Occasionally, the symbiosis of the fungus-growing ants is threatened by ascomycetous fungi mainly by species in the genus Escovopsis. GC-MS analyses were conducted to investigate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Escovopsis and the mutualistic Leucocoprinus gongylophorus during dual-culture. In dual-culture Escovopsis' development was faster. Hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) and VOCs

Despite the advantages of the next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, one of their caveats is that they do not differentiate between microbes that are actively participating in carbon cycling in the rhizosphere and microbes performing other functions in the soils. Here we combined DNA-SIP with NGS to investigate which rhizosphere fungi actively assimilate plant-derived carbon. We provided 13CO2

Soil-borne fungi are considered important drivers of plant community structure, diversity and ecosystem process in terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, our understanding of their identity and belowground association with different plant species in natural ecosystems such as grasslands is limited. We identified the soil-borne fungal communities in the roots of a range of plant species representing the main

The role of infectious disease in regulating host populations is increasingly recognized, but how environmental conditions affect pathogen communities and infection levels remains poorly understood. Over 3 y, we compared foliar disease burden, fungal pathogen community composition, and foliar chemistry in the perennial bunchgrass Stipa pulchra occurring in adjacent serpentine and nonserpentine grassland

The Nectriaceae includes numerous canker pathogens. Due to the scarcity of ascomata on many hosts, comprehensive surveys are lacking. Here we characterize the diversity of perithecia-producing nectriaceous fungi across the central Appalachians in eastern North America. Nine species from eleven hosts were recovered including a novel Corinectria sp. from Picea rubens. Neonectria ditissima and Neonectria faginata

Endophytic insect pathogenic fungi of the order Hypocreales reside in plant tissues as mutualistic partners that protect plants against insect herbivores. Caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (order: Hypocreales, family: Ophiocordycipitaceae) is often described as an entomophagous fungus that parasitizes lepidopteran larvae of the ghost moth genus Thitarodes (family: Hepialidae), but recent evidence

How do elemental composition (published data) and melanin (new data) shape the relative growth rate (RGR; new data) of the cephalolichen Lobaria pulmonaria, a member of the Lobarion community? We transplanted L.pulmonaria onto Picea glauca x engelmannii branches in three unmanaged canopy settings in inland British Columbia: within Populus dripzones supporting Lobarion; outside dripzones supporting

In tropical sky-islands, cold-affinity populations tend to become isolated at highlands during the interglacial periods, and to expand into the lowlands where they become more connected during the glacial periods. Although this has been widely studied in trees, it is poorly understood how fungal symbionts can differentiate among mountains (allopatrically), or within a single mountain (parapatrically)

Most trees host hundreds of species of fungi asymptomatically in their internal tissues, known collectively as fungal endophytes. The Foraging Ascomycete (FA) hypothesis proposed that some fungal endophytes inhabit the internal leaf tissue of forest trees in order to enhance dispersal to substrates on the forest floor, by using leaves as vectors and as refugia during periods of environmental stress

In Brazilian savannas, stingless bees are associated with yeast communities composed mainly of Starmerella species. This study aimed to establish the distribution of yeasts associated with the bee species Frieseomelitta varia, Scaptotrigona aff. postica, Scaptotrigona polysticta, Tetragonisca angustula angustula, Melipona compressipes manaosensis and Melipona scutellaris in northern savannas and the

Increasing numbers of fungal species have been described recently from semi-natural grassland soils, raising the conservation interest of these species-rich habitats. Here, we characterize the soil fungal community inhabiting six fairy rings in a montane grassland of the Eastern Pre-Pyrenees through fungal DNA metabarcoding of ITS2 amplicons. Distinct soil fungal communities were observed outside of

Hatchery practices are pivotal to conservation success. In sea turtle hatcheries, reusing sand is a norm, but it remains unclear whether such an approach increases the risk of Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) infection and mortality in sea turtle eggs. We employed 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing in sands and isolated Fusarium strains from diseased eggs across seven turtle hatcheries and their

Interactions between established and recruiting plants play an important role in species coexistence in natural plant communities. However, our knowledge on the particular ecological drivers of these interactions is still limited. We use spatial point pattern analysis to study the spatial patterns of recruitment and infection in two plant-pathogen systems, each involving a fungus with a different life

To further understand interactions between myxomycetes and Collembola, we investigated food preferences of Collembola for myxomycete plasmodia and their responses to Collembola. We cultured two myxomycete species (Physarum melleum and Diderma sp.) and two Collembola species (Vitronura pygmaea and Ceratophysella denticulata) in different combinations for 20 d. Vitronura pygmaea consumed plasmodia, whereas

