Phylogenetic relationship,biogeography,and conservation genetics of endangered Fraxinus chiisanensis(Oleaceae),endemic to South Korea

Endemic plants are important for understanding phylogenetic relationships,biogeographical history,and genetic variation because of their restricted distribution and their role in conserving biodiversity.Here,we investigated the phylogenetic relationships of the Korean endemic Fraxinus chiisanensis by reconstructing the molecular phylogeny of Fraxinus based on two nuclear DNA(nrITS and phantastica)and two chloroplast DNA(psbA-trnH and rp132-trnL)regions.Within our fossil-calibrated phylogenetic framework,we also inferred the biogeographical history of F.chiisanensis.To provide a scientific basis for the conservation of F.chiisanensis,we determined the levels of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation in this species.Combining information from nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data,our molecular phylogenetic analyses identified F.chiisanensis as a genetically distinct unit from its sister group,Fraxinus platypoda from Japan.Our molecular dating analyses using nuclear and chloroplast DNA data sets show F.chiisanensis diverged from its sister F.platypoda in the Early or Middle Miocene and differentiated in the Late Miocene on the Korean Peninsula.Our results suggest that the divergence of F.chiisanensis was associated with the submergence of the East China Sea land bridge and enhanced monsoons in East Asia.When compared to F.platypoda,F.chiisanensis exhibits low genetic diversity within populations and high genetic differentiation among populations.These results help us to understand the evolutionary history of F.chiisanensis and to develop a conservation strategy for this species.

Taxonomic circumscription and phylogenetics of novel didymellaceous taxa with brown muriform spores

Sexual morph of didymellaceous taxa are characterized by their ascomata with relatively thin peridium,cylindric-clavate to clavate,short-pedicellate or apedicellate asci,hyaline to brown,1-septate to muriform ascospores.Its asexual morphs are coelomycetous and comprising pycnidial or acervulus conidiomata,phialidic,hyaline conidiogenous cells and hyaline or pale brown,septate or aseptate conidia.The majority of these cosmopolitan species are plant associated fungi which can be pathogens on a wide range of hosts and some species are of particular relevance for quarantine measures.Recent studies have significantly improved the taxonomy and systematics of didymellaceous taxa based on molecular phylogenetics.In contrast to the accurate and detailed studies on the asexual morphs which are common obligate pathogens,information on their usually saprobic sexual morphs is still limited.Among these phenotypically diverse species,spore characteristics are quite unique as most have hyaline spores with 0-1 septum,while only Neomicrosphaeropsis and Didymellocamarosporium are reported as producing pigmented,muriform spores.These dematiaceous muriform spores are characteristic of a considerable number of species that may be quite divergent in other characters.During taxonomic investigations on the diversity of didymellaceous taxa,we have isolated species from Alhagi pseudalhagi,Coronilla emerus,Cytisus sp.,Elaeagnus angustifolia and Spartium junceum in Italy,Russia and Uzbekistan.A comprehensive phylogeny,based on four loci(ITS,LSU,rpb2 and tub2)is used to infer species relationships.Comprehensive morphological descriptions and in-depth phylogenetic investigations of five new species viz.Ascochyta coronillae-emeri,Microsphaeropsis spartii-juncei,Neomicrosphaeropsis alhagi-pseudalhagi,N.cytisicola and N.elaeagni are presented.

New contributions to Goodyerinae and Dendrobiinae(Orchidaceae)in the flora of China

