Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for JoF Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Evolution, Biodiversity and Systematics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 16665

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniela Isola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: applied mycology; biodeterioration; biodegradation; biocides; cultural heritage low-impact cleaning methods; environmental microbiology; fungal diversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Francesc Xavier Prenafeta Boldú

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Program of Sustainability in Biosystems, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Torre Marimon, E-08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: circular economy and bioeconomy; environmental biotechnology; extremophilic fungi, environmental microbiology, mycology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi represent a large group of living organisms whose diversity remains largely unknown. Though frequently overlooked, fungi are ubiquitous and can also be found in many environments that are not that prone to life. Evolutionary history of over a billion years has endowed fungi with specific survival strategies for colonising niches where most other organisms don’t thrive. Constraints for life can naturally occur or be tied to human activities, such as environmental pollution and degradation, that reshape the biological features for survival. For this reason, insights into extremotolerant fungal biodiversity, physiology, biochemical adaptations, and interaction with other organisms may help us to rewrite our understanding of the origins and evolution of life on Earth. In the midterm, this knowledge could also represent a springboard for uncovering the vast potential of the many diverse biotechnological applications of fungi to improve the sustainability and quality of human life.

Dr. Daniela Isola
Dr. Francesc Xavier Prenafeta Boldú
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

biological adaptation
extremotolerant fungi
fungal melanin
fungal phylogeny
fungal diversity
hydrocarbonoclastic fungi
marine fungi
metallo-tolerant fungi
radioresistance/radiotolerance

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 2247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Xerophilic Aspergillaceae Dominate the Communities of Culturable Fungi in the Mound Nests of the Western Thatching Ant (Formica obscuripes)

by Rachelle M. Gross, Courtney L. Geer, Jillian D. Perreaux, Amin Maharaj, Susan Du, James A. Scott and Wendy A. Untereiner

J. Fungi 2024, 10(11), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10110735 - 23 Oct 2024

Viewed by 758

Abstract

The nests of mound-building ants are unexplored reservoirs of fungal diversity. A previous assessment of this diversity in the nests of Formica ulkei suggested that water availability may be a determinant of the composition of this mycota. To investigate this question, we recovered 3594 isolates of filamentous Ascomycota from the nests of Formica obscuripes and adjacent, non-nest sites, employing Dichloran Rose Bengal agar (DRBA), Dichloran Rose Bengal agar containing glycerol (DRBAG), and malt extract agar containing sucrose (MEA20S). Higher numbers of fungi were isolated from the tops of mounds than from within mounds and non-mound sites. Mound nest soils were dominated by members of the family Aspergillaceae, and up to 50% of the colonies isolated on DRBAG belonged to the genus Aspergillus. Pseudogymnoascus pannorum and species of Talaromyces were also present in higher numbers in mound soils. Species of Penicillium were more abundant in non-nest soils, where they accounted for over 66% of isolates on DRBA. All Aspergillaceae assessed for xerotolerance on a medium augmented with glycerol or sucrose were xerophilic. These results, and our observation that the nests of F. obscuripes are low-water environments, indicate that water availability influences the structure of the fungal communities in these animal-modified habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 9292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Biological Characteristics of Dark Septate Endophytes under Drought and Cadmium Stress and Their Effects on Regulating the Stress Resistance of Astragalus membranaceus

by Duo Wang, Yali Xie, Wanyi Zhang, Li Yao, Chao He and Xueli He

J. Fungi 2024, 10(7), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10070491 - 16 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 877