The study compares the epiphytic lichen communities of two different ecological systems of northern Poland, a non-forested area and a natural lowland deciduous forest corresponding to the potential vegetation flora of a large part of Central Europe, in relation to the same tree species. The impact of habitat type and tree species on individual tree properties and the association between tree size,

Investigating the effects of individual tree species on fungal species in leaf litter allows a mechanistic understanding of how tree diversity affects the diversity and composition of fungal species at the community level. We collected freshly-fallen leaves of eight focal tree species at four tree species richness levels in a large-scale subtropical forest diversity experiment to estimate tree species

Mutualisms are ubiquitous in natural systems, but less is known about how these positive interactions influence species distributions compared with antagonistic interactions, such as competition and predation. The niche concept is one useful approach for thinking about factors that shape species ranges, which we apply here towards understanding how the nature of plant-mycorrhizal symbioses change across

Plant-soil feedbacks not only shape plant communities but also the abiotic and biotic nature of soils. These feedbacks are well-studied in natural and agricultural landscapes, but poorly studied in cities. Here, we investigated soil fungal communities, vegetation and soil abiotic properties in five urban green space types within urban Adelaide, South Australia. We surveyed eight, spatially-independent

This work provides an overview of the ecology of all bipartite cyanolichens of Italy, exploring the relationships between ecological factors and species traits. A matrix of 205 species and several ecological descriptors was subjected to multivariate analyses (classification and ordination). Six groups of species with similar ecology were delimited, arranged along a gradient of decreasing aridity and

We quantified annual growth rate and loss of Bryoria capillaris and Usnea dasopoga transplants on Picea abies on parts of lower branches in the inner versus outer canopy in small, medium and tall trees in hemiboreal forests. Light at branches in the inner canopy was 2.7 x (for Bryoria capillaris) and 2.0 x (for Usnea dasopoga) higher than the lichens’ respective light compensation points, 10.7 ± 1

Invasive plant pathogens cause a substantial loss of yearly revenue and often lead to environmental change. The movement of plants is considered to be the main avenue for introduction of invasive plant pathogens. Government agencies attempt to reduce the risk of introductions by legislation and inspections. However, inspectors may not consider that plant pathogens can infect plants as endophytes that

Many symbiotic microbes can aid their host plant's defense against herbivores and pathogens either directly or indirectly through plant-mediated mechanisms. Thus, microbes are of interest to agricultural research. In this study, we used vertically transmitted Epichloë species because these fungal endophytes of grasses produce alkaloids that have been shown to protect the host from herbivory. Depending

The possible effects of climate change on species interactions remain a very complex and challenging subject in community ecology. Here, we comparatively examine the interactions between maize (Zea mays) and an endophytic fungal entomopathogen (Beauveria bassiana) in a typical agroecosystem under both ambient and elevated air temperatures. We found that under ambient temperature certain key biological

The dominance of MATα among cryptococcal strains has been ascribed to MATa strains being more sensitive to certain environmental factors; however no study has attempted to identify these factors. During the present study we determined whether the chemical composition of woody debris may influence the occurrence of Cryptococcus gattii MATa. We observed a positive correlation between the numbers of C

This study compares the culturable fungal endophytic community inhabiting leaves of Epichloë-infected (E+) and Epichloë-free (E-) plants of Poa bonariensis. Plants were collected from a wild population (dioecious species) where E+ and E- plants co-exist. Fungal endophytes were isolated and then morphology and ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences were used for the identification of isolates

Fungus-growing ants (the attines) are a paramount example of symbiosis, practicing fungiculture for food. Fungi in the genus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) threaten the ant fungal cultivars and show patterns of specificity towards them. Escovopsis trichodermoides was described from colonies of the lower attine Mycocepurus goeldii, however, its ecological role is still unknown. Here we provide

Chestnut blight cankers caused by the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica on infected American chestnut trees can be invaded by hypoviruses that infect C. parasitica mycelia. Hypoviruses lower pathogen virulence (i.e. hypovirulence) and decrease the probability of stem girdling. Cankers also are susceptible to invasion by non-C. parasitica fungi; however, the influence of invading fungi on disease

Characterizing the chemical changes in fungal necromass as it degrades, particularly over short time intervals (days to weeks), is critical to clearly understanding how this organic matter source contributes to various belowground carbon and nutrient pools. Using a range of chemical analyses, we assessed the degradation of four types of ectomycorrhizal fungal necromass from three species differing

Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi are essential for the establishment of woody perennial plants in the European Alps. From continental to local scales, environmental conditions and plant host characteristics can predict EcM community structure and composition. However, it is unclear whether EcM communities of congeneric host species and their hybrids are differentially structured at local scales. We aimed

Hapalopilus croceus is a rare, wood-decay polypore associated with old coarse broadleaf trees, primarily Quercus. It is mainly distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere with its main distribution in Europe. Mating systems in fungi influence the probability of in- or outbreeding and may affect the species’ fitness. We found the mating system of H. croceus to be bipolar by

Phellinotus piptadeniae is associated with several hosts and presents a continental and disjunct geographic distribution, whose populations occur in both dry and wet forests of South America. To understand the distribution of P. piptadeniae, we explored the prior knowledge of its host geography to predict potential distribution of the fungus and discuss aspects of its geography. Based on records from

A field experiment was performed to study the effect of Epichloë endophytes of the wild forage grass Bromus auleticus on mycorrhizal colonization, seedling emergence and growth parameters in three heterospecific grasses of agronomic interest. Plots with B. auleticus associated with Epichloë (E+) and non-associated (E-) plants were established and 3 y later, seeds of Lolium multiflorum (E+ or E-), Schedonorus

Certain bacteria are capable of migrating along fungal hyphae, using them as a dispersal mechanism to cross otherwise-prohibitory distances. Three strains of fungal-migratory Paraburkholderia were isolated from the mycelium of wood-decay fungi, and inoculated onto ten strains of wood-decay fungi growing on solid agar medium. Two of the three bacteria were able to migrate along the hyphae of all fungi

Fungus-growing termites (subfamily Macrotermitinae) live in an obligate mutualistic symbiosis with species of the fungal genus Termitomyces (Basidiomycota). Although the species that build large mounds are the most conspicuous, termites of the genus Microtermes construct large underground networks of tunnels connecting many fungus gardens. They are also the only entire genus within the Macrotermitinae

Theory predicts that the energetic cost of competition between fungal mycelia might accelerate or retard the rate of wood decomposition, depending on various factors. To evaluate the effect of occupied territory on wood decay rate and competitive outcome, we set up a pairing competition experiment using beech wood blocks colonised by three brown-rot and three white-rot basidiomycetes. All white-brown

In arid highland environments harsh conditions for vegetation establishment prevail. Plants in these environments develop different strategies to survive, including associations with fungal root endophytes. These associations may improve plant growth, helping plant resistance to adverse environments. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), dark

Ice-free regions in coastal areas of Victoria Land, Antarctica, are patchily distributed, limited in extent and characterized by a simple vegetation of lichens and mosses, growing only for a short period during the austral summer. These organisms are associated with soil particles and microorganisms (e.g., algae, microfungi and bacteria) to make up biological soil crusts (BSCs), found worldwide in

Whole genome resequencing of 25 isolates of the ascomycete pine pathogen Dothistroma septosporum revealed the presence of three genetically distinct races in Scotland, confirming previous results based on microsatellite markers. The genetically uniform indigenous race from Scotland (NPR), is closely related to an introduced and genetically diverse southern race (SR) from England and France. Race LPR

Fungal communities are structured across time and space by abiotic and biotic factors. We use amplicon-based genetic sequencing techniques to identify unculturable and culturable fungi in airborne spore assemblages across a vegetation mosaic and over the course of a rainy season in coastal California, USA. We found that the assemblages of fungal species varied over time, but with little spatial structure

We examined fungi associated with roots of isoetid plants collected from six Norwegian lakes. The composition of the diverse fungal communities was shaped mainly by host identity, while abiotic factors had negligible effects. The communities associated with roots of Subularia aquatica, Isoëtes echinospora and Isoëtes lacustris were dominated by Ascomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Basidiomycota while Glomeromycota

Sporocarps of wood decay fungi contain functional information about how different taxa partition carbon and nitrogen resources from wood. We combined carbon and nitrogen concentrations, isotopic ratios (13C:12C, 15N:14N, and 14C:12C, expressed as δ13C, δ15N, and Δ14C values), and compositional patterns in wood, cellulose, and sporocarps to investigate functional and isotopic differences in six taxa

Litter input is an important source of C and nutrients in forest soils that are liberated and utilized during decomposition. We have investigated the long-term decomposition of Picea abies and Calamagrostis villosa litters in montane spruce forest and the litter-associated fungi. The two litter types differed in initial nutrient content and decomposed at different rates, but in both cases, significant

