Abstract

Can we live without fungi? Microscopic entities or giants, friends or killers, degraders or producers, they all play crucial roles for life on our planet. Their presence has accompanied the history of humanity, but for a long time, due their largely hidden and unseen actions, their importance was not fully acknowledged and their phylogenetic relationships with animals and plants were erroneously described. Nowadays we are aware that fungi are powerful organisms, which can offer us new pharmaceuticals, help cleaning up waters and soils from contaminants, and provide crucial support to the green inhabitants of the planet. The aim of this presentation is to illustrate different strategies developed by fungi in order to beneficially interact with land plants. Fossil data reveal that fungi resembling modern Glomeromycotina were already associated with first land plants around 450 MYA. However, only today, thanks to the use of -omics technology, we can decipher their enigmatic genomes, reconstruct their metabolic pathways, describe their impact on plants, and identify the molecules involved in the dialogue occurring with their hosts. Thanks to this wealth of data, we can finally make hypotheses on the evolution and molecular mechanisms that make fungi so successful in time and space. Mycorrhizal fungi create networks not only with plants, but also with other soil inhabitants like animals, other fungi and bacteria. The dialogue with bacteria is particularly fascinating. Bacteria can live on the surface of mycelia and spores or, in a more intimate way, as endocellular symbionts inside fungal cells. In the past, the interactions between bacteria and fungi were mostly described as antagonistic in nature, however, most recent data describe cooperative activities between fungi and bacteria. Increasing attention is currently given to the concepts of microbiota and holobiont. In this context, on one hand mycorrhizal fungi are part of the plant microbiota, and represent a key component of the plant holobiont; on the other hand, they also possess their own microbiota. Thus, analogous to animals and plants, a mycorrhizal fungus may be seen at the center of a complex network of inter-kingdom interactions. An example of this tripartite symbiosis is Gigaspora margarita, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus that associates both with many plants and diverse endobacterial populations. Deciphering these multiple interactions will be a future goal, which may provide interesting insights into the capacity of mycorrhizal fungi to modulate their responses depending on the organism with whom they interact.

Abstract

Abstract

Species distribution models have become an important tool to assess different issues in fields as biogeography, ecology, evolution, and climatic change. Although they have been commonly used in other organisms, just a limited number of studies about lichen-forming fungi have included modeling approaches. Species distribution models allow us to recognized those areas with favorable ecological conditions to species could develop outside their known localities, and to determine rare or threatened species, contributing thus to the development of conservation strategies. The aim of this study is to estimate the potential geographic distribution of South American species of Parmotrema, to identify which are the environmental variables influencing their distribution, and to analyze their conservation implications. For this, six species were selected: P. cristobaliae, P. flavomedullosum, P. homotomum, P. laciniellum, P. masonii, and P. melanochaetum. A database with recorded localities in literature for each species and also specimens deposited at CTES herbarium was made. Localities for which no geographic coordinates were available were georeferenced with Google Earth^TM. The potential distribution was modeled with Maxent version 3.3.k, using the 19 climatic variables of temperature and precipitation and altitude of the WorldClim database, estimating their potential influence in these species distributions. The results were visualized and analyzed using DIVA-GIS version 7.5. The potential distribution maps are presented and the influence of environmental variables of each considered species are analyzed. This study has shown that P. homotomum and P. masonii has a restricted potential distribution area. The distribution of P. masonii, as P. cristobaliae, could be related to the distribution of the seasonally dry forests, as other species of the genus. The distribution of P. laciniellum has also a similar biogeographic pattern, but it would be adapted to more wide environmental conditions. Based on these results, we could identify two priority areas for conservation.

Abstract

Among the lepiotaceous fungi in the Agaricaceae the Leucoagaricus/Leucocoprinus clade is particularly diverse in the tropics, with a lot of species awaiting discovery and formal description. The major mycofloristic studies of this group in the American tropical region date back to before the molecular era, and most of the molecular data currently available for this area come from the studies on ant-associated fungi and their free-living relatives, that do not focus on taxonomy. Over the past ten years, one of the authors (C.A.) has collected and studied fungi in the Dominican Republic. More than 300 species of macrofungi have been recorded, and almost all voucher specimens are deposited in the herbarium of the Jardin Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). Approximately 20% of the collections represent lepiotaceous fungi of different genera (Chlorophyllum, Cystolepiota, Lepiota, Leucoagaricus, Leucocoprinus) and are currently being studied and sequenced. In this contribution we studied the species of Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus present in the Dominican Republic, using morphological and molecular methods, carefully comparing all our collections to the previously described Neotropical taxa. Seven species of Leucoagaricus (La. bulbiger, La. margaritifer, La. peglerii, La. roseovertens, La silvestris, La. stillatus, La. turgipes) and three of Leucocoprinus (Lc. antillarum, Lc. fuligineopunctatus, Lc. microlepis) are proposed as new. Additional records of previously described taxa are also discussed, including the first confirmed occurrence of La. rubroconfusus in its putative natural habitats.

