Rhizosphere Soil Fungal Diversity and Soil Physicochemical Properties of Different Vegetations in Tundra of Changbai Mountain

By studying the diversity and community structure of rhizosphere soil fungi of different plants in the tundra on the northern slope of Changbai Mountain, it provides theoretical support for the restoration of environmental degradation and in-depth study of fungal diversity in the tundra of Changbai Mountain. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the ITS1 region of fungal amplicons, so as to analyze the diversity of fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of six plants in the tundra of Changbai Mountain, and to analyze the correlation between the environment and the diversity and richness of fungal communities in combination with relevant soil physical and chemical factors. The diversity and richness of fungal community in the rhizosphere soil of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra were different. The Simpson and Shannon indexes of Saxifraga stolonifera Curt were the highest, and the richness of fungal community in Dryas octopetala was the highest. The analysis of fungal community composition showed that the fungal colonies in plant rhizosphere soil samples mainly belonged to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, which were the main dominant phyla. Mortierella, Fusarium and Sordariomycetes are common fungal genera in the rhizosphere soil of six plants, but their abundances are different among different plants. Water content was negatively correlated with fungal diversity, and TP was positively correlated with fungal community diversity. There were some differences in the composition and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungal communities of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the main soil fungal phyla in the rhizosphere of six plants in Changbai Mountain tundra. The results could provide theoretical guidance for ecological protection of Changbai Mountain tundra.

Fungal diversity on fallen leaves of Ficus in northern Thailand

Fallen leaves of Ficus altissima, F. virens, F. benjamina, F. fistulosa and F. semicordata, were collected in Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand and examined for fungi. Eighty taxa were identified, comprising 56 anamorphic taxa, 23 ascomycetes and l basidiomycete. Common fungal species occurring on five host species with high frequency of occurrence were Beltraniella nilgirica, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Ophioceras leptosporum, Periconia byssoides and Septonema harknessi. Colletotrichum and Stachybotrys were also common genera. The leaves of different Ficus species supported diverse fungal taxa, and the fungal assemblages on the different hosts showed varying overlap. The fungal diversity of saprobes at the host species level is discussed.

Anaerobic Fungal Diversity in the Rumen of Gayals (Bos frontalis) in Yunnan Province, China

To investigate the anaerobic fungal diversity in the rumen of gayals(Bos frontalis), Yunnan yellow cattle, yaks, and Tibetan yellow cattle, the ITS region of ruminal anaerobic fungi was sequenced. The anaerobic fungi found in four types of cattle could be divided into 16 groups(Neocallimastix, Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, Caecomyces, Cyllamyces and unknown groups 1-11). There were 10 anaerobic fungal groups in the rumen of gayals, with three belonging to known genera(Orpinomyces, Neocallimastix, and Caecomyces), which accounted for 2.8% of sequences of gayals. There were fewer known anaerobic fungi in gayals than in Yunnan yellow cattle(Orpinomyces), yaks(Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, and Cyllamyces) and Tibetan yellow cattle(Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, Caecomyces, and Cyllamyces), accounting for 30.7%, 93.9%, and 35% of each of the relevant cattle species. The other seven unknown groups(NG1, NG4, NG6, NG7, NG9, NG10, and NG11) accounted for 91.6% of sequences from gayals, which was higher than Yunnan yellow cattle [69.3%(NG2, NG8 and NG9)], Tibetan yellow cattle [35%(NG4, NG5 and NG9)], and yaks [6.1%(NG3)]. Furthermore, NG1, NG6, NG7, NG10, and NG11 were only found in gayals,whereas NG3 and NG5 were found only in Tibetan yellow cattle and yak, respectively. Piromyces was not found in any of the four types of cattle. The anaerobic fungi abundance in the rumen of gayals was significantly higher than that of the other three types of cattle. The ruminal anaerobic fungi of gayals might have an important role in cellulose degradation, resulting in the ability of this species to successfully graze coarser fodder.