Eight new species from China,Cheirostylis chuxiongensis,C.yei,Myrmechis lingulata,M.longii,Bulbophyllum ximaense,B.xizangense,B.retusum and B.pulcherissimum,are described and illustrated.Cheirostylis chuxiongensis differs from C.thailandica by having 5-9 irregular and papillae-like calli on each side in the sac of the lip,epichile with entire lobes,petals narrowly obliquely obovate and an apex that is not recurved.Cheirostylis yei is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having a long stem,pubescent ovary and sepals,epichile lobes with irregular and undulate margins,a subquadrate callus without teeth in the saccate hypochile.Myrmechis lingulata differs from M.chinensis by having a simple and lanceolate to ligulate lip,glabrous bracts and ovary,oblique and narrowly ovate petals.Myrmechis longii differs from M.pumila by having white-veined leaves,oblong-lanceolate epichile lobes,and viscidium attached to the middle of the caudicle.Bulbophyllum ximaense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having distant pseudobulbs,shorter scape,an inflorescence with 9-16 orange-red flowers,shorter lateral sepals with a long acuminate apex,incurved and tubular apical margins,a papillate lip disk and triangular-subulate stelidia.Bulbophyllum xizangense is easily distinguished from its relatives similar by having narrow lanceolate leaves,shorter inflorescence with 1-3 greenish-yellow flowers,falcate-ovoid lateral sepals,a lip with small lateral lobes and 3 keels at the base.Bulbophyllum retusum differs from B.spathulatum by having shorter inflorescence,peduncles with 2 tubular sheaths,dorsal sepals with a retuse apex,lateral sepals with lower edges that are connate to each other and free and divergent toward the apex,obovate petals with an acute or slightly retuse apex.Bulbophyllum pulcherissimum differs from B.lopalanthum by its 5-veined dorsal sepal,ovate-lanceolate lateral sepals,obliquely ovate-oblong petal,erose-toothed margins and obovate lip with a large,oblong basal callus,and an obtuse base.In addition,three species(Bulbophyllum frostii,B.raskotii and B.nematocaulon)are reported for the first time in China.

Three new species of Liparis s.l.(Orchidaceae:Malaxideae)from Southwest China based on morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence

Liparis aureolabella and L mengziensis,two new species from the karst region of southwestern China,and L bingzhongluoensis,a new species from montane region in Yunnan,are described and illustrated.L aureolabella is easily distinguished from its relatives by having abaxially purple leave with purple reticulate veins prominent adaxially,a lip auriculate at base,and falcate-lanceolate pollinia.Liparis mengziensis is closely related to L.petiolata and L.auriculata,but differs from them by having an ovate to broadly ovate leaf,purple lip and apex connate along the margins.Liparis bingzhongluoensis is similar to Liparis nanlingensis,but the new species is characterized by having a lip with two transparent ridges on its disc,longitudinally concave basal callus and triangular column wings.Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid matK sequences showed that L aureolabella and L mengziensis are nested with L petiolata or L auriculata in a monophyletic clade.L bingzhongluoensis is sister to a clade formed by L.nanlingensis,L.tsii,L sasakii and L.krameri.Moreover,morphological comparisons strongly support that the three species as separated species newly to science.

Genetic diversity and structure of the endemic and endangered species Aristolochia delavayi growing along the Jinsha River

The traditional medicinal plant,and endangered species Aristolochia delavayi(Aristolochiaceae)is an endemic species in China and occurs in the warm and dry areas along the Jinsha river.It is also a specific host of the larvae of Byasa daemonius,a vulnerable butterfly.In this study,15 pairs of polymorphic microsatellite primers of A.delavayi were designed and screened based on the Simple Sequence Repeats(SSR)loci found by using the results of genome skimming.Based on these 15 SSR markers,the genetic diversity and structure of 193 individuals from ten natural populations were analyzed in detail.In comparison to other endemic and endangered plants in the region,the population of A.delavayi possess a relatively high genetic diversity(He=0.550,I=1.112).AMOVA analysis showed that 68.4%of the total genetic diversity was within populations and 31.6%of the variation occurred among populations.There was a significant genetic differentiation among natural populations of A.delavayi detectable,with low gene flow(Nm=0.591).This might be attributed to geographical barriers and limited seed dispersal.To test the isolation by distance(IBD),we performed Mantel test,which showed a significant correlation between the geographic and genetic distances.In order to cope with the possible biases caused by IBD,we additionally performed Bayesian genetic cluster analyses and principal coordinate analysis(PCoA).The final cluster analysis revealed three groups with distinct geographical distribution.Habitat fragmentation and limited gene flow between these populations may be the main reasons for the current genetic structure.For conservation of this species,we suggest to divide its populations into three protection management units,with subsequent focus on the Yongsheng and Luquan populations which experienced a genetic bottleneck event in the past.

