Itthayakorn Promputtha

A Phylogenetic Evaluation of Whether Endophytes Become Saprotrophs at Host Senescence

Fungal endophytes and saprotrophs generally play an important ecological role within plant tissues and dead plant material. Several reports based solely on morphological observations have postulated that there is an intimate link between endophytes and saprotrophs. This study aims to provide valuable insight as to whether some endophytic fungi manifest themselves as saprotrophs upon host decay. Ribosomal DNA-based sequence comparison and phylogenetic relationships from 99 fungal isolates (endophytes, mycelia sterilia, and saprotrophs) recovered from leaves and twigs of Magnolia liliifera were investigated in this study. Molecular data suggest there are fungal taxa that possibly exist as endophytes and saprotrophs. Isolates of Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Guignardia, and Phomopsis, which are common plant endophytes, have high sequence similarity and are phylogenetically related to their saprotrophic counterparts. This provides evidence to suggest that some endophytic species change their ecological strategies and adopt a saprotrophic lifestyle. The implication of these findings on fungal biodiversity and host specificity is also discussed.

The Faces of Fungi database: fungal names linked with morphology, phylogeny and human impacts

Taxonomic names are key links between various databases that store information on different organisms. Several global fungal nomenclural and taxonomic databases (notably Index Fungorum, Species Fungorum and MycoBank) can be sourced to find taxonomic details about fungi, while DNA sequence data can be sourced from NCBI, EBI and UNITE databases. Although the sequence data may be linked to a name, the quality of the metadata is variable and generally there is no corresponding link to images, descriptions or herbarium material. There is generally no way to establish the accuracy of the names in these genomic databases, other than whether the submission is from a reputable source. To tackle this problem, a new database (FacesofFungi), accessible at www.facesoffungi.org (FoF) has been established. This fungal database allows deposition of taxonomic data, phenotypic details and other useful data, which will enhance our current taxonomic understanding and ultimately enable mycologists to gain better and updated insights into the current fungal classification system. In addition, the database will also allow access to comprehensive metadata including descriptions of voucher and type specimens. This database is user-friendly, providing links and easy access between taxonomic ranks, with the classification system based primarily on molecular data (from the literature and via updated web-based phylogenetic trees), and to a lesser extent on morphological data when molecular data are unavailable. In FoF species are not only linked to the closest phylogenetic representatives, but also relevant data is provided, wherever available, on various applied aspects, such as ecological, industrial, quarantine and chemical uses. The data include the three main fungal groups (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Basal fungi) and fungus-like organisms. The FoF webpage is an output funded by the Mushroom Research Foundation which is an NGO with seven directors with mycological expertise. The webpage has 76 curators, and with the help of these specialists, FoF will provide an updated natural classification of the fungi, with illustrated accounts of species linked to molecular data. The present paper introduces the FoF database to the scientific community and briefly reviews some of the problems associated with classification and identification of the main fungal groups. The structure and use of the database is then explained. We would like to invite all mycologists to contribute to these web pages.

Can leaf degrading enzymes provide evidence that endophytic fungi becoming saprobes

The diversity of endophytic and saprobic fungi from Magnolia liliifera leaves were observed and analyzed to establish relationships. Nine endophytes were morphologically and phylogenetically similar to the saprobes; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum sp. 2, Corynespora cassiicola, Fusarium sp. 1, Guignardia mangiferae, Leptosphaeria sp., Phomopsis sp. 2, Phomopsis sp. 6, and Phomopsis sp. 10. The endophytes were found to produce the same degrading enzymes as their saprobic counterparts. The isoform of β-mannanase produced from each of endophyte and saprobe counterparts were similar. Fungal succession and enzyme production patterns during leaf decomposition were correlated. The occurrence of saprobes was found to be related to the enzymes that the fungi produce. The study provides further compelling evidence that endophytes can switch lifestyle to saprobes.

Families of Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, coprophilous and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats worldwide. This paper reviews the 107 families of the class Sordariomycetes and provides a modified backbone tree based on phylogenetic analysis of four combined loci, with a maximum five representative taxa from each family, where available. This paper brings together for the first time, since Barrs’ 1990 Prodromus, descriptions, notes on the history, and plates or illustrations of type or representative taxa of each family, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera and a key to these taxa of Sordariomycetes. Delineation of taxa is supported where possible by molecular data. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2015 and the Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 32 orders, 105 families and 1331 genera. The family Obryzaceae and Pleurotremataceae are excluded from the class.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Lophiostomataceae , Floricolaceae , and Amorosiaceae fam. nov .

