Saprobic Fungi Research Articles

Amphisphaeria hongheensis sp. nov. (Amphisphaeriaceae, Amphisphaeriales) from Yunnan Province, China

Yunnan Province encompasses the highest fungal diversity in China, and novel fungal species are regularly introduced. Several saprobic fungi were collected during surveys of fungi associated with woody plants in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. The fungi samples were initially identified as Amphisphaeria. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis based on combined datasets of LSU, ITS, rpb2, and tub2 regions and morphological characteristics confirmed that the samples represent a previously unidentified fungus belonging to Amphisphaeria, which is named A. hongheensis sp. nov. This paper provides a full description, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree showing the new species' taxonomic placement.

Лихенобиота заказника «Лисинский» (Ленинградская область)

The revealed lichen diversity of the Lisinsky Protected Area counts 296 species, including 262 lichens, 20 lichenicolous fungi, and 14 non-lichenized saprobic fungi. The species Normandina chlorococca is reported for the first time for Russia, Gyalidea minuta, Lecanora substerilis, Lecidea betulicola, Vezdaea stipitata are new to the North-Western European Russia, and Fellhanera bouteillei is new to the Leningrad Region. The territory is represented by a significant diversity of lichens and related fungi, including 28 protected species, indicator species and habitat specialists of biologically valuable forests. The communities formed by old-growth spruces and aspens are of greatest value for the conservation of lichen biota, as far as in such biotopes the species associated with biologically valuable forests are most often found in complexes.

The polyphasic approach reveals ten novel and one known Ascomycota taxa from terrestrial agarwood‐producing trees

AbstractAquilaria (Thymelaeaceae), a tropical and subtropical plant, is one of the main genera that can produce agarwood. Aquilaria sinensis and Aquilaria yunnanensis are native Chinese tree species, and A. sinensis is China's main agarwood source. Agarwood is a nontimber forest product with high economic and medicinal value. First‐grade agarwood is sold as much as $100 000 per kilogram. There has been little research on the saprobic fungi associated with Aquilaria, with only 11 records having been reported. In the present study, 10 terrestrial saprobic fungi associated with A. sinensis and A. yunnanensis were collected in China. Based on morphological and phylogenetic studies, these 10 collections are introduced herein as one new genus (Aquilariomyces), nine new species – Aquilariomyces aquilariae, Corynespora aquilariae, Melomastia maomingensis, Nigrograna aquilariae, Parathyridariella aquilariae, Peroneutypa maomingensis, Phaeoseptum aquilariae, Pseudothyridariella aquilariae, and Triangularia aquilariae, and one known species (Camarographium clematidis). Descriptions, illustrations of morphological characteristics, photo plates, phylogenetic trees, and the results of a pairwise homoplasy index test (PHI) test results are provided.

Limited role of fungal diversity in maintaining soil processes in grassland soil under concurrent fungicide stress

BackgroundFungicides are an effective tool for protecting crops and maintaining a steady food supply. However, as pathogens continue to evolve, it is crucial to prolong the effectiveness of fungicides by delaying resistance development. A key strategy to achieving this is to combine or rotate fungicides with different modes of action. As fungicides lack specificity, they inevitably affect both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi when surrounding environments are unintentionally contaminated. Our study aims to investigate the effects of recommended application methods to prevent resistance development, specifically repeated-single fungicide, simultaneous mixture, and sequential applications on non-target soil fungi, and the subsequent impacts on important soil processes. We used fungicides with different modes of action on soil microcosms inoculated with fungi at varying levels of diversity (3, 5, and 8 species) isolated from a protected grassland.ResultsWe found that repeated treatments of individual isopyrazam and prothioconazole differentially inhibited fungal activity. Although mixture applications are considered more protectant against crop pathogen resistance than repeated application, our study revealed stronger negative effects of simultaneous application on saprobic fungi and consequently on soil processes. However, contrary to expectations, higher fungal diversity did not translate to improved soil function under these conditions.ConclusionsThe simultaneous application of fungicides with different modes of action (MoA) has more pronounced non-target effects on soil compared to the individual or sequential application of fungicides. These non-target effects extend beyond the intended control of pathogenic fungi, impacting saprobic and beneficial soil microbes and the critical processes they drive. When fungicides are applied concurrently, microbial activities in the soil are significantly altered, even in soils with high microbial diversity. Our study emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the unintended consequences of fungicide use in agriculture. As we strive for a secure food supply, it is crucial to investigate the broader environmental impacts of these chemical interventions, including their effects on non-pathogenic fungi and overall soil health.

