Three novel sooty moulds species of Trichomerium from Yunnan, China

Collection of three sexual morphic fungal species occurring on the leaf surface of three plant species (Dalbergia obtusifolia, Syzygium fluviatile and Ziziphus mauritiana) collected in Yunnan Province, China, have shown that they are morphologically distinct. Phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and large subunit rDNA (LSU) placed the three species in Trichomerium (Trichomeriaceae) but are sufficiently different from all known species. Therefore, three new species, Trichomerium multisetosum, T. xishuangbannaense and T. yunnanense are described with detailed, illustrated descriptions and notes.

A novel addition to the Pezizellaceae (Rhytismatales, Ascomycota)

In previous studies Apiculospora was introduced in Leotiomycetes genera incertae sedis. With our phylogenetic analyses based on large subunit rDNA (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2), we transfer Apiculospora to Pezizellaceae (Rhytismatales). We introduce Apiculospora penniseti from Pennisetum purpureum. Apiculospora penniseti differs from the closely related A. spartii by the presence of clear apiculi at both apices of the smooth-walled ascospores. Apiculospora penniseti is phylogenetically distinct from A. spartii with moderate support and high BYPP support (69 RAxML/0.97 BYPP). Herein, we discuss the taxonomy and phylogeny of A. penniseti.

Two parasitic ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Phyllopharyngea) isolated from respiratory-mucus of an unhealthy beluga whale: characterization, phylogeny and an assessment of morphological adaptations

Ciliates occur in the blowholes of marine mammals, but our understanding of their biology is poor. Consequently, we investigated an infestation of ciliates in an unhealthy, captive beluga whale that was exhibiting accelerated breathing, leukocytosis and expulsion of unusually large amounts of viscous sputum. This sputum contained ~104 ciliates mL-1 (when healthy, numbers were ten- to 100-fold lower). One known ciliate species, Planilamina ovata, is fully characterized, and a new species, Kyaroikeus paracetarius sp. nov., is here described. The new species is established based on its larger number of left kineties over its only congener. Sequences of small-subunit rDNA, large-subunit rDNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions of these two taxa were used in phylogenetic analyses, inferring that Kyaroikeus and Planilamina have close affinity with the free-living family Dysteriidae, contradicting their morphology-based assignment to the family Kyaroikeidae. We suggest that Kyaroikeidae be relegated to subfamily status. Finally, by comparing parasitic species with free-living taxa, we suggest how these ciliates have adapted to their unique environment and how they may have initially invaded the host. We provide essential data and concepts for the continued evaluation of ciliate-parasites in whale blowholes.

Two new species and a new record of Crepidotus (Agaricomycetes) from India

During ongoing studies of the mycoflora of Kerala State, India, three species of Crepidotus, namely, C. exilis A.M.Kumar & C.K.Pradeep sp. nov., C. globisporus A.M.Kumar & C.K.Pradeep sp. nov. and C. croceotinctus Peck, were discovered. These species are described and illustrated. A phylogenetic reconstruction based on maximum-likelihood analyses of nuclear ribosomal large subunit rDNA sequences are provided.

Two new species of Calocybe (Lyophyllaceae) from northeast China

Two new species of Calocybe (Calocybe erminea sp. nov. and C. badiofloccosa sp. nov.) are described from Liaoning province, China. Calocybe erminea is characterized mainly by its light khaki to dirty white pileus, slightly hygrophanous stipe, small basidiospores and cellular epicutis. The key characters of C. badiofloccosa are its light ocher yellow and rough pileus, villose stipe and large basidiospores. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the nuclear large subunit rDNA (nrLSU) region indicated that they belong to Calocybe, but they are distinct from other species in the genus. They are compared morphologically with other species which are phenotypically similar and the phylogenetic relationships between them and allied taxa are discussed. These results confirm the species is new to science.

