Polypore Fungi Research Articles

First fossil record of polypore fungus beetles from Lower Cretaceous amber of France

The first fossil genus and species of Tetratomidae (Coleoptera) is described, from the Lower Cretaceous amber deposits of France. The new genus represents the first insect to be recognized inside an opaque piece of amber, through the use of propagation phase contrast X-ray microtomography using synchrotron radiation. This new finding proves the capabilities of this imaging technique in amber inclusions, as well as increases the knowledge of fossil tenebrionoids, a group scarcely recognized in the Cretaceous fossil record.

Dead wood and polypore diversity in natural post-fire succession forests and managed stands – Lessons for biodiversity management in boreal forests

We tested the extent to which forestry mimics natural stand-replacing fire dynamics, and what factors best explain species richness and assemblages of polyporous fungi in natural northern boreal Picea abies-dominated forests and managed forests which were either clear-cut and planted with pine, or selectively logged. The amount of coarse woody debris (CWD) and diversity of polypores in old-growth forests and in forests at three natural post-fire successional stages (young, middle-aged, old) were compared with managed forests at comparable successional stages. Fire created a high amount of CWD, providing a supply of dead wood for saproxylic species for at least 50–70y. Dead wood volumes remained high throughout the natural forest succession, exceeding at all stages 18m3ha−1, the threshold value established in the study for the occurrence of red-listed species. The richness of polypore species was highest on young post-fire sites, and their species composition, including red-listed species, was comparable to that of old-growth forests (>300y) used as references. The amount of CWD in natural post-fire forests was over two to twenty times higher than that on clear-cut sites, and species diversity on clear-cut sites was considerably lower than on sites undergoing natural succession, with no occurrences of red-listed species. A relatively diverse polypore flora was found in selectively logged forests, likely due to rather a high volume and continuity of spruce CWD. The results indicate a strong but non-linear relationship between total volume of CWD and species richness of polypores, but successional stage and naturalness also explained part of the variation. The species assemblages were influenced most by the decay stage of CWD, tree species composition and naturalness of the site. The results demonstrate the importance of old-growth and young post-fire forests as landscape-level habitats and species pools, especially for red-listed species. We recommend that old-growth spruce forests be preserved whenever possible and that high CWD volumes be generated locally for red-listed species, for example, by prescribed burning. Regeneration forests for spruce, extended rotation periods and the use of logging techniques other than clear-cutting would help in maintaining species diversity in spruce-associated species in boreal forests.

A new species of Inonotus (Hymenochaetaceae) and Trametes cingulata (Polyporaceae) newly recorded from Brazil

Two interesting species found during a survey of polypore fungi in northwestern São Paulo State, Southeast Brazil, are described and illustrated. Inonotus multisetifer is proposed as a new species characterized by resupinate basidiomata with round to angular pores, 6–9 per mm, acute setal hyphae embedded in trama, subulate hymenial setae, and globose to subglobose basidiospores. Trametes cingulata constitutes a first record from Brazil.

Comparative Studies on the Induction of Trichoderma harzianum Mutanase by α-(1→3)-Glucan-Rich Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia of Laetiporus sulphureus

Mutanase (α-(1→3)-glucanase) is a little-known inductive enzyme that is potentially useful in dentistry. Here, it was shown that the cell wall preparation (CWP) obtained from the fruiting body or vegetative mycelium of polypore fungus Laetiporus sulphureus is rich in α-(1→3)-glucan and can be successfully used for mutanase induction in Trichoderma harzianum. The content of this biopolymer in the CWP depended on the age of fruiting bodies and increased along with their maturation. In the case of CWP prepared from vegetative mycelia, the amount of α-(1→3)-glucan depended on the mycelium age and also on the kind of medium used for its cultivation. All CWPs prepared from the individually harvested fruiting body specimens induced high mutanase activity (0.53–0.82 U/mL) in T. harzianum after 3 days of cultivation. As for the CWPs obtained from the hyphal mycelia of L. sulpureus, the maximal enzyme productivity (0.34 U/mL after 3 days of incubation) was recorded for CWP prepared from the 3 week-old mycelium cultivated in Sabouraud medium. Statistically, a high positive correlation was found between the total percentage content of α-(1→3)-glucan in the CWP and the mutanase activity.

