Fungal ecology

This is the first attempt reported on the antioxidant activities of Heterodermia boryi, Sticta weigelii and Dermatocarpon vellereum.The levels of super oxide dismutase were evaluated in Heterodermia boryi, Sticta weigelii and Dermatocarpon vellereum. Among which SOD levels were found to be higher in Heterodermia boryi (4460 U/g). Catalase was found to be higher in Dermatocarpon vellereum (113.01 U/g). Peroxidase activity was higher in Dermatocarpon vellereum (829.12 U/g). GST level was higher in Sticta weigelii (454.87 U/g). Polyphenol oxidase was estimated in the form of catechol and laccase. COX and LAC levels were higher in Dermatocarpon vellereum (9.973 and 9.33 U/g) and total polyphenol oxidase was found to be higher Dermatocarpon vellereum (19.23 U/g) Ascorbic acid level was higher in Sticta weigelii (24.29 mg/g) Tocopherol were reflected higher in Sticta weigelii (1474 µg/g). Reduced glutathione was found to be higher in Heterodermia boryi (11.63 nano moles/g). ABTS radicals were highly scavenged by Sticta weigelii (36.91%) followed by Dermatocarpon vellereum (35.02%) and Heterodermia boryi (31.81%).DPPH radicals were highly scavenged by Heterodermia boryi (90.66%). The inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation by the lichens was estimated and was found that Dermatocarpon vellereum (92.26%). Comparatively Heterodermia boryi and Sticta weigelii possessed lesser LPO (94.17% and 85.51% respectively). Inhibition of oxidant induced DNA damage in herring sperm was evaluated, Sticta weigelii greatly inhibited (92.24%).

Yangui, I., Zouaoui Boutiti, M., Hlaiem, S., Vettraino, A.M., Vannini, A., Ben Jamaâ, M.L., and Messaoud, C. 2018. Identification and occurrence of Trichoderma harzianum associated with cork oak in Tunisia. Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 13 (si): 39-48. Trichoderma harzianum is an endophyte fungus of considerable interest because of its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent against various plant pathogenic fungi. In this study, T. harzianum was isolated from cork oak trees in three forests in northwest Tunisia. Initially, the fungal characterization was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic features. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 of the DNAr was carried out to confirm fungus identification at the species level. The aims of this work were to study the occurrence of T. harzianum, to understand its relationship with the host plant, and to quantitatively investigate its distribution on the different organs of cork oak trees across three sites (Bab...

. Birch necrotic leaf spots caused by fungal pathogens. Folia oecol., 41: 134-140. Microscopic fungi associated with lesions on the leaves of Betula pendula Roth. species growing in different greenery types of Nitra town are causal factors weakening the health state and vitality of these trees. Many of them caused anthracnose and formed small, irregular, circular brown spots with dark brown margins or broad necrotic blotches. Disease symptoms begin as a large spots or blotches, which rapidly widen and join, resulting in large areas of dead tissue. The fungi overwinter on infected fallen leaves. Sporulation begins when spring conditions become warm and wet. During the study of the mycoflora of birch leaves ten fungal species were recorded: Asteroma microspermum, Cryptocline betularum, Discula betulae, Marssonina betulae, Melanconium betulinum, Phoma sp., Phomopsis sp., Phyllosticta betulina, Pyrenopeziza betulicola, Stemphylium sp. In this work were described disease symptoms and some distinctive morphological features.

Adansonia gregorii (baobab) is an iconic tree species occurring in the NW of Australia. Dying baobabs, A. digitata, have been reported from southern Africa and as A. gregorii is closely related to A. digitata, surveys were conducted to assess the health of the Australian baobab. The endophytic microflora of A. gregorii and surrounding tree species was sampled and the ability of these endophytes to cause disease in A. gregorii was determined. Endophytes were isolated from asymptomatic baobabs across 24 sites in the Kimberley region, north-west Australia (NW Australia). Material was also taken from surrounding native tree species at three sites. Material was also collected from asymptomatic and dying Adansonia species in the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens and from a dying baobab in a nursery in Broome. Endophytic fungi isolated from these samples were identified using morphological and molecular methods. Eleven botryosphaeriaceous species were identified along with 18 other nonbotryosphaeriaceous species; L. theobromae 1 was the most common species. The pathogenicity of the botryosphaeriaceous species to baobabs was determined by inoculating the taproot of seedlings and stems of young baobab trees. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was confirmed as a potentially significant pathogen of baobabs.

In 2019–2020 (for 13 months), 21 macrofungi species, both native (14) and inadvertently introduced from warmer regions (7), were found in greenhouses at the Warsaw University Botanic Garden. These included 13 species recorded for the first time in Polish greenhouses. Descriptions and photographs are given for 5 species identified, which are new to Poland (Gymnopus luxurians, Hemimycena ignobilis, Leucoagaricus meleagris, L. rubrotinctus, and Xylaria arbuscula s.l.). The highest variety of species was found in the greenhouses with the collection of tropical and succulents and cacti, with 11 and 8 species, respectively. The number of species ranged from five to four in other greenhouses. The current results increase the number of species reported from greenhouses in Poland to approximately 50. None of the identified species has a negative impact on the growth and health of plants in the greenhouses at the Warsaw University Botanic Garden and at present none of them are indicated as po...

