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Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0
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Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0

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: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 51991

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Lei Cai

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: fungal diversity; molecular ecology; fungal taxonomy; microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues, 

Public awareness on biodiversity has been mainly focused on animals and plants. Fungi, by contrast, as one of the eukaryotic kingdoms, have been largely neglected. In fact, there are about 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species on earth, and only about 120,000 species of these have been described, which represents no more than 8% of the total number. Recently, a number of studies based on high-throughput sequencing have shown that the diversity of fungi inhabiting Earth may even largely exceed our previous estimations. Considering the essential ecological roles of fungi in various ecosystems, it is extremely important to investigate fungal diversity and their roles in various ecosystems. This Special Issue aims to bring together a collection of papers focusing on Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology, with areas including, but not limited to fungal diversity assessments (traditional methods and metabarcoding), diversity conservation, fungal systematics and evolution, fungal interactions with environments and other organisms, and ecological roles of fungi in various ecosystems.

Prof. Dr. Lei Cai
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fungal systematics
  • fungal diversity
  • fungal ecology
  • fungal interactions
  • metabarcoding

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Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 7099 KiB  
Article
Endophytic Colletotrichum Species from Aquatic Plants in Southwest China
by Hua Zheng, Zefen Yu, Xinwei Jiang, Linlin Fang and Min Qiao
J. Fungi 2022, 8(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8010087 - 16 Jan 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4780
Abstract
Colletotrichum species are plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes in many economically important hosts. Many studies have investigated the diversity and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species in common ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. However, Colletotrichum species occurring in aquatic plants are not well known. During the [...] Read more.
Colletotrichum species are plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes in many economically important hosts. Many studies have investigated the diversity and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species in common ornamentals, fruits, and vegetables. However, Colletotrichum species occurring in aquatic plants are not well known. During the investigation of the diversity of endophytic fungi in aquatic plants in southwest China, 66 Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from aquatic plants there, and 26 of them were selected for sequencing and analyses of actin (ACT), chitin synthase (CHS-1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and β-tubulin (TUB2) genomic regions. Based on morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, 13 Colletotrichum species were recognized, namely, C. baiyuense sp. nov., C. casaense sp. nov., C. demersi sp. nov., C. dianense sp. nov., C. fructicola, C. garzense sp. nov., C. jiangxiense, C. karstii, C. philoxeroidis sp. nov., C. spicati sp. nov., C. tengchongense sp. nov., C. vulgaris sp. nov., C. wuxuhaiense sp. nov. Two species complexes, the C. boninense species complex and C. gloeosporioides species complex, were found to be associated with aquatic plants. Pathogenicity tests revealed a broad diversity in pathogenicity and aggressiveness among the eight new Colletotrichum species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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17 pages, 4613 KiB  
Article
Cryptic Species Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationship in the Rust Genus Chrysomyxa from China
by Rui Wang, Clement K. M. Tsui and Chongjuan You
J. Fungi 2022, 8(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8010083 - 15 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2711
Abstract
Chrysomyxa rusts are fungal pathogens widely distributed in the Northern hemisphere, causing spruce needle and cone rust diseases, and they are responsible for significant economic losses in China. Taxonomic delimitation and precise species identification are difficult within this genus because some characters often [...] Read more.
Chrysomyxa rusts are fungal pathogens widely distributed in the Northern hemisphere, causing spruce needle and cone rust diseases, and they are responsible for significant economic losses in China. Taxonomic delimitation and precise species identification are difficult within this genus because some characters often overlap in several species. Adequate species delimitation, enhanced by the use of DNA-based methodologies, will help to establish well-supported species boundaries and enable the identification of cryptic species. Here, we explore the cryptic species diversity in the rust genus Chrysomyxa from China. Species delimitation analyses are conducted using a distance-based method (ABGD) and three tree-based methods (GMYC, bPTP, and mPTP) based on combined LSU and ITS sequences of over 60 specimens. Although there is some incongruence among species delimitation methods, two new species and three putative cryptic species are identified. The key to 20 Chrysomyxa species distributed in China is presented. These results suggest that a significant level of undiscovered cryptic diversity is likely to be found in Chrysomyxa from China. Future studies should consider multiple analytical methods when dealing with multi-locus datasets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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21 pages, 8975 KiB  
Article
Reassessment of Dyfrolomyces and Four New Species of Melomastia from Olive (Olea europaea) in Sichuan Province, China
by Wen-Li Li, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura, Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon and Jian-Kui Liu
J. Fungi 2022, 8(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8010076 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2272
Abstract
Pleurotremataceae species are saprobes on decaying wood in terrestrial, mangrove, and freshwater habitats. The generic boundary of the family has traditionally been based on morphology. All genera of Pleurotremataceae have a high degree of morphological overlap, of which the generic circumscription of Melomastia [...] Read more.
