Showing papers in "Mycology in 2011"
TL;DR: The JGI Fungal Genomic Program (JGI FPGA) as mentioned in this paper is a community-driven project that aims to identify fungi related to plant health (symbionts and pathogens) and biorefinery processes by means of genome sequencing and analysis.
Abstract: Genomes of fungi relevant to energy and environment are in focus of the JGI Fungal Genomic Program. One of its projects, the Genomics Encyclopedia of Fungi, targets fungi related to plant health (symbionts and pathogens) and biorefinery processes (cellulose degradation and sugar fermentation) by means of genome sequencing and analysis. New chapters of the Encyclopedia can be opened with user proposals to the JGI Community Science Program (CSP). Another JGI project, the 1000 fungal genomes, explores fungal diversity on genome level at scale and is open for users to nominate new species for sequencing. Over 400 fungal genomes have been sequenced by JGI to date and released through MycoCosm (www.jgi.doe.gov/fungi), a fungal web-portal, which integrates sequence and functional data with genome analysis tools for user community. Sequence analysis supported by functional genomics will lead to developing parts list for complex systems ranging from ecosystems of biofuel crops to biorefineries. Recent examples of such ‘parts’ suggested by comparative genomics and functional analysis in these areas are presented here.
214 citations
TL;DR: The application of the latest technologies and tools for eukaryotic genome annotation with a focus on the annotation of fungal nuclear and mitochondrial genomes are highlighted to improve the quality of predicted gene sets.
Abstract: Fungal genome annotation is the starting point for analysis of genome content. This generally involves the application of diverse methods to identify features on a genome assembly such as protein-coding and non-coding genes, repeats and transposable elements, and pseudogenes. Here we describe tools and methods leveraged for eukaryotic genome annotation with a focus on the annotation of fungal nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. We highlight the application of the latest technologies and tools to improve the quality of predicted gene sets. The Broad Institute eukaryotic genome annotation pipeline is described as one example of how such methods and tools are integrated into a sequencing center's production genome annotation environment.
118 citations
TL;DR: It is argued for an increased role for A. oligospora in complementing other model systems in biological control research, and as a system to identify and characterize the ecology and biology of nematode-trapping fungi.
Abstract: Arthrobotrys oligospora, a predacious fungus of nematodes, has been very useful in understanding the relationship between nematophagous fungi and their nematode hosts. Arthrobotrys oligospora is by far the most common nematode-trapping fungus with the characteristic ability of forming adhesive trapping nets once in contact with nematodes. This review highlights the versatility and development of A. oligospora as a system to identify and characterize the ecology and biology of nematode-trapping fungi. Using A. oligospora, advances in our knowledge of nematophagous fungi have been made through the discovery of special traits and virulence determinants involved in the pathogenic process, or by creating new ways of presenting these factors to the target nematodes. We argue for an increased role for A. oligospora in complementing other model systems in biological control research.
90 citations
TL;DR: This review covers the structure, bioactivities and putative biosynthetic pathways of selected metabolites published by us over the past three years.
Abstract: The plant endophytes, Pestalotiopsis spp., are prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. Chemical studies on the fungus, Pestalotiopsis fici, have provided over 70 new natural products from different biosynthetic routes. Some metabolites have shown biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial and anti-HIV effects. This review covers the structure, bioactivities and putative biosynthetic pathways of selected metabolites published by us over the past three years.
42 citations
TL;DR: Phylogenetic analysis shows that C. coccodes is distant from the C. gloeosporioides complex, but has a close relationship with a few curved spored species, such as C. liriopes, C. verruculosum and C. spaethianum, as indicated by strong statistical support.
Abstract: Colletotrichum coccodes is a well-studied and important pathogen responsible for black dot disease on potato and anthracnose disease on many plants, including tomato and hemp. The type specimen of C. coccodes is lost and, therefore, a neotype with living cultures is designated to stabilize the application of the species name. The morphology of conidia, appressoria and cultural characters of the ex-neotype culture is provided. Five gene fragments of the ex-neotype culture were sequenced and deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis shows that C. coccodes is distant from the C. gloeosporioides complex, but has a close relationship with a few curved spored species, such as C. liriopes, C. verruculosum and C. spaethianum, as indicated by strong statistical support. The designation of this type specimen with living culture for C. coccodes will facilitate subsequent taxonomic work in the genus and serve as a foundation for applied research of this important pathosystem.