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).

Additions to wild seed and fruit fungi 2:Parascedosporium putredinis:a new Thailand record from Delonix regia seed pods

We are studying seed pod fungi associated with Delonix regia in Thailand and in this paper we provide an illustrated account of Parascedosporium putredinis,which is a new record for Thailand.Phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS and LSU sequence data and morphological similarities provide evidence for its identification.We illustrate the synnematal stage and lateral,solitary conidiophores of P.putredinis obtained in vitro on MEA.We also provide ITS,LSU,SSU,and tef sequence data for P.putredinis,which are deposited in GenBank.

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.

Diaporthe collariana sp.nov.,with prominent collarettes associated with Magnolia champaca fruits in Thailand

We are studying seed and fruit inhabiting fungi in Thailand and this paper introduces a new species,Diaporthe collariana,from Magnolia champaca fruits,collected in Chiang Rai Province.Molecular analysis of a combined ITS,TEF1,TUB and CAL sequence DNA and morphological data provide evidence to justify the new species.Diaporthe collariana is characterized by producing alpha and beta conidia,and conidiogenous cells with prominent,flared collarettes.The new species is compared with closely related species in the genus.

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.

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.

Pollination ecology in China from 1977 to 2017

China is one of most biodiverse countries in the world, containing at least 10% of all angiosperm species.Therefore, we should anticipate a diverse, pollinator fauna. China also has a long history of applied ethnobiology, including a sustainable agriculture based on apiculture and plant-pollinator interactions.However, the science of pollination ecology is a far younger sub-discipline in China, compared to in the West. Chinese studies in pollination ecology began in the 1970 s. For this review, we compiled a complete reference database(>600 publications) of pollination studies in China. Using this database, we identified and analyzed gaps and limitations in research on the pollination systems of native and naturalized species. Specifically, we asked the following questions: 1) What do we know about the pollination systems of native, Chinese species? 2) How does Chinese pollination ecology compare with the development of pollination research abroad and which aspects of research should be pursued by Chinese anthecologists in the near future? 3) What research on pollination in China will advance our understanding and contribute to our ongoing analyses of endemism and conservation? Subsequently, we segregated and identified prospective lines of future research that are unique to China and can only be done in China. This requires discussing priorities within a systematic approach.

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.

Evolution of non‑lichenized,saprotrophic species of Arthonia(Ascomycota,Arthoniales)and resurrection of Naevia,with notes on Mycoporum

Fungi that are barely lichenized or non-lichenized and closely related to lichenized taxa,the so-called borderline fungi,are an important element in reconstructing the evolutionary history of lichenized lineages.Arthoniaceae is a prime example including non-lichenized,saprotrophic lineages which potentially were precursors to lichenized taxa.In this study,we focused on saprotrophic species of Arthonia sensu lato,including new sequence data for Arthonia pinastri.We obtained fresh material of this taxon from a living branch of Fraxinus ornus in Italy to assess its taxonomic status and to elucidate its phylogenetic relationships within Arthonia.Thin sections of the thallus and ascomata of A.pinastri confirmed the absence of a photobiont.Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined mtSSU,nuLSU and RPB2 sequence data placed the species close to A.dispersa(barely lichenized or non-lichenized)and A.punctiformis(non-lichenized)in a clade closely related to Arthonia sensu stricto,and the A.pinastri clade is here resurrected under the name Naevia.Ancestral character state analysis within a broader context of Arthoniales does not support the saprotrophic lifestyle to be a plesiomorphic feature,but suggests loss of lichenization in Naevia,as well as loss and possible regain in a second clade containing saprotrophic species and including taxa resembling Mycoporum,underlining the evolutionary plasticity of Arthoniales.These two clades constitute model taxa to further investigate the evolution of alternative biological lifestyles within the context of chiefly lichenized taxa.

