cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.13046161
title: Additional new species suggest high dictyostelid diversity on Madagascar

description: Dictyostelids are a monophyletic group of sorocarp-forming social amoebae in the major eukaryotic division Amoebozoa. Members of this taxon, which is made up of almost 200 described species, are common in terrestrial soils globally. Still, the alpha diversity is not well known in many areas, and new species are frequently recovered. The highest species richness is found in the tropics. Here, five new species are described from soil samples collected in Madagascar. These species—<i>Cavenderia basinodulosa, C. canoespora, Heterostelium radiatum, H. versatile</i>, and <i>Raperostelium stabile</i>—are described based on both morphological characteristics and molecular data, with sequence data from the rDNA small subunit (SSU). The five new species are morphologically disparate, ranging from relatively small, robust taxa such as <i>R. stabile</i> to taxa with variable morphologies such as the larger <i>H. radiatum</i> and <i>H. versatile</i> and the yellow-tinted and irregularly branched species <i>C. canoespora</i> and <i>C. basinulosa</i>. These new species, together with earlier work where 13 other species were described from the island, suggest that there is a range of genetically diverse and highly morphologically variable dictyostelid taxa occurring on Madagascar, suggesting biogeographic patterns even within these very small organisms.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12999385.v1
title: Characterization of mating type genes in heterothallic <i>Neonectria</i> species, with emphasis on <i>N. coccinea, N. ditissima</i>, and <i>N. faginata</i>

description: <i>Neonectria ditissima</i> and <i>N. faginata</i> are canker pathogens involved in an insect-fungus disease complex of American beech (<i>Fagus grandifolia</i>) in North America commonly known as beech bark disease (BBD). In Europe, both <i>N. ditissima</i> and <i>N. coccinea</i> are involved in BBD on European beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>). Field observations across the range of BBD indicate ascospores to be the dominant spore type in the environment. Several studies report a heterothallic (self-sterile) mating strategy for <i>Neonectria</i> fungi, but one study reported homothallism (self-fertility) for <i>N. ditissima</i>. As such, investigations into mating strategy are important for understanding both the disease cycle and population genetics of <i>Neonectria</i>. This is particularly important in the United States given that over time <i>N. faginata</i> dominates the BBD pathosystem despite high densities of nonbeech hosts for <i>N. ditissima</i>. This study utilized whole-genome sequences of BBD-associated <i>Neonectria</i> spp. along with other publicly available <i>Neonectria</i> and <i>Corinectria</i> genomes and in vitro mating assays to characterize mating type (MAT) locus and confirm thallism for select members of <i>Neonectria</i> and <i>Corinectria</i>. MAT gene–specific primer pairs were developed to efficiently characterize the mating types of additional single-ascospore strains of <i>N. ditissima, N. faginata</i>, and <i>N. coccinea</i> and several other related species lacking genomic data. These assays also confirmed the sexual compatibility among <i>N. ditissima</i> strains from different plant hosts. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of both <i>MAT1-1-1</i> and <i>MAT1-2-1</i> sequences recovered trees with similar topology to previously published phylogenies of <i>Neonectria</i> and <i>Corinectria</i>. The results of this study indicate that all <i>Neonectria</i> and <i>Corinectria</i> tested are heterothallic based on our limited sampling and, as such, thallism cannot help explain the inevitable dominance of <i>N. faginata</i> in the BBD pathosystem.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848556
title: New species of aquatic chytrids from Oman

description: Oman is a desert country in the south of the Middle East. Springs and other water sources that harbor aquatic organisms can be separated by hundreds of kilometers. In Oct 2019, we isolated four freshwater aquatic fungi (Chytridiomycota) from benthic detritus baited with pine pollen on a general nutrient medium near Salalah, Oman. Database queries of nuc 28S rRNA (28S) and internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) revealed that one of these strains was <i>Dinochytrium kinnereticum</i>, a recently described algal pathogen from the Sea of Galilee. The other three strains had low molecular identity to available ITS sequences. These unknown strains varied in size and released endogenously swarming zoospores through papillae from mature zoosporangia. Zoospore ultrastructure was consistent with described species in the Rhizophydiales, and molecular phylogenetic results grouped these three strains into a clade in the genus <i>Rhizophydium</i>. We circumscribe these three strains as a sp. nov., thereby expanding the diversity within <i>Rhizophydium</i> described as the new species <i>R. jobii</i>. In doing so, we provide the first report of Chytridiomycota from Oman.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848556.v1
title: New species of aquatic chytrids from Oman

