Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America

Newsletter of the Mycological Society of America 

— In This Issue — 

Fungal Cell Biology: Centerpiece 

for a New Department 

of Microbiology in Mexico . . . 1 

Cordyceps Diversity 

in Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

MSA Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

Mycological News . . . . . . . . 68 

Mycologist’s Bookshelf . . . . 71 

Mycological Classifieds . . . . 74 

Mycology On-Line . . . . . . . . 75 

Calender of Events . . . . . . . 76 

Sustaining Members . . . . . . 78 

— Important Dates — 

August 15 Deadline: 

Inoculum 56(5) 

July 23-28, 2005: 

International Union of 

Microbiology Societies 

(Bacteriology and 

Applied Microbiology, 

Mycology, and Virology) 

July 30-August 5, 2005: 

MSA-MSJ, Hilo, HI 

August 15-19, 2005: 

International Congress on 

the Systematics 

and Ecology 

of Myxomycetes V 

Editor — Richard E. Baird 

Entomology and Plant Pathology Dept. 

Box 9655 

Mississippi State University 

Mississippi State, MS 39762 

Telephone: (662) 325-9661 

Fax: (662) 325-8955 

Email: rbaird@plantpath.msstate.edu 

MSA Homepage: 

http://msafungi.org 

Supplement to 

Mycologia 

Vol. 56(4) 

August 2005 

Fungal Cell Biology: Centerpiece for a New 

Department of Microbiology in Mexico 

By Meritxell Riquelme 

With a strong emphasis on Fungal Cell Biology, a new Department 

of Microbiology was created at the Center for Scientific 

Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) located 

in Ensenada, a small city in the northwest of Baja 

California, Mexico, 60 miles south of the Mexico-US border. 

Founded in 1973, CICESE is one of the most prestigious research 

centers in the country conducting basic and applied research 

and training both national and international graduate students 

in the areas of Earth Science, Applied Physics and 

Oceanology. Just 2 years ago a new Experimental and Applied 

Biology Division was created under the direction of Salomon 

Bartnicki-Garcia, who retired after 38 years as faculty member 

of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, 

Riverside and decided to move south to his country of 

origin to create a Division in an area that was not developed at 

CICESE. The Experimental and Applied Biology Division is 

Continued on following page 

Current members of the Department of Microbiology with the 

Ensenada bay in the background as seen from CICESE. Back 

row, left to right: Miriam Hernández (secretary of the DBEA) 

and researchers Ernestina Castro-Longoria, Rosa Mouriño- 

Pérez, Salomon Bartnicki-Garcia, and Meritxell Riquelme. 

Front row seated, left to right, students: Eddy Sánchez León- 

Hing, Raul C. Baptista, Cynthia Araujo Palomares, Ivan Galván 

and Alejandro Beltrán Aguilar.

Fungal foray in the Chichihuas forest (road from Ensenada 

to Tijuana) with UABC Mycology students during 

raining season (It does rain from time to time in 

Baja!). 

composed of 3 Departments (Microbiology, Marine 

Biotechnology and Conservation Biology). 

The Department of Microbiology gives an opportunity 

to young investigators to develop independent research 

projects under the unifying theme of Fungal Cell 

Biology. Although government funding for research in 

Mexico is less generous than in other countries, the Department 

is equipped to conduct both molecular studies 

and cell biology projects (video-microscopy, confocal 

microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) and 

is scheduled to move into a new building this year. An 

initial core of 4 researchers composes the Department: 

Salomon Bartnicki-Garcia (Mathematical and computer-assisted 

modeling of fungal growth), Rosa Mouriño- 

Perez (The fungal microtubular cytoskeleton), Ernestina 

Castro-Longoria (Cellular basis of the circadian 

a b 

2 Inoculum 56(4), August 2005 

rhythm in Neurospora) and Meritxell Riquelme (The 

secretory pathway in filamentous fungi). 

A major aim of the Department is to promote International 

Research Cooperation. The proximity to the 

US makes it practical to establish close links with US 

researchers. We already have ongoing projects with 

colleagues of the University of California, Arizona 

State University, the University of Oregon and Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology. The Department has 

also established strong links with local institutions, 

such as the Autonomous University of Baja California 

(UABC) and the National Institute for Forest and Agricultural 

Research (INIFAP). We participate in undergraduate 

Mycology courses at the UABC. 

For further information and current openings 

please visit the websites www.cicese.mx and microbio.cicese.mx/. 

Immunolocalization 

of microtubules in a 

chemically fixed cell 

of Sclerotium rolfsii. 

(R. Mouriño-Pérez) 

Questions or comments should be sent to 

Meritxell Riquelme Pérez, Departamento de 

Microbiología, DBEA, CICESE, Km. 107 Carretera 

Tijuana-Ensenada, 22860 Ensenada, 

Baja Califo. Email: riquelme@cicese.mx 

Molecular tagging of proteins involved in 

hyphal growth and morphology with GFP. 

Laser scanning confocal micrographs of 

growing hyphae of N. crassa with a) a fluorescent 

Spk; c) fluorescent plasma membrane. 

(M. Riquelme)

Cordyceps Diversity in Korea 

Cordyceps is traditionally known as a highly medicinal 

mushroom in oriental society of Asia. It is quite 

diverse in its morphological characters, host range, natural 

habitat, etc. Due to contrast climatic variation and 

its unique geographical position, Cordyceps diversity is 

rich in Korea. Research on Cordyceps of Korea during 

last 20 years has shown that some species are widely 

distributed, while others grow in specific locations. 

Maturation periods of stromata range from late spring to 

summer till early autumn every year. Most species 

show their host specificity, but few species grow in diverse 

hosts. Microscopically, Cordyceps species differ 

in their spore shape, size, and their conidiation nature. 

There are about 300-400 Cordyceps species all over 

the world and are distributed universally (Kobayasi, 

1982; Kobayasi and Shimizu, 1983; Sung, 1996). 

Species of Cordyceps (Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales, 

Ascomycota) grow inside insect host bodies as endosclerotium 

during winter and produce stromata in summer. 

Hosts of Cordyceps species include different stages 

of insect life cycle ranging from larva to adult of different 

insect orders, bee, wasp, cicadae, beetle, etc., except 

few which grow on hypogeous Elaphomyces species. 

Their scientific study and cultivation have been done in 

Korea for a long time. Every year, entomopathogenic 

fungal specimens including Cordyceps species are collected 

from different parts of Korea and are air-dried and 

preserved along with their isolates in Entomopathogenic 

Fungal Culture Collection (EFCC), Kangwon National 

University, Korea (Sung, 2004). The specimens are 

identified on the basis of their morphological characters. 

By Jae-Mo Sung, Bhushan Shrestha, Sang-Kuk Han, Su-Young Kim, 

Young-Jin Park, Won-Ho Lee, Kwang-Yeol Jeong, Sung-Keun Choi 


Fig. 3. C. gracilis 

Fig. 1. C. militaris 

Fig. 2. C. bifusispora 

Inoculum 56(4), August 2005 3

Fig. 4. C. longissima 

Cordyceps species are collected from different parts 

of Korea every year from early May to late October. 

Cordyceps species, such as C. militaris (Fig. 1), C. pruinosa 

and C. sphecocephala are frequently collected, 

while C. bifusispora (Fig. 2), C gracilis (Fig. 3), C. heteropoda, 

C. longissima (Fig. 4), C. nakazawai, C. 

ochraceostromata, C. pentatomi, C. ramosopulvinata 

(Fig. 5), C. rosea, C. scarabaeicola, C. staphylinidaecola 

and C. yakushimensis are moderate or rare in distribution. 

Ascospores are discharged from fresh specimens 

and observed for their morphology and germination by 

staining with cotton blue in Lactophenol. Ascospores are 

inoculated in nutrient agar media in test-tubes and incubated 

till profuse mycelium growth occurs. Original isolates 

and their sub-cultures are preserved at 4C in Entomopathogenic 

Fungal Culture Collection (EFCC), 

Kangwon National University, South Korea. Specimens 

are air-dried and preserved in herbarium boxes. 


Fig. 5. C. ramosopulvinata 

It is very interesting to observe ascospore morphology 

and their germination behavior of different Cordyceps 

species. Among the observed species, only few 

such as C. bifusispora and C. pruinosa produced filamentous 

ascospores with threads in the center, while the 

remaining produced filamentous ascospores with continuous 

part-spores throughout the length. The germination 

rate of C. bifusispora, C. militaris, C. pentatomi, C. 

pruinosa, C. scaraebaeicola, C. staphylinidaecola were 

found faster, while those of C. gracilis, C. heteropoda, 

C. longissima, C. nakazawai, C. ochraceostromata, C. 

ramosopulvinata, C. rosea, C. sphecocephala, C. 

yakushimensis were found shower. Microscopic figures 

of ascospores are shown in sides of each figure of different 

Cordyceps species. C. militaris and C. pruinosa 

developed conidia on germinating hyphae soon, showing 

microcyclic conidiation character. Cordyceps isolates 

vary in their growth speed and cultural characteristics. 

Stromata of different Cordyceps species, such as 

C. militaris, C. scarabaeicola, C. pruinosa have been 

successfully produced in brown rice medium. 

References: Kobayasi, Y. 1941., Sci. Rept. Tokyo. 

Bunrika, Daigaku Sect. B. 5:53-260; Kobayasi, Y. 

1982. Trans. Mycol. Soc. Japan. 23:329-364; Kobayasi, 

Y. and D. Shimizu. 1983. Hoikusha Publishing Company 

Ltd. Osaka. 280 pp.; Sung, J.M. 1996. Kyo-Hak 

Publishing Co. Ltd., Seoul. 299 pp.; Sung, J.M. 2004. 

Inoculum 55(4):1-3. 

Questions or comments should be sent to 

Jae-Moe Sung, Entomopathogenic Fungal 

Culture Collection (EFCC), Department of 

Applied Biology, Kangwon National University, 

Chuncheon 200-701, South Korea. 

Email: cordyceps@nate.com.

From the President’s Corner … 

Dear Friends and Colleagues, 

The success of the Mycological 

Society of America depends heavily 

on the volunteer contributions of its 

members. We are always looking for 

volunteers who would like to be involved 

in the various functions of the 

society, and there are many of them 

from annual meeting preparations to 

specialized committees on subdisciplines 

within mycology. The list of 

committees is on the MSA website. 

We need to hear from you if you 

would like to participate in some 

MSA Secretary Email Express 

Council completed five email polls since my May report and 

approved the following: 

• Poll 2005-3. Editor-in-Chief Donald Natvig nominated 

Dr. Robby Roberson to serve as Mycologia Associate 

Editor for the term 2005-2007. Approved. 

• Poll 2005-5. It was moved by President McLaughlin and 

seconded by Secretary Murrin that Executive Council approve 

a further increase of $4000 for the MSA Student 

Mentor Travel Awards for Hilo, to be awarded from income 

from the Uncommitted Endowment Fund. Approved. 

Background: The MSA had previously allotted 

an increased amount for Student Mentor Travel Awards 

this year, from approximately $4000 to $10,000, based on 

the anticipated increased costs of travel for the Hilo meeting. 

The Mentor Travel Awards Committee received 38 

applications this year, which appears to be a record number. 

The increase approved here allowed for an additional 

5 students to be funded for a total of 18 students. MSA 

coordinated efforts with Deep Hypha, the NSF-funded 

Research Coordination Network (RCN), which also 

awarded travel funding for Hilo. 

• Polls 2005 6-8: Approved. These motions concerned the 

approval of the Honorary Member and MSA Fellows for 

2005 following recommendations by George Carroll, 

Chair of the Honorary Awards Committee, and one other 

special award. Due to the confidential nature of these decisions 

until they are announced at the Annual Business 

Meeting in Hilo, August 3rd , they will not be reported on 

fully until the next issue of Inoculum. 

New Members: The MSA extends a warm welcome to all 

new (and returning) members. New memberships will be formally 

approved by the Society at the Annual Business Meeting 

in Hilo, Hawaii (Aug 3rd , 2005). 

• Australia: Susanna Ann Driessen, Kelli Maria Gowland 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

BUSINESS 

way. Whether there is a topic in 

which you would especially like to 

be involved or whether you would 

just like to contribute in some way, 

please consider volunteering. Send 

and email or talk to me or Vice President 

James Anderson or Secretary 

Faye Murrin and let us know your 

interest. Participating on a Society 

committee is a great way to get to 

know the society and even a small 

contribution of your time and energy 

will be very helpful to the Society. 

David J. McLaughlin, 

MSA President 

• Canada: Melissa Day 

• Ghana: Hubert D Nyarko 

• Hong Kong: Justin Bahl, Wing Yan Chum 

• Japan: Yuko Ota 

• Mexico: Cristina Medina 

• United States: Anabelle Aranda, Kelly D Craven, Jennifer 

M. Davidson, Joyce Eberhart, Javesh Garan, 

Michele Therese Hoffman, Bradley Warren Miller, Anil 

Kumar H Raghavendra, Kim Ryall, Marian N Viveros, 

Sandra W Woolfolk 

Emeritus membership: There has been one new application 

for emeritus membership: L J Wickerham of Tucson, 

Arizona. Emeritus memberships will be formally approved 

by the Society at the Annual Business Meeting in Hilo, 

Hawaii (Aug 3 rd , 2005). 

Faye Murrin 

MSA Secretary 

fmurrin@mun.ca 

Canine Foray — Faye Murrin’s dog, Rosie, protects the 

catch from mushroom bandits. 


MSA ABSTRACTS 

Aaltonen, Ronald E.*, Barrow, Jerry R., Lucero, Mary L., Osuna-Avila, Pedro 

and Reyes-Vera, Isaac. USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, 

NM 88003, USA. jbarrow@nmsu.edu. The microscopic identification of vertically 

transferred symbiotic fungi intrinsically integrated with cells, tissues 

and organs of host plants. 

Dual staining methodology and analysis with light microscopy and scanning 

electron microscopy were used to determine the nature and extent of symbiotic 

fungi with native desert grasses shrubs. Trypan Blue that targets fungal chitin 

and sudan IV that targets lipid bodies attached to fungal structures were used to 

stain cleared roots and leaves. Trypan blue revealed a densely stained fungal network, 

bound to the plasmalema of meristematic cells, that were transferred to cells 

in culture, tissues and all plant organs. Fungal structures were atypical and were 

substantially different than commonly observed fungal structures such as hyphae, 

spores, etc. Fungal associations with meristem cells facilitate their distribution and 

vertical transfer to all parts of the plant, seed and to succeeding generations. Significant 

are fungal associations with vascular tissue, photosynthetic cells and with 

the stomatal complex and suggests significant plant-fungus interactions within 

these critical plant cells. poster 

Abdelzaher, Hani M. A. Faculty of Science, El-Minia University 61519, Egypt. 

abdelzaher@link.net. Biological control of damping-off and root rot diseases 

of soybean caused by Pythium spinosum Sawada var. spinosum using three 

rhizosphere species of soil fungi. 

Pythium spinosum was isolated from rhizosphere soil and rhizoplane of 

healthy and infected soybean roots cultivated in an agricultural field located in 

Shahean district, El-Minia city, Egypt in June 2003. Rhizosphere and rhizoplane 

mycoflora isolated from the same sites were tested for their antagonism toward 

Pythium spinosum in agar plates. Among the isolated fungi, Aspergillus sulphureus, 

Penicillium islandicum and Paecilomyces variotii were chosen according 

to their antagonism on agar plates for experimentation to test their effectiveness 

for biological control in either autoclaved or nonsterilized soil. Coating 

soybean seeds and roots with spores and mycelia of these three antagonists gave 

germinating seeds and seedlings a very good protection from root-rot, pre- and 

post-emergence damping-off caused by P. spinosum. Applying these biocontrol 

agents to autoclaved and nonsterilized soil infested with P. spinosum provided an 

excellent way of protection. contributed presentation 

Abe, Jun-ichi P. University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Life and Environmental 

Science, 1-1, Tennoudai 1 chome, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan. jave@sakura.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp. 

An arbuscular mycorrhizal genus in the Ericaceae. 

Enkianthus is an ericaceous genus with about 17 spp. of shrubs and small 

trees, commonly distributed in Japan and southern China. Four Japanese native 

species of the genus Enkianthus (E. campanulatus, E. cernuus f. rubens, E. perulatus, 

E. subsessilis) were examined to determine the mycorrhizal status by comparing 

with typical ericoid mycorrhizal roots of Rhododendron kaempferi. The 

roots of all species were collected from trees of natural stands or public gardens 

and from seedlings of E. cernuus f. rubens grown in controlled conditions. These 

roots were observed with a compound light microscope and SEM. All examined 

roots of Enkianthus spp. formed only arbuscular mycorrhiza of the Paris-type. 

The fine roots of these species were usually thicker (approx. 150 µm) than the hair 

roots of R. kaempferi (approx. 80 µm). Short root hair- like structures with thick 

walls (approx. 5 µm) were observed occasionally on the fine roots of all 

Enkianthus spp. and root hairs were observed in E. subsessilis. Consequently, the 

mycorrhizal and root morphology of these four species are completely different 

from R. kaempferi. This result reveals that at least these four species of Enkianthus 

seem to be arbuscular mycorrhizal and lack ericoid mycorrhiza. These findings 

and the mycorrhizal status of the ancient ericaceous species are discussed. contributed 

presentation 

Aime, M. Catherine. USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Systematic Botany & 

Mycology Lab, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. cathie@nt.ars-grin.gov. Molecular 

systematics of Uredinales. 

Rust fungi (Basidiomycota, Uredinales) consist of > 7000 species of obligate 

plant pathogens that possess some of the most complex life cycles in the Eumycota. 

Traditionally, phylogenetic inference within the Uredinales has been 

hampered by a lack of morphological characters and incomplete life cycle and 

host-specificity data. The application of modern molecular characters to rust systematics 

has been limited by several factors, including, to name a few, the inability 

to pure culture most rusts or unequivocally separate rust from host cells and 

other associated fungi in a specimen. Previous molecular systematic studies of 

rusts have focused on analyses of 28S or 18S ribosomal DNA, but current contradictions 

in rust systematics, especially in the deeper nodes, have not yet been 

resolved. In this study, several genes (including 18S, 28S, and EF1alpha) were examined 

across the breadth of the Uredinales to resolve systematic conflicts and 

provide a framework for the group. It is concluded that morphology alone is a 

poor predictor of rust relationships at most levels and strict morphology-based 

classifications and species-delimitations appear obsolete. Host selection, on the 

other hand, has played a significant role in rust evolution. The difficulties and utility 

of analyzing protein-coding genes vs. rDNA in rust systematics are also discussed. 

symposium presentation 


Aime, M. Catherine 1 * and Henkel, Terry W. 21 USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 

Systematic Botany & Mycology Lab, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA, 2 Humboldt 

State University, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Arcata, CA 95521, USA. 

cathie@nt.ars-grin.gov. Strategies for bioinventory: lessons from Guyana. 

Bioinventory, the identification and enumeration of taxa within a given 

area, provides the foundation for numerous biological and ecological studies. Yet 

fungal inventories are vastly underrepresented in the literature, and the conduction 

of such inventories presents a host of unique difficulties and problems. Special 

problems faced in conducting fungal inventories include deciding at which level 

to record units (e.g., fruiting bodies, cultures, and/or environmental sequences); 

how to construct significant sampling strategies (e.g. plot studies, transects, and/or 

sweeps); and, especially, how to conduct the alpha-taxonomy. We have completed 

five years of comparative plot studies for fungi in a remote, rain-forested region 

of west-central Guyana. To date we have documented nearly 1,000 species 

or morphospecies of macromycetes, both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic, and 

counted >20,000 fruiting bodies. Yet the most time-consuming aspect of this 

study is the taxonomy. To date, we have been able to identify and publish less than 

10% of the Guyanese taxa; > 40% of these have been species or genera new to 

science. Some ideas for recording, analyzing, and identifying fungal taxa from 

previously under-sampled areas will be discussed. symposium presentation 

Akamatsu, Y. and Saikawa, Masatoshi*. Department of Environmental Science, 

Tokyo Gakugei University, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-8501, Japan. saikawa@ugakugei.ac.jp. 

Giant mycelium by Sommerstorffia spinosa. 

Since 1984, Sommerstorffia spinosa was obtained several times from samples 

of debris floating on the water of a fire reservoir located in the campus of 

Tokyo Gakugei University. The species has been known as a rotifer-parasite, to 

have the ability to capture the animals with a peg, a distal narrow protuberance of 

hypha, or to parasitize them with a bowling-pin shaped sporeling developed from 

an encysted, secondary zoospore. In all the strains reported up to now, each of the 

isolates finished capturing animals after 3 to 7 times of capture by the peg and became 

solely to produce zoospores. Thus the mycelium was quite limited in size in 

all cases. However, in spring, 2004, we obtained a strain of the species, the 

mycelium of which did not finish capturing rotifers (Lepadella oblonga) and grew 

unlimitedly to establish a giant mycelium. At 30 days of cultivation under water, 

it could be seen with a naked eye, because the size being 0.5-3.0 mm in diameter. 

The hyphae (7-9 µm wide) constituting the giant mycelium were empty except 

only their distal portion terminated with a peg (6-8 µm long, 3-5 µm wide). After 

capturing a rotifer, the peg grew into an endozoic thallus that developed one or 

two hyphae externally and transformed itself into a zoosporangium with an evacuation 

tube (50-80 µm long, 8-10 µm wide). The primary zoospores encysted at 

the mouth of the evacuation tube to form a mass of cysts (7-9 µm). In normal 

strains, each of the primary cysts soon produces a secondary zoospore, though the 

cyst of our strain did not produce it, but lost its content, or, in rare occasion, developed 

a sporeling (ca. 17 µm long, 8 µm wide). The giant mycelium of our 

strain also captured two testaceous rhizopods of Cryptodifflugia and Euglypha. 

contributed presentation 

Almeida-Leñero, Lucia 1 , Ludlow-Wiechers, Beatriz 1 , Geel, Bas van 2 , González, 

María C. 3 * and Aptroot, André. 4 1 Dept. Ecología y Rec. Nat, Fac. Ciencias, 

UNAM, Mexico DF 04510, 2 IBED, Paleoecology and Landscape Ecology, Univ. 

Amsterdam Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM Amsterdam The Netherlands, 3 Inst. Biología, 

UNAM, Mexico, 4 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), Fungal 

Biodiversity Centre, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands. 

mcgv@ibiologia.unam.mx. Records of mid-Holocene fungi from Lake Zempoala, 

Central Mexico. 

The aim of the present study is to describe and illustrate fungal spores 

recorded on Zempoala lake at 2800 m altitude. The studied interval is of mid- 

Holocene age. The lake with submerged aquatical and hydroseral shore vegetation, 

lie today in the Abies religiosa dominated forest belt. The samples were prepared 

using standard techniques for palynological studies. A number of selected 

fungal spores have been identified, described and illustrated. Ecological environmental 

preferences of present fungi are also given. Among the fungi type spores 

analysed are 2 basidiospores: Enthorriza (type 527), and Urocystis, 3 ascospores: 

Astrosphaeriella, Ustulina, Valsaria, and 10 mitospores: Acrodictys, Antennatula, 

Brachydesmiella, Endophragmiella, Monodictys, Trichocladium type 1 and 2, 

Papulospora, and Virgatospora. These fungus occur together with pollen elements 

that define a landscape of forest and a water body. Antennatula confirm an 

Abies sp. forest, Acrodictys suggests species of Populus sp., Virgatospora of 

broad leaved tree forest, and Ustulina the presence of deciduous trees. Enthorriza, 

and Trichocladium are evidence of freshwater. Environment conditions may be 

presumed of high air humidity considering the presence of decaying plant debris 

and soil forming fungi such as Monodictys and Papulospora. The fungi were 

recorded for first time in paleoecological studies in Mexico. poster 

An, Zhiqiang. Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA, USA. Polyketide 

synthase genes in the pneumocandin-producing fungus Glarea lozoyensis. 

Glarea lozoyensis is the producer of pneumocandin B0, a potent inhibitor 

Continued on following page

of fungal glucan synthesis. This industrially important filamentous fungus is 

slow-growing, is very darkly pigmented, and has not been easy to manipulate genetically. 

Using a PCR strategy to survey the G. lozoyensis genome for secondary 

metabolic encoding pathways, we have identified three polyketide synthase 

genes: pks1, pks2, and pks3. pks1 encodes a 2,124 amino-acid protein with five 

catalytic modules: ketosynthase, acyltransferase, two acyl carrier sites, and 

thioesterase/Claisen cyclase. Pks2 encodes a 1,791 amino-acid protein with five 

catalytic modules: â-ketosynthase (KS), acyltransferase (AT), dehydratase (DH), 

â-ketoacyl reductase (KR), and acyl carrier protein (ACP). The pks3 gene acts as 

an operon and encodes two enzymes, PKS3-NRPS1 and NRPS2. Cluster analysis 

of 37 fungal ketosynthase modules grouped the pks1p with PKSs involved in 

1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene melanin biosynthesis; the pks2p with PKSs involved 

in 6-methylsalicylic acid biosynthesis; and the pks3p was grouped with PKSs that 

synthesize structurally and bioactively complex polyketides. An Agrobacteriummediated 

transformation system was developed for the disruption of these three 

pks genes. Disruption of pks1 yielded knockout mutants that displayed an albino 

phenotype, suggesting that pks1 encodes a tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase. 

Heterologous expression of pks2 in Aspergillus nidulans showed that pks2 encodes 

for 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase. Disruption of pks3 showed no difference 

in chemical profiles under the fermentation conditions used. Other genes reside 

in the three pks loci will also be discussed. symposium presentation 

Anagnost, Susan E. 1 *, Catranis, Catharine M. 2 , Fernando, Analie A. 1 , Morey, 

Shannon R. 1 , Zhou, Shuang 1 , Zhang, Lianjun 3 and Wang, C.J.K. 41 Wood Products 

Engineering, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 

NY 13210, 2 American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., 

Manassas, VA 20110 USA, 3 Forest and Natural Resources, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, 

NY, 4 Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse 

NY 13210, USA. seanagno@esf.edu. Aeromycology of homes in Syracuse, 

New York. 

Airborne fungi were recovered at 103 homes in Syracuse, New York as part 

of an environmental survey of homes of infants predisposed to asthma (EPA project 

No. R-82860501-0). Total colony-forming units per cubic meter of air 

(CFU/m 3 ) and isolate identifications were obtained from samples collected with 

the Andersen N6 sampler. Samples collected on two consecutive days, indoors 

and outdoors, during 147 visits to these homes yielded 14565 isolates that were 

classified into 170 fungal taxa. Among the most frequent were Hyaline unknowns, 

Cladosporium cladosporioidies, Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., basidiomycetes, 

Cladosporium herbarum, and Alternaria spp. Aspergillus spp were 

more frequent indoors (547 isolations) compared to outdoors (59 isolations), as 

were Penicillium spp (771 indoor, 137 outdoor). The total CFU/m3 was greater 

during the summer and fall seasons; certain species only appeared during summer 

and fall. Three new records for the USA were: Acrodontium myxomyceticola, 173 

isolates from 41 homes; Acremonium roseolum, 36 isolates from 18 homes; and 

Tetracoccosporium paxianum, once. A new sub-culturing method (Random-50) 

allowed the recovery of slow-growing, sometimes rare, fungi. These same Random-50 

plates can estimate with high confidence the total fungal concentration in 

these homes. poster 

Aoki, Takayuki 1 *, Tomomi, Tsunematsu 2 and Sato, Toyozo 3 . 1 Genetic Diversity 

Department, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai, Tsukuba, 

Japan, 2 University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Japan, 3 Genebank, National 

Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai, Tsukuba, Japan. 

taoki@nias.affrc.go.jp. Re-identification of Fusarium moniliforme isolates deposited 

at the MAFF Genebank, NIAS, Japan based on analysis of DNA sequences 

of the Histone H3 gene region. 

On a long used fungal name, Fusarium moniliforme, a recommendation to 

refrain its usage was issued by the ISPP/ICTF Subcommittee on Fusarium Systematics. 

This is because of the facts that: (1) the name, F. moniliforme represents 

an unacceptably broad species concept; and (2) F. verticillioides as mating population 

(MP) A of the Gibberella fujikuroi (GF) species complex is the older name 

for the species in strict sense. Microorganisms Section of the MAFF Genebank, 

NIAS, Japan has been preserving rather many number of strains identified previously 

as F. moniliforme for a distribution purpose. To respond to the recommendation, 

70 strains of F. moniliforme deposited at MAFF were re-identified based 

on the DNA sequences of the Histone H3 gene region. By using a PCR primerset, 

H3-1a and H3-1b, gene fragments of this region, ca. 520 bps, were amplified 

and sequenced. DNA sequences were aligned with Clustal X ver. 1.8 and phylogenetic 

analyses were made with PAUP ver. 4.0b10 by generating NJ and MP 

trees. Sequence data for the same gene region of related species of Fusarium were 

downloaded from the GenBank site, NCBI, and analyzed together. Out of 70 

strains examined, 56, 7 and 4 strains were identified as F. fujikuroi (corresponding 

to the MP-C of the GF-complex.), F. proliferatum (MP-D), F. subglutinans (MP- 

E), respectively. Identity of 3 strains was still under consideration. poster 

Aranda, Anabelle*, Viveros, Marian N. and Elley, Joanne T. Biological Sciences, 

The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA. 

jellzey@utep.edu. Localization of G-Protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 

Schizosaccharomyces pombe. 

It has been suggested that components of the cytoskeleton contribute to the 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

signal transduction process in association with one or more members of the G protein 

family. Relatively high-affinity binding between dimeric tubulin and the 

alpha subunits of Gs and Gi1 has also been reported (Wang N. and Rasenick, 

1991). Tubulin has binding domains for microtubule-associated proteins. Tubulin 

modifies G-protein signaling. Heterotrimeric G-proteins regulate microtubule assembly 

in mammalian cells. G alpha inhibits microtubule assembly and increases 

microtubule disassembly by activating the intrinsic GTPase of tubulin. G beta 

gamma promotes microtubule assembly (Roychowdhury et al, 1999). In the present 

study, we have analyzed the interaction between alpha and beta gamma subunits 

of G proteins and tubulin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the Schizosaccharomyces 

pombe by immunofluorescence (Hagan and Hyams, 1988). Results 

from the immunofluorescence experiments were confirmed by electrophoresis 

and immunoblotting. We have obtained protein analyses and immunoblotting for 

S. cerevisiae and S. pombe. The visualization of the gamma and alpha tubulin is 

most evident in S. cerevisiae. There is evidence of a G-protein role in microtubule 

assembly/disassembly. poster 

Arenz, Brett E.*, Held, Ben W., Jurgens, Joel A. and Blanchette, Robert A. Department 

of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 

Upper Buford Circle, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA. aren0058@umn.edu. Fungal 

diversity in wood and soils at the historic expedition huts of Ross Island, 

Antarctica, as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 

Culture-dependent methods have long been the primary tool to determine 

the biodiversity of microorganisms in soils and other substrates. New molecular 

methods to study fungal profiles in samples from the environment have shown 

that these previous methods usually give an incomplete picture of all the organisms 

present. This study utilized denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) 

to analyze the fungal diversity in wood and other materials brought to Ross Island, 

Antarctica by explorers Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton. Fungal diversity in 

soils near the historic structures was also analyzed. Fungal specific primers were 

used to target the ITS 2 region which shows significant variability between 

species. The DNA was separated by DGGE, and bands extracted and sequenced. 

Although previously reported Antarctic fungi such as Geomyces, Cladosporium, 

Cadophora, and Phoma, were frequently identified, DNA of many species show 

very little similarity to sequences available in databases based on BLASTn 

searching. Species of Cadophora and Cladosporium were found associated with 

deteriorating historic woods and other artifacts. These fungi were also found in 

Antarctic soil samples. This work is providing a more comprehensive understanding 

of the microbes found in Antarctica and provides new insights on the 

fungi attacking wood in the historic huts. contributed presentation 

Arnold, A. Elizabeth 1 *, Miadlikowska, Jolanta 2 , Higgins, K. Lindsay 2 , Dalling, 

James W. 3 , Gallery, Rachel E. 3 , Henk, Daniel A. 2 , Eells, Rebecca L. 2 , Vilgalys, 

Rytas J. 2 and Lutzoni, François 2 . 1 Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, 

Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA, 

2 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA, 3 Department 

of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. 

arnold@ag.arizona.edu. What can environmental PCR tell us about foliar 

fungal endophyte communities? 

While it is clear that a tremendous diversity of endophytic fungi can be isolated 

from leaves using standard culturing techniques, the potential occurrence of 

unculturable endophytes limits our understanding of the ecology, evolution, and 

diversity of endophytic symbioses. In particular, environmental sampling may be 

key to uncovering endophytes with obligate host associations and/or vertical 

transmission, slowly growing species that do not occur readily in standard media, 

and species that lose in competitive interactions within cultured leaf pieces. Results 

of paired environmental sampling (direct PCR) + culturing approaches to assessing 

endophyte diversity and community structure in boreal, temperate, and 

tropical foliage, and tropical seeds, will be compared. In each case, environmental 

sampling was complementary to culturing: direct PCR recovered numerous 

lineages that were not represented in cultures from the same hosts, recovered sequences 

that have few close matches in GenBank, provided evidence for infections 

in apparently uninfected tissues, and fundamentally changed our view of the 

taxonomic distribution of endophytes present in each host species. In discussing 

these case studies, special attention will be given to (1) the importance of multilocus 

datasets for phylogenetic analyses of environmental samples; (2) methods 

of phylogenetic analysis that can result in reliable topologies given limited data 

from clones; (3) the utility of BLAST results based on ITS data for identifying 

clones; and (4) the utility of ITS genotype groups as functional taxonomic units 

for ecological analyses of environmental samples. symposium presentation 

Avis, Peter G.*, Leacock, Pat R. and Mueller, Greg M. Department of Botany, 

The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 

60605, USA. pavis@fieldmuseum.org. Potential changes in ectomycorrhizal 

fungal communities caused by nitrogen deposition in oak forests of the 

Chicago region. 

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may mediate the impact nitrogen (N) deposition 

has on temperate deciduous forests. To test this hypothesis, we are documenting 

the above- and belowground components of ECM communities in con- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

trol and experimentally N-fertilized treatments at three forest sites found along a 

N deposition gradient in the Chicago region. Field surveys of sporocarps in treatment 

plots have identified over 90 ECM fungal species across the three sites since 

2003. Over 200 of these collections were used to develop a reference database of 

terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms (T-RFLP) for the identification 

of ECM collected belowground. In 2004, we conducted morphological and 

T-RFLP analyses of ECM collected from soil cores from each treatment plot. 

Early results indicate that the ECM communities in these sites are rich and potentially 

vulnerable to N increase. Over 130 likely species of ECM fungi have 

been identified from over 5000 oak root tips examined. Species richness estimates 

indicate that significantly fewer numbers of ECM species are found on oak roots 

in N fertilization treatments at two of three sites. We will continue to monitor 

ECM community responses to N fertilization over the next two years and also examine 

how the composition of these communities relates to their function within 

the context of N deposition. contributed presentation 

Badalyan, Suzanna M.*, Garibyan, Narine G. and Sakeyan, Carmen Z. Dept. of 

Botany, Yerevan State University, Aleg Manoogian St., 375025, Yerevan, Armenia. 

badalyan_s@yahoo.com. Culture collection of Basidiomycetes fungi at 

the Yerevan State University (Armenia). 

Establishment and maintenance of Culture Collection of macroscopic fungi 

(Basidiomycetes) at the Yerevan State University are the way of preserving biodiversity 

of mushrooms and extending fungal genetic and biotechnological research 

in Armenia. Study of mushroom cultures can also be valuable in obtaining 

novel bio-pharmaceuticals and functional food additives with health-enhancing 

effect. Presently, the Collection comprises around 210 living strains of 60 mushroom 

species. They were mostly isolated in Armenia and obtained from other institutions. 

Among them, 35 species and 197 strains possess known medicinal 

properties. The Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus and Coprinus spp. collections 

are represented by a wide eco-geographical diversity of strains. ITSrDNA 

nucleotide sequence analyses of collected 25 species and 105 strains were 

carried out together with international collaborators. The project of genetic identification 

of Armenian medicinal mushrooms is currently realizing. Further extension 

of taxonomic, ecological and geographical diversity of species/strains and 

their genetic identification, as well as digitalization and creation of information 

DataBase are in progress. The catalogue of Culture Collection will be available 

soon. This research is supported by NATO (#FEL.RIG.980764) and DAAD 

(#548.104401.174) grants. poster 

Badalyan, Suzanna M. 1 * and Kües, Ursula 2 . 1 Dept. of Botany, Yerevan State University, 

Aleg Manoogian St., 375025, Yerevan, Armenia, 2 Section Molecular 

Wood Biotechnology, Institute of Forest Botany, Georg-August University, Büsgenweg 

2, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany. badalyan_s@yahoo.com. Mycelial 

morphology and growth characteristics of wood-related coprinoid mushrooms. 

Around 80 species of the traditional genus Coprinus (Coprinoid mushrooms) 

have been observed on wooden material. Mycelial micro-, macromorphology 

and growth characteristics of xylotrophic species Coprinus comatus, Coprinellus 

angulatus, C. bisporus, C. curtus, C. disseminatus, C. domesticus, C. 

ellisii, C. micaceus, C. xanthothrix, Coprinopsis atramentaria, C. cinerea, C. 

cothurnata, C. gonophylla, C. radians, C. romagnesiana, C. scobicola, C. strossmayeri 

and Parasola plicatilis have been studied. Cultures were grown on Malt- 

Extract Agar (MEA), Potato-Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Glucose-Peptone Agar 

(GPA) at 25 ∞C and pH 6. Growth rates and growth coefficients were highest on 

MEA (up to 85 mm and above 20, respectively), then PDA and GPA. Macromorphological 

characteristics were described after 10 days of growth. Oval and 

round shape clamps occur in most of the Coprini. Clamps were not found in some 

Coprinellus species. Material for micromorphological investigations was obtained 

by slide cultures. Hyphal loops were particularly formed in Coprinellus 

species. Arthroconidia were often observed, whereas blastic sporulation was rare. 

Chlamydospore formation is also typical for Coprini. Mycelial cysts, microfilaments 

and crystals were detected in some species.Thanks DAAD, NATO and 

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt for financial support. poster 

Bahl, Justin, Jeewon, Rajesh* and Hyde, Kevin. Dept. Ecology & Biodiversity, 

The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. jbahl@hkusua.hku.hk. 

Intergeneric relationships of Linocarpon and Neolinocarpon: does phylogenetic 

analysis support the generic delineation? 

Species from the genera Linocarpon and Neolinocarpon are common 

saprobic fungi found in subtropical to tropical regions and mainly occurs on 

monocotyledonous hosts. Both genera are often found on the same host. Based on 

morphology these genera share many similarities and have resulted in difficulties 

in assigning taxa. The most significant delineating characters are ascomata position 

and morphology. Based on parsimony and likelihood analyses of multi-locus 

partial sequences derived from nuclear encoded ribosomal DNA, beta-tubulin and 

RNA polymerase regions from fresh and dried herbarium material, an attempt has 

been made to assess which morphological characters are phylogenetically significant 

for generic delineation or whether the genera should be circumscribed under 

the priority name, Linocarpon. Analysis confirmed that the two genera are not 

monophyletic and indicates parallel evolution of morphological and ecological 


characters. Results are discussed in relation to the significance of morphological 

characters currently used in the taxonomy of Linocarpon and Neolinocarpon. 


Barnes, Irene*, Wingfield, Michael J. and Wingfield, Brenda D. Department of 

Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of 

Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. irene.barnes@fabi.up.ac.za. Development 

of microsatellite markers for the red band needle blight pathogen Dothistroma 

septosporum using two different isolation methods. 

Very little is known regarding the population biology of Dothistroma septosporum, 

one of the most important pathogens of plantation grown pines in the 

southern hemisphere. Thus, twelve sets of microsatellite markers have been developed 

to study the population dynamics of this pathogen. Two techniques, 

ISSR-PCR and FIASCO enrichment were used to screen for microsatellite rich 

regions. ISSR-PCR was effective in locating many microsatellite sites. However, 

after the necessary genome walking, many of the microsatellites were found to be 

redundant artifacts of the initial primers used. With FIASCO, variable success 

was observed depending primarily on the primer combination used in the enrichment. 

In one screen, 57 % of the clones contained microsatellites, in others, none 

were found. From a total of 22 primer pairs, 11 were found to be polymorphic 

amongst isolates of D. septosporum. An additional primer was polymorphic between 

D. pini and D. septosporum and can be used for further diagnostic purposes 

within populations. Cross-species amplification was successful in D. pini, D. 

rhabdoclinis and Mycosphaerella dearnessi. Future studies using these primers 

will focus on gaining an improved understanding of the population structure, genetic 

diversity, gene flow and the genetic relatedness between different populations 

of these important tree pathogens. poster 

Barnes, Irene 1 *, Crous, Pedro W. 2 , Wingfield, Michael J. 1 and Wingfield, Brenda 

D. 11 Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute 

(FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 0002, 2 Centraalbureau 

voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), Fungal Biodiversity Centre, P.O. Box 85167, 

3508 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands. irene.barnes@fabi.up.ac.za. Multigene phylogenetic 

analyses reveal that Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini represent 

two distinct taxa and a serious threat to pine forestry. 

The sudden increase in severity of the red band needle blight disease in the 

U.K., Canada and parts of Europe where Dothistroma has been present for decades 

is a matter of great concern. Although the etiology of the disease is well known, 

phylogenetic and population level relationships amongst isolates of the fungus are 

poorly understood. We have thus constructed multigene phylogenies for isolates of 

Dothistroma from 13 different countries. These have illustrated that the isolates are 

separated into two distinct lineages representing two discrete species and supported 

by morphological differences. The one species, referred to as D. septosporum 

occurs worldwide and infects over 30 species of pines. It is the major cause of the 

serious blight disease plaguing Pinus radiata plantations in New Zealand, Chile 

and other Southern Hemisphere countries The second species, D. pini, is restricted 

in its distribution to the North Central United States where it causes a serious disease 

on exotic P. nigra. A simple ITS-PCR-RFLP is also presented that allows accurate 

and rapid distinction between the two species. contributed presentation 

Baroni, Timothy J. 1 *, Lindner Czederpiltz, Daniel L. 2 , Lodge, D. Jean 3 , Hofstetter, 

Valérie 4 and Franco-Molano, Ana Esperanza 5 . 1 Department of Biological 

Sciences, State University of New York, College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 

13045, USA, Center for Forest Mycology Research, USDA Forest Service, Forest 

Products Laboratory, One Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53726-2398, 

USA, Center for Forest Mycology Research, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 

1377, Luquillo, PR 00773-1377, USA, 4 Botany Department, Duke University, 

Durham, NC 27708-0338, USA, 5 Laboratorio de Taxonomía de Hongos, Instituto 

de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, A.A.1226, Medellín, Colombia. baronitj@cortland.edu. 

Arthrosporella, a recently rediscovered neotropical 

genus, is phylogenetically related to Termitomyces in the Lyophylleae. 

In 1996, Sharon Cantrell and TJB collected an odd nail-shaped agaric covered 

with dark brown conidia in Puerto Rico; that collection could not be named 

at that time. Over the next 9 years of intense collecting, this odd arthrospore-producing 

species was collected only three more times in Puerto Rico, but also twice 

in the Dominican Republic. TJB realized this was a new species of Arthrosporella, 

originally described by Rolf Singer as a monotypic genus from Argentina. A 

second, distinctly different and new conidia producing agaricoid species was 

found just recently in Colombia by AEFM, and we now know of two other collections 

of this taxon from the Dominican Republic by Egon Horak and TJB. 

Very recently (August 2004) a third new, and completely different arthrosporeproducing 

agaricoid species was found by TJB, DJL and CDL, fruiting abundantly 

in the cloud forest on the highest peak in Belize (Doyle’s Delight). All of 

these new taxa possess siderophilous granules in the basidia. Phylogenetic analysis 

of nLSU indicates, with significant support, the monophyly of Arthrosporella 

with Termitomyces (Lyophylleae) and suggests a sister relationship between these 

two genera. All collections of Arthrosporella appear to be saprotrophic and not 

termitophilous, thus perhaps indicating a closer relationship with Podabrella, 

which is also in this branch of the Lyphylleae clade. poster 


Barrett, Luke G., Thrall, Peter H., Burdon, Jeremy J. and van der Merwe, Marlien 

M.* Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO – Plant Industry, GPO Box 

1600, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. marlien.vandermerwe@csiro.au Pancontinental 

patterns of genetic variation in the rust fungus Melampsora lini. 

The Linum marginale-Melampsora lini plant-pathogen interaction is endemic 

to Australia and has been a focus of epidemiological and coevolutionary 

studies for more than a decade. Considerable variation for both host resistance and 

pathogen virulence has been shown at a range of spatial scales from the local to 

the continental. Here we report on a study using AFLP and SSR markers to examine 

pancontinental patterns of genetic variation in 102 clonal lines of M. lini 

representing 35 populations. Molecular marker genotypes partition all of the isolates 

into two major lineages, and in combination with subsequent sequencing of 

beta-tubulin and elongation factor genes suggest a possible hybrid origin for one 

of the lineages. Subsequent comparison with data on phenotypic variation for virulence 

in a subset of these isolates also demonstrates striking differences between 

the two lineages in terms of pathogenicity on the host L. marginale. Molecular genetic 

variation within the lineages was very limited, and within populations both 

AFLP and SSR markers regularly failed to distinguish among several lines with 

different pathotypes. These results are important for developing an understanding 

of how pathogen virulence might evolve within natural populations. poster 

Barrow, Jerry R.*, Lucero, Mary L., Osuna-Avila, Pedro, Reyes-Vera, Isaac and 

Aaltonen, Ronald E. USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM 

88003, USA. jbarrow@nmsu.edu. Hybrid vigor, structural modification and 

enhanced plant performance induced by symbiotic fungi-plant interactions. 

Hybrid vigor, structural modification and enhanced plant performance induced 

by symbiotic fungi-plant interactions. Communities of symbiotic fungi are 

intrinsically integrated with single cells, tissues and organs of desert plants. They 

are obligately associated with living tissues and generally cannot be isolated and 

cultured separately. Symbiotic fungi indigenous to native desert plants were transferred, 

using cell culture methods, to non-host plants and reciprocally transferred 

between native grasses. Crop and native plants, with recipient fungi have astounding 

and increased levels of vigor. Up to five-fold increases in root and shoot 

biomass and substantial morphological changes and reproductive potential were 

obtained. Enhanced chlorophyll and phosphorous content were common responses. 

Once integrated, fungi were intimately interfaced with the plasmalema 

of the new host plant and were ecto-cytoplasmically inherited. This technology 

accesses a previously unexplored source of genetic variability within native 

ecosystems with the potential of immediate transfer to improve tolerance of native 

and crop plants to stress, disease and pests. Symbiotic fungal transfers provides 

a powerful alternative for genetic improvement of plants. contributed presentation 

Bartnicki-García, Salomón. Microbiology Dept., CICESE, Ensenada, Baja California, 

22860, México. bartnick@cicese.mx. Introductory remarks: Current 

perspectives in hyphal morphogenesis. 

Hyphal morphogenesis is clearly the most basic developmental process in 

mycology. The origin of the fungal kingdom could be traced to the “invention” of 

hyphal morphogenesis, i.e. the ability of a cell to form long tubular walls by tip 

growth. Not surprisingly, over the years, fungal biologists have become increasingly 

interested in elucidating the cellular and molecular basis of hyphal morphogenesis. 

The problem revolves basically about understanding the mechanism(s) 

responsible for polarized growth of the cell wall. A number of structural and molecular 

players have been identified but the mechanism cannot be attributed to a 

single gene or protein. Polarized secretion probably requires a specific concerted 

action between cytoskeleton and secretory vesicles to produce a pattern of vesicle 

discharge that would generate cells with a profile described by the hyphoid equation: 

y = x cot (xV/N). This symposium on Advances in Fungal Morphogenesis 

will cover developments in different fronts: a new way of probing the surface 

properties of the hyphal wall (S. Kaminskyj), assessing the importance of protein 

glycosylation in the maintenance of hyphal growth (B. Shaw), and analyzing the 

role of the Spitzenkörper in apical growth (M. Riquelme). symposium presentation 

Baucom, Deana L.*, Bruhn, Johann N. and Mihail, Jeanne D. Division of Plant 

Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO 65211, USA. dlba3c@mizzou.edu. 

Armillaria species involved in Missouri Ozark forest decline. 

In the Missouri Ozark Mountains, Armillaria spp. contribute to oak decline. 

To investigate the distributions and roles of Armillaria spp., 142 isolates collected 

in 2002 from 40 plots were identified. Amplification of IGS1 followed by restriction 

with AluI identified 121 isolates as A. mellea (52 %), A. gallica (38 %), 

and A. tabescens (10 %). Two new RFLP patterns were found to represent 41 % 

of A. mellea and 17 % of A. gallica isolates. Isolates yielding these patterns are 

currently being characterized by sequence analysis of IGS1. Major hosts were 

dogwood (44 %), red oaks (18 %), and white oaks (7 %). Armillaria mellea predominated 

on both white and red oaks; A. mellea and A. gallica occurred equally 

on dogwood. Recently killed trees provided 28 % of study isolates. Armillaria 

was almost universally present on recently killed trees. Red oaks, dogwood, and 

white oaks provided 38 %, 32 %, and 10 % of recent mortality isolates, respectively. 

Nearly all recent oak mortality yielded A. mellea. Recent dogwood mor- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

tality yielded A. gallica (54 %) more frequently than A. mellea (38 %). Ozark oak 

decline affects red oaks and dogwoods most heavily. The Armillaria sp. which 

most commonly contributed to oak mortality on our plots in 2002 was A. mellea, 

though A. gallica was more commonly recovered from recent dogwood mortality. 

We found little evidence of mortality caused by A. tabescens. poster 

Beeson, Esther 1 , Beltz, Shannon 2 , Klich, Maren 2 and Bennett, Joan W. 1 * 1 Tulane 

University, New Orleans, LA, USA, 2 Southern Regional Resource Center, New 

Orleans, LA, USA. ebeeson1@cox.net. Sclerotial production in Aspergillus 

flavus varies with temperature and nitrogen source. 

Twenty strains of Aspergillus flavus from the culture collection of the 

Southern Regional Research Laboratory, New Orleans, LA, were grown on defined 

and complex media at 25 o C and 37 o C for one week. Colonies were 

screened for sclerotial production as well as other colony characters including production 

of conidia, floccose hyphae, and mycelial pigment. When grown on complex 

media with yeast extract as the nitrogen source, 9 of the strains produced 

sclerotia at 25 o C and 11 produced sclerotia at 37 o C. When grown on a defined 

medium with nitrate as nitrogen source, 8 of the strains produced sclerotia at 37 

o C and 5 produced sclerotia at 25 o C. When ammonium was used as the nitrogen 

source, only one strain produced sclerotia at 37 o C and there was no sclerotial production 

at 25 o C. Sporulation was sparse or absent for all strains grown on ammonium 

at 37 o C. When microarrays of the A. flavus genome become available, 

these data will be useful in designing conditions for RNA isolation in order to 

probe the genes involved in sclerotial formation. poster 

Bennett, Chandalin 1 *, Newcombe, George 1 and Aime, M. Catherine 2 . 1 Department 

of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, 

2 USDA ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, 

USA. benn4449@uidaho.edu. Regional studies of Melampsora on Salix in the 

Pacific Northwest. 

Melampsora epitea Thuem. is a species complex that represents all willow 

rusts in N. America. To better understand how much host-specialization and genetic 

diversity exists in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), a large-scale host-range inoculation 

study was performed along with ITS sequencing, morphological analysis, 

and a two-year field survey. Distinct host-specificity was shown for three 

different Melampsora isolates inoculated on nearly equal sets of 440 willows. 

Less than 20 percent of the plants in each experiment were susceptible to the inoculum 

and greater than 15 percent of those showed some signs of resistance. The 

genetic sequencing resulted in four distinct clades, the largest of which likely represents 

a complex in this region. The other three clades were strongly divergent 

from the complex. There was up to three genetically distinct rusts present in a 

given geographic location and four or more genetically distinct rusts on a given 

Salix sp. There was found at most two distinct rusts on the same species from the 

same population. It’s evident that willow rusts are incredibly diverse in the PNW. 

Every experimental inoculum was specialized in its host range and the genetic diversity 

was spread across four unique and highly divergent clades. symposium 

presentation 

Bennett, Joan W. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. 

jbennett@tulane.edu. Industrial mycology: from Takamine’s diastase to 

TIGR’s database. 

Industrial mycology has its roots in numerous food fermentations that were 

developed early in human history. Of these, the Japanese koji process, utilizing 

Aspergillus oryzae , is of particular interest because the first microbial enzyme 

ever patented was a secreted diastase (amylase) isolated from A. oryzae by Dr. Jokichi 

Takamine, a Japanese chemist working in the U.S.A during the late nineteenth 

century. In the first half of the twentieth century, several filamentous fungi 

were harnessed for the production of additional commercial enzymes and for organic 

acids. Although the discovery of penicillin and the subsequent golden age 

of antibiotics transformed fermentation technology, the molecular biology of industrial 

molds lagged behind that of model species. Now, in the twenty-first century, 

genomic research has ushered in a new era of understanding. Genome projects 

for several Aspergillus species are completed or underway, revealing new 

insights into secondary metabolism, carbon and nitrogen regulation, and other genetic 

control mechanisms. aymposium presentation 

Berbee, Mary L. 1 *, James, Tim Y. 2 , Longcore, Joyce E. 3 , Stajich, Jason 4 and Vilgalys, 

Rytas J. 2 . 1 Dept. of Botany, University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z4 

Canada, 2 Dept. of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA, 3 Biological 

Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5722 USA, 4 Dept. of Molecular 

Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. 

berbee@interchange.ubc.ca. What makes a fungus? Fungal-specific genes 

from EST libraries of the basal fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and 

Mortierella verticillata. 

The Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota include ancient fungal lineages that 

may have originated hundreds of millions of years before plants invaded land. We 

looked for shared genes that distinguish the fungi from other kingdoms through 

comparison of expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries, from a chytrid, Batrachochytrium 

dendrobatidis (1588 ESTs, average length, 572 nucleotides) and 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

from Mortierella verticillata, a readily cultured terrestrial mold in the Zygomycota 

(1278 ESTs, average length, 556 nucleotides). Of 1247 non-redundant ESTs 

from B. dendrobatidis, 100 were ‘fungal- specific’ in that sequence similarity 

within fungi is high but drops off sharply beyond the kingdom level. From M. verticillata, 

64 ESTs were fungal-specific. Fungal-specific genes included six subfamilies 

of chitin synthases that arose through ancient gene duplications. Suggesting 

that early fungi had to scavenge for iron, B. dendrobatidis and higher 

fungi share a high affinity iron permease. Septins are also present in animals, but 

they help control the form of fungi during development. We found four septin paralogues 

among ESTs from Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and two from 

Mortierella verticillata. The septins from the spheroidal chytrid appeared to be 

basal to genes from other fungi. contributed presentation 

Bérube, Jean A. 1 *, Stefani, Frank O.P. 1 and Sokolski, S. 1 Canadian Forest Service, 

1055 du PEPS, P.O. Box 3800, Ste-Foy, QC, G1V 4C7 Canada. 

jberube@cfl.forestry.ca. Comparison of foliar endophyte biodiversity from 

three boreal conifers. 

We compared the foliar endophyte biodiversity of white spruce (Picea glauca), 

black spruce (P. mariana) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Asymptomatic 

healthy needles were collected from 67 conifer populations in eastern Canada, 

surface sterilized and then plated on nutrient agar. The ribosomal ITS region 

were amplified, sequenced and analyzed using maximum parsimony and 

Bayesian inference. Results from morphological and molecular studies indicate 

white spruce is hosting as many as 49 fungal endophyte species, black spruce is 

hosting 42 species and white pine is hosting 30 species. Only four endophyte 

species were common among those three hosts, among them Hormonema dematioides 

and Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii. Some fourteen species were common to 

the two spruces and only one species was common between black spruce and 

white pine. Five other species were also found on other conifers not examined in 

this study. The remaining 85 species were unique to one conifer host only. They 

represent a source of new species needed to fill the gap between known number 

of species, 76000 and the 1.5 million estimated number by Hawksworth. contributed 

presentation 

Bérube, Jean A. 1 *, Stefani, Frank O.P. 1 , Piercey-Normore, Michele D. 2 , Guillaumin, 

Jean-Jacques 3 and Hamelin, Richard C. 1 . 1 Canadian Forest Service, 1055 du 

PEPS, P.O. Box 3800, Ste-Foy, QC, G1V 4C7 Canada, 2 Department of Botany, 

University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T2N2, Canada, 3 INRA Centre de Clermont-Ferrand, 

UMR 234 Breset, 63039, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 

jberube@cfl.forestry.ca. Evidence of ancient recombination in genus Armillaria. 

The genus Armillaria has been studied extensively to determine its evolutionary 

history in relation to virulence, hosts and distribution. Four coding genes 

(actin, beta-tubulin, G3PD and MLL) from 21 species of Armillaria from North 

America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America were sequenced and 

analyzed. Phylogeny of combined genes showed important differences with published 

ITS phylogenies. The basal position of A. ostoyae, A. gemina, A. borealis 

in the phylogenetic trees inferred from the actin and G3PD genes is evidence of 

ancient recombination events in the northern hemisphere that took place after the 

Gondwanian disjunction (100 Myr BP) but before the Laurasian disjunction (60 

Myr BP). Once recombinant sites removed from phylogenetic analysis, corrected 

trees indicate that Armillaria seems to be an ancient genus that originated in the 

Jurassic, with some species that have radiated throughout the southern hemisphere 

before the Gondwana disjunction. The evolutionary history of many Armillaria 

species in relation to continental drift will be presented. contributed presentation 

Beyer, David M.*, Paley, Kimerley and Wilkinson, Vija. Dept. of Plant Pathology, 

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA. 

dmb8@psu.edu. Influence of organic acids on the growth and development of 

Trichoderma harzianum, a pathogen of Agaricus bisporus. 

Previous research has shown that Phase I substrate for Agaricus bisporus 

prepared under low oxygen conditions resulted in earlier and more severe development 

of Trichoderma harzianum green mold disease. Organic acids are known 

to be produced under anaerobic conditions, and their residual compounds may be 

involved in the development of the pathogen in mushroom substrate. This research 

looked at the influence of several organic acids at different concentrations 

on the growth of Trichoderma harzianum in vitro and in vivo. Results suggested 

that in vitro higher concentrations of most organic acids had a negative influence 

on the growth of the pathogen while lower concentrations of Fumaric, Succinic 

and Lactic acid did not. In vivo assays suggested that when Fumaric acid was 

added to the substrate it predisposed the substrate to disease development. poster 

Binder, Manfred 1 *, Bodensteiner, Philomena 2 , Wang, Zheng 1 and Hibbett, David 

S. 1 . 1 Clark University, Biology Department, Lasry Bioscience Center, 950 Main 

Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610-1477, USA, 2 Fakultät für Biologie der 

Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Department I: Biodiversitätsforschung, 

Systematische Mykol., Munich, Germany. mbinder@clarku.edu. 

Phylogenetic relationships of cyphelloid and aquatic homobasidiomycetes. 

Cyphelloid fungi include minute terrestrial, cupulate or tubular-shaped 

forms in the euagarics clade. Our previous studies showed that some aquatic fungi 

like the marine gasteromycete Nia vibrissa have been derived from cyphelloid 


forms, while others (e. g., Mycaureola dilseae) are derived from agaricoid forms 

and represent separate lineages of aquatic fungi in the euagarics. In a broad phylogenetic 

survey of cyphelloid and aquatic homobasidiomycetes, we used a twopronged 

approach generating nuc-lsu and ITS data for 140 collections of cyphelloid 

fungi consisting of multiple samples of 57 well described species. Data from 

multiple rDNA regions (nuc-ssu, nuc-lsu, mt-ssu, mt-lsu, ITS) that were additionally 

sequenced for a subset of 25 cyphelloid species served as a backbone in 

weighted parsimony and Bayesian analyses to identify the major lineages of 

cyphelloids within the euagarics and their closest relatives. It has long been suspected 

that cyphelloid fungi form a polyphyletic group and our study suggests 

there may be at least 18 independent origins, which will be presented in detail. 

Thus, morphological reduction via cyphellization is a major theme in the evolution 

of euagarics. One of the most remarkable examples of evolutionary transitions 

from the terrestrial cyphelloid habit to fungi living in aquatic habitats can be 

observed in the Nia clade, which contains the largest proportion of cyphelloid 

fungi studied so far. Our preliminary results indicate that the marine fungi in this 

clade are a monophyletic group including N. vibrissa, Halocyphina villosa, Calathella 

mangrovei, and as a new result Digitatispora marina, a resupinate species 

that has lost the ability of active spore discharge. poster 

Bischoff, Joseph F. 1 *, Rehner, Stephen A. 2 and Humber, Richard A. 3 . 1 GenBank, 

NCBI-NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA, 2 Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, 

USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA, 3 Plant Protection Research Unit, 

USDA-ARS-ARSEF, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. 

bischoff@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis of the entomopathogen 

Metarhizium. 

Species of the cosmopolitan entomopathogenic form genus Metarhizium 

play important ecological roles by regulating arthropod populations and recycling 

insect biomass. The ubiquity of Metarhizium species and their broad host range 

have made them an attractive alternative to chemical pesticides. Despite commercial 

interest in the genus and its widespread occurrence, species delimitation, 

intrageneric relationships, and placement within the Clavicipitaceae remain undefined. 

Historically, two species and a single variety were accepted in the genus. 

However, in a recent molecular phylogenetic study 10 lineages (i.e., species and 

varieties) were proposed. The purpose of this study is to, 1) determine if Metarhizium 

is monophyletic, 2) identify its sister lineage within Clavicipitaceae, 3) resolve 

phylogenetic species and infer intrageneric relationships. A multilocus 

dataset (EF1-alpha, RPB1, beta-tubulin and RPB2) supports the monophyly of 

Metarhizium and its close association with the largely plant associated members 

of Clavicipitaceae (subfamily Clavicipitoideae). In addition, a minimum of 12 distinct 

lineages has been resolved, exceeding prior estimates of diversity in the 

genus. contributed presentation 

Branco, Sara. The Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, 

Chicago, IL 60637 USA. sbranco@uchicago.edu. Macrofungal communities of 

northeastern Portugal. 

Quercus pyrenaica woodlands and serpentinic Quercus rotundifolia woodlands 

are two important plant communities of northeastern Portugal. These forests 

are significant natural habitats in the region and are considered priorities in terms 

of nature conservation. Quercus pyrenaica is a native and widespread oak species. 

Serpentine woodlands are communities with an impoverished flora characterized 

by Quercus rotundifolia and several endemic herbaceous species. They are confined 

to serpentine soils, characterized by high heavy metal content and low nutrient 

levels. In each woodland one 1000 sqm permanent plot was established and 

macrofungi were surveyed biweekly during 2001, 2002 and 2003. In both woodlands 

the sporocarp fruiting occurred throughout autumn, between October and 

December. The Quercus pyrenaica plot had much higher species diversity (146 

species) than the serpentinic plot (73 species) and only 17% of the recorded 

species occurred in both plots. Mycorrhizal species composed more than 60% of 

all the species found in either habitat. Twenty three of the identified taxa were new 

records for the country and 47 were new records for the region. These results indicate 

that these forests are diverse and distinct in macrofungal species and require 

proper management and conservation. poster 

Bruhn, Johann N. 1 , Kromroy, Kathryn 2 , Baucom, Deana 1 and Mihail, Jeanne D. 1 * 

1 Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia MO 65211, USA, 

2 USDA Forest Service, North Central Research Station, St. Paul, MN 55108, 

USA. bruhnj@missouri.edu. Armillaria species associated with oak stump 

sprout regeneration in upland Missouri Ozark forests. 

Stump sprouts are favored in North American oak regeneration. Many trees 

selected for cutting in upland Missouri Ozark forests are infected with one or more 

Armillaria spp., especially in oak stands experiencing forest decline. After harvest, 

Armillaria infections in these trees spread to the root crown, reducing stump 

sprout production and causing sprout mortality. We examined the implications of 

these infections for survival and growth of remaining sprouts. During 2003 and 

2004, we characterized sprouting and presence of Armillaria on oak stumps created 

in 1996 on 35 study plots. Single Armillaria isolates were collected from 145 

stumps; dual isolates were collected from widely-spaced roots of 29 additional 

stumps. Dual isolates from 14 stumps represent different genets. We have found 


one new IGS1 RFLP banding pattern for each of A. mellea and A. gallica. Armillaria 

mellea is widely represented in the stump populations in our plots, raising 

concern that models of stump sprout regeneration may be optimistic, especially in 

stands experiencing oak decline. Stump sprout regeneration can result in the establishment 

of crop trees on previously infected root systems. Our study also focuses 

attention on the disparity between stem age and the age of their root systems 

including existing Armillaria infections, in stands managed using stump sprout regeneration. 

poster 

Bruns, Thomas D.*, Boynton, Primrose, Shamieh, Karimeh, Szaro, Timothy M. 

and Kennedy, Peter G. Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of 

California, Berkeley 94720-3102, USA. pogon@berkeley.edu. Spatial and temporal 

structure of Rhizopogon sporebanks. 

Rhizopogon species are ectomycorrhizal associates of the Pinaceae. In 

young, disturbed pine forests they are often among the dominant fungi colonizing 

seedlings and saplings. This dominance is due to abundant sporebanks that are 

produced by deposition of spores in place and by dispersal through mammal mycophagy. 

We have used rodent baiting, bioassays, spore burial, and PCR-based 

analyses to examine the distance and frequency of dispersal from forest to nonforested 

borders and the longevity of spores. We then compared these parameters 

to the spatial distribution of sporebanks. We found Rhizopogon is efficiently dispersed 

at distances of 40 meters from a border in a single year, and that the distances 

and quantity of spores dispersed are greatest from young post-fire forests. 

Current dispersal appears to be sufficient to account for the spatial pattern of the 

sporebank for the four most common species. However our results suggest that 

longevity of the spores may be substantial, and we think that longevity is likely to 

be important at greater spatial and temporal scales. symposium presentation 

Burdsall, Harold H. Jr. USDA - FPL - Cntr. Forest Mycol. Res., Madison, WI and 

Fungal & Decay Diagnostics, LLC, Black Earth, WI, USA. burdsall@fungaldecay.com. 

Cyphellaceae in the Arctic and subantarctic islands. 

Members of the family “Cyphellaceae” in the traditional sense are now 

known to be distributed among several families of the homobasidiomycetes. 

However, they are recognizable in the field as a “morphological group”, unnatural 

as it may be. Collecting in the subantarctic islands of New Zealand and near 

and above the Arctic Circle in Alaska has provided a number of specimens for 

comparing the occurrence of these fungi from opposite ends of the globe. Species 

of Lachnella, Henningsomyces and Cyphellopsis were collected. Species of Lachnella 

were common on the subantarctic islands while Henningsomyces and 

Cyphellopsis were lacking. The reverse was true in the Arctic collecting sites. Differences 

in types of substrate may explain this difference, there being more wood 

in the Arctic collecting sites than on the subantarctic islands. However, the lack of 

Lachnella specimens from the Arctic may be a result of collecting bias and collecting 

on forbs and ferns on the Arctic sites may provide more specimens of 

Lachnella species. These comparisons are continuing. symposium presentation 

Burgess, Joshua W. 1 , Schwan, William 2 and Volk, Thomas J. 2 *. Departments of 

1 Microbiology and 2 Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse WI 

54601, USA. volk.thom@uwlax.edu. Detection of Blastomyces dermatitidis 

DNA from natural samples using rapid PCR-based methods. 

Blastomyces dermatitidis is the dimorphic fungal agent of blastomycosis, a 

disease that primarily affects humans and dogs. The clinical appearance of this 

mycosis is well characterized, but there is still little known about its environmental 

niche, having been isolated from nature only 21 times. We have developed a 

PCR-based assay to detect B. dermatitidis from soil samples using primers specific 

to a portion of the promoter region of the virulence gene BAD1. An internal 

standard control, pTJV2-2, was designed to ensure that negative results from soil 

samples were not the result of PCR failure due to soil inhibitors. The lower detection 

limit of the plasmid, using Blastomyces specific primers (BSP), was 0.1 

femtograms. With chromosomal DNA, the lower detection limit is 500 fg. To test 

the assay for cross reactivity, the BSP were tested successfully against many 

fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes, especially those genetically related or found in 

the same geographic areas. This method is sensitive to 304 copies when detecting 

pTJV2-2 DNA spiked directly into the soil extraction. When extracting live Blastomyces 

yeast, this newly developed method can detect as few as 8,450 live cells. 

We plan on using this method to screen soils to better determine the environmental 

niche of Blastomyces. contributed presentation 

Buyck, Bart 1 *, Parrent, Jeri Lynn 2 and Vilgalys, Rytas J. 2 . 1 Dépt. Systématique et 

Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 75005 Paris, France, 2 Dept. of 

Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0338, USA. buyck@mnhn.fr. 

The Russula virescens-crustosa species complex (Russulales, Basidiomycotina) 

from eastern North America. 

