Molecular phylogenies using 1–4 gene regions and information on ecology, morphology and pigment chemistry were used in a partial revision of the agaric family Hygro- phoraceae. The phylogenetically supported genera we recognize here in the Hygrophoraceae based on these and previous analyses are: Acantholichen, Ampulloclitocybe, Arrhenia, Cantharellula, Cantharocybe, Chromosera...
Taxol (paclitaxel) is a highly-oxygenated diterpenoid natural product first isolated from the pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia). It is one of the most widely used anticancer drugs. Soon after the discovery of its unique mode of action and the resulting high demand, an extensive search was initiated for alternative sources to replace the slow-growing and scarce pacific yew. Thus...
Resin protects wounded trees from microbial infection, but also provides a suitable substrate for the growth of highly specialized fungi. Chaenothecopsis proliferatus is described growing on resin of Cunninghamia lanceolata from Hunan Province, China. The new fungus is compared with extant species and two new fossil specimens from Eocene Baltic and Oligocene Bitterfeld ambers...
The Longibrachiatum Clade of Trichoderma is revised. Eight new species are described (T. aethiopicum, T. capillare, T. flagellatum, T. gillesii, T. gracile, T. pinnatum, T. saturnisporopsis, T. solani). The twenty-one species known to belong to the Longibrachiatum Clade are included in a synoptic key. Trichoderma parareesei and T. effusum are redescribed based on new collections...
A phylogenetic analysis of Trametes and related taxa is proposed, based on a wide sampling of temperate and tropical species. Concatenate sequences of ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and RPB2 gene from mycelia cultures were analyzed by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods, whilst morphological features were documented from the corresponding herbarium vouchers. Congruent results...
Esca disease, which attacks the wood of grapevine, has become increasingly devastating during the past three decades and represents today a major concern in all wine-producing countries. This disease is attributed to a group of systematically diverse fungi that are considered to be latent pathogens, however, this has not been conclusively established. This study presents the...
Corynespora cassiicola is the causal agent of Corynespora Leaf Fall (CLF) disease. CLF is one of the most important fungal diseases of rubber trees in Asia and Africa but disease outbreaks have not been reported in South America. Cassiicolin, a small cysteine-rich glycoprotein secreted by the pathogenic C. cassiicola isolate CCP, was previously identified as a potential disease...
One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are...
Species of the genus Myceliophthora and its teleomorph Corynascus have attracted increasing interest due to their potential to produce thermostable enzymes. This study re-assessed the phylogenetic relationship of 49 isolates of nine species belonging to Myceliophthora and Corynascus. One species, M. vellerea, was shown not to belong to the genus Myceliophthora and should be...
A brief survey towards an understanding of evolution of Basidiomycota in the last five decades is given. Between 1960–1990 studies were based mainly on morphology, subcellular structure, biochemistry, physiology and ecology. In the last 20 years, molecular methods have revolutionized the study of taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, biogeography, population and microevolutionary...
Transformative changes in biological sciences during the past 25 years have led to many significant advances in oomycete research. Before the last half century there were some hints that the oomycetes were related to some algae but it is now definitively demonstrated that they do not share an evolutionary path with kingdom Eumycota and are instead placed in a new kingdom...
The Diatrypaceae occur worldwide and comprise a number of pathogens of woody crops, forest and ornamental tree species. Despite the taxonomic difficulties within this family, interest in the Diatrypaceae has increased recently, mainly due to the recent detection of these fungi in the premium grape growing regions of California. In the present study, we investigated the diversity...
A mycological survey of fungi, present in several stages of the manufacturing of cork discs for champagne stoppers in Portugal, was made. Sixty-nine strains belonging to the Glabra series of the genus Penicillium were isolated and subsequently grouped according to their partial β-tubulin gene sequences. Six groups with different partial β-tubulin gene sequences were observed, and...
To date 75 species of Hypocrea/Trichoderma forming teleomorphs are recognised in Europe. The 56 hyaline-spored species are here described in detail and illustrated in colour plates, including cultures and anamorphs. This number includes 16 new holomorphs, two new teleomorphs and nine anamorphs of species previously described as teleomorphs. Phylogenetic placement and...
Systemic fungal endophytes of grasses can produce high concentrations of alkaloids that are known to deter invertebrate herbivores and reduce their abundance, especially in agronomic grasses. Grass endophytes may also influence invertebrate community diversity and composition. Here, we examined in a common garden experiment with wild tall fescue plants and the agronomic cultivar...
Scleroramularia is proposed as a new hyphomycetous fungal genus associated with sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) blemishes of apple and pawpaw fruit in the Northern Hemisphere. Morphologically the genus closely resembles Ramularia (Mycosphaerellaceae), based on its chains of hyaline conidia, with thickened, darkened, somewhat refractive conidiogenous loci. Scleroramularia is...
Species of the genus Macrolepiota (Agaricaceae) in China were investigated on the basis of morphology and DNA sequences data. Six species, i.e., M. detersa, M. dolichaula, M. mastoidea, M. orientiexcoriata, M. procera, and M. velosa are recognized, of which M. detersa and M. orientiexcoriata are new species. All of them are described and illustrated with line drawings, and a key...
Penicillium citrinum and related species have been examined using a combination of partial β-tubulin, calmodulin and ITS sequence data, extrolite patterns and phenotypic characters. It is concluded that seven species belong to the series Citrina. Penicillium sizovae and Penicillium steckii are related to P. citrinum, P. gorlenkoanum is revived, Penicillium hetheringtoniisp. nov...