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Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic resolution of the genus Annulohypoxylon (Xylariaceae) including four new species
Abstract
This study deals with an extensive evaluation focusing on phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic infrageneric
relationships of the genus Annulohypoxylon (Xylariaceae, Ascomycota), whose species are ubiquitously associated with seed plants as endophytes and saprotrophs in all forestedareas of the world. Using evidence from phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and morphological data, various varieties within the genus are raised to species level, leading to the new combinations for A. areolatum (: A. bovei var. microsporum), A. macrosporum (: A. leptascum var. macrosporum), and A. microdiscum (: A. moriforme var. microdiscum). Annulohypoxylon substygium nom. nov. is applied for A. stygium var. annulatum and the four new tropical and subtropical species A. massivum, A. violaceopigmentum, A. viridistratum and A. yungensis are introduced. Furthermore, A. leucadendri is excluded from the genus as its morphological characters disagree with the generic concept, the recently erected A. palmicola is synonymized with A. leptascum and A. austrobahiense has been reassigned to the genus Hypoxylon. In addition, the key taxa A. annulatum and A. truncatum have been reinvestigated and
epitypes have been defined. For the first time, a dichotomous key to the genus is provided. A phylogenetic b-tubulin tree in conjunction with stromatal HPLC profiles clearly shows that Annulohypoxylon comprises two distinct lineages. The A. cohaerens/multiforme group might eventually warrant seg- regation into a new genus as further molecular data become available
... Presently, Index Fungorum lists 65 species and 6 varieties under this genus. Identification keys with morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics have been published (Fournier and Lechat 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017;Sir et al. 2018). Thirty-three species and two varieties have been reported from Southeast Asia (Vasilyeva et al. 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017) including seven species and one variety from India (Pande 2008;Patil and Patil 2017). ...
... Identification keys with morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics have been published (Fournier and Lechat 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017;Sir et al. 2018). Thirty-three species and two varieties have been reported from Southeast Asia (Vasilyeva et al. 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017) including seven species and one variety from India (Pande 2008;Patil and Patil 2017). ...
... Colour designation followed the mycological colour chart (Rayner 1970). Species were identified by consulting published literature and identification keys for Annulohypoxylon (Vasilyeva et al. 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017;Sir et al. 2018). The collected specimens were deposited in the fungal herbarium of the Department of Botany, Rajiv Gandhi University and internationally recognised Ajrekar Mycological Herbarium (AMH) at Pune, India. ...
... Besides azaphilones, binaphthyl and benzo[j]fluoranthene derivatives are the most prevalent pigments accumulated in the stromata of Hypoxylaceae . In particular the simplest congener 1,1'-binaphthalene-4,4',5,5'-tetrol (BNT) is common across various family lineages and can be found as either sole detectable secondary metabolite of stromatal extracts as observed for some Annulohypoxylon species like A. purpureonitens and A. violaceopigmentum where it is responsible for the intense violet KOH reaction, or BNT is accompanied by chemical related and/or unrelated compounds as reported for various Daldinia, Hypoxylon and Jackrogersella species (Stadler et al. 2014, Kuhnert et al. 2017b. Those related compounds are particularly important as chemotaxonomic markers to distinguish between closely related species, including daldinone A, truncatone A-D, hypoxylonols, urceolone and hinnulin A (Kuhnert et al. 2017b). ...
... In particular the simplest congener 1,1'-binaphthalene-4,4',5,5'-tetrol (BNT) is common across various family lineages and can be found as either sole detectable secondary metabolite of stromatal extracts as observed for some Annulohypoxylon species like A. purpureonitens and A. violaceopigmentum where it is responsible for the intense violet KOH reaction, or BNT is accompanied by chemical related and/or unrelated compounds as reported for various Daldinia, Hypoxylon and Jackrogersella species (Stadler et al. 2014, Kuhnert et al. 2017b. Those related compounds are particularly important as chemotaxonomic markers to distinguish between closely related species, including daldinone A, truncatone A-D, hypoxylonols, urceolone and hinnulin A (Kuhnert et al. 2017b). While these pigments mainly occur in the stromata of the Hypoxylaceae, they were sporadically also reported from cultures such as hinnulin A-D from Nodulisporium hinnuleum (now Hypoxylon hinnuleum) and daldinones B, C, H and J, as well as hypoxylonol C from an endophytic Annulohypoxylon sp. ...
... Some of the genome-sequenced species in this study are known producers of BNT including D. concentrica, H. pulicicidum, J. multiformis and P. hunteri (Stadler & Hellwig 2005, Bills et al. 2012). In addition, A. truncatum contains truncatone A in its stromata (Kuhnert et al. 2017b) suggesting that a DHN pathway is located in the genomes. Screening of all Hypoxylaceae genomes and the X. hypoxylon genome based on the PKSTL (tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase from D. eschscholtzii) protein sequence similarity revealed the presence of homologs with 80.0-93.0 ...
To date little is known about the genetic background that drives the production and diversification of secondary metabolites in the Hypoxylaceae. With the recent availability of high-quality genome sequences for 13 representative species and one relative (Xylaria hypoxylon) we attempted to survey the diversity of biosynthetic pathways in these organisms to investigate their true potential as secondary metabolite producers. Manual search strategies based on the accumulated knowledge on biosynthesis in fungi enabled us to identify 783 biosynthetic pathways across 14 studied species, the majority of which were arranged in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC). The similarity of BGCs was analysed with the BiG-SCAPE engine which organised the BGCs into 375 gene cluster families (GCF). Only ten GCFs were conserved across all of these fungi indicating that speciation is accompanied by changes in secondary metabolism. From the known compounds produced by the family members some can be directly correlated with identified BGCs which is highlighted herein by the azaphilone, dihydroxynaphthalene, tropolone, cytochalasan, terre-quinone, terphenyl and brasilane pathways giving insights into the evolution and diversification of those compound classes. Vice versa, products of various BGCs can be predicted through homology analysis with known pathways from other fungi as shown for the identified ergot alkaloid, trigazaphilone, curvupallide, viridicatumtoxin and swainsonine BGCs. However, the majority of BGCs had no obvious links to known products from the Hypoxylaceae or other well-studied biosynthetic pathways from fungi. These findings highlight that the number of known compounds strongly underrepresents the biosynthetic potential in these fungi and that a tremendous number of unidentified secondary metabolites is still hidden. Moreover, with increasing numbers of genomes for further Hypoxylaceae species becoming available, the likelihood of revealing new biosynthetic pathways that encode new, potentially useful compounds will significantly improve. Reaching a better understanding of the biology of these producers, and further development of genetic methods for their manipulation, will be crucial to access their treasures.
... Besides azaphilones, binaphthyl and benzo[j]fluoranthene derivatives are the most prevalent pigments accumulated in the stromata of Hypoxylaceae . In particular the simplest congener 1,1'-binaphthalene-4,4',5,5'-tetrol (BNT) is common across various family lineages and can be found as either sole detectable secondary metabolite of stromatal extracts as observed for some Annulohypoxylon species like A. purpureonitens and A. violaceopigmentum where it is responsible for the intense violet KOH reaction, or BNT is accompanied by chemical related and/or unrelated compounds as reported for various Daldinia, Hypoxylon and Jackrogersella species (Stadler et al. 2014, Kuhnert et al. 2017b. Those related compounds are particularly important as chemotaxonomic markers to distinguish between closely related species, including daldinone A, truncatone A-D, hypoxylonols, urceolone and hinnulin A (Kuhnert et al. 2017b). ...
... In particular the simplest congener 1,1'-binaphthalene-4,4',5,5'-tetrol (BNT) is common across various family lineages and can be found as either sole detectable secondary metabolite of stromatal extracts as observed for some Annulohypoxylon species like A. purpureonitens and A. violaceopigmentum where it is responsible for the intense violet KOH reaction, or BNT is accompanied by chemical related and/or unrelated compounds as reported for various Daldinia, Hypoxylon and Jackrogersella species (Stadler et al. 2014, Kuhnert et al. 2017b. Those related compounds are particularly important as chemotaxonomic markers to distinguish between closely related species, including daldinone A, truncatone A-D, hypoxylonols, urceolone and hinnulin A (Kuhnert et al. 2017b). While these pigments mainly occur in the stromata of the Hypoxylaceae, they were sporadically also reported from cultures such as hinnulin A-D from Nodulisporium hinnuleum (now Hypoxylon hinnuleum) and daldinones B, C, H and J, as well as hypoxylonol C from an endophytic Annulohypoxylon sp. ...
... Some of the genome-sequenced species in this study are known producers of BNT including D. concentrica, H. pulicicidum, J. multiformis and P. hunteri (Stadler & Hellwig 2005, Bills et al. 2012). In addition, A. truncatum contains truncatone A in its stromata (Kuhnert et al. 2017b) suggesting that a DHN pathway is located in the genomes. Screening of all Hypoxylaceae genomes and the X. hypoxylon genome based on the PKSTL (tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase from D. eschscholtzii) protein sequence similarity revealed the presence of homologs with 80.0-93.0 ...
-Accepted for publication in Studies in Mycology-
To date little is known about the genetic background that drives the production and diversification of secondary metabolites in the Hypoxylaceae. With the recent availability of high-quality genome sequences for 13 representative species and one relative (Xylaria hypoxylon) we attempted to survey the diversity of biosynthetic pathways in these organisms to investigate their true potential as secondary metabolite producers. Manual search strategies based on the accumulated knowledge on biosynthesis in fungi enabled us to identify 783 biosynthetic pathways across 14 studied species, the majority of which were arranged in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC). The similarity of BGCs was analysed with the BiG-SCAPE engine which organised the BGCs into 375 gene cluster families (GCF). Only ten GCFs were conserved across all of these fungi indicating that speciation is accompanied by changes in secondary metabolism. From the known compounds produced by the family members some can be directly correlated with identified BGCs which is highlighted herein by the azaphilone, dihydroxynaphthalene, tropolone, cytochalasan, terrequinone, terphenyl and brasilane pathways giving insights into the evolution and diversification of those compound classes. Vice versa, products of various BGCs can be predicted through homology analysis with known pathways from other fungi as shown for the identified ergot alkaloid, trigazaphilone, curvupallide, viridicatumtoxin and swainsonine BGCs. However, the majority of BGCs had no obvious links to known products from the Hypoxylaceae or other well-studied biosynthetic pathways from fungi. These findings highlight that the number of known compounds strongly underrepresents the biosynthetic potential in these fungi and that a tremendous amount of unidentified secondary metabolites are still hidden. Moreover, with increasing numbers of genomes for further Hypoxylaceae species becoming available, the likelihood of revealing new biosynthetic pathways that encode for new, potentially useful compounds will significantly improve. Reaching a better understanding of the biology of these producers, and further development of genetic methods for their manipulation will be crucial to access their treasures.
... Morphological studies depend primarily upon observation of both, macro-and microscopic features, while biochemical analysis of fungi in the broadest sense involves characterization of either proteins, which can be characterized by MALDI-TOF or secondary metabolite profiling, which is now being usually done by HPLC-DAD/MS techniques. The aforementioned techniques can be used elegantly in conjunction with morphology-and molecular databased approaches (Čmoková et al., 2020;Kuhnert et al., 2017), as will also be demonstrated by the papers discussed below. ...
... Based on the above mentioned chemotaxonomic study of Annulohypoxylon (Kuhnert et al., 2017), another important genus in the Hypoxylaceae, three yet unknown metabolites were detected by HPLC-MS in the holotype specimen of A. viridistratum by HPLC-DAD-MS. Additional material was collected in the field, resulting in the isolation and identification of three new benzo[j]fluoranthenes, viridistratin A-C (27-29) with moderate to weak antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects , along with the known derivatives truncatones A (30) and C (31). ...
... Department of Health, 1999). While the bioactivities of the viridistratins (27-29) did not warrant further work, they represent valuable taxonomic marker metabolites specific to A. viridistratum as these compounds have not detected in any of over 200 Annulohypoxylon specimens including almost all holotypes (Kuhnert et al., 2017). ...
This mini-review is dedicated to the summary of results of the EU-funded Project “Golden Mycological Triangle” (acronym GoMyTri), which was carried out in collaboration of three research infrastructures in Germany, the Netherlands and Thailand during the years 2014-2018. The cooperation explored the mycological and microbiological biodiversity of Europe and Southeast Asia with regard to the search for the badly needed new antibiotics and other biologically active secondary metabolites. The project was conducted to foster international collaboration networks, know-how exchange and interdisciplinary training of young scientists. The first two years of the project were mainly dedicated to field work, and several hundreds of fungal cultures have been isolated from material mostly collected in Thailand. These fungal strains were characterized by morphological and molecular phylogenetic methods and several new taxa were discovered. The cultures underwent screening for antimicrobial and nematicidal metabolites and a number of bioactive metabolites have already been found, isolated and characterized. Several large phylogenetic studies have already been published that resulted from the project work. The results were also brought to the attention to the scientific community as well as the general public through various dissemination events. Based on the tremendous success of this project, a follow-up project application including additional partners from Africa and further European countries has recently been filed and approved, and the international, interdisciplinary collaboration will now continue in the new RISE-MSCA-Project (acronym “Mycobiomics”²)
... Annulohypoxylon areolatum was recently proposed as new combination for Rosellinia areolata and A. bovei var. microsporum is treated as its synonym [49]. An epitype of Annulohypoxylon areolatum was designated in Kuhnert et al. [49]. ...
... microsporum is treated as its synonym [49]. An epitype of Annulohypoxylon areolatum was designated in Kuhnert et al. [49]. The morphological observations of Rosellinia areolata fit with the description of Annulohypoxylon areolatum reported by Kuhnert et al. [49], which was not based on the holotype of R. areolata. ...
... An epitype of Annulohypoxylon areolatum was designated in Kuhnert et al. [49]. The morphological observations of Rosellinia areolata fit with the description of Annulohypoxylon areolatum reported by Kuhnert et al. [49], which was not based on the holotype of R. areolata. Annulohypoxylon species are characterized by the presence of carbonaceous stromata enclosing perithecia, conic-papillate ostioles encircled with an annulate disk, and ascospore perispores with a thickened area visible in 10% KOH at circa 1⁄3 ascospore length when dehiscing [50]. ...
In a recent monograph on the genus Rosellinia, type specimens worldwide were revised and re-classified using a morphological approach. Among them, some came from Pier Andrea Saccardo’s fungarium stored in the Herbarium of the Padova Botanical Garden. In this work, we taxonomically re-examine via a morphological and molecular approach nine different Roselliniasensu Saccardo types. ITS1 and/or ITS2 sequences were successfully obtained applying Illumina MiSeq technology and phylogenetic analyses were carried out in order to elucidate their current taxonomic position. Only the ITS1 sequence was recovered for Rosellinia areolata, while for R. geophila, only the ITS2 sequence was recovered. We proposed here new combinations for Rosellinia chordicola, R. geophila and R. horridula, while for R. ambigua, R. areolata, R. australis, R. romana and R. somala, we did not suggest taxonomic changes compared to the current ones. The name Rosellinia subsimilis Sacc. is invalid, as it is a later homonym of R. subsimilis P. Karst. & Starbäck. Therefore, we introduced Coniochaeta dakotensis as a nomen novum for R. subsimilis Sacc. This is the first time that these types have been subjected to a molecular study. Our results demonstrate that old types are an important source of DNA sequence data for taxonomic re-examinations.
... Light microscopy with Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) was done using a Zeiss Axio Imager.A1 compound microscope, equipped with a Zeiss Axiocam 506 colour digital camera. SEM of ascospores were recorded using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM Merlin, Zeiss, Germany), in a similar fashion as reported previously [23]. ...
... Stromata from Hypoxylon specimens were extracted using acetone as described previously [23] and subsequently analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array and electrospray mass spectrometric detection system (HPLC/DAD-ESIMS) with instrument settings as described recently [21]. Resulting UV/Vis and mass spectrometric data were compared with internal databases, comprising standards of known Hypoxylaceae and literature data [10][11][12]. ...
... For a chemical study, 337 mg of stromata derived from the specimen 987 GUM was extracted five times with acetone as stated previously by sonication and subsequent filtration [23] with a yield of 85.8 mg extract. The crude extract was subjected to a Strata X-33 µm reversed-phase (RP) column to remove fatty acids and debris. ...
Hypoxylon,a large, cosmopolitan genus of Ascomycota is in the focus of our current poly-thetic taxonomic studies, and served as an excellent source for bioactive secondary metabolites at the same time. The present work concerns a survey of the Hypoxylon fuscum species complex based on specimens from Iran and Europe by morphological studies and high performance liquid chro-matography coupled to mass spectrometry and diode array detection (HPLC-MS-DAD). Apart from known chemotaxonomic markers like binaphthalene tetrol (BNT) and daldinin F, two un-prece-dented molecules were detected and subsequently isolated to purity by semi preparative HPLC. Their structures were established by nuclear-magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as 3′-malonyl-daldinin F (6) and pseudofuscochalasin A (4). The new daldinin derivative 6showed weak cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells but bactericidal activity. The new cytochalasin 4 was com-pared to cytochalasin C in an actin disruption assay using fluorescence microscopy of human osteo-sarcoma U2OS cells, revealing comparable activity towards F-actin but being irreversible compared to cytochalasin C. Concurrently, a multilocus molecular phylogeny based on ribosomal and pro-teinogenic nucleotide sequences of Hypoxylon species resulted in a well-supported clade for H. fuscum and its allies. From a comparison of morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic evi-dence, we introduce the new species H. eurasiaticum and H. pseudofuscum.
... Annulohypoxylon Miller (1961) and Ju and Rogers (1996), until it was segregated as a distinct genus by Hsieh et al. (2005) for having formed a monophyletic group based on phylogenetic analyses of α-actin and β-tubulin sequences. Until 2017, Annulohypoxylon was accommodated in the family Xylariaceae (Kuhnert et al. 2017), however, an extensive study based on molecular phylogenetic data, secondary metabolite profiles and morphological concepts resulted in the segregation of Hypoxylaceae as a new family within Xylariales (Wendt et al. 2018;Daranagama et al. 2018). ...
... Notes: Annulohypoxylon leptascum is distinguished by pale brown, ellipsoid to fusoid ascospores (Ju and Rogers 1996). According to Kuhnert et al. (2017) A. macrosporum (Y.M. Ju & R.D. Rogers) Sir & Kuhnert, differs from A. leptascum by having larger ascospores 18.5-20.4 × 4.6-5.5 µm vs 7.5-13 × 3-4 µm and lack of germ slit. ...
... Annulohypoxylon sp. can be differentiated from A. microdiscum (Y.M. Ju, J.D. Rogers & H.M. Hsieh) Sir & Kuhnert by its larger ascospores 7.6-10 × 3-4 µm vs 10-11 × 4-6 µm. In addition, it differs in the colour of the KOH-pigments citrine green vs umber (Kuhnert et al. 2017). Besides A. microdiscum and A. michelianum are known for Europe (Rubio et al. 2016, Kuhnert et al. 2017) and A. michelianum for Asia too (Miller 1961). ...
