Arthrinium species associated with bamboo and reed plants in China

Three new endophytic Apiospora species (Apiosporaceae, Amphisphaeriales) from China

Apiospora species are widely distributed fungi with diverse lifestyles, primarily functioning as plant pathogens, as well as exhibiting saprophytic and endophytic behaviors. This study reports the discovery of three new species of Apiospora, namely A.gongcheniae, A.paragongcheniae, and A.neogongcheniae, isolated from healthy Poaceae plants in China. These novel species were identified through a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined ITS, LSU, tef1, and tub2 sequence data revealed that the three new species formed a robustly supported clade with A.garethjonesii, A.neogarethjonesii, A.setostroma, A.subrosea, A.mytilomorpha, and A.neobambusae. Detailed descriptions of the newly discovered species are provided and compared with closely related species to enhance our understanding of the genus Apiospora.

Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal three new species of Apiospora in China

Species of Apiospora are distributed worldwide as endophytes, pathogens and saprobes. In this study, we analysed Apiospora strains isolated from diseased leaves in Yunnan Province and dead culms in Shaanxi Province, China and we identified fungal species based on multi-locus phylogeny of ITS, LSU, tef1 and tub2 genes, along with the morphological characters, host and ecological distribution. Analyses revealed three new species, namely A.corylisp. nov., A.lophatherisp. nov. and A.oenotheraesp. nov. and one known species A.arundinis. Illustrations and descriptions of the four taxa are provided, along with comparisons with closely-related taxa in the genus.

Diversity of the Bambusicolous Fungus Apiospora in Korea: Discovery of New Apiospora Species

Many Apiospora species have been isolated from bamboo plants - to date, 34 bambusicolous Apiospora species have been recorded. They are known as saprophytes, endophytes, and plant pathogens. In this study, 242 bambusicolous Apiospora were isolated from various bamboo materials (branches, culms, leaves, roots, and shoots) and examined using DNA sequence similarity based on the internal transcribed spacer, 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and beta-tubulin regions. Nine Apiospora species (Ap. arundinis, Ap. camelliae-sinensis, Ap. hysterina, Ap. lageniformis sp. nov., Ap. paraphaeosperma, Ap. pseudohyphopodii sp. nov., Ap. rasikravindrae, Ap. saccharicola, and Ap. sargassi) were identified via molecular analysis. Moreover, the highest diversity of Apiospora was found in culms, and the most abundant species was Ap. arundinis. Among the nine Apiospora species, two (Ap. hysterina and Ap. paraphaeosperma) were unrecorded in Korea, and the other two species (Ap. lageniformis sp. nov. and Ap. pseudohyphopodii sp. nov.) were potentially novel species. Here, we describe the diversity of bambusicolous Apiospora species in bamboo organs, construct a multi-locus phylogenetic tree, and delineate morphological features of new bambusicolous Apiospora in Korea.

Insight into the Taxonomic Resolution of Apiospora: Introducing Novel Species and Records from Bamboo in China and Thailand

Taxonomic studies of bambusicolous fungi in China and Thailand have resulted in the collection of three fascinating saprobic coelomycetes strains. Morphology coupled with combined gene analysis of ITS, LSU, TUB2, and TEF1-α DNA sequence data showed that they belong to the genus Apiospora, family Apiosporaceae. A new species from Thailand, Apiospora mukdahanensis, and new records of A. locuta-pollinis from China are herein described. In addition, based on both morphological data coupled with phylogenetics and nomenclatural analyses, A. mori is proposed as a new combination. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species obtained in this study. Newly obtained strains are compared with morphologically- and phylogenetically-related taxa. The comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and updated phylogeny are provided and discussed for intra-and intergeneric relationships within Apiospora species.

New studies on Apiospora (Amphisphaeriales, Apiosporaceae): epitypification of Sphaeriaapiospora, proposal of Ap.marianiae sp. nov. and description of the asexual morph of Ap.sichuanensis

In the present work, an epitype for Sphaeriaapiospora, the basionym of the type species of the genus Apiospora, Apiosporamontagnei, is selected among collections growing in the host plant species reported in the original protologue, Arundomicrantha. Most samples obtained from localities near that of the lectotype (Perpignan, France) belong to the same species, which is not significantly different from the clade previously named Ap.phragmitis, suggesting that this name is a later synonym of Ap.montagnei. In addition, the name Ap.marianiae is here proposed to accommodate a newly discovered species found in the Balearic Islands (Spain), and the asexual state of Ap.sichuanensis is described for the first time from samples growing in the same islands.