One new species and a new record of saprobic fungi from Ananas comosus in northern Thailand

Pineapple is one of the major crops in northern Thailand. Like all the other plants, it has associated with it, a wide range of fungi, which may be saprobic, pathogenic, or endophytic. This study investigated fungi associated with pineapple in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. Based on morphology and multilocus phylogeny of the ITS and LSU sequence data, Anthracocystis ananatum is described as a new species with its detailed asexual morph. Compared to other Anthracocystis species, A. ananatum has a distinctive morphotype that includes septate hyphae, conidigenous cells, and conidiophores. In addition, Spegazzinia tessarthra is reported for the first time as a new host and geographic record. The complete descriptions, photo-micrographs, and phylogenies of the new species Anthracocystis ananatum and a new host and geographic record S. tessarthra are provided and discussed.

Integrating waste valorization and symbiotic microorganisms for sustainable bioremediation of metal(loid)-polluted soils

Remediation strategies for metal(loid)-polluted soils vary among the wide range of approaches, including physical, chemical, and biological remediation, or combinations of these. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a set of soil remediation treatments based on the combined application of inorganic (marble sludge) and organic amendments (vermicompost, and dry olive residue [DOR] biotransformed by the saprobic fungi Coriolopsis rigida and Coprinellus radians) and inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) (Rhizophagus irregularis and Rhizoglomus custos). The treatments were applied under greenhouse conditions to soil residually polluted by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Pb, As, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Sb), and wheat was grown in the amended soils to test the effectiveness of the treatments in reducing soil toxicity and improving soil conditions and plant performance. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of the treatments on the main soil properties and microbial activities, as well as on PTE availability and bioaccumulation in wheat plants. Overall, the results showed a positive influence of all treatments on the main soil properties. Treatments consisting of a combination of marble and organic amendments, especially biotransformed DOR amendments, showed the greatest effectiveness in improving the soil biological status, promoting plant growth and survival, and reducing PTE availability and plant uptake. Furthermore, AMF inoculation further enhanced the efficacy of DOR amendments by promoting the immobilization of PTEs in soil and stimulating the phytostabilization mechanisms induced by AMFs, thus playing an important bioprotective role in plants. Therefore, our results highlight that biotransformed DOR may represent an efficient product for use as a soil organic amendment when remediating metal(loid)-polluted soils, and that its application in combination with AMFs may represent a promising sustainable bioremediation strategy for recovering soil functions and reducing toxicity in polluted areas.

Enhancement of soil aggregation and physical properties through fungal amendments under varying moisture conditions.

Soil structure and aggregation are crucial for soil functionality, particularly under drought conditions. Saprobic soil fungi, known for their resilience in low moisture conditions, are recognized for their influence on soil aggregate dynamics. In this study, we explored the potential of fungal amendments to enhance soil aggregation and hydrological properties across different moisture regimes. We used a selection of 29 fungal isolates, recovered from soils treated under drought conditions and varying in colony density and growth rate, for single-strain inoculation into sterilized soil microcosms under either low or high moisture (≤-0.96 and -0.03 MPa, respectively). After 8 weeks, we assessed soil aggregate formation and stability, along with soil properties such as soil water content, water hydrophobicity, sorptivity, total fungal biomass and water potential. Our findings indicate that fungal inoculation altered soil hydrological properties and improved soil aggregation, with effects varying based on the fungal strains and soil moisture levels. We found a positive correlation between fungal biomass and enhanced soil aggregate formation and stabilization, achieved by connecting soil particles via hyphae and modifying soil aggregate sorptivity. The improvement in soil water potential was observed only when the initial moisture level was not critical for fungal activity. Overall, our results highlight the potential of using fungal inoculation to improve the structure of agricultural soil under drought conditions, thereby introducing new possibilities for soil management in the context of climate change.