Buglossoporus pulvinus is widely distributed across Europe, within the range of Quercus robur. Throughout the area in which it appears, it is rare or very rare. It is listed as an endangered species in Europe and has been added to the Red Lists of fungi in a number of countries, along with awaiting inclusion in the IUCN Red List. In this study we have critically analysed the existing data about the occurrence of B. pulvinus in Poland. We have presented two new localities of the species in question in Poland, as well as new occurrences on the territory of the Białowieża National Park, the only place where this species had been previously recorded in Poland. Selected trees and logs inhabited by B. pulvinus have been characterized. We have indicated the number of observed basidiomata, their phenology, and the sizes of the largest specimens. We have identified 8 fungus species (Bisporella citrina, Daedalea quercina, Hapalopilus croceus, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, Laetiporus sulphureus, My...

This article begins a four-part series, which presents the results of mycological research carried out in 2000-2007 in the agricultural landscape of the General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park. This part includes description of the study area and field research methods, as well as a list and localities of 617 macrofungal taxa recorded in the Park. The next parts of this series will deal with: species that are rare, protected by law or recorded for the first time in Poland; the role of wooded patches for preservation of fungal diversity in the agricultural landscape; and changes in species diversity and structure of fungal communities in forest communities under strong human pressure.

The basidiomycete Volvariella bombycina (Pluteaceae) is included in red lists of fungi in Poland and some other countries. Its distribution in Poland is presented, based on published data as well as 12 new locations. Platanus × acerifolia is reported for the first time as a host of this fungus. Another six tree species are new hosts for V. bombycina in Poland. These new data confirm the high ecological plasticity of the species. It is found in urban areas, forests, tree lines along roads, and a village park. Based on the new distribution data for V. bombycina in Poland, according to IUCN red-listed criteria it should be classified as LC (least concern).

This paper presents the second part of the results of the first short-term inventory of fungi species occurring in the Biebrza National Park and is focused on a survey of macrofungi. The total number of macrofungi found during the survey in late August 2012 was 289 taxa: 17 ascomycetes and 272 basidiomycetes, inhabiting diverse ecological niches. The identified fungi belonged to ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprobionts decomposing wood, plant litter and animal remnants. The identity of 25 mycorrhizal fungi species has been confirmed using molecular techniques. Five species are newly reported for Poland (Amanita olivaceogrisea, Lepiota lepida, Stropharia alcis, Xerocomus fennicus, X. cisalpinus) and 225 taxa (79 %) were not known in the Biebrza National Park. Fifty species are endangered in Poland, of which nine species are protected by law. Data on species richness and the taxonomic diversity of the identified fungi are briefly commented in terms of their significance for nature co...

A targeted amplicon-based metagenomics approach (metabarcoding) provides detailed access to the diversity of the mycobiome in any substrate in distinct environments on Earth. Fungi are the main decomposers of lignocellulosic woody debris in terrestrial forested ecosystems, contributing significantly to the global carbon cycle. The main objectives of this study were to assess the fungal taxonomic diversity in fallen woody debris samples from two Neotropical forest fragments (rainforest and seasonal forest), to analyze the qualitative and quantitative components of the taxonomic diversity, and to investigate the functional diversity of the ecological groups detected. Our study comprised three main methodological steps: (i) sampling in the field; (ii) extraction of DNA, amplification of targeted segments and massively parallel sequencing; and (iii) data analysis and interpretation. A total of 110 molecular operational taxonomic units showing sequence similarity of 95% or more across th...

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The prevailing paradigm of coal formation-rooted in the accumulation of plant matter in peatlandsfails to fully account for a growing body of geochemical, structural, and isotopic anomalies observed in global coal deposits. This paper presents a novel hypothesis that challenges the conventional understanding of coal genesis by proposing a dominant fungal origin. We argue that vast networks of prehistoric fungal mycelium, particularly during the Carboniferous period, constituted the primary organic precursor material that was later transformed into coal through diagenetic and catagenetic processes. Supporting this hypothesis, we present multidisciplinary evidence: 1. Biomarker analysis identifying chitin derivatives and fungal-specific nitrogen compounds; 2. Isotopic fingerprints (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ²H) consistent with fungal metabolism and microbial symbiosis; 3. Structural patterns in coal seams mirroring known mycelial growth forms. We further explore how these findings challenge traditional models of coalification and propose an alternative mechanism involving mycelial colonization, anaerobic decomposition, and thermochemical transformation. The implications span paleoecology, resource exploration, and climate modeling, urging a reevaluation of Earth's carbon cycle history.