description: Oman is a desert country in the south of the Middle East. Springs and other water sources that harbor aquatic organisms can be separated by hundreds of kilometers. In Oct 2019, we isolated four freshwater aquatic fungi (Chytridiomycota) from benthic detritus baited with pine pollen on a general nutrient medium near Salalah, Oman. Database queries of nuc 28S rRNA (28S) and internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) revealed that one of these strains was <i>Dinochytrium kinnereticum</i>, a recently described algal pathogen from the Sea of Galilee. The other three strains had low molecular identity to available ITS sequences. These unknown strains varied in size and released endogenously swarming zoospores through papillae from mature zoosporangia. Zoospore ultrastructure was consistent with described species in the Rhizophydiales, and molecular phylogenetic results grouped these three strains into a clade in the genus <i>Rhizophydium</i>. We circumscribe these three strains as a sp. nov., thereby expanding the diversity within <i>Rhizophydium</i> described as the new species <i>R. jobii</i>. In doing so, we provide the first report of Chytridiomycota from Oman.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848550
title: Nivicolous Trichiales from the austral Andes: unexpected diversity including two new species

description: Nivicolous myxomycetes are a group of amoebozoan protists dependent on long-lasting snow cover worldwide. Recent fine-scale analysis of species diversity from the austral Andes revealed high intraspecific variability of most taxa, suggesting independent evolutionary processes and significant differences in species compositions between the Northern (NH) and Southern (SH) Hemispheres. The present study is the second part of this analysis based on representatives of Trichiales. A total of 173 South American collections were studied based on morphological and molecular data, and 15 taxa have been identified. Two of them, <i>Hemitrichia crassifila</i> and <i>Perichaena patagonica</i>, are proposed as new species confirmed by a phylogeny of Trichiales. However, their affinity to the genera in which they are proposed are not confirmed due to polyphyletic character of all genera of Trichiales. Four species, <i>Dianema subretisporum, Trichia contorta</i> var. <i>karstenii, T. nivicola</i>, and <i>T. sordida</i>, are reported for the first time from the Southern Hemisphere. One species, <i>T. alpina</i>, is new for Argentina. Additionally, we provide the first record of <i>Perichaena megaspora</i> from Chile. Specimen frequency and species diversity of Trichiales found at nivicolous localities in the austral Andes are unexpectedly high, exceeding those of Stemonitidales, the most numerous group in the Northern Hemisphere, where Trichiales play a marginal role. By contrast, Trichiales appear the main component of nivicolous assemblages in the Andes. Results of the present work, together with the earlier analysis of Stemonitidales, indicate that the Andes constitute an exceptionally important evolutionary hot spot for nivicolous myxomycetes characterized by an outstanding species diversity.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848562.v1
title: An endophyte of <i>Macrochloa tenacissima</i> (esparto or needle grass) from Tunisia is a novel species in the <i>Fusarium redolens</i> species complex