34 citations
TL;DR: How the role of trehalose metabolism in M. oryzae development was determined to differ from other eukaryotes is discussed and how Tps1 functions as a sugar sensor to integrate carbon and nitrogen metabolism and regulate a subset of primary and secondary metabolic pathways, such as the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and pigment formation, respectively, during plant colonisation is shown.
Abstract: Rice blast disease is considered one of the most serious diseases of cultivated rice and is mediated by the causal agent, Magnaporthe oryzae. During infection, dome-shaped fungal cells, called appressoria, form on the surface of the leaf and generate turgor through the accumulation of glycerol. This enormous pressure is directed down onto a thin penetration hypha emerging from the base of the cell, forcing it through the surface of the rice leaf and allowing fungal colonization of the plant interior. The non-reducing disaccharide, trehalose, is present in conidia of M. oryzae and is mobilised during appressorium formation. The first step in trehalose biosynthesis involves trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (Tps1), and deletion of the TPS1 gene in M. oryzae abolishes its ability to cause disease. This loss of pathogenicity was thought to be due to the role trehalose might play in turgor generation in the appressorium, or from the loss of the trehalose intermediate, trehalose-6-phosphate, a known signalling mol...
28 citations
TL;DR: The results represent the first evaluation of the composition of endophytic fungi associated with transgenic cotton plants and the cotton tissue and the plant developmental stage significantly influenced the diversity and composition of the fungal community.
Abstract: Transgenic Bt cotton expresses the Cry1Ac protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, which could influence the plant's capability to host endophytic fungi. The diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves, stems and roots from transgenic (Bt) and its isoline (non-Bt) cotton was evaluated during different plant developmental stages to investigate possible non-target effects of genetically modified cotton on endophytic fungal communities. A total of 17 genera of endophytic fungi were isolated. The most frequently isolated species were Phomopsis archeri from leaves and stems and Phoma destructiva from roots. While the Bt modification had no effect on endophytes, the cotton tissue and the plant developmental stage significantly influenced the diversity and composition of the fungal community. These results represent the first evaluation of the composition of endophytic fungi associated with transgenic cotton plants.
27 citations
TL;DR: Bioassay-guided investigations of an MeOH extract of the Antarctic lichen afforded three PTP1B inhibitory metabolites: hopane-6α,22-diol (1), brialmontin 1 (2), and atraric acid (3), along with two aromatic metabolites previously isolated from a different Antarctic Lichen species, determined by analysis of NMR and MS data.
Abstract: Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an attractive therapeutic target for diabetes, playing a major role in negative regulation of the insulin signaling pathway. Bioassay-guided investigations of an MeOH extract of the Antarctic lichen, Lecidella carpathica, afforded three PTP1B inhibitory metabolites: hopane-6α,22-diol (1), brialmontin 1 (2), and atraric acid (3), along with two aromatic metabolites (4 and 5) previously isolated from a different Antarctic lichen species. Their structures were determined by analysis of NMR and MS data. Compounds 1–3 inhibited PTP1B activity in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 3.7, 14.0 and 51.5 μM, respectively, and kinetic analyses of PTP1B inhibition by compounds 1 and 2 suggested that these compounds inhibit PTP1B activity in a competitive manner. In addition, 6,22-hopanediol (1) displayed some selectivity toward PTP1B over other protein tyrosine phosphatases, such as TCPTP (IC50 = 8.4 μM), SHP-2 (IC50 > 68 μM), LAR (IC50 > 68 μM), and CD45 (IC50 > 68 μM).
24 citations
TL;DR: Bayesian inference phylogeny of ITS, 28S rDNA and α-actin gene fragments revealed that G. lozoyensis is related to species of the genus Cyathicula (Helotiales), although it was not conspecific with any of the CyATHicula species sequenced, although it appears to share a common ancestor.
Abstract: Glarea lozoyensis is an anamorphic ascomycete that produces pneumocandin B0, the starting molecule for the synthesis of the antifungal drug caspofungin (CANCIDAS™). Glarea lozoyensis was first isolated in 1985 from a water sample from Madrid, Spain. Until now, only the original strain was known, but we have discovered new strains from Argentina and the USA. Molecular phylogenetic reference to a 28S rDNA database of antibiotic-producing fungi quickly identified these strains as being conspecific with G. lozoyensis. Bayesian inference phylogeny of ITS, 28S rDNA and α-actin gene fragments revealed that G. lozoyensis is related to species of the genus Cyathicula (Helotiales). Glarea lozoyensis was not conspecific with any of the Cyathicula species sequenced, although it appears to share a common ancestor. Glarea lozoyensis and Cyathicula strains were fermented on nutritional microarrays in 96-well plates. Cyathicula extracts did not show antifungal activity and did not produce pneumocandins, whereas potent an...
