Nattawut Rungjindamai

Occurrence and diversity of basidiomycetous endophytes from the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis in Thailand

Fungal endophytes associated with the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, at an oil palm plantation in Trang Province, Thailand were investigated. Two samplings at the same site yielded 162 and 178 morphotypes. The overall colonization rate was 81 and 87%, respectively, with non-sporulating species being most common. Twenty strains were identified as basidiomycetes using morphological characteristics and confirmed at the molecular level using ribosomal DNA, LSU and ITS sequence data. Species included Fomitopsis cf. meliae, F. cf. ostreiformis, F. cf. pinicola, Perenniporia sp., Pycnoporus sanguineus, Trametes lactinea, and Schizophyllum commune. Leaves supported the greatest number of basidiomycetous taxa (11 strains) with five and four taxa from petioles and rachides, respectively. Twelve taxa produced poroid basidiomes in PDA culture, while the remainder had clamp-connections. Basidiomycetes occurring as saprobes on oil palm were also recorded and compared with those present as endophytes.

Eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes from the fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 21097.

Seven new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-5, 7, and 8) and the known mairetolide F (6) were isolated from the endophytic Xylaria sp. BCC 21097. A new furofurandione (9) was also isolated from the fungal extract. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analyses of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data in combination with chemical reaction studies. Eremophilanolides possessing an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone (1-3) exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities, while related analogues bearing an endo double bond (6 and 7) were inactive.

Epoxydons and a Pyrone from the Marine-Derived Fungus Nigrospora sp. PSU-F5

Nigrospoxydons A-C (1- 3) and nigrosporapyrone (4), four new metabolites, were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Nigrospora sp. PSU-F5 together with nine known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. The antibacterial activity against the standard Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus was evaluated.

Putative basidiomycete teleomorphs and phylogenetic placement of the coelomycete genera: Chaetospermum, Giulia and Mycotribulus based on nu-rDNA sequences.

Few basidiomycetes are known to have a coelomycete anamorph. The partial SSU and LSU of nu-rDNA of three coelomycete genera (Chaetospermum, Giulia, Mycotribulus) were sequenced to determine their phylogenetic relationship. M. mirabilis was well placed in the Physalacriaceae, Agaricales, whereas G. tenuis clusters with the Corticiaceae, Corticiales. C. camelliae and C. artocarpi form a close relationship with the Sebacinaceae, Sebacinales. Although morphologically these coelomycetes are pycnidial and with appendaged conidia, they show no consistency in their phylogenetic relationship, belonging to disparate major taxonomic groups with putative teleomorphs in the Agaricales, Corticiales and Sebacinales. Further molecular studies of coelomycetes may be rewarding to evaluate their phylogenetic affinities.

An Additional Fungal Lineage in the Hypocreomycetidae (Falcocladium Species) and the Taxonomic Re-evaluation of Chaetosphaeria chaetosa and Swampomyces species, based on Morphology, Ecology and Phylogeny

Abstract The taxonomic position of the marine fungi referred to the TBM clade is re-evaluated along with the marine species Chaetosphaeria chaetosa, and the terrestrial asexual genus Falcocladium. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences of two ribosomal nuclear loci of the above taxa and those previous recognized as the TBM clade suggest that they form a distinct clade amongst the Hypocreales, Microascales, Savoryellales, Coronophorales and Melanosporales in the Hypocreomycetidae. Four well-supported subclades in the “TBM clade” are discerned including: 1) the Juncigena subclade, 2) the Etheirophora and Swampomyces s. s. subclade, 3) the Falcocladium subclade and 4) the Torpedospora subclade. Chaetosphaeria chaetosa does not group in the Chaetosphaeriales but together with Swampomyces aegyptiacus and S. clavatispora they group in the Juncigena subclade, while Falcocladium forms a sister group to the Etheirophora and Swampomycess. s. subclade. Swampomyces aegyptiacus and S. clavatispora share some morphological and ecological characteristics with Juncigena, but they are not monophyletic, and a new genus is introduced to accommodate them (Fulvocentrum). Chaetosphaeria chaetosa however, differs significantly from other Chaetosphaeria and Juncigena species and a new genus Marinokulati is proposed to accommodate it. The taxonomic significance of the phylogenetic data is discussed and new families are proposed for the four clades highlighted in this paper: Juncigenaceae, Etheirophoraceae, Falcocladiaceae and Torpedosporaceae, which differ from all other families in the Hypocreomycetidae.

Phylogeny of the Appendaged Coelomycete Genera: Pseudorobillarda, Robillarda, and Xepiculopsis Based on Nuclear Ribosomal DNA Sequences

Abstract A molecular study of selected species of the genera Pseudorobillarda, Robillarda and Xepiculopsis was undertaken to determine their phylogenetic relationships. Based on the analysis of the LSU, SSU and ITS nrDNA, Xepiculopsis graminea belongs in the Hypocreales, grouping with Myrothecium and Didymostilbe (and its sexual morph Peethambara) with species of Stachybotrys in a sister clade, but cannot be assigned to any known family. Robillarda sessillis clusters with members of the Amphisphaeriaceae (Xylariales) but shows no affinity with any genus in that family. Pseudorobillarda species formed a monophyletic group within the Pleosporomycetidae (Dothideomycetes), but do not show affinity with any family or order. This study confirms that Pseudorobillarda and Robillarda are phylogenetically distantly related and a monographic treatment is warranted to resolve the position of other species assigned to these genera. Moreover, molecular data supports the introduction of a new family within the Hypocreales for a well supported clade with the genera Didymostilbe, Myrothecium, Stachybotrys and Xepiculopsis.

Phylogenetic relationship of the coelomycete genus Infundibulomyces based on nuclear rDNA data

The phylogenetic relationship of the coelomycete genus Infundibulomyces with cupulate conidiomata was assessed by ribosomal DNA sequences of partial small subunit (SSU) and partial large subunit (LSU) regions using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis. The genus has no known teleomorph. A new species, Infundibulomyces oblongisporus, is described from collections on a senescent angiosperm leaf from Thailand based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Both Infundibulomyces species form a monophyletic group in the Chaetosphaeriaceae (Chaetosphaeriales, Sordariomycetidae) with Dictyochaeta simplex as a sister clade. Chaetosphaeriaceae with a coelomycete anamorph has not been reported previously.

Lauriomyces, a New Lineage in the Leotiomycetes with Three New Species

Abstract Lauriomyces is an anamorphic genus comprising nine species, found growing on terrestrial leaf litter and wood in tropical habitats. The genus is characterized by solitary or synnematous, pigmented conidiophores bearing acropetal chains of unicellular, hyaline conidia.Amultigene (SSU, LSU & 5.8S) analysis of Lauriomyces strains reveal three cryptic new species, which are described, illustrated, and published here: L. acerosus, L. basitruncatus, and L. glumateus spp. nov. Lauriomyces glumateus is characterized by narrowly oval conidia while conidia of L. acerosus are cylindrical with acute ends and those of L. basitruncatus are cylindrical with truncate base. The nine Lauriomyces species sampled form a monophyletic clade in the Leotiomycetes, with high molecular support and all with a morphology typical for the genus. The new combination Dematioscypha catenata is made for Haplographium catenatum in compliance with the one name protocol.