A new Arthrinium-like genus of Amphisphaeriales in China

Species of Arthrinium s. l. are usually known as endophytes, pathogens or saprobes occurring on various hosts and substrates and are characterised by globose to subglobose, sometimes irregular, dark brown and smooth-walled or finely verruculose conidia, always with a truncate basal scar. Currently, Arthrinium s. l. contains two phylogenetically distinct clades, namely, Apiospora and Arthrinium s. s. However, Arthriniumtrachycarpi and Ar.urticae have still not been properly classified. With new isolates from diseased leaves of Lithocarpusglaber collected in China, we propose the new Arthrinium-like genus Neoarthrinium in Amphisphaeriales. Based on the morphology and phylogeny of multiple loci, the new genus is established with the type species, N.lithocarpicola and three new combinations, N.moseri (syn. Wardomycesmoseri), N.trachycarpi (syn. Ar.trachycarpi) and N.urticae (syn. Ar.urticae) are added to this genus.

Morpho-Molecular Characterization of Microfungi Associated with Phyllostachys (Poaceae) in Sichuan, China

In the present study, we surveyed the ascomycetes from bamboo of Phyllostachys across Sichuan Province, China. A biphasic approach based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogeny confirmed seven species, including one new genus, two new species, and five new host record species. A novel genus Paralloneottiosporina is introduced to accommodate Pa. sichuanensis that was collected from leaves of Phyllostachys violascens. Moreover, the newly introduced species Bifusisporella sichuanensis was isolated from leaves of P. edulis, and five species were newly recorded on bamboos, four species belonging to Apiospora, viz. Ap. yunnana, Ap. neosubglobosa, Ap. jiangxiensis, and Ap. hydei, and the last species, Seriascoma yunnanense, isolated from dead culms of P. heterocycla. Morphologically similar and phylogenetically related taxa were compared. Comprehensive descriptions, color photo plates of micromorphology are provided.

Bambusicolous Fungi in Pleosporales: Introducing Four Novel Taxa and a New Habitat Record for Anastomitrabeculia didymospora

While conducting a survey of bambusicolous fungi in northern Thailand and southwestern China, several saprobic fungi were collected from dead branches, culms and twigs of bamboos, which were preliminarily identified as species belonging to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes) based on a morphological approach. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 demonstrated four novel taxa belonging to the families Parabambusicolaceae, Pyrenochaetopsidaceae and Tetraploasphaeriaceae. Hence, Paramultiseptospora bambusae sp. et gen. nov., Pyrenochaetopsis yunnanensis sp. nov. and Tetraploa bambusae sp. nov. are introduced. In addition, Anastomitrabeculia didymospora found on bamboo twigs in terrestrial habitats is reported for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions and updated phylogenetic trees of each family are provided herein.

The First Whole Genome Sequence Discovery of the Devastating Fungus Arthrinium rasikravindrae

Devastating fungi are one of the most important biotic factors associated with numerous infectious diseases not only in plants but in animals and humans too. Arthrinium rasikravindrae a devastating fungus is responsible for severe infections in a large number of host plants all over the world. In the present study, we analyzed the whole genome sequence of devastating fungus A. rasikravindrae strain AQZ-20, using Illumina Technology from the Novogene Bio-informatics Co., Ltd. Beijing, China. To identify associated annotation results, various corresponding functional annotations databases were utilized. The genome size was 48.24 MB with an N90 (scaffolds) length of 2,184,859 bp and encoded putative genes were 11,101, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the comparative genomic analyses with 4 fungal strains of Ascomycetes. Two related species showed a strong correlation while others exhibited a weak correlation with the A. rasikravindrae AQZ-20 fungus. This study is a discovery of the genome-scale assembly, as well as annotation for A. rasikravindrae. The results obtained from the whole genome sequencing and genomic resources developed in this study will contribute significantly to genetic improvement applications against diseases caused by A. rasikravindrae. In addition, the phylogenetic tree, followed by genomic RNA, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolic, as well as pathogenic data reported in current research will provide deep insight for further studies in the future.