22 citations
TL;DR: 10 selected resistance-related (RR) endogenous metabolites were further evaluated for their efficiency in the inhibition of trichothecene biosynthesis by F. graminearum and their potential application as resistance biomarker metabolites to screen wheat and barley are discussed.
Abstract: Trichothecenes are sesquiterpene mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp. and cause serious health problems in humans and animals. A trichothecene, deoxynivalenol (DON), produced by Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat, barley, and triticale, has been reported as a virulence factor. In this study, 10 selected resistance-related (RR) endogenous metabolites, previously demonstrated to inhibit mycelial biomass, were further evaluated for their efficiency in the inhibition of trichothecene biosynthesis by F. graminearum. These RR metabolites belong to phenolic, flavonoid and fatty acid chemical groups. Basal liquid medium inoculated with F. graminearum, and amended with or without RR metabolites at their LD50 molar concentrations for biomass inhibition, were incubated for 5 days. Dry fungal biomass was determined. The trichothecenes were extracted from the spent media and analyzed using LC–ESI–LTQ–Orbitrap. Trichothecene production was completely inhibited by lauric, p-cou...
21 citations
TL;DR: The fungi isolated are pathogenic or potentially pathogenic to humans and animals, and their occurrence in activated sludge poses a health risk to wastewater treatment workers and the environment.
Abstract: Seventy-two samples of aerobic and anoxic activated sludge were collected from two wastewater treatment plants (36 from each) with membrane bioreactors (MBR) in Berlin (Germany) to determine the presence of cycloheximide-resistant, keratinophilic fungi using the hair-baiting technique. This is the first study on the occurrence of these fungi in MBR sludges. Forty-six fungal species belonging to 21 genera were isolated and identified (41 species and 21 genera versus 36 species and 19 genera from aerobic and anoxic sludge samples, respectively). Twelve species were dermatophytes or closely related fungi: Chrysosporium asperatum, C. georgii, C. indicum, C. keratinophilum, C. tropicum, C. pannorum, Microsporum cookei, M. ferrugineum, M. gypseum, Trichophyton ajelloi, T. mentagrophytes and T. terrestre. The other 32 species, included membe rs of Acremonium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Gliocladium, Gymnoascus, Mucor, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis...
TL;DR: It is reconfirmed that the method of incubation influences the assessment of fungal communities in woody litter and that Ingoldian fungi also constitute an important component of Woody litter.
Abstract: Three hundred and sixty woody litter samples naturally deposited in a stream and dammed section of the River Kali in southwest India were assessed for the diversity of lignicolous fungi (ascomycetes and anamorphic fungi) via damp chamber incubation and aquatic hyphomycetes (Ingoldian fungi) via bubble chamber incubation. Fifty-six fungal taxa were recorded with the highest of 47 taxa in the stream and 34 taxa in the dam. Twenty-five taxa were common to both sites. The core group (≥10%) comprised one ascomycete (Massarina australiensis), two anamorphic taxa (Acrogenospora sphaerocephala and Sporoschisma saccardoi) and 11 Ingoldian fungi (Anguillospora crassa, A. longissima, Clavariana aquatica, Cylindrocarpon sp., Flagellospora curvula, F. penicillioides, Lunulospora curvula, L. cymbiformis, Lunulospora sp., Triscelophorus acuminatus, T. monosporus). The species richness, average taxa per wood sample, richness of core group fungi and fungal diversity were higher in the Kaiga stream than in the Kadra dam. S...
TL;DR: The chemical structures of 1–7 were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, and on the basis of HR Q-TOF MS data.
Abstract: Graphical abstract 10.1080/21501203.2011.554908-F0004 Four new sesquiterpenes, including a tremulane sesquiterpene (1), a drimane sesquiterpene (2), and two dimeric drimane sesquiterpenes (3 and 4), plus previously known dimeric drimane sesquiterpenes, cryptoporic acid D (5), cryptoporic acid E (6) and dimeric 15-hydroxyl cryptoporic acid H (7), were isolated from a fermentation extract of Marasmius cladophyllus F070624009. This strain was isolated from a spore suspension of a Phylloporus sp. collected from the Wuyi Mountain Conservation Area in Fujian Province, China. The chemical structures of 1–7 were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D- and 2D-NMR, and on the basis of HR Q-TOF MS data.