Abstract

Dendrophylax lindenii, the Ghost Orchid, is an endangered species that is native to far western Cuba and southern Florida. The leafless morphology of D. lindenii suggests that it has a high dependency for orchid mycorrhizal fungi (MF) when growing in its natural habitat because of the reduced photosynthetic capacity compared to orchids with leaves. We investigated the root mycobiota of D. lindenii individuals using amplicon sequencing and the potential dependence of the orchid on fungi for carbon resources through stable isotope analyses. We hypothesized that the root mycobiota of D. lindenii would be distinct from those of co-occurring epiphytic orchids and that δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and δ²H of D. lindenii root samples would be consistent with fungus to plant transfer. We collected root samples from D. lindenii individuals and several co-occurring epiphytic orchids from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. We also collected bark samples from several host trees of D. lindenii, i.e., Fraxinus caroliniana and Annona glabra, to investigate fungal composition. In total, we recovered 526 OTUs (i.e. 95% sequence similarity) from root samples. Dendrophylax lindenii samples were dominated by a narrow clade of Ceratobasidium OTUs, suggesting a high specificity for these fungi. Sequences of this Ceratobasidum clade were also obtained from bark samples of host trees. D. lindenii samples were highly enriched for ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and ²H. We hypothesize that orchid MF of D. lindenii may potentially be drivers of their fine scale distribution and rarity, but this needs to be tested.

Abstract

Water-damaged housing has been associated with a number of negative health outcomes, principally respiratory disease and asthma. Much of what we know about fungi associated with water-damaged buildings has been gleaned from culture-based and immunochemical methods. A limited number of studies have used high-throughput sequencing technologies to assess the impact of water-damage on microbial communities in residential buildings. In this study we used amplicon sequencing and quantitative-PCR to evaluate fungal communities in a condemned public housing building in Richmond, CA, before it’s residents were relocated. We recruited 21 households to participate in this study and characterized their apartments as either a unit with visible mold or no visible mold. We collected settled dust from bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms from units with and without visible mold, and from the outdoors. We recovered 5,333 OTUs from 92 samples. We found that fungal biomass was greater outdoors compared to indoors, yet there was no significant difference in fungal biomass in units with visible mold and no visible mold. Fungal richness was significantly reduced in units with visible mold compared to units with no visible mold and the outdoors. We also found that units with visible mold harbored fungal communities distinct from units with no visible mold or from the outdoors. Units with visible mold were dominated by taxa within the classes Eurotiomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and Wallemiomycetes. A number of the OTUs recovered in significantly greater abundance from units with visible mold, such as Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Wallemia muriae, have previously been reported with water-damaged building materials. This study demonstrates that long-term negligence and poor building maintenance in low-income public housing impacts not only the human inhabitants, but also the fungi.

Abstract

There are 5 or more species of Strobilurus recorded from Honshu Island to southernmost of Japan. From the different substrates and climates, Strobilurus spp. in Japan can be divided into 3 groups: group A with basidiomata growing from pinecones in temperate areas such as S. stephanocystis, S. esculentus and S. tenacellus; group B with those growing from pinecones in sub-tropical areas such as the new species S. luchuensis nom. prov. in the Yaeyama area and group C with those not growing from pinecones in temperate areas as S. ohshimae. We aim to know the effects of substrates and temperatures on the growth of S. stephanocystis, S. luchuensis and S. ohshimae as the representatives of the 3 groups above . Four powder substrates from pinecone of P. densiflora, dominate in the Japanese main islands; P. kesiya dominate in Southeast Asia; P. luchuensis dominate in Okinawa; and beech sawdust (Fagus spp.) were used to test the substrate adaptation. Temperature effects were tested on a range of temperature from 5 – 35^oC, 5^oC difference in each step. Survival tests were applied on all non-growth experiments. In results, S. stephanocystis grew in all substrate but not all experiments. However, S. ohshimae grew well in all substrates except P. densiflora while S. luchuensis did not grow in all substrates except P. luchuensis. On the other hand, all fungal strains died at 35^oC and grew weakly at 5^oC. S. ohshimae was not able to grow in 30^oC and grew weakly in 25^oC while S. luchuensis and S. stephanocystis grew well at those temperatures. These results could be explain in that S. ohshimae does not appear in pine forests of main islands and that new species S. luchuensis nom. prov. was adapted to Okinawan pine and climate.

