Converting tropical rainforest to native rubber plantations alters soil bacterial and fungal communities

Driven by soil biochemistry and plant community composition,soil microbial communities reflect land management and environmental conditions.To evaluate the effects of land-use change on soil microbial diversity,we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE)combined with sequencing to compare bacterial and fungal community profiles between rubber plantation(RP)and nearby seasonal rainforests(SR).Rainforest soil generally had higher soil total C and microbial biomass C concentration,smaller soil aggregate proportions,and a soil pH below rubber plantation soil.The bacterial and fungal richness and diversity were similar after converting primary forests to rubber plantations.However,the composition of bacterial and fungal communities has significantly changed in rubber plantations.Basidiomycota,the predominant group of fungi,was significantly different between primary forests and rubber plantations.However,Basidiomycota showed higher heterogenetic distribution in the rainforest under rubber plantations.In conclusion,land-use changes mainly affect soil microbial community composition and heterogeneity distribution patterns,especially for saprotrophic fungi,which consist of changes in litter inputs and soil C conditions.

Mushroom cultivation for soil amendment and bioremediation

Intensive crop production,use of pesticides,and unsustainable farming practices are known to cause land degradation and soil contamination.Both have led to a decline in biodiversity and changes in the functional groups of soil microorganisms.Although physicochemical methods have been used to apply soil amendments to agricultural land,mushroom cultivation in agricultural land for soil improvement have been poorly studied.In-field mushroom cultivation is considered a good strategy for improving soil quality by reducing the input of chemical fertilizers.In this paper,we list the edible mushroom species suitable for growing in fields and summarize the important role that mushroom field cultivation can play in soil erosion control,nutrient cycling,and the bioremediation of contaminants.Decomposition,symbiosis,assimilation,degradation,bioweathering,oxidation,biosorption,and bioconversion are all critical components of mushroom field cultivation.Research has shown that field mushroom cultivation contributes to nutritional bioavailability while also promoting the degradation of pollutants and formation of soil aggregates.Through soil amendment practices,a portion of agricultural waste can be converted into high-quality food and nutraceutical sources,and the remaining organic matter improves soil quality via fungal mycelial networks and the re-use of spent mushroom substrates.Only a small number of mushroom species have been used in the application of soil amendments in field conditions.This review shows the need for further research into specific mushroom species for achieving different soil amendment goals in order to balance agricultural development with sustainable land management.

An Overview of the Problems and Prospects for Circular Agriculture in Sustainable Food Systems in the Anthropocene

In this overview paper,we outline and explore problems and prospects for circular agriculture’s contributions to transformative change toward sustainable food systems in the Anthropocene.We define circular agriculture(CA)and provide historical context on its development.We then discuss how CA can contribute to food system transformations in four key areas:multi-functional landscapes;sustainable intensification(focusing on nitrogen/crop-livestock management and digital agriculture);smallholder farmers;and dietary change.We find that food systems transitions will be challenging due to the depth,scale,and speed of changes necessary for humans to remain within safe planetary boundaries out to 2050.

Morphology, Phylogeny and Culture Characteristics of Ganoderma gibbosum Collected from Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Ganoderma is a genus of medicinally and economically important mushrooms in the family Ganodermataceae.Ganoderma species are popular medicinal mushrooms and their health benefits are well-documented.Ganoderma is a cosmopolitan genus that is widely distributed in both tropical and temperate regions.This genus is characterized by its unique laccate or non-laccate species with double-walled basidiospores.Here,we report on eight collections of G.gibbosum collected during surveys in Kunming,Yunnan Province,China.The specimens are described and illustrated based on macro-and micro-morphological characteristics.Total DNA of the eight G.gibbosum strains were extracted using the Biospin Fungal Extraction Kit following manufacturer protocol.Amplification of the Internal Transcribed Spacer(nrITS)region was carried out using ITS5/ITS4 primers and LROR/LR5 for the nuclear ribosomal large subunit 28S rDNA gene(LSU).Phylogenetic analysis with closely related species to G.gibbosum showed that all eight collections grouped with G.gibbosum with 100%bootstrap support.Phylogenetic similarity and morphological variations within the eight collections of G.gibbosum are discussed.

First successful domestication of a white strain of Auricularia cornea from Thailand

Intraspecies colour variations in cultivated edible mushrooms present novel and potentially valuable alternatives to the research and cultivation industries.In this study,we collected,identified,and domesticated a white strain of Auricularia cornea from Thailand.The brown strain of A.cornea is one of the top two species of Auricularia cultivated and traded in Asia.Since both white and brown phenotypes of A.cornea belong to a single species,we established their similarities or differences.Both morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of ITS rDNA sequence data were used to confirm the taxonomic placement of the white A.cornea strain in the same clade with the brown A.cornea.Nutritional analysis showed that fat,fiber,protein,and total soluble sugar contents of the white A.cornea were significantly higher than the commercially used brown strain.The melanin content of the white strain of A.cornea(less than 1.5 mg/100g)was not significantly different from that of the brown strain.This discovery may create new opportunities for the mushroom growing industry and for smallholder farmers in Asia.

