Silphiperfolene-Type Terpenoids and Other Metabolites from Cultures of the Tropical Ascomycete Hypoxylon rickii(Xylariaceae)

A culture isolated from ascospores of Hypoxylon rickii,a xylariaceous ascomycete collected in Martinique,had yielded botryane,noreremophilane and abietane-type terpenoids in a preceding study,but additional metabolites were detected by extensive HPLC–MS analysis in other fractions.Herein we report the further isolation of four new sesquiterpenoids with a silphiperfol-6-ene skeleton from extracts of H.rickii.The planar structures were elucidated by NMR and HRMS data as 13-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-ene(1),9-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid(2),2-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid(3)and 15-hydroxysilphiperfol-6-en-13-oic acid(4).For compounds 2–4 we propose the trivial names rickinic acids A–C.Their stereochemistry was assigned by ROESY correlations as well as by the specific optical rotation.Additionally,the known compounds,botryenanol,dehydrobotrydienol,cyclo(Phe-Pro),cyclo(Pro-Leu),(?)-ramulosin and aeleostearic acid were isolated.The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the new compounds are also reported.

The contribution of fungi to the global economy

Fungi provide ecological and environmental services to humans, as well as health and nutritional benefits, and are vital to numerousindustries. Fermented food and beverage products from fungi are circulating in the market, generating billions of USD.However, the highest potential monetary value of fungi is their role in blue carbon trading because of their ability to sequesterlarge amounts of carbon in the soil. There are no conclusive estimates available on the global monetary value of fungi, primarilybecause there are limited data for extrapolation. This study outlines the contribution of fungi to the global economy and providesa first attempt at quantifying the global monetary value of fungi. Our estimate of USD 54.57 trillion provides a starting point thatcan be analysed and improved, highlighting the significance of fungi and providing an appreciation of their value. This paperidentifies the different economically valuable products and services provided by fungi. By giving a monetary value to all importantfungal products, services, and industrial applications underscores their significance in biodiversity and conservation. Furthermore,if the value of fungi is well established, they will be considered in future policies for effective ecosystem management.

Families of Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci.The class includes many important plant pathogens,as well as endophytes,saprobes,epiphytes,coprophilous and fungicolous,lichenized or lichenicolous taxa.They occur in terrestrial,freshwater and marine habitats worldwide.This paper reviews the 107 families of the class Sordariomycetes and provides a modified backbone tree based on phylogenetic analysis of four combined loci,with a maximum five representative taxa from each family,where available.This paper brings together for the first time,since Barrs’1990 Prodromus,descriptions,notes on the history,and plates or illustrations of type or representative taxa of each family,a list of accepted genera,including asexual genera and a key to these taxa of Sordariomycetes.Delineation of taxa is supported where possible by molecular data.The outline is based on literature to the end of 2015 and the Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses,32 orders,105 families and 1331 genera.The family Obryzaceae and Pleurotremataceae are excluded from the class.

The amazing potential of fungi:50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially

Fungi are an understudied,biotechnologically valuable group of organisms.Due to the immense range of habitats that fungi inhabit,and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi,bacteria,and animals,fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms.The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application in biotechnology and industry.Moreover,fungi can be grown with relative ease,making production at scale viable.The search for fungal biodiversity,and the construction of a living fungi collection,both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products.This manuscript reviews fifty ways in which fungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology.We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and give examples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers.We also provide a flow chart that can be used to convince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products.Fungi have provided the world with penicillin,lovastatin,and other globally significant medicines,and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.

