Species Of Myxomycetes Research Articles

Description and culture of a new succulenticolous Didymium (Myxomycetes)

A new succulenticolous Myxomycete species, Didymium wildpretii, found on decaying remains of various species of cacti, is described from two arid zones of the world. This species was collected from central Mexico, at the southern limit of the Chihua-huan Desert, and from the Canary Islands (Spain). The new species has small, pale yellow sporocarps, 0.1–0.7 mm high, that are sessile or have short, orange-yellow, calcareous stalks and small, uniformly warted spores. The stability of the taxonomic characters of the species was confirmed with both moist chamber cultures and spore-to-spore culture on agar. Life cycle events are described from germination to sporulation. Myxomycete specimens were examined with scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, and micrographs of relevant morphological details are included.

Two Species of Myxomycetes Causing Slime Mold of Sweet Potato

Specimens collected from sweet potato plants with slime mold symptoms in fields in Daejeon, Korea were examined. Two species of Myxomycetes, Fuligo septica and Stemonitis herbatica were identified based on their morphological characteristics. This is the first report that the two species of Myxomycetes cause slime mold of sweet potato in Korea.

Algae Associated with Myxomycetes and Leafy Liverworts on Decaying Spruce Logs

ABSTRACT Algae associated with leafy liverworts growing on decorticated red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) logs were investigated at study sites in the mountains of West Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Twelve taxa (nine cyanobacteria, two green algae and one diatom) were identified, but the microhabitat represented by the samples we examined was dominated by just three taxa, two cyanobacteria (Chroococcus tenax and Aphanothece saxicola) along with the green alga Chlorococcum humicola. The relative abundance and consistent presence of these organisms in this microhabitat suggest that they could represent a possible food source for certain species of myxomycetes with which they co-occur.

Myxomycetes of subantarctic Macquarie Island

Macquarie Island is an oceanic island located 1000 km south-east of Tasmania. The island, which lies close to but north of the Antarctic Convergence, is the southernmost island in the world with a fairly complete cover of vegetation. However, the vascular flora is impoverished and consists of only 46 species. During the period of late January to late April of 1995, 412 field collections of myxomycetes, representing at least 22 species in 11 genera, were obtained during the course of an intensive survey of fungal biodiversity on Macquarie Island. Moist-chamber cultures prepared with various types of plant debris yielded only 14 collections, but this total included three additional species and two additional genera. All but four of the species we recorded from the island are new records for the South Polar Region. Most field collections were associated with Stilbocarpa polaris (Araliaceae) and Pleurophyllum hookeri (Asteraceae), the usual dominants in the herbfield communities that commonly occur on upper beach slopes and coastal terraces. Trichia verrucosa (80 collections), Diderma alpinum (78) and Craterium leucocephalum (59) were the most consistently abundant myxomycetes. Other species represented by ≥15 collections were Didymium cf. dubium, Collaria lurida, Lamproderma arcyrioides and Didymium macquariense. The latter is a species new to science that was described from material collected during the present study. All of the species of myxomycetes now known to occur on Macquarie Island are members of the Trichiales, Physarales, Stemonitales or Echinosteliales; no member of the Liceales or Ceratiomyxales was ever collected.

Myxomycetes of the Radnor Lake State Natural Area, Davidson County, Tennessee

Abstract A survey for myxomycetes was conducted within the Radnor Lake State Natural Area, Davidson County, Tennessee from May 5 to October 2, 1994. Fruiting bodies that developed on samples of bark and plant debris placed in moist chamber cultures were used to supplement field collections. The present report deals with 225 specimens representing 57 species of myxomycetes. Three of these (Diderma floriforme, Physarella oblonga, and Comatricha longa) are new reports from Tennessee.

Myxomycetes on the bark of Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii (Proteaceae)

Myxomycetes on the bark of dead Banksia attenuata and B. menziesii from the Perth metropolitan area of Western Australia were surveyed by the moist chamber technique, to determine whether the flora was similar on both hosts and what were the most important variables that determined the distribution of the most common species. Twenty-seven species of myxomycetes were recovered, including six new records for Australia (Comatricha rigidireta, Echinostelium elachiston, Paradiacheopsis cf. cribrata, P. rigida, Stemonitopsis amoena and S. cf. hyperopta). Members of the order Stemonitales comprised the largest number of species, whereas members of the Liceales occurred on the most bark pieces. The most common species were Licea kleistobolus, Echinostelium minutum, Comatricha elegans, Cribraria minutissima and Paradiacheopsis fimbriata. Overall, B. menziesii and B. attenuata had very similar myxomycete productivity, diversity and species assemblage, as did the tops and bottoms of the logs. It was concluded that they provided very similar microhabitats for myxomycetes. Both pH and the relative moisture content of the bark had an effect on myxomycete productivity. Bark decomposition level, pH and bark surface (top or bottom) were the most important variables determining the distribution of the most common myxomycete species.

Secondary Metabolites of Slime Molds (Myxomycetes).