TL;DR: A brief evaluation and comparison of the two Illumina sequencing systems is provided, including library construction, quality control, multiplexing and automation, as well as troubleshooting guidelines and a few demo cases utilizing HiSeq 2000 at BGI.
Abstract: As the first and largest user of next-generation Illumina HiSeq 2000 (HiSeq) sequencers in the world, Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) has extensive experience utilizing HiSeq, covering almost all sequencing areas, including human, animal, plant and microbe, and almost all sequencing types, including de novo sequencing, resequencing, metagenome sequencing, RNA-Seq, Digital Gene Express. BGI has managed to convert the full sequencing power from 20 Genome Analyzer II (GA) to, currently, 100 HiSeq 2000 sequencers, with the useful supplementation of 15 SOLiD™ 4 systems from Applied Biosystems. A brief evaluation and comparison of the two Illumina sequencing systems is provided in this manuscript, including library construction, quality control, multiplexing and automation, as well as troubleshooting guidelines and a few demo cases utilizing HiSeq 2000 at BGI.
TL;DR: Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed the identity of the fungal isolates as Clonostachys byssicola Schroers and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, and their phylogenic placement was confirmed.
Abstract: Species of Clonostachys and Trichoderma isolated from the surface of bananas were highly antagonistic to crown rot-causing fungal pathogens of banana, such as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Colletotrichum musae, and Fusarium verticillioides. Cultural and morphological examinations revealed that the fungal antagonists were similar to C. byssicola and T. harzianum, with some characters overlapping with closely related species. Molecular identification is recommended since the fungal isolates could not be differentiated adequately by cultural and morphological methods. Accurate taxonomy of these fungal antagonists was essential for the subsequent biological control studies. The tub2 region of β-tubulin genes of Clonostachys and 5.8S rDNA with the ITS regions of Trichoderma isolates were analyzed to determine their phylogenic placement. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed 100% homology of Clonostachys (accession number AB308539) to C. byssicola (accession number AF358154) and 99% i...
TL;DR: Fallen trunks were the most attractive substrate for polypores in all three zones, but the proportion of polypore on fallen trunks decreased from the boreal forest to tropical and subtropical forest zone by 20%.
Abstract: Polypores produce poroid basidiocarps and have the capacity to degrade lignocelluloses. Their ecological patterns are generally related to the type of forest ecosystem. Here, we investigated diversity and preferences for hosts and substrates for polypores from a boreal forest zone, a temperate and warm temperate forest zone, and a tropical and subtropical forest zone in China. The tropical and subtropical forest zone harbored the highest polypore diversity. The temperate and warm temperate forest zone showed a greater similarity of polypore diversity to the boreal forest zone than to the tropical or subtropical forest zone, although the representative areas of temperate and warm temperate forest and tropical and subtropical forest zones are geographically closer. The species number and proportion of brown rot polypores decreased from the boreal forest to tropical and subtropical forest zone by 22 and 21.8%, respectively. Fallen trunks were the most attractive substrate for polypores in all three zones, bu...
TL;DR: Bulbothrix caribensis and B. lyngei are two new lichen species discovered during a systematic revision of the genus Bulbothrix that lacks medullary substances and produces an undetermined fatty acid.
Abstract: Bulbothrix caribensis and B. lyngei are two new lichen species discovered during a systematic revision of the genus. The first species lacks medullary substances and the second species produces an undetermined fatty acid.
TL;DR: Methods of accessing fungal genome data are described and examples that illustrate the use of analysis tools are provided.
Abstract: The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is well known for the nucleotide sequence archive, GenBank, and sequence analysis tool BLAST (basic local alignment search tool). However, NCBI integrates many types of biomolecular data from a variety of sources and makes it available to the scientific community as interactive web resources as well as organized releases of bulk data. These tools are available to explore and compare fungal genomes. Searching all databases with Fungi [organism] at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ is the quickest way to find resources of interest with fungal entries. Some tools though are resources specific and can be indirectly accessed from a particular database in the Entrez System. These include graphical viewers and comparative analysis tools such as TaxPlot, TaxMap, and UniGene DDD (found via UniGene Homepage). Genome Project and BioProject pages also serve as portals to external data such as community annotation websites, BioGrid, and UniProt. There are many differ...
TL;DR: The Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC) has been described as an Open Source Repository supporting over 50 years of research into some of the most fundamental questions in modern biology, and the resources in the collection have reiterated and emphasized this by acting as the rising tide that has lifted the boat of fungal genetics, and fungal genomics, research.