Towards establishing a fungal economics spectrum in soil saprobic fungi.

Trait-based frameworks are promising tools to understand the functional consequences of community shifts in response to environmental change. The applicability of these tools to soil microbes is limited by a lack of functional trait data and a focus on categorical traits. To address this gap for an important group of soil microorganisms, we identify trade-offs underlying a fungal economics spectrum based on a large trait collection in 28 saprobic fungal isolates, derived from a common grassland soil and grown in culture plates. In this dataset, ecologically relevant trait variation is best captured by a three-dimensional fungal economics space. The primary explanatory axis represents a dense-fast continuum, resembling dominant life-history trade-offs in other taxa. A second significant axis reflects mycelial flexibility, and a third one carbon acquisition traits. All three axes correlate with traits involved in soil carbon cycling. Since stress tolerance and fundamental niche gradients are primarily related to the dense-fast continuum, traits of the 2nd (carbon-use efficiency) and especially the 3rd (decomposition) orthogonal axes are independent of tested environmental stressors. These findings suggest a fungal economics space which can now be tested at broader scales.

Pseudoconiocessia xishuangbannaensis gen. et sp. nov. in Coniocessiaceae, Xylariales from Coffea liberica in China

During a survey of saprobic fungi on coffee samples in Yunnan Province, China, in 2020 and 2022, fungal fruiting bodies on decaying Liberian coffee twigs were collected and isolated. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined ITS, LSU, and RPB2 genes showed that the two isolated fungal strains belonged to a distinct species in Coniocessiaceae and were well separated from closely related genera with 73% ML and 0.92 PP statistical support. Morphologically, this distinct species can be differentiated from other genera in Coniocessiaceae by aseptate hamathecium, 4–8-spored asci with a flat apical ring, and fusiform ascospores, conical at the lower end. Based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses, the two fungal strains are described as a distinct new genus Pseudoconiocessia, within Coniocessiaceae. Pseudoconiocessia is introduced here with Pseudoconiocessia xishuangbannaensis as the type species.

Дополнение к лихенобиоте о. Парамушир (Северные Курильские острова, Российский Дальний Восток)

The paper provides data on 143 species, one subspecies, and one variety of lichens, 13 species of lichenicolous fungi and one species of non-lichenized saprobic fungus from Paramushir Island. One hundred thirty-eight taxa are reported for this territory for the first time. Of them, Lecanora confusa is reported for the first time for Russia, eight species are new to the Russian Far East, 36 species and one variety are new to the Sakhalin Region, 20 species are listed for the first time for the Kuril Islands, and 72 species for Paramushir Island. Substrates and coordinates of collection sites are given for all species. The nearest known localities are given for species first found in the Kuril Islands, the Sakhalin Region or the Russian Far East.

Первое исследование видового разнообразия лишайников острова Сескар (Финский залив, Ленинградская область)

The revealed lichen diversity of Seskar Island has a total of 292 species, including 263 lichenized, 20 lichenicolous, and nine non-lichenized saprobic fungi. Stigmidium microcarpum is new to European Russia, Caloplaca alcarum, Cryptodiscus muriformis, C. pini, and C. tabularum are new to North-Western European Russia; Lecidella subviridis and Pyrenidium actinellum are new to the Leningrad Region. The most interesting result of the investigation is the discovery of the single modern population of the red-listed Flavocetraria nivalis in the Leningrad Region. The lichen biota of Seskar Island is moderately rich compared to other islands of the Gulf of Finland.

A novel genus and new records of Dothideomycetes associated with Litchi chinensis litter from Guangdong Province, China

ABSTRACT Litchi chinensis (lychee) is one of the most important tropical fruit crops in Asia. Despite the annual increase in research on lychee fungal pathogens, few studies have been conducted on saprobic lychee litter fungi, which may also be sources of pathogens. We collected samples from Guangdong Province, China during our biodiversity survey on leaf litter fungi. The collected species were isolated and identified using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined internal transcribed spacer nrDNA (ITS), large subunit nrDNA (LSU), small subunit nrDNA (SSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α). Based on morphological and molecular data, we herein introduce a new genus, Pseudoneohendersonia, belonging to Neohendersoniaceae with the type species P. guangdongensis sp. nov. Additionally, we identified three new host records associated with L. chinensis viz. Crassiparies quadrisporus, Rhytidhysteron neorufulum, and Rhytidhysteron tectonae. We provide full descriptions, illustrations, and multigene phylogenetic trees for the novel genus and new records. This study expands the understanding of lychee associated saprobic fungal diversity.

