP analysis as a tool for identification of lignicolous basidiomycetes: European polypores

SummaryRestriction fragment length polymorphisms were generated for 52 species of lignicolous European polypores belonging to 31 different genera. An enzymatically amplified portion of the nuclear‐encoded ribosomal DNA was found to be about 1800–1900 bp long for most taxa. After digestion with Hpa II, 44 distinct phenotypes were detected for the species under study; application of the additional restriction endonucleases, Hin 6 I and Hinf I, resulted in 48 species‐specific and two genera‐specific phenotypes. The procedure described should allow for a reliable identification of unknown mycelia of lignicolous fungi.

Periodicity and Total Spore Production by Lignicolous Basidiomycetes

Periodicity and Total Spore Production by Lignicolous Basidiomycetes

Periodicity and Total Spore Production by Lignicolous basidiomycetes

SUMMARYTotal spore production by Polyporus pubescens, P. betulina, P. versicolor, Lenzites saepiaria, Fomes annosus, and F. fomentarius at hourly intervals was studied over a 24-hr period using the Dodecapus Hourly Total Spore Collector. Spore discharge ranged up to 3.1 × 107 spores per hr per cm2 of exposed hymenial surface (not the true area of the hymenium). Nocturnal patterns of spore release are reported for six species of Hymenomycetes studied in the greenhouse. Some evidence of double maxima was noted in Fomes fomentarius, Polyporus pubescens, and P. hirsutus. Single nighttime maxima are reported for Gymnopilus sp, F. annosus and P. albellus.

A Technique to Induce Sporocarp Production and Sporulation in Lignicolous Basidiomycetes

A Technique to Induce Sporocarp Production and Sporulation in Lignicolous Basidiomycetes

A Technique to Induce Sporocarp Production and Sporulation in Lignicolous Basidiomycetes

A Technique to Induce Sporocarp Production and Sporulation in Lignicolous Basidiomycetes