Description of a new Psychoda Latreille species from Fennoscandia (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Psychoda cultella sp. n. is described. The new species is characterized by 16-segmented antennae with the three apicalflagellomeres globular, very short and partially fused; labellum with five terminal digital projections; aedeagus ca 1.7times the length of gonostylus; distiphallus bipartite, composed of a ventral phallomere with a roundish blunt tip and adorsal phallomere with pointed tip; basiphallus in lateral view sub-basally widened. The new species is known from Fin-land (29 localities) and Norway (6 localities), ranging from the southern boreal ecoregion to the subalpine zone. Psychodacultella sp. n. is mainly found in Malaise trap samples collected from moist coniferous forests and spruce mires (riparianforests, springs) and rarely from fens and subalpine heaths. Two male specimens from Norway were reared from fruiting bodies of polypore fungi (either Fomes fomentarius or Piptoporus betulinus).

Monitoring of beetles associated with fungi using Kaila traps

In the present work, we tested the possibilities of using modified window-flight Kaila traps for studying insects associated with fungi. Criteria allowing us to reveal the character of association between an insect and fungus have been developed. We analyzed the association between Staphylinidae and a species of polypore fungi. We assessed the suitability of Kaila traps for studying beetles associated with fungi, as well as their selectivity; we give recommendations on their use.

Phylogeographic relationships in the polypore fungus Pycnoporus inferred from molecular data

The genus Pycnoporus forms a group of four species known especially for producing high redox potential laccases suitable for white biotechnology. A sample of 36 Pycnoporus strains originating from different geographical areas was studied to seek informative molecular markers for the typing of new strains in laboratory culture conditions and to analyse the phylogeographic relationships in this cosmopolitan group. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal DNA and partial regions of β-tubulin and laccase lac3-1 gene were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees inferred from these sequences clearly differentiated the group of Pycnoporus cinnabarinus strains from the group of Pycnoporus puniceus strains into strongly supported clades (100% bootstrap value). Molecular clustering based on lac 3-1 sequences enabled the distribution of Pycnoporus sanguineus and Pycnoporus coccineus through four distinct, well supported clades and sub-clades. A neotropical sub-clade, grouping the P. sanguineus strains from French Guiana and Venezuela, corresponded to P. sanguineus sensu stricto. A paleotropical sub-clade, clustering the strains from Madagascar, Vietnam and New Caledonia, was defined as Pycnoporus cf. sanguineus. The Australian clade corresponded to P. coccineus sensu stricto. The Eastern Asian region clade, clustering the strains from China and Japan, formed a P. coccineus-like group. Laccase gene (lac 3-1) analysis within the Pycnoporus species can highlight enzyme functional diversity associated with biogeographical origin.

Silviculture as a disturbance regime: the effects of clear-cutting, planting and thinning on polypore communities in mixed forests

The structure of modern forest landscapes is profoundly affected by human-caused disturbances, particularly forest management; however, the effects and prospects of individual silvicultural techniques are insufficiently understood. This study distinguishes the effects of clear-cutting, planting and thinning on species richness and community composition of polypore fungi. In 2008–2009, 181 forest compartments (ranging from naturally regenerated deciduous stands to planted Picea abies stands and 0–137 years post clear-cutting) were explored in a hemiboreal landscape subjected to even-aged management. Altogether 104 polypore species were recorded. For species richness, time since clear-cutting was the most influential factor at both stand and landscape scales, followed by thinning. Clear-cuts had distinct polypore communities (including several red-listed species) whose species richness declined in time. Following 20 years post clear-cutting, species richness started to increase along different community–composition pathways determined by regeneration type. The communities developed after planting were moderately species rich at stand scale but homogeneous over larger areas. Thus, at landscape scale, mature unmanaged naturally regenerated stands hosted most species; thinning reduced species richness by approximately 15%, and among thinned stands, planted areas had a further 9–22% fewer species than naturally regenerated areas. In such variably managed landscape, silviculture appeared to create particularly distinct communities in young stands on nutrient-rich soils, which naturally provide polypores with a rich supply of small deciduous snags absent from stands artificially planted with P. abies and intensively thinned.

