Funneliglomus, gen. nov., and Funneliglomus sanmartinensis, a new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus from the Amazonia region in Peru

A new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus was found in agricultural field sites in the Amazonia lowlands of the Department San Martin, Perú. It was found up to 858 m above sea level in two plantations of the inka nut (also called ‚sacha inchi', Plukenetia volubilis), which was grown in mixed cultures together with Musa sp., Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris and Carica papaya. The fungus was propagated in bait cultures in a greenhouse on Sorghum sp., Brachiaria sp., Medicago sativa and Plukenetia volubilis as host plants. The fungus differentiates orange brown to dark orange brown, triple-layered spores, 93-151× 90-148 µm in diameter, terminally on funnel-shaped to rarely cylindrical or slightly inflating hyphae, and a strong, straight to slightly recurved septum that closes the spore pore at the spore base. Phylogenetically, the new fungus represents clearly a new genus in a separated clade, near to Funneliformis and Septoglomus. It can easily be distinguished from all other species of these genera by the characteristic ornamentation of the spore surface, which consists of multiple large, irregular pits. The fungus is here described under the epithet Funneliglomus sanmartinensis, serving as type species of the new genus Funneliglomus

Patrones de Colonización por Hongos Micorrízicos Arbusculares y Endófitos Septados Oscuros en un Ecosistema Forestal del Municipio de Isidro Fabela, Estado de México

Los hongos micorrícicos arbusculares (HMA) y los endófitos septados oscuros (DSEF) tienen tal influencia en el desarrollo de las plantas y en las características edafológicas y nutrientes disponibles en el suelo, que cambios en estas comunidades pueden impulsar modificaciones en las variables bióticas y abióticas de un ecosistema, demostrando la sinergia entre especies. Dada su relevancia, el objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el estado de colonización en las raíces de tres especies herbáceas representativas del sotobosque de una comunidad de Abies religiosa (Kunth Schltdl. et Cham.) y Pinus harwegii (Lindl), y contrastar la coexistencia de colonizadores en tres escenarios de conservación-perturbación que ejemplifican las situaciones de vulnerabilidad de un ecosistema forestal. Se constata una interacción tripartita AMF-HESO-planta por la aparición de hifas coenocíticas, vesículas, hifas septadas, células moniliformes y esclerocios. Los valores de micorrización arbuscular superan el 50% y son superiores a los encontrados para los endófitos (15.7-64.5%). La colonización de ambos tipos de hongos, como la esporulación de AMF (687 esporas 50 g-1 de suelo en la zona reforestada), parece estar relacionada con las condiciones microclimáticas derivadas del uso del suelo. Las variables edafológicas que permiten inferir el comportamiento de la colonización corresponden principalmente al fósforo disponible, calcio, pH, materia orgánica y capacidad de intercambio catiónico. Se concluye que las propiedades del suelo, su uso y el tipo de plantas son determinantes en el establecimiento de las comunidades fúngicas. Sin embargo, son necesarios más estudios sobre la interacción HESO-planta

Especies de hongos de micorriza arbuscular en maguey cultivado (A. angustifolia Haw) y maguey silvestre (A. potatorum, A. karwinski y A. marmorate en el distrito de Tlacolula, Oaxaca

Instituto Politécnico Nacional CIIDIR Oaxac

Acaulospora aspera, a new fungal species in the Glomeromycetes from rhizosphere soils of the inka nut (Plukenetia volubilis L.) in Peru

A new fungal species of the Glomeromycetes, Acaulospora aspera, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the inka nut (Plukenetia volubilis) in San Martín State of Peru (Western Amazonia) and propagated in bait cultures on Sorghum spp., Brachiaria brizantha, Medicago sativa and P. volubilis as host plants. The fungus forms brownish yellow to yellow brown spores, (120-)135-195 × (120-)130 187 μm in diameter. The surface of the structural spore wall layer is crowded with small depressions, 0.4-0.7 μm in diameter, up to 0.8 μm deep, and only 1.1-1.8 apart, giving the spore surface a rough, washboardlike appearance, especially when the outermost, evanescent wall layer has disappeared. Phylogenetically, the new species is close to A. spinosissima, A. excavata and to other morphologically more similar species such as A. spinosa and A. tuberculata, which form spiny or tuberculate projections on the outermost, semi-persistent spore wall layer, or A. herrerae, A. kentinensis, A. scrobiculata and A. minuta, which on the structural spore wall layer all have more pronunced pits than A. aspera. In this study, also the name of A. spinosissima was validated, as it had been preliminary declared invalid because of a typing error in the diagnosis section of its original description

Teamwork to Survive in Hostile Soils: Use of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria to Ameliorate Soil Salinity Stress in Crops

