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MACROFUNGI IN THE HISTORICAL “HANBURY” BOTANICAL
GARDENS (LIGURIA, NW ITALY):
A PRELIMINARY CHECK-LIST
ELIA AMBROSIO1*, MAURO GIORGIO MARIOTTI2,3,4,
ELENA ZAPPA2,3, STEFANO FERRARI3, MIRCA ZOTTI1
1
Laboratory of Mycology, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Science
(DISTAV), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16136 Genova, Italy.
2
Polo Botanico Hanbury, University of Genoa, Corso Dogali, 1 M, I 16136
Genova, Italy.
3
Hanbury Botanical Gardens, Corso Montecarlo, 43 La Mortola, 18039
Ventimiglia (IM), Italy.
4
Department of Earth, Environment and Life Science (DISTAV), University of
Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16136 Genova, Italy
*Correspondence to: elia.ambrosio@edu.unige.it/elly1006@hotmail.it
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the results of the study on the mycoflora of a
botanical garden located in Liguria (NW Italy). Mycological investigations
were performed to list the presence of both epigeous and hypogeous
macrofungal species in the historical Hanbury Botanical Gardens. The results
show that several interesting and uncommon species, especially among
hypogeous fungi, occur in the site. Ectomycorrhizal species and soil
saprotrophs were more numerous than woody decaying and parasite fungi. This
site, declared a Regional Protected Area and a Site of Community Importance
for its high plant biodiversity, also constitutes an interesting area from a
mycological perspective. Due to the importance of fungi in terrestrial
ecosystems functioning and their potential interactions with plants, further
studies should be planned in order to increase knowledge on the fungal
components that can are present in botanical gardens.
KEY WORDS
Fungi; check-list; historic gardens; conservation.
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INTRODUCTION
Botanical gardens are known for being “an institution holding
documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific
research, conservation, display and education” (BGCI, 1987). Hosting
a large collection of plants, derived from different geographical areas
around the world, botanical gardens are recognized as having a key role
in global plant conservation (Hulme, 2011).
It has been estimated that within the current 2.500 existing
botanical gardens there are almost 10.000 living plants, many of which
are threatened or are already extinct in the world (see www.bgci.org;
Oldfield, 2010). International agreements that deal with biodiversity
conservation, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD,
1992) and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC, 2002),
remark on the importance of botanical gardens for ex situ conservation
actions in the gardens.
Focusing on the biodiversity of botanical gardens, very little or
no information is available on other organisms, beyond plants, that
might be present.
Plants for instance, engage in intimate relationships with fungi
forming a symbiotic association in which both partners are likely to
benefit. One of the most important symbiosis type is called
“mycorrhizae” where fungi live on (“ectomycorrhizae”) and in
(“endomycorrhizae”) the plant roots. In this case both the plant and the
fungus depend on this relationship to develop and survive (Mueller,
2004; Deacon, 2006). It is estimated that as many as 90% of all plants
depend on mycorrhizae to survive and this symbiosis type probably
enabled plants to colonize land around 450 million years ago
(Amaranthus, 1999; Tedersoo et al., 2010).
A large number of fungi are adapted to grow as parasites on
plants, obtaining some or all of the nutrients from the living tissues of
their host. Parasitic fungi affect both wild and cultivated plants,
sometimes causing extensive damage that can be very costly for the
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agricultural and horticultural industries. Some of these fungi include
rusts, smuts and moulds, but can also include macrofungi (Kirk at al.,
2008) like the forestry pests belonging to Armillaria (Fr.) Staude genus
(Deacon, 2006).
The importance of fungi for a plants survival and benefits that
fungi bring, make essential to know more about the mycobiota (Kirk et
al., 2008) of an habitat. Fungi play a crucial role in terrestrial
ecosystems (e.g. nutrients cycles, nutrients transport, decomposition)
and they establish important symbiotic (mutualistic or pathogenic)
interactions with plants.