Abstract

We selected two closely related skin pathogens transmitted from pets to human (mainly children) with increasing tendency to infect human during the last few years. In Europe, species Trichophyton benhamiae and T. erinacei are transmitted to human mainly from guinea pigs and hedgehogs, respectively. A considerable genetic and phenotypic variability has been revealed in these emerging pathogens. To substantiate the initial finding, we assembled strains isolated from various hosts in different European countries, Japan and USA. We conducted several analyses to elucidate whether the detected level of variability reflects undescribed species diversity or a high infraspecific variability. A total number of 326 and 146 strains from T. benhamiae and T. erinacei complexes, respectively, associated with human and animal dermatophytoses were analysed using two sequenced loci, 10 and 7 microsatellites loci, respectively, and morphological and physiological methods. Among T. benhamiae isolates, we revealed four very distinct population clusters. Three of them were present in Europe and the last only in America. Among T. erinacei isolates, only two poorly differentiated clusters were found. The two T. erinacei populations seem to be strongly carrier-specific. First, most frequently human-associated population of T. erinacei (89% of human isolates) was specific for favourite African pet hedgehog Atelerix albiventris, second population was specific for wildlife European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus. In T. benhamiae, we observed not so strong carrier-specific population pattern. As main carrier of American population of T. benhamiae we identified a dog and for European–Japan population rabbit. However, guinea pig was also recorded as frequent carrier in case of both populations. Another two populations, including most common population (78 % of all strains), are transmitted exclusively from guinea pig. The most common population of T. benhamiae, which is responsible for the current epidemic of dermatophytosis in Europe, was identified as closely related to American population. Based on genetic relatedness of strains of both populations, we suggest that virulent population of T. benhamiae was introduced from North America to Europe. There, it began to clonally spread among different host (guinea pig) even though original host (dog) also occurred here. High genetic divergence and phenotypic differences between all four populations of T. benhamiae indicate that they can be considered as independent species. In contrast, we found small genetic and phenotypic differences between populations of T. erinacei, although they seem to be more carrier-specific.

Abstract

The cultivation of edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms associated with forest trees is becoming popular in Thailand. It is currently applied to reforestation projects by forestry officials, and in agroforestry situations by farmers. However, information on the mushroom productivity and sustainability is unavailable. This study investigated and reports on the yield of edible Amanita and other wild edible mushrooms in a 1280m² plot at Phusing Agriculture Extension Center, Sisaket Province between 2014 and 2016. The plot was on an area mainly covered by Dipterocarpus alatus trees, which were planted on bare land in 2003 and were inoculated with Amanita during 2004-2005. In 2014 eight edible mushroom species (total weight 72.6 kg) were found in the plot. Three Amanita spp. (60.2 kg, 83%) were the dominant group: red Amanita (Amanita cf. hemibapha; 43.2 kg, 59%), yellow Amanita (Amanita cf. hemibapha; 15.7 kg, 22%), and white Amanita (Amanita cf. princeps; 1.3 kg, 2%). These Amanita species morphologically resemble Amanita hemibapha, and A. princeps, but molecular data based on ITS and LSU show that they are taxonomically new to science, and are currently being described. Other inferior mushrooms found in the plot were Russula nigricans (8.1 kg), Termitomyces microcarpus (2.4 kg), Lactarius sp. (1.5 kg), and Russula emetica and Russula sp. (less than 1 kg). In 2015, two additional mushroom species, Russula virescens and Termitomyces sp., were also found, but the total yield of the plot was stable (72.1 kg). Yellow and white Amanita increased their yields (40 kg, 56% and 6.3 kg, 9%) but red Amanita sharply decreased (2.5 kg, 3%) resulting in decline of the total Amanita yield (48.8 kg, 68%). In 2016, nine edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms were found with the total yield 73.6 kg. Russula nigricans became the dominant species (38.4 kg, 52%) while the Amanita group (31.6 kg, 43%) decreased: yellow Amanita (25.9 kg, 35%), white Amanita (3.6 kg, 5%), and red Amanita (2.1 kg, 3%). In 2017, seven edible mushrooms were found with the total yield only 17.1 kg. Yellow Amanita became the dominant species (6.7 kg, 39%), red Amanita (4.5 kg, 26%), white Amanita (3.0 kg, 17%), while Russula nigricans decreased (0.8 kg, 5%). The presentation will show monthly yields of each mushroom species and some environmental factors throughout the last four years. Declining trend of the Amanita productivity, as well as possibility of rehabilitation in correlation of environmental factors, will be also discussed.