Plants and their microbiomes, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), can work as a team to reduce the adverse effects of different types of stress, including drought, heat, cold, and heavy metals stresses, as well as salinity in soils. These abiotic stresses are reviewed here, with an emphasis on salinity and its negative consequences on crops, due to their wide presence in cultivable soils around the world. Likewise, the factors that stimulate the salinity of soils and their impact on microbial diversity and plant physiology were also analyzed. In addition, the saline soils that exist in Mexico were analyzed as a case study. We also made some proposals for a more extensive use of bacterial bioinoculants in agriculture, particularly in developing countries. Finally, PGPB are highly relevant and extremely helpful in counteracting the toxic effects of soil salinity and improving crop growth and production; therefore, their use should be intensively promoted

Fungal Systematics and Evolution: FUSE 5. 2019. Sydowia.

Thirteen new species are formally described: Cortinarius brunneocarpus from Pakistan, C. lilacinoarmillatus from India, Curvularia khuzestanica on Atriplex lentiformis from Iran, Gloeocantharellus neoechinosporus from China, Laboulbenia bernaliana on species of Apenes, Apristus, and Philophuga (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from Nicaragua and Panama, L. oioveliicola on Oiovelia machadoi (Hemiptera, Veliidae) from Brazil, L. termiticola on Macrotermes subhyalinus (Blattodea, Termitidae) from the DR Congo, Pluteus cutefractus from Slovenia, Rhizoglomus variabile from Peru, Russula phloginea from China, Stagonosporopsis flacciduvarum on Vitis vinifera from Italy, Strobilomyces huangshanensis from China, Uromyces klotzschianus on Rumex dentatus subsp. klotzschianus from Pakistan. The following new records are reported: Alternaria calendulae on Calendula officinalis from India; A. tenuissima on apple and quince fruits from Iran; Candelariella oleaginescens from Turkey; Didymella americana and D. calidophila on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Lasiodiplodia theobromae causing tip blight of Dianella tasmanica ‘variegata’ from India; Marasmiellus subpruinosus from Madeira, Portugal, new for Macaronesia and Africa; Mycena albidolilacea, M. tenuispinosa, and M. xantholeuca from Russia; Neonectria neomacrospora on Madhuca longifolia from India; Nothophoma quercina on Vitis vinifera from Italy; Plagiosphaera immersa on Urtica dioica from Austria; Rinodina sicula from Turkey; Sphaerosporium lignatile from Wisconsin, USA; and Verrucaria murina from Turkey. Multi-locus analysis of ITS, LSU, rpb1, tef1 sequences revealed that P. immersa, commonly classified within Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales) or as Sordariomycetes incertae sedis, belongs to Magnaporthaceae (Magnaporthales). Analysis of a six-locus Ascomycota-wide dataset including SSU and LSU sequences of S. lignatile revealed that this species, currently in Ascomycota incertae sedis, belongs to Pyronemataceae (Pezizomycetes, Pezizales)

Nanoglomus plukenetiae, a new fungus from Peru, and a key to small-spored Glomeraceae species, including three new genera in the “Dominikia complex/clades”

A new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus was found in an agricultural plantation of Plukenetia volubilis, the inka nut (also called “sacha inchi” or “inka peanut”) in the Amazonia region of San Martín State in Peru. In this site, the inka nut was grown in mixed cultures together with Zea mays and Phaseolus vulgaris. The fungus was propagated in bait and single-species cultures on Sorghum vulgare, Brachiaria brizantha, Medicago sativa, and Plukenetia volubilis as host plants. The fungus differentiates hyaline spores terminally or intercalary on cylindrical to slightly funnel-shaped hyphae, singly or in spore clusters with up to ca. 90 spores per cluster. The spores are bi-layered, (20–)25–36(–45) μm in diameter and show regularly a visible septum at the spore base, despite the small spore and tiny hyphae sizes. Phylogenetically, the new fungus represents a new genus in a separated clade, near to the already known Dominikia clades. It can be distinguished from other species by the small spore size, the characteristics of the spore wall layers, and the clearly visible septum at the spore base, which in Kamienskia and Microkamienskia species has rarely to never been reported, while Dominikia species usually have a higher variability of spore sizes and spore wall characteristics. The fungus is here described under the epithet Nanoglomus plukenetiae, serving as type species of the new genus Nanoglomus. The revision of the species and environmental sequences in the Dominikia clades, based on both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, revealed at least two other new genera: Microdominikia gen. nov., based on D. litorea, and Orientoglomus gen. nov., based on D. emiratia. Finally, in the present study, a key for all small-spored species in the Glomeraceae is included comprising all known Dominikia, Kamienskia, Microdominikia, Microkamienskia, Nanoglomus, Orientoglomus spp., and all small-spored Rhizoglomus spp