Exploring diversity within the genus (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) in the Pannonian sandy steppe: four fascinating novel species from Hungary.

Steppe vegetation on sandy soil in Hungary has recently been revealed as one of the hot spots in Europe for the stalked puffballs (genus ). In the framework of the taxonomic revision of gasteroid fungi in Hungary, four species are described here as new to science: , , and . The study is based on detailed macro- and micromorphological investigations (including light and scanning electron microscopy), as well as a three-locus phylogeny of nrDNA ITS, nrDNA LSU and sequences.

Untargeted metabolomic analyses support the main phylogenetic groups of the common plant-associated Alternaria fungi isolated from grapevine (Vitis vinifera).

Alternaria, a cosmopolitan fungal genus is a dominant member of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) microbiome. Several Alternaria species are known to produce a variety of secondary metabolites, which are particularly relevant to plant protection and food safety in field crops. According to previous findings, the majority of Alternaria species inhabiting grapevine belong to Alternaria sect.

Multilocus molecular phylogenetic-led discovery and formal recognition of four novel root-colonizing species from northern Kazakhstan and the phylogenetically divergent lineage.

In this study, DNA sequence data were used to characterize 290 strains isolated during a survey of root-colonizing endophytic fungi of agricultural and nonagricultural plants in northern Kazakhstan. The collection was screened for species identity using partial translation elongation factor 1-α () gene sequences. Altogether, 16 different species were identified, including eight known and four novel species, as well as the discovery of the phylogenetically divergent lineage.

, sp. nov., a dark septate root-associated fungus in foundation grasses in North American Great Plains.

is a common genus of dark septate fungi-a group of ascomycetes in semiarid regions. A survey reported and a distinct lineage as abundant root-associated fungi of foundational grasses in North America. Fungi were isolated, and metabarcode data were obtained from sequencing of fungal communities of grass roots in the United States.

The fungus Kalmusia longispora is able to cause vascular necrosis on Vitis vinifera.

Fungal diseases in agronomically important plants such as grapevines result in significantly reduced production, pecuniary losses, and increased use of environmentally damaging chemicals. Beside the well-known diseases, there is an increased interest in wood-colonizing fungal pathogens that infect the woody tissues of grapevines. In 2015, a traditional isolation method was performed on grapevine trunks showing symptoms of trunk diseases in Hungary.

Micro-scale Experimental System Coupled with Fluorescence-based Estimation of Fungal Biomass to Study Utilisation of Plant Substrates.

The degradation capacity and utilisation of complex plant substrates are crucial for the functioning of saprobic fungi and different plant symbionts with fundamental functions in ecosystems. Measuring the growth capacity and biomass of fungi on such systems is a challenging task. We established a new micro-scale experimental setup using substrates made of different plant species and organs as media for fungal growth.

The grass root endophytic fungus Flavomyces fulophazii: An abundant source of tetramic acid and chlorinated azaphilone derivatives.

Fungal endophytes are remarkable sources of biologically active metabolites of ecological and pharmacological significance. In this study, fungal isolates producing yellow pigments and originating from grass roots, were identified as the recently described grass root colonizing dark septate endophyte (DSE), Flavomyces fulophazii (Periconiaceae, Pleosporales). While analyzing the metabolite composition of 17 isolates of this fungus, 11 previously undescribed compounds, including four tetramic acids (dihydroxyvermelhotin, hydroxyvermelhotin, methoxyvermelhotin, oxovermelhotin), and seven chlorinated azaphilones (flavochlorines A-G), together with the known tetramic acid vermelhotin, were tentatively identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

Above-ground parts of white grapevine Vitis vinifera cv. Furmint share core members of the fungal microbiome.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is a reservoir of fungal endophytes that may affect its growth, health status and grape production. Although there is growing interest in comparing fungal communities of mainly red grape varieties across various factors using only high-throughput sequencing, the small-scale mycobiome variations in geographically close vineyards need further examination. We aimed to characterize the fungal microbiome of the above-ground tissues of V.