Arctic landscapes are characterized by a diversity of ecosystems, which differ in plant species composition, litter biochemistry, and biogeochemical cycling rates. Tundra ecosystems differing in plant composition should contain compositionally and functionally distinct microbial communities that differentially transform dissolved organic matter as it moves downslope from dry, upland to wet, lowland tundra. To test this idea, we studied soil microbial communities in upland tussock, stream-side birch-willow, and lakeside wet sedge tundra in arctic Alaska, USA. These are a series of ecosystems that differ in topographic position, plant composition, and soil drainage. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses, coupled with compound-specific 13 C isotope tracing, were used to quantify microbial community composition and function; we also assayed the activity of extracellular enzymes involved in cellulose, chitin, and lignin degradation. Surface soil from each tundra ecosystem was labeled with 13 Ccellobiose, 13 C-N-acetylglucosamine, or 13 C-vanillin. After a five-day incubation, we followed the movement of 13 C into bacterial and fungal PLFAs, microbial respiration, dissolved organic carbon, and soil organic matter. Microbial community composition and function were distinct among tundra ecosystems, with tussock tundra containing a significantly greater abundance and activity of soil fungi. Although the majority of 13 C-labeled substrates rapidly moved into soil organic matter in all tundra soils (i.e., 50-90% of applied 13 C), microbial respiration of labeled substrates in wet sedge tundra soil was lower than in tussock and birch-willow tundra; ; 8% of 13 C-cellobiose and ;5% of 13 C-vanillin was respired in wet sedge soil vs. 26-38% of 13 Ccellobiose and 18-21% of 13 C-vanillin in the other tundra ecosystems. Despite these differences, wet sedge tundra exhibited the greatest extracellular enzyme activity. Topographic variation in plant litter biochemistry and soil drainage shape the metabolic capability of soil microbial communities, which, in turn, influence the chemical composition of dissolved organic matter across the arctic tundra landscape.

Background and AimsNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] than ambient, however nothing is known about how changes in [CO2] affects MFRE function in vascular plants.MethodsWe measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte, Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated atmospheric [CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively.Key ResultsTransfer of 33P and 15N from MFRE to plant were unaffected by changes in [CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plant to MFRE under elevated [CO2].ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in atmosp...

Understanding the biogeographic patterns of root-associated fungi and their sensitivity to temperature may improve predictions of future changes in terrestrial biodiversity and associated ecosystem processes, but data are currently limited. Anticipating change will require combining observational data, which predict how climatic factors limit current species distributions, with direct manipulations of climate, which can isolate responses to specific climate variables. Root endophytes are common symbionts of plants, particularly in arctic and alpine environments, yet their responses to climate warming are not resolved. Here, we directly cultured endophytic fungi from roots collected along altitudinal gradients in replicated mountain watersheds and from a 27 y field warming experiment in the Rocky Mountains, USA, to improve understanding of climate impacts on fungal root endophytes. Fungal taxa that were common at high elevations declined most under climate warming, whereas low elevation dominants responded neutrally or increased with experimental warming. Altitudinal gradients in fungal communities were strongly specific to the plant host species. Specifically, Poa species had 25e60% greater fungal isolate abundance and 25e38% greater fungal diversity at high elevations than at low elevation sites. In contrast, Festuca thurberi had 64% lower fungal diversity on roots at high elevation than at low elevation. Our results help to improve understanding of the potential for climate change to alter plant-fungal interactions in mountain ecosystems.

Termite nests are microenvironments rich in organic matter and fauna, and are home to several groups of organisms such as lichens and fungi. Termite species from the genus Inquilinitermes live in the nests of Constrictotermes cyphergaster and feed on the feces of their host, which is a dark material (black mass) rich in lignin and cellulose. This study assessed the richness of lignocellulosic fungi associated with the black mass from the nests and the food content of C. cyphergaster and the inquilinous Inquilinitermes fur. The black mass of the nests and their adjacent soils, in addition to the food content from 100 workers of each termite species, were submitted to serial dilutions of up to 10 À4 g ml À1 . Ten species of fungi were recorded. The analysis of similarity revealed two groups (soil and black mass versus food content of termites) that were 84% dissimilar. For I. fur, fungal richness was higher in the paunch, while for C. cyphergaster, the richness was higher in the crop. The mycobiota consisted of ascomycetes known for their potential to decompose cellulose and lignin.