Pleurotremataceae species are saprobes on decaying wood in terrestrial, mangrove, and freshwater habitats. The generic boundary of the family has traditionally been based on morphology. All genera of Pleurotremataceae have a high degree of morphological overlap, of which the generic circumscription of Melomastia and Dyfrolomyces has not been well resolved. Thus, the delimitation of genera has always been challenging. Melomastia traditionally differs from Dyfrolomyces in having 2-septate, oblong, with obtuse-ends ascospores. These main characteristics have been used to distinguish Melomastia from Dyfrolomyces for a long time. However, the above characteristics sometimes overlap among Dyfrolomyces and Melomastia species. Based on the morphology and multigene phylogeny with newly obtained data, we synonymized Dyfrolomyces under Melomastia following up-to-date results. Four novel species (i.e., Melomastia fusispora, M. oleae, M. sichuanensis and M. winteri) collected from the dead branches of Olea europaea L. in Chengdu Olive Base, Sichuan Province in China are introduced based on detailed morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses of sequences based on nuclear ribosomal (LSU and SSU) and protein-coding gene (tef1-α). The 11 new combinations proposed are Melomastia aquatica (=Dyfrolomyces aquaticus), M. chromolaenae (=D. chromolaenae), M. distoseptata (=D. distoseptatus), M. mangrovei (=D. mangrovei), M. marinospora (=D. marinosporus), M. neothailandica (=D. neothailandicus), M. phetchaburiensis (=D. phetchaburiensis), M. sinensis (=D. sinensis), M. thailandica (=D. thailandica), M. thamplaensis (=D. thamplaensis) and M. tiomanensis (=D. tiomanensis). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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18 pages, 2058 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Relationships, Speciation, and Origin of Armillaria in the Northern Hemisphere: A Lesson Based on rRNA and Elongation Factor 1-Alpha
by Junmin Liang, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Lei Cai, Zhilin Yuan, Peng Zhao, Clement K. M. Tsui and Zhifeng Zhang
J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121088 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3500
Abstract
Armillaria species have a global distribution and play various roles in the natural ecosystems, e.g., pathogens, decomposers, and mycorrhizal associates. However, their taxonomic boundaries, speciation processes, and origin are poorly understood. Here, we used a phylogenetic approach with 358 samplings from Europe, East [...] Read more.
Armillaria species have a global distribution and play various roles in the natural ecosystems, e.g., pathogens, decomposers, and mycorrhizal associates. However, their taxonomic boundaries, speciation processes, and origin are poorly understood. Here, we used a phylogenetic approach with 358 samplings from Europe, East Asia, and North America to delimit the species boundaries and to discern the evolutionary forces underpinning divergence and evolution. Three species delimitation methods indicated multiple unrecognized phylogenetic species, and biological species recognition did not reflect the natural evolutionary relationships within Armillaria; for instance, biological species of A. mellea and D. tabescens are divergent and cryptic species/lineages exist associated with their geographic distributions in Europe, North America, and East Asia. While the species-rich and divergent Gallica superclade might represent three phylogenetic species (PS I, PS II, and A. nabsnona) that undergo speciation. The PS II contained four lineages with cryptic diversity associated with the geographic distribution. The genus Armillaria likely originated from East Asia around 21.8 Mya in early Miocene when Boreotropical flora (56–33.9 Mya) and the Bering land bridge might have facilitated transcontinental dispersal of Armillaria species. The Gallica superclade arose at 9.1 Mya and the concurrent vicariance events of Bering Strait opening and the uplift of the northern Tibetan plateau might be important factors in driving the lineage divergence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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24 pages, 5318 KiB  
Article
Distribution and Assembly Processes of Soil Fungal Communities along an Altitudinal Gradient in Tibetan Plateau
by Sarfraz Hussain, Hao Liu, Senlin Liu, Yifan Yin, Zhongyuan Yuan, Yuguo Zhao and Hui Cao
J. Fungi 2021, 7(12), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7121082 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3572
Abstract
In soil ecosystems, fungi exhibit diverse biodiversity and play an essential role in soil biogeochemical cycling. Fungal diversity and assembly processes across soil strata along altitudinal gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the structure and abundance of soil fungal communities [...] Read more.
