Diversity and New Species of Ascomycota from Bamboo in China

Abstract

Bamboo is an economically important crop that has gained prominence as an alternative to wood to reduce deforestation and ecosystem destruction. Diseases of bamboo that typically occur on leaves and stems can cause significant loss, reducing the quality and yield of the bamboo. However, there are few reports identifying the fungal species diversity and potential pathogens of bamboo. Here, we describe four new species of plant fungi from the leaves of bamboo within Fujian provinces, China. Fungi were isolated from diseased leaves collected within Fujian province and identified based on their morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenies using nucleotide sequences derived from combined datasets of the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), the large subunit of RNA polymerase I (rpb1), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), and the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2). These analyses helped reveal and clarify taxonomic relationships in the family Magnaporthaceae. The new species of bambusicolous fungi identified include two species of Bifusisporella, described as B. fujianensis sp. nov. and B. bambooensis sp. nov., and two species of Apiospora, described as A. fujianensis sp. nov. and A. fuzhouensis sp. nov. This study further expands the characterization and distribution of fungi associated with bamboo.

Keywords: Apiospora; Bifusisporella; bambusicolous fungi; molecular phylogeny; morphology; new species.

Figure 1

ML tree generated from combined ITS, LSU, rpb1, and tef1-α sequence data of Magnaporthaceae and Pyriculariaceae. The maximum likelihood (ML) bootstrap support values and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BYPP) bootstrap support values above 70% and 0.90 are shown at the first and second position. Species with sequences obtained in this study are in boldface and newly generated sequences were indicated in red. Ophioceras dolichostomum (CBS 114926) and O.leptosporum (CBS894.70) (Ophioceraceae) were used as the outgroup. Yellow-green strips represent different neighboring species.

Figure 2

Phylogram of Apiospora based on combined ITS, LSU, tef1-α, and tub2 genes. ML bootstrap support values (ML-BS ≥ 70%) and Bayesian posterior probability (BYPP ≥ 0.90) are shown as first and second position above nodes, respectively. Strains from this study are shown in red. Some branches were shortened according to the indicated multipliers.

Figure 3

Bifusisporella fujianensis (HMAS 352712). (a) Leaves of host plant. (b,c) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 7 days on PDA and 14 days. (d) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 14 days on SNA (containing pine needle). (e,f) Conidiomata sporulating on PDA. (g,h) Conidiogenous cells and conidia. (i–k) Conidia. Scalebar = 10 µm (g–k).

Figure 4

Bifusisporella bambooensis (HMAS 352714). (a) Leaves of host plant. (b,c) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 7 days on PDA and 14 days. (d) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 14 days on SNA (containing pine needle). (e,f) Conidiomata sporulating on PDA. (g,h) Conidiogenous cells and conidia.(i,j) Conidia. Scalebar = 10 µm (g–j).

Figure 5

Apiospora fujianensis (HMAS 352716). (a) Leaves of host plant. (b,c) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 7 days on PDA and 14 days. (d,e) Conidiomata sporulating on PDA. (f–j) Conidiogenous cells and conidia. (k) Conidia. Scale bars = 10 µm (f–k).

Figure 6

Apiospora fuzhouensis (HMAS 352718). (a) Leaves of host plant. (b,c) Upper and reverse view of colony after incubation for 7 days on PDA and 14 days. (d,e) Conidiomata sporulating on PDA. (f–i) Conidiogenous cells and conidia. (j,k) Conidia. Scale bars = 10 µm (f–k).