Coprophilous fungal taxa have been detected in several genomic surveys of root samples collected from natural habitats. However, no research to date has characterized the colonization patterns or the nature of the interaction between host plants and coprophilous fungi associated with the roots. In our study, strains of coprophilous fungi isolated from the scats of a subterranean desert rodent were described with respect to their taxonomy and life cycle, both within the scat material and when associated with the roots of a host plant. We tested the hypothesis that coprophilous fungi have the capacity to complete their life cycle in two contrasting niches, behaving as radical fungal endophytes when associated with the roots. Twenty-three strains were isolated and identified by molecular and morphological traits, all belonging to the same clade within the Lasiosphaeriaceae family, order Sordariales. Seven different selected morphotypes were inoculated in the rhizosphere of a grass species and in sterile soil-scat substrates. Five of the seven morphotypes completed their life cycle, producing ascomata with fertile ascospores in both environments. All strains developed a conspicuous melanized mycelium around the roots. Using two different approaches, root dyeing and a regrowth assay from root segments, we detected the inoculated strains inside the roots, which colonized the parenchymal tissue asymptomatically. We discuss our results in the context of the occupation of the double niche and the endophytic nature of the isolated fungi.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are key players in N cycling in coniferous forests, and forest management such as application of wood ash can affect their functionality. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of wood ash application on ECM fungal mycelial production, capacity to retain N, diversity and community composition. In-growth mesh bags were installed in control and treated plots. After 6 months, 15 N labeled ammonium and nitrate were applied into the mesh bags, and 24 h later extramatrical mycelium (EMM) was extracted and analyzed. Wood ash had no effects on EMM in-growth, N retention capacity, diversity or community composition. In contrast, there were significant seasonal differences in the amount of EMM produced. These results demonstrate that applying up to 6 t ha À1 of wood ash in this type of plantation forest is a safe management practice that does not increase N leaching or negatively affect ECM fungi.

The first nationwide survey of Scolytinae in Jordan was conducted at 2023 to determine the presence and distribution of previously undetected alien species. Study sites included pine, and oak forests and fruit tree farms north Jordan. Insect traps baited with ethanol lures were employed to maximize the diversity of Scolytinae species collected. We collected four species of (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) of the bark beetles which are Xylopertha reflexicauda (Lesne, 1937),Scobicia chevrieri (A. Villa & G.B. Villa, 1835) , Xyloperthella picea (Olivier, 1790)and Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792). Four recently established alien species were detected, belong to (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) which are Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg 1837), Cryphalus dilutus Eichhoff 1878, of Hypothenemus eruditus Westwood, 1833, Cryphalus sp. Most recorded taxa are widespread species of the western Palearctic (all Bostrichidae) or species of cryptogenic origin (X. saxesenii and H. eruditus). Of particular interest is the occurrence of the invasive Cryphalus dilutus, a species originating from the eastern Palearctic and Indo-Malaya. This taxon is native to Myanmar and has been recently recorded or introduced in China (Guangdong,

Phaseolus lunatus (lima bean) has been a model organism to understand direct and indirect defenses against herbivores. We investigated the identity and diversity of endophytic fungi associated with young, mature and old leaves of lima bean in its natural environment. We recovered 758 isolates that were identified and classified in 142 fungal species from 66 genera, with Curvularia, Fusarium, Phomopsis, Alternaria and Colletotrichum being the most abundant and diverse Ascomycota genera. Our data revealed that species richness and diversity increased with leaf age, this factor being also important for the structure of the endophytic community. The occurrence patterns of fungal species was highly heterogeneous among leaves, and only fourteen species were recovered from all three foliar ages investigated. In vitro dual assays between endophytes and the plant pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum revealed that most endophytes tested can inhibit the growth of this pathogen, suggesting their potential as biocontrol agents.

The mycorrhizal association between fungi and plants is thought to be an important component of the functional diversity of plant communities, although evidence is weak. We explored community-level changes to mycorrhizal features and leaf traits along a primary successional gradient on a sedimentation coast. We found that community weighted mean values of mycorrhizal features and leaf traits varied systematically along the successional series, representing a transition from communities dominated by more stress-tolerant plant species (less mycorrhizal colonization and lower specific leaf area) to less stress-tolerant plant species (higher mycorrhizal colonization and specific leaf area). Despite the covariation in leaf traits and mycorrhizal features at the community level, only mycorrhizal features showed an increasing functional diversity with successional age. These results suggest that mycorrhizal fungi should not be forgotten in trait-based plant community ecology.

We studied the changes in the wood-inhabiting fungal communities on dead wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) under varying duration and intensity of cormorant nesting. The activities of the birds created large amounts of dead wood, changed wood chemistry and altered stand characteristics. Analyses based on records of fruiting structures of fungi showed that fungal communities in the cormorant colony differed from communities in unaffected forest. Ornithogenic factors impacted least on generalist species and promoted the occurrence of fungi uncharacteristic of coniferous wood or wood in general. The rate of ornithogenic change was rapid: a shift in fungal assemblages was evident by the third year of expansion of the bird colony into unaffected forest. It featured the disappearance of tremelloid fungi, a decline of corticioid fungi and an increase of hyphomycetoid fungi. The proportion of coniferous wood specialists decreased and that of generalists increased. It is expected that the changes in fungal communities will persist until the forest is fully regenerated.

