Wood-Decay Fungi Fructifying in Mediterranean Deciduous Oak Forests: A Community Composition, Richness and Productivity Study.

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Wood-Decay Fungi Fructifying in Mediterranean Deciduous Oak Forests: A Community Composition, Richness and Productivity Study by Ángel Ponce 1,2,Elena Salerni 3,*ORCID,Maria Nives D’Aguanno 4ORCID andClaudia Perini 3,5ORCID 1 Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, E-25198 Lleida, Spain 2 Joint Research Unit CTFC—AGROTECNIO—CERCA, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, E-25198 Lleida, Spain 3 Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy 4 Institute of Microbiome and Applied Sciences, Malta Life Sciences Park (LS2.1.12—LS2.1.15), SGN 3000 San Gwann, Malta 5 NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Forests 2023, 14(7), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071326 Received: 5 June 2023 / Revised: 23 June 2023 / Accepted: 25 June 2023 / Published: 28 June 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Abundance, and Distribution of Wood-Decay Fungi) Download Browse Figures Review Reports Versions Notes Abstract Deadwood is involved in several important ecological roles, being the fundamental habitat of wood-decay fungi. At the same time, this polyphyletic group of fungi is the principal agent of wood decomposition, regulating the carbon cycle and the food resource for many other organisms. It is known that the diversity and community composition of wood-decay fungi are related to the tree species, decay stage and size of the woody debris in which they are living. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information on Mediterranean Quercus cerris L. forests. In response, we explored how wood-decay fungi colonize different woody types and how the productivity, richness and community composition of these fungi is influenced by the decay stage and size of the deadwood. Our results indicate that the studied groups, i.e., Ascomycetes, Corticioids, Polyporoids and Heterobasidiomycetes responded differently to the woody debris classes. Moreover, we note the high importance of smaller and soft-decayed woody debris for community composition and richness, hosting a great number of species, in addition to the positive effect of the heterogeneity of the woody debris size for wood-decay fungi productivity

Anomalous Momentum States, Non-Specular Reflections, and Negative Refraction of Phase-Locked, Second Harmonic Pulses

We simulate and discuss novel spatio-temporal propagation effects that relate specifically to pulsed, phase-mismatched second harmonic generation in a negative index material having finite length. Using a generic Drude model for the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability, the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies are tuned so that the respective indices of refraction are negative for the pump and positive for the second harmonic signal. A phase-locking mechanism causes part of the second harmonic signal generated at the entry surface to become trapped and dragged along by the pump and to refract negatively, even though the index of refraction at the second harmonic frequency is positive. These circumstances culminate in the creation of an anomalous state consisting of a forward-moving second harmonic wave packet that has negative wave vector and momentum density, which in turn leads to non-specular reflections at intervening material interfaces. The forward-generated second harmonic signal trapped under the pump pulse propagates forward, but has all the attributes of a reflected pulse, similar to its twin counterpart generated at the surface and freely propagating backward away from the interface. This describes a new state of negative refraction, associated with nonlinear frequency conversion and parametric processes, whereby a beam generated at the interface can refract negatively even though the index of refraction at that wavelength is positive

Le Riserve Naturali Statali di Cornocchia e Palazzo: macromiceti lignicoli in querceti decidui.

The results of a mycological research carried out in Quercus cerris woods in the territory of the State Natural Reserves of Cornocchia and Palazzo (Tuscany, Italy) are reported. Among the great Regnum Fungi, in this context wood-inhabiting macro-fungi have been observed, a group of mycetes considered, together with other saproxylic organism, good indicators of the health status of forest. The sampling was carried out in 24 permanents plots, taking note of all the fungal species found on each piece of dead wood, irrespective of size and stage of decay. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge of both the diversity and the ecology of this specific group of fungi in a Mediterranean habitat. Among the 182 macromycetes identified, 32 there are some with characteristic Mediterranean distribution and some others have been observed on different wood substrate as referred in bibliography. Thanks to these specific observations, 139 new species could be added to the fungal list of previous mycocoenological study performed in the same areas. The data collected in this research enhanced strongly the knowledge on the wood-inhabiting fungal community growing in the two Reserves and became an important basis for future analysis in the Mediterranean area. Moreover the relevant number of rare species found here gives the starting-point for more accurate surveys from an ecological and taxonomical point of view

Ectomycorrhizal communities above and below ground and truffle productivity in a Tuber aestivum orchard.

Aim of study: The diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities (EM) above (EMFb) and below (EMMt) ground associated with Quercus cerris L., Q. pubescens Willd., and Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold was analyzed. Area of study: A 20 year-old orchard that produces Tuber aestivum truffles, located a few kilometers from Chiusi della Verna (latitude 43° 41' 53"; longitude 11° 56' 9") in Tuscany (central Italy) was observed. Material and methods: This investigation combined analyses of EMFb, EMMt, T. aestivum productivity, different host trees, and statistical data on community ecology. Main results: The EM communities showed high species richness and differed slightly in relation to both the host tree and their location above or below ground, providing frequent findings of Tricholoma and Tomentella, respectively. Positive correlations were found between the number of truffles and host trees, and between the weight and number of truffles and EMFb. Research highlights: Mycorrhizal fungi and truffle production are not in competition

Macromiceti lignicoli in ambiente mediterraneo: il caso studio del Parco Regionale della Maremma.