Actually, to the best of our knowledge, no information is
available on the macrofungal component associated with botanical
gardens. This lack of knowledge encouraged us to carry out mycological
surveys in a historical botanical garden located in Liguria (North-west
Italy), with the aim of listing the macrofungal species. In the past, this
Ligurian site has been studied once before by Professor O. Penzig
(Penzig, 1884) on the presence of fungal species.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
The historical “Hanbury” Botanical Gardens (GBH; Fig. 1) are
located in Liguria (NW Italy) on the promontory of “Capo Mortola”, in
the province of Imperia, a few kilometers from the boundary between
Italy and France. These gardens were founded in 1867 when Sir Thomas
Hanbury bought the ancient “Palazzo Orengo” and the adjacent piece of
land in order to transform them into an acclimatization garden of exotic
plants (Campodonico, 2010; Profumo, 2010).
The gardens cover over 19 hectares, of which about half of this
surface is cultivated with plants from different areas with subtropical or
warm-temperate climates; whereas, the other half is characterized by
semi-natural Mediterranean vegetation, with the presence of Pinus
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halepensis Mill. woods and other habitats, such as the Mediterranean
maquis (dominated by Quercus ilex L.) in the surrounding area.
Figure 1. Hanbury Botanical Gardens. Photos by
http://www.giardinihanbury.com/.
GBH do not contain gardens full of borders and neat flower
beds. In this site plants live “freely” and bloom, giving fruit and then
produce fertile seed, thus completing the biological cycle that they have
in nature.
GBH currently host a collection of approximately 3500 taxa
including ornamental, fruit trees and medicinal herbs. In some zones,
plants were gathered together on the basis of their phytogeographic or
ecological or aesthetic peculiarities, such as: the Japanese garden, the
Australian forest, the collection of roses, the succulent plants, the garden
of perfumes, the palms, the agaves, the aloes, the acacias, the cypress
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avenue, the citrus orchards, the exotic fruit, the olive avenue and the
giardinetti (some pictures are shown in Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 2: Hanbury Botanical Gardens pictures. Photos by
http://www.giardinihanbury.com/ and by E. Zappa.
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Figure 3: Hanbury Botanical Gardens pictures. Photos by
http://www.giardinihanbury.com/ and by E. Zappa.
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Due to the presence of a high number of flowering plants and
the abundance and diversity of the plant species, in addition to the
coexistence of different habitat types, the gardens and the immediate
surroundings (including the sea-bed in front), were declared a Regional
Protected Area in March 2000. A few years later Capo Mortola was
declared a Site of Community Importance (SCI) under the Directive
92/43.
The area enjoys a Temperate Mediterranean climate with a hot,
dry summer (Rivas-Martinez, 2008). January is the coldest month
(average temperature 9.2°C, average minimum temperatures 6.2°C) and
the minimum temperature rarely falls below zero; August is the hottest
month: the average maximum temperature is 27.9°C. It rains mostly in
autumn, October is the wettest month with an average of 130 mm. The
average annual rainfall is about 791.3 mm (data 1979-2014).
The soil of Capo Mortola is formed by the decomposition of
nummulitic limestone of the Lower Eocene period. It is heavy and
clayed, in summer it becomes hard and cracks into deep fissures. In the
higher part of the garden a small travertine deposit forms a sandy soil
(Berger, 1912).
Data collection
Mycological investigations were performed during the period
for favorable sporomata (Kirk et al., 2008) growth (April-June and
September-November, 2009-2010 and 2012-2013), with a frequency of
observation of once or twice time(s) per month. Quali- and quantitative
sporomata analysis was focused on both epigeous and hypogeous
macrofungal species. During the field surveys, notes on morphological
characters and ecology of the fresh specimens (along with photographic
documentation of sporomata), and chemical reactions (i.e. 10% KOH)
on the surface and context of sporomata, were performed for the species
identification.
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Unidentified specimens were retained and later identified in
laboratory. Microscopic analyses were carried out on “free hand
sections”, generally observed in pure water or in 3% KOH or in 0.1%
ammoniacal Congo Red. When necessary, more specific reagents (i.e.