description: Here, we report on the morphological, molecular, and chemical characterization of a novel <i>Fusarium</i> species recovered from the roots and rhizosphere of <i>Macrochloa tenacissima</i> (halfa, esparto, or needle grass) in central Tunisia. Formally described here as <i>F. spartum</i>, this species is a member of the <i>Fusarium redolens</i> species complex but differs from the other two species within the complex, <i>F. redolens</i> and <i>F. hostae</i>, by its endophytic association with <i>M. tenacissima</i> and its genealogical exclusivity based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses. To assess their sexual reproductive mode, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was designed and used to screen the three strains of <i>F. spartum</i>, 51 of <i>F. redolens</i>, and 14 of <i>F. hostae</i> for mating type (<i>MAT</i>) idiomorph. Genetic architecture of the <i>MAT</i> locus in the former two species suggests that if they reproduce sexually, it is via obligate outcrossing. By comparison, results of the PCR assay indicated that 13/14 of the <i>F. hostae</i> strains possessed <i>MAT1-1</i> and <i>MAT1-2</i> idiomorphs and thus might be self-fertile or homothallic. However, when the <i>F. hostae</i> strains were selfed, 11 failed to produce perithecia and one only produced several small abortive perithecia. Cirrhi with ascospores, however, were only produced by 8/28 and 4/84 of the variable size perithecia, respectively, of <i>F. hostae</i> NRRL 29888 and 29890. The potential for the three <i>F. redolens</i> clade species to produce mycotoxins, pigments, and phytohormones was assessed by screening whole genome sequence data and by analyzing extracts on cracked maize kernel cultures via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848550.v1
title: Nivicolous Trichiales from the austral Andes: unexpected diversity including two new species

description: Nivicolous myxomycetes are a group of amoebozoan protists dependent on long-lasting snow cover worldwide. Recent fine-scale analysis of species diversity from the austral Andes revealed high intraspecific variability of most taxa, suggesting independent evolutionary processes and significant differences in species compositions between the Northern (NH) and Southern (SH) Hemispheres. The present study is the second part of this analysis based on representatives of Trichiales. A total of 173 South American collections were studied based on morphological and molecular data, and 15 taxa have been identified. Two of them, <i>Hemitrichia crassifila</i> and <i>Perichaena patagonica</i>, are proposed as new species confirmed by a phylogeny of Trichiales. However, their affinity to the genera in which they are proposed are not confirmed due to polyphyletic character of all genera of Trichiales. Four species, <i>Dianema subretisporum, Trichia contorta</i> var. <i>karstenii, T. nivicola</i>, and <i>T. sordida</i>, are reported for the first time from the Southern Hemisphere. One species, <i>T. alpina</i>, is new for Argentina. Additionally, we provide the first record of <i>Perichaena megaspora</i> from Chile. Specimen frequency and species diversity of Trichiales found at nivicolous localities in the austral Andes are unexpectedly high, exceeding those of Stemonitidales, the most numerous group in the Northern Hemisphere, where Trichiales play a marginal role. By contrast, Trichiales appear the main component of nivicolous assemblages in the Andes. Results of the present work, together with the earlier analysis of Stemonitidales, indicate that the Andes constitute an exceptionally important evolutionary hot spot for nivicolous myxomycetes characterized by an outstanding species diversity.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848562
title: An endophyte of <i>Macrochloa tenacissima</i> (esparto or needle grass) from Tunisia is a novel species in the <i>Fusarium redolens</i> species complex

description: Here, we report on the morphological, molecular, and chemical characterization of a novel <i>Fusarium</i> species recovered from the roots and rhizosphere of <i>Macrochloa tenacissima</i> (halfa, esparto, or needle grass) in central Tunisia. Formally described here as <i>F. spartum</i>, this species is a member of the <i>Fusarium redolens</i> species complex but differs from the other two species within the complex, <i>F. redolens</i> and <i>F. hostae</i>, by its endophytic association with <i>M. tenacissima</i> and its genealogical exclusivity based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses. To assess their sexual reproductive mode, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was designed and used to screen the three strains of <i>F. spartum</i>, 51 of <i>F. redolens</i>, and 14 of <i>F. hostae</i> for mating type (<i>MAT</i>) idiomorph. Genetic architecture of the <i>MAT</i> locus in the former two species suggests that if they reproduce sexually, it is via obligate outcrossing. By comparison, results of the PCR assay indicated that 13/14 of the <i>F. hostae</i> strains possessed <i>MAT1-1</i> and <i>MAT1-2</i> idiomorphs and thus might be self-fertile or homothallic. However, when the <i>F. hostae</i> strains were selfed, 11 failed to produce perithecia and one only produced several small abortive perithecia. Cirrhi with ascospores, however, were only produced by 8/28 and 4/84 of the variable size perithecia, respectively, of <i>F. hostae</i> NRRL 29888 and 29890. The potential for the three <i>F. redolens</i> clade species to produce mycotoxins, pigments, and phytohormones was assessed by screening whole genome sequence data and by analyzing extracts on cracked maize kernel cultures via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848565
title: Secretomic analysis of cheap enzymatic cocktails of <i>Aspergillus niger</i> LBM 134 grown on cassava bagasse and sugarcane bagasse

