SUMMARY Basidiomycete fungi subsist on various types of plant material in diverse environments, from living and dead trees and forest litter to crops and grasses and to decaying plant matter in soils. Due to the variation in their natural carbon sources, basidiomycetes have highly varied plant-polysaccharide-degrading capabilities. This topic is not as well studied for basidiomycetes as for ascomycete fungi, which are the main sources of knowledge on fungal plant polysaccharide degradation. Research on plant-biomass-decaying fungi has focused on isolating enzymes for current and future applications, such as for the production of fuels, the food industry, and waste treatment. More recently, genomic studies of basidiomycete fungi have provided a profound view of the plant-biomass-degrading potential of wood-rotting, litter-decomposing, plant-pathogenic, and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) basidiomycetes. This review summarizes the current knowledge on plant polysaccharide depolymerization by basidiomycete species from diverse habitats. In addition, these data are compared to those for the most broadly studied ascomycete genus, Aspergillus, to provide insight into specific features of basidiomycetes with respect to plant polysaccharide degradation.

Plant-Polysaccharide-Degrading Enzymes from Basidiomycetes

The Basidiomycota constitutes a major phylum of the kingdom Fungi and is second in species numbers to the Ascomycota. The present work provides an overview of all validly published, currently used basidiomycete genera to date in a single document. An outline of all genera of Basidiomycota is provided, which includes 1928 currently used genera names, with 1263 synonyms, which are distributed in 241 families, 68 orders, 18 classes and four subphyla. We provide brief notes for each accepted genus including information on classification, number of accepted species, type species, life mode, habitat, distribution, and sequence information. Furthermore, three phylogenetic analyses with combined LSU, SSU, 5.8s, rpb1, rpb2, and ef1 datasets for the subphyla Agaricomycotina, Pucciniomycotina and Ustilaginomycotina are conducted, respectively. Divergence time estimates are provided to the family level with 632 species from 62 orders, 168 families and 605 genera. Our study indicates that the divergence times of the subphyla in Basidiomycota are 406–430 Mya, classes are 211–383 Mya, and orders are 99–323 Mya, which are largely consistent with previous studies. In this study, all phylogenetically supported families were dated, with the families of Agaricomycotina diverging from 27–178 Mya, Pucciniomycotina from 85–222 Mya, and Ustilaginomycotina from 79–177 Mya. Divergence times as additional criterion in ranking provide additional evidence to resolve taxonomic problems in the Basidiomycota taxonomic system, and also provide a better understanding of their phylogeny and evolution.

/pdf/notes-outline-and-divergence-times-of-basidiomycota-41rounhft0.pdf

Notes, outline and divergence times of Basidiomycota

A complilation of anamorphic names for both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is provided which comprises 2895 genera. The genera are listed against a backbone of teleomorphic relationships where known. The study reveals that 73 genera and 95 anamorph-like genera are linked to teleomorphic genera names, 447 genera (three anamorph-like genera) are linked to teleomorph families, orders or classes, while for more than 1592 (55%) genera no teleomorph link is known. The links are based on the literature and often because fungi were found in association, but have not been proven by molecular data. Many are based on links with species other than the generic type and thus must be considered questionable for the genus. A considerable effort is needed to establish whether these links are correct.

/pdf/towards-incorporating-anamorphic-fungi-in-a-natural-2it1eaczqc.pdf

Towards incorporating anamorphic fungi in a natural classification – checklist and notes for 2011

Since its first description in the early 1960s, scleroglucan attracted much attention from both academia and industry. Scleroglucan is an exopolysaccharide secreted by the basidiomycete Sclerotium rolfsii and appreciated as a multipurpose compound applicable in many industrial fields, including oil industry, food industry and pharmacy. In this review, the current knowledge on scleroglucan chemistry, genetics, biosynthesis and production will be summarized and different application possibilities will be discussed. The biosynthesis of scleroglucan in S. rolfsii will be highlighted by recent transcriptomic data and linked to physiological data to better understand the biogenesis of scleroglucan and its link to the phytopathologic lifestyle of S. rolfsii.