Melzer reagent, Cresyl blue) were used for the identification of
microscopical structures were used.
For taxonomical identification, specific European literature was
consulted (e.g. Bidaud et al., 1991-1999, 1997, 200-2004, 2005- 2008,
2009-2010, 2012; Breitenbach & Kränzlin, 1995, 2000; Basso, 1999;
Robich, 2003; Neville & Poumarat, 2004; Muñoz, 2005; Parra, 2008;
Antonín & Noordeloos, 2010).
Systematic classification followed Hibbett et al. (2007) and Kirk
et al. (2008). Nomenclature and author abbreviations were used in
accordance
with
CABI
(www.indexfungorum.org),
CBS
(www.cbs.knaw.nl) and IMA (www.mycobank.org).
All the identified macrofungal species were inserted into a
specific database called A.L.C.E. – “Advanced Liguria Check-list of
Ectomycorrhizal and other fungi” in order to map their presence on
regional (Liguria) and national (Italy) territory.
Data analysis
The recorded taxa were gathered according to the higher
systematic ranks: Division, Order, and Family and the identified
macrofungal species were split into functional groups as done by
Tedersoo et al. (2010), based on their primary mode of nutrition:
ectomycorrhizal (ECM), soil (humus or litter) saprotrophs (SHL), wood
saprotrophs (SW), and parasitic (P) species.
In addition, with reference to national (Onofri et al., 2005;
Boccardo et al., 2008) and regional macrofungal check-lists (Zotti &
Orsino, 2001; Zotti, et al., 2008; Zotti, et al. 2010; Ambrosio, et al.,
2014), a value of geographic distribution was given for each species.
Accordingly, all taxa were split in four classes: widespread (w) - species
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recorded in more than 65% of Italian territory; common (c) - species
recorded in 40-65%; not common (nc) - species recorded in 20-40%;
rare (r) - species recorded in less than 20% of Italian territory.
RESULTS
Altogether 39 species, out of which 9 Ascomycota, 29
Basidiomycota and 1 Glomeromycota, were recorded. The observed
species belong to 9 different Orders, 23 Families and 32 Genera. The
complete list of species is detailed in Table 1. Furthermore, some
pictures are shown in Figures 4-6.
Figure 4. A) Clavaria fragilis; B) Hygrocybe acutoconica; C) Pluteus
salicinus; D) Pluteus romellii. Photos by E. Ambrosio.
At the Order level, the majority of species belong to Agaricales
and Pezizales; whereas Tricholomataceae, Tuberaceae and Pluteaceae
were the most numerous group at the Family rank. Genea, Lepista,
Pluteus, Stereum and Tuber were the richest Genera in species number.
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Table 1. List of the recorded species. For each taxon, the following data are given: authors names, higher systematic rank
(Division, Order and Family), trophic group (tg) (ECM= ectomycorrhizal; SHL= soil decay (humus or litter); SW= wood
decay; P= parasitic), and, range of geographic distribution (w= widespread; c= common; nc= not common; r= rarus) at
national level. Habitat or growth substratum in GBH. Species are arranged in alphabetic order according to Orders,
Families and Species names.
Division
Order
Family
Species
Tg
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Amanitaceae
Amanita ovoidea (Bull.) Link
ECM
w
Basidiomycota
Boletales
Boletaceae
Boletus subtomentosus( L.)
ECM
w
Basidiomycota
Polyporales
Phanerochaetaceae
SW
nc
Basidiomycota
Phallales
Phallaceae
Byssomerulius corium (Pers.)
Parmasto
Clathrus ruber P. Micheli ex Pers.
Habitat/Substratum in
GBH
Associated to
broadleaf tree
Associated to
broadleaf tree
Wood
SHL
w
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Clavariaceae
Clavaria fragilis Holmsk.
SHL
w
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Psathyrellaceae
SHL
w
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Hymenochaetales
Hymenochaetaceae
P
c
Basidiomycota
Polyporales
Ganodermataceae
Coprinellus micaceus (Bull.)