The Amazon forest is the biggest tropical forest in the world, known to shelter the largest biodiversity of animals, plants and microorganisms worldwide. As to the mycodiversity of this biome, little is known since most of the mycological investigations in Brazil have been in the Atlantic Rainforest. This study presents a description of ten species of Annulohypoxylon (Hypoxylaceae, Ascomycota) from Amazonian forest of Brazil. Annulohypoxylon moriforme, A. purpureonitens, A. stygium and A. truncatum, have already been recorded in this forest, while A. archeri, A. leptascum and A. nitens are reported for the first time here. A. cf. pyriforme may represent a new record from Brazil and Annulohypoxylon sp. may represent a new species. Annulohypoxylon duckei sp. nov. is proposed, based on the fawn colour of the surface when young, ostiolar disc of truncatum-type (0.17–0.25 mm diam.), greenish yellow pigment, and ellipsoid ascospores (8–10 × 3–5 µm). Identification keys, morphological descriptions, and illustrations are presented for all species.
... The genus Annulohypoxylon belongs to the fungal family Hypoxylaceae (order Xylariales), which was recently resurrected [1] to accommodate Hypoxylon and allied genera and is known for a remarkably diverse secondary metabolism [2]. It was segregated from Hypoxylon by Hsieh et al. in 2005 [3], and its type species, Annulohypoxylon truncatum, was previously known as Hypoxylon truncatum. ...
... In the past 15 years, these fungi have been the subject of intensive studies of their secondary metabolites, revealing an enormous diversity of bioactive compounds [4]. In particular, their stromatal pigments are of chemotaxonomic value [2,5]. Several studies of old types of material of Hypoxylon and allied genera using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/MS) have revealed that those pigments can remain stable for centuries [5][6][7]. ...
... Examples of common naphthalene derivatives in Annulohypoxylon spp. are the rather ubiquitous 1,1'-binaphthalene-4,4',5,5'-tetrol (BNT) [2], as well as oxidized derivatives thereof, such as truncatones [2,12], hypoxylonols [2,13,14] and daldinones [2,11], with the three latter ones belonging to the subclass of benzo[j]fluoranthenes. The latter compound class has been exclusively found in Annulohypoxylon species and was so far not detected in Jackrogersella and Hypoxylon [2,4], even though binaphthalenes also occur in other, more distantly related Hypoxylaceae such as Daldinia [5]. ...
During the course of our search for novel biologically active metabolites from tropical fungi, we are using chemotaxonomic and taxonomic methodology for the preselection of interesting materials. Recently, three previously undescribed benzo[j]fluoranthenes (1−3) together with the known derivatives truncatones A and C (4, 5) were isolated from the stromata of the recently described species Annulohypoxylon viridistratum collected in Thailand. Their chemical structures were elucidated by means of spectral methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). The new compounds, for which we propose the trivial names viridistratins A−C, exhibited weak-to-moderate antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities in cell-based assays.
... Notably, a parallel approach to establish a phylogeny based on ITS nrDNA sequences resulted in a very low resolution of the hypoxyloid taxa (Triebel et al. 2005). Later studies revealed that a multi locus phylogeny involving both protein-coding genes and rDNA are suitable to achieve a sufficient phylogenetic resolution within Hypoxylon and its allies (Kuhnert et al. 2014b(Kuhnert et al. , 2017aSir et al. 2015) in scope of a polythetic concept. Concurrent chemotaxonomic studies have aided in establishing correlations between the genotypes and the phenotypes of these pyrenomycetes. ...
... Annulata or (Ju and Rogers 1996) Annulohypoxylon (Hsieh et al. 2005), respectively. Kuhnert et al. (2017a) already reported that the species of Annulohypoxylon are divided into two chemotypes, one of which is characterized by stromata with papillate ostioles and cohaerin type azaphilones. The other chemotype is devoid of these compounds and produces binaphthalenes as prevailing stromatal metabolites. ...
During a mycological survey of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a fungal specimen that morphologically resembled the American species Hypoxylon papillatum was encountered. A polyphasic approach including morphological and chemotaxonomic together with a multigene phylogenetic study (ITS, LSU, tub2, and rpb2) of Hypoxylon spp. and representatives of related genera revealed that this strain represents a new species of the Hypoxylaceae. However, the multi-locus phylogenetic inference indicated that the new fungus clustered with H. papillatum in a separate clade from the other species of Hypoxylon. Studies by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS) were carried out on the stromatal extracts. In particular, the MS/MS spectra of the major stromatal metabolites of these species indicated the production of hitherto unreported azaphilone pigments with a similar core scaffold to the cohaerin-type metabolites, which are exclusively found in the Hypoxylaceae. Based on these results, the new genus Parahypoxylon is introduced herein. Aside from P. papillatum, the genus also includes P. ruwenzoriense sp. nov., which clustered together with the type species within a basal clade of the Hypoxylaceae together with its sister genus Durotheca.
... Coinciding with this explosion of tools and information has been a decline in the number of trained taxonomists, decreased funding for taxonomy, and a dearth of positions available for taxonomists entering the job market 149 . However, the incorporation of integrative taxonomy practices is reenergizing the field with both the incorporation of new tools for carrying out taxonomy and an expansion of the data types preserved and distributed by collections curators 6,150 . Examples include machine learning and MaldiTOF for automated species identification 151 , microCT and 3D modeling for external and internal image analysis 152 , GC-MS and HPLC metabolite profiling for chemotaxonomy 150 , and genetic and genomic tools for phylogenetic placement and delineation (see Aime et al. 153 for a recent review on community standards for archiving diverse fungal taxonomy data). ...
... However, the incorporation of integrative taxonomy practices is reenergizing the field with both the incorporation of new tools for carrying out taxonomy and an expansion of the data types preserved and distributed by collections curators 6,150 . Examples include machine learning and MaldiTOF for automated species identification 151 , microCT and 3D modeling for external and internal image analysis 152 , GC-MS and HPLC metabolite profiling for chemotaxonomy 150 , and genetic and genomic tools for phylogenetic placement and delineation (see Aime et al. 153 for a recent review on community standards for archiving diverse fungal taxonomy data). Whereas pitting molecular and computational methods for species identification against traditional mycology erodes collaboration and collective progress, integrative approaches promise to push the field forward while preserving organismal knowledge and well-developed tools. ...
Fungi have successfully established themselves across seemingly every possible niche, substrate, and biome. They are fundamental to biogeochemical cycling, interspecies interactions, food production, and drug bioprocessing, as well as playing less heroic roles as difficult to treat human infections and devastating plant pathogens. Despite community efforts to estimate and catalog fungal diversity, we have only named and described a minute fraction of the fungal world. The identification, characterization, and conservation of fungal diversity is paramount to preserving fungal bioresources, and to understanding and predicting ecosystem cycling and the evolution and epidemiology of fungal disease. Although species and ecosystem conservation are necessarily the foundation of preserving this diversity, there is value in expanding our definition of conservation to include the protection of biological collections, ecological metadata, genetic and genomic data, and the methods and code used for our analyses. These definitions of conservation are interdependent. For example, we need metadata on host specificity and biogeography to understand rarity and set priorities for conservation. To aid in these efforts, we need to draw expertise from diverse fields to tie traditional taxonomic knowledge to data obtained from modern -omics-based approaches, and support the advancement of diverse research perspectives. We also need new tools, including an updated framework for describing and tracking species known only from DNA, and the continued integration of functional predictions to link genetic diversity to functional and ecological diversity. Here, we review the state of fungal diversity research as shaped by recent technological advancements, and how changing viewpoints in taxonomy, -omics, and systematics can be integrated to advance mycological research and preserve fungal biodiversity.
... Later, several genera including Alternaria (Andersen et al. 2008), Aspergillus , Samson et al. 2004, Frisvad & Larsen 2015, Talaromyces ), Fusarium (Thrane & Hansen 1995, Schmidt et al. 2004, Zain 2010, Stachybotrys (Andersen et al. 2003), Trichoderma (Thrane et al. 2001) and many more, were subjected to chemotaxonomic examinations showing highly species-specific metabolic profiles. The chemotaxonomic concept has also been proven to be successfully applied in polyphasic taxonomy within xylarialean fungi which led to the discovery of potential chemotaxonomic markers (Stadler et al. 2001a, b, 2003, 2014, Stadler & Hellwig 2005, Kuhnert et al. 2017, Kuephadungphan et al. 2021. For instance, sporothric acid, isosporothric acid and dihydroisosporothric acid appeared to be specific to Hypoxylon monticulosum (Surup et al. 2014), viridistratin A-C to Annulohypoxylon viridistratum (Becker et al. 2020), Minutellins A-D to Annulohypoxylon minutellum (Kuhnert et al. 2017) and lenormandin A-G to Hypoxylon jaklitschii and Hypoxylon lenormandii (Kuhnert et al. 2015). ...
... The chemotaxonomic concept has also been proven to be successfully applied in polyphasic taxonomy within xylarialean fungi which led to the discovery of potential chemotaxonomic markers (Stadler et al. 2001a, b, 2003, 2014, Stadler & Hellwig 2005, Kuhnert et al. 2017, Kuephadungphan et al. 2021. For instance, sporothric acid, isosporothric acid and dihydroisosporothric acid appeared to be specific to Hypoxylon monticulosum (Surup et al. 2014), viridistratin A-C to Annulohypoxylon viridistratum (Becker et al. 2020), Minutellins A-D to Annulohypoxylon minutellum (Kuhnert et al. 2017) and lenormandin A-G to Hypoxylon jaklitschii and Hypoxylon lenormandii (Kuhnert et al. 2015). ...
Fungi are rich in complexes of cryptic species that need a combination of different approaches to be delimited, including genomic information. Beauveria ( Cordycipitaceae , Hypocreales ) is a well-known genus of entomopathogenic fungi, used as a biocontrol agent. In this study we present a polyphasic taxonomy regarding two widely distributed complexes of Beauveria : B. asiatica and B. bassiana s.lat. Some of the genetic groups as previously detected within both taxa were either confirmed or fused using population genomics. High levels of divergence were found between two clades in B. asiatica and among three clades in B. bassiana , supporting their subdivision as distinct species. Morphological examination focusing on the width and the length of phialides and conidia showed no difference among the clades within B. bassiana while conidial length was significantly different among clades within B. asiatica . The secondary metabolite profiles obtained by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) allowed a distinction between B. asiatica and B. bassiana , but not between the clades therein. Based on these genomic, morphological, chemical data, we proposed a clade of B. asiatica as a new species, named B. thailandica , and two clades of B. bassiana to respectively represent B. namnaoensis and B. neobassiana spp. nov. Such closely related but divergent species with different host ranges have potential to elucidate the evolution of host specificity, with potential biocontrol application.
... Reflection on the hyaline conidial sheath An outstanding feature in Phaeonawawia diplocladielloidea is the thick, hyaline sheath enclosing its stauroconidia. Several technical terms, namely ectosporium, endosporium, episporium, exosporium, and perisporium, have been used to describe different layers of spore walls seen in certain ascospores (Goh and Hanlin 1999;Kuhnert et al. 2016), basidiospores (Halbwachs and Bässler 2015), and teliopores (Khanna and Payak 1968). The perisporium has been referred to be the "sheath" by several authors. ...
... It is the outermost layer of the spore and is usually thin, hyaline and sometimes fugacious (Kirk et al. 2008). Detachable perisporic sheaths have been reported in the ascospores of Annulohypoxylon species (Kuhnert et al. 2016) and the teliospores of certain smut fungi (Khanna and Payak 1968). Likely, the thick, hyaline, sheath-like outer covering of the conidia in P. diplocladielloidea is the perisporium. ...
The anamorphic taxon Phaeonawawia diplocladielloidea gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from wood submerged in a freshwater stream in Malaysia. The fungus is generically distinct in the brown, short-stalked, bulbose or urceolate conidiogenous cells with a terminal pore rimmed with a flared collarette, producing large, dematiaceous, versicoloured, multi-euseptate, tetrahedral, or obpyramidal stauroconidia which bear hyaline filiform appendages at the end of the arms and enclosed by a thick, hyaline sheath. The new fungus is compared with some similar anamorphic fungi. Phylogenetic analyses by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches using the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS barcode) support the placement of this new fungus in the Chaetosphaeriaceae. The various anamorphic forms of chaetosphaeriaceous fungi are briefly discussed.
... Axenic cultures and vouchers were deposited in Thailand Bioresource Research Center (TBRC, BCC) and BIOTEC Bangkok Herbarium (BBH), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out using a conventional procedure as described by Kuhnert et al. (2017). ...
... For chemotaxonomic studies, stromatal secondary metabolites were extracted with acetone and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and high resolution electrospray mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/DAD-HR-ESIMS) in a similar manner as described by Yuyama et al. (2018) and Kretz et al. (2019). Instrumental settings and conditions were the same as described in Kuhnert et al. (2017). ...
In an investigation of stromatic Xylariales in Thailand, several specimens of Daldinia were discovered. Three novel species (D. flavogranulata, D. phadaengensis, and D. chiangdaoensis) were recognized from a molecular phylogeny based on concatenated ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TUB2 sequence data, combined with morphological characters and secondary metabolite profiles based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The major components detected were cytochalasins (in D. flavogranulata and D. chiangdaoensis) and daldinin type azaphilones (in D. phadaengensis). In addition, D. brachysperma, which had hitherto only been reported from America, was found for the first time in Asia. Its phylogenetic affinities were studied, confirming previous suspicions from morphological comparisons that the species is closely related to D. eschscholtzii and D. bambusicola, both common in Thailand. Daldinia flavogranulata, one of the new taxa, was found to be closely related to the same taxa. The other two novel species, D. phadaengensis and D. chiangdaoensis, share characters with D. korfii and D. kretzschmarioides, respectively.
... Axenic cultures and voucher specimens were deposited in the BIOTEC Culture Collection (BCC) and BIOTEC Bangkok Herbarium (BBH), Thailand, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was carried out using a conventional procedure as described previously [9]. ...
... Teleomorph. Stromata scattered on the host surface, subglobose to ovate, stipitate, roughened, 2-6 mm diameter, stipes short, slender, unbranched, smooth, black, 2-2.2 mm long, deeply rooting in the substrate; externally Tawny Blended (8), Umber (9) or Apricot (42) with black papillate ostioles of embedded perithecia, internally white. Texture fairly hard, lacking carbonaceous layer. ...
The genus Stromatoneurospora was erected in 1973 by Jong and Davis to accommodate the pyrophilic pyrenomycete Sphaeria phoenix and has traditionally been placed in the family Xylariaceae based on morphological features. However, no living culture of this genus has so far been available in the public domain. Molecular data were restricted to an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence that only confirmed the familial position, and was generated from a strain that is not deposited in a public culture collection. We have recently collected fresh material and were able to culture this fungus from Thailand. The secondary metabolites of this strains were analysed after fermentation in multiple media. The the prominent components of these fermentation were purified, using preparative chromatography. Aside from two new eremophilane sesquiterpenoids named phoenixilanes A-B (1-2), four other components that are known from species of the xylariaceous genera Xylaria and Poronia were identified by spectral methods (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry). Notably, (−)-(R)-6-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-dihydroisocoumarin-5-carboxylic acid (6) has not been reported as a natural product before. Moreover, DNA sequences of Stromatoneurospora phoenix clustered with members of the genera Poronia and Podosordaria in a multi-locus molecular phylogeny. These results confirmed that the genus belongs to the same evolutionary lineage as the coprophilic Xylariaceae. The results also suggest that this lineage has evolved independently from the plant-inhabiting saprotrophs and endophytes that are closely related to the genus Xylaria. These findings are discussed in relation to some theories about the endophytic vs. the pyrophilic/coprophilic fungal life style.
... For the genome sequencing, twelve morphologically well characterized ascospore-derived strains of the order Xylariales were chosen. The selection was comprised of eleven representatives of the Hypoxylaceae ( (Stadler et al. 2014a;Kuhnert et al. 2014aKuhnert et al. , 2017Wendt et al. 2018) except for D. concentrica, E. liquescens, H. lienhwacheense, Hypomontagnella monticulosa MUCL 54604 and H. pulicicidum, which do not represent type strains. Regarding upcoming studies, two endosymbiontic isolates of Hypomontagnella were included as well. ...
... Before the erection of Jackrogersella, the latter two species were placed in the same genus based on their morphological similarities (carbonaceous layer surrounding the perithecia, ostioles higher than the stromatal surface, dehiscent perispore with conspicuous thickening). However, their strongly deviating secondary metabolite profiles in conjunction with completely reduced stromatal discs set them clearly apart (Kuhnert et al. 2017;Wendt et al. 2018). In contrast, the relationship with H. pulicicidum does not seem obvious in the first place, but the Bootstrap support values of 1000 replicates above 50% are shown at corresponding nodes. ...
The Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota) is a diverse family of mainly saprotrophic fungi, which commonly occur in angiosperm-dominated forests around the world. Despite their importance in forest and plant ecology as well as a prolific source of secondary metabolites and enzymes, genome sequences of related taxa are scarce and usually derived from environmental isolates. To address this lack of knowledge thirteen taxonomically well-defined representatives of the family and one member of the closely related Xylariaceae were genome sequenced using combinations of Illumina and Oxford nanopore technologies or PacBio sequencing. The workflow leads to high quality draft genome sequences with an average N50 of 3.0 Mbp. A backbone phylogenomic tree was calculated based on the amino acid sequences of 4912 core genes reflecting the current accepted taxonomic concept of the Hypoxylaceae. A Percentage of Conserved Proteins (POCP) analysis revealed that 70% of the proteins are conserved within the family, a value with potential application for the definition of family boundaries within the order Xylariales. Also, Hypomontagnella spongiphila is proposed as a new marine derived lineage of Hypom. monticulosa based on in-depth genomic comparison and morphological differences of the cultures. The results showed that both species share 95% of their genes corresponding to more than 700 strain-specific proteins. This difference is not reflected by standard taxonomic assessments (morphology of sexual and asexual morph, chemotaxonomy, phylogeny), preventing species delimitation based on traditional concepts. Genetic changes are likely to be the result of environmental adaptations and selective pressure, the driving force of speciation. These data provide an important starting point for the establishment of a stable phylogeny of the Xylariales; they enable studies on evolution, ecological behavior and biosynthesis of natural products; and they significantly advance the taxonomy of fungi.
... Light microscopy with Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) was done using a Zeiss Axio Imager A1 compound microscope, equipped with a Zeiss Axiocam 506 colour digital camera. SEM of ascospores were recorded using a fieldemission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM Merlin, Zeiss, Germany), in a similar fashion as reported previously (Kuhnert et al. 2017). ...