Towards a natural classification of Ophiobolus and ophiobolus-like taxa;introducing three novel genera Ophiobolopsis, Paraophiobolus and Pseudoophiobolus in Phaeosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales)

Ophiobolus is a large genus of Phaeosphaeriaceae comprising more than 350 possible species,most of which are saprobes on herbaceous plants in Europe and North America.Ophiobolus species are polyphyletic and the type of Ophiobolus is not represented in GenBank.Therefore,an increased taxon sampling of ophiobolus-like taxa and epitypification of the type species,O.disseminans is reported.Multigene phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU,SSU,TEF1-a and ITS sequence data position O.disseminans in a sister clade with O.ponticus and several Entodesmium species in Phaeosphaeriaceae with high support.Therefore,Entodesmium is synonymized under Ophiobolus.Premilcurensis with it type species,P.senecionis also clusters within the Ophiobolus clade and is synonymized under Ophiobolus.Ophiobolus rossicus sp.nov.is introduced and a reference specimen is designated for O.ponticus.Other ophiobolus-like taxa(Ophiobolus sensu lato)can be distinguished as three main groups,which are introduced as new genera.Ophiobolopsis is introduced to accommodate the new species,Ophiobolopsis italica.The new genus Paraophiobolus is introduced to accommodate P.arundinis sp.nov.and P.plantaginis comb.nov.This genus is characterized by hyaline to pale yellowish ascospores,some green-yellowish at maturity,with a swollen cell,terminal appendages and ascospores not separating into part spores.Pseudoophiobolus gen.nov.is introduced to accommodate six new species and two new combinations,viz.Ps.achilleae,Ps.erythrosporus,Ps.galii,Ps.italicus,Ps.mathieui,Ps.rosae,Ps.subhyalinisporus and Ps.urticicola.Pseudoophiobolus is characterized by subhyaline to pale yellowish or yellowish ascospores,with a swollen cell,lack of terminal appendages and ascospores that do not separate into part spores and is related to Nodulosphaeria.An updated tree for Phaeosphaeriaceae based on multigene analysis is also provided.

Fungal diversity notes 1387-1511:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 125 taxa from four phyla,ten classes,31 orders,69 families,92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated,demonstrating worldwide and geographic distri-bution.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera,69 new species,one new com-bination,one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions.Three new genera,Cylindrotorula(Torulaceae),Scolecoleotia(Leotiales genus incertae sedis)and Xenovaginatispora(Lindomycetaceae)are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies.Newly described species are Aspergillus lan-naensis,Cercophora dulciaquae,Cladophialophora aquatica,Coprinellus punjabensis,Cortinarius alutarius,C.mammil-latus,C.quercoflocculosus,Coryneum fagi,Cruentomycena uttarakhandina,Cryptocoryneum rosae,Cyathus uniperidiolus,Cylindrotorula indica,Diaporthe chamaeropicola,Didymella azollae,Diplodia alanphillipsii,Dothiora coronicola,Efibula rodriguezarmasiae,Erysiphe salicicola,Fusarium queenslandicum,Geastrum gorgonicum,G.hansagiense,Helicosporium sexualis,Helminthosporium chiangraiensis,Hongkongmyces kokensis,Hydrophilomyces hydraenae,Hygrocybe boertmannii,Hyphoderma australosetigerum,Hyphodontia yunnanensis,Khaleijomyces umikazeana,Laboulbenia divisa,Laboulbenia triarthronis,Laccaria populina,Lactarius pallidozonarius,Lepidosphaeria strobelii,Longipedicellata megafusiformis,Lophiotrema lincangensis,Marasmius benghalensis,M.jinfoshanensis,M.subtropicus,Mariannaea camelliae,Mel-anographium smilaxii,Microbotryum polycnemoides,Mimeomyces digitatus,Minutisphaera thailandensis,Mortierella solitaria,Mucor harpali,Nigrograna jinghongensis,Odontia huanrenensis,O.parvispina,Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii,Par-afuscosporella niloticus,Phaeocytostroma yomensis,Phaeoisaria synnematicus,Phanerochaete hainanensis,Pleopunctum thailandicum,Pleurotheciella dimorphospora,Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense,Pseudodactylaria albicolonia,Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora,Russula paravioleipes,Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi,Seriascoma honghense,Synandromyces makranczyi,Thyridaria aureobrunnea,Torula lancangjiangensis,Tubeufia longihelicospora,Wicklowia fusiformispora,Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora.One new combination,Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is pro-posed.A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated.New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici,Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis,Camarosporidiella laburni,Canalisporium caribense,Chaetoscutula juniperi,Chlorophyllum demangei,C.globosum,C.hortense,Cladophialophora abundans,Dendryphion hydei,Diaporthe foeniculina,D.pseudophoenicicola,D.pyracanthae,Dictyosporium pandanicola,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Ernakula-mia tanakae,Eutypa flavovirens,E.lata,Favolus septatus,Fusarium atrovinosum,F.clavum,Helicosporium luteosporum,Hermatomyces nabanheensis,Hermatomyces sphaericoides,Longipedicellata aquatica,Lophiostoma caudata,L.clematidis-vitalbae,Lophiotrema hydei,L.neoarundinaria,Marasmiellus palmivorus,Megacapitula villosa,Micropsalliota globocys-tis,M.gracilis,Montagnula thailandica,Neohelicosporium irregulare,N.parisporum,Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum,Phaeoisaria aquatica,Poaceascoma taiwanense,Saproamanita manicata,Spegazzinia camelliae,Submersispora variabi-lis,Thyronectria caudata,T.mackenziei,Tubeufia chiangmaiensis,T.roseohelicospora,Vaginatispora nypae,Wicklowia submersa,Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis.The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens,coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.