Vilgalys, Hopple & Jacq. Johnson
Fuscoporia torulosa (Pers.) T.
Wagner & M. Fisch.
Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat.
P
c
Basidiomycota
Gomphales
Gomphaceae
Gautieria morchelliformis Vittad.
ECM
nc
Wood of living
tree
Wood of living
tree
Hypogean
Distribution
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Division
Order
Family
Species
Tg
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Pyronemataceae
Genea fragrans (Wallr.) Sacc.
ECM
nc
Habitat/Substratum in
GBH
Hypogean
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Pyronemataceae
Genea verrucosa Vittad.
ECM
nc
Hypogean
Glomeromycota
Glomerales
Glomeraceae
ECM
nc
Hypogean
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Omphalotaceae
SHL
c
Bamboo forest
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Helvellaceae
Glomus microcarpum Tul. & C.
Tul.
Gymnopus
aquosus
(Bull.)
Antonín & Noordel.
Helvella acetabulum (L.) Quél.
SHL
c
Bamboo forest
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Tricholomataceae
SHL
c
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Tricholomataceae
SHL
nc
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Cortinariaceae
Hemimycena cucullata (Pers.)
Singer
Hygrocybe acutoconica (Clem.)
Singer
Inocybe splendens R. Heim
ECM
c
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Tricholomataceae
Lepista nuda (Bull.) Cooke
SHL
w
Associated to
broadleaf tree
in Holm-oak
wood
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Tricholomataceae
SHL
c
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Mycenaceae
Lepista sordida (Schumach.)
Singer
Mycena acicula (Schaeff.) P.
Kumm.
SHL
nc
Soil/litter
Distribution
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Division
Order
Family
Species
Tg
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Psathyrellaceae
SHL
c
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Pezizaceae
Parasola
plicatilis
(Curtis)
Redhead, Vilgalys & Hopple
Peziza badia Pers.
Habitat/Substratum in
GBH
Soil/litter
ECM
nc
Bamboo forest
Basidiomycota
Polyporales
Phanerochaetaceae
SW
nc
Wood
Basidiomycota
Boletales
Sclerodermataceae
ECM
nc
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Pluteaceae
SW
nc
Associated to
broadleaf tree
Wood
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Pluteaceae
Phanerochaete velutina (DC.) P.
Karst.
Pisolithus
arhizus
(Scop.)
Rauschert
Pluteus leoninus (Schaeff.) P.
Kumm.
Pluteus romellii (Britzelm.) Sacc.
SW
c
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Pluteaceae
SW
nc
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Psathyrellaceae
SHL
w
Soil/litter
Basidiomycota
Gomphales
Gomphaceae
Pluteus salicinus (Pers.) P.
Kumm.
Psathyrella candolleana (Fr.)
Maire
Ramaria fumigata (Peck) Corner
Australian
forest/wood
Wood
ECM
nc
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Tuberaceae
ECM
nc
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Pezizaceae
Reddellomyces donkii (Malençon)
Trappe, Castellano & Malajczuk
Sarcosphaera coronaria (Jacq.) J.
Schröt.
Associated to
broadleaf tree
Hypogean
ECM
nc
Distribution
Associated to
broadleaf tree
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Division
Order
Family
Species
Tg
Distribution
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Schizophyllaceae
Schizophyllum commune Fr.
SW
c
Habitat/Substratum in
GBH
Wood
Basidiomycota
Russulales
Stereaceae
Stereum hirsutum (Willd.) Pers.
SW
c
Wood
Basidiomycota
Russulales
Stereaceae
SW
c
Wood
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Tricholomataceae
ECM
c
Basidiomycota
Agaricales
Inocybaceae
Stereum
ochraceoflavum
(Schwein.) Sacc.
Tricholoma terreum (Schaeff.) P.
Kumm.
Tubaria furfuracea (Pers.) Gillet
SHL
c
Associated to
broadleaf tree
Soil/litter
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Tuberaceae
Tuber aestivum Vittad.