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

A taxonomic review of the nivicolous species of myxomycetes described by Kowalski. I. Order Stemonitales

Five type specimens of species from the order Stemonitales proposed by Kowalski are re-examined. These are Comatricha fusiforme, Diacheopsis effusa, D. serpula, Lamproderma acanthosporum and L. disseminatum. SEM and LM micrographs of spores, capillitia and sporocarps are provided. Critical study of these type specimens supports Kowalski’s recognition of these taxa as good and valid species.

Myxomycetes of Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Wilson County, Tennessee

Abstract A survey of myxomycetes was conducted at three sites within Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Wilson County, Tennessee from May 1 to September 30, 1993. Fructifications that developed on samples of bark and plant debris placed in moist chamber cultures were used to supplement field collections. The present report deals with 216 specimens representing 54 species of myxomycetes. Two of these (Comatricha fimbriata and Hemitrichia intorta) are new reports from Tennessee.

Tree canopy biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: ecological and developmental observations of a new myxomycete species of Diachea

A survey and inventory of tree canopy bio-diversity for cryptogams (myxomycetes, macrofungi, mosses, liverworts, lichens and ferns) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park resulted in the discovery of an undescribed myxomycete species. This taxon is classified in the order Physarales, family Di-dymiaceae and genus Diachea. A combination of morphological characteristics distinguishes Diachea arboricola H.W. Keller & M. Skrabal sp. nov. from all other species in the genus: peridium iridescent gold to silvery gray; stalk reddish orange above and whitish below, filled with crystals; capillitial threads stiff, dichotomously branched and arising from the tip of the columella; spore ornamentation uniformly covering the entire spore surface, appearing spiny with light microscopy, with scanning electron microscopy as vertical processes with capitate, clustered, spike-like tips. This type of spore ornamentation has not been found in any other Diachea species. Diachea arboricola is known only from the tree canopy, ranging in height from roughly 3 to 21 m, on three tree species, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana and Quercus alba. Observations of plasmodial growth and fruiting body development are described based on moist chamber cultures. Tree canopy observations in situ suggest that the plasmodium of this species migrates over extensive vertical areas of tree bark. Ecological factors are discussed that include pH of bark substrata. The species description is based on abundant sporangia from 17 different collections. A key to the species of Diachea is provided to aid in the identification of this taxon.

Tree Canopy Biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and Developmental Observations of a New Myxomycete Species of Diachea

Tree Canopy Biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Ecological and Developmental Observations of a New Myxomycete Species of Diachea

Culture and reproductive systems of 11 species of Mycetozoans

The culture and reproductive systems of 10 species (16 isolates) of myxomycetes and one species (one isolate) of protostelid were investigated. A single isolate of Ceratiomyxa fructiculosa was grown on agar and found to be nonheterothallic. This is the first report of spore-to-spore cultivation of this species and the first report of a reproductive system in the protostelids. Isolates of the myxomycetes Didymium dubium, Didymium iridis, Didymium vaccinum, Licea biforis, Perichaena vermicularis, Physarum gyrosum, Physarum pusillum (six isolates) and Semimorula liquescens all were nonheterothallic. This is the first report of culture and a reproductive system for D. vaccinum, the first report of nonheterothallism for S. liquescens and the second report of nonheterothallic isolates of D. dubium, Licea biforis, Perichaena vermicularis and P. gyrosum. The nonheterothallic isolate of D. iridis is one of many reported for this species, and the six nonheterothallic isolates of P. pusillum add to the seven nonheterothallic and two heterothallic isolates already known. In addition, five of the isolates of P. pusillum apparently represent a small form that is adapted to an ephemeral micohabitat, and the sixth is a yellow form of a species that is typically white. The Didymium ?ovoideum isolate and the two Physarum didermoides isolates have heterothallic reproductive systems. The D. ?ovoideum isolate is somewhat different from most isolates of this species in its morphology and reproductive system. It is not compatible with any of the heterothallic isolates of long-stalked Didymium, including the A0 biological species already determined for D. ovoideum; therefore, it is either a new biological species of D. ovoideum or a separate new species. The two heterothallic isolates of P. didermoides form a multiple allelic mating-type series with four alleles.

Floristics and ecology of Myxomycetes in China 1. A tentative list of known species

Four hundred and twelve species of Myxomycetes were reported. The list basically reflects the present knowledge of the species diversity and geographical distribution of Myxomycetes in China. In China, the species diversity of Myxomycetes in the north temperate regions is well known, but that in the tropical and subtropical regions is still inadequately known and will become a key research point in the future.

New records of Australian Myxomycota

Twenty‐eight species of myxomycetes and other related organisms not previously known to occur in Australia are reported along with 78 new state records. Records were obtained from collections made in the field and from moist chamber cultures prepared with samples of various types of organic material known to support the growth of myxomycetes. The majority of these samples consisted of bark from living trees and shrubs but some samples of litter, both ground and aerial, and dung also were collected. Physarum crateriforme var. columellatum comb. et stat. nov. is proposed as a new name. The number of species recorded from the continent now stands at 177, which represents approximately 20% of the total number of world species.