... Stromata of Hypoxylon specimens were extracted as described by Kuhnert et al. (2017) and subsequently analysed by high performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array and electrospray mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/DAD-ESIMS) instrument settings as described by Halecker et al. (2020). The resulting UV/Vis and mass spectra were compared with an internal database (cf. ...
During a survey of xylarialean fungi in Northern Iran, several specimens that showed affinities to the Hypoxylon rubiginosum complex were collected and cultured. A comparison of their morphological characters, combined with a chemotaxonomic study based on high performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD/MS) and a multi-locus phylogeny based on ITS, LSU, rbp2 and tub2 DNA sequences, revealed a new species here described as Hypoxylon guilanense . In addition, Hypoxylon rubiginosumsensu stricto was also encountered. Concurrently, an endophytic isolate of the latter species showed strong antagonistic activities against the Ash Dieback pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus , in a dual culture assay in our laboratory. Therefore, we decided to test the new Iranian fungi for antagonistic activities against the pathogen, along with several cultures of other Hypoxylon species that are related to H. rubiginosum . Our results suggest that the antagonistic effects of Hypoxylon spp. against Hym. fraxineus are widespread and that they are due to the production of antifungal phomopsidin derivatives in the presence of the pathogen.
... The order was the best example of unified nomenclature, One fungus One name [26]. They are identified using the multigene or polyphasic approach, which utilizes morphological, chemical and molecular data together for species delimitation [27][28][29]. Unfortunately, endosymbiotic Xylariaceous fungi rarely produce ascospores on culture media and the anamorph states of Xylariales are not suitable at all to assess the genus because they are rather characteristic of species on the one hand or families on the other hand [25]. ...
Background
Lichen is a symbiotic association of algae and fungi, recognized as a self-sustaining ecosystem that constitutes an indeterminant number of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and protozoa. We evaluated the endolichenic fungal assemblage given the dearth of knowledge on endolichenic fungi (ELFs), particularly from part of the Central Western Ghats, Karnataka, and conducted a phylogenetic analysis of xylariaceous fungi, the most diversified group of fungi using ITS and ITS+Tub2 gene set.
Results
Out of 17 lichen thalli collected from 5 ecoregions, 42 morphospecies recovered, belong to the class Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Saccharomycetes. About 19 and 13 ELF genera have been reported from Parmotrema and Heterodermia thallus. Among the ecoregions EC2 showing highest species diversity (Parmotrema (1-D) = 0.9382, (H) = 2.865, Fisher-α = 8.429, Heterodermia (1-D) = 0.8038, H = 1.894, F-α = 4.57) followed the EC3 and EC1. Xylariales are the predominant colonizer reported from at least one thallus from four ecoregions. The morphotypes ELFX04, ELFX05, ELFX08 and ELFX13 show the highest BLAST similarity (> 99%) with Xylaria psidii, X. feejeensis, X. berteri and Hypoxylon fragiforme respectively. Species delimitation and phylogenetic position reveal the closest relation of Xylariaceous ELFs with plant endophytes.
Conclusions
The observation highlights that the deciduous forest harness a high number of endolichenic fungi, a dominant portion of these fungi are non-sporulating and still exist as cryptic. Overall, 8 ELF species recognized based on phylogenetic analysis, including the two newly reported fungi ELFX03 and ELFX06 which are suspected to be new species based on the present evidence. The study proved, that the lichen being rich source to establish fungal diversity and finding new species. Successful amplification of most phylogenetic markers like RPB2, building of comprehensive taxonomic databases and application of multi-omics data are further needed to understand the complex nature of lichen-fungal symbiosis.
... Chemotaxonomy is very helpful in delimiting species, especially in the resolution of species complexes that could not have been distinguished based on classical morphology and can be used as chemotaxonomic markers in comparative studies (Saag et al. 2009, Laessøe et al. 2010, Surup et al. 2014, Kuhnert et al. 2017, Dickschat et al. 2018, Rinkel et al. 2018, Lambert et al. 2019, Ekman & Tønsberg 2022. Fatty acids have been used as potential chemotaxonomic markers for identification in Albugo, Cunninghamella, Mortierella, Mucor, Plasmopara, Puccinia, Pustula, Rhizomucor and Wilsoniana species (Blomquist et al. 1992, Weete & Gandhi 1999, Spring & Haas 2002, Spring et al. 2005, Wołczańska et al. 2021. ...
The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-career and early-career mycologists and plant pathologists. The Consortium will publish a biannual update of the Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa, to act as an international scheme for other scientists. Notes on all newly published taxa at or above the level of species will be prepared and published online on the Outline of Fungi website (https://www.outlineoffungi.org/), and these will be finally published in the biannual edition of the Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Comments on recent important taxonomic opinions on controversial topics will be included in the biannual outline. For example, ‘to promote a more stable taxonomy in Fusarium given the divergences over its generic delimitation’, or ‘are there too many genera in the Boletales?’ and even more importantly, ‘what should be done with the tremendously diverse ‘dark fungal taxa?’ There are undeniable differences in mycologists’ perceptions and opinions regarding species classification as well as the establishment of new species. Given the pluralistic nature of fungal taxonomy and its implications for species concepts and the nature of species, this consortium aims to provide a platform to better refine and stabilise fungal classification, taking into consideration views from different parties. In the future, a confidential voting system will be set up to gauge the opinions of all mycologists in the Consortium on important topics. The results of such surveys will be presented to the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) and the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF) with opinions and percentages of votes for and against. Criticisms based on scientific evidence with regards to nomenclature, classifications, and taxonomic concepts will be welcomed, and any recommendations on specific taxonomic issues will also be encouraged; however, we will encourage professionally and ethically responsible criticisms of others’ work. This biannual ongoing project will provide an outlet for advances in various topics of fungal classification, nomenclature, and taxonomic concepts and lead to a community-agreed classification scheme for the fungi and fungus-like taxa. Interested parties should contact the lead author if they would like to be involved in future outlines.
... In addition, PVAlactophenol was used as a mounting medium to ascertain the presence or absence of the germ slit of the ascospores. For examination of conidiophores, HPLC profiling and sequencing, cultures of the specimens were obtained from multispore isolates according to Kuhnert et al. (2017). The morphology of cultures was studied as described by Stadler et al. (2014), using phase contrastmicroscopy and differential interference contrast under × 400-1000 optical magnification. ...
The current study is dedicated to the taxonomy of the genus Phylacia (Hypoxylaceae) in Argentina. Fieldwork in the north of the country provided several fresh collections that were studied, using a polyphasic approach. The secondary metabolite profiles of the specimens were generated by high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated by diode array and mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD/MS) of the stromata. This study confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites that are also found in the related genus Daldinia. The detection of binapththalene tetrol (BNT), daldinal B, and daldinol, which are also characteristic of certain species of Daldinia and Hypoxylon, further confirmed the chemotaxonomic affinities within the Hypoxylaceae. The phylogenetic affinities of several species were determined using a multi-gene genealogy based on ITS, LSU, TUB2, and RPB2 sequences, confirming that Phylacia is most closely related to Daldinia, Rhopalostroma, and Thamnomyces. The new species P. lobulata, which features a rather unique stromatal morphology and seems to exhibit apparent host specificity for the endemic tree Pseudobombax argentinum, is described.
... Also, there are several examples regarding the use of LC-MS data in conjunction with phylogenetic data for a better resolution of genera with uncertain placement. Such is the case of the genus Annuhypoxylon (Xylariaceae), since the evidence provided from phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and morphological data allowed the raising of various varieties to species level (Kuhnert et al. 2017). In addition, modern in-depth untargeted metabolomics approaches which incoporate molecular networking (MN) have been employed for comparative analysis of co-cultures of marine-adapted fungi with phytopatogenic bacteria and subsequently allowed prioritization of two co-cultures for purification and characterization of marine fungal metabolites with crop-protective activity (Oppong-Danquah et al., 2018). ...
Ascomycetes belonging to the order Sordariales are a well-known reservoir of secondary metabolites with potential beneficial applications. Species of the Sordariales are ubiquitous, and they are commonly found in soils and in lignicolous, herbicolous, and coprophilous habitats. Some of their species have been used as model organisms in modern fungal biology or were found to be prolific producers of potentially useful secondary metabolites. However, the majority of sordarialean species are poorly studied. Traditionally, the classification of the Sordariales has been mainly based on morphology of the ascomata, ascospores, and asexual states, characters that have been demonstrated to be homoplastic by modern taxonomic studies based on multi-locus phylogeny. Herein, we summarize for the first time relevant information about the available knowledge on the secondary metabolites and the biological activities exerted by representatives of this fungal order, as well as a current outlook of the potential opportunities that the recent advances in omic tools could bring for the discovery of secondary metabolites in this order.
... It is precisely because of such intrinsic limitations that a broader spectrum of analyses is necessary in the delimitation of species, expressed in multidisciplinary approaches broadly termed as "integrative," "multisource," or "polyphasic" taxonomy (Dayrat 2005;Will et al. 2005;Stadler et al. 2014). Rather than relying on a single tool or a single source of information, integrative taxonomical approaches utilize multisource data to reach taxonomic conclusions, complementing multilocus analyses with population genetics, morphological, developmental, and behavioral analyses, chemotaxonomy, cytology, and ultrastructural and reproductive studies, as well as analysis of distributional patterns, ecological niches, and host associations Padial et al. 2010;Schlick-Steiner et al. 2010;Barrett and Freudenstein 2011;Stech et al. 2013;Carstens et al. 2013;Zervakis et al. 2014;Zamora et al. 2015;Wei et al. 2016;Kuhnert et al. 2017;Haelewaters et al. 2018;Sochorová et al. 2019;Liu et al. 2020;Samarakoon et al. 2020;Wittstein et al. 2020;Zamora and Ekman 2020;Maharachchikumbura et al. 2021) Table 1). ...
The genus Morchella has gone through turbulent taxonomic treatments. Although significant progress in Morchella systematics has been achieved in the past decade, several problems remain unresolved and taxonomy in the genus is still in flux. In late 2019, a paper published in the open-access journal Scientific Reports raised serious concerns about the taxonomic stability of the genus, but also about the future of academic publishing. The paper, entitled “High diversity of Morchella and a novel lineage of the esculenta clade from the north Qinling Mountains revealed by GCPSR-based study” by Phanpadith and colleagues, suffered from gross methodological errors, included false results and artifactual phylogenies, had misapplied citations throughout, and proposed a new species name invalidly. Although the paper was eventually retracted by Scientific Reports in 2021, the fact that such an overtly flawed and scientifically unsound paper was published in a high-ranked Q1 journal raises alarming questions about quality controls and safekeeping procedures in scholarly publishing. Using this paper as a case study, we provide a critical review on the pitfalls of Morchella systematics followed by a series of recommendations for the delimitation of species, description of taxa, and ultimately for a sustainable taxonomy in Morchella. Problems and loopholes in the academic publishing system are also identified and discussed, and additional quality controls in the pre- and post-publication stages are proposed.
... A polyphasic approach for the accurate identification of pathogenic species is needed when new species causing plant diseases are introduced. Only by careful, combined investigation of morphological, ecological, biological, and phylogenetic data will introduction of stable names, that are essential for clear communication concerning plant diseases, become established (Kuhnert et al. 2017;Aime et al. 2021). The application of a polyphasic approach in plant pathology is, thus, essential for the accurate identification of fungal pathogens, and their naming, leading to advances in management and control of currently known and newly emerging diseases. ...
Scientific names are crucial for communicating knowledge concerning fungi and fungus-like organisms. In plant pathology, they link information regarding biology, host range, distribution and potential risk to agriculture and food security. In the past, delimitation among pathogenic taxa was primarily based on morphological characteristics. Due to distinct species sharing overlapping characteristics, the morphological identification of species is often neither straightforward nor reliable. Hence, the phylogenetic species concept based on molecular phylogenetic reconstructions gained importance. The present opinion discusses what a fungal species is and how identification of species in plant pathology has changed over the past decades. In this context, host-specialization and species complexes are discussed. Furthermore, species concepts in plant pathology are examined using case studies from Bipolaris, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Diplodia, Meliola, Plasmopara, rust fungi and Trichoderma. Each entry contains a brief introduction to the genus, concepts used in species identification so far and the problems in describing a species followed by recommendations. The importance of correctly naming and identifying a species is addressed in the context of recent introductions, and we also discuss whether the introduction of new species in pathogenic genera has been overestimated. We also provide guidelines to be considered when introducing a new species in a plant pathogenic genus.
... The subtropical montane forests (Yungas) in the northwest provinces of Argentina are one of the main areas of plants diversity of the country (Brown et al. 2002). Several mycological researches carried out in this area exposed an abundant and rich community of ascomycetous Xylariales related to these flora (Hladki & Romero 2001, 2003, 2010Kuhnert et al. 2017;Sir et al. 2012Sir et al. , 2016aSir et al. , 2018. Among the genera belonging to the family Hypoxylaceae encountered in Las Yungas, Hypoxylon Bull., is one of the most common ones according to recent data (Diaz et al. 2018). ...
Hypoxylon ochraceotuberosum and H. rickii are reported for the first time for the Argentinean funga based on recently collected specimens from the northwestern montane forest. Until now, H. ochraceotuberosum has only been known to occur in the Martinique (French West Indies). In contrast, H. rickii was already recorded for the Southern Cone, but based on specimens collected in the Atlantic Rain Forests from Southeast Brazil. Detailed descriptions and photo illustrations are provided for each species.
... Moreover the third subfamily, Thamnomycetoideae, was as well not validated since the genus Thamnomyces is closely related to Daldinia, supporting its affinity with the Hypoxylaceae (Stadler et al. 2010). Some studies (Hsieh et al. 2005(Hsieh et al. , 2010Wendt et al. 2018) reinforced the need of a rearrangement of the Xylariaceae based on phylogeny and chemotaxonomy, with the last being the focus of studies from Stadler (2011), Stadler et al. (2014 and Kuhnert et al. (2017), corroborating the importance Rodriguésia 71: e03012018. 2020 of more studies to a better comprehension and resolution of the subgroups within the Xylariaceae. ...
This work aims to bring new reports of Hypoxylaceae and Xylariaceae from Brazil. The collections were performed in cocoa plantations in Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Six new occurrences of Hypoxylaceae and two Xylariaceae species are reported to Brazil, Northeast and/or Bahia. A dichotomous key to the species treated is provided.
... Various forms of polyphasic approaches integrating different types of data, including morphological, physiological, exometabolite, ecological and molecular are increasingly used in many fungal order, e.g. Eurotiales, Pleosporales and Xylariales (Bhunjun et al. 2020;Houbraken et al. 2020;Kuhnert et al. 2017;Lambert et al. 2019;Samarakoon et al. 2020). These complex species delimitation approaches are basis for stable taxonomy that is less prone to errors compared to less robust approaches. ...
Species of the Trichophyton benhamiae complex are predominantly zoophilic pathogens with a worldwide distribution. These pathogens have recently become important due to their epidemic spread in pets and pet owners. Considerable genetic and phenotypic variability has been revealed in these emerging pathogens, but the species limits and host spectra have not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we used an approach combining phylogenetic analysis based on four loci, population-genetic data, phenotypic and physiological analysis, mating type gene characterization and ecological data to resolve the taxonomy of these pathogens. This approach supported the inclusion of nine taxa in the complex, including three new species and one new variety. Trichophyton benhamiae var. luteum var. nov. (“yellow phenotype” strains) is currently a major cause of zoonotic tinea corporis and capitis in Europe (mostly transmitted from guinea pigs). The isolates of the “white phenotype” do not form a monophyletic group and are segregated into three taxa, T. benhamiae var. benhamiae (mostly North America; dogs), T. europaeum sp. nov. (mostly Europe; guinea pigs), and T. japonicum sp. nov. (predominant in East Asia but also found in Europe; rabbits and guinea pigs). The new species T. africanum sp. nov. is proposed for the “African” race of T. benhamiae. The introduction to new geographic areas and host jump followed by extinction of one mating type gene have played important roles in the evolution of these pathogens. Due to considerable phenotypic similarity of many dermatophytes and phenomena such as incomplete lineage sorting or occasional hybridization and introgression, we demonstrate the need to follow polyphasic approach in species delimitation. Neutrally evolving and noncoding DNA regions showed significantly higher discriminatory power compared to conventional protein-coding loci. Diagnostic options for species identification in practice based on molecular markers, phenotype and MALDI-TOF spectra are presented. A microsatellite typing scheme developed in this study is a powerful tool for the epidemiological surveillance of these emerging pathogens.
... Benzenoids, lactones, and other small cyclic molecules from Hypoxylaceae (Fig. 13) Investigations of the stromata of the recently described Annulohypoxylon viridistratum [95] yielded three unprecedented, fully conjugated benzo[j]fluoranthenes named viridistratins A-C, along with the known truncatones A and C Fig. 13 Recently reported benzenoids, lactones, and other small cyclic molecules from species of the Hypoxylaceae [96]. A broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi was measured for viridistratins A and B (67), with the strongest activity exhibited by 67 against Mucor hiemalis with an MIC of 4.2 µg/mL, as compared to nystatin (66.7 µg/mL). ...
The families Xylariaceae and Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota) represent one of the most prolific lineages of secondary metabolite producers. Like many other fungal taxa, they exhibit their highest diversity in the tropics. The stromata as well as the mycelial cultures of these fungi (the latter of which are frequently being isolated as endophytes of seed plants) have given rise to the discovery of many unprecedented secondary metabolites. Some of those served as lead compounds for development of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Recently, the endophytic Xylariales have also come in the focus of biological control, since some of their species show strong antagonistic effects against fungal and other pathogens. New compounds, including volatiles as well as nonvolatiles, are steadily being discovered from these ascomycetes, and polythetic taxonomy now allows for elucidation of the life cycle of the endophytes for the first time. Moreover, recently high-quality genome sequences of some strains have become available, which facilitates phylogenomic studies as well as the elucidation of the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) as a starting point for synthetic biotechnology approaches. In this review, we summarize recent findings, focusing on the publications of the past 3 years.
... However, the other species of Apiosordaria included in the screening study, i.e., A. backusii (now transferred to Triangularia [30]), produced completely different unrelated compounds (data not shown). Therefore, the production of secondary metabolites could be suitable as chemotaxonomic markers, as demonstrated before in other groups of fungi such as the Xylariales [8,33,34], helping to achieve a more natural classification of lasiosphaeriaceous taxa. ...