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi colonize plant roots and form symbiotic associations with the host plants. It has been shown that a variety of bacteria inhabits surrounding the symbiosis and several of them affect either the mycelial growth of EcM fungi and/or establishment of EcM symbiosis from positively to negatively. However, we have still limited views of functional meanings of the ectomycorrhiza-associated bacteria on the ecology of EcM fungi, especially how they affect on EcM sporocarps occurrence. In this study, I targeted on Laccaria laccata that forms sporocarps in vitro with symbiosis with host plants. First, one soil core was collected from 5 locations where sporocarps of L. laccata occurred in a chestnut (Castanea crenata) plantation in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan, to understand bacterial community on EcM roots of L. laccata. Ten and 50 EcM root tips from each soil core were subjected to bacterial isolation and cloning, respectively. Two-hundred-forty-eight isolates were obtained in total and they were divided into 34 MOTUs (99% similarity threshold). Most of MOTUs were infrequent, while one MOTU of Rhizobium sp. and Bradyrhizobium sp. were commonly and frequently obtained across sampling locations. In cloning method, 83 MOTUs were detected. Most of MOTUs were infrequently detected, while one MOTU of Bradyrhizobium sp. that were also commonly found in isolation-based method, were commonly detected across sampling locations. The results indicate that Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium are common bacteria on EcM roots of L. laccata in the chestnut plantation. Next, I examined the effect of the ectomycorrhizal-associated bacteria on the hyphal growth of L. laccata using dual-culture method. One mycelial disc of L. laccata was placed on the center of a plastic dish (9 cm diam) with 15 mL of modified Melin Norkrans (MMN) agar media with ten-fold dilution of glucose, and each bacterial strain was incubated 2 cm apart from the mycelial disc. Areas of hyphal growth were calculated after 1-month incubation. Effects of bacteria on hyphal growth largely differed according to the combination of isolates of bacteria and L. laccata but most of bacteria tended to inhibit hyphal growth of L. laccata. Bradyrhizobium and members of Rhizobium and Burkholdeliaceae did not inhibit or rather promote hyphal growth of L. laccata. Last, bacterial isolates of Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium spp. were introduced into L. laccata—Pinus densiflora symbiotic system in vitro, and EcM formation and frequency of sporocarps production of L. laccata were examined. Introduction of bacteria did not significantly increase host plant growth, EcM formations and frequency of sporocarps occurrence but addition of one taxon of Rhizobium tended to increase host plant growth and frequency of sporocarps occurrence. The results indicated that several members of ectomycorrhizosphere bacteria would support sporocarps occurrence of the EcM fungi.

Abstract

The brazilian Cerrado has a large quantity of endemics plants and until now more than 150 new species of fungi have been described in association with hosts belonging to several botanical families. Although few studies have been carried out to identify species causing post-harvest rots, several diseased fruits have been observed in the plants of this biome. Thus, this study aimed to identify the fungal species associated with post-harvest rot of different hosts in brazilian Cerrado. The isolates were obtained from fruits rots of Caryocar brasiliense (Pequi), Syzygium jambos (Jambo amarelo), Syzygium cumini (Jamelão), Spondias purpurea (Seriguela), Spondias mombin (Cajazinho), Dypsis madagascariensis (Areca de locuba), and Roystonea sp. Only Gliocephalotrichum-like isolates were selected for identification. The morphological characteristics are conidiophores septate, hyaline, erect, consisting of a stipe and stipe extensions subtending a penicillate conidiogenous. The conidiogenesis is phialidic, with phialides hyaline and producing conidia cylindrical, hyaline and aseptate, accumulating in a mucilaginous mass. Total genomic DNA was extracted from cultures grown on 2% malt extract agar (MEA) for 7 d, using the Wizard® Genomic DNA Purification Kit. The partial region of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) gene was amplified and sequenced using the primers EF1F and EF2R. The nucleotide sequences obtained were compared with sequences of type species and specimens available from GenBank. From the phylogenetic analysis by Bayesian inference, it was possible to identify five different species of Gliocephalotrichum. A total of 39 isolates were obtained, and from these, 22 specimens from C. brasiliense show absent stipe extensions and grouped in a well-supported clade that is phylogenetically distant from the other species while 3 isolates grouped with specimens of G. longibrachium. The isolates from S. cumini and S. jambos grouped in a phylogenetically distinct clade, representing a possible new species too. G. simplex was found associated to D. madagascariensis while Gliocephalotrichum bulbilium was obtained associated to Roystonea sp. (n=1), S. cumini (n=2) and S. jambos (n=5). This study reveals new hosts for G. longibrachium, G. bulbilium and G. simplex and the discovery of two possible new species, which will be described according the current International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Financial support: FAPDF, CNPq and UnB.