Fungal diversity notes 367-490:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic papers where materials are examined,described and novel combinations are proposed where necessary to improve our traditional species concepts and provide updates on their classification.In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections,DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets(rDNA,TEF-a,RBP2 and b-Tubulin)to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic position of taxa within appropriate ranks.Wherever new species or combinations are being proposed,we apply an integrative approach(morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable).Notes on 125 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper,including eight new genera,101 new species,two new combinations,one neotype,four reference specimens,new host or distribution records for eight species and one alternative morphs.The new genera introduced in this paper are Alloarthopyrenia,Arundellina,Camarosporioides,Neomassaria,Neomassarina,Neotruncatella,Paracapsulospora and Pseudophaeosphaeria.The new species are Alfaria spartii,Alloarthopyrenia italica,Anthostomella ravenna,An.thailandica,Arthrinium paraphaeospermum,Arundellina typhae,Aspergillus koreanus,Asterina cynometrae,Bertiella ellipsoidea,Blastophorum aquaticum,Cainia globosa,Camarosporioides phragmitis,Ceramothyrium menglunense,Chaetosphaeronema achilleae,Chlamydotubeufia helicospora,Ciliochorella phanericola,Clavulinopsis aurantiaca,Colletotrichum insertae,Comoclathris italica,Coronophora myricoides,Cortinarius fulvescentoideus,Co.nymphatus,Co.pseudobulliardioides,Co.tenuifulvescens,Cunninghamella gigacellularis,Cyathus pyristriatus,Cytospora cotini,Dematiopleospora alliariae,De.cirsii,Diaporthe aseana,Di.garethjonesii,Distoseptispora multiseptata,Dis.tectonae,Dis.tectonigena,Dothiora buxi,Emericellopsis persica,Gloniopsis calami,Helicoma guttulatum,Helvella floriforma,H.oblongispora,Hermatomyces subiculosa,Juncaceicola italica,Lactarius dirkii,Lentithecium unicellulare,Le.voraginesporum,Leptosphaeria cirsii,Leptosphaeria irregularis,Leptospora galii,Le.thailandica,Lindgomyces pseudomadisonensis,Lophiotrema bambusae,Lo.fallopiae,Meliola citri-maximae,Minimelanolocus submersus,Montagnula cirsii,Mortierella fluviae,Muriphaeosphaeria ambrosiae,Neodidymelliopsis ranunculi,Neomassaria fabacearum,Neomassarina thailandica,Neomicrosphaeropsis cytisi,Neo.cytisinus,Neo.minima,Neopestalotiopsis cocoe¨s,Neopestalotiopsis musae,Neoroussoella lenispora,Neotorula submersa,Neotruncatella endophytica,Nodulosphaeria italica,Occultibambusa aquatica,Oc.chiangraiensis,Ophiocordyceps hemisphaerica,Op.lacrimoidis,Paracapsulospora metroxyli,Pestalotiopsis sequoiae,Peziza fruticosa,Pleurotrema thailandica,Poaceicola arundinis,Polyporus mangshanensis,Pseudocoleophoma typhicola,Pseudodictyosporium thailandica,Pseudophaeosphaeria rubi,Purpureocillium sodanum,Ramariopsis atlantica,Rhodocybe griseoaurantia,Rh.indica,Rh.luteobrunnea,Russula indoalba,Ru.pseudoamoenicolor,Sporidesmium aquaticivaginatum,Sp.olivaceoconidium,Sp.pyriformatum,Stagonospora forlicesenensis,Stagonosporopsis centaureae,Terriera thailandica,Tremateia arundicola,Tr.guiyangensis,Trichomerium bambusae,Tubeufia hyalospora,Tu.roseohelicospora and Wojnowicia italica.New combinations are given for Hermatomyces mirum and Pallidocercospora thailandica.A neotype is proposed for Cortinarius fulvescens.Reference specimens are given for Aquaphila albicans,Leptospora rubella,Platychora ulmi and Meliola pseudosasae,while new host or distribution records are provided for Diaporthe eres,Di.siamensis,Di.foeniculina,Dothiorella iranica,Do.sarmentorum,Do.vidmadera,Helvella tinta and Vaginatispora fuckelii,with full taxonomic details.An asexual state is also reported for the first time in Neoacanthostigma septoconstrictum.This paper contributes to a more comprehensive update and improved identification of many ascomycetes and basiodiomycetes.