The type species of the subsection Virescentinae, R.virescens Fr. was originally 

described from Europe, but is common throughout most of the northern hemisphere, 

including the eastern US. R. crustosa Peck and R. heterosporoides Murrill 

are currently the only other North American species placed in this subsection. 

Since their original description, revisions of these taxa did not reveal major identification 

problems, although microscopic observation was needed to separate 

green forms of R. crustosa and R.virescens . Recent field work by the senior au- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

thor and several American amateur mycologists suggests additional taxa are likely 

to belong in Virescentinae. In this study we have combined morphological and 

molecular data generated from over 100 north American, as well as some selected 

Asian, African and Australian collections to examine the virescens-crustosa 

complex. This work is part of a complete revision of the genus Russula in the eastern 

US by the senior author. Detailed morphological study revealed that commonly 

used characters for identifying Russula species, spore ornamentation and 

form of hyphal extremities, are too variable within the virescens-crustosa complex 

to discriminate among taxa, except for R. parvovirescens sp.nov. Results 

from the multilocus molecular analysis confirm the placement of several undescribed 

north American taxa in thevirescens-crustosa complex, highlight the speciose 

nature of this subsection, and allow for a firm placement of these species in 

a more worldwide phylogenetic dataset. Poster 

Cafaro, Matias J. 1 and Lichtwardt, Robert W. 2 *. 1 Department of Bacteriology, 

University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA, 2 Department of Ecology and 

Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. cafaro@wisc.edu. 

Unveiling cryptic relationships of the Eccrinales. 

The order Eccrinales includes a diverse group of arthropod-associated organisms, 

most of which present relatively simple morphology. Unbranched, nonseptate, 

multinucleate thalli and sporangiospores that are formed basipetally from 

the thallus apex have been used as characters to relate the group to the class Trichomycetes. 

No member of the Eccrinales has been cultured. In order to address 

the phylogenetic relationships of the group, DNA was extracted from material 

collected from different arthropods and ribosomal genes were amplified using 

specific primers. Twelve sequences for the 18S gene and five for the 28S gene 

were generated. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses 

confirmed the monophyly of the Eccrinales as well as their close relationship 

to the Amoebidiales in the protist class Mesomycetozoea rather than the fungal 

class Trichomycetes. The classification of the Eccrinales in three families is not 

supported and needs revision. There is some phylogenetic structure that indicates 

that Eccrinales associated with crustaceans are a monophyletic group different 

from those species associated with millipedes. At a more refined scale, three 

species associated with isopod hosts (Palavascia patagonica, Alacrinella linmoriae 

and Astreptonema sp.) form a well supported clade. Future addition of taxa 

and other genes may improve patterns presented in these analyses. symposium 

presentation 

Cai, Lei*, Jeewon, Rajesh and Hyde, Kevin D. Centre for Research in Fungal Diversity, 

Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, 

Hong Kong, SAR, China. leicai@hkusua.hku.hk. Phylogenetic relationships of 

Podospora and allied genera based on multi-gene sequences and morphology. 

Podospora and allied genera were investigated for phylogenetic relationships. 

Multiple gene sequences (partial nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA, nuclear 

ITS/5.8S ribosomal DNA and partial nuclear beta-tubulin) were analyzed using 

maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis with Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms. 

Analyses of different gene datasets were performed individually and 

then combined to generate phylogenies. In all analyses, Podospora was found to 

be a highly polyphyletic genus, consisting of a group of morphologically heterogeneous 

and phylogenetically distant species. Podospora species possessing ascomata 

adorned with swollen agglutinated hairs or prominent protruding peridial 

cells formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade in all analyses. The generic 

name Schizothecium is reintroduced to accommodate species possessing above 

morphological characters. Zopfiella is restricted to species having ascospores with 

septum in the dark cell. Other species lacking spore septum in the dark cell (socalled 

Tripterospora species) should be transferred to other genera. The redefined 

Zopfiella becomes a natural group. Cercophora is also found to be a polyphyletic 

genus and should be restricted to a few species bearing morphological similarity 

to the type species. The family Lasiosphaeriaceae was found to be polyphyletic 

based on morphological and molecular data. poster 

Cantrell, Sharon A. Science & Technology, Universidad del Turabo, P. O. Box 

3030, Gurabo, PR 00778, USA. scantrel@suagm.edu. Fungal inventory of the 

discomycetes of the Greater Antilles. 

The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico & Jamaica) are considered 

a diversity hotspot of the world. Discomycetes, particularly inoperculate, have 

been poorly studied in the GA. A total of 117 Pezizales, 171 Helotiales, 28 

Rhytismatales and 451 Ostropales have been reported from 11,268 fungal species. 

For Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, 75 % of the species are characteristic of 

the tropics and 25 % are temperate. A study in the Dominican Republic revealed 

the lack of information on this group where 17 % of the taxa recorded were new 

species and 38 % were new reports. Many species of discomycetes are very small 

and tend to be habitat and substrate specific. This helps to explain the lack of information 

on the inoperculate discomycetes. The fungal inventories that have been 

conducted in the region have not incorporated systematic and standardized methods. 

Because of this, a study was conducted to develop an optimal sampling 

method for discomycetes. In summary, the sampling method should select study 

areas based on diversity and distribution of plant species, be conducted along transects 

with a minimum of 10 plots of 1 m 2 at 5-10 m intervals and be conducted for 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

at least a year. While the works in Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico have provided 

good information on the discomycetes of the region, more studies should be 

conducted on other islands, habitats and substrates. symposium presentation 

Carpenter, Margaret A.*, Stringer, Alison, Stewart, Alison and Ridgway, Hayley. 

National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, Lincoln University, 

Canterbury, New Zealand. carpentm@lincoln.ac.nz. Mycoparasitism by Trichoderma 

hamatum involves expression of a novel FAD-dependent 

monooxygenase. 

Biological control of fungal plant diseases by the mycoparasite Trichoderma 

hamatum is facilitated by the actions of a range of cell wall degrading enzymes. 

As mycoparasitism is a complex process, it is likely that T. hamatumuses 

additional mechanisms to attack its hosts. Any unknown genes involved in mycoparasitism 

may show changes in expression when T. hamatum makes contact 

with a host fungus. Subtractive hybridization was used to target T. hamatum genes 

up-regulated during mycoparasitism of the plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. 

One of the genes identified encoded an FAD-dependent monooxygenease. 

The gene product was 66 % identical to an Aspergillus flavus monooxygenase 

which is encoded by a gene that lies adjacent to, and may be part of, a gene cluster 

involved in synthesis of a mycotoxin. The T. hamatum monooxygenase gene 

was not expressed when T. hamatum was growing alone, nor in dual culture with 

itself. However when T. hamatum was grown in dual culture with S. sclerotiorum, 

expression of the gene was detected when the two colonies overlapped, but not 

prior to contact. Analysis of the promoter region of the gene revealed motifs suggesting 

that expression of the gene may be affected by carbon and nitrogen repression, 

and by pH. Gene expression in response to these factors has been investigated 

by northern blotting. poster 

Carris, Lori M. 1 * and Castlebury, Lisa A. 2 . 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, Washington 

State University, Pullman WA 99164, USA, 2 USDA ARS Systematic Botany 

and Mycology Lab, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. carris@wsu.edu. 

Identification of species of Tilletia in U.S. wheat and grass seed 

exports. 

Tilletia controversa (dwarf bunt of wheat) is a quarantine pest with major 

impact on the worldwide movement of wheat and grass seed. Commonly used 

identification methods rely on morphological features of teliospores found in seed 

washes. However, teliospores of closely related species are difficult to identify 

based only on morphological features, and the source of spores in wheat and grass 

seed may be contaminating weeds. For example, in 2004 teliospores of T. bromi 

from Bromus tectorum (downy brome, cheatgrass), misidentified as T. controversa, 

were present in sufficiently high levels in some fields in the Pacific Northwest 

to prevent the export of that wheat to China. Similarly, shipments of Kentucky 

bluegrass seed (Poa pratensis) have been refused for import to China because 

they are contaminated with spores of T. bromi. In contrast, two putative new 

species of Tilletia have recently been intercepted by Chinese quarantine officials, 

one in seed of Puccinellia distans (alkali grass) from the U.S., and a second in 

Festuca rubra (fine fescue) from the U.S. and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) 

from Australia. Species of Tilletia commonly encountered in wheat or grass 

seed shipments, including the new species from Puccinellia and Festuca/Lolium, 

are morphologically characterized and relationships among the weedy grass-infecting 

bunts and wheat bunt species are presented. poster 

Castlebury, Lisa A. USDA ARS SBML, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 

20705, USA. castlebury@nt.ars-grin.gov. The Diaporthe vaccinii complex of 

fruit pathogens. 

Diaporthe vaccinii (anamorph Phomopsis vaccinii) causes twig blight and 

upright dieback of Vaccinium corymbosum (blueberry) and V. macrocarpon 

(cranberry). However, other species of Diaporthe/Phomopsis have also been reported 

on Vaccinium spp. In addition, isolates from a variety of hosts are reported 

to be closely related to D. vaccinii. Relationships among this complex of fungi 

were characterized with the ITS regions of the nuclear rDNA and intron regions 

in the actin and translation elongation factor-1 alpha genes. Four species were resolved: 

D. vaccinii, P. fukushii, D. allegheniensis and an as-yet unidentified 

species with a broad host range. In this analysis, only D. vaccinii was host specific 

and limited to species of Vaccinium. Authentic isolates of P. fukushii, a 

pathogen of Pyrus, grouped with isolates from Vaccinium, Chamaecyparis and 

Ulmus. Diaporthe allegheniensis from Betula was most closely related to D. vaccinii. 

A large group of isolates from a variety of hosts including Vaccinium, Acer, 

Rubus, Malus, Corylus, Glycine, Viburnum and Vitis form a separate and wellsupported 

species in this complex. Several isolates in this group are from specimens 

identified as D. eres, the type species of the genus, which has been reported 

to have a broad host range and variable morphology. Results of this study 

suggest that although certain pathogenic species in Diaporthe/Phomopsis may be 

host specific, many taxa in this genus will have a broad host range. poster 

Celio, Gail J. 1 *, Padamsee, Mahajabeen 1 , Detinger, Bryn C. 1 , McLaughlin, David 

J. 1 , Hibbett, David S. 2 , Lutzoni, François 3 , Spatafora, Joseph W. 4 , and Vilgalys, 

Rytas J. 3 . 1 Dept. of Plant Biology, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55018, USA, 

2 Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA, 3 Dept. of 

Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA, 4 Dept. of Botany and Plant 


Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. 

celio001@umn.edu. The Nucleus in the AFTOL Non-Molecular Database. 

Subcellular characters relating to polar structures and nuclear division have 

been useful for inferring evolutionary relationships since the 1960s. Nuclear division 

features are shared by all eukaryotes. The long evolutionary history of the 

Fungi has permitted diversification of nuclear division and related processes. In 

motile fungal cells polar structures include centrioles, while in other fungi they appear 

as electron-opaque spindle pole bodies (SPBs). SPBs vary among taxa in 

shape, position relative to the nuclear envelope, and timing of replication, migration, 

and spindle initiation. The nuclear envelope may remain intact, become disrupted, 

or disperse completely and reappear at various times during nuclear division. 

Several patterns of nucleolus behavior are observed during the cell cycle. 

Perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum and/or spindle pole body caps may be associated 

with dividing nuclei. The database currently contains 17 characters and 67 

character states from 81 species of the estimated 85,000 species of fungi. Compilation 

of data from published nuclear division studies reveals the need for comprehensive 

examination of representative species. poster 

Charlton, Nikki D. 1 , Carbone, Ignazio 1 , Tavantzis, Stellos M. 2 and Cubeta, Marc 

A. 1 *. 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 

27695-7616, USA, 2 Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, 

ME 04469-5722, USA. marc_cubeta@ncsu.edu. Genetic diversity and genealogical 

history of the M2 dsRNA mycovirus in a field population of Rhizoctonia 

solani anastomosis group 3. 

Populations of the soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 (AG- 

3) (teleomorph= Thanatephorus cucumeris are genetically diverse and can harbor 

double stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycoviruses. Recently, Tavantzis and colleagues 

have demonstrated that isogenic strains of R. solani AG-3 that possess the 3.6 kb 

dsRNA (M2) exhibited reduced virulence on potato stems. In this study, a sample 

of 115 isolates from a field population of R. solani AG-3 was examined for the 

M2 dsRNA with reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The M2 dsRNA was detected 

in approximately 48% of the sample. Three regions consisting of 3248 bp 

of the M2 dsRNA from a subsample of 11 isolates were sequenced to examine 

the genetic diversity and to reconstruct the genealogical history of the M2 dsRNA. 

Ten haplotypes were inferred for each of the three regions and mutation rates were 

not significantly different between these three regions. A preliminary site compatibility 

analysis performed using SNAP Workbench for all putative clades in 

the M2 mycovirus strict consensus tree identified recombination events among 

the clades. M2 dsRNA haplotypes and clades will be examined further to determine 

their relationship with phenotypic characteristics of the fungus and to design 

transmission experiments. contributed presentation 

Chatasiri, Sinchai 1 * and Ono, Yoshitaka 2 . 1 Graduate School of Science and Engineering, 

Ibaraki University, 2 College of Education, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 

Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512, Japan. herb-iba@mx.ibaraki.ac.jp. Taxonomy 

and phylogeny of the Puccinia hemerocallidis species complex. 

Puccinia hemerocallidis is a pathogen of daylily rust native of East Asia; 

and it has recently invaded and established in North America and Australia. The 

fungus has long been believed to cause plantainlily rust as well. However, P. 

hemerocallidis and a pathogen of plantainlily rust, once named as P. funkiae, are 

found distinct in host specificity in their macrocyclic life cycle and urediniospore 

morphology; thus, the two fungi are taxonomically separated. Puccinia patriniae 

and P. melanoplaca are microcylic, producing only telia/teliospores on different 

species of Patrinia, a spermogonial- aecial host genus of P. hemerocallidis and P. 

funkiae. Puccinia patriniae and P. melanoplaca are similar to P. hemerocallids 

and P. funkiae in teliospore morphology. These suggest monophyly of the four 

species and evolutionary derivation of either one of the two or both microcyclic 

species from either P. hemerocallids or P. funkiae. To determine possible phylogenetic 

relationships of the four species, ITS regions including 5.8S gene of small 

subunit rDNA were amplified by a PCR method, sequenced and analyzed. During 

the course of the study, P. melanoplaca was deleted from the consideration 

due to failure of rDNA amplification. The results show that the three species are 

monophyletic as indicated by their host specificity and teliospore morphology and 

indicate that P. hemerocallidis and P. funkiae had derived from a hypothetical 

common ancestor and P. patriniae had branched off from a hypothetical common 

ancestor shared by P. hemerocallidis. symposium presentation 

Chavarria, Allan* and González, Maria C. Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de 

Biologia, UNAM, Mexico. acchs2002@yahoo.com.mx. Some freshwater mitosporic 

fungi from Xochimilco, Mexico City. 

New records of freshwater mitosporic fungi from Xochimilco, Mexico City, 

are described and illustrated. Sixty wood blocks (Pinus sp.) were submerged during 

2 months in two canals and one lagoon. All the samples were placed in plastic 

bags and returned to the laboratory. Collected material was washed in tap water 

and placed in sterile plastic boxes containing paper towels and the samples were 

incubated at laboratory conditions. Woody substrates were examinated periodically 

for the presence of fungal structures. The common recorded genera were 

Arthrobotrys, Phoma, Taeniollela, and Trichocladium. The present study is the 


first contribution on the knowledge of the biodiversity of the mitosporic fungi on 

submerged wood in lentic habitats of Mexico. poster 

Chaverri, Priscila and Hodge, Kathie T.*. Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, 

Ithaca NY 14853, USA. pc234@cornell.edu. Systematics of the entomopathogenic 

genus Hypocrella/Aschersonia: Stroma morphology correlates 

with monophyletic groups. 

Hypocrella (anamorph Aschersonia) contains species that are pathogenic on 

scale insects and white flies. Systematics research on the genus is scarce and outdated 

and its classification has been primarily based on phenotype (e.g. presence 

of paraphyses in the conidiomata) and ecology (e.g. insect host). The objectives 

of the present research are to study the systematics and phylogenetics of the genus 

Hypocrella and reveal morphological characters that correlate with monophyletic 

groups. To accomplish this, several phenotypic variables were evaluated for 

species of Hypocrella/Aschersonia: stroma morphology, presence of paraphyses 

in the conidiomata, and insect host (white fly vs. scale insect), among others. The 

morphological characters were then mapped onto a phylogenetic tree. The phylogenetic 

tree was constructed based on Bayesian Inference and Maximum Parsimony 

analyses of three gene loci: large subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU), 

translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), and RNA polymerase II subunit 1 

(RPB1). The results reveal three major monophyletic groups that correlate with 

stroma morphology: “Globose”, “Effuse”, and “Pulvinate”. The Globose group 

contains species that have round, compact, hard or coriaceous, large stromata 

without hypothalli. The Effuse group includes species with effuse, flat stromata 

composed of loose hyphal tissue, with hypothalli. Species in the Pulvinate group 

are pulvinate or cushion-like, with or without hypothalli. On the other hand, molecular 

phylogenetic analyses reveal that presence of paraphyses and type of insect 

host are polyphyletic characters. The results of this research show that stroma 

morphology in Hypocrella/Aschersonia can be used to define natural 

monophyletic groups at the subgeneric level. poster 

Chedgy, Russell 1 , Lim, Young Woon 1 *, Daniels, Robert 2 , Morris, Paul I. 2 and 

Breuil, Colette 1 . 1 Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 

Vancouver, BC, 2 Forintek Canada Corp., 2665 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 

1Z4 Canada. ywlim@interchange.ubc.ca. Black stain of western red-cedar siding 

and shingles by Aureobasidium pullulans and its relationship with extractive 

depletion by weathering. 

Western red-cedar (WRC) (Thuja plicata (Donn.)) is valued for its natural 

durability conferred by fungicidal extractive chemicals present in its heartwood. 

As a result, this softwood is utilized heavily in the manufacture of exterior housing 

decor products which account for a significant proportion of Canada’s value 

added forest products industry. However, such products are susceptible to black 

stain at weathered surfaces caused by the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans which 

drastically reduce their aesthetic qualities and in turn their useful service life. The 

effect of weathering on the extractive content of heartwood was characterized and 

correlated with the ability of A.pullulans to colonize the same weathered surfaces. 

Water spray and UV plus water spray regimes severely reduced extractive content 

but did not lead to increased colonization compared to un-weathered wood. 

Less decrease in extractive content was measured with the UV-only treatment, 

however, fungal colonization significantly increased. Isolates exhibited high tolerance 

to the tropolone beta-thujaplicin (considered a major fungicidal constituent 

of WRC extractives) in vitro; extractive content may not be the sole factor that determines 

colonization ability, products of lignin photo-degradation by UV could 

also be an important growth limiting factor; such compounds are likely washed 

away by water spray, leaving the surface void of accessible carbon sources. poster 

Chiu, Siu-Wai*, Cheung, Ka-Wan, Chu, Mabel, Koo, Owen and Chuang, Philip. 

Dept. of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 

SAR, China. SWChiu@cuhk.edu.hk. Pathogenesis of Ganoderma lucidum. 

Phenotypic plasticity leads to proliferation of names and misidentification 

in the species complex Ganoderma lucidum. The present study integrates field 

observation and artificial infection to define pathology of G. lucidum (W. Curt.: 

Fr.). Aerial basidiomes of G. lucidum were found on live Acacia confusa, Albizia 

lebbeck, Lephostemon confertus, Litsea cubeba and Cerbera manghas. The latter 

three hosts are first reported. A. confusa, L. cubeba and L. confertus are popular 

afforestation species while A. confusa and A. lebbeck are commonly planted in 

urban areas. This practice may explain the cosmopolitan distribution of G. lucidum 

in Hong Kong with A. confusa as the major host. Artificial infection failed 

with intact susceptible hosts but was established in artificially wounded plants of 

A. confusa, L. cubeba and L. confertus by Ganoderma-colonized grains of 

Triticum aestivum. L. cubeba was the most susceptible host with complete infection. 

This pathogen consumed host reserve materials, degraded host cell wall, 

spread intracellularly and ramified through wall pits or penetrated wall in host tissues 

as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Using basidiospore suspension 

as inoculum, the infection rate was only 40% with wounded L. cubeba. Wounding 

in host seems to be a prerequisite for establishment of an infection. poster 

Chiu, Siu-Wai, Yau, Sze-Nga*, Chan, Kam-Chi and Wang, Pui. Department of 

Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, 

China. SWChiu@cuhk.edu.hk. Differential gene expression and activities of 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

ligninolytic enzymes of Pleurotus pulmonarius by lignocellulosic substrates 

and organopollutants. 

Laccase (lac) and manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP) can degrade 

both nutrient lignocellulosic substrates and a variety of organopollutants. This 

study examines the effect of normal substrates, straw and sawdust, and 7 

organopollutants, namely: wood preservative PCP, plasticizer DEHP, DDT deadend 

metabolite DDE, azo dye Congo red, and 3 PAHs, on ligninolytic enzymes 

and their gene expression of Pleurotus pulmonarius, an edible fungus commercially 

cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. PCP and the PAHs were toxic 

to P. pulmonarius. Most organopollutants were efficiently removed in 4 days except 

PCP. Constitutive low levels of laccase and MnP were detected in all cultures. 

PCP, straw and sawdust greatly increased specific laccase and MnP activities 

but only PCP increased laccase and MnP productivities. By RT-PCR, 

differential expression profiles comprised of 5 MnP genes and 7 laccase genes 

under the modulation of these substrates revealed differences. Gene PPMnP1 was 

totally repressed by the lignocellulosic substrates. Gene PPlac6 was upregulated 

by all the organopollutants tested. Even at the first hour of exposure to PCP, upregulation 

of expression of gene PPlac6 was significantly detected and peaked at 

48 hours by real-time PCR. Thus P. pulmonarius is a potential bioremediating 

agent for environmental cleanup. contributed presentation 

Chum, Wing Yan, Ng, Tak-Pan, Bian, Xue-Lin, Shih, Sheung-Mei and Kwan, 

Hoi-Shan. Dept. of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, 

Hong Kong SAR, China. winnie_chum@yahoo.com. Serial analysis of gene expression 

of dikaryotic mycelium and primordium of Shiitake mushroom, 

Lentinula edodes. 

Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) is a popular cultivated mushroom because of 

its high nutritional value and good taste. We used Serial Analysis of Gene Expression 

(SAGE) to analyze genes expressed in different developmental stages of 

L. edodes. SAGE is an efficient molecular method to count transcripts and identify 

novel genes, using 3 steps: 1) 9-13bp sequence tags are extracted from 

mRNAs by NlaIII anchoring enzyme 2) Concatemers are created from tags for 

cloning and sequencing 3) SAGE tags are extracted from raw sequences and analyzed 

by the SAGE analysis software mRNAs from the dikaryotic mycelial 

and the primordial stages of L. edodes were extracted to generate SAGE libraries. 

Over 200 colonies were randomly selected from each SAGE library for sequencing. 

A total of 6844 tags were collected, 3395 tags from the primordium SAGE 

library and 3349 tags from the dikaryotic mycelium SAGE library. About 200 

unique tags were matched to the ESTs generated from primordial stage of L. edodes 

and were catalogued using the Expressed Gene Anatomy Database (EGAD). 

In dikaryotic mycelial stage, among the matched unique tags, 1.1 % was involved 

in cell division, 4.4 % in cell signalling, 3.3 % in cell structure, 9.8 % cell defence, 

21.7 % in gene/protein expression, and 16.3 % in metabolism. In the primordial 

stage, among the matched unique tags, 6.7 % was involved in cell division, 3.4 % 

in cell signalling, 1.7 % in cell structure, 10.9% in cell defence, 29.4 % in 

gene/protein expression, and 16.8 % in metabolism. Most interestingly, genes expressed 

at high levels in one stage were expressed at low levels in the other stage. 

When comparing SAGE tags of these 2 developmental stages, we have a better 

understanding of L. edodes development. To validate the result obtained from 

SAGE, cDNA microarray analysis on the ESTs in mycelial and primordial stages 

was performed. Also, the expression profile of some abundant SAGE tags was 

confirmed by Northern blotting. Our studies indicate that SAGE is reliable to determine 

gene expression profiles and to identify differentially expressed novel 

genes, providing data that are difficult to achieve by conventional methods. poster 

Chung, Wen-Hsin 1 *, Chen, Chi-Yu 2 , Huang, Jenn-Wen 2 , Yamaoka, Yuichi 1 , 

Ono, Yoshitaka 3 and Kakishima, Makoto 1 . 1 Graduate School of Life and Environmental 

Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan, 

2 Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 

402, Taiwan, ROC, 3 College of Education, Ibaraki Univeristy, Mito, Ibaraki, 

Japan. wenchung@niaes.affrc.go.jp. Rust fungi newly recorded in Taiwan. 

In Taiwan, 334 species in 41 teleomorphic genera and 109 anamorphic 

species have been recorded. These figures are far greater in terms of species number 

per unit area than those calculated for Japan, one of the most intensively studied 

geographic regions for the rust fungi. This indicates that more intensive explorations 

than what had been done in the past would find new taxa or new host/ 

distribution records in Taiwan. In the field studies undertaken central and southern 

Taiwan in the past two years, over 200 rust specimens were collected. Among 

these specimens, Puccinia fusispora on Urtica thunbergiana (Urticaceae), P. 

paullula on Raphidophora sp. (Araceae) and Pucciniastrum potentillae on Fragaria 

hayatai (Rosaceae) were found as new geographic distribution records. A 

rust fungus on Alpinia sp. (Zingiberaceae) was found unique in producing urediniospores 

in the substomatal cavity of the host tissues as in Maravalia pseudosuprastomatalis 

that occurs on Globba sp. (Zingiberaceae) and considered as a 

new anamorphic species. A rust fungus on Dioscorea sp. collected in Shanping 

Forest Park, Kaohsiung Co. was identified as Uredo spinulosa. This is the second 

record of this rare rust fungus, which was first recorded in Hengchun, Pingtung 

Co. poster 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Clark, Malcolm* and Bailey, Chris. Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc., P.O. Box 180, Sebastopol, 

CA 95473, USA. chris@mycopia.com. Organic mushroom production. 

There is a clear and growing desire in markets around the world for natural 

foods, free of pesticides and additives that may be harmful to human health. Additionally, 

the call for foods free of genetic manipulation (GMO-free) is increasing. 

There is debate in the scientific community over the health advantages of 

such mushrooms and mushroom products. However, it is possible to produce organic 

mushrooms with relatively few cost disadvantages and it therefore behooves 

growers to consider filling this market niche. We at Gourmet Mushrooms, 

Inc. take the position that it is our responsibility to present the highest quality 

product to the consumer. Organic certification is one route we take to do this. 

poster 

Clark, Travis A.* and Anderson, James B. Department of Botany, University of 

Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada. travis.clark@utoronto.ca. 

Ploidy determines evolvability in filamentous basidiomycetes. 

The dikaryon represents a novel alternative to diploidy in that both gametic 

genomes are present, but are maintained in separate nuclei in each cell. The objective 

of our research was to evaluate the adaptive and evolutionary implications 

of dikaryosis, relative to those of haploidy and diploidy. Laboratory populations 

have been maintained over long-term evolution (24 months or ~17,500 generations) 

to determine if haploid and dikaryotic mycelia of Schizophyllum commune 

adapt to novel environments under natural selection. The fitness of the experimental 

lines was evaluated in 20 different environments to determine the extent 

of changes in phenotypic plasticity over time. The results strongly suggest that the 

dikaryotic phase of the lifecycle of has the greater potential for expressing phenotypic 

change than the haploid stage. Additional experiments have been conducted 

to compare the adaptive potential of the dikaryon with the isogenic diploid. 

The dikaryons and diploids differ with respect to their patterns of gene by environment 

interaction. They had an equivalent response in 24 treatments (48 %), the 

dikaryons grew better in 15 treatments (30 %) and the diploids grew better in 11 

treatments (22 %). The results clearly show that dikaryons and diploids have differences 

in the expression of their phenotype associated with the spatial distribution 

of equivalent genomes within a cell. contributed presentation 

Coetzee, Martin, P.A. 1 , Maphosa, Lance 1 , Mwenje, Eddie 2 , Wingfield, Michael 

J. 1 and Wingfield, Brenda D. 1 *. 1 Dept. Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural 

Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 2 Dept. Applied 

Biology and Biochemistry, National University of Science and Technology, 

P.O. Box AC 939, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. martin.coetzee@fabi.up.ac.za. 

Biochemical and DNA based characterization of Armillaria spp. 

Armillaria spp. are important pathogens that cause Amillaria root rot on a 

wide variety of plants. Species of Armillaria are found worldwide where they can 

cause major losses to the forestry and agricultural industries. Reliable identification 

of Armillaria spp. is essential for successful disease management. Accurate 

identification of these fungi has improved greatly subsequent to the application of 

DNA sequence analyses. This technology is, however, not available in many institutes 

in developing world countries. Isozyme based identification systems are 

less expensive than DNA-based techniques and have been successfully used to 

identify Armillaria spp. The aim of this study was to determine congruence in the 

relationships between different Armillaria spp. based on isozyme and DNA sequence 

data. Isozymes employed were pectin lyase, pectin methylesterase and 

polygalacturonase. DNA sequence data were obtained from the Elongation Factor 

(EF) 1-alpha gene. Euclidean distances were calculated from the isozyme patterns 

and used to generate a dendrogram. Cladograms were obtained from the EF 

1-alpha sequences based on parsimony analysis. The trees were then compared 

with each other as well as with cladograms previously published based on ITS and 

IGS-1 sequence data. Results showed that isozyme data could be used to separate 

isolates into groups representing their respective species. Generally, the topologies 

of trees from this study were similar. They also correlated well with those 

emerging from previous comparisons using ITS and IGS-1 sequence data. 

Isozymes, therefore, provide an inexpensive and useful tool for identifying Armillaria 

species. poster 

Cohen, Susan D. USDA APHIS, Policy and Program Development, Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD 

20737, USA. susan.d.cohen@aphis.usda.gov. Potential distribution of Melampsora 

larici-populina in the USA predicted based on physiological responses of 

spore types to climate variables. 

The labyrinthulids are common marine protists, some of which cause devastating 

diseases on seagrasses and other marine organisms. On the basis of morphological 

characteristics that typify the genus, a Labyrinthula sp. has recently 

been reported as the causal agent of an emerging disease of land plants, namely 

“rapid blight” in cool-season turfgrasses. We previously utilized ssRNA gene sequences 

to determine the phylogenetic relationships of 11 “rapid blight” 

pathogens isolated from four species of diseased turfgrass collected across the 

U.S. All of the isolates grouped very closely to other Labyrinthula spp., confirming 

their genetic identity and supporting previous morphological characterization. 

Further, our analysis showed that all of the turf pathogens examined form a monophyletic 

clade and have very little genetic diversity, suggesting they share a recent 


common ancestor and that colonization of land plants may have occurred once in 

the evolution of these unique organisms. We are currently sequencing additional 

gene fragments from the translation elongation factor (tef1-a) and mating type 

(mat) loci to examine whether detectable genetic diversity exists among rapid 

blight pathogens. We will present results of these investigations to date. poster 

Crane, Patricia E. Forest Research, P.O. Box 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand. 

pat.crane@forestresearch.co.nz. Taxonomy and species relationships in the 

genus Chrysomyxa. 

Most species in the genus Chrysomyxa are part of a closely related group of 

heteroecious rust fungi that alternate between Picea and plants in the Ericaceae, 

particularly Rhododendron. In a systematic study of the genus, scanning electron 

microscopy was applied to the spore morphology for the first time, and has resulted 

in a new understanding of the diversity of species in the genus. In particular, 

several taxa in North America and Asia that have traditionally been named C. 

rhododendri or C. ledi, based on European species, have been shown to have 

unique morphology that correlates with host specificity. Furthermore, taxa that infect 

the same subgenus of Rhododendron often share similar spore and sorus morphology, 

suggesting coevolution with these hosts. Many questions remain unanswered 

for the genus, including the relationship of autoecious to heteroecious 

species and the relationship of species with stalked telia to those with sessile telia. 


Craven, Kelly D. 1 *, Lawrence, Christopher B. 2 and Mitchell, Thomas K. 1 . 1 Dept. 

of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA, 

2 Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Blacksburg, VA, USA. kdcraven@ncsu.edu. 

Acquisition and transmission of pathogenicity factors in the genus Alternaria 

through horizontal gene transfer. 

Many distinct pathotypes and species of Alternaria have been shown to produce 

host-selective toxins required for disease on plants, and further, that the toxin 

biosynthetic genes are typically located on small, conditionally dispensable (CD) 

chromosomes. Despite their crucial role in disease development, such chromosomes 

are not characteristic of all isolates of a given fungal species, and thus are 

likely to be under-represented in genome sequences of organisms containing 

them. We chose the tomato pathogen, A. arborescens, from which to isolate a 

known 1.0 Mb CD chromosome for library construction and sequencing. Approximately 

500 sequences have been obtained thus far, of which roughly half appear 

bacterial in nature, with no known fungal homologs in publicly available 

databases. It has been postulated that the clustering of pathogenicity genes on CD 

chromosomes may allow for efficient horizontal transfer between fungal strains 

or species through hyphal fusion (anastomosis). We are investigating the role 

anastomosis plays in mediating gene flow within and between Alternaria species 

through the construction of nitrate-utilization mutants and strains marked with distinct 

antibiotic resistance genes. Our evidence shows that hyphal anastomosis occurs 

readily both within and between Alternaria species, suggesting that genes required 

for pathogenicity may be transferred between Alternaria fungi in nature. 

poster 

Craven, Kelly D. 1 *, Peterson, Paul D. 2 , Martin, Stan B. 2 and Mitchell, Thomas 

K. 1 . 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 

27606, USA, 2 Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA. kdcraven@ncsu.edu. 

Genetic diversity among rapid blight pathogens of cool-season turfgrass. 

Melampsora larici-populina (Eurasian Poplar Leaf Rust) is considered a recent 

exotic introduction to the USA; however, the extent of its potential geographic 

distribution range in the USA is unknown. A climate modeling approach 

using Climex version 2.0, was used to estimate this potential distribution. Climex 

usually contains data from 3,935 meteorological stations in the USA; this study 

was supplemented with an additional 1,589 stations. Each station contains a 30year 

dataset with monthly averages for maximum temperature, minimum temperature, 

and precipitation from 1979-2000. Germination responses of urediniospores 

and teliospores to temperature and rainfall were modeled and compared 

to existing locations in the USA. Temperature modeling revealed 23 % of the meteorological 

stations were considered favorable for urediniospore germination and 

less than 1 % of the stations were favorable for teliospore survival. Rainfall patterns 

greater than 1,000 mm annually, or 38 % of the locations, were favorable for 

disease outbreaks. Climate model results were mapped using Climex software 

based on three predicted areas of establishment categorized as unsuitable (25 % 

similarity), marginal (50 % similarity) and favorable (75 % similarity). Results 

from these models were validated with survey results from overseas locations 

published in the scientific literature. Based on this study with Melampsora laricipopulina, 

climate modeling will enhance the risk assessment process for fungal 

pathogens. poster 

Cripps, Cathy L. Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Dept., Montana State University, 

Bozeman MT 59717, USA. CCripps@montana.edu. Amanita in the 

Rocky Mountain alpine zone: Where mycorrhizal mushrooms tower over 

miniature forests. 

Amanita is an important ectomycorrhizal genus with a North American seat 


of diversity in the warm climes of the southeastern states. However, it occurs with 

limited diversity in the cold-dominated Arctic-alpine biome. Here, lofty sporocarps 

tower above miniature forests of dwarf willow in a stunning reversal of 

canopy strata. A number of arctic-alpine macromycetes have circumpolar distributions 

across northern mountain tops and arctic tundra. This is true for the 

Amanita nivalis group, while A. arctica and A. groenlandica appear more restricted. 

There are reports of Arctic-alpine Amanitas from North America (Alaska, 

Canada), but virtually nothing is known for the Rocky Mountain alpine zone 

south of the Canadian border. Our NSF sponsored survey of the Alpine Mycota 

of this region revealed one section of the genus (Vaginatae) above treeline, and 

we report several species: Amanita nivalis s.l., Amanita vaginata (rare) and a new 

species Amanita absarokensis. Interestingly, A. nivalis is recorded only from the 

southern Rockies thousands of miles from the arctic, A. absarokensis only from 

the northern Rockies (Beartooth Plateau, WY/MT), and distributions to not appear 

to overlap. Mycorrhizal hosts include dwarf willows Salix reticulata, S. arctica, 

and shrub willow S. glauca. Neither A. nivalis nor A. absarokensis are 

recorded with willows below treeline in the Rockies. contributed presentation 

Davidson, Jennifer M. 1 *, Maloney, Patricia E. 2 , Fichtner, Elizabeth J. 2 , Falk, Kristen, 

R. 2 , Jensen, Camille 2 , Kane, Sarah F. 2 and Lynch, Shannon C. 2 . 1 Dept. of Zoology, 

University of Hawaiì, Honolulu HI 96822, USA; 2 Dept. of Plant Pathology, 

University of California, Davis CA 95616, USA. jmd@hawaii.edu. 

Long-term monitoring of inoculum production by Phytophthora ramorum in 

mixed-evergreen and tanoak-redwood forest in California. 

We tracked timing and levels of inoculum production by Phytophthora 

ramorum in two common forest types, mixed-evergreen and tanoak-redwood forest, 

in coastal, northern California during the past four years. Significant year-toyear 

variation in inoculum production occurred within and between forest types. 

In addition, timing of inoculum production tended to occur later in mixed-evergreen 

as opposed to tanoak-redwood forest. This lag may be due, in part, to a 

greater decrease in the inoculum reservoir in bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) 

leaves, the main source of inoculum, during the hot, dry summer months in 

mixed-evergreen forest. In support of this hypothesis, in 2002 and 2003, recovery 

of P. ramorum from attached, infected bay laurel leaves declined from over 90% 

at the beginning of the summer in both forest types to 25% in mixed-evergreen 

forest versus 60% in tanoak-redwood forest. Measurements taken at the end of 

summer in 2004 showed that bay laurel leaves from mixed-evergreen forest had 

significantly lower moisture content and water potential than bay laurel leaves 

from tanoak-redwood forest. Further studies are planned to address the influence 

of tree water potential on summer survival of P. ramorum in bay laurel leaves, and 

the corresponding effects on timing of inoculum production in these two forest 

types. contributed presentation 

Davis, E. Christine and Shaw, Jon. Dept. of Biology, Duke University, P.O. Box 

90338, Durham NC 27708, USA. christine.davis@duke.edu. Surveys of liverwort-associated 

endophytes in North America, Europe, and New Zealand reveal 

unexpectedly rich fungal communities. 

Surveys of liverwort endophytes were conducted in North Carolina, the Pacific 

Northwest (Washington, Idaho, British Columbia), Germany, and New 

Zealand. Nearly 100% of the fungi cultured were Ascomycota. All major lineages 

of non- lichenized ascomycetes were recovered, however 50-80% of cultures 

were Xylariales. Species-accumulation curves reveal that most endophytic fungi 

encountered were singletons (found only once), and that liverwort endophytes are 

very diverse. There was no significant difference in species richness between 

North Carolina, the Pacific Northwest, Germany, or New Zealand. Extrapolation 

estimators indicate that North Carolina and New Zealand are likely to be significantly 

richer than Germany or the Pacific Northwest with larger survey sizes. This 

prediction is due to the increased frequency of uninfected hosts in both Germany 

and the Pacific Northwest, as well as decreases in richness and species shifts in 

the Xylarialean community. In both of these sample regions, the same species of 

Nemania was the commonest isolate encountered. This similarity is likely due to 

similarity in overall plant communities: conifers dominate both Germany and Pacific 

Northwest sample sites. Implications of this finding toward understanding 

the ecology of Xylariaceous endophytes are discussed. poster 

Day, Melissa 1 *, Gibas, Connie 1 , Fujimura, Kei 2 , Egger, Keith 2 and Currah, Randolph 

S. 1 . 1 Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 

2E9, Canada, 2 Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern 

British Columbia, Prince George BC V2N 4Z9, Canada. mjday@ualberta.ca. 

Root endophytic Cryptosporiopsis species from the Canadian High Arctic. 

Species of the hyphomycete genus Cyptosporiopsis have teleomorphs in 

Pezicula and Fabraea (Helotiales) and have been reported as either endophytes 

or pathogens in a wide range of plant species from temperate regions of the world. 

Recently, we isolated species of this genus from the roots of Cassiope tetragona, 

Dryas octopetala, Salix arctica, and Saxifraga oppositifolia collected from 

Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic (79 degrees N, 76 degrees W). 

Colonies are cream to light brown, sometimes causing dark brown discolouration 

of the medium. Straight to curved, cylindrical, hyaline macrospores 15-20 micrometers 

in length and filled with oil droplets were produced. Microconidia were 

absent. Molecular data indicates the presence of two species: C. radicicola 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Kowalski & Bartnik and C. ericaecea Sigler. Prior reports of dark septate endophytes 

(DSE) in the roots of arctic or alpine plants refer to Phialocephala fortinii 

and Leptodontidium orchidicola but there are no reports of species of Cryptosporiopsis 

in these habitats. Like other DSE, the species seemed to have little host 

specificity. poster 

De Meyer, Elsie M. 1 *, De Beer, Z. Wilhelm 1 , Vismer, Hester F. 2 and Wingfield, 

Michael J. 1 1 Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and 

Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 

0002, South Africa, 2 PROMEC Unit, Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 

19070, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa. elsie.demeyer@fabi.up.ac.za. Sporothrix 

spp. associated with utility pole decay in Southern Africa. 

Wooden utility poles are widely used in electricity distribution networks 

throughout Southern Africa. These poles are continuously degraded by microorganisms, 

particularly fungi. In a recent survey of the fungi responsible for decay 

of wooden poles in South Africa, several isolates of Sporothrix were collected. 

The aim of this study was to identify these isolates. Based on micro-morphology, 

growth studies, and sequences of the ITS 1 and 2 regions of the ribosomal DNA 

operon and part of the beta-tubulin gene, isolates from poles could be separated 

into two distinct groups. One of these groups included isolates with a morphology 

similar to S. schenckii. Sequences confirmed that these isolates were the same 

as environmental isolates of S. schenckii, previously shown to be distinct from 

clinical isolates. Growth studies showed that the environmental isolates of S. 

schenckii, including those from poles, grew significantly faster than clinical isolates 

of this fungus. Isolates in the other group from poles, were clearly distinct in 

morphology, growth characteristics and sequences from those in the S. schenckii 

group as well as from all other Sporothrix spp. included in the study. We conclude 

that the Sporothrix spp. from utility poles in South Africa represent two distinct 

species and these are currently being described. poster 

De Vos, Lieschen 1 *, Myburg, Alexander A. 1 , Wingfield, Michael J. 2 and Wingfield, 

Brenda D. 1 . 1 Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology 

Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, S. Africa, 2 Forestry 

and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 

0002, S. Africa. lbahlman@fabi.up.ac.za. Genetic linkage analysis of pathogenicity 

in a unique cross between Fusarium circinatum and F. subglutinans. 

Fusarium isolates that are associated with the Gibberella fujikuroi species 

complex include at least nine different biological species (mating population A–I) 

that are reproductively isolated. In a recent study, a cross between F. circinatum 

and F. subglutinans (mating population H and E) was reported. The aim of this 

study was to generate a genetic linkage map of the two species as well as to identify 

possible Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) linked to pathogenicity of the pitch 

canker parent in an F2 backcross population. A framework map was constructed 

using 582 Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers, the mating 

type (MAT-1 and MAT-2) and histone (H3) genes. A total of 12 linkage groups 

were identified. The F2 backcross population was derived from an F1 hybrid isolate 

that was backcrossed to the pitch canker parent. Results of inoculations using 

94 F2 backcross individuals on susceptible Pinus patula seedlings showed that lesion 

length had a heritability (H2) of 0.30. Although not high, this indicates an appreciable 

amount of genetic control for pathogenicity. AFLP analysis was performed 

on these backcross individuals using the same AFLP primer combinations 

previously used. Identification of QTLs will provide powerful tools to study the 

genetic architecture of interspecific differentiation of pathogenicity in the two 

parental genomes. contributed presentation 

Dean, Ralph A. Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Dept. Plant Pathology, 

North Carolina State University, USA. ralph_dean@ncsu.edu. The rice blast 

story: from genome sequence to function. 

Magnaporthe grisea is the causal agent of rice blast, the most devastating 

disease of rice world-wide. Because of its molecular genetic tractability the rice 

blast pathosystem has emerged as a seminal model to elucidate the basis of 

pathogen–host interactions. Over the past few years, international consortia were 

successful in obtaining complete genome sequences for both Magnaporthe and 

rice. Other recent initiatives have resulted in genome sequences for several other 

pathogenic and non-pathogenic filamentous fungi. With this wealth of new information, 

providing access to the raw components of the pathogen’s offensive arsenal 

and host’s defenses, how far have we come to understand the molecular 

basis of disease outcome? In my presentation I will discuss some of the novel discoveries 

that have only come to light as a result of having access to the genome 

sequences, such as novel classes of secreted proteins, surface receptors and large 

suites of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism that may play a role in the 

disease process. I will also highlight some of the limitations of the current state 

of knowledge, such as inadequate gene predictions, lack of sensible annotation of 

the majority of predicted genes and little knowledge of gene function. To address 

the latter I will discuss recent results from functional analyses including transcription 

profiling and gene knockout experiments. I will close with some 

thoughts on strategies and other resources needed to fully appreciate this hostpathogen 

interaction. symposium presentation 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Degawa, Yousuke. Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History, 499, 

Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan. degawa@nh.kanagawa-museum.jp. 

Taxonomic studies on the family Mortierellaceae. 

The family Mortierellaceae is one of the well-known soil fungi, including 

about 100 spp. The difficulties to maintain their sporulation and insufficient information 

on sexual reproduction prevented constructing a natural classification 

of the family. Direct field observation on their microhabitats enabled to establish 

a baiting method for selective isolation of each species, and a good condition for 

inducing the sexual reproduction. Using the dead bodies of arthropods as baits, 

new or rare species were repeatedly obtained. Six species of them belonged to the 

Section Actinomortierella, four of which were new. Five of them were heterothallic 

and showed new style of zygospore formation on the medium containing 

arthropods. Based on these ecological and morphological characters, the concept 

of the section was revised, and treated it as an independent genus. Five 

heterothallic species of the genus Actinomortirella were biologically isolated. Furthermore, 

within A. capitata, morphologically identical two intraspecific isolated 

mating groups were detected. They showed clear differences in geographical distribution 

(tropical and temperate area), and temperature ranges for mycelial 

growth and zygospore production. Molecular analysis on 18SrDNA ITS region 

suggested that each mating group should be treated as an independent species respectively. 

contributed presentation: MSJ Research Encouragement Award 

Lecture 

Degawa, Yousuke 1 * and Sato, Hiroki 2 . 1 Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural 

History, 499, Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan, 2 Kyushu Research 

Center, Forestry and Forest Research Institute, 11-16, Kurokami 4 chome, 

Kumamoto, Kumamoto 860-0862, Japan. degawa@nh.kanagawa-museum.jp. 

How to clarify the true status of anamorphic Trichomycetes? -an approach 

based on the observation of its host animal behavior. 

The orders Asellariales and Eccrinales are anamorphic Trichomycetes, in 

which neither zygospore nor trichospore has been known. Do they lose these 

kinds of spores? Careful observations on the living hosts brought us invaluable 

hints for solving this question. In Orchesellaria mauguioi (Asellariales), trichospore-like 

spore formation was observed when the hosts (Isotomurus sp.) were 

keeping on the water in chamber. They often molted and their shed molts floated 

on the water. The fungal thalli were situated at the lower surface of the molts in 

water. Arthrospores germinated to produce short stalks penetrating the molt and 

bearing the thick walled, cylindrical spores on their tips. Each spore accompanied 

a bowling-pin-shaped thin walled cell with external long appendage, which reminds 

us the fructification of the genus Orphella. When the millipede (Epanerchodus 

sp.), a host of Enterobryus sp. (Eccrinales) was keeping in moist chamber, 

peculiar conidiophore with mushroom-shaped conidia often emerged on the accumulated 

dungs of hosts. This fungus was identified as a rare hyphomycete, 

Aenigmatospora pulchra R. F. Castaneda Ruiz et al., described from Cuba. The 

stalk of this fungus was constantly connected to the short cylindrical 2 or 3-celled 

hyphal segments, similar to the arthrospores of Enterobryus sp., buried in the 

dung. The implications of these newly found spores are discussed. symposium 

presentation 

Dentinger, Bryn C.* and McLaughlin, David J. Plant Biological Sciences, University 

of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. dent0015@umn.edu. Homoplastic 

surgery: reconstructing the classification of two coral mushroom 

families (Clavariaceae and Pterulaceae). 

Club and coral fungi are a polyphyletic assemblage of hymenomycetous 

mushrooms. The clavarioid sporocarp has repeatedly evolved in the Homobasidiomycetidae 

(Pine et al. 1999), yet to what degree this morphology is homoplasious 

is still not completely known. We evaluated the systematics of the coral 

mushroom families Clavariaceae and Pterulaceae using DNA sequence data and 

multiple phylogenetic methods. We generated 35 sequences from the 5’ region of 

the nucLSU rDNA spanning 10 genera and 19 species of clavarioid fungi. These 

sequences, plus 45 published sequences, were aligned to the dataset of Moncalvo 

et al. (2002) and analyzed under the parsimony criterion. Based on this analysis, 

subsets of Clavaria and Pterulaceae were evaluated separately to obtain better resolution 

within each group. Our preliminary results indicate that both Clavariaceae 

and Pterulaceae need to be revised in order to reflect a monophyletic classification. 

The genus Clavaria appears to be monophyletic, but also requires revision 

to include some species while excluding others. Several species of Pterula are 

identified within the G2 cultivar clade of fungus-farming ants for the first time. 

These results provide a preliminary view of the systematics of two core families 

of coral mushrooms, contribute to understanding the history of the ant-fungus mutualism, 

and present a framework for future investigation. poster 

Desjardin, Dennis E. 1 * and Hemmes, Don E. 2 1 Dept. of Biology, San Francisco 

State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA, 2 Dept. of Biology, University 

of Hawaiì, Hilo, Hawaiì 96720, USA. ded@sfsu.edu. Agaricales of the native 

forests of Hawaiì. 

The Hawaiian Archipelago is the most isolated oceanic island group on 

earth. Constantly forming, migrating and subsiding, the volcanic chain has formed 

land that has remained above sea level continuously for the past 29 million years, 

resulting in terrestrial laboratories for the evolution of a diverse biota. Human 


habitation over the past 2000 years has dramatically impacted the landscape. Currently, 

over 90 % of Hawaiian terrestrial habitats are dominated by introduced 

plants (>4600 spp.), whereas less than 10 % remains in undisturbed native forests. 

As a consequence of these factors, the Islands display some of the highest levels 

of endemism and extinction documented to date. The diversity of Hawaiian Agaricales 

also reflects these factors. Of the 335 species documented by us to date, 275 

are associated with introduced plants in non-native habitats, whereas only 60 

species (18 %) are known from native habitats and are considered by us as native 

species with 75 % endemism. Surprising observations include: the low diversity 

of native Agaricales; no native Hawaiian trees support ectomycorrhizae; native 

Hawaiian Agaricales are dominated by Tricholomataceae s.l. and Hygrophoraceae 

s.l.; there is very limited adaptive radiation within native agaric lineages. 

We will present data from 12 years of fieldwork, focused on the diversity 

and origins of native Hawaiian Agaricales. symposium presentation 

Dickie, Ian A. 1 *, Dentinger, Bryn C. 4 , Avis, Pete G. 3 , McLaughlin, David J. 4 and 

Reich, P. B. 2 1 Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua, P.O. Box 69, Lincoln, Canterbury, 

New Zealand, 2 Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 

Green Hall, 1530 Cleveland Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA, 3 Chicago 

Field Museum of Natural History, Botany Department, Roosevelt Rd. at 

Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA, 4 Department of Plant Biology, University 

of Minnesota, 250 Biological Science Center, 1445 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, 

MN 55108, USA. dickiei@landcareresearch.co.nz. Ectomycorrhizal fungi of 

North American oak savannas. 

Oak savannas, once a dominant ecosystem of Midwestern North America, 

have all but disappeared from the landscape. Although much of oak savanna has 

been lost to agricultural conversion, other areas have converted to oak woodlands 

due to suppression of fire. We compare the ectomycorrhizal fungal community of 

Minnesota oak savannas subjected to frequent fire as a restoration tool with former 

oak savannas that have converted to oak woodlands due to fire suppression. 

Ectomycorrhizal root tip surveys using RFLP analysis and sporocarp collections, 

and T-RFLP analysis of rhizosphere fungi gave somewhat different views of 

community composition, but all suggest an extremely high diversity of fungi in 

these systems (estimated at more than 250 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi), with 

the fungal community broadly dominated by Cenococcum and Russula spp., with 

more local dominance by other groups. The high diversity of fungi is remarkable, 

given the low diversity of ectomycorrhizal host plants (three to four species). Although 

we predicted that frequent fire might make savanna mycorrhizal communities 

more prone to invasion than oak woodland fungal communities, reciprocal 

bulk soil transfers between plots had idiosyncratic effects on fungal communities 

as measured by T-RFLP. Nonetheless, T-RFLP did distinguish between site differences 

and showed similar patterns of species dominance as root tip collections. 


Douhan, Greg W. 1 *, Martin, Darren P. 2 and Rizzo, David M. 1 1 Department of 

Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA, 2 Institute of 

Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 

7925, South Africa. gwdouhan@ucdavis.edu. Intragenic recombination 

within an actin locus of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum. 

We have recently detected three divergent lineages of Cenococcum 

geophilum isolated from a California oak-woodland. One lineage contained two 

divergent subclades; within this lineage incongruent phylogenies of one mitochondrial 

and three nuclear genes suggested potential recombination, but only 

when isolates from outside of the studied population were included in the analysis. 

To further investigate recombination in our local population of this putative 

asexual fungus, additional loci were sequenced from 44 isolates. Phylogenetic incongruence 

between these 10 loci is consistent with recombination occurring 

within the local population. However, most of the incongruence was caused by 

potential recombinant sequence types within the actin locus (~240 bp). Additional 

sequence data from the actin locus (~1300 bp) were obtained from parental and 

recombinant sequence types. Recombination analyses (RDP, GENECONV, 

MAXCHI, CHIMAERA, SISCAN and BOOTSCAN) using the recombination 

detection program RDP2 detected intragenic recombination and a potential recombination 

breakpoint with the actin locus. However, the divergence between 

the two subclades suggests that the recombination event is ancient or was due to 

some type of horizontal gene transfer or parasexual event. Actin sequence data 

from a world-wide sample of Cenococcum geophilum may help to differentiate 

between these two hypotheses. poster 

Douhan, LeAnn I., Andrews, John H., Douhan, Greg W. and Rizzo, David M. 

Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, 

USA. lidouhan@ucdavis.edu. Phyllosphere fungi associated with bay laurel 

trees in California. 

Phytophthora ramorum (Pr), causal agent of sudden oak death, is an emerging 

pathogen in coastal forests of CA and OR. Pr is a generalist that also causes 

leaf necrosis on many native hosts. In particular, bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) 

serves as a foliar host that supports high levels of sporulation by Pr and 

plays a key role in the spread of the pathogen. The presence of other leaf colo- 


nizing fungi on bay laurel, both epiphytes and endophytes, may influence the establishment 

of Pr on this host. To understand the diversity of the fungal community 

associated with bay laurel leaves, we are using both cultural and molecular 

methods. The primers ITS1F and LR3 were used to amplify a region that includes 

the highly variable ITS regions but also covers the conserved LSU-rDNA. Preliminary 

data has demonstrated a diverse assemblage of phyllosphere fungi based 

on clones derived from DNA extractions from adhesive tape strips applied to the 

leaf surface. We also found that most clones could not be identified because no 

close matches were found in the ITS regions and only the 5.8s region gave strong 

hits based on BLAST searches. However, the clones could be identified with better 

solution based on LSU-rDNA. In contrast, most fungi cultured from leaf surfaces 

were represented in GenBank based on ITS. This suggests that the unidentifiable 

epiphytes are possibly unculturable using standard approaches and/or may 

be unknown taxa. poster 

Dubey, Tara. AerotechP&K, 1220 Quarry Lane, Pleasanton CA 94566, USA. 

TDubey@aerotechpk.com. Factors affecting the collection of air samples for 

spore counts. 

Spore trap analysis for counting fungal spores present in the air, serves as 

primary criteria for the detection of mold problem present inside a building. 

Severity of the mold problem inside a building is estimated by comparing the 

presence or absence of genera in out door samples and by comparing if indoor 

spore counts are higher than outdoor spore counts. In order to make these techniques 

more dependable, it is essential to understand the effect of various natural 

and technical factors influencing the spore distribution in outdoor environment. 

Air samples from outdoor air were analyzed to see fungal diversity and their distribution 

pattern during different hours of the day to see the effect of light, temp. 

humidity, wind and volume of the sampled air. Samples were collected for 5 minutes 

at different times of the day (8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, 12 am, and 4am), and 

at 12 noon for different durations (5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes) with a rate of 15 

liters/minute. A comparison of percent trace analyzed (15%, 25% and 100%) indicated 

the significant counts lost due to partial analysis of a trace. Over all, Cladosporium, 

Penicillium/Aspergillus. were most predominating spore types followed 

by Alternaria, Rust/Smut types of spores. Maximum spore count was seen 

during morning indicating the significant role of sunlight in spore releasing 

process. poster 

Dulmer, Kristopher M. and Horton, Thomas R.* Environmental Forest Biology, 

State University of New York- Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 

NY 13210, USA. kdulmer@hotmail.com. Evidence that American chestnut 

seedlings tap into existing ectomycorrhizal networks of non-chestnut hosts. 

The ectomycorrhizal (EM) communities of American chestnut (Castanea 

dentata) (AC) were explored in a forest setting in order to evaluate their potential 

for associating with EM networks of canopy trees. AC seed were planted in spring 

in three different red and white oak dominated sites in New York State and harvested 

5 months later. Seedlings were harvested using a 10cm soil corer to include 

bulk soil with intermingling roots of canopy trees. The seedlings and bulk soil 

were cleaned and all of the ectomycorrhizae were morphotyped. Molecular techniques 

(PCR amplification and RFLP analysis) were used to compare and identify 

plant and fungal genotypes of all morphotypes. Fungal and plant specific ITS 

primers were used to identify the symbionts. There were 74 different fungal RFLP 

types found across the 30 soil cores. Of the 36 RFLP types found on AC, 28 were 

multi-host fungi, 8 were found solely on AC, four of which were represented by 

only one sample. There were 24 EM fungi found on AC and another host within 

the same core. Red oak was most commonly found sharing the same RFLP type 

with AC (23 times) followed by white oak and American beech (7 times each), 

and eastern hemlock, white pine and black birch (2 times each). These results suggest 

there is a high potential that AC seedlings are tapping into the EM networks 

supported by canopy trees. contributed presentation 

Dunham, Susie M.* and Spatafora, Joseph W. Department of Botany and Plant 

Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR, 97331, USA. dunhams@science.oregonstate.edu. 

Species diversity and encounter rates for mat forming 

ectomycorrhizal fungi in Douglas fir forests at the HJ Andrews experimental 

forest, Oregon, USA. 

Dense hyphal mats formed by ectomycorrhizal fungi can contribute up to 

40% of the microbial biomass in Pacific Northwest forest soils. Past research has 

shown that EcM mats are formed by fungi from distinct clades of the Basidiomycota 

(e.g., Hysterangiales and Gomphales). To further define the diversity of 

fungi forming EcM mats we sampled and phylotyped 56 mats from 17 old growth 

(350+ yrs) sites and 37 mats from 14 second growth (40-60 yrs) sites. Sampling 

was restricted to forest sites dominated by Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). 

Within each age class mats formed by Piloderma species were encountered most 

frequently with 61% and 53% of respective old growth and second growth mats 

belonging to this genus. We identified four total ITS sequence variants within Piloderma 

cf. fallax and cf. byssinum. Following Piloderma the second most commonly 

encountered genus in old growth was Ramaria, in second growth Hysterangium. 

All other species encountered were relatively uncommon. Overall, 18 

mat forming species were encountered in old growth, 11 in second growth. Rarefaction 

analyses indicate that the diversity of mat forming species is significant- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

ly lower in second growth stands. This research highlights the potential importance 

of Piloderma in forest soils and the need for a better taxonomic understanding 

of this genus. symposium presentation 

Dunham, Susie M. 1 *, Spatafora, Joseph W. 1 and Kretzer, Annette M. 2 1 Department 

of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis OR 

97331, USA, 2 Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of 

Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. dunhams@science.oregonstate.edu. 

The utility of genetic spatial autocorrelation analyses in 

fungal population biology. 

Cryptic growth habits make fungal individuals difficult to observe and hinders 

hypotheses testing about life histories of important species. Knowledge of 

within-population genetic structure can yield important insights into population 

dynamics and spatial analysis of genetic data has potential for contributing to this 

research area. We used spatial autocorrelation analysis to study genet size in two 

Rhizopogon sister species. Within this context analysis of genetic relatedness as a 

function of spatial distance provides an accurate measure of genet size estimated 

across all genets sampled. At larger spatial scales patterns of genetic isolation 

often are estimated with allele frequencies calculated from predefined sampling 

units. Precision of these statistics declines when sampling units encompass multiple 

random breeding units (neighborhoods) as the genetic variance among sampling 

units, relative to the total, declines and the power to detect genetic structure 

is lost. We analyzed the degree of genetic relatedness as a function of distance in 

the Pacific golden chanterelle (Cantharellus formosus) within a 50 ha forest stand. 

Significant fine-scale genetic structure was detected with genetic ‘patches’ approximating 

400 m in diameter indicating spore dispersal limitations for this 

species. These results have important implications for population sampling and 

fungal ecology. contributed presentation 

Eberhart, Joyce L. 1 *, Luoma Dan L. 1 , Abbott, Rick 2 and Moore, Andy 2 . 1 Department 

of Forest Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA, 

2 Umpqua National Forest, Roseburg, OR 97470, USA. joyce.eberhart@orst.edu. 

Ten years of monitoring the effects of harvest techniques on American matsutake 

(Tricholoma magnivelare) production. 

The commercial harvest of American matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelarehas 

become a multi-million dollar industry in the Pacific Northwest. There is considerable 

controversy regarding how the resource should be managed, including 

concern over whether raking of surface soil layers to find mushrooms will reduce 

subsequent fruiting. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of several 

harvest techniques on matsutake production. In 1994 the study was established 

in the Oregon Cascades, selecting 18 similar shiros of matsutake. In 1995 six 

treatments were implemented: 1) No harvest (control), 2) Harvest with minimal 

disturbance (gentle rocking and pulling), 3) Raking litter and duff layers, sporocarp 

removal and NO replacement of the duff, 4) Raking litter and duff layers, 

sporocarp removal, and careful replacement of the duff, 5) Removal of the litter 

and duff layer and 10cm of mineral soil, sporocarp removal and NO replacement 

of duff and mineral soil, 6) Removal of the litter and duff layer and 10cm of mineral 

soil, sporocarp removal and replacement of duff and mineral soil. Mushroom 

production of the shiros has now been monitored for 10 years. Results indicate 

that careful harvest methods have no impact on sporocarp production, while raking 

without replacement of the duff has long-term negative impacts. Damage to 

shiros caused by repeated raking has not been tested. poster 

Edwards, Sally M.* and Spiegel, Frederick W. Department of Biological Sciences, 

SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR 72701, USA. smedwar@uark.edu. 

Branch patterns and formation in the dictyostelids. 

The dictyostelid cellular slime molds are notable for several unusual components 

of their life cycles. Members of this group typically exist in humus, soil, 

or dung as free-living amoebae. When their bacterial food sources become scarce, 

the amoebae aggregate in response to a chemical signal. These aggregations of 

discrete cells, known as pseudoplasmodia, can form migratory slugs. Fruiting occurs 

once a suitable environment is reached; in many species, the anterior cells of 

the slug form a non-living cellular stalk while the posterior cells develop into the 

sticky spore mass, or sorus. However, many dictyostelids produce fruiting bodies 

which display elaborate branching patterns and multiple sori. The most familiar 

of these patterns are the Christmas tree-like whorls of Polysphondylium. However, 

other types of branching do occur, as in the irregular fruiting bodies of Dictyostelium 

aureo-stipes and the coremiform formations of D. polycephalum. It has 

previously been difficult to illustrate the development of these more complex 

fruiting bodies due to limitations in photographic equipment. Using Auto-Montage 

with both a dissecting and compound microscope, in-focus photomicrographs 

were obtained for the successive stages of fruiting body formation. The 

taxonomic implications of developmental characteristics such as branching will 

also be discussed. poster 

Elmore, Whitney C.*, Kimbrough, James W. and Benny, Gerald. Mycology Lab, 

University of Florida, P.O. Box 110680, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. wcelmore@ufl.edu. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and colonization of 


Inoculum 56(4), November 2005 17

MSA ABSTRACTS 

production St. Augustine grass sod in North Central Florida. 

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing ‘Floratam’ St. Augustinegrass 

on sod farms in North Central Florida was studied using percent colonization and 

spore density experiments. Sampling was performed on three sod farms in Bradford, 

Union, and Marion counties. St. Augustinegrass was chosen due to a lack of 

information concerning mycorrhizal colonization. Sod farm locations were chosen 

based on their continual production of sod for more than 10 years. The field 

soil was characterized as having low amounts of organic matter and having a 

slightly acidic to neutral pH. Roots from sod samples were cut from the crown and 

examined for percent colonization by root clearing and staining procedures. Spore 

densities of sample field soils were calculated for each location using spore staining 

and microscopic examination following trap plantings of sorghum-sudan 

grass and wet-sieving techniques. Identification of mycorrhizal species was completed 

with microscopic examination of spore wall(s), size, and color. Trap soil 

was a 50% (w/w) low phosphorous, sandy soil combined with a 50% field sample 

soil. Amplification of potentially cryptic species as well as increased spore 

production was accomplished by soil dilution. Phosphorous deficient soil was 

used to enhance mycorrhizal colonization since most species respond more favorably 

in these soils. Various arbuscular mycorrhizal species were discovered 

colonizing this cultivar of St. Augustinegrass with a range of colonization percentages 

between locations. The results of these studies are evidence of arbuscular 

mycorrhizal association with St. Augustinegrass. poster 

Engkhaninun, Jintana 1 , To-anun, Chaiwat 2 , Ono, Yoshitaka 3 and Kakishima, 

Makoto 1 . 1 Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of 

Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan, 2 Department of Plant Pathology, 

Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 3 College of Education, Ibaraki 

University, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8572, Japan. engjintana@yahoo.com. Rust fungi 

newly recorded in Thailand. 

Eighty-six species in 23 telemorphic genera and 5 anamorphic species of 

rust fungi have been recorded in Thailand. Thailand is geographically, topographically 

and climatically diverse; and the diversities have created varieties of 

vascular plants inhabiting in Thailand. However, the number of rust fungi, that 

parasitize living vascular plants, reported for Thailand are less than those reported 

for several countries in Southeastern Asia. This indicates that Thailand has 

been under-explored. In the past years, the rust fungus surveys have intermittently 

undertaken and, recently, extensive surveys have been carried out in the northern 

part of Thailand, during which over 500 specimens were collected. We here 

report 17 species newly recorded in Thailand as follows: Coleosporium plumeriae, 

C. paederiae, Endophyllum paederiae, Melampsora ricini, M. kusanoi, 

Phakopsora elettariae, P. cheoana, P. cingens, P. fici-erectae, P. tecta, P. zizyphivulgaris, 

Puccinia oxalidis, P. hypoxidis, P. rhei-undulati, P. epilopii, Uredo 

clemensiae and Uromyces lespedizae-procumbentis. poster 

Ezawa, Tatsuhiro 1 , Mori, Akinobu 2 , Ohtomo, Ryo 3 and Osaki, Mitsuru 1 . 1 Graduate 

School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589 Japan, 2 Graduate 

School of Bioagricultural Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 

464-8601, Japan, 3 National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Nishinasuno, 

Tochigi 329-2793, Japan. tatsu@res.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. Isolation of organelles 

involved in polyphosphate accumulation in arbuscular mycorrhizal 

fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic associations with 80% of 

land. The fungi take up phosphate (Pi) from soil through extraradical hyphae and 

translocate to the host. In this process, Pi is condensed into inorganic polyphosphate 

(polyP) which is a linear chain of 3 to < 1,000 Pi linked by high-energy 

phosphoanhydride bonds and a major translocation form of Pi in the fungi. Although 

the metabolic pathway of polyP in prokaryotes has been clarified, that in 

eukaryotic microorganisms has not been elucidated. The objective of the present 

study is to isolate and characterize organelles involved in polyP synthesis and accumulation 

in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Marigold (Tagetes patula) was inoculated 

with of Glomus sp. HR1 and cultured in a growth chamber for 5 weeks. 