Saprobic Dothideomycetes from Yunnan, China: introducing a new species, Queenslandipenidiella lingcangensis, and a new host record for Periconia byssoides

ABSTRACT South China is a hotspot for fungal diversity. During investigations of saprobic fungi in Yunnan Province, we collected and identified a new species, Queenslandipenidiella lingcangensis, and a new host record of Periconia byssoides from dead woody twigs of Cryptocarya hainanensis and Ehretia acuminata, respectively. Both morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS and LSU sequence data supported the placement of the new taxa within Queenslandipenidiella with high statistical support. The new taxon is characterised by numerous, erect, hairy, and dark brown to black colonies, macronematous, solitary or gregarious, oblong, dark brown, branching penicillate conidiophores with 5−6-septate, mono- to polyblastic, terminal, narrowly ellipsoidal to subcylindrical, pale brown to brown conidiogenous cells with 1–2-celled, globose to subglobose, aseptate, thick-walled, hyaline greenish-brown to brown conidia. We provide descriptions, illustrations, phylogenetic analyses results, and notes discussing the new species and the new record.

Research Advances in Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Ecology, and Distribution of the Genus Cladophialophora

The genus Cladophialophora was established in 1980. Prior to this study, a total of 63 species had been validated and assigned to this genus. The members of Cladophialophora have been recognized as human pathogens that cause chromoblastomycosis and various other skin diseases. Beyond its pathogenic role, some members of this genus are associated with a range of lifestyles, as phytopathogens, endophytic fungi, saprobic fungi, rock-inhabiting fungi, and lichenicolous fungi. In this study, we present background information and recent research progress regarding the genus Cladophialophora by elucidating its taxonomic history, species diversity, classification outline, ecology, and geographical distribution. Additionally, the phylogenetic placement of the members of this genus has been updated based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, the issues and perspectives in this genus are summarized. This article provides researchers with valuable information and increases the understanding of Cladophialophora, which will be useful for further research (taxonomy, phylogeny, distribution, diversity, ecological roles and medical fields) in this genus.

Taxonomic classification of Praeclarispora herbicola comb. nov. in Leptosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales)

During our ongoing study of ascomycetes in Yunnan Province of China, a saprobic fungus was collected on a dead stem of Bidens pilosa (black-jack) in Yunnan Province, China. Preliminary identification based on the LSU, SSU, and ITS nucleotide BLAST searches demonstrated that the new isolate is related to Praeclarispora artemisiae and Phragmogibbera herbicola. Praeclarispora artemisiae and Ph. herbicola are morphologically resembled in having erumpent to superficial, subglobose, ostiolate ascomata, composed of thick-walled, carbonaceous or coriaceous, scleroplectenchymatous celled peridium, 8-spored, bitunicate, narrowly obovoid to cylindric-clavate asci and fusiform, versicolor, septate, thin- and smooth-walled ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses of the combined LSU, SSU, and ITS sequence dataset revealed that the new isolate shared the same branch length with Ph. herbicola but clustered with Pr. artemisiae in Leptosphaeriaceae. Hence, Ph. herbicola is transferred to Praeclarispora, and the new combination, Praeclarispora herbicola comb. nov. is introduced herein. The new isolate shows to be conspecific with Pr. herbicola based on morphological characteristics and is also supported by phylogenetic evidence. Therefore, our new isolate is identified as Pr. herbicola which is reported on Bidens pilosa for the first time.