Fungal diversity notes 1611-1716: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on fungal genera and species emphasis in south China

This article is the 15th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 115 taxa from three phyla,nine classes,28 orders,48 families,and 64 genera are treated.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include a new family,five new genera,61 new species,five new combinations,one synonym,one new variety and 31 records on new hosts or new geographical distributions.Ageratinicolaceae fam.nov.is introduced and accommodated in Pleosporales.The new genera introduced in this study are Ageratinicola,Kevinia,Pseudomultiseptospora(Parabambusicolaceae),Marasmiellomycena,and Vizzinia(Porotheleaceae).Newly described species are Abrothallus altoandinus,Ageratinicola kunmingensis,Allocryptovalsa aceris,Allophoma yuccae,Apiospora cannae,A.elliptica,A.pallidesporae,Boeremia wisteriae,Calycina papaeana,Clypeo-coccum lichenostigmoides,Coniochaeta riskali-shoyakubovii,Cryphonectria kunmingensis,Diaporthe angustiapiculata,D.campylandrae,D.longipapillata,Diatrypella guangdongense,Dothiorella franceschinii,Endocalyx phoenicis,Epicoc-cum terminosporum,Fulvifomes karaiensis,F.pannaensis,Ganoderma ghatensis,Hysterobrevium baoshanense,Inocybe avellaneorosea,I.lucida,Jahnula oblonga,Kevinia lignicola,Kirschsteiniothelia guangdongensis,Laboulbenia caprina,L.clavulata,L.cobiae,L.cosmodisci,L.nilotica,L.omalii,L.robusta,L.similis,L.stigmatophora,Laccaria rubriporus,Lasiodiplodia morindae,Lyophyllum agnijum,Marasmiellomycena pseudoomphaliiformis,Melomastia beihaiensis,Nemania guangdongensis,Nigrograna thailandica,Nigrospora ficuum,Oxydothis chinensis,O.yunnanensis,Petriella thailandica,Phaeoacremonium chinensis,Phialocephala chinensis,Phytophthora debattistii,Polyplosphaeria nigrospora,Pronectria loweniae,Seriascoma acutispora,Setoseptoria bambusae,Stictis anomianthi,Tarzetta tibetensis,Tarzetta urceolata,Tetraploa obpyriformis,Trichoglossum beninense,and Tricoderma pyrrosiae.We provide an emendation for Urnula ailaoshanensis Agaricus duplocingulatoides var.brevisporus introduced as a new variety based on morphology and phylogeny.

Diverse responses of fungal functional groups to desertification in forest soils of Pinus densata on the Chinese Tibetan plateau

Rapid increase in desertification is an environ-mental concern,especially for the health and sustainabil-ity of ecosystems in changing climates.How ecosystems respond to such changes may be partially understood by studying interactions and performance of critically impor-tant groups such as soil fungi functional groups.This study investigated variations in diversities of three soil fungi functional guilds(saprotrophic,symbiotic,pathogenic)and influencing abiotic factors in a Pinus densata forest on the southeast Tibetan Plateau where desertification is intense.The results indicate desertification significantly decreased the proportion of dominant fungal guild-symbiotic fungi(mean relative abundance decreasing from 97.0%to 68.3%),in contrast to saprotrophic fungi(increasing from 2.7%to 25.7%)and pathogenic(from 0.3%to 5.9%).Soil pH had the most significant impact on fungal community structure and negatively correlated with symbiotic fungal richness,which was significantly lower in arid soils,and positively correlated with saprotrophic and pathogenic fungal alpha-diversity,which were abundant.Different community struc-tures and regulators of the three fungi communities were observed,with pH,total phosphorus and ammonium(NH_(4)^(+))as the main determinants.This study links the biotic and abi-otic components during desertification and the interactions between them,and may be used as indicators of ecosystem health and for amendments to mitigate the effects of a chang-ing climate.