Extraradical hyphae of the fungi were collected, homogenized on a mortar and 

fractionated in the continuous density gradient of Percoll. PolyP content of the 

fractionated organelles was determined by the polyphosphate kinase/luciferase 

method. PolyP was enriched in the layer 1 (specific gravity: 1.07 g mL -1 ) and the 

layer 2 (sediment, specific gravity: >1.15 g mL -1 ) at 10- to 15-fold. These fractions 

showed polyP synthesizing activity in the presence of ATP and Pi as substrate. 

Further purification and characterization are undergoing. poster 

Farr, David. USDA, ARS, Systematic Botany & Mycology Laboratory, Beltsville 

MD 20705, USA. davef@nt.ars-grin.gov. Managing and organizing bioinventory 

data. 

The broader the geographic area covered in biodiversity studies, the more 

significant the data become. The combining of data from different studies is an 

obvious way to expand the coverage of a biodiversity project. The Web is the perfect 

vehicle for the distribution of biodiversity data. Data can be compared and 

contrasted and hypotheses formulated to meet the needs of a diverse group of 

users - planners, ecologists, pathologists etc. However, to meet this goal two requirements 

must be considered: (1) the data must be incorporated into logically 

constructed databases, and (2) web access to the raw data - not just html pages for- 


matted for a presentation - should be provided. Ways to achieve both these requirements 

will be presented and discussed. symposium presentation 

Flores, Roberto*, Honrubia, M. & Morales, O. Depto. Microbiología, Facultad de 

CCQQ y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. & Depto. Biología 

Vegetal, Facultad de Biología. Universidad de Murcia, Spain. 

rfloresa@yahoo.com, rflores@ceroble.edu. A new variety of Amanita 

hemibapha in Guatemala. 

In Guatemala, Central America, we have found some possible new species 

and varieties of Amanita, including A. hemibapha. In the case of the latter one, we 

have seen differences from the type variety using molecular and microscopic 

analysis. Guatemala is a very interesting place for studying the diversity and evolution 

of macrofungi, especially those that are mycorrhizal. poster 

Flores, Roberto. Depto. Microbiología, Facultad de CCQQ y Farmacia, Universidad 

de San Carlos de Guatemala. & Depto. Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología. 

Universidad de Murcia, Spain. rfloresa@yahoo.com. Disjunt species of 

ectomycorrhizal fungi in Guatemala. 

The position of Guatemala as part of the Southern extreme of the Old North 

American Continent and its orographic relief with high elevations has permitted 

the development of many genera of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms that live in the 

Northern Hemisphere. These disjunct taxa include many of the well known 

species in Europe and North America (e.g., Hydnum repandum, Cantharellus 

cibarius, Amanita muscaria, etc., while others have disjunt distributions from 

populations found in Asia & North America (e.g., Lactarius indigo, L. rimosellus, 

Amanita smithiana, Cathatelasma ventricosa, Tricholoma portentosum, etc.). 

Many species, however, seems to be endemic (e.g., Boletus guatemalensis, B. luteoloincrustatus, 

and many undescribed species). The number of species is still 

growing with the continuing local research. poster 

Frisvad, Jens C. and Andersen, Birgitte. BioCentrum-DTU, B. 221, Technical 

University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. 

jcf@biocentrum.dtu.dk. An extended phenotypic characterization of filamentous 

fungi is needed in future taxonomic research. 

Species descriptions and taxonomic revisions of fungi are usually based on 

core micromorphological features and few other features that have proven to be 

of value in a particular genus under consideration. If two species look superficially 

similar in a phenotypic sense, but have a significant number of DNA sequence 

differences in one or more genes, they are often called sibling species. In order to 

secure that such phylogenetic species are not just representatives of different populations, 

or that individual mutants are elevated to species level, several correlated 

phenotypic differences must be present in order to accept a species. We advocate 

a species model based on a unique combination of functional apomorphic 

features, i.e. diagnostic features. Such a species model is based on several gene 

clusters and in addition epigenetic features. This species model is operational if a 

minimum number of feature types are considered, including micromorphology, 

macromorphology, extrolites (including secondary metabolites, organic acids, 

volatiles and extracellular enzymes), water activity, temperature, and pH etc. 

More than one basal growth medium should be used to get full phenotypic expression. 

poster 

Fujimura, Kei E.* and Egger, Keith N. Dept. Ecosystem Science and Management, 

University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada. 

kfujimura@gmail.com. Impact of directional, non-replacement succession on 

the root associated fungal community in the Canadian High Arctic. 

In directional, non-replacement succession, plant species are not replaced as 

the succession progresses, so plant diversity increases with age. This type of succession 

is opportune for examining how belowground diversity changes with 

plant community diversity. We examined the root associated fungal community 

at a High Arctic site on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. Plots were places in zones representing 

10 year time intervals since deglaciation, with a control plot in an area 

that had not been glaciated since the Little Ice Age. For the youngest plot only two 

non-mycorrhizal plant species were harvested, but as succession continued more 

plant species were added for a total of six different hosts. T-RFLPs were used to 

describe fungal community diversity based on the ITS region of the nrDNA. 

Canonical correspondence analysis was used to test for time and plant host effects. 

Simple regression was used to test the temporal effect for each plant host. Results 

suggest that the mycorrhizal status of the plant host is the primary determinant of 

fungal community composition. Surprisingly, the species richness of the root endophytic 

community on non-mycorrhizal plant hosts was comparable to the diversity 

of mycorrhizal plants. contributed presentation 

Fujimura, Kei E. 1 *, Egger, Keith N. 1 and Henry, Greg H.R. 2 1 Dept. Ecosystem 

Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince 

George, BC V2N 4Z9, Canada, 2 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC 

V6T 1Z4, Canada. kfujimura@gmail.com. Impact of warming on the root associated 

fungal community from the Canadian High Arctic. 

We examined the impact of warming on the root-associated fungal com- 


munity of several arctic plants in the Canadian High Arctic. Warming was simulated 

using Open Top Chambers on three distinct sites. Three replicates of warming 

and ambient plots were studied for each site. Fungal communities were assessed 

using T-RFLP analysis of the nrDNA and by isolation of fungi from roots. 

T-RFLP analysis was conducted directly on Salix arctica roots, but cultures were 

isolated from three additional host plants. T-RFLP genotype frequency and diversity 

was examined for S. arctica. Ordination of a distance matrix generated 

from rDNA RFLP genotypes from cultures was used to examine patterns among 

the four host plants. Representative culture isolates were sequenced to identify 

taxa. The lowest genotype frequency and richness was found on a site with soils 

derived from dolomitic parent materials. Genotype frequency tended to be higher 

in warmed compared to ambient plots on all sites. Ordination analyses revealed 

that the fungal communities were determined primarily by site characteristics 

rather than by warming treatment or host (for cultures). The dominant species isolated 

was Phialocephala fortinii. poster 

Fujitsuki, Kaori 1 *, Fukuhara Shoji 1 , Aimi Tadanori 2 , Maki, Noboru 2 and Morinaga, 

Tsutomu 1 . 1 Hiroshima Prefectural University, School of Bioresources, 562 

Nanatsukacho, Shobara-city, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan, 2 Advanced Life Science 

Institute, Inc, 2-10-23 Maruyamadai, Wako, Saitama, 351-0112, Japan, 3 Advanced 

Life Science Institute, Inc., 2-10-23 Maruyamadai, Wako, Saitama, 351- 

0112, Japan. tmorina@bio.hiroshima-pu.ac.jp. DNA sequence of mitochondria 

in Tricholoma matsutake. 

In general, we know growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain having the 

mutation in mitochondria genome becomes more slowly than wild strain and 

forms small colony. In Neurospora crassa, if mutation occurs in mitochondria 

genome, growth rate becomes slow. As these results, the mutation occurs in mitochondria 

genome, especially, deficiency of respiration, it’s growth become very 

bad. By the way, the mycelium of Tricholoma matsutake grows only 3cm per one 

month. To clear the bad growth, we isolated mitochondria genome and sequenced. 

The total length of mitochondria genome of Tricholoma matsutake was 

45.7 kbp. This size is almost same one of Schizophyllum commune known as a 

saprobe, has a mitochondria genome of 49.7 kbp. In the positon of E404 to E407 

fragment, gene of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 protein was coded but this 

gene had the large insertion of 1240bp. This insertion had 63% homology to interon 

protein of Agrocybe aegerita. E711 fragment the homology to NADH dehydrogenase 

subunit 5 protein. This gragment also was cut by the large insertion. 

Now we already sequenced about 80% of mitochondria genome. Until this summer, 

we will show the complete sequence of mitochondria. poster 

Fukasawa, Yu*, Osono, Takashi and Takeda, Hiroshi. Laboratory of Forest Ecology, 

Graduate school of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. 

asobu@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Role of Microporus affinis in woody litter decomposition 

in a subtropical evergreen forest. 

Lignicolous fungi have an important role in woody litter decomposition in 

forest ecosystems. Identification of species and quantitative analysis of wood 

structural components of individual decay column is necessary to clarify the wood 

decay patterns of individual lignicolous fungi. In this study, decay columns of Microporus 

affinis in woody litter of Castanopsis sieboldii were identified and physical 

and chemical properties of the columns were measured. Relative density (RD) 

of logs were measured and used as an index of decay. Lignocellulose index (LCI) 

of wood in each decay columns were calculated as relative amount of carbohydrate 

in lignocellulose matrix. Relative volume of decay column of M. affinisin a 

log positively correlated with RD of logs. Lignin content and LCI ofdecay 

columns were constant among RD of logs, although density of decay columns 

positively correlated with RD of logs. Among logs with low RD, decay columns 

of other fungi had lower LCI than that of M. affinis. These results suggest that in 

decomposition of woody litter of C. sieboldii, lignin and carbohydrate were decomposed 

simultaneously by M. affinis in early phase of decomposition, then, carbohydrate 

was decomposed selectively by other fungi in late phase of decomposition. 

Poster 

Fukiharu, Toshimitsu 1 * and Matsumoto, Taeko 2 . 1 Natural History Museum & Institute 

Chiba, Aoba-cho 955-2, Chiba 260-8682, Japan, 2 Toho Univ. Fac. of Sci., 

Miyama 2-2-1, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510, Japan. fukiharu@chiba-muse.or.jp. 

Change in dominant ectomycorrhizal species during a 12–year period in 

Carpinus-Quercus dominated coppice woods in Chiba, Central Japan. 

Basidiocarp and ascocarp phenology, species composition and productivity 

were investigated in Carpinus-Quercus dominated coppice woods in Chiba, central 

Japan. Carpinus-Quercus dominated coppice woods were maintained over 

the centuries as secondary woods, traditional rural landscape in Kanto area, Central 

Japan. A quadrat (14 x 11 m) was made in the study site and investigated 114 

times in 6 years (1990-1993, 1999, 2001). The fruiting season was observed 

twice: in summer (June, July) and in autumn (October). In each year, 18-50 

species were observed, and a total of 106 species in 22 families were recognized 

in 6 years. The total number of species increased every year and the number was 

not saturated. Ectomycorrhizal species were dominant in every year (81 %-99 %; 

in total dry weight) such as Amanitaceae, Entolomataceae, Boletaceae, Russulaceae. 

The dominant families fluctuated in each year; Entolomataceae was dominant 

in 1990 (70.4 % in total dry weight), in 1991 (33.9 %), in 1992 (30.5 %) and 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

in 1993 (51.5 %). In 1999, Boletaceae (62.6 %) was dominant and in 2001, 

Amanitaceae (47.4 %) was dominant. The total mean productivity was 31.24 

kg/ha (upper ground sporocarp; dry weight), the most productive year (62.79 

kg/ha) was 12 times more productive than that in the least productive year (5.10 

kg/ha). poster 

Fukuda, Hideshi 1 * and Sano, Akira 2 . 1 Nihon Fukushi Univ., 26-2 Higashihaemicho, 

Handa-city, Aichi 475-0012, Japan, 2 Mie Pref. Sci. Tech. Prom. Ctr., 3769- 

1 Nihongi Hakusan-cho, Isshi-gun, Mie 515-2602, Japan. 

fukuda@n-fukushi.ac.jp. Propagation of Urocerus japonicus, a woodwasp 

with a fungal symbiont, in old felled Japanese cedar trees. 

Woodwasps are symbiotically associated with Amylostereum fungus spp. 

Adult females inoculate the fungus during oviposition on sapwood of host trees. 

Aided by fungal symbiosis, woodwasp larvae can digest sapwood with low nutritional 

value. Urocerus japonicus, a fungus-carrying woodwasp, oviposits selectively 

on freshly felled Japanese cedar trees that are presumed to be suitable for 

propagation of the fungal symbiont. We investigated the potential for growing U. 

japonicus in old trees by propagating Amylostereum laevigatum in the wood before 

woodwasp oviposition. Oviposition activity levels were higher on oviposited 

trees (fungus-inoculated by another woodwasp before oviposition) and on artificially 

inoculated trees (fungus-inoculated artificially before oviposition) than on 

control trees. Next-generation adults emerged from artificially inoculated trees but 

not from previously oviposited and control trees. These results suggest that U. 

japonicus can utilize fungus already propagating in wood. Moreover, we investigated 

the effect of inoculation season on fungus propagation in the wood. Clear 

wood discoloration was recognized in summer-inoculated trees but there was almost 

no discoloration in fall-inoculated trees. In summer-inoculated trees, fungus 

propagated mainly in discolored areas; in fall-inoculated trees, it propagated widely 

irrespective of discoloration. These results suggest that fall-inoculated trees 

would be best for growing these woodwasps. poster 

Fukushima, Kazutaka* and Chikamori, Minoru. Research Center for Pathogenic 

Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 

260-8673, Japan. A new hexose transporter (Hxt1) from Cryptococcus neoformans: 

molecular cloning and structural and functional characterization. 

We carried out a screen for Cryptococcus neofromans genes involved in resistance 

to copper ion toxicity and identified a new hexose transporter (Hxt) gene, 

HXT1. Hxt1 consists of 520 amino acids and functions to transport hexoses such 

as glucose and galactose. Although Hxt1 conferred copper resistance to Saccharomyces 

cerevisiae, disruption of the HXT1 gene showed that Hxt1 is not necessary 

for copper resistance. In virulence test, an hxt1 mutant strain showed 12% 

less phenoloxidase activity than the wild-type strain, and no difference in the ability 

to form melanin was identified. In addition, the hxt1 mutant strain showed virulence 

similar to that of the wild-type strain in experiments with Caenorhabditis 

elegans. However, the hxt1 mutant strain generated larger capsules than were generated 

by the wild-type strain. Thus, Hxt1 appears to be involved in capsule formation. 

poster 

Fukushima, Kazutaka*, Hashizume, Toko and Takizawa, Kayoko. Research Center 

for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, 

Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8673 Japan. kfuky@faculty.chiba-u.jp. Identification 

and molecular phylogeny of dematiaceous fungi Phialophora species 

based on the D1/D2 domain of rDNA and their ubiquinone systems. 

Species in the deuteromycete genus Phialophora are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan 

and are important saprobes as well as plant and human pathogens. Accurate 

species identification is difficult because of the limited number of morphological 

characters and their pleomorphism. The present study was designed to 

explore the potential use of the D1/D2 domain of rDNA as a tool for species identification 

of Phialophora spp. and to perform phylogenic analysis of the fungal 

taxa using the domain. Ubiquinone system being useful as a chemotaxonomic 

classification tool was also analyzed. 38 species of Phialophora including medically 

important species as P. verrucosa were used. Two kinds of ubiquinone (Q) 

molecules, Q- 10 (7 species) and Q-10(H2)(31 species), were identified as the 

major Q and most of the 7 species with Q-10 were related to human diseases. The 

D1/D2 domain provided very significant information in species identification; it 

had adequate sequence difference for the identification of medically important 

species and suggested the necessity of reclassification between some species. The 

phylogenetic tree constructed by NJ method showed three clusters with following 

characteristics: I (all species with Q-10, most of human pathogens), II (species related 

to the genus Cadophora), and III (saprophytic species with strong variability 

in hyphal pigmentation). 

poster 

Gallery, Rachel E. 1 *, Dalling, James W. 1 , Higgins, K. Lindsay 2 , and Arnold, A. 

Elizabeth 2,3 . 1 Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 

61801, USA, 2 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, 

USA, 3 Current address: Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Department 

of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ 85721, USA. 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

arnold@ag.arizona.edu. Diversity and demographic impact of seed-infecting 

fungi: A case study with neotropical Cecropia spp. 

Community-wide recruitment limitation has been proposed as an important 

mechanism influencing patterns of tree regeneration, and potentially mediating 

plant species coexistence in tropical forests. For light-demanding tree species, 

which germinate from a soil-seed bank, infection by fungi can greatly reduce seed 

survival, and may therefore affect both recruitment success and adult distribution. 

Here we examine the interactions between seeds and communities of endophytic, 

saprophytic and putatively pathogenic fungi associated with four sympatric Cecropia 

species in Panama. Seeds were experimentally buried in forest soils, excavated 

after 5 months, surface sterilized, and subsequently incubated on 2% MEA. 

All isolates were sequenced at the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 

region (nrITS) and grouped according to 90%, 95%, and 99% sequence congruence. 

Resulting groups were used as functional taxonomic units to compare fungal 

communities associated with seeds of each host species in terms of diversity, 

richness, taxon abundance, taxonomic composition, and whole-community similarity. 

Highly diverse taxa with known affinities to endophytes, saprophytes, and 

pathogens were recovered, including a large number of Eurotiomycetidae, 

Chaetothyriomycetidae, Sordariomycetidae, and Dothideomycetidae, few Saccharomycetidae, 

and some Basidiomycota (including Ustilaginomycetes and Homobasidiomycetes). 

We discuss the potential for host affinity among seed infecting 

fungi to influence the survival and distribution of Cecropia spp. in tropical 

forests. poster 

Gams, Walter 1 * and Zare, Rasoul 2 1 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Utrecht, Netherlands and 2 Dep. of Botany, Plant Pests & Diseases Res. Inst. 

Tehran, Iran. gams@cbs.knaw.nl. New advances in Verticillium taxonomy. 

The largest section of Verticillium, sect. Prostrata, has been revised and its 

species re-classified in several genera (Zare & Gams, Nova Hedwigia, 2000- 

2001). Section Verticillium containing only V. luteo-album is distantly related to 

section Nigrescentia (Zare et al., Mycol. Res. 108: 576-582, 2004). The latter section 

comprising the important plant-pathogenic species V. dahliae and V. alboatrum 

plus a few other, weaker plant pathogens, is retained as Verticillium in the 

strictest sense by designation of V. dahliae as the conserved type of the genus 

(Gams et al., Taxon, 2005). In a current project, the former section Albo-erecta 

with well- differentiated, erect conidiophores and mainly fungicolous species, and 

many so far unclassified taxa are being investigated using classical and molecular 

techniques. A large number of isolates obtained from all over the world and various 

substrata are examined. Morphological and molecular (sequences of ITS region, 

small subunit ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha) 

data show an extensive variation among isolates examined; the observed relationships 

correlate with the ecology of the isolates, suggesting the need for further 

generic segregation. Four new genera are envisaged around V. biguttatum, V. rexianum, 

V. leptobactrum and some isolates from old polypores. No new teleomorphs 

are found yet. contributed presentation 

Garbelotto, Matteo 1 *, Olarte, R. 1 , Swiecki, Ted J. 2 and Bernhardt, Elizabeth A. 2 

1 Forest Pathology and Mycology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, 

USA, 2 Phytosphere research, Vacaville, CA 95687, USA. matteo@nature.berkeley.edu. 

Microsatellite analyses reveal California wildland infestations by 

Phytophthora cinnamomi may have originated in neighboring agricultural 

settings. 

Although the presence of the exotic pathogen P. cinnamomi is well documented 

both in agricultural/ horticultural situations and in wildlands in many regions 

of the world, its discovery in California wildlands is recent. Two manzanita 

species (Arctostaphylos spp.) in the Sierra Nevada are infected and seriously 

affected by this pathogen. The pathogen has also been isolated frequently from 

coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) in Southern California woodlands. Microsatellite 

analyses were performed on isolates representative of the most important 

lineages in the world, on isolates from Christmas tree farms in the Sierra 

Nevada foothills, and on one isolate from an avocado ranch in Southern California. 

Results from about 100 isolates indicated that 1)- The microsatellite analysis 

can differentiate all major lineages and can detect differences within lineages; 2)the 

diversity of P. cinnamomi is large in manzanita, with at least three main clonal 

lineages detected and several genotypes; 3)- diversity is limited in coast live oak 

with a single clone. Two of the clones found on manzanita were also isolated from 

Christmas tree farms, and the clone on oaks was the same one as the clone found 

on avocados. The clone from avocado in California matched one of the three 

clones commonly found in avocados around the world, while the clones in Christmas 

tree farms matched clones associated with the horticultural/ornamental plants 

industries. The spatial pattern of distribution of clones in manzanita suggests at 

least two independent introductions occurred, and that the most disturbed areas 

contain the maximum genotypic diversity. contributed presentation 

Garbelotto, Matteo 1 *, Smith, A. 1 , Parrent, Jeri Lynn 2 and Gilbert, Gregory 3 . 1 University 

of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, 2 Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708, USA, 3 University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA. 

matteo@nature.berkeley.edu. Population differences in Datronia caperata between 

the Caribbean and Pacific coasts in Central America. 

Datronia caperata (Basidiomycotina) is a secondary pathogen of white 


mangroves (Langucolaria racemosa) in Central America. The genetic structure of 

this fungus in Panama has been recently studied using AFLP analyses. Results 

suggested populations over 60 km in distance experienced limited gene flow, 

while no clear distinction could be detected between the Pacific and Caribbean 

coastlines. Here, we present further results on the genetic structure of six populations 

of this fungal species, three from the Pacific and three from the Caribbean 

coasts, in Panama and Costa Rica, using geneaologies of two mitochondrial and 

two nuclear loci. For each locus, alleles clustered in one of two clades, suggesting 

a clear biallelic geneaological pattern. Results indicated a significant difference 

between populations on the two coasts: while populations on the Pacific coast 

were characterized by the presence of alleles belonging to both clades, Caribbean 

populations were characterized only by alleles belonging to one of the two possible 

clades for each locus. Implications of these results, including a combined 

analysis of all four loci, are discussed and presented not only to enhance our understanding 

of the evolution and population structure of this fungus, but also as 

potential useful data for the development of management guidelines to preserve 

the current biodiversity of threatened mangrove ecosystems. poster 

García-Bustamante, Joslyn M. University of New Mexico, Biology Department, 

MSC03 2020, Albuquerque, NM 8713, USA. jozg@unm.edu. Thermophilic 

Fungi of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. 

The goal of this research is to characterize thermophilic fungi from semi-arid 

grasslands of the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR). The McKenzie 

Flats region of the SNWR represents a transition biome in central New Mexico. 

During summer months, daytime subsurface soil temperatures commonly reach 

greater than 60 °C. Little is known about microbial communities in this environment. 

Soil samples taken across different soil and vegetation types were plated onto 

five different media and incubated at 50-55 °C for 1 to 2 weeks. Fungi were identified 

by using a combination of molecular and classical methods. Species identified 

to date include Thermoascus spp., Penicillium spp., and Thermomyces (Humicola) 

lanuginosa. The frequency of recovery of thermophilic fungi was highest 

during periods of higher soil moisture and in soils with increased C, N and P. Highest 

occurrence of thermophiles occurred at the Nunn Flats site, which also had 

highest C, N and P. Nunn Flats was subject to a prescribed burn in 2002. These results 

appear to represent one of the first demonstrations of thermophilic fungi responding 

to local factors in a natural environment. 

Gargas, Andrea. Dept. of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. 

agargas@wisc.edu. ITS2 rRNA secondary structure and evolution. 

Conserved secondary structure of ITS2 rRNA allows the alignment of homologous 

ITS2 rDNA sequences regions from diverse fungi. Models for ITS2 

rRNA secondary structures are presented for representatives of clades within the 

Lecanorales (Ascomycota), combined with phylogenetic hypotheses for structure 

evolution. poster 

Geiser, Linda 1 *, Dillman, Karen 2 and Laursen, Gary 3 . 1 USDA-Forest Service, 

Siuslaw National Forest, P. O. Box 1148, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA, 2 USDA- 

Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, P.O. Box 309, Petersburg, AK 99833, 

USA, 3 Dept. of Biology and Wildlife, P.O. Box 756100, 305A Bunnell Building, 

Fairbanks AK, USA. lgeiser@fs.fed.us. Lichens of the Great Kobuk Sand 

Dunes in northwestern Alaska. 

We studied lichen communities of the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes of the 

Kobuk Valley National Park in northwestern Alaska (67.13 deg N, 159.04 deg W). 

The Dunes were created during the late Pleistocene era and consist of calcareous 

sands eroded from the Brooks Range by glaciers and transported to their present 

location by the Kobuk River and winds. A total of 75 genera and 170 taxa were 

recorded from the exposed, preserved dunes and from the surrounding boreal forest 

on degraded sand dunes. Partially vegetated, well preserved dunes occupied a 

very small proportion of the Dunes surface area while supporting a disproportionate 

number of calciphilous lichens unique to exposed sands and absent from the 

surrounding boreal forest. Monitoring and conservation strategies are needed to 

measure disturbance in these fragile, trampling-sensitive dune environments as 

tourism increases and climate change progresses. contributed presentation 

Geml, József 1 *, Laursen, Gary A. 1 , Lutzoni, François 2 , Nusbaum, Harris C. 3 and 

Taylor, D. Lee 1 . 1 Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks 

AK 99775, USA, 2 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham NC 

27708, USA, 3 Sequence and Analysis Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge MA 

02141, USA. jgeml@iab.alaska.edu. Phylogeography of basidiolichen-forming 

Lichenomphalia species in arctic, subarctic, and subantarctic regions. 

Species of the genus Lichenomphalia are restricted to arctic-alpine environments 

with the exception of L. umbellifera (syn. Omphalina ericetorum), which 

is also found in boreal forests and is considered the most broadly distributed and 

the most plastic species in the genus. Although Lichenomphalia species inhabit 

vast regions in several continents, no information is available on their genetic variation 

across geographic regions and the underlying population-phylogenetic patterns. 

We collected samples of L. alpina (syn. Omphalina luteovitellina), L. hudsoniana 

(syn. Omphalina hudsoniana), and L. umbellifera from arctic, subarctic, 


and subantarctic regions and conducted population genetic and phylogenetic 

analyses based on nucleotide sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 

and the large subunit (LSU) regions of the nuclear rDNA repeat. Phylogenies 

based on LSU confirmed the monophyletic origin of the three species and revealed 

the existence of at least one unknown taxon collected from New Zealand 

that likely represents a sister species to L. alpina. While the ITS sequences could 

not be aligned unambiguously among species, specimens of L. alpina and L. hudsoniana 

sampled over broad geographical regions in the Arctic included only 1 

and 2 ITS haplotypes, respectively. On the other hand, substantial variation was 

found in L. umbellifera. These results agree with previous suggestion that this 

species is the oldest and most diverse of all known Lichenomphalia species. Nested 

Clade Analysis indicated allopatric fragmentation between populations of L. 

umbellifera in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Although we found fourteen 

distinct ITS haplotypes in populations across the Arctic, the null hypothesis 

of no geographical association of haplotypes could not be rejected. Because our 

geographic sampling represented a wide range of areas, we conclude that extensive 

dispersal and gene flow are the most prevalent forces shaping northern highlatitude 

populations in all three species. This is also supported by the lack of polymorphism 

in L. alpina and L. hudsoniana. symposium presentation 

Gibson, Cara M.* and Hunter, M.S. University of Arizona, Dept. of Entomology, 

410 Forbes Building, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA. cgibson@ag.arizona.edu. 

Enigmatic yeasts in beneficial insects. 

Despite much recent interest in invertebrate-bacterial symbioses, fungal associations 

with insects have received relatively little attention. Even though some 

yeasts are intimately associated with economically important natural enemies, we 

know little about the contributions of these symbionts in natural populations, or 

whether symbiotic relationships are compromised during insectary-rearing, with 

subsequent decreases in biocontrol efficacy. Here we present research characterising 

symbioses between yeasts and two types of natural enemies. The yeast symbionts 

of green lacewings, Metschnikowia chrysoperlae, Candida pimensis and C. 

picachoensis, were previously thought to provide missing amino acids from adult 

lacewings’ primarily carbohydrate diet. Our data suggest that the yeasts themselves 

require some minimum quality diet before providing nutrients to adult 

lacewings. In addition, we present evidence that the yeasts in green lacewings are 

vertically transmitted; a novel finding that has important implications for the nature 

of the lacewing-yeast relationship. In a second system, we are examining the 

role of the vertically transmitted intercellular yeast symbionts in Comperia merceti, 

a specialist egg parasitoid of brownbanded cockroaches. These wasps have 

the potential to substantially suppress brownbanded cockroach populations in enclosed 

building settings, yet it is unclear what role the yeasts may have in this multipartite 

interaction. poster 

Gilbert, Luz B.*, Chae, Lee, Kasuga, Takao, Townsend, Jeff, Glass, Louise and 

Taylor, John W. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, U.C. Berkeley, 

Berkeley CA 94720-3102, USA. lgilbert@berkeley.edu. Comparative Genomic 

Hybridization within the Genus Neurospora. 

Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) is becoming a popular way to 

determine similarity among strains and even species. A growing trend is to use 

CGH data to assess evolutionary history by developing phylogenetic trees from 

differences in hybridization between isolates. As yet few have questioned the reliability 

of CGH data to correctly assess sequence differences in hybridization and 

therefore the ability of this type of data to determine evolutionary relationships. 

The study of a simple eukaryote, the filamentous fungus Neurospora, offers a 

unique opportunity to rigorously address these questions using both experimental 

and simulated data. The genus Neurospora consists of eight closely related conidiating 

species indistinguishable by morphology, as well as several non-conidiating 

species. An accurate phylogeny was published by Dettman et al. 2003. We 

have constructed a 70mer oligomer array for Neurospora crassa representing 

10,000 genes. I have analyzed comparative genomic hybridizations for all eight 

conidiating species of Neurospora as well as a few non- conidiating isolates. 

These results were then compared to simulated data generated to mimic the design 

of the CGH experiment. The goal of the simulated data is to determine under 

what scenarios CGH data might accurately determine evolutionary relatedness. 

We have used both the simulated and empirical data to generate distance based 

dendograms for the different species that we can compare to the known phylogeny 

and assess the utility of CGH data for testing evolutionary relationships. contributed 

presentation 

Gilbertson, Robert L. 1 * and Hemmes, Don E. 2 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, University 

of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA, 2 Biology Discipline, Univ. Hawaiì, 

Hilo, HI 96720, USA. rlg@ag.arizona.edu. Wood-rotting basidiomycetes on 

conifers in the Hawaiian Islands. 

There are no native conifers in Hawaiì. Conifer plantations were established 

by the Hawaiian Division of Forestry beginning about 1930 so they have 

been present for a relatively short time. Major conifer genera are Pinus, Cupressus, 

Cryptomeria and Araucaria. Our field work over the last 15 years has yielded 

428 species of wood-rotting basidiomycetes on all woody substrates in 

Hawaiì. Included are 130 basidiomycetes on 12 species of conifers on the islands 

of Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaiì. Of these 130 fungi, 110 or almost 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

85 percent are also reported from North America. Species that cause brown rots 

total 28 or nearly 22 percent of conifer-inhabiting species known in Hawaiì. This 

percentage is about the same as that of brown rot fungi on conifers in North America. 

As they do in North America, brown rot fungi probably have important ecological 

functions in Hawaiian forest ecosystems. Nearly 58 percent of the basidiomycetes 

on conifers in Hawaiì are also known to occur on native or exotic 

woody angiosperms there, and may have been present long before conifers were 

introduced. When and how these fungi were initially introduced in Hawaiì will 

probably never be known as there is virtually no information available on lignicolous 

fungi present before the establishment of conifers on the Hawaiian Islands. 


Glawe, Dean A. 1 *, Ammirati, Joseph F. 2 , Callan, Brenda E. 3 , Dugan, Frank M. 4 , 

Norvell, Lorelei L. 5 and Seidl, Michelle T. 61 Washington State Univ., Puyallup, 

WA 98371, USA, 2 Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, 3 Natural Res. 

Canada, Pacific Forest. Cent., Victoria, BC V8Z 1M5 Canada, 4 USDA-ARS, 

Pullman, WA 99164, USA, 5 Pacific Northwest Mycol. Serv., Portland, OR 

97229, USA, 6 Envir. Microbiol. Lab., Inc., Bellevue, WA 98004, USA. 

glawe@wsu.edu. The Pacific Northwest Fungi Project: developing a collaborative 

model for inventorying biodiversity on a regional basis. 

The Pacific Northwest Fungi Project was founded in 2002 to develop a new 

model for biodiversity surveying. Only about 70,000 of an estimated 1.5 million 

fungal species are known worldwide. Ignorance of 95% of fungal species impedes 

efforts to classify them, understand their phylogeny, biology, and ecology, and to 

assess economic impacts. Understanding this important part of the earth’s biota 

will enhance our ability to cope with future challenges resulting from global climate 

change and the pressures on natural ecosystems caused by human populations. 

There is urgent need for new approaches for collecting, characterizing, and 

classifying the world’s mycota as an alternative to traditional approaches dependent 

on national funding, print journals, and uncoordinated research. Project goals 

are to foster idea exchange among academic and field mycologists, develop collaborative 

projects, coordinate databases, develop the new online journal Pacific 

Northwest Fungi for information on the region’s fungal natural history, and involve 

non-professional mycologists. Relying heavily on mutual collegial support, 

internet resources (web sites, an online journal, and email), teleconferences, and 

occasional face-to-face meetings, the Project actively develops, tests, and assesses 

approaches to biodiversity surveying that may succeed where past efforts have 

proven ineffective or too costly. poster 

Glawe, Dean A. 1 *, Dugan, Frank M. 2 , Cerkauskas, R.F. 3 , du Toit, L.J. 4 , Mohan, 

S.K. 5 and Liu, Y. 6 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, Puyallup Res. and Ext. Center, 

Washington State Univ., Puyallup WA 98371, USA, 2 USDA-ARS WRPIS, 

Washington State Univ., Pullman WA 99164, USA, 3 Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Canada, Harrow, Ontario N0R 1GO Canada, 4 Washington State Univ., Mt. Vernon 

WA 98273, USA, 5 Univ. of Idaho, Parma ID 83660, USA, 6 Univ. of Washington, 

Seattle, WA 98195, USA. glawe@wsu.edu. Leveillula taurica: An 

emerging plant pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. 

Leveillula taurica occurs on numerous host plants representing more than 

seventy families, including both dicots and monocots. North American reports 

date to 1906. The fungus has since been reported from Mexico and Ontario, as 

well as Texas, Florida, California, and Arizona. Within the Pacific Northwest 

(PNW), the conidial state first was reported from Idaho on cucumber (Cucumis 

sativus) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in 1989 and later on onion (Allium 

cepa) in 1995. It was reported from British Columbia on greenhouse pepper 

(Capsicum annuum) in 2003, and from central Washington State on onion and potato 

(Solanum tuberosum) in 2004. Both sexual and asexual states were found on 

greenhouse-grown seaside arrow grass (Triglochin maritima) in eastern Washington 

in 2004. The ITS sequence obtained from the strain on T. maritima was 

identical to sequences from strains on pepper in Australia and Elaeagnus angustifolia 

in Iran. With the confirmation of L. taurica on diverse hosts in the PNW, 

and the recent discovery of sexual state in the region, plant pathologists should be 

alert for potential impact of this pathogen causing economic losses in the PNW 

agriculture. The possible epidemiologic role of alternative hosts in the region may 

complicate control this pathogen. poster 

Glawe, Dean A. 1 * and Laursen, Gary A. 2 1 Puyallup Res. and Ext. Cent., Washington 

State Univ., 7612 Pioneer Way E., Puyallup, WA 98371-4998, USA, 2 Inst. 

of Arctic Biology, P.O. Box 756100, 305A Bunnell Bldg., Fairbanks, AK 99775, 

USA. glawe@wsu.edu. Erysiphales of extreme environments: Subarctic powdery 

mildews in interior Alaska. 

With an area of more than 1.5 million square kilometers and six large physiographic/ 

climatic regions, Alaska includes extraordinary geographic, climatic, 

and ecologic diversity. The occurrence of some species of obligately parasitic 

powdery mildew fungi (Erysiphales) in Alaska is noted in Amano’s book on their 

global distribution and host ranges, and in Braun’s world taxonomic monograph. 

However, there is almost no information available on the distribution, biology, or 

ecological relationships of Erysiphales within Alaska, particularly that assesses 

and compares such phenomena across the six different regions of the state. In 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

2004, we began a study of Alaskan Erysiphales focusing initially on subarctic 

Erysiphales occurring in interior Alaska. Results of work thus far completed suggest 

that the diversity of Erysiphales in the region has been underestimated, both 

on native and introduced hosts. Consistent with Amano’s and Braun’s accounts, 

Sphaerotheca and Erysiphe (sensu lato) included most of the species collected. 

Species can differ significantly in host specificity, ranging from those associated 

with a single host genus to those occurring on hosts in multiple plant families. 

Teleomorphs appeared to be formed earlier and more consistently than is the case 

in the same or similar species observed in coastal Washington State where 

anamorphs frequently over-winter. Life cycles of Erysiphales in interior Alaska 

may be adapted for short growing seasons, reminiscent of the case in rust fungi 

occurring in similar regions. Some species, such as Microsphaera palczewskii appear 

to be recent arrivals on introduced host plants, while species occurring on native 

Salix, Vaccinium, and other host species appear ubiquitous and long-established. 

Observed associations included those of the powdery mildew fungus and 

host, but also powdery mildew-powdery mildew [coinfection of Alnus crispa by 

Microsphaera (Erysiphe) alni and Phyllactinia guttata], and powdery mildew 

fungus-mycoparasite (several Erysiphales species were found infected by Ampelomyces 

quisqualis). Alaska is expected to undergo profound ecological 

changes during the next century as a result of global warming. As climate change 

occurs, altered host distributions likely will affect significantly the distributions, 

life histories, and ecology of Erysiphales. It will be important to establish baseline 

information on the distribution and behavior of Erysiphales in the region in order 

to understand the effects of climate change on these fungi and their hosts, and to 

determine whether they may be used as indicators of change. Because of their superficial 

growth habit, relatively easy detection, and varied host relationships, 

Erysiphales may provide useful model systems for studying how plant-fungus interactions 

will be affected by climate change in extreme environs at high latitudes. 


Gomi, Katsuya. Lab. of Bioindustrial Genomics, Graduate School of Agricultural 

Science, Tohoku University, 1-1, Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi, Aoba-ku, 

Sendai 981-8555, Japan. gomi@biochem.tohoku.ac.jp. Recent developments in 

recombinant protein production by a filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. 

Aspergillus oryzae is an industrially important filamentous fungus in the 

Orient, especially in Japan, since it has been used for sake, soy sauce, and soybean 

paste manufacturing for more than a thousand years. In addition, A. oryzae has 

also been used for production of various commercial enzymes for food processing. 

Because of its safety proved by the long history of extensive use in food industries 

and its high capability of protein secretion, A. oryzae has been attracting 

much attention for a suitable host organism for industrial production of heterologous 

proteins. Actually, alkaline lipase of Thermomyces lanuginosus has been industrially 

produced by an A. oryzae recombinant strain. However, the amount of 

heterologous proteins produced has not been comparable to those of homologous 

or fungal proteins. To date, many attempts have been done to improve the productivity 

of foreign proteins in Aspergilli, and yield improvement has been accomplished 

mainly by the introduction of multiple copies of expressed genes, the 

use of strong promoters, and gene fusions to own well-secreted proteins. Recently, 

codon optimization of the foreign gene resulted in significant increase in secreted 

non-fungal protein yield caused by the increased mRNA level. This strategy 

may lead to stabilize heterologous mRNA. In addition to stability of mRNA, 

alternations in 5’-untranslated region of the gene to be expressed had a considerably 

beneficial effect on the translation efficiency owing presumably to promotion 

of translation initiation of the gene. Moreover, since degradation of heterologous 

proteins has been recognized to be caused by the action of own proteases, 

molecular genetically modified strains deficient in proteases have been constructed 

and the use of them has resulted in increased heterologous protein levels. symposium 

presentation 

Goto, Yasuhiko 1 *, Ando, Yoko 1 , Maruyama, Kokichi 1 , Sasaki, Hiromi 1 , Masai, 

Toshiro 2 , Orihara, Takamichi 2 , Shimono, Yoshito 2 , Fukiharu, Hiroko 3 and Osaku, 

Koichi 3 . 1 The Mycologist Circle of Japan, c/o Y. Goto, Abiko, Chiba, 270-1175 

Japan, 2 The Yokin-no-Kai, c/o K. Matsumura, Egawa, Shimamoto, Osaka 618- 

0013, Japan, 3 The Chiba Mycological Club, c/o Natural History Museum & Institute 

Chiba, Aoba-cho, Chiba 260-8682, Japan. hattori@affrc.go.jp. Poisonous 

mushrooms in Japan: their taxonomy, toxicology and folklore. 

In many regions of Japan, people enjoy hunting wild edible mushrooms. 

Certain regions have ‘professional mushroom hunters’ and wild mushrooms are 

sold in local markets. On the other hand, poisonous mushrooms are occasionally 

eaten accidentally in Japan. In 2004, it was repeatedly reported that people undergoing 

kidney dialyses suffered serious encephalitis after eating Pleurocybella porrigens, 

that was supposed to be an edible mushroom and frequently eaten in certain 

areas of Japan. Some poisonous species such as Amanita ibotengutake, Boletus 

rhodocarpus and B. venenatus, are recently described from Japan. An undescribed 

species of Tylopilus was revealed to contain a deadly poison in 2002. Additionally, 

several poisonous species were originally described from Japan: Clitocybe 

acromelalga, Galerina fasciculata, Omphalotus guepiniformis (= Lampteromyces 

japonicus), and Russula subnigricans. We introduce the above species in addition 

to other important poisonous mushrooms, discussing their taxonomy, toxicology 

and folklore, and exhibit color photographs from the field. poster 


Gotou, Takanobu*, Mizuno, Seiichi, Shinoda, Tadashi, Ohki, Kohji and Yamamoto, 

Naoyuki. Calpis Co., Ltd.,11-10, Fuchinobe 5chome, Sagamihara-shi, 

Kanagawa 229-0006, Japan. takanobu.gotou@calpis.co.jp. Purification of proteolytic 

enzymes from Aspergillus oryzae needed in processing of antihypertensive 

peptide, Ile-Pro-Pro, in casein hydrolysis. 

Recently, a method to prepare antihypertensive peptides, Val-Pro-Pro and 

Ile-Pro-Pro from casein was newly developed with Aspergillus oryzae protease. 

However, there is no information about key enzymes which play important roles 

in the processing of the two peptides in A. oryzae protease. Therefore, we tried to 

identify proteinases and peptidases which can catalyze the processing of Ile-Pro- 

Pro from A. oryzae protease in the present study. We purified two types of proteolytic 

enzymes needed in the processing of Ile-Pro-Pro from A. oryzae extract by 

three steps of chromatographies. One of the enzymes that hydrolyze casein had an 

identical N-terminal amino acid sequence to that of Neutral protease I. The other 

enzyme had a similar N-terminal amino acid sequence to Leucine aminopeptidase 

reported from Aspergillus sojae. Ile-Pro-Pro was processed from casein by adding 

of these purified two enzymes but not by single enzyme. From these results, importance 

of these two enzymes of A. oryzae protease in processing of Ile-Pro-Pro 

was suggested. poster 

Grubisha, Lisa C.* and Bruns, Thomas D. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 

111 Koshland, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. 

grubishl@nature.berkeley.edu. High levels of genetic differentiation are detected 

within island populations in two sympatric Rhizopogon species. 

We are investigating the relationship between genetic and geographic structure 

in two sympatric species of Rhizopogon on two of the California Channel Islands. 

R. vulgaris and R. occidentalis are hypogeous, ectomycorrhizal fungi associated 

with pines. Spore dispersal is by mammals that consume fruiting bodies, 

thus dispersal should be restricted by geographic barriers and distance between 

populations. R. vulgaris and R. occidentalis were sampled from native pine populations 

on Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island. Results from analysis of microsatellite 

data reveal that in both species populations separated by very short distances 

can exhibit a high degree of genetic differentiation if intervening areas do 

not contain suitable habitat. Within Santa Cruz Island, populations of both species 

showed a high degree of structure even though they were only separated by 11- 

18 km. Physical barriers, such as the lack of pines and a large dry valley, separated 

these populations, that were located on two mountain ranges. On Santa Rosa 

Island, R. occidentalis populations have extremely low levels of gene diversity 

possibly resulting from a bottleneck. These results are consistent with the idea that 

in isolated pine populations gene flow between populations of these fungi is restricted 

by the movement of the mammals that disperse their spores. contributed 

presentation 

Gueidan, Cécile* and Lutzoni, François. Department of Biology, Duke University, 

Box 90338, Durham NC 27708, USA. cg19@duke.edu. Molecular phylogeny 

of the Verrucariales (Fungi, Ascomycota) and the evolution of nutritional 

modes in the Chaetothyriomycetidae. 

Verrucariales is a poorly studied order of mostly rock-dwelling lichenized 

ascomycetes, found in varied habitats ranging from marine and fresh water to dry 

environments. Phylogenetic relationships among members of Verrucariales are 

mostly unknown and the morphology-based classification has never been tested 

with molecular data. The first goal of this project is to reconstruct a multilocus 

phylogeny for this order. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies showed the Verrucariales 

as sister to the Chaetothyriales. These two orders share a most common 

ancestor with members of the order Pyrenulales. Together, these three orders are 

recognized as forming the subclass Chaetothyriomycetidae. The order 

Chaetothyriales is strictly non-lichenized, whereas the orders Verrucariales and 

Pyrenulales contain both lichenized and non-lichenized taxa. The order Verrucariales 

includes non-lichenized taxa living on lichens as parasites, commensals or 

saprobes (lichenicolous fungi). The diversity of lifestyles within these three orders 

provides evidence that host-switches and changes in nutritional habits occurred 

frequently. The second goal of this project is to reconstruct ancestral states to test 

if lichenicolous lichens and fungi were transitional stages between mutualism and 

parasitism. contributed presentation 

Hallen, Heather E.* and Trail, Frances. Department of Plant Biology, Michigan 

State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. hallenhe@msu.edu. Examination 

of sexual development in Gibberella zeae using Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays. 

Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) is the causal agent of 

Fusarium head blight, a serious disease of wheat and other cultivated crops. We 

have developed a genome-wide Affymetrix GeneChip microarray of Gibberella 

zeae. Our lab has used the first-generation GeneChips to investigate sexual development 

in vitro. We sampled from zero-hour (0H) vegetative hyphae, 24H 

wide dikaryotic hyphae, 48H unpigmented perithecial initials, 72 and 96H immature 

perithecia, and mature perithecia with ascospores (144H) (time points refer to 

time following induction of sexual development). We have performed from three 

to five biological replicates per time point; additionally, we have begun sampling 


the corresponding growth stages in planta. While analysis is still at an early stage, 

we have been able to identify several clusters of differentially regulated genes. We 

are particularly interested in genes that are upregulated during sexual development, 

and are focussing our further research efforts on these genes. poster 

Hallen, Heather E.*, Guenther, John C. and Trail, Frances. Department of Plant 

Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. hallenhe@msu.edu. 

Two novel mutants in Gibberella zeae affect ascospore development 

and discharge. 

Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) infects wheat, corn 

and numerous other crop plants to inflict substantial economic losses worldwide. 

The primary inoculum is the ascospore, forcibly discharged from perithecia developed 

on crop debris. Consequently, ascospore discharge is of considerable interest 

in understanding the disaese cycle of this fungus. We have been investigating 

the role of ion channels in ascospore discharge by performing targeted gene 

knockouts. Recently, we have generated two mutants which affect ascospore development 

and discharge. One produces apparently normal perithecia and asci, 

but lacks ascospores. Meiosis and reduction division apparently take place within 

the ascus, but spores are not fully developed. The second mutant produces ascospores 

but does not discharge them. The perithecia are considerably drier than 

wild type. contributed presentation 

Hambleton, Sarah 1 *, Seifert, Keith A. 1 , Nickerson, Nancy L. 2 , and Hill-Rackette, 

Grace 3 . 1 Biodiversity Theme (Mycology & Botany), Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6 Canada, 2 Biodiversity Theme (Mycology & 

Botany), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5 

Canada, 3 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. hambletons@agr.gc.ca. 

Chlamydosporic ascomycetes: an examination of relationships and variation 

among taxa with minimal or reduced morphology. 

Many fungi isolated from soil produce thick-walled, melanized, resistant 

structures called ‘aleurioconidia’ or ‘chlamydospores.’ Some isolates also produce 

synanamorphs that facilitate identification, but others are simply described 

as humicola- or trichocladium-like on the basis of brown aleurioconidia produced 

laterally or terminally on minimally differentiated conidiophores. Our recent studies 

of fungi isolated from soil and plant roots recovered a number of chlamydosporic 

taxa that were distinct according to analyses of SSU and ITS rDNA sequences. 

Some were identified (eg. Humicolopsis) while others await names, or 

are newly described based on results of detailed morphological studies and comparisons 

with known genera of chlamydosporic fungi, including Thermomyces, 

Humicola and Trichocladium. Characters of the colony, conidium (germ pores, 

septation, ornamentation), conidium ontogeny, and synanamorph were useful for 

differentiating new taxa. Chlamydospore production was inconsistent among isolates 

and sometimes required special incubation conditions. Analyses of new and 

existing sequence data highlighted the diverse phylogenetic relationships of these 

fungi allied to four Classes of Ascomycota. In some cases, closely related sequences 

from GenBank were for unnamed root-associated fungi. ITS data suggest 

that Humicola is a synonym of Trichocladium. contributed presentation 

Gowland, Kelli M. 1,2 , Clements, Mark A. 2 , and Nicotra, Adrienne 1 . 1 School of 

Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia; 

2 Center for Plant Biodiversity Research, CSIRO, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, 

ACT 2601, Australia. kelli.gowland@csiro.au. Detecting bias in host and 

fungal associates of three epiphytic Aeridinae orchids of Australia 

An epiphyte is an organism that utilizes another organism as a substrate 

upon which to live. Epiphytes derive no direct benefit from, nor do they confer 

any direct benefit to their host, thus most epiphytes are not host specific. Despite 

this, research on three epiphytic Aeridinae orchids of eastern Australia uncovered 

non-random distribution patterns within four disparate field sites. Two of the orchids, 

Sarcochilus olivaceous and Plectorrhiza tridentata, exhibited distinct host 

species preferences. All orchids depend upon a mycorrhizal fungus to germinate, 

thus it is intuitive that the host bias reflects a non-random fungal distribution. To 

test this hypothesis Rhizoctonia-like fungi were isolated from orchid roots from 

two field sites, pure cultures were obtained and the nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences 

of these isolates determined. The results suggest that these fungi are neither 

restricted to particular species of woody plants, nor to the different sites. 

They also demonstrate that these orchids associate with distinct clades of Ceratobasidium 

fungi and that their fungal associates correlate strongly with their ecological 

preferences. poster 

Hanlin, Richard T. 1 * and González, Maria C. 21 Department of Plant Pathology, 

University of Georgia, Athens, Ga, 30602-7274, USA, 2 Departamento de Botanica, 

Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de 

Mexico 04510, Mexico. mcgv@ibiologia.unam.mx. Fungal Philately. 

Fungal Philately, the collecting of postage stamps, is one of the most popular 

hobbies in the world. Postal services in many countries take advantage of this 

by designing stamps that will appeal to collectors, as well as serve their primary 

function as postage. For some smaller countries, the sale of postage stamps to collectors 

represents a significant percentage of their national income. The majority 

of philatelists are general collectors, but many others are thematic, or topical, col- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

lectors, concentrating on stamps with a particular theme, such as birds, animals, 

flowers, etc. One such topic is mushrooms and other fungi. The first postage 

stamps depicting mushrooms were issued by Romania in 1958. Since then, about 

160 countries have issued over 2,500 stamps depicting some 700 species of fungi. 

A notable exception is the USA. This number does not include souvenir sheets 

that have been produced by many countries. Amanita muscaria is the most common 

mushroom found on stamps, followed by A. caesarea, A. phalloides and A. 

pantherina. Other frequent genera include Agaricus, Cantharellus, Coprinus, Hygrocybe, 

Lactarius, Macrolepiota and Russula. Boletus edulus is the most common 

bolete. Among the ascomycetes, Morchella esculenta is most common, 

along with a few cup fungi and Xylaria species. Most groups of fungi are represented 

by at least one stamp, including rusts, smuts, polypores, slime molds, 

lichens and hyphomycetes, especially Penicillium notatum, which is often shown 

with Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin. poster 

Hanna, John W. 1,2 *, Klopfenstein, Ned B. 1 , Kim, Mee-Sook 1 , McDonald, Geral 

I. 1 and Moore, James, A. 2 1 USDA Forest Service-RMRS, 1221 South Main 

Street, Moscow, ID 83843, USA, 2 Dept. of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, 

Moscow, ID 83844, USA. jhanna@fs.fed.us. Phylogeographic structure of 

Armillaria ostoyae in the western United States. 

Direct-PCR was used to obtain sequences of nuclear rDNA regions (large 

subunit, internal transcribed spacer including 5.8S, and intergenic spacer) from 

Armillaria ostoyae genets collected in the western USA. Many genets contained 

heterogeneous sequences that indicate intragenomic variation and/or intraspecific 

hybridization. Intragenomic variation in rDNA regions was verified with the application 

of specific internal primers and visual analysis of sequence chromatograms. 

Bayesian inference methods defined three phylogenetic groups. Two 

phylogeographic groups were associated with the Rocky Mountain and Pacific 

Northwest regions of the USA. Additional analysis of A. ostoyae from outside the 

western USA indicates the presence of a circumboreal group with representation 

in Utah, USA. Individual genets containing heterogeneous sequence combinations 

from multiple groups were common in some geographic regions. Analysis 

of phylogeographic structure among these groups and hybrids allows for conjecture 

of paleogeographic and paleoclimatic influences. Hypothetically, groups may 

have physically converged after long-term geographic isolation. Subsequent hybridization 

events may have influenced evolution and contributed to variation in 

ecological behavior of Armillaria species. contributed presentation 

Hasebe, Nobukatsu 1 , Henkel, Terry W. 1 and Stephenson, Steven L. 2 1 Department 

of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95512, 

USA, 2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

Arkansas 72701, USA. nhqri@earthlink.net. Myxomycete communities of the 

Upper Potaro River, Pakaraima Mountains, Guyana. 

Myxomycete diversity in the rain forests of the Upper Potaro River area of 

Guyana’s Pakaraima Mountains was investigated. Data from field collections and 

moist-chamber cultures of bark, aerial and ground substrata collected along transects 

in mixed and Dicymbe monodominant forests are discussed with respect to 

myxomycete distribution and microhabitats in the two forests. Putatively new 

species of Lamproderma are examined, and new distributional records for species 

in several genera are discussed. poster 

Hasegawa, Eri 1 *, Ota, Yuko 1 and Ito, Susumu 2 . 1 Forestry and Forest Products Research 

Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan, 2 157-62 Tsutsui-Yatsuhashi, 

Aomori 030-0944, Japan. haseg@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Armillaria isolated from 

herbaceous plant roots. 

We attempted to detect Armillaria on plants in abandoned rice fields in Aomori 

Prefecture, Japan. Sampling sites were seasonally inundated, though wet all 

year. Soil blocks containing plants were removed from the ground, the soil was 

washed off with water, and isolations were attempted from underground plant 

parts. Armillaria sp. was isolated from herbaceous plant species including Carex 

spp. The fungus was isolated from living roots 3-18 cm below ground, but not 

from rhizomes or dead roots. No mycelial mats or rhizomorphs were observed on 

roots. Host plants were not wilted or yellowed, and did not show other symptoms. 

There were no trees or bushes in the sampling sites and soil samples did not contain 

tree roots. The fact that Armillaria inhabits living roots of herbaceous plants 

other than achlorophyllous orchids without causing disease symptoms indicates 

new ecological characteristics of the fungus. poster 

Hashimoto, Yasushi 1 *, Kunishi, Ayako 1 and Hasegawa, Shigeaki 2 . 1 Agro-environmental 

Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, 

Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan, 2 Graduate School of Environmental 

Earth Science, Hokkaido University, N10W5, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060- 

0810, Japan. yhashi@obihiro.ac.jp. Interspecific C transfers from Larix 

kaempferi Carr. to Pyrola incarnata Fischer by way of mycorrhizal fungi. 

Our knowledge of the function of Pyrola mycorrhizas in forest ecosystems 

has been limited. To confirm the interspecific C transfer from Larix kaempferi to 

Pyrola incarnata by way of mycorrhizal fungi, 13C tracer studies were performed. 

We fed 13CO 2 to L. kaempferi and measured the excess atom% of 13C 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

in P. incarnata in experimental pots containing both plants species with field soil. 

To identify the mycorrhizal fungi, both plants mycorrhizas were collected from 

the experimental pots and compared for restriction fragment length polymorphisms 

(RFLP) of the amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in nuclear 

rDNA and ITS sequences. In the experimental pots, significant levels of 13C were 

detected from leaves of P. incarnata. Furthermore, the results on PCR-RFLP and 

ITS sequences suggested the same species of fungi were colonized on both mycorrhizal 

roots of P. incarnata and L. kaempferi that were collected from the experimental 

pots. One of those fungi was identified as Thelephora terrestris by ITS 

sequence. These results indicate that there are interspecific C transfer from L. 

kaempferi to P. incarnata via their common ectomycorrhizal and Pyrola mycorrhizal 

hyphal connection. poster 

Hatai, Kishio 1 , Muraosa, Yasunori 1 , Morimoto, Kyoko 1 , Sano, Ayaka 2 , Nishimura, 

Kazuko 2 and Fujimoto, Kayo 3 . 1 Division of Fish Diseases, Nippon Veterinary 

and Animal Science University, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan, 2 Research 

Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University, Chiba 

260-8673, Japan, 3 Chiba Prefectural Fisheries Research Center, Chiba 295-0024, 

Japan. hatai@scan-net.ne.jp. A new fungus isolated from abalone with white 

nodules in Japan. 

In January 2004, some abalones died from an infection after being imported 

from South Africa. Several moribund abalones of about 64 g in body weight 

were examined. White nodules were present on the surface of the body parts. A 

lower fungus was observed in the nodules under the microscope. To isolate the 

fungus, a part of nodule was inoculated onto PYGS agar containing streptomycin 

sulfate and ampicillin. After three days on incubation at 15C,a single fungus was 

observed growing on the plates that appeared similar to the fungus first observed 

under the microscope. The fungus (a strain, NJM 0451) grew well at 15C, but not 

at 30C. The fungus was obligate marine fungus, because it only grew on the 

PYGS agar. The fungus looked like the fungi of the order Lagenidiales from some 

morphological characteristics. Namely, the shape of zoosporangium was like the 

middle between the genera Halocrusticida and Haliphthoros. The zoospores were 

released from the top of discharge tubes developed from a zoosporangium. The 

size of zoospores was bigger than that of the two genera. The phylogenic tree inferred 

from 18S rDNA partial sequence using the isolate NJM 0451 and some related 

fungi showed that the isolate NJM 0451 was a new genus in the order Lagenidiales. 

poster 

Hattori, Tsutomu. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba 305- 

8687, Japan. hattori@affrc.go.jp. Overview of fungal diversity studies in 

Japan: toward the establishment of a new RDB. 

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (ME) published the first comprehensive 

red data book (RDB) of non-vascular plants, including 91 species of 

fungi, in 2000. It was great first step in fungal conservation, but several common 

species were involved in the list while some important, rare ones were missed. 

ME plans to revise the red list (RL) every 5 years and the RDB every 10 years, 

and has organized the Committee for Selection and Evaluation of Threatened 

Wildlife of Japan to propose a revised RL in late 2006. For revision of the RL, the 

mycology team under the Committee listed macrofungi whose occurrences and/or 

known distribution are extremely limited, or whose occurrences are restricted to 

environments or hosts that are extremely reduced or undergoing reduction. Mapping 

of the listed fungi in addition to those in the last RDB is now in process in 

cooperation with amateur mycologists from various areas of the country. Some 

other research activities may enhance the scientific values of RLs and RDBs. 

Some mycological clubs are recording occurrences of macrofungi in certain sites 

over the long-term. Such activities are expected to result in complete species lists 

at the local level, while detecting chronosequential reductions of certain species at 

the sites. There are already some inventories of host and environmental ranges of 

some taxa in certain regions. Such information should be collected for the establishment 

of a comprehensive ecological catalog of fungi. Some mycologists are 

currently monitoring some rare fungi intensively to detect their distribution, as 

well as environments and hosts on which they depend. symposium presentation 

Hattori, Tsutomu. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba 305- 

8687, Japan. hattori@affrc.go.jp. Host recurrence among wood-inhabiting 

Aphyllophoraceous fungi in a cool temperate area of Japan. 

In order to reveal host recurrences among wood-inhabaiting Aphyllophoraceous 

fungi, I established a 200 x 300 m plot at an old growth forest in a cool temperate 

area of Japan, and recorded fungi within the plot. I marked all the course 

woody debris (CWD) ? 20 cm in diameter within the plot. I recorded DBH or 

basal diameter, tree species, and fungal species occurred on each CWD. Decay 

class was also recorded for each CWD belonging to three major tree genera in the 

forest, Quercus, Castanea and Fagus. To test for host recurrence of the fungi, I 

calculated the probability (P) of observing ? the recorded number of a particular 

species on the most frequently occurred host tree genus. The following species 

were restricted on Quercus and Castanea: Daedalea dickinsii, Hymenochaete rubiginosa, 

Melanoporia castanea, Piptoporus soloniensis, Xylobolus frustulatus. 

The following species showed high recurrence on Fagus spp. (P

Maryland 20705, USA, 3 1089 A Street, Arcata, California 95521, USA, 

4 Kanawapai Village, Upper I, Guyana. twh5@humboldt.edu. Edible mushrooms 

used by the Patamona Amerindians of Guyana. 

Mushrooms are a seasonally important food for the indigenous Patamona 

Amerindians of the rain-forested Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. In collaboration 

with the Patamona, we have documented at least 17 species of edible fleshy 

fungi. The majority of these fungi are undescribed species, and many are ectomycorrhizal 

associates of leguminous Dicymbe spp. (Caesalpiniaceae). A number 

of these fungi belong to groups that are infrequently collected for the table by 

North Americans (e.g., Clavulinaceae, Sarcoscyphaceae, Amanitaceae) whereas 

groups which contain highly prized culinary mushrooms by north temperate standards 

(e.g., Cantharellaceae) are shunned by the Patamona. The Patamona have 

incorporated mushrooms into their pantheon of edible wild foods. The breadth of 

wild organisms in other taxonomic groups (e.g. vertebrates, invertebrates, plants) 

used by the subsistence Patamona is wide, and mushrooms appear to play a seasonally 

important dietary role. Ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with regionallyrestricted 

Dicymbe spp. present a unique fungal resource to the Patamona, previously 

unrecorded in Amazonian ethnomycology. The fact that not all locally 

available edible mushrooms are utilized by the Patamona may reflect the evolving 

state of their knowledge regarding mushrooms, in which known edible species 

are condoned and others remain unknown, and therefore taboo. poster 

Henkel, Terry W. 1 *, James, Tim Y. 2 , Miller, Steven L. 3 , Aime, M. Catherine 4 and 

Miller, Orson K., Jr. 5 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, 

Arcata, CA 95521, USA, 2 Department of Biology, Duke University, 

Durham, NC 27708, USA, 3 Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, 

Laramie, WY, USA, 4 USDA-ARS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, 

Beltsville, MD, USA, 5 Virginia Polytechnic & St. University, P.O. Box 858, Mc- 

Call ID 83638, USA. twh5@humboldt.edu. The mycorrhizal status of Pseudotulostoma 

volvata (Elaphomycetaceae, Eurotiales, Ascomycota). 

Pseudotulostoma volvata O.K. Mill. & T. W. Henkel is a morphologically 

unusual member of the otherwise hypogeous Elaphomycetaceae due to its epigeous 

habit, and its spore-bearing mazaedium borne on an elevated stalk at maturity. 

Field observations and plot studies in Guyana indicated that P. volvata was 

restricted to tropical rain forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EM) Dicymbe 

corymbosa Spruce ex Benth. (Caesalpiniaceae), suggesting an EM nutritional 

mode for the fungus. An EM status for P. volvata would corroborate its placement 

in the ectotrophic Elaphomycetaceae. Here we confirm the EM status of P. volvata 

with a combination of morphological, molecular, and mycosociological data. 


Herrera, Jose*, Omodon, Melvin E. and Dillavou, Clayton. Division of Science, 100 

E. Normal, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA. jherrera@truman.edu. 

Assessment of fungal infection on borate-treated cellulose insulation. 

Cellulose insulation has rapidly gained a large market share among home 

builders and buyers. Recent concern regarding health effects of high concentrations 

of fungi within indoor environments (“sick building syndrome”) has promoted 

concern about susceptibility of building materials including wood products 

(in general), and cellulose insulation (specifically) to fungal attack. This study reports 

a decrease or absence of fungal infection in cellulose insulation made from 

recycled paper and treated with varying concentrations of sodium polyborate 

(Boron 10TM; CAS # 183290-63-3) within ?-scale wall units exposed to variable 

and high ambient temperatures and relative humidities throughout the summer. 

Our results suggest that cellulose insulation treated with sodium polyborate almost 

completely eliminated five common fungal species sprayed onto cellulose 

within the wall units and is likely having a cytotoxic or sporocidal effect on many, 

if not all, fungal species. These results suggest that cellulose insulation treated 

with sodium polyborate, when properly applied and installed, is resistant to fungal 

infection for at least 124d at high temperatures and relative humidities. poster 

Hibbett, David S.* and Costanzo, Janine. Biology Department, Clark University, 

Worcester MA 01610, USA. dhibbett@black.clarku.edu. Measuring fungal discovery: 

a survey of recent progress in the homobasidiomycetes. 

Fungal systematists face the daunting challenge of describing all the species 

of the Mycota on Earth. Fungal ecologists have traditionally been consumers of 

taxonomic research, which provides them with tools for identification. In recent 

years, however, fungal molecular ecologists have started to make their own unique 

contributions to the discovery of biodiversity. We are surveying depositions of ITS 

and nuc-lsu rDNA sequences of homobasidiomycetes to GenBank in an attempt to 

quantify the acquisition of sequences, and the contribution of environmental studies 

to the discovery of new species. There are about 8000 homobasidiomycete ITS 

sequences in GenBank, of which 96% were deposited since 1998. In 2004, about 

660 ITS sequences of homobasidiomycetes were deposited, and 11% of these were 

from environmental studies. About 10% of the environmental sequences were less 

than 90% identical to sequences that were in GenBank at the time that they were 

deposited. Data for nuc-lsu rDNA are comparable. To complete the catalog of extant 

fungal diversity, it will be necessary to integrate the data emerging from environmental 

studies with those produced by traditional taxonomy. This will require 

new phyloinformatics tools, as well as changed attitudes about the requirements for 

species description. contributed presentation 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Higgins, K. Lindsay 1 *, Arnold, A. Elizabeth 1,2 , Miadlikowska, Jolanta 1 and Lutzoni, 

François 1 . 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, 

USA 2 Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Department of Plant Sciences, 

University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. klh15@duke.edu. Diversity, 

species composition, and evolution of fungal endophytes across three 

major plant lineages. 

Although associated with all plants, fungal endophytes represent an unknown 

proportion of fungal diversity, and little is known about the phylogenetic 

affinity of these symbiotic microfungi. To date, most surveys of endophytes associated 

with foliage have focused on the temperate zone, such that boreal and 

arctic endophytes are poorly known. We used a culture-based approach to survey 

endophytic fungi from healthy photosynthetic tissues of three host species (Huperzia 

sp., Picea mariana, and Dryas octopetala) representing three major lineages 

of land plants (lycophytes, conifers, and angiosperms, respectively) in boreal 

and arctic sites. Phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear large and small ribosomal 

subunits (LSUrDNA, SSUrDNA) were used to examine the diversity, phylogenetic 

placement, and host affinity of forty-six endophyte species, which represented 

all major lineages of nonlichenized, filamentous Ascomycota. Special 

focus was placed on endophytes which, based on preliminary BLAST searches of 

nrITS data, appeared to represent the Dothideomycetidae, a lineage of particular 

interest because it contains endophytes as well as many plant pathogens. Together, 

these data provide evidence for greater than expected diversity of endophytes 

at high-latitude sites, and provide a framework for assessing the evolution of these 

poorly known but ubiquitous symbionts of living plants. poster 

Hirooka, Yuuri*, Kobayashi, Takao and Natsuaki, Keiko, T. Lab. of Tropical 

Plant Protection, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1, Sakuragaoka, Setagayaku, 

Tokyo 156-8502, Japan. 70040001@nodai.ac.jp. Re-examination of Nectria 

sensu lato in Japan. 