description: Currently, agroindustrial wastes are little used for generating value-added products; hence, their use of these waste to produce enzymatic cocktails for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars is a very interesting alternative in the second-generation bioethanol process. The Ascomycota fungus <i>Aspergillus niger</i> LBM 134 produces hydrolytic enzymes in large proportions. In this work, <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 was grown on sugarcane and cassava bagasses under optimized conditions. To identify the extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of these agroindustrial wastes, the secretomes of the culture supernatants of the fungus were analyzed and validated by biochemical assays of the enzymatic activities. <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 secreted higher quantities of xylanases and accessory hemicellulases when it grew on sugarcane bagasse, whereas more cellulases, amylases, and pectinases were secreted when it grew on cassava bagasse. These findings suggest two promising enzyme cocktails for the hydrolysis of lignocellulose carbohydrate polymers to fermentable sugars. These bioinformatic analysis were functional validates through enzymatic biochemical assays that confirm the biotechnological potential of <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 for the bioconversion of hemicellulosic substrates such as sugarcane and cassava bagasses.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848565.v1
title: Secretomic analysis of cheap enzymatic cocktails of <i>Aspergillus niger</i> LBM 134 grown on cassava bagasse and sugarcane bagasse

description: Currently, agroindustrial wastes are little used for generating value-added products; hence, their use of these waste to produce enzymatic cocktails for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars is a very interesting alternative in the second-generation bioethanol process. The Ascomycota fungus <i>Aspergillus niger</i> LBM 134 produces hydrolytic enzymes in large proportions. In this work, <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 was grown on sugarcane and cassava bagasses under optimized conditions. To identify the extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of these agroindustrial wastes, the secretomes of the culture supernatants of the fungus were analyzed and validated by biochemical assays of the enzymatic activities. <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 secreted higher quantities of xylanases and accessory hemicellulases when it grew on sugarcane bagasse, whereas more cellulases, amylases, and pectinases were secreted when it grew on cassava bagasse. These findings suggest two promising enzyme cocktails for the hydrolysis of lignocellulose carbohydrate polymers to fermentable sugars. These bioinformatic analysis were functional validates through enzymatic biochemical assays that confirm the biotechnological potential of <i>A. niger</i> LBM 134 for the bioconversion of hemicellulosic substrates such as sugarcane and cassava bagasses.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848571.v1
title: <i>Cladosterigma</i>: an enigmatic fungus, previously considered a basidiomycete, now revealed as an ascomycete member of the Gomphillaceae

description: <i>Cladosterigma clavariellum</i> has been treated as a basidiomycete since its first description by Spegazzini in 1886 as <i>Microcera clavariella</i>. After further morphological studies, between 1919 and 2011, it remained among the basidiomycetes, most recently as incertae sedis in the order Cryptobasidiales. Our studies, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, supported by multilocus phylogenetic analyses—second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (<i>RPB2</i>), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (<i>TEF1</i>), small subunit (18S), large subunit (28S), and nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) of the nuclear rDNA sequences, and mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mtSSU)—finally determined the phylogenetic placement of <i>Cladosterigma</i> as the first nonlichenicolous mycoparasitic member of the Gomphillaceae within the Graphidales, an ascomycete order previously composed predominantly of lichen-forming fungi.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848574
title: Poroid Hymenochaetaceae associated with trees showing wood-rot symptoms in the Garden Route National Park of South Africa