Scleroglucan: biosynthesis, production and application of a versatile hydrocolloid

http://tropicalfungi.org/wp-content/uploads/60.-Smith-et-al-2014-Sclerotia-FUNGECOL.pdf

How many fungi make sclerotia

Phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics were used to assess the taxonomic placement of eight plant-pathogenic Sclerotium spe- cies. Members of this genus produce only sclerotia and no fruiting bodies or spores, so Sclerotium species have been difficult to place taxonomically. Sequences of rDNA large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were determined for isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum, S. coffeicola, S. denigrans, S. hydrophilum, Ceratorhiza oryzae-sativae, S. perniciosum, S. rhizodes, S. rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii. Parsimony analysis grouped two species previously thought to be in the Basidiomycota, S. denigrans and S. perniciosum, within the Ascomycota; these species were found to have affinities with the teleomorph genera Sclerotinia and Stromatinia and the asexual Sclerotium cepivorum, which was known earlier to be related to Sclerotinia species. The other Sclerotium species were placed in one of two basidiomycetous groups, genera Athelia or Ceratobasidium. Based on rDNA analysis and morphology the basidiomycetous Sclerotium hydrophilum and S. rhizodes were trans- ferred to genus Ceratorhiza, the anamorph of Ceratobasidium species. Sclerotium coffeicola was found to be close to S. rolfsii var. delphinii and S. rolfsii var. rolfsii, which was shown earlier to have an Athelia teleomorph.

Phylogenetic placement of plant pathogenic Sclerotium species among teleomorph genera

Xu, Z., Gleason, M. L., Mueller, D. S., Esker, P. D., Bradley, C. A., Buck, J. W., Benson, D. M., Dixon, P. M., and Monteiro, J. E. B. A. 2008. Overwintering of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii in different latitudes of the United States. Plant Dis. 92:719-724. Previously known only from the southern United States, hosta petiole rot recently appeared in the northern United States. Sclerotium rolfsii var. delphinii is believed to be the predominant petiole rot pathogen in the northern United States, whereas S. rolfsii is most prevalent in the southern United States. In order to test the hypothesis that different tolerance to climate extremes affects the geographic distribution of these fungi, the survival of S. rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii in the northern and southeastern United States was investigated. At each of four locations, nylon screen bags containing sclerotia were placed on the surface of bare soil and at 20-cm depth. Sclerotia were recovered six times from November 2005 to July 2006 in North Dakota and Iowa, and from December 2005 to August 2006 in North Carolina and Georgia. Survival was estimated by quantifying percentage of sclerotium survival on carrot agar. Sclerotia of S. rolfsii var. delphinii survived until at least late July in all four states. In contrast, no S. rolfsii sclerotia survived until June in North Dakota or Iowa, whereas 18.5% survived until August in North Carolina and 10.3% survived in Georgia. The results suggest that inability to tolerate low temperature extremes limits the northern range of S. rolfsii. Additional keywords: Hosta spp., ornamental crops

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/pdf/10.1094/PDIS-92-5-0719

Overwintering of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii in Different Latitudes of the United States

Structured porous surface for drag reduction and wake attenuation of cylinder flow

In this study, whole wheat flour (WWF) was prepared by blending one commercial noodle flour with ten different bran samples from white and red winter wheat varieties. The whole wheat dough properties and noodle qualities were investigated. In general, brans from red wheat varieties exhibited higher total phenolic contents than those from white wheat varieties. Mixolab analysis revealed significant relationships between bran ash, starch, and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) contents and the mixing and pasting properties of WWF dough. Concerning the noodle quality, bran protein content showed a positive correlation with tensile strength (P < 0.01), elongation distance, springiness, and resilience of cooked noodles. Also, bran IDF content was positively related to the hardness of cooked whole-wheat noodles. These results suggest that bran with higher protein content and lower IDF content is more desirable for the production of whole wheat noodles. 

Bran characteristics impact the whole wheat noodle quality

Phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics were used to assess the taxonomic placement of eight plant-pathogenic Sclerotium species. Members of this genus produce only sclerotia and no fruiting bodies or spores, so Sclerotium species have been difficult to place taxonomically. Sequences of rDNA large subunit (LSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were determined for isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum, S. coffeicola, S. denigrans, S. hydrophilum, Ceratorhiza oryzae-sativae, S. perniciosum, S. rhizodes, S. rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii. Parsimony analysis grouped two species previously thought to be in the Basidiomycota, S. denigrans and S. perniciosum, within the Ascomycota; these species were found to have affinities with the teleomorph genera Sclerotinia and Stromatinia and the asexual Sclerotium ceprivorum, which was known earlier to be related to Sclerotinia species. The other Sclerotium species were placed in one of two basidiomycetous groups, genera Athelia or Ceratobasidium. Based on rDNA analysis and morphology the basidiomycetous Sclerotium hydrophilum and S. rhizodes were transferred to genus Ceratorhiza, the anamorph of Ceratobasidium species. Sclerotium coffeicola was found to be close to S.

Zhihan Xu

Papers

Phylogenetic placement of plant pathogenic Sclerotium species among teleomorph genera

Overwintering of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii in Different Latitudes of the United States

Structured porous surface for drag reduction and wake attenuation of cylinder flow

Bran characteristics impact the whole wheat noodle quality

Short title: Sclerotium species Phylogenetic placement of plant pathogenic Sclerotium species among teleomorph genera