Abstract

Astragalus membranaceus is a famous traditional medicinal plant. However, drought and cadmium (Cd) pollution are the main abiotic stress factors that affect plant growth and yield and the ability to improve the host’s stress resistance through the use of beneficial endophytic fungi. To evaluate the tolerance of dark septate endophytes (DSE) to various abiotic stresses, 10 DSE strains [Microsphaeropsis cytisi (Mc), Alternaria alstroemeriae (Aa), Stagonosporopsis lupini (Sl), Neocamarosporium phragmitis (Np), Paraphoma chlamydocopiosa (Pc), Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp’), Papulaspora equi (Pe), Alternaria tellustris (At), Macrophomina pseudophaseolina (Mp), and Paraphoma radicina (Pr)] were investigated under different drought and Cd stressors in vitro by using solid-plate cultures and liquid-shaker cultures in the current study. The experiments involved using varying concentrations of PEG (0, 9, 18, and 27%) and Cd²⁺ (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/L) to simulate different stress conditions on DSE. Additionally, the effect of DSE (Np and At) on the growth of A. membranaceus at different field water capacities (70% and 40%) and at different CdCl₂ concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 15 mg Cd/kg) in soil was studied. The results demonstrated that the colony growth rates of Aa, Np, Pc, Mp’, and Mp were the first to reach the maximum diameter at a PEG concentration of 18%. Aa, Np, and At remained growth-active at 100 mg Cd/L. In addition, Aa, Np, and At were selected for drought and Cd stress tests. The results of the drought-combined-with-Cd-stress solid culture indicated that the growth rate of Np was significantly superior to that of the other strains. In the liquid culture condition, the biomasses of Np and Aa were the highest, with biomasses of 1.39 g and 1.23 g under the concentration of 18% + 25 mg Cd/L, and At had the highest biomass of 1.71 g at 18% + 50 mg Cd/L concentration, respectively. The CAT and POD activities of Np reached their peak levels at concentrations of 27% + 50 mg Cd/L and 27% + 25 mg Cd/L, respectively. Compared to the control, these levels indicated increases of 416.97% and 573.12%, respectively. Aa, Np, and At positively influenced SOD activity. The glutathione (GSH) contents of Aa, Np, and At were increased under different combined stressors of drought and Cd. The structural-equation-modeling (SEM) analysis revealed that Aa positively influenced biomass and negatively affected Cd content, while Np and At positively influenced Cd content. Under the stress of 40% field-water capacity and the synergistic stress of 40% field-water capacity and 5 mg Cd/kg soil, Np and At significantly increased root weight of A. membranaceus. This study provides guidance for the establishment of agricultural planting systems and has good development and utilization value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 27808 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sunken Riches: Ascomycete Diversity in the Western Mediterranean Coast through Direct Plating and Flocculation, and Description of Four New Taxa

by Daniel Guerra-Mateo, José F. Cano-Lira, Ana Fernández-Bravo and Josepa Gené

J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040281 - 11 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1634

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea stands out as a hotspot of biodiversity, whose fungal composition remains underexplored. Marine sediments represent the most diverse substrate; however, the challenge of recovering fungi in culture hinders the precise identification of this diversity. Concentration techniques like skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) could represent a suitable solution. Here, we compare the effectiveness in recovering filamentous ascomycetes of direct plating and SMF in combination with three culture media and two incubation temperatures, and we describe the fungal diversity detected in marine sediments. Sediments were collected at different depths on two beaches (Miracle and Arrabassada) on the Spanish western Mediterranean coast between 2021 and 2022. We recovered 362 strains, and after a morphological selection, 188 were identified primarily with the LSU and ITS barcodes, representing 54 genera and 94 species. Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Scedosporium were the most common genera, with different percentages of abundance between both beaches. Arrabassada Beach was more heterogeneous, with 42 genera representing 60 species (Miracle Beach, 28 genera and 54 species). Although most species were recovered with direct plating (70 species), 20 species were exclusively obtained using SMF as a sample pre-treatment, improving our ability to detect fungi in culture. In addition, we propose three new species in the genera Exophiala, Nigrocephalum, and Queenslandipenidiella, and a fourth representing the novel genus Schizochlamydosporiella. We concluded that SMF is a useful technique that, in combination with direct plating, including different culture media and incubation temperatures, improves the chance of recovering marine fungal communities in culture-dependent studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Genus of the Microascaceae (Ascomycota) Family from a Hypersaline Lagoon in Spain and the Delimitation of the Genus Wardomyces

by María Barnés-Guirado, Alberto Miguel Stchigel and José Francisco Cano-Lira

J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040236 - 22 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1525

