Characterization of Bacillus species exhibiting strong proteolytic activity isolated from Thua Nao

In this study, two bacilli strains, namely TN51 and TN69, previously isolated from Thua Nao, a Thai traditional fermented soybean, were studied in terms of their phenotypic and biochemical properties. Initially, both strains were subjected to morphological determination and a series of biochemical tests. Both were Gram-positive, endosporeforming bacilli. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the identities of strains TN51 and TN69 were confirmed as Bacillus subtilis and B. cereus, respectively. In addition, these two strains were also assessed for their antibiogram profiles. It was found that both strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, kanamycin, tetracycline, and vancomycin and resistant to ampicillin and intermediately susceptible to bacitracin

Ευρετικές προσεγγίσεις του μοναδιάστατου προβλήματος πακετοποίησης

Article 59.1, of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICN; Melbourne Code), which addresses the nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi, became effective from 30 July 2011. Since that date, each fungal species can have one nomenclaturally correct name in a particular classification. All other previously used names for this species will be considered as synonyms. The older generic epithet takes priority over the younger name. Any widely used younger names proposed for use, must comply with Art. 57.2 and their usage should be approved by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). In this paper, we list all genera currently accepted by us in Dothideomycetes (belonging to 23 orders and 110 families), including pleomorphic and non-pleomorphic genera. In the case of pleomorphic genera, we follow the rulings of the current ICN and propose single generic names for future usage. The taxonomic placements of 1261 genera are listed as an outline. Protected names and suppressed names for 34 pleomorphic genera are listed separately. Notes and justifications are provided for possible proposed names after the list of genera. Notes are also provided on recent advances in our understanding of asexual and sexual morph linkages in Dothideomycetes. A phylogenetic tree based on four gene analyses supported 23 orders and 75 families, while 35 families still lack molecular data

Discovery of Three Novel Cytospora Species in Thailand and Their Antagonistic Potential

During an ongoing research survey of saprobic fungi in Thailand, four coelomycetous strains were isolated from decaying leaves in Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok Provinces. Morphological characteristics demonstrated that these taxa are typical of Cytospora in forming multi-loculate, entostromatic conidiomata, branched or unbranched conidiophores, with enteroblastic, phialidic conidiogenous cells and hyaline, allantoid, aseptate conidia. Multiloci phylogeny of ITS, LSU, ACT, RPB2, TEF1-α and TUB2 confirmed these taxa are distinct new species in Cytospora in Cytosporaceae (Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes), viz., Cytospora chiangmaiensis, C. phitsanulokensis and C. shoreae. Cytospora chiangmaiensis has a close phylogenetic relationship with C. shoreae, while C. phitsanulokensis is sister to C. acaciae. These three novel species were also preliminary screened for their antagonistic activity against five plant pathogenic fungi: Colletotrichumfructicola, Co. siamense, Co. artocarpicola, Co. viniferum and Fusarium sambucinum. Cytospora shoreae and C. phitsanulokensis showed >60% inhibition against Co. viniferum and F. sambucinum, while C. chiangmaiensis had moderate inhibition activity against all pathogens

Fungi on decaying leaves of Magnolia liliifera and Cinnamomum iners show litter fungi to be hyperdiverse

Diversity of fungi on decaying leaves of Magnolia liliifera and Cinnamomum iners collected during the dry season at Doi Suthep-Pui forest, Chiang Mai, Thailand were studied and compared. Thirtyfive taxa were identified from Magnolia liliifera comprising 8 sexual (ascomycetes) and 27 asexual taxa. The most abundant species found were Sporidesmium sp., Colletotrichum fructicola and Stachybotrys parvispora. Seventeen taxa were identified from Cinnamomum iners comprising 2 ascomycetes and 15 asexual taxa. Anamorph of Eutypa sp. 2 and Pleurophragmium sp. were the most abundant species on Cinnamomum iners. There is very little overlap between the fungi occurring on the two host species. Distinct fungal communities were found between the two hosts at each stage of decomposition. Decaying leaves of both hosts collected in the early stage of decomposition supported a greater fungal diversity than those collected at the later stage of decomposition. Saprobic fungi on the two plants are shown to be hyperdiverse

Integrative Taxonomy of Novel <i>Diaporthe</i> Species Associated with Medicinal Plants in Thailand

During our investigations of the microfungi on medicinal plants in Thailand, five isolates of Diaporthe were obtained. These isolates were identified and described using a multiproxy approach, viz. morphology, cultural characteristics, host association, the multiloci phylogeny of ITS, tef1-α, tub2, cal, and his3, and DNA comparisons. Five new species, Diaporthe afzeliae, D. bombacis, D. careyae, D. globoostiolata, and D. samaneae, are introduced as saprobes from the plant hosts, viz. Afzelia xylocarpa, Bombax ceiba, Careya sphaerica, a member of Fagaceae, and Samanea saman. Interestingly, this is the first report of Diaporthe species on these plants, except on the Fagaceae member. The morphological comparison, updated molecular phylogeny, and pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) analysis strongly support the establishment of novel species. Our phylogeny also revealed the close relationship between D. zhaoqingensis and D. chiangmaiensis; however, the evidence from the PHI test and DNA comparison indicated that they are distinct species. These findings improve the existing knowledge of taxonomy and host diversity of Diaporthe species as well as highlight the untapped potential of these medicinal plants for searching for new fungi

