Identification of a new order of root-colonising fungi in the Entorrhizomycota : talbotiomycetales ord. nov. on eudicotyledons

The recently described fungal phylum Entorrhizomycota was established solely for the genus Entorrhiza, species of which cause root-galls in Cyperaceae and Juncaceae. Talbotiomyces calosporus (incertae sedis) shares morphological characteristics and an ecological niche with species of Entorrhiza. We investigated the higher classification of T. calosporus to determine whether it belongs in Entorrhizomycota. Ribosomal DNA sequences showed Talbotiomyces to be a close relative of Entorrhiza and both taxa form a highly supported monophyletic group. Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and in congruence with existing morphological and ecological data, Entorrhiza and Talbotiomyces represent a deep dichotomy within the Entorrhizomycota. While species of Entorrhiza are characterised by dolipores and occur on monocotyledons, members of Talbotiomyces are characterised by simple pores and are associated with eudicotyledons. This expands the host range of the recently described Entorrhizomycota from Poales to other angiosperms. Higher taxa, namely Talbotiomycetales ord. nov. and Talbotiomycetaceae fam. nov., are proposed here to accommodate Talbotiomyces.The German Research Foundation, DFG (BA 75/3-1; BE 2201/7-1).http://www.imafungus.orgam201

Implications of molecular characters for the phylogeny of the Microbotryaceae (Basidiomycota: Urediniomycetes)

BACKGROUND: Anther smuts of the basidiomycetous genus Microbotryum on Caryophyllaceae are important model organisms for many biological disciplines. Members of Microbotryum are most commonly found parasitizing the anthers of host plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, however they can also be found on the anthers of members of the Dipsacaceae, Lamiaceae, Lentibulariaceae, and Portulacaceae. Additionally, some members of Microbotryum can be found infecting other organs of mainly Polygonaceae hosts. Based on ITS nrDNA sequences of members of almost all genera in Microbotryaceae, this study aims to resolve the phylogeny of the anther smuts and their relationship to the other members of the family of plant parasites. A multiple analysis strategy was used to correct for the effects of different equally possible ITS sequence alignments on the phylogenetic outcome, which appears to have been neglected in previous studies. RESULTS: The genera of Microbotryaceae were not clearly resolved, but alignment-independent moderate bootstrap support was achieved for a clade containing the majority of the Microbotryum species. The anther parasites appeared in two different well-supported lineages whose interrelationship remained unresolved. Whereas bootstrap support values for some clades were highly vulnerable to alignment conditions, other clades were more robustly supported. The differences in support between the different alignments were much larger than between the phylogenetic optimality criteria applied (maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed, based on a larger dataset than previous work, that the anther smuts on Caryophyllaceae are monophyletic and that there exists a native North American group that diverged from the European clade before the radiation of the European species. Also a second group of anther smuts was revealed, containing parasites on Dipsacaceae, Lamiaceae, and Lentibulariaceae. At least the majority of the parasites of Asteraceae appeared as a monophylum, but delimitations of some species in this group should be reconsidered. Parasitism on Polygonaceae is likely to be the ancestral state for the Microbotryaceae on Eudicot hosts

Nuevos registros de Anthracoidea pseudofoetidae (Anthracoideaceae) de Rusia y Microbotryum (Microbotryaceae) de Grecia y Marruecos

A rare smut fungus, Anthracoidea pseudofoetidae, is reported for the first time from Russia, based on a specimen from the Altai Republic. Carex enervis is a new host record for A. pseudofoetidae. Two new records for Greece, Microbotryum duriaeanum and M. moenchiae-manticae, and a new record for Morocco, Microbotryum moehringiae, are also presented. Microbotryum moehringiae is recorded for the first time from Africa. Cerastium brachypetalum subsp. roeseri is a new host record for Microbotryum duriaeanum. New molecular data are provided for these smut fungi. Updated phylogenetic trees for Anthracoidea and Microbotryum are also given.Anthracoidea pseudofoetidae, un raro hongo tizón, se cita por primera vez para Rusia, a partir de un espécimen de la República de Altai, and Carex enervis se reporta como un nuevo hospedador. Se presentan dos nuevos registros para Grecia, Microbotryum duriaeanum y M. moenchiae-manticae, y uno para Marruecos, Microbotryum moehringiae. Microbotryum moehringiae se registra por primera vez en África. Cerastium brachypetalum subsp. roeseri es un nuevo hospedador de Microbotryum duriaeanum. Se aportan nuevos datos moleculares sobre estos hongos. También se presentan árboles filogenéticos actualizados de Anthracoidea y Microbotryum