Identification and Characterization of Neofabraea kienholzii and Phlyctema vagabunda Causing Leaf and Shoot Lesions of Olive in California

California produces over 95% of the olives grown in the United States. In 2017, California’s total bearing acreage for olives was 14,570 hectares producing 192,000 tons of olives valued at $186.6 million. During the early spring of 2016, unusual leaf and shoot lesions were detected in olive trees from superhigh-density orchards in the Northern San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys of California. Affected trees displayed numerous leaf and shoot lesions developing at wounds created by mechanical harvesters. The ‘Arbosana’ cultivar was highly affected by the disease, whereas the disease was sporadic in ‘Arbequina’ and not found in ‘Koroneiki’ cultivar. Two fungal species, Neofabraea kienholzii and Phlyctema vagabunda, were found to be consistently associated with the disease, and Koch’s postulates were completed. Species identity was confirmed by morphology and molecular data of the partial large subunit rDNA, the internal transcribed spacer region, and partial beta-tubulin region. The disease signs and symptoms are described and illustrated.

Novel contributions to the peritrich family Vaginicolidae (Protista: Ciliophora), with morphological and phylogenetic analyses of poorly known species of Pyxicola, Cothurnia and Vaginicola

The classification of loricate peritrich ciliates is difficult because of an accumulation of several taxonomic problems. In the present work, three poorly described vaginicolids, Pyxicola pusilla, Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta, were isolated from the surface of two freshwater/marine algae in China. In our study, the ciliature of Pyxicola and Vaginicola is revealed for the first time, demonstrating the taxonomic value of infundibular polykineties. The small subunit rDNA, ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region and large subunit rDNA of the above species were sequenced for the first time. Phylogenetic analyses based on these genes indicated that Pyxicola and Cothurnia are closely related. The present study suggested that the loricate species probably represent a distinct lineage in peritrich evolution and both genera Cothurnia and Thuricola are monophyletic. Pyxicola pusilla, Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta are recircumscribed.

Fungal diversity of the hypersaline Inland Sea in Qatar

The hypersaline Inland Sea in Qatar constitutes a unique ecosystem characterized by salinities up to saturation, extreme temperature fluctuations, and limited rainfall. To reveal the fungal diversity of this environment, we isolated fungi from water samples collected at the Inland Sea. Taxonomic identification of the isolates was done via DNA barcoding of the ITS1 and ITS2 ribosomal DNA (rDNA) domains and the D1/D2 domains of the nuclear large subunit rDNA. Additional genes, including glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), were included for isolates of Alternaria, actin (Act) for Cladosporium, part of the beta-tubulin (BenA) and calmodulin (CaM) genes for Aspergillus and Penicillium. In total, 159 fungal isolates, including 85 Ascomycota and 74 Basidiomycota, were obtained from the water samples collected during four samplings in the winter and summer seasons. About 14% (22/159) of the strains, presumably novel species, were preliminarily identified to the genus level. This is the first report highlighting the diversity of fungi from the hypersaline Inland Sea in Qatar.

Diversity and Ecology of Marine Algicolous Arthrinium Species as a Source of Bioactive Natural Products

In our previous study, all Arthrinium isolates from Sargassum sp. showed high bioactivities, but studies on marine Arthrinium spp. are insufficient. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis of 28 Arthrinium isolates from seaweeds and egg masses of Arctoscopus japonicus was conducted using internal transcribed spacers, nuclear large subunit rDNA, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor region sequences, and their bioactivities were investigated. They were analyzed as 15 species, and 11 of them were found to be new species. Most of the extracts exhibited radical-scavenging activity, and some showed antifungal activities, tyrosinase inhibition, and quorum sensing inhibition. It was implied that marine algicolous Arthrinium spp. support the regulation of reactive oxygen species in symbiotic algae and protect against pathogens and bacterial biofilm formation. The antioxidant from Arthrinium sp. 10 KUC21332 was separated by bioassay-guided isolation and identified to be gentisyl alcohol, and the antioxidant of Arthrinium saccharicola KUC21221 was identical. These results demonstrate that many unexploited Arthrinium species still exist in marine environments and that they are a great source of bioactive compounds.

Morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis reveal a new species of Phellinus with hooked hymenial setae from Vietnam

Phellinus vietnamensis sp. nov. is described from Vietnam based on morphological characters and molecular data. Morphologically, it is characterized by perennial, pileate basidiomata, a dimitic hyphal system, hooked hymenial setae, and colorless, broadly subglobose to ovoid, thick-walled basidiospores 5.5–6 × 4.8–5.2 μm. Phylogenetically, the status of Phellinus vietnamensis is strongly supported based on sequences of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF1-α) nuclear large subunit rDNA (nrLSU) and the second largest subunits of RNA polymerase II (RPB2).