Abstract: The Fungal Genetics Stock Center (FGSC) has been described as an Open Source Repository supporting over 50 years of research into some of the most fundamental questions in modern biology. From its origins allied to studies of the nature of genes, through the first efforts to associate DNA sequence with genes, to its current position as a repository for nearly 75 strains with fully sequenced genomes, the FGSC has taken on whatever challenges the community has offered. As the tools have changed over the years the FGSC has adapted. Whether it was classical mutants, gene libraries, or fully genome-sequenced strains, and even gene deletion sets for several fungi, the FGSC community has trusted their most valuable resources to the FGSC. The FGSC currently holds nearly 20,000 accessioned fungal strains. Additional non-accessioned strains, including Cryptococcus and Candida deletion sets, Magnaporthe-tagged integrants, lyophilized strains from the Tatum collection, and wild strains from the Perkins lab, bring the...
TL;DR: The results suggest that the extracts can prolong the lifespan of D. melanogaster in a dose- and sex-dependent manner and may be potential anti-aging agents.
Abstract: The effects of bioactive extracts from Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Agaricus blazei and Auricularia auricula-judae on the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster were studied. The results showed that 5 mg/ml of L. edodes and A. blazei extracts extended the lifespan of male and female flies by 40.53 and 6.03%, and 32.13 and 2.69%, respectively. An extract from A. auricula extended the lifespan of male flies by 31.41% at 5 mg/ml and female flies by 16.85% at 20 mg/ml. While an extract from G. lucidum extended the lifespan of male flies by 42.32% at 80 mg/ml and female flies by 29.24% at 5 mg/ml. These results suggest that the extracts can prolong the lifespan of D. melanogaster in a dose- and sex-dependent manner. Extracts of G. lucidum, L. edodes, A. blazei, A. auricula may be potential anti-aging agents.
TL;DR: A pathogenic bitunicate ascomycetous fungus, identified as Asterotexis cucurbitacearum, was found repeatedly on living leaves of Cucurbita pepo and Sechium edule in Panama and is reported for the first time from Costa Rica and Grenada.
Abstract: A pathogenic bitunicate ascomycetous fungus, identified as Asterotexis cucurbitacearum, was found repeatedly on living leaves of Cucurbita pepo (gourd) and Sechium edule (chayote) in Panama. A. cucurbitacearum represents a new report for Panama and S. edule is a new host plant for this fungus. Based on an examination of herbarium specimens, this species is also reported for the first time from Costa Rica and Grenada. Cells of the scutellum extending to the base of the fruiting structure and producing an appressorium on the leaf surface are documented for the first time. As shown by LSU sequence data, A. cucurbitacearum represents a divergent, hitherto molecularly unsampled, phylogenetic clade of the Dothideomycetes. The closest relatives, for which sequence data are available, are members of the Pleosporomycetidae and Dothideomycetes incertae sedis with sequence similarity below 90%, as shown by BLAST search. A preliminary neighbour-joining analysis indicates that A. cucurbitacearum probably belongs to th...
TL;DR: The results show the local-scale impact of natural spatial heterogeneity on an ectomycorrhizal fungal genus as well as the importance of soil characteristics in structuring fungal communities.
Abstract: Soil characteristics may be an important factor in structuring fungal communities. We relate the above- and below-ground distribution of the ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) Pisolithus spp. to changes in soil chemistry in a Quercus suber plantation located in the Maâmora forest (Morocco). Intrageneric variability of 115 fruit bodies was studied, using morphological characterization, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Two Pisolithus spp. genotypes were identified: 97% of the fruit bodies represent Pisolithus arhizus; the remaining 3% correspond to Pisolithus species 4, as previously described by Martin et al. [New Phytologist 153 (2002) 345-357]. Multivariate analysis (PCA) showed that species structure was strongly correlated with soil characteristics. P. arhizus fruit bodies were frequently found in the Eastern part of the plot at low molasic clay, N and P contents, while Pisolithus species 4 were collected only in the Western part at the...
TL;DR: This work describes the attempt to express a putative mycoepoxydiene (MED) biosynthetic gene cluster in Fusarium verticillioides, which has a well-developed genetic system for the study fungal polyketide biosynthesis.