Bark and ambrosia beetles inoculate dying trees with symbiotic fungi. The effects of these fungi on wood decomposition are poorly understood. We determined the effects of three widespread Ascomycota symbionts and one introduced Basidiomycota symbiont on the decomposition of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) sapwood. Ascomycetes caused <5% mass loss and no visible structural degradation, whereas the basidiomycete

Unlike for many other organism groups, conservation translocations of fungi are still rare. Encouraged by recent successful translocations, there is a growing interest in applying this conservation tool to threatened wood-inhabiting fungi. When combined with other conservation or restoration measures, translocation can be an effective measure for preventing further population decline in the short term

The island of St Helena is small and over 1900 km from the nearest continental landmass. A unique flora, including five endemic genera of Asteraceae, developed on the island. Plant communities have changed radically since ca. 1550, with deforestation and introduction of continental species leading to extinctions and large reductions in the range and abundance of endemic species. One of these species

This research presents the first description of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community of the North American shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) tree growing outside its natural range. The diversity of ECM fungi associated with alien C. ovata stands was compared with the surrounding native oak–hornbeam forests. C. ovata, outside of its natural range, has a high ability to harbor and to retain compatible

Plant roots are inhabited by a diversity of microorganisms known to be key drivers of plant growth and health. Although the rules governing root microbiota assembly have been investigated and the importance of abiotic determinants highlighted, the consequences of the biotic context of the plant community have often been overlooked. We tested the hypothesis that the abundance of species in a given plant

We studied the effects of different mat-forming lichens on microclimate and litter decomposition in an alpine ecosystem where lichens constitute a major part of the vegetation. We used four lichens with contrasting colour and water-holding capacity. We recorded soil temperature and moisture, and decomposition rate of plant litter under the different lichen mats and in bare soil. While soil temperature

The effects of irrigation on colonization of Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pubescens by members of the Phialocephala fortinii s.l. – Acephala applanata species complex (PAC) was assessed. Roots were collected from an irrigation experiment site. PAC species were identified based on 13 microsatellites. Irrigation and host species had a significant effect on the frequency of roots colonized by PAC. In

High-throughput sequencing (e.g., amplicon and shotgun) has provided new insight into the diversity and distribution of fungi around the globe, but developing a framework to understand this diversity has proved challenging. Here we review key ecological strategy theories developed for macro-organisms and discuss ways that they can be applied to fungi. We suggest that while certain elements may be applied

There is some confusion in the scientific literature concerning terms involving insect-fungus symbioses, including associations vs. interactions, mycetangia vs. mycangia, symbiote vs. symbiont, and symbiosis vs. mutualism. We present a rationale that demonstrates the difference between an association and an interaction, and why the correct term for exoskeletal cavities that harbor fungi should be mycetangia

Supraglacial debris of Miage Glacier (Mont Blanc, Italy) was used as an in situ model for monitoring growth and modification of the taxonomic structure of fungal populations using an in-growth mesh bag approach over three consecutive years. Sterilized debris was placed in mesh bags (MB) and buried in the debris layer. Pristine debris (D) covering the surface of the glacier was also studied for comparative

Population genetic studies play an integral role in understanding the ecology and management of fungal plant pathogens. Such studies for species of Botryosphaeriaceae are hampered by a lack of available markers. Genomic sequences are available for multiple species in this family and they provide excellent resources for the development of population genetic markers. Here we describe highly transferable

Spore size, colour and melanin content are hypothesised to be functional in relation to environmental stress. Here, we studied AM fungal spores in arid environments of Australia and in an experimental platform simulating altered rainfall. We used microscopy and image analysis to measure spore colour and size, and a quantitative colorimetric assay to estimate melanin content in spores. In arid sites

The replacement of native vegetation in riparian areas by invasive species may cause homogenization, and change the quality of allochthonous material entering streams. It may also affect colonization by aquatic hyphomycetes, which are essential for leaf decomposition. We tested the effects of non-native Hovenia dulcis on aquatic hyphomycete communities in a field experiment, as well as the litter decomposition

Lower diversity at range margins of expanding populations is thought to reduce host-symbiont specificity of obligate symbioses. Selection for relaxed symbiont recognition systems is thought to occur when most, if not all, symbionts available to a host are genetically similar. This study evaluated whether the genetic diversity of symbiont populations along a range margin (North America) were lower than

An old oak tree (Quercus robur), colonized by two different lineages of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex (VNI and VNIV), was investigated to determine the distribution of cryptococcal yeasts in the different micro-habitats of the tree. The yeasts were isolated from most of the tree micro-habitats such as bark, trunk cavities, soil beneath the tree, arthropods living on the tree, and air