Legacies from natural forest dynamics: Different effects of forest management on wood-inhabiting fungi in pine and spruce forests

The species composition of wood-inhabiting fungi (polypores and corticoids) was investigated on 1138 spruce logs and 992 pine logs in 90 managed and 34 natural or near-natural spruce and pine forests in SE Norway. Altogether, the study included 290 species of wood-inhabiting fungi. Comparisons of logs with similar properties (standardized tree species, decay class, dimension class) in natural and managed forests showed a significant reduction in species number per log in managed spruce forests, but not in managed pine forests. The species number per log in managed spruce forests was 10–55% lower than on logs from natural spruce forests. The reduction was strongest on logs of large dimensions. A comparison of 200–400 spruce logs from natural and managed forests showed a 25% reduction in species richness corresponding to a conservative loss of ca. 40 species on a regional scale. A closer inspection revealed that species confined to medium and very decayed spruce logs were disfavored in managed forests, whereas species on early decay classes and decay generalists were unaffected. Similarly, species preferring large spruce logs were disfavored in managed forests. Forest management had strongest impact on low-frequent species in the spruce forests (more than 50% reduction), whereas common species were modestly affected. Corticoid fungi were more adversely affected than polypore fungi. These results indicate that wood-decaying fungi in pine forests are more adapted to forest disturbances than spruce-associated species. Management measures securing a continuous supply of dead wood are more important in spruce forests than in pine forests.

Investigation of Antiproliferative Effect of Ether and Ethanol Extracts of Birch Polypore Medicinal Mushroom, Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.:Fr.) P. Karst. (Higher Basidiomycetes) In Vitro Grown Mycelium

This paper describes the study conducted to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of ether and ethanol extracts isolated from Piptoporus betulinus against cancer-derived cells. The fungal material used for extract preparation and further experiments was obtained from in vitro grown strains of P. betulinus. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study evaluating antiproliferative potential of in vitro cultured birch polypore fungus. The effect of ether and ethanol extracts on cell proliferation, viability, and adhesion was assessed on colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cell line LS180, whereas the cytotoxicity effect was investigated in normal colon epithelium-derived cell line CCD 841 CoTr. Studied extracts highly decreased the viability of cancer cells, slightly inhibiting proliferation and tumor cell adhesion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Cytotoxicity of extracts against cells of normal colon epithelium origin was observed only at the highest studied concentration. The obtained results may seem interesting in comparison with previous studies on water extracts from natural grown P. betulinus. Future research on mycelial extract activity, as well as the content analysis, is needed.

Wood-decaying polypores in the mountains of central Argentina in relation to Polylepis forest structure and altitude

Abstract To determine how altitude and forest successional stage are related to richness and composition of wood-decaying polypore fungi in Polylepis mountain forests of central Argentina we sampled 48 forest plots of 900 m 2 which included a range of successional stages and altitudes. We recorded a total of 19 species and our main results show that overall richness increased with forest successional stage and altitude, while endemic species richness was positively related only to altitude. Polypore community structure as exemplified by DCA Axes 1 and 2 was also related only to altitude with no pattern with forest successional stage, meaning polypore species are added during succession with no loss of early successional species. We conclude these forests must be managed to promote more mature forests and emphasis must be placed on a range of altitudes, especially highland areas where slow decomposition allows for a more diverse polypore community.

A unified measure of the number, volume and diversity of dead trees and the response of fungal communities