The gut of insects is a productive environment for discovering undescribed species of yeasts, and the gut of wood-feeding insects of several families is especially rich in yeasts that carry out the fermentation of cellobiose and xylose. Passalid beetles (Passalidae, Coleoptera) live in dead wood that they ingest as their primary food source. We report the isolation, molecular identification and physiological characterization of 771 yeast cultures isolated from the gut of 16 species of passalids collected in nine localities in Guatemala. Ascomycete yeasts were present in the gut of every passalid studied, and the xylosefermenting (X-F) yeasts Scheffersomyces shehatae and Scheffersomyces stipitis were the most abundant taxa isolated. The gut of the beetles also contained undescribed cellobiosefermenting and X-F species in the Lodderomyces, Scheffersomyces and Spathaspora, and undescribed species in Sugiyamaella clades as well as rare yeast species in the Phaffomyces and Spencermartinsiella clades. Basidiomycete yeasts in the genera Cryptococcus and Trichosporon were also common. The yeast species richness was influenced by the host species and the substrate, and gut-inhabiting yeasts have the ability to survive the differing physiological conditions of several gut compartments.

Woody vines (lianas) are common in tropical forests, where they reach the light by using other plants for support. Myxomycetes have been recorded from both living and dead lianas, but the microhabitat represented by these plants has never been examined in detail. In the present study, samples of lianas were obtained from a number of different types of tropical forest in Australia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. Moist chamber cultures prepared with samples from these six study areas yielded several hundred collections representing 65 species of myxomycetes, and at least 87% of all cultures produced some evidence (either plasmodia or fruiting bodies) of these organisms. Arcyria cinerea, Diderma hemisphaericum, Didymium squamulosum, Physarum pusillum and Stemonitis fusca var. nigrescens appear to be among the more consistently abundant and widespread members of the assemblage of myxomycetes associated with lianas, but our cultures also have produced a number of noteworthy collections. Prominent examples are Perichaena dictyonema, a rare species described originally from Central Africa, Physarum hongkongense, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, Physarum melleum and Willkommlangea reticulata. In addition, the total assemblage of species we recorded includes three species (Physarum hongkongense, Stemonitis foliicola and Stemonaria gracilis) not previously known from the Neotropics along with six new records for Australia, 13 new records for Peru and 12 new records for Puerto Rico. Data are provided on the pH and water holding capacity of the samples we processed, and the ecology of lianas as a special microhabitat for myxomycetes is discussed.

The similarity between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities of trees and neighboring understory herbs in forests remains unclear, which we aimed to clarify. We traced and collected basal roots of 20 randomly chosen Cryptomeria japonica (Cupresaceae) trees and the surrounding soil at four microsites in 1 km 2 of a Cr. japonica forest. One Chloranthus serratus (Chlorantaceae) herb immediately at the base of each sampled tree was excavated to collect an intact root system. We amplified a partial small subunit of fungal ribosomal DNA (18S) using Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing. Soil physicochemical properties were also measured. We detected 670 and 679 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in Cr. japonica and Ch. serratus, respectively, belonging to Acaulospora, Dominikia, Glomus, Microkamienskia, Rhizophagus, Septoglomus, and Sclerocystis. Seventeen OTUs were detected in the roots of both host species at average relative abundances > 1%. Among them, four dominant OTUs with an average relative abundance > 10% were concurrently detected in the roots of 17 tree-herb sets. The composition and similarity of their AMF communities were spatially varied, significantly driven by spatially varying soil pH, total C, N, C/N, and elevation, but not electroconductivity, supported by the micrositedependent distributions of their dominant OTUs. We concluded that the similarity of AMF communities between trees and neighboring understory herbs depends on the soil physicochemical conditions that influence the distribution of their dominant AMF.

How do cultural perceptions of historic environmental disasters influence our present understanding of natural processes and conservation? How do such events contribute to the identity of a place? This analysis of the representations of the 1868 and 1870 windstorms – and the subsequent bark beetle outbreak – in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava/Böhmerwald) on the border of Bohemia, between what is today the Czech Republic and Germany, in the mass media and belles-lettres of the time, demonstrates how fundamental such events can be to the development of place-based identity. In this article, we will show that nature conservation and a particular type of landscape management are conditioned by how they are historically interpreted and represented rather than by factors of nature. The 1868 and 1870 windstorms have become an integral part of the emotional narrative of the local forests’ apocalyptic collapse and the disappearance of the Bohemian Forest’s pristine nature. This catastrophic story has long stimulated tourists’ interest in the region and has been, at the same time, an instrument for the political aspirations of Czech nationalists. Although contemporary natural history research has conclusively proven that the windstorms of the late 1860s and early 1870s are only a few of many such historical environmental disasters in the Bohemian Forest, these tendencies persist today. The further analysis of journalistic articles from 1991 to 2010 has shown how this narrative still creates an identity of place and influences debates about the relationship between regional development and nature conservation in Bohemia Forest National Park.

and Mazury in Olsztyn K e y w o r d s: small cranberry Oxycoccus microcarpus Turcz. ex Rupr., new stand, rare species, endangered species, vulnerable species. A b s t r a c t Floristic research carried out in the region of Warmia and Mazury led to the discovery, on 16 May 2011, of a small cranberry stand in a forest, in a small raised bog with enclaves characteristic of transitional moors. The discussed stand is situated in the southern part of the Olsztyn Forest Division, district 499, in the vicinity of the eastern boundary of the Lake Kośno landscape reserve.

