Draft genome sequence of the globally distributed cockroach-infecting fungus herpomyces periplanetae strain D. Haelew. 1187d

Herpomyces periplanetae is an obligate biotroph of Periplaneta americana, the American cockroach. Its nearly cosmopolitan distribution is shaped by its globally invasive host and the international pet trade. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of H. periplanetae, based on a thallus from P. americana collected in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Birth of an order: comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study excludes Herpomyces (Fungi, Laboulbeniomycetes) from Laboulbeniales

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Bringing the Laboulbeniales to the 21st century: Enhanced techniques for extraction and PCR amplification of DNA from minute ectoparasitic fungi

One of the most peculiar groups of Ascomycota are the Laboulbeniales. These fungi are characterized by an ectoparasitic life style on arthropods, determinate growth, lack of an asexual stage, high species richness, and intractability to culture. The Laboulbeniales, sister to the Pyxidiophorales, have only recently been assigned their own class, the Laboulbeniomycetes, based on very few ribosomal DNA sequences. So far, DNA isolations and PCR amplifications have proven difficult. Here, we provide details of isolation techniques and the application of commercially available kits that enable efficient and reliable genetic analyses of these peculiar fungi. We provide 43 newly generated Laboulbeniales rDNA sequences, among which are the first published sequences for species in the genera Gloeandromyces, Herpomyces, Laboulbenia, Monoicomyces, and Polyandromyces. DNA extractions were possible using from 1 to 30 thalli from hosts preserved in ethanol (80-100%). In two cases, we successfully isolated DNA from thalli on dried insect collections. Laboulbeniales molecular systematics could be substantially enhanced through these improved methods by allowing more complete sampling of both taxa and gene regions

Chance or Necessity—The Fungi Co−Occurring with Formica polyctena Ants

Studies on carton nesting ants and domatia−dwelling ants have shown that ant–fungi interactions may be much more common and widespread than previously thought. Until now, studies focused predominantly on parasitic and mutualistic fungi–ant interactions occurring mostly in the tropics, neglecting less−obvious interactions involving the fungi common in ants’ surroundings in temperate climates. In our study, we characterized the mycobiota of the surroundings of Formica polyctena ants by identifying nearly 600 fungal colonies that were isolated externally from the bodies of F. polyctena workers. The ants were collected from mounds found in northern and central Poland. Isolated fungi were assigned to 20 genera via molecular identification (ITS rDNA barcoding). Among these, Penicillium strains were the most frequent, belonging to eight different taxonomic sections. Other common and widespread members of Eurotiales, such as Aspergillus spp., were isolated very rarely. In our study, we managed to characterize the genera of fungi commonly present on F. polyctena workers. Our results suggest that Penicillium, Trichoderma, Mucor, Schwanniomyces and Entomortierella are commonly present in F. polyctena surroundings. Additionally, the high diversity and high frequency of Penicillium colonies isolated from ants in this study suggest that representatives of this genus may be adapted to survive in ant nests environment better than the other fungal groups, or that they are preferentially sustained by the insects in nests

First record of Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) on Harmonia axyridis (Coccinellidae, Coleoptera) in Poland

Hesperomyces virescens Thaxt. is a fungal parasite of coccinellid beetles. One of its hosts is the invasive harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas). We present the first records of this combination from Poland

Influence of Elytral Color Pattern, Size, and Sex of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) on Parasite Prevalence and Intensity of Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales)

Harmonia axyridis is an invasive ladybird (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) with the potential to outcompete native ladybird species in its invasive distribution area. It was introduced as a biological control agent in many countries but has also spread unintentionally in many others. Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a minute (200–400 µm in size) biotrophic fungus that infects over 30 species of ladybirds. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the elytral color pattern, size, and sex of Ha. axyridis affect infection by H. virescens. Coloration in Ha. axyridis has been linked to the presence of an antimicrobial alkaloid (harmonine). In fall 2016, we collected 763 Ha. axyridis individuals in Cambridge, Massaschusetts, of which 119 (16%) bore H. virescens fruiting bodies. We analyzed 160 individuals (80 infected, 80 uninfected) concerning the intensity of infection by H. virescens. Elytral sizes and coloration patterns were quantified using digital photography and analytical methods. Smaller ladybirds had a higher prevalence and higher intensity of parasitism. Additionally, male ladybirds bore more thalli compared to female ladybirds. Elytral color patterns had an effect on neither prevalence nor intensity of infection by Laboulbeniales in our dataset, although we found a slight trend to higher intensity of parasitism in more melanic males. This suggests that the development of Laboulbeniales might be affected by certain insect alkaloids

Identification of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Naturally Occurring Enemies of the Invasive Oak Lace Bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say) (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