A New Record of Aspergillus vadensis (Ascomycota) Isolated from Soil in Yunnan Province,China

During a survey of soil fungi in Yunnan Province,several isolates of Aspergillus were obtained.Based on morphology and molecular analyses of internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene(ITS),β-tubulin and calmodulin(CaM)genes sequences,two isolates were identified as Aspergillus vadensis(section Nigri).A phylogenetic tree,detailed descriptions,illustrations and scanned electron microscopy morphology are provided for the new isolates.This is the first record of A.vadensis from China.

Fungi and insects as models of extraordinary symbiosis

Symbiosis among microorganisms represents an interesting relationship that takes different shapes.Obligatory,facultative,and endosymbiotic relationships have all been reported between different microorganisms.Whether it is mutualism,commensalism,amensalism,or parasitism,understanding every association is of great importance to science and humanity.Knowing how these creatures benefit from each other may be useful for biocontrol purposes,or even for discovery of novel metabolites that result from these associations,and which may not be produced by the individual species.In this review,five examples of symbiosis were presented,including among the Laboulbeniales;Septobasidium;Ambrosia Fungi and Beetles;Leaf-cutter ants and their fungus gardens;and finally,termites and Termitomyces.Moreover,the benefits each partner is getting were highlighted,and uniqueness in every form of those symbiosis models was simply described.

Global perspectives on the ecological,cultural and socioeconomic relevance of wild edible fungi

Wild edible fungi(WEF),including mushrooms and truffles,comprise a natural source of nutritious and healthy food.The consumption of WEF began at least 18,700 years ago during the Stone Age.Current data from over 100 countries indicates the existence of more than 2,100 edible species,a figure that is continually growing,as vast regions and many cultures remain understudied.However,only around 30 species of WEF are grown commercially at a large-scale.WEF also play a key ecological role in the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems and have significantly contributed in shaping all life on the planet.Either as food,medicine or both,they are important for the survival,cultures,and economies of hundreds of ethnic groups around the globe.Over the last 15 years,there has been a noteworthy increase in the international trade of WEF,which is currently estimated at billions(USD)annually.In 2017,the WEF global trade,of either fresh or processed products,exceeded 1,230,000 tonnes.Due to their ecological,sociocultural and economic importance,the international WEF trade has a role to play in the post-pandemic recovery period.The main challenge of this period will be maintaining natural ecosystems while simultaneously improving human wellbeing.Critical elements of this challenge include ensuring food security,enhancing rural development,creating sustainable jobs,mitigating hunger,and slowing the loss of traditional knowledge generated over millennia.This review analyzes the ways in which sustainable use of WEF could contribute to achieving these goals.

The coral mushrooms Ramaria and Clavaria

The need to improve the quality life together with the increase in the frequency of threating diseases direct the attention of many scientists to look for potential foods as a source of nutritional and therapeutical agents.Since ancient times,several mushrooms have been reported as a nutritious food with valuable medicinal properties.The genus Ramaria and Clavaria belonging to coral fungi are a group of edible mushrooms that are distributed all over the world.The studies on different species of Ramaria and Clavaria have revealed their medicinal potentials.This review aims to present the importance of genera Ramaria and Clavaria as both food and medicine,and they offer new insights to researchers to develop new drugs and nutraceuticals.

Effects of vegetation type and soil horizon on soil bacterial and fungal communities in a dry–hot valley

Soil horizon and vegetation cover significantly impact the spatial patterns of soil fungal and bacterial communities.However,such impacts and their interactions are poorly characterized in dry–hot environments.Soil samples were collected from two soil horizons(humus and mineral)along a vegetation gradient(shrubland,grassland,and shrub–grass ecotone)in a dry-hot valley of Southwestern China to assess the effects of vegetation versus soil horizons on shaping soil microbial communities.We used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to estimate the microbial spatial pattern change across the vegetation gradients and clone libraries targeting small subunit rRNA genes to characterize the microbial community structures between distinct vegetation types and soil horizons.Bacterial DNA profile patterns were not significantly different across vegetation types but strongly correlated with soil horizons,with significant interaction effects.By contrast,fungi were remarkably different across vegetation types and soil horizons,without significant interactions effect.Distinct vegetation types did not necessarily harbor distinct bacterial or fungal community compositions.Rather,both community compositions were most strongly affected by the soil horizons.Together with these results,the soil vertical heterogeneity rather than vegetation changes is suggested to best predict shifts in soil microbial communities in this dry-hot valley area.

