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.

Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid).

A. pisum is a major pest of pea, lucerne and clover. Severe damage can occur to peas due to direct feeding and virus spread. Direct feeding on pea results in sap being removed from terminal leaves and the stem. Heavy infestations on pea can cause stunting, deformation, wilting and even death. Plants smaller than 15 cm can easily be killed by aphid infestations, although plants bigger than 15 cm usually suffer only relatively minor damage due to direct feeding. Aphids can also feed on pods, causing them to curl, shrink and only partially fill. Direct feeding therefore leads to yield loss and reductions in crop quality. Bommarco (1991) calculated economic losses in pea through a number of seasons due to A. pisum; with observed yield losses of up to 230 kg/ha. Although direct feeding damage is significant, this aphid is primarily an economic pest on pea due to its ability to transmit viruses. Broad beans and a range of other bean crops can also suffer yield losses, through similar direct feeding impacts, from heavy infestations of A. pisum. On peas and beans, A. pisum secretes honeydew from its siphunculi, which can coat plants, reducing photosynthetic efficiency and resulting in the growth of unsightly sooty moulds.

Capnodium citri (sooty mould).

The impact of sooty mould species may be of little importance economically as the fungi do not obtain food from the crop plant, and mycelial growth is easily removed, leaving the plant surface undamaged. However, sooty moulds affect the ability of the leaf to photosynthesise, thus can lead to early senescence and a reduction in fruit size and quality (Horst, 2008; Ben-Dov and Hodgson, 1997), especially a second crop from an affected tree (Haleem, 1984). Reduced yield due to infection of inflorescences and uneven ripening of fruits have also been recorded as problems associated with sooty mould coverage (Ben-Dov and Hodgson, 1997).

Fossilized Microbial Forms in Baltic and Goan Amber-A Comparative Pioneer Study

This paper is based on surveys, exploration and standardization of techniques to recover rare amber samples from sands in Goa and identify specimens embedded with distinct microbial fossils based on studies on reference samples of imported Baltic amber. We developed techniques to locate, detect and identify amber samples in local sand. In this pioneer study, we report presumptive microbial forms such as actinobacteria and fungi in amber samples of Goa throwing light on microbial paleobiodiversity. Baltic amber (Succinate) is fossilized resin belonging to the Eocene period (44-49 million years old) derived from the Araucariaceae and Leguminoseae families of trees containing up to 8% of Succinic acid and compounds such as terpenoids and phenolic derivatives. Sooty moulds in the amber fossils have been studied (Schmidt et al., 2014). Samples of imported Baltic amber were validated, studied and used as reference for identification and characterization of amber found in sand of Goa. FTIR Spectroscopic tests diagnostic of presence of Succinate proved that both samples meet the criteria as plant derived Succinate containing products. Fossil fungi in Baltic amber were observed, and compared with similar forms in rare amber fragments of Goa. These samples were subjected to microscopic examination. Actinobacterial and fungal forms embedded in local amber were compared with similar forms found in imported Baltic amber and those published in literature. Detection of fossilized actinobacterial and fungal forms has shown us the potential for further studies for comprehensive collection and microscopic examination of such paleomicrobial forms in rare local amber samples.

The genus Leptoxyphium (Capnodiaceae) from China

Leptoxyphium is a relatively poorly known genus of sooty moulds in Capnodiaceae (Dothideomycetes). This paper introduces one new species of Leptoxyphium, L. glochidion and the first record of L. kurandae for China. L. glochidion is introduced as a new species based on morphology and molecular data and is compared with related taxa. Descriptions, illustrations and notes are provided for the two species, which are analyzed by ITS, LSU and SSU sequence data. The phylogenetic analysis shows that the two species cluster in Leptoxyphium (Capnodiaceae). L. glochidion separates from other species of the genus, while L. kurandae clustered with the type strain