Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America

MSA ABSTRACTS
quences were generated from three ribosomal loci (large nuclear subunit, small
nuclear subunit, small mitochondrial subunit) and three protein-coding genes
(RNA polymerase II largest and second largest subunits, translation elongation
factor-1 alpha). Taxon sampling included representatives for all major Ascomycota
classes with an emphasis on the filamentous fungi of the Pezizomycotina and
non-lichenized lineages. Several comparative analyses utilizing parsimony and
Bayesian methodologies were performed. The final data set includes more than
5000 molecular characters and more than 150 taxa. A total of 10 higher nodes,
corresponding to classes, were recovered with strong support as measured by concurrent
parsimony bootstrapping and Bayesian posterior probabilities. The inclusion
of data from all genes in simultaneous analyses improved both the resolution
of the phylogenies and overall nodal support as compared to analyses of individual
loci. This study provides strong support for the majority of the Ascomycota
classes as currently defined by Eriksson, but certain groups were not recovered as
monophyletic (e.g. Leotiomycetes). The combination of protein and ribosomal
data in simultaneous analyses provided increased resolution of class level clades,
advancing the resolution of deep nodes in the Ascomycota phylogeny. As such,
these results provide a more accurate phylogenetic foundation for comparative
studies of the Ascomycota ranging from ecology to genomics. contributed presentation
Schoch, Conrad L.*, Spatafora, Joseph W. and the AFTOL consortium. Dept.
Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330,
USA. schochc@science.oregonstate.edu. Deep relationships in the non-lichenized
Ascomycota - the poster
See the Oral Presentation Abstract. poster
Scholler, Markus 1 * and Boellmann, Joerg 2 . 1 Staatliches Museum f. Naturkunde,
Erbprinzenstr. 13, D-76133 Karlsruhe, Germany, 2 Brandenburgische Technische
Universität, Lehrstuhl für Bodenschutz und Rekultivierung, P. O Box 101344, D-
03013 Cottbus, Germany. scholler@naturkundeka-bw.de. Puccinia glechomatis
and P. lagenophorae in North America: invasion patterns, life cycle and life
strategies.
Puccinia glechomatis and P. lagenophorae are taxonomically distinct autoecious
rust species native to Eurasia and Australia which were recently introduced
to the United States. Although their life cycle (microcyclic versus autodemicyclic)
and host range differ (monophageous on Glechoma hederacea s. l.,
Lamiaceae versus polyphagous on numerous Asteraceae) there are common characters
with respect to their invasion pattern in North America. Both species have
spread throughout the U.S. (not restricted to a certain geographical or climatical
area), both species appeared first on the East Coast and the West Coast before establishing
in Central U.S. and both species seem not to progress continuously but
patchy. In order to explain these invasion patterns detailed lab, field and literature
studies on the life cycle and life strategies of P. glechomatis and its host were carried
out and compared with those of P. lagenophorae. Results indicate that the invasive
capacity of rust fungi is supported by several factors, three of which are the
production of several generations per year, a predominance of an asexual mode of
reproduction, and ruderal host plants occurring in man-made habitats. symposium
presentation
Seifert, Keith A.*, Hughes, Stanley J., Boulay, Hillary and Louis-Seize, Gerry.
Biodiversity Theme (Mycology & Botany), Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada,
960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada. seifertk@agr.gc.ca. What
should we call the jet fuel fungus?
The jet fuel fungus, Hormoconis resinae (also widely known as Cladosporium
resinae), grows in fuel contaminated with small amounts of water, and its
growth can clog fuel lines and corrode metal parts. Consequently, fuel tanks in airports
and on jets are carefully monitored for this fungus. Around the world, several
private companies make their fortunes detecting and identifying this fungus
using a variety of technologies. Unfortunately, when the anamorph genus Hormoconis
was proposed (1973), an error was perpetuated that originated when the
teleomorph Amorphotheca resinae was described (1969). Various nomenclatural
options for stabilizing the name of the jet-fuel fungus will be discussed. Using
morphological, cultural and molecular data, we will consider the taxonomy and
phylogenetic relationships of several cladosporium-like fungi, including A.
resinae, and the synnematous fungi Sorocybe resinae and Pycnostysanus azalea.
The precise phylogenetic relationships of A. resinae, which sits alone in its own
family Amorphothecaceae, are difficult to determine with certainty with existing
data. contributed presentation
Setoguchi, Masanobu*, Yamada, Akiyoshi and Kuga, Yukari. Faculty of Agriculture,
Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan.
akiyosh@gipmc.shinshu-u.ac.jp. Fungal colonization occurs at the seed germination
of achlorophylous monotropoid plants, Monotropa hypopithys and
Monotropastrum humile.
