Fungi inhabiting knotwood ofPinus sylvestrisinfected byPorodaedalea pini

Abstract

Abundance and diversity of fungi in naturally formed knots of Pinus sylvestris affected by Porodaedalea pini were investigated. Samples were taken from trees that were (i) affected, with internal heartwood decay and no conks, (ii) affected, with internal heartwood decay and conks and (iii) controls. The Illumina sequencing technology was used for amplification of DNA, sequencing and analysis. In total, 566,279 raw sequences were obtained from six samples. Sequences included 74% of culturable and 8.4% of non‐culturable fungi and 17.6% of organisms with no reference sequences in NCBI. Abundance of organisms in knotwood, measured as number of OTUs, ranged from 36,272 (29,506 for fungi) to 178,535 (177,484 for fungi) and differed significantly between two trees in a stand and between stands. The highest and lowest average number of fungal OTUs occurred in infected trees with no conks and in trees with conks, respectively. Number of taxa ranged from 171 to 415 and often differed significantly between two trees in one stand and between stands. Greatest diversity occurred in control trees. The number of fungal taxa shared by two trees in one stand was 67–152 and that shared by two stands was 51–141. The majority of fungi were Ascomycota. Those most common in pines affected by P. pini were Coniochaeta hoffmannii and C. fodinicola (19.65%–59.92%). Infundichalara microchona, Leotiomycetes spp. and Rhinocladiella atrovirens were also present. Another common species, Lecanora conizaeoides, occurred most often in control trees (0.30%–8.82%). Porodaedalea pini was detected only sporadically. Non‐culturable fungi were most frequent in the control trees. The greater average abundance and smaller average diversity of fungi in knots of trees infected by P. pini suggest that the pathogen successfully competes with some fungal species and does not inhibit the growth of survivors. Some fungi detected may contribute to production of natural biocides.

Coniochaeta fodinicola (Fungi: Sordariomycetes) from a sulphurous spring in Poland

“…This could indicate that the species may occur more frequently, even in non-acidic habitats. However, interestingly, 64 out of 82 samples have pH between highly to slightly acidic (4.1-6.7 pH) and only (Szewczyk et al 2017) are interesting reports which may indicate new ecological niches for this species. Environmental studies may lead to a conclusion that the species prefers acidic environments, but it may also live in non-acidic conditions.…”

Black Fungi and Hydrocarbons: An Environmental Survey for Alkylbenzene Assimilation

“…The Rhinocladiella genus is a synanamorph of Exophiala , i.e., both anamorphic species can occur at the same teleomorph. Del Palacio-Hernanz et al [ 59 ] described the pathogenic nature of R. atrovirens ; however, recent studies have been published where the species is placed as a saprotroph in the decomposition of pine wood [ 60 , 61 ].…”

A risk to the forestry industry? Invasive pines as hosts of foliar fungi and potential pathogens

“…Neocatenulostroma germanicum has been found co-occurring with the pathogens Dothistroma spp. and/or Lecanosticta acicola on P. mugo, P. nigra, and P. sylvestris (Markovskaja et al 2016), in the knotwood of P. sylvestris (Szewczyk et al, 2017) and in association with symptoms of Cyclaneusma needle cast on P. sylvestris (Behnke-Borowczyk et al 2019). Through inoculation experiments, N. germanicum was confirmed to be a weak opportunistic pathogen with a long latent phase (Markovskaja et al 2016).…”