ECM
c
Hypogean
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Tuberaceae
Tuber brumale Vittad.
ECM
nc
Hypogean
Ascomycota
Pezizales
Tuberaceae
Tuber excavatum Vittad.
ECM
nc
Hypogean
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Regarding the ecological point of view, all the identified species
were split into functional groups, as follows: 16 ectomycorrhizal species
(ECM), 13 soil saprotrophs (SHL), 2 parasitic (P) species and 8 wood
decaying (SW) fungi.
Figure 5. A) Pisolithus tinctorius; B) Gautieria morchelliformis; C) Clathrus
ruber; D) Stereum hirsutum. Photos by E. Ambrosio and M. Zotti.
With the reference to national and regional macrofungal checklists, a value of geographic distribution was given to each species.
Accordingly, the highest percentage of species found corresponds to
widespread and common species, such as: Amanita ovoidea, Boletus
subtomentosus, Byssomerulius corium, Clathrus ruber, Lepista nuda,
Phanerochaete velutina and Psathyrella candolleana.
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It is worth noting the presence of the infrequent species
Clavaria fragilis, Hemimycena cucullata, Hygrocybe acutoconica,
Pisolithus tinctorius, and Pluteus salicinus.
Figure 6. A) Helvella acetabulum; B) Sarcosphaera coronaria; C) Tuber
excavatum; D) Tuber brumale. Photos by E. Ambrosio and M. Zotti.
Moreover, the numerous records of hypogeous species should
be emphasized, such as Gautieria morchelliformis, Genea fragrans, G.
verrucosa, Glomus microcarpum, Reddellomyces donkii, Tuber
brumale, and T. excavatum.
Finally, two parasitic species, Fuscoporia torulosa and
Ganoderma australe, were collected.
DISCUSSION
The results obtained by the present study contribute to a greater
knowledge of the macrofungal species diversity in the Hanbury
Botanical Gardens. Considering the results achieved by Penzig (1884),
only three macrofungal species were recorded in GBH in the past (see
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Tab. 2), such as: Agaricus (Marasmius) androsaceus, Agaricus
(Amanita) leiocephalus, and, Cyphella alboviolascens. The great
majority of the listed species by Penzig (Tab. 2) referred to microfungal
species and plant pathogens. Hence, our results represent the first full
macrofungal check-list of GBH.
Table 2: List of the recorded fungal species by O. Penzig (1884).
Species list
Current name
Agaricus (Amanita) leiocephalus
DC.
Agaricus
(Marasmius)
androsaceus
L.Fr.
var
hygrometricus
Alternaria brassicae Sacc.
Alternaria tenuis Nees
Antennaria elaeophila Mont.
Amanita leiocephala (DC.) Pers.
Ascochyta folliculorum n. sp.
Ascochyta passiflorae n. sp.
Ascochyta tweediana n. sp.
Ascochyta ventricosa n. sp.
Asteroma reticulatum DC. Chev.
Capnodium footii Harv. ex Berk. &
Desm.
Cercospora capparidis (Corda)
Sacc.
Coniosporium arundinis Sacc.
Cyphella alboviolascens (Alb. &
Schwein.) P. Karst.
Dendrodochium clavipes n. sp.
Diplodia acaciae n. sp.
Diplodia
acicola
Sacc.
f.
araucariae
Diplodia minuscula n. sp.
Diplodia passiflorae n. sp.
Gymnopus androsaceus
Maggiora & Trassinelli
(L.)
Della
Alternaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc.
Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl.
Antennariella elaeophila (Mont.) Bat. &
Cif.
Ascochyta folliculorum Penz. & Sacc.
Ascochyta passiflorae Penz. & Sacc.
Ascochyta tweediana Penz. & Sacc.
Ascochyta ventricosa Penz. & Sacc.
Guignardia reticulata (DC.) Aa
Dennisiella babingtonii (Berk.) Bat. &
Cif.
Cercospora capparis Sacc.