Bionectria (Ascomycetes, Hypocreales) has white to yellow perithecia, 1septete 

ascospores and Clonostachys anamorph. In Japanese mycoflora, this 

genus includes B. bysicola, B. capitata, B. compactiuscula, B. epichloë, B. oblongispora, 

B. ochroleuca and B. pseudostriata. In this study, one new species of 

Bionectria sp. h116 and its anamorph Clonostachys sp. h116 on dead twigs were 

collected in Okinawa and Kagoshima Pref. Surface of ascospore was warts 

arranged in striate. Present taxa, Bionectria species with warts arranged in striate 

was only B. pseudostriata Schroers (Anamorph: C. pseudostriata Schroers) from 

Schroers (2001). However, Bionectria sp. h116 and its anamorph differed from B. 

pseudostriata (Anamorph: C. pseudostriata) in the surface structure of perithecia 

[warted vs. smooth], color of perithecia [whitish-orange vs. orange-brown to 

brown], size of ascospores [15-21 X 5-7.5 µm vs. 9-17 X 3-6 µm], and size of 

conidia [3-16 X 2-4 µm vs. 3.6-8 X 2-3.8 µm]. This species belongs to the subgenus 

Bionectria (Schroers 2001). Two other species of this genus also have been 

collected from Japan for the first time; B. grammicospora Schroers & Samuels 

(Anamorph: C. grammicospora Schroers & Samuels) in Miyagi Pref. and B. 

sporodochialis Schroers (Anamorph: C. sporodochialis Schroers) in various parts 

of Japan. poster 

Hirose, Dai. Graduate school of life and environmental science, University of 

Tsukuba, Sugadaira Montane Research Center, Sugadaira, Nagano 386-2201, 

Japan. daihiro@sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp. Ecology of ectomycorrhizal fungi: 

population structure and biogeography. 

Population structures of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in various ecosystems 

have been studied extensively using molecular ecological methods. These 

studies have showed the propagation manners of various ECM fungi in natural 

ecosystems. It is important to select a proper fungal species in studying the population 

of ECM fungi, since a host tree is always associated with diverse ECM 

fungi. We have studied the ecology of Suillus pictus which colonizes and forms 

ectomycorrhizas on fine roots of Japanese five-needled pine species. This fungus 

is suitable for the study of population ecology of ECM fungi. The reasons are as 

follows. (1) It is a dominant ECM fungus colonizing on fine roots of the pine 

species, (2) forms macroscopic tubercle mycorrhizas which can be easily identified 

and isolated, and (3) has a narrow host range in nature like as other Suillus 

spp. that have been widely studied from ecological and ecophysiological view 

points. In addition, the host pines are distributed in relatively high altitude places 

in isolation in Japan. We studied following subjects on this fungus: (1) its host 

range in experimental conditions, (2) distribution pattern in a plantation stand, (3) 

population structures in natural forest stands, and (4) comparison of local populations 

in Japan. Based on the results of these studies, we discuss ecological characteristics 

of S. pictus, and its biogeography. symposium presentation 

Hirotoshi, Sato 1 *, Takakazu, Yumoto 2 and Noriaki, Murakami 1 . 1 Lab of Plant 

Taxonomy and Evolution, Department of Botany, Graduate School of Science, 

Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 

606-8502 Japan, 2 Research Institute of Humanity and Nature, National Institutes 

for the Humanities, Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, 335 

Takashima-cho, Marutamachi-dori Kawaramachi nishi-iru, Kyoto 602-0878, 

Japan. kuritake@fj8.so-net.ne.jp. Cryptic species and host specificity in the ec- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

tomycorrhizal genus Strobilomyces. 

The degree of host specificity is one of the most important factors when understanding 

symbiosis between ectomycorrhizal fungi and their host plants. It has 

been supposed that most of ectomycorrhizal fungi, especially tropical, subtropical 

or warm temperate fungi, lack host specificity and that common mycorrhizal networks 

are made among forest trees by sharing those generalist fungi. However, 

the species classification of fungus is very behind due to the scarcity of the useful 

morphological characters for taxonomy. Therefore, existence of cryptic species of 

ectomycorrhizal fungi might make us underestimate their host specificity. Nevertheless, 

few researches tried to examine this possibility so far. In this research, we 

tried to recognize cryptic species of the ectomycorrhizal genus Strobilomyces. Although 

low host specificity of the fungal genus was supposed, we found several 

races (possibly cryptic species) with high host specificity. We found 5 host specific 

races toward the plant subgenus Cyclobalanopsis (Quercus-Fagaceae) out 

of 11 races in Japanese every-green forests. The result of this research clarified 

that the underestimation of the host specificity in ectomycorrhizal fungi was made 

by the existence of cryptic species, and strongly suggests possibility that high host 

specificity of ectomycorrhizal fungi might be common. poster 

Hofstetter, Valérie 1 *, Gueidan, Cécile 1 , Reeb, Valérie 1 , Miadlikowska, Jolanta 1 

and Lutzoni, François 1 . 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708, USA. valh@duke.edu. Molecular phylogenetics of lichen-forming 

fungi: ribosomal genes versus protein-coding genes. 

The collaborative project, titled Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life 

(AFTOL), is sampling eight molecular regions (nSSU, nLSU, ITS, mtSSU, 

RPB2, RPB1, EF1-alpha and ATP6) for 1500 species to contribute toward a comprehensive 

phylogenetic hypothesis of the Fungi. The resolving power of ribosomal 

RNA genes and associated non-coding regions is fairly well understood 

throughout the ascomycete tree. However, only few studies have used proteincoding 

genes to infer phylogenetic relationships among lichen-forming fungi. The 

two multilocus phylogenetic studies that included a protein-coding gene for a 

broad taxon sampling across Ascomycota (Reeb et al., 2004; Lutzoni et al., 2004) 

have shown that RPB2 used in combination with ribosomal data recovered multiple 

deep relationships within Ascomycota that were never revealed previously, 

or were revealed with only low support values in prior studies. Here we present 

phylogenetic analyses for six of these eight loci, individually and in combination, 

across a large number of lichen-forming and allied fungal species. The resolving 

power of each locus will be assessed at different taxonomic levels, ranging from 

closely related species to taxa classified in different orders. Putative causes of inconsistencies 

among gene trees will be explored. The minimum combination of 

genes with the highest level of resolution and support will be investigated. We 

hope this study will form the foundation necessary to guide the selection of loci 

for future evolutionary studies on lichen-forming and allied ascomycetes. contributed 

presentation 

Honan, Amy H.* and Desjardin, Dennis E. Department of Biology, San Francisco 

State Univerisity, San Francisco CA 94132, USA. ahonan@sfsu.edu. A preliminary 

monograph of Tetrapyrgos based on morphology and ITS sequence data. 

The saprotrophic genus Tetrapyrgos (Basidiomycota, euagarics) currently 

consists of 16 species worldwide, two of which appear morphologically to be conspecific. 

Recent collecting trips have yielded over 100 specimens from Thailand, 

Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and California. These collections provide new reports 

of Tetrapyrgos and indicate two new species belonging to this genus. Morphological 

and molecular sequence data (ITS region) from the recent collections, type 

specimens, and other representative exsiccati are analyzed to delimit taxonomic 

relationships within this genus. poster 

Honda, Yoichi*, Watari, Junko, Sakatoku, Naofumi, Watanabe, Takahito and 

Watanabe, Takashi. Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, Japan 611-0011. 

yhonda@kuwri.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Cloning of gpd and construction of transforming 

vectors in Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. 

A selective white rot basidiomycete, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora is a 

promising microorganism effective as a biocatalyst to degrade plant cell wall 

lignin in industrial processes, including pulp and paper manufacture, and conversion 

of lignocellulosic biomass to various compounds. Extracellular oxidizing enzymes 

and metabolites have been the focus of intense research interests and the 

genes for these enzymes have been characterized. However, there is no report on 

development of DNA-mediated transformation in this fungus. In the present 

work, we successfully clone and characterize a gene encoding glyceraldehyde-3phosphate 

dehydrogenase from C. subvermispora and demonstrated the gene is 

actually expressed in the fungus. The expression of the gene was controlled by 

glucose in the medium. We also constructed transforming vector plasmids containing 

the promoter and terminator sequences from gpd gene combined to a hetrologous 

drug resistant marker gene such as hygromycin B phosophotransferase 

(hph) and bialaphos resisitance gene (bar). poster 

Hong, Soon Gyu 1 *, Halonen, Marilyn 2 and Pryor, Barry M. 1 1 Division of Plant 

Pathology, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 

85721, USA, 2 Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona HSC, Tucson, 

AZ 85724, USA. polypore@email.arizona.edu. Diversity of Alternaria species 


in the Sonoran Desert revealed by morphological, molecular, and immunological 

characterization. 

Alternaria is a major fungal allergen source and is strongly associated with 

the development of asthma, especially in children raised in desert environments. 

To examine the diversity of Alternaria species in the Sonoran Desert, molecular, 

morphological, and immunological characterizations were carried out for isolates 

recovered from soil and plant debris collected from urban and desert areas around 

Tucson, AZ. AFLP fingerprinting analysis revealed that most isolates clustered 

within the alternata species-group, which includes A. alternata, A. arborescens, 

and A. tenuissima. Isolates were divided into 16 clusters by the 70% similarity criteria, 

and showed considerable morphological diversity in conidium size, shape, 

and catenation. Groupings based upon morphological features were not strongly 

correlated with groupings based upon AFLP data. Allergens were detected by hybridization 

with serum from patients with or without asthma development and 

with either positive or negative skin prick test responses based upon standard Alternaria 

extracts. Six major allergens were shared by most isolates. In addition, 

some isolates had minor allergens which were shared by only a few isolates. 

Groupings by allergen profile were not strongly correlated with groupings by either 

morphology or AFLP data. contributed presentation 

Horn, Bruce W. National Peanut Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Dawson, 

GA 39842, USA. bhorn@nprl.usda.gov. Effect of fungal competition on the 

colonization of wounded peanut seeds by Aspergillus section Flavi from natural 

soil populations. 

The effect of fungal competition on the colonization of wounded peanut 

seeds by Aspergillus section Flavi species in soil was examined. Viable peanut 

seeds were wounded and inoculated with 20 soils differing in composition and 

density of Aspergillus species, then incubated for 14 d at 37 ºC (seed water activity 

= 0.92). Maximum percentages of seed colonization by section Flavi species 

were well below 100% despite high species densities in some soils. Furthermore, 

less than half of the viable propagules in soil at the wound site resulted in seed colonization 

by section Flavi species. Significant interactive effects (P < 0.0001) between 

soil densities of individual section Flavi species and potentially competing 

Aspergillus species (other section Flavi species and A. niger) suggest that competition 

is responsible for suppressing seed colonization by section Flavi species. 

Other fungal species were capable of invading peanut seeds only with soils from 

fallow fields and forested locations where the densities of section Flavi species 

and A. niger were low. poster 

Hosaka, Kentaro 1 *, Castellano, Michael A. 2 and Spatafora, Joseph W. 1 1 Dept. of 

Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, 

USA, 2 US Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA. 

hosakak@science.oregonstate.edu. Global biogeography of Hysterangiales 

(Basidiomycota): a Gondwanan origin? 

Hysterangiales is an order of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycota that forms 

truffle-like sporocarps. It is distributed globally, both in the Northern and Southern 

Hemispheres, but each species is restricted to well-defined areas of endemism. 

Truffle-like fungi are mostly assumed to be incapable of long distance dispersal 

as their spores are only spread via small animal mycophagy. Based on both the 

high occurrence of endemism and limited spore dispersal, we hypothesized that 

the distribution of the order may be strongly influenced by vicariance. Multigene 

phylogenies resolved 3 major clades within the order that are composed exclusively 

of the Southern Hemisphere taxa, and they form a basal paraphyly, supporting 

a Hysterangiales origin in the Southern Hemisphere. The results of ancestral 

area reconstructions are consistent with the hypothesis of an east 

Gondwanan, i.e. Australian, origin of the order. Although the topologies of some 

more terminal clades are consistent with vicariance (e.g., a sister relationship of 

New Zealand and New Caledonian taxa), some areas (e.g., Australia) are in several 

different subclades of the order, which is in conflict with a strict vicariant scenario. 

Based on these patterns, we propose an east Gondwanan origin and diversification 

of the order prior to the breakup of Pangaea followed by vicariance as 

well as several dispersal and/or extinction events. symposium presentation 

Hoshino, Tamotsu. Research Institute of Genome-Based Biofactory, National Research 

Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-17-2- 

1, Tsukisamu-higashi, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8517, Japan. tamotsu.hoshino@aist.go.jp. 

Ecophysiology of snow mold fungus, Typhula 

ishikariensis in the Arctic. 

Snow mold fungi are psychrophilic or psychrotrophic fungal pathogens of 

perennial grasses and winter cereals in the Northern Hemisphere. However, there 

are few records of those fungi in non-agricultural regions such as the Arctic. We 

attempted to find snow mold fungi, especially Typhula species (T. incarnata and 

T. ishikariensis) in the Arctic. Typhula ishikariensis was divided two genetic types 

as biological species I (BS-I) and II (BS-II) based on mating and morphological 

experiments. BS-I was widely distributed in Eurasia. However, the geographical 

distribution of BS-II was limited. We did not find BS-II between the Baltic countries 

and central Siberia. Dominant isolates of BS-I from the Arctic, such as from 

Greenland, have an optimum growth temperature at 4 o C and showed irregular 


growth at 10 o C on potato-dextrose agar medium (optimum growth temperature of 

typical strains of T. ishikariensis BS-I was 10 o C). However, dominant isolates 

from the Arctic had higher frost resistance than isolates from cool regions, such 

as from southern Norway. Results suggest that dominant isolates of T. ishikariensis 

in the Arctic lost growth ability at relatively high temperature (10 o C), but developed 

in frost resistance. The biological characteristics seen in ‘cold hardiness’ 

in Arctic isolates are important factors favoring ecological adaptation under Arctic 

environmental conditions. symposium presentation 

Hosoya, Tsuyoshi 1 * and Sakuma, Daisuke 2 . 1 National Science Museum, Tokyo, 

Japan, 2 Osaka Museum of Natural History, Osaka, Japan. hosoya@kahaku.go.jp. 

Current status of fungal inventory and database establishment in Japan. 

Due to regional broadening in the South and North, Japan embraces a wide 

diversity of organisms. Fungi are no exception. In spite of a relatively long history 

of mycobiota inventories in Japan, begun in 1905 (Shirai, 1905), much information 

remains to be added to the fungal inventory in Japan. Currently, the newest inventory 

of fungi in Japan is being edited by Dr. Katumoto, revising the most recent inventory 

by Hara (1954). Inventories require the mass accumulation of information, 

and advances in information technology and database software have contributed 

greatly to progress in this regard. To support such information, the preservation of 

specimens and appropriate curatorial works are required. The National Science 

Museum (TNS) is working on generating a database of its own specimens, but 

more extensive information based on fungal materials collected in a wide area of 

Japan, is required to support information on a wide diversity of Japanese mycobiotas. 

GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), an international project 

begun in 2002, has provided a good opportunity to integrate information of specimens 

kept in major mycological herbaria in Japan. Until now, some 23,000 records 

of fungal specimens have been archived, and can be accessed through the TNS 

homepage (http://svrsh2.kahaku.go.jp/fungal/). contributed presentation 

Hsieh, Huei-Mei 1 *, Ju, Yu-Ming 1 and Rogers, Jack D. 2 1 Institute of Botany, Academia 

Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan. 2 Department of Plant Pathology, 

Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6430, USA. monicah@gate.sinica.edu.tw. 

Molecular phylogeny of Hypoxylon and related genera. 

Sequences of two nuclear protein-encoding genes, beta-tubulin and actin, 

were selected to infer the phylogenetic relationships among the new genus Annulohypoxylon 

(formerly Hypoxylon sect. Annulata), Biscogniauxia, Daldinia, and 

Hypoxylon¡Xfour major xylariaceous genera with Nodulisporium or nodulisporium-like 

anamorphs. 109 cultures and 3 specimens of 83 taxa were included in the 

analyses, including 16 taxa of Annulohypoxylon, 14 of Biscogniauxia, 11 of Daldinia, 

and 42 of Hypoxylon. Biscogniauxia taxa form a monophyletic clade, 

which represents the earliest segregate from the other three genera. The next 

branch is composed of taxa belonging to Annulohypoxylon, which also forms a 

monophyletic clade. The third branch include taxa from Hypoxylon and Daldinia, 

with the latter branched off as a coherent group within the former. Hypoxylon is 

provisionally accepted as a paraphyletic genus and is now restricted to include 

only those taxa previously placed in Hypoxylon sect. Hypoxylon. poster 

Hubbard, Michelle* and Kaminskyj, Susan. Dept. Biology, Univ. Saskatchewan, 

112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. 

Michelle.Hubbard@usask.ca. Distribution and motility of Aspergillus nidulans 

Golgi equivalents. 

Filamentous fungi including Aspergillus nidulans grow by highly polarized 

tip growth, which involves directed secretion of the endomembrane-derived vesicles. 

Fungal endomembrane systems include the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi 

equivalents (GEs), vacuoles. Putative GEs can be localized in vivo using a GFPtagged 

sodVIC strain, created by Susan Assinder (Univ. Wales, Bangor), who has 

shown that GEs congregate at future branch sites. Tip growth is defective in the 

temperature sensitive A. nidulans hyphal morphogenesis mutant hypA1. If hypA1 

cells are grown at 42°C they lack normal polarity; when ‘downshifted’ to 23°C 

these cells polarize and begin wildtype tip growth. We compared the dynamics of 

the putative GEs in a hypA1 strain containing GFP-tagged sodVIC, grown at 

23°C, 42°C, and during repolarization after downshift. Putative GEs are more 

abundant at hyphal tips than in basal regions, even in poorly polarized cells grown 

at 42°C. Putative GEs are motile in all growth temperature regimes. This motility 

is largely tip directed even when growth is slow. Tip-directed GE motility rate 

correlates with tip growth rate, both increasing as hypA1 cells established polarity 

after downshift; both were significantly higher still in hyphae grown overnight 

at 23°C. In contrast, retrograde and lateral GE motility rates were similar for all 

growth temperature regimes. I am using inhibitors and selective fluorescent 

probes to clarify the mechanisms underlying distribution and motility of GEs and 

other endomembrane compartments. contributed presentation 

Hughes, Monica* and Weir, Alex. 226 Illick Hall, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 

13210, USA. mohughes@syr.edu. Diversity and host utilization of New 

Zealand Laboulbeniales. 

New information is improving our understanding of the evolution and biogeography 

of New Zealand Laboulbeniales. Similar to other fungal biodiversity 

studies, a high number of species in our collection are uncommon, with a newly 

estimated lower bound of 300 species, revised upward from an earlier estimate of 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

200. A number of common genera (Laboulbenia, Dimeromyces, Corethromyces, 

Peyritschiella, Monoicomyces, Stigmatomyces, Rhachomyces) are about equally 

represented in comparison with the northern hemisphere. Conspicuous differences 

in New Zealand include a diverse Diphymyces component on Cholevinae, 

the total absence of Ceratomycetaceae, perhaps due to the paucity of aquatic hosts 

inhabiting still water, the lack of any species on hydrophiloids, and an under-representation 

of Rickia. Overall host utilization patterns are similar: hosts are primarily 

mycophagous, predacious, or saprophagous. Differences include a comparatively 

low utilization of Carabidae, the discovery of four new host families in 

Diptera and Coleoptera, and a potentially more important role for coleopteran 

families such as Tenebrionidae. Here we compare and contrast patterns of Laboulbeniales 

diversity and host utilization between north and south temperate regions, 

and also provide preliminary information and comparison of their seasonality and 

exploitation rate. poster 

Hughes, Monica* and Weir, Alex. 226 Illick Hall, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 

13210, USA. mohughes@syr.edu. New species of Laboulbeniales from New 

Zealand. 

Published information on the Laboulbeniales of New Zealand (26 described 

species) compares unfavorably with well-studied north temperate regions such as 

Poland (179 described species). This is especially surprising in light of the long 

isolation of these islands and the highly endemic nature of the New Zealand entomofauna. 

Over the past six years we have carried out intensive surveys throughout 

New Zealand and have increased the number of known species to 190. This 

figure includes several new genera and approximately 100 undescribed species. 

The extent of novelty discovered in this group of arthropod-associated fungi compares 

with similar estimates for other fungal groups in relatively unexplored locales, 

and adds further support to the idea that we currently know only a small 

fraction of the total global mycota. Here we present micrographs illustrating some 

of New Zealand’s Laboulbeniales. poster 

Hyde, Kevin D.*, Vijaykrishna, Dhanasekaran and Jeewon, Rajesh. Centre for 

Research in Fungal Diversity, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University 

of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. kdhyde@hkucc.hku.hk. Origins 

of freshwater ascomycetes. 

Theories concerning the origins of freshwater ascomycetes have been based 

on ecological studies, suggesting that they have originated from terrestrial fungi. 

In this study, 18S rDNA sequences from major groups of fungi and basal animals 

are used to date the evolutionary origins of freshwater ascomycetes. Due to the 

lack of convincing fossil evidence and differences in evolutionary rates the 

Bayesian relaxed-clock method under five calibration points were utilized. Phylogenies 

show that freshwater ascomycetes occur in only three classes (Dothidiomycetes, 

Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes). Morphological and molecular 

studies indicate that freshwater and marine Halosphaeriales have terrestrial ancestors. 

Molecular data also indicates that the family Annulatascaceae and other 

unitunicate ascomycetes (e.g. Pseudohalonectria) are polyphyletic and have a terrestrial 

origin. Unitunicate freshwater ascomycetes appear to have evolved several 

times independently from the terrestrial environment. Both terrestrial and freshwater 

loculoascomycetes (e.g. Boerlagiomyces, Lophiostoma, Massarina) are 

morphologically alike and they also share similar phylogenetic histories. However, 

whether marine representatives of these genera evolved from terrestrial or 

freshwater ancestors is unknown and it would be interesting to investigate this 

evolutionary aspect by incorporating taxa from these ecologically and geographically 

different habitats in future molecular studies. poster 

Inaba, Shigeki* and Harayama, Shigeaki. NITE Biological Resource Center 

(NBRC), Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology and 

Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu-shi, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. 

inaba-shigeki@nite.go.jp. A new saprotrophic species of the genus Myzocytiopsis 

(Oomycetes) in Japan. 

A saprotrophic species of Myzocytiopsis (Myzocytiopsidales, Oomycetes) 

was isolated from a soil sample obtained in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was isolated 

from pieces of floating snakeskin used as a bait in a mixture of the soil sample 

and sterilized distilled water. It grew well on peptone-yeast extract-glucose 

(PYG) agar plate. On dead human skin, it formed thalli that were coarse, septate, 

extensively developed and frequently branched. Moreover, they appeared beaded, 

and were in some cases slightly, while in some other cases quite markedly, 

constricted at their septa. The sporangia vary in shape and form one exit tube. The 

content emerges fully and forms a vesicular mass in which zoospores are differentiated 

and discharged. The zoospores are monoplanetic and either pyriform, 

reniform or ellipsoidal in shape, having the size of 7-10 ~10-13 micrometers. Sexual 

reproduction was not observed. The species is similar to Myzocytiopsis humana 

in its habitat, but clearly distinguishable from it by the shape of thalli, size 

of zoospores, and lack of an organ for sexual reproduction. Sequence analysis of 

the mitochondrially- encoded cox2 region showed its clustering with M. humana 

and Lagenidium giganteum, but it shared only 96.4 and 95.3 % similarities, respectively, 

with these species. Based on these observations, we propose that it is 

a new species of the genus Myzocytiopsis. poster 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Ishiguri, Maki*, Arima, Toshihide and Morinaga, Tsutomu. 562 Nanatsukacho, 

Shobara-city, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan. tmorina@bio.hiroshima-pu.ac.jp. 

Mechanism of fruiting body formation in Polyporus arcularius. 

Polyporus arcularius is basidiomycetous fungus and there are many papers 

inrespect to photo-induction of fruiting and nutritional aspects of mycelium. But, 

there are no studies about the mechanism of fruiting body formation of this fungus. 

Since Leonard (1971) showed that phenoloxidase (PO) was related to form 

the fruiting body in Schizophyllum commune, there had been many papers about 

PO of another mushrooms. But, it was not clear yet. We already reported about 

the mutants that had not PO activity in Polyporus arcularius. These mutants were 

called PO-TA-1 and PO-TA-2, respectively. PO-TA-1 and PO-TA-2 were 

homokaryon and had the opposite mating type against to each other. Also, these 

mutants were crossed with wild type homokaryon having an opposite mating type 

and could make the fruiting body. But, after the crossing between these we could 

not find. Namely, these homozygous PO-less dikaryon could not produce fruiting 

body. Therefore, we did the cloning of this P.O. gene and sequenced. And, 

now by using this clone, we tried northern analysis and RT-PCR after light irradiation. 

poster 

Jackson, Kimberland, Bashir, M.E. and Gunasekaran, M.* Dept. of Biology, Fisk 

University, Nashville, TN 37208, USA. mguna@fisk.edu. An in situ assay for 

glutathione reductase from permeabilized cells of Candida albicans. 

A procedure is described which allows the rapid permeabilization of yeast 

cells, Candida albicans for quantitative in situ assay of glutathione reductase 

(GSSGR, EC 1.6.4.2) activity. GSSGR is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the reduction 

of GSSG to reduced GSH using NADPH as an electron donor. It is a key enzyme 

in the GSH-ascorbate cycle, which provides protection against oxidation 

stress. Candida cells are permeabilized by incubation in buffer containing different 

solvents: toluene, xylene, diethyl ether, ethanol and their combinations to examine 

their effect on membrane permeability. In addition the effect of various 

temperatures and time on permeablization was investigated. The results obtained 

by in situ assay were compared with standard GSSGR assay carried out with cellfree 

extracts. Based on the results we feel that the permeation method of in situ 

assay is highly sensitive, specific and less time consuming. This procedure is 

equally applicable to fresh and frozen samples. poster 

Jacobson, David 1,3 *, Cornelia Boesl 2 , Shahana Sultana 2 , Till Roenneberg 2 , 

Martha Merrow 2 , Rachel Adams 3 , Jeremy Dettman 3 , Margarida Duarte 4 , Isabel 

Marques 4 , Alexandra Ushakova 4 Patricia Carneiro 4 , Arnaldo Videira 4 , Laura 

Navarro-Sampedro 5 , Maria Olmedo 5 , Luis M. Chorrochano 5 , Natvig, Donald O. 6 , 

and John Taylor 3 . 1 Dept. of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 

California, USA, 2 Institute for Medical Psychology, University of Munich, Germany, 

3 Dept. of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley 

94720, USA, 4 Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Porto, Portugal, 5 Departamento 

de Genetica, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain, 6 Dept. of Biology, University 

of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM, USA. djjacob@stanford.edu. New findings 

of Neurospora in Europe and comparisons of diversity in temperate 

climates on continental scales. 

Neurospora was previously considered primarily a tropical or subtropical 

genus. However, recent field surveys found Neurospora occupying an entirely 

new ecological niche under the bark of fire-damaged trees in dry and cold habitats 

within a new geographic range, western North America, from New Mexico 

(34°N) to Alaska (64°N) (Jacobson et al. 2004 Mycologia 96:55-74). Isolates 

from these sites were composed predominantly (95%) of a single species, N. discreta, 

heretofore the least common species of Neurospora collected. In 2003 and 

2004, a multinational effort surveyed southern Europe for Neurospora after unusually 

devastating wildfires. Neurospora was found from southern Portugal and 

Spain (37°N) to Switzerland (46°N). Species collected included N. crassa, N. 

discreta, N. sitophila, and N. tetrasperma. Although the latitude, climate and vegetation 

are similar to western North America, species distribution and spatial dynamics 

were quite different. Rather, these characteristics are more similar between 

southern Europe and semitropical Florida, where four different species are 

also present over very small spatial scales (Powell et al. 2003 Mycologia 95:809- 

819). These differences in regional diversity will form the basis of testable hypotheses, 

furthering the value of this model organism as a subject for studying 

fungal ecology. poster 

James, Timothy Y. 1 *, Vilgalys, Rytas J. 1 , Longcore, Joyce E. 2 , Mozley-Standridge, 

Sharon E. 3 , and the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life Working Group. 

1 Dept. of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA, 2 Dept. of Biol. 

Sciences, U. Maine, Orono, ME 04469 USA, 3 Dept. of Plant Sciences, U. Georgia, 

Athens, GA 30602 USA. tyj2@duke.edu. Early diverging lineages on the 

fungal tree of life: novel endoparasitic clades of Chytridiomycota. 

The basal branches on the fungal tree consist of a heterogeneous mix of taxa 

possessing ancestral characters such as coenocytic hyphae, reproduction through 

sporangia, and motile spores. How these basal taxa are related to each other and 

to the major radiation of the terrestrial fungi (Dikaryofungi) is unclear. Among 

these basal lineages are endoparasitic Chytridiomycetes with extremely reduced 

morphology, such as Olpidium and Rozella. In this study we address the phylogenetic 

arrangement of the basal lineages of Fungi and address the phylogenetic 


position of Olpidium and Rozella using molecular sequence data from six gene regions 

(nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes, ATP6, EF1-alpha, RPB1, and RPB2). 

Both the Zygomycota and Chytridiomycota appear paraphyletic in most analyses. 

The Blastocladiales are highly diverged from the other four orders of Chytridiomycetes. 

Olpidium and Rozella were recovered as separate lineages in the fungal 

phylogeny, both distinct from previously sampled clades of chytrids. Rozella 

spp. are well supported as the earliest diverging lineage in rDNA and 

RPB1+RPB2 phylogenies. This placement of Rozella renders the Chytridiomycetes 

paraphyletic. contributed presentation 

Jeewon, Rajesh*, Yeung, Quin SY and Hyde, Kevin D. Dept. Ecology & Biodiversity, 

University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. 

rrjeewon@hku.hk. Molecular profiling and phylogenetic diversity of fungal 

communities associated with pine needles. 

Fungal communities undoubtedly contribute immensely to plants ecosystem. 

This study investigates fungal diversity and succession from Pine needles 

(Keteleeria fortunei, Pinus elliottii and Pinus massoniana) based on morphological 

comparison coupled with a molecular approach based on DGGE and phylogenetics. 

Morphological and culture dependent studies showed that about 80% of 

fungi were anamorphic, with Trichoderma and Cladosporium being dominant. 

Others include Bostrichonema, Gliocladium, Gliocephalotrichum and Paecilomyces. 

Two hyphomycetes, Cancellidium pinicola and Thozetella pinicola, 

new to science were also recorded. 40 different fungal operational taxonomic 

units (OTU) recovered from DGGE bands were sequenced and analysed. Phylogenies 

based on partial 18S rDNA sequences indicate that 32 are bitunicate ascomycetes, 

4 are phylogenetically related to mitosporic Letiomycetes, 2 are members 

of Trichocomaceae and another 2 belong to the Hypocreales and Lecanorales 

(lichens) respectively. Most of these fungi have not been recovered from morphological 

and cultural methodologies as well as from previous endophytic studies 

reported elsewhere. It is highly possible that many of them are very important 

in the decomposition process but are morphologically and culturally undetected. 

These findings have important scientific implications in biodiversity and ecological 

studies. poster 

Jewell, Kelsea A.* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University of 

Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

jewell.kels@students.uwlax.edu. The possible biocontrol of pathogenic Candida 

albicans using the killer yeast Candida glabrata Y55. 

Candida albicans is responsible for both minor and serious mycoses, commonly 

termed candidiasis. These infections are difficult to treat due both to the ineffective 

nature of antifungal drugs and the emergence of resistant strains. It is increasingly 

important to identify novel antifungal therapies. One area of possible 

exploitation is killer yeasts. The term “killer yeasts” includes fungi in Ascomycota, 

Basidiomycota, or deuteromycetes that produce extracellular fungicidal or 

fungistatic toxins due to internal viral infections. We have performed a series of 

competition experiments between several clinical isolates of C. albicans against a 

killer strain of Candida glabrata. These experiments have been aimed at determining 

the fungicidal and dimorphism-inhibiting ability of a killer Candida strain 

against C. albicans. Killing activity was determined by plating killer strains in 

lawns of C. albicans on media containing methylene blue dye. This dye is taken 

up by the yeast and released upon cell death; killing activity is indicated by areas 

of increased pigmentation. Killing activity was verified using the LIVE/DEAD 

stain under epifluoresence microscopy. Inhibition of dimorphism is determined 

by the changing total protein ratios of yeast and hyphal growth forms. Results indicate 

that there is antagonism between various strains of C. albicans and C. 

glabrata. contributed presentation 

Johnson, Desirée*, Sung, Gi-Ho and Spatafora, Joseph W. Oregon State University, 

Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. johnsode@onid.orst.edu. 

Systematics of the genus Torrubiella. 

Torrubiella is a genus of ~60 species of arthropod pathogenic fungi that primarily 

includes pathogens of spiders and scale insects. It is characterized by the 

production of superficial perithecia and the absence of a stroma. Like much of the 

Clavcipitaceae, Torrubiella’s asci are cylindrical with thickened apices and ascospores 

are filiform and either remain intact or disarticulate into partspores according 

to species. The most common anamorphs linked to the genus include 

Akanthomyces, Gibellula, Paecilomyces and Verticillium. The phylogenetic relationship 

of Torrubiella to the rest of the Clavicipitaceae is poorly understood with 

leading hypotheses suggesting a link between Torrubiella and species of Cordyceps 

that produce superficial perithecia on poorly formed stroma (e.g., C. tuberculata). 

Phylogenetic placement of Torrubiella and its relationship to other members 

of the Clavicipitaceae were investigated via multigene phylogenetic analysis 

of five gene regions including SSU nrDNA, LSU nrDNA, RPB1, RPB2 and tef 

1-alpha. Taxon sampling included teleomorphic and anamorphic isolates and a 

broad representation of the Clavicipitaceae. The monophyly of Torrubiella was 

rejected with three main groups inferred by these analyses. The relationships of 

Torrubiella, and its anamorphs, to Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae will be discussed. 

poster 


Johnston, Peter R. Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland, New 

Zealand. johnstonp@landcareresearch.co.nz. Estimating fungal diversity - answers 

from the subantarctic. 

The number of fungal species in the world remains an intriguing question 

in mycology. Given the level of alpha-taxonomic knowledge in most regions, this 

number needs to be estimated indirectly. Data from intensively surveyed sites in 

the temperate Northern Hemisphere has been used to suggest that fungal diversity 

can be estimated by a comparison with plant diversity. A ratio of 6 fungal 

species to each plant species is often used. However, the highest levels of plant diversity 

are in tropical regions. Does the ratio between plant and fungal diversity 

estimated from temperate regions also hold for tropical regions? What is the impact 

of changing levels of plant diversity on the 6 fungal:1 plant species ratio? The 

subantarctic islands of New Zealand, with strong gradients in latitude and plant 

species diversity, will be used to address this question. Catalogues of fungi for 

these islands remain hopelessly incomplete, making it impossible to use allspecies 

lists to compare fungal diversity between islands. This talk will discuss a 

phylogenetic approach to estimating fungal diversity, using data that suggests 

alpha-taxonomic knowedge in the New Zealand region for one intensively surveyed 

family, the Rhytismataceae, is close to complete. This data will be used to 

assess the impact that changing levels of plant diversity might have on estimates 

of fungal diversity. symposium presentation 

Johnston, Peter R. Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland, New 

Zealand. johnstonp@landcareresearch.co.nz. Pacific journeys – the dispersal 

and evolution of Metrosideros-associated fungi. 

The rapid dispersal of Metrosideros across the Pacific Ocean over the last 

2-3 million years provides an opportunity to address questions about the dispersal 

and evolution of fungal communities. The widely dispersed Metrosideros communities 

of the Pacific are thought to have radiated out from the New Zealand. 

Metrosideros in New Zealand is associated with a large and distinctive fungal 

biota. Some fungi are known to have the ability to disperse over long distances. 

Have the Metrosideros-adapted fungi of New Zealand followed along behind 

Metrosideros as it has dispersed? Alternatively, has Metrosideros evolved a series 

of novel, independent forest communities at each of the island’s where it has established? 

Preliminary observations of fungi associated with ohi’a in Hawaiì suggest 

that the second scenario may be correct. Ohi’a does have a set of distinctive 

and characteristic fungi. Where did they come from? How did they become adapted 

to life on ohi’a? What opportunities does the arrival of a new host plant present 

to fungi already present at a locality? contributed presentation 

Jumpponen, Ari. Division of Biology, Kansas State Univeristy, Manhattan, KS 

66502, USA. ari@ksu.edu. Pitfalls and utilities of using molecular detection of 

fungi. Molecular tools are becoming more popular in studying the ecology of fungi. 

Comparisons of a sporocarp survey, on site or bait-seedling mycorrhiza assays, and 

direct amplification of soil DNA indicate that all but sporocarp survey methods provide 

largely congruent views of the mycorrhizal community at a low-diversity study 

site. Although results using different methods appear congruent, example data sets 

indicate that studies sequencing PCR amplicons from environmental samples are 

burdened by chimeric molecules that constitute up to 30% of all obtained data. Similarly, 

choice of primers can have a substantial impact on the inferred community 

structure. Regardless of these potential shortcomings, two case studies show that environmental 

DNA data can provide novel insights to fungal community dynamics. 

1) A study on soil-inhabiting fungal communities in tallgrass prairie demonstrated 

a vast species richness of fungi and identified a group of potentially novel Ascomycetes 

that occurred more frequently in soil than therein imbedded roots. 2) A 

study of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonizing tallgrass prairie plant communities 

showed a community level response to nitrogen amendment, although root 

colonization by AMF was affected only minimally. symposium presentation 

Kageyama, Stacie A.*, Bottomley, Peter J., Cromack, Kermit and Myrold, David 

D. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. stacie.kageyama@oregonstate.edu. 

Changes in soil fungal communities across meadow-forest transects 

in the western Cascades mountains of Oregon, USA. 

Molecular analysis of ectomycorrhizal root tips and collection of sporocarps 

in Pacific Northwest coniferous forests indicate that fungal communities are spatially 

heterogeneous. The goal of this study was to use molecular techniques to examine 

changes in the total belowground fungal community along forest-meadow 

transects. We collected soil cores along three transects at two paired high montane 

forest-meadow sites at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the Western Cascade 

Mountains of Oregon, USA. We used fungal ITS rDNA primers with length 

heterogeneity PCR amplification of DNA extracted from soil. Our results agree 

with earlier root tip and sporocarp studies that indicate that the forest communities 

are spatially heterogeneous. In contrast, the meadow fungal communities exhibit 

much more homogeneity in their composition. poster 

Kajimura, Hisashi. Lab. of Forest Protection, Graduate School of Bioagricultural 

Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-860, Japan. 

k46326a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp. Symbiotic secrets in ambrosia beetle-fungal 

systems. 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

About 3400 species of ambrosia beetles are found in 10 tribes of two subfamilies 

of the Curculionidae, the Platypodinae and the Scolytinae. Ambrosia beetles 

vary in life history, but all carry and maintain ectosymbiotic “ambrosia” fungus 

spores in specialized organs termed mycangia. They bore tunnels (galleries) 

mainly in the sapwood of recently killed trees, disseminating the spores over the 

wall of gallery system. They are considered to have species- specific associations 

with primary ambrosia fungi (PAF), on which larvae feed for their development. 

Many of ambrosia fungi are placed in the anamorph genera Ambrosiella or Raffaelea. 

However, the fungal symbionts of only a small percentage of the ambrosia 

beetles have been isolated, and it is not clear if the isolated fungi are the PAF. Few 

studies also have elucidated relationships between the beetles and the fungi: how 

do they encounter and how do they act each other, in spite of great importance to 

comprehending the symbiotic associations. I review the current state of knowledge 

on ambrosia beetle-fungal interactions, particularly in the Scolytinae of 

Japan. I also present recent data on the contributions of the fungi to the beetle success, 

and lay a special emphasis on the fact that PAF associated with one species 

of ambrosia beetles could have a nutritional potential as food resource for larvae 

of other beetle species. symposium presentation 

Kamada, Takashi. Dept. of Biology, Fac. of Science, Okayama University, 

Okayama 700-8530, Japan. kamada@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp. Genomic studies in 

the homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus. 

The homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus has been used as a model to 

study fungal development and regulation, because of its ease of cultivation, its 

amenability to genetic analysis, rapid development of its multicellular structure, 

the mushroom, and its naturally synchronous meiosis in the mushroom. This fungus 

has a total genome size of ~37.5 Mb, which is organized into 13 chromosomes, 

ranging in size from 5 to 1 Mb. The genome project on this fungus has 

been done as part of the Fungal Genome Initiative in the Whitehead Institute and 

the 10X sequence assembly of the genome of C. cinereus strain Okayama-7 has 

been released. Also, a BAC library of Okayama-7, component clones of which 

have been positioned on the sequence assembly, as well as chromosome-specific 

cosmid libraries, is available. These lines of information, coupled with a wealth of 

developmental mutants identified and existing molecular techniques such as efficient 

DNA-mediated transformation, RNAi and detailed gene mapping using 

RAPD markers, will facilitate both forward and reverse genetics of development 

and regulation in this fungus. symposium presentation 

Kaminskyj, Susan 1 and Dahms, Tanya E.S. 2 1 Dept. Biology, University of 

Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada, 2 Dept. 

Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737, Wascana Parkway, 

Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada. susan.kaminskyj@usask.ca. Probing 

life at the hyphal tip: adventures in microscopy. 

What we observe and how we interpret it depends on our vantage point. 

Since the late 1500s, the development of and subsequent technological improvements 

in microscopy have changed the fundamentals of biology. Microscopy is 

important for mycology due to the small size of fungal organisms and/or their taxonomically 

diagnostic parts, and is relevant to cell biology in general particularly 

as fungi are superb model systems. Until the late 1950s, improvements to microscopy 

were mostly in resolution (better optical systems, development of electron 

microscopy), contrast control (differential staining, optical contrasting methods 

such as DIC) and information capture (photography). More recently, antibody 

tagging (fluorescence and gold), molecular tagging (GFP and chemically-selective 

probes), computer enhanced epifluorescent imaging (confocal) and electronic 

image capture and analysis have combined to provide in situ identification and 

monitoring of dynamic biological processes. We are combining established and 

newer imaging methods to extend our understanding of tip growth in Aspergillus 

nidulans hyphae. For example, atomic force microscopy (AFM) can image at 

high resolution (comparable to SEM, and better for depth discrimination) and also 

examine surface properties by force spectroscopy. Notably, we have used AFM 

on growing hyphae, imaging and collecting data on wall properties during tip 

growth. Consistent with general models, we demonstrate that the walls at growing 

hyphal tips and branches are more significantly more force compliant than 

mature regions. symposium presentation 

Kaneko, Shuhei. Fukuoka pref. Forest Res. & Exten. Center Japan 1438-2 Toyoda 

Yamamoto Kurume-city Fukuoka 839-0827, Japan. shu-k@try-net.or.jp. Cultivation 

of Pholiota adiposa in the Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica saw dust based 

media). 

Cultivation of the edible mushroom, Pholiota adiposa in the Sugi (Cryptomeria 

japonica)saw dust based substrate containing Sugi saw dust, cotton hull, 

corn-cob meal and rice bran (Sccr) was investigated. The optimal temperature 

range for mycelial growth of P.adiposa wild strains was 20-30 C and the optimal 

temperature was around 26 C. Growth did not occur at 40 C and all but one strain 

named Oninome-B died after 5 days. The optimal initial pH value of the cultivation 

medium was around 6.5 and various initial pH values converged to 3.5-5.5 

after cultivation. The C/N ratio and pH value of the Sugi saw dust based substrate 

(Sccr) were suitable for mycelial growth and fruit body formation of P.adiposa. 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Adding cotton hull and corn-cob meal were effective to improve the water balance 

and increase the pH value respectively. Packing 500g of the Sugi saw dust 

based substrate (Sccr) into the Nameko bottle (800ml), cultivating at 22.5 C under 

dark conditions for about 10 weeks, germinating at 14 C with over 95% RH and 

under around 700Lx, a yield of over 150g of fruit bodies was attained by flushing 

twice. Although less than the Buna(Fagus crenata) saw dust based substrate, the 

Sugi saw dust based substrate is considered to be available for cultivating P.adiposa 

due to its’ low cost. poster 

Karasawa, Toshihiko*, Takebe, Masako and Okazaki, Keiki. National Agricultural 

Research Center for Hokkaido Region, 1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 

062-8555, Japan. tkarasaw@affrc.go.jp. Management of indigenous arbuscular 

mycorrhizal fungi to reduce P fertilizer application in 

soybean-based cropping systems. 

The effects of preceding cropping on the growth, P uptake, arbuscular mycorrhizal 

(AM) colonization and yield of soybean were examined at 22, 44, 66 or 

88 kg/ha of P application levels (recommended rate for soybean being 66 kg P/ha 

in this field) in order to clarify the appropriate rate of P application for soybean 

grown after respective preceding crop species. Growth, P uptake and AM colonization 

of soybean after wheat (AM host) cropping were superior to those after 

fallowing or radish (nonhost) cropping at all P levels. It was therefore thought that 

the effect of wheat cropping on soybean is mainly caused by a larger AM fungal 

population in the soil, which improves AM colonization and P uptake of soybean, 

since AM fungi are obligately symbiotic fungi that need hosts to survive and multiply. 

Growth of soybean after nonhosts was accelerated with increase in P application 

levels, though that after AM host did not respond to P fertilization at more 

than 44 kg P/ha. The yield of soybean after AM host cropping was greater than 

that after nonhost cropping at 22 and 44 kg P/ha, but no effect of preceding cropping 

was observed at P/ha of 66 kg or more. The yield of soybean after AM host 

cropping did not respond to P fertilization at more than 22 kg P/ha. The results 

suggested that 44 kg P/ha is sufficient to secure both good growth and a high yield 

of soybean after AM host cropping. poster 

Kasuya, Taiga 1 * and Retnowati, Atik 2 . 1 College of Agrobiological Resources, 

University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan, 2 Herbatium Bogoriense, 

The Research Center for Biology, The Indonesian Institute of Sciences, 

Bogor, Java 16001, Indonesia. s0310849@ipe.tsukuba.ac.jp. Four species of the 

genus Calvatia (Lycoperdaceae) from Indonesia. 

The genus Calvatia comprises 35 taxa and widely distributed in the world. 

This genus is characterized by large, subglobose to turbinate basidiomata, fragile, 

tough endoperidium and Lycoperdon-type capillitium. Species diversity of Calvatia 

were intensively studied in Europe and North America, but it is far from 

completely known in the tropical Asia. Although some species of Calvatia were 

fragmentaly reported in several papers on fungal flora of Indonesia, this genus has 

not yet been comprehensively studied. We examined the specimens of Calvatia 

deposited in Herbarium Bogoriense, Bogor (BO), and 4 species were recognized. 

Among them, Calvatia malukuensis Kasuya et Retnow., ined., collected from 

Maluku Islands, Eastern Indonesia is described as a new species. This species has 

subpyriform basidiomata, bronze to reddish brown endoperidium and subglobose, 

warty basidiospores. Calvatia rosacea Kreisel, known from Ecuador also has 

bronze to reddish peridium, but C. malukuensis is distinguished from C. rosacea 

by apedicellate, subglobose basidiospores. The other 3 species, C. boninensis S. 

Ito et Imai, C. craniiformis (Schwein.) Fr. and C. cyathiformis (Bosc) Morgan are 

newly recorded from Indonesia. poster 

Kauff, Frank*, Cox, Cymon J. and Lutzoni, François. Duke University, Dept. of 

Biology, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA. fkauff@duke.edu. A data management 

framework for AFTOL (Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life). 

The “Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life (AFTOL)” project seeks to enhance 

our understanding of the evolutionary history of Fungi by bringing together 

a wide diversity of mycological and phylogenetic expertise. AFTOL Bioinformatics 

provides an efficient way of storing and analyzing the molecular data 

(targeting eight gene loci for c. 1500 taxa) and facilitates the communication between 

participants worldwide. An SQL database serves as the main storage facility 

for the data and is accessible through the WWW. An automated analysis subjects 

the raw sequence data to basecalling, contig assembly (using phred/phrap), 

and a local blast against a custom database to verify sequence identity. All intermediate 

and final results are available to the authors for verification with the possibility 

to make manual adjustments. Once verified, the final gene sequences for 

each locus are added to their respective alignments, which are then tested for topological 

congruence among loci. As a result, conflict-free matrices for different 

combinations of loci are provided to the users for further investigation, or forwarded 

to external collaborators of the Tree Of Life project for phylogenetic 

analysis. The system also provides a blast search against the AFTOL database, 

public access to sequence data (http://ocid.nacse.org/research/aftol), and formatting 

of sequence data for genbank submission. poster 

Kawagishi, Hirokazu. 836 Ohya, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan. 

achkawa@agr.shizuoka.ac.jp. Body-function regulating compounds from the 

mushroom Hericium erinaceum. 


Body-function regulating compounds from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum 

will be discussed as follows. 1. Stimulators of NGF-synthesis: stimulators 

of NGF-synthesis have been expected to become medicines for degenerative 

neuronal disorders such as dementia. First naturally occurring stimulators, hericenone 

A to F and erinacines A to I, have been isolated from the fruiting bodies 

or mycelia of the fungus. Recently we isolated new analogs of hericenones and 

erinacines from the fungus. 2. Inhibitors of cytotoxicity of amyloid-beta-peptide: 

inhibitors of cytotoxicity of amyloid- beta-peptide have been expected to prevent 

or cure Alzheimer’s disease. We found the very strong inhibitory effect of the extracts 

of the fruiting bodies of the fungus and succeeded in isolation and structure 

determination of one of the active principles from the mushroom. 3. Anti-MRSA 

compounds: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is currently 

one of the most prevalent pathogens in nosocomial infections. We succeeded in 

isolation of some anti-MRSA substances from the fruiting bodies and the mycelia 

of the fungus. 4. Clinical test: clinical tests of the mushroom Hericium erinaceum 

have being done in a hospital in Japan. As a result, some symptoms of patients 

with dementia were improved and MRSA in some patients disappeared by eating 

this mushroom. symposium presentation 

Kawamura, Fuminori 1 *, Yamada, Akiyoshi 1 and Babasaki, Katsuhiko 2 . 1 Faculty 

of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Nagano 399-4588, Japan, 

2 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, 

Japan. akiyosh@gipmc.shinshu-u.ac.jp. Assessment of mycorrhization ability 

in the genetically modified saprotrophic mushroom, Lentinula edodes. 

Japanese government has validated the Cartagena protocol in the biodiversity 

agreement since 2003. Within this, treatment of Living Modified Organisms 

(LMO) is strictly defined. In the basidiomycetous mushroom fungi, LMO has already 

been constructed at the laboratory experimental level in the fungal taxa such 

as Lentinula, Flammulina and Coprinus. These LMOs have recently been addressed 

to the safety against wild organisms under natural environmental condition. 

In this study we focused on the confirmation of the absence of mycorrhization 

ability in LMOs of Lentinula edodes as same as the wild strains. Seven LMO 

and two wild strains of L. edodes were cultured and inoculated to the sterile 

seedlings of Pinus densiflora under the customary mycorrhiza synthetic conditions. 

As the positive and negative controls, 64 strains of ectomycorrhizal fungi 

and 11 strains of saprotrophic ones also were tested in their mycorrhization. While 

most strains of mycorrhizal mushrooms formed typical ectomycorrhizas, no strain 

of saprotrophic mushrooms did. In L. edodes, both LMO and wild strains showed 

no sigh of mycorrhization. These results suggest that there is no evidence at present 

that saprotrophic LMO mushrooms accidentally express the mycorrhization 

ability. poster 

Keirle, Matthew 1 * and Mueller, Gregory 2 . 1 The Committee on Evolutionary Biology, 

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA, 2 The Field Museum of 

Natural History, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. mkeirle@uchicago.edu. Covariance 

patterns in basidiome morphology revealed through multivariate analysis of 

selected Laccaria species. 

Historically, multivariate analyses of fungal morphology have been applied 

to reveal structure associated with delimiting discrete boundaries for cryptic taxa. 

Prior investigations have failed to examine patterns of covariance between basidiome 

morphological traits. In the current study, R-mode analyses of twelve morphological 

traits are carried out for 39 collections representing exemplar Laccaria 

specimens from locations across the United States and Canada embodying the 

taxonomic breadth of the genus. SAHN cluster, MDS polar ordination, principal 

components, path, and factor analyses are applied to reveal the underlying directionality 

of variance and covariance in the data set. Although no strong directional 

trend in a single principal component axis was found, factor and path analyses 

support the existence of latent macro-morphology and spore production factors. 

Aspects of the spore production factor suggest that the positioning of basidiospores 

in crowded form on the tips of the sterigmata creates a correlation between 

basidium shape and spore width which is independent of spore length. Interestingly, 

factor analysis provides little support for a latent overall mushroom 

stature factor or for latent factors which predict a correlation between the two 

major dimensions of the basidium and the basidiospore. poster 

Kennedy, Allison* and M. Catherine Aime. USDA-ARS, Systematic Botany and 

Mycology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705. allison@nt.ars-grin.gov. Cultural 

studies Moniliopthora roreri, an important cacao pathogen. 

The basidiomycetous plant pathogen Moniliopthora roreri (Marasmiaceae), 

causal agent of the Frosty Pod Rot of Theobroma cacao, the source of 

chocolate, is currently in an invasive phase in Central and South America. Prior 

nucleotide sequence data has indicated the presence of three genetic groups: a 

basal genotype found on Theobroma and Herrania species in northwestern South 

America, a primarily Central American genotype spreading northward on T. 

cacao, and a third, derived genotype confined to T. gileri in northern Ecuador. 

Cultural studies were undertaken to address the following questions: (1) Do the 

genotypes fall into corresponding somatic compatibility groups? (2) Are there any 

measurable phenotypic data that correlate with the different groups? Preliminary 


esults have shown evidence of reproductive isolation between genotypes, and 

that certain cultural characteristics are consistent between strains. However, no 

difference in growth rate, hyphal diameter or spore size was found. Evidence for 

A-B-C type speciation is discussed. poster 

Kennedy, Louis E. 1 , Hallen, Heather E. 2 * and Henkel, Terry W. 1 1 Department of 

Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95512, USA, 2 Department 

of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, 

USA. hallenhe@msu.edu. HPLC analysis of Amanita species from Guyana. 

The mushroom genus Amanita is known worldwide for its toxins. Amanita 

toxins include the hallucinogenic ibotenic acid and muscimol (Amanita section 

Amanita, e.g. A. muscaria and A. pantherina), and the cyclic peptide amatoxins 

and phallotoxins (Amanita section Phalloideae, e.g. A. phalloides and the A. bisporigera 

species complex, the death cap and destroying angels). Amatoxins are 

responsible for upwards of 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings in humans. We 

used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to assess 21 individuals, 

in 20 species, collected during the past two years from tropical rain forests in 

Guyana. The majority of these are undescribed species. One species is eaten by 

indigenous people; the remainder are avoided. Neither amatoxins nor phallotoxins 

were detected in nineteen of the collections sampled. Two Guyana collections 

yielded HPLC peaks consistent with amatoxins and phallotoxins; the presence of 

these toxins was subsequently ruled out for one of these collections by mass spectrometry. 

poster 

Kennedy, Peter G.* and Bruns, Thomas D. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 

321 Koshland Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 

94720, USA. pkennedy@berkeley.edu. The role of interspecific competition in 

ectomycorrhizal interactions. 

Competition is often considered a fundamental process influencing the 

structure of species assemblages, yet little is known about competition among ectomycorrhizal 

(EM) fungi. We examined competitive interactions between Rhizopogon 

occidentalis and Rhizopogon salebrosus in a six-month microcosm 

study. Pinus muricata seedlings were grown in three EM treatments; R. occidentalis, 

R. salebrosus, and R. occidentalis and R. salebrosus. At two, four, and six 

months, five seedlings per treatment were harvested and EM root tip biomass of 

each species was determined. Root tips in the two-species treatment were identified 

using molecular techniques. R. occidentalis had similar EM root tip biomass 

when grown alone or in the presence of R. salebrosus. In contrast, R. salebrosus 

had significantly lower EM root tip biomass when grown with R. occidentalis 

than when grown alone, indicating it was a competitive inferior under the conditions 

tested. Competition was driven by differences in timing of colonization resulting 

in a strong priority effect for R. occidentalis. Our results, together with two 

earlier studies, indicate competition may play a more important role in EM interactions 

than previously recognized. contributed presentation 

Kerekes, Jennifer F.* and Desjardin, Dennis E. Dept. of Biology, San Francisco 

State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA. kerekesj@yahoo.com. A 

monographic treatment of the genus Crinipellis from Southeast Asia. 

In this monographic treatment, the diversity, geographic distribution and 

phylogenetic relationships of species in the genus Crinipellis (Basidiomycota, euagarics) 

in Southeast Asia will be documented. To date, only fourteen species of 

Crinipellis have been reported from the region, although many more occur there. 

We have collected seventy specimens from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, 

and these are compared to numerous type specimens and herbarium exsiccati. 

Taxonomically significant macro- and micromorphological characteristics are 

documented and analyzed. Crinipellis is distinguished morphologically from the 

allied genera Marasmius and Chaetocalathus by stipitate basidiomes with 

pileipelli composed of thick-walled, dextrinoid, hair-like hyphae. To understand 

better the infrageneric classification of Crinipellis and its relationship with allied 

taxa (such as Chaetocalathus), molecular sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal 

Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region is analyzed using species of Marasmius 

s.s. as an outgroup. poster 

Kerekes, Jennifer F. 1 *, Christensen, Catherine 2 , Tanner, Kimberly 1 , Stubbs, John 1 

and Desjardin, Dennis E. 1 1 Dept. Biology, San Francisco State Univ., San Francisco, 

CA 94132, USA, 2 3151 Ortega St., San Francisco CA 94122-4051, USA. 

kerekesj@yahoo.com. K-12 Educational Partnership: Bringing FUNgi into 

the Classroom. 

Would you like to share your enthusiasm for science and fungi with young 

people? Presented here is an example of educational outreach to a San Francisco 

urban middle school classroom on fungi developed between a 7th grade life science 

teacher and a graduate student involved with the National Science Foundation 

GK-12 Fellowship program. The original hands-on and inquiry-based lessons 

provide an introduction to the kingdom fungi, the ecological and economic importance 

of fungi, and the diversity of fungi. The lessons allow students to experience 

science research and to be a mycologist for a day. Analyzed data of written 

student responses before and after the lessons are presented. poster 

Kerrigan, Julia 1 *, Stone, Jeffrey 1 , Manter, Daniel K. 2 and Winton, Loretta M. 3 

1 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

OR 97701-2902, USA, 2 Soil Plant Nutrient Research, USDA Agricultural Research 

Service, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA, 3 Subarctic Agricultural Research 

Unit, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA. kerriju@science.oregonstate.edu. 

Microfungi and canopy biology: The distribution 

of an endemic foliar pathogen and its effects on carbon dioxide flux. 

Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii, causal organism of the foliar disease Swiss 

needle cast of Douglas-fir, is endemic to the Pacific Northwest and widely distributed 

throughout the natural range of its host. The fungus produces fruiting 

bodies, pseudothecia, which emerge through and occlude stomata. To contribute 

to an understanding of how canopy fungi influence canopy processes, we measured 

the distribution of P. gaeumannii, determined the identity of fungal lineages, 

and assessed the effects of different colonization levels on gas exchange in the 

Wind River Experimental Forest in Washington, USA. Incidence of P. gaeumannii 

in young stands averages approximately 2-5 times greater than in mature 

and old-growth stands. Population genetic studies have shown that P. gaeumannii 

is two genetically differentiated, non-recombining sympatric lineages. We 

found that both lineages are present in the Wind River stands sampled, and that 

both lineages may occur within the same tree and same needle. One lineage is 

widespread while the second lineage had only been found in western Oregon prior 

to this study. A positive linear relationship between the amount of pseudothecia 

present and a decline in carbon dioxide assimilation rates was recorded. Declines 

in whole-tree carbon dioxide assimilation rates, ranging from 5-45%, are attributed 

to colonization by this microscopic fungus. contributed presentation 

Kerrigan, Richard W. 1 *, Callac, Philippe 2 , Guinberteau, Jacques 2 , Challen, 

Michael P. 3 and Parra, Luis A. 4 1 Sylvan Research, 198 Nolte Dr., Kittanning, PA 

16201, USA, 2 INRA, MYCSA (Mycologie et securite des aliments) BP 81, 

33883 Villenave d’Ornon cedex, France, 3 Warwick HRI, Univ. of Warwick, 

Wellesbourne, Warks, CV35 9EF, UK, 4 Avda. Padre Claret no º7, 5º G, 09400 

Aranda de Duero, Burgos, Spain. rwk@sylvaninc.com. A phylogenetic reconstruction 

of Agaricus section Xanthodermatei. 

Agaricus section Xanthodermatei comprises a group of species allied to A. 

xanthodermus and generally characterized by basidiomata having phenolic odors, 

transiently yellowing discolorations in some parts of the basidiome, Schaeffer’s 

reaction negative, and mild to substantial toxicity. The section has a global distribution, 

while most included species have distributions restricted to regions of single 

continents. Using specimens and cultures from Europe, North America, and 

Hawaiì, we analyzed DNA sequences from the ITS1+2 region of the nuclear 

rDNA to identify and characterize phylogenetically distinct entities and to construct 

a hypothesis of relationships, both among members of the section and with 

representative taxa from other sections of the genus. 61 sequences from affiliated 

taxa, plus 20 from six (or seven) other sections of Agaricus, and one Micropsalliota 

sequence, were evaluated under distance, maximum parsimony and maximum 

likelihood methods. We recognized 21 discrete entities in Xanthodermatei, 

including 14 established species and 7 new ones, three of which are described 

elsewhere. Four species from California, New Mexico, and France deserve further 

study before they are described. Section Xanthodermatei formed a single 

clade in most analyses, indicating that the traditional sectional characters noted 

above are good unifying characters that appear to have arisen only once within 

Agaricus. Deep divisions within the sequence-derived structure of the section 

could be interpreted as subsections in Xanthodermatei; however, low species richness 

and a lack of unifying characters in these relatively basal lineages led us to 

refrain from proposing new supraspecific taxa. The nearest neighbors of section 

Xanthodermatei are in section Duploannulati. contributed presentation 

Keyhani, Nemat O. University of Florida, Microbiology and Cell Science, 

Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. keyhani@ufl.edu. Beauveria bassiana versus ticks 

(Acari:Ixodidae): molecular mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity. 

The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, displays varying degrees 

of virulence towards several important disease-agents carrying tick species 

including Ixodes scapularis. The overall process of infection involves many steps 

most of which remain unknown particularly at the molecular level. These include 

complex systems for: (1) adhering to the exoskeletal substrata, (2) evading host defenses, 

(3) penetrating and degrading the cuticle, (4) transporting to the cytoplasm 

and catabolizing necessary nutrients, and (5) dispersing from the catabolized 

host(s). The proteins and toxic compounds that contribute to this process include 

glycosidases, proteases, lipases, adhesion factors, transporters, developmental regulators, 

fungal arthropod toxins, oxalic acid, and numerous other secondary 

metabolites. These factors can be secreted, found in the cell envelope, in vesicles, 

vacuoles, and the cytoplasm. Furthermore, during the infection process, fungi produce 

specialized structures, such as germ tubes, appressoria, penetrant pegs, plates, 

hyphae, and hyphal bodies. Finally, once inside the host hemolymph, fungi differentiate 

into in vivo blastospores, which may help the organism evade the host immune 

response. These processes can be viewed as a developmental program coordinated 

by intricate regulatory mechanisms. B. bassiana is presented as a model 

organism for studying these processes. As part of our studies, a series of cDNA libraries 

were constructed from B. bassiana cell types and a robust expressed sequence 

tagged (EST) dataset has been generated. symposium presentation 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Kikuchi, Kensuke*, Matsushita, Norihisa and Suzuki, Kazuo. Laboratory of Forest 

Botany, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of 

Tokyo, Japan. kiku@fr.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp. Genotyping of mycorrhizas synthesized 

by spore inoculation of Suillus bovinus. 

In previous studies, we have developed SSR (simple sequence repeat) 

markers from Suillus bovinus and mycorrhizal ability of monosporus strains of S. 

bovinus was confirmed. In this study, seedlings of Pinus densiflora were inoculated 

with spores of S. bovinus and genotyping of mycorrhizas formed were conducted 

with SSR marker. The result is discussed in relation with reproduction of 

S. bovinus. poster 

Kim, Mee-Sook 1 *, Hanna, John, W. 1,2 , McDonald, Geral I. 1 and Klopfenstein, 

Ned B. 1 1 USDA Forest Service-RMRS, 1221 S. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843 

USA. 2 Dept. of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA. 

mkim@fs.fed.us Characterization of North American Armillaria species: Genetic 

relationships determined from nuclear rDNA (IGS, ITS, and large subunit) 

sequences and AFLP markers. 

Genetic relationships among 10 North American Armillaria species were 

analyzed using sequence data from nuclear rDNA (intergenic spacer, internal 

transcribed spacer including 5.8S, and large subunit: LSU) and Amplified Fragment 

Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Phylogenetic analyses of the rDNA 

sequences suggested the occurrence of interspecific hybridization between A. ostoyae 

and A. gemina. Several Armillaria species (i.e., A. calvescens, A. sinapina, 

A. gallica, NABS X, and A. cepistipes) clustered together based on rDNA sequence 

data; however, AFLP data provided delineation among these species. 

AFLP analysis supported current taxonomic classification established by conventional 

methods (e.g., morphology and interfertility tests). Both LSU sequence and 

AFLP marker data indicate that A. mellea and A. tabescens are genetically distant 

from the other Armillaria species of North America. poster 

Kim, Seong Hwan 1 *, Kim, Jae-Jin 2 , Breuil, Colette 2 and Kim, Gyu-Hyeok 3 . 1 Department 

of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungnam, 330-714 

Korea, 2 Dept. of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. 

V6T 1Z4, Canada, 3 Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, 

Korea University, Seoul, Korea. Differentiation of sibling species Ophiostoma 

piceae and Ophiostoma quercus using beta-tubulin gene derived PCR 

primers. 

Ophiostoma piceae and O. quercus are sibling species and members of O. 

piceae complex. These two species are found worldwide on conifer and hard 

wood and cause sapstain problems. Since the two species are genetically closely 

related and morphologically very similar, it is not easy to identify them. To find a 

fast and reliable method for their identification, we amplified by PCR and sequenced 

the beta-tubulin gene from isolates of O. piceae and O. quercus from different 

geographical origins. Sequence variations between the two species were 

clearly observed. Potential nucleotide sites in the variable region of beta-tubulin 

gene were selected and used for the designation of O. piceae and O. quercus specific 

primers. Specificity tests of the designed primers to the known isolates of O. 

piceae and O. quercus showed that they could easily differentiate the two species. 

With the beta-tubulin gene derived primers, we could also detect the two species 

present on pinewood. poster 

Kinjo, Noriko* 1 and Zang, Mu 2 . 1 Colleage of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tokyo 

Medical and Dental University, 2-8-30, Kohnodai, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba 272- 

0827, Japan, 2 Kunming Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Kunming Yunnan 

650204, P.R. of China. k.kinjo@spn2.speednet.ne.jp. Cultural and microscopical 

studies on Cordyceps sinensis. 

Cordyceps sinensis has attracted many people due to its peculiar characteristics 

of fruiting on the host caterpillar. The fungus was used as a tonic for court 

cuisine from the middle of the Qing dynasty, and has become one of most famous 

and esteemed traditional Chinese medicines. The fungus has been noted for its 

medicinal potential, hence extensive pharmaceutical studies have been carried out 

and reported in China and Japan. The fungus is endemic in the alpine shrub-meadow 

zone of high mountains in the southernwestern China. We have explored its 

habitats in these regions and reported the results of the expeditions, morphological 

and genetic studies of the fungus (Kinjo and Zang, 2001). Our result also inferred 

that the anamorph of C. sinensis is closely related to Hirsutella sinensis. 

Here we present the result of culturing study on C. sinensis, and the direct observation 

of the teleomorphic state developing into its anamorph. The ascospores 

dropped on a SBA plate were germinated to produce hyphae or conidiogeneous 

phialides from 10 days after inoculations. Conidia were ovoid, ellipsoid and 

brown coloured, Two or three, occasionally much more conidia were aggregated 

together in a slime head, as a cultural period progressed. These morphological 

characters were similar to H. sinensis. Other cultural characteristics also will be 

also presented at the meeting. poster 

Kinoshita, Akihiko 1 *, Satomura, Takami 2 and Horikoshi, Takao 3 . 1 Graduate 

School of Biosphere Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 

739-8521, Japan. 2 Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, 

2-509-3, Hirano, Otsu 520-2113, Japan. 3 Faculty of Integrated Arts and 

Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739- 


8521, Japan. akisita@hiroshima-u.ac.jp. Fungal biomass in ectomycorrhizas of 

seedlings and adult trees of four tree species. 