description: Poroid Hymenochaetaceae associated with wood rots of trees in three timber-harvesting compartments of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP), South Africa, were investigated using multilocus phylogenetic analyses and morphology of the basidiomes. Results revealed the presence of 10 species belonging to five genera. Six of the species are known, but four are described as new. The known species include <i>Fomitiporia capensis, Fuscoporia gilva, Sanghuangporus microcystideus, Tropicoporus tropicalis, Inonotus rickii</i>, and <i>Inonotus setuloso-croceus</i>. The new species are described as <i>Fomitiporia tsitsikamensis, Fulvifomes elaeodendri, Fuscoporia pulviniformis</i>, and <i>Phellinus guttiformis</i>.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848574.v1
title: Poroid Hymenochaetaceae associated with trees showing wood-rot symptoms in the Garden Route National Park of South Africa

description: Poroid Hymenochaetaceae associated with wood rots of trees in three timber-harvesting compartments of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP), South Africa, were investigated using multilocus phylogenetic analyses and morphology of the basidiomes. Results revealed the presence of 10 species belonging to five genera. Six of the species are known, but four are described as new. The known species include <i>Fomitiporia capensis, Fuscoporia gilva, Sanghuangporus microcystideus, Tropicoporus tropicalis, Inonotus rickii</i>, and <i>Inonotus setuloso-croceus</i>. The new species are described as <i>Fomitiporia tsitsikamensis, Fulvifomes elaeodendri, Fuscoporia pulviniformis</i>, and <i>Phellinus guttiformis</i>.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12848571
title: <i>Cladosterigma</i>: an enigmatic fungus, previously considered a basidiomycete, now revealed as an ascomycete member of the Gomphillaceae

description: <i>Cladosterigma clavariellum</i> has been treated as a basidiomycete since its first description by Spegazzini in 1886 as <i>Microcera clavariella</i>. After further morphological studies, between 1919 and 2011, it remained among the basidiomycetes, most recently as incertae sedis in the order Cryptobasidiales. Our studies, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, supported by multilocus phylogenetic analyses—second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (<i>RPB2</i>), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (<i>TEF1</i>), small subunit (18S), large subunit (28S), and nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) of the nuclear rDNA sequences, and mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mtSSU)—finally determined the phylogenetic placement of <i>Cladosterigma</i> as the first nonlichenicolous mycoparasitic member of the Gomphillaceae within the Graphidales, an ascomycete order previously composed predominantly of lichen-forming fungi.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12136668
title: A new species of <i>Herpomyces</i> (Laboulbeniomycetes: Herpomycetales) on <i>Periplaneta fuliginosa</i> (Blattodea: Blattidae) from Argentina

description: We are becoming increasingly aware of the dazzling diversity of fungi—new taxa are being discovered from poorly sampled habitats and integrative approaches point at (near-)cryptic species in many groups. The class Laboulbeniomycetes, which is composed of three orders (Herpomycetales, Laboulbeniales, Pyxidiophorales), is no exception. However, still, in the orders Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales, species are predominantly described based on morphology alone. Here, we present a new species of <i>Herpomyces</i> from Argentina parasitic on <i>Periplaneta fuliginosa</i>, the smokybrown cockroach. <i>Herpomyces spegazzinii</i>, sp. nov., is characterized based on morphology and molecular data. Phylogenetic inference based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS, consisting of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) barcode region supports the status of this fungus as a separate species, sister to the recently described <i>H. shelfordellae</i>.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12136668.v1
title: A new species of <i>Herpomyces</i> (Laboulbeniomycetes: Herpomycetales) on <i>Periplaneta fuliginosa</i> (Blattodea: Blattidae) from Argentina

description: We are becoming increasingly aware of the dazzling diversity of fungi—new taxa are being discovered from poorly sampled habitats and integrative approaches point at (near-)cryptic species in many groups. The class Laboulbeniomycetes, which is composed of three orders (Herpomycetales, Laboulbeniales, Pyxidiophorales), is no exception. However, still, in the orders Herpomycetales and Laboulbeniales, species are predominantly described based on morphology alone. Here, we present a new species of <i>Herpomyces</i> from Argentina parasitic on <i>Periplaneta fuliginosa</i>, the smokybrown cockroach. <i>Herpomyces spegazzinii</i>, sp. nov., is characterized based on morphology and molecular data. Phylogenetic inference based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS, consisting of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) barcode region supports the status of this fungus as a separate species, sister to the recently described <i>H. shelfordellae</i>.