The new truffle genus and a new species of from semiarid grasslands of Hungary.

Truffles with distinct morphological and anatomical features were collected during a study of hypogeous fungi of semiarid sandy grasslands of the Great Hungarian Plain in Hungary, representing the westernmost localities of the Eurasian steppe belt. None of the ascomata were collected near ectomycorrhizal plant species, and none were identified as ectomycorrhizal during previous surveys in the collection area. We studied morphoanatomical characteristics of these truffles with light and scanning electron microscopy and investigated their phylogenetic positions based on analyses of different nuclear loci.

Root-Colonizing Endophytic Fungi of the Dominant Grass From a Mongolian Steppe Grassland.

In several terrestrial ecosystems such as grasslands, plants live together with various root-colonizing dark septate endophytes (DSEs), fungi that are relatively frequent colonizers of healthy belowground tissues of plants in these environments. They are important members of the plant microbiota and may have various effects on plant survival under different stress conditions; however, their general functions in relation to plants and the greater ecosystem remain elusive. Although an increasing number of studies has been published focusing on DSEs in Asian grasslands, our knowledge is limited.

Detection and phylogenetic characterization of atypical porcine pestivirus strains in Hungary.

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a recently identified RNA virus within the Flaviviridae family, causing congenital tremor (CT) in the piglets of infected sows. We have investigated 25 cases of CT from 2005, 2007, 2010 and 2016-2018, originating from six different farms. RT-PCR has been performed on these samples and all of the affected piglets were positive to APPV.

Inhabiting plant roots, nematodes, and truffles-Polyphilus, a new helotialean genus with two globally distributed species.

Fungal root endophytes, including the common group of dark septate endophytes (DSEs), represent different taxonomic groups and potentially diverse life strategies. In this study, we investigated two unidentified helotialean lineages found previously in a study of DSE fungi of semiarid grasslands, from several other sites, and collected recently from a pezizalean truffle ascoma and eggs of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi. The taxonomic positions and phylogenetic relationships of 21 isolates with different hosts and geographic origins were studied in detail.

Comparative genomics provides insights into the lifestyle and reveals functional heterogeneity of dark septate endophytic fungi.

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are a form-group of root endophytic fungi with elusive functions. Here, the genomes of two common DSE of semiarid areas, Cadophora sp. and Periconia macrospinosa were sequenced and analyzed with another 32 ascomycetes of different lifestyles.

Interspecific metabolic diversity of root-colonizing endophytic fungi revealed by enzyme activity tests.

Although dark septate endophytes (DSE) represent a worldwide dispersed form group of root-colonizing endophytic fungi, our knowledge on their role in ecosystem functioning is far limited. In this study, we aimed to test if functional diversity exists among DSE fungi representing different lineages of root endophytic fungal community of semiarid sandy grasslands. To address this question and to gain general information on function of DSE fungi, we adopted api-ZYM and BioLog FF assays to study those non-sporulating filamentous fungi and characterized the metabolic activity of 15 different DSE species.

Simultaneous specific in planta visualization of root-colonizing fungi using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

In planta detection of mutualistic, endophytic, and pathogenic fungi commonly colonizing roots and other plant organs is not a routine task. We aimed to use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for simultaneous specific detection of different fungi colonizing the same tissue. We have adapted ribosomal RNA (rRNA) FISH for visualization of common mycorrhizal (arbuscular- and ectomycorrhiza) and endophytic fungi within roots of different plant species.

The dark side is not fastidious--dark septate endophytic fungi of native and invasive plants of semiarid sandy areas.

Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi represent a frequent root-colonizing fungal group common in environments with strong abiotic stress, such as (semi)arid ecosystems. This work aimed to study the DSE fungi colonizing the plants of semiarid sandy grasslands with wood steppe patches on the Great Hungarian Plain. As we may assume that fungi colonizing both invasive and native species are generalists, root associated fungi (RAF) were isolated from eight native and three invasive plant species.