Summary 1. Much of ecological research focuses on the responses of species and species communities to variation in the amount and quality of resources that are required for survival and reproduction. In such research, it is critical to measure the availability of resources in a manner that is relevant in relation to the ecological requirements of the species. 2. We have developed a measure for resource availability that integrates the contributions of the number, volume and diversity of resource units to quantify the amount of habitat that is available for a species community. We apply this measure to data on the occurrence of 116 species of wood‐decaying polyporous fungi in 47 study plots of boreal forest within an area of 150 × 150 km. 3. We show that species richness and pooled abundance of common species is explained well by the number of downed logs, whereas the occurrence of 41 red‐listed species is best explained by the total volume of logs and by the abundance of large logs in particular. The occurrence of common species is explained by the local availability of dead wood, whereas the occurrence of red‐listed species is additionally affected by the spatial connectivity of the focal forest stand to the surrounding larger expanses of old‐growth forest. 4. Our results elicit the contrasting ecologies of common and red‐listed species in relation to how the number of logs, their size distribution and diversity, and forest connectivity affect species occurrences. The results suggest that the most cost‐effective means of preventing further declines of threatened species is to increase the amount of large downed logs through restoration and biodiversity‐oriented management in the vicinity of existing areas of natural‐like forests. 5. Synthesis. Our results illustrate that the most relevant way of measuring resource availability can differ greatly even within a taxonomically coherent community seemingly sharing the same resources. Our approach for modelling resource availability applies to the resources that occur as discrete objects with variation in the size and quality of individual resource units.

Recovery of water-soluble compounds from Ganoderma lucidum by hydrothermal treatment

The polypore fungus Ganoderma lucidum provides bioactive compounds containing several triterpenoids and polysaccharides that are reported to posses anti-cancerous and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we determined the optimal conditions for extracting water-soluble polysaccharide compounds present in the ground form (3-mm particle size) of G. lucidum using water in subcritical conditions at distinct temperatures by two methods: batch-type subcritical water extraction and semi-continuous-type extraction. The optimal condition where solubility is higher to recover the maximum total amount of β-glucan from G. lucidum (0.44 mg/100 g dried sample) was determined to be 473 K at 10 MPa, with a water flow rate of 1 ml/min for 130 min. For batch-type and semi-continuous-type extractions, the best solubility was obtained at 473 K having efficiencies of 78.1% and 57.4%, and the highest extracted amounts of total WSOC were 328 and 241 mg WSOC/g dry sample, respectively.

Factors of species-specific detectability in conservation assessments of poorly studied taxa: The case of polypore fungi

The differing detectability of species is an important issue in conservation assessments, notably for interpreting the heterogeneous datasets of species-rich, poorly-studied species groups. However, detectability has not been explicitly considered in such cases so far. The aim of this study was to extract the main factors of detectability for polypore fungi. I explored interspecific variation in the number of fruit-body records in Estonia (13 210 records of 212 species) in relation to five potential factors of their detectability: longevity, size, bright colour, typical microhabitat and field identificability. The longevity and identificability of fruit-bodies emerged as major factors, with their extreme combinations revealing a variation of over two orders of magnitude in the number of records. The possibility that these factors are related to true abundances in the field cannot be rejected, but it is unlikely. The approach enables us to formally distinguish rarely observed but poorly detectable species that should be classified as Data Deficient in the red-listing process; it can also be used for recognizing well detectable indicator and focal species for conservation management.

Optimization of Culture Conditions for the Biodegradation of Lindane by the Polypore Fungus Ganoderma australe

The bracket-like polypore fungus, Ganoderma australe, was selected for its potential to degrade lindane in liquid agitated sterile cultures. An orthogonal central composite design based on response surface methodology was used to find the optimum biodegradation and biosorption conditions of this pesticide and the growth conditions of the fungus. The factors tested include nitrogen content, initial concentration of lindane, incubation time, and temperature. The optimization parameters investigated were fungus biomass, fungus growth rate, final pH, specific biodegradation, specific biosorption, specific biodegradation rate, biodegraded to biosorbed ratio. The results of the experiments were statistically analyzed and the significance and effect of each factor on responses was assessed. The optimum (maximum) lindane biodegradation (3.11 mg biodegraded lindane per gram biomass) was obtained with nitrogen content of 1.28 g/L, lindane concentration of 7.0 ppm, temperature of 18.0°C, and 5 days of cultivation time.

Positive relationship between wood size and basidiocarp production of polypore fungi in Alnus acuminata forest

Polypores play a major role in wood decomposition. Based on presence/absence of basidiocarps, it has been shown that richness of polypores in forests is strongly affected by the size of logs. However, no study has addressed the relationship between the log size and basidiocarp production. Here, we examined the relationship between log diameter and number of basidiocarps and volume of the fructification (as surrogate of biomass) of the polypore community in Andean Alder forests from Northwest Argentina. We found a positive relationship between log diameter and basidiocarp production in the whole community analysis (fructifications of all species). This pattern was also followed by dominant species ( Bjerkandera adusta , Trametes cubensis and T. versicolor ) analyzed individually. The relationship was generally higher for volume of fructification than for number of basidiocarps. Through these effects on basidiocarp production, higher log diameter could promote higher sexual spore production and dispersal hence a higher genetic variability and viable populations of wood-decay species.

