Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. Previously (Geiser et al. 2013; Phytopathology 103:400-408. 2013), the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani Species Complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged by one research group (Lombard et al. 2015 Studies in Mycology 80: 189-245) who proposed dividing Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC as the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification based on claims that the Geiser et al. (2013) concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2018; Persoonia 41:109-129). Here we test this claim, and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species recently described as Neocosmospora were recombined in Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural and practical taxonomic option available.

Lophiostoma bipolare was taxonomically revised based on the morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of molecular data from nuclear rDNA SSU-ITS-LSU, TUB, tef1, and rpb2 genes. Twenty-nine strains were morphologically similar to Lo. bipolare. A total of 174 sequences were generated from the Lo. bipolare complex. Phylogenetic analyses based on TUB sequence revealed 11 distinct species within the Lo. bipolare complex. Morphological features of the ascospores and the anatomical structure of the ascomata from both field collections as well as axenic culture, which have been reported previously as variable features at intraspecific levels, were compared to evaluate the taxonomic reliability of these features. To clarify the generic position of the 11 species, phylogenetic analyses were done on SSU-ITS-LSU-tef1-rpb2 gene sequences. The Lo. bipolare complex shared phylogenetic relationships with Pseudolophiostoma and Vaginatispora, and formed an additional five distinct clades from other members of Lophiostomataceae. According to its phylogenetic position, Lo. bipolare sensu stricto was distantly related to Lophiostoma s. str., and formed an independent clade within Lophiostomataceae. Lophiostoma bipolare s. str. could be distinguished from the other lophiostomataceous genera by the clypeus around the ostiolar neck and by the thin and uniformly thick peridium. A novel genus described as Lentistoma was established to accommodate this species, and the epitypification of Lentistoma bipolare (basionym: Massarina bipolaris) was proposed. Other lineages of the Lo. bipolare complex could not be separated on the basis of the ascospore size and sheath variations, but were distinguished based on ascomatal features, such as the existence of the clypeus, brown hyphae surrounding the peridium, and the contexture of the peridium, which were stable indicators of generic boundaries in Lophiostomataceae. Four additional new genera with five new species were recognised based on these morphological differences: Crassiclypeus (C. aquaticus), Flabellascoma (F. cycadicola and F. minimum), Leptoparies (Lep. palmarum), and Pseudopaucispora (Pseudop. brunneospora). Three new species were added to Pseudolophiostoma (Pseudol. cornisporum, Pseudol. obtusisporum, and Pseudol. tropicum) and two new species were added to Vaginatispora (V. amygdali and V. scabrispora). The re-evaluation of the validity of several previously recognised genera resulted in the introduction of two new genera with new combinations for Lophiostoma pseudoarmatisporum as Parapaucispora pseudoarmatispora and Vaginatispora fuckelii as Neovaginatispora fuckelii.

A gene encoding 1,3-β-glucanase was isolated from Streptomyces sioyaensis based on an activity plate assay. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the gene revealed that the matured 1,3-β-glucanase has two functional domains separated by a stretch of nine glycine residues. The N-terminal domain shares sequence similarity with bacterial endo-1,3-β-glucanases classified in glycosyl hydrolase family 16 (GHF 16), while the C-terminal domain is a putative carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) grouped into CBM family 6. To characterize the function of each domain, both the full-length and the CBM-truncated versions of the protein were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Biochemical data suggest that the glycosyl hydrolase domain preferentially catalyses the hydrolysis of glucans with 1,3-β linkage, and has an endolytic mode of action. Binding assay indicated that the C-terminal CBM binds to various insoluble β-glucans (1,3-, 1,3-1,4-and 1,4-linkages) but not to xylan, a primary binding target for most members of CBM family 6. The full-length and the CBM-truncated proteins had similar specific activity (units per mol of hydrolase domain) on soluble 1,3-β-glucan, whereas the former had much stronger specific activity on insoluble 1,3-β-glucans, suggesting that the C-terminal CBM enhances the activity of the S. sioyaensis 1,3-β-glucanase against insoluble substrates, presumably by increasing the frequency of encounter events between the hydrolase domain and the substrate.

Streptomyces padanus strain PMS-702 is an antagonist of Rhizoctonia solani AG-4, the causal agent of damping-off of cabbage. Treatment of cabbage seeds with the culture filtrate of S. padanus strain PMS-702 was effective in reducing the incidence of damping-off of cabbage. The major active ingredient from the culture filtrate of S. padanus strain PMS-702 was purified by silica gel column chromatography and identified as the polyene macrolide, fungichromin, by NMR and mass spectral data. Bioassay studies showed that fungichromin had a strong antifungal activity against R. solani AG-4, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (over 90% inhibition) was found to be 72 microg/mL. This is the first report of fungichromin from S. padanus as an active ingredient for the control of Rhizoctonia damping-off of cabbage.