Optimal conditions of mycelial growth of three wild edible mushrooms from northern Thailand

In this study, three wild mushrooms namely Lentinus connatus, L. roseus, and Pleurotusgiganteus were selected to study if they could be domesticated. Initially, the fruiting bodies of the three mushrooms were collected from forests in northern Thailand and morphologically characterized. In this paper we report the optimal in vitro culture conditions of three wild mushrooms. Among seven culture media tested for the optimal mycelial growth of three wild mushrooms, black bean agar, red bean and soy bean agar were the best for the mycelial growth of L. connatus, L. roseus and Pleurotusgiganteus, respectively. The mushroom mycelia were able to grow at temperatures ranging from 20-30 °C, with optimal growth temperatures of 30 °C and 25 °C for Lentinus and Pleurotus species, respectively. The optimum pH range observed for mycelial growth was 5.0 - 7.0

Barriopsis tectonae sp nov a new species of Botryosphaeriaceae from Tectona grandis (teak) in Thailand

Tectona grandis (teak) is an increasingly important timber resource globally. It is native to Asia, including Thailand. In this paper a new species of Barriopsis, B. tectonae sp. nov., is described from a dead T. grandis branch collected in Thailand. Barriopsis tectonae can be differentiated from the two previously described species of Barriopsis; B. fusca and B. iraniana, by its ascospore and conidial dimensions. Phylogenetic evaluation of the ITS, TEF1-α and BT genomic regions provide further evidence that B. tectonae is a novel species.Thailand Research Found through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program grant No. Ph.D./0072/2553 in 4.S.M.F./53/A.2.N, MFLU grant number 56101020032 and Forestry & Agricultural Biotechnology (FABI), University of Pretoria, South Africa.http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxahb201

Botryosphaeriaceae associated with Tectona grandis (teak) in Northern Thailand

Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important economic timbers worldwide. Limited studies exist on the potential pathogens of these trees. Fungi in the Botryosphaeriaceae are cosmopolitan opportunistic pathogens, endophytes and saprobes of numerous hosts. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic branch and stem sections, as well as leaves were collected from T. grandis in plantations and forests in four provinces of northern Thailand with the aim of identifying species of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with these trees. Morphology and multi-locus phylogenies (ITS, TEF1-α, β-tubulin) were used to identify the Botryosphaeriaceae species. Six species from four different genera were found on T. grandis in Northern Thailand. These included Dothiorella tectonae sp. nov., Lasiodiplodia brasiliense, L. pseudotheobromae, L. theobromae, Pseudofusicoccum adansoniae and Sphaeropsis eucalypticola. Dothiorella tectonae is introduced here as a novel species and compared with other species in the genus. Dothiorella tectonae, L. brasiliense, L. pseudotheobromae, L. theobromae, P. adansoniae and S. eucalypticola are first reports for T. grandis in Thailand. Variations in morphology between descriptions of previously described species and that obtained in this study are described to facilitate future identification of species.The Thailand Research Fund through the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program grant (No. Ph.D./0072/2553 in 4.S.M.F./53/A.2), Mae Fah Luang University grant for studying Dothideomycetes (No. 56101020032), the Tree Pathology Co-operative Programme (TPCP), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxaam201

Consistent association between beta DNA element and transfer RNA genes in Candida albicans

In this study, the database of Candida albicans genome was screened to investigate the relationship between tRNA genes and retrotransposons. The results showed that, among 34 distinct families of LTR retrotransposons identified, only the beta element appeared to preferentially integrate near the tRNA genes. Specific site selection of the beta LTRs may be arisen from a coevolution process in which the host’s genome used to control their transposition. It is possible that, due to this coevolution mechanism, integration of the beta elements become mutualistic, although not proven, to the C. albicans genome by acting as a modulator in tRNA gene transcription

Thua nao: Thai fermented soybean

Thua nao is a traditionally fermented food in Thailand. It is manufactured by fermenting cooked soybeans with naturally occurring microbes. There are also similar products including natto in Japan, kinema in India, and chongkukjang in Korea. In Thailand, thua nao is widely consumed, especially by people in the northern part. The product is generally regarded as a protein supplement and widely used as a condiment. Two major types of thua nao can be distinguished; fresh and dried forms. To date, scientific information on thua nao is scarce and thus this article aims to document the updated knowledge of Thai thua nao