Impact of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Fungal Community Structure in Karst Rocky Desertification Areas

In this paper,managed forest(MF)and natural forest(NF)in the Huajiang Demonstration Zone of Guanling,Guizhou were selected as research objects,and cropland(CL)was taken as control.High-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the characteristics of fungal community composition and species diversity in the surface(0-10 cm)soil of each restoration measure,in order to reveal the dominant soil fungal groups and fungal community composition in karst rocky desertification areas,which was conducive to a more comprehensive understanding of the soil conditions of different vegetation restoration measures.Research has shown that vegetation restoration significantly affected the diversity of soil fungal community,with significant increases in Sob index,Ace index,and Chao index.The vegetation restoration has significantly changed the composition of fungal community.The dominant fungi in the CL topsoil are Sordariomycetes(62.28%),Dothideomycetes(12.34%),and Eurotiomycetes(9.12%);the dominant fungi in the MF soil are Sordariomycetes(45.05%),Dothideomycetes(14.74%),and Mortierellomycetes(10.40%);the dominant fungi in the NF soil are unclassified fungal community(26.38%),Sordariomycetes(19.78%),and Agaricomycetes(13.82%).Vegetation restoration has changed the key fungal groups in the soil.Sordariomycetes,Fusarium,and Setophoma are the key dominant fungal groups in CL soil;Dioszegia is key dominant fungal group in MF soil;c_unclassified_k_Fungi,p_unclassified_k_Fungi,o_unclassified_k_Fungi,f_unclassified_k_Fungi,g_unclassified_k_Fungi,Teichospora,and Diaporthe are key dominant fungal groups in NF soil.

Fungal diversity in major oil-shale mines in China

As an insufficiently utilized energy resource,oil shale is conducive to the formation of characteristic microbial communities due to its special geological origins.However,little is known about fungal diversity in oil shale.Polymerase chain reaction cloning was used to construct the fungal ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid internal transcribed spacer（r DNA ITS）clone libraries of Huadian Mine in Jilin Province,Maoming Mine in Guangdong Province,and Fushun Mine in Liaoning Province.Pure culture and molecular identification were applied for the isolation of cultivable fungi in fresh oil shale of each mine.Results of clone libraries indicated that each mine had over 50% Ascomycota（58.4%–98.9%）and 1.1%–13.5%unidentified fungi.Fushun Mine and Huadian Mine had 5.9% and 28.1% Basidiomycota,respectively.Huadian Mine showed the highest fungal diversity,followed by Fushun Mine and Maoming Mine.Jaccard indexes showed that the similarities between any two of three fungal communities at the genus level were very low,indicating that fungi in each mine developed independently during the long geological adaptation and formed a community composition fitting the environment.In the fresh oil-shale samples of the three mines,cultivable fungal phyla were consistent with the results of clone libraries.Fifteen genera and several unidentified fungi were identified as Ascomycota and Basidiomycota using pure culture.Penicillium was the only genus found in all three mines.These findings contributed to gaining a clear understanding of current fungal resources in major oil-shale mines in China and provided useful information for relevant studies on isolation of indigenous fungi carrying functional genes from oil shale.

Plant diversity is coupled with soil fungal diversity in a natural temperate steppe of northeastern China

Soil fungi and aboveground plant play vital functions in terrestrial ecosystems,while the relationship between aboveground plant diversity and the unseen soil fungal diversity remains unclear.We established 6 sites from the west to the east of the temperate steppe that vary in plant diversity(plant species richness:7-32)to explore the relationship between soil fungal diversity and aboveground plant diversity.Soil fungal community was characterized by applying 18S rRNA gene sequencing using MiSeq PE300 and aligned with Silva 132 database.As a result,soil fungal community was predominately composed of species within the Ascomycota(84.36%),Basidiomycota(7.22%)and Mucoromycota(6.44%).Plant species richness occupied the largest explanatory power in structuring soil fungal community(19.05%–19.78%).The alpha(α)diversity of the whole soil fungi and Ascomycota showed a hump-backed pattern with increasing plant species richness,and the beta(β)diversity of the whole soil fungi and Ascomycota increased with increasing plantβdiversity.Those results indicated that soil fungi and external resources were well balanced at the 20-species level of plant and the sites were more distinct in the composition of their plant communities also harbored more distinct soil fungal communities.Thus,plant diversity could predict both soil fungalαandβdiversity in the temperate steppe of northeastern China.