The oak lace bug (OLB), Corythucha arcuata (Hemiptera: Tingidae), was first identified as an invasive pest in Europe in northern Italy in 2000 and since then it has spread rapidly, attacking large forested areas in European countries. The OLB is a cell sap-sucking insect that is native to North America, with Quercus spp. as its main host. Its rapid expansion, successful establishment in invaded countries, and observations of more damage to hosts compared to native areas are most likely due to a lack of natural enemies, pathogens and competitors. In its native area, various natural enemies of OLBs have been identified; however, little is known about the occurrence and impact of OLB pathogens. None of the pathogenic fungi found on OLBs in natural conditions have been identified until now. In this study, we provide evidence of four entomopathogenic fungi that are naturally occurring on invasive OLBs found in infested pedunculate oak forests in eastern Croatia. On the basis of their morphology and multilocus molecular phylogeny, the fungi were identified as Beauveria pseudobassiana, Lecanicillium pissodis, Akanthomyces attenuatus and Samsoniella alboaurantium. The sequences generated for this study are available from GenBank under the accession numbers MT004817-MT004820, MT004833-MT004835, MT027501-MT27510, and MT001936-MT0011943. These pathogenic species could facilitate biological control strategies against OLBs

Laboulbeniomycetes, enigmatic fungi with a turbulent taxonomic history

Phylogenetic studies of Laboulbeniomycetes support recognition of three orders (Herpomycetales, Laboulbeniales, Pyxidiophorales) and two unnamed clades containing conidial, arthropod-associated fungi and a poorly known perithecial genus, Subbaromyces. Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales include obligate arthropod-associated biotrophs characterized by a parenchymatous thallus of several thousand cells. Pyxidiophorales are hyphal mycoparasites with an unusual three-morph life cycle. The two-celled ascospore with a distinctive apparatus for attachment to arthropods ties together all Laboulbeniomycetes. The complex morphologies and life histories of these fungi are described as a background for research directions that will rely heavily on molecular methods, including phylogenomics, with emphasis on host–parasite relations

Colonization of decomposing Sphagnum moss litter by mycorrhizal roots in two types of peatland ecosystems

Podczas blisko trzyletnich badań nad rozkładem mchu torfowca na torfowisku przejściowym oraz w borze bagiennym w północno-wschodniej Polsce zaobserwowano kolonizację materiału roślinnego w woreczkach ściółkowych przez silnie zmykoryzowane korzenie. Procentowa zawartość tych korzeni, wyrażona jako stosunek ich suchej masy do suchej masy rozkładających się szczątków roślinnych, generalnie zwiększała się wraz z upływem czasu w borze bagiennym, natomiast w przypadku torfowiska przejściowego nie wykazała wyraźnych tendencji; z racji niewielkiej liczby powtórzeń zaobserwowane różnice nie były jednak istotne statystycznie. W materiale roślinnym rozkładającym się na torfowisku przejściowym odnotowano obecność dwóch morfotypów korzeni wrzosowatych oraz dwóch morfotypów korzeni ektomykoryzowych, natomiast w borze bagiennym odnotowano jeden morfotyp korzeni wrzosowatych i 9 morfotypów korzeni ektomykoryzowych. Tylko jeden morfotyp wrzosowatych i jeden ektomykoryzowy były odnotowane w obu typach siedlisk; różnice wynikały z zasadniczych różnic w składzie zbiorowisk roślinnych pomiędzy badanymi powierzchniami. Większość (7 z 10) morfotypów ektomykoryz pojawiła się tylko raz podczas całego okresu trwania eksperymentu. Badania molekularne uzyskanych morfotypów powiodły się jedynie w siedmiu przypadkach: zidentyfikowano jeden gatunek tworzący mykoryzę erikoidalną, trzy gatunki tworzące ektomykoryzy (w tym jeden tworzący dwa morfotypy) oraz dwa gatunki grzybów wielkoowocnikowych znanych jako saprotrofy, prawdopodobnie wtórnie infekujących korzenie. Sekwencje uzyskane z pozostałych badanych morfotypów należały do grzybów mikroskopijnych najprawdopodobniej kolonizujących korzenie jako saprotrofy lub endofity. Pomimo że badania niniejsze stanowią jedynie szkicowe studium, to jednoznacznie wskazują na możliwość udziału grzybów mykoryzowych w procesach rozkładu materii roślinnej w ekosystemach torfowiskowych.During a 35-month study on the decomposition of Sphagnum moss litter in poor fen and pine bog forest, an intensive colonization of litter-bags by mycorrhizal roots was observed during the decomposition process. Content of mycorrhizal roots in litter-bags, expressed as % mass of roots, was generally increasing during the decomposition in pine bog forest, and fluctuating during decomposition on poor fen, although in both cases the results were statistically insignificant. Two morphotypes of ericoid roots and two morphotypes of ectomycorrhizal roots were recorded from litter-bags on poor fen during the decomposition experiment, while in pine bog forest one morphotype of ericoid and nine morphotypes of ectomycorrhizal roots were recorded. Molecular identification of mycorrhizal roots succeeded only in the case of one ericoid and six putatively ectomycorrhizal morphotypes. Most morphotypes were recorded only once during the whole 35-month decomposition period, and only one ericoid and one ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were shared between the poor fen and pine bog forest communities