Fungal diversity notes 253-366:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

Notes on 113 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper,including 11 new genera,89 new species,one new subspecies,three new combinations and seven reference specimens.Awide geographic and taxonomic range of fungal taxa are detailed.In the Ascomycota the new genera Angustospora(Testudinaceae),Camporesia(Xylariaceae),Clematidis,Crassiparies(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),Farasanispora,Longiostiolum(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),Multilocularia(Parabambusicolaceae),Neophaeocryptopus(Dothideaceae),Parameliola(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),and Towyspora(Lentitheciaceae)are introduced.Newly introduced species are Angustospora nilensis,Aniptodera aquibella,Annulohypoxylon albidiscum,Astrocystis thailandica,Camporesia sambuci,Clematidis italica,Colletotrichum menispermi,C.quinquefoliae,Comoclathris pimpinellae,Crassiparies quadrisporus,Cytospora salicicola,Diatrype thailandica,Dothiorella rhamni,Durotheca macrostroma,Farasanispora avicenniae,Halorosellinia rhizophorae,Humicola koreana,Hypoxylon lilloi,Kirschsteiniothelia tectonae,Lindgomyces okinawaensis,Longiostiolum tectonae,Lophiostoma pseudoarmatisporum,Moelleriella phukhiaoensis,M.pongdueatensis,Mucoharknessia anthoxanthi,Multilocularia bambusae,Multiseptospora thysanolaenae,Neophaeocryptopus cytisi,Ocellularia arachchigei,O.ratnapurensis,Ochronectria thailandica,Ophiocordyceps karstii,Parameliola acaciae,P.dimocarpi,Parastagonospora cumpignensis,Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei,Polyplosphaeria thailandica,Pseudolachnella brevifusiformis,Psiloglonium macrosporum,Rhabdodiscus albodenticulatus,Rosellinia chiangmaiensis,Saccothecium rubi,Seimatosporium pseudocornii,S.pseudorosae,Sigarispora ononidis and Towyspora aestuari.New combinations are provided for Eutiarosporella dactylidis(sexual morph described and illus trated)and Pseudocamarosporium pini.Descriptions,illustrations and/or reference specimens are designated for Aposphaeria corallinolutea,Cryptovalsa ampelina,Dothiorella vidmadera,Ophiocordyceps formosana,Petrakia echinata,Phragmoporthe conformis and Pseudocamarosporium pini.The new species of Basidiomycota are Agaricus coccyginus,A.luteofibrillosus,Amanita atrobrunnea,A.digitosa,A.gleocystidiosa,A.pyriformis,A.strobilipes,Bondarzewia tibetica,Cortinarius albosericeus,C.badioflavidus,C.dentigratus,C.duboisensis,C.fragrantissimus,C.roseobasilis,C.vinaceobrunneus,C.vinaceogrisescens,C.wahkiacus,Cyanoboletus hymenoglutinosus,Fomitiporia atlantica,F.subtilissima,Ganoderma wuzhishanensis,Inonotus shoreicola,Lactifluus armeniacus,L.ramipilosus,Leccinum indoaurantiacum,Musumecia alpina,M.sardoa,Russula amethystina subp.tengii and R.wangii are introduced.Descriptions,illustrations,notes and/or reference specimens are designated for Clarkeinda trachodes,Dentocorticium ussuricum,Galzinia longibasidia,Lentinus stuppeus and Leptocorticium tenellum.The other new genera,species new combinations are Anaeromyces robustus,Neocallimastix californiae and Piromyces finnis from Neocallimastigomycota,Phytophthora estuarina,P.rhizophorae,Salispina,S.intermedia,S.lobata and S.spinosa from Oomycota,and Absidia stercoraria,Gongronella orasabula,Mortierella calciphila,Mucor caatinguensis,M.koreanus,M.merdicola and Rhizopus koreanus in Zygomycota.