Monotropaceae consists of achlorophylous plants that develop monotropoid
mycorrhizas in the root system of adult individuals. However, little is known
about their fungal association at the seed germination and the early developmental
stage. We buried seeds of Monotropa hypopithys and Monotropastrum humile
in Pinus densiflora forests, where both the monotropoid plants are naturally dis-
52 Inoculum 56(4), August 2005
tributed. Three to five months after the sowing, seed germination was observed,
which was determined by the increase of seed size and the budding of root-like
organ that possess vascular structure in the central. In addition, fungi epigeously
colonized to most of such seeds, which often developed the fungal sheath as well
as that of monotropoid mycorhizas. In M. humile, cystidia were observed on the
fungal sheath, and fungal penetration pegs were also observed in the epigeous cell
of seed. In M. hypopithys, clamp connections were often observed on the hyphae
of colonized mycelium. poster
Shefferson, Richard P. 1 * and Taylor, D. Lee 2 . 1 Forestry and Forest Products Research
Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, 2 Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. dormancy@gmail.com. Lady-slipper orchid
mycorrhizal associations reveal specificity suggestive of resource
fragmentation and resource tracking.
Generalism in biotic interactions, measured at one level of study, often
masks specialization at finer scales. Here, we examine mycorrhizal specificity of
temperate terrestrial lady∞fs slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.) in northern California,
USA, to assess if high mycorrhizal specificity at the fungal family level
masks low specificity to fungi within the Tulasnellaceae, the primary family of
Cypripedium-mycorrhizal fungi. First, we hypothesized that if Cypripedium
species are highly specialized to fungi within family Tulasnellaceae, then sympatric
Cypripedium populations will associate with divergent tulasnelloid symbionts,
while allopatric populations may not. Second, we hypothesized that within-Tulasnellaceae
specificity may correspond to host abundance, leading to
greater specialization in areas with lower diversity of potential host fungal families.
We observed no evidence of ecological divergence in mycorrhizal association
in sympatric populations. However, we observed evidence that within-Tulasnellaceae
specificity varied inversely with among-family specificity. We suggest
that in areas where potential host families are less abundant, Cypripedium species
must compensate for a lower chance of mycorrhizal colonization by widening the
breadth of association with fungi within remaining host families. Cypripedium
species appear to be resource-trackers, specializing on resources provided by a
range of host fungi. This implies that Cypripedium rarity may indeed be due to
mycorrhizal specialization. poster
Shi, Ainong and Mmbaga, Margaret T. Tennessee State University, Nursery Crop
Research Center, 472 Cadillac Lane, McMinnville, TN 37110, USA. mmmbaga@tnstate.edu.
Molecular identification of the powdery mildew pathogen of
crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) using internal transcribed spacers or
rDNA. The fungus, Erysiphe lagerstroemiae, has been reported to be the causal
agent of powdery mildew in crape myrtle in the United States since 1933. However,
in 1979, the powdery mildew pathogen of crape myrtle in China, Japan and
Australia was reported to be caused by Uncinuliella australiana. Certain features
of the teliomorph of powdery mildew pathogens are used for identification. However,
these structures are rarely observed on crape myrtle in Tennessee (USA). In
this study, DNA analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA
was used for the identification of the powdery mildew pathogen in crape myrtle.
Polymorphic band of 666 bp amplified using primer pair ITS1/ITS4 and a band
of 704 bp amplified using primer pair ITS1-F/ITS4 were obtained and sequenced.
The sequence of the ITS region of 16 Tennessee isolates was identical to the sequence
reported for U. australiana clearly showing that the Tennessee isolates
were the same as those reported in Asia. For this work, ITS-specific primers were
developed to provide pathogen diagnosis tool using the anamorphic stage which
is prominent during spring and autumn. Four primer pairs and four double primer
pairs were highly specific to the crape myrtle powdery mildew and did not amplify
E. pulchra found on dogwoods or Microsphaera syringae-japonicae on the
common lilac. Recently, the genus Uncinuliella has been changed to Uncinula
and presently to Erysiphe. This study provides conclusive evidence that that E.
lagerstroemiae and U. australiana are the same. Because of international nomenclature
rules, the name E. lagerstroemiae take priority over U. australiana. Thus,
E. lagerstroemiae (syn. U. australiana) reported in the USA is the causal agent of
powdery mildew pathogen in crape myrtle in mid-Tennessee and in China, Japan
and Australia. poster
Shirasaka, Norifumi. Laboratory of Food Microbiological Science and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Agriculture, Kin-ki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara
631-8505, Japan. sirasaka@nara.kindai.ac.jp. Effect of cyanocobalamin and ptoluic
acid on the fatty acid composition of Schizochytrium limacinum SR21.
DHA (22:6n-3), which is one of most abundant components of the brain’s
structural lipids, has attracted great interest recently owing to its specific function
in the brain and retina. It was reported that Schizochytrium limacinum SR21 was
potent producer of DHA and the suitable conditions for DHA production was reported.
Although the conditions of production of DHA were well investigated,
the metabolic specificities of PUFAs are still unclear. In this study, we searched
the compounds which affected fatty acid composition of Schizocytrium limacinum
SR21. The structural analysis of newly detected fatty acids in the case of inhibitor
addition was described putative biosynthetic pathway of fatty acid in this
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