In order to estimate the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in carbon cycling of 

forest ecosystems, it is needed to quantify their biomass. Usually fungal biomass 

of ectomycorrhizas was quantified by multiplying the amount of mycorrhizal tips 

by fungal mass in each tip. It has been suggested that ectomycorrhiza comprises 

20-40% of fungal tissues. However, it is considered that fungal contents may variable 

with the differences of plant species and their growth stages. In this study, we 

compared fungal sheath area (FSA; %), as an indicator of fungal contents of ectomycorrhizas, 

between seedlings and adult trees of Abies firma, Pinus densiflora, 

Fagus crenata and Quercus serrata in temperate to cool temperate forests of 

western Japan. Roots of seedlings and adult trees of each species were sampled in 

autumn 2002-2004. Fifteen -25 mycorrhizal tips of each species were randomly 

selected, and sectioned by hand transversely. Mycorrhizal and fungal sheath 

thicknesses were measured for 2-4 sections for each tip. Then FSA was calculated 

using these values. In addition, the tips were classified to reveal mycorrhizal 

types. Large numbers of mycorrhizal types were found in adult trees than 

seedlings in all species. FSA was almost similar both seedlings and adult trees. 

Therefore the range of fungal contents in ectomycorrhizas is from 20-40%, irrespective 

of differences of plant species, growth stages and the number of mycorrhizal 

types. poster 

Kiyuna, Tomohiko 1 *, An, Kwang-Deuk 1 , Kigawa, Rika 2 , Sano, Chie 2 , Miura, 

Sadatoshi 2 and Sugiyama, Junta 3 . 1 NCIMB Japan Co., Ltd., Research Center, 330 

Shimizu Nagasaki, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken 424-0065, Japan, 2 Tokyo National 

Research Institute of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Japan, 3 NCIMB Japan 

Co., Ltd., Kanda Office, Sudacho Towa Bldg. 6F, 2-2-4 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, 

Tokyo 101-0041, Japan. tkiyuna@suruga-g.co.jp. Mural-paintings in the 

Takamatsu-zuka and Kitora tumuluses: The current status of mycoflora 

and the roots of their fungi. 

The discovery of Takamatsu-zuka Tumulus in Asuka-mura, Nara Pref. was 

in 1972. The tomb is dated near end of later period of the Tumulus age (late 7c.). 

The most striking findings were the mural-paintings on the plaster adorning the 

inner walls of the stone chamber in this tumulus. Since then the mycoflora in the 

stone chamber, including inner walls and paintings, and the adjacent room has 

been investigated at regular intervals. The mycoflora was stable till the end of 

1990s. The situation of fungi on inner walls in the stone chamber suddenly 

changed in 2001; the appearance of fungi occurred frequently and they grew onto 

colorful paintings. Also, similar situation has recently occurred in the Kitora Tumulus’ 

stone chamber (late 7c.) discovered in 1983. In order to contribute the 

preservation of mural-paintings in the stone chamber, we have recently investigated 

the mycoflora and searched the identity and roots of fungi. As a result, the 

major fungi relating to the∞@biodeteriolation of mural-paintings were assignable 

to the anamorph genera Fusarium, Trichoderma and Penicillium. In the study, we 

have clarifed the identity of Fusarium and Trichoderma isolates using the integrated 

analysis of phenotypic characters (mainly morphology) and genotypic ones 

(28S rDNA D1/D2 and EF 1-alpha). The roots and lineages of these fungi will be 

polyphasically dicussed. poster 

Kiyuna, Tomohiko 1 , An, Kwang-Deuk 1 , Harada, Yukio 2 and *Sugiyama, Junta 3 . 

1 NCIMB Japan Co., Ltd., Research Center, Shizuoka-ken, Japan, 2 Hirosaki University, 

Faculty of Agriculture & Life Science, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomoriken, 

Japan, 3 NCIMB Japan Co., Ltd., Kanda Office, Sudacho Towa Bldg. 6F, 2- 

2-4 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0041, Japan. 

jsugiyam@suruga-g.co.jp. Identity of Taphrina farlowii Sadebeck (‘Archiascomycetes’) 

based on a new collection: searching from morphological and 

molecular characters. 

The isolate CBS 376.39 preserved as Taphrina farlowii has been identified 

as the ascomycetous yeast Pichia guilliermondii from both the molecular phylogenetic 

and phenotypic comparisons by Sjamsuridzal et al. (1997) and subsequently 

by Ogawa et al. (2003). The purpose of this study is to do collect and isolate 

“true” T. farlowii and polyphasically investigate the identity. In June 2004 one 

of the authors (Y .H.) collected a fresh material of a fruit pocket fungus that parasitized 

Prunus ssiori (‘Shiuri-Sakura’) in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Physiological 

and chemotaxonomic characterization, and molecular phylogenetic analyses 

of 18S rDNA and ITS-5.8S rDNA sequences, in addition to observations of 

morphological characters, have been made for both the specimen and living isolate. 

As a result, morphological and habitat’s characteristics of this fungus were 

well agreed with those of Mix’s description for T. farlowii Sadebeck in 1949. Besides, 

the molecular phylogenies have suggested that the closest relatives of our 

T. farlowii are T. confusa on P. alabamensis, P. virgiana, etc. and T. padi on P. 

padus. This placement using the molecular phylogenetics was agreeable to Mix’s 

opinion based on the traditional taxonomy. Polyphasic comparions between 

“false” T. farlowii isolate, and “true” T. farlowii specimen and isolate will be fully 

demonstrated. poster 

Klich, Maren A. USDA/ARS/Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, 

LA 70124, USA. mklich@srrc.ars.usda.gov. Aflatoxin production and long- 


term survival of Aspergillus flavus. 

Eight strains of Aspergillus flavus varying in aflatoxin production were inoculated 

onto YES and PDA agar media and incubated at 37 C. A. flavus generally 

produces more aflatoxin on YES than on PDA. All four of the high-producing 

isolates survived for at least 2.5 years on YES, whereas only one of the isolates 

on PDA survived over 2.5 years. Only one of the four low/non-producing isolates 

survived 2.5 years, and that was on YES. The study included high and low aflatoxin-producing 

strains derived from one isolate. Of these, only the high-producing 

substrain on YES survived 2.5 years. In a second experiment, two sets of the 

eight isolates were incubated on YES at 25 C for two weeks and then one set was 

placed in a 47 C incubator. All of the isolates incubated at 25 C were viable after 

1.5 years, but only two of the strains survived 1.5 years at 47 C. Both of these were 

high-producing strains. Under the conditions considered, presence of high levels 

of aflatoxin is associated with long-term survival of A. flavus. poster 

Ko, Han-Gyu 1 *, Park, Hyuk-Gu 2 , Kim, Seong Hwan 1 and Park, Won-Mok 1 . 

1 School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, 

Korea, 2 Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungnam, 

330-714, Korea. mushroom@korea.ac.kr. Analysis of sequences expressed 

during the primordial and basidiome stages by Suppression Subtractive hybridization 

in Hericium erinaceum. 

The suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique is an efficient 

method for detecting genes that are differentially expressed among different cells 

or among cells under modified conditions. In an effort to understand fruit body 

differentiation during in Hericium erinaceum, an edible and medicinal mushroom, 

we grew H. erinaceum KUMC 1008 on oak sawdust medium supplemented 

with rice bran and harvested its primodia and basidioma. RNA was extracted 

from the harvested samples and differentially expressed sequences were investigated 

by SSH. We obtained 139 cDNA clones from primordial library and 149 

cDNA clones from basidioma library, respectively. The size of the insert ranged 

from 50 to 1300 bp with an average of 299 bp for primordial and 366 for basidioma 

clones. Sequencing of the clones and BLASTX search of through GenBank 

database showed that there were many unknown genes. Further analysis of the sequence 

obtained will be presented. poster 

Ko, Han-Gyu 1 *, Park, Hyuk-Gu 2 , Kim, Seong Hwan 3 , Sung, Jae-Mo 1 and Park, 

Won-Mok 1 . 1 School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 

Seoul 136-701, Korea, 2 Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan, 

Chungnam, 330-714, Korea, 3 Department of Applied Biology, Kangwon 

National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-Do. 200-701, Korea. 

mushroom@korea.ac.kr. RAPD analysis of Cordyceps species and design of 

specific primers for C. militaris. 

Genetic relationship of 27 isolates containing five Cordyceps species and 

two entomopathogenic species from different geographical area was assessed in 

order to develop a Cordyceps militaris specific molecular marker. For this, random 

amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed using Operon 

primers set against the genomic DNA of the species tested. The sizes of amplified 

DNA fragments ranged from 100 to 5,000bp. Among the tried primers, 

OPA-01, OPA-10 and OPA-13 primers amplified DNA fragments of 300 to 

3,000bp. A dendrogram based on UPGMA analysis of the RAPD band patterns 

showed that C. militaris could be separated from C. scarabaeicola, C. pentatomi, 

C. yongmoonensis, C. longissima, Shimizuomycea paradoxa, and Paecilomyces 

tenuipes. A DNA band likely unique to C. militaris was cut and its nucleotide sequence 

was determined. A PCR primer pair was designed based on the determined 

sequence and tested against all the isolated used in this study. The primer 

pair amplified the target DNA only from C. militaris, suggesting that the primers 

set could be used for the detection of C. militaris. poster 

Kobayashi, Hisayasu 1 , Yamada, Akiyoshi 2 , Tokumasu Seiji 3 and Kakishima, 

Makoto 4 . 1 Ibaraki Prefectural Forestry Research Institute, Naka, Ibaraki 311- 

0122, Japan, 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, 

Nagano 399-4588, Japan, 3 Sugadaira Mountane Research Center, University of 

Tsukuba, Sanada, Nagano 386-2201, Japan, 4 Graduate School of Life and Environmental 

Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan. 

hkoba@agri.pref.ibaraki.jp. Mycorrhizal morphology in Rosaceae and Ulmaceae 

produced by entolomatoid fungi in Japan. 

Fruit bodies of entolomatoid fungi were found on the ground around 16 

species of trees in Japan. Soil blocks associated with fruit bodies were taken for 

collecting mycorrhizas from their roots. A total of 22 mycorrhizal samples were 

collected from the soil blocks around Prunus mume (1 sample), P. yedoensis (1), 

P. speciosa (1), P. sargentii (1), P. verecunda (1), P. jamazakura (1), Kerria 

japonica (1), Rosa multiflora (5), Rubus hirsutus (1), Pyracantha coccinea (1), 

Sorbus commixta (1), Malus domestica (2), M. toringo (2),Pyrus pyrifolia var. 

culta (1), Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (1) and Zelkova serrata (1). Among 

them, samples collected around Prunus mume and Rosa multiflora were identified 

as mycorrhizas formed by Entoloma saepium and E. clypeatum f. hybridum, 

respectively. However, fruit bodies connected with other samples could not be 

identified to species. Microscopic observations showed that all samples were 

morphologically similar each other. The surfaces of mycorrhizas were silvery 

white in color, simple, flask-like shaped, 2-5 mm in long and 1-2 mm in diame- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

ter and fungal hyphae were observed between the apical root cells. The apical root 

cells were finally disappeared and replaced by the hyphae. These characteristics 

are different from those of mycorrhizas produced by other group of fungi. poster 

Koide, Roger T. Dept. of Horticulture, Penn State University, University Park, PA 

16802, USA. rxk13@psu.edu. Temporal and spatial partitioning in ectomycorrhizal 

fungal communities. 

We have shown that in a Pinus resinosa plantation, ectomycorrhizal fungal 

communities are structured in space and in time. For example, we have shown 

that the hyphae of species of ectomycorrhizal fungi partition the forest floor according 

to layers (litter, F-layer, H-layer, mineral soil). Our experiments suggest 

that partitioning of this kind occurred as a consequence of variability in level of 

substrate decomposition, and as a consequence of variation in depth in the forest 

floor. Significant negative and positive correlations also occurred among hyphae 

of various species in small samples (0.25 ml) of F-layer. Ectomycorrhizal fungi 

also partition the forest floor in time; significant negative correlations among 

species pairs occurred throughout a 13 month time course. Significant positive 

temporal correlations also existed for other species pairs, suggesting a lack of temporal 

partitioning among those species. Temporal and spatial partitioning occurred 

independent of each other. symposium presentation 

Kretzer, Annette M. SUNY-ESF, Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology, 

1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. kretzera@esf.edu. Prospects of 

parentage analysis in basidiomycetes. 

Parentage analysis has become a popular tool for many plant and animal 

studies, but has so far been rarely used in fungi. One of the powerful promises that 

parentage analysis holds for fungi is that it can trace paths of spore dispersal and 

establishment, even if the direction cannot readily be determined in most basidiomycetes. 

I have used 6 and 7 medium polymorphic microsatellite markers (average 

expected heterozygosities ~0.4) and Goodnight & Queller’s likelihood ratio 

test to identify probable parent/offspring pairs in Rhizopogon vinicolor and Rhizopogon 

vesiculosus (Boletales, Basidiomycota) collected from three intensively 

sampled plots in the Oregon Coast Range. Across both species, 1012 and 568 

genet pairs could not be excluded as possible parent/offspring pairs, but only 7 and 

4 had a significantly (alpha = 0.001) higher likelihood of being related as parent 

and offspring than being unrelated. Of these, only two R. vinicolor genets were 

still supported as parent and offspring (alpha = 0.05) when tested against the alternative 

hypothesis of being full siblings; they were located approx. 45 m and 28 

m apart from each other. Methods and challenges of parentage analysis in basidiomycetes 

will be discussed. contributed presentation 

Kropp, Bradley R. 1 * and James M. Trappe 2 . 1 Dept. of Biology. Utah State University, 

Logan, UT 84322, USA, 2 Dept. of Forest Science, Oregon State University, 

Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. brkropp@biology.usu.edu. Phylogenetics of Gigasperma 

based on partial nuclear large subunit rDNA sequences. 

Gigasperma is a small genus with species characterized by unusual, 

smooth, large, thick-walled, globose to subglobose basidiospores and a hypogeous 

habit. Two species are currently assigned to the genus: G. cryptica from 

New Zealand and G. americanum from the western United States. A phylogenetic 

study based on nuc-lsu rDNA sequences shows the unusual spore form shared 

by the two species is homoplastic. The results indicate that both G. cryptica and 

americanum are derived from agaricoid ancestors but are otherwise not closely related. 

poster 

Kubota, Mayumi and Hyakumachi, Mitsuro. Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, 

Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan. mayumik@cc.gifuu.ac.jp. 

Colonization preference and morphology of arbuscular mycorrhizal 

fungi. While AM fungi are thought to have wide host range, number of studies has 

showed that there is specific compatibility between plants and AM fungi. In this 

study, colonization preference of AM fungi was investigated in order to elucidate 

how and why AM fungi select plants. A Japanese woody plant, Clethra barbinervis 

(Ericales), and two crop plant species, cucumber and tomato, were used as 

test plants. Soils were collected from 6 different vegetation sites and used as AM 

fungal inoculum. Test plants were grown with AM fungal inoculum for 6 weeks. 

Morphology of AM fungi colonizing plant roots was observed. In C. barbinervis, 

only Paris-type morphology was observed. In cucumber, Arum-type morphology 

was dominantly observed. In tomato, both Arum- and Paris-types were observed. 

DNA was extracted from roots of the test plants and colonizing AM fungi were 

determined using PCR with Glomales specific primers. Various AM fungal families 

were frequently detected from roots of tomato and C. barbinervis grown in 

throughout soil samples. In contrast, Glomaceae and Paraglomaceae/Archaeosporaceae 

were frequently detected from roots of cucumber. These suggest 

that rather than the soil type, plant selects AM fungi and the selection manner depends 

on plant species i.e. cucumber has strong selectivity and tomato and C. barbinervis 

do not. Influence of neighbor plants for selection of AM fungi was further 

investigated. C. barbinervis greatly increased Acaulospora colonization in 

cucumber when they were grown where C. barbinervis was dominant. Diversity 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

of AM colonization in C. barbinervis decreased when C. barbinervis grown 

where cucumber was dominant. These suggest that plant species affect selection 

of AM fungi in neighbor plants. Influence of plant root exudates on AM colonization 

was discussed here. symposium presentation 

Kuga-Uetake, Yukari. Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-Minowa, 

Nagano 399-4598, Japan. ykuga@shinshu-u.ac.jp. Diversity and similarity 

in the structure of mycorrhizas. 

Most plant species establish symbiotic organs called mycorrhizas, structures 

formed between plant roots and fungal hyphae. The organs are sites of exchange 

of nutrients between two organisms, and to date, seven types are recognized based 

on their structure. Except for ectomycorrhiza, arbuscular, ectendo-, monotropoid, 

arbutoid, ericoid, and orchid mycorrhizas establish intracellular hyphae. The intracellular 

hyphae are, however, always separated from host cells by host membrane 

continuous with the plasma membrane and cell wall materials derived from 

the host. Ecto, ectendo, arbutoid, and monotropoid mycorrhizas develop hyphal 

layers intercellularly, which is called a Hartig net, and around the root tip called a 

mantle. Host microtubule (MT) arrays change accompanying intracellular fungal 

colonization in arbuscular, orchid, ectendo- and monotropoid mycorrhizas. MTs 

were always closely associated with the membrane surrounding the fungal hyphae. 

Recently in ecto-, ectendo- and monotropoid mycorrhizas, modified cortical 

MTs were also observed for the first time in host cells adjacent to Hartig net 

hyphae. The seven mycorrhizal types are distinctive in the structures but share a 

common feature of the presence of host MTs on membranes closely associated 

with fungal structures. symposium presentation 

Kunishi, Ayako* and Hashimoto, Yasushi. Agro-environmental Science, Obihiro 

University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, 

Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. yhashi@obihiro.ac.jp. Mycorrhizal colonization 

and structure of Pyrola incarnata Fischer growing in a Japanese larch forest. 

Pyrola L. is known to form arbutoid mycorrhiza, but details of morphology 

and ecology of Pyrola mycorrhizas are not clear. To investigate the seasonal 

change of quality and quantity of Pyrola mycorrhizas, the roots of Pyrola incarnata 

Fischer were collected from a Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr.) forest. 

These mycorrhizas were divided into morphological types by details of mycorrhizal 

surface. Each type was sectioned for observation of mycorrhizal fungal 

structures. Some dominant types of Pyrola mycorrhizas and ectomycorrhizas of 

L. kaempferi collected from a forest site were analyzed for restriction fragment 

length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 

region in nuclear rDNA. Pyrola mycorrhizal colonization rate and number of 

types were increased from spring to summer. A total of 11 types were present in 

Pyrola mycorrhizas. Observations of the sections of mycorrhizas showed that two 

types have only intracellular hyphe with no organized fungal sheath and one type 

have only the sheath. The other types were typical arbutoid mycorrhiza that have 

organized sheath, Hartig net and intracellular hyphe. ITS-RFLP pattern of the 

most dominant type of Pyrola mycorrhizas had the same pattern of ectomycorrhizas 

of L. kaempferi. Thus the fungi that colonized on these dominant types 

were identified as Thelephoraceae by ITS sequences. poster 

Kurihara, Yuko 1 *, Ogawa, Yoshio 2 , Degawa, Yousuke 3 and Tokumasu, Seiji 1 . 

1 Sugadaira Montane Res. Cent., Univ. of Tsukuba, 1278-294, Osa, Sanada, 

Nagano 386-2201, Japan, 2 Coll. of Pharmacy, Nihon Univ., 7-7-1, Narashinodai, 

Funabashi, Chiba 274-8555, Japan, 3 Kanagawa Pref. Museum of Natural History, 

499, Iryuda, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0031, Japan. kurihara-yuko@nite.go.jp. 

A proposal for the division of the order Kickxellales based on the comparison 

with its related orders. 

The order Kickxellales Benjamin 1979 has been regarded as a close relative 

of Harpellales, and most of the species are saprobes and inhabit in soil or on dung 

of omnivorous or herbivorous mammals. Though the current classification system 

of the order lacks consistency due to the inclusion of newly added taxa after Benjamin 

(1959), no comprehensive taxonomic studies have been made after his 

work. To construct a more consistent taxonomic system of Kickxellales, the following 

strategy was used. First, all kickxellalean genera were classified into 

groups based on the optical microscopic morphology. Second, these groups were 

evaluated based on the septal ultrastructure and 18S and 28S rDNA sequence 

analysis, respectively. From these results, a taxonomical conclusion was drawn. 

Three groups; Coemansia group, Spiromyces group, and Ramicandelaber group 

were recognized in Kickxellales, and they were morphologically and phylogenetically 

distinct enough from each other and from any other fungal groups including 

Dimargaritales and Harpellales. Thus, each of the three groups would be regarded 

as an independent order, that is, Kickxellales sensu Benjamin 1979 would 

be divided into three orders. This treatment makes the range of Kickxellales recur 

to the original one that has been stretched out gradually. symposium presentation 

Kurihara, Yuko 12 *, Machida, Ryuichiro 3 and Fukui, Makiko 3 . 1 Dept. of Biotech., 

Nat. Inst. of Tech. and Eval., Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan, 

2 Mycol. & Metabol. Divers. Res. Cent., Tamagawa Univ. Res. Inst., Machida, 

Tokyo 194-8610, Japan, 3 Sugadaira Mont. Res. Cent., Univ. of Tsukuba, Osa, 

Sanada Nagano 386-2201, Japan. kurihara-yuko@nite.go.jp. Fungi isolated 

from proturans under rearing. 


Protura is one of the most primitive hexapod orders, and all the species live 

in soil. Fungal parasites of soil arthropods including proturans were scarcely investigated 

while entomopathogenic fungi of Pterygota have been relatively fully 

studied and already applied for industry. To develop a new isolation source of industrially 

useful fungi, we studied fungi isolated from Baculentulus densus (Acerentomidae, 

Protura). Proturans were extracted from litter and soil collected at 

Shinko-ji, Sanada, Nagano, Japan with a Tullgren funnel, and kept in rearing containers 

with a small amount of litter in laboratory. Fungi were isolated from 

dead/intact bodies of proturans after rearing. As a result, Acremonium kiliense, 

Lecanicillium psalliotae and other Verticillium sensu lato species, and Conidiobolus 

coronatus dominantly appeared from them. A strain of A. kiliense showed 

an antifungal activity. Lecanicillium psalliotae has been shown to be phylogenetically 

close to Isaria spp. (Luangsa-ard et al. 2004), and C. coronatus is known as 

a biological-control agent. These results suggest that proturans and other soil 

arthropods would provide us industrially important fungi as Pterygota. poster 

Kwan, Hoi-Shan*, Chum, Wing Yan, Bian, Xue-Lin, Xie, Wei-Jun, Ng, Zhang, 

Leung, Grace, Sze Wan. Department of Biology and Food and Nutritional Sciences 

Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 

China. hoishankwan@cuhk.edu.hk. Gene expression profiles of Shiitake mushroom 

Lentinula edodes revealed by Differential Display, cDNA Microarray 

and Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE). 

Fruit body development is an important area in mushroom biology and has 

recently been studied at the molecular level. We aim to characterize gene expression 

profiles during fruit body development of Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes. 

First, we used the differentially display method RNA fingerprinting with arbitrarily 

primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP) to isolate genes differentially 

expressed during fruit body development. RAP is powerful in isolating gene fragments 

but requires tedious down-stream works to isolate full-length for further 

analysis. Over 100 genes were isolated and sequenced. Fifteen were studied further. 

Second, RAP products were used as probes to hybridize to cDNA macroarray 

membranes to identify and sequenced over 100 differentially expressed genes. 

Third, the cDNA clones from a cDNA library of primordium were randomly 

picked and sequenced to generate over 500 unique Expressed Sequence Tags 

(ESTs). Differential expressions of ESTs were analyzed by dot-blot hybridization 

and cDNA microarray analysis using total cDNA from mycelium and primordium 

as probes. From the above analysis, only relative levels of differentially expressed 

genes were obtained. To determine the proportion of each mRNA among 

total transcripts in mycelium and primordium, we used Serial Analysis of Gene 

Expression (SAGE) which reports the number of transcripts for each gene. About 

20,000 transcripts were counted from five developmental stages and 110 genes 

could match to our ESTs. Examination of the kind of genes abundantly and differentially 

expressed in primordium indicated that at the initiation of fruit body, 

the following occurred: (1) specific sets of genes are expressed in primordium, (2) 

mycelium-specific genes are suppressed, (3) different sets of structural proteins 

appear in different stages, (4) protein turn-over increases, (5) protein synthesis increases, 

and (6) specific signal transductions occur. Gene expression profiles revealed 

by different approaches were compared and were generally consistent. 


Lam, Wing Hon 1 *, Taylor, Paul W.J. 2 , Jeewon, Rajesh 1 and Hyde, Kevin D. 1 

1 Centre of Research in Fungal Diversity, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, 

University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2 Bio Marka, Joint Centre for 

Crop Innovation, Institute of Land and Food Resources, University of Melbourne, 

Vic, 3010, Australia. winghon@hkusua.hku.hk. Molecular phylogeny of the 

pathogenic falcate-spored Colletotrichum species. 

Colletotrichum and its teleomorph Glomerella are important plant 

pathogens that cause a disease known as anthracnose. The economic impact due 

to the damage of crops by this disease is huge. Species concepts in Colletotrichum 

have been mainly based on morphological and cultural criteria, until recently molecular 

phylogenetics were utilized to study the relationship of some of the agricultural 

important species e.g. C. gloeosporioides, C. acutatum, C. musae. In our 

study, we focused on the pathogenic falcate-spored Colletotrichum species, including 

those infecting grasses and the non-graminicolous ones. The morphological 

characters in these species are often highly variable and have caused a lot of 

confusions in the differentiation of species. Using the internal transcribed spacer 

(ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and beta-tubulin (tub2) gene, we tried 

to elucidate the interspecific relationships between the selected isolates. We have 

also examined the type materials of C. capsici, C. caudatum, C. falcatum and C. 

trichellum. Fresh isolates were also obtained from the original collection locations 

and epitypes/lectotypes were designated in order to stabilize the application of 

species names. poster 

Landis, Frank C. 1 * and Gargas, Andrea 2 . 1 University of Akron, Akron OH, USA, 

2 University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. flandis@uakron.edu. 

ITS2 secondary structure defines species-specific probe regions for fungi. 

We designed prototype DNA microarrays including 183 ITS2 rDNA sequences 

from 162 fungal species known to inhabit soil, with representative 


species from each of the five Eumycota phyla plus Oomycota. Probes were based 

on 20 nt segments of each ITS2 sequence, with microarrays containing all possible 

20 bp segments. Arrays were designed to detect multiple fungal species from 

soil samples. Initial results provided substantial insight into designing eukaryotic 

rDNA microarray detectors, as these microarrays were compromised by two design 

limitations: 1) 55% of the probes were shared among two or more species. 

This is understandable, as ITS2 regions contain substantial phylogenetic information, 

suggesting that a number of 20-nt oligonucleotide segments should be similar 

or identical among species. 2) Most seriously, prototype design also proved 

susceptible to spoofing, responding to fungi not represented on the array. For example, 

one test species hybridized with single-copy probes from seven different 

species, although supposedly it was not represented in the array. Since most soil 

fungal species are unidentified, probes designed to detect known taxa must also 

have safeguards against responding to unknown taxa. Fortunately, one significant 

result potentially overcomes both limitations. Analysis of probe duplications 

against 119 of the array sequences showed that unique sequences tended to occur 

most often around nt position 40 of ITS 2, where 67% of probes were unique, and 

duplicates were confined to near relatives. Position 40 corresponds precisely with 

loop 2 of the ITS2 folding structure, a folding structure repeated in all 119 sequences. 

Our findings suggest that probes based on loop 2 sequences would a priori 

be close to taxon-specific and therefore resistant to spoofing. More generally, 

analysis of secondary structure folding patterns in rapidly evolving sequences 

holds promise for the design of taxon-specific oligonucleotide probes. poster 

Landolt, John C. 1 *, Slay, Michael E. 2 and Stephenson, Steven L. 3 1 Dept. of Biology, 

Shepherd University, Shepherdstown WV 25443, USA, 2 Ozark Highlands 

Office, The Nature Conservancy, Fayetteville AR 72701, USA, 3 Dept. of Biological 

Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR 72701, USA. jlandolt@shepherd.edu. 

Dictyostelium rosarium and other cellular slime molds 

from Ozark caves. 

Samples of “soil” material were collected from 33 caves in Arkansas, Missouri 

and Oklahoma. These samples were processed in the laboratory using standard 

isolation procedures for dictyostelid cellular slime molds. These organisms 

were recorded from 18 of the 33 (55%) caves. In addition to the fairly cosmopolitan 

species Dictyostelium mucoroides, Polysphondylium pallidum and P. violaceum, 

five other species were recovered, including numerous isolates of D. 

rosarium from 12 different caves. Based upon these data and an earlier study of 

West Virginia caves, D. rosarium appears to have a preference, or at least a particular 

tolerance, for cave environments. In general, the pH values of soil samples 

from Ozark caves were more acidic than those from the West Virginia caves sampled 

previously. This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, 

the University of Arkansas, Shepherd University, and The Nature Conservancy. 

poster 

Landolt, John C. Dept. of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown WV 

25443, USA. jlandolt@shepherd.edu. Studies of Alaskan cellular slime molds. 

In the 1990’s, the results of several studies of cellular slime molds (CSM) 

of high-latitude regions of Alaska were published in the journal Arctic and Alpine 

Research. Additionally, a number of other studies were carried out and one project 

is still ongoing. This presentation summarizes the results of this work on 

Alaskan CSM, published and unpublished. Although occurring at low levels of 

species richness in high latitudes regions of western and central Alaska, measured 

densities of CSM sometimes rival those of lower latitudes. One probable new 

species has been recovered, and some interesting patterns of ecological succession 

in CSM communities are suggested by the data obtained from the various study 

sites. This work has benefited from the efforts of Dr. S. L. Stephenson, logistical 

support and funding from Dr. G. A. Laursen (UAF/National Park Service research 

grants Nos. PX9830-93-062, PX9830-92-385, PX9830-0-0451, PX9830-0-0472, 

and PX9830-0-0512) and from contributions provided by a number of students 

and technicians, particularly Woody Wingate and Bess Morrison. Dr. Glen Juday 

was instrumental in setting up the study that allowed data to be collected from the 

Columbia Glacier region. Thanks also to personnel of the U.S. National Park Service, 

funding provided by the National Geographic Society (NGS grant #3974- 

88), and logistical support from Shepherd University. symposium presentation 

Laursen, Gary A. 1 *, Horak, Egon 2 and Taylor, D. Lee 3 . 1 UAF, Inst. of Arctic Biology, 

P.O. Box 756100, 305A Bunnell Bldg., Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA, 2 ETH 

Zentrum, University of Zurich, Zurich, SZ, Switzerland, 3 UAF, Inst. of Arctic Biology, 

311 Irving I, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA. ffgal@.uaf.edu. Galerina 

patagonica Singer from Gondwanian Mainland AU and NZ, their Subantarctic 

Islands, and Patagonia. 

Twenty-eight collections (Galerina patagonica Singer) were examined 

from the Subantarctic Islands (SAIs) of Macquarie (540 S., AU), Campbell (520 

S, NZ) and Auckland (500 S., NZ), but not yet recorded from other SIAs, and 

from mainland NZ and AU. SAI substrates included peaty soil, vascular plant litter 

of Poa foliosa, Stilbocarpa polaris, Pleurophyllum hookeri, Dracophyllum 

longifolium, D. scoparium, Metrosideros umbellata and mosses. The biodiversity 

of island agaric floras show affinities with Patagonia (S.Am.) 2700 km NE. G. 

patagonica Gondwanian distribution strongly supports long-distance wind and/or 

bird dispersal mechanisms. To investigate the systematic and phylogeography of 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

G. patagonica, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was sequenced in addition to 

part of the RPB1 gene in a subset of 13 specimens. Data analyses revealed two 

clades within G. patagonica that were congruent across the two genes, robust to 

methods of phylogenetic inference and strongly supported. We suggest the presence 

of two cryptic species within the currently recognized species. Clade 1 was 

found in material from both mainlands as well as Auckland and Macquarie Islands. 

Clade 2 was found on all three Subantarctic islands, but not on the two 

mainlands. Identical sequences were often found in multiple localities indicating 

recent long-distance dispersal of both cryptic species. Minor sequence variation 

within clade 2 was partitioned between the islands however, and suggests genetic 

isolation between clade 2 populations. symposium presentation 

Lee, Hyang B. 1 *, Kim, Youngjun 2 , Jin, Hui Z. 3 , Lee, Jung J. 3 , Kim, Chang-Jin 3 , 

Park, Jae Y. 1 , Park, Chae H. 1 and Jung, Hack S. 1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, 

Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea, 2 Division of Biotechnology, 

The Catholic University of Korea, Puchon 420-743, Korea, 3 Korea Research 

Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Post office Box 115 

Yusung, Taejon 305-600, Korea. minervas@snu.ac.kr. A new Hypocrea strain 

producing harzianum A cytotoxic to tumor cell lines. 

A new fungal strain producing a trichothecene metabolite, harzianum A, 

was isolated and its cytotoxicity to tumor cell lines was evaluated. The strain was 

identified as a new Hypocrea strain based on morphological characteristics and 

ITS rDNA sequence data. Harzianum A was isolated from wheat bran culture by 

50% acetone extraction, silica gel chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography 

and HPLC. The chemical structures were determined by ESI- or HRFAB- 

MS and 1 H and 13 C-NMR analyses. Harzianum A showed cytotoxicity to HT1080 

and HeLa cell lines with IC 50 values of 0.65 and 5.07 ug ml -1 , respectively. 

Harzianum A with a chemical formula of C 23 H 28 O 6 showed moderate to strong 

cytotoxicity to human cancer cell lines. This is the first report on the production 

of cytotoxic harzianum A by a new Hypocrea strain. poster 

Lee, Jin S. 1 *, Sung, Ha Y. 1 , Lim, Young W. 2 and Jung, Hack S. 1 1 Department of 

Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, 

Seoul 151-747, Korea, 2 Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry, University 

of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. 

minervas@snu.ac.kr. Phylogenetic analyses of Perenniporia and Ganoderma 

based on molecular sequences. 

Perenniporia s. l., characterized by the ellipsoid to distinctly truncated 

spores usually with thick walls of variable dextrinoid reaction, is a large heterogeneous 

group that overlaps with several other generic concepts and makes the 

classification difficult at present. Phylogenetic relationships of 48 taxa of Perenniporia 

and related genera were studied by comparing differences among phylogenetic 

trees inferred from ITS1 rDNA, partial 28S rDNA, and 6-7 regions of 

RPB2 DNA sequences. It showed that the species of Perenniporia s. l. did not 

form a monophyletic group and were divided into six subgroups; Abundisporus 

(A. fuscopurpureus, A. sclerosetosus, Loweporus pubertatis, L. violaceus), Loweporus 

(L. lividus, L. roseoalbus, L. tephroporus), Perenniporia s. s. (Perenniporia 

medulla-panis, P. narymica, P. subacida), Perenniporiella (Perenniporiella 

micropora, P. neofulva), Truncospora (Perenniporia aurantiaca, P. ochroleuca, 

P. ohiensis), and Vanderbylia (Perenniporia delavayi, P. fraxinea, P. latissima). 

Besides, another subgroup Ganoderma (G. applanatum, G. meredithiae, G. lucidum, 

G. resinaceum, Perenniporia robiniophila) with truncate thick-walled 

spores as a common character was included in Perenniporia s.l. together. poster 

Lee, Soo Chan* and Shaw, Brian D. Program for the Biology of Filamentous 

Fungi, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, 

College Station, Texas, 77803, USA. sclee@tamu.edu. The role of protein 

myristoylation in cell morphogenesis in Aspergillus nidulans. 

N-myristoylation increases hydrophobicity to allow cytoplasmic proteins to 

associate with membranes. This modification is mediated by N-myristoyl 

trasnferase (NMT). In Aspergillus nidulans, the mutation in NMT encoding gene 

(swoF1) results in abnormal morphogenesis during spore germination and establishment 

of hyphal growth at restrictive temperature. Six suppressors of swoF1 

(ssf) mutants have been identified through UV mutagenesis. Genetic analysis has 

shown that all six mutations are extragenic to swoF1 and all mutated proteins are 

downstream of SwoF1. These secondary mutations enable the swoF1 mutant to 

recover from the loss of cell polarity axis. All ssf mutants have been separated 

form swoF1 strain by backcross with wild type. Interestingly ssfB, ssfC, and ssfD 

produced a red pigment, which could be ascoqunoine, which is produced during 

ascosporogenesis, or norsolorinic acid, a precursor of sterigmatocystin. The distinguishable 

colonial phenotype of ssf mutants at 42C enables us to clone each 

gene by complementation. Through the step, ssfD has been found to encode one 

subunit of the 26S proteasome, which is likely to interact with another proteasome 

subunit protein, which is predicted to be myristoylated. Subsequent analysis of 

ssfD is ongoing. The analysis of these mutants is in progress and will be discussed. 




MSA ABSTRACTS 

Liang, YingMei 1 *, Tian, ChengMing 1,2 and Kakishima, Makoto 1 . 1 Graduate 

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305- 

8572, Japan, 2 College of Natural Resources and Environment, Beijing Forestry 

University, Beijing 100083, China. ymeilt@hotmail.com. Phylogenetic analysis 

of Pucciniastrum species in Japan. 

Pucciniastrum is a large, cosmopolitan genus of Pucciniastraceae. About 24 

species are known in the world and all species have heteroecious life cycles which 

alternate between species of Pinaceae (Abies, Picea and Tsuga) and dicotyledonous 

plant species (16 families, 26 genera) (Hiratsuka 1958, Cummins and Hiratsuka 

2003). Among these species, 21 species have been reported in Japan (Hiratsuka 

et al., 1992) and are classified into 4 morphological groups based on the 

structure of ostiolar cells of peridia in the uredinia. Among 4 groups, one group 

has smooth ostiolar cells and contains 16 species. They were separated into different 

species mainly based on their host plants, because of the morphological 

similarities of uredinial and telial stages among these species. However, their taxonomic 

identity and phylogenetic relationships were still unknown. 43 specimens 

from14 species with smooth ostiolar cells were collected from different areas in 

Japan and their phylogenetic relationships were analysed by molecular methods. 

Sequence data obtained from D1/D2 region of nuclear large subunit rDNA, 5.8S 

rDNA and their internal transcribed spacers, ITS1 and ITS2 regions were used to 

infer phylogenetic relationships of these species. The NJ tree constructed from 

D1/D2 region showed that P. circaeae and P. epilobii formed a single clade with 

high bootstrap support. This tree also indicated that P. fagi, P. hikosanense, P. 

boehmeriae, P. kusanoi, P. actinidiae, P. corni, P. styracinum, P. yoshinagai, P. 

miyabeanum and P. tiliae formed a single clade, whereas P. fagi, P. hikosanense 

and P. tiliae were monophyletic and formed different clades from the other 7 

species in the NJ tree from ITS region. The both NJ trees from D1/D2 and ITS regions 

showed that P. hydrangeae-petiolaris and P. coryli were monophyletic with 

high bootstrap support. symposium presentation 

Lickey, Edgar B.*, Hughes, Karen W. and Petersen, Ronald H. Dept. of Ecology 

and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996 USA. 

elickey@utk.edu. Surveying the mushroom-forming mycota of the Great 

Smoky Mountains National Park for the ATBI. 

A three year effort to catalog the basidiomycete taxa, particularly the mushroom-forming 

fungi, of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) 

was initiated in the summer of 2004 as part of the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity 

Inventory. The goal of this project is to collect, identify, and voucher specimens. 

DNA is being extracted from each specimen and the nuclear ribosomal ITS region 

is being amplified and sequenced. The sequences will be deposited into the 

sequence database GenBank. Finally, an easily accessible web-page will be created 

for each species, complete with description, photos, location and habitat data. 

Field sampling consists of weekly forays and periodic “bio-blitzes” involving experts 

in certain taxonomic groups. The floristic richness and geologic diversity of 

the GSMNP provides the ingredients for an extremely rich mycota. At present (15 

January 2005), approximately 1000 specimens comprising about 500 species 

have been collected. Several represent species new to science, and many represent 

new park records and range extensions. symposium presentation 

Lim, Young Woon*, Kim, Jae-Jin, Lu, Monica and Breuil, Colette. Department 

of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. 

ywlim@interchange.ubc.ca. Determining fungal diversity on Dendroctonus 

ponderosae and Ips pini affecting lodgepole pine using cultural and molecular 

methods. 

Several beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and their fungal associates cause 

severe damage to lodgepole pine in Western Canada and the Northwestern United 

States. The fungal diversity from the surface of two bark beetle species, Dendroctonus 

ponderosae Hopkins (mountain pine beetle) and Ips pini Say (pine engraver), 

was surveyed using cultural and molecular methods. Nine fungal taxa 

were recognized by morphological characterizations. All nine taxa were isolated 

from the mountain pine beetle whereas only seven of the nine taxa were isolated 

from the pine engraver. The identification was based on cultural morphology and 

high sequence similarities of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit 

ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) region to sequences of known fungi. Fungal 

ITS regions were amplified from DNA directly extracted from the beetle surface. 

The PCR products were cloned and 250 clones were classified by their restriction 

pattern with HaeIII and RsaI. A total of 26 RFLP types were identified and subsequently 

sequenced. Among them, 15 RFLP types were identified as being present 

in mountain pine beetle and 14 were present in pine engraver. Sequence analysis 

of the RFLP types showed that 23 ascomycetes and 3 basidiomycetes were 

represented in the clone libraries, whereas the isolates from the cultural method 

represented 7 ascomycetes and 2 basidiomycetes. We found that yeast and nonstaining 

filamentous Euascomycetes fungi were detected efficiently using a molecular 

approach, while the major sapstaining fungi and decay fungi were best detected 

using cultural methods. symposium presentation 

Limkaisang, Saranya 1 *, Furtado, Edson L. 2 , Liew, Kon W. 3 , Salleh, Baharuddin 3 , 

Sato, Yukio 4 , Fangfuk, Wanwisa 5 , To-anun, Chaiwat 5 , Khodaparast, Seyed A. 6 , 

Cunnington, James H. 7 and Takamatsu, Susumu 1 . 1 Faculty of Bioresources, Mie 

University, Kamihama-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan, 2 Dept. of Producto Veg- 


etal/FCA-UNESP, P.O. Box 237, 18603-970, Botucatu/SP, Brazil, 3 School of Biological 

Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia, 4 Toyama 

Prefectural University, Kosugi-Cho, Toyama 939-0398, Japan, 5 Dept. of Plant 

Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai 50200, 

Thailand, 6 Dept. of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Gilan University, 

Rasht, Iran, 7 Dept. of Primary Industries- Knoxfield, Private Bag 15, Ferntree 

Gully Delivery Centre, Victoria, 3156, Australia. limkaisang@yahoo.com. Phylogenetic 

relationship of Oidium anacardii, O. bixae, O. citri, O. heveae, O. 

mangiferae and allied species inferred from the ITS and 28S rDNA sequences. 

The powdery mildew fungi that occur on several tropical/subtropical trees, 

i.e., Acacia, Anacardium, Bixa, Citrus, Hevea, and Mangifera, are mitosporic 

Oidium species sharing a Pseudoidium anamorph. Although the fungal species 

are described as Oidium anacardii, O. bixae, O. citri, O. heveae, and O. 

mangifera, their identification and phylogenetic placements are still uncertain due 

to the absence of the teleomorphic state. We performed phylogenetic analyses of 

these fungi collected in Asia, Australia and South America using the ITS and 28S 

rDNA sequences. Both ITS and 28S rDNA sequences indicated that they are 

identical or closely related to one another with only a few sequence substitutions. 

The sequences of these fungi are also identical or closely related to the sequence 

of Erysiphe sp. on Quercus phillyraeoides, and are grouped into a distinct clade 

together with strong bootstrap support. There is no apparent conflict in morphological 

characteristics among the fungi. These results suggest that the powdery 

mildew fungi on these tropical/subtropical trees are conspecific and may be an 

anamorph of Erysiphe sp. on Quercus phillyraeoides. Cross-inoculation tests are 

required to substantiate this possibility. contributed presentation 

Lindahl, Björn D.*, Ihrmark, Katarina, Stenlid, Jan and Finlay, Roger D. Swedish 

University of Agricultural Sciences, Dept. of Forest Mycology & Pathology, Box 

7026, SE-75 007 Uppsala, Sweden. bjorn.lindahl@mykopat.slu.se. Fungal succession 

in the forest floor of a North European Pinus sylvestris forest. 

Rapid progress in the development of new molecular techniques greatly improves 

our possiblilities to study microbial communities in soil. PCR amplification 

of soil derived DNA and cloning of PCR products into E. coli enable ITS sequencing 

and identification of fungi from within mixed communities. By 

combining cloning and sequencing with community fingerprinting techniques 

such as T-RFLP (terminal restricition fragment length polymorphism), complex 

communities may be analysed in large sample sets. We have studied fungal communities 

in soil samples from of a North European Pinus sylvestris forest and investigated 

the vertical distribution of fungal taxa throughout the litter-, humusand 

upper mineral horizons of the podzol. Community composition data was correlated 

with C/N ratio, 13C content and 15N content of the soil samples, in order 

to evaluate the contribution of fungal communities to organic matter decomposition 

and nitrogen delivery to plants. Needle endophytes and saprotrophic fungi 

predominated in the surface litter. In more decomposed litter and humus the 

saprotrophs were replaced by ericoid- and ectomycorrhizal fungi. In mineral soil 

samples unidentified ascomycetes dominated. Colonisation by saprotrophic fungi 

decreased the C/N ratio while the relative abundance of 15N was stable, indicating 

respiration of litter carbohydrates and retention of litter nitrogen in fungal 

mycelium. Colonisation by mycorrhizal fungi increased the C/N ratio as well as 

the relative abundance of 15N, suggesting removal of nitrogen powered by rootderived 

carbohydrates. symposium presentation 

Lindley-Settlemyre, Lora A.*, Spiegel, Frederick W. and Silberman, Jeffrey D. 

Department of Biological Sciences, SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

Arkansas 72701, USA. lalindl@uark.edu. Molecular phylogeny of the 

protostelids. 

Protostelids are free-living amoebae that form simple fruiting bodies. They 

are among the simplest of fruiting amoebae. Their fruiting bodies usually consist 

of a stalk and one or more spores. Based on amoebal morphology, it is not clear 

that all organisms described as protostelids are closely related. If so, then some of 

these fruiting protists may be examples of morphological and life-cycle convergence. 

At the molecular level, very little is known about relationships among different 

species of protostelids. Additionally, little is known about the shared evolutionary 

history of the protostelids, dicytostelids, and myxomycetes 

(Eumycetozoa). Because of the limited number of morphological, developmental, 

and life-cycle characters, and because the plasticity of these characters is largely 

unknown, we have chosen to do a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the protostelids. 

We are sequencing and constructing phylogenetic trees from alpha tubulin, 

beta tubulin, and heat shock protein 90. contributed presentation 

Lindner Czederpiltz, Daniel L. 1 *, Banik, Mark T. 1 , Micales, Jessie A. 1 and Trummer, 

L. 2 1 Center for Forest Mycology Research, USDA-FS Forest Products Laboratory, 

One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53726, USA, 2 USDA-FS State 

& Private Forestry, 3301 C Street, Suite 202, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA. dlindner@wisc.edu. 

The effect of mortality agent on fungal succession and decay 

rate in Lutz spruce. 

Lutz spruce (Picea x lutzii) on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska often die from 


attack by spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) and occasionally from 

wind-throw during storms. Dead trees represent a significant fire danger, so it is 

important to know how long it takes these trees to decay, and whether different 

mortality agents affect the composition of the fungal community and thereby the 

rate of decay. To investigate the effects of mortality agent, 5 snags and 15 logs in 

various stages of decay were sampled from a site on the Kenai Peninsula. Five of 

the trees had been uprooted by wind, while the remaining 15 trees were killed by 

bark beetles. Stress wave decay measurements were taken at three locations within 

each log, and the fungal community was sampled by collecting fruiting bodies, 

culturing wood samples, and analyzing sequences of rDNA extracted directly 

from 50 drilled-wood samples per log. Initial results indicate that bark beetlekilled 

trees decay faster, and that decay progresses from the base of the tree toward 

the top in beetle-killed trees, while decay proceeds from the top of the tree 

toward the base in wind-thrown trees. Preliminary analysis of the fungal community 

suggests that Fomitopsis pinicola occurs more commonly in the base of beetle-killed 

trees, and that wind-thrown trees have less fungal colonization in general 

at the base. poster 

Liu, Mindy and *Hodge, Kathie T. Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, 

Ithaca NY 14853, USA. kh11@cornell.edu. Transoceanic dispersal and origins 

of the orange-spored Aschersonia species, A. aleyrodisand A. placenta. 

Morphologically similar taxa with disjunct distributions might be the same 

species, sister species, or distantly related species. Overwhelming similarities between 

two tropical fungal taxa, Hypocrella libera (anam. Aschersonia aleyrodis) 

and H. raciborskii (anam. Aschersonia placenta) from the Old World and the 

New World raise the question about the nature of the relationship between them. 

Based on DNA sequence data (RPB2, EF1-a and b- tubulin), we intend to investigate 

whether or not there is genetic subdivision between Old World and New 

World isolates. If so, are these two geographically disjunct taxa indeed phylogenetically 

close relatives? What historical events might have contributed to the 

present disjunction? We conducted a nested clade analysis, statistical tests and 

phylogenetic analyses which revealed significant geographically-related subdivision 

between Old world and New World haplotypes. Further phylogenetic analysis 

with extensive sampling has confirmed their sister relationship. Through a 

phylogenetic area- cladogram and by using a coalescent approach we estimated 

the polarity of historical transoceanic dispersal. poster 

Lodge, D. Jean 1 *, Baroni, Timothy J. 2 and Lindner Czederpiltz, Daniel L. 3 1 Center 

for Forest Mycology Research, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 

Luquillo PR 00773-1377, USA, 2 Department of Biological Sciences, State 

University of New York, College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045, USA, 3 Center 

for Forest Mycology Research, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 

One Gifford Pinchot Dr., Madison, WI 53726-2398, USA. 

djlodge@caribe.net. Fungi from a lost world in Belize: Doyle’s Delight. 

More than 30 new species (including 7 Entolomataceae, 7 Hygrophoraceae, 

and 8 Tricholomataceae) were recently discovered in a cloud forest on the highest 

peak in Belize, Doyle’s Delight. The peak was named by Dr. Sharon Matola 

(Director of the Belize Zoo and avid naturalist) and colleagues in reference to Sir 

Arthur Conan Doyle’s book, “The Lost World”. Several apparently undescribed 

species of corticioid fungi were also found, including a Dichostereum sp., a 

Phlebia sp., a Protohydnum sp. and an unusual merulioid Phanerochaete sp. Numerous 

collections were also made of a striking daedaleoid polypore with magenta 

stains, which is currently being described by L. Ryvarden and M. Mata as 

Daedalea rosea. Some taxa were characteristic of neotropical cloud forests, including 

a new species of Arthrosporella. A few species of Hygrocybe and Mycena 

represent disjunct populations of taxa known previously only from the Amazon 

Basin and may indicate the presence of relictual, ancient populations of these 

fungi. Except for a tsunami originating in the Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan 

Penninsula at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary 65 million years ago, Doyle’s Delight 

and neighboring highlands have remained above sea level for over 300 million 

years, making this area a good candidate for an ancient refugium. poster 

Long, Melissa* and Shaw, Brian D. Program for the Biology of Filamentous 

Fungi, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, 

College Station, Texas 77803, USA. mmlong@ag.tamu.edu. A mutation in 

Aspergillus nidulans chaperonin subunit, cctA results in a tip splitting, polarity 

maintenance phenotype. 

The Aspergillus nidulans cctA1 temperature sensitive mutant is defective in 

polarity maintenance when grown at restrictive temperature (39C). The conidia of 

cctA1 germlings swell isotropically and can establish a primary germ tube but 

over time the mutant can no longer maintain polarity and dichotomously branches 

at the growing tip when incubated at 39C. The mutant is complemented by a 

plasmid containing a gene encoding a chaperonin subunit. Transposon insertion 

within this gene disrupts the ability of the clone to complement the cctA1 phenotype. 

The chaperonin is a large barrel shaped protein composed of two stacked 

rings made of eight subunits each and assists in the folding of approximately 10% 

of newly synthesized proteins. Though the exact make up of the substrates of this 

complex is not fully understood, the best studied to date are the cytoskeletal proteins, 

actin and tubulin. Homologs of all eight S. cerevisiae chaperonin subunits 

are found in the A. nidulans genome. It is hypothesized that a cytoskeletal defect 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

leads to the cctA1 dichotomously branching phenotype. Analysis of this hypothesis 

will be discussed. contributed presentation 

Luk, Wing-Yan*, Cheung, Man-Wai, Leung, Ping-Chung and Chiu, Siu-Wai. 

Dept. of Biology and Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of 

Hong Kong, and Dept. Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 

China. SWChiu@cuhk.edu.hk. Estrogenicity and anti-breast cancer effects of 

Ganoderma lucidum, G. tsugae and their artificial hybrid. 

Both Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum are categorized as red lingzhi and 

commercially produced. An interspecific hybrid of these lingzhi was created by 

protoplast fusion. This study verified the anti-proliferative effects on human estrogen-dependent 

breast cancer cells MCF-7 and estrogen-independent cells 

MDA by cytotoxicity MTT method and viability assay using Trypan Blue staining. 

Lingzhi enhanced the apoptosis pathway as revealed by RT-PCR using specific 

primers of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2, pro-apoptotic gene bax and tumor suppressor 

gene p53. Both terpene and polysaccharide fractions contributed to the 

anti-cancer property of lingzhi. Reconstitution of these active ingredients even 

showed higher potency than the aqueous hot-water extracts. The physiological 

stage of lingzhi also modulated this bioactivity; aqueous extracts from basidiospores 

were ineffective while the submerged fermented lingzhi biomass was 

the most effective. The interspecific hybrid showed hybrid vigor with the highest 

potency than its parents. Besides, this is the first report on the estrogenicity of 

lingzhi by in vitro E-screen test and estrogen receptor competitor binding assays. 

The terpene fraction accounted for this bioactivity. Further, lingzhi stimulated 

proliferation of bone cells. Thus lingzhi is a favourable dietary supplement for 

women with menopause problem or osteoporosis. contributed presentation 

Lumbsch, H. Thorsten. The Field Museum, Department of Botany, Chicago IL, 

USA. tlumbsch@fmnh.org. Phylogenetic relationships of the lichen-forming 

order Agyriales. 

The Agyriales is a small order of crustose, lichen-forming fungi that is characterized 

by hemiangiocarpous ascoma development and an ascus with an amyloid 

ascus wall and non-amyloid tholus. The circumscription of Agyriales is unclear. 

Families, such as Anamylopsoraceae, which were included based on 

morphological evidence, appear to be distantly related in molecular trees. Also the 

phylogenetic position of the order is poorly understood. While some molecular 

studies place the Agyriales close to Ostropales (it was even suggested to merge 

these orders), the order is a sister-group to Pertusariales in other studies. The phylogenetic 

position and circumscription was re-investigated using sequence data of 

the nuclear LSU and mitochondrial SSU rDNA, and the protein-coding RPB-1 

gene. contributed presentation 

Luoma, Daniel L.* and Eberhart, Joyce L. Department of Forest Science, Oregon 

State University, Corvallis, OR 97330. USA. luomad@fsl.orst.edu. Forests, Fire, 

and Fungi. 

A massive forest fire that burned through southwest Oregon in 2002 impacted 

a research site where we have gathered data on ectomycorrhizae (EM) and 

ectomycorrhizal fungus (EMF) sporocarp production since 1992. Two of three 

blocks of the regional long-term ecosystem productivity (LTEP) experiment were 

burned. Experimental tree harvest treatments were applied to the blocks in 1997. 

All treatments were established in 80- to 100-yr-old, naturally regenerated stands 

chosen for homogeneity of initial stand and soil conditions. All treatments in one 

block burned with medium to high intensity. Most of a second block burned less 

intensively. A third block was spared. After disturbance, survival of ecto- and 

VA- mycorrhizal inoculum is critical for many shrubs and trees. These legacies, 

along with charred logs and snags, likely affect ecosystem development after fire. 

We sampled EM and EMF sporocarps in the spring and fall of 2003 in order to 

document the immediate effects of fire on the overlay of the original LTEP experimental 

treatment effects. No sporocarp production was found in heavily 

burned areas. Sporocarp production was associated with light to medium burns 

only in the LTEP control treatment areas. Ectomycorrhizae were similarly reduced 

in response to the interaction of burn severity and LTEP treatment, one year 

after fire. poster 

Lutzoni, François* and Reeb, Valerie. Dept. of Biology, Duke University, 

Durham NC 27708, USA. flutzoni@duke.edu. Topological conflict, methodological 

artifact, or misinterpretation of results? 

The use of Bayesian MCMC methods has transformed the field of phylogenetics. 

Concomitant with the increased popularity of this approach, came a 

higher level of apparent conflicts among gene phylogenies and phylogenetic studies 

in general. These topological discrepancies have been attributed to poor analytical 

practices, e.g., using nucleotide sites that are saturated by changes compared 

to amino acid data. However, low amount of data, and misinterpretation of 

support values (including bootstrap proportions and poster 

ior probabilities) can be misleading. In this presentation we will demonstrate that 

most differences among published fungal topologies are not hard conflicts, but are 

mostly due to the lack of data and to limitations in the current implementation of 

Bayesian MCMC methods. contributed presentation 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Machida, Masayuki 1 *, Sano, M. 2 , Terabayashi, Y. 1 , Kumagai, T. 3 , Yamane, N. 1 , 

Takase, K. 1 , Tanaka, T. 4 , Terai, G. 5 , Galagan, J. 6 , Nierman, W. C. 7 , Denning, D. 8 , 

Ohashi, S. 2 , Abe, K. 9 , Asai, K. 3 and Gomi, K. 9 1 BRF, Natl. Inst. of Advanced Ind. 

Sci. and Technol. (AIST), Central 6, 1-1, Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8566, 

Japan, 2 Kanazawa Institute of Technology, 3 CBRC, Natl. Inst. of Advanced Ind. 

Sci. and Technol. (AIST), 4 Natl. Inst. of Technol. and Eval., 5 INTEC Web and 

Genome Informatics, 6 Broad Inst. of MIT and Harvard, 7 Inst. for Genomic Res., 

8 Wythenshawe Hospital, 9 Tohoku University, Japan. m.machida@aist. Analyses 

of genome structure and gene expression of Aspergillus oryzae. 

Aspergillus oryzae is extensively used in Japanese traditional fermentation 

industries and in enzyme productions by modern biotechnology. The whole 

genome sequencing of A. oryzae has been almost completed at the end of 2004 

(in submission). Approximately 12,000 genes with longer than 100 amino acids 

in length were predicted from the A. oryzae genome of 37.6 Mb in size. Comparison 

of the number of genes in each COG functional category revealed that A. 

oryzae had genes more redundant specifically for those concerning to metabolism 

than Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa. Synteny 

analysis among A. oryzae, A. fumigatus and A. nidulans showed that A. oryzae 

had significantly more synteny breaks than between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans 

and that A. oryzae genome had a mosaic structure consisting of A. oryzae-specific 

and common loci among the three species. Mapping of ESTs to the genes on 

each chromosome revealed that the expression of the genes on the A. oryzae specific-loci 

was obviously lower than those on the loci common to the three Aspergilli. 

Based on the genome sequence, the DNA microarray consisting of 

11,000 oligonucleotides were prepared. The fluorescence intensity of the microarray 

supported the lower expression of the genes on the A. oryzae-specific 

loci. The transcriptional regulation of the metabolic pathways by the microarray 

is under progress. symposium presentation 

Maekawa, Nitaro. Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, 

Tottori, 680-8553, Japan. kin-maek@infosakyu.ne.jp. Corticioid fungi in 

subtropical islands of Japan. 

Mycogeographic relationships of the corticioid fungi (homobasidiomycetes 

with effused and skin-like basidiomata) between two subtropical areas, Ogasawara 

Islands and the Ryukyu (Loochoo) Islands, are presented. Ogasawara Islands 

(also known as the Bonin Islands), located about 1,000 km south (26-27N, 

142E) of Tokyo, have a characteristic forest ecosystem with many endemic 

species of trees and small woody plants because the islands are “oceanic islands”. 

On the other hand, the Ryukyu Islands, located about 1,600 km west (24-27N, 

124-128E) of Ogasawara Islands at almost the same latitude as the latter, are “continental 

islands” and have a tree flora similar to that of Taiwan and mainland 

China. During a floristic study of the corticioid fungi in the two subtropical areas, 

more than 500 specimens were collected. Morphological analyses of these specimens 

revealed that 51 species belonging to 26 genera and 64 species belonging to 

32 genera were distributed on Ogasawara Islands and the Ryukyu Islands, respectively. 

Taxonomic and specimen details will be discussed for some of the interesting 

species belonging to the genera Asterostroma and Haloaleurodiscus. 


Maier, Wolfgang F.A. 1 *, Crane, Patricia E. 2 and Wingfield, Brenda D. 1 1 Department 

of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University 

of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, 2 Forest Research, Sala Street, Private 

Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand. wolfgang.maier@fabi.up.ac.za. 

Chrysomyxa weirii is more closely related to Melampsora than to 

Chrysomyxa. 

Chrysomyxa weirii Jackson is an autoecious microcyclic rust fungus attacking 

several spruce species (Picea engelmannii, P. glauca, P. mariana, P. 

rubens, P. sitchensis), mainly in northwestern North America. It has also been reported 

to cause severe problems in nurseries of P. pungens in the eastern United 

States. A special feature of the species is its one-celled water-dispersed teliospores 

that germinate to produce two-celled basidia. Here we present a phylogeny based 

on nuc LSU ribosomal DNA sequences that clearly shows that Chrysomyxa weirii 

is not associated with Chrysomyxa but with Melampsora. This is supported by 

both high bootstrap and Bayesian a posteriori probabilities. The affinities to 

Melampsora are also reflected by teliospore morphology because the teliospores 

of Melampsora weirii are elongated and thin-walled like the teliospores of other 

representatives of Melampsora, and the basidium germinates through a pore in the 

teliospore cell wall, which has also been observed for several Melampsora 

species. Therefore a new combination for the species will be proposed. poster 

Mandyam, Keerthi* and Jumpponen, Ari. Ackert Hall, Kansas State University, 

Manhattan, KS 66502, USA. kgm9595@ksu.edu. Diversity and function of 

fungal endophytes of a tallgrass prairie. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are important mutualists in the grasslands. 

However, a two-year monthly sampling in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem 

showed that root colonization by dark septate endophytes (DSE) may exceed AM 

colonization. To identify the DSE fungi, root-inhabiting fungi were isolated and root 

endophytes identified via Koch’s postulates. As much as 45% of the isolates belonged 

to the genus Periconia and formed typical DSE structures without any damage 

to the host. Periconia species were metabolically characterized by testing their 


ability to utilize complex C sources and organic N sources. The results show that 

Periconia species can use complex C sources and organic N sources. The host range 

of the DSE fungi was tested by inoculating a number of native grasses and forbs. 

While most species were colonized, the native grasses were more heavily colonized 

than forbs. Colonization by Periconia species resulted in positive, neutral or negative 

growth responses in the native species. These responses suggest that DSE fungi 

may control plant community structure. The function of these fungi remains unclear. 

We will present preliminary results on the role of Periconia species in drought tolerance 

and host N uptake facilitation. symposium presentation 

Marshall, Wyth L. 2 * and Berbee, Mary L. 1 1 University of British Columbia, Department 

of Botany, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, 2 Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, 

Bamfield, B.C. V6T 1Z4, Canada. wythmarshall@yahoo.ca. Spherical mesomycetozoans, 

members of a newly discovered lineage at the fungus/animal 

split, are common in marine invertebrate guts. 

Unicellular heterotrophs reproducing via flagellated zoospores are abundant 

and successful within aquatic environments. These include thraustochytrids (Stramenopiles), 

achlorophorous algae, chytrid fungi and mesomycetozoans. The unicellular 

ancestor of fungi and animals may also have shared many of these characteristics 

and was most likely marine. Several new lineages near the animal fungal 

divergence have been described recently and continued sampling for marine heterotrophs 

will lead to an increase in the known biodiversity within these groups and 

may even reveal new clades. Marine invertebrate guts are an understudied, microbe 

rich environment favourable for heterotrophic organisms. Nearly a dozen animal 

species were collected along the Western Coast of Canada and their gut contents 

were cultured on several media. Colonies producing sporangia were sub-cultured 

and identified as either mesomycetozoans or thraustochytrids based on their SSU 

sequences. Thraustochytrid isolates were diverse and belonged to a variety of 

clades or genera. Mesomycetozoans were found in most animals and most were 

closely related to Pseudoperkinsus tapetis and Sphaeroforma arctica, two species 

isolated from marine invertebrates. Some host animals had mesomycetozoans of 

more than one phylotype, suggesting that this clade of mesomycetozoans is common 

within marine invertebrate guts. contributed presentation 

Massoumi Alamouti, Sepideh* and Breuil, Colette. Dept. of Wood Science, University 

of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T1Z4, Canada. alamouti@interchange.ubc.ca. 

Morphological and molecular identification of staining fungi 

associated with the northern spruce engraver, Ips perturbatus (Eichhoff). 

Staining fungi were isolated from Ips perturbatus beetles and their galleries 

collected from spruce logs in northern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. 

Fungal isolates were identified using morphological characteristics, nuclear 

rDNA and partial beta-tubulin gene sequences. A number of staining fungi were 

consistently isolated from the beetles and their galleries, while others seemed to 

be rather sporadic or ubiquitous associates. Ten morphological and phylogenetic 

species were recognized among these fungi. Three species were identified as O. 

bicolor, O. manitobense and L. abietinum while seven fungi were recognized as 

undescribed species. The undescribed fungi were morphologically and genetically 

different from the species reported in the literature, which suggested that they 

are new species being reported for the first time. poster 

Masuya, Hayato 1 * and Ichihara, Yu 2 . 1 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 

Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan, 2 Tohoku Research Center of Forestry 

and Forest Products Research Institute, Morioka, Iwate 020-0123, Japan. 

massw@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Ceratocystiopsis alba should be treated as a species of 

Ophiostoma. 

During the course of survey of ophiostomatoid fungi in Japan, we found an 

ophiostomatoid fungus on the bark of Ulmus laciniata. This fungus was characterized 

by hyaline perithecia, evanescent asci, and elliptic, fusiformed ascospores 

without septa, and considered to be a Ceratocystiopsis-type Ophiostoma species. 

Morphological characteristics of this fungus were identical to those of Ceratocystiopsis 

alba. Molecular comparison of the fungus with Ceratocystiopsis-type 

Ophiostoma showed that the fungus was closely related to Ceratocystiopsis alba. 

The genus Ceratocystiopsis is now treated as a synonym of Ophiostoma, excluding 

C. alba. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial LSU rDNA sequence showed 

that the fungus was not related to Ophiostoma species. Analyses based on SSU 

rDNA, on the other hand, indicated that the fungus was phylogenetically related 

to Ophiostomataceous fungi. It was not be included in the group of typical Ceratocystiopsis-type 

Ophiostoma, but placed in the sister clade of the genus Ophiostoma. 

This fungus was not related to the other ophiostomatoid fungi, such as Ceratocystis, 

Pyxidiophora, Kathistis, and Sphaeronaemella. Tolerance to 

cycloheximide, which is an important character of the genus Ophiostoma, was 

lacking in this fungus. However, some Ophiostoma species also lack cycloheximide 

tolerance. Thus, morphological and physiological similarities of this fungus 

with some Ophiostoma species position it within the range of this genus, despite 

of some discrepancy in the facts from molecular analyses. Our present conclusion 

is that this fungus should be treated as a member of Ophiostoma. poster 


Matheny, P. Brandon Dept. of Biology, Clark University, Worcester MA 01610, 

USA. pmatheny@clarku.edu. Phylogeography of the Inocybaceae (euagarics): 

evidence for multiple biogeographic hypotheses. 

The Inocybaceae, a species-rich family of ectomycorrhizal euagarics, is distributed 

world-wide in various ectotrophic habitats and phylogenetically is one of 

the more well-studied clades of euagarics. As a result, the group represents an excellent 

model for phylogeographic research of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Area optimization 

cladograms using a parsimony method support relatively recent dispersal 

events to tropical and temperate South America and to New Zealand. 