The present paper is focused on the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in a poorly investigated area: the Mediterranean habitat. To this purpose, a study was conducted in the Mediterranean holm oak (Quercus ilex) woods within the Maremma Regional Park during 2013. The sampling was carried out in 12 permanents plots, taking note of all the fungal species found on each piece of dead wood, irrespective of size and stage of decay. 89 species of wood-inhabiting fungi were recorded, among which 13 regarded as rare and 14 as typically Mediterranean. The fungal community seems to be dominated by a small number of species which are by far more abundant than the others. The results allowed us to characterize the wood-inhabiting fungal community in holm-oak dominated habitats, broaden our ecological knowledge on several species and provide a preliminary database for further studies in Mediterranean areas

Concordance between vascular plant and macrofungal community composition in broadleaf deciduous forests in central Italy.

We examined the concordance between vascular plants and macrofungi (grouped into trophic groups) in Mediterranean forest habitats (central Italy). Our goal was to test how consistently plant and fungi groups classify plots in a broadleaf deciduous forest dominated by Quercus cerris. Our hypothesis was that groups of plants can be used as surrogates for the classification of macrofungal communities. The test of concordance comprised two steps: (1) the plant species data sets were subjected to cluster analysis, to obtain three classifications based on presence of all plants, presence and frequency of only woody species; (2) Multiple Response Permutation Procedures (MRPP) was used to test the performance of each plant classification applied to the fungi datasets. Sample scores on the first PCA axis were used to investigate the relationships between compositional patterns. In the concordance analysis, the classification based on woody plants only provided better results than the classification obtained using both herbaceous and woody plants. Cross-tests gave the best results when the “woody plants” classification was applied to ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) and, to a certain extent, to humicolous saprotrophs (Sh). The ordination analysis suggested that the frequency of woody plants follows a similar spatial distribution to EMF and Sh fungal groups and is therefore expected to covariate along the same environmental gradients. Many EMF exhibit preferences for few (one or two) hosts. Significant ssociations were found among numerous EMF and woody plant species. Woody plants such as Sorbus domestica and Prunus spinosa appear to be associated with many EMF. The combination of a high frequency of raxinus oxycarpa and Quercus petraea seems to promote distinct assemblages of EMF and Sh fungi. Characteristic assemblages of fungi were found in association with certain tree and shrub combinations

Silencing of Ago-2 Interacting Protein SERBP1 Relieves KCC2 Repression by miR-92 in Neurons

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play important roles in modulating miRNA-mediated mRNA target repression. Argonaute2 (Ago2) is an essential component of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that plays a central role in silencing mechanisms via small non-coding RNA molecules known as siRNAs and miRNAs. Small RNAs loaded into Argonaute proteins catalyze endoribonucleolytic cleavage of target RNAs or recruit factors responsible for translational silencing and mRNA target destabilization. In previous studies we have shown that KCC2, a neuronal Cl (−) extruding K (+) Cl (−) co-transporter 2, is regulated by miR-92 in neuronal cells. Searching for Ago2 partners by immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS analysis, we isolated among other proteins the Serpine mRNA binding protein 1 (SERBP1) from SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Exploring the role of SERBP1 in miRNA-mediated gene silencing in SH-SY5Y cells and primary hippocampal neurons, we demonstrated that SERBP1 silencing regulates KCC2 expression through the 3′ untranslated region (UTR). In addition, we found that SERBP1 as well as Ago2/miR-92 complex bind to KCC2 3′UTR. Finally, we demonstrated the attenuation of miR-92-mediated repression of KCC2 3′UTR by SERBP1 silencing. These findings advance our knowledge regarding the miR-92-mediated modulation of KCC2 translation in neuronal cells and highlight SERBP1 as a key component of this gene regulation

Topical Administration of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (SkinDuo^TM) Serum Improves Anti-Acne Properties

The tailoring of the skin microbiome is challenging and is a research hotspot in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases such as acne. Commonly encountered preservatives used as functional ingredients have an impact on the skin microbiota and are known to inhibit the survival of skin commensal bacteria. The selected species is Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, formulated with natural enhancers for topical use (SkinDuoTM). Ex vivo human skin models were used as a test system to assess the strain viability which was then validated on healthy volunteers. SkinDuoTM showed increased viability over time for in vitro skin models and a stable viability of over 50% on healthy skin. The strain was tested on human primary sebocytes obtained from sebaceous gland rich areas of facial skin and inoculated with the most abundant bacteria from the skin microbiota. Results on human ex vivo sebaceous gland models with the virulent phylotype of Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis present a significant reduction in viability, lipid production, and anti-inflammatory markers. We have developed an innovative anti-acne serum with L. plantarum that mimics the over-production of lipids, anti-inflammatory properties, and improves acne-disease skin models. Based on these results, we suggest that SkinDuoTM may be introduced as an acne-mitigating agent

Topical Administration of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (SkinDuoTM) Serum Improves Anti-Acne Properties

The tailoring of the skin microbiome is challenging and is a research hotspot in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases such as acne. Commonly encountered preservatives used as functional ingredients have an impact on the skin microbiota and are known to inhibit the survival of skin commensal bacteria. The selected species is Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, formulated with natural enhancers for topical use (SkinDuoTM). Ex vivo human skin models were used as a test system to assess the strain viability which was then validated on healthy volunteers. SkinDuoTM showed increased viability over time for in vitro skin models and a stable viability of over 50% on healthy skin. The strain was tested on human primary sebocytes obtained from sebaceous gland rich areas of facial skin and inoculated with the most abundant bacteria from the skin microbiota. Results on human ex vivo sebaceous gland models with the virulent phylotype of Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis present a significant reduction in viability, lipid production, and anti-inflammatory markers. We have developed an innovative anti-acne serum with L. plantarum that mimics the over-production of lipids, anti-inflammatory properties, and improves acne-disease skin models. Based on these results, we suggest that SkinDuoTM may be introduced as an acne-mitigating agent