symbiotic germination of seeds of five mycoheterotrophic orchids with and fungi.

We performed germination tests on seeds from five orchids (, var. , var. , , and ) using one and two isolates.

Mitospore formation on pure cultures of Tuber japonicum (Tuberaceae, Pezizales) in vitro.

The members of the genus Tuber are Ascomycota that form ectomycorrhizal associations with various coniferous and broadleaf tree species. In the teleomorphic stage, the species of the genus produce fruit bodies known as true truffles. Recent studies have discovered mitosporic structures, including spore mats, of several Tuber species on forest soils, indicating the presence of a cryptic anamorphic stage or an unknown reproductive strategy.

Physiological characteristics of pure cultures of a white-colored truffle .

A white-colored truffle , indigenous to Japan, is an ascomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungus. To clarify the physiological characteristics of this fungus, we investigated the influence of culture medium, temperature, and sources of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) on the growth of five strains. strains grew better on malt extract and modified Melin-Norkrans medium, and showed peak growth at 20 °C or 25 °C.

: A new truffle species decorated with moniliform cystidia from Japan.

We describe a new truffle species, , based on molecular and morphological analyses. This species forms a single globose ascospore per ascus, pale yellow in color, as do Japanese and Chinese and in the Japonicum clade of the phylogeny. However, it can be distinguished from them microscopically by its whitish tomentose mycelium that partially covers the ascoma surface and the mesh size of its spore ornamentation.

and : Two new truffles encased in tomentose mycelium from Japan.

We describe two new Japanese truffle species, and , based on molecular and morphological analyses. Both species are clearly distinguishable from other species by the ocher tomentose mycelium covering the ascoma surfaces. has one-spored asci that each contain a large (68-97 × 51-80 µm), reddish-brown ascospore; these microscopic characters are similar to those of closely related Chinese species, , and forms one to four ascospores per ascus with a reddish-brown color similar to that of ascospores of and , although their spores are much larger than those of (27‒64 × 26‒55 µm).

Phylogenetic placements and cultural characteristics of species isolated from ectomycorrhizas.

Pure cultures of were isolated from ectomycorrhizal root tips in plantations in Hokkaido, Japan. Their phylogenetic relationships as well as vegetative hyphal characteristics on culture media were reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer within ribosomal DNA settled well-supported eight lineages within , and clades in .

Evolutionary histories and mycorrhizal associations of mycoheterotrophic plants dependent on saprotrophic fungi.

Mycoheterotrophic plants (MHPs) are leafless, achlorophyllous, and completely dependent on mycorrhizal fungi for their carbon supply. Mycorrhizal symbiosis is a mutualistic association with fungi that is undertaken by the majority of land plants, but mycoheterotrophy represents a breakdown of this mutualism in that plants parasitize fungi. Most MHPs are associated with fungi that are mycorrhizal with autotrophic plants, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi.

Inside Cover Image, Volume 8, Issue 1.

The cover image is based on the ORIGINAL RESEARCH Tuber japonicum by Tomoko Shimokawa et al., https://doi.org/10.

Component features, odor-active volatiles, and acute oral toxicity of novel white-colored truffle native to Japan.

Component analysis of a novel white-colored truffle native to Japan, , was performed to determine its characteristic features. The analysis of odor-active volatile compound showed a high contribution of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-methyl-2,4-dithiapentane to the odor of . Although 2,4-dithiapentane is a key odorant of well-known white truffle , 3-methyl-2,4-dithiapentane was detected from the ripe .

Idiopathic anterior dislocation of the radial head: symptoms, radiographic findings, and management of 8 patients.

Background: Radial head dislocation may occur during trauma or in association with congenital diseases, or it may be developmental or idiopathic. Reports of idiopathic dislocation of the radial head have been scarce. The symptoms, radiographic findings, and management of idiopathic dislocation of the radial head have not been well described in the literature.

Irreducible Dislocation of the Radial Head Associated With Pediatric Monteggia Lesions.

Background: In pediatric patients with Monteggia lesions, the radial head can be reduced manually when displacement of the fractured ulna is corrected. Occasionally, however, a dislocated radial head could not be reduced manually even when the length and/or angulation of the fractured ulna had been corrected. We can find such cases in the literature, but those are single case reports.

Ectomycorrhizae formed by three Japanese truffle species (Tuber japonicum, T. longispinosum, and T. himalayense) on indigenous oak and pine species.