Genetic and phenotypic variation among individuals increases population resilience to external disturbances and enables quicker adaptation to changing environments. Since the predominant phase in the fungal lifecycle occurs belowground or within substrates, it is difficult to assess the level of variation in functional traits occurring within species in natural environments. In this study, we investigated phenotypic variation in the wood-decay fungus Phellopilus nigrolimitatus and related this to genet size, measured as vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Out of 321 wood samples and sporocarps collected on six logs of Picea abies, we isolated 230 dikaryotic isolates that were grouped into 53 VCGs based on culturing experiments. The number of VCGs per log varied from six to twelve, with large variation in sizes; the smallest VCG was derived from a single wood sample, while the largest was isolated across 31 wood samples stretching over 15 m. The size of the VCGs was positively correlated with the area of the spore-producing layer of the sporocarps, implying that larger genets produce more spores. Additionally, the phenotypic variation among isolates of P. nigrolimitatus was high, both in terms of growth morphology and coloration, and consistent with the delimitation of isolates into VCGs. Isolates could to a large extent be correctly assigned to the VCGs a priori based purely on culture phenotype. This study reveals that extensive phenotypic variation can be observed between fungal genets at very fine spatial scale, and calls for more studies looking at intraspecific phenotypic variation, in line with assessing genetic diversity in fungi.

Cit a tio n fo r fin al p u blis h e d ve r sio n: N o r d é n , Je n ni, Abr e g o, N e r e a , Bo d dy, Lyn n e, B ä s sl er, Cl a u s, D a hl b e r g , An d e r s , H al m e, P a n u, H ällfo r s, M a ri a, M a u ri c e , S u n dy, M e n ki s, Aud ri u s, Mi e t ti n e n , O t t o, M ä ki p ä ä , R ai s a, Ov a s k ai n e n , O t s o, P e n t til ä, R eijo, S ai n e , S o nj a, S n äll, Tor d a n d Ju n ni n e n , Kais a 2 0 2 0. Ten p ri n ci pl e s fo r c o n s e r v a tio n t r a n slo c a tio n s of t h r e a t e n e d w o o d-in h a bi ti n g fu n gi. F u n g al E c olo gy 4 4 ,

Caatinga is characterised as being a unique semi-arid biome only found in Brazil. It is characterised mainly for its soil poor in mineral and organic nutrients, and low water activity. On the other hand, Atlantic Forest is mainly characterised by its nutrient-rich soil, and its high water activity. Fungi are important constituents of both biomes. Among the fungi frequently isolated from soil of both Caatinga and Atlantic Forest, species of Penicillium are prominent. The richness, abundance, evenness, and dominance of species of Penicillium in soils of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest areas in Pernambuco, Brazil, were analyzed. The influence of seasonality (rainy and dry seasons) on the communities of species of Penicillium in each biome and their distribution was assessed. A total of 815 Penicillium isolates was found. From this total amount, 370 isolates were found in the Caatinga soil, whereas 445 were found in the Atlantic Forest soil. Thirty-one species were morphologically identified, with 23 of them in the Caatinga soil and 17 in the Atlantic Forest soil. In addition, three isolates from Caatinga soil were only identified to genus. The present study revealed that soils from Caatinga and Atlantic Forest have a high diversity of species of Penicillium, with the Caatinga presenting rare species. Furthermore, the communities of Penicillium species are very different, but well distributed in each biome. In the dry season, there was greater species richness in areas of the two biomes, indicating that the species may be well adapted to low soil water availability for the development and maintenance of balanced communities.

In arid highland environments harsh conditions for vegetation establishment prevail. Plants in these environments develop different strategies to survive, including associations with fungal root endophytes. These associations may improve plant growth, helping plant resistance to adverse environments. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), dark septate endophytes (DSE) and dominance degree of Poaceae in arid highlands of Argentine Puna. We studied AMF and DSE root colonization, and rhizospheric hyphal densities of dominant and subordinate grass species. Dual and positive associations between AMF and DSE prevailed. Dominant grasses had the highest levels of AMF and DSE root colonization. Dominant and intermediate grasses were associated with the highest values of rhizospheric hyphal density. In Puna highlands, the interactions among AMF, DSE and grasses suggest that fungal root endophytes may play a role in structuring grass communities by differentially improving the resistance to harsh conditions.