Extinctions are minimized under this scenario. In contrast, accomodating ancient 

vicariance events and allowing for no dispersal must account for many extinctions, 

which proves to be a less parsimonious explanation for the current distribution 

of the family. However, tropical and southern hemisphere taxa express a 

strong degree of species-level and higher-level endemism and vicariance cannot 

be ruled out in all cases. Endemic taxa include many Australian, African, and 

South American species and higher-level groups. In contrast, some north temperate 

species are believed to be wide-spread geographically across Asia, Europe, 

and North America. Phylogeographic relationships of South American and Australian 

taxa are heterogeneous. For exmple, a South American Nothofagus associate 

is basal to a north temperate Pinaceae-associated clade, but another Nothofagus 

associate is related to Australian Myrtaceae symbionts. In addition, a new 

genus, Auritella, is proposed to accomodate African and Australian lineages with 

elongated cheilocystidia, necropigmented basidia, and/or evolution of a sequestrate 

habit. Molecular clock dating techniques using nLSU-rDNA and rpb2 genes 

suggest a late Cretaceous split (about 90 Mya) between the African and Australian 

clades of Auritella. Recent dispersal between these two continents for this genus 

is firmly rejected. symposium presentation 

Matheny, P. Brandon 1 *, Aime, M. Catherine 2 , Ammirati, Joseph F. 3 , Aoki, T. 4 , 

Baroni, Timothy J. 5 , Binder, M. 1 , Crane, Patricia E. 6 , Curtis, J. 1 , de Nitis, M. 1 , 

Dentinger, Bryn C. 6 , Frøslev, T. 8 , Ge, Z.W. 9 , Halling, Roy 10 , Hosaka, K. 11 , Hughes, 

Karen W. 12 , Kerrigan, Richard W. 13 , Kropp, Bradley R. 14 , Langer, G.E. 15 , Matsuura 

K. 16 , McLaughlin David J. 6 , Nilsson R.H. 17 , Nishida H. 18 , Padamsee M. 6 , 

Petersen Ronald H. 12 , Piepenbring, M. 19 , Seidl, Michelle T. 3 , Slot, Jason 1 , Vauras, 

J. 20 , Vellinga, E.C. 21 , Wang, Zheng 1 , Wilson, A. 1 , Yang, Z.L 9 , and Hibbett, David 

S. 1 . 1 Biology Dept., Clark Univ., 950 Main St., Worcester, MA 01610 USA; 2 Systematic 

Botany & Mycology Lab, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705- 

2350 USA; 3 Biology Dept., Box 351330, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA USA 

98195; 4 National Inst. Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai 2-1-2, Tsukuba, 

Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan; 5 Dept. Biological Sciences, Box 2000, State Univ. New 

York - College at Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045 USA; 6 Dept. Plant Biology, 

Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108-1095 USA; 7 Northern Forestry Centre, 

Canadian Forest Service, 5320 - 122 Street, Edmonton, AB Canada T6H 3S5; 

8 Botanical Inst., Univ. of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2D, DK-1353 Copenhagen, 

Denmark; 9 Kunming Inst. Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Heilongtan, 

Kunming 650204, P. R. China; 10 Inst. Systematic Botany, The New York 

Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 USA; 11 Dept. Botany & Plant Pathology, 

Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331; 12 Botany Dept., Univ. of Tennessee, 

Knoxville, TN 37996-1100; 13 Sylvan Research, 198 Nolte Dr., Kittanning, 

PA 16201 USA; 14 Dept. Biology, Utah St. Univ., Logan, UT 84322 USA; 

15 Univ. Kassel, FB 18 Naturwissenschaften, FG Oekologie, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 

40, D-34132 Kassel; 16 Dept. Organismic & Evol. Biology, Harvard Univ., 26 Oxford 

St., Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; 17 Göeteborg Univ., Botaniska Inst., Box 

460, SE 405 30 Göeteborg, Sweden; 18 Inst. Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, 

Univ. Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan; 19 Botanisches 

Inst., J. W. Göethe-Univ., Senckenberganlage 31-33, D-60054 Frankfurt; 

20 Herbarium, Biology Dept., Univ. of Turku, SF-20500 Turku, Finland; 21 Plant & 

Microbial Biol. Dept., Univ. of California at Berkeley, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, 

CA 94720-3102 USA. pmatheny@clarku.edu. Progress towards assembling 

the tree of life for the Basidiomycota. 

The phylogeny of the Basidiomycota has been addressed in a limited way 

from analysis of nucleotide data. Most studies have relied primarily on single gene 

analyses of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes (18S or 25S). Confidence measures 

have been generally inadequate in such studies despite efforts at dense taxon sampling. 

As part of the the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life (AFTOL) project, 

our laboratory is generating multi-locus datasets for resolving higher-level phylogenetic 

relationships of Basidiomycota. We present results from a nuclear rDNA 

data set (3.5 kb) for 200 AFTOL basidiomycetes, a protein-coding data set of 

rpb2, rpb1, and tef1 (1350 amino acids) for 85 taxa, and a combination of these 

data into a 6-locus data set (18S, 25S, 5.8S, rpb2, rpb1, and tef1). rDNA sequences 

support a sister relationship between the Ustilaginomycetes (true smut 

fungi) and the Hymenomycetes (mushroom-forming fungi), a relationship consistent 

with several ultrustructural and biochemical characters. However, a combination 

of rDNA and protein-coding genes suggests the Urediniomycetes (rusts 

and allies) could be the sister group to the Hymenomycetes. Spliceosomal intron 

placement might support this view. The Microbotrymycetidae (a diverse group including 

anther smuts and diverse yeasts) appears sister to the Urediniomycetidae 

with strong measures of support. rDNA Bayesian and rpb2 parsimony analyses, 

however, fail to support the monophyly of the Exobasidiomycetidae. Basal nodes 

in the Hymenomycetes are well-resolved and moderately supported in the most 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

gene-rich data sets. In the 6-locus data set, the cantharelloid clade represents the 

most ancient branch among the Homobasidiomycetes. The trechisporoid and 

gomphoid-phalloid clades represent a monophyletic group with moderately high 

bootstrap support. Distal homobasidiomycete clades also receive moderate to 

high bootstrap support. Examples include: the inclusive monophyly of the athelioid 

and bolete clades; the sister position of the russuloid clade to the euagarics, 

atheloid, and bolete clades; and a sister relationship between the thelephoroid and 

polyporoid clades. contributed presentation 

Matsuda, Yosuke*, Noguchi, Yuuta, Nakanishi, Kenichi and Ito, Shin-ichiro. 

Laboratory of Forest Pathology and Mycology, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, 

Mie University, Tsu 514-8105, Mie, Japan. m-yosuke@bio.mie-u.ac.jp. Ectomycorrhizal 

associations of naturally grown Pinus thunbergii seedlings in a 

coastal pine forest. 

To identify ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi associated with naturally regenerated 

Pinus thunbergii seedlings grown at coastal areas, we sampled 15 currentyear-old 

and 14 more than 1-year-old seedlings at a coastal pine stand. ECM roots 

were first morphotyped by microscopy, and were then classified as RFLP-types 

analyzing the rDNA of the internal transcribed spacer region digested with two 

enzymes, Alu I and Hin f I. RFLP-types were directly sequenced to identify fungal 

species. In total, 13 species were found and Cenococcum geophilum was identified 

morphologically. For current- and more than 1-year-old seedlings, C. 

geophilum and Lactarius sp. were either the most or the second most dominant 

species in terms of both the number of ECM roots and the frequency of occurrences 

per seedling. The number of ECM roots colonized by C. geophilum or Lactarius 

sp. was positively correlated with the shoot dry weight of seedlings, and the 

correlation coefficient of the latter species was higher than that of the former. 

These results indicate that multiple species of ECM fungi are involved in the 

ECM formation on P. thunbergii seedlings and a few dominant species may be 

important for the growth and survival of the seedlings at the coastal area. poster 

Matsumoto, Naoyuki 1 * and Hoshino, Tamotsu 2 . 1 National Institute for Agro-Environmental 

Sciences, Tsukuba 305-8267, Japan, 2 National Institute of Advanced 

Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Sapporo 062-8517, Japan. nowmat@affrc.go.jp. 

Adaptations of snow mold fungi, Typhula ishikariensis and 

T. incarnata, to diverse winter climates. 

Typhula ishikariensis consists of two biological species, each including several 

endemic taxa adapted to local environments. Freezing tolerance of mycelia at 

–20C is a common trait in some taxa of both biological species existing in 

Moscow, Saskatchewan, and coastal regions in north Norway and Greenland. 

Their growth at 10 to 12 C becomes irregular due presumably to high respiration 

because free radical scavengers improve growth. Such a trait coincides with DNA 

sequence in the large mitochondrial subunit. T. ishikariensis biotype B is distributed 

in localities differing in the number of days with snow cover ranging from 

40 to 150 days p.a. Its sclerotia become smaller and virulence increases with decreasing 

snow cover days. The population in the least snowy locality is practically 

soilborne and seldom develops sporocarps. Soil environment is more stable 

than the habitat under snow cover in such a changeable habitat. T. incarnata populations 

from diverse localities are similar in sclerotium size as well as in virulence: 

a single isolate of T. incarnata covers a broad variation in sclerotium size 

comparable to that in the T. ishikariensis complex. They, however, differ in the 

number of days required for carpogenic sclerotium germination. In the less snowy 

habitats, when persistent snow cover starts is difficult to predict. Populations in 

such a habitat are “prudent” in this respect. symposium presentation 

Matsuura, Kenji. Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental 

Science, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Okayama 700-8530, 

Japan. kenjiJPN@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp. Termites and a termite-egg-mimicking 

fungus: a novel insect-fungus interaction. 

Mimicry has evolved in a wide range of organisms encompassing diverse 

tactics for defense, foraging, pollination, and social parasitism. Egg protection is 

an essential behavior in social animals. Here I report an extraordinary case of egg 

mimicry by a fungus, whereby the fungus gains competitor-free habitat in termite 

nests. The phenomenon of termites harboring brown fungal balls alongside their 

eggs was found recently in the Japanese termite Reticulitermes speratus. When 

workers recognize the eggs laid by queens, they bring the eggs together and heap 

them up in order to take care of them. Brown fungal balls, named “termite balls,” 

are frequently found in egg piles of Reticulitermes termites in Japan and the US. 

The brown ball was identified as the sclerotium of a corticioid fungus, Fibularhizoctonia 

sp. nov. Although termite balls promote egg survival under certain experimental 

conditions, the relationship is not always symbiotic but is sometimes 

parasitic or pathogenic. Dummy-egg bioassays using glass beads showed that 

both morphological and chemical camouflage were necessary to induce tending 

by termites. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed sophisticated 

mimicry of the smooth surface texture. These results provide clear evidence that 

termite balls mimic termite eggs. This finding suggests that mimicry is a diverse 

and widespread tactic even in fungi. symposium presentation 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Mayor, Jordan R. 1 *, Henkel, Terry W. 1 and Aime, M. Catherine 2 . 1 Department of 

Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA, 

2 USDA-ARS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, Beltsville, Maryland 

20705, USA. jrm46@humboldt.edu. Ectomycorrhizae accelerate calcium acquisition 

from leaf litter in a monodominant Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae) 

forest in Guyana. 

We tested the hypothesis that ectomycorrhizae (EM) alter mineral nutrient 

concentrations and decomposition of leaf litter within a monodominant forest of 

the ectomycorrhizal, canopy tree Dicymbe corymbosa Spruce ex Benth. in 

Guyana. A root-exclusion experiment and a reciprocal transplant experiment were 

performed to determine how the exclusion of ectomycorrhizae would influence 

decomposition of D. corymbosa leaves. Mass loss of D. corymbosa leaf litter was 

determined on three occasions during a 12 month period, and was unaffected by 

the presence of ectomycorrhizae. Elemental analysis of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg was 

performed on the residual D. corymbosa leaf litter after 12 months. Both experiments 

demonstrated that, at 12 months, leaf litter Ca concentrations were significantly 

reduced in the presence of ectomycorrhizae. These results suggested an ectomycorrhizal 

enzymatic mode of Ca mobilization which may facilitate continued 

root growth and domination of litter layers by ectomycorrhizae. Additionally, 

saprotrophic fungi that specialize on Dicymbe leaves have been identified through 

multi-year plot sampling; these foliicolous specialists may facilitate rapid decomposition 

of D. corymbosa leaves within monodominant forests and, in conjunction 

with ectomycorrhizae, contribute to rapid mineral nutrient recycling in the 

system. poster 

McAlpin, Cesaria E. and *Wicklow, Donald T. USDA, ARS, National Center for 

Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria IL, USA. wicklodt@ncaur.usda.gov. 

DNA fingerprinting analysis of Petromyces alliaceus section Flavi. 

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Aspergillus flavus pAF28 

DNA probe’s ability to produce DNA fingerprints for distinguishing among genotypes 

of Petromyces alliaceus section Flavi, a fungus considered responsible for 

the ochratoxin A contamination that is occasionally observed in California fig orchards. 

Petromyces alliaceus, P. albertensis and 7 species in Aspergillus section 

Circumdati were analyzed by DNA fingerprinting using a repetitive sequence 

DNA probe pAF28 derived from A. flavus. The presence of hybridization bands 

with the DNA probe and the P. alliaceus or P. albertensis genomic DNA indicates 

a close relationship between A. flavus and Petromyces alliaceus section 

Flavi. Twelve distinct DNA fingerprint groups or genotypes were identified 

among 15 isolates of Petromyces. Species belonging to Aspergillus section Circumdati 

hybridized only slightly at the 7.0 kb region with the repetitive DNA 

probe, suggesting very little DNA homology. The pAF28 DNA probe offers a 

tool for typing and monitoring specific P. alliaceus clonal populations and for estimating 

the genotypic diversity of P. alliaceus in orchards, vinyards or crop 

fields. poster 

McKay, Doni 1 *, Jennings, Tara 2 and Smith, Jane E. 1 . 1 USDA Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA, 2 Department of 

Forest Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. dmckay@fs.fed.us. 

Life in red soils: Investigating forest recovery after wildfire. 

Post-fire forest recovery is dependent on functioning soil fungal communities. 

To examine effects of burn severity on soil recovery we are measuring total 

fungal diversity and nutrients from soil from the 2003 Booth & Bear Butte fire 

complex in the Cascade Range of Oregon. Soil samples were collected immediately 

after fire and 3 times during the post-fire year from 24 paired plots of detrimentally 

(severely) and moderately burned soils. Using TRFLP techniques, we 

show that soil fungal diversity is low for the detrimentally burned soils and typically 

higher in the moderately burned soils. The detrimentally burned soils were 

higher in pH than the moderately burned soils, whereas the moderately burned 

soils had higher measures of ammonium, nitrate, carbon, total nitrogen and phosphorous, 

and CEC. Soils were also collected for a microcosm seedling bioassay. 

Roots were assessed for percent colonization of dark septate and ectomycorrhizal 

fungi (EMF); molecular PCR methods were used to identify EMF and assess fungal 

community recovery. Our results show that fires resulting in large areas of 

detrimentally burned soil decrease nutrient availability, reduce mycorrhizal colonization 

of regenerating seedlings, and negatively impact post-fire site productivity. 

poster 

McLaughlin, David J. Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, 

MN 55108, USA. davem@umn.edu. The Advance of the Basidiomycota: The 

View across the Plasma Membrane 

During the last 50 years there have been remarkable advances in our knowledge 

of evolution within the Basidiomycota, new concepts of the basidium and 

basidiospore release, and an expansion in both taxonomic and structural diversity. 

But we remain a long way from a complete understanding of evolutionary relationships 

within the phylum, and further still from a full elucidation of basidiomycete 

structure and its functional significance. This review of subcellular 

structure will begin with the basidium and ballistosporic mechanism. Subcellular 

characters have aided us in establishing monophyletic classes, and have been used 

to assess relationships between the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. I will discuss 

the latter by reviewing the origin of the Uredinales, mitosis in ascomycetous and 


basidiomycetous yeasts, and Woronin bodies. The availability of molecular sequence 

data in the 1990’s made possible genetic assessment of phylogenies, provided 

guidance on interpretation of subcellular characters, and made possible the 

integration of molecular and subcellular characters in phylogenetic analysis. Now 

the development of bioinformatic databases of both molecular and structural characters 

will permit the analysis of ever larger data sets. These databases also reveal 

the scarcity and incompleteness of structural studies and provide guidance in filling 

gaps in the data. I will consider cystidia as an example of understudied structures 

with potential phylogenetic utility. In analyzing the Basidiomycota both evolutionary 

and cell biologists need to look across the plasma membrane, the former 

to understand the implications of cell diversity for explaining organismal function, 

and the latter to recognize the value of comparative studies in understanding cell 

function. MSA Presidential Address 

McLenon, Terri 1 *, Skillman, Jane 1 , Taylor, Jonathan 1 , Provart, Nicholas 1 and 

Moncalvo, Jean-Marc 1,2 . 1 University of Toronto, Department of Botany, 25 Willcocks 

Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada, 2 Royal Ontario Museum, Department 

of Natural History, Mycology, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, 

Canada. terri.mclenon@utoronto.ca. Documenting fungal communities in soil: 

DNA sampling strategies and development of bioinformatic tools for automated 

phylogenetic identification. 

We have compared bulked and point sampling methods for assessing fungal 

diversity and community structure in coniferous forest soil from southern Ontario. 

Ten nLSU clone libraries were generated to produce at least 50 sequences 

per library for a total of ca. 800 sequences. Similar sequencing effort recovered a 

greater number of distinct nLSU sequences from bulked sampling than from point 

sampling; however, similar phylogenetic groups were recovered from each library, 

although with very little species overlap. Sampling curves did not show any 

sign of saturation after sequencing 148 clones from a single PCR amplification 

nor when all the data were pooled together. Overall, our results suggest that while 

a vast sequencing effort is needed to fully document the community of fungi in a 

forest plot, limited sequencing efforts may be sufficient to quickly document the 

presence of dominant phylogenetic and ecological groups in a soil horizon at a 

given time. We present the prototype of a novel bioinformatic tool (FungID) that 

addresses some of the known difficulties with these types of analyses by automatically 

integrating an unknown sequence and its top BLAST hits into their corresponding 

clade in the fungal tree of life. We also discuss how phylogeneticallybased 

comparative methods may overcome problems associated with species (or 

OTU) circumscription. symposium presentation 

Medina, Cristina 1,2 *, González, María C. 1 , Cifuentes, Joaquín 2 , Vidal, 

Guadalupe 2 , Sierra, Sigfrido 2 and Medina, Pedro 3 . 1 Universidad Nal. Aut. México, 

Instituto de Biología, Depto. Botánica, México, DF 04510, México, 2 Secc. 

Micología, Herbario FCME, Facultad de Ciencias, México DF 04510, México, 

3 Univ. de Guadalajara, Centro Univ. de la Costa, Depto. Ciencias, Puerto Vallarta, 

Jalisco, CP 48280, Mexico. mcgv@ibiologia.unam.mx. Preliminary study of 

gorgonian fungi from Marietas Islands coral reef, Mexico. 

Some microscopic fungi associated with Gorgonia sp. from Marietas Islands 

coral reef are reported. The mycota associated with coral reef ecosystems 

has been little explored and only few studies have been conducted about fungi associated 

with pathogenic disease symptoms in various host organisms, usually in 

the form of tissue necrosis or biomineralisation. Fungi have been observed inhabiting 

several coral species including gogonians in the Caribbean and South Pacific. 

A sample of Gorgonia sp. was collected via SCUBA from Burbuja Cave. 

Each sample was placed wet into a sterile plastic bag and transported to the laboratory. 

Sections of 0.5 square cm were excised from each sample unit. Cut sections 

(4 per plate) were surface-sterilised and then were placed onto Petri dishes 

containing selective media prepared with sea water with added antibiotics to diminish 

bacterial contamination. The inoculated plates were incubated 15 d at 

room temperature and with ambient light and each plate was checked daily for the 

emergence of fungal hyphae, which were transferred to fresh media and purified. 

The fungal isolates were grouped according to10 morphological characters and 

then each distinctive isolate was chosen for taxonomic identification. Some 

recorded fungi were Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Epiccocum, Paecilomyces and 

Penicillium. poster 

Miadlikowska, Jolanta 1 *, Arnold, A. Elizabeth 2 , Higgins, K. Lindsay 1 , Sarvate, 

Senehal 3 , Gugger, Paul 4 , Way, Amanda 1 , Hofstetter, Valérie 1 and Lutzoni, 

François 1 . 1 Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, 2 University of Arizona, Tucson, 

AZ, USA, 3 University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA, 

4 University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. jolantam@duke.edu. Endolichenic 

fungi: random inhabitants or symbiotic partners. 

Studies of lichenicolous fungi (secondary fungi associated with lichen thalli) 

have been restricted, almost exclusively, to fungal species with visible reproductive 

structures on lichen surfaces. These visible fungi are abundant in nature 

and taxonomically diverse. However, the potential for fungi to occur asymptomatically 

within thalli (i.e., as endolichenic fungi, analogous to endophytes of 

plants) remains mostly unexplored. We used a gradient of surface-sterilization to 


examine fungal communities associated with asymptomatic thalli of foliose lichen 

genera (Lobaria, Nephroma, Peltigera, and Umbilicaria) representing different 

habitats (terricolous, epiphytic and saxicolous) in neotropical, temperate, boreal, 

and arctic sites. Based on the sequences of the entire ITS region obtained from all 

cultivable fungal isolates, we explored diversity, taxon composition, geographic 

structure and host specificity of endolichenic fungi. Phylogenetic placement and 

affiliation of selected endolichenic fungi, endophytes isolated from different plant 

lineages, and representatives of major lineages of Ascomycota were explored 

based on combined data from the small and large nuclear ribosomal subunits, and 

provide the basis for a discussion of the evolution of the endophytic and endolichenic 

habits. contributed presentation 

Mihail, Jeanne D.* and Bruhn, Johann, N. Division of Plant Sciences, University 

of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. mihailj@missouri.edu. Bioluminescence 

patterns among Armillaria spp., other fungi, and oomycetes. 

The phenomenon of bioluminescence among Armillaria spp. is widely recognized, 

although the details and their ecological significance are poorly understood. 

We examined temporal patterns of bioluminescence of 3 sympatric Armillaria 

spp. which differ in parasitic ability and foraging strategy. Luminescence of 

mycelia of 4 genets of A. gallica, A. mellea, and A. tabescens was examined in response 

to environmental illumination and mechanical disturbance. Temporal dynamics 

of luminescence were assessed for these 12 genets in time series for 

mycelia growing on agar vs root wood disks. Luminescence of saprotrophic A. 

gallica was enhanced by environmental illumination and mechanical disturbance. 

In contrast, luminescence of parasitic A. mellea and A. tabescens was quenched 

by environmental illumination and less responsive to disturbance. Differences 

among Armillaria spp. suggest that luminescence has been shaped by differing selective 

pressures. Luminescence of Armillaria spp. was compared with that of 

fungi in the Phyla Zygomycota (2 genera), Ascomycota (6 genera), and Basidiomycota 

(3 genera), and filamentous heterotrophs in the Phylum Oomycota (2 

genera). Luminescence was more common than expected, raising the possibility 

that fungal bioluminescence plays a greater ecological role than previously appreciated. 


Miki, Satoko. The University of Shiga Prefecture, 2500 Hassaka-cho, Hikone-shi, 

Shiga 522-8533, Japan. toki43@hotmail.co.jp. Cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii 

on madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides). 

Bamboo was a useful material as household goods and building materials 

in Japan. However those demands gradually decrease and bamboo grove is being 

desolated. Alternative way to use bamboo should be searched since bamboo is a 

renewable resouce and has a function as carbon fixation. This study was conducted 

to examine the possibility of bamboo as substrates of mushroom cultivation. 

Madake, Phyllostachys bambusoides, refined to cotton was used in the present 

study. Four substrates were prepared by mixing bamboo, sugar cane bagasse 

and rice bran at (a) 90 : 0 : 10, (b) 67.5 : 22.5 : 10, (c) 45 : 45 : 10 and (d) 0 : 90 

: 10 ratio, respectively. A 300 g of substrates were filled in 850 ml culture pottles 

for mushroom production and sterilized. After cooling them, the spawns of Pleurotus 

eryngii were inoculated. Spawn running days were 30±5 on (a), 32±3 on (b), 

32±5 on (c) and 28±2 on (d). Average fruitbody yields were 39±9.1 g on (a), 

42.0±10.3 on (b), 42.0±15.2 on (c) and 32.1±12.7 on (d). These results suggested 

that refined bamboo are available for substates of mushroom cultivation. poster 

Miller, Orson K., Jr. Biology Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061, 

USA. orsonk@frontiernet.net. Interactions of host plants and arctic higher 

fungi. Arctic plant communities have evolved close associations with higher 

fungi. The associations involve ectomycorrhizal, ericoid, and basidiolichen mutualism. 

There are also bryophyte and decomposer associations which appear to be 

very specific to either hosts or litter quality. The arctic tundra in Alaska has ectomycorrhizal 

taxa, including 16 species of Salix, Betula nana, Dryas octopetala, 

Arctostaphylos alpina, and Cassiope tetragona, with 41 associated EM fungi. 

Three basidiolichens, species of Botrydina, are associated with omphaloid agarics. 

Four moss genera, Drepanocladus, Calliergon, Campylium and Oncophorus, 

along with Sphagnum are associated with five species of Galerina and 

Phaeogalera stagnina. These genera make up 70% of the bryomass, but only 4 of 

11 genera of pleurocarpus mosses are associated with species of Galerina. Decomposers 

such as Lepista multiforme, Marasmius epidryas, and species of Hygrocybe 

and Hypholoma are associated closely with specific plants or groups of 

arctic plants. These close associations have allowed arctic communities to become 

established with ease following climate change and the emerging of new landscapes. 

Examples of these associations will be presented and discussed. symposium 

presentation 

Miyakawa, Sachie*, Osaki, Mitsuru and Ezawa, Tatsuhiro. Graduate School of 

Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan. smiya@chem.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonizing pioneer 

plants grown in acid sulfate soil in Rankoshi-cho, Hokkaido, Japan. 

Acid sulfate soil is formed by oxidation of sulfur-rich minerals. Revegetation 

of the soil is difficult due to low pH and poor nutrient availability. However, 

some pioneer plants in symbiosis with microorganisms survive and grow under 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

such an extreme environment. The objectives of the present study are i) to characterize 

arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in extreme environment and ii) to investigate 

diversity of the fungi to understand significance of the fungi. The experimental 

site is a disturbed area in Rankoshi-cho, Hokkaido island, Japan. 

Scattered vegetation of Phragmites australis, Betula platyphylla var. japonica, 

Polygonum sachalinense and Petasites japonicus var. giganteus was observed. 

AM fungal spore was isolated from rhizosphere of Pe. japonicus var. giganteus 

and identified as Glomus sp. RF1 based on the 18S rDNA sequence. Glomus sp. 

RF1 belonged to the cluster of Gl. manihotis and Gl. clarum, and interestingly, the 

sequence and spore morphology were highly similar to those of Glomus sp. HR1 

which was also isolated from acid sulfate soil in Aichi pref. in the main island of 

Japan. The rhizosphere soils of several pioneer plants were collected, and the 

same (or closely related) species was cultured to investigate AM fungal diversity 

based on the 28S rDNA sequence. The involvement of diversity of AM fungi in 

the growth of pioneer plants was discussed. poster 

Miyamoto, Toshizumi 1 , Campos, Daniela T. S. 2 , Coelho, Irene S. 2 , Araújo, Elza 

F. 2 and Kasuya, Maria Catarina M. 2 1 Hokkaido University, Graduate School of 

Agriculture, Division of Environmental Resources, Sapporo, Japan, 2 Federal University 

of Viçosa, Department of Microbiology, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. 

tmiyamot@for.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. Morphological and molecular characterization 

of Cordyceps australis and its anamorph. 

Coryceps australis was found parasiting ants (Dinoponera sp., Hymenoptera; 

Formicidae). Clavus growing from the ant and synnemata formed in 

PDA were characterized morphologically. Clavus stipe blackish-brown in the 

base and orange near head, 42 mm long. Head orange, 2.7 x 2.1 mm. Oblique 

perithecia, hyaline, becoming brownish-yellow near to the ostioles, 0.93-1.25 x 

0.15-0.25 mm, immersed, curved neck. Ostioles slightly projecting. Asci cylindric, 

c.a. 390-600 x 5-6 µm, with depressed globose apex 6-7 µm, 8-spored. Ascospores 

multiseptated, hyaline, filiforme, easily separated as part-spores. Partspores 

fusiform, slightly attenuated, truncated apexes, 6.2-11.5 x 0.6-0.8 µm. 

Mycelium isolated from Clavus stipe, fast growth, forming synnemata after 45 d 

on PDA, at 25 °C. Synnema stipe dark brown, simple, cylindrical, 15-40 x 0.5 

mm. Fertile head, white, 3-6 x 0.5-0.6 mm. Central part of head reddish when 

young, brownish with age. Conidiogenous cells emerging from hymenium-like 

layer. Conidia hyaline, aseptated, fusiform, 6-7 x 1.2-1.4 µm. Anamorphic morphological 

characteristics show this fungus belongs to the genus Hymenostilbe. 

Pure culture was used for molecular characterization and ITS sequences have 

been prepared to be deposited in the Gen-Bank database. This fungus presents 

high homology to Hymenostilbe odonatae, the anamorphic phase of Cordyceps 

odonatae, and Cordyceps forquignoni, Cordyceps nutans and Cordyceps myrmecophila. 

Poster 

Mohatt, Kate* and Cripps, Cathy L. Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, 119 Ag- 

BioScience Facility, P.O. Box 173150, Bozeman, MT 59717-3150, USA. mohatt@montana.edu. 

Preliminary results on the ecology and diversity of ectomycorrhizal 

fungi associated with whitebark pine seedlings inside and 

outside the canopy zone of Greater Yellowstone forests. 

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone subalpine species in the 

western USA, and has declined 40-90% throughout its range. The trees provide 

nuts to endangered grizzly bears, colonize inhospitable terrain, provide habitat for 

flora and fauna, and are important in watershed relations. Decline is attributed to 

white pine blister rust, fire suppression, bark beetles, and global climate change. 

Efforts are underway to restore forests by out-planting seedlings. Inoculation with 

native mycorrhizal fungi is known to increase seedling survival, yet little is known 

of the mycorrhizal symbionts crucial to whitebark pine. This project is discovering 

the mycorrhizal fungi with seedlings, and determining if seedlings outside the 

canopy zone host a less diverse, more generalist set of fungi than those below mature 

trees. This comparison is of particular interest for learning how seedlings gain 

mycorrhizal fungi because birds are the main dispersal agent of seeds. Molecular 

methods including ITS sequencing and virtual RFLP analysis are used to identify 

fungi on roots and morphotyping to ascertain diversity. Preliminary results with 

ITS sequences have revealed a diversity of fungi on seedlings, including Cenococcum, 

Rhizopogon, and Gautieria. Further results of the molecular analyses, diversity, 

ecology, and distribution of ectomycorrhizal fungi with whitebark pine 

will be presented. poster 

Momany, Michelle. Dept. of Plant Biology, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, 

USA. momany@plantbio.uga.edu. Genomic approaches to polarity. 

Multicellular filamentous fungi and unicellular yeast both grow in a polar 

manner. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae polarity requires three 

steps: establishment of cortical markers specifying the site of bud emergence, the 

relaying the bud site information via a Rho GTPase module and recruitment of the 

morphogenetic machinery needed for cell surface growth at the specified site. 

Comparison of the genomes of S. cerevisiae and A. nidulans show that the cortical 

markers are absent or poorly conserved, while the Rho GTPase signaling module 

and the morphogenetic machinery are highly conserved. Approaches combining 

genomics and genetics to study polarity will be discussed. symposium presentation 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Moore, Geromy and Taylor, Josephine*. Department of Biology, Stephen F. 

Austin State University, Nacogdoches TX 75961, USA. jtaylor@sfasu.edu. Infection 

of Cuscuta gronovii by Aureobasidium pullulans. 

Aureobasidium pullulans was isolated from necrotic stems of Cuscuta 

gronovii Willd, commonly known as swamp dodder. Conidia from two-week old 

cultures of A. pullulans were used to inoculate healthy dodder tendrils under 

greenhouse conditions. Necrosis was produced within 48 hours, at which time the 

fungus had thoroughly colonized the dodder stem surface. Transmission electron 

microscopy revealed the presence of both intercellular and intracellular hyphae 

within cortical cells of the dodder stem. A. pullulans holds promise as a potential 

mycoherbicide to treat dodder infestations. poster 

Morgenstern, Ingo*, Klopman, Shlomit and Hibbett, David S. Department of Biology, 

Clark University, Worcester MA 01610, USA. imorgenstern@clarku.edu. 

Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of class II fungal heme peroxidases 

in homobasidiomycetes. 

Heme containing peroxidases are common enzymes occurring in all living 

organisms. Mostly, they are used in response to various kinds of oxidative stress, 

but in white rot fungi belonging to the homobasidiomycetes they play an important 

role in lignin degradation. According to structural and biochemical features 

ligninolytic fungal peroxidases are placed in class II of the superfamily of plant 

peroxidases. Manganese peroxidases (MnP), lignin peroxidases (LiP), and the 

more recently described versatile peroxidases (VP) are members of this class. 

Fungi producing a white rot do not necessarily secrete all of these enzymes. However, 

if a type of heme peroxidase is present it usually occurs in a series of multiple 

isoforms. We have performed phylogenetic analyses using complete amino 

acid sequences from published sources which reveal that class II fungal peroxidases 

share evolutionary roots with class I (peroxidases of prokaryotic origin) and 

class III (classical plant peroxidases) of the superfamily plant peroxidases. We 

have also generated partial MnP gene sequences, which we have combined with 

the published full-length sequences for phylogenetic analyses focused on evolutionary 

relationships within the fungal peroxidases. Finally, we have performed 

tree reconciliation analyses between gene trees and species trees to elucidate the 

diversity and phylogenetic relationships of these enzymes. The results of these 

analyses indicate that there have been many gene duplications in class II fungal 

peroxidases, including ancient and recent events. contributed presentation 

Morita, Atsushi* and Tanaka, Chihiro. Laboratory of Environmental Mycoscience, 

Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, 

Japan. poet50@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Identification and characterization of 

NRPS-like gene EmMaa1 in Exserohilum monoceras. 

Exserohilum monoceras is a fungal pathogen of Echinochloa weed species, 

and now used as a bioherbicide for them in Japanese paddy fields. However, as 

yet little has known about its virulent factor or pathogenic mechanism. We have 

investigated the functions of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) in E. 

monoceras, for that some peptide compounds are characterized as host specific 

toxins in phylogenically related species (e.g Cochliobolus and Alternaria). Using 

PCR with degenerate primers we have obtained several putative NRPS gene fragments 

of E. monoceras. In this study, we report the cloning and functional analysis 

of EmMaa1. Sequence analysis of EmMaa1 revealed that it was a homolog of 

Maa1 originally identified in Leptosphaeria maculans genome, and also indicated 

that EmMaa1 was an NRPS-like gene with single adenylation domain, thiolation 

domain but no condensation domain. In L. maculans Maa1 disruptant was 

identical to wild type with respect to growth and pathogenicity. Targeted disruption 

of EmMaa1 also resulted in no phenotypic alteration in pathogenicity between 

mutant and wild type. However EmMaa1 disruptant showed relatively 

slower growth and more aerial hyphae production than wild type. This suggests 

EmMaa1 is not involved in the pathogenicity of E. monoceras, but has something 

to do with its vegetative growth. poster 

Mouriño-Pérez, Rosa R. 1 *, Roberson, Robert W. 2 and Bartnicki-García, Salomón 1 . 

1 Department of Microbiology and Division of Biological Experimentation & Application, 

Center for Scientific Research of Ensenada (CICESE), Km. 107 Ctra. Tijuana-Ensenada, 

Baja California, México, 2 School of Life Sciences, Arizona State 

University, Tempe, AZ, USA. rmourino@cicese.mx. Dynamics of the microtubular 

cytoskeleton during growth and branching in Neurospora crassa. 

By confocal microscopy, we analyzed microtubule (MT) behavior during 

hyphal growth and branching in a Neurospora crassa strain whose microtubules 

were GFP-tagged. Images were assembled in space and time for a precise picture 

of the 3-D organization of the microtubular cytoskeleton and a clear view of its 

dynamics. Cytoplasmic MTs are mainly arranged longitudinally along the hyphal 

tube. Straight segments are rare; most MTs show a distinct helical curvature with 

a long pitch and a tendency to intertwine with one another to form a loosely braided 

network throughout the cytoplasm. This study revealed that the microtubular 

cytoskeleton of a hypha advances as a unit: as the cell elongates, it moves forward 

by bulk flow. Nuclei appeared trapped in the microtubular network and were carried 

forward in unison as the hypha elongated. During branching, one or more 

MTs became associated with the incipient branch. Branch MTs are continuous 

with a set of adjacent MTs from the parent hypha. Originally transverse in the incipient 

branch, MT orientation turned longitudinal as the branch elongated and the 


length and number of MTs increased. Although a full account of the origin of 

branch MTs remains an open question, the recorded evidence indicates both bulk 

insertion of parent-hypha MTs as well as de novo extension by anterograde polymerization. 

The latter conclusion was supported by FRAP studies showing evidence 

of MT assembly in the growing tip of the developing branch. Nuclei entered 

the branch entrapped in the advancing network of MTs. contributed 

presentation 

Mozley-Standridge, Sharon* and Porter, David. Department of Plant Biology, 

University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. emozley@plantbio.uga.edu. 

Chytrid fungi in the “Nowakowskiella” clade (order Chytridiales, phylum 

Chytridiomycota): determination of generic limits using 18S small and 28S 

large ribosomal subunit nuclear gene sequences. 

Multiple classification schemes exist for members of the Chytridiomycota 

based on different uses of morphological, developmental, and ultrastructural characters. 

Addition of molecular characters from multiple genes has provided support 

for the most recent order level classification scheme based primarily on ultrastructural 

characters. For chytrid fungi in the recently identified 

“Nowakowskiella” clade (order Chytridiales), ultrastructure has been sampled for 

several genera with few distinguishing differences between genera. On the other 

hand, combined analysis of 18S and 28S ribosomal genes has provided a better 

idea of generic limits for members of the clade and can be used as a framework 

for comparison of morphological and developmental characters in a phylogenetic 

context. Included in this study are suggestions for taxonomic revision of Allochytridium, 

Catenochytridium, Cladochytrium, Nowakowskiella, Nephrochytrium, 

and Septochytrium. poster 

Mueller, Gregory M. Department of Botany, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 

60605, USA. gmueller@fieldmuseum.org. Overview of fungal biogeography. 

Until recently, the prevailing notion was that ancient organisms with easily 

dispersed spores like fungi would be broadly distributed with few interesting biogeographic 

patterns. There were exceptions, such as the distribution of Cytaria 

with Nothofagus and potential temperate East Asian / Eastern North American 

disjuncts. For the most part, distribution patterns were listed only as secondary information 

in monographs or discussed with a pathogen’s host distribution. Pairing 

studies to implement the biological species concept necessitated sampling 

multiple individuals over the entire geographic range for the first time, and the repeated 

discovery of discrete, genetically isolated populations of supposedly cosmopolitan 

species sparked an interest in understanding biogeographic patterns of 

fungi. Rigorous testing awaited the development of molecular data and the computational 

techniques and theory needed to analyze the data. We now know that 

many species of fungi have discrete distribution ranges, often concruent with patterns 

seen in animals and plants. While much progress has been made, numerous 

questions remain, including the importance of the role spores play in dispersal, the 

constraints or drivers which determine diverse organismal distribution patterns, 

and the age-specific information that is provided by distribution patterns for fungal 

clades. symposium presentation 

Mullaney, Edward J.* and Ullah, Abul H. J. Southern Regional Research Center, 

ARS, USDA, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA. emul@srrc.ars.usda.gov. Conservation 

of an eight-cysteine motif in fungal histidine acid phosphatases. 

A survey of known amino acid sequence of a number of fungal histidine 

acid phosphatases (HAP) has revealed a conserved eight-cysteine motif (8CM). 

Typically, conserved amino acid sequences have been associated with catalytic or 

structurally essential components for the functionality of a protein. The catalytic 

mechanism of HAPs is known, and no cysteines are involved in catalysis. Therefore, 

the HAP’s 8CM appears to have been conserved because they are involved 

in the formation of key disulfide bridges. X-ray crystallographic data of Aspergillus 

nigermyo-inositol hexakisphosphate and a few other fungal HAPs have 

revealed that all eight cysteines are components of disulfide bridges. While 3-D 

molecular models for all fungal HAPs are not available, the unique pattern of conservation 

supports a similar critical role for these amino acids in all these HAPs 

sequences. A different 8CM has recently been reported from a survey of plant 

databases. Almost 500 different plant polypeptides having various functions all 

shared a unique cysteine motif, which like the HAP cysteines has no catalytic 

function. Rather, it appears that both the plant and the HAP 8CM have been conserved 

to provide the essential tertiary structure of the molecule for maintaining 

both a functional active site and a substrate-binding domain. poster 

Munkacsi, Andrew 1 * and May, Georgiana 2 . 1 Plant Biological Sciences Graduate 

Program, University of Minnesota St. Paul, MN, USA, 2 Department of Ecology, 

Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, USA. munk0009@umn.edu. 

A phylogenetic and population genetic reconstruction of Ustilago maydis. 

Maize was domesticated in southern Mexico from a teosinte 10,000 years 

ago, and exported to the United States 2,000 years ago and to South America 

5,000 years ago. Ustilago maydis only infects maize and the teosintes. We tested 

the popular hypothesis that U. maydis originated on a teosinte in Mexico and followed 

maize as maize was traded to new locations. We collected DNA sequence 


data from four protein-coding genes (ATP6, COX3, GPD3, EF-1alpha) of select 

Ustilaginales taxa, and via phylogenetic analyses, identified Sporisorium reilianum 

and Ustilago scitaminea as the closest relatives of U. maydis. The DNA sequence 

data were then translated and aligned among taxa representative of major 

Eukaryote lineages, which allowed for phylogenetic-based tests of time to infer 

whether U. maydis arose before maize. Cocladogenesis analyses between the 

plant and fungal phylogenies were also conducted to deduce whether the number 

of substitutions in U. maydis could have occurred since maize arose. To identify 

the number of populations of U. maydis along the initial migration route of maize, 

we genotyped 1000 collections of U. maydis teliospores from the United States, 

Mexico, and South America using 10 microsatellite markers. Five populations of 

U. maydis were identified, one which was comprised solely of isolates on one 

teosinte population in Mexico. The divergence times of the five populations will 

be compared to the dates estimated for the domestication and movement of maize. 


Muraguchi, Hajime 1 *, Kamada, Takashi 2 and Yanagi, O. Sonoe 1 . 1 Akita Prefectural 

University, Department of Biotechnology, Shimoshinjyo nakano, Akita, 

010-0195, Japan, 2 Okayama University, Department of Biology, Tsushima Naka 

3-1-1, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan. muraguchi@akita-pu.ac.jp. BAC contig map 

of Coprinus cinereus. 

We constructed a BAC library of Coprinus cinereus strain Okayama-7, 

which was used for the genome project by the Broad Institute and its draft sequence 

assembly is now available. We performed fingerprint analysis of the BAC 

clones using the Image and FPC software and used the draft sequence assembly 

to assign the BACs to the chromosomes. The Image software produces ‘sizes’ 

files, which contain information about the restricted fragments from the BAC 

clones. Analysis of this information by the BACFinder assigned part of the BAC 

clones to a specific region in the published sequence. For the BACs that could not 

be assigned by the BACFinder, we performed end-sequencing to map them on the 

published sequence. FPC contigs could be anchored on the published sequence, if 

only part of their component clones could be assigned to specific regions in the 

published sequence. These lines of information about BAC positions on the sequence 

was put together in an Excel file and processed by a macro program written 

in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to depict the positions of BAC clones 

on the chromosomes. The BAC tiles on the chromosomes will facilitate gene 

cloning by complementation of a mutant phenotype with a BAC clone following 

genetic mapping of the mutation onto an existing linkage map of RAPD markers. 

poster 

Murakami, Yasuaki 1 *, Hadano, Eiji and Hadano, Atsuko 2 . 1 Oita Mushroom Research 

Inst., Akamine 2369, Bungo-Ohno, Oita 879-7111, Japan, 2 Ryogo 325, 

Oita 870-0883, Japan. murakami-yasuaki@pref.oita.lg.jp. Re-discovery of luminescent 

mushroom, Pleurotus eugrammus Mont. Dennis var. radiciocolus 

Corner in southern islands of Japan. 

In 2004, Pleurotus eugrammus (Mont.) Dennis var. radiciocolus Corner was rediscovered. 

The species was first recognized by Yata Haneda. He collected the 

species in Yap, Palau, and Borneo islands. Seiichi Kawamura named it Pleurotus 

lunaillustris Kawamura according to the specimens collected by Y. Haneda 

though he did not make description of the species. Finally Y. Haneda gave information 

and specimens to Dr. E.J.H. Corner who used to collect mushrooms together 

with Y. Haneda in Malaya. E.J.H. Corner (1981) regarded the species as a 

variety of Pleurotus eugrammus. This species was discovered in Ishigaki and Iriomote 

islands, Japan by Gensuke Miyagi of Ryukyu University in 1962. We 

could re-discover the species in the same area in 2004. Characteristics of species 

are as follows. Pileus 10-30mm in diameter, surface smooth, white with greenish 

brown spots. Flesh thin, white, taste and smell none. Gills decurrent, white. Stipe 

short, white. Spores white in mass, oblong, 4-6 x 3-5 µm. Luminescent in whole 

basidiocarp. Dead tree trunk is proposed as a new habitat of this variety. poster. 

Murata, Yoshiteru, Sano, Ayako*, Nishimura, Kazuko and Kamei, Katsuhiko. 

Department of Pathogenic Fungi, Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial 

Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, 260-8673 Chiba, 

Japan. Aya1@faculty.chiba-u.jp. The first isolation of Arthrographis kalrae 

from the oral cavity of a canine in Japan. 

Arthrographis kalrae (Tewari et Macpherson) Sigler et Carmichel 1976 is an environmental 

saprophyte fungus, and is one of the causative agents of emerging 

fungal infections in human and animals. Arthrographis karlae causes not only superficial 

but also deep mycoses. The fungal disease is found world widely. We 

isolated a white mycelial fungus from the oral cavity of an 11-year-old sprayed 

female dog during a survey of oral fungal flora of house-holding pets. The colony 

on potato dextrose agar at 25C was white cottony producing arthroconidia, blastoconidia 

and chramycospores, with a light brown glabrous part at the center, and 

a slight yellowish reverse. The isolate could grow at 37C while failed at 42C. The 

DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1-5.8S-ITS2 and D1/D2 regions 

of ribosomal RNA genes were identical more than 98 and 99% in homology 

with those of A. kalrae type strain deposited in GenBank as AB116536 and 

AB116544, respectively. In conclusion, this is the first report on A. kalrae isolation 

from Japan. poster 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Murayama, Y. Somay 1 *, Hanazawa, Ryo 2 , Shibuya, Kazutoshi 2 and Ubukata, 

Kimiko 1 . 1 Laboratory of Infectious Agents Surveillance, Kitasato Institute for 

Life Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108- 

8641, Japan. 2 Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, 

6-11-1 Ohmorinishi, Ohta-ku, Tokyo 143-8541, Japan. somay@lisci.kitasato-u.ac.jp. 

A case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by combined 

infection of Aspergillus fumigatus and A. niger confirmed by both histopathological 

examination and in situ hybridization. 

Invasive aspergillosis has become one of the serious opportunistic infection 

in patients with induced immunosuppression. In the paper, a case of pulmonary 

aspergillosis caused by two different species is described with a detailed 

histopathological and molecular biological examination. A patient, 68 year-old, 

male, showed the diffuse interstitial shadow in his both lungs on chest X ray photograph 

with a progression of respiratory distress after finishing of chemotherapy 

for his advanced lung cancer in the right lower lobe. Whereas a steroid pulse therapy 

was carried out, his status was not recovered. He was dead in pulmonary failure. 

The consequent autopsy study revealed a widespread invasive pulmonary aspergillosis 

in both lungs. To confirm the diagnosis, in situ hybridization 

employing three different probes; 18S rRNA gene (panfungal), alkaline proteinase 

gene (ALP; Aspergillus spp.-specific), and Afut1 (A. fumigatus-specific), 

was carried out on paraffin sections from the lesions of both lungs. Filamentous 

fungi appeared in the right lesion were positive with both ALP and Afut1 probes, 

but those from the left indicating characteristics of A. niger confirmed by consequent 

histological examination exhibited a negative signal with Afut1 probe. Consequently, 

the patient was diagnosed as invasive aspergillosis caused by combined 

infection of A. fumigatus and A. niger. poster 

Murrin, Faye. Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. 

John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada. fmurrin@mun.ca. The tip of the iceberg: a fiveyear 

study of mycorrhizal biodiversity in the boreal forest of coastal Newfoundland. 

Terra Nova National Park (TNNP) is Canada’s most easterly national park 

and it protects the northern remnants of the ancient Appalachian Mountains 

alongside the Atlantic ocean. While increasing environmental stress and the accompanying 

changes in biodiversity are expected to result in a decline in worldwide 

ecosystem stability, predictions from studies on global warming suggest that 

TNNP temperatures will remain more stable than those of other Canadian parks 

due to its maritime location. To lay the groundwork for future quantitative ecological 

studies on change in the park, we completed a five-year inventory of ectomycorrhizal 

basidiomycetes by examining fruiting bodies from sites dominated 

by black spruce (Picea mariana), balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and red pine (Pinus 

resinosa). Over 150 species have been identified from 10 sites and approximately 

1290 collections over the study period. Species of the families Cortinariaceae, 

Russulaceae and Boletaceae were the most commonly encountered. We present 

here a summary of our findings including the first regional key to the species. The 

information acquired during this study contributes to climate-change inventory 

and biodiversity concerns, defines previously unidentified natural resources in the 

area, and lays the groundwork for future quantitative ecological studies on the 

macrofungal communities in Terra Nova National Park. It also adds significantly 

to our knowledge of the mushroom flora of the island of Newfoundland. poster 

Nakagiri, Akira* and Okane, Izumi. Biological Resource Center (NBRC), Department 

of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, 2- 

5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. nakagiriakira@nite.go.jp. 

Phylogeny, taxonomy and ecology of Halophytophthora 

spinosa (marine Oomycetes). 

Halophytophthoras are Pythiaceous oomycetes inhabiting marine and 

brackish water at mangroves as the first colonizer on the submerged fallen mangrove 

leaves. Among Halophytophthora species, two varieties of H. spinosa 

(var. spinosa and var. lobata) are unique in forming a dehiscence tube from semipapillate 

apex of the spined zoosporangium. In the phylogenetic tree of 

Oomycetes based on 28S rDNA D1D2 sequences, the varieties of H. spinosa 

clustered with Sapromyces (Rhipidiales, Rhipidiomycetidae sensu Dick, 2001) 

apart from other species of the genus Halophytophthora nesting within the Peronosporomycetidae, 

which suggests transferring the species to a new genus. Each 

of the two varieties is distinct in the manner of zoospore release, shape of dehiscence 

tube and condition for inducing release. Difference was also found in the 

substrate preference, i.e., var. spinosa has been isolated only from submerged fallen 

leaves of Rhizophora mangle, but var. lobata from those of various mangroves, 

which is reflected in their different geographical distribution. Molecular data (G 

+ C mol%, sequences of 28S rDNA D1D2, ITS1 and ITS2) as well as the phenotypic 

characters showed a large gap between the two varieties, which may warrant 

that their taxonomic status should be ranked up to the species level. poster 

Nakamura, Tomoyuki 1 *, Akiyama, Yukihito 1 and Kawagishi, Hirokazu 2 . 1 Applied 

Fungi Institute, IBI Corporation, 7841 Anayama-cyo, Nirasaki-shi, Yamanashi 

407-0263, Japan, 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 

Ohya, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan. 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

n-tomo@eps4.comlink.ne.jp. Genetic analysis and various pharmacological 

effects in Phellinus linteus. 

Phellinus linteus (Berk. et Curt.) Teng is a polypore of the hymenomycetes 

family and a heart-rot fungus occurring especially in groves of Morus bombycis 

Koidz. This fungus is known as a Chinese medicine, Souou, and the mycelia of 

the fungus show antitumor activity. However, their other pharmacological effects 

have not been known yet. Then, at first, genetic analysis of naturally occurring P. 

linteus was performed, and this species was identified as P. linteus. Next, we 

found some biological activities in the extract of the mycelia and succeeded in isolation 

and structure-determination of the active principles in the extract. Scavenging 

activity of superoxide anion radicals of the extracts was detected. As a result, 

caffeic acid was isolated as an antioxidant. Anti-allergic activity of the extracts 

was demonstrated by in vivo assay using NC/Nga/mice. Anti-tumor activity of the 

extracts using Sarcoma 180/mice, p.o. were examined. As a result, an alpha-1,3glucan-protein 

complex was obtained as the most active component. poster 

Nakashima, Chiharu. Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Mie pref. 514- 

8507, Japan. chiharu@bio.mie-u.ac.jp. Cercosporoid fungi in subtropical islands 

of Japan and pacific countries. 

The genus Cercospora was established by Fresenius in 1863. Most of the 

species are known plant pathogens causing leaf spots of plants and are considered 

host specific. This hypothesis led to the description of a very large number of 

species (more than 3,000). It is common knowledge that countries of the Pacific 

Rim region have a diverse plant and fungal flora. Cercosporoid fungi that are 

strongly dependent on the host plant are expected to be diverse in these areas, too. 

However, research on Cercosporoid fungi in Asian countries including Japan has 

not been sufficient in comparison with Europe. This study discusses issues related 

to clarifying the diversity of Cercosporoid fungi in the Pacific rim countries 

(subtropical Islands of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Fiji) by Deighton*, using 

new criteria based on morphological characteristics that were revised by Braun. 

As a result, numerous new species have been found with the indigenous and cultivated 

plants in these countries. In addition, an expansion of the distribution of 

Cercosporoid fungi has been observed in the region in recent years, following the 

movement of the plants. symposium presentation 

Narimatsu, Maki. Iwate Prefectural Forestry Technology Center, 560-11, dai3chiwari, 

Kemuyama, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate 028-3623, Japan. m-narimatsu@pref.iwate.jp. 

Development of inoculation method of Tricholoma matsutake 

to the fine roots in the forest. 

Tricholoma matsutake (Matsutake) is an ectomycorrihizal fungus and the 

most valuable wild mushroom in Japan. Cultivation of Matsutake by an artificial 

method is very difficult, and hence an effective method for construction of ectomycorrhizae 

of Matsutake has been needed. The objective of this study is to develop 

a new inoculation method of Matsutake to the fine roots of the living pine 

trees in the forest. Method: Mycelia of Matsutake grew for 30 days on the chemical 

fiber sheets which were soaked in modified MYPG liquid media (patent 

pending). The sheets covered with the mycelia were used for inoculation to the 

fine roots of young Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) trees. The root samples 

collected after 6 months from inoculation were used for microscopic observation 

and for PCR using Matsutake specific ITS primers. Results: Dark brown-black 

colored and dichotomously branched ectomycorrhizae with hartig-net shaped like 

a palm were observed by mircroscopy. From 33% of root samples and hyphae 

collected near roots, a specific DNA fragment of Matsutake was detected. These 

results indicate that this method is effective for inoculation of Matsutake to the 

forest. poster 

Neda, Hitoshi*. Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan. 

neda@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Agaricoid fungi in subtropical islands of Japan. 

The Nansei islands (Kagoshima pref. and Okinawa pref.), and the Bonin islands 

(Tokyo met.) are lying at 24°– 29° north latitude (about the same as the Midway 

Islands and Florida). The Nansei islands are near to the Asian Continent and 

the main islands of Japan, while the Bonin islands are 1000 km south of Tokyo 

and far from the continent and other islands. Agaricoid fungi (Agaricales sensu 

Singer 1986) in the area have been studied since the middle of the 19th century. 

Two hundred and forty species have already been reported. Since 1984, I have 

collected fungal specimens in the area, adding 29 species to the list. 1) Forty-seven 

species (17%) are regarded as tropical of which 33 reach their northern limit on 

these islands. 2) There are 196 saprophytic and 66 mycorrhizal species in the area. 

3) Only 8 mycorrhizal species (5.2 %) occur on the Bonin islands. These mycorrhizal 

species are also distributed on the Nansei islands. They associated with 

Pinus luchuensis Mayer. This pine is not native to the Bonin islands, but was introduced 

from the Naensei islands. 4) The fruiting season of temperate species in 

the area is November to March (winter). The temperature of this period is equal 

to the temperature in spring and autumn on the Japanese main islands. However, 

109 species have not been collected again in the area for the last 60 years. Many 

species are treated as doubtful species or misidentified records. Further, there are 

many unnamed species. symposium presentation 

Nelsen, Matthew P. and Gargas, Andrea*. Department of Botany, University of 

Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1381, USA. mpnelsen@wisc.edu. A 


phylogenetic assessment of the use of secondary chemistry as a taxonomic 

character in the lichen genus Thamnolia (Icmadophilaceae). 

Differences in secondary chemistry are frequently used to separate species in 

lichen taxonomy. It has been hypothesized thatThamnolia contains either two 

chemically distinct species (baeomycesic and squamatic acids vs. thamnolic acid) 

or a single chemically variable species. In an effort to asses the value of secondary 

chemistry as a species delimiter, we sequenced the ITS and partial IGS, RPB2 

and mtLSU regions and tested whether chemical variants formed monophyletic 

groups. Based on our analyses, the two chemical variants do not form monophyletic 

groups, suggesting that secondary chemistry is not a good indicator of 

phylogenetic relationships in Thamnolia, and therefore, not a valid character for 

species delimitation. Furthermore, we investigate whether these loci provide evidence 

for cryptic recombination in this asexual lineage. poster 

Nishimura, Kazuko 1 *, Kamei, Katsuhiko 1 , Sano, Ayako 1 , Miyaji, Makoto 1 and 

Kawai, Genshiro 2 . 1 Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicosis, 

Chiba University. 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, 2 Food Research 

Laboratory, Asashimatsu Foods Co., Ltd., 1008 Dashina, Iida, Nagano, 

399-2561 Japan. nishik@faculty.chiba-u.jp. Mating behavior of Schizophyllum 

commune isolated from patients with bronchopulmonary mycosis in Japan. 

The basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune has recently 

emerged as a new causative agent of human mycosis. Since 1994, we have identified 

34 isolates from 32 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis and 

related diseases as being the basidiomycete. Most isolates formed white to buff, 

felt or floccose colonies with a methane-like odor and a few formed a slow-growing, 

light brown, leathery colony on PDA plates. Hyphae were partially tuberculate 

in 30 isolates and bizarrely zigzag in two of the non-tuberculate four. Eight of 

the 34 isolates developed clamped hyphae, reproduced small, gilled, fan-like 

and/or medusoid or coralloid basidiocarps and dikaryotitized the monokaryotic 

testers. Hyphae of the other 26 were not clamped and made monokaryotic testers 

develop clamped hyphae and then basidiocarps. Most of them were also dikaryotitized 

by dikaryotic testers. Based on these results, the eight clamped and the 26 

non-clamped were the dikaryon and monokaryon of S. commune, respectively. 

Although one monokaryotic and ten dikaryotic isolates of S. commune were reported 

as pathogens mainly for nasal sinusitis or sinus fungus ball from western 

countries, it is likely that basidiospores of the fungus are inhaled to cause bronchopulmonary 

infection. Both mono- and dikaryons of S. commune are important 

as one of the pathogens for bronchopulmonary mycosis. poster 

Niwa, Rieko*, Osaki, Mitsuru and Ezawa, Tatsuhiro. Graduate School of Agriculture, 

Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8589, Japan. 

niwarieko@hotmail.com. Assessment of germination of Plasmodiophora brassicae 

resting spore in rhizosphere of the host by nuclear-cell wall double 

staining. 

Clubroot disease of cruciferous plants is caused by a soil-born pathogen, 

Plasmodiphora brassicae, and difficult to control because the pathogen survives 

in soil for a long time as resting spore. We found disease-suppressive soil in the 

experimental field of Nagoya University and suggested that an increase in soil pH 

by accumulation of Ca might involved in suppression of the disease. The objective 

of the present study is to understand the mechanism of the disease suppression 

at the levels of germination. In the primary infection process, the resting 

spore germinates in rhizosphere of the host plant and looses nucleus due to the release 

of primary zoospore which infects the root hair of the host plant. We have 

established methods to collect the resting spores from the rhizosphere and bulk 

soils and to assess the presence or absence of nucleus in the spore by nuclear staining. 

The influence of soil pH on the spore germination and root hair infection was 

investigated. poster 

Norvell, Lorelei L. PNW Mycology Service, Portland OR 97229-1309, USA. llnorvell@pnw-ms.com. 

A return to the elusive Phaeocollybia: I. Key to western 

North American species. 

Phaeocollybia (Cortinariaceae) has ~80 species worldwide and has been 

reported from Eurasia, Australasia, and the Americas. Subterranean pseudorhizae, 

brown ornamented basidiospores, and mycelial tibiiform diverticula characterize 

the genus, while spore & cheilocystidial morphology, presence of clamp connections, 

pileipellis structure, pseudorhizal form, and syringaldazine reactivity help 

diagnose species. The ectomycorrhizal agaric genus reaches its highest diversity 

and abundance in the temperate rainforests of northern California, Oregon, Idaho, 

Washington, and British Columbia. From 1991-2004, over 1300 collections of 24 

species were made in the region. During the past decade, the USA Northwest Forest 

Plan flagged P. attenuata, P. californica, P. dissiliens, P. fallax, P. gregaria, 

P. kauffmanii, P. lilacifolia, P. olivacea, P. oregonensis (+ its synonym, P. carmanahensis), 

P. piceae, P. pseudofestiva, P. scatesiae, P. sipei, and P. spadicea 

as endemics or old-growth indicators; Oregon Natural Heritage will soon list the 

rare P. radicata. The naming of 9 new species (P. ammiratii, P. benzokauffmanii, 

P. luteosquamulosa, P. phaeogaleroides, P. pleurocystidiata, P. redheadii, P. rifflipes, 

P. rufotubulina, P. tibiikauffmanii) since 1998 underscores the need for a 

workable key to the species of the Pacific Northwest. poster 


Novick, Rachel S. Yale University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 

New Haven, CT 06511, USA. rachel.novick@yale.edu. Phylogeny and 

cospeciation in cedar rust fungi. 

The cedar apple rusts (Gymnosporangium spp. and associated form genera) 

are a group of about 60 parasitic species that have a broad range of hosts, life histories, 

and degrees of specialization. Most species alternate between telial and aecial 

hosts, while some either complete the entire life cycle on the telial host or reproduce 

asexually by repeating aecia or uredinia. Species infect from one to 

thirteen host genera. Little is known about the evolutionary relationships within 

this group, so that the following questions, relevant to parasite evolution in general, 

remain unanswered: First, how has cospeciation with multiple hosts impacted 

parasite speciation? Second, are asexual species evolutionary dead ends? 

Third, does specialization tend to be a derived trait and if so, can this trend be reversed? 

To address these questions, I am building a molecular phylogeny for the 

cedar apple rusts. I am using reconciliation analysis to compare parasite and host 

phylogenies and ancestral state reconstruction methods to trace the evolution of 

life cycles and specialization. My results to date suggest that both cospeciation 

and host- switching have played some role in the evolution of cedar apple rusts, 

that while asexual species may be derived, it seems possible to regain life stages 

that have been lost, and that a trend toward host specialization may exist in this 

group. symposium presentation 

O’Donnell, Kerry 1 *, Weber, Nancy S. 2 , Rehner, Stephen A. 3 and Rooney, A. P. 1 

1 NCAUR-ARS-USDA, Peoria, IL 61604, USA, 2 Oregon State University, Corvallis, 

OR, USA, 3 USDA/ARS/BARC, Beltsville, MD, USA. 

odonnekl@ncaur.usda.gov. Molecular systematics and phylogeography of the 

true morels (Morchella). 

True morels (Morchella) are among the most highly-prized macrofungi collected 

by mycophiles during the spring in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. 

The few species recognized in field guides are generally thought to be cosmopolitan 

in their distribution, but this assumption has never been tested rigorously. 

To address this question, we used multilocus DNA sequence data from parts of three 

loci [ITS and 28S rDNA, translation elongation factor (1-a), and RNA polymerase 

(RPB1)] to investigate species limits and their biogeography. Maximum parsimony 

analysis of the combined data provided a nearly fully resolved phylogeny in which 

a monophyletic Morchella comprised two sister clades: Esculenta (yellow-tan-grey 

morels) and Elata (black morels). Ancestral lineages of the Esculenta and Elata 

clades are confined to Eastern and Western North America, respectively. This, coupled 

with the finding that North America was most phylogenetically diverse area 

studied, indicates that the ancestral area of Morchella may be North America. The 

high continental endemism observed within Morchella suggests that long distance 

dispersal via airborne ascospores is rare, thereby facilitating historical biogeographic 

studies within this genus. symposium presentation 

O’Reilly, Bernadette D.* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University 

of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. oreilly.bern@students.uwlax.edu. 

The exploitation of mycorrhizal association to induce fruiting 

in Morchella esculenta. 

Morel mushrooms are notoriously difficult to produce commercially. This 

may be because Morchella sp. are facultatively mycorrhizal, an association that is 

difficult to establish and maintain in the laboratory. It has been shown that sclerotia 

are the key intermediate in the fruiting of morels. Past cultivation methods 

attempted to go directly from mycelia to sclerotia to fruiting bodies without exploiting 

the mycorrhizal stage. Elm seeds were axenically germinated, then planted 

in low nutrient soil and allowed to grow to several centimeters in height. Compatible 

Morchella strains were inoculated in an adjacent container of low nutrient 

soil. The mycelium from the low nutrient soil grew across the gap, crossing into 

the container with the photosynthetic elms. According to the 1988-1989 patents 

of Ower et al., when morel mycelia inoculated in low nutrient soils reaches nutrient 

rich media, the nutrients will be translocated back to the nutrient-starved original 

mycelium, and sclerotia will be formed in this low nutrient soil. Previous experiments 

showed certain microbes have potential to induce fruiting in morels. 

These microbes were added to the sclerotia, the containers separated and the 

morels exposed to fruiting conditions. Pictures and data will be presented at the 

meeting. contributed presentation 

Obase, Keisuke, Tamai, Yutaka*, Yajima, Takashi and Miyamoto, Toshizumi. 

Laboratory of Forest Resource Biology, Research group of Forest Resource Science, 

Division of Environmental Resources, Graduate school of Agriculture, 

Hokkaido University, Kita-9, Nishi-9, Kita-ku, Sapporo city, Hokkaido, 060- 

8589, Japan. oba-suke@for.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. Ectomycorrhizal fungal flora on 

the volcano Usu, deforested by 2000 eruptions. 

We investigated underground ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community 

associated with pioneer woody plant species in devastated areas derived from 

2000 eruption on Mt. Usu, using ECM morphotyping and molecular analysis. 

About 4 ha research site around several craters where natural vegetation was disappeared 

just after 2000 eruption, was established. From June to September 2003 

and 2004, we randomly selected 1 to 12 seedlings of each of all woody plant 

species observed there, and a part of lateral roots of them were sampled. Presence 

or absence of mycorrhizal association in each woody plant species was observed. 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

And then, we morphotyped ectomycorrhizas in roots of ECM woody plant 

species by morphological characterizations and PCR-RFLP analysis of the ITS 

region of the rRNA gene. ECM colonization and frequencies were examined. All 

morphotypes classified by both approach was subject to identification by sequence. 

Almost all seedlings of 8 woody plant species, including Larix, Salix, Betula 

and Quercus, were associated with ECM fungi. Number of ECM morphotypes 

per woody plant species was 1-6 and per seedling was 2 in average. 17 ECM 

fungi were identified in total and 11 of them were observed in only one woody 

plant species. Laccaria, Hebeloma and Thelephoraceae were observed many 

woody plant species and presented high relative colonization. poster 

Ocasio-Morales, Roberto G. 1 *, Tsopelas, Panaghiotis 2 and Harrington, Thomas 

C. 1 1 Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames IA 50011, 

USA, 2 NAGREF-Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems Terma Alkmanos, 

11528 Athens, B. O. 14180, Greece. rocasio@iastate.edu. Microsatellite 

analysis suggests that Ceratocystis platani (?C. fimbriata f. platani) was recently 

introduced to Greece from Italy. 

Ceratocystis platani (?C. fimbriata f. platani) is a plant pathogenic fungus 

that causes cankers and wilt disease in Platanus species. It has caused significant 

economic losses in plantations in the USA and in ornamental plantings in Europe 

and the USA. Earlier studies of genetic diversity showed that the eastern USA 

population of C. platani is native to that region and that the southern European 

population was from an introduction of a single genotype through Italy. Recently, 

the disease was reported from southwestern Greece (Messinia Prefecture), 

where it is killing oriental plane (Platanus orientalis L.) of different ages and sizes 

along rivers and streams and in residential areas. Alleles of eight polymorphic microsatellite 

markers of 15 isolates from 13 locations in Greece were analyzed. Of 

the 15 isolates, 14 had the same microsatellite alleles as the most common genotype 

from Italy. The evidence suggests that the pathogen was introduced from 

Italy, most likely on live plant material. One Greek isolate showed a new microsatellite 

allele, probably due to a recent mutation. poster 

Ogawa, Yoshio 1 * and Tokumasu, Seiji 2 . 1 College of Pharmacy, Nihon University, 

Narashinodai, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8555, Japan, 2 Sugadaira Montane Research 

Center, University of Tsukuba, Sanada, Nagano 386-2201, Japan. 

y-ogawa@pha.nihon-u.ac.jp. Correlation between genetic variations of 

nrDNA and morphological variations in Umbelopsis ramanniana. 

Umbelopsis ramanniana is one of the most widespread species in this genus 

and distributes from the polar regions to tropical regions. Furthermore, shapes of 

its sporangiospores are divergent and vary from subglobose to rounded oblong. 