Response of fungal communities to afforestation and its indication for forest restoration

Soil fungi in forest ecosystems have great potential to enhance host plant growth and systemic ecological functions and services.Reforestation at Saihanba Mechanized Forest Farm,the world's largest artificial plantation,has been integral to global forest ecosystem preservation since the 1950s.To better assess the ecological effects of soil microbiology after afforestation,fungal diversity and community structure(using Illumina sequencing)from forests dominated by Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii,Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica and Picea asperata,and from grassland were surveyed.In total,4,540 operational taxonomic units(OTUs)were identified,with Mortierella and Solicoccozyma being the dominant genera of grassland soil and Inocybe,Cortinarius,Piloderma,Tomentella,Sebacina,Hygrophorus and Saitozyma dominating the plantation soil.Principle coordinate analysis(PCoA)and co-occurrence networks revealed differences in fungal structure after afforestation.Significantly,more symbiotroph guilds were dominated by ectomycorrhizal fungi in plantations under the prediction of FUNGuild.The community composition and diversity of soil fungi were significantly influenced by pH via redundancy analysis(RDA)and the Mantel test(p<0.01).This finding emphasizes that soil pH has a strong effect on the transition of fungal communities and functional taxa from grassland to plantation,providing a novel indicator for forest restoration.

Studies on diversity of higher fungi in Yunnan, southwestern China:A review

Yunnan is exceedingly rich in higher fungi(Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). Given that the number of fungi(including lichens) occurring in a given area is, as Hawksworth suggested, roughly six times that of local vascular plants, a total of approximately 104,000 fungal species would be expected in Yunnan.However, to date only about 6000 fungal species, including roughly 3000 species of higher fungi, have been reported from the province. Although studies on Yunnan's fungi started in the late nineteenth century, significant progress has been made only in the last forty-five years. Over the first twenty-five years of this period, studies on fungal diversity in this area have largely been about taxonomy based on morphological characters and partially on geographical distribution. Over the past twenty years, the combination of both morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches has become the preferred method to help understand the diversity and evolution of higher fungi. This review focuses on our current knowledge of how geological, geographical, and ecological factors may have contributed to the diversity patterns of higher fungi in Yunnan. Based on this knowledge, three aspects for future studies are suggested.

Diversity and composition of culturable fungi in Horqin Sandy Land

Soil fungi play a key role in soil functional performance and ecological restoration.To understand the diversity and composition of culturable fungi in soils of Horqin Sandy Land,China,mobile dune,semi-fixed dune,fixed dune and sandy grassland were selected to investigate the soil fungal diversity using a traditional culture-dependent approach.ITS sequencing was applied to identify the fungal strains.The counts of culturable fungi increased significantly from mobile dune to sandy grassland along the gradient of sandy land restoration.The Shannon-Wiener,Simpson and Evenness indices of culturable fungi ranged from 1.26-1.71,0.22-0.37 and 0.83-0.87,respectively.A total of 27 fungal strains were isolated using dilution plate cultural technique.The 27 fungal isolates were clustered into three groups:Ascomycota,Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota at phylum level,indicating that Ascomycota was the dominant fungal phylum(88.9%of the total).The isolated fungi were grouped into 3 phyla,5 classes,6 orders,11 families and 13 genera.The results show that culturable fungi were diverse in sandy land soils and fungal isolates have potential function in lipid turnover,cellulose degradation and ethanol,glucose and fatty acid production.Future studies should be carried out to explore their ecological and biological function for degraded sandy land restoration.