Modern truffle cultivation systems started in Europe in the early 1970s and are now successfully used for several European truffles throughout the world. However, systems for indigenous novel truffle species need to be developed in several regions, especially where truffle cultivation has not been attempted so far, such as in Japan. Recently, two new and one known truffle species that are expected to be edible were reported from Japan: Tuber japonicum, T.

Using mating-type loci to improve taxonomy of the Tuber indicum complex, and discovery of a new species, T. longispinosum.

Black truffles that morphologically resemble Tuber indicum have been known to occur in Japan since 1979. Our previous studies showed that there are two phylotypes of these truffles, both of which fell into the T. indicum complex (hereinafter "Tuber sp.

Fungal partner shifts during the evolution of mycoheterotrophy in Neottia.

Premise Of The Study: Few previous studies have examined how mycobionts change during the evolution from autotrophy to mycoheterotrophy based on phylogenetic hypotheses. Neottia (Orchidaceae) comprises leafy species that are autotrophic and related leafless mycoheterotrophic species, and the phylogenetic relationships among them have been clarified. Accordingly, Neottia is a suitable taxon for investigating the question above.

How do fungal partners affect the evolution and habitat preferences of mycoheterotrophic plants? A case study in Gastrodia.

Premise Of The Study: Since mycoheterotrophic plants (MHPs) completely depend on their mycorrhizal fungi for carbon, selection of fungal partners has an important role in the speciation of MHPs. However, the causes and mechanisms of mycobiont changes during speciation are not clear. We tested fungal partner shifts and changes in mycorrhizal specificity during speciation of three closely related MHPs-Gastrodia confusa (Gc), G.

Polysomnographic Assessment of Sleep Comorbidities in Drug-Naïve Narcolepsy-Spectrum Disorders--A Japanese Cross-Sectional Study.

This is a large cross-sectional study which aimed to investigate comorbidity rate, degree of sleep-related breathing disorder, polysomnigraphically diagnosible rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder/rapid eye movement sleep without atonia and periodic limb movements during sleep in Japanese drug-naïve patients with narcolepsy-spectrum disorders. A total of 158 consecutive drug naïve patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, 295 patients with narcolepsy without cataplexy and 395 patients with idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time were enrolled. From retrospectively analyzed data of nocturnal polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test, higher rates of periodic limb movements during sleep (> = 15 h(-1)) (10.

Revisiting the host effect on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities: implications from host-fungal associations in relict Pseudotsuga japonica forests.

Host identity is among the most important factors in structuring ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities. Both host-fungal coevolution and host shifts can account for the observed host effect, but their relative significance in ECM fungal communities is not well understood. To investigate these two host-related mechanisms, we used relict forests of Pseudotsuga japonica, which is an endangered endemic species in Japan.

Historical biogeography and diversification of truffles in the Tuberaceae and their newly identified southern hemisphere sister lineage.

Truffles have evolved from epigeous (aboveground) ancestors in nearly every major lineage of fleshy fungi. Because accelerated rates of morphological evolution accompany the transition to the truffle form, closely related epigeous ancestors remain unknown for most truffle lineages. This is the case for the quintessential truffle genus Tuber, which includes species with socio-economic importance and esteemed culinary attributes.

Multiple origins of sequestrate basidiomes within Entoloma inferred from molecular phylogenetic analyses.

The genus Entoloma comprises diverse trophic modes and basidiome morphologies. Although Entoloma includes some sequestrate species, their origins are not clearly understood in relation to phylogenetic position and trophic status. In this study, we collected 34 sequestrate Entoloma specimens in Japan over a 9-y period.

Phylogeny and diversity of Japanese truffles (Tuber spp.) inferred from sequences of four nuclear loci.

The genus Tuber, which includes some highly valued truffles, comprises ascomycetous ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with ecologically important tree species. Although the genus is distributed over northern temperate regions, we know little about the phylogeny and diversity of Tuber species in Japan. We have collected 186 new Tuber ascoma samples in Japan over a 10 y period.

Germination and infectivity of ectomycorrhizal fungal spores in relation to their ecological traits during primary succession.

The spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play critical roles in the population and community development of EMF. Here, the germination and infectivity of EMF spores are examined with reference to the ecological traits of the EMF species. Spores were collected from 12 EMF species, whose successional patterns have been studied in the volcanic desert on Mount Fuji, Japan.