In soil ecosystems, fungi exhibit diverse biodiversity and play an essential role in soil biogeochemical cycling. Fungal diversity and assembly processes across soil strata along altitudinal gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the structure and abundance of soil fungal communities among soil strata and elevational gradients on the Tibetan Plateau using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of internal transcribed spacer1 (ITS1). The contribution of neutral and niche ecological processes were quantified using a neutral community model and a null model-based methodology. Our results showed that fungal gene abundance increased along altitudinal gradients, while decreasing across soil strata. Along with altitudinal gradients, fungal α-diversity (richness) decreased from surface to deeper soil layers, while β-diversity showed weak correlations with elevations. The neutral community model showed an excellent fit for neutral processes and the lowest migration rate (R2 = 0.75). The null model showed that stochastic processes dominate in all samples (95.55%), dispersal limitations were dominated at the surface layer and decreased significantly with soil strata, while undominated processes (ecological drift) show a contrary trend. The log-normal model and the null model (βNTI) correlation analysis also neglect the role of niche-based processes. We conclude that stochastic dispersal limitations, together with ecological drifts, drive fungal communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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12 pages, 1942 KiB  
Article
Gcorn fungi: A Web Tool for Detecting Biases between Gene Evolution and Speciation in Fungi
by Taiga Kawachi, Yuta Inuki and Yoshiyuki Ogata
J. Fungi 2021, 7(11), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110959 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1866
Abstract
(1) Background: Fungi contain several millions of species, and the diversification of fungal genes has been achieved by speciation, gene duplication, and horizontal gene transfer. Although several databases provide information on orthologous and paralogous events, these databases show no information on biases between [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Fungi contain several millions of species, and the diversification of fungal genes has been achieved by speciation, gene duplication, and horizontal gene transfer. Although several databases provide information on orthologous and paralogous events, these databases show no information on biases between gene mutation and speciation. Here, we designed the Gcorn fungi database to better understand such biases. (2) Methods: Amino acid sequences of fungal genes in 249 species, which contain 2,345,743 sequences, were used for this database. Homologous genes were grouped at various thresholds of the homology index, which was based on the percentages of gene mutations. By grouping genes that showed highly similar homology indices to each other, we showed functional and evolutionary traits in the phylogenetic tree depicted for the gene of interest. (3) Results: Gcorn fungi provides well-summarized information on the evolution of a gene lineage and on the biases between gene evolution and speciation, which are quantitatively identified by the Robinson–Foulds metric. The database helps users visualize these traits using various depictions. (4) Conclusions: Gcorn fungi is an open access database that provides a variety of information with which to understand gene function and evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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23 pages, 4190 KiB  
Article
Morphological Variety in Distoseptispora and Introduction of Six Novel Species
by Jing Yang, Ling-Ling Liu, E. B. Gareth Jones, Wen-Li Li, Kevin D. Hyde and Zuo-Yi Liu
J. Fungi 2021, 7(11), 945; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110945 - 9 Nov 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2849
Abstract
Distoseptispora is one of the sporidesmium-like taxa with great variation in asexual morphology and delineation of species. Phylogenetic analyses of four gene regions LSU, ITS, TEF1α, and RPB2 revealed the placement of several sporidesmium-like species in Distoseptispora (Distoseptisporaceae, Distoseptisporales, [...] Read more.
