Hypocrea crystalligena sp. nov., a common European species with a white-spored Trichoderma anamorph

Diversity of Trichoderma species associated with soil in the Zoige alpine wetland of Southwest China

The ecology of soil fungi is poorly understood, and recent comprehensive reports on Trichoderma are unavailable for any region, including the Zoige alpine wetland ecological region in China. One hundred soil samples were collected from different soil types and soil layers in Zoige alpine wetland ecological regions. Using the traditional suspension plating method, 80 Trichoderma strains were chosen to analyze species diversity. After a preliminary classification of morphological characteristics and the genes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), 57 representative strains were selected and eventually identified as seven species via phylogenetic analyses of multilocus sequences based on the genes transcription elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1), encoding RNA polymerase II subunit B (rpb2) and ATP citrate lyase (acl1). Among them, T. harzianum was the dominant species isolated from five soil layers and four soil types, and had the highest isolation frequency (23%) in this zone, while T. polysporum and T. pyramidale were rare species, with isolation frequencies of less than 1%. Our detailed morphological observation and molecular phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of Trichoderma zoigense was described for the first time as a new species, while T. atrobrunneum as a new record for China was found. Our results will be used as a reference for a greater understanding of soil microbial resources, ecological rehabilitation and reconstructions in the Zoige alpine wetland.

A preliminary DNA barcode selection for the genus Russula (Russulales, Basidiomycota)

Russula is a worldwid genus which has a high species diversity . Aiming accurate and rapid species identification, candidate genes nLSU (28S), ITS, tef-1α, mtSSU, rpb1, and rpb2, were analysed as potential DNA barcodes. This analysis included 433 sequences from 38 well-circumscribed Russula species of eight subgenera. Two vital standards were analysed for success species identification using DNA barcodes, specifically inter- and intra-specific variations together with the success rates of PCR amplification and sequencing. Although the gap between inter- and intra-specific variations was narrow, ITS met the qualification standards for a target DNA barcode. Overlapping inter- and intra-specific pairwise distances were observed in nLSU, tef-1α, mtSSU, and rpb2. The success rates of PCR amplification and sequencing in mtSSU and rpb1 were lower than those of others. Gene combinations were also investigated for resolution of species recognition. ITS-rpb2 was suggested as the likely target DNA barcode for Russula, owing to the two viatal standards above. Since nLSU has the lowest minimum of inter-specific variation, and tef-1α has the highest overlap between intra- and inter-species variations among the candidate genes, they are disqualified from the selection for DNA barcode of Russula.

Isolation, identification and characterization of lignocellulolytic aerobic and anaerobic fungi in one- and two-phase biogas plants

Aerobic and anaerobic fungi are among the most effective plant biomass degraders known and have high potential to increase the efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass utilization, such as for biogas generation. However, limited information is available on their contribution to such industrial processes. Therefore, the presence of fungi along the biogas production chain of one-phase and two-phase biogas plants in Germany was analyzed. Seventeen aerobic species of Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were identified, including efficient producers of lignocellulases, such as Trichoderma capillare isolated from a hydrolysis tank and Coprinopsis cinerea from fibers separated from pressed digestate. Five anaerobic fungal species of the phylum Neocallimastigomycota (comprising two novel clades) were present in an slightly acidic fermenter of a biogas plant fed with cow manure displaying endoglucanase transcriptional activity. The broad fungal presence demonstrated in this study can serve developing bioaugmentation systems with relevant lignocellulolytic fungi to improve biogas production from recalcitrant fiber material.

Use of mitochondrial COI gene for the identification of family Salticidae and Lycosidae of spiders

In recent years, DNA barcoding has become quite popular for molecular identification of species because it is simple, quick and an affordable method. Present study was conducted to identify spiders of most abundant families, i.e. Salticidae and Lycosidae from citrus orchards in Sargodha district using DNA barcoding. A total of 160 specimens were subjected to DNA barcoding but, sequences up to 600 bp were recovered for 156 specimens. This molecular approach proved helpful to assign the exact taxon to those specimens which were misidentified through morphological characters in the study. We were succeeded to discriminate six species of Lycosidae and nine species of Salticidae through DNA barcoding. Results revealed the presence of clear barcode gap (discontinuity in intra- and inter-specific divergences) for members of both families. Furthermore, the maximum intra-specific divergence was less than NN (nearest neighbour) distance for all species. This suggested the reliability of DNA barcoding for spider's identification up to species level. We got 98% success in our study. It is concluded from present study that DNA barcoding is more reliable tool especially for immature spiders, when morphological characters are ambiguous.

Application of DNA bar codes for screening of industrially important fungi: the haplotype of Trichoderma harzianum sensu stricto indicates superior chitinase formation

Selection of suitable strains for biotechnological purposes is frequently a random process supported by high-throughput methods. Using chitinase production by Hypocrea lixii/Trichoderma harzianum as a model, we tested whether fungal strains with superior enzyme formation may be diagnosed by DNA bar codes. We analyzed sequences of two phylogenetic marker loci, internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 of the rRNA-encoding gene cluster and the large intron of the elongation factor 1-alpha gene, tef1, from 50 isolates of H. lixii/T. harzianum, which were also tested to determine their ability to produce chitinases in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Statistically supported superior chitinase production was obtained for strains carrying one of the observed ITS1 and ITS2 and tef1 alleles corresponding to an allele of T. harzianum type strain CBS 226.95. A tef1-based DNA bar code tool, TrichoCHIT, for rapid identification of these strains was developed. The geographic origin of the strains was irrelevant for chitinase production. The improved chitinase production by strains containing this haplotype was not due to better growth on N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine or glucosamine. Isoenzyme electrophoresis showed that neither the isoenzyme profile of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidases or the endochitinases nor the intensity of staining of individual chitinase bands correlated with total chitinase in the culture filtrate. The superior chitinase producers did not exhibit similarly increased cellulase formation. Biolog Phenotype MicroArray analysis identified lack of N-acetyl-beta-D-mannosamine utilization as a specific trait of strains with the chitinase-overproducing haplotype. This observation was used to develop a plate screening assay for rapid microbiological identification of the strains. The data illustrate that desired industrial properties may be an attribute of certain populations within a species, and screening procedures should thus include a balanced mixture of all genotypes of a given species.

New Sequences, Constituents, and Producers of Peptaibiotics: An Updated Review

To date, 18 genera of imperfect and ascomycetous fungi have been recognized to produce ca. 700 individual sequences of peptaibiotics. These are linear polypeptide antibiotics which i) have a molecular weight between 500 and 2,200 Dalton, thus containing 5-21 residues; ii) show a high content of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid; iii) are characterized by the presence of other nonproteinogenic amino acids and/or lipoamino acids; iv) possess an acylated N-terminus, and v) have a C-terminal residue that, in most of them, consists of a free or acetylated amide-bonded 1,2-amino alcohol, but might also be an amine, amide, free amino acid, 2,5-dioxopiperazine, or sugar alcohol. From April 2003 until present, ca. 300 new individual sequences of peptaibiotics have been published in the literature, but most of them have not yet been included in databases. To summarize these new sequences and novel constituents, as well as to introduce fungal species hitherto unknown as producers of peptaibiotics, the relevant literature is reviewed. Furthermore, ecophysiological and taxonomic aspects of the producing fungi are discussed.