During the course of a screening for novel biologically active secondary metabolites produced by the Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota, Fungi), the ex-type strain of Jugulospora vestita was found to produce seven novel xanthone-anthraquinone heterodimers, xanthoquinodin A11 (1) and xanthoquinodins B10-15 (2-7), together with the already known compound xanthoquinodin B4 (8). The structures of the xanthoquinodins were determined by analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Moreover, the absolute configurations of these metabolites were established by analysis of the 1 H− 1 H coupling constants, nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) correlations, and Electronic Circular Dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic data. Antifungal and antibacterial activities as well as cytotoxicity of all compounds were tested. Xanthoquinodin B11 showed fungicidal activities against Mucor hiemalis [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 2.1 µg/mL], Rhodotorula glutinis (MIC 2.1 µg/mL), and Pichia anomala (MIC 8.3 µg/mL). All the compounds 1-8 displayed anti-Gram-positive bacteria activity (MIC 0.2-8.3 µg/mL). In addition, all these eight compounds showed cytotoxicity against KB 3.1, L929, A549, SK-OV-3, PC-3, A431, and MCF-7 mammalian cell lines. The six novel compounds (1-3, 5-7), together with xanthoquinodin B4, were also found in the screening of other strains belonging to Jugulospora rotula, revealing the potential chemotaxonomic significance of the compound class for the genus.
... Hence, we introduce H. delonicis as a new species based on both morphological and molecular evidence. Secondary metabolites: The stromatal extract was prepared and measured by HR-ESI-MS as described before (Kuhnert et al. 2017). The extract of Hypoxylon delonicis was found to contain the known azaphilone pigments mitorubrinol acetate (1) and mitorubrinic acid (2), which are widespread in Hypoxylon and form the core structures of more complicated metabolites (Surup et al. 2018) (Figs 48, 49). ...
This paper reviews and determines the fungi growing on seeds and fruits of wild plants in various habitats. Such fungi colonise a wide range of substrates with most reported from cones, cupules, and leguminous pods that are high in cellulose and lignin content. There are 1348 fungal species (belonging to 230 families and 609 genera) reported from wild seeds and fruits in 84 countries, listed in this paper. Of these, 300 fungi were described from wild seeds and fruit substrates. Members of the Fabaceae support the highest number of taxa, namely 19% of the novel wild fruit fungi. Twenty-eight genera, including 5 fossil fungal genera have been described from wild seeds and fruits: Agarwalomyces, Amorocoelophoma, Anisogenispora, Archephoma, Centrolepidosporium, Cylindroaseptospora, Cylindromyces, Davidhawksworthia, Delonicicola, Discotubeufia, Glaxoa, Kionocephala, Leucaenicola, Naranus, Neolindgomyces, Pleohelicoon, Quercicola, Remotididymella, Repetoblastiella, Restilago, Soloacrosporiella, Strobiloscypha and Tainosphaeria. Archephoma, Meniscoideisporites, Palaeodiplodites, Palaeopericonia and Xylohyphites are the new fossil fungal genera. Fungal asexual morphs predominate on wild seeds and fruits rather than the sexual morphs. The dominant fungal genera on wild seeds and fruits include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Drechslera, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Restiosporium, Rhizopus, Talaromyces, Trichoderma and Xylaria. Certain assemblages of fungi have specific and distinct relationships with their hosts, especially Xylaria species (e.g., Xylaria magnoliae on Magnolia fruits; X. xanthinovelutina (= X. ianthino-velutina) on Fabaceae pods; X. carpophila on Fagus cupules; X. persicaria on liquidambar fruits). Whether these species occur as endophytes and become saprobes following fruit fall requires further investigation. In this study, we also made several sexual morph collections of sordariomycetous taxa from different seed and fruit substrates mainly from Thailand, with a few from the UK. These include 15 new species, 13 new host records and 1 new geographical record. The new species are described and illustrated.
An anthostomella-like fungus associated with dead palm rachis
(Arecaceae) was collected in Nang Lae Village, Chiang Rai Province,
Thailand. It is characterised by solitary, scattered ascomata beneath
a clypeus, centric ostioles, pedicellate, unitunicate asci, and dark,
olivaceous-brown ascospores. Multigene phylogenetic analyses
(ITS-LSU-rpb2-tub2) revealed that our isolates formed a distinct
clade in Xenoanthostomella (Gyrothricaceae, Xylariales), sister to X.
chromolaenae, X. cycadis, X. olivacea, and X. parvispora. Based on its
distinct morphology compared with related taxa having semiimmersed ascomata, cylindrical and short pedicellate asci, oblong
to narrow ellipsoid ascospores with a straight germ slit, and
multigene phylogeny, a new anthostomella-like taxon is introduced
as Xenoanthostomella thailandica. A comprehensive description and
illustrations of the new taxon, a synopsis of morphological
characteristics and illustrations of anthostomella-like genera
accepted in Xylariomycetidae are provided.
To obtain higher melanin production in liquid culture, culture conditions of Annulohypoxylon stygium (Lév.) Y.M. Ju, J.D. Rogers and H.M. Hsieh were optimised. The results showed that using single factor experiment and orthogonal test, the optimised production of melanin reached 2.20 g/L, which was 2.06 times higher than that of the control group. In addition, it was speculated that A. stygium melanin (AsM) was 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) melanin and showed an amorphous irregular structure. Moreover, it had good solubility in alkaline solution. AsM showed good antioxidant activity at a concentration of 500 mg/L, with DPPH, ABTS and OH radicals scavenging activities of 90.83%, 75.36% and 70.90%, respectively. AsM prevented alcohol-induced oxidative damage and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells by inhibiting the decrease of antioxidant key enzyme activity under alcohol stimulation. It was proved to have a great potential for application as a natural antioxidant and a substitute for synthetic pigments.
Hypoxylaceous fungi are abundant in China, but their discovery and report are uneven in various provinces, with more fungi in Yunnan and Hainan and fewer fungi in Tibet. During the investigation of macro-fungi in Motuo county, Tibet Autonomous Region, we collected a number of xylarialean specimens. Six hypoxylaceous specimens growing on dead angiosperm were collected from the forests of Motuo county, and they were described and illustrated as two new species in Hypoxylon based on a combination of morphological characters and molecular evidence. Hypoxylon diperithecium was characterized by its bistratal perithecia, purple-brown stromatal granules, citrine to rust KOH-extractable pigments, and light brown to brown ascospores ellipsoid-inequilateral with conspicuous coil-like ornamentation. Hypoxylon tibeticum was distinct from other species by having pulvinate and applanate stromata, surface vinaceous, with orange granules, orange KOH-extractable pigments, and brown ascospores with inconspicuous ornamentation. The multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS-LSU-RPB2-TUB) supported the two new taxa as separate lineages in the genus Hypoxylon. A key to all known Hypoxylon taxa from China is provided.
The families, Hypoxylaceae and Xylariaceae, constitute a well-known group of fungi, with a distribution that is dominant throughout the world. This article reviews available literature, books, and doctoral theses on this group of fungi, producing a checklist of Hypoxylaceae and Xylariaceae species. A total of 206 species has been identified, including both newly introduced and previously recorded species from India. These species belong to 23 different genera across the two distinct families. Among these, the genus, Xylaria, stands out with the highest number of species (76 spp.), making it the most species-rich genus within the two families. The genus Hypoxylon comes next, as the second most species-bearing genus (36 spp.), followed by the genus Rosellinia, which is the third most species-bearing genus (20 spp.).
This study documents the morphology and phylogeny of ascomycetes collected from karst landscapes of Guizhou Province, China. Based on morphological characteristics in conjunction with DNA sequence data, 70 species are identified and distributed in two classes (Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes), 16 orders, 41 families and 60 genera. One order Planisphaeriales, four families Leptosphaerioidaceae, Neoleptosporellaceae, Planisphaeriaceae and Profundisphaeriaceae, ten genera Conicosphaeria, Karstiomyces, Leptosphaerioides, Neoceratosphaeria, Neodiaporthe, Neodictyospora, Planisphaeria, Profundisphaeria, Stellatus and Truncatascus, and 34 species (Amphisphaeria karsti, Anteaglonium hydei, Atractospora terrestris, Conicosphaeria vaginatispora, Corylicola hydei, Diaporthe cylindriformispora, Dictyosporium karsti, Hysterobrevium karsti, Karstiomyces guizhouensis, Leptosphaerioides guizhouensis, Lophiotrema karsti, Murispora hydei, Muyocopron karsti, Neoaquastroma guizhouense, Neoceratosphaeria karsti, Neodiaporthe reniformispora, Neodictyospora karsti, Neoheleiosa guizhouensis, Neoleptosporella fusiformispora, Neoophiobolus filiformisporum, Ophioceras guizhouensis, Ophiosphaerella karsti, Paraeutypella longiasca, Paraeutypella karsti, Patellaria guizhouensis, Planisphaeria karsti, Planisphaeria reniformispora, Poaceascoma herbaceum, Profundisphaeria fusiformispora, Pseudocoleophoma guizhouensis, Pseudopolyplosphaeria guizhouensis, Stellatus guizhouensis, Sulcatispora karsti and Truncatascus microsporus) are introduced as new to science. Moreover, 13 new geographical records for China are also reported, which are Acrocalymma medicaginis, Annulohypoxylon thailandicum, Astrosphaeriella bambusae, Diaporthe novem, Hypoxylon rubiginosum, Ophiosphaerella agrostidis, Ophiosphaerella chiangraiensis, Patellaria atrata, Polyplosphaeria fusca, Psiloglonium macrosporum, Sarimanas shirakamiense, Thyridaria broussonetiae and Tremateia chromolaenae. Additionally, the family Eriomycetaceae was resurrected as a non-lichenized family and accommodated within Monoblastiales. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of all these taxa are provided.
The lignicolous saprotrophic genus Entonaema contains six formally accepted species: E. liquescens (type species), E. cinnabarinum, E. globosum, E. dengii, E. moluccanum, and E. siamensis. Its stromatic ascomata develop on the surface of dead wood remnants; they are rather large, globose to irregularly shaped, and vividly coloured. The fresh stroma interior is filled with a liquid matter. In early studies, the genus was considered to have a preference for tropical habitats, while in more recent field research, numerous collections have been added from warm, temperate areas of Europe, North America, and Asia. Our taxonomic and phylogenetic studies were based on freshly collected E. cinnabarinum from Croatia and E. liquescens from the USA. A phylogenetic study of the sequence alignment of four concatenated gene regions (ITS, LSU, rpb2, and β-tub) revealed the true taxonomic position of Entonaema within Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales), a sister to Hypoxylon carneum. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of E. cinnabarinum are accompanied by drawings and colour photographs, while the study of E. liquescens is focused on stromatal microchemical reaction. With new information, the worldwide identification key to the putative species of Entonaema is proposed. Ecological data and biogeographical patterns were studied using all available and reliable sources of recorded data. Climatic preferences of the two most widespread Entonaema species, E. liquescens and E. cinnabarinum, are discussed in detail.
Entonaema is a peculiar and morphologically easily recognised fungal genus with disjunct and predominantly tropical-subtropical distribution. Entonaema cinnabarinum is typified on material from Australia and is the sole known species in Europe. It was first reported on this continent three decades ago, based on a collection from Bulgaria and remains so far one of the utmost rare European fungi with merely five sites known on the continent. After diligent search, the Bulgarian Entonaema was rediscovered in the area where it was first collected, and new sites were also found. Two ITS rDNA sequences of Bulgarian collections were obtained, appearing to be the first verified accessions of European origin. In the phylogenetic inference they appear closely related to an accession from South Korea, dubbed E. splendens. The outcomes of the phylogenetic analysis confirm the self-standing status of Entonaema, but its precise affiliation within the order Xylariales remains to be assessed further. Morphological characterisation, ample macroscopic and microscopic illustrations, as well as SEM images of ascospores of the new Bulgarian findings are included.
Background:
The genus Induratia is based on Induratia apiospora, a xylarialean pyrenomycete from New Zealand with clypeate uniperitheciate stromata, hyaline apiospores and a nodulisporium-like anamorph. However, because of the lack of DNA data from the generic type, its phylogenetic affinities have remained unresolved. Recently, two fungal species with teleomorphs strikingly similar to Induratia were discovered in Thailand. However, they did not produce an anamorph and were found to be phylogenetically close to the species classified within the hyphomycete genus Muscodor, which was described after Induratia. Therefore, in 2020 the species of Muscodor were transferred to Induratia, and a new family Induratiaceae was proposed.
Results:
We have encountered an unpublished ex-holotype strain of Induratia apiospora among the holdings of the ATCC collection, enabling detailed morphological and molecular phylogenetic investigations. We observed the characteristic nodulisporium-like anamorph described in the original publication. Phylogenetic analyses of multigene sequence data revealed a close relationship of Induratia apiospora to the Barrmaeliaceae, while a close relationship to the Induratia species formerly classified within Muscodor was rejected.
Conclusions:
We here classify Induratia apiospora within the Barrmaeliaceae and consider Induratiaceae to be synonymous with the former. As the holotype specimen of Induratia apiospora is apparently lost, an isotype specimen from WSP is selected as lectotype. We also propose that the genus Muscodor is resurrected within the Xylariaceae, and formally transfer several Induratia species to Muscodor.
An induratia-like fungus was collected in Thailand from a deadwood piece of an unidentified plant. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, rpb2, and β-tubulin sequence data and morphological characteristics showed that the fungus is Induratia coffeana. Induratia coffeana differs from I. ziziphi, I. thailandica and I. apiospora by its 2-celled ascospores with equal divisions. Full description, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of I. coffeana are provided. Induratia coffeana is reported herein as a new record for Thailand based on its sexual morph.
Over the past two decades, hypoxylaceous specimens were collected from several sites in Thailand. In this study, we examined their affinity to the genus Pyrenopolyporus using macroscopic and microscopic morphological characters, dereplication of their stromatal secondary metabolites using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-IM-MS/MS), and molecular phylogenetic analyses.
We describe and illustrate five novel species and a new record for the country, present multi-locus phylogenetic analyses that show the distinction between the proposed species, and provide proteomic profiles of the fungi using matrix associated laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) for the first time. Based on our findings, this strategy is useful as a
complementary tool to distinguish species between Daldinia and Pyrenopolyporus in a consistent way.
with the phylogenetic analysis.
Helicosporous hyphomycetes have the potential to produce a variety of bioactive compounds. However, the strain resources of this fungal group are relatively scarce, which limits their further exploitation and utilization. In this study, based on phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TEF1α sequence data and the morphology from 11 isolates, we introduce four new species of helicosporous hyphomycetes, viz. Helicoma wuzhishanense, Helicosporium hainanense, H. viridisporum, and Neohelicomyces hainanensis, as well as three new records, viz. Helicoma guttulatum, H. longisporum, and Helicosporium sexuale. Detailed morphological comparisons of the four new species that distinguish them are provided.
Based on phylogenetic analyses of a multi-gene matrix of nuITS-LSU rDNA, RPB2 and TUB2 sequences and morphology, xylariaceous species with uni- to pauciperitheciate stromata and ascospores having a spirally coiling (helicoid) germ slit are revised and reclassified, including detailed descriptions and illustrations. The genus Helicogermslita is redefined and restricted to seven species with massive, erumpent, clypeus-like carbonaceous stromata, and Rosellinia somala is combined in Helicogermslita. Within the core Xylariaceae, the poorly known Leptomassaria simplex is shown to be closely related to Anthostoma insidiosum, for which the new genus Oligostoma is established, and Anthostoma rhenanum is demonstrated to be synonymous with O. insidiosum. The new genus Albicollum, characterised by immersed ascomata and a collar of white pseudostromatic tissues surrounding the ostioles, is established for Amphisphaeria canicollis, Anthostoma chionostomum, Sordaria (= Helicogermslita) fleischhakii and Anthostoma vincensii. Anthostoma ostropoides is synomymised with Albicollum canicolle, and Al. berberidicola, Al. longisporum and Al. novomexicanum are described as new species. Rosellinia (= Helicogermslita) gaudefroyi is transferred to the new genus Spiririma. Anthostoma amoenum and Euepixylon udum, both with a poroid germ locus, are shown to be only distantly related, and An. amoenum is reclassified within the asexual genus Digitodochium. Based on phylogeny, the genus Euepixylon is treated as a synonym of Nemania. A new species, Nemania ethancrensonii, which is closely related to the two formerly accepted Euepixylon species (E. sphaeriostomum, E. udum) but strongly deviates from the morphological concept of Euepixylon and Nemania, is described from the eastern USA. The genera Anthostomelloides, Clypeosphaeria, Digitodochium, Emarcaea, Induratia, Linosporopsis, Magnostiolata, Occultitheca and Spiririma are revealed to form a morphologically heterogeneous lineage in a basal position of Xylariaceae. Anthostoma vincensii, Quaternaria simplex and Rosellinia gaudefroyi are lectotypified, and Amphisphaeria canicollis, Anthostoma amoenum, An. rhenanum, An. vincensii, Quaternaria simplex, Rosellinia gaudefroyi and Valsa insidiosa are epitypified. Keys to uni- to pauciperitheciate xylariaceous genera with sigmoid to helicoid germ slits and to species of Albicollum are provided.
During a survey of hypoxylaceous fungi in Medog county (Tibet Autonomous Region, China), three new species, including Hypoxylon damuense, Hypoxylon medogense, and Hypoxylon zangii, were described and illustrated based on morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Hypoxylon damuense is characterized by its yellow-brown stromatal granules, light-brown to brown ascospores, and frequently indehiscent perispore. Hypoxylon medogense is morphologically and phylogenetically related to H. erythrostroma but differs in having larger ascospores with straight spore-length germ slit and conspicuously coil-like perispore ornamentation. Hypoxylon zangii shows morphological similarities to H. texense but differs in having Amber (47), Fulvous (43) and Sienna (8) KOH-extractable pigments and larger ascospores with straight spore-length germ slit. The multi-gene phylogenetic analyses inferred from the datasets of ITS-RPB2-LSU-TUB2 supported the three new taxa as separate lineages within Hypoxylon. A key to all known Hypoxylon species from China and related species worldwide is provided.
The Hypoxylon species play an important ecological role in tropical rainforest as wood-decomposers, and some might have benefical effects on their hosts as endophytes. The present work concerns a survey of the genus Hypoxylon from Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park of China. Four new species: H. wuzhishanense, H. hainanense, H. chrysalidosporum, and H. cyclobalanopsidis, were discovered based on a combination of morphological characteristics and molecular data. Hypoxylon wuzhishanense is characterized by Rust pulvinate stromata, amyloid apical apparatus and brown ascospores, with most of the perispore being indehiscent in 10% KOH. Hypoxylon hainanense has effused–pulvinate and Violet stromata, amyloid apical apparatus, light-brown to brown ascospores with straight germ slit and dehiscent perispore. Hypoxylon chrysalidosporum is distinguished by glomerate to pulvinate stromata, highly reduced or absent inamyloid apical apparatus, and light-brown to brown ascospores with very conspicuous coil-like ornamentation. Hypoxylon cyclobalanopsidis has Livid Purple pulvinate stromata, highly reduced amyloid apical apparatus, faint bluing, brown ascospores and dehiscent perispore, and it grows on dead branches of Cyclobalanopsis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and contrasts with morphologically similar species are provided. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS, RPB2, LSU, and β-tubulin sequences confirmed that the four new species are distinct within the genus Hypoxylon.