Characterization of protease-producing bacteria isolated from terasi

Total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from terasi samples and 69% of isolates (71) could perform distinctive proteolytic activity that related to the ability to produce protease enzymes. Their proteolytic activity was further tested using spot incubation technique. Strain S4-5 has shown the highest activity then was selected for further tests in this study. Gram staining test showed that S4-5 is gram positive bacteria and able to grow under anaerobic condition. Based on API biochemical profiles, S4-5 strain bacteria was Bacillus licheniformis. Similarity test of genome sequence among Bacillus species from gene bank (EMBL Sequence Version) with Bacillus spp., strain S4-5 had similarity with Bacillus licheniformis genome. The optimal pH of this strain was 6 whereas the optimum temperature for Bacillus licheniformis strain S4-5 was 37ºC

Incidence of viruses infecting pepper in Thailand

This study was conducted to determine the incidence, diversity and distribution of viruses infecting pepper (Capsicum spp.) in the central, northern and northeastern parts of Thailand. During a survey in 2016 - 2019, a total of 2,149 leaf samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic peppers were collected randomly from farmer’s fields, and preliminary tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 7 antibodies specific for cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), chilli veinal mottle virus (ChiVMV), tomato necrotic ringspot virus (TNRV), tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), potato virus Y (PVY), tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and begomoviruses. Our data revealed that the incidence of the viruses infecting pepper in Thailand was high, accounting for nearly 70% (1,482 infected samples). The highest viral incidence was found in the central part (96%), followed by the north (74.4%) and the northeastern (52.8%), respectively. Begomoviruses, CMV, ChiVMV, and TNRV were detected in the samples at varying rates, whereas PVY, TMV, and TSWV were not detected. Of these, the most frequently found virus was Begomoviruses accounting for nearly 33%, with the highest rate (ca. 82%) in the central Provinces of Thailand. In addition, of the 1,482 infected samples, mixed infections among the four viruses were also found in 616 samples (ca. 42%), and CMV + ChiVMV (approximately 11%) was the most common mixed infection. This is the first report describing an occurrence of viruses in pepper of Thailand, and the results obtained have revealed that viruses infecting pepper are widespread, which may pose a threat to pepper production in Thailand

Morphology and phylogeny of Chaetospermum (asexual coelomycetous Basidiomycota

International audienceFive asexually reproducing basidiomycetous fungi, isolated from northern and southern provinces of Thailand, characterized by slimy, setulate conidia in creamy white pycnidia and classified in the genus Chaetospermum, are studied in detail. Two species, C. camelliae and C. artocarpi, are redescribed and epitypified. A phylogenetic tree based on 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU) sequence was used to analyze their taxonomy and relationships. The study confirmed that Chaetospermum belongs to the Sebacinales, a poorly studied order of Agaricomycetes

Seasonality of Harpella Melusinae Léger and Duboscq (Harpellales) in Black Fly Larvae in Northern Thailand

The influence of season and water temperature on the occurence of Harpella melusinae in black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) larvae was investigated in three streams in northern Thailand. A total of 1260 black fly larvae were examined and 86.3 (CI = 82-88) were colonized by H. melusinae. Both prevalence and level of colonization by H. melusinae varied depending on season (P \u3c 0.01). The highest prevalence was during the cool season (November, 96-100), compared to the wet season (July to October, 80-92) and dry season (April to June, 72-89). The levels of colonization (or numbers of thalli per midgut) by H. melusinae also showed a similar pattern. Regression analysis was significant for season and prevalence at all sites, whereas the level of colonization varied across sites. Prevalence and level of colonization varied with water temperature (P \u3c 0.05), and both were higher in colder waters. This study helps to redress the paucity of ecological information concerning this group of fungi but further studies with different taxa, hosts and habitats will undoubtedly increase our limited knowledge about the ecology of this group of obligately endosymbiontic microorganisms