표고골목을 가해하는 주홍꼬리버섯의 완전세대 변화 및 2차 오염 해균상

1999년 12월부터 2001년 8월까지 주홍꼬리버섯 완전세대 형성 이후의 변화와 2차적으로 침입하는 다른 오염해 균을 조사하였다. 주홍꼬리버섯 자좌의 표면 색은 12개월 후 모두 적갈색에서 흑갈색으로 변하였다. 공구는 시간이 경과함에 따라 완전세대형성 초기보다 크기가 작아지고 단위면적당 갯수가 적어지다가 20개월 후에는 대부분의 시험골목에서 사라졌다. 자낭각과 자낭포자도 자좌 표면의 색 변화와 공구의 유무에 의해 반드시 영향을 받는 것은 아니었지만, 종균접종 이듬해 4월부터 서서히 없어지다가 20개월 후에는 시험골목 중 10% 정도에서만 포자를 갖는 자낭각이 발견되었다. 주홍꼬리버섯에 오염된 표고골목에 2차적으로 발생하는 다른 종류의 해균조사 결과, 검은혹버섯, Nodulisporium sp., 치마버섯, Trichoderma spp. 등이 주홍꼬리버섯 자좌 위에서 발견되었고 Penicillum sp.은 주홍꼬리버섯 포자 퇴 위에서 발견되었다. 이밖에 Hypoxylon howeianum, Enteridium lycoperdon, Fuligo sp., Physaurm umbiliciferum, Stemonitis fusca 등 4종의 점균류가 관찰되었다. 또한, 종균접종 이듬해 4월부터 일부 골목에서 주홍꼬리 버섯의 불완전세대(Libertella sp.)가 다시 발생하였다. Studies were conducted to investigate the changes of teleomorph of Diatrype stigma on bed-log of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and appearance of secondary harmful fungi from December 1999 to August 2001. The color of stroma was changed from red brown to dark brown after 12 months. The size of ostioles became smaller and the number of ostioles decreased as time passed. Most of the ostioles disappeared after 20 months from toleomorph formation. Perithecia and ascospores were gradually disappeared, and perithecia containing ascospores were observed at 10% of bed-logs tested after 20 months. Concerning the secondary harmful fungi infecting the bedlog of shiitake after teleomorph of D. stigma, Hypoxylon truncatum (Anamorph : Nodulisporium sp.), Schizophyllum commune and Trichoderma spp. were observed on stroma of D. stigma. Penicillium sp. occurred on spore-horn of Libertella sp. (Anamorph of D. stigma). Besides, Hypoxylon howeianum and some species of Myxomycetes were observed. Also, Libertella sp. appeared again at some bed-logs.

Vertical distribution and assemblages of corticolous myxomycetes on five tree species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Corticolous myxomycetes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were studied in relation to their association with certain tree species and height of occurrence in the forest canopy. Using the double-rope climbing method, bark was collected at 3 m increments to the tops of trees of five different species. Bark samples from 25 trees were used to prepare 418 moist chamber cultures maintained and observed 4 wk. Eighty-four myxomycete species were identified, including 30 species not known to occur in the park. Tree species, pH, height in tree and water-holding capacity of the bark samples were analyzed to determine the relationships of myxomycete assemblages cultured on the bark. Results suggested that myxomycete community composition among selected tree species were similar, but occurrence and abundance of certain species were related to differences in bark pH. Community similarity values among trees of different species show that trees with the most similar myxomycete communities also have the most similar bark pH. Most myxomycete species in this study have a pH optimum. No variation in species richness was detected at different heights in the trees, and most species were obtained at all heights up to at least 24 m. The water-holding capacity of the bark could not be correlated with species richness or abundance of myxomycetes that inhabit the bark of living trees. This is the first study to characterize myxomycete communities of tree canopies.

Development of Unexploited Microbial Resources: Natural Products from Slime Molds

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Calonema foliicola a new myxomycete from Mexico

A new species of myxomycete, Calonema foliicola Estrada, J. M. Ramírez & Lado, recorded in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Hidalgo and Tlaxcala is described. The most relevant characters of this species are the scattered, minute and stalked sporocarps, the red color of the sporotheca and the capillitium, with a faint and irregular reticulum.

Licea margaritacea, a new myxomycete from sycamore bark

A new species of corticolous myxomycete, Licea margaritacea, is described from bark of sycamore and Norway maple trees growing by the River Nith in Dumfries.

未利用菌類の資源化 変形菌からの天然物探索

The myxomycetes (true slime molds) are an unusual group of primitive organisms that may be assigned to one of the lowest classes of eukaryotes. As their fruit bodies are very small and it is very difficult to collect much quantity of slime molds, few studies have been made on the chemistry of myxomycetes. Cultivation of the plasmodium of myxomycetes in a practical scale for natural products chemistry studies is known only for very limited species such as Physarum polycephalum. We recently studied the laboratory-cultivation of myxomycetes and several species have been successfully cultured in agar plates. Chemical constituents of cultured plasmodia of several species of myxomycetes of the genera Didymium and Physarum were examined to obtain several sterols, new lipid, or pyrroloiminoquinone derivatives. Studies on the chemical constituents of the field-collected myxomycetes as well as synthetic studies of myxomycetes metabolites by other groups are also described here.