Abstract: A large number of bioactive natural products have been isolated from plant endophytic fungi. However, molecular mechanisms for the biosynthesis of these metabolites have lagged behind because genetic and biochemical studies are difficult to perform within many of the endophytes. In this work, we describe our attempt to express a putative mycoepoxydiene (MED) biosynthetic gene cluster in Fusarium verticillioides, which has a well-developed genetic system for the study fungal polyketide biosynthesis. MED was isolated from Phomopsis sp. A123, a fungal endophyte of the mangrove plant, Kandelia candel. It has several unusual structural features and interesting biological activities. Integration of this Phomopsis gene cluster into the F. verticillioides genome led to the biosynthesis of multiple metabolites. The most highly activated metabolite was isolated and its structure was shown by 1D- and 2D-NMR to be fusaric acid, which is a mycotoxin in Fusarium species and is implicated in fungal pathogenesis. Althoug...
TL;DR: This chapter focuses on the current status of the genomics of Aspergillus flavus as well as on the potential applications of genomics-based approaches to understanding mycotoxin production and fungal pathogenicity.
Abstract: The genomic study of filamentous fungi has made significant advances in recent years, and the genomes of several species in the genus Aspergillus have been sequenced, including Aspergillus flavus. This ubiquitous mold is present as a saprobe in a wide range of agricultural and natural habits, and can function as an opportunistic animal and plant pathogen. A. flavus produces many secondary metabolites including aflatoxins, aflatrem and cyclopiazonic acid. In this chapter, our main focus is on the current status of the genomics of A. flavus as well as on the potential applications of genomics-based approaches to understanding mycotoxin production and fungal pathogenicity. It is hoped that the results of A. flavus genomics and functional genomics studies will empower researchers to find effective controlling strategies to eliminate mycotoxin contamination and to yield a safer and more abundant food and feed supply.
TL;DR: This review summarizes the various aspects of effector genomics, such as different trafficking routes, modular molecular construction, dynamic genome environment, various modes of host-modulation and intricate co-evolution with hosts.
Abstract: Filamentous fungi and oomycetes are major pathogens of plants and the principal cause of destructive damage to ecosystems and agriculture. During colonization of their hosts, these phytopathogens produce a large array of effectors to break down host cellular components, evade host immune responses and modulate host cell survival. The identification of diverse effectors from different ascomycete, basitiomycete and oomycetes pathogens offers an in-depth view of effector function and evolution. Effectors produced by plant pathogens operate at a few interaction interfaces and are trafficked with several logistic strategies. This review summarizes the various aspects of effector genomics, such as different trafficking routes, modular molecular construction, dynamic genome environment, various modes of host-modulation and intricate co-evolution with hosts.
TL;DR: The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots of two plant species that exist alone or co-occur in Moroccan Tetraclinis woodlands was characterized using molecular techniques and revealed an impact of plant interactions on the AMF community.
Abstract: The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in roots of two plant species (arar, Tetraclinis articulata and lavender, Lavandula multifida) that exist alone or co-occur in Moroccan Tetraclinis woodlands was characterized using molecular techniques. The interaction between the two plant species on their root AMF communities was also studied. We analysed the large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA gene amplified by nested PCR from a root DNA extract using AM fungal-specific primers. A total of 200 cloned fragments from five root bulk samples of the two plant species were analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and 30 of them were sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that these RFLP types correspond to eight phylotypes: five belonged to the Gigasporaceae and three to the Glomeraceae. The highest diversity was found in the roots of T. articulata alone, followed by the association T. articulata/L. multifida and, finally, L. multifida alone. Many AMF were shared between the two spe...
TL;DR: The conidiomatal differences among six root-inhabiting Cryptosporiopsis species were studied at an ultrastructral level and a dichotomous key was then provided.
Abstract: The conidiomatal differences among six root-inhabiting Cryptosporiopsis species were studied at an ultrastructral level and a dichotomous key was then provided. Cryptosporiopsis brunnea is delimited by its conidiomata having a distinct sterile excipular covering tissue without adhesive amorphous material and smooth to pitted macroconidia. Cryptosporiopsis radicicola produces only excipular covering conidioma-like tissue with adhesive amorphous material and setae. Synnematous conidiomata with abundant macroconidia dominate the colony of C. ericae. Cryptosporiopsis rhizophila is different in its globose to subglobose conidiomata, consisting of loosely aggregated vegetative hyphae developing macroconidial conidiophores. Cryptosporiopsis grisea, being the only teleomorph-connected species, differs from the others in its distinct columnar surface structures composed of entangling hyphae and rising well above the aerial mycelium, and unique platform-like hymenium consisting of tightly packed hyphal stroma inter...