This work pictures the biodiversity of fungal consortia inhabiting real agroecosystems, sampled in one production farm in two seasons (spring, autumn), coinciding with climate gradients and key moments of the agricultural cycle. Soil was sampled from three plots differently managed in terms of fertilization, pesticide and tillage application: conventional, organic, no-tillage. Metagenomic analyses on ITS1 amplicons depicted the highest indexes of richness for organic. No-tillage resulted in inhabitation by the most divergent communities, with their own composition, prevalence and seasonal trends. Ascomycota always predominated, with the exception of conventional, that had high abundance of a single basidiomycete species. Our results showed evidence that agricultural soils under organic and no-tillage systems harbour distinct mycobiota, even in neighbouring fields. From our results, fungal consortia altered even in the first year after the management change.

In tropical forests, one of the most common relationships between parasites and insects is that between the fungus Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) and ants, especially within the tribe Camponotini. Here, we describe three new and host-specific species of the genus Ophiocordyceps on Camponotus ants from the central Amazonian region of Brazil, which can readily be separated using morphological traits, in particular, ascospore form and function. In addition, we use sequence data to infer phylogenetic relationships between these taxa and closely related species within the Ophiocordyceps unilateralis complex, as well as with other members of the family Ophiocordycipitaceae.

In order to identify nematodes associated with insects in the forested areas of Guilan province, Iran, soil, wood, and insect samples were collected. Nematodes were extracted using the insect-baiting method, and the obtained specimens were analyzed based on both classic and molecular characteristics. This investigation led to the discovery populations belonging to the genera Distolabrellus and Oscheius, identified as D. veechi and O. tipulae, respectively. Molecular identification was carried out through molecular analysis, encompassing the D2-D3 expansion segment of 28S, ITS, and 18S genes of rRNA. The phylogenetic analyses placed these nematodes within their respective clades with high bootstrap support, confirming their identity. This survey marks the first discovery of D. veechi and male O. tipulae in Iran, introducing them as new records for the country.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the roots and soil surrounding their hosts are typically independently investigated and little is known of the relationships between the communities of the two compartments. We simultaneously collected root and surrounding soil samples from Cryptomeria japonica (Cj) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (Co) at three environmentally different sites. Based on molecular and morphological analyses, we characterized their associated AMF communities. Cj was more densely colonized than Co and that root colonization intensity was significantly correlated with soil AMF diversity. The communities comprised 15 AMF genera dominated by Glomus and Paraglomus and 1443 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of which 1067 and 1170 were in roots and soil, respectively. AMF communities were significantly different among sites, and the root AMF communities were significantly different from those of soil at each site. The root and soil AMF communities responded differently to soil ...

Generalist species are usually widespread and abundant, and thrive in heterogeneous environments. Specialists, in turn, are generally more restricted in their range, and benefit from more stable conditions. Therefore, increasing human-induced disturbance can have more negative effects on specialist than generalist species. We assessed the specialization of 77 wood-inhabiting fungal species across seven boreal forest types and different substratum qualities. A significantly higher number of specialist species was associated with herb-rich forests and afforested fields than with managed coniferous forests and wood pastures, the number of specialists associated with natural coniferous forests being intermediate. Also, forest type specialists were indicated to be specialists for their substratum tree species as well, but specialization in substratum diameter was not connected with other kinds of specialization. Species with restricted resource or habitat preferences can less readily respond to environmental change, and therefore are more vulnerable to extinction.

Forest management has caused severe ecological degradation throughout the Globe. One of its most prominent consequences is the drastic change in dead wood profile and consequently in the dead wood dependent biota. Wood-inhabiting fungi are, considering ecosystem functions, the most important species group utilizing dead wood, because they take care of majority of the decaying process. The earlier research focusing on the effects of forest management on wood-inhabiting fungi has strongly focused on large dead wood pieces (i.e. coarse woody debris, CWD), even though it has been shown that a major part of fungal diversity utilizes (also) small dead wood pieces (i.e. [very] fine woody debris, [V]FWD). In this paper, we studied the effects of earlier forest management on the wood-inhabiting fungi occupying all dead wood diameter fractions including the smallest pieces. The study was conducted in boreal pine and spruce dominated forests in Finland. Altogether we surveyed corticioid and polyporoid fungi from 113,269 dead wood pieces in 8 previously managed and 8 natural forests. The composition of fungal community varied between the forest types (pine vs. spruce; managed vs. natural) and according to the diameter of the dead wood substrate. However, the fungal diversity occupying CWD, and some diameter fractions of FWD, was clearly lower in managed than natural spruce dominated forests. Moreover, most of the rare species were detected only in natural forests, especially spruce dominated, and based on the species accumulation curves these sites were also the ones where largest proportion of community remained undetected. The effects of earlier forest management are evident also in fungal communities occupying FWD. The effects are, however, clearly stronger in CWD and especially in spruce dominated forests. Consequently, the main focus in forest conservation and restoration efforts may still be targeted on increasing CWD volume in managed landscapes, but simultaneously attention must be targeted on retaining reasonable volume of FWD to ensure that the species specialized in utilizing it will not be driven to local extinctions. Combining this recommendation with increasing pressure for energy wood harvesting will remain as a challenge.