Diversity analysis of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes from the Yellow River source area:Ⅰ

Twenty-four soil samples of eight ecosystem-types around the Yellow River source area were investigated for the number and specific composition of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes by dilution plate technique. And then the co-relationship between genus species of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes and ecosystem-types was analyzed. The results show that the amount and species distribution of soil dematiaceous hyphomycetes had an obvious variability in different ecosystem-types, and that the dominant genus species varied in the eight ecosystem-types studied, with Cladosporium being the dominant genus in seven of the eight ecosystem-types except wetland. The index of species diversity varied in different ecosystem-types. The niche breadth analysis showed that Cladosporium had the highest niche breadth and distributed in all ecosystem-types, while the genera with a narrow niche breadth distributed only in a few ecosystem-types. The results of niche overlap index analysis indicated that Stachybotrys and Torula, Doratomyces and Scolecobasidium, Cladosporium and Chrysosporium had a higher niche overlap, whereas Arthrinium and Gliomastix, Phialophora and Doratomyces, Oidiodendron and Ulocladium had no niche overlap.

Analysis of Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure in Different Pathogenesis Stages of Watermelon Fusarium Wilt

High-throughput sequencing technique was applied to analyze the microbial community structure of rhizosphere soil at different stages of watermelon fusarium wilt to find out the difference of dominant microbial community in rhizosphere during the occurrence of watermelon fusarium wilt.Illumina-Hiseq high-throughput sequencing platform was used to sequence 16S and ITS rDNA in rhizosphere soil.The soil was named CK1 before planting,CK2 at peak stage and CK3 at stable stage.The results showed that the soil bacterial diversity was in the order of CK1>CK3>CK2,indicating no significant difference between CK1 and CK3 and a significant difference between CK2 and CK1,CK3.At the genus level,the dominant bacteria were Mizugakiibacter(21.9299%),Rhodanobacter(5.0933%),and Lactobacillus(3.1921%).The diversity of soil fungi was in the order of CK1>CK3>CK2,all showing significant differences.At the genus level,the dominant fungus was Lysurus(54.4601%),Papulaspora(12.4252%),Acrophialophora(3.1729%).The results showed that the diversity and abundance of bacteria and fungi in rhizosphere soil decreased during the peak period of watermelon fusarium wilt.With the gradual stabilization of the disease,the diversity and abundance of bacteria and fungi in rhizosphere soil recovered to a certain extent.

Partial organic fertilizer substitution promotes soil multifunctionality by increasing microbial community diversity and complexity

Partial substitution of synthetic nitrogen(N)with organic fertilizers(PSOF)is of great significance in improving soil ecosystem functions in systems that have deteriorated due to the excessive application of chemical N fertilizer.However,existing studies typically focus on individual soil functions,neglecting the fact that multiple functions occur simultaneously.It remains unclear how PSOF influences multiple soil functions and whether these impacts are related to soil microbial communities.Here,we examined the impacts of partial substitutions(25%–50%)of chemical N fertilizer with organic form(pig manure or municipal sludge)in a vegetable field on soil multifunctionality,by measuring a range of soil functions involving primary production(vegetable yield and quality),nutrient cycling(soil enzyme activities,ammonia volatilization,N leaching,and N runoff),and climate regulation(soil organic carbon sequestration and nitrous oxide emission).We observed that PSOF improved soil multifunctionality,with a 50%substitution of chemical N fertilizer with pig manure being the best management practice;the result was strongly related to the diversities and network complexities of bacteria and fungi.Random forest analysis further revealed that soil multifunctionality was best explained by the bacterial-fungal network complexity,followed by available phosphorus level and bacterial diversity.The PSOF also shifted the composition of bacterial and fungal communities,with increased relative abundances of dominant bacteria phyla,such as Bacteroidetes,Gemmatimonadetes,and Myxococcota,and fungal phyla,such as Basidiomycota and Olpidiomycota.The observed increases in soil multifunctionality were consistent with significant increases in the relative abundances of keystone taxa such as Blastocladiomycota,Chaetomiaceae,and Nocardiopsaceae.Together,these findings indicate that PSOF can enhance interactions within and among microbial communities and that such practices have the potential to improve soil ecosystem multifunctionality and contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture.