These ecological and morphological characteristics of U. ramanniana imply that 

the genetic variations occur in the sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA 

(nrDNA) in isolates of the fungus. For the isolate of U. ramanniana collected 

from Japan and Europe, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and D1/D2 regions 

of 28S nrDNA were sequenced and the results were analyzed related to the 

morphological characteristics. Neighbor joining and parsimony analyses on the 

sequences showed that these isolates were split into several intra-specific groups. 

Precise examination of the morphological characteristics showed that the isolates 

of those respective groups were different each other in length/width ratios of the 

sporangiospores. The present study suggests that the variations in the sequences 

of the nrDNA of U. ramanniana correlate with those in length/width ratios of sporangiospores. 

Umbelopsis ramanniana seems to be an assemblage of genetically 

and morphologically divergent strains. poster 

Ohkubo, Masaru* 1 , Abe, Jun-ichi P. 1 , Shibata, Hisashi 2 , Kakishima, Makoto 1 and 

Nakamura, Toru 1 . 1 University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Life and Environmental 

Science, 1-1, Tennoudai 1 chome, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan, 2 Yamanashi 

Forest Research Institute, 2290-1, Saishouji, Masuho, Yamanashi 400- 

0502, Japan. ave@sakura.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp. Hypogeous ascomycetes Tuber spp. 

in eastern Japan. 

The distribution of hypogeous ascomycetes Tuber spp. and their habitat 

were studied in different locations in eastern Japan for a better understanding of 

their ecology. In 2004, two study sites each in Saitama, Kanagawa and Tochigi 

Pref. and one each in Ibaraki and Yamanashi Pref. were chosen, for a total of eight 

sites. Tuber indicum was found in all locations except for Ibaraki and one of two 

Tochigi sites, making it the most geographically widespread species studied in 

eastern Japan. T. oligospermum was restricted to Ibaraki Pref. alone. In one of the 

Tochigi sites, an unknown species (Tuber sp. B) was found and is described as 

followed: Ascomata excavate, grayish brown to orange-brown, warted. Warts 

1.1-2 mm across, pyramidal, flattened at the apex. Asci (1-) 2-7(-8)-spored. Ascospores 

18-33 x 13-20 µm, spiny-reticulate. Spines 3-11 µm high. Although this 

Tuber sp. B resembled T. pseudoexcavatum based on the above morphological 

features, it differed in having smaller warts. Based on our and previous investigations, 

T. indicum seems to be dominant throughout Japan. Further, this fungus was 

found under Carpinus japonica, C. laxiflora, Quercus mysinaefolia, Q. dentata 

and Q. serrata. The range of soil pH was 5.9-7.4, soil water percentage ranged between 

18-44%. These results may reveal that T. indicum is adapted to a wide 

range of different environmental conditions. poster 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

Okada, Gen 1 *, Takematsu, Akiko 1 , Ogawa, Hiroyuki 2 , Wakabayashi, Keiko 2 , 

Goto, Keiichi 2 , Attili de Angelis, Derlene 3 and Canhos, Vanderlei P. 3 1 Microbe 

Division / Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Center, 2-1 

Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan, 2 Laboratory of Beverage Development, 

Food Research Laboratories, Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd., 223-1 Miyahara, Fujieda, 

Shizuoka 426-0133, Japan, 3 Andre Tosello Foundation, Rua Latino Coelho, 

1301, Campinas 1889, SP, Brazil. okada@jcm.riken.jp. Undescribed anamorphic 

basidiomycete producing white synnemata and dikaryotic blastoconidia. 

White synnematous hyphomycete with basidiomycetous affinities was collected 

and isolated from dead inflorescence of palm (Phoenix rupicola) in Sao 

Paulo, Brazil on October 1993 (Specimens GO 1675 & 1676; cultures JCM 

12448 & 12449). Synnemata were white and indeterminate with parallel stipe and 

loose fertile zone. Hyphae were hyaline, septate, and lacking clamp connections. 

Conidia were produced blastically in dry chain, hyaline, non-septate, subglobose, 

and dikaryotic. Conidiogenesis superficially looks like those of the anamorphs of 

Botryobasidium: (e.g., Haplotrichum, Parahaplotrichum), though the hyphae and 

conidia were completely hyaline and thin-walled. Based on 18S and 28S (D1/D2) 

rDNA sequence data, however, the fungus probably belongs to the Sebacinales 

phylogenetically far from Botryobasidium. Although its phylogenetic position has 

not yet decided clearly, we think that a new genus should be established for this 

undescribed anamorphic basidiomycete. poster 

Okane, Izumi* and Nakagiri, Akira. Biological Resource Center (NBRC), Department 

of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, 2- 

5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. okane-izumi@nite.go.jp. 

Studies on xylariaceous fungi from plant leaves and other substrates. 

Xylariaceous fungi are known mainly as decomposers of angiosperms, and 

a few species have been reported to be plant pathogens. Some species have been 

found to live within living plant tissues, and considered as important endophytes. 

In this study, we surveyed diversity of the xylariaceous fungi from symptomless 

leaves of various vascular plants. Some strains were obtained from the fruit bodies 

on the pieces of wood, soil, and the nests of termites to investigate the wide 

range of xylariaceous fungi. We carried out taxonomical studies on isolates from 

leaves and other substrates by investigating morphology and molecular phylogeny. 

As a result, a sequence analysis based on the ITS regions of rDNA showed 

that the isolates from leaves were separated into two groups, namely Nemania and 

Xylaria clades, and two isolates from a nest of termite were included in the former 

clade. A cluster in the Nemania clade consisted of many isolates from various 

plants (evergreen-woody plants, orchids and pteridophytes) and two strains of 

Nemania bipapillata, whose data were derived from DNA database. All isolates 

from leaves in the cluster were similar in their colony appearances on media. 

These results suggested that most of the xylariaceous fungi inhabiting various vascular 

plants belong to the genus Nemania and Xylaria. It was confirmed that some 

species behave as not only saprophytes, but also endophytes. Fresh plants and termite-living 

environment must be important materials to investigate on biodiversity 

of xylariaceous fungi. poster 

Okazaki, Koei* and Niwa, Osami. Kazusa DNA Research Institute, 2-6-7 

Kazusa-Kamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba 292-0818, Japan. kokazaki@kazusa.or.jp. 

Molecular mechanisms for the conjugate division: analysis using the fission 

yeast dikaryon. 

Many basidiomycetes use clamp connection to maintain the two different 

nuclei during mitotic division. However, the dikaryons of some basidiomycetes 

such as Ustilago maydis and ascogenous hyphae of the filamentous ascomycetes 

do not form the clamp connection. This suggests that basic mechanisms for the 

conjugate division underlie before the clamp connection have evolved. We found 

that the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe could propagate as a dikaryon 

in a manner to guarantee maintaining heterokaryon. Using this model organism 

and video microscopy, we are now analyzing the mechanism for nuclear pairing, 

communication between the two mitotic spindles, coupling of the two mitotic 

spindles to the single cytokinetic ring, and other mechanisms for dikaryon. We 

identified the minus-end directed kinesin as a motor protein responsible for nuclear 

pairing. Without this kinesin, the binucleated cell underwent mitosis and 

septation at two distant places, which produced a central binucleated cell and two 

monokaryons at the ends. The septation initiation network (SIN) proteins are 

known to localize asymmentrically at the spindle poles. Distribution of Cdc7, a 

member of SIN, suggested that the two spindles are arranged in a head-to-head 

orientation. poster 

Okuda, Toru 1 * and Bennett, Joan W. 2 1 Tamagawa University Research Institute, 6- 

1-1 Tamagawa-Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-0041, Japan, 2 Department of Cell 

and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. torula@lab.tamagawa.ac.jp. 

Exhibition of Dr. Jokichi Takamine sponsored by 

Sankyo Co., Ltd. (APPENDIX to Special Symposium on Industrial Mycology). 

Filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus are involved in our daily life. 

Koji mold, A. oryzae is used for producing miso, soy sauce and sake by growing 

the fungus on steamed rice. Currently, Aspergillus is applied to the production of 

various enzymes and organic acids. Enzymes are particularly essential for industrial 

production of cereal food, detergents, forest products, textiles, feed, and beverages. 

Dr. Jokichi Takamine for the first time applied the enzymatic activity of 


A. oryzae to modern industry. A hundred years ago, he recognized the diastatic 

activity of A. oryzae, patented the first microbial enzyme in USA, and launched 

Taka-diastase. The substance is still sold today as a digestive aid. He then hired 

Dr. Uenaka and together they isolated adrenalin (epinephrine), the first modern 

wonder drug. Dr. Takamine became increasingly wealthy, developed strong trade 

positions in several Japanese industries, and founded three companies including 

Sankyo Co. in Tokyo. As a private diplomat between US and Japan, he helped defray 

the cost of the now famous cherry trees planted in Washington, D. C. On this 

commemorative occasion of MSA/MSJ Joint Meeting, it is worthwhile to exhibit 

a number of historical photographs and materials related to Dr. Takamine, 

which are reproduced by the courtesy of The Great People of Kanazawa Memorial 

Museum in Kanazawa and Sankyo Co., Ltd., Japan. symposium presentation 

Ono, Yoshitaka. College of Education, Ibaraki University, Mito, Ibaraki 310- 

8512, Japan. herb-iba@mx.ibaraki.ac.jp. Life cycle and host specificity in 

Ochropsora and Aplopsora species. 

Species in rust genera Aplopsora and Ochropsora are presumed to have a 

macrocyclic heteroecious life cycle; however, only O. ariae and O. kraunhiae 

have been proven to be heteroecious. None of Aplopsora species is known its full 

life cycle. Species in the two genera produce a sessile, one-celled, thin-walled 

probasidium (teliospore), producing a metabasidium without dormancy; and the 

two genera differ only in the mode of metabasidium production (germination of 

teliospores). However, the difference in the mode of metabasidium production is 

a matter of degree of apical elongation of the probasidium during maturation. 

Thus, the taxonomic separation of the two genera has been questioned. In addition, 

three species in a poorly circumscribed genus Cerotelium have been suggested 

to belong to Aplopsora because of the similarity in probasidium morphology 

and a mode of metabasidium production. These necessitate the revision of 

classification of Aplopsora, Ochropsora and their allies with species distinction 

by their life cycle and host specificity, i.e., circumscribing species by the reproductive 

isolation. Artificial inoculation experiments over ten years have revealed 

macrocyclic, heteroecious nature of the life cycle in two Aplopsora, one Ochropsora 

and one Cerotelium species in addition to two Ochropsora and one 

Cerotelium species, whose full life cycle was previously known. Thus, one 

Ochropsora and two Cerotelium species produces spermogonia/aecia on species 

of Corydalis/Dicentra (Fumariaceae), while spermogonia/ aecia of two Aplopsora 

and two Ochropsora species are produced on Anemone (Ranunculaceae). Each 

of the species has unique spermogonial/aecial host species. These results indicate 

that seven reproductively isolated species constitute a single genus with two subgroups 

that have differentiated in the spermogonial/aecial host preference during 

the course of evolution. symposium presentation 

Orihara, Takamichi 1 *, Sawada, Fumiko 2 , Ikeda, Shiho 3 , Yamato, Masahide 3 and 

Iwase, Koji 3 . 1 Dept. For. Sci., Fac. Agr., Kyoto Pref. Univ., 1-5 Shimogamohangi 

cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan, 2 2-11-12 Tsujido-taiheidai, Fujisawa 

251-0044, Japan. 3 Biol. Environ. Inst., KANSO Technos Co., Ltd., 8-4 Ujimatafuri, 

Uji 611-0021, Japan. h_-berg-_f@io.ocn.ne.jp. Taxonomical 

reconsideration of Octaviania columellifera (Japanese name, jagaimo-take) 

and its phylogenetic relationship to Boletaceae. 

The semi-secotioid truffle-like fungus, Octaviania columellifera (Japanese 

name, jagaimo-take, literally means potato fungus) is an endemic species in 

Japan. It was originally described by Dr. Yoshio Kobayashi in 1936, but, since 

then, has not been authentically described. On the other hand, it has been suspected 

that the species which was described under the name of Octaviania asterosperma 

(Japanese name, Kurama-no-jagaimo-take, literally means potato fungus 

in Kurama) since 1972 in Japan corresponds to O. columellifera. It was clarified 

in this study that these two species are identical, by examining ITS regions of the 

nuclear rDNA as well as other chemical, morphological and ecological features. 

It was also revealed that the species is phylogenetically close to some groups in 

Boletaceae. Moreover, O. columellifera was placed in different lineage from other 

O. spp. in Boletales. In case of chemical reactions, the change of the length of the 

spore ornamentation in various reagents, which was previously described in Octavianina 

cyanescens (Trappe & Castellano, 2000), was also recognized, although 

this finding might be inconsistent to the results of molecular analysis. poster 

Osono, Takashi. Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, 

Kyoto University Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. fujijun@kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Role of 

phyllosphere fungi of forest trees in the development of decomposer communities 

and decomposition processes of leaf litter. 

The phyllosphere is the living leaf as a whole and includes the surface (phylloplane) 

and internal tissue. Phyllosphere fungi include epiphytes and endophytes 

that colonize the phylloplane and internal tissue, respectively, of living leaves. 

Phyllosphere fungi have been reported from a variety of plants including forest 

tree species. They have been studied intensively in terms of their ecological relationships 

with plants and other microorganisms on living leaves. In contrast, the 

ecology of phyllosphere fungi on leaf litter has received little attention even 

though they occur on various litters at initial stages of decomposition. At the leaf 

death, phyllosphere fungi can persist and have the advantage of gaining access to 


substrates in leaf litter prior to fungi that colonize after litter fall. Thus, phyllosphere 

fungi may have certain roles as saprophytes in the development of decomposer 

fungal communities and in decomposition processes of leaf litter. In this 

study, I review the role of phyllosphere fungi of forest trees, mainly temperate 

ones, in the development of decomposer communities and decomposition 

processes of leaf litter. Emphasis is placed on (1) occurrence of phyllosphere fungi 

on leaf litter, (2) origin and development of early colonizers, (3) succession and 

persistence until later stages of decomposition, (4) substrate utilization and decomposing 

ability, and (5) roles in the accumulation and decomposition of soil organic 

matter in forests. It is clear from the review that several of the common 

phyllosphere fungi are primarily saprotrophic litter-decomposing fungi and play 

significant roles in community development and decomposition processes. poster 

Ota, Yuko 1 *, Hattori, Tsutomu 1 and Banik, Mark T. 2 1 Hokkaido Forestry Research 

Institute, Higashiyama, Koshunai-cho, Bibai, Hokkaido 079-0198, Japan, 

2 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, 

Japan. yuota@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Characterization of the Laetiporus sulphureus 

complex in Japan using phylogenetic analyses, morphological characteristics 

and single spore isolate incompatibility. 

Phylogenetic analyses, morphological studies and incompatibility tests 

were conducted to define the taxa in the Japanese Laetiporus sulphureus complex. 

Phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed 

spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and beta-tubulin gene 

suggest that Japanese Laetiporus spp. are divided into three groups (groups A-C). 

Single spore isolates from groups A, B and C were incompatible each other as 

well as with single spore isolates of 4 North American Laetiporus species. However, 

some inter-continental single spore combinations showed unclear reactions. 

ITS sequence analysis supports the differentiation of the Japanese groups from the 

North American species. A European population of L. sulphureus is also clearly 

distinct from the Japanese groups based on DNA analyses. Collections with in 

each Japanese group share similar morphological characteristics and host range 

(conifers vs. hardwoods). contributed presentation 

Otsuki, Kunihiko 1 *, Okada, Kazuhisa 1 , Kusumoto, Koji 2 and Sandou, Hideyuki 3 . 

1 Wakayama Research Center of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Forestry Experiment 

Station, 1504-1, Ikuma, Kamitonda-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama pref., 

Japan, 2 Kusumoto Koji Photo Office, 2059, Shingu, Shingu City, Wakayama 

pref., Japan, 3 Wakayama Prefectural Research Center of Environment and Public 

Health, 3-3-45, Sunayama-Minami, Wakayama City, Wakayama pref., Japan. otsuki_k0001@pref.wakayama.lg.jp. 

Ecological characterization of the luminous 

fungus Mycena lux-coeli in a southern part of the Kii peninsula of 

Japan. 

Mycena lux-coeli is a fascinating luminous fungus that has been found in 

several discrete areas of Japan, e.g. the Izu islands, the Ogasawara islands, a southern 

part of the Kii peninsula and Kyushu. We have investigated ecological characteristics 

of the species in a southern part of the Kii peninsula, the largest area of 

its habitat distribution. The area of distribution extends about 80 kilometers along 

the coast, including one city and seven towns. The main habitats are coastal broadleafed 

forests with big trees of Castanopsis cuspidata ver.sieboldii. The hosts are 

mostly Castanopsis cuspidata ver. sieboldii and exceptionally Elaeocarpus 

sylvestris ver. Ellipticus for two cases. The fruiting period in the years 2002 - 2004 

was from May through October. At the beginning of the rainy season in early 

summer, numerous immature fruitbodies appeared suddenly and grew up in unison. 

Then many fruitbodies grew up one after another in succession. The immature 

fruitbodies opened their pilei and grew up into mature fruitbodies in 1 or 2 

days. The period of the immature or mature fruitbody emitting relatively strong 

light was about 2 to 3 days. Thereafter the fruitbodies withered up in a period of 

2 to 4 days while the light was getting weaker gradually. poster 

Padamsee, Mahajabeen 1 , Celio, Gail J. 1 , Dentinger, Bryn C. 1 , McLaughlin, David 

J. 1 , Hibbett, David S. 2 , Lutzoni, François 3 , Spatafora, Joseph W. 4 and Vilgalys, 

Rytas J. 3 . 1 Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, 

USA, 2 Biology Dept., Clark University, Worcester MA, USA, 3 Dept. of Biology, 

Duke University, Durham NC 27708, USA, 4 Dept. of Botany & Plant Pathology, 

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. pada0003@umn.edu. Phylogenetic 

exploration and data-mining of the AFTOL non-molecular database. 

Subcellular characters have been shown to be phylogenetically informative 

at phylum and lower taxon levels. Septa, polar structures, and nuclear characters 

from the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life non-molecular database were used 

to evaluate evolutionary relationships between selected taxa. Our methods involved 

separate analyses of septa and nucleus associated characters within and 

among phyla. We explored various effects of using character manipulations and 

constraint trees on the tree topology and measurements. Using septal characters in 

an analysis of the Basidiomycota, character selection was effective in reconstructing 

the known phylogeny based on molecular data. These analyses allow us 

to explore character evolution and help reevaluate character coding and description. 


MSA ABSTRACTS 

Palmer, Jonathan M.* and Volk, Thomas J. Dept. Biology, University of Wisconsin 

- La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

palmer.jona@students.uwlax.edu. Molecular characterization of mycorrhizal 

fungi associated with a disjunct stand of American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) 

in Wisconsin. 

Circa 1900 a farmer from Pennsylvania planted eleven American chestnut 

(Castanea dentata) seeds on a new farm near West Salem in the “driftless” area 

of western Wisconsin. Since they are well out of the natural range of chestnut, the 

trees were free from chestnut blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, until 

1988. This stand of trees affords an excellent opportunity to study mycorrhizal 

fungi associated with the chestnuts. Our major question to be answered is “Have 

the local fungi adapted to grow on or with the chestnuts, or have chestnut specific 

fungi ‘found’ the disjunct stand?” Fungal fruiting bodies have been collected 

and identified to species for the past three seasons from the chestnut site, as well 

as from two local “control” sites. Over 700 collections have been identified to 

species, about 75 being putatively mycorrhizal with chestnut. Since many mycorrhizal 

fungi rarely fruit, a below-ground study of the mycorrhizal community was 

done using PCR/RFLP analysis and DNA sequencing techniques. Although most 

seem to be local fungi, we have found examples of fungi besides Cryphonectria 

that have found the chestnut stand, including Ciboria americana, specific to 

chestnut burs, and Fistulina hepatica, both otherwise unknown from western 

Wisconsin. These data will be used in efforts to return chestnuts to their former 

dominance in their native Appalachian range. poster 

Park, Chae H.* and Jung, Hack S. Department of Biological Sciences, College of 

Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea. minervas@snu.ac.kr. 

Phylogeographic study of Irpex lacteus using ITS sequences 

and f-AFLP markers. 

Irpex lacteus is one of the most common polypores and is widely distributed 

as a saprotroph on dead wood in Korea. For the analysis of I. lacteus populations 

from five provinces and three islands of Korea, genetic structure and phylogeographic 

pattern were examined using nuclear ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 

sequences and f-AFLP fingerprinting markers. Phylogenetic trees constructed by 

ITS sequences and f-AFLP markers respectively indicated that the isolates of I. 

lacteus from different geographical habitats were not so variable. The present geographical 

distribution of I. lacteus was dominantly influenced by the dispersal of 

basidiospores, while ecological habitat differences did not seem to be so important 

in determining the genetic structure of the species. Although two phylogenetic 

trees showed incongruent topologies each other, the tree generated by f- 

AFLP markers developed more resolution for the phylogenetic relationships of I. 

lacteus isolates, suggesting that the analysis using multiple loci is more useful to 

discriminate closely related taxa. poster 

Park, Ju-Young 1 *, Inaba, Shigeki 1 , Mangunwardoyo, Wibowo 2 , Kanti, Atit 3 , 

Widyastuti, Yantyati 3 and Ando, Katsuhiko 1 . 1 NITE Biological Resource Center 

(NBRC), Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology and 

Evaluation (NITE), 2-5-8, Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu-shi, Chiba Pref., 292-0818, 

Japan, 2 University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia, 3 Indonesian Institute of 

Science, Jalan Ir. H. Juanda 18, Bogor 16002, Indonesia. pakujyuyon@nite.go.jp. 

New and interesting fungi isolated in Indonesia. 

Tropical rain forests contain more than a half of the total species of the 

world’s entire biota, despite that they cover only 7% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface. 

In Indonesia, tropical rain forests occupy 57% of its territory, resulting in Indonesia 

to possess the world’s second largest tropical forest with rich biodiversity. 

To study microbial diversity in Indonesia, our institute has been collaborating 

with three Indonesian governmental institutes and two universities, namely BPPT, 

DEPTAN, LIPI, IPB and UI. In 2004, 51 soil and 35 litter samples were collected 

from three sampling sites in Indonesia, i.e. Purwodadi Botanical garden (East 

Java), Cibinong Science Center and its surrounding (West Java), and Bukit Sari 

Botanical Garden (Jambi, Sumatera). A total of 1,203 fungi were isolated from the 

soil samples using the dilution and UV irradiation methods and 160 fungi were 

isolated from the litter samples using the manipulation method, which were classified 

into 76 and 19 genera, respectively. Some of the new and interesting fungi 

are: (1) Bloxamia sp. which is characteristic of showing holoblastic development 

of thick-walled and dark brown chlamydospores; (2) Xenobotrytis acaducospora; 

(3) two interesting Aspergillus spp. showing 97% homology with A. anthodesmis 

in the D1/D2 region and characteristic of having big vesicles (up to 92.0 µm) and 

stipes trailed by mycelia. poster 

Park, Keun A.*, Kim, Kung M. and Jung, Hack S. Department of Biological Sciences, 

College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, 

Korea. minervas@snu.ac.kr. Phylogenetic analyses of Piptoporus based on ITS 

and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences. 

To study the phylogenetic relationships of Piptoporus, ITS and partial 28S 

regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes were sequenced from nine species of 

Piptoporus and ten related species. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Piptoporus 

was heterogeneous and its members were divided into six distinct groups. 

Piptoporus betulinus (the type species of Piptoporus) was clustered with the 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

members of Fomitopsis (F. pinicola, F. palustris, F. feei. Piptoporus cretaceus, 

P. portentosus, P. officinalis and P. elatinus) formed one major Piptoporus group, 

which was positioned paraphyletically to Antrodia spp. including A. albida (the 

type species of Antrodia). Piptoporus soloniensis was clustered with A. serialis 

and A. variiformis at the basal position of Fomitopsis group composed of F. 

africana, F. dochmia and F. spraguei. Buglossoporus pulvinus with the synonyms 

of P. paradoxus and P. quercinus was clustered with F. africana of Fomitopsis 

group. Piptoporus australiensis formed one group with Spongipellis spumeus and 

A. sitchensis. Piptoporus pseudobetulinus and P. betulinus have similar microscopic 

morphologies but phylogenetic positions of two species were different, 

showing that rot type could be an important character to discriminate between 

morphologically confused species. Although more taxonomic and phylogenetic 

studies with additional related species need to be achieved, our phylogenetic results 

apparently indicated that Piptoporus was composed of artificial taxa and certain 

species need to be newly transferred into several different genera like Antrodia, 

Fomitopsis, Polyporus and Datronia. poster 

Parrent, Jeri L.*, Mao, Alison and Vilgalys, Rytas J. 139 Biological Sciences 

Bldg. Dept. of Biology. Duke University. Durham, NC 27708, USA. 

jlp13@duke.edu. Guess who’s coming to dinner? Actively foraging mycorrhizal 

fungi and their contribution to soil carbon storage. 

Although our understanding of ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities 

is greatly enhanced by the wealth of root tip and fruiting body surveys, knowledge 

regarding contributions of particular EMF species to host nutrient acquisition and 

hyphal biomass in soil remains limited. In this study, we used an ingrowth core 

approach designed to exclude roots and saprophytes to sample actively foraging 

EMF hyphae and ask: 1) Is community structure surveyed using this method congruent 

with that sampled from colonized root tips; 2) Is EMF biomass in soil 

greater in plots enriched in CO 2 ? To address these questions, cores were buried in 

control and elevated CO2 plots at the FACTS-I research site, Duke Forest, NC. 

Clone libraries were constructed and ITS and LSU sequences were generated. Ergosterol 

was measured to estimate EMF hyphal biomass in cores and soil. This 

method successfully selected against saprophytes; only 5% of samples were nonmycorrhizal. 

Community composition overlapped between root tip and core samples, 

but several species abundant in cores were rarely encountered as mycorrhizas, 

suggesting incongruence between colonization and foraging abilities of 

certain species. Ergosterol content highlights the dominance of fungi in the soil 

microbial community, and the importance of considering EMF hyphal biomass 

when examining C dynamics and storage associated with increased CO 2 . contributed 

presentation 

Peay, Kabir G. 1 *, Beneman, Chris 2 and Kennedy, Peter G. 2 1 Division of Ecosystem 

Sciences, UC Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, 2 Dept. of Integrative Biology, UC 

Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. kpeay@nature.berkeley.edu. The role of ectomycorrhizal 

fungi in mediating drought stress during the early establishment of 

Pinus muricata. 

In the classic view of the mycorrhizal symbiosis plants provide photosynthetically 

derived sugars to the fungi in exchange for nutrients such as nitrogen or 

phosphorous. However, in coastal California, Pinus muricata (Bishop Pine) regenerates 

in a post-fire setting where nutrients are not limiting. In this setting, 

water may be the most important limiting resource as plants experience significant 

water deficit during summer establishment. In this study, we tested the ability 

of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi to protect seedlings of P. muricata from experimentally 

induced drought. We use a fully factorial design including four EM 

species Rhizopogon occidentalis, R. salebrosus, R. evadens, and Tomentella 

sublilacina) and two drought treatments. We measured seedling photosynthetic 

rates, water use efficiency, above and below ground biomass, 13C stable isotope 

composition and % EM colonization. These measures are related to the ability of 

ectomycorrhizae to confer droughtavoidance or tolerance on their host. contributed 

presentation 

Pennanen, Taina* and Korkama, Tiina. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa 

Research Centre, P.O.B. 18, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland. 

taina.pennanen@metla.fi. Structure of ectomycorrhizal communities and development 

of Norway spruce seedlings. 

The impact of tree genotype on the susceptibility to diseases is well established 

in plant pathology. However, it is unclear if formation ectomycorrhizal 

(ECM) symbiosis is dependent on a host tree genetic background. We utilized a 

clonal Norway spruce (Picea abies) trial planted on the clear-cut spruce forest site 

to investigate how the genetic variation of a host tree influences the ECM species 

composition and soil microbial communities. Eight healthy spruce clones were 

selected to represent various growth performances since outplanting in 1994. We 

found that structures of the ECM communities were different in slowly and fast 

growing spruce clones. Further, Shannon diversity index correlated positively to 

the growth of the trees, which was rather due to the greater evenness of the ECM 

communities in the fast growing clones than differences in ECM richness. In a 

same way, PLFA analysis indicated differences in humus microbial community 

structure between fast and slowly growing spruce clone plots. Our results imply 

that genetic variation of host tree may have a role in generating patchiness of microbial 

communities in boreal forest soils typically dominated by a single tree 


species but thousands of ECM species. A selection of ECM isolates found to be 

common in well growing spruces is utilized in studying the early development of 

the spruce seedlings. symposium presentation 

Perry, Brian A.*, Hansen, Karen and Pfister, Donald H. Department of Organismic 

and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, 

USA. bperry@oeb.harvard.edu. Phylogenetic relationships in the Pyronemataceae 

(Ascomycota, Pezizales). 

Of the families of the Pezizales, the Pyronemataceae (including Otideaceae) 

remains the least well studied or characterized. The family has been considered a 

default family for pezizalean taxa with uninucleate spores and iodine negative 

asci, which lack distinguishing anatomical characters by which they can be assigned 

to other families. Standard treatments of the Pyronemataceae include taxa 

with a wide diversity of both morphological features and nutritional modes. Recent 

molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that the Pyronemataceae is part of a 

lineage composed of the Sarcosomataceae, Sarcoscyphaceae, Ascodesmidaceae, 

and Glaziellaceae. The goal of this investigation is to generate a multiple gene 

phylogeny of the Pyronemataceae and closely related taxa using sequence data 

from three unlinked nuclear loci to resolve relationships of the family and genera, 

and infer evolutionary patterns of morphological, cytological and ecological characters. 

Results based on nuclear large subunit rDNA and RNA polymerase II sequence 

data will be presented and discussed. contributed presentation 

Petersen, Ronald H.* and Hughes, Karen W. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 

TN 37996-1100, USA. repete@utk.edu. The Pacific and its rim: crossroads of 

mushroom distributions. 

Early identification of macrofungi from Pacific Ocean landmasses came 

from the capitals of Europe (i.e. the British Empire, French Indochina, Dutch East 

Indies, etc.). After the age of empires, national mycology began, but mushroom 

taxonomy has been subjugated to applied mycology (i.e. plant pathology, commercialization 

of edibles, etc.). Nonetheless, some patterns of macrofungal distributions 

have been elucidated, namely Gondwanaland, pantropical, east Asia/eastern 

North America and the like. To these can be added the following: pantropical 

(Pleurotus djamor and its variations), eastern North America/ tropical Pacific 

landmasses (Gloeocantharellus, Ramaria zipellii, Sarcodon atroviride), north Pacific 

rim (Flammulina rossica), endemic northeast Asia (Pleurotus citrinopileatus, 

Oudemansiella brunneomarginata, Pleurotus abieticola), Gondwanaland 

(Conchomyces bursaeformis, Flammulina with stratified pileus context) and endemic 

South Pacific (spiny-spored Clavaria species). Mushrooms with unexplained 

distributions include Pleurotopsis longinqua, Chilean Flammulina velutipes, 

and the apparent California halophiles Flammulina velutipes var. lupinicola 

and darkly pileate Pleurotus ostreatus. Thus, the Pacific Ocean landmasses and 

the Pacific Ocean rim include a myriad of econiches, climates, altitudes and island 

biogeographies, and support a macrofungal mycota just as varied. symposium 

presentation 

Peterson, Stephen W. 1 *, Vega, Fernando E. 2 , Posada, Francisco 2 and Nagai, Chifumi 

3 . 1 USDA, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA, 2 IBL, USDA, 

Beltsville, MD 20705, USA, 3 HARC, Aiea, HI 96701, USA. 

peterssw@ncaur.usda.gov. Penicillium coffeae, a new endophytic species isolated 

from a coffee plant and its phylogenetic relationship to P. fellutanum, 

P. thiersii and P. brocae based on parsimony analysis of multilocus DNAs. 

Penicillium coffeae is described as a novel endophyte isolated from a Coffea 

arabica L. plant in Hawaiì. The species is slow growing with short, vesiculate, 

monoverticillate conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis using three loci shows 

that P. coffeae forms a strongly supported clade with P. fellutanum, P. charlesii, 

P. chermesinum, P. indicum, P. phoeniceum and P. brocae. Phenotypically these 

species are quite similar but can be distinguished. The EF-1alpha; gene from P. 

fellutanum, P. charlesii, P. chermesinum and P. indicum lack introns, P. coffeae 

and P. phoeniceum have a previously unknown intron at codon 20 and P. brocae 

and P. thiersii isolates have a single intron at codon 26. The most parsimonious 

interpretation of intron changes on the strongly supported phylogenetic tree requires 

the gain of a novel intron at position 20 and loss of intron 26 to arrive at the 

current distribution of introns in this gene. This is one of only a few examples of 

intron gain in genes. poster 

Pfaff, Bridget L. 1,2 * and Volk, Thomas J. 2 1 University of Wisconsin La Crosse 

and 2 Gundersen Lutheran Healthcare, 1900 South Avenue (C03-004), La Crosse, 

WI 54601, USA. blpfaff@gundluth.org. Water, water everywhere: preliminary 

studies in medical document recovery following water infiltration. 

It is important to prevent damage by fungal growth on paper since paper 

medical records must be saved for a minimum of ten years in most states. Documents 

are often stored in basements and other areas prone to water and fungal 

damage due to space limitations. Water intrusion is commonly caused by clean 

water from sprinkler-heads and plumbing fixtures, and dirty water from sewer 

back-ups and river flooding, followed by varying degrees of mold growth. The 

need for practical document recovery is pertinent not just in health-care facilities, 

but in libraries and government agencies as well. Current recommendations for 


document remediation after flooding indicate freeze-drying as the ideal remediation; 

however, it is unclear if this poses subsequent exposures to destructive fungal 

spores. Although mold damage is visually obvious and often generates odors, 

it is unclear which fungi are commonly associated with document damage. This 

study proposes to evaluate recovered documents for the presence of fungal DNA 

to determine the fungal species that commonly cause damage. Control documents 

were compared to documents recovered from a river-flooded clinic and a clinic 

that was infiltrated by clean water. This study intends to determine which species 

elicit damage and if there are more effective remediation techniques. poster 

Porras-Alfaro, Andrea*, Dvorachek, William H. and Natvig, Donald O. Department 

of Biology, The University of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, 

USA. aporras@unm.edu. Fungal community associated with roots of two 

closely related grasses, Bouteloua gracilis and B. eriopoda. 

Studies of fungi associated with grasses have focused largely on aboveground 

tissues. However, fungal endophytes are also recovered from roots. This 

study examined fungi associated with roots of two dominant grasses, Bouteloua 

gracilis (blue grama) and B. eriopoda (black grama), collected from the Sevilleta 

National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. In part, this study reflects a long-term 

interest on the part of plant ecologists to understand the distributions of these two 

grass species. Plants were collected from areas where either one or the other grass 

was dominant, as well as from an area where the two species coexist. The diversity 

of fungi associated with roots was surveyed by direct PCR, cloning and sequencing 

of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear rDNA. Clones were 

sequenced and grouped using phylogenetic analysis. Among 140 clones sequenced, 

we observed more than twenty fungal species representing diverse basidiomycetes 

and ascomycetes. The fungi observed included several that appear 

to be closely related to species reported as either endophytes or plant pathogens. 

Most of these have not been reported previously from arid grasslands. There were 

no significant differences between the fungal groups associated with blue and 

black grama. The ecological significance of this diverse fungal assemblage is a 

subject ripe for additional study. poster 

Porras-Alfaro, Andrea 1 * and Bayman, Paul 2 . 1 Department of Biology, The University 

of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA, 2 Department of 

Biology, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931-3360, 

USA. aporras@unm.edu. Mycorrhizal fungi of Vanilla: specificity, phylogeny 

and effects on seed germination and plant growth. 

Mycorrhizal fungi (MF) are essential for the germination of orchid seeds. 

However, the degree of specificity of this symbiosis and the effects of fungi on orchid 

growth are poorly understood. It is unclear if all MF are functionally equivalent 

for orchids, or if some are better than others at promoting seed germination 

and plant growth. The aims of this research were to: 1) identify the MF in Vanilla, 

2) determine if these relationships are general or specific, and 3) compare the 

effects of different MF on germination and plant growth. Cultured and uncultured 

MF were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear 

rDNA (nrITS) and part of the mitochondrial ribosomal large subunit 

(mtLSU), and by counting number of nuclei in hyphae. Our results show that at 

least three genera of Rhizoctonia-like fungi colonize Vanilla: Ceratobasidium, 

Thanatephorus and Tulasnella. We found differences (consistent and significant) 

in the effects of fungi on seed germination and plant growth. Effects of MF were 

related to phylogeny. A clade of Ceratobasidium had a consistently positive effect 

on plant growth and seed germination. However, isolates in another clade of 

Ceratobasidium exhibited contrasting effects on plant growth and germination. 

poster 

Pringle, Anne 1 and *Vellinga, Else C. 2 1 Department of Organismic and Evolutionary 

Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, 02138, USA, 2 Department 

of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, 111 Koshland Hall, 

Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. apringle@berkeley.edu. Last chance to know? 

Using literature to explore the biogeography and invasion biology of the 

Death Cap mushroom Amanita phalloides. 

The biogeography of fungi is poorly understood. Using the literature of 

Amanita phalloides as a case study we illustrate the utility and difficulty of using 

the historical record to describe the biogeography of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi 

and to establish a species as introduced or invasive. A. phalloides is deadly; it is a 

notorious fungus and a rich medical and mycological literature records the mushroom’s 

distribution in North America. The earliest American record of A. phalloides 

dates to 1832, and four different authors identify the species as growing in 

California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Maryland before 1910. 

But by mid-century field guides list A. phalloides as rare on the West Coast and 

absent from the East Coast. In modern American literature A. phalloides is described 

as a recently introduced and currently invasive species. The contradictions 

raise two questions, first, is A. phalloides an exotic to North America? Second, 

can the historical record be used to delineate the native distribution of any EM 

fungus? poster 

Rajguru, Satyendra N. 1 *, Margaritescu, Simona 2 , Moncalvo, Jean-Marc 2 , Silberman, 

Jeffrey 1 and Stephenson, Steven 1 . 1 University of Arkansas, Department of 

Biological Sciences, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, 2 Royal Ontario Museum and 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

University of Toronto, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S2C6, Canada. srajgur@uark.edu. 

Molecular phylogeny of plasmodial slime molds based on 

EF1A sequences. 

Myxomycetes (also known as plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) 

constitute one of the three major subgroups of the Mycetozoa. These organisms 

are characterized by a plasmodial stage, which under favorable conditions develops 

into mature sporophores. Previous phylogenetic studies of myxomycetes have 

been based on ultrastructure or morphological characters. Very little data exist on 

their molecular phylogeny. The phylogenetic relationships among the various 

taxa are being investigated using EF-1 alpha sequences from the type species 

within each described genus. Genomic DNA has been isolated from specimens 

obtained from moist chamber cultures or field collections. “Slime mold” specific 

primers have been designed to amplify EF-1 alpha sequences. Phylogenetic 

analyses are being carried out to assess the higher-order molecular phylogeny of 

the taxa for which sequences are available. (Research supported in part by two 

grants from the National Science Foundation.) contributed presentation 

Rajguru, Satyendra N. 1 *, Silberman, Jeffrey 1 , Stephenson, Steven 1 and Landolt, 

John 2 . 1 University of Arkansas, Department of Biological Sciences, Fayetteville, 

AR 72701, USA, 2 Shepherd University, Department of Biology, Shepherdstown, 

WV 25443, USA. srajgur@uark.edu. Genetic variation of Dictyostelium rosarium 

based on ITS sequences: a preliminary investigation. 

Dictyostelids (also called cellular slime molds) are members of the Mycetozoa 

that are commonly found in the soil as free living amoeba. These amoebae 

aggregate to form multicellular pseudoplasmodia and then fruiting bodies. Dictyostelium 

rosarium, commonly found in “soil” of cave environments, is a morphologically 

distinctive species characterized by the presence of lateral sori. The 

degree of genetic variation that may exist among D. rosarium isolates from different 

localities is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the extent of genetic 

variation that exists for D. rosarium isolates obtained from diverse geographical 

localities. These isolates were cultured and DNA extracted using a 5% 

chelex solution. Primers were designed to amplify both ITS regions of rDNA. Sequence 

analysis indicated that D. rosarium contains an ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of 

approximately 900bp. Preliminary results indicate some degree of variation 

among the isolates. Sequencing of additional isolates is currently ongoing. (Supported 

in part by two grants from the National Science Foundation). poster 

Redhead, Scott A. 1 *, Cushion, Melanie T. 2 , Frenkel, Jacob K. 3 and Stringer, 

James R. 2 1 ECORC, Agric. & Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada, 

2 Univ. Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, 

OH 45267, USA, 3 Univ. New Mex., 1252 Vallecita Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87501, 

USA. redheads@agr.gc.ca. Pneumocystis nomenclature. 

The enigmatic fungal genus Pneumocystis, causal agent of so-called ‘opportunistic’ 

pneumonia (PCP) in immuno-compromised individuals, has defied 

classification. Its initial discovery led it to be included in the lifecycle of the protozoan 

Trypanosoma cruzi causing Chaga’s Disease. After the two were separated, 

Pneumocystis was still believed to be a protozoan, hence its name was covered 

by the zoological code. Only two codes of nomenclature, botanical and 

zoological, cover eukaryotic organisms resulting in bizarre nomenclatural situations 

when the two kingdom system is applied to microorganisms, e.g. rumen 

chytrids, mycetozoans, microsporidians. After molecular based phylogenies revealed 

new relationships, such organisms can ‘switch’ kingdoms, resulting in cascading 

nomenclatural changes. Pneumocystis exemplifies an extreme case because 

of the combination of ‘misclassification’ in the ‘animal’ kingdom and its 

initial inclusion in the lifecycle of a protozoan, leading to the description of a 

genus, Schizotrypanum, and a species, T. cruzi, based upon elements from both 

kingdoms. Reduced, yet highly characteristic morphology and obligate host-specific 

parasitism, including human hosts, have challenged classification at the subgeneric 

level leading to debate concerning the name for the human pathogen, P. 

jirovecii, often called P. carinii. Nomenclatural resolutions are detailed. poster 

Rehmeyer, Cathryn 1 , Kusaba, Motoaki 3 , Li, Weixi 2 , Staben, Chuck 2 , Birren, 

Bruce 4 , Dean, Ralph 5 and Farman, Mark 1 . 1 Department of Plant Pathology and 

2 Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, 3 Faculty 

of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga, Japan, 4 The Broad Institute of Massachusetts 

Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA, 

5 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. cjrich2@uky.edu. Structure 

and dynamics of Magnaporthe grisea telomeres. 

We describe the structural organization of all fourteen chromosome ends in 

the reference strain of the plant pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe grisea. Bioinformatic 

analysis of data from the M. grisea Genome Project enabled us to identify 

telomere- containing fosmid clones, which we then sequenced to completion. 

Aside from yeast, this represents the only complete characterization of telomeres 

in any organism. The most terminal portion of the M. grisea chromosomes exhibit 

a significant level of genetic redundancy; 11 ends have the same basic organization, 

consisting of a single RecQ helicase gene embedded in a region containing 

varying numbers of short tandem repeats. Some of these repeats contain short iterations 

of the TTAGGG motif, suggesting that they may interact with the termi- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

nal array to participate in telomere function and/or maintenance, possibly by regulating 

expression of the RecQ helicase gene. Internal to the RecQ-associated repeat 

region, each of the eleven ends possesses its own unique sequences which 

tend to be gene-rich, with many of the genes being predicted to have roles in pathogenicity. 

One chromosome end consists of the ~1.6 Mb ribosomal repeat array, 

which is interrupted by an insertion of a LTR retrotransposon approximately 11 

kb from the telomere. Finally, sequence analysis of de novo telomeres that arose 

in culture have allowed us to explore mechanisms of telomere hypervariability, 

much of which appears to be promoted by the numerous transposable elements 

that frequent subtelomeric regions. These results suggest that localization of genes 

to chromosome ends may provide a source of genetic variation in this fungus, and 

thus contribute to pathogenic adaptation. contributed presentation 

Richardson, Bryce A. 1,2 *, McDonald, Geral I. 1 , Zambino, Paul J. 1 , Klopfenstein, 

Ned B. 1 and Kim, Mee-Sook 1 . 1 USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mtn. Research Station, 

Moscow ID, USA, 2 Washington State University, Department of Plant 

Pathology, Pullman WA, USA. brichardson02@fs.fed.us. First report of naturally 

occurring Cronartium ribicola infections on Scrophulariaceous hosts in 

North America. 

Cronartium infections were discovered on Pedicularis racemosa, P. 

bracteosa, Castilleja miniata, and Ca. rhexifolia in a mixed stand of whitebark 

and western white pine in northern Idaho. Most pines in this stand have white pine 

blister rust cankers caused by Cronartium ribicola. Cronartium coleosporioides 

(stalactiform rust) also occurs in the region. DNA sequencing of the rDNA internal 

transcribed spacer (ITS) was used to identify rust species from single telial 

columns. Based on 27 informative ITS sites that differentiate the two rust species, 

all five collections of P. racemosa infections were C. ribicola. For Ca. miniata, 

each rust species had infected a different single collection. One collection of Ca. 

rhexifola and two collections of P. bracteosa were infected by C. coleosporioides. 

Subsequent artificial inoculations using aeciospores from whitebark pine cankers 

produced uredinia and telia on potted Ca. miniata and P. racemosa, and on leaf 

cuttings of Ribes nigrum. Telia of Pedicularis-infecting isolates grown on R. nigrum 

generated infections on western white pine seedlings, confirming the isolates’ 

capacity to complete their lifecycle. Ongoing research aims to determine the 

distribution C. ribicola infections on Scrophulariaceous hosts, their role in the epidemiology 

of white pine blister rust, and genetic mechanisms involved in possible 

host switching. poster 

Riquelme, Meritxell* and Bartnicki-García, Salomón. Department of Microbiology, 

Center for Scientific Research of Ensenada (CICESE), Km. 107 Ctra. Tijuana-Ensenada, 

Baja California, México. e@cicese.mx. The role of the 

Spitzenkörper in hyphal growth and branching: the restless Spitzenkörper. 

Growing fungal hyphae exhibit at their apex a structure named the 

“Spitzenkörper” (Spk), whose composition and function has intrigued fungal biologists 

for decades. A dark phase structure by light microscopy, the Spk is a 

highly dynamic body composed of at least two parts: a conspicuous cluster of secretory 

vesicles and an inner core containing cytoskeletal components, ribosomes, 

and uncharacterized amorphous material. Our phase-contrast video-microscopy 

studies have confirmed qualitative and quantitatively earlier observations suggesting 

that the presence, position, and behavior of the Spk determine growth rate, 

growth direction, and morphology. Mutations and inhibitors affecting both the 

microtubular and the actin cytoskeleton destabilize the Spk with a major impact 

on hyphal growth and morphology. The hyphoid model for fungal morphogenesis 

attributes to the Spk the function of a vesicle supply center, and as such, the 

model can duplicate diverse hyphal morphogenetic processes. This model accounts 

for the fate of vesicles migrating from the Spk to the plasma membrane; it 

does not consider how vesicles arrive to the Spk. We are using molecular tools 

and high-resolution live imaging (fluorescence and phase contrast microscopy) to 

discern the actual paths of vesicle traffic from their synthesis sites to the plasma 

membrane in growing hyphae of Neurospora crassa. To fully understand Spk 

function we need to understand the mechanics and regulation of vesicle dynamics 

along the various steps in the secretory pathway: 1) vesicle formation at Golgilike 

cisternae, 2) incoming vesicle migration via microtubules, 3) vesicle collection 

by the Spk, 4) outgoing vesicle migration from the Spk to the plasma 

membrane via actin microfilaments, and 5) exocytosis. symposium presentation 

Rogers, Jack D. 1 * and Ju, Yu-Ming 2 . 1 Department of Plant Pathology, Washington 

State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA, 2 Institute of Botany, Academia 

Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan. rogers@wsu.edu. The Xylariaceae 

of the Hawaiian Islands. 

Collections of xylariaceous fungi have been made on the major Hawaiian 

Islands, except Lanai. The holdings of the Bishop Museum have been studied. 

Many habitats and substrates have been examined at least once. In terms of 

species numbers collected (not frequency of collection) the following genera are 

noteworthy: Hypoxylon with 36 species (8 new to science and 5 probably endemic); 

Xylaria with 45 species (6 new to science and 3 probably endemic); 

Biscogniauxia with 5 species (1 new to science and 1 probably endemic); Nemania 

with 5 species (1 new to science and 1 probably endemic); and Anthostomella 

with ca. 9 species (1 new to science and 1 probably endemic), in part according 

to Lu & Hyde. Other genera frequently collected include Daldinia and 


Kretzschmaria. Genus Ascovirgaria is new to science; its anamorph Virgaria 

nigra has a cosmopolitan distribution. Examples of problems being pursued include: 

does Pisonia sandwicensis, an endemic species, host the same leaf-inhabiting 

Xylaria pisoniae as the endemic Pisonia brunoniana (?); does Acacia koa 

host the same species as the introduced species, A. mearnsii (?). The origins of 

some of the xylariaceous fungi that have colonized the Islands will be discussed. 

A book dealing with the Xylariaceae of the Hawaiian Islands is contemplated. 


Rogers, Jack D. 1 and *Ju, Yu-Ming 2 . 1 Department of Plant Pathology, Washington 

State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6430, USA, 2 Institute of 

Botany, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan. yumingju@gate.sinica.edu.tw 

Xylaria species on termite nests. 

Xylaria arenicola, X. brasiliensis, X. escharoidea, X. furcata, X. nigripes, X. 

piperiformis, and X. rhizomorpha represent ancient names of fungi known to inhabit 

abandoned termite nests. We attempt to redescribe them and to reduce the 

confusion among them. Xylaria tanganyikaensis and X. readeri, species that 

might be associated with termite nests, are described. We describe a new variety, 

X. furcata var. hirsuta, and discuss an unnamed fungus that probably represents a 

new species. Photographs and a key are presented to facilitate the identification of 

these taxa. poster 

Romaine, C. Peter. Department of Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University, 

University Park, PA 16802, USA. cpr2@psu.edu. Pharming in Mushrooms. 

The advent of a facile gene transfer method for the preeminent edible mushroom, 

Agaricus bisporus, has created new vistas for the genetic enhancement of 

this important crop, and now enables the exploration of this species as a biofactory 

for the production of high-value biopharmaceuticals (antibodies, enzymes, vaccines, 

etc.). While social concerns overshadowing the safety of genetically modified 

organisms are certain to impede the introduction of transgenic mushrooms 

grown for food, the use of transgenic strains in manufacturing biopharmaceuticals 

will likely find immediate public acceptance, for the end product (i.e., cheaper and 

safer drugs) would improve the quality of human life. Relative to other crops, the 

mushroom represents an intriguingly unique platform for the production of biopharmaceuticals, 

as an extraordinarily high biomass can be produced in a comparatively 

short time under high confinement and containment. Moreover, unlike 

therapeutic proteins derived from animal-based systems nowadays, mushroommade 

protein drugs would not carry the risk of contamination by human 

pathogens, such as viruses and prions. symposium presentation 

Romberg, Megan K.* and Davis, R. Michael. Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC 

Davis, Davis CA 95616, USA. mkromberg@ucdavis.edu. Characterization of 

Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii on potato and tomato in California. 

The causal agent of a wilt and stem-end rot recently seen in fields of seed 

potatoes in California was subsequently identified as Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii. 

Four conserved DNA sequences (the ribosomal DNA intergenic transcribed 

spacer region, and the elongation factor 1-alpha, beta tubulin and alkaline 

phosphatase genes) of six isolates of this F. solani were compared to five isolates 

of F. solani from tomato fields with Foot Rot and found to be identical. Lycopersicon 

has apparently not previously been reported as a host for F. solani f. sp. eumartii. 

Comparison of the DNA sequences to other Fusarium spp. segregate this 

group of isolates into a separate monophyletic group. However, nit mutant pairings 

revealed that most of the tomato and potato isolates comprise separate 

VCG’s, although one potato isolate paired with most of the tomato isolates. Cross 

inoculation experiments were used to determine the infectivity of isolates from 

different hosts on various solanaceous species. poster 

Romberg, Megan K.* and Davis, R. Michael. Dept. of Plant Pathology, University 

of California, Davis, Davis CA 95616, USA. mkromberg@ucdavis.edu. 

Characterization of California isolates of Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii. 

The causal agent of a wilt and stem-end rot recently seen in fields of seed 

potatoes in California was subsequently identified as Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii. 

Four conserved sequences (the ribosomal DNA intergenic transcribed 

spacer region, and the elongation factor 1-alpha, beta-tubulin, and phosphate permase 

genes) of six isolates of this Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii were compared 

to five isolates of F. solani from tomato fields with Foot Rot and found to be identical. 

Lycopersicon sp. has apparently not previously been reported as a host for 

F. solani f. sp. eumartii. Comparison of the gene sequences to other Fusarium 

solani isolates segregate this group of isolates into a separate monophyletic group. 

However, pairings of nitrate-non utilizing mutants revealed that most of the tomato 

and potato isolates fall into separate VCG’s, although one potato isolate paired 

with most of the tomato isolates. Cross inoculation experiments were used to determine 

the infectivity of isolates from different hosts on various solanaceous 

species. poster 


Sakai, Shunsuke 1a , Nishide, Tatsunori 1b , Munir, Erman 2 , Baba, Kei’ichi 1 , Inui, Hiroshi 

3 , Nakano, Yoshihisa 3 , Hattori, Takefumi 1 * and Mikio Shimada 1c . 1 Research 

Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, 

Japan, 2 University of North Sumatra, Jl. Bioteknologi No. 1 Kampus USU, 

Medan 20513, Indonesia., 3 Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, University 

of Osaka Prefecture, Sakai, Osaka 599-8231, Japan. Present address: a Department 

of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 

Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, b Nisshin Foods Inc., Tokyo, Japan, c Environmental and 

Biotechnological Frontier Engineering, Fukui University of Technology. Possible 

mechanism for oxalate biosynthesis involved in energy metabolism in woodrotting 

basidiomycete Fomitopsis palustris. 

Oxalate biosynthesis in wood-destroying fungi, including Fomitopsis 

palustris, has been receiving much attention, because the acid is closely associated 

with wood decay processes and inactivation of copper-containing wood preservatives. 

Wood-rotting basidiomycete F. palustris acquires biochemical energy for 

growth by oxalate biosynthesis during glucose oxidation. Our biochemical study 

has proposed that oxalate biosynthesis is metabolically linked to both the shortcut 

TCA cycle and glyoxylate (GLOX) cycle. Isocitrate-lyase (ICL), together 

with malate synthase (MS) play a pivotal role in the metabolic system for the fungal 

vegetative growth. The purpose of this study is to elucidate subcellular localization 

of glyoxylate cycle enzymes of F. palustris. We have cloned full-length 

cDNA encoding ICL from the fungus. Peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS 1) 

found at its C-terminus suggests the localization of ICL in peroxisome. By immunoelectron 

microscopy with anti-F. palustris ICL antibody, ICL has been 

shown to be localized in peroxisome. Furthermore, subcellular fractionation of 

mycelial homogenate of F. palustris has shown peroxisomal localization of ICL 

and MS. However, oxaloacetase, one of the oxalate-producing enzymes, is cytosolic. 

The results strongly suggest that short-cut TCA cycle and GLOX cycle 

are localized in different organelles but cooperatively play a role in oxalate 

biosynthesis in F. palustris. poster 

Sakuma, Daisuke. Osaka Museum of Natural History, Nagai-Park 1-23, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, 

Osaka 546-0034, Japan. sakuma@mus-nh.city.osaka.jp. 

Gathering information for local myco-biota: current status of OSA mycological 

collection. 

OSA is the one of a local harbarium which has 3 curatorial staffs and 50yrs 

history, about 250,000 specimens for higher plants, and 50,000 for mosses. But 

for mycological collections, less than 1000 specimens are stored until 1990. Now 

we have improved the mycological collection for specimen number (about 6000) 

and also for quality of information. These are chiefly due to following 3 reasons. 

1) Co-operations of local amateurs, such as Kansai Mycological Club. 2) Curatorial 

staff for mycology 3)”Digital Museum Project of Osaka City”. These collections 

and informations would have importance for local biodiversity policies. But 

in reality, it is not a kind of well-balanced information and contains some problems. 

1) Very poor for microfungi and Ascomycetes: due to limitation of curator’s 

ability and lack of amateurs. 2) Limited accuracy of some taxonomic group, such 

as Cortinariaceae, Polyporeceae. 3) Geographically limited information: amateurs 

are very active in some place but not for others. 4) Very limited old specimens: 

difficult to back date in early times. To overcome such limitations, some of the 

amateur reports can be utilized. These should be carefully assessed when in use, 

but it is informative though they can not be approved. We also compile such kinds 

of information. poster 

Sasaki, Fumito*, Miyamoto, Toshizumi, Tamai, Yutaka and Yajima, Takashi. Laboratory 

of Forest Resource Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido 

University, N9-W9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan. whomeet@for.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. 

A Cordyceps parasitizing Scarabaeidae larvae. 

We collected Cordyceps scarabaeicola-like fungus in Hokkaido, which 

parasitized Scarabaeidae insects and had clavate yellowish stroma. However, they 

differed from Cordyceps scarabaeicola in morphologic generation of hosts, parasitized 

larvae rather than adults. The average length and width of ascostromata, 

perithecia, asci, and partspores were 28.8 mm long, 3.4 mm wide, 455.3 µm, 

231.8 µm, 324.0 µm, 3.1 µm, 6.9 µm, 1.2 µm, respectively. Perithecia were semi 

immerse. Fungal strains were isolated from the ascostromata and partspores. The 

isolates formed conidia on the Sabouraud glucose medium. Conidium arrangement 

was sympodial and the conidia form was oval. Conidia were produced on 

elongations of flask shaped conidiogenous cells; accordingly anamorph of the isolates 

was considered a Beauveria sp. This Cordyceps fungus was compared with 

other Cordyceps spp. that have Scarabaeidae hosts and clavate stroma. Cordyceps 

scarabaeicola has shorter perithecia, asci, and partspores than the fungus, and 

conidium arrangement is different. Cordyceps ravenelii has wider, superficial 

perithecia, longer partspores, and a different conidium arrangement (phialidic). 

Cordyceps coccidiocapitata has long, immersed perithecia. While C. bassiana 

and C. staphylinidaecola, they have a Beauveria anamorphic state, they differ 

from our fungus in having longer and immersed perithecia. We assume the fungus 

is Cordyceps brongniartii. poster 

Sato, Hiroki. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 

Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-0862, Japan. hirokis@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Ecology 

of Cordyceps militaris. 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

In northeast Japan, fruiting abundance of C. militaris tracks population cycles 

of the moth Syntypistis punctatella. Moth population outbreaks occur every 

8-11 years, and cause severe defoliation of Fagus sp. Moth eggs hatch in June and 

caterpillars feed on leaves through the summer. Caterpillars pupate in August and 

overwinter in forest litter. In outbreak years, moth densities reach 100-150 caterpillars/m2 

in the canopy and 40-50 pupae/m2 in the A0 soil horizon. In the year 

after outbreaks, C. militaris infects over 90% of pupae and maximum infection 

rates occur in mid-August. I describe the phenology of C. militaris fruiting and the 

incidence of natural infections of pupae in the soil during 1992-1997, which includes 

the outbreak year 1993. Infection processes in the soil and above ground 

were also investigated. When lab-reared pupae were buried in forest litter, fungal 

infections occurred within 7-10 days. These individuals subsequently died within 

40 days. To determine the potential for aerial infection, egg-masses on beech foliage 

were held in net enclosures and placed 2 m above the forest floor until they 

grew up to the last stadium laravae. They were then returned to the laboratory, incubated, 

and subsequently the less than 10% died from C. militaris infection. The 

role of C. militaris conidia and ascospores in the infection cycle of S. punctatella 

is discussed. symposium presentation 

Schardl, Christopher*, Blankenship, Jimmy D., Spiering, Martin J., Faulkner, 

Jerome R., Hussaini, Syed Raziullah and Grossman, Robert B. University of Kentucky, 

201F PSB, 1405 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40546-0312. 

schardl@uky.edu. Biosynthesis of loline alkaloids by bioprotective endophytes. 

Loline alkaloids, produced by several symbiotic Neotyphodium and 

Epichloë species, are potent, broad- spectrum insecticides, thus contributing to 

protection of host grasses. Lolines comprise a saturated pyrrolizidine ring structure 

with an amine at C1 and an oxygen bridge between C2 and C7. Lolines differ 

from each other in the presence or absence of methyl, formyl, acetyl, or other 

groups on the 1-amine. Precursors for the most common loline, N-formylloline, 

were identified. L-Proline (Pro) and L-homoserine (Hse), contribute the C and N 

atoms of the ring system, Hse also contributes the 1-amine, and the methyl and 

formyl carbons derive from C6 of L-methionine. A cluster of at least nine lol 

genes is involved in loline biosynthesis, and the predicted gene products include 

three (LolC, LolD and LolT) that use a pyridoxal phosphate cofactor, P450 (LolP) 

and FAD (LolF) monooxygenases, and two nonheme iron oxygenases (LolE and 

LolO). Functions of LolA and LolU are less apparent. LolA is related to the allosteric 

domain, but not the active site, of fungal aspartyl kinase. LolU has a putative 

Myb signature suggesting that it may be a transcription regulator. An RNAi 

experiment demonstrated that LolC is involved in loline biosynthesis. Based on 

gene relationships and results from feeding positionally labeled precursors, a plausible 

route to the loline ring system is proposed. The first step, which may be catalyzed 

by LolC, is a gamma-substitution linking Pro to the 2-aminobutyric acid 

moiety of Hse. A survey of the lol genes and loline alkaloid profiles associated 

with several endophyte species suggested that LolP is involved in modifications 

of the 1-amine. A targeted knockout of the gene for LolP demonstrated its role in 

converting N- methylloline to N-formylloline. The current working hypothesis is 

that the nine known lol genes are sufficient for loline alkaloid biosynthesis. poster 

Schmidt, Steve K.*, Schadt, Christopher W., Martin, Andrew P., Meyer, Allen F., 

Nemergut, Diana R. and Costello, Elizabeth K. Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary 

Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. 

steve.schmidt@colorado.edu. Seasonal dynamics and phylogenetic analysis of 

previously unknown fungal lineages in tundra soils. 

We will review our work exploring the seasonal dynamics and biogeography 

of previously unknown fungal lineages in tundra and forests in Colorado, 

Costa Rica and Peru. Phylogenetic of SSU and LSU rRNA clone libraries revealed 

a high diversity of novel fungi that constitute major new groups that are divergent 

at the subphylum and class levels in these soils. Even more surprisingly, 

our analyses show that unique fungal communities thrive under winter snow 

packs in Colorado. Fungal biomass actually reaches its annual peak under the late 

winter snow pack. An abundance of previously unknown, cold-tolerant, fungi beneath 

the snow substantially broadens our understanding of both the diversity and 

biogeochemical functioning of microorganisms in cold environments. symposium 

presentation. 

Schoch, Conrad L.*, Spatafora, Joseph W. and the AFTOL consortium. Dept. 


USA. schochc@science.oregonstate.edu. Deep relationships in the non-lichenized 

Ascomycota. 

Previous research on supra-ordinal fungal phylogenies has relied heavily on 

the analysis of sequence data obtained from the nuclear ribosomal genes. Although 

a number of more focused studies used mitochondrial and protein coding 

genes, very few phylogenies have yet utilized a combination of all of these loci. 

The aim of this study is to improve the backbone phylogeny of the Ascomycota 

by intensive taxon sampling and inclusion of sequence data from multiple ribosomal 

and protein-coding loci. This research is a part of a collaborative effort involving 

five AFTOL research labs and numerous international collaborators. Se- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

quences were generated from three ribosomal loci (large nuclear subunit, small 

nuclear subunit, small mitochondrial subunit) and three protein-coding genes 

(RNA polymerase II largest and second largest subunits, translation elongation 

factor-1 alpha). Taxon sampling included representatives for all major Ascomycota 

classes with an emphasis on the filamentous fungi of the Pezizomycotina and 

non-lichenized lineages. Several comparative analyses utilizing parsimony and 

Bayesian methodologies were performed. The final data set includes more than 

5000 molecular characters and more than 150 taxa. A total of 10 higher nodes, 

corresponding to classes, were recovered with strong support as measured by concurrent 

parsimony bootstrapping and Bayesian posterior probabilities. The inclusion 

of data from all genes in simultaneous analyses improved both the resolution 

of the phylogenies and overall nodal support as compared to analyses of individual 

loci. This study provides strong support for the majority of the Ascomycota 

classes as currently defined by Eriksson, but certain groups were not recovered as 

monophyletic (e.g. Leotiomycetes). The combination of protein and ribosomal 

data in simultaneous analyses provided increased resolution of class level clades, 

advancing the resolution of deep nodes in the Ascomycota phylogeny. As such, 

these results provide a more accurate phylogenetic foundation for comparative 

studies of the Ascomycota ranging from ecology to genomics. contributed presentation 

Schoch, Conrad L.*, Spatafora, Joseph W. and the AFTOL consortium. Dept. 


USA. schochc@science.oregonstate.edu. Deep relationships in the non-lichenized 

Ascomycota - the poster 

See the Oral Presentation Abstract. poster 

Scholler, Markus 1 * and Boellmann, Joerg 2 . 1 Staatliches Museum f. Naturkunde, 

Erbprinzenstr. 13, D-76133 Karlsruhe, Germany, 2 Brandenburgische Technische 

Universität, Lehrstuhl für Bodenschutz und Rekultivierung, P. O Box 101344, D- 

03013 Cottbus, Germany. scholler@naturkundeka-bw.de. Puccinia glechomatis 

and P. lagenophorae in North America: invasion patterns, life cycle and life 

strategies. 

Puccinia glechomatis and P. lagenophorae are taxonomically distinct autoecious 

rust species native to Eurasia and Australia which were recently introduced 

to the United States. Although their life cycle (microcyclic versus autodemicyclic) 

and host range differ (monophageous on Glechoma hederacea s. l., 

Lamiaceae versus polyphagous on numerous Asteraceae) there are common characters 

with respect to their invasion pattern in North America. Both species have 

spread throughout the U.S. (not restricted to a certain geographical or climatical 

area), both species appeared first on the East Coast and the West Coast before establishing 

in Central U.S. and both species seem not to progress continuously but 

patchy. In order to explain these invasion patterns detailed lab, field and literature 

studies on the life cycle and life strategies of P. glechomatis and its host were carried 

out and compared with those of P. lagenophorae. Results indicate that the invasive 

capacity of rust fungi is supported by several factors, three of which are the 

production of several generations per year, a predominance of an asexual mode of 

reproduction, and ruderal host plants occurring in man-made habitats. symposium 

presentation 

Seifert, Keith A.*, Hughes, Stanley J., Boulay, Hillary and Louis-Seize, Gerry. 

Biodiversity Theme (Mycology & Botany), Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 

960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada. seifertk@agr.gc.ca. What 

should we call the jet fuel fungus? 

The jet fuel fungus, Hormoconis resinae (also widely known as Cladosporium 

resinae), grows in fuel contaminated with small amounts of water, and its 

growth can clog fuel lines and corrode metal parts. Consequently, fuel tanks in airports 

and on jets are carefully monitored for this fungus. Around the world, several 

private companies make their fortunes detecting and identifying this fungus 

using a variety of technologies. Unfortunately, when the anamorph genus Hormoconis 

was proposed (1973), an error was perpetuated that originated when the 

teleomorph Amorphotheca resinae was described (1969). Various nomenclatural 

options for stabilizing the name of the jet-fuel fungus will be discussed. Using 

morphological, cultural and molecular data, we will consider the taxonomy and 

phylogenetic relationships of several cladosporium-like fungi, including A. 

resinae, and the synnematous fungi Sorocybe resinae and Pycnostysanus azalea. 

The precise phylogenetic relationships of A. resinae, which sits alone in its own 

family Amorphothecaceae, are difficult to determine with certainty with existing 

data. contributed presentation 

Setoguchi, Masanobu*, Yamada, Akiyoshi and Kuga, Yukari. Faculty of Agriculture, 

Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Nagano 399-4598, Japan. 

akiyosh@gipmc.shinshu-u.ac.jp. Fungal colonization occurs at the seed germination 

of achlorophylous monotropoid plants, Monotropa hypopithys and 

Monotropastrum humile. 