Arbuscular Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)provide benefits to most crop species via enhanced nutrient uptake,increased drought and abiotic stress resistance,and reduced effects of pathogens and pests.Much remains unclear regarding the specific mechanisms influencing these processes,and the critical roles of AMF are often overlooked in planning agroecological systems.There is growing consensus,however,around the important roles AMF play in improving plant resilience and crop yield while also enhancing the functioning of soil microbial communities.Heterogeneous practices across all scales complicate the successful integration of AMF in agroecological systems.AMF symbioses with crops are passive,or stimulated by incorporation of crop wastes in soil,soil inoculation with AMF spores,or the planting inoculated of seeds.Here we suggest that AMF can have highest beneficial impacts in areas with low levels of agrochemical inputs.We argue that areas with intensive agrochemical inputs can also be made more sustainable with AMF enhancements.

Deciphering microplastic ecotoxicology:impacts on crops and soil ecosystem functions

Review on microplastic toxicity in agroecosystems is scarce.Thus,we develop a conceptual model(based on literature to date)that describes various microplastic effects using a size-scale.We also classify crops depending on their observed responses,and discuss several conceptual mechanisms of soil functions.The model shows that microplastic effects on crops can be positive,toxic,lethal and no-effect.Predominantly,microfibers in a wide range of sizes can positively affect crops.However,toxic effects of microplastics with/without other pollutants are more common at different sizes.Surprisingly,biodegradable plastic effects are lethal,calling into question their environmental friendliness.No-effect on crops is also possible but less observed.Unlike other crops(e.g.,wheat,maize and bean),only onion seems resistant to microplastics.Crop uptake of micro/nanoplastic demands a clear benchmark to ensure food-safety.Furthermore,mixed effects are observed on soil functions.Alternation in soil enzymes and litter decomposition can affect nutrients and organic matter biogeochemistry.Hydrophobicity can be induced by increasing evaporation.Shifts in microbial community structure and activities are inevitable.

Towards a comprehensive understanding of free-living nitrogen fixation

Free-living nitrogen fixation(FNF)is a ubiquitous phenomenon that plays a modest role in the(N)economy of an ecosystem.However,sampling difficulties,methodological constraints and environmental controls have presented challenges for predicting the actual rate of FNF.Therefore,a deeper understanding of the accuracy to design models that consider dynamics,heterogeneity,influences,and other limitations is needed.This review presents an overview of the biology and diversity of microorganisms related to FNF as well as various ecological controls that influence these microorganisms.We also discussed contributions of FNF to the N input of various ecosystems.Overall,previous research has shown that considerable spatiotemporal variability exists in microbial types at both biome and microbiome scales,resulting in significant variation in FNF.Beyond this,rate of FNF is controlled by certain factors,such oxygen and metal ion availability,source of energy and soil nutrients,temperature,and pH.Empirical evidence increasingly indicates a significant contribution of FNF to N inputs in natural,agricultural,and aquatic ecosystems.It is inferred from this review that for the expanded exploitation of biological nitrogen fixation(BNF),we must pay additional attention to FNF because it occupies a central role within the process.Finally,we propose a framework for the quantification of FNF alongside a suite of recommendations that would deepen our understanding of FNF.

Mushroom as a means of sustainable rural development in the Chin State,Myanmar

Restricted access to quality crops and markets limits the capacity of rural communities to generate income in the mountainous regions of South and Southeast Asia,often resulting in the exploitation of forest systems,a subsequent decline in forest health,and the need for alternative means of income generation as well as forest restoration programmes.Cultivation of edible and medicinal mushrooms has been shown to be a feasible alternative source of income and also contributes to the household nutrition of rural and impoverished communities.There are a number of ongoing programmes in South and Southeast Asia currently implementing trainings and demonstrative practices for the cultivation of mushrooms at the village level.In this context,we implemented different cultivation strategies in selected rural areas in the Chin State,Myanmar.The cultivation strategies were to 1)introduce mushroom cultivation using locally sourced raw materials as substrates for rural communities unfamiliar with mushroom cultivation;and 2)improve the technical knowledge of those already experienced in mushroom cultivation in order to increase yield and minimize challenges in production systems.We introduced Pleurotus sp.cultivation to mushroom growers in the Chin state,Myanmar.These cultivation strategies will help further improve and develop mushroom industries in rural areas and contribute to rural development.In addition,we focused on cultivation systems that incorporate the use of crop residues and woody substrates in order to ensure a sustainable,integrated approach.