Apiospora montagnei Sacc.
Lachnella alboviolascens (Alb. &
Schwein.) Fr.
Dendrodochium clavipes Penz. & Sacc.
Diplodia acaciae Penz. & Sacc.
Diplodia acicola var. araucariae Penz.
Microdiplodia minuscula (Penz. & Sacc.)
Allesch.
Diplodia passiflorae Penz. & Sacc.
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Species list
Current name
Diplodia phyllodiorum n. sp.
Microdiplodia phyllodiorum (Penz. &
Sacc.) Tassi
Diplodia pinnarum Pass.
Gloeosporium pseudophoma Penz. &
Sacc.
Gloeosporium hians Penz. & Sacc.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.)
Penz. & Sacc.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.)
Penz. & Sacc.
Gloniella hakeae Penz. & Sacc.
Graphiola phoenicis (Moug. ex Fr.) Poit.
Macrosporium trichellum (Arcang. &
Sacc.) Arcang. & Sacc.
Arthrinium phaeospermum (Corda) M.B.
Ellis
Myrothecium roridum Tode
Podosphaera fuliginea (Schltdl.) U.
Braun & S. Takam.
Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A.
Curtis) Berl. & De Toni
Pestalotiopsis funerea (Desm.) Steyaert
Diplodia pinnarum Passer.
Gloeosporella pseudo-phoma n. sp.
Gloeosporium hians n. sp.
Gloeosporium intermedium Sacc.
Gloeosporium patella n. sp.
Gloniella hakeae n. sp.
Graphiola phoenicus Poit.
Macrosporium trichellum Arc. et
Sacc.
Melanconium sphaerospermum Lk.
Myrothecium roridum Tode
Oidium erysiphoides Fr.
Peronospora viticola Berk. et
Desm.
Pestalotia funerea Desm. f.
araucariae
Pestalotia lignicola Cooke
Phoma acaciae n. sp.
Phoma acicola (Moug. & Lév.)
Sacc.
Phoma atomospora n. sp.
Phoma brevipes n. sp.
Phoma hardenbergiae n. sp.
Phoma millepunctata n. sp.
Phoma mucipara n. sp.
Phoma olea (DC.) Sacc.
Phoma passiflorea n. sp.
Phyllosticta tweediana n. sp.
Pleospora calida n. sp.
Pestalotia lignicola Cooke
Phoma acaciae Penz. & Sacc.
Sydowia polyspora (Bref. & Tavel) E.
Müll.
Phoma atomospora Penz. & Sacc.
Dothiorella brevipes (Penz. & Sacc.)
Petr. & Syd.
Phoma hardenbergiae Penz. & Sacc.
Phoma millepunctata Penz. & Sacc.
Phoma mucipara Penz. & Sacc.
Coleophoma oleae (DC.) Petr. & Syd.
Macrophoma passiflorae McAlpine
Phyllosticta tweediana Penz. & Sacc.
Pleospora calida Penz. & Sacc.
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Species list
Current name
Pleospora herbarum
(Pers.)
Rabenh.
Pleospora media Niessl
Septoria mortolensis n. sp.
Septoria oxyspora n. sp.
Septoria petiolina n. sp.
Sphaeropsis dracaenarum n. sp.
Pleospora herbarum (Pers.) Rabenh.
Pleospora penicillus Fuckel
Septoria mortolensis Penz. & Sacc.
Pseudoseptoria donacis (Pass.) B. Sutton
Septoria petiolina Penz. & Sacc.
Aplosporella dracaenarum (Penz. &
Sacc.) Petr.
Teichospora commutata Sacc.
Chaetoplea inverecunda (De Not.) Checa
Teichospora commutata Sacc.
Teichospora inverecunda (De Not.)
Sacc.
Vermicularia
eryngii
(Corda) Vermicularia eryngii (Corda) Fuckel
FuckelFuck.
Vermicularia trichella Fr.
Colletotrichum trichellum (Fr.) Duke
Zignoella hanburiana n. sp.