Distoseptispora is one of the sporidesmium-like taxa with great variation in asexual morphology and delineation of species. Phylogenetic analyses of four gene regions LSU, ITS, TEF1α, and RPB2 revealed the placement of several sporidesmium-like species in Distoseptispora (Distoseptisporaceae, Distoseptisporales, Sordariomycetes), collected on submerged decaying twigs from streams in China and Thailand. Based on morphological examination and molecular DNA data, six new species, Distoseptispora amniculi, D. atroviridis, D. effusa, D. fusiformis, D. hyalina, and D. verrucosa, are proposed. Among them, D. hyalina is the first sexual morph confirmed in the genus. A new geographical record is reported for D. lignicola in China. Conidial length proved to be of less taxonomic significance for some Distoseptispora species, whereas the type of conidial septa is informative at species level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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41 pages, 11194 KiB  
Article
Occurrence and Morpho-Molecular Identification of Botryosphaeriales Species from Guizhou Province, China
by Asha J. Dissanayake, Ya-Ya Chen, Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon and Jian-Kui Liu
J. Fungi 2021, 7(11), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7110893 - 22 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2853
Abstract
Botryosphaeriales is an important order of diverse fungal pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes distributed worldwide. Recent studies of Botryosphaeriales in China have discovered a broad range of species, some of which have not been formerly described. In this study, 60 saprobic isolates were obtained [...] Read more.
Botryosphaeriales is an important order of diverse fungal pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes distributed worldwide. Recent studies of Botryosphaeriales in China have discovered a broad range of species, some of which have not been formerly described. In this study, 60 saprobic isolates were obtained from decaying woody hosts in southwestern China. The isolates were compared with other species using morphological characteristics, and available DNA sequence data was used to infer phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit rRNA gene (LSU), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef) loci. Three novel species were illustrated and described as Botryobambusa guizhouensis, Sardiniella elliptica, and Sphaeropsis guizhouensis, which belong to rarely identified genera within Botryosphaeriaceae. Botryobambusa guizhouensis is the second species identified from the respective monotypic genus. The previously known species were identified as Aplosporella hesperidica, Barriopsis tectonae, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia mutila, Di. neojuniperi, Di. pseudoseriata, Di. sapinea, Di. seriata, Dothiorella sarmentorum, Do. yunnana, Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, Neofusicoccum parvum, Sardiniella celtidis, Sa. guizhouensis, and Sphaeropsis citrigena. The results of this study indicate that numerous species of Botryosphaeriales are yet to be revealed in southwestern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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20 pages, 3951 KiB  
Article
Morphological and Phylogenetic Appraisal of Novel and Extant Taxa of Stictidaceae from Northern Thailand
by De-Ping Wei, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Eleni Gentekaki, Vinodhini Thiyagaraja, Saisamorn Lumyong and Kevin D. Hyde
J. Fungi 2021, 7(10), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100880 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2608
Abstract
Stictidaceae comprises taxa with diverse lifestyles. Many species in this family are drought resistant and important for studying fungal adaptation and evolution. Stictidaceae comprises 32 genera, but many of them have been neglected for decades due to the lack of field collections and [...] Read more.
Stictidaceae comprises taxa with diverse lifestyles. Many species in this family are drought resistant and important for studying fungal adaptation and evolution. Stictidaceae comprises 32 genera, but many of them have been neglected for decades due to the lack of field collections and molecular data. In this study, we introduce a new species Fitzroyomyces hyaloseptisporus and a new combination Fitzroyomycespandanicola. We also provide additional morphological and molecular data for Ostropomyces pruinosellus and O. thailandicus based on new collections isolated from an unidentified woody dicotyledonous host in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Taxonomic conclusions are made with the aid of morphological evidence and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, ITS and mtSSU sequence data. Characteristics such as the shape and septation of ascospores and conidia as well as lifestyles among genera of Stictidaceae are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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44 pages, 40672 KiB  
Article
Multi-Gene Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Hydnellum (Bankeraceae, Basidiomycota) from China
by Yan-Hong Mu, Jia-Rui Yu, Ting Cao, Xiang-Hua Wang and Hai-Sheng Yuan
J. Fungi 2021, 7(10), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7100818 - 29 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3266
Abstract
The genus Hydnellum is an important group of stipitate hydnaceous fungi which can form ectomycorrhiza with many species of woody plants. In recent decades, the frequency and number of basidiocarps observed in China have been declining significantly. So far, however, we know little [...] Read more.