Foliar fungi of the enigmatic desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis show little adaptation to their unique host plant

Foliar fungi, especially endophytic fungi, constitute an important part of the microbiome of plants. Yet little is known about the composition of these communities. In this study, we isolated fungi from leaf tissues of the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis to determine the culturable diversity of the foliar fungal community. The isolated fungal taxa, which grouped into 17 distinct lineages, were identified by sequencing elongation factor 1 alpha, beta-tubulin 1, beta-tubulin 2 and the internal transcribed spacer region. The culturable community was mainly composed of cosmopolitan fungal genera despite the unique taxonomic position of the plant and its geographic isolation. To test for endemism in two of the common fungal genera, Alternaria and Aureobasidium, we built haplotype networks using a global data set. Even this broad data set showed little evidence for specialisation within this unique host or its geographical location. The data suggest that the culturable members of communities of leaf-associated fungi in habitats with little plant coverage, such as the Namib Desert, are mainly established by long-distance aerially distributed fungal inocula and few of these taxa co-evolve with the host within the habitat.Significance: The culturable members of fungal communities associated with an ecological and evolutionary isolated plant have not co-speciated with their hosts, but to a large extent are composed of globally distributed fungal species. Harsh environmental conditions and the geographic isolation of host plants seem to favour ubiquitous fungal species over more specialist fungal species

Adiciones a los carbones de la Península Ibérica

After examination of specimens, mainly from the herbarium (MA) and the mycological collection (MA-Fungi) of the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid, we report several novelties on smut fungi within Europe. Two species of smut fungi, Sporisorium egyptiacum and Tilletia viennotii, are reported for the first time from Europe. A finding of Sphacelotheca polygoni-serrulati represents a second record for Europe. Six species of smut fungi, Moreaua kochiana, Schizonella elynae, Sporisorium egyptiacum, Thecaphora thlaspeos, Tilletia viennotii, and Ustanciosporium majus, are recorded for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. Five species of smut fungi, Moreaua kochiana, Schizonella elynae, Sporisorium egyptiacum, Thecaphora thlaspeos, and Ustanciosporium majus, are newly recorded from Spain. Three species, Moreaua kochiana, Sphacelotheca polygoni-serrulati, and Tilletia viennotii, are new for Portugal. A specimen of Moreaua kochiana represents a new record for France. Arabis serpillifolia is reported as a new host of Thecaphora thlaspeos. New distribution records from the Iberian Peninsula are given for Anthracoidea arenariae, Microbotryum minuartiae, M. silenes-saxifragae, and Tranzscheliella sparti. We also include a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of Moreaua kochiana, generated in this study, to understand this species’ relationships within its genus.Tras examinar especímenes principalmente del herbario (MA) y de la colección de hongos (MA-Fungi) del Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid reportamos varias novedades de carboneros dentro de Europa. Dos especies de carbones, Sporisorium egyptiacum y Tilletia viennotii, se citan por primera vez para Europa. Reportamos también la segunda cita de Sphacelotheca polygoni-serrulati para Europa. Seis especies, Moreaua kochiana, Schizonella elynae, Sporisorium egyptiacum, Thecaphora thlaspeos, Tilletia viennotii, y Ustanciosporium majus, se citan por primera vez para la Península Ibérica; cinco especies, Moreaua kochiana, Schizonella elynae, Sporisorium egyptiacum, Thecaphora thlaspeos, y Ustanciosporium majus, son nuevas citas para España; tres especies, Moreaua kochiana, Sphacelotheca polygoni-serrulati, y Tilletia viennotii, son nuevas citas para Portugal. Una colección de Moreaua kochiana representa una nueva cita para Francia. Arabis serpillifolia se menciona por primera vez como un hospedante para Thecaphora thlaspeos. Se registran nuevas localidades en la Península Ibérica para Anthracoidea arenariae, Microbotryum minuartiae, M. silenes-saxifragae y Tranzscheliella sparti. Incluimos también un análisis filogenético de secuencias de ADN de dos especímenes de Moreaua kochiana, generadas en este estudio, para entender las relaciones filogenéticas de esta especie dentro su género

Maternal effects on tree phenotypes : considering the microbiome

The biotic and abiotic environmental experience of plants can influence the offspring without any changes in DNA sequence. These effects can modulate the development of the progeny and its interaction with micro-organisms. This interaction includes fungal endophytic communities which have significant effects on trees and their associated ecosystems. We highlight potential maternal mechanisms through which endophytes could influence the progeny. We argue that a better understanding of these interactions might help predict the response of trees to stress conditions and to enhance the efficiency of tree breeding programs.Tree Protection Co-operative Programme, Genome Research Institute at the University of Pretoria.http://www.journals.elsevier.com/trends-in-plant-science2016-09-26hb201

