Pipob Lumyong

Endophytic fungi of wild banana (Musa acuminata) at Doi Suthep Pui National Park, Thailand

Endophytic fungi were isolated from 7500 samples of wild Musa acuminata collected from five sites at Doi Suthep Pui National Park, Thailand during December 1998 to July 1999. Overall colonization rates from surface sterilized tissues were 56.5, 48.9, 48, 47.9 and 41.7% for the Medicinal Plant Garden, Ban Suthep, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, San Gu, and Montatarn waterfall sites respectively. Sixty-one different fungal taxa were isolated. Fewer isolates were recovered from younger than older samples. Xylariaceous taxa and Guignardia cocoicola were the most frequently isolated endophytes from leaves and were either absent or rare in midrib, petiole and pseudostem. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, C. musae, Guignardia cocoicola, various sterile mycelia and xylariaceous spp. were common at all sites. The endophyte fungal communities at the five sites were found to differ. Deightoniella torulosa was the most frequent isolate at the Ban Suthep site and was either absent or rare at other sites. Colletotrichum species were most common in the midribs and petioles at all sites, while Pyriculariopsis parasitica and Dactylaria sp. were most common in the pseudostems. The endophyte communities isolated from M. acuminata in this study are compared with those from previous studies on tropical hosts. Several of the endophytes isolated are established pathogens of banana and provide support for the hypothesis that some endophytes are latent pathogens. The diversity of fungi on banana is discussed in relation to global estimates of numbers of fungus species.

Nutritive value of popular wild edible mushrooms from northern Thailand

The nutritive (and market) value of sporocarps of edible wild ectomycorrhizal fungi from northern Thailand was determined. Protein, fat, crude fibre and carbohydrate concentrations were 14.0–24.2, 2.7–9.5, 8.3–16.8, and 41.6–65.1% dry weight, respectively. Mineral contents were: macronutrients (mg/g dry wt.) P 2.1–8.1, K 12.8–45.2, S 1.1–6.1, Ca 0.1–2.4, Mg 0.5–1.6; micronutrients (mg/kg dry wt.) Fe 162–3254, Zn 37.8–253, Mn 13.0–329, Cu 11.6–81.1, B 1.6–7.1, and Se 0–12.6. The main sporocarp sugars were d-glucose, d-fructose, trehalose, d-mannose, d-arabinose, d-xylose, d-fucose, l-rhamnose, and d-galactose. The sugar alcohol components were mannitol, glycerol, myo-inositol, meso-erythritol, d-arabitol, dulcitol, xylitol, and d-sorbitol.

Acanthostigma and Tubeufia species, including T. claspisphaeria sp. nov., from submerged wood in Hong Kong

Acanthostigma scopulum, Tubeufia claspisphaeria sp. nov. and T. paludosa were identified from submerged wood collected in a small forest stream on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The collections of Acanthostigma scopulum and Tubeufia paludosa differed slightly from the original descriptions. Tubeufia claspisphaeria differs from previously described species in that it has hook-shaped setae that form radially around the ostiole. This new species is described and illustrated and compared with the most similar species. A dichotomous key to the 16 accepted species in Tubeufia is provided.

Three new species of Pyricularia are isolated as zingiberaceous endophytes from Thailand

Pyricularia costina and three undescribed Pyricularia species were found as endophytes on wild ginger Amomum siamense and Alpinia malaccensis in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Three new species, Pyricularia kookicola, P. longispora, and P. variabilis are described, illustrated and compared to similar Pyricularia species.

Microfungi on the Pandanaceae: Linocarpon lammiae sp. nov., L. siamensis sp. nov. and L. suthepensis sp. nov. are described with a key to Linocarpon species from the Pandanaceae

Linocarpon species are reported from Pandanaceae in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Seychelles, Thailand and Vanuatu. Linocarpon lammiae sp. nov. were collected on decaying leaves of Pandanus tectorius in Hong Kong. Linocarpon siamensis sp. nov. and L. suthepensis sp. nov. were collected from decaying leaves of P. penetrans in Thailand. These taxa are described, illustrated and compared with Linocarpon species with similar ascospore morphology and dimensions. Included are a synoptic table, which compares the new species to similar known species, and a dichotomous key to species of Linocarpon known from members of the Pandanaceae.

Mycoamaranthus cambodgensis comb. nov., a widely distributed sequestrate basidiomycete from Australia and southeastern Asia

Two species have been described for the sequestrate genus Mycoamaranthus: M. auriorbis, and M. congolensis. Availability of several more collections of this genus from Thailand led us to re-examine M. auriorbis, which proved to be the same as Dendrogaster cambodgensis. Accordingly, we propose the new combination, Mycoamaranthus cambodgensis.

Apiosordaria striatispora, an endophyte of Mesua ferrea and Prunus arborea from Thailand

Apiosordaria striatispora isolated as an endophyte ofMesua ferrea andPrunus arborea is described, and illustrated with interference contrast light micrographs and scanning electron micrographs.