Fungal diversity notes 111-252-taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa,including five new families,20 new genera,and 100 new species,representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range.The new families,Ascocylindricaceae,Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae(Ascomycota)are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology.The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria(Amniculicolaceae),Heracleicola,Neodidymella and Pseudomicrosphaeriopsis(Didymellaceae),Pseudopithomyces(Didymosphaeriaceae),Brunneoclavispora,Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium(Halotthiaceae),Lophiohelichrysum(Lophiostomataceae),Galliicola,Populocrescentia and Vagicola(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Ascocylindrica(Ascocylindricaceae),Elongatopedicellata(Roussoellaceae),Pseudoasteromassaria(Latoruaceae)and Pseudomonodictys(Macrodiplodiopsidaceae)are introduced.The newly described species of Dothideomycetes(Ascomycota)are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola(Amniculicolaceae),Flammeascoma lignicola(Anteagloniaceae),Ascocylindrica marina(Ascocylindricaceae),Lembosia xyliae(Asterinaceae),Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola(Botryosphaeriaceae),Caryospora aquatica(Caryosporaceae),Heracleicola premilcurensis and Neodidymella thailandicum(Didymellaceae),Pseudopithomyces palmicola(Didymosphaeriaceae),Floricola viticola(Floricolaceae),Brunneoclavispora bambusae,Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica(Halotthiaceae),Pseudoasteromassaria fagi(Latoruaceae),Keissleriella dactylidicola(Lentitheciaceae),Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi(Lophiostomataceae),Aquasubmersa japonica(Lophiotremataceae),Pseudomonodictys tectonae(Macrodiplodiopsidaceae),Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae(Microthyriaceae),Alloleptosphaeria clematidis,Allophaeosphaeria cytisi,Allophaeosphaeria subcylindrospora,Dematiopleospora luzulae,Entodesmium artemisiae,Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria,Loratospora luzulae,Nodulosphaeria senecionis,Ophiosphaerella aquaticus,Populocrescentia forlicesenensis and Vagicola vagans(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Elongatopedicellata lignicola,Roussoella magnatum and Roussoella angustior(Roussoellaceae)and Shrungabeeja longiappendiculata(Tetraploasphaeriaceae).The new combinations Pseudomassariosphaeria grandispora,Austropleospora archidendri,Pseudopithomyces chartarum,Pseudopithomyces maydicus,Pseudopithomyces sacchari,Vagicola vagans,Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida and Punctulariopsis efibulata Dothideomycetes.The new genera Dictyosporella(Annulatascaceae),and Tinhaudeus(Halosphaeriaceae)are introduced in Sordariomycetes(Ascomycota)while Dictyosporella aquatica(Annulatascaceae),Chaetosphaeria rivularia(Chaetosphaeriaceae),Beauveria gryllotalpidicola and Beauveria loeiensis(Cordycipitaceae),Seimatosporium sorbi and Seimatosporium pseudorosarum(Discosiaceae),Colletotrichum aciculare,Colletotrichum fusiforme and Colletotrichum hymenocallidicola(Glomerellaceae),Tinhaudeus formosanus(Halosphaeriaceae),Pestalotiopsis subshorea and Pestalotiopsis dracaenea(Pestalotiopsiceae),Phaeoacremonium tectonae(Togniniaceae),Cytospora parasitica and Cytospora tanaitica(Valsaceae),Annulohypoxylon palmicola,Biscogniauxia effusae and Nemania fusoideis(Xylariaceae)are introduced as novel species to order Sordariomycetes.The newly described species of Eurotiomycetes are Mycocalicium hyaloparvicellulum(Mycocaliciaceae).Acarospora septentrionalis and Acarospora castaneocarpa(Acarosporaceae),Chapsa multicarpa and Fissurina carassensis(Graphidaceae),Sticta fuscotomentosa and Sticta subfilicinella(Lobariaceae)are newly introduced in class Lecanoromycetes.In class Pezizomycetes,Helvella pseudolacunosa and Helvella rugosa(Helvellaceae)are introduced as new species.The new families,Dendrominiaceae and Neoantrodiellaceae(Basidiomycota)are introduced together with a new genus Neoantrodiella(Neoantrodiellaceae),here based on both morphology coupled with molecular data.In the class Agaricomycetes,Agaricus pseudolangei,Agaricus haematinus,Agaricus atrodiscus and Agaricus exilissimus(Agaricaceae),Amanita melleialba,Amanita pseudosychnopyramis and Amanita subparvipantherina(Amanitaceae),Entoloma calabrum,Cora barbulata,Dictyonema gomezianum and Inocybe granulosa(Inocybaceae),Xerocomellus sarnarii(Boletaceae),Cantharellus eucalyptorum,Cantharellus nigrescens,Cantharellus tricolor and Cantharellus variabilicolor(Cantharellaceae),Cortinarius alboamarescens,Cortinarius brunneoalbus,Cortinarius ochroamarus,Cortinarius putorius and Cortinarius seidlii(Cortinariaceae),Hymenochaete micropora and Hymenochaete subporioides(Hymenochaetaceae),Xylodon ramicida(Schizoporaceae),Colospora andalasii(Polyporaceae),Russula guangxiensis and Russula hakkae(Russulaceae),Tremella dirinariae,Tremella graphidis and Tremella pyrenulae(Tremellaceae)are introduced.Four new combinations Neoantrodiella gypsea,Neoantrodiella thujae(Neoantrodiellaceae),Punctulariopsis cremeoalbida,Punctulariopsis efibulata(Punctulariaceae)are also introduced here for the division Basidiomycota.Furthermore Absidia caatinguensis,Absidia koreana and Gongronella koreana(Cunninghamellaceae),Mortierella pisiformis and Mortierella formosana(Mortierellaceae)are newly introduced in the Zygomycota,while Neocallimastix cameroonii and Piromyces irregularis(Neocallimastigaceae)are introduced in the Neocallimastigomycota.Reference specimens or changes in classification and notes are provided for Alternaria ethzedia,Cucurbitaria ephedricola,Austropleospora,Austropleospora archidendri,Byssosphaeria rhodomphala,Lophiostoma caulium,Pseudopithomyces maydicus,Massariosphaeria,Neomassariosphaeria and Pestalotiopsis montellica.