A fungus with biocontrol potential was isolated from the roots of hickory trees. The strain named sj18 was classified as a member of the genus Hypoxylon (Hypoxylaceae) after multigene phylogenetic analysis (beta-tubulin gene, internal transcribed spacer, 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, and RNA polymerase II subunit gene). The strain grew well on a PDA with an optimum temperature range between 32 and 34 °C. The fungus had obvious inhibitory effects on Botryosphaeria dothidea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Gibberella moniliformis in fumigation experiments on solid agar plates. In an inoculation experiment of Chinese cabbage, the fungus was also found to have an obvious repellent effect on cabbage caterpillars. In vitro experiments on Petri dishes showed that the fermentation broth of the sj18 strain could kill 100% of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus within 8 h even if the fermentation broth was diluted 8 times. The inoculation test of Arabidopsis thaliana showed that the fungus could promote the lateral root formation of plants and significantly increase their aboveground biomass. Through the analysis of solid phase microextraction (SPME), it was found that the main volatile components of the fermentation products were azulene 65.39% (61.77% + 3.62%), caryophyllene 7.41%, and eucalyptol 6.83% according to the peak area ratio. Therefore, sj18 can be used as a candidate for the further research and development of biocontrol agents.
This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula (Torulaceae), Scolecoleotia (Leotiales genus incertae sedis) and Xenovaginatispora (Lindomycetaceae) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis, Cercophora dulciaquae, Cladophialophora aquatica, Coprinellus punjabensis, Cortinarius alutarius, C. mammillatus, C. quercofocculosus, Coryneum fagi, Cruentomycena uttarakhandina, Cryptocoryneum rosae, Cyathus uniperidiolus, Cylindrotorula indica, Diaporthe chamaeropicola, Didymella azollae, Diplodia alanphillipsii, Dothiora coronicola, Efbula rodriguezarmasiae, Erysiphe salicicola, Fusarium queenslandicum, Geastrum gorgonicum, G. hansagiense, Helicosporium sexualis, Helminthosporium chiangraiensis, Hongkongmyces kokensis, Hydrophilomyces hydraenae, Hygrocybe boertmannii, Hyphoderma australosetigerum, Hyphodontia yunnanensis, Khaleijomyces umikazeana, Laboulbenia divisa, Laboulbenia triarthronis, Laccaria populina, Lactarius pallidozonarius, Lepidosphaeria strobelii, Longipedicellata megafusiformis, Lophiotrema lincangensis, Marasmius benghalensis, M. jinfoshanensis, M. subtropicus, Mariannaea camelliae, Melanographium smilaxii, Microbotryum polycnemoides, Mimeomyces digitatus, Minutisphaera thailandensis, Mortierella solitaria, Mucor harpali, Nigrograna jinghongensis, Odontia huanrenensis, O. parvispina, Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii, Parafuscosporella niloticus, Phaeocytostroma yomensis, Phaeoisaria synnematicus, Phanerochaete hainanensis, Pleopunctum thailandicum, Pleurotheciella dimorphospora, Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense, Pseudodactylaria albicolonia, Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora, Russula paravioleipes, Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi, Seriascoma honghense, Synandromyces makranczyi, Thyridaria aureobrunnea, Torula lancangjiangensis, Tubeufa longihelicospora, Wicklowia fusiformispora, Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora. One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fci, Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis, Camarosporidiella laburni, Canalisporium caribense, Chaetoscutula juniperi, Chlorophyllum demangei, C. globosum, C. hortense, Cladophialophora abundans, Dendryphion hydei, Diaporthe foeniculina, D. pseudophoenicicola, D. pyracanthae, Dictyosporium pandanicola, Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus, Ernakulamia tanakae, Eutypa favovirens, E. lata, Favolus septatus, Fusarium atrovinosum, F. clavum, Helicosporium luteosporum, Hermatomyces nabanheensis, Hermatomyces sphaericoides, Longipedicellata aquatica, Lophiostoma caudata, L. clematidisvitalbae, Lophiotrema hydei, L. neoarundinaria, Marasmiellus palmivorus, Megacapitula villosa, Micropsalliota globocystis, M. gracilis, Montagnula thailandica, Neohelicosporium irregulare, N. parisporum, Paradictyoarthrinium difractum, Phaeoisaria aquatica, Poaceascoma taiwanense, Saproamanita manicata, Spegazzinia camelliae, Submersispora variabilis, Thyronectria caudata, T. mackenziei, Tubeufa chiangmaiensis, T. roseohelicospora, Vaginatispora nypae, Wicklowia submersa, Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis. The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.
The Iodosphaeriaceae is represented by the single genus, Iodosphaeria , which is composed of nine species with superficial, black, globose ascomata covered with long, flexuous, brown hairs projecting from the ascomata in a stellate fashion, unitunicate asci with an amyloid apical ring or ring lacking and ellipsoidal, ellipsoidal-fusiform or allantoid, hyaline, aseptate ascospores. Members of Iodosphaeria are infrequently found worldwide as saprobes on various hosts and a wide range of substrates. Only three species have been sequenced and included in phylogenetic analyses, but the type species, I. phyllophila , lacks sequence data. In order to stabilize the placement of the genus and family, an epitype for the type species was designated after obtaining ITS sequence data and conducting maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses. Iodosphaeria foliicola occurring on overwintered Alnus sp. leaves is described as new. Five species in the genus form a well-supported monophyletic group, sister to the Pseudosporidesmiaceae in the Xylariales . Selenosporella-like and/or ceratosporium-like synasexual morphs were experimentally verified or found associated with ascomata of seven of the nine accepted species in the genus. Taxa included and excluded from Iodosphaeria are discussed.
During our investigation of palm fungi in Thailand, two interesting taxa from Elaeis guineensis and Metroxylon sagu (Arecaceae) were collected. Based on phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset of ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tub2 nucleotide sequences as well as unique morphological characteristics, we introduce the new genus Haploanthostomella within Xylariales, and a new species Endocalyx metroxyli. Additionally, in our study, the genus Endocalyx is transferred to the family Cainiaceae based on its brown conidia and molecular phylogenetic evidence.
It is now a decade since The International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) produced an overview of requirements and best practices for describing a new fungal species. In the meantime the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp) has changed from its former name (the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature) and introduced new formal requirements for valid publication of species scientific names, including the separation of provisions specific to Fungi and organisms treated as fungi in a new Chapter F. Equally transformative have been changes in the data collection, data dissemination, and analytical tools available to mycologists. This paper provides an updated and expanded discussion of current publication requirements along with best practices for the description of new fungal species and publication of new names and for improving accessibility of their associated metadata that have developed over the last 10 years. Additionally, we provide: (1) model papers for different fungal groups and circumstances; (2) a checklist to simplify meeting (i) the requirements of the ICNafp to ensure the effective, valid and legitimate publication of names of new taxa, and (ii) minimally accepted standards for description; and, (3) templates for preparing standardized species descriptions.
The families Xylariaceae and Hypoxylaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota) represent one of the most prolific lineages of secondary metabolite producers. Like many other fungal taxa, they exhibit their highest diversity in the tropics. The stromata as well as the mycelial cultures of these fungi (the latter of which are frequently being isolated as endophytes of seed plants) have given rise to the discovery of many unprecedented secondary metabolites. Some of those served as lead compounds for development of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Recently, the endophytic Xylariales have also come in the focus of biological control, since some of their species show strong antagonistic effects against fungal and other pathogens. New compounds, including volatiles as well as non-volatiles, are steadily being discovered from these ascomycetes, and polythetic taxonomy now allows for elucidation of the life cycle of the endophytes for the first time. Moreover, recently high quality genome sequences of some strains have become available, which facilitates phylogenomic studies as well as the elucidation of the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) as a starting point for synthetic biotechnology approaches. In this review, we summarize recent findings, focusing on the publications of the past three years.
(This paper is presently under review and was just returned to the journal after minor revision requests but the peer review is not yet completed).
The ascomycete Hypoxylon invadens was described in 2014 as a fungicolous species growing on a member of its own genus, H. fragiforme, which is considered a rare lifestyle in the Hypoxylaceae. This renders H. invadens an interesting target in our efforts to find new bioactive secondary metabolites from members of the Xylariales. So far, only volatile organic compounds have been reported from H. invadens, but no investigation of non-volatile compounds had been conducted. Furthermore, a phylogenetic assignment following recent trends in fungal taxonomy via a multiple sequence alignment seemed practical. A culture of H. invadens was thus subjected to submerged cultivation to investigate the produced secondary metabolites, followed by isolation via preparative chromatography and subsequent structure elucidation by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS). This approach led to the identification of the known flaviolin (1) and 3,3-biflaviolin (2) as the main components, which had never been reported from the order Xylariales before. Assessment of their antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects via a panel of commonly used microorganisms and cell lines in our laboratory did not yield any effects of relevance. Concurrently, genomic DNA from the fungus was used to construct a multigene phylogeny using ribosomal sequence information from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the 28S large subunit of ribosomal DNA (LSU), and proteinogenic nucleotide sequences from the second largest subunit of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (RPB2) and β-tubulin (TUB2) genes. A placement in a newly formed clade with H. trugodes was strongly supported in a maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogeny using sequences derived from well characterized strains, but the exact position of said clade remains unclear. Both, the chemical and the phylogenetic results suggest further inquiries into the lifestyle of this unique fungus to get a better understanding of both, its ecological role and function of its produced secondary metabolites hitherto unique to the Xylariales.
We evaluated the protective effects of hypoxylonol C and 4,5,4',5'-tetrahydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl (BNT) isolated from Annulohypoxylon annulatum on pancreatic β-cell apoptosis, using the β-cell toxin streptozotocin (STZ). Hypoxylonol C and BNT restored the STZ-induced decrease in INS-1 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, treatment of INS-1 cells with 50 μM STZ resulted in an increase in apoptotic cell death, which was observed as annexin V fluorescence intensity. Apoptotic cell death was decreased by co-treatment with 100 μM hypoxylonol C and 100 μM BNT. Similarly, STZ caused a marked increase in the expression of cleaved caspase-8, caspase-3, Bax, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), as well as a decrease in the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), which was reversed by co-treatment with 100 μM hypoxylonol C and 100 μM BNT. These findings suggest that hypoxylonol C and BNT play an important role in protecting pancreatic β-cells against apoptotic damage.
Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, coprophilous and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats worldwide. This paper reviews the 107 families of the class Sordariomycetes and provides a modified backbone tree based on phylogenetic analysis of four combined loci, with a maximum five representative taxa from each family, where available. This paper brings together for the first time, since Barrs’ 1990 Prodromus, descriptions, notes on the history, and plates or illustrations of type or representative taxa of each family, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera and a key to these taxa of Sordariomycetes. Delineation of taxa is supported where possible by molecular data. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2015 and the Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 32 orders, 105 families and 1331 genera. The family Obryzaceae and Pleurotremataceae are excluded from the class.
Notes on 113 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper, including 11 new genera, 89 new species, one new subspecies, three new combinations and seven reference specimens. A wide geographic and taxonomic range of fungal taxa are detailed. In the Ascomycota the new genera Angustospora (Testudinaceae), Camporesia (Xylariaceae), Clematidis, Crassiparies (Pleosporales genera incertae sedis), Farasanispora, Longiostiolum (Pleosporales genera incertae sedis), Multilocularia (Parabambusicolaceae), Neophaeocryptopus (Dothideaceae), Parameliola (Pleosporales genera incertae sedis), and Towyspora (Lentitheciaceae) are introduced. Newly introduced species are Angustospora nilensis, Aniptodera aquibella, Annulohypoxylon albidiscum, Astrocystis thailandica, Camporesia sambuci, Clematidis italica, Colletotrichum menispermi, C. quinquefoliae, Comoclathris pimpinellae, Crassiparies quadrisporus, Cytospora salicicola, Diatrype thailandica, Dothiorella rhamni, Durotheca macrostroma, Farasanispora avicenniae, Halorosellinia rhizophorae, Humicola koreana, Hypoxylon lilloi, Kirschsteiniothelia tectonae, Lindgomyces okinawaensis, Longiostiolum tectonae, Lophiostoma pseudoarmatisporum, Moelleriella phukhiaoensis, M. pongdueatensis, Mucoharknessia anthoxanthi, Multilocularia bambusae, Multiseptospora thysanolaenae, Neophaeocryptopus cytisi, Ocellularia arachchigei, O. ratnapurensis, Ochronectria thailandica, Ophiocordyceps karstii, Parameliola acaciae, P. dimocarpi, Parastagonospora cumpignensis, Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei, Polyplosphaeria thailandica, Pseudolachnella brevifusiformis, Psiloglonium macrosporum, Rhabdodiscus albodenticulatus, Rosellinia chiangmaiensis, Saccothecium rubi, Seimatosporium pseudocornii, S. pseudorosae, Sigarispora ononidis and Towyspora aestuari. New combinations are provided for Eutiarosporella dactylidis (sexual morph described and illustrated) and Pseudocamarosporium pini. Descriptions, illustrations and / or reference specimens are designated for Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Cryptovalsa ampelina, Dothiorella vidmadera, Ophiocordyceps formosana, Petrakia echinata, Phragmoporthe conformis and Pseudocamarosporium pini. The new species of Basidiomycota are Agaricus coccyginus, A. luteofibrillosus, Amanita atrobrunnea, A. digitosa, A. gleocystidiosa, A. pyriformis, A. strobilipes, Bondarzewia tibetica, Cortinarius albosericeus, C. badioflavidus, C. dentigratus, C. duboisensis, C. fragrantissimus, C. roseobasilis, C. vinaceobrunneus, C. vinaceogrisescens, C. wahkiacus, Cyanoboletus hymenoglutinosus, Fomitiporia atlantica, F. subtilissima, Ganoderma wuzhishanensis, Inonotus shoreicola, Lactifluus armeniacus, L. ramipilosus, Leccinum indoaurantiacum, Musumecia alpina, M. sardoa, Russula amethystina subp. tengii and R. wangii are introduced. Descriptions, illustrations, notes and / or reference specimens are designated for Clarkeinda trachodes, Dentocorticium ussuricum, Galzinia longibasidia, Lentinus stuppeus and Leptocorticium tenellum. The other new genera, species new combinations are Anaeromyces robustus, Neocallimastix californiae and Piromyces finnis from Neocallimastigomycota, Phytophthora estuarina, P. rhizophorae, Salispina, S. intermedia, S. lobata and S. spinosa from Oomycota, and Absidia stercoraria, Gongronella orasabula, Mortierella calciphila, Mucor caatinguensis, M. koreanus, M. merdicola and Rhizopus koreanus in Zygomycota.
Fresh material, type studies and molecular phylogeny were used to clarify phylogenetic relationships of the nine genera Acrocordiella, Blogiascospora, Clypeosphaeria, Hymenopleella, Lepteutypa, Pseudapiospora, Requienella, Seiridium and Strickeria. At first sight, some of these genera do not seem to have much in common, but all were found to belong to the Xylariales, based on their generic types. Thus, the most peculiar finding is the phylogenetic affinity of the genera Acrocordiella, Requienella and Strickeria, which had been classified in the Dothideomycetes or Eurotiomycetes, to the Xylariales. Acrocordiella and Requienella are closely related but distinct genera of the Requienellaceae. Although their ascospores are similar to those of Lepteutypa, phylogenetic analyses do not reveal a particularly close relationship. The generic type of Lepteutypa, L. fuckelii, belongs to the Amphisphaeriaceae. Lepteutypa sambuci is newly described. Hymenopleella is recognised as phylogenetically distinct from Lepteutypa, and Hymenopleella hippopha?icola is proposed as new name for its generic type, Sphaeria (= Lepteutypa) hippopha?s. Clypeosphaeria uniseptata is combined in Lepteutypa. No asexual morphs have been detected in species of Lepteutypa. Pseudomassaria fallax, unrelated to the generic type, P. chondrospora, is transferred to the new genus Basiseptospora, the genus Pseudapiospora is revived for P. corni, and Pseudomassaria carolinensis is combined in Beltraniella (Beltraniaceae). The family Clypeosphaeriaceae is discontinued, because the generic type of Clypeosphaeria, C. mamillana, is a member of the Xylariaceae. The genus Seiridium, of which the sexual morph Blogiascospora is confirmed, is unrelated to Lepteutypa, as is Lepteutypa cupressi. The taxonomy of the cypress canker agents is discussed. The family Sporocadaceae is revived for a large clade of the Xylariales that contains Hymenopleella, Seiridium and Strickeria among a number of other genera. Neotypes are proposed for Massaria fuckelii and Sphaeriahippopha?s. Didymella vexata, Seiridium marginatum, Sphaeria corni, Sphaeria hippopha?s, Sphaeria seminuda are epitypified, Apiosporina fallax, Massaria occulta, Sphaeria mamillana and Strickeriakochii are lecto- and epitypified. We also provide DNA data for Broomella vitalbae, Cainia desmazieri and Creosphaeriasassafras.
Abstract:
This survey deals with
Annulohypoxylon
spp. collected in two French Guiana locations during two
weeks in June 2012. Two species,
A. leptascum
var.
macrosporum
and
A. stygium
, previously reported, were
collected. In addition, we collected
A. moriforme s.l.
,
A. purpureopigmentum
(first collected in Brazil), and three
new species,
A. fulvum
,
A. nouraguense
and
A. subnitens
. All species are described and illustrated; a dichoto-
mous key is provided. In conclusion, some problems in description of morphological features of
Annulohy-
poxylon
, especially the ostiolar discs, are discussed.
Keywords:
Ascomycota,
Xylariales
,
Hypoxyloideae
, Nouragues, Paracou, pyrenomycetes, saproxylic, taxo-
nomy, tropical mycology.
(18) (PDF) Some Annulohypoxylon spp. (Xylariaceae) from French Guiana, including three new species. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295103994_Some_Annulohypoxylon_spp_Xylariaceae_from_French_Guiana_including_three_new_species [accessed Jun 06 2019].