The genera Lophiostoma, Misturatosphaeria and several other allied taxa in Lophiostomataceae are revisited. Accounts of these taxa, including their history, morphology, and family placement, based on molecular phylogeny, are provided. Type or representative specimens of Lophiostoma and Misturatosphaeria were examined and fresh specimens were obtained from Germany, Italy, Japan and Thailand. A multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the lophiostomataceous genera Floricola, Lophiostoma, Misturatosphaeria and related taxa is provided. Sixteen genera including Lophiostoma, Lophiohelichrysum, Dimorphiopsis, Platystomum and Vaginatispora, plus eleven newly introduced genera Biappendiculispora, Alpestrisphaeria, Capulatispora, Coelodictyosporium, Guttulispora, Lophiopoacea, Neotrematosphaeria, Paucispora, Pseudolophiostoma, Pseudoplatystomum and Sigarispora are accepted in Lophiostomataceae based on morphology and phylogeny. Lophiostoma caulium, Lophiostoma arundinis and Lophiostoma caudatum are accommodated in Sigarispora. Lophiostoma winteri and Lophiostoma fuckelii are placed in the genera Lophiopoacea and Vaginatispora respectively. Three Curreya species and Misturatosphaeria claviformis are transferred to a new genus, Neocurreya. All other Misturatosphaeria species except Misturatosphaeria aurantiinotata and M. uniseptata are separated in the new genera Asymmetrispora, Aurantiascoma, Magnibotryascoma, Pseudoaurantiascoma and Pseudomisturatosphaeria based on their morphological and phylogenetic affinities. Another new genus, Ramusculicola is introduced for a new collection from Thailand. These seven new genera are accommodated in a new family Floricolaceae, together with Floricola and Misturatosphaeria. Several massarina-like species clustered as a sister clade to Amorosia littoralis and are accommodated in a new genus Angustimassarina. A new family Amorosiaceae is proposed to accommodate the genera Amorosia and Angustimassarina. The putatively named species Decaisnella formosa and Thyridaria macrostomoides form a separate clade together with a new genus Lignosphaeria which is placed in Dothideomycetes, genera incertae sedis.

The families Distoseptisporaceae fam. nov., Kirschsteiniotheliaceae, Sporormiaceae and Torulaceae, with new species from freshwater in Yunnan Province, China

During a north–south latitudinal survey of aquatic fungi on submerged wood and herbaceous material in streams in the Asian region, we collected several hyphomycetous taxa. This paper is part of a series where we provide illustrated accounts of these taxa and place them in a natural classification in the fungi. DNA sequence based phylogenies in recent literature have shown that Dendryphion, Sporidesmium and Torula-like species are polyphyletic in the phylum Ascomycota and their taxonomyhas been problematic due to a lack of understanding of the importance of morphological characters used to delimit taxa, as well as the lack of ex-type or reference strains. Based on multi-locus phylogenies together with morphology, we propose the novel family Distoseptisporaceae (Sordariomycetes) and three novel genera Neotorula (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes), Distoseptispora (Sordariomycetes) and Pseudosporidesmium (Sordariomycetes). In addition, Dendryphion aquaticum, D. submersum, Distoseptispora fluminicola, D. aquatica, Kirschsteiniothelia submersa, Neotorula aquatica, Sporidesmium aquaticum, S. submersum and S. fluminicola are introduced as new species. Pseudosporidesmium knawiae comb. nov. is proposed to accommodate Sporidesmium knawiae in Sordariomycetes. The polyphyletic nature of Dendryphion, Sporidesmium and Torula-like species are partially resolved, but further sampling with fresh collections and molecular data of species are needed to obtain a natural classification.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Juncaceicola gen. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporinae, Pleosporales)

Abstract In order to establish phylogenetic relationships and resolve a natural classification for species of Dothideomycetes, it is necessary to use multi-gene phylogeny as well as morphology. In this paper we introduce a novel genus, Juncaceicola collected from Italy, in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae, with three new species, Juncaceicola achilleae on dead twigs of Achillea millefolium, J. dactylidis on dead twigs of Dactylidis sp. and J. luzulae on dead herbaceous stems of Luzula nivea. Juncaceicola is characterized by globose to subglobose ascomata with a minute papilla, a peridium composed of pseudoparenchymatous cells arranged in a textura angularis to textura prismatica, cylindric-clavate asci with a short pedicel and yellowish brown, ellipsoidal to fusiform, 3–4-septate ascospores, with the second cell from the apex enlarged. Descriptions and illustrations for each novel taxon and a key for morphological character differences are provided. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU and SSU sequence data support the validity of the new species with high bootstrap support and the placement of Juncaceicola in Phaeosphaeriaceae. Phaeosphaeria alpina, P. oreochloae, P. padellana and P. typharum are also transferred to the new genus.