Description of Metalimnobia (Metalimnobia) charlesi sp. n. from Europe (Diptera, Limoniidae)

The cranefly species Metalimnobia (Metalimnobia) charlesi sp. n. is described from Europe, and a photograph of the wing and illustrations of the male terminalia are provided. This new species is closely related to M. (M) quadrimaculata (Linnaeus), but it can be distinguished by differences in some external and genital characters. The larva of the new species is most probably saproxylic, being associated with polyporous fungi on decaying deciduous trees. M. (M) charlesi sp. n. is known from Finland, Slovakia and Sweden.

Host and habitat preferences of polypore fungi in Micronesian tropical flooded forests

The distribution and ecological impacts of plant-associated fungi is determined in large part by their degree of specificity for particular host species or environmental conditions. Here we evaluate the host and habitat preferences among the Aphyllophorales, a guild of wood-decay basidiomycete fungi usually considered to be host generalists. We determined the patterns of host association in three well-defined, floristically distinct, tropical wetlands — freshwater forested wetlands, saltwater mangrove forests, and peatlands with scattered trees — on the islands of Kosrae and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Of 33 fungal species, 20 were locally rare. Of the 11 species sufficiently common to evaluate habitat specificity, nine showed significant habitat preferences. Of eight species common enough to evaluate within-habitat host specificity, six showed strong host preferences. All except one of the nine habitat-specialized fungi showed either statistically significant host specificity or strong numerical biases toward single host species. Our results suggest that host preferences may be important in shaping the assemblages of wood-decay fungi, and that the effect of environment on the distribution of susceptible plant species, rather on the fungi themselves, may ultimately drive the apparent habitat specificity of many fungi.

Bioremediation of a soil contaminated by lindane utilizing the fungus Ganoderma australe via response surface methodology

Mixtures of a sandy soil and wheat straw were doped with the organochlorine insecticide lindane in glass tubes and were inoculated with the polypore fungus, Ganoderma australe. An evaluation of bioremediation process effectiveness was searched and five parameters identified for the solid-state system. Fungi growth is a function of temperature and requires moisture for a proper colonization. These microorganisms need inorganic nutrients such nitrogen and phosphorus to support cell growth and it is also appropriate to know the range of concentration and toxicity of the used insecticide. Thus, an orthogonal central composite design (CCD) of experiments was used to construct second order response surfaces. Five design factors, namely temperature, moisture, straw, lindane content and nitrogen content and seven optimization parameters (responses), namely lag time, propagation velocity, biomass growth rate, biodegradation rate, biodegradation/biomass, biomass/propagation and biomass content were analyzed. The optima of the responses of the adequate models were found to be the following: propagation velocity 4.25 mm/day, biomass growth rate 408 mg/day, biodegradation/biomass 56.9 μg/g, biomass/propagation 250 mg/mm and fungal biomass content in solid mixture 260 mg/cm 3. The most important response for bioremediation purposes is biodegradation/biomass which is maximized at the factors levels: temperature 17.3 °C, moisture 58%, straw content 45%, lindane content 13 ppm and nitrogen content 8.2 ppm.

Evaluation of cytotoxic activities of some medicinal polypore fungi from China

The petrol ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of eight medicinal polypore fungi from China were evaluated for cytotoxic activities using MTT-dye assay. All the petrol ether and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited cytotoxicity against human cervix epitheloid carcinoma cell lines (Hela) and human hepatoma cell lines (SMMC-7721). Cytotoxicity activity was also observed in the methanol extracts of Phellinus conchatus and Pycnoporus sanquineus, but the methanol extracts from Cryptoporus volvatus, Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes hornodermus, Lenzites betulina, Trametes gibbosa and Trametes orientalis showed weak activity when compared with quercetin.