This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa, including five new families, 20 new genera, and 100 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new families, Ascocylindricaceae, Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae (Ascomycota) are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology. The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria (Amniculicolaceae), Heracleicola, Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces (Didymosphaeriaceae), Brunneoclavispora, Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium (Halotthiaceae), Lophiohelichrysum (Lophiostomataceae), Galliicola, Populocrescentia and Vagicola (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ascocylindrica (Ascocylindricaceae), Elongatopedicellata (Roussoellaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria (Latoruaceae) and Pseudomonodictys (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae) are introduced. The newly described species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola (Amniculicolaceae), Flammeascoma lignicola (Anteagloniaceae), Ascocylindrica marina (Ascocylindricaceae), Lembosia xyliae (Asterinaceae), Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola (Botryosphaeriaceae), Caryospora aquatica (Caryosporaceae), Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces palmicola (Didymosphaeriaceae), Floricola viticola (Floricolaceae), Brunneoclavispora bambusae, Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica (Halotthiaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria fagi (Latoruaceae), Keissleriella dactylidicola (Lentitheciaceae), Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi (Lophiostomataceae), Aquasubmersa japonica (Lophiotremataceae), Pseudomonodictys tectonae (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae), Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae (Microthyriaceae), Alloleptosphaeria clematidis, Allophaeosphaeria cytisi, Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora, Dematiopleospora luzulae, Entodesmium artemisiae, Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria, Loratospora luzulae, Nodulosphaeria senecionis, Ophiosphaerella aquaticus, Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Elongatopedicellata lignicola, Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior (Roussoellaceae) and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata (Tetraploasphaeriaceae). The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora, Austropleospora archidendri, Pseudopithomyces chartarum, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Pseudopithomyces sacchari, Vagicola vagans, Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes. The new genera Dictyosporella (Annulatascaceae), and Tinhaudeus (Halosphaeriaceae) are introduced in Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota) while Dictyosporella aquatica (Annulatascaceae), Chaetosphaeria rivularia (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis (Cordycipitaceae), Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum (Discosiaceae), Colletotrichum aciculare, Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola (Glomerellaceae), Tinhaudeus formosanus (Halosphaeriaceae), Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea (Pestalotiopsiceae), Phaeoacremonium tectonae (Togniniaceae), Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica (Valsaceae), Annulohypoxylon palmicola, Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis (Xylariaceae) are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes. The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum (Mycocaliciaceae). Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa (Acarosporaceae), Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis (Graphidaceae), Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella (Lobariaceae) are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes. In class Pezizomycetes, Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa (Helvellaceae) are introduced as new species. The new families, Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae (Basidiomycota) are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella (Neoantrodiellaceae), here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data. In the class Agaricomycetes, Agaricus pseudolangei, Agaricus haematinus, Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus (Agaricaceae), Amanita melleialba, Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina (Amanitaceae), Entoloma calabrum, Cora barbulata, Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa (Inocybaceae), Xerocomellus sarnarii (Boletaceae), Cantharellus eucalyptorum, Cantharellus nigrescens, Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor (Cantharellaceae), Cortinarius alboamarescens, Cortinarius brunneoalbus, Cortinarius ochroamarus, Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii (Cortinariaceae), Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides (Hymenochaetaceae), Xylodon ramicida (Schizoporaceae), Colospora andalasii (Polyporaceae), Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae (Russulaceae), Tremella dirinariae, Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae (Tremellaceae) are introduced. Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea, Neoantrodiella thujae (Neoantrodiellaceae), Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida, Punctulariopsis efibulata (Punctulariaceae) are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota. Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis, Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana (Cunninghamellaceae), Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana (Mortierellaceae) are newly introduced in the Zygomycota, while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis (Neocallimastigaceae) are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota. Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia, Cucurbitaria ephedricola, Austropleospora, Austropleospora archidendri, Byssosphaeria rhodomphala, Lophiostoma caulium, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Massariosphaeria, Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.
This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa, including five new families, 20 new genera, and 100 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new families, Ascocylindricaceae, Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae (Ascomycota) are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology. The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria (Amniculicolaceae), Heracleicola, Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces (Didymosphaeriaceae), Brunneoclavispora, Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium (Halotthiaceae), Lophiohelichrysum (Lophiostomataceae), Galliicola, Populocrescentia and Vagicola (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ascocylindrica (Ascocylindricaceae), Elongatopedicellata (Roussoellaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria (Latoruaceae) and Pseudomonodictys (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae) are introduced. The newly described species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola (Amniculicolaceae), Flammeascoma lignicola (Anteagloniaceae), Ascocylindrica marina (Ascocylindricaceae), Lembosia xyliae (Asterinaceae), Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola (Botryosphaeriaceae), Caryospora aquatica (Caryosporaceae), Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum (Didymellaceae), Pseudopithomyces palmicola (Didymosphaeriaceae), Floricola viticola (Floricolaceae), Brunneoclavispora bambusae, Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica (Halotthiaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria fagi (Latoruaceae), Keissleriella dactylidicola (Lentitheciaceae), Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi (Lophiostomataceae), Aquasubmersa japonica (Lophiotremataceae), Pseudomonodictys tectonae (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae), Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae (Microthyriaceae), Alloleptosphaeria clematidis, Allophaeosphaeria cytisi, Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora, Dematiopleospora luzulae, Entodesmium artemisiae, Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria, Loratospora luzulae, Nodulosphaeria senecionis, Ophiosphaerella aquaticus, Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Elongatopedicellata lignicola, Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior (Roussoellaceae) and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata (Tetraploasphaeriaceae). The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora, Austropleospora archidendri, Pseudopithomyces chartarum, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Pseudopithomyces sacchari, Vagicola vagans, Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes. The new genera Dictyosporella (Annulatascaceae), and Tinhaudeus (Halosphaeriaceae) are introduced in Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota) while Dictyosporella aquatica (Annulatascaceae), Chaetosphaeria rivularia (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis (Cordycipitaceae), Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum (Discosiaceae), Colletotrichum aciculare, Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola (Glomerellaceae), Tinhaudeus formosanus (Halosphaeriaceae), Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea (Pestalotiopsiceae), Phaeoacremonium tectonae (Togniniaceae), Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica (Valsaceae), Annulohypoxylon palmicola, Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis (Xylariaceae) are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes. The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum (Mycocaliciaceae). Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa (Acarosporaceae), Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis (Graphidaceae), Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella (Lobariaceae) are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes. In class Pezizomycetes, Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa (Helvellaceae) are introduced as new species. The new families, Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae (Basidiomycota) are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella (Neoantrodiellaceae), here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data. In the class Agaricomycetes, Agaricus pseudolangei, Agaricus haematinus, Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus (Agaricaceae), Amanita melleialba, Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina (Amanitaceae), Entoloma calabrum, Cora barbulata, Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa (Inocybaceae), Xerocomellus sarnarii (Boletaceae), Cantharellus eucalyptorum, Cantharellus nigrescens, Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor (Cantharellaceae), Cortinarius alboamarescens, Cortinarius brunneoalbus, Cortinarius ochroamarus, Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii (Cortinariaceae), Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides (Hymenochaetaceae), Xylodon ramicida (Schizoporaceae), Colospora andalasii (Polyporaceae), Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae (Russulaceae), Tremella dirinariae, Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae (Tremellaceae) are introduced. Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea, Neoantrodiella thujae (Neoantrodiellaceae), Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida, Punctulariopsis efibulata (Punctulariaceae) are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota. Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis, Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana (Cunninghamellaceae), Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana (Mortierellaceae) are newly introduced in the Zygomycota, while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis (Neocallimastigaceae) are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota. Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia, Cucurbitaria ephedricola, Austropleospora, Austropleospora archidendri, Byssosphaeria rhodomphala, Lophiostoma caulium, Pseudopithomyces maydicus, Massariosphaeria, Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.
Endophytic mycopopulation isolated from India's Queen of herbs Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) were explored and investigated for their diversity and antiphytopathogenic activity against widespread plant pathogens Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum. 90 fungal isolates, representing 17 genera were recovered from 313 disease-free and surface sterilised plant segments (leaf and stem tissues) from three different geographic locations (Delhi, Hyderabad and Mukteshwar) during distinct sampling times in consequent years 2010 and 2011 in India. Fungal endophytes were subjected to molecular identification based on rDNA ITS sequence analysis. Plant pathogens such as F. verticillioides, B. maydis, C. coarctatum, R. bataticola, Hypoxylon sp., Diaporthe phaseolorum, Alternaria tenuissima and A. alternata have occurred as endophyte only during second sampling (second sampling in 2011) in the present study. Bi-plot generated by principal component analysis suggested tissue specificity of certain fungal endophytes. Dendrogram revealed species abundance as a function of mean temperature of the location at the time of sampling. Shannon diversity in the first collection is highest in Hyderabad leaf tissues (H' = 1.907) whereas in second collection it was highest from leaf tissues of Delhi (H' = 1.846). Mukteshwar (altitude: 7500 feet) reported least isolation rate in second collection. Nearly 23% of the total fungal isolates were considered as potent biocontrol agent. Hexane extract of M. phaseolina recovered from Hyderabad in first collection demonstrated highest activity against S. sclerotiorum with IC50 value of 0.38 mg/ml. Additionally, its components 2H-pyran-2-one, 5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl and palmitic acid, methyl ester as reported by GC-MS Chromatogram upon evaluation for their antiphytopathogenic activity exhibited IC50 value of 1.002 and 0.662 against respectively S. sclerotiorum indicating their significant role in antiphytopathogenic activity of hexane extract. The production of 2H-pyran-2-one, 5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl from M. phaseolina, an endophytic fungus is being reported for the first time.
Abstract Taxonomic names are key links between various
databases that store information on different organisms. Several
global fungal nomenclural and taxonomic databases (notably
Index Fungorum, Species Fungorum and MycoBank)
can be sourced to find taxonomic details about fungi, while
DNA sequence data can be sourced from NCBI, EBI and UNITE databases. Although the sequence data may be linked
to a name, the quality of the metadata is variable and generally
there is no corresponding link to images, descriptions or herbarium
material. There is generally no way to establish the
accuracy of the names in these genomic databases, other than
whether the submission is from a reputable source. To tackle
this problem, a new database (FacesofFungi), accessible at
www.facesoffungi.org (FoF) has been established. This fungal
database allows deposition of taxonomic data, phenotypic details
and other useful data, which will enhance our current
taxonomic understanding and ultimately enable mycologists
to gain better and updated insights into the current fungal
classification system. In addition, the database will also allow
access to comprehensive metadata including descriptions of
voucher and type specimens. This database is user-friendly,
providing links and easy access between taxonomic
ranks, with the classification system based primarily
on molecular data (from the literature and via updated
web-based phylogenetic trees), and to a lesser extent on
morphological data when molecular data are unavailable.
In FoF species are not only linked to the closest
phylogenetic representatives, but also relevant data is
provided, wherever available, on various applied aspects,
such as ecological, industrial, quarantine and
chemical uses. The data include the three main fungal
groups (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Basal fungi) and
fungus-like organisms. The FoF webpage is an output
funded by the Mushroom Research Foundation which is
an NGO with seven directors with mycological expertise.
The webpage has 76 curators, and with the help of
these specialists, FoF will provide an updated natural
classification of the fungi, with illustrated accounts of
species linked to molecular data. The present paper introduces
the FoF database to the scientific community
and briefly reviews some of the problems associated
with classification and identification of the main fungal
groups. The structure and use of the database is then
explained. We would like to invite all mycologists to
contribute to these web pages.
Keywords Classification . Database . FacesofFungi . Fungi .
Phylogeny . Taxonomy
Rhopalostroma species were collected from Northern Thailand and subjected to morph-molecular analysis. One species possessed small, clavate stromata, with short and stout stipes, asci with an amyloid apical apparatus and ellipsoidal, dark ascospores with germ slits. Morphology and combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, β-tubulin and RPB2 sequence data, showed it to be a new Rhopalostroma species introduced herein as R. brevistipitatum. A nodulisporium-like asexual morph was produced in culture. A morphological description and photographs of R. brevistipitatum are provided in this paper, with amendments to the generic description.
The classification of subclass Xylariomycetidae is revisited with additional collections and phylogeny based on novel rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetic inferences are provided and are based on analysis of 115 sequence data, including new data for 27 strains. An updated outline to the subclass is presented based on the phylogenies
and comprises two orders, 18 families and 222 genera. An account of each order, family and genus in the subclass is given. We accept the orders Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Amphisphaeriales comprises Amphisphaeriaceae, Bartaliniaceae fam. nov., Clypeosphaeriaceae, Discosiaceae fam. nov. , Pestalotiopsidaceae fam. nov. and Phlogicylindriaceae fam. nov. Xylariales comprises Apiosporaceae, Cainiaceae, Coniocessiaceae, Diatrypaceae, Graphostromataceae (doubtful), Hyponectriaceae, Iodosphaeriaceae, Lopadostomaceae fam. nov. , Melogrammataceae, Pseudomassariaceae fam. nov., Vialaeaceae and Xylariaceae. The new genera and species
introduced are Arthrinium hyphopodii, A. subglobosa, Cainia anthoxanthis, Ciferriascosea gen. nov., C. fluctamurum, C. rectamurum, Discosia neofraxinea, D. pseudopleurochaeta, Hyalotiella rubi, Seimatosporium
cornii, S. ficeae, S. vitis and Truncatella spartii.
A culture isolated from ascospores of Hypoxylon rickii, a xylariaceous ascomycete collected in Martinique, had yielded botryane, noreremophilane and abietane-type terpenoids in a preceding study, but additional metabolites were detected by extensive HPLC–MS analysis in other fractions. Herein we report the further isolation of four new sesquiterpenoids with a silphiperfol-6-ene skeleton from extracts of H. rickii. The planar structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS data as 13-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-ene (1), 9-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid (2), 2-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid (3) and 15-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid (4). For compounds 2–4 we propose the trivial names rickinic acids A–C. Their stereochemistry was assigned by ROESY correlations as well as by the specific optical rotation. Additionally, the known compounds, botryenanol, dehydrobotrydienol, cyclo(Phe-Pro), cyclo(Pro-Leu), (+)-ramulosin and α-eleostearic acid were isolated. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the new compounds are also reported.
Graphical Abstract
Sordariomycetesis one of the largest classes of Ascomycota
and is characterised by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate
unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant
pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, and
fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. The class includes freshwater, marine and terrestrial taxa and has a
worldwide distribution. This paper provides an updated outline of theSordariomycetesand a backbone tree incorporating
asexual and sexual genera in the class. Based on phylogeny
and morphology we introduced three subclasses;
Diaporthomycetidae, Lulworthiomycetidaeand
Meliolomycetidaeand five orders;Amplistromatales,
Annulatascales, Falcocladiales, Jobellisiales and Togniniales. The outline is based on literature to the end of
2014 and the backbone tree published in this paper. Notes for
397 taxa with information, such as new family and genera
novelties, novel molecular data published since the Outline
of Ascomycota 2009, and new links between sexual and asexual genera and thus synonymies, are provided. The Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 28 orders,
90 families and 1344 genera. In addition a list of 829 genera
with uncertain placement in Sordariomycetesis also provided.
This paper is a compilation of notes on 110 fungal taxa, including one new family, 10 new genera, and 76 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new family, Paradictyoarthriniaceae is introduced based on its distinct lineage in Dothideomycetes and its unique morphology. The family is sister to Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae. The new genera are Allophaeosphaeria (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Amphibambusa (Amphisphaeriaceae), Brunneomycosphaerella (Capnodiales genera incertae cedis), Chaetocapnodium (Capnodiaceae), Flammeascoma (Anteagloniaceae), Multiseptospora (Pleosporales genera incertae cedis), Neogaeumannomyces (Magnaporthaceae), Palmiascoma (Bambusicolaceae), Paralecia (Squamarinaceae) and Sarimanas (Melanommataceae). The newly described species are the Ascomycota Aliquandostipite manochii, Allophaeosphaeria dactylidis, A. muriformia, Alternaria cesenica, Amphibambusa bambusicola, Amphisphaeria sorbi, Annulohypoxylon thailandicum, Atrotorquata spartii, Brunneomycosphaerella laburni, Byssosphaeria musae, Camarosporium aborescentis, C. aureum, C. frutexensis, Chaetocapnodium siamensis, Chaetothyrium agathis, Colletotrichum sedi, Conicomyces pseudotransvaalensis, Cytospora berberidis, C. sibiraeae, Diaporthe thunbergiicola, Diatrype palmicola, Dictyosporium aquaticum, D. meiosporum, D. thailandicum, Didymella cirsii, Dinemasporium nelloi, Flammeascoma bambusae, Kalmusia italica, K. spartii, Keissleriella sparticola, Lauriomyces synnematicus, Leptosphaeria ebuli, Lophiostoma pseudodictyosporium, L. ravennicum, Lophiotrema eburnoides, Montagnula graminicola, Multiseptospora thailandica, Myrothecium macrosporum, Natantispora unipolaris, Neogaeumannomyces bambusicola, Neosetophoma clematidis, N. italica, Oxydothis atypica, Palmiascoma gregariascomum, Paraconiothyrium nelloi, P. thysanolaenae, Paradictyoarthrinium tectonicola, Paralecia pratorum, Paraphaeosphaeria spartii, Pestalotiopsis digitalis, P. dracontomelon, P. italiana, Phaeoisaria pseudoclematidis, Phragmocapnias philippinensis, Pseudocamarosporium cotinae, Pseudocercospora tamarindi, Pseudotrichia rubriostiolata, P. thailandica, Psiloglonium multiseptatum, Saagaromyces mangrovei, Sarimanas pseudofluviatile, S. shirakamiense, Tothia spartii, Trichomerium siamensis, Wojnowicia dactylidicola, W. dactylidis and W. lonicerae. The Basidiomycota Agaricus flavicentrus, A. hanthanaensis, A. parvibicolor, A. sodalis, Cantharellus luteostipitatus, Lactarius atrobrunneus, L. politus, Phylloporia dependens and Russula cortinarioides are also introduced. Epitypifications or reference specimens are designated for Hapalocystis berkeleyi, Meliola tamarindi, Pallidocercospora acaciigena, Phaeosphaeria musae, Plenodomus agnitus, Psiloglonium colihuae, P. sasicola and Zasmidium musae while notes and/or new sequence data are provided for Annulohypoxylon leptascum, A. nitens, A. stygium, Biscogniauxia marginata, Fasciatispora nypae, Hypoxylon fendleri, H. monticulosum, Leptosphaeria doliolum, Microsphaeropsis olivacea, Neomicrothyrium, Paraleptosphaeria nitschkei, Phoma medicaginis and Saccotheciaceae. A full description of each species is provided with light micrographs (or drawings). Molecular data is provided for 90 taxa and used to generate phylogenetic trees to establish a natural classification for species.
Anthostomella has long been regarded as a large, but polyphyletic genus in the family Xylariaceae, but species
in this group generally lack phylogenetic data. In this study, 14 anthostomella-like taxa collected from Italy, were studied using both morphology and molecular data. Single ascospore isolates were obtained and the asexual morphs of five taxa established. The phylogenetic relationships of the xylariaceous taxa were inferred using combined ITS, RPB2, β tubulin and LSU gene regions.We introduce new sequence data for 24 with included the 14 new anthostomella-like taxa. The subfamilies Hypoxyloideae and Xylarioideae within Xylariaceae were recognized as the two major clades with high bootstrap support. Within the two clades 21 subclades were resolved and the anthostomella-like taxa clustered in five of these subclades indicating that the genus is polyphyletic. Anthostomella sensu stricto comprised A. forlicesenica, A. formosa, A. helicofissa, A. rubicola and A. obesa. The A. formosa and A. rubicola collections morphologically closely resemble the type specimens and therefore we designate reference specimens. Three new species Anthostomella helicofissa, A. forlicesenica and A. obesa are also introduced. Four distinct lineages of anthostomella-like taxa correspondent to four new genera, Anthocanalis, Brunneiperidium, Lunatiannulus and Pyriformiascoma, which are also introduced, while one clustered in Astrocystis and is introduced as a new species. Keys to the new anthostomella-like genera
and species examined in this study are provided
The tropical genus Thamnomyces is characterized by having wiry, black, brittle stromata and early deliquescent asci, lacking an amyloid apical apparatus.
