Reniforma rhynchophori sp.nov.(Basidiomycota,Microbotryales)from guts of red palm weevil

During a survey of mycobiota inhabiting guts of red palm weevil(Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)in Assiut area of Egypt,two interesting yeast isolates were obtained from 2 different gut samples(out of 11 gut samples investigated).Two isolates were identified phenotypically and genotypically with 87%ITS sequencing similarities with the type strain Reniforma strues.The name Reniforma rhynchophori was assigned for the new species.The two strains were deposited in Assiut University Mycological Centre Culture Collection and AUMC numbers 10263^(T)(as the type strain)and AUMC 10264 were given.The ITS gene sequences for AUMC 10263^(T)&AUMC 10264 were also deposited at the National Center for Biotechnological Information(NCBI)and accession numbers are given as KX011609 and KX015891 respectively.Full description and photos of the new species are presented.This new species was recorded as the second species of the genus Reniforma.

Endophytic mycobiota of wild medicinal plants from New Valley Governorate,Egypt and quantitative assessment of their cell wall degrading enzymes

The present study isolated and identified 32 species of endophytic mycobiota belonging to 18 genera associated with 8 wild medicinal plants collected from El-Kharga Oasis,New Valley Governorate,Egypt.Fusarium was the most common genus followed by Alternaria and Aspergillus.Convolvulus arvensis was the plant with the highest number of endophytes over the other plant species,while Moringa oleifera reported the lowest number of endophytes.In addition,the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana;was recorded for the first time from leaves of Portulaca oleracea.One hundred and twenty-three isolates representing 32 species were screened for their abilities to produce pectinase,carboxy methyl cellulase(CMCase)and avicellase enzymes on sucrose free-Cz supplemented,individually with 1%pectin or 1%CMC or 1%avicel as a sole carbon source,respectively.Ninety-four isolates produced pectinase while 66 isolates produced cellulases.The quantitative assays of the three enzymes for high-producers were performed in submerged fermentation using sucrose-free Cz broth.Aspergillus was the superior in the production of the three enzymes with the potent strains were A.terreus AUMC 14287 for CMCase(22.0 IU/ml/min)and avicellase(47.868 IU/ml/min)and A.terreus AUMC 14278 for pectinase(225.43 IU/ml/min).

Knoxdaviesia with K.serotectus(Van der Linde&Jol.Roux)Z.W.de Beer&M.J.Wingf.a new world record from the gut of red palm weevils

During surveys of the mycota inhabiting guts of insect species in Assiut area,Egypt,two interesting isolates were obtained from two different gut samples(out of 11 investigated)of the red palm weevil(Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier).These isolates were identified phenotypically as Knoxdaviesia serotectus(≡Gondwanamyces serotectus).The isolates were deposited in the Assiut University Mycological Centre Culture Collection and given AUMC numbers,AUMC 10299 and AUMC 10293.Brief descriptions and photos are presented.This species is recorded here for the first time worldwide from the gut of red palm weevils.