Abstract

The Saladas de Sástago-Bujaraloz is an endorheic and arheic complex of lagoons located in the Ebro Basin and protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Due to the semi-arid climate of the region and the high salinity of their waters, these lagoons constitute an extreme environment. We surveyed the biodiversity of salt-tolerant and halophilic fungi residents of the Laguna de Pito, a lagoon belonging to this complex. Therefore, we collected several samples of water, sediments, and soil of the periphery. Throughout the study, we isolated 21 fungal species, including a strain morphologically related to the family Microascaceae. However, this strain did not morphologically match any of genera within this family. After an in-depth morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated sequence dataset of four phylogenetically informative molecular markers (the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA); the D1-D2 domains of the 28S gene of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU); and a fragment of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and the β-tubulin (tub2) genes), we established the new genus Dactyliodendromyces, with Dactyliodendromyces holomorphus as its species. Additionally, as a result of our taxonomic study, we reclassified the paraphyletic genus Wardomyces into three different genera: Wardomyces sensu stricto, Parawardomyces gen. nov., and Pseudowardomyces gen. nov., with Parawardomyces ovalis (formerly Wardomyces ovalis) and Pseudowardomyces humicola (formerly Wardomyces humicola) as the type species of their respective genera. Furthermore, we propose new combinations, including Parawardomyces giganteus (formerly Wardomyces giganteus) and Pseudowardomyces pulvinatus (formerly Wardomyces pulvinatus). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 17281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Rock-Inhabiting Fungi in Tarragona Province, Spain

by Angie Paola Sastoque, José Francisco Cano-Lira and Alberto Miguel Stchigel

J. Fungi 2024, 10(3), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10030170 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1871

Abstract

Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) are usually extremely tolerant or extremophilic, as they can survive on natural and artificial rocks despite being exposed to stressful conditions. RIF have serious negative effects on the appearance and cohesion of rocky substrates, causing the alteration and decomposition of building materials, but also on human and animal health, as they can act as opportunistic pathogens. Their identification is therefore of great importance, especially in urban areas. In the present study, culturing techniques for isolating fungi, and a polyphasic taxonomic approach to their identification, were used to assess the diversity of micromycetes that darken the surfaces of buildings in various villages and cities in Tarragona Province (Spain). Sixty-four species of RIF belonging to forty-one genera were identified, including a new genus (Coccodomyces) and the following six new fungal species: Coccodomyces pleiosporus, Exophiala caementiphila, Exophiala multiformis, Neocatenulostroma spinulosum, Neodevriesia longicatenispora, and Paradevriesia holothallica. Thus, we have established that building materials are ecological niches where a high biodiversity of RIF can develop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3158 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Metallotolerance and Biosorption of As(V) and Cr(VI) by Black Fungi

by Cristy Medina-Armijo, Daniela Isola, Josep Illa, Anna Puerta, Marc Viñas and Francesc X. Prenafeta-Boldú

J. Fungi 2024, 10(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10010047 - 5 Jan 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

A collection of 34 melanized fungi isolated previously from anthropogenic contaminated sites were assessed for their tolerance to toxic concentrations of As(V) and Cr(VI) anions. Three strains of the species Cyphellophora olivacea, Rhinocladiella similis, and Exophiala mesophila (Chaetothyriales) were identified as hyper-metallotolerant, with estimated IC₅₀ values that ranged from 11.2 to 16.9 g L⁻¹ for As(V) and from 2.0 to 3.4 g L⁻¹ for Cr(VI). E. mesophila and R. similis were selected for subsequent assays on their biosorption capacity and kinetics under different pH values (4.0 and 6.5) and types of biomass (active and dead cells and melanin extracts). The fungal biosorption of As(V) was relatively ineffective, but significant removal of Cr(VI) was observed from liquid cultures. The Langmuir model with second-order kinetics showed maximum sorption capacities of 39.81 mg Cr⁶⁺ g⁻¹ for R. similis and 95.26 mg Cr⁶⁺ g⁻¹ for E. mesophila on a dry matter basis, respectively, while the kinetic constant for these two fungi was 1.32 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.39 × 10⁻⁷ g (mg Cr⁶⁺ min)⁻¹. Similar experiments with melanin extracts of E. mesophila showed maximum sorption capacities of 544.84 mg Cr⁶⁺ g⁻¹ and a kinetic constant of 1.67 × 10⁻⁶ g (mg Cr⁶⁺ min)⁻¹. These results were compared to bibliographic data, suggesting that metallotolerance in black fungi might be the result of an outer cell-wall barrier to reduce the diffusion of toxic metals into the cytoplasm, as well as the inner cell wall biosorption of leaked metals by melanin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2863 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Deep Insight into the Diversity of Microfungal Communities in Arctic and Antarctic Lakes

by Alessia Marchetta, Maria Papale, Alessandro Ciro Rappazzo, Carmen Rizzo, Antonio Camacho, Carlos Rochera, Maurizio Azzaro, Clara Urzì, Angelina Lo Giudice and Filomena De Leo

J. Fungi 2023, 9(11), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9111095 - 9 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2194