The genus Hydnellum is an important group of stipitate hydnaceous fungi which can form ectomycorrhiza with many species of woody plants. In recent decades, the frequency and number of basidiocarps observed in China have been declining significantly. So far, however, we know little about the species diversity of Hydnellum in China. In this study, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sections of multiple loci, including the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) and the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2), as well as morphological studies, of collected samples of Hydnellum from China. We also inferred Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies for the order Thelephorales from the dataset of the combined nLSU and ITS. This study has revealed the phylogenetic position of Hydnellum in the order Thelephorales, and phylogenetically confirmed ten major clades in Thelephorales; Twenty-nine taxa are proposed, described or reported, including 10 new subgenera (Hydnellum subgenus Hydnellum, subg. Caesispinosum, subg. Croceum, subg. Inflatum, subg. Rhizomorphum, subg. Scabrosum, subg. Spongiosum, subg. Subindufibulatum, subg. Violaceum and subg. Zonatum), 11 new species (Hydnellum atrorubrum, H. atrospinosum, H. bomiense, H. brunneorubrum, H. fibulatum, H. granulosum, H. inflatum, H. rubidofuscum, H. squamulosum, H. sulcatum and H. yunnanense), 3 newly recorded species (H. caeruleum, H. peckii and H. spongiosipes) and 5 notable specimens (Hydnellum sp 1, H. sp 2, H. sp 3, H. sp 4 and H. sp 5). A classification system based on the morphological characteristics (especially the hyphal structure types) and molecular analyses is proposed to accommodate most species in Hydnellum. The distinguishing characters of the subgenera and the new species with their closely related taxa are discussed. A key to the species of Hydnellum from China is provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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23 pages, 4328 KiB  
Article
Variations in the Community Structure of Fungal Microbiota Associated with Apple Fruit Shaped by Fruit Bagging-Based Practice
by Punda Khwantongyim, Somying Wansee, Xi Lu, Wei Zhang and Guangyu Sun
J. Fungi 2021, 7(9), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7090764 - 15 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3014
Abstract
The various fungal communities that adhere to apple fruit are influenced by agricultural practices. However, the effects of fruit bagging-based management practice on the fungal microbiota are still unknown, and little is known about the fungal communities of bagged apple fruit. We conducted [...] Read more.
The various fungal communities that adhere to apple fruit are influenced by agricultural practices. However, the effects of fruit bagging-based management practice on the fungal microbiota are still unknown, and little is known about the fungal communities of bagged apple fruit. We conducted a study using apple fruit grown in a conventionally managed orchard where pesticide use is an indispensable practice. Fungal communities were collected from the calyx-end and peel tissues of bagged and unbagged fruit and characterized using barcode-type next-generation sequencing. Fruit bagging had a stronger effect on fungal richness, abundance, and diversity of the fungal microbiota in comparison to non-bagging. In addition, bagging also impacted the compositional variation of the fungal communities inhabiting each fruit part. We observed that fruit bagging had a tendency to maintain ecological equilibrium since Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were more distributed in bagged fruit than in unbagged fruit. These fungal communities consist of beneficial fungi rather than potentially harmful fungi. Approximately 50 dominant taxa were detected in bagged fruit, for example, beneficial genera such as Articulospora, Bullera, Cryptococcus, Dioszegia, Erythrobasidium, and Sporobolomyces, as well as pathogenic genera such as Aureobasidium and Taphrina. These results suggested that fruit bagging could significantly increase fungal richness and promote healthy fungal communities, especially the harmless fungal communities, which might be helpful for protecting fruit from the effects of pathogens. This study provides a foundation for understanding the impacts of bagging-based practice on the associated fungal microbiota. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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20 pages, 4232 KiB  
Article
Abundant Genetic Diversity and Extensive Differentiation among Geographic Populations of the Citrus Pathogen Diaporthe citri in Southern China
by Tao Xiong, Yating Zeng, Wen Wang, Pudong Li, Yunpeng Gai, Chen Jiao, Zengrong Zhu, Jianping Xu and Hongye Li
J. Fungi 2021, 7(9), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7090749 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Diaporthe citri is a major cause of diseases in citrus. One common disease is melanose, responsible for large economic losses to the citrus fruit industry. However, very little is known about the epidemiology and genetic structure of D. citri. [...] Read more.
