<I>Pestalotiopsis</I> endophytes from leaves of two orchid species collected in Costa Rica

Une étude a été faite sur un échantillon de champignons endophytes qui font partie du genre Pestalotiopsis. Ces champignons sont associés à deux espèces d\u27orchidées et ils ont été récoltés sur l\u27Île de Coco au Costa Rica. Parmi les champignons isolés des feuilles de ces deux espèces d\u27orchidées prédomine le genre Pestalotiopsis. Nous avons isolé au total vingt-neuf (29) souches de Pestalotiopsis, dont neuf (9) sur Camaridium micranthum M. A. Blanco et vingt (20) sur Ornithidium adendrobium (Rchb.f.) M.A. Blanco. Sur la base des caractères morphologiques, les spécimens de Pestalotiopsis ont été divisés en trois groupes. Cependant, l\u27insuffisance des différences morphologiques n\u27a pas permis de les identifier et les régions ITS de l\u27ADN ribosomal ont été analysées pour mieux évaluer l\u27appartenance des échantillons isolés.A survey of endophytic Pestalotiopsis associated with two orchid species collected in Coco Island in Costa Rica was carried out. Among the fungi isolated from leaves of the two species, genus Pestalotiopsis prevailed. We isolated 29 strains of Pestalotiopsis, 9 of which from Camaridium micranthum M. A. Blanco and 20 from Ornithidium adendrobium (Rchb.f.) M.A. Blanco. On the basis of morphological characters, Pestalotiopsis isolates were divided into three different groups but their high similarity do not allow unambiguous species identification. The analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA was then performed to evaluate the taxonomic position of our isolates.</p

Succession of microfungal communities on Myrtus communis leaf litter in a Sardinian Mediterranean maquis ecosystem

The succession of microfungal communities on Myrtus communis leaf litter was monitored from Jan. 1993 to Nov. 1994 using the litter bag method. Three main groups of fungal colonizers were identified, whose presence is correlated with the successive decomposition stages of the substrate and with seasonal variations.

High spots for diversity of soil and litter microfungi in Italy

Soil fungal diversity plays a fundamental role in delivering key ecosystem goods and services. This paper assesses diversity of saprotrophic soil and litter microfungi, as taxonomical and functional components which affect above- and below-ground relationships within Alpine and Mediterranean regions of Italy. We highlighted biodiversity high spots focusing on four research topics that have been developed over time and are currently in progress in Italy. Preliminary quantitative data concerning soil microfungi in the Raethian Alps showed a strong reduction of CFUs with altitude. Keratinophilic microfungi in natural and anthropogenic environments were widespread among filamentous fungi and 121 species have been isolated in Italy since 1960. Heat stimulated microfungi in Mediterranean region soil showed high values both in abundance and species density even two years after the experimental fire, with Neosartorya spp. playing a pivotal role. The diversity of microfungi of Quercus ilex (150 species), in the Mediterranean region, higher than that in leaf litter of other species, was explained mainly by different forms of growth and the phytoclimatic characters of the areas under study