Composition and Diversity of Soil Fungi in Dipterocarpaceae-Dominated Seasonal Tropical Forests in Thailand

Cambisol Mycobiome in a Long-Term Field Experiment with Korean Pine as a Sole Edificator: A Case Study

A culture-independent mycobiome survey in Haplic Cambisol under Korean pine in a long-term field experiment in the Russian Far East was conducted using sequence analysis of the ITS region amplified with ITS3/ITS4 primers using the metagenomic DNA as a matrix. Overall 758 fungal OTUs were identified, representing 15 phyla, 47 classes, 104 orders, 183 families, and 258 genera. More OTUs represented the Ascomycota phylum (513) than Basidiomycota (113), with both phyla together comprising 95% of the relative abundance. The Leotiomycetes class was ultimately prevailing; apparently contributing significantly to the organic matter decomposition and microbial biomass in soil, as shown by a PCA. Only two dominant OTUs (Pseudogymnoascus sp. and Hyaloscyphaceae, both Ascomycota) were common in the studied samples. The presented high mycobiome diversity in soil under the monospecies artificial forest, where Korean pine had been the sole edificator for forty years, allows concluding that plant chemistry diversity is the main factor shaping the soil mycobiome in such an environment. The obtained data provide a reference for further studies of soil mycobiota, especially under Korean pine with its aesthetic, as well as nut-producing, potential. The results can be helpful in the targeted creating of a soil mycobiome beneficial for pines in afforestation and remediation contexts.

Novel Mucor species (Mucoromycetes, Mucoraceae) from northern Thailand

Mucor species are common fast-growing fungi found in soil. Two new species of Mucor and one new geographical record of M.nederlandicus were collected from northern Thailand and are described in this study. Evidence from morphophysiological data and phylogenetic analysis supports the introduction of the new taxa. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU) data showed that the new isolates cluster distinctly from other Mucor species with high or maximum bootstrap support. Mucoraseptatophorus is characterized by aseptate sporangiophores, globose columella, resistant and deliquescent sporangia, has sympodial, and monopodial branches and shows growth at 37 °C. It also differs from M.irregularis in having smaller sporangiospores, and larger sporangia. Mucorchiangraiensis has subglobose or slightly elongated globose columella, produces hyaline sporangiospores, and resistant and deliquescent sporangia. Furthermore, this species has wider sporangiophore, smaller sporangia and lower growth than M.nederlandicus. A detailed description of the species and illustrations are provided for the novel species.