Dispersal limitation can affect the distribution pattern of organisms. Little is known, however, about the dispersal ecology of root endophytic fungi such as Glutinomyces brunneus (Hyaloscyphaceae, Helotiales), whose dispersal structure has not been observed. To examine gene flow on a local (<8 km) scale, we collected G. brunneus isolates from three sites encompassing four Quercus serrata-and Castanopsis cuspidata-dominated subsites. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected among seven of eight newly developed microsatellite loci, which indicates that recombination has taken place in this species. Significant population structure was observed on a site-wide scale, which suggests limited dispersal across sites and/or frequent within-site gene flow. At the same time, the occurrence of identical multilocus genotypes at different sites suggests the occurrence of dispersal events, possibly infrequent. Our results provide novel information on the local dispersal ability of root endophytic fungi.

Fungi play an important role, as by decomposing dead organic matter they contribute to the carbon cycle in nature. Apart from this beneficial effect, fungi in forest ecosystems cause diseases of deciduous trees. Stumps, being remnants of stems left after felled trees, provide nutrient resources for various organisms, including fungi causing the most dangerous diseases of forest trees such as Armillaria root rot or Heterobasidion root rot. Colonisation of stumps is determined by three major factors, i.e. microhabitat, availability of nutrients and occurrence of other competing organisms. The primary aim of this study was to prepare an inventory of fruiting bodies of fungal species found on stumps in selected subcompartments of the Zielonka Experimental Forest Division, to present fungal species diversity in the analysed area and to identify factors determining the occurrence of fungi in the investigated area as well as those determining the intensity of stump colonisation by fungi. Results indicate that fruiting bodies were found less frequently on pine stumps than on stumps of deciduous species. The most abundant fungal species in terms of population size observed on stems in the analysed areas were Trametes versicolor (191 localities), Schizophyllum commune (136 localities) and Stereum hirsutum (130 localities). A vast majority of species reported in the analysed areas have a positive effect on the forest ecosystem.

Prior work in the boreal forest unearthed a novel ITS-LSU sequence (NS1) that falls outside known fungal phyla. Here we performed a targeted PCR survey to investigate the ecology of NS1. NS1 was found in three out of 99 soil cores at one black spruce (Picea mariana) site, and two cores were from nearby subplots, but clumping could not be demonstrated statistically. However, NS1 was detected 6 yr later in the same subplot, and in an adjacent subplot, with a join count probability of 0.0073. NS1 was not found in other lowland black spruce sites, but was detected in several upland mixed hardwood/white spruce (Picea glauca) sites and was correlated with presence of white spruce (p ¼ 0.0011). It was also found in the same upland sites sampled in consecutive years. Our results provide clues concerning the ecology of NS1 and suggest that rare, divergent sequences should not necessarily be discarded from environmental sequence datasets.

Prior work in the boreal forest unearthed a novel ITS-LSU sequence (NS1) that falls outside known fungal phyla. Here we performed a targeted PCR survey to investigate the ecology of NS1. NS1 was found in three out of 99 soil cores at one black spruce (Picea mariana) site, and two cores were from nearby subplots, but clumping could not be demonstrated statistically. However, NS1 was detected 6 yr later in the same subplot, and in an adjacent subplot, with a join count probability of 0.0073. NS1 was not found in other lowland black spruce sites, but was detected in several upland mixed hardwood/white spruce (Picea glauca) sites and was correlated with presence of white spruce (p ¼ 0.0011). It was also found in the same upland sites sampled in consecutive years. Our results provide clues concerning the ecology of NS1 and suggest that rare, divergent sequences should not necessarily be discarded from environmental sequence datasets.

Temperature is a key driver of the structure and activity of fungal assemblages on decomposing plant-litter in streams. However, little is known on how temperature affects interspecific relationships among fungi. We compared the radial growth of 4 widespread aquatic hyphomycete species co-occurring in temperate streams, namely Articulospora tetracladia, Heliscus submersus, Lunulospora curvula and Variscosporium elodeae, in all possible combinations of 1 to 4 species when exposed to 5 levels of temperature from 11 to 27 ºC. At 27 ºC, monocultures of H. submersus, L. curvula and V. elodeae had the highest growth rates, while the opposite was observed for A. tetracladia. At 27 ºC, the increase in species diversity had no effect on V. elodeae growth, increased the growth of H. submersus and L. curvula and decreased the growth of A. tetracladia. Results suggest that within its optimal temperature range, species performance may increase with the increase in fungal diversity.