A Preliminary Investigation of Pathogenic Fungi from Lotus(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn)in Nanchang City

[Objectives]Lotus(Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn)is an economically important aquatic plant in China.Fungal disease is a serious problem in lotus cultivation.In this study,the pathogenic fungi on lotus in Nanchang City were investigated to lay the foundation for the disease control.[Methods]Lotus leaves and stems in ponds of Nanchang City were collected,the fungi on leave/stem spots were isolated and purified.Colonies morphological characters and ITS sequences were used to identify the strains.[Results]49 strains were isolated and identified to 20 species,belonging to 12 genera.[Discussion]15 species may firstly be reported on lotus in this study,i.e.,Alternaria angustiovoidea,Alternaria compacta,Alternaria ricini,Alternaria tenuissima,Arthrinium arundinis,Botryosphaeria dothidea,Curvularia spicifera,Diaporthe australiana,Diaporthe eres,Diaporthe tectonae,Epicoccum nigrum,Fusarium fujikuroi,Neofusicoccum parvum,Nigrospora sphaerica,and Phomopsis eucommii.

Linking changes in the soil microbial community to C and N dynamics during crop residue decomposition

Crop residues are among the main inputs that allow the organic carbon(C)and nutrients to be maintained in agricultural soil.It is an important management strategy that can improve soil fertility and enhance agricultural productivity.This work aims to evaluate the extent of the changes that may occur in the soil heterotrophic microbial communities involved in organic matter decomposition and C and nitrogen(N)mineralization after the addition of crop residues.Soil microcosm experiments were performed at 28℃ for 90 days with the addition of three crop residues with contrasting biochemical qualities:pea(Pisum sativum L.),rapeseed(Brassica napus L.),and wheat(Triticum aestivum L.).Enzyme activities,C and N mineralization,and bacterial and fungal biomasses were monitored,along with the bacterial and fungal community composition,by the highthroughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA and ITS genes.The addition of crop residues caused decreases in β-glucosidase and arylamidase activities and simultaneous enhancement of the C mineralization and net N immobilization,which were linked to changes in the soil microbial communities.The addition of crop residues decreased the bacterial and fungal biomasses 90 days after treatment and there were shifts in bacterial and fungal diversity at the phyla,order,and genera levels.Some specific orders and genera were dependent on crop residue type.For example,Chloroflexales,Inquilinus,Rubricoccus,Clitocybe,and Verticillium were identified in soils with pea residues;whereas Thermoanaerobacterales,Thermacetogenum,and Hypoxylon were enriched in soils with rapeseed residues,and Halanaerobiales,Rubrobacter,and Volutella were only present in soils with wheat residues.The findings of this study suggest that soil C and N dynamics in the presence of the crop residues were driven by the selection of specific bacterial and fungal decomposers linked to the biochemical qualities of the crop residues.If crop residue decomposition processes showed specific bacterial and fungal operational taxonomic unit(OTU)signatures,this study also suggests a strong functional redundancy that exists among soil microbial communities.

Corynespora celastri sp.nov.on Celastraceae from India

Corynespora celastri sp.nov.,is introduced on living leaves of Celastrus paniculatus(Celastraceae)collected from Paniyara forest of Mahrajganj,Uttar Pradesh,India.The new species is illustrated and compared with closely similar species reported on Celastraceae.This species is characterized by having longer conidiophores and conidia among the members reported on same host family.A key to all species of Corynespora on Celastraceae is also provided.

Cultivable Microfungal Communities Inhabiting Biological Soil Crusts in the Tengger Desert, China