Fungal Communities of Eucalyptus grandis Leaves Are Influenced by the Insect Pest Leptocybe invasa

Fungal communities in above-ground tree tissues are hyperdiverse and are influenced by biotic interactions with other organisms living in or on these tissues. These biotic interactions are, however, still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand how insect-associated gall formation on Eucalyptus foliage correlates with the diversity of foliar fungal communities in surrounding healthy leaf tissue, as well as the co-occurrence patterns among the members of the fungal community. We used ITS metabarcoding to characterise the foliar fungal communities of 179 individual E. grandis trees. These trees were assigned to infestation levels of the wasp Leptocybe invasa (Eulophidae: Hymenoptera), which causes gall formation on shoot tips and leaves of its host. Fungal community networks were calculated using a Pearson correlation coefficient. The composition and diversity of fungal communities were influenced by the severity of L. invasa infestations. We identified potential Eucalyptus pathogens with high sequence abundance at all disease severity levels, but network analysis indicated that the co-occurrence of potential pathogens between no to mild and medium to heavy infestation differed significantly. A better understanding of microbial interactions, especially the role of pathogens, can be useful for controlling disease- and beneficial host-associated microbial communities

Opportunities for diversified usage of metabarcoding data for fungal biogeography through increased metadata quality

The widely adopted use of metabarcoding techniques and the ability to sequence microbial communities directly from environmental samples have advanced the field of fungal ecology. The growth of publicly available big data offers opportunities for collating data from different sources to explore biogeographical and macroecological patterns of fungal groups over large spatial scales. This requires reliable and high-quality metadata associated with the raw sequencing data. We assessed the accuracy of submitted metadata linked to terrestrial plant-associated fungal genetic marker sequences, extracted from NCBI’s Bio- Project web-portal. The amount of correctly captured, missing, and incorrectly supplied metadata was determined. The quality of submitter-defined metadata was of a variable quality, with some adhering to metadata standards, and others not capturing metadata for certain attributes or, when metadata was captured, duplicating metadata across samples, or only partially meeting metadata requirements. This ultimately limits the ability to find, and subsequently re-use, sequence data. The rapid accumulation of metabarcoding data and the ability to directly compare samples taken from different studies holds opportunities for gaining a deeper understanding of fungal biogeographical patterns and their drivers. Standardised vocabularies for metadata attributes during submission to public repositories like NCBI’s Sequence Read Archive, coupled with adequate incentives for the data providers, would facilitate the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) data principles and ultimately enable metabarcoding sequence data to be readily utilized to perform large scale global biogeographical studies on the kingdom Fungi.The Tree Protection Cooperative Program (TPCP), the center of excellence in plant health and biotechnology (CPHB) and the South African National Research Foundation.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/fbram2024BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Plant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-15:Life on lan

Foliar fungi of the enigmatic desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis show little adaptation to their unique host plant

Foliar fungi, especially endophytic fungi, constitute an important part of the microbiome of plants. Yet little is known about the composition of these communities. In this study, we isolated fungi from leaf tissues of the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis to determine the culturable diversity of the foliar fungal community. The isolated fungal taxa, which grouped into 17 distinct lineages, were identified by sequencing elongation factor 1 alpha, beta-tubulin 1, beta-tubulin 2 and the internal transcribed spacer region. The culturable community was mainly composed of cosmopolitan fungal genera despite the unique taxonomic position of the plant and its geographic isolation. To test for endemism in two of the common fungal genera, Alternaria and Aureobasidium, we built haplotype networks using a global data set. Even this broad data set showed little evidence for specialisation within this unique host or its geographical location. The data suggest that the culturable members of communities of leaf-associated fungi in habitats with little plant coverage, such as the Namib Desert, are mainly established by long-distance aerially distributed fungal inocula and few of these taxa co-evolve with the host within the habitat. SIGNIFICANCE : • The culturable members of fungal communities associated with an ecological and evolutionary isolated plant have not co-speciated with their hosts, but to a large extent are composed of globally distributed fungal species. • Harsh environmental conditions and the geographic isolation of host plants seem to favour ubiquitous fungal species over more specialist fungal species.The Department of Science and Technology (DSI)–National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) and the University of Pretoria.http://www.sajs.co.zaam2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog