Pluteus lauracearum (Agaricales, Basidiomycota), a new species of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma from thermophilic Laurus forests

Pluteus lauracearum, a new species of Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma, is described and illustrated based on macro- and micromorphological data and phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear rDNA sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region. Morphologically, this novel species is characterized by small basidiomata having whitish to dark brown pileus colour, with finely to distinctly granulose surface, a white and translucently striate pileus margin, and mostly narrowly fusiform to lageniform pleurocystidia with long narrow necks and a distinctly subcapitate to capitate apex. This new species is described based on collections made in Turkey (Kuşadası) and Portugal (Madeira), where they were growing on well-rotten wood in thermophilic Laurus forests. Pluteus lauracearum is compared with taxa in Pluteus sect. Hispidoderma that are morphologically similar and/or phylogenetically related.

Characterization and pathogenicity of Pythium-like species associated with root and collar rot of kiwifruit in Turkey

During the period of June to October in 2018, a widespread decline was observed on kiwifruit vines in the vineyards located in Altınordu, Fatsa, and Perşembe districts of Ordu province. The symptoms were associated with reddish-brown rots expanding from the root to the collar with sparse off-color foliage. Based on the percentage of the total infected samples across 18 vineyards, the most common oomycete species were Globisporangium intermedium (37.1%), Phytopythium vexans (34.3%), G. sylvaticum (14.3%), G. heterothallicum (11.4%), and Pythium dissotocum (2.9%). The morphological identification of isolates was confirmed based on partial DNA sequences containing the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (rDNA ITS) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (coxII) gene. The optimum growth temperature and the optimum pH of 5 species ranged from 22.98 to 28.25°C and 5.67 to 8.51, respectively. Pathogenicity tests on the seedlings of kiwifruit cv. Hayward revealed significant differences in virulence among isolates. Phytopythium vexans and G. sylvaticum isolates caused severe root and collar rot resulting in seedling death, while G. heterothallicum and G. intermedium isolates had relatively lower virulence. All Globisporangium spp. and P. vexans isolates significantly decreased plant growth parameters (plant height, shoot and root dry weights and root length); however, P. dissotocum caused very mild symptoms and did not affect these parameters of growth. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting G. sylvaticum, G. heterothallicum, and G. intermedium causing root and collar rot on kiwifruit not only in Turkey but also in the world.

Amanita submelleialba sp. nov. in section Amanita from northern Thailand

Amanita submelleialba sp. nov. in section Amanita, is described from northern Thailand based on both multi-gene phylogenetic analysis and morphological evidences. It is characterized by having small to medium-sized basidiomata; a yellow to yellowish pale pileus covering pyramidal to subconical, white to yellow white volval remnants; globose stipe base covered conical, white to yellow white volval remnants; fugacious subapical annulus; and absent clamps. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on partial nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), partial nuclear rDNA larger subunit region (nrLSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and beta-tubulin gene (TUB) indicated that A. submelleialba clustered together with A. elata and A. mira, but represented as a distinct lineage from other extant species in section Amanita. The detailed morphological characteristics, line-drawing illustration and comparisons with morphologically similar taxa are provided.

Polygonum schischkinii is a member of Atraphaxis (Polygonaceae, Polygoneae): evidences from morphological and molecular analyses

The Chinese endemic Polygonum schischkinii was studied from both morphological and molecular points of view. On the basis of the structure of ocreas and ocreolas, P. schischkinii appears to be a member of the genus Atraphaxis. The results of Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined data of the plastid [rpl32-trnL(UAG) IGS, trnL(UAA) intron, trnL-trnF IGS] and nuclear rDNA ITS1–2 regions, carried out on 61 members of tribe Polygoneae, confirmed position of P. schischkinii in the Atraphaxis clade. A new combination—Atraphaxis glareosa—based on P. glareosum, which has nomenclatural priority over P. schischkinii, is proposed. Ecological notes and a detailed distributional map of the species are also provided.