Thamnomyces is regarded as a member of the Xylariaceae because the morphology of its ascospores and the anamorphic structures are typical
for this family. However, its relationship to other xylariaceous genera remained to be clarified. Cultures of three Thamnomyces species were obtained and studied for morphological characters, and their secondary metabolite profiles as inferred from
high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric and diode array detection (HPLC–MS/DAD) were also compared.
Cultures of Thamnomyces closely resembled those of the genera Daldinia and Phylacia and even produced several secondary metabolite families that are known to be chemotaxonomic markers for the aforementioned
genera. These findings were corroborated by a comparison of their 5.8S/ITS nrDNA sequences. We conclude that Thamnomyces, Daldinia, and Phylacia are derived from the same evolutionary lineage, despite these genera differing drastically in their stromatal morphology
and anatomy. Along with Entonaema and Rhopalostoma, these fungi comprise an evolutionarily derived lineage of the hypoxyloid Xylariaceae. A new species of Thamnomyces is erected, and preliminary descriptions of three further, potentially new taxa are also provided.
A review of phylogenetic studies carried out together
with morphological ones shows that a major problem
with most early studies is that they concentrated on techniques
and used material or strains of fungi that in most cases were
not carefully reference, and in a worrying number of cases
wrongly named. Most classical species, particularly of
microfungi, are not represented by adequate type material, or
other authoritatively identified cultures or specimens, that can
serve as DNA sources for phylogenetic study, or for developing robust identification systems. Natural classifications
of fungi therefore suffer from the lack of reference strains
in resultant phylogenetic trees. In some cases, epitypification
and neotypification can solve this problem and these tools are
increasingly used to resolve taxonomic confusion and stabilize
the understanding of species, genera, families, or orders of
fungi. This manuscript discusses epitypification and
neotypification, describes how to epitypify or neotypify species
and examines the importance of this process. A set of guidelines for epitypification is presented. Examples where
taxa have been epitypified are presented and the benefits and
problems of epitypification are discussed. As examples of
epitypification, or to provide reference specimens, a new
epitype is designated for Paraphaeosphaeria michotii and
reference specimens are provided for Astrosphaeriella
stellata, A. bakeriana, Phaeosphaeria elongata, Ophiobolus
cirsii, and O. erythrosporus. In this way we demonstrate how
to epitypify taxa and its importance, and also illustrate the
value of proposing reference specimens if epitypification is
not advisable. Although we provided guidelines for
epitypification, the decision to epitypify or not lies with the
author, who should have experience of the fungus concerned.
This responsibility is to be taken seriously, as once a later
typification is made, it may not be possible to undo that,
particularly in the case of epitypes, without using the lengthy
and tedious formal conservation and rejection processes.
Although Xylaria hypoxylon is one of the most familiar fungi of temperate regions, the basionym of the
name, Clavaria hypoxylon of Linnaeus, has remained untypified. Here we assess the original five elements included in the 1753 protologue; no candidate specimen was located but two illustrations Linnaeus cited were considered, one a mixture of species and the other fanciful. As the name is sanctioned, following clarifications in the Melbourne Code, elements cited by Fries when the name was sanctioned in 1823 are also candidates for lectotypification. In addition to various illustrations, Fries cites two exsiccatae, and one from his own Scleromycetes Suecicae distributed in 1821is designated as lectotype for Linnaeus’ name here. In view of the complexity of the group as revealed by molecular systematic work, and the poor state of the Fries material, we also designate a sequenced epitype from Sweden. We stress the importance of examining fungi in the complex in the sexual state, as those that are asexual can be difficult to identify conclusively. Figures of the original protologues and the most pertinent illustrations and specimens are provided, along with a detailed description and illustrations based on recent collections.
For a monograph based on a polythetic concept, several thousands of herbarium specimens, and several hundreds of freshly collected and cultured specimens of Daldinia and allied Xylariaceae, originating from around the world, were studied for morphological traits, including by SEM, and chemically by HPLC profiles using UV-visible and mass spectrometric detection. Emphasis was given to tropical material, and importantly, ancient specimens, including as many types as possible, were tracked and studied to review earlier taxonomic concepts. An epitype of D. eschscholtzii was selected as representative of the morphochemotype that is most widely distributed in the tropics. Six new species of Daldinia from the tropics and the southern Hemisphere are described. Daldinia asphalatum is resurrected, and D. cudonia is regarded as its synonym. In addition, the following binomials are epi-, iso-, neo- and/or lectotypified: Daldinia asphalatum, D. caldariorum, D. clavata, D. cuprea, D. durissima, D. eschscholtzii, D. grandis, D. loculata, and D. vernicosa. Annellosporium and Versiomyces are regarded as synonyms of Daldinia. Many new synonymies in Daldinia are proposed, and some previously published names are rejected. In total, 47 taxa in Daldinia are recognised and a key is provided. Their biogeography, chorology, and ecology, as well as the importance of their secondary metabolites, are also discussed. The previous definition of the genus is emended. The species concept is based mainly on morphological and other phenotype-derived characters because, despite diligent search, no molecular data or cultures of several of the accepted species could be obtained. Daldinia is segregated into five major groups, based on phenotypic characteristics. Some unnamed but aberrant specimens were not found in good condition and are therefore not formally described as new species. However, they are illustrated in detail in a hope that this will facilitate the discovery of fresh material in future. A preliminary molecular phylogeny based on 5.8S/ITS nrDNA including numerous representatives of all hitherto described taxa for which cultures are extant, was found basically in agreement with the above mentioned segregation of the genus, based on morphological and chemotaxonomic evidence. In the rDNA based phylogenetic tree, Daldinia appears clearly distinct from members of the genera Annulohypoxylon and Hypoxylon; nevertheless, representatives of small genera of predominantly tropical origin (Entonaema, Phylacia, Ruwenzoria, Rhopalostroma, Thamnomyces) appear to have evolved from daldinioid ancestors and are nested inside the Daldinia clade. Interestingly, these findings correlate with chemotaxonomic characters to a great extent, especially regarding the distribution of marker metabolites in their mycelial cultures. Hence, the current study revealed for the first time that fungal secondary metabolite profiles can have taxonomic value beyond the species rank and even coincide with phylogenetic data.
Taxonomic novelties:
Daldinia andina sp. nov., D. australis sp. nov., D. hausknechtii sp. nov., D. rehmii sp. nov., D. starbaeckii sp. nov., D. theissenii sp. nov., D. cahuchosa comb. nov., D. nemorosa comb. nov.
The diversity, composition, and host recurrence of endophytic fungi in the Xylariaceae were compared in subtropical (ST), cool temperate (CT), and subboreal forests (SB) in Japan based on the 28S ribosomal DNA sequences from fungal isolates. A total of 610 isolates were obtained from the leaves of 167 tree species in three sites, which were classified into 42 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the 99 % similarity level of the 28S rDNA sequence. ST, CT, and SB yielded 31, 13, and three OTUs, respectively. The OTU richness, diversity, and evenness of fungal communities were in the order: ST > CT > SB. The 42 OTUs were assigned to nine genera in the Xylariaceae: Xylaria, Annulohypoxylon, Anthostomella, Biscogniauxia, Nemania, Hypoxylon, Muscodor, Daldinia, and Rosellinia. Xylarioid isolates in the subfamily Xylarioideae outnumbered Hypoxyloid isolates in the subfamily Hypoxyloideae in ST and CT, whereas the opposite was found in SB. Sørensen’s quotient of similarity was generally low between the three sites. Host recurrence of fungal OTUs was evaluated with the degree of specialization of interaction network between xylariaceous endophytes and plant species and compared between the three sites. We found that the networks in the three sites showed a significantly higher degree of specialization than simulated networks, where partners were associated randomly. Permutational multivariate analyses of variance indicated that plant family and leaf trait significantly affected the OTU composition in ST, which can account for the specialization of interaction network and host recurrence of xylariaceous endophytes.
The Xylariaceae (Xylariales, Ascomycota) are considered one of the largest families of filamentous Ascomycetes. To infer the evolutionary relationships of some genera considered within the Xylariaceae, the 5.8S rRNA gene and ITS2 sequences of 100 isolates covering 15 genera and 62 taxa, were analysed phylogenetically. To obtain an accurate view on the evolutionary relationships of genera within Xylariaceae, four different sequence analysis methods (i.e. Parsimony, Neighbor-joining, Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses) were employed, and a consensus phylogram was obtained to integrate data from all these mentioned approaches. Rates of congruence between topologies of the trees generated were also estimated by different methods. The phylogenetic reconstructions showed a reasonable degree of correlation between the sequence data and the proposed morphological classification schemes only for some genera within the family. The Hypoxylon-related genera included in the study (i.e. Hypoxylon, Annulohypoxylon, Biscogniauxia, Camillea, Creosphaeria, Whalleya and Daldinia) appeared closely related within a large clade in all the trees. Nemania always clusters apart from this clade of Hypoxylon-related genera, often found at the base of the tree. Phylogenetic reconstruction supported a polyphyletic origin for the genera Xylaria and Rosellinia, suggesting that these must be considered as large and complex genera, made up of a mixture of weakly related species. Kretzschmaria and Stilbohypoxylon appeared to be highly related to some Xylaria species. Finally, Entoleuca seems to be closely related to Rosellinia. In summary, this study suggests the need for further revision of the generic concepts and diagnostic characters within the Xylariaceae.
The introduction of a One Fungus-One Name (1F1N) concept has led to intensive discussions among taxonomists. Based on the Xylariaceae, a hyperdiverse family of Ascomycota with over 1300 species, the advantages and pitfalls of these nomenclatural changes and their consequences for taxonomy and applied mycology are discussed. Historically, in the Xylariaceae, an 1F1N concept had already been realised: the types of all important genera are conserved. Most teleomorphs were discovered long before the anamorphic states and the latter did not receive separate names, hence no drastic taxonomic changes are expected. The new nomenclature calls for abandonment of some ill-defined anamorph genera, such as Muscodor. Other anamorph genera will be retained because their names refer to morphological symplesiomorphies that occur in several teleomorph genera. Various important taxa are only known from ancient specimens, and no DNA-based data are available. Much work still remains to be done to recollect these fungi, select epitypes, and settle their phylogenetic relationships. Until then, we recommend that taxonomic changes be applied at the suprageneric ranks whenever possible to maintain nomenclatural stability.
Fungal endophytes were isolated from the leaves of soybean cultivars in Brazil using two different isolation techniques - fragment plating and the innovative dilution-to-extinction culturing - to increase the species richness, frequency of isolates and diversity. A total of 241 morphospecies were obtained corresponding to 62 taxa that were identified by analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The Phylum Ascomycota predominated, representing 99% and 95.2% of isolates in the Monsoy and Conquista cultivars, respectively, whereas the Phylum Basidiomycota represented 1% and 4.8% of isolates, respectively. The genera Ampelomyces, Annulohypoxylon, Guignardia, Leptospora, Magnaporthe, Ophiognomonia, Paraconiothyrium, Phaeosphaeriopsis, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces, and Xylaria for the first time were isolated from soybean; this suggests that soybean harbours novel and highly diverse fungi. The yeasts genera Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces (subphylum Pucciniomycotina) represent the Phylum Basidiomycota. The species richness was greater when both isolation techniques were used. The diversity of fungal endophytes was similar in both cultivars when the same isolation technique was used except for Hill's index, N. The use of ITS region sequences allowed the isolates to be grouped according to Order, Class and Phylum. Ampelomyces, Chaetomium, and Phoma glomerata are endophytic species that may play potential roles in the biological control of soybean pathogens. This study is one of the first to apply extinction-culturing to isolate fungal endophytes in plant leaves, thus contributing to the development and improvement of this technique for future studies.
Three new species of Hypoxylon are described from France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom based on new combinations of teleomorphic morphology. Hypoxylon fuscoides is related to H. fuscum but differs in having purple pigments. Hypoxylon lusitanicum is similar
to H. perforatum but differs in having orange stromatal pigments. Hypoxylon gibriacense features glomerulate stromata and resembles the American H. shearii but has discoid ostiolar areas and different ascospores. In this context, H. addis, collected from Ethiopia,
is also newly described because it appears morphologically similar to H. gibriacense. Their secondary metabolite profiles, as inferred from high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD/MS), confirm their uniqueness
as compared to related species. Lecanoric acid (widely distributed in lichenized ascomycetes) is revealed to as the major stromatal metabolite of H. addis and is for the first time reported as present in a xylariaceous species. A new key to European Hypoxylon species is provided.
Natural products are an indispensable source for drug discovery. The major challenge for exploiting this evolutionary optimized pool of potential lead structures is the fast and reliable recognition of known compounds, i. e. dereplication. This task is essential for the discovery
process in high-throughput screening scenarios, since it allows the focus to be placed on novel chemical structures at an early stage. Furthermore, information on identified compounds will help to rationalize observed bioactivities. This article describes an effective, library-supported strategy
for the dereplication of crude extracts and pre-fractionated samples, using an HPLC-based multidetector platform and NMR techniques, respectively.
Background:
Nodulisporic acids (NAs) are indole diterpene fungal metabolites exhibiting potent systemic efficacy against blood-feeding arthropods, e.g., bedbugs, fleas and ticks, via binding to arthropod specific glutamate-gated chloride channels. Intensive medicinal chemistry efforts employing a nodulisporic acid A template have led to the development of N-tert-butyl nodulisporamide as a product candidate for a once monthly treatment of fleas and ticks on companion animals. The source of the NAs is a monophyletic lineage of asexual endophytic fungal strains that is widely distributed in the tropics, tentatively identified as a Nodulisporium species and hypothesized to be the asexual state of a Hypoxylon species.
Methods and results:
Inferences from GenBank sequences indicated that multiple researchers have encountered similar Nodulisporium endophytes in tropical plants and in air samples. Ascomata-derived cultures from a wood-inhabiting fungus, from Martinique and closely resembling Hypoxylon investiens, belonged to the same monophyletic clade as the NAs-producing endophytes. The hypothesis that the Martinique Hypoxylon collections were the sexual state of the NAs-producing endophytes was tested by mass spectrometric analysis of NAs, multi-gene phylogenetic analysis, and phenotypic comparisons of the conidial states. We established that the Martinique Hypoxylon strains produced an ample spectrum of NAs and were conspecific with the pantropical Nodulisporium endophytes, yet were distinct from H. investiens. A new species, H. pulicicidum, is proposed to accommodate this widespread organism.
Conclusions and significance:
Knowledge of the life cycle of H. pulicicidum will facilitate an understanding of the role of insecticidal compounds produced by the fungus, the significance of its infections in living plants and how it colonizes dead wood. The case of H. pulicicidum exemplifies how life cycle studies can consolidate disparate observations of a fungal organism, whether from environmental sequences, vegetative mycelia or field specimens, resulting in holistic species concepts critical to the assessment of the dimensions of fungal diversity.
Cankers are localized dead areas in the bark of stems, branches or twigs of many types of trees and shrubs, and are usually caused by fungi. We observed severe canker symptoms in oak trees located in Gyeongnam province in 2011. A total 31 trees were discovered with cankers of varied size, with an average of 48.5 × 15.2 cm. Black, half-rounded globular mound shaped stromata were associated with the cankers, and the asci of the fungi associated with the cankers were cylindrical shaped with their spore-bearing parts being up to 84 µm in length. The average fungal ascospores size was 7.59 × 4.23 µm. The internal transcribed spacer sequence for the canker causing fungus showed 99% similarity to the sequence of Annulohypoxylon truncatum. In this study, the isolated fungus was precisely described and then compared with fungi of similar taxa.
The tropical genus Thamnomyces is characterized by having wiry, black, brittle stromata and early deliquescent asci, lacking an amyloid apical apparatus.
Thamnomyces is regarded as a member of the Xylariaceae because the morphology of its ascospores and the anamorphic structures are typical
for this family. However, its relationship to other xylariaceous genera remained to be clarified. Cultures of three Thamnomyces species were obtained and studied for morphological characters, and their secondary metabolite profiles as inferred from
high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric and diode array detection (HPLC–MS/DAD) were also compared.
Cultures of Thamnomyces closely resembled those of the genera Daldinia and Phylacia and even produced several secondary metabolite families that are known to be chemotaxonomic markers for the aforementioned
genera. These findings were corroborated by a comparison of their 5.8S/ITS nrDNA sequences. We conclude that Thamnomyces, Daldinia, and Phylacia are derived from the same evolutionary lineage, despite these genera differing drastically in their stromatal morphology
and anatomy. Along with Entonaema and Rhopalostoma, these fungi comprise an evolutionarily derived lineage of the hypoxyloid Xylariaceae. A new species of Thamnomyces is erected, and preliminary descriptions of three further, potentially new taxa are also provided.
During a foray to the mountain rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a peculiar species of Xylariaceae was
found, which could not be accommodated in any of the existing genera. It is recognised as representative of a new genus, named
Ruwenzoria, owing to the presence of a new combination of teleomorphic and anamorphic characters that are regarded as significant for
generic segregation within the Xylariaceae. Studies on its secondary metabolites in stromata and cultures by high performance
liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD/MS), and on its phylogenetic affinities
based on 5.8S/ITS rDNA sequence data, respectively, revealed a close relationship of the new taxon to the genera Daldinia and Entonaema, from which it differs by having neither a hollow, gelatinous nor a conspicuously zonate stromatal interior, and an anamorph
featuring enteroblastic rather than holoblastic conidiogenesis. A specimen from the same geographic region, previously identified
as Daldinia bakeri by R.W.G. Dennis was found to constitute a mixture of stromata of Ruwenzoria and an additional, undescribed Daldinia species. The latter fungus is not formally described due to the scantiness of the material, but its morphological characteristics
are illustrated.