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.

Fossil seeds of Euryale(Nymphaeaceae) indicate a lake or swamp environment in the late Miocene Zhaotong Basin of southwestern China

Euryale(Nymphaeaceae) is a monotypic genus distributed in eastern Asia, but fossils in its native distribution are sparse as compared to Europe where the genus has disappeared. Here, we describe a new fossil species, Euryale yunnanensis sp. nov., from the late Miocene Zhaotong Basin in southwestern China on the basis of seed remains. Characteristics including an ellipsoidal to almost spherical shape,a smooth surface, a germination cap that covers the micropyle, the separation of the hilum and germination cap(micropyle), elliptic testa surface cells with undulate margins and thickened cell walls collectively indicate a close affinity with the genus Euryale in Nymphaeaceae. Comparisons ofseed morphology and anatomy demonstrate that the newly described fossil species differs from modern and other fossil species of Euryale and thus verify the assignment to a new fossil species. As the modern Euryale is an aquatic plant,preferably living in swamps and lakes with shallow and stable water, we hypothesize that a lake and/or swamp environment with shallow water was present near Shuitangba in the Zhaotong Basin, where the Shuitangba hominoid lived during the late Miocene. This inference is generally consistent with paleoenvironmental data extracted from avian, fish, frog, turtle and crocodile fossils, as well as from aquatic pollen. The fossil history suggests a comparatively recent(Miocene) emergence of Euryale, which is roughly in agreement with the divergence time inferred from the molecular information.

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.

Global and regional tree species diversity

Aims Understanding tree species richness at a global scale and the ori-gin and maintenance of patterns of tree species richness across the world is crucial to preserving tree species diversity.The recently published global tree database(i.e.GlobalTreeSearch)is the only source with tree lists at both global and national scales.However,our review and assessment show that many species included in GlobalTreeSearch are not tree species.In addition,several thou-sands of tree species in the botanical literature have not been included in GlobalTreeSearch.The exact number of tree species in the world remains unknown.This study aims to correct errors with GlobalTreeSearch and to estimate the number of tree species in the world based on a large number of regional floras.Methods We standardized nomenclature and spellings of the species names according to The Plant List.We used 62 floristic sources,along with plant growth form and height,to assess the GlobalTreeSearch species checklist and to determine the degree to which GlobalTreeSearch incorrectly treated non-tree species as tree species.Important Findings Based on our review on 60.8%of the species in the GlobalTreeSearch database and the number of additional tree species that we have found from 62 continental,national,regional and local floris-tic sources,we found that about 8.7%of the species included in GlobalTreeSearch are not tree species(they are herbs,shrubs or vines).We estimate that there would be about 61000 tree species(including approximately 5500 species that are primarily shrubs but occasionally trees)in the world.