Morphology and multi-gene phylogeny reveal a new Brunneofusispora species from coffee in Yunnan Province, China

Coffee is one of the most important cash crops native to north-central Africa, and the second most popular beverage ingredient worldwide. Coffee-associated fungal pathogens have been well studied, but few studies have reported saprobes of coffee. In China, Yunnan Province is the main region of coffee plantations and production. To investigate saprobic fungi of coffee plants, dead branches of Coffea with fungal fruiting bodies were collected in Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, China. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of SSU, ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TEF1-α sequence data indicated that our collections formed an independent branch within Brunneofusispora and sister to B. sinensis. The new species B. baoshanensis, characterized by uniloculate ascomata with an erumpent long neck, and inequilateral, ends acute, 1-septate, constricted at the septum ascospores with mucilaginous sheath, was identified based on morphology and multi-gene phylogeny. This is the first report of Brunneofusispora species isolated from Coffea in China. A complete description, micrographs, and a phylogenetic tree showing the placement of the new species are provided.

Morphology and phylogenetic analyses reveal Neopalmiascoma gen. nov. (Bambusicolaceae, Pleosporales) on Macadamia integrifolia in Yunnan Province, China

Macadamia integrifolia, one of the cash crops widely grown in the tropical and subtropical regions produces edible kernels with high oil content. Several fungal pathogens have been reported from this host, but very few studies on saprobic fungi have been carried out. As a part of our studies on saprobic fungi of edible nuts, dead branches of Macadamia integrifolia with fungal fruiting bodies were collected from Yunnan Province of China. Molecular analyses of combined SSU, ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TEF1-α sequence data showed that our collection belongs to Bambusicolaceae and forms a distinct branch with other genera in this family. Our collection fits well with the Bambusicolaceae, and morphology is similar to Palmiascoma but can be distinguished by molecular data. Therefore, we introduce our collection as Neopalmiascoma gen. nov., with N. macadamiae as the type species. A description, photo plate, and phylogenetic tree to show the taxonomic placement of the new species are provided.

Novel Sarcoscypha Species from National Parks in Korea: Sarcoscypha humida sp. nov.

Sarcoscypha (Sarcoscyphaceae, Pezizales) is a saprobic fungus characterized by the cup or disc-shaped blight red apothecium and oblong to ellipsoid ascospores. The 18 species of Sarcoscypha were known to occur in Europe, North America, and tropical Asia. However, up to date, only two Sarcoscypha species have been reported in Korea. In this study, novel Sarcoscypha specimens were collected from Juwangsan, Odaesan, and Taebaeksan National Parks from September to October in Korea. This species is well distinguished from other Sarcoscypha species according to the molecular and phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Here, we provided detailed descriptions with illustrations and a phylogenetic tree to report our specimens as novel Sarcoscypha species.

Insights into the molecular phylogeny and morphology of three novel Dothiora species, along with a worldwide checklist of Dothiora.

Most species of Dothiora are known from the dead parts of various host plants as saprobic fungi in terrestrial habitats occurring in tropical and temperate regions. In the present study, samples of Dothiora were collected from dead twigs and branches of Capparis spinosa, Rhaponticum repens, and an unknown angiosperm plant from the Tashkent and Jizzakh regions of Uzbekistan. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on a combined ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF1, and TUB2 sequence data revealed their taxonomic positions within the Dothideaceae. Three new species of Dothiora, namely, Dothiora capparis, Dothiora rhapontici, and Dothiora uzbekistanica were proposed by molecular and morphological data. Likewise, the phylogenetic relationship and morphology of Dothiora are discussed. In addition, we provide a list of accepted Dothiora species, including host information, distribution, morphology descriptions, and availability of sequence data, to enhance the current knowledge of the diversity within Dothiora.

Lithuanian lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the herbaria of the University of Tartu (Estonia) and the University of Latvia

Herbarium collections are particularly significant in countries where systematic studies of specific taxonomic groups have not been carried out, such as in the case of lichens in Lithuania. Collections prior to the 1990s are scarce, so all historical material is of great value. This paper presents the results of a study of lichen collections in the herbaria of the University of Tartu (TU) and the University of Latvia (RIG). A total of 425 herbarium envelopes (84 RIG and 341 TU) were examined. A total of 170 species were identified, including 157 lichen species, 12 lichenicolous and one non-lichenized saprobic fungi species. Nine lichen species were identified from envelopes that did not indicate the exact location except for the country (Lithuania). Two lichenicolous fungi, Endococcus nanellus and Stigmidium lecidellae, are new records for the country.