KeywordsAscomycota-Chemosystematics-Extrolites-Taxonomy-Xylariales
The genus Entonaema comprises Xylariaceae with hollow, gelatinous stromata that accumulate liquid. Some of its species, including the type species,
appear related to Daldinia from a polyphasic approach, comprising morphological studies, comparisons of ribosomal DNA sequences, and high performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-MS). This methodology was
used to study Entonaema pallidum. Its major stromatal constituent was identified as xylaral, a secondary metabolite known from Xylaria polymorpha. This compound was detected in several Xylaria spp., including the tropical X. telfairii and morphologically similar taxa, whose stromata may also become hollow and filled with liquid. Cultures of E. pallidum resembled those of Xylaria, substantially differing from other Entonaema spp., in their morphology, 5.8S/ITS nrDNA sequences, and HPLC profiles. The type specimen of E. mesentericum was located in the spirit collection of the herbarium B and found to agree morphologically with the nomenclatorily younger
E. pallidum. Traces of xylaral were even detected by HPLC-DAD-MS in the spirit in which the fungus had been preserved. Entonaema pallidum is thus regarded as a later synonym of E. mesentericum. Therefore, the latter name is transferred to Xylaria. A key to entonaemoid Xylariaceae is provided. Colour reactions (NH3, KOH) of the ectostroma were applied to a limited number of Xylaria spp., but metabolite profiles of cultures appear more promising as chemotaxonomic traits to segregate this genus. As xylaral
was also found in Nemania and Stilbohypoxylon spp., while being apparently absent in Hypoxylon and allied genera, it may be a chemotaxonomic marker for Xylariaceae with Geniculosporium-like anamorphs.
Hypoxylon, with at least 130 currently accepted species and varieties, is one of the largest genera of the Xylariaceae. Taxonomic aspects that define and delimit the genus have varied among mycologists. To obtain insight in the phylogenetic relationships of Hypoxylon and its allies, the complete DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (including the 5.8S rRNA gene) from 41 isolates were determined, aligned and processed for phylogenetic reconstruction, and critically compared with the available taxonomic information. The results generally agree with the current concepts and limits established for the genus. The molecular approach supported the recent segregation of some allied genera (Biscogniauxia, Camillea, Whalleya, Creosphaeria, Nemania, and Kretzschmaria) from Hypoxylon. The species and varieties of Hypoxylon in the sense of modern authors appeared as a monophyletic group within the Xylariaceae. However, the recent infrageneric division of Hypoxylon into sections Hypoxylon and Annulata was not supported by this limited molecular phylogenetic analysis. Likewise, this preliminary analysis did not reflect generic distinctions among species in genera with bipartite stromata (Camillea and Biscogniauxia). The importance of the anamorphs in the classification of this fungal group was evidenced by the correlation between the type of anamorph and the relative placement of the teleomorphs in the phylogenetic tree derived from sequence analysis.
Phylogenetic relationships were inferred among several xylariaceous genera with Nodulisporium or nodulisporium-like anamorphs based on the analyses of β-tubulin and α-actin sequences. One hundred nine cultures and three specimens of 83 representatives of these four genera were included in the study. Biscogniauxia taxa formed a well supported clade that was basal to the other taxa, while taxa of Hypoxylon and Daldinia comprised a large monophyletic group that contained two subclades. The first subclade encompassed Hypoxylon sect. Annulata and is accepted here as the new genus Annulohypoxylon. The second subclade contained taxa of Hypoxylon sect. Hypoxylon and Daldinia. Hypoxylon is restricted to include only those taxa in sect. Hypoxylon. Thirty-three epithets are made in Annulohypoxylon. Hypoxylon cohaerens var. microsporum is raised to the species level and accepted as A. minutellum. Hypoxylon polyporoideum is recognized as distinct from H. crocopeplum. Hypoxylon placentiforme is accepted as Daldinia placentiformis.
From stromata (fruiting bodies) of three xylariaceous fungi belonging to the genus Annulohypoxylon (A.leptascum, A. cf. truncatum and an unidentified Annulohypoxylon sp.), truncatone A (1), three unprecedented derivatives named truncatones B-D (2-4) besides the known 4,5,4´,5´-tetrahydroxy-1,1´-binaphthyl (BNT, 5), hypoxylonol C (6) and hypoxylonol F (7) were isolated. Planar structures of the new benzo[j]fluoranthene derivatives 2-4 were determined on the basis of NMR and HRESIMS data. While the relative configuration of 4 was demonstrated by ROESY NMR data and 1H,1H coupling constants, absolute configurations of 1, 2, 4 were determined by CD spectroscopy. Compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against the mouse fibroblast cell line L929.
Stromata (fruiting bodies) of the xylariaceous fungus Annulohypoxylon truncatum collected in Texas were analyzed for novel secondary metabolites. Two asterriquinone-type pigments named truncaquinones A (1) and B (2) were obtained by preparative HPLC in addition to the known truncatone. Their structures were elucidated by HRESIMS and NMR data. 4J correlations were crucial to assign a methoxy signal in 1; these were observed in HMBC spectra with extended long range evolution delay (Δ) times. The pigments exhibited cytotoxic effects besides weak activity against Gram positive bacteria.
A preliminary account of Hypoxylon species (Xylariaceae) from the hitherto widely unexplored “Yungas” mountain forests of Northwest Argentina is presented. Two new species are described based on extensive morphological, molecular (ITS region of rDNA, partial β-tubulin gene) and chemotaxonomic data. Hypoxylon spegazzinianum is close to H. erythrostroma, but differs by larger ascospores and a virgariella-like asexual morph. Hypoxylon calileguense resembles H. subgilvum when growing on wood, but can be distinguished by larger ascospores and a fawn to brick stromatal surface colour. Stromata found on bark have affinities
to H. pelliculosum, but differ in their stromatal surface colour and conspicuous amyloid apical apparatus. In addition, nine taxa of Hypoxylon are reported for Argentina for the first time, and some details on their asexual state and stromatal secondary metabolites are reported. An updated dichotomous key for Hypoxylon species from Argentina is provided.
Hypoxylon specimens collected from different forest areas in Thailand were investigated and identified to species using both morphological and molecular characteristics. Fifteen species, including three new species, H. kanchanapisekii, H. sublenormandii, and H. suranareei, were recorded. The phylogenetic tree of the Hypoxylon examined was constructed using the neighbour-joining method based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions including 5.8S ribosomal DNA sequences. The molecular results revealed clear separation among Hypoxylon species including closely related species or on data based only on teleomorphic DNA. Three taxa in Hypoxylon sect. Annulata-H. nitens, H. purpureonitens, and H. bovei var. microspora-were grouped together, but the fourth species, H. cf. archeri, was separated. The phylogenetic tree does not support the monophyletic group of sect. Annulata in this study. In addition, these molecular data could be used to confirm the recognition of new species based on morphological features and they are valuable for the creation of the Hypoxylon DNA sequence database.
Rhopalostroma species were collected from Northern Thailand and subjected to morph-molecular analysis. One species
possessed small, clavate stromata, with short and stout stipes, asci with an amyloid apical apparatus and ellipsoidal, dark ascospores with germ slits. Morphology and combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, β-tubulin and RPB2 sequence data,
showed it to be a new Rhopalostroma species introduced herein as R. brevistipitatum. A nodulisporium-like asexual morph
was produced in culture. A morphological description and photographs of R. brevistipitatum are provided in this paper, with
amendments to the generic description.
Our screening efforts for new natural products with interesting bioactivity have revealed the neotropical ascomycete Hypoxylon rickii as a prolific source. We isolated five secondary metabolites with a p-terphenyl backbone from the mycelial extract of a fermentation of this fungus in 70l scale by using RP-HPLC, which were named rickenyls A-E (1-5). Their structures were elucidated by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, complemented by HRESIMS. Two of the compounds contained a quinone core structure in ortho (2) and para-position (5), respectively. We obtained 2 spontaneously and by lead tetraacetate oxidation from 1. All compounds were screened for antimicrobial, antioxidative and cytotoxic activities. Rickenyl A (1) exhibited strong antioxidative effects and moderate cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Forty-nine taxa are recognized in Biscogniauxia. Six species - B. africana, B. arima, B. communapertura, B. plumbea, B. reticulospora, and B. zelandica - and three varieties - B. atropunctata var. intermedia, B. capnodes var. limoniispora, and B. philippinensis var. microspora - are newly described. Eleven new combinations are made: B. albosticta; B. atropunctata var. maritima; B. capnodes; B. capnodes var. rumpens; B. capnodes var. theissenii; B. kalchbrenneri; B. mediterranea var. macrospora; B. mediterranea var. microspora; B. plana; B. sinuosa; and B. uniapiculata var. indica. Biscogniauxia schweinitzii is introduced as a substitute for B. macula. A dichotomous key is provided along with a list of diagnostic characteristics of certain taxa. A list of known names of Biscogniauxia and its synonyms is included.
In the course of our screening for new bioactive natural products, a culture of Hypoxylon rickii, a xylariaceous ascomycete collected from the Caribbean island Martinique, was identified as extraordinary prolific producer of secondary metabolites. Ten metabolites of terpenoid origin were isolated from submerged cultures of this species by preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated using spectral techniques including 2D NMR and HRESIMS. Three of the compounds were elucidated as new botryanes (1-3) along with three known ones, i.e. (3aS)-3a,5,5,8-tetramethyl-3,3a,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopenta[de]isochromen-1-one (4), (3aS,8R)-3a,5,5,8-tetramethyl-3,3a,4,5,7,8-hexahydro-1H-cyclopenta[de]isochromen-1-one (5) and botryenanol (6). Further three new sesquiterpenoids featured a 14-noreudesmane-type skeleton and were named hypoxylan A-C (7-9); the diterpenoid rickitin A (10) contains an abietane-type backbone. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10 showed cytotoxic effects against murine cells.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A specimen of the Hypoxylon rubiginosum complex featuring unusual bicoloured stromata was collected in northern Thailand and examined by means of classical morphological methodology, complemented by studies of its secondary metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and electrospray mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD/MS), and molecular phylogenetic analysis of its ITS and partial beta-tubulin DNA sequences. In addition, the ultrastructure of its ascospores was examined by SEM. The chemotaxonomic studies revealed the presence of two putatively unknown, apparently specific azaphilone pigments in the stromata. These metabolites were consequently isolated to purity by preparative HPLC and identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry as the novel natural products, (+)-6″-hydroxymitorubrinol acetate (1) and (+)-6″-hydroxymitorubrinol (3).
Hypoxylon, with at least 130 currently accepted species and varieties, is one of the largest genera of the Xylariaceae. Taxonomic aspects that define and delimit the genus have varied among mycologists. To obtain insight in the phylogenetic relationships of Hypoxylon and its allies, the complete DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (including the 5.8S rRNA gene) from 41 isolates were determined, aligned and processed for phylogenetic reconstruction, and critically compared with the available taxonomic information. The results generally agree with the current concepts and limits established for the genus. The molecular approach supported the recent segregation of some allied genera (Biscogniauxia, Camillea, Whalleya, Creosphaeria, Nemania, and Kretzschmaria) from Hypoxylon. The species and varieties of Hypoxylon in the sense of modern authors appeared as a monophyletic group within the Xylariaceae. However, the recent infrageneric division of Hypoxylon into sections Hypoxylon and Annulata was not supported by this limited molecular phylogenetic analysis. Likewise, this preliminary analysis did not reflect generic distinctions among species in genera with bipartite stromata (Camillea and Biscogniauxia). The importance of the anamorphs in the classification of this fungal group was evidenced by the correlation between the type of anamorph and the relative placement of the teleomorphs in the phylogenetic tree derived from sequence analysis.
A new species of Hypoxylon was discovered, based on material collected in French Guiana and recognised on the basis of new combination of morpholological characters in comparison with type and authentic material of macroscopically similar taxa. These findings were corroborated by the rather isolated positions of its ITS-nrDNA and beta-tubulin DNA sequences in molecular phylogenies. However, the most salient feature of this fungus only became evident by a comparison of its stromatal HPLC profile, revealing several secondary metabolites that were hitherto not observed in stromata of any other member of the Xylariaceae. Part of the stromata were subsequently extracted to isolate these apparently specific components, using preparative chromatography. Five metabolites were obtained in pure state, and their chemical structures were elucidated by means of high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. They turned out to be tetramic acid derivatives of the so-called vermelhotin type. Aside from vermelhotin, previously isolated from cultures of endophytic fungi, we identified three novel congeners, for which the trivial names hypoxyvermelhotins A-C were proposed. Like vermelhotin, they constitute red pigments and a preliminary biological characterisation revealed them to have rather strong cytotoxic and moderate to weak antimicrobial effects. These results further llustrate the high diversity of unique secondary metabolites in stromata of the hypoxyloid Xylariaceae, a family in which biological divediversity seems to parallel the chemical diversity of their bioactive principles to a great extent.
Three new species of Hypoxylon (Xylariaceae) collected from Martinique in the French Caribbean are
recognised by new combinations of morphological characters. Their status as undescribed taxa was supported by secondary metabolite profiling based on High performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/DAD-MS) as well as by comparison of ITS and partial ß-tubulin DNA sequences with related taxa. In the course of this study, the teleomorph of Nodulisporium griseobrunneum was found, and this species could be transferred to Hypoxylon. Moreover, several names in Hypoxylon are epitypified by selecting recently collected specimens from the same geographic areas as the holotypes came from. Despite the fact that our study used the hitherto most extensive taxon sampling, the phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS and ß-tubulin sequences remain contradictory to each other,and neither genealogy was found fully in agreement with phenotype-derived traits. We conclude that the right gene (or multi-gene genealogies) to reflect the phylogeny and evolution of Hypoxylon still remains to be found. For the time being, we recommend that the application of polyphasic taxonomic concepts should be continued in taxonomic studies of Hypoxylon.
Four azaphilones, for which the trivial names cohaerins G, H, I and K are proposed, were isolated from the methanolic stromatal extract of Annulohypoxylon cohaerens together with the known metabolites cohaerins C-F and 4,5,4',5'-tetrahydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl (BNT). Their planar structures were determined by NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry. While their core structure is identical with cohaerin C and F, respectively, subgroups 2-hydroxy-6-methylphenyl and (1R,2R,4S)-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-oxocyclohexyl account for the structural diversity as substituents at C-3 of the azaphilone core. The absolute stereochemistry was assigned by NOE NMR experiments, CD spectroscopy and derivatisation with Mosher's acid; in addition, the stereochemistry of cohaerins C-F was revised. The metabolites showed cytotoxic effects besides a weak antimicrobial activity.
The relationship of Camillea with other xylariaceous genera, particularly with those applanate species of Hypoxylon which have light-coloured ascospores ornamented with reticulations or ribs is discussed. Camillea broomeiana and C. signata, taxa with spiny ascospores, are proposed as new combinations and placed in Camillea subgen. Jongiella. The following new combinations are made for species usually placed in Hypoxylon: Camillea cycliscus, C. flosculosa, C. fossulata, C. gigaspora, C. hainesii, C. heterostoma, C. heterostoma var. macrospora, C. punctidisca, C. punctulata, C. scriblita, C. sulcata, C. tinctor. The genus Leprieuria is erected to accommodate C. bacillum. Additionally, C. patouillardii C. oligoporus, C. stellata, C. amazonica and C. deceptiva from Peru and Ecuador are described as new and a key to the species of the now considerably enlarged genus is provided. References and descriptions are made to anamorphs of several species, all of which are assigned to Xylocladium. Camillea leprieurii is shown to possess a dimorphic teleomorph with the applanate form previously known as H. melanaspis.
Four azaphilones named cohaerins C–F, along with 4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl were isolated from the methanolic extract of the stromata of Annulohypoxylon cohaerens (Ascomycetes, Xylariaceae). Cohaerins C–E constitute typical azaphilones, bearing a γ-lactone ring, while cohaerin F has an unprecedented carbon skeleton, lacking the lactone ring of the azaphilones and with an aliphatic side chain being attached directly to the azaphilone backbone by a C–C bond. Their structures were determined by 2D NMR, IR, UV, and CD spectroscopy. They showed moderate inhibitory activity of nitric oxide production in RAW cells, and strong and nonselective antimicrobial effects.
The present molecular study focuses on the phylogenetic position of,the genera Daldinia, Entonaema, and Hypoxylon. 28 double-stranded new 5.8S/ITS nrDNA sequences of species representing these genera were obtained and aligned with all 351 publicly available Xylariales sequences. In contrast to earlier works on ITS phylogeny, the phylogenetic analysis presented here was limited to the less variable, reliably alignable parts of the ITS region. This approach resulted in a tree topology that is largely in accordance with the current classification. The tree revealed four monophyletic families, Amphisphaeriaceae, Apiosporaceae, Diatrypaceae, and Hyponectriaceae, within the Xylariales. The large family Xylariaceae, however, split into three major groups. The genera with geniculosporium-like anamorphs (e.g., Entoleuca, Kretzschmaria, Nemania, Rosellinia, Xylaria) formed one clade, while genera with nodulisporium-like conidial stages (Biscogniauxia/Camillea, and Daldinia/Entonaema/Hypoxylon, respectively) were found in two clades. Within one of these clades, Daldinia and Entonaema appeared closely related, while Hypoxylon split into several subclades along an unresolved backbone. A monophyletic origin of Hypoxylon could therefore neither be confirmed nor rejected, and Hypoxylon species cluster in several well-supported groups, most of which are in accordance with the current classification at the species or species-group levels. Most of these groups exhibit a unique sequence of the initial base pairs of the ITS I region. Additionally, signature sequences could be inferred. The molecular studies indicate that the widely distributed species H. fuscum is not divided into host-specific entities, but a geographic distinction should be more closely investigated. Aside from certain dubious sequences, H. fragiforme formed a monophyletic group and the sequences of H. cohaerens and H. multiforme clustered together. The phylogenetic position of H. fuscopurpureum remained unclear. The relationships among Daldinia, Entonaema and Hypoxylon are discussed with respect to morphological and chemotaxonomical characters.
The aim of this work was the isolation and taxonomic characterization of endophytic fungi from Taxus globosa at the Sierra Alta Hidalguense, Mexico. A total of 116 fungi were isolated from the bark, branches, leaves and roots of healthy
yew trees. Based on morphological characteristics 57 were selected for taxonomic characterization through phylogenetic analysis
of their 28S rDNA sequences. The fungal isolates belonged to Ascomycota (77.2%) and Basidiomycota (22.8%). Twelve different
fungal groups were identified: Coniochaetales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Phyllachorales, Pleosporales, Pezizales, Sordariomycetidae,
Sordariales, Trichosphaeriales, Xylariales, Agaricales and Polyporales. The taxa Alternaria sp. Aspergillus sp., Cochliobolus sp., Coprinellus domesticus, Hypoxylon sp., Polyporus arcularius, Xylaria juruensis and Xylariaceae were the most frequently isolated. The genera Annulohypoxylon, Cercophora, Conoplea, Daldinia, Lecythophora, Letendraea, Massarina, Phialophorophoma, Sporormia, Xylomelasma, Coprinellus, Polyporus and Trametes for the first time were isolated from yews; this suggests that T. globosa harbours novel and highly diverse fungi. The Shannon-Weaver and Simpson diversity index values for the overall fungal community
were H′ = 3.139 and 1-D = 0.941 respectively.
KeywordsAscomycetes–Basidiomycetes–Fungal diversity–Phylogenetic analyses–28S rDNA