Drechslerella daliensis and D. xiaguanensis (Orbiliales, Orbiliaceae), two new nematode-trapping fungi from Yunnan, China

Nematode-trapping fungi are a highly specialised group in fungi and are essential regulators of natural nematode populations. At present, more than 130 species have been discovered in Zygomycota (Zoopagaceae), Basidiomycota (Nematoctonus), and Ascomycota (Orbiliaceae). Amongst them, nematode-trapping fungi in Orbiliaceae have become the research focus of carnivorous fungi due to their abundant species. During the investigation of carnivorous fungi in Yunnan, China, four fungal strains isolated from burned forest soil were identified as two new nematode-trapping species in Drechslerella (Orbiliaceae), based on multigene phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters.Drechslerella daliensis sp. nov. is characterised by its ellipsoid, 1–2-septate macroconidia, clavate or bottle-shaped, 0–1-septate microconidia and unbranched, simple conidiophores. D. xiaguanensis sp. nov. is characterised by fusiform or spindle-shaped, 2–4-septate conidia and unbranched, simple conidiophores. Both of them produce constricting rings to capture nematodes. The phylogenetic analysis, based on combined ITS, TEF1-α and RPB2 sequences, determined their placement in Drechslerella. D. daliensis forms a basal lineage closely nested with D. hainanensis (YMF1.03993). D. xiaguanensis forms a sister lineage with D. bembicodes (1.01429), D. aphrobrocha (YMF1.00119) and D. coelobrocha (FWY03-25-1)

Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts prepared from fungal mycelia

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial property of three different partitioned extracts (petroleum ether, ethanol and water) prepared from some fungal mycelia. Methods: Seven fungal mycelia were prepared, initially extracted with acidified ethanol (0.2 mol/L HCl in 80% ethanol), yielding the raw crude extracts. The obtained extracts were then further partitioned with petroleum ether (F1), ethanol (F2) and water (F3). All the fractions were tested for antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion assay. Results: Our data showed that all the fractions could inhibit the testing bacteria. However, the inhibitory activity was found to be dependent on (i) the fungal strains used; (ii) the solvent extracted; and (iii) the testing bacteria assayed. In general, the ethanolic extracts (F2) derived from all fungi displayed highest inhibitory activity against the testing bacteria except for Chaetomium sp. Conclusions: The findings of the present study concluded that the extracts prepared from the fungal mycelia had the bioactive compounds with antibacterial property. This study is a pioneering work and further study should be carried out for development of the new drug leads

Taxonomy and phylogeny of the novel rhytidhysteron-like collections in the Greater Mekong Subregion

During our survey into the diversity of woody litter fungi across the Greater Mekong Subregion, three rhytidhysteron-like taxa were collected from dead woody twigs in China and Thailand. These were further investigated based on morphological observations and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combined DNA data matrix containing SSU, LSU, ITS, and tef1-α sequence data. A new species of Rhytidhysteron, R. xiaokongense sp. nov. is introduced with its asexual morph, and it is characterized by semi-immersed, subglobose to ampulliform conidiomata, dark brown, oblong to ellipsoidal, 1-septate, conidia, which are granular in appearance when mature. In addition to the new species, two new records from Thailand are reported viz. Rhytidhysteron tectonae on woody litter of Betula sp. (Betulaceae) and Fabaceae sp. and Rhytidhysteron neorufulum on woody litter of Tectona grandis (Lamiaceae). Morphological descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic notes and phylogenetic analyses are provided for all entries

Novel saprobic Hermatomyces species (Hermatomycetaceae, Pleosporales) from China (Yunnan Province) and Thailand

During our survey of the diversity of woody litter fungi in China and Thailand, three Hermatomyces species were collected from dead woody twigs of Dipterocarpus sp. (Dipterocarpaceae) and Ehretia acuminata (Boraginaceae). Both morphology and multigene analyses revealed two taxa as new species (Hermatomyces turbinatus and H. jinghaensis) and the remaining collections as new records of H. sphaericus. Hermatomyces turbinatus is characterized by 1) dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and 2) turbinate conidia consisting of two columns with two septa composed of 2–3 cells in each column. Hermatomyces jinghaensis is characterized by dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and clavate or subcylindrical to cylindrical conidia and consisting of one or two columns with 6–8 cells in each column. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS, tub2, tef1-α and rpb2 sequence data supports the placement of these new taxa within Hermatomycetaceae with high statistical support

Insight into the Taxonomic Resolution of <i>Apiospora</i>: Introducing Novel Species and Records from Bamboo in China and Thailand

Taxonomic studies of bambusicolous fungi in China and Thailand have resulted in the collection of three fascinating saprobic coelomycetes strains. Morphology coupled with combined gene analysis of ITS, LSU, TUB2, and TEF1-α DNA sequence data showed that they belong to the genus Apiospora, family Apiosporaceae. A new species from Thailand, Apiospora mukdahanensis, and new records of A. locuta-pollinis from China are herein described. In addition, based on both morphological data coupled with phylogenetics and nomenclatural analyses, A. mori is proposed as a new combination. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species obtained in this study. Newly obtained strains are compared with morphologically- and phylogenetically-related taxa. The comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and updated phylogeny are provided and discussed for intra-and intergeneric relationships within Apiospora species