The fungal pathogen Diaporthe citri is a major cause of diseases in citrus. One common disease is melanose, responsible for large economic losses to the citrus fruit industry. However, very little is known about the epidemiology and genetic structure of D. citri. In this study, we analyzed 339 isolates from leaves and fruits with melanose symptoms from five provinces in southern China at 14 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and the mating type idiomorphs. The genetic variations were analyzed at three levels with separate samples: among provinces, among orchards within one county, and among trees within one orchard. The five provincial populations from Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou were significantly differentiated, while limited differences were found among orchards from the same county or among trees from the same orchard. STRUCTURE analysis detected two genetic clusters in the total sample, with different provincial subpopulations showing different frequencies of isolates in these two clusters. Mantel analysis showed significant positive correlation between genetic and geographic distances, consistent with geographic separation as a significant barrier to gene flow in D. citri in China. High levels of genetic diversity were found within individual subpopulations at all three spatial scales of analyses. Interestingly, most subpopulations at all three spatial scales had the two mating types in similar frequencies and with alleles at the 14 SSR loci not significantly different from linkage equilibrium. Indeed, strains with different mating types and different multilocus genotypes were frequently isolated from the same leaves and fruits. The results indicate that sexual reproduction plays an important role in natural populations of D. citri in southern China and that its ascospores likely represent an important contributor to citrus disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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40 pages, 8044 KiB  
Article
Diversity of Colletotrichum Species Associated with Olive Anthracnose Worldwide
by Juan Moral, Carlos Agustí-Brisach, Maria Carmen Raya, José Jurado-Bello, Ana López-Moral, Luis F. Roca, Mayssa Chattaoui, Ali Rhouma, Franco Nigro, Vera Sergeeva and Antonio Trapero
J. Fungi 2021, 7(9), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7090741 - 9 Sep 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5897
Abstract
Olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species causes dramatic losses of fruit yield and oil quality worldwide. A total of 185 Colletotrichum isolates obtained from olives and other hosts showing anthracnose symptoms in Spain and other olive-growing countries over the world were characterized. Colony [...] Read more.
Olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species causes dramatic losses of fruit yield and oil quality worldwide. A total of 185 Colletotrichum isolates obtained from olives and other hosts showing anthracnose symptoms in Spain and other olive-growing countries over the world were characterized. Colony and conidial morphology, benomyl-sensitive, and casein-hydrolysis activity were recorded. Multilocus alignments of ITS, TUB2, ACT, CHS-1, HIS3, and/or GAPDH were conducted for their molecular identification. The pathogenicity of the most representative Colletotrichum species was tested to olive fruits and to other hosts, such as almonds, apples, oleander, sweet oranges, and strawberries. In general, the phenotypic characters recorded were not useful to identify all species, although they allowed the separation of some species or species complexes. ITS and TUB2 were enough to infer Colletotrichum species within C. acutatum and C. boninense complexes, whereas ITS, TUB2, ACT, CHS-1, HIS-3, and GADPH regions were necessary to discriminate within the C. gloesporioides complex. Twelve Colletotrichum species belonging to C. acutatum, C. boninense, and C. gloeosporioides complexes were identified, with C. godetiae being dominant in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Tunisia, C. nymphaeae in Portugal, and C. fioriniae in California. The highest diversity with eight Colletotrichum spp. was found in Australia. Significant differences in virulence to olives were observed between isolates depending on the Colletotrichum species and host origin. When other hosts were inoculated, most of the Colletotrichum isolates tested were pathogenic in all the hosts evaluated, except for C. siamense to apple and sweet orange fruits, and C. godetiae to oleander leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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18 pages, 7316 KiB  
Article
Wheat Resistance to Stripe and Leaf Rusts Conferred by Introgression of Slow Rusting Resistance Genes
by Reda Ibrahim Omara, Atef Abdelfattah Shahin, Shaimaa Mahmoud Ahmed, Yasser Sabry Mostafa, Saad Abdulrahman Alamri, Mohamed Hashem and Mohsen Mohamed Elsharkawy
J. Fungi 2021, 7(8), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7080622 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2484
Abstract
Twenty-three wheat genotypes were evaluated for stripe and leaf rusts, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici and Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici, respectively, at seedling and adult stages under greenhouses and field conditions during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 growing seasons. The [...] Read more.