Abstract

We assessed fungal diversity in water and sediment samples obtained from five Arctic lakes in Ny-Ålesund (Svalbard Islands, High Arctic) and five Antarctic lakes on Livingston and Deception Islands (South Shetland Islands), using DNA metabarcoding. A total of 1,639,074 fungal DNA reads were detected and assigned to 5980 ASVs amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with only 102 (1.7%) that were shared between the two Polar regions. For Arctic lakes, unknown fungal taxa dominated the sequence assemblages, suggesting the dominance of possibly undescribed fungi. The phylum Chytridiomycota was the most represented in the majority of Arctic and Antarctic samples, followed by Rozellomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and the less frequent Monoblepharomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, and Neocallimastigomycota. At the genus level, the most abundant genera included psychrotolerant and cosmopolitan cold-adapted fungi including Alternaria, Cladosporium, Cadophora, Ulvella (Ascomycota), Leucosporidium, Vishniacozyma (Basidiomycota), and Betamyces (Chytridiomycota). The assemblages displayed high diversity and richness. The assigned diversity was composed mainly of taxa recognized as saprophytic fungi, followed by pathogenic and symbiotic fungi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Kluyveromyces marxianus Isolates Obtained from the Elaboration Process of Two Traditional Mexican Alcoholic Beverages Derived from Agave: Pulque and Henequen (Agave fourcroydes) Mezcal

by Patricia Lappe-Oliveras, Morena Avitia, Sara Darinka Sánchez-Robledo, Ana Karina Castillo-Plata, Lorena Pedraza, Guillermo Baquerizo and Sylvie Le Borgne

J. Fungi 2023, 9(8), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9080795 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Seven Kluyveromyces marxianus isolates from the elaboration process of pulque and henequen mezcal were characterized. The isolates were identified based on the sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-5.8S) region. Genetic differences were found between pulque and henequen mezcal isolates and within henequen mezcal isolates, as shown by different branching patterns in the ITS-5.8S phylogenetic tree and (GTG)₅ microsatellite profiles, suggesting that the substrate and process selective conditions may give rise to different K. marxianus populations. All the isolates fermented and assimilated inulin and lactose and some henequen isolates could also assimilate xylose and cellobiose. Henequen isolates were more thermotolerant than pulque ones, which, in contrast, presented more tolerance to the cell wall-disturbing agent calcofluor white (CFW), suggesting that they had different cell wall structures. Additionally, depending on their origin, the isolates presented different maximum specific growth rate (µ_max) patterns at different temperatures. Concerning tolerance to stress factors relevant for lignocellulosic hydrolysates fermentation, their tolerance limits were lower at 42 than 30 °C, except for glucose and furfural. Pulque isolates were less tolerant to ethanol, NaCl, and Cd. Finally, all the isolates could produce ethanol by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of a corncob hydrolysate under laboratory conditions at 42 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 1125 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring Fungal Diversity in Seagrass Ecosystems for Pharmaceutical and Ecological Insights

by Oshadi Rajakaruna, Nalin N. Wijayawardene, Susantha Udagedara, Prabath K. Jayasinghe, Sudheera S. Gunasekara, Nattawut Boonyuen, Thushara C. Bamunuarachchige and Kahandawa G. S. U. Ariyawansa

J. Fungi 2024, 10(9), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10090627 - 2 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1907

Abstract

Marine ecosystems are important in discovering novel fungi with interesting metabolites that have shown great potential in pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Seagrasses, the sole submerged marine angiosperm, host diverse fungal taxa with mostly unknown metabolic capabilities. They are considered to be one of the least studied marine fungal habitats in the world. This review gathers and analyzes data from studies related to seagrasses-associated fungi, including taxonomy and biogeography, and highlights existing research gaps. The significance of the seagrass–fungal associations remains largely unknown, and current understanding of fungal diversity is limited to specific geographical regions such as the Tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific. Our survey yielded 29 culture-dependent studies on seagrass-associated endophytic and epiphytic fungi, and 13 miscellaneous studies, as well as 11 meta-studies, with no pathogenic true fungi described. There is a significant opportunity to expand existing studies and conduct multidisciplinary research into novel species and their potential applications, especially from understudied geographical locations. Future research should prioritize high-throughput sequencing and mycobiome studies, utilizing both culture-dependent and -independent approaches to effectively identify novel seagrass-associated fungal taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Diversity and Ecology of Fungi from Underexplored and Extreme Environments

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI