Resolving the Colletotrichum siamense species complex using ApMat marker

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato has been associated with anthracnose in diverse commercial crops.It is now established that C.gloeosporioides sensu lato comprises 33 phylogenetic species and C.gloeosporioides sensu stricto is not a common pathogen of tropical fruits.In this study,we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of 85 Colletotrichum isolates associated with select tropical fruits and flowering plants from India.In the ApMat marker analysis,the 85 isolates clustered with 7 known Colletotrichum species(C.aotearoa,C.dianesei,C.endomangiferae,C.musae,C.siamense,C.theobromicola,Glomerella cingulata f.sp.camelliae)and six novel lineages.One of the novel lineages is described and illustrated in this paper as Colletotrichum communis sp.nov.,while new-host pathogen associations for C.aotearoa,C.endomangiferae,C.dianesei and C.theobromicola are reported from India.Out of the 85 isolates analysed in this paper,73 isolates clustered within the C.siamense species complex,indicating that C.siamense species complex,not C.gloeosporioides sensu stricto,is common on tropical fruits.In comparison with act,cal,gapdh,ITS and tub2 gene markers,we recommend the use of the ApMat marker for accurate identification of cryptic species within the C.siamense species complex.We believe that the ApMat marker,in combination with one or two similar‘phylogenetically superior’gene markers,is a better candidate for specieslevel classification of fungi that were traditionally identified as‘Colletotrichum gloeosporioides’.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota and is characterised by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci.The class includes many important plant pathogens,as well as endophytes,saprobes,epiphytes,and fungicolous,lichenized or lichenicolous taxa.The class includes freshwater,marine and terrestrial taxa and has a worldwide distribution.This paper provides an updated outline of the Sordariomycetes and a backbone tree incorporating asexual and sexual genera in the class.Based on phylogeny and morphology we introduced three subclasses;Diaporthomycetidae,Lulworthiomycetidae and Meliolomycetidae and five orders;Amplistromatales,Annulatascales,Falcocladiales,Jobellisiales and Togniniales.The outline is based on literature to the end of 2014 and the backbone tree published in this paper.Notes for 397 taxa with information,such as new family and genera novelties,novel molecular data published since the Outline of Ascomycota 2009,and new links between sexual and asexual genera and thus synonymies,are provided.The Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses,28 orders,90 families and 1344 genera.In addition a list of 829 genera with uncertain placement in Sordariomycetesis also provided.

Assessment of oxidative stress indices in a marine macro brown alga Padina tetrastromatica(Hauck) from comparable polluted coastal regions of the Arabian Sea,west coast of India

Oxidative stress and antioxidant defence systems were assessed in a marine brown alga Padina tetrastromatica, commonly occurring from the tropics. Lipid peroxidation （LPX） and H2O2 were measured as oxidative stress markers, and antioxidant defences were measured as catalase （CAT）, glutathione S-transferase （GST） and ascorbic acid （ASA）, in order to understand their dissimilarity with respect to pollution levels from selective locations along the central west coast of India. A significant increased levels of LPX, H2O2, CAT and GST were observed in samples from relatively polluted localities （Colaba and Karwar） when compared to less polluted locality （Anjuna）, while AsA concentration was higher in algal samples from worst polluted region of Colaba. Heavy metals such as Cd and Pb were also higher in the vicinity of polluted areas compared to reference area. Variation of oxidative stress indices in response to accumulation of heavy metals within P. tetrastromatica could be used as molecular biomarkers in assessment and monitoring environmental quality of ecologically sensitive marine habitats.