Bio-catalyzed plastic degradation:a review

The widespread use and production of plastic have led to increased accumulation of plastic waste in the environment which threatens terrestrial and marine life.Efficient methods for management of plastic waste remain a key challenge.Biodegradation of plastics is considered an environmentally safe method,but is still limited to laboratory scale.Several previous studies have reported microbial enzymes capable of degrading plastic.These discoveries offer a promising starting point for the development of biocatalyzed plastic degradation technology.In this review,we discuss recent advancements and applications of biocatalyst technology.We also describe the different steps for development of biocatalyzed plastic degradation technology and the major issues related to each stage.Breakthroughs in research into biocatalyzed plastic degradation would lead to new opportunities for sustainable alleviation of the worldwide problem of plastic waste accumulation.

New host and geographic records of five pleosporalean hyphomycetes associated with Musa spp.(Banana)

A study was undertaken to collect and identify saprobic fungi associated with Musa spp.(banana)from Taiwan(China),and Thailand.Samples were collected during the dry season and their morpho-molecular relationships were investigated.Five brown pleosporalean hyphomycetous taxa in Periconiaceae and Torulaceae viz.Periconia cortaderiae,P.delonicis,Torula chromolaenae,T.fici,and T.masonii were identified for the first time from Musa spp.(Musaceae).Phylogenetic analyses of a combined SSU,LSU,ITS,RPB2 and TEF DNA sequence dataset further justified the taxonomic placements of these five taxa in the above mentioned families.Periconia delonicis is reported for the first time on a monocotyledonous host and T.masonii is the first geographical record from Taiwan(China).

Valorizing plastic waste by insect consumption

Insects first began evolving hundreds of millions of years ago,and aided by gut microbes,they have been consuming hydrocarbon polymers ever since.Few man-made plastic polymers are chemically novel,so it is reasonable that insect/microbe systems can be found or developed to degrade them rapidly.However,remediation of global plastic waste problems should involve more than just conversion into CO_(2).Some industryscale microbial enzymatic degradation of plastic polymers may yield valuable monomers,but the plastic waste starting material must be of uniform chemistry and clean.This adds cost to the process.Many insect species can be utilized for animal feed as well as human food.Some of these insects have the capability to degrade plastic polymers.However,valorizing plastic wastes by producing edible insects or useful frass has largely been overlooked.Here we assemble the current knowledge of plastic degradation rates by insects.In addition,we also show the first instance of insect degradation of polyurethane and the first identification and isolation of insect gut fungi as directly aiding insect degradation.

A review of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China with an emphasis on species richness in southwest China

Bamboos not only provide socio-economic benefits to communities within the region,but also provide ecosystem services such as soil-water conservation,stabilization of sandy soils and restoration of soil nutrients.Bambusicolous ascomycetes refer to ascomycetous fungi living on any substrate of bamboo.As the largest group of fungi on bamboo,they play a significant ecological value in species composition and the structure of the fungal community,circulation of materials and energy flow of nutritional elements.In an effort to document the bambusicolous Ascomycota found in China,we assessed all major sources of academic literature,journal papers,and the USDA database(https://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/fungushost/fungushost.cfm)for reports of these fungi from China.As a result,we produced a systematic and comprehensive checklist of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China.Current names of fungi,bamboo host name,bamboo substrate,details of collected localities,references and latest classification for every bambusicolous ascomycete in China are also provided.In addition,we focused on the species richness of bambusicolous Ascomycota in China with an emphasis on southwest China.

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.

A polyphasic approach to delineate species in Bipolaris

Bipolaris species are important plant pathogens with a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate environments.Species recognition in Bipolaris has been problematic due to a lack of molecular data from ex-type cultures,the use of few gene regions for species resolution and overlapping morphological characters.In this study,we evaluate the efficiency of different DNA barcodes in species delimitation in Bipolaris by phylogenetic analyses,Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Objective Clustering.GAPDH is determined to be the best single marker for the genus.These approaches are used to clarify the taxonomic placement of all sequences currently named as Bipolaris in GenBank based on ITS and GAPDH gene sequence data.In checking various publications,we found that the majority of new host records of fungal species published in the Plant Disease journal from 2010 to 2019 were based on BLAST searches of the ITS sequences and up to 82%of those records could be erroneous.Therefore,relying on BLAST searches from GenBank to name species is not recommended.Editorial boards of journals and reviewers of new record papers should be aware of this problem.In naming Bipolaris species,whether new or known,it is recommended to perform phylogenetic analyses based on GAPDH using the correct taxon sampling for accurate results and the species relationship should have reliable statistical support.At least two new species are represented by molecular data in GenBank and we provide an updated taxonomic revision of Bipolaris.We accept 45 species in Bipolaris and notes are provided for all the species including hosts and geographic distribution.