Book of Abstracts (PDF) - International Mycological Association

IMC7 Main Congress Theme I: BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION Posters
alpine lichen heath, moist and dry screes. The dominant
species occurring in most soils were: Pseudogymnoascus
roseus and its anamorph, Mortierella parvispora,
Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. herbarum, Mucor
hiemalis, Tolypocladium inflatum, Penicillium
simplicissimum, and Fusarium sambucinum.
Correspondence analysis showed that alpine fens and
Rhododendron bushes had the most distinctive microfungal
communities. The latter communities somewhat resembled
those of podzolic soils under boreal forests. Some
taxonomically interesting isolates were obtained. A taxon
that was rather frequent in alpine fen soils was
provisionally identified as Leptodontidium sp. Two groups
of isolates differed slightly morphologically from one
another. A detailed study including sequencing of ITS and
18S regions revealed that these fungi are rather unrelated to
the type of the genus Leptodontidium but close to the
teleomorph genus Pseudeurotium. Observation of
conidiogenous structures of Pseudeurotium confirmed this
affinity. A similar strain, CBS 326.81, had been isolated
from potato meal factory sewage water in the Netherlands.
Partial sexual reaction with infertile cleistothecia was
observed between one Caucasian strain and CBS 326.81.
589 - A preliminary investigation on coprophilous fungi
in Northeastern Thailand
S. Somrithipol & N.L. Hywel-Jones *
BIOTEC-Mycology, National Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and
Technology Development Agency, 113 Pahonyothin RD.,
Khlong1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. -
E-mail: nigelhj@biotec.or.th
Coprophilous fungi are associated with herbivore dung,
playing an important role in recycling of nutrients in
animal faeces. This group is a source of biocontrol agents,
enzymes, antibiotics, etc. Surveys were made in Khao Yai
National Park and areas in northeastern Thailand between
May, 2001 and April, 2002. Over 150 isolates were made
from 85 dung samples of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor),
barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Asian elephant (Elephas
maximus) and cattle. Of these, 52% were Ascomycetes and
10% their anamorphs. Basidiomycetes made up a second
group with 25% of isolates while Zygomycetes accounted
for only 12%. 14 genera were recognized with
Ascomycetes accounting for 10 of these. The common
genera were Podospora, Coprinus and Pilobolus which
accounted for 54% of collections: most were successfully
isolated. A succession was demonstrated. Pilobolus
appeared after 3 days incubation, followed by the
apothecial-forming ascomycetes such as Ascobolus and
Saccobolus from 4-7 days. Perithecia of pyrenomycetes
e.g. Delitschia, Podospora and Sporormia appeared from
7-14 days and were often associated with basidiocarps of
Coprinus. These genera continued to fruit for a further 3
wks. Mitosporic fungi appeared late in the succession.
Notable species were: Coprinus, Delitschia pachylospora,
Pilobolus, Podospora communis, Poronia gigantia,
Saccobolus citrinus, S. thaxteri, and Zygospermella.
590 - Detection of fossil fungi in Cretaceous amber from
Álava Northern Spain by different microscopy
techniques
M. Speranza 1 , M.J. Martínez 1 , A.T. Martínez 1 , J.
Wierzchos 2 , J. Alonso 3* & C. Ascaso 4
1 Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Velázquez
144, E-28006 Madrid, Spain. - 2 Servicio Micrópia
Electònica, Universita de LLeida, E-25198, Spain. -
3 Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Siervas de Jesús 24 E-
01001 Vitoria, Alava, Spain. - 4 Centro de Ciencias
Medioambientales, CSIC, c/ Serrano 115 dpdo., 28006
Madrid, Spain.
Amber deposits dated from the Lower Cretaceous period
were recently found at Álava, Northern Spain, being one of
the more highly fossiliferous resin deposits. Although some
reports on the characterization of fossil fungi exists, very
few is known about their relationships with other fossil
microorganisms. In this work we reported the use of
different microscopy techniques to obtain simultaneously
structural, ultrastructural and analytical information about
the entire amber microscenosis and their individual
components. A very well preserved microcenosis, which
corresponds to a semiaquatic habitat, including different
types of protozoas, microalgae and fungi was present in
this amber. By scanning electron microscopy using
secondary electron (SEM-SE) and backscattered secondary
electron detectors (SEM-BSE), we found an abundant
mycelium of hyaline and coenocytic hyphae in close
association with numerous zooflagellates (probably fungal
feeders). The elemental distribution spectroscopy
microanalysis during SEM-BSE revealed Fe in the hyphae
suggesting the nature of mineralization process. Using light
and confocal laser scanning microscopy a basidiomycete
mycelium with numerous clamp connections, crystals and
encrusted cystidia like structures was detected in the amber
outside section. Other hyphae, gametangia or sporangia
like fungal structures and spores were abundant in this
amber sample. Current work attempts to compare these
fungi with extant and modern genera.
591 - A preliminary survey of lichen fungi from
Thailand
V. Sri-indrasutdhi, S. Sivichai * & N.L. Hywel-Jones
BIOTEC-Mycology, National Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and
Technology Development Agency, 113 Pahonyothin RD.,
Khlong 1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. -
E-mail: sivichai@biotec.or.th
The first published records of fungi from Thailand were
lichens from Ko Chang Island at the turn of the last
Century. They were neglected for the next 90 yr. However,
the last 10 yr has seen increasing interest in Thai lichen
fungi. Importantly, these are now being isolated and made
available for further research. A lichen collection/isolation
programme has been in place at BIOTEC for 2 yr. Natural
forest was surveyed every 2 months. Forest was selected to
Book of Abstracts 179