Bopopia, a new monotypic genus of Gesneriaceae (Gesnerioideae, Coronanthereae) from New Caledonia

A new genus of Gesneriaceae, Bopopia Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. nov., is described from New Caledonia. The genus is based on B. parviflora Munzinger & J.R.Morel gen. et sp. nov., a new species collected during an expedition on Mt Katalupaik, in the North Province of New Caledonia’s main island. Originally considered as a species of Coronanthera, our phylogenetic analysis – including 19 species within Coronanthereae and two individuals of B. parviflora gen. et sp. nov., and using three molecular markers (nuclear rDNA ITS, and chloroplast regions trnL-trnF and trnE-trnT) – showed that the new species is not close to Coronanthera in subtribe Coronantherinae, but belongs to subtribe Negriinae where it is sister to Depanthus. From that genus Bopopia gen. nov. differs in floral symmetry (zygomorphic vs actinomorphic) and the number of stamens (4 vs 5). From the other genera of Negriinae the new genus differs in the white corolla and its indeterminate thyrse with 3 to 5 levels of branching. The morphological circumscription of the subtribe Negriinae is amended to include Bopopia gen. nov. Two keys are provided, one to the subtribes in the tribe Coronanthereae, and one to the genera in subtribe Negriinae. Following the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, the conservation status of B. parviflora gen. et sp. nov. is provisionally assessed as Endangered (EN).

First report of Phyllactinia chubutiana, nom. cons. on Vallesia glabra (Apocynaceae) in Mexico

A new record of the powdery mildew Phyllactinia chubutiana, nom. cons. (= Oidium insolitum, Ovulariopsis insolita) was documented on pearl berry (Vallesia glabra). No teleomorph was observed. This novel record was identified as a member of Ovulariopsis based on the morphological characteristics of the anamorph (hyphae, conidiophores and conidia), and its hemi-endophytic mycelium in V. glabra correspond to P. chubutiana, nom. cons. A Phyllactinia-specific primer pair was designed for the ITS region of the nuclear rDNA. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identity of the powdery mildew specimens found in V. glabra in Sinaloa, Mexico. This is the first ever report of this powdery mildew in V. glabra, and the second report world-wide on a member of the Apocynaceae.

A new and intriguing brown-spored Leucocoprinus species

Leucocoprinus brunneosporus sp. nov., collected at the Santa Catalina Reserve (Buenos Aires, Argentina), is proposed as a new species. We performed separate phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear rDNA large subunit (28S) and the complete nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) to establish the placement of the new species in the phylogeny of the Agaricaceae. This new species has a macromorphology similar to that of Lc. birnbaumii, but the spore print is light brown. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the macro- and microscopic characters are provided.

Host-induced phenotypic plasticity in Saccocoelioides lamothei Aguirre-Macedo and Violante-González, 2008 (Digenea: Haploporidae) a parasite of freshwater, brackish and marine fishes from Middle America

Saccocoelioides is a genus of trematodes associated with fishes from the Americas. In the current research, morphologically distinct specimens of Saccocoelioides spp. were collected from six countries in Middle America. Specimens were sequenced using three molecular markers, the domains D1–D3 of the large subunit (LSU) from the nuclear rDNA, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) from mitochondrial DNA. A total of 74 new sequences were compared and aligned with other sequences available in GenBank. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses were inferred from the LSU and cox1 datasets, revealing unequivocally that all the specimens correspond to S. lamothei. A haplotype network was built with 119 sequences of the nad1 gene. The network detected 57 distinct haplotypes divided into three haplogroups. To explore morphological differences among samples of S. lamothei, 17 morphological features were measured from 53 specimens from three fish families: Eleotridae, Mugilidae and Gobiidae. Principal component analysis yielded three main polygons that corresponded with each family analysed, suggesting host-induced phenotypic plasticity. The current evidence suggests that S. lamothei infects at least five fish families along the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Exposing the Barcoding Void: An Integrative Approach to Study Snail-Borne Parasites in a One Health Context

Trematodes are snail-borne parasites of major zoonotic importance that infect millions of people and animals worldwide and frequently hybridize with closely related species. Therefore, it is desirable to study trematodiases in a One Health framework, where human and animal trematodes are considered equally important. It is within this framework that we set out to study the snail and trematode communities in four artificial lakes and an abattoir in Zimbabwe. Trematode infections in snails were detected through multiplex PCR protocols. Subsequently, we identified snails by sequencing a partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment, and trematodes (adults from the abattoir and larval stages detected in snails) using COI and nuclear rDNA markers. Of the 1,674 collected snails, 699 were molecularly analyzed, in which we identified 12 snail and 19 trematode species. Additionally, three parasite species were sampled from the abattoir. Merely four trematode species were identified to species level through COI-based barcoding. Moreover, identification of members of the superfamilies Opisthorchioidea and Plagiorchioidea required a phylogenetic inference using the highly conserved 18S rDNA marker, as no related COI reference sequences were present in public databases. These barcoding challenges demonstrate a severe barcoding void in the available databases, which can be attributed to the neglected status of trematodiases. Adding to this, many available sequences cannot be used as different studies use different markers. To fill this gap, more studies on African trematodes, using a standardized COI barcoding region, are desperately needed.