Biological soil crusts are essential components of arid ecosystems. We examined the variations in microfungal communities inhabiting different biological crust types in the vicinity of the Shapotou Research Station in the Tengger Desert, China. A total of 134 species from 66 genera were isolated using the soil dilution plate method. The mycobiota of the crusts from the Tengger Desert, similar to that of the Negev Desert in Israel, was dominated by melanin-containing species with large multicellular spores. Abundance of these xeric species increased spatially with increasing xeric conditions from moss-dominated to cyanobacterial crusts. Density of microfungal isolates displayed the opposite trend and was positively correlated with chlorophyll content, indicating the possible significant influence of organic matter content and wetness duration on fungal biomass. Within a chronosequence of the localities of different periods after sand stabilization with revegetation, little variations were revealed in species composition and isolate density of the crust microfungal communities, while a tendency towards a decrease in the community diversity level with the crust age was noted Microfungal communities from stabilized localities differed from those of the natural localities in abundance of the dominant and some frequent species, and in the fluctuations of diversity characteristics between the cyanobacterial and moss-dominated crusts. The variations in mycobiotie parameters in the soil crusts of the Tengger Desert were apparently associated with the topographically induced variations in abiotic conditions, while the differences in microfungal community of soil crusts between the Tengger and Negev deserts, such as the significantly higher abundance of thermotolerant species in the crusts of the Tengger Deserts, were caused by the principal differences in their precipitation regimes, associated with different rainy seasons, winter and summer in the Negev and Tengger deserts, respectively.

Thailand’s amazing diversity:up to 96%of fungi in northern Thailand may be novel

Fungi have been often neglected,despite the fact that they provided penicillin,lovastatin and many other important medicines.They are an understudied,but essential,fascinating and biotechnologically useful group of organisms.The study of fungi in northern Thailand has been carried out by us since 2005.These studies have been diverse,ranging from ecological aspects,phylogenetics with the incorportation of molecular dating,taxonomy(including morphology and chemotaxonomy)among a myriad of microfungi,to growing novel mushrooms,and DNA-based identification of plant pathogens.In this paper,advances in understanding the biodiversity of fungi in the region are discussed and compared with those further afield.Many new species have been inventoried for the region,but many unknown species remain to be described and/or catalogued.For example,in the edible genus Agaricus,over 35 new species have been introduced from northern Thailand,and numerous other taxa await description.In this relatively well known genus,93%of species novelty is apparent.In the microfungi,which are relatively poorly studied,the percentage of novel species is,surprisingly,generally not as high(55–96%).As well as Thai fungi,fungi on several hosts from Europe have been also investigated.Even with the well studied European microfungi an astounding percentage of new taxa(32–76%)have been discovered.The work is just a beginning and it will be a daunting task to document this astonishingly high apparent novelty among fungi.

Diversity of root-associated fungi of Vaccinium mandarinorum along a human disturbance gradient in subtropical forests,China

Aims Ericaceous plant species can host diverse fungi in their roots,including ericoid mycorrhizal fungi(ERMF),endophytes,pathogens and some species with unknown functions.However,how this diversity of fungi responds to different human disturbances is not well understood.Methods In this study,we examined the effects of different human disturbance on fungal diversity in hair roots of Vaccinium mandarinorum,an ericaceous plant.Fungal DNA was extracted from hair roots of V.mandarinorum and high-throughput sequencing was applied to detect the diversity of root-associated fungi along a human disturbance gradient in subtropical forests in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve(GNNR)in East China.The four forest types with different disturbance regime were:old growth forest(OGF),secondary forest with once cut(SEC I),secondary forest with twice cut(SEC II)and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation(PLF).Important Findings The results showed that:(i)diverse fungal operational units(OTUs)were detected in hair roots of V.mandarinorum in the four types of forests,covering fungal phyla of Ascomycota,Basidiomycota,Chytridiomycota,Glomeromycota and Zygomycota;(ii)Community composition of root-associated fungi of V.mandarinorum in PLF was distinct from those in the other three forest types,and two types of secondary forests had similar fungal community composition;(iii)Different fungal families respond differently to human disturbances:fungal families with significant preference to OGF were ectomycorrhizal or saprophytic fungi while fungal families with higher relative abundance in PLF were plant pathogenic or saprophytic fungi;(iv)The first principal component(PC1)of plant community had a significant effect on composition of root-associated fungal community,while edaphic parameters showed no significant effect on fungal community composition in roots of V.mandarinorum.Our results help to better understand the responses of both ericaceous plants and their fungal partners to human disturbances and forest managements.