Abstract

Mizoram is regarded as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. A diverse group of flora and fauna have been documented. Knowledge on the edible mushrooms is very limited in the region. Moreover, the local knowledge and perception on the edible species of the region is very low. Knowledge of edible mushrooms among the Mizo people has been there for a long time. However, it has been perceived that the number of edible species known by the people is very few. A study of the occurrence of the edible mushrooms growing in Mizoram was undertaken. From the study a total of 32 species of edible mushrooms was identified from different districts of Mizoram. Study on the local knowledge and perception on the edible mushrooms was also undertaken from different sections of the local communities. It is found that a small percentage of edible species are presently known to be edible by the Mizos despite the existence of other edible species and distribution in the region.

Abstract

Multiclavula mucida (Pers.) R. H. Petersen is a basidiomycete forming tiny white fruit bodies on rotten wood and always exists together with algae. Although the ecological association between M. mucida and algae is not elucidated, M. mucida is often regarded as one of the basidiolichens. There are many green globules on rotten wood where M. mucida produces fruiting bodies. In the light microscopic observation, Geitler (1955) and Oberwinkler (1970) reported that these globules consisted of pseudoparenchymatous hyphae of M. mucida and several algal cells. Oberwinkler (1984) also observed these globules by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), but it was not mentioned much about intracellular structures of both fungi and algae. In this study, we observed these globules by TEM, mainly focused on algae within the globules. TEM observation showed that the outer surface of the globules was consisted of hyphae. The cytoplasm of the hyphae was often filled with osmiophilic granules with a diameter of about 1 μm. Such granules were also observed in the other basidiolichen Omphalina ericetorum (Botrydina vulgaris globules) and treated as glycogen particles (Honegger and Brunner, 1981). Hyphae were also observed within the globule, but no haustorium was found. Each globule contains several to 15 algal cells. Each algal cell was occupied by several electron-dense storage bodies and a single chloroplast. The chloroplast is biased towards the cell wall, thylakoids overlap in many layers, filling the whole chloroplast. At the center of the chloroplast several electron-dense granules were gathered. These granules were similar to the pyrenoglobuli which are found within the chloroplast of Trebouxia and always associated with a pyrenoid. If these granules are pyrenoglobuli, this alga is considered to have a pyrenoid. The osmiphilic granules with in the hyphae and pyrenoglobuli-like granules within the chloroplast can be also recognized in the TEM photographs by Oberwinkler (1984) (but not enough explanation was given). Geitler (1955) reported that the algae within the globule belong to the genus Coccomyxa, but Komárek & Fott (1983) and Tschermak-Woess (1988) pointed out that the alga had a pyrenoid and could not belong to Coccomyxa, a pyrenoid-lacking genus. We established 24 algal cultures from M. mucida globules. As a result of molecular identification using the sequence of ITS, they were divided into at least three species (two Coccomyxa spp. and Elliptochloris subsphaerica). The chloroplast of E. subsphaerica is filled with thylakoids that overlap in many layers, and pyrenoglobuli-like granules exist in the center. These characters are consistent with those of algae within the globule of M. mucida, whereas both were absent from the two Coccomyxa spp. According to Ettl and Gärtner (2014), E. subsphaerica has a pyrenoid. In M. mucida-E. subsphaerica co-cultivation, algal cells were closely surrounded by the hyphae under a certain condition, which is similar to the early stage of the globule development in the field as reported by Geitler (1955). Based on the above, E. subsphaerica is eligible to be considered as photobiont of M. mucida.