The world’s ten most feared fungi

An account is provided of the world’s ten most feared fungi.Within areas of interest,we have organized the entries in the order of concern.We put four human pathogens first as this is of concern to most people.This is followed by fungi producing mycotoxins that are highly harmful for humans;Aspergillus flavus,the main producer of aflatoxins,was used as an example.Problems due to indoor air fungi may also directly affect our health and we use Stachybotrys chartarum as an example.Not everyone collects and eats edible mushrooms.However,fatalities caused by mushroom intoxications often make news headlines and therefore we include one of the most poisonous of all mushrooms,Amanita phalloides,as an example.We then move on to the fungi that damage our dwellings causing serious anxiety by rotting our timber structures and flooring.Serpula lacrymans,which causes dry rot is an excellent example.The next example serves to represent all plant and forest pathogens.Here we chose Austropuccinia psidii as it is causing devastating effects in Australia and will probably do likewise in New Zealand.Finally,we chose an important amphibian pathogen which is causing serious declines in the numbers of frogs and other amphibians worldwide.Although we target the top ten most feared fungi,numerous others are causing serious concern to human health,plant production,forestry,other animals and our factories and dwellings.By highlighting ten feared fungi as an example,we aim to promote public awareness of the cost and importance of fungi.

The sooty moulds

Sooty moulds are a remarkable,but poorly understood group of fungi.They coat fruits and leaves superficially with black mycelia,which reduces photosynthesis rates of host plants.Few researchers have,however,tried to quantify their economic importance.Sooty moulds have been well-studied at the morphological level,but they are poorly represented in a natural classification based on phylogeny.Representatives are presently known in Antennulariellaceae,Capnodiaceae,Chaetothyriaceae,Coccodiniaceae,Euantennariaceae,Metacapnodiaceae and Trichomeriaceae and several miscellaneous genera.However,molecular data is available for only five families.Most sooty mould colonies comprise numerous species and thus it is hard to confirm relationships between genera or sexual and asexual states.Future studies need to obtain single spore isolates of species to test their phylogenetic affinities and linkages between morphs.Next generation sequencing has shown sooty mould colonies to contain many more fungal species than expected,but it is not clear which species are dominant or active in the communities.They are more common in tropical,subtropical and warm temperate regions and thus their prevalence in temperate regions is likely to increase with global warming.Sooty moulds are rarely parasitized by fungicolous taxa and these may have biocontrol potential.They apparently grow in extreme environments and may be xerophilic.This needs testing as xerophilic taxa may be of interest for industrial applications.Sooty moulds grow on sugars and appear to out-compete typical“weed”fungi and bacteria.They may produce antibiotics for this purpose and their biochemical potential for obtaining novel bioactive compounds for medical application is underexplored.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungi associated with the invasive weed Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed)

This article provides morphological descriptions and illustrations of microfungi associated with the invasive weed,Chro-molaena odorata,which were mainly collected in northern Thailand.Seventy-seven taxa distributed in ten orders,23 families(of which Neomassarinaceae is new),12 new genera(Chromolaenicola,Chromolaenomyces,Longiappendispora,Pseudocapulatispora,Murichromolaenicola,Neoophiobolus,Paraleptospora,Pseudoroussoella,Pseudostaurosphaeria,Pseudothyridariella,Setoarthopyrenia,Xenoroussoella),47 new species(Aplosporella chromolaenae,Arthrinium chromolae-nae,Chromolaenicola chiangraiensis,C.lampangensis,C.nanensis,C.thailandensis,Chromolaenomyces appendiculatus,Diaporthe chromolaenae,Didymella chromolaenae,Dyfrolomyces chromolaenae,Leptospora chromolaenae,L.phraeana,Longiappendispora chromolaenae,Memnoniella chromolaenae,Montagnula chiangraiensis,M.chromolaenae,M.chromo-laenicola,M.thailandica,Murichromolaenicola chiangraiensis,M.chromolaenae,Muyocopron chromolaenae,M.chromo-laenicola,Neomassarina chromolaenae,Neoophiobolus chromolaenae,Neopyrenochaeta chiangraiensis,N.chromolaenae,N.thailandica,N.triseptatispora,Nigrograna chromolaenae,Nothophoma chromolaenae,Paraleptospora chromolaenae,P.chromolaenicola,Patellaria chromolaenae,Pseudocapulatispora longiappendiculata,Pseudoroussoella chromolaenae,Pseudostaurosphaeria chromolaenae,P.chromolaenicola,Pseudothyridariella chromolaenae,Pyrenochaetopsis chromolae-nae,Rhytidhysteron chromolaenae,Setoarthopyrenia chromolaenae,Sphaeropsis chromolaenicola,Tremateia chiangraiensis,T.chromolaenae,T.thailandensis,Xenoroussoella triseptata,Yunnanensis chromolaenae),12 new host records,three new taxonomic combinations(Chromolaenicola siamensis,Pseudoroussoella elaeicola,Pseudothyridariella mahakashae),and two reference specimens(Torula chromolaenae,T.fici)are described and illustrated.Unlike some other hosts,e.g.bamboo(Poaceae)and Pandanaceae,the dominant group of fungi on Siam weed were Dothideomycetes.Only 15 species previously recorded from northern Thailand were found in this study.Most of the taxa are likely to have jumped hosts from surrounding plants and are unlikely to be a specialist to Siam weed.Most fungal families found on Siam weed had divergence estimates with stem ages in the Cretaceous,which coincided with the expected origin of the host family(Asteraceae).This further indicates that the species have jumped hosts,as it is unlikely that the taxa on the alien Siam weed came from the Americas with its host.They may,however,have jumped from other Asteraceae hosts.In a preliminary screening 40(65%)of the 62 species tested showed antimicrobial activity and thus,the fungi associated with C.odorata may be promising sources of novel bioactive compound discovery.We provide a checklist of fungi associated with C.odorata based on the USDA Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory(SMML)database,relevant literature and our study.In total,130 taxa(116 identified and 14 unidentified species)are distributed in 20 orders,48 families and 85 genera.Pseudocercospora is the most commonly encountered genus on Siam weed.

Taxonomy,phylogeny,molecular dating and ancestral state reconstruction of Xylariomycetidae(Sordariomycetes)