Twenty-three wheat genotypes were evaluated for stripe and leaf rusts, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici and Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici, respectively, at seedling and adult stages under greenhouses and field conditions during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 growing seasons. The race analysis revealed that 250E254 and TTTST races for stripe and leaf rusts, respectively were the most aggressive. Eight wheat genotypes (Misr-3, Misr-4, Giza-171, Gemmeiza-12, Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, Lr46/Yr29, and Lr67/Yr46) were resistant to stripe and leaf rusts at seedling and adult stages. This result was confirmed by identifying the resistance genes: Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, Lr46/Yr29, and Lr67/Yr46 in these genotypes showing their role in the resistance. Sids-14 and Shandweel-1 genotypes were susceptible to stripe and leaf rusts. Twelve crosses between the two new susceptible wheat genotypes and the three slow rusting genes (Lr34/Yr18, Lr37/Yr17, and Lr67/Yr46) were conducted. The frequency distribution of disease severity (%) in F2 plants of the twelve crosses was ranged from 0 to 80%. Resistant F2 plants were selected and the resistance genes were detected. This study is important for introducing new active resistance genes into the breeding programs and preserving diversity among recently released wheat genotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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50 pages, 7306 KiB  
Article
New Species of Trichoderma Isolated as Endophytes and Saprobes from Southwest China
by Hua Zheng, Min Qiao, Yifan Lv, Xing Du, Ke-Qin Zhang and Zefen Yu
J. Fungi 2021, 7(6), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7060467 - 9 Jun 2021
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6076
Abstract
During the investigation of endophytic fungi diversity in aquatic plants and the fungal diversity in soil in southwest China, we obtained 208 isolates belonging to Trichoderma, including 28 isolates as endophytes from aquatic plants and 180 isolates as saprobes from soil, respectively. [...] Read more.
During the investigation of endophytic fungi diversity in aquatic plants and the fungal diversity in soil in southwest China, we obtained 208 isolates belonging to Trichoderma, including 28 isolates as endophytes from aquatic plants and 180 isolates as saprobes from soil, respectively. Finally, 23 new species of Trichoderma are recognized by further studies. Their phylogenetic positions are determined by sequence analyses of the combined partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and gene encoding of the second largest nuclear RNA polymerase subunit (rpb2). The results revealed that the 23 new species are distributed in nine known clades. The morphology and culture characteristics are observed, described and illustrated in detail. Distinctions between the new species and their close relatives were compared and discussed. These include: Trichoderma achlamydosporum, T. amoenum, T. anaharzianum, T. anisohamatum, T. aquatica, T. asiaticum, T. asymmetricum, T. inaequilaterale, T. inconspicuum, T. insigne, T. obovatum, T. paraviride, T. pluripenicillatum, T. propepolypori, T. pseudoasiaticum, T. pseudoasperelloides, T. scorpioideum, T. simile, T. subazureum, T. subuliforme, T. supraverticillatum, T. tibetica, and T. uncinatum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity and Ecology 2.0)
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