Phylogenetic delimitation of Apiospora and Arthrinium

In the present study six species of Arthrinium (including a new taxon, Ar. crenatum) are described and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of ITS and 28S rDNA, as well as sequences of tef1 and tub2 exons suggests that Arthrinium s. str. and Apiospora represent independent lineages within Apiosporaceae. Morphologically, Arthrinium and Apiospora do not seem to have clear diagnostic features, although species of Arthrinium often produce variously shaped conidia (navicular, fusoid, curved, polygonal, rounded), while most species of Apiospora have rounded (face view) / lenticular (side view) conidia. Ecologically, most sequenced collections of Arthrinium were found on Cyperaceae or Juncaceae in temperate, cold or alpine habitats, while those of Apiospora were collected mainly on Poaceae (but also many other plant host families) in a wide range of habitats, including tropical and subtropical regions. A lectotype for Sphaeria apiospora (syn.: Ap. montagnei, type species of Apiospora) is selected among the original collections preserved at the PC fungarium, and the putative identity of this taxon, found on Poaceae in Mediterranean lowland habitats, is discussed. Fifty-five species of Arthrinium are combined to Apiospora, and a key to species of Arthrinium s. str. is provided. Citation: Pintos Á, Alvarado P (2021). Phylogenetic delimitation of Apiospora and Arthrinium. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 7: 197-221. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2021.07.10.

The genus Arthrinium (Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes, Apiosporaceae) from marine habitats from Korea, with eight new species

Species of Arthrinium are well-known plant pathogens, endophytes, or saprobes found in various terrestrial habitats. Although several species have been isolated from marine environments and their remarkable biological activities have been reported, marine Arthrinium species remain poorly understood. In this study, the diversity of this group was evaluated based on material from Korea, using morphological characterization and molecular analyses with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, β-tubulin (TUB), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF). A total of 41 Arthrinium strains were isolated from eight coastal sites which represented 14 species. Eight of these are described as new to science with detailed descriptions.

Additions to the Genus Arthrinium (Apiosporaceae) From Bamboos in China

Arthrinium has a widespread distribution occurring in various substrates (e.g., air, soil debris, plants, lichens, marine algae and even human tissues). It is characterized by the basauxic conidiogenesis in the asexual morph, with apiospores in the sexual morph. In this study, seventeen isolates of Arthrinium were collected in China. Based on their morphology and phylogenetic characterization, four new species (A. biseriale, A. cyclobalanopsidis, A. gelatinosum, and A. septatum) are described and seven known species (A. arundinis, A. garethjonesii, A. guizhouense, A. hydei, A. neosubglobosa, A. phyllostachium and A. psedoparenchymaticum) are identified, of which the sexual morph of three species (A. guizhouense, A. phyllostachium and A. psedoparenchymaticum) and asexual morph of A. garethjonesii are reported for the first time. The detailed descriptions, illustrations and comparisons with related taxa of these new collections are provided. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, TUB2, and TEF sequence data support their placements in the genus Arthrinium and justify the new species establishments and identifications of known species.

Arthrinium bambusicola (Fungi, Sordariomycetes), a new species from Schizostachyum brachycladum in northern Thailand

BACKGROUND

Species of the fungal genus Arthrinium (Sordariomycetes, Amphisphaeriales, Apiosporaceae) are often found on bamboo in Asia. They are endophytes, saprobes and important plant pathogens. The genus Arthrinium currently contains 92 species and is widely distributed in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

NEW INFORMATION

In this study, a new species, Arthrinium bambusicola sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The new taxon is characterised by oval to broadly or irregularly round, medium brown, multi-guttulate to roughened, granular conidia, with finely pale slits in the outer edges. Arthrinium bambusicola can be distinguished from the closest related species A. gutiae by its conidial characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses of a four-locus dataset (ITS, LSU, TEF1, TUB2) confirm that A. bambusicola is a distinct new species.

Bambusicolous Arthrinium Species in Guangdong Province, China

A survey of bambusicolous fungi in Bijiashan Mountain Park, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, revealed several Arthrinium-like taxa from dead sheaths, twigs, and clumps of Bambusa species. Phylogenetic relationships were investigated based on morphology and combined analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU), beta tubulin (β-tubulin), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef 1-α) gene sequences. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data, Arthrinium acutiapicum sp. nov. and Arthrinium pseudorasikravindrae sp. nov. are introduced herein with descriptions and illustrations. Additionally, two new locality records of Arthrinium bambusae and Arthrinium guizhouense are described and illustrated.

Six new species of Arthrinium from Europe and notes about A.caricicola and other species found in Carex spp. hosts

Several new Arthrinium specimens were collected from various locations in Mediterranean and temperate Europe. A collection of the type species, A.caricicola, was obtained from dead leaves of Carexericetorum in Berlin. Sequences of four genetic markers, ITS, 28S rDNA, tef1 and tub2 were produced from almost all collections and analyzed with those available in public databases. Results are employed to support six new species: A.balearicum, A.descalsii, A.esporlense, A.ibericum, A.italicum and A.piptatheri. The type species, A.caricicola, is related to other species occurring on Carex sp.; these might represent an independent lineage from Apiospora and the remaining species of Arthrinium. Finally, the sexual morph of A.marii is described and illustrated for the first time.