Fungal Diversity in the Neptune Forest: Comparison of the Mycobiota of Posidonia oceanica, Flabellia petiolata, and Padina pavonica

Abstract

Fungi are widely distributed in the Oceans, interact with other organisms and play roles that range from pathogenic to mutualistic. The present work focuses on the characterization of the cultivable mycobiota associated with the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile collected off the Elba Island (Italy). We identified 102 taxa (mainly Ascomycota) by the mean of a polyphasic approach. Leaves, rhizomes, roots and matte were characterized by unique mycobiota revealing a "plant-part-specificity." The comparison with the mycobiota associated with the green alga Flabellia petiolata and the brown alga Padina pavonica underlined a "substrate specificity." Indeed, despite being part of the same phytocoenosis, these photosynthetic organisms recruit different fungal communities. The mycobiota seems to be necessary for the host's defense and protection, playing, in this way, remarkable ecological roles. Among the 61 species detected in association with P. oceanica (including two species belonging to the newly introduced genus Paralulworthia), 37 were reported for the first time from the Mediterranean Sea.

Lulworthinone, a New Dimeric Naphthopyrone From a Marine Fungus in the Family Lulworthiaceae With Antibacterial Activity Against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

“…Lulworthiaceae is the sole family in the Lulworthiales order, and Lulworthiaceae spp. are regarded as strictly marine species, which include the following genera: Cumulospora, Halazoon, Hydea, Kohlmeyerella, Lulwoana, Lulworthia, Lindra, Matsusporium, and Moleospora (Poli et al, 2020). Recently, a novel genus was introduced to the Lulworthiaceae, Paralulworthia, with two new species described, Paralulworthia gigaspora and Paralulworthia posidoniae (Poli et al, 2020).…”

“…are regarded as strictly marine species, which include the following genera: Cumulospora, Halazoon, Hydea, Kohlmeyerella, Lulwoana, Lulworthia, Lindra, Matsusporium, and Moleospora (Poli et al, 2020). Recently, a novel genus was introduced to the Lulworthiaceae, Paralulworthia, with two new species described, Paralulworthia gigaspora and Paralulworthia posidoniae (Poli et al, 2020). Hyde et al (2020) also included the following genera in the family: Haloguignardia, Lolwoidea, Moromyces, Orbimyces, Rostrupiella, and Sammeyersia.…”

“…Fungi in the family Lulworthiaceae have been isolated from a variety of substrates and environments. Some examples include corals (Góes-Neto et al, 2020), plants located in salt marches (Calado et al, 2019), seagrass (Poli et al, 2020), Portuguese marinas (Azevedo et al, 2017), sandy beaches of the Cozumel island in Mexico (Velez et al, 2015), brown seaweed (Zuccaro et al, 2008), and driftwood (Rämä et al, 2014). The distribution of Lulworthiales fungi in marine habitats has been studied throughout the history of marine mycology (Johnson, 1958;Kohlmeyer et al, 2000;Koch et al, 2007;Rämä et al, 2014;Azevedo et al, 2017;Góes-Neto et al, 2020), but the biosynthetic potential of these fungi has not been investigated, most likely due to the special knowledge required for their isolation (Overy et al, 2019) and low growth rates.…”

Metagenomics Study of Fungi and Fungi-Like Organisms Associated With the Seagrass Halophila Stipulacea (Forssk.) Asch. From Al-Leith Mangroves, Saudi Arabia

“…Seagrasses are owering plants inhabiting marine environments and have a worldwide distribution, with 50 species reported that cover about 60,000 km 2 (Logan 1992;Phang 2000;Raghukumar 2017). Seagrasses provide food, habitats, and breeding grounds to a variety of marine species.…”

“…In addition, meadows of seagrass are important carbon sinks and sequester between 10 to 18% of the ocean's carbon reservoir for long-term storage (Pernice et al 2016). Seagrasses prevent erosion by trapping and binding sediments and by their death, provide substantial amounts of nutrition to organisms living within the seagrass ecosystem, as well as to those in mangroves and corals and other ecosystems (Wilson 1998;Phang 2000;Raghukumar 2017). Primary productivity of seagrass meadows is among the highest of aquatic ecosystems (Duarte and Chiscano 1999).…”