Norlailatul Asikin Mohamad Nor

Bio: Norlailatul Asikin Mohamad Nor is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Marine fungi & Mangrove. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 3 publications receiving 34 citations.

New saprobic marine fungi and a new combination

Abstract: Abstract This paper documents five new saprobic marine fungi occurring on various substrata in the marine environment. Bacusphaeria nypae gen. et sp. nov. was discovered on bases of fronds of Nypa fruticans in Malaysia and phylogenetically, it belongs to the Tirisporellaceae (Tirisporellales, Diaporthomycetidae, Sordariomycetes) based on 18S and 28S rDNA. Cryptovalsa avicenniae, Ceriosporopsis minuta and Jattaea mucronata also belong to the Sordariomycetes; Cr. avicenniae was saprobic on Avicennia marina collected in Saudi Arabia, J. mucronata on intertidal decaying bark of Rhizophora mucronata while Ce. minuta was found on driftwood collected on a sandy beach in Japan. Phylogeny based on 18S and 28S rDNA placed Cr. avicenniae with other Cryptovalsa species in the Diatrypaceae. Jattaea mucronata groups well in the Calosphaeriales and is closely related to J. algeriensis based on a phylogeny using ITS and 28S rRNA and RPB2 genes. Aegeanispora elanii gen. et sp. nov. is an asexual fungus which produces pycnidia on decaying driftwood collected in the Aegean Sea. Combined 18S and 28S rDNA phylogenetic analyses suggest that it is a member of the Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Ceriosporopsis minuta resembles C. capillacea with its tubular, long polar appendages of ascospores but dimensions of ascomata and ascospores for the former species are considerably smaller. Ceriosporopsis is considered the best genus to accommodate C. minuta without support from sequence data. Sammeyersia is established as a new genus to accommodate Lulworthia grandispora, a species unrelated to Lulworthia fucicola, the type species. The diagnostic characteristic for the genus is a melanized region at the base of the neck of the ascomata.

Diversity and abundance of lignicolous marine fungi from the east and west coasts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (Borneo Island)

Abstract: We documented the diversity of marine fungi in various mangroves from the east and west coasts of Malaysia in the period May 2008-June 2009; we sampled at Cape Rachado, Morib, Redang Island, Bachok and Cape Layak-Layak. A total of 438 samples were examined. These comprised prop roots, pneumatophores, subterranean roots, rhizomes, overhanging branches and twigs of mangrove trees and driftwood. Seventy-seven higher marine fungal taxa were recorded, comprising 58 ascomycetes, two basidiomycetes and 17 anamorphic fungi. Among these, 38 were only partially identified/unidentified, indicating these might be new species. The most common species (> 10% occurrence) were Aigialus grandis, A. parvus, Dactylospora haliotrepha, Kallichroma tethys, Halocyphina villosa, Verruculina enalia and Ascocratera manglicola. Species diversity and richness were highest in Bachok, while Cape Layak-Layak had the highest species evenness. Sorenson's similarity indices between sites were low, implicating low similarity between fungal communities among the study sites.

Biodiversity of marine lignicolous fungi from mangroves of sulu sea

Abstract: Jambongan, Mandidarah and Malawali Islands in the Sulu Sea were chosen for studying marine manglicolous fungi in 2009. Driftwood, prop roots, pneumatophores, subterranean roots, rhizomes, overhanging branches and twigs of mangrove trees were examined for the presence of marine fungi. A total of 173 samples yielded 78 marine manglicolous taxa: 66 Ascomycota, 17 anamorphic morphs and one Basidiomycota. Based on percentage occurrence, the dominating taxa at Jambongan Island were Aniptodera sp. (27.5%), Sphaerulina oraemaris (24.1%) and Rhizophila marina (17.2%); Mandidarah Island were Trichocladium alopallonellum (33.3%) and Pleospora sp. 1 (13.3%) and Sphaerulina orae-maris (11.7%); and Malawali Island were Savoryella lignicola (36.4%) and Halorosellinia oceanica (20.0%). Based on Shannon Diversity Index, Jambongan Island harboured the highest diversity of marine manglicolous fungi (3.15), followed by Malawali Island (2.95) and Mandidarah Island (2.87). Sorenson Similarity Index showed that the species composition between the three study sites were dissimilar. Twelve new records of marine fungi were documented in this study which warrants further study in the area. Keywords: Manglicolous,marine fungi,occurrence,species composition

Notes for genera: Ascomycota

Abstract: Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10–15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of ‘Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’ in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the “Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi” published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell & Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. & De Not. (Art. 59).