Xylariomycetidae(Ascomycota)is a highly diversified group with variable stromatic characters.Our research focused on inconspicuous stromatic xylarialean taxa from China,Italy,Russia,Thailand and the United Kingdom.Detailed morpho-logical descriptions,illustrations and combined ITS-LSU-rpb2-tub2-tef1 phylogenies revealed 39 taxa from our collections belonging to Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales.A new family(Appendicosporaceae),five new genera(Magnostiolata,Mela-nostictus,Neoamphisphaeria,Nigropunctata and Paravamsapriya),27 new species(Acrocordiella photiniicola,Allocryp-tovalsa sichuanensis,Amphisphaeria parvispora,Anthostomella lamiacearum,Apiospora guiyangensis,A.sichuanensis,Biscogniauxia magna,Eutypa camelliae,Helicogermslita clypeata,Hypocopra zeae,Magnostiolata mucida,Melanostictus longiostiolatus,M.thailandicus,Nemania longipedicellata,N.delonicis,N.paraphysata,N.thailandensis,Neoamphispha-eria hyalinospora,Neoanthostomella bambusicola,Nigropunctata bambusicola,N.nigrocircularis,N.thailandica,Occul-titheca rosae,Paravamsapriya ostiolata,Peroneutypa leucaenae,Seiridium italicum and Vamsapriya mucosa)and seven new host/geographical records are introduced and reported.Divergence time estimates indicate that Delonicicolales diverged from Amphisphaeriales+Xylariales at 161(123-197)MYA.Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales diverged 154(117-190)MYA with a crown age of 127(92-165)MYA and 147(111-184)MYA,respectively.Appendicosporaceae(Amphisphaeriales)has a stem age of 89(65-117)MYA.Ancestral character state reconstruction indicates that astromatic,clypeate ascomata with aseptate,hyaline ascospores that lack germ slits may probably be ancestral Xylariomycetidae having plant-fungal endo-phytic associations.The Amphisphaeriales remained mostly astromatic with common septate,hyaline ascospores.Stromatic variations may have developed mostly during the Cretaceous period.Brown ascospores are common in Xylariales,but they first appeared in Amphisphaeriaceae,Melogrammataceae and Sporocadaceae during the early Cretaceous.The ascospore germ slits appeared only in Xylariales during the Cretaceous after the divergence of Lopadostomataceae.Hyaline,filiform and apiospores may have appeared as separate lineages,providing the basis for Xylariaceae,which may have diverged inde-pendently.The future classification of polyphyletic xylarialean taxa will not be based on stromatic variations,but the type of ring,the colour of the ascospores,and the presence or absence or the type of germ slit.

Elucidation of the life cycle of the endophytic genus Muscodor and its transfer to Induratia in Induratiaceae fam. nov., based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach

Molecular phylogenetic studies of cultures derived from some specimens of plant-inhabiting Sordariomycetes using ITS,LSU,rpb2 and tub2 DNA sequence data revealed close affinities to strains of Muscodor.The taxonomy of this biotechnologi-cally important genus,which exclusively consists of endophytes with sterile mycelia that produce antibiotic volatile secondary metabolites,was based on a rather tentative taxonomic concept.Even though it was accommodated in Xylariaceae,its phylo-genetic position had so far remained obscure.Our phylogeny shows that Muscodor species have affinities to the xylarialean genera Emarcea and Induratia,which is corroborated by the fact that their sexual states produce characteristic apiospores.These data allow for the integration of Muscodor in Induratia,i.e.the genus that was historically described first.The multi-locus phylogenetic tree clearly revealed that a clade comprising Emarcea and Induratia forms a monophylum separate from representatives of Xylariaceae,for which we propose the new family Induratiaceae.Divergence time estimations revealed that Induratiaceae has been diverged from the Xylariaceae+Clypeosphaeriaceae clade at 93(69-119)million years ago(Mya)with the crown age of 61(39-85)Mya during the Cretaceous period.The ascospore-derived cultures were studied for the production of volatile metabolites,using both,dual cultures for assessment of antimicrobial effects and extensive analyses using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry(GC-MS).The antimicrobial effects observed were significant,but not as strong as in the case of the previous reports on Muscodor species.The GC-MS results give rise to some doubt on the validity of the previous identification of certain volatiles.Many peaks in the GC-MS chromatograms could not be safely identified by database searches and may represent new natural products.The isolation of these compounds by preparative chromatography and their subsequent characterisation by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy or total synthesis will allow for a more concise identification of these volatiles,and they should also be checked for their individual contri-bution to the observed antibiotic effects.This will be an important prerequisite for the development of biocontrol strains.

One stop shop IV: taxonomic update with molecular phylogeny for important phytopathogenic genera: 76-100 (2020)

This is a continuation of a series focused on providing a stable platform for the taxonomy of phytopathogenic fungi and fungus-like organisms.This paper focuses on one family:Erysiphaceae and 24 phytopathogenic genera:Armillaria,Barrio-psis,Cercospora,Cladosporium,Clinoconidium,Colletotrichum,Cylindrocladiella,Dothidotthia,,Fomitopsis,Ganoderma,Golovinomyces,Heterobasidium,Meliola,Mucor,Neoerysiphe,Nothophoma,Phellinus,Phytophthora,Pseudoseptoria,Pythium,Rhizopus,Stemphylium,Thyrostroma and Wojnowiciella.Each genus is provided with a taxonomic background,distribution,hosts,disease symptoms,and updated backbone trees.Species confirmed with pathogenicity studies are denoted when data are available.Six of the genera are updated from previous entries as many new species have been described.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Graphostromataceae,Hypoxylaceae,Lopadostomataceae and Xylariaceae