Ophiosimulans tanaceti gen. et sp. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae) on Tanacetum sp. (Asteraceae) from Italy

Collections of microfungi on Tanacetum sp. (Asteraceae) in Italy resulted in the discovery of a new genus with characteristics similar to Ophiobolus. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data showed that the new collection is a sister group to Ophiobolus and a new genus with morphologically distinct characters. In this paper, we introduce Ophiosimulans in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae with O. tanaceti as the type species. A detailed description and illustrations are provided and the new taxon is compared with similar genera in Phaeosphaeriaceae. Ophiosimulans is characterized by cylindrical asci with short pedicels and filiform ascospores with up to 15 septa, separating into two parts in the centre of the spore. Since Leptosphaeria tanaceti is also known from Tanacetum, we examined the syntype to compare it with Ophiosimulans, and provide an illustrated account of the species.

Phylogenetic characterization of two novel Kamalomyces species in Tubeufiaceae (Tubeufiales)

Two novel species of bambusicolous fungi in the genus Kamalomyces, collected from northern Thailand, are described and illustrated herein. Kamalomyces bambusicola and K. thailandicus spp. nov. are typical of the genus Kamalomyces (Tubeufiaceae, Tubeufiales) and are morphologically distinct from known species with respect to their size of ascomata, asci and ascospores, ascospore septation and peridium structure, including the subiculum comprising hyphae on the host surface. Morphological examination reveals that the asexual morph of K. bambusicola is associated with its sexual morph in a subiculum forming dictyochlamydosporous conidia, which are similar to the asexual morph of Chlamydotubeufia. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α sequence data also support these two species as distinct and confirm their phylogenetic affinities within the Tubeufiaceae. In particular, Kamalomyces shares a close phylogenetic relationship to Helicoma.

Towards a natural classification of Ophiobolus and ophiobolus-like taxa; introducing three novel genera Ophiobolopsis, Paraophiobolus and Pseudoophiobolus in Phaeosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales)

Ophiobolus is a large genus of Phaeosphaeriaceae comprising more than 350 possible species, most of which are saprobes on herbaceous plants in Europe and North America. Ophiobolus species are polyphyletic and the type of Ophiobolus is not represented in GenBank. Therefore, an increased taxon sampling of ophiobolus-like taxa and epitypification of the type species, O. disseminans is reported. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU, TEF1-α and ITS sequence data position O. disseminans in a sister clade with O. ponticus and several Entodesmium species in Phaeosphaeriaceae with high support. Therefore, Entodesmium is synonymized under Ophiobolus. Premilcurensis with it type species, P. senecionis also clusters within the Ophiobolus clade and is synonymized under Ophiobolus. Ophiobolus rossicus sp. nov. is introduced and a reference specimen is designated for O. ponticus. Other ophiobolus-like taxa (Ophiobolus sensu lato) can be distinguished as three main groups, which are introduced as new genera. Ophiobolopsis is introduced to accommodate the new species, Ophiobolopsis italica. The new genus Paraophiobolus is introduced to accommodate P. arundinis sp. nov. and P. plantaginis comb. nov. This genus is characterized by hyaline to pale yellowish ascospores, some green-yellowish at maturity, with a swollen cell, terminal appendages and ascospores not separating into part spores. Pseudoophiobolus gen. nov. is introduced to accommodate six new species and two new combinations, viz. Ps. achilleae, Ps. erythrosporus, Ps. galii, Ps. italicus, Ps. mathieui, Ps. rosae, Ps. subhyalinisporus and Ps. urticicola. Pseudoophiobolus is characterized by subhyaline to pale yellowish or yellowish ascospores, with a swollen cell, lack of terminal appendages and ascospores that do not separate into part spores and is related to Nodulosphaeria. An updated tree for Phaeosphaeriaceae based on multigene analysis is also provided.