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.

pH, Total Bacteria and Total Fungi Litter Fermentation at Different Ripening Durations

This study aims to examine the effect of fermentation time on pH levels, total bacteria and total fungi litter chicken fermented. The research method was carried out by collecting various chicken litters from 16 closed house cages in Semarang City, Demak Regency and Kendal Regency, then combined and fermented. The study used a completely randomized design in the direction of 4 treatments and 4 replications, the treatments were T0 = 0 week litter curing; T1 = 3 weeks litter curing; T2 = 6 weeks of litter curing; T3 = 9 weeks litter curing. The parameters observed were pH value, total bacteria and total litter fungi in broiler chickens. The results showed that there was a significant effect (P <0.05) between curing time on the pH value and the total litter bacteria in fermented broiler chickens. The longer the curing time, the pH value decreases, because the longer fermentation process produces more organic acids. The results of the calculation of total bacteria show that the best treatment is the T2 treatment with the number of bacteria as much as 8.12 x 107 log CFU / g. Meanwhile, the total fungus had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on all treatments. The conclusion of this research is the best chicken litter fermentation at 6 weeks duration of ripening. Produce a total of bacteria and fungi as much as 0.25 x 103 CFU/g and indicated that they were not pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Current Insight into Culture-Dependent and Culture-Independent Methods in Discovering Ascomycetous Taxa

Culture techniques are vital in both traditional and modern fungal taxonomy. Establishing sexual–asexual links and synanamorphs, extracting DNA and secondary metabolites are mainly based on cultures. However, it is widely accepted that a large number of species are not sporulating in nature while others cannot be cultured. Recent ecological studies based on culture-independent methods revealed these unculturable taxa, i.e., dark taxa. Recent fungal diversity estimation studies suggested that environmental sequencing plays a vital role in discovering missing species. However, Sanger sequencing is still the main approach in determining DNA sequences in culturable species. In this paper, we summarize culture-based and culture-independent methods in the study of ascomycetous taxa. High-throughput sequencing of leaf endophytes, leaf litter fungi and fungi in aquatic environments is important to determine dark taxa. Nevertheless, currently, naming dark taxa is not recognized by the ICN, thus provisional naming of them is essential as suggested by several studies.

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.

LEAF LITTER FUNGI ISOLATED IN BACH MA NATIONAL PARK, VIET NAM

A survey of fungi from leaf litter at Bach Ma National Park in Viet Nam was initiated. Using surface disinfection and moist chamber with single spore isolation methods, 102 isolates were obtained and of those, 70 isolates were selected for further morphological study. They belong to 5 classes, 9 orders, 14 families, 33 genera, and 51 species. Among them, Ceratosporella deviata, Lateriramulosa sp., Isthmolongispora ampuliformis, Polylobatispora quinquecornuta, Scolecobasidium tricladiatum, Triglyphiuma labamense, Tricladiella pulvialis, Tripospermum myrti, Triscelophorus sp., Varicosporium elodeaea are newly recorded in Viet Nam.