Species and generic recognition in the order Xylariales has been uncertain due to lack of molecular data from authentic cultures,as well as overlapping morphological characteristics.In this study,we revise the families Graphostromataceae,Hypoxylaceae,Lopadostomataceae and Xylariaceae in Xylariales.Our study is based on DNA sequence data derived from living cultures of fresh isolates,data from GenBank and morphological observation of type and worldwide herbarium specimens.We also collected new specimens from Germany,Italy and Thailand.Combined analyses of ITS,LSU,RPB2 and b-tubulin sequence data were used to reconstruct the molecular phylogeny of the above families.Generic and familiar boundaries between these families are revised and presented in an updated combined phylogenetic tree.We accept six genera in Graphostromataceae,19 genera in Hypoxylaceae,four in Lopadostomataceae and 37 genera in Xylariaceae.Five genera previously treated in Xylariaceae are placed in Amphisphaeriales genera incertae sedis and seven genera are placed in Xylariales genera incertae sedis.Two genera are placed in Sordariomycetes genera incertae sedis,while four genera are placed as Xylariomycetidae genera incertae sedis.Three genera are considered as doubtful.Barrmaelia and Cannonia,presently included in Xylariaceae are transferred to Diatrypaceae and Coniochaetales respectively,based on their morphology and phylogeny.Areolospora and Myconeesia are excluded from Xylariaceae and synonymized with Phaeosporis and Anthostomella respectively.Updated descriptions and illustrations are provided for all taxa with notes provided on each genus.Excluded and doubtful genera are listed with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny.Taxonomic keys are provided for all revised families with morphological details for genera within the families.

An assessment of the taxonomy and chemotaxonomy of Ganoderma

The taxonomic and nomenclatural history of the genus Ganoderma and related basidiomycetes is reviewed and compared to recent studies on its molecular phylogeny.A basidiomycete belonging to the genus Ganoderma can often rather easily be recognised in the field from the macromorphological characters of the sporocarp.The most important species and lineages can also be discriminated well by molecular phylogeny.However,the application of incongruent species concepts and the frequent misapplication of European names by chemists and other non-taxonomists have created confusion in the scientific literature.The identity of the species reported in the course of mycochemical studies can often not be verified,since no voucher material was retained.In this review,an overview on the most important types of specific chemotaxonomic traits(i.e.,secondary metabolites of the basidiomes and mycelia)reported from the genus is provided.Albeit certain triterpenoids such as ganoderic and lucidenic acids,steroids(e.g.ergosterol)and triterpenes(e.g.friedelin)appear to have some chemotaxonomic value at the generic rank,their relevance for species discrimination remains to be assessed.We propose that all important names in Ganoderma should be,as required,epitypified by fresh collections for which living cultures should be made available and that these should be examined by a combination of morphological,chemotaxonomic and molecular phylogenetic methods to attain a more stable taxonomy.

Towards unraveling relationships in Xylariomycetidae(Sordariomycetes)

The classification of subclass Xylariomycetidae is revisited with additional collections and phylogeny based on novel rDNA sequence data.Phylogenetic inferences are provided and are based on analysis of 115 sequence data,including new data for 27 strains.An updated outline to the subclass is presented based on the phylogenies and comprises two orders,18 families and 222 genera.An account of each order,family and genus in the subclass is given.We accept the orders Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence.Amphisphaeriales comprises Amphisphaeriaceae,Bartaliniaceae fam.nov.,Clypeosphaeriaceae,Discosiaceae fam.nov.,Pestalotiopsidaceae fam.nov.and Phlogicylindriaceae fam.nov.Xylariales comprises Apiosporaceae,Cainiaceae,Coniocessiaceae,Diatrypaceae,Graphostromataceae(doubtful),Hyponectriaceae,Iodosphaeriaceae,Lopadostomaceae fam.nov.,Melogrammataceae,Pseudomassariaceae fam.nov.,Vialaeaceae and Xylariaceae.The new genera and species introduced are Arthrinium hyphopodii,A.subglobosa,Cainia anthoxanthis,Ciferriascosea gen.nov.,C.fluctamurum,C.rectamurum,Discosia neofraxinea,D.pseudopleurochaeta,Hyalotiella rubi,Seimatosporium cornii,S.ficeae,S.vitis and Truncatella spartii.

Bioactive metabolites from macrofungi: ethnopharmacology, biological activities and chemistry

Exploration of natural sources for novel bioactive compounds has been an emerging field of medicine over the past decades,providing drugs or lead compounds of considerable therapeutic potential.This research has provided exciting evidence on the isolation of microbe-derived metabolites having prospective biological activities.Mushrooms have been valued as traditional sources of natural bioactive compounds for many centuries and have been targeted as promising therapeutic agents.Many novel biologically active compounds have been reported as a result of research on medicinal mushrooms.In this review,we compile the information on bioactive structure-elucidated metabolites from macrofungi discovered over the last decade and highlight their unique chemical diversity and potential benefits to novel drug discovery.The main emphasis is on their anti-Alzheimer,antidiabetic,anti-malarial,anti-microbial,anti-oxidant,antitumor,anti-viral and hypocholesterolemic activities which are important medicinal targets in terms of drug discovery today.Moreover,the reader’s attention is brought to focus on mushroom products and food supplements available in the market with claimed biological activities and potential human health benefits.