Zignoëlla hanburiana Penz. & Sacc.
Note: the acronym “n. sp.” refers to “new species”.
Despite the fact that the surveys were performed in a limited time
period, interesting taxa were recorded in this site.
A worthy note is the recording of very interesting and uncommon
hypogeous species within Ascomycota, such as: Genea fragrans, G.
verrucosa, Reddellomyces donki, Tuber aestivum, T. brumale, and T.
excavatum. According to their distribution at regional scale (Zotti et al.,
2010), these species are well developed in Liguria, especially in the
province of Imperia (IM). More precisely, both Glomus microcarpum
and Gautieria morchelliformis were recorded in Liguria only in the area
of Ventimiglia (IM province) (Zotti et al., 2010).
Some aphyllophoraceous species were also found, such as:
Byssomerulius corium, Phanerochaete velutina and Stereum
ochraceoflavum (see Tab. 1). Within the Aphyllophorales s.l. group,
corticiod fungi were often overlooked in previous Ligurian mycological
studies (Zotti & Orsino, 2001; Zotti et al., 2008) and scarcely
investigated (and listed) at national level (Onofri et al., 2005). Hence,
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these records allow us to increase the knowledge on their presence and
distribution in the Italian territory (Bernicchia & Gorjón, 2010;
Ambrosio et al., 2014)
With reference to national macrofungal check-list (Onofri et al.
2005) and report (Boccardo et al., 2008) the presence of Hygrocybe
acutoconica, Pisolithus arrhizus and Ramaria fumigata should be
emphasised as these specie were only recorded in few regions of Italy.
At an ecological level, the majority of the recorded species belong
to ECM fungal group (16 sp.) followed by soil saprotrophs (SHL= 13
sp.). The percentage of wood decaying fungi (SW) and parasitic (P)
species were very low. According to several European studies on forest
damage (Jakucs, 1988; Arnolds, 1991; Amaranthus, 1999; Tóth &
Barta, 2010), our results, which emphasise a higher presence of ECM
species than wood decaying fungi, allow us to classify this sites as a
“healthy” habitat.
It is worth noting the recording of Gymnopus aquosus, Helvella
acetabulum and Peziza badia (Fig. 6) in the bamboo forest, as well as
Pluteus romellii (Fig. 4) in the Australian forest. Despite this saprotroph
species (with the exception for H. acetabulum, this being an ECM
species, Tedersoo et al., 2010) are able to grow on different litter types,
these findings increase the knowledge on their distributional range.
These aforementioned species are described in literature (i.e. Boccardo
et al., 2008) common in broadleaf habitats on the Italian territory.
Finally, regarding the association of the recorded macrofungal
species with the collections in GBH, it should be noted that the great
majority of fungi (mainly ECM species) were recorded both in the
forested areas (e.g. the Mediterranean maquis) and the exotic collections
(e.g. the Australian and the bamboo forest), rather than in other habitat
types or areas of GBH (Tab. 1).
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CONCLUSIONS
Among numerous Italian and foreign gardens the Hanbury
Botanic Gardens represent an exceptional climatised area where exotic
plants arriving from all regions of the world, live together in the open air
even though they are out of their natural environment.
From our preliminary results it is possible to observe that several
interesting macrofungi occur in the site also.
Future mycological investigations need to be planned in order to
improve the knowledge on the mycobiota of GBH and to understand if
there exists a particular mycoflora associated with plant collections, as
well as to investigate the presence and the correlation of fungi (e.g.
endophytes) with exotic plant species.
Plant conservation actions cannot be implemented without a
complete knowledge on diversity and interactions between plants and
other living organisms, such as fungi.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - This study was carried out in the framework of PhD in
Applied Botany to the Agriculture and the Environment, University of Genoa.
E. Ambrosio was supported by MIUR (Ministry of Education, Universities and
Research – Italy) doctoral fellowship. Authors would like to thank Teresa Hunt
for the text linguistic suggestions. Reviewers are also acknowledged for their
useful comments and observations.
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