Resolving the Lophiostoma bipolare complex: Generic delimitations within Lophiostomataceae

Abstract

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.

Insight into the Systematics of Microfungi Colonizing Dead Woody Twigs of Dodonaea viscosa in Honghe (China)

“…Lophiostomataceae species are usually characterized by a slot-like ostiole on the top of the flattened neck, occurring mainly on twigs, stems or the bark of different woody and herbaceous plants in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments as saprobes [ 129 , 140 , 188 ]. Thambugala et al [ 129 ] undertook a comprehensive study of this family and accepted 16 genera.…”

Morpho-Phylo Taxonomy of Novel Dothideomycetous Fungi Associated With Dead Woody Twigs in Yunnan Province, China

“…However, the ascospores of Neoheleiosa do not have any appendages (Figures 4m-q), whereas Heleiosa have 10 or more short and curved hair-like subapical appendages at each end. Ascospores with a gelatinous sheath or appendages may help fungi to attach to plant substrates in aquatic or marine habitats (Shearer, 1993;Hyde and Goh, 2003;Jones, 2006;Devadatha et al, 2018;Hashimoto et al, 2018). The subapical appendages of Heleiosa ascospores could be an adaptation for its marine-based habitat and loss of appendaged ascospores in Neoheleiosa is potentially advantageous to adaptation to a nonaquatic habitat.…”

Lophiostomin A–D: new 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin derivatives from the endophytic fungus Lophiostoma sp. Sigrf10

“…High resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) spectra were recorded on an LC1260-Q-TOF/MS 6520 instrument (Agilent Technologies, CA, USA). The 1 H-, 13 C-, and 2D-NMR spectra were measured on an Avance 400 NMR spectrometer (Bruker BioSpin, Zurich, Switzerland). Chemical shis were expressed in d (ppm) referenced to the solvent residual peaks at d H 2.50/d C 39.5 for DMSO-d 6 , or the internal standard TMS for CD 3 OD, respectively, and coupling constants (J) in hertz (Hz).…”

“…3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins have been previously reported from terrestrial or marine-derived fungi, and exhibited interesting bioactivities, such as anti-inammatory, 9 antibacterial, 10 or phytotoxic activities. 11 Although members of the genus Lophiostoma have been reported as endophytes, 12 or saprophytes from terrestrial, fresh water or marine enviorments, 13 chemical investigations that have been documented were mostly on the marine-derived species. These included sterol, cerebroside, phenalenone derivatives, sesterterpenoid, merosesquiterpenoids, tenmembered macrolides, and pyrrolidine derivatives, displaying antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and cytotoxic activities.…”