A new endophytic insect-associated Daldinia species, recognised from a comparison of secondary metabolite profiles and molecular phylogeny

Xylariaceous endophytes are commonly encountered in plants,and it has recently been found out that insect vectors play a major role in their life cycle,as well as in the apparent host-specificity of the fungal stromata.In this study,a new insect-associated,endophytic anamorph species of Daldinia is recognised from a comparison of (a)morphological and ecological data;(b)molecular phylogenetic data based on rDNA,alpha-actin and beta-tubulin genes;and (c)secondary metabolite profiles based on high performance liquid chromatography/diode array/mass spectrometry(HPLC-DAD/MS)and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC-MS)in comparison with authentic strains of Daldinia and other Xylariaceae.The new species,Daldinia hawksworthii,is a symbiont of the willow woodwasp,Xiphydria prolongata,which is in turn preferentially associated with Salix.A comparison of HPLCDAD/MS profiles from standardised cultures revealed the presence of a specific compound,which was not encountered in any of the ca.250 Daldinia strains studied for comparison.This compound was isolated after fermentation of the fungus in 10 l scale by preparative chromatography.Structure elucidation by NMR spectroscopy revealed a novel pyrone,for which the name dalsymbiopyrone is proposed.The compound showed weak antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects and might be a signal molecule involved in the trilateral ecological interaction between the host plant,the insect,and its fungal symbiont.

High quality genome sequences of thirteen Hypoxylaceae(Ascomycota)strengthen the phylogenetic family backbone and enable the discovery of new taxa

The Hypoxylaceae(Xylariales,Ascomycota)is a diverse family of mainly saprotrophic fungi,which commonly occur in angiosperm-dominated forests around the world.Despite their importance in forest and plant ecology as well as a prolific source of secondary metabolites and enzymes,genome sequences of related taxa are scarce and usually derived from envi-ronmental isolates.To address this lack of knowledge thirteen taxonomically well-defined representatives of the family and one member of the closely related Xylariaceae were genome sequenced using combinations of Illumina and Oxford nanopore technologies or PacBio sequencing.The workflow leads to high quality draft genome sequences with an average N50 of 3.0 Mbp.A backbone phylogenomic tree was calculated based on the amino acid sequences of 4912 core genes reflecting the current accepted taxonomic concept of the Hypoxylaceae.A Percentage of Conserved Proteins(POCP)analysis revealed that 70%of the proteins are conserved within the family,a value with potential application for the definition of family boundaries within the order Xylariales.Also,Hypomontagnella spongiphila is proposed as a new marine derived lineage of Hypom.monticulosa based on in-depth genomic comparison and morphological differences of the cultures.The results showed that both species share 95%of their genes corresponding to more than 700 strain-specific proteins.This difference is not reflected by standard taxonomic assessments(morphology of sexual and asexual morph,chemotaxonomy,phylogeny),preventing species delimitation based on traditional concepts.Genetic changes are likely to be the result of environmental adaptations and selective pressure,the driving force of speciation.These data provide an important starting point for the establishment of a stable phylogeny of the Xylariales;they enable studies on evolution,ecological behavior and biosynthesis of natural products;and they significantly advance the taxonomy of fungi.

Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic resolution of the genus Annulohypoxylon(Xylariaceae)including four new species

This study deals with an extensive evaluation focusing on phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic infrageneric relationships of the genus Annulohypoxylon(Xylariaceae,Ascomycota),whose species are ubiquitously associated with seed plants as endophytes and saprotrophs in all forested areas of the world.Using evidence from phylogenetic,chemotaxonomic and morphological data,various varieties within the genus are raised to species level,leading to the new combinations for A.areolatum(:A.bovei var.microsporum),A.macrosporum(:A.leptascum var.macrosporum),and A.microdiscum(:A.moriforme var.microdiscum).Annulohypoxylon substygium nom.nov.is applied for A.stygium var.annulatumand the four new tropical and subtropical species A.massivum,A.violaceopigmentum,A.viridistratum and A.yungensis are introduced.Furthermore,A.leucadendri is excluded from the genus as its morphological characters disagree with the generic concept,the recently erected A.palmicola is synonymized with A.leptascum and A.austrobahiense has been reassigned to the genus Hypoxylon.In addition,the key taxa A.annulatum and A.truncatum have been reinvestigated and epitypes have been defined.For the first time,a dichotomous key to the genus is provided.A phylogenetic b-tubulin tree in conjunction with stromatal HPLC profiles clearly shows that Annulohypoxylon comprises two distinct lineages.The A.cohaerens/multiforme group might eventually warrant segregation into a new genus as further molecular data become available.