Outline of Ascomycota : 2017

Abstract: Taxonomic placement of genera have been changing rapidly as taxonomists widely use DNA sequence data in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies It is essential to update existing databases/outlines based on recent studies, since these sources are widely used as a foundation for other research In this outline, we merge both asexual and sexual genera into one outline The phylum Ascomycota comprises of three subphyla viz Pezizomycotina (including 13 classes, 124 orders and 507 families), Saccharomycotina (including one class, one order and 13 families) and Taphrinomycotina (five classes, five orders and six families) Approximately, 6600 genera have been listed under different taxonomic ranks including auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic ranks

Refined families of Sordariomycetes

Abstract: This is a continuation of the papers “Towards a classification of Sordariomycetes” (2015) and “Families of Sordariomycetes” (2016) in which we compile a treatment of the class Sordariomycetes. The present treatment is needed as our knowledge has rapidly increased, from 32 orders, 105 families and 1331 genera in 2016, to 45 orders, 167 families and 1499 genera (with 308 genera incertae sedis) at the time of publication. In this treatment we provide notes on each order, families and short notes on each genus. We provide up-to-date DNA based phylogenies for 45 orders and 163 families. Three new genera and 16 new species are introduced with illustrations and descriptions, while 23 new records and three new species combinations are provided. We also list 308 taxa in Sordariomycetes genera incertae sedis. For each family we provide general descriptions and illustrate the type genus or another genus, the latter where the placement has generally been confirmed with molecular data. Both the sexual and asexual morphs representative of a family are illustrated where available. Notes on ecological and economic considerations are also given.

Are there more marine fungi to be described

Abstract: Abstract The diversity of marine fungi is reviewed based on new data on their occurrence on various substrata, unexplored habitats especially in the tropics, undescribed species, endophytic and cryptic taxa. Various estimates have been proposed for the number of marine fungi and this depends on whether the taxa are obligate, facultative or marine derived by isolation from various substrata or from seawater by culture methods. The current number of obligate marine fungi (537 species) is a gross underestimate. So where can further species be found? In this review, several fungal groups are identified that have been poorly surveyed for marine representatives and therefore a potential source of more marine species; these are marine derived fungi isolated from soils, sand, and water, planktonic fungi, deep-sea fungi, unculturable fungi, and cryptic species or taxa with similar morphology. In accounting for these potential sources the number of marine fungi might be in excess of 10,000 taxa.

An online resource for marine fungi

Abstract: Index Fungorum, Species Fungorum and MycoBank are the key fungal nomenclature and taxonomic databases that can be sourced to find taxonomic details concerning fungi, while DNA sequence data can be sourced from the NCBI, EBI and UNITE databases. Nomenclature and ecological data on freshwater fungi can be accessed on http://fungi.life.illinois.edu/ , while http://www.marinespecies.org/provides a comprehensive list of names of marine organisms, including information on their synonymy. Previous websites however have little information on marine fungi and their ecology, beside articles that deal with marine fungi, especially those published in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries may not be accessible to those working in third world countries. To address this problem, a new website www.marinefungi.org was set up and is introduced in this paper. This website provides a search facility to genera of marine fungi, full species descriptions, key to species and illustrations, an up to date classification of all recorded marine fungi which includes all fungal groups (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Mucoromycota and fungus-like organisms e.g. Thraustochytriales), and listing recent publications. Currently, 1257 species are listed in the marine fungi website ( www.marinefungi.org ), in 539 genera, 74 orders, 168 families, 20 classes and five phyla, with new taxa continuing to be described. The website has curators with specialist mycological expertise who help to provide update data on the classification of marine fungi. This article also reviews knowledge of marine fungi covering a wide range of topics: their higher classification, ecology and world distribution, role in energy transfer in the oceans, origin and new chemical structures. An updated classification of marine fungi is also included. We would like to invite all mycologists to contribute to this innovative website.