Monotropaceae consists of achlorophylous plants that develop monotropoid 

mycorrhizas in the root system of adult individuals. However, little is known 

about their fungal association at the seed germination and the early developmental 

stage. We buried seeds of Monotropa hypopithys and Monotropastrum humile 

in Pinus densiflora forests, where both the monotropoid plants are naturally dis- 


tributed. Three to five months after the sowing, seed germination was observed, 

which was determined by the increase of seed size and the budding of root-like 

organ that possess vascular structure in the central. In addition, fungi epigeously 

colonized to most of such seeds, which often developed the fungal sheath as well 

as that of monotropoid mycorhizas. In M. humile, cystidia were observed on the 

fungal sheath, and fungal penetration pegs were also observed in the epigeous cell 

of seed. In M. hypopithys, clamp connections were often observed on the hyphae 

of colonized mycelium. poster 

Shefferson, Richard P. 1 * and Taylor, D. Lee 2 . 1 Forestry and Forest Products Research 

Institute, Tsukuba, Japan, 2 Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska 

Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. dormancy@gmail.com. Lady-slipper orchid 

mycorrhizal associations reveal specificity suggestive of resource 

fragmentation and resource tracking. 

Generalism in biotic interactions, measured at one level of study, often 

masks specialization at finer scales. Here, we examine mycorrhizal specificity of 

temperate terrestrial lady∞fs slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.) in northern California, 

USA, to assess if high mycorrhizal specificity at the fungal family level 

masks low specificity to fungi within the Tulasnellaceae, the primary family of 

Cypripedium-mycorrhizal fungi. First, we hypothesized that if Cypripedium 

species are highly specialized to fungi within family Tulasnellaceae, then sympatric 

Cypripedium populations will associate with divergent tulasnelloid symbionts, 

while allopatric populations may not. Second, we hypothesized that within-Tulasnellaceae 

specificity may correspond to host abundance, leading to 

greater specialization in areas with lower diversity of potential host fungal families. 

We observed no evidence of ecological divergence in mycorrhizal association 

in sympatric populations. However, we observed evidence that within-Tulasnellaceae 

specificity varied inversely with among-family specificity. We suggest 

that in areas where potential host families are less abundant, Cypripedium species 

must compensate for a lower chance of mycorrhizal colonization by widening the 

breadth of association with fungi within remaining host families. Cypripedium 

species appear to be resource-trackers, specializing on resources provided by a 

range of host fungi. This implies that Cypripedium rarity may indeed be due to 

mycorrhizal specialization. poster 

Shi, Ainong and Mmbaga, Margaret T. Tennessee State University, Nursery Crop 

Research Center, 472 Cadillac Lane, McMinnville, TN 37110, USA. mmmbaga@tnstate.edu. 

Molecular identification of the powdery mildew pathogen of 

crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) using internal transcribed spacers or 

rDNA. The fungus, Erysiphe lagerstroemiae, has been reported to be the causal 

agent of powdery mildew in crape myrtle in the United States since 1933. However, 

in 1979, the powdery mildew pathogen of crape myrtle in China, Japan and 

Australia was reported to be caused by Uncinuliella australiana. Certain features 

of the teliomorph of powdery mildew pathogens are used for identification. However, 

these structures are rarely observed on crape myrtle in Tennessee (USA). In 

this study, DNA analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA 

was used for the identification of the powdery mildew pathogen in crape myrtle. 

Polymorphic band of 666 bp amplified using primer pair ITS1/ITS4 and a band 

of 704 bp amplified using primer pair ITS1-F/ITS4 were obtained and sequenced. 

The sequence of the ITS region of 16 Tennessee isolates was identical to the sequence 

reported for U. australiana clearly showing that the Tennessee isolates 

were the same as those reported in Asia. For this work, ITS-specific primers were 

developed to provide pathogen diagnosis tool using the anamorphic stage which 

is prominent during spring and autumn. Four primer pairs and four double primer 

pairs were highly specific to the crape myrtle powdery mildew and did not amplify 

E. pulchra found on dogwoods or Microsphaera syringae-japonicae on the 

common lilac. Recently, the genus Uncinuliella has been changed to Uncinula 

and presently to Erysiphe. This study provides conclusive evidence that that E. 

lagerstroemiae and U. australiana are the same. Because of international nomenclature 

rules, the name E. lagerstroemiae take priority over U. australiana. Thus, 

E. lagerstroemiae (syn. U. australiana) reported in the USA is the causal agent of 

powdery mildew pathogen in crape myrtle in mid-Tennessee and in China, Japan 

and Australia. poster 

Shirasaka, Norifumi. Laboratory of Food Microbiological Science and Biotechnology, 

Faculty of Agriculture, Kin-ki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara 

631-8505, Japan. sirasaka@nara.kindai.ac.jp. Effect of cyanocobalamin and ptoluic 

acid on the fatty acid composition of Schizochytrium limacinum SR21. 

DHA (22:6n-3), which is one of most abundant components of the brain’s 

structural lipids, has attracted great interest recently owing to its specific function 

in the brain and retina. It was reported that Schizochytrium limacinum SR21 was 

potent producer of DHA and the suitable conditions for DHA production was reported. 

Although the conditions of production of DHA were well investigated, 

the metabolic specificities of PUFAs are still unclear. In this study, we searched 

the compounds which affected fatty acid composition of Schizocytrium limacinum 

SR21. The structural analysis of newly detected fatty acids in the case of inhibitor 

addition was described putative biosynthetic pathway of fatty acid in this 


strain was also discussed. The addition of p-toluic resulted in the decrease of DPA 

(22:5n-6) content and the increase of EPA (20:5n-3) content in a dose-dependent 

manner, and the occurrence of two additional peaks of fatty acids, which were 

4,7,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4n-7) and 4,7,10,14-docosatetraenoic acid 

(22:4n-9). The supplement of cyanocobalamin, whish is active component of vitamin 

B12, decreased the content of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and heptadecanoic 

acid (C17:0). These results suggested that cyanocobalamin may upregulate 

the propionic acid metabolism by cobalamin dependent methylmalonyl-CoA 

mutase. poster 

Shishido, Kazuo. Dept. of Life Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama 

226-8501, Japan. kshishid@bio.titech.ac.jp. Reuse of waste plant biomass 

and degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds by using molecular-genetically 

improved basidiomycete fungal strains. 

Plant biomass (lignocellulose) is the most abundant renewable organic resource 

on earth and mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose (its major component 

is xylan), and lignin. To isolate ethanol-convertible cellulose from waste 

plant biomass, we molecular-genetically produced the Coprinus cinereus strains 

secreting a large amount of Pleurotus ostreatus lignin-degrading enzyme, manganese 

peroxidase (MnP) or Bacillus subtilis endo-xylanase. By using these 

strains, we succeeded in the isolation of approx. 30% of total cellulose from rice 

straw (a popular waste plant biomass) as non-precipitable forms. Lignin peroxidase 

(LiP) produced/secreted by white-rot basidiomycete fungi is known to degrade 

chlorinated dioxins. Rat cytochrome P450, CYP1A1 plays an important 

role in metabolism of chlorinated dioxins. So we molecular-genetically produced 

the Coriolus hirsutus strains producing a large amount of homologous (C. hirsutus) 

LiP or rat CYP1A1. The 2,7/2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins were efficiently 

degraded by extracellular manner in the former strain and by intracellular manner 

in the latter strain. symposium presentation 

Simpson, Nicholas B.*, Barbare, Holly, Walker, John F. and Jumpponnen, Ari. 

Kansas State University, Division of Biology Fungal Ecology Research Group, 

214 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA. Fungi@ksu.edu. Homologous 

morphologies of ericoid mycorrhizas formed by six different fungal species 

suggests host control of mycorrhizal colonization. 

The morphology of ericoid mycorrhizas (ErM) show a high degree of uniformity 

across host species and fungal species. However, most ErM resynthesis 

systems rely upon fungal isolates from either the Helotiales or the Onygenales, i.e. 

the Hymenoscyphus ericae complex or Oidiodendron spp., respectively. Recent 

molecular studies suggest a high diversity among ErM-forming fungi. Due to limited 

culturability, much of this suggested diversity remains persistently unobservable 

in laboratory experiments. We isolated 550 fungal cultures from the roots of 

five arctic ericaceous plant species using four different media to maximize our 

ability to capture cultivable diversity of ErM fungi. Of the 550 cultures, six conspecific 

groups account for over 60% of the diversity. Of the six different groups, 

five belong to the Helotiales, but none matched with the Hymenoscyphus ericae 

complex. The remaining group belongs within the basidiomycetous Polyporales. 

Of notable absence were any fungi from within the Onygenales. All six species 

form intracellular coils typical to ErM in resynthesis systems with Vaccinium 

uligonosum. This evidence underscores the importance of host type when determining 

mycorrhizal structure. poster 

Skinner, Samuel J.* and Currah, Randolph S. University of Alberta, CW 405 Biological 

Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, 

Canada. samuels@ualberta.ca. Metabolic and taxonomic data show differences 

between the fungal communities associated with different organs of 

nodulated and non-nodulated roots of woody host plants. 

Roots of the nitrogen-fixing plant, Alnus incana, and a comparable, related, and 

cohabitating non nitrogen-fixing plant Betula papyrifera were collected from several 

sites in central Alberta, Canada. Standardized homogenates prepared from 

surface-sterilized root-tips and nodules from these samples were streaked on selective 

media to obtain culturable fungal associates and pipetted into Biolog microtitre 

plates to obtain a crude estimation of substrate utilization profiles of the 

associated fungal communities. Preliminary analyses show that while the profiles 

of all sample types overlap, the diversity of these profiles is greater for the roots 

of either species than for the nodules. Preliminary community composition data 

support these findings: fungal communities associated with nodules showed less 

interpopulation variability and were more distinct taxonomically than those associated 

with the roots of either plant species. Such a narrow suite of fungi may be 

indicative of unusual physiological conditions in and around nodules. These preliminary 

observations also suggest a link between fungal community ecology and 

plant functional ecology. poster. 

Skinner, Samuel J.*, Currah, Randolph S. and Tsuneda, Aki. CW 405 Biological 

Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada. 

samuels@ualberta.ca. Ascomatal morphogenesis in Auxarthron conjugatum 

(Onygenaceae). 

We used a combination of light and electron microscopy to examine stages 

of ascoma development in Auxarthron conjugatum, from homothallic initials to 

mature reticuloperidial cleistothecia. In contrast to a superficially similar reticu- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

loperidial species in the Myxotrichaceae (cleistothecial Helotiales), prototunicate 

asci developed in short, branched chains which ramified through the peridial cavity 

rather than forming singly and on a distinct hymenial membrane. Catenate asci 

matured basipetally rather than synchronously and arose from single unbranched 

crosiers. Results of a cytological examination of catenate asci suggested that following 

karyogamy in the penultimate cell, the zygote nucleus divides mitotically. 

One of the resulting nuclei remains in this ascus initial and undergoes meiotic and 

mitotic divisions prior to ascosporogenesis while the other moves forward into the 

distal cell of the developing ascus chain. When immature, these incipient asci, 

each with an apparently diploid nucleus, were able to detach by septum schizolysis, 

i.e., as spores, and gave rise to colonies that produced ascocarps lacking reticuloperidia. 

The significance of these teliospore-like asci in the life cycle of this 

species is unknown. Development of the characteristic punctate-reticulate ascospores 

involved structural modifications of a three-layered secondary spore 

wall. poster 

Slot, Jason* and Hibbett, David S. Department of Biology, Clark University, 950 

Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA. jslot@clarku.edu. Molecular evolution 

of nrt2, a nitrate transporter gene, with an emphasis on Hebeloma phylogeny. 

The ectomycorrhizal genus Hebeloma obtains nitrate from the soil through 

a transporter, NRT2, which is encoded in a cluster of nitrate assimilation genes. 

This study investigates the molecular phylogeny of the nrt2 gene within Hebeloma 

and closely related genera. Approximately 20 new ITS and nrt2 sequences 

generated in the Hibbett lab at Clark University are presented here. Preliminary 

investigations suggest that nrt2 could improve phylogenetic resolution in Hebeloma, 

a notoriously problematic clade of Euagarics. Structural and functional 

changes in this protein could serve as molecular markers for the transitions some 

Hebeloma have made to environments of extreme nitrogen status. ITS phylogenies 

suggest that Hebeloma is nested in a greater clade largely made up of saprotrophic 

species. Comparisons of nrt2 phylogeny among closely related saprotrophic 

genera could provide insight into the role of nitrogen nutrition in the 

transition to ectomycorrhizal habit. The impact of nitrogen pollution on fungal diversity 

is also considered. poster 

Smith, Jane E. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, 

OR 97331, USA. jsmith01@fs.fed.us. Effects of thinning and prescribed 

fire on fine root biomass and the ectomycorrhizal fungal community in ponderosa 

pine forests. 

Decades of fire suppression have resulted in high fuel levels in dry forests 

in eastern Oregon. To alleviate the risk of stand replacing wildfire, forest managers 

are applying prescribed underburning and thinning treatments. Little knowledge 

exists about the impacts of these restoration treatments on the belowground 

ecosystem. Aboveground ecosystem recovery after disturbance is directly linked 

to the survival of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) that reside mostly in the surface 

layers of soil. The response of EMF species richness, live fine root biomass, and 

duff levels to seasonal burning and to thinning and burning was investigated in 

ponderosa pine dominated stands in the Blue Mountains of Oregon. The belowground 

community composition and structure of EMF was characterized using 

molecular methods. Treatments significantly reducing duff depth negatively impacted 

EMF species richness and live fine root biomass. The EMF community 

consisted of a large number of infrequently detected species. The distribution of a 

few abundant species in a majority of the treatments both before and after treatment 

application demonstrates that some EMF species survive or rapidly reestablish 

after disturbance. Understanding how EMF respond to prescribed fire and 

thinning will assist forest managers in selecting fuel-reducing restoration treatments 

that maintain critical soil processes. contributed presentation 

Smith, Matthew E.*, Douhan, Greg W. and Rizzo, David M. Department of Plant 

Pathology, University of California at Davis, Davis CA 95616, USA. mesmith@ucdavis.edu. 

Dismantling the disconnect between EM fruiting bodies 

and root tips – hypogeous, resupinate, and inconspicuous taxa are dominant 

and diverse on EM roots and as fruiting bodies in a xeric oak woodland. 

Many studies of EM communities report a pervasive disconnect between 

EM fungi found colonizing root tips and those encountered as fruiting bodies. 

However, few studies intensively sample both roots and fruiting bodies simultaneously. 

In particular, taxa that produce inconspicuous fruiting bodies (ie: hypogeous, 

resupinate, and diminutive groups) are rarely included in fruiting body surveys. 

We intensively sampled both EM roots (4 sampling times X 2 years, 9600 

root tips) and fruiting bodies (approximately 45 sampling visits in 4 years) in a 

xeric, Quercus-dominated woodland in California. The main lineages encountered 

on EM roots were Tomentella spp., Tuber spp., Inocybe spp., Cenoccocum 

spp., and representatives from several lineages within the Pezizales and Sebacinales. 

Russulaceae and Corticioid fungi were notably uncommon. Most of the 

dominant taxa encountered on EM roots produced fruiting bodies at the site; but 

these were mainly small, inconspicuous, and/or seasonally restricted. While some 

roots remain unmatched to fruiting bodies, we argue that reproductive structures 

of these taxa are cryptic rather than absent from this forest. The available data sug- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

gests that the purported disconnect between EM roots and fruiting bodies is heavily 

influenced by sampling bias in favor of macroscopic, epigeous taxa, rather than 

the absence of reproductive structures in other EM fungal groups. contributed 

presentation 

Sogonov, Mikhail V. Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, 

New Brunswick NJ 08901, USA. msogonov@nt.ars-grin.gov. Software for 

morphological and molecular taxonomic studies of fungi. 

Despite the significant progress achieved in software for taxonomic research, 

biologists often need specific tools that have not been developed by professional 

programmers because of the limited number of potential users. In this 

case, biologists can create the software themselves using simpler tools, such as 

Microsoft Access databases. Microphotographs are the main source of documentation 

in taxonomic studies of microfungi. Furthermore, morphotaxonomists need 

to make numerous measurements of different structures such as ascospores, conidia, 

phialids etc. Microsoft Access does not directly provide tools to link images 

to database records or to automate measurements. There are special image database 

programs but they lack the convenience and flexibility of Access for specimen 

data management. I developed an Access database for storage and manipulation 

of information on the taxonomy of Ascomycetes specimens and the 

cultures. Using VBA, I developed a program that integrates image management 

with other specimen information. This program allows 1) browsing image files 

from an Access form, 2) measuring morphological structures with automatic 

placement of the measurements into the database. Additionally, the program provides 

statistical analysis of these measurements, management of information for 

DNA extractions, PCR and sequencing sets. poster 

Sogonov, Mikhail V. 1 *, Castlebury, Lisa A. 2 , Rossman, Amy Y. 2 and White, 

James F. Jr. 1 1 Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, New 

Brunswick NJ 08901, USA, 2 Sysytematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, 

Beltsville MD 20705, USA. msogonov@nt.ars-grin.gov. Towards monophyletic 

genera in Gnomoniaceae. 

Gnomoniaceae is a diaporthaceous family, which includes agents of serious 

plant diseases such as dogwood, oak and sycamore anthracnoses. Existing generic 

concepts for the family are based on morphological characters such as presence 

or absence of stroma, position of the perithecial beak, septation of ascospores. 

After analyzing LSU and ITS sequence data for approximately 100 isolates of 

gnomoniaceous species, it is apparent that the largest and most common genera 

in the family, Gnomonia, Apiognomonia and Cryptodiaporthe are polyphyletic. 

The relationship of the type species of the family, Gnomonia gnomon, to other 

presumed species of Gnomonia is clarified. The type species of the anamorphic 

genus Discula has been linked to a species complex including Apiognomonia 

errabunda and the type of species, A. veneta. However Discula is also apparently 

polyphyletic and the relationship of the A. veneta/A. errabunda complex to 

other species of Discula is characterized. Most phylogenetic lineages in the Gnomoniaceae 

have some preferences for host families but no strict fungus/host relationships 

were observed. The results of this work demonstrate that new character 

systems are required for delineating genera in this biologically diverse and economically 

important group of fungi. symposium presentation 

Sotome, Kozue 1 *, Ota, Yuko 2 , Hattori, Tsutomu 2 and Kakishima, Makoto 1 . 

1 Graduate Shool of Life & Enviromental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 

Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan, 2 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 

Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan. zag41183@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Phylogeny of 

Asiatic species of Polyporus sensu lato. 

The genus Polyporus contains morphologically various species, and is often 

divided into six infrageneric groups based on morphology: Polyporus, Polyporellus, 

Favolus, Melanopus, Admirabilils, and Dendropolyporus. To reveal the phylogenetic 

relationships within the genus Polyporus and between Polyporus and 

the allied genera, we performed the phylogenetic analysis using Asian isolates 

based on nuclear ribosomal large subunit DNA (LSU) and ATPase subunit 6 

(atp6) regions. The phylogenetic trees based on LSU and atp6 showed that the 

species of the group Polyporellus were included in a single clade, while the 

groups Favolus and Melanopus were divided into two and three clades, respectively. 

Four out of the seven clades detected by the LSU trees contained species 

belonging to single morphological groups. This suggests that some of the morphological 

groups reflect phylogenetic relationship. On the other hand, one clade 

consisted of the group Polyporellus and Lentinus squarrosulus while another a 

part of the group Polyporus and Pseudofavolus cucullatus suggesting that the 

genus Polyporus is not monophyletic. contributed presentation 

Spatafora, Joseph W. and Sung, Gi-Ho. Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, 

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. spatafoj@science.oregonstate.edu. 

Phylogenetics of Clavicipitalean fungi. 

Clavicipitalean fungi comprise a diverse assemblage of obligate symbionts 

of animals, plants, and other fungi. They exhibit a range of interactions from antagonistic 

to beneficial with the majority of species being pathogens of arthropods 

and classified in the genera Cordyceps, Hypocrella, and Torrubiella, and associated 

anamorphs. Here we present an overview of the phylogenetics of the 

Clavicipitaceae that highlights the evolution of arthropod pathogenicity, a re-eval- 


uation of morphology and ecology, and the importance of the East Asian species 

in understanding the evolution of Cordyceps. Multigene phylogenetic studies revealed 

that Cordyceps is not monophyletic and that host affiliation is characterized 

by frequent host-jumps, often between distantly related taxa. Cordyceps 

species are found throughout the Clavicipitaceae, which consists of three major 

clades. Morphological characters that are most consistent with phylogeny include 

color and texture of stromata, presentation of perithecia, and anamorph morphology, 

although exceptions do exist. We also use this phylogeny to re-evaluate ecology 

and present hypotheses on the evolution of niche specialization (e.g., attacking 

hosts in litter vs. embedded in wood). Finally we discuss the phylogenetic 

connection between globally distributed taxa, especially anamorphs, and East 

Asian endemics. symposium presentation 

Spiegel, Frederick W.*, Jones, N. and Shadwick, John D. Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. fspiegel@uark.edu. 

Protostelid biota of the South Island of New Zealand. 

Protostelids are eumycetozoans which have simple sporocarps that develop 

from single amoeboid cells. Each sporocarp consists of a simple stalk that supports 

from one to a few spores, depending upon the species. As part of a global 

biodiversity inventory of eumycetozoans, collections of substrates were made 

from several different types of habitats on the South Island of New Zealand in 

March, 2004. Samples were brought to the lab and plated out in primary isolation 

plates and the species of protostelids present were identified based upon morphology. 

Species richness and abundance in South Island seems to be less than 

might be expected from data on other comparable geographic regions. Within the 

island, the protostelid biota east of the Southern Alps appears to be different from 

that to the west of this range. Some species, such as those of Nematostelium appear 

to be less common than might have been expected. Others, such as Schizoplasmodiopsis 

vulgare are more common than would have been expected. This 

protostelid biota is distinct from others that are well documented. contributed 

presentation 

Spiegel, Fredrick W.*, Lindley-Settlemyre, Lora A., Swanson, A.R., Nelson, 

R.K., Edwards, Sally M. and Shadwick, John D. Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. fspiegel@uark.edu. Uses 

for Auto-Montage for mycological illustration. 

Many mycological objects are three dimensional and are difficult to illustrate 

with conventional photography because of depth of focus problems. While 

careful drawings are an option to overcome this difficulty, not all researchers have 

access to a talented enough scientific illustrator. Scanning electron microscopy, 

while also useful, only allows one to illustrate surface features in monochrome. 

The development of digital imaging systems that can compile montages of 

through-focus series into a single in-focus image can overcome the depth of field 

limitations to produce images in true color. One such system, Auto-Montage by 

Syncroscopy, will be illustrated here. It can be adapted to work with cameras on 

copy stands, dissecting microscopes, and compound microscopes, allowing one 

to create montages from the macro range to oil immersion. The images produced 

can be used to illustrate research results, in text books, and in teaching. Examples 

of a number of mycological applications will be shown. poster 

Stadler, Marc. Bayer Health Care AG, Pharma Division, Natural Products Research, 

Bayer Research Center Wuppertal, Bldg. 0452, P.O. Box 101709, D- 

42115 Wuppertal, Germany. marc.stadler@t-online.de New CNS-active secondary 

metabolites from cultures of Basidiomycetes - an example for discovery 

and optimization of natural lead compounds. 

Basidiomycetes are playing a crucial role in our ongoing high throughput 

screening for novel leads from natural sources in various pharmaceutical indications, 

including diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). It is common sentence 

that the biochemical mode of action of active principles of various toxic 

mushrooms (e.g., Amanita muscaria and particular Clitocybe, Inoybe and Psilocybe 

spp.) relates to their modulation of receptors in the CNS. In contrast, there 

are only a few reports in the literature that actually dealt with CNS-active metabolites 

from their cultures, despite it is well-established that the secondary metabolism 

of these organisms substantially differs in basidiocarps and vegetative 

mycelia. Hence, a screening library comprising extracts of basidiomycete cultures 

was designed: Strains were selected according to (chemo-)taxonomic criteria to 

attain a maximum chemical diversity. Their fermentation was optimized to ensure 

that the cultures were only harvested after the onset of metabolite production. Extracts 

were standardized to enrich “druggable” low-molecular medium-polar 

compounds. Automated bioassay-guided fractionation and extensive analytical 

dereplication were employed to increase the efficiency of the screening process. 

The active principles are produced in pilot scale by fermentation and provided for 

medicinal chemistry programs and extensive evaluation of their in vitro and in 

vivo activities. This workflow is exemplified by the discovery of agaricoglycerides, 

a novel class of analgesics from Agaricus macrosporus and other Agaricales 

(World Patent WO 03.055843), and by other CNS-active metabolites that 

were discovered concurrently. symposium presentation 


Stadler, Marc 1 *, Hellwig, Veronica 1,2 , Fournier, Jacques 3 , Radulovíc, Niko 4 , 

Asakawa, Yoshinori 5 , Hashimoto, Toshihiro 5 and Quang, Dang Ngoc 5 . 1 BHC- 

PH.-R&D EU-ET, P.O.Box 101709, D-42115 Wuppertal, Germany; 2 Institut für 

Küstenforschung, D-21502 Geesthacht, German; 3 Las Muros, F-09240 Rimont; 

4 Dept. Chemistry, Nis University, Serbia & Montenegro; 5 Tokushima Bunri University, 

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan. marc.stadler@tonline.de. 

Pigment chemistry, HPLC profiles and taxonomy of Hypoxylon. 

The large xylariaceous genus Hypoxylon in the definition according to the 

monograph by Ju & Rogers (1996) comprises two sections (Hypoxylon and Annulata). 

Among other features, the presence of characteristic stromatal pigments 

in KOH in most Hypoxylon spp. was emphasized in this generic concept. Many 

of these pigments, such as hypomiltin, the cohaerins, rubiginosins, entonaemins, 

multiformins and saffafrins, have meanwhile been isolated and identified. Their 

chemical structures allow for conclusions as to their biogenetic origin, revealing 

that similar pigment colors may result from significantly different chemical matters. 

Some of the pigments were also studied for biological activities. The results, 

along with the fact that they are located in granules directly beneath the stromatal 

surface, suggest their natural role as a means of chemical defense. Using these 

metabolites as standards, a large HPLC-based chemotaxonomic study was carried 

out, revealing various chemotypes, which are basically in accordance with the taxonomic 

classification. For instance, species of sect. Annulata significantly differ 

in their metabolite profiles from those of sect. Hypoxylon, and many species 

groups show apparently consistent, specific HPLC profiles. The non-destructive 

HPLC-based methodology even worked well with various ancient type materials, 

relating them to recent conspecific records. The utility of this approach is demonstrated, 

and possible implications for classification of Hypoxylon are discussed. 

poster 

Stamenova, Elena K.*, Coumes, Kendra M., Balakrishna, Kanthi, Chalkley, 

David B. and Catranis, Catharine M. Mycology Collection, American Type Culture 

Collection, Manassas, VA 20110, USA. ccatranis@atcc.org. Application 

and resolution – another look at how to answer the customer’s questions. 

Two case histories are described. The first case was directed at resolving the 

discrepancies between an isolate that was identified as morphologically identical 

to the type, Zygosaccharomyces bisporus when deposited but now proves to be a 

distinct species, Z. bailii. Sequencing results for ITS1/ITS2 region of nuclear 

rDNA of ATCC® 38993, deposited as Z. bisporus showed 96 % identity to the 

Z. bailii. This was confirmed by presentation of a repetitive PCR “barcode” pattern 

matching that for the Z. bailii type strain, ATCC® 58445. Results from 

substrate oxidation and assimilation tests (Biolog) also identified the problematic 

strain as Z. bailii. The second case study employed similar technologies to resolve 

discrepancies between the type, Hortaea werneckii ATCC® 36317, and two 

strains deposited as morphologically identical to the type, ATCC® 58301 and 

ATCC® 58951. Sequencing of ITS1/ITS2 rDNA showed one of these strains, 

ATCC® 58301 as distinct from the type, with 97% identity to Exophiala 

spinifera. This result was confirmed by alignment of repetitive PCR “barcodes” 

and the agreement of results of carbon source utilization tests using Biolog microplates. 

Incorporation of DNA-based analyses and microplate-based physiologic 

screens proved critical to resolving questions of species identity. poster 

Stefani, Franck, O.P. 1 * and Berube, Jean, A. 2 1 Centre de Recherche en Biologie 

Forestiere, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy (QC), Canada, G1K 7P4, 2 Natural Resources 

Canada, Canadian Forest Service, 1055 du Peps, Sainte-Foy, QC, 

G1V4C7, Canada. fstefani@cfl.forestry.ca. Biodiversity of foliar endophytes in 

white spruce and their use to assess the impact of transgenic trees on nontarget 

organisms. 

To investigate the foliar endophyte biodiversity of white spruce (Picea 

glauca) and establish a baseline for future comparative studies examining impacts 

of forestry practices, we sampled seven natural stands, four trees per site, one 

branch per tree and 10 needles per branch for a total of 280 needles. We performed 

PCR-RFLP analysis on the ITS region and analysed the DNA sequence 

by maximum of parsimony and Bayesian inference. In all 23 morphotypes were 

identified as 14 sequences groups and we demonstrated that morphological 

groups are poor indicators for estimating species diversity. This study is the first 

to establish a baseline of foliar endophyte biodiversity of white spruce and to provide 

species richness values for foliar endophytes. Seventy-five percent of all 141 

isolates in this study have a high sequence homology with Lophodermium piceae, 

10.96% with a Mycosphaerella sp., and 5.47% with a Hypoxylon sp. This data 

was used as a baseline to determine the impact of transgenic white spruce on nontarget 

organisms. To do so we sampled transgenic Bt Cry1a(b) white spruce needles 

in a single plantation. Eight foliar endophyte taxa were identified and their 

frequencies were statistically analysed. No statistical difference in endophytes incidence 

or distribution was observed between control white spruce needles (with 

no genetic construct) and seedlings with kanamycin constructs containing the reporter 

gene gus or containing the Bt Cry1a(b) gene. We have not observed an impact 

of the genetic constructs on the population of foliar endophyte living inside 

white spruce needles. Similarly the endophytes found in transgenic tree needles 

were not different from those of natural stands except for the presence of two endophytes 

linked to the juvenile state of the plantation. contributed presentation 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Stephenson, Steven L. and Shadwick, John D.* Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. slsteph@uark.edu. Snowbank 

myxomycetes from alpine areas of southeastern Australia. 

One group of myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) is 

restricted to the rather special and very limited microhabitat represented by melting 

snowbanks in alpine regions of the world. The species that occupy this microhabitat 

are usually referred to as “snowbank” or “nivicolous” myxomycetes. 

Most records of snowbank myxomycetes are from the Northern Hemisphere, and 

the species found in the mountains of Europe and the western United States are 

particularly well known. During the period of mid- to late October of 2004, snowbank-associated 

myxomycetes were collected from alpine areas of southeastern 

Australia. Most collections came from the high-elevation region around Mt. 

Kosciuszko (the highest peak on the continent at 2228 m) in the southern part of 

New South Wales, but additional series of collections were obtained from two 

other study sites (Mt. Buller and Mt. Hotham) in northern Victoria. Approximately 

300 specimens were collected over a period of two weeks. These specimens 

appear to include a number of species not previously known to occur in 

Australia. In contrast to most other areas of the world where snowbank myxomycetes 

have been studied, species of Diderma were poorly represented among 

the collections from Australia. (Supported in part by a grant from the Australian 

Biological Resources Participatory Program.) poster 

Stephenson, Steven L. Department of Biological Sciences, University of 

Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. slsteph@uark.edu. Myxomycetes from 

the antarctic and subantarctic. 

Myxomycetes (also called myxogastrids or plasmodial slime molds) have 

been reported from a number of localities in the Antarctic and Subantarctic. These 

include the Antarctic Peninsula (64–65 degrees S), Signy Island (60 degrees S), 

South Georgia Island (54–55 degrees S), Macquarie Island (54 degrees S) and 

Campbell Island (52 degrees S). Among the myxomycetes reported are several 

examples (e.g., Diderma niveum, Didymium dubium and Trichia alpina) known 

from nivicolous (snowbank) habitats elsewhere in the world, but the majority of 

records are those of more widely distributed or apparently cosmopolitan species 

such as Arcyria cinerea, Craterium leucocephalum and Trichia verrucosa. Lignicolous 

species (e.g., Comatricha nigra) are uncommon and appear to be restricted 

largely to imported wood except for those islands in the Subantarctic (e.g., 

Campbell Island) where there are a few woody plants. In the absence of woody 

substrates, most fruitings occur in association with living bryophytes, on living 

and dead portions of low-growing herbaceous plants, and on exposed surfaces of 

peat deposits. Interestingly, four species of myxomycetes (Diderma antarcticola, 

Leptoderma megaspora, Oligonema dancoii and Trichia antarctica) have been 

described from material collected on the Antarctic Peninsula. (Supported in part 

by two grants from the National Science Foundation.) symposium presentation 

Stewart, Jane E. 1 *, Kim, Mee-Sook 1 , James, Robert L. 2 , Dumroese, R. Kasten 3 

and Klopfenstein, Ned B. 1 1 USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, 

1221 S. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843, USA, 2 USDA Forest Service Forest 

Health Protection, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, USA, 3 USDA 

Forest Service Southern Research Station, 1221 S. Main St., Moscow, ID 83843, 

USA. janestewart@fs.fed.us. Molecular characterization of pathogenic and 

nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum from a conifer nursery. 

Root disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum can cause severe loses in 

conifer nurseries. This fungus commonly occurs in container and bareroot nurseries 

on healthy and diseased seedlings, conifer seeds, and in soils. Though isolates 

of the fungus differ in virulence, studies show that pathogenicity and isolate 

morphology are not correlated. Forty-one isolates of F. oxysporum collected from 

a conifer nursery were selected for pathogenicity tests and molecular characterization. 

Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and DNA sequences 

(internal transcribed spacer + 5.8S rDNA, mitochondrial small subunit, and nuclear 

translation elongation factor 1 alpha) used to compare molecular characterization 

of the isolates. Each isolate had a unique AFLP genotype, and 30 markers 

were unique to highly pathogenic isolates. In all analyses, highly pathogenic isolates 

and non-pathogenic isolates separated into two clades with 100 % bootstrap 

and posterior probability support. Genetic analyses indicate molecular probes 

could be developed to differentiate pathogenic from non-pathogenic isolates of F. 

oxysporum. This research will help aid the development of molecular tools to enable 

nursery managers to implement timely and appropriate disease management 

practices. poster 

Stewart, Julie 1 , Roy, Bitty 1 and Mulder, Christa 2 . 1 Center for Ecology and Evolution, 

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA, 2 Department of Biology and 

Wildlife, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, USA. jlk650@hotmail.com. The 

effect of abiotic conditions and plant origin on pathogen and herbivore attack 

rates in interior Alaska: Implications for pest responses to climate 

change. 

Global climate change may influence plant growth and community composition 

not only through changes in temperature and precipitation, but also by altering 

attack rates by pests. Pathogens and herbivores are generally predicted to 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

increase with warming, but few studies have tested this prediction, especially for 

pathogens. Pests are expected to alter their ranges in response to climate change 

more quickly than plant species. Exposure to new species of herbivores and 

pathogens may lead to changes in attack rates, especially if plants are locally 

adapted to their pests. We performed a reciprocal transplant experiment in order 

to disentangle the effects of environment and plant genotype on attack rates. Alnus 

crispa seedlings originating from 9 sites that vary widely in abiotic conditions 

were planted at their site of origin and at all other sites. Damage surveys revealed 

that attack rates by pathogens and herbivores and the number of attacking species 

varied by destination (the site at which seedlings were planted) but not by origin 

or seedling genotype. This suggests that A. crispa is not locally adapted to its 

pests. Pathogen damage varied with site moisture, plant density, winter temperature, 

and snowmelt date. However, herbivore damage was not explained by any 

of these site characters, suggesting that climate change may have a larger impact 

on pathogens than herbivores. contributed presentation 

Strongman, Doug B. Biology Department, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie 

St., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. doug.strongman@smu.ca. Trichomycetes 

from eastern Canada. 

Trichomycetes are commensalistic fungi inhabiting the gut of a variety of 

arthropods, including freshwater, aquatic species. Immature stages of stoneflies, 

mayflies and dipterans living in streams house a diverse array of gut-fungi. The 

biodiversity of these fungi in certain areas of North America, South America and 

Europe has been documented but in other areas, such as Canada, there are few 

records of Trichomycetes. I have collected more than 20 species of Trichomycetes 

from aquatic insect hosts in eastern Canada including several apparently undescribed 

species. A summary of these findings will be presented highlighting the 

proposed new species. contributed presentation 

Summerbell, Richard C.*, Starink-Willemse, Mieke and van Iperen, Arien. CBS 

Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands. 

summerbell@cbs.knaw.nl. What to do about complex and simplified morphologies 

in the Acremonium coenosis? 

The anamorph genus Acremonium is has long been known to be highly 

morphologically simplified, and over 40 genera of nectrioid, cephalothecoid and 

chaetomioid fungi are known to have Acremonium-like states. A molecular phylogenetic 

study of the biodiversity of Acremonium species other than known 

members of the Chaetomiaceae was undertaken by our group. Ribosomal sequences 

including complete 18S, 28S D1/D2 region, and internal transcribed 

spacer (ITS) were utilized as appeared appropriate, combined with actin or beta 

tubulin regions to resolve closely interrelated groups. The biodiversity of species 

was extensive, and ITS sequences were alignable only within 20 or more small 

groups of related species. An emerging pattern showed that one or more recognized 

Acremonium species often associated phylogenetically with a more morphologically 

complex anamorphic fungus: e.g., Acremonium strictum associated 

with Sarocladium spp., Acremonium crotocinigenum with Trichothecium, Acremonium 

cucurbitacearum with Plectosporium. Cladistically orthodox nomenclature 

would see such species combined into the morphologically complex generic 

concepts, while the anti-cladistic typology still upheld, at least for anamorphs, by 

many fungal systematists would have the convenient visual concept of Acremonium 

as a broad and phylogenetically abstruse ‘nomenclatural substratum’ out of 

which named, complex apomorphs would emerge. The pros and cons of each approach 

are complex and require careful consideration. symposium presentation 

Sunagawa, Masahide* and Magae, Yumi. Department of Applied Microbiology, 

Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, 

Japan. masahide@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Isolation of genes differentially expressed 

during the fruit body development of Pleurotus ostreatus by differential display 

of RAPD. 

To analyze genes involved in fruit body development of Pleurotus ostreatus, 

mRNAs from three different developmental stages: i.e., vegetative mycelium, 

primordium, and mature fruit body, were isolated and reverse-transcribed to 

cDNAs. One hundred and twenty random PCR amplifications were performed 

with the cDNAs, which generated 382, 394, 393 cDNA fragments from each developmental 

stage. From these fragments, four cDNA clones specifically expressed 

in primordium or mature fruit body were detected. Sequence analysis and 

database searches revealed significant similarity with triacylglycerol lipase, cytochrome 

P450 sterol 14 a-demethylase and developmentally regulated genes of 

other fungi. Northern blot analyses confirmed that all of the four cDNAs were unexpressed 

in mycelium, thus stage-specific genes for fruit body formation of P. 

ostreatus were successfully isolated. poster 

Sung, Gi-Ho and Spatafora, Joseph W. Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon 

State University, Corvallis OR 97331, USA. 

sungg@science.oregonstate.edu. Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and 

clavicipitaceous fungi. 

Cordyceps is a large genus with over 400 species. It is the member of 

Clavicipitaceae based on its cylindrical asci, thickened ascus apices, and filiform 

ascospores, which often disarticulate into partspores. Cordyceps is distinguished 

from other genera of the family by the combination of the production of well-de- 

56 Inoculum 56(4), August 2005 

veloped stromata and its ecology as a pathogen of arthropods and truffles. Current 

subgeneric classifications emphasize presentation of perithecia and ascospore 

morphology. To test and refine the classifications of Cordyceps, we present phylogenetic 

analyses of a combined dataset of five genes. The results reject the 

monophyly of Cordyceps and Clavicipitaceae and support the existence of three 

clavicipitaceous clades, all of which include the members of Cordyceps. We revise 

Cordyceps and the Clavicipitaceae to reflect this phylogeny. The family 

Cordycipitaceae is proposed based on placement of the type, C. militaris and includes 

Cordyceps species that possess brightly colored fleshy stromata. The family 

Ophiocordycipitaceae is proposed based on Ophiocordyceps Petch; the majority 

of species in this clade produce darkly pigmented, tough to pliant stromata. 

A new genus Metacordyceps is proposed for Cordyceps species that are closely 

related to the grass symbionts of Clavicipitaceae s.s. Additional characters and relationships 

among the proposed taxa are discussed. poster 

Suzaki, Kouichi 1 *, Kanematsu, Satoko 1 , Matsumoto, Naoyuki 2 , Ito, Tsutae 1 and 

Yoshida, Kouji 3 . 1 Department of Apple Research, National Institute of Fruit Tree 

Science, Shimokuriyagawa, Morioka 020-0123, Japan, 2 National Institute for 

Agro-Environmental Sciences, Kannondai, Tsukuba, Japan, 3 Department of Plant 

Protection, National Institute of Fruit Tree Science, Tsukuba, Japan. 

kcsuzaki@affrc.go.jp. Horizontal transmission of mycoviruses in violet root 

rot fungus Helicobasidium mompa. 

To examine the potential of a method of mycovirus infection to violet root 

rot fungus Helicobasidium mompa, horizontal transmission of mycoviruses between 

isolates of this fungus was investigated. Isolate V70, which was dikaryotic 

and infected with partitivirus, was used as a mycovirus donor. When isolate V70 

was paired on plate media with either of the mycelially incompatible isolates of 

H. mompa, the partitivirus was not transmitted into different recipients at all. 

However, monokaryotic strains, which were genetically same with isolate V70 

and contained the partitivirus, permitted the transmission of the partitivirus into 

different recipients. Then, the transmissibility of another mycovirus, totivirus in 

the hypovirulent isolate V17 of H. mompa, was examined using the monokaryotic 

strains as vectors of the mycovirus. When the monokaryotic strains containing 

the totivirus were paired on plate media with the 12 recipients belonging to 11 

mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs), the totivirus was transmitted into 7 of the 

12 recipients (i.e., 7 of 11 MCGs). Based on these results, we concluded that 

monokaryotic strains could act as vectors to transmit mycoviruses into various 

isolates of H. mompa. H. mompa isolates that acquired the totivirus from 

monokaryotic strains were inoculated into apple saplings, and virulence of the inocula 

was attenuated by infection of the totivirus. poster 

Suzuki, Akira. Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Chiba University, 

1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan. asmush@faculty.chiba-u.jp. 

Physiological ecology of ammonia fungi - studies using artificial media and 

natural substrates. 

This address reviews research on the ecophysiology of ammonia fungi. We 

investigated vegetative and reproductive growth of ammonia fungi on artificial 

media and on natural substrates to estimate fungal activity in the field. We also 

conducted culture of two to five species of ammonia fungi together on natural 

substrates as well as multiple cultures of ammonia fungi on nutrient agar media, 

to record interactions between ammonia fungi. Our results indicate that the sequential 

colonization and fruiting of ammonia fungi in the field can be explained 

primarily by the preference or tolerance of a species to high concentrations of ammonium-N 

under neutral to alkaline conditions. Saprobic, basidiomycete, ammonia 

fungi are more strongly adapted to invade ammonium-N rich substrates under 

acidic to alkaline conditions than are other saprobic ammonia fungi and mycorrhizal 

ammonia fungi. The pattern of colonization by each ammonia fungus in the 

field appears to relate to interactions between ammonia fungi. Saprobic ammonia 

fungi are the principal agents of litter decomposition in ammonium-N rich substrates 

under neutral to alkaline conditions. Such decomposition is mainly of cellulose 

due to the cellulolytic enzymes of these fungi having neutral to alkaline pH 

optima. MSJ Presidential Address 

Szabo, Les J. USDA ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 

St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. lszabo@umn.edu. Deciphering species complexes 

and the evolutionary implications. 

Species complexes are common among the Uredinales, which often results in 

confusion regarding the biology of these fungi. Two examples that are currently 

being studied are the heteroecious, macrocyclic rust fungi Puccinia andropogonis 

and P. coronata. P. andropogonis has a narrow telial host range (prairie grasses 

Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scopari) and a broad aecial host range 

that spans seven plant families. In contrast, P. coronata has a broad telial host 

range (Aveneae, Poeae, and Triticodae) and a narrow aecial host range of a single 

genus ( Rhamnus). The nuclear ribosomal region including the complete ITS and 

5’ end of the LSU was analyzed for 34 samples of P. andropogonis and 48 samples 

of P. coronata. Phylogenetic analysis divided the P. andropogonis complex 

in to eight well, supported groups that, were divided along telial and aecial lines. 

These results indicate that there were two evolutionary events, the first separation 


on the telial hosts followed by radiation onto different aecial hosts. Speciation follows 

taxonomic classification of aecial families. Analysis of DNA sequence data 

divided the P. coronata complex into seven well support groups. Results indicate 

that speciation in the P. coronata complex has occurred primarily through radiation 

onto different telial hosts. symposium presentation 

Takabatake, Koji 1 *, Sasaki, Hiroko 2 and Sugahara, Tatsuyuki 2 . 1 Toyama Forestry 

and Forest Products Research Center, Yoshimine, Tateyamama-machi, Toyama, 

930-1362, Japan, 2 Seitoku University, 550 Iwase, Matsudo-shi, Chiba, 271-8555, 

Japan. takabata@fes.pref.toyama.jp. Cultural waste from G. frondosa cultivation 

for use as a substrate in the sawdust-based cultivation of Hericium erinaceum. 

Sawdust-based cultivation of Hericium erinaceum has just begun, and cultivators 

are hoping for an increase in yield. Consumers want the strong bitterness 

in the fruiting bodies of H. erinaceum reduced. When the cultural waste from Grifola 

frondosa cultivation was used as a substrate in the sawdust-based cultivation 

of H. erinaceum, the yield was increased compared with the usual case in which 

Buna, Fagus creneta, hardwood sawdust was used. By treating the cultural waste 

from G. frondosa cultivation with aging, the yield was increased even more and 

the total content of free amino acids which cause the bitter taste in the fruiting bodies 

of H. erinaceum was decreased. The sense examination in the fruiting bodies 

cultivated on a substrate using the cultural waste from G. frondosa cultivation 

treated with aging confirmed that the strong bitter taste of fruiting bodies was reduced. 

From the results above, it becomes clear that the cultural waste from G. 

frondosa cultivation treated with aging is a very useful substrate for the sawdustbased 

cultivation of H. erinaceum. poster 

Takada, Nao and Tsujiyama, Sho-ichi*. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto 

Prefectural University, Simogamo-nakaragi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8522, 

Japan. s_tsuji@kpu.ac.jp. Biodegradation of 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid 

(2,4-D) by litter-decomposing basidiomycetes in soil. 

Artificial chemical compounds leaked into environments are sometimes 

harmful to human, animals, plants and other organisms. White-rot fungi are the 

strongest degrader in forest ecosystem and have been expected for the bioremediation 

of the environmental pollutants. However, it is questioned whether whiterot 

fungi would degrade the environmental pollutants in soil system. We found 

that the litter-decomposing basidiomycetes have a high degradability of lignin to 

the same level of white-rot fungi. Then, we applied the litter-decomposing basidiomycetes 

to bioremediation of chlorinated phenols. Among 11 kinds of litter-decomposing 

basidiomycetes, Calvatia craniiformis and Psathyrella velutina decomposed 

2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in a liquid culture to the same 

level of a white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Next, degradation of 2,4-D in 

sterile soil culture was tested using C. craniiformis and P. velutina. After 6 

months, amounts of residual 2,4-D in the C. craniiformis culture were 0.8%, while 

those in the P. velutina cultures were 67.5%. C. craniiformis has a potential for 

the bioremediation of polluted soils. poster 

Takahashi, Yukiko 1 *, Matsushita, Norihisa 1 and Harada, Yukio 2 . 1 Graduate 

School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, 

Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan, 2 Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, 

The Hirosaki University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan. 

y_takah@fr.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp. A cup fungus in the Sclerotiniaceae having Mycopappus-like 

anamorph, parasitic on leaves of deciduous Quercus spp.: a phylogenetic 

study. 

Quercus L. spp. are widely distributed in Japan, and are important woody 

plant species, which have been closely related with Japanese cultures and lives 

since early time. Frosty mildew is one of the leaf disease caused by Mycopappus 

quercus Y. Suto and M. Kawai on deciduous Quercus spp. Although this disease 

was first reported as a nursery disease, the fungus has infected not only young 

seedlings but also mature trees. It is considered that early defoliation caused by 

the infection of the fungus might have effects on the tree health. Recently, the 

teleomorph of the fungus was found as a cup fungus arising from sclerotial stroma, 

thus the fungus was thought to belong to the Sclerotiniaceae. However, no 

genus in the Sclerotiniaceae was known having such Mycopappus-like anamorph, 

so it has been taxonomically unknown. A phylogenic analysis of rDNA-ITS region 

of the fungus showed that it belongs to the Sclerotiniaceae but was distant 

from other sclerotiniaceous species. The result supported that the fungus is distinct 

from any known genera in the Sclerotiniaceae. Meanwhile, the result of 

analysis of small subunit rDNA showed that the fungus was distance from other 

Mycopappus species, whose teleomorph is known as the Phaeosphaeriaceae, suggesting 

the necessity of nomenclatural revision for the anamorph. poster 

Takamatsu, Susumu 1 *, Matsuda, Sanae 1 and Havrylenko, Maria 2 . 1 Faculty of 

Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan, 2 Centro Regional Universitario 

Baliloche, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. 

takamatu@bio.mie-u.ac.jp. Origin, co-speciation and biogeography of 

the genus Golovinomyces (Ascomycota: Erysiphales). 

Golovinomyces is a major genus of the powdery mildew fungi 

(Erysiphaceae), which infects more than 2000 host species in herbaceous plants 

covering 53 plant families. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using rDNA se- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

quences suggested that the primary host of the genus Golovinomyces is the family 

Asteraceae. Golovinomyces first diverged in accord with the phylogeny of their 

hosts, which occurred within the Asteraceae. Subsequently, multiple transitions to 

different hosts occurred from the tribe Lactuceae of the Asteraceae to other plant 

families. Integrated phylogenetic analysis of Golovinomyces collected in South 

America, the center of origin of the Asteraceae, suggested that Golovinomyces 

first acquired parasitism to the Asteraceae after migration of the family into the 

Northern Hemisphere and before the divergence of the tribe Cardueae. Based on 

the comparative phylogenetic analyses of Golovinomyces and their host tribes of 

the Asteraceae, we estimated nucleotide substitution rates of the rDNA ITS regions 

and the D1/D2 domains of the 28S rDNA. The substitution rate of the ITS 

region (0.01D = 3.97 myr) agrees well with those of a wide range of plants. The 

substitution rate of the 28S rDNA (0.01D = 15.4 myr) estimated that the first radiation 

within the Erysiphaceae occurred in the late Cretaceous, which is congruent 

with our previous calculation using molecular clock of the 18S rDNA. symposium 

presentation 

Takizawa, Kayoko 1 , Abliz, Paride 2 , Motta, Cristina, S. 3 , Xi, Liyan 4 , Vidotto, Valerio 

5 and Fukushima, Kazutaka 1 *. 1 Res Ctr. for Pathogenic Fungi & Microbial 

Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan, 2 Xinjiang 

Medical University, Urumqi, China, 3 Federal University Pernambuco, Recife, 

Brazil, 4 Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China, 5 University of Turin, Torino, 

Italy. kfuky@faculty.chiba-u.jp. New strain subtypes of Trichophyton tonsurans, 

a causative agent of tinea capitis, based on the variable internal repeat 

region within the nontranscribed spacer of rDNA locus. 

An epidemiological survey revealed that Trichophyton tonsurans has become a 

significant etiological agent of tinea capitis in USA, Europe and also in Japan. 

This paper deals with the finding of 6 new strain subtypes based on the variable 

internal repeat (VIR) region within the nontranscribed spacer (NTS) in interstrain 

of T. tonsurans. The corresponding amplicons from the VIR and NTS (2.3-2.9 kb) 

regions were successfully amplified in all of 27 isolates obtained from 4 countries 

of Brazil (15), USA (2), China (9) and Italy (1). For all VIR amplicons, complete 

sequencing was performed. A. Gaedigk found 5 variants differing in size within 

the VIR comprised of several large repeats arranged in tandem in 92 T. tonsurans 

isolates in USA. We found 6 new strain subtypes (A, B1, B2, C2, W1 and W2), 

differed from the 5 subtypes above. The subtypes Ws were consisted of a complex 

of two VIR with different sizes. Interestingly, all isolates from China were 

verified to possess new strain subtypes differed from those of American isolates 

including 2 isolates tested here, and were discriminated into four subtypes furthermore. 

Of 15 Brazilian isolates, two new subtypes were found in 3 isolates, but 

other isolates possessed identical subtypes as any one of American’s. The VIR 

analysis is considered as the most accurate method that can facilitate strain discrimination 

in population-based studies. poster 

Tamai, Yutaka*, Fukuchi, Sata, Iijima, Saori, Yajima, Takashi and Miyamoto, 

Toshizumi. Dept. of Forest Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, 

Japan. ytamai@for.agr.hokudai.ac.jp. Mycorrhizae from Mount Esan volcano, 

Hokkaido Japan. 

Twenty-one higher plant species from the crater floor of Mount Esan volcano 

in Hokkaido Japan were investigated for mycorrhizal features. Most of the 

woody plant species observed were shrubs. Ericales dwarf shrubs mainly composed 

from Empetrum nigrum-Ledum palustre communities were dominant in 

this area. Ectomycorrhiza had been observed on none of the plant species. Arbuscular 

mycorrhizal colonization was observed on 12 species (Sasa senanensis, 

Miscanthus sinensis, Poaceae sp., Carex sp. Heloniopsis orientalis, Polygonum 

sachalinensis, Hydrangea paniculata, Empetrum nigrum, Ilex sugenokii, Ledum 

palustre, Enkianthus campanulatus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea). No mycorrhizae 

were found on Polygonum weyrichii. All of the Ericales species except for 

Enkianthus campanulatus formed ericoid mycorrhizae. Thirteen RFLP types of 

ericoid mycorrhizal fungi like strains were isolated from roots of Ledum palustre, 

ITS sequence of the 7 strains showed high homology with some ericoid mycorrhizal 

fungi (Oidiodendron maius, Hymenoscyphus ericae). poster 

Tanaka, Chihiro* and Oda, Takashi. Lab. of Environ. Mycoscience, Graduate 

School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. 

chihiro@remach.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Molecular phylogeny and biogeography 

of some Amanita species. 

The molecular phylogeny and biogeography of two widely distributed 

Amanita species, A. muscaria and A. pantherina, were studied based on specimens 

from diverse localities. Analyses of both a partial sequence of the ITS region 

of nuclear rDNA and a partial sequence of the beta-tubulin gene were able 

to resolve biogeographic structure of each species. The results of our analyses revealed 

a greater divergence in nucleotide sequences of the partial beta-tubulin 

gene than the ITS region. Based on molecular phylogeny of the combination of 

nucleotide sequences from the ITS region and the partial beta-tubulin gene, A. 

muscaria could be separated into at least three groups (Eurasian, Eurasian subalpine, 

and North American), and A. pantherina could be separated into at least 

two groups (North American and Eurasian). For both A. muscaria and A. panthe- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

rina, the intracontinental relationships of both Eurasia and North America were 

closer than the relationships between eastern Asia and eastern North America. 


Tanaka, Eiji 1 * and Tanaka, Chihiro 2 . 1 Graduate School of Environmental Science, 

The University of Shiga Prefecture, 2500 Hassaka-cho, Hikone, Shiga 522- 

8533, Japan, 2 Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa 

Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 606-8502, Japan. age-t@mbox.kyotoinet.or.jp. 

Phylogenetic study of clavicipitaceous fungi using acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 

gene sequences. 

Clavicipitaceous fungi are biotrophs and their hosts include plants and insects. 

Various molecular phylogenetic studies have been performed, especially 

among the Cordyceps species (parasites of insects and other organisms) or among 

the grass biotrophic species. However, the relationship among the subfamilies in 

Clavicipitaceae has not been cleared. We have searched reasonable regions to examine 

the phylogeny among the subfamilies. We demonstrated that sequences of 

one of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene families were useful. The DNA sequences 

of the third exon of this gene were 889 bp long and no insertions/deletions 

were observed in any fungi used in this study. The phylogenetic tree indicated 

that the clavicipitaceous fungi were divided into two large groups with 

extremely high bootstrap support. One group included species of Cordyceps and 

Ustilaginoidea. This suggests the necessity for reexamination of the teleomorph 

of Ustilaginoidea virens, because its teleomorph has been classified as Claviceps 

oryzae-sativae. Another group included only grass biotrophic species. This group 

was further divided into three reasonable groups: species with neotyphodial 

anamorph (e.g. Epichloe), species with ephelidial anamorph (e.g. Heteroepichloe) 

and Aciculosporium–Claviceps species. This phylogenetic tree using ALDH gene 

clearly indicated the putative subfamily in Clavicipitaceae. poster 

Tanaka, Isshin 1 * and Kurogi, Shuichi 2 . 1 Sankyo Co., Ltd., Lead Discovery Research 

Laboratories, 33 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba city, Ibaraki 305-0847, Japan, 

2 Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, 2-4-4 Jingu, Miyazaki city, 

Miyazaki 880-0053, Japan. itanak@sankyo.co.jp. A revision of Physalacria orientalis 

(Agaricales, Basidiomycota). 

Physalacria orientalis is an unusual basidiomycete in Japan, known only 

from its original description in 1951. A study of P. orientalis has shown the presence 

of several unreported or unconfirmed characters in this fungus. In this study, 

it has wider basidiospores than those in the original description, small openings at 

the lower portion of the capitulum and clamp connections. Based on the original 

description, plus the above-mentioned additional characters, P. orientalis is considered 

to be conspecific to P. tropica. Physalacria tropica has been reported only 

in tropical regions (Malaysia, Cameroon, Papua New Guinea). This is the first 

record of P. tropica in a temperate region. Phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences 

of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal rDNA shows that this fungus 

should be placed in the physalacria clade and close to P. decaryi collected in 

Japan. poster 

Tanaka, Kazuaki*, Hatakeyama, Satoshi and Harada, Yukio. Faculty of Agriculture 

and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036- 

8561, Japan. kt881122@yahoo.co.jp. Massarina-like species on bamboos and 

their hyphomycetous anamorphs having chiroid conidia. 

Several pleosporalean fungi belonging to Massarina sensu lato were collected 

from bamboos. They produced hyphomycetes with chiroid conidia, such as 

Tetraploa and Piricaudiopsis. To date, the congeneric relation between Massarina 

and Tetraploa has been known only from one example (M. tetraploa = T. aristata), 

while the teleomorph of Piricaudiopsis has not been reported. Based on 

morphological features, the bamboo fungi can be separated into following four 

groups; 1) “Tetraplosphaeria”: characterized by the small subglobose ascomata 

and the Tetraploa anamorph (sensu strict); 2) “Triplosphaeria”: characterized by 

the depressed ascomata and the Tetraploa-like anamorph having three appendages; 

3) “Multiplosphaeria”: characterized by the large ascomata composed 

of thick ascomal wall and the Tetraploa (or Piricauda)-like anamorph having several 

appendages; 4) “Piricaudiosphaeria”: characterized by the large depressed ascomata 

with well developed rim-like ascomal wall and the Piricaudiopsis 

anamorph. The taxonomy of Massarina is currently quite controversial and many 

species including M. tetraploa have been transferred to the genus Lophiostoma. 

We consider, however, the Massarina-like fungi on bamboos do not belong neither 

to Massarina nor Lophiostoma owing to the defferences found in ascomata 

and anamorphs, and the above four groups are regarded as different at generic 

level. poster 

Tang, Alvin M.C., Jeewon, Rajesh and Hyde, Kevin D. Centre for Research in 

Fungal Diversity, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of 

Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. 

alvtangmc@yahoo.com.hk. Molecular Evolution of Genes for Phylogenetic 

Analysis of the Class Sordariomycetes. 

It is increasingly common in molecular phylogenetics to use combination of 

several gene regions to determine evolutionary relationships among fungi. This 

not only resolves deep phylogenetic relationships, but also increases support values 

for branches. However, very little is known about the processes of molecular 


evolution in fungal genes and how these factors affect their classification. This 

study aims to address these problems by elucidating the modes and rates of molecular 

evolution for 6 genes (actin, atp6, cox3, EF-1 alpha, RPBII, beta-tubulin) 

in taxa of the Sordariomycetes. The utility of these genes for determining evolutionary 

relationships will be tested at various taxonomic levels using single and 

combined data sets. The study will provide valuable information for the selection 

of alternative genes to nuclear ribosomal DNA and lead to a more thorough understanding 

of evolutionary processes in the Ascomycota and fungi in general. 

poster 

Taylor, D. Lee 1 *, Herriott, Ian 1 , Geml, Jozsef 1 , Marr, Tom 1 , Long, James 1 , Ruess, 

Roger 1 , Laursen, Gary 1 and Nusbaum, Harris 2 . 1 Institute of Arctic Biology, University 

of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA, 2 Broad Institute - MIT, Cambridge, 

MA 02141, USA. lee.taylor@iab.alaska.edu. Fungal basidiome and soil 

diversity under the Aurora Borealis. 

Fungi are critical but poorly characterized players in nutrient cycling in the 

boreal forest, which holds approximately one quarter of the Earth’s labile carbon. 

We are characterizing fungal communities in representative boreal ecosystems, 

primarily within the Bonanza Creek LTER site. We extracted soil genomic DNAs 

from ~1500 cores, and are constructing clone libraries of amplicons spanning the 

fungal ITS and LSU. Preliminary LSU analysis of 206 black spruce litter layer 

clones revealed the following trends. 1) Mycorrhizal taxa were far more abundant 

than any other guild: 64% of the clones fell into mycorrhizal clades, while only 

4% of the clones could be identified as saprophytes. 2) ECM fungi comprised 

42% of all clones, ericoid 18% and e-strain 4%. 3) The resupinate ECM taxa Piloderma 

and Amphinema, which are noted for litter decay tendencies, comprised 

more than half the ECM clones. 4) Interesting taxa include members of the novel 

Clade 1 of Schadt et al. (2002) and a distinct clade allied with the Clavicipitaceae. 

We have developed ITS and LSU databases of GenBank sequences and a powerful 

FASTA searching method which are publicly available at http://iabdevel.arsc.edu/metagenomics/. 

We are adding sequences from thousands of 

Alaskan sporocarps to these databases. Phylogeographic analysis of several genera 

suggests that Alaska is a hot-spot of fungal genetic diversity. symposium presentation 

Terashima, Yoshie. Haniya 1887-1, Sanbu-machi, Sanbu-gun, Chiba, 289-1223, 

Japan. y.trshm2@ma.pref.chiba.jp. The effect of substrate composition on 

quantity, quality and nutritional value of Shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, 

fruit bodies. 

It was found on Lentinula edodes, that adding thiamine (VB1) to substrate 

affected the VB1 content of fruit bodies, that varying the supplements affected the 

taste of fruit bodies, and that fat in supplements affected fruit body yield. 1) VB1 

is a water-soluble trace element that regulates the decomposition of sugars in the 

human body. Fruit bodies obtained from substrates with 10 mg per kg VB1 contained 

three times more VB1 than those grown on substrate without. The addition 

of VB1 did not influence the major nutritional components, mycelial growth, or 

yield. 2) In addition to medicinal benefits, the dietary fiber of fruit bodies is important 

for human health, and consumer satisfaction is one of the key factors for 

promoting consumption. Seven sensors that included appearance, color, smell, 

taste and general satisfaction were compared in relation to six substrates containing 

various supplements. Fat-free rice and wheat bran (1:1) was considered to be 

optimal for the first flush, but there was no difference in the sensors among the 

substrates for the second and third flushes. 3) Compared to raw rice bran, the lack 

of oil in fat-free rice bran resulted in decreased mycelial biomass and affected 

yield negatively. With longer spawn runs, there was no significant difference in 

the yield. However, shorter runs using fat-free rice bran as a substrate resulted in 

lower yields. symposium presentation 

Terashita, Takao. Laboratory of Food Microbiological Science and Biotechnology, 

Faculty of Agriculture, Kin-ki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara 631- 

8505, Japan. terasita@nara.kindai.ac.jp. Characterization of beta-glucosidase 

from Tricholoma matsutake and its enzyme production. 

Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito & Imai) Sing. are difficult to cultivate artificially 

without the host plant. This fungus grows so slowly on the artificial media 

(about 20mm/month) and has low capability to decompose polysaccarides. From 

the artificial cultivation of T. matsutake, starch hydrolyzing ability is very important 

because the fungus has not been known to use other polysaccharides except 

starch. We studied the amylase productions in this fungus. As a result, we 

showed that T. matsutake has alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and beta-glucosidase 

in the still culture filtrate. These finding suggests some saprotrophic abilities 

of T. matsutake. The purified beta-glucosidase was most active at pH 5.0 and stable 

within the pH range of 5.0-8.0. The molecular mass was 168kDa by SDS- 

PAGE and readily hydrolyzed the beta-1,4 glucosidic bond of oligosaccharides 

such as cellobiose and cellotriose. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between 

the vegetative mycelial growth and beta-glucosidase productions using cellobiose, 

maltose, trehalose as the growth substrate. The mycelial growth was 

about half of glucose medium when the cellobiose was used as a growth substrate 

in case of Z-1 strain, but 2/3 ~ 4/5 in other two strains. On the other hand, beta- 


glucosidase activity was higher compared with alpha-glucosidase activity when 

using cellobiose as a growth substrate. Our finding suggests that T. matsutake are 

able to utilize ologosaccharides released from cellulose and its related compounds 

having beta-1,4 glucosidic bond in nature. poster 

Tian, ChengMing 1,2 , Liang, YingMei 1 and Kakishima, Makoto 1 *. 1 Graduate 

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305- 

8572, Japan, 2 College of Natural Resources and Environment, Beijing Forestry 

University, Beijing 100083, China. cmtian@126.com. Morphological and phylogenetic 

analysis of Melampsora species on poplars in Japan and China. 

Rust caused by Melampsora is one of the most important leaf diseases of 

poplars. About 12 species have been reported in China and Japan, and they were 

mainly separated based on their morphological characteristics of both uredinial 

and telial stages and host plants including alternate hosts. However, their taxonomic 

identity and phylogenetic relationships are still poorly defined. 457 specimens 

collected from various areas of China and Japan were used for morphological 

observations. The morphological characteristics of urediniospores and 

teliospores were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy. The 

specimens from 11 species of Melampsora could be classified into five groups 

based on their morphology. For molecular phylogenetic analysis 48 specimens 

were selected from the specimens used in morphological observations and constructed 

phylogenetic trees based on the sequences of the nuclear large subunit 

rDNA (D1/D2) and 5.8S rDNA and their internal transcribed spacers, ITS1 and 

ITS2 region. These specimens were separated into six clades. All specimens on 

P. euphratica were morphologically and phylogenetically included in the same 

group and identified as M. pruinosae, which was clearly separated from other 

species. The specimens of M. larici-populina, M. allii-populina, M. abietis-populi 

formed different groups each other in the morphological and phylogenetic 

analyses. Specimens of M. laricis, M. populnea, M. acedioides, M. magnusiana 

and M. rostrupii belonging to the same morphological group were clearly separated 

into two phylogenetic groups, namely the specimens of M. laricis and M. 

populnea and the specimens of M. acedioides, M. magnusiana and M. rostrupii 

formed different groups based on the both NJ trees from D1/D2 and ITS regions 

with high bootstrap support. poster 

To-Anun, Chaiwat 1 *, Divarangkoon, Rangsi 1 , Fangfuk, Wanwisa 1 , Watthanaworawit, 

W. 1 and Takamatsu, Susumu 2 . 1 Dept. of Plant Pathology, Faculty of 

Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai 50200, Thailand, 2 Faculty of 

Bioresources, Mie University, 1515 Kamihama, Tsu 514-8507, Japan. 

agppi006@chiangmai.ac.th. Brasiliomyces doisuthepensis sp. nov. 

(Erysiphaceae) on Polyalthia simiarum (Polygonaceae) from Thailand. 

A powdery mildew fungus found on leaves of Polyalthia simiarum (Polygonaceae) 

collected at Doi Suthep (Doi Suthep-Pui National Park), Chiang Mai, 

Northern Thailand, is characterized as mycelium hypophyllous, persistent, forming 

irregular white patches. Appressoria well-developed, lobed, single or occasionally 

opposite in pairs. Conidiophores and conidia were not found. Ascomata 

scattered to gregarious, ca. 62.1 µm; peridium thin, one layered, yellowish to light 

brown, with few basal appendages (2-5, sometimes lacking). Ascoma containing 

2 asci, sessile or short-stalked, thin walled, ca. 41.4 x 37.2 µm, 6-8 spored. Ascospores 

ellipsoid-ovoid, olivaceous to pale greenish due to oil drops, ca. 19.7 x 

10.8 µm. This fungus agrees well with the general characteristics of the genus 

Brasiliomyces, and is proved to be a new species and described as B. doisuthepensis 

sp. nov. with light and SEM micrographs. Differences in known Brasiliomyces 

species are discussed, and a key to species of this genus is provided. 

poster 

Tokiwa, Toshiyuki 1 * and Okuda, Toru 2 . 1 NMG Co., Ltd., 2-8-33 Wakamatsu, 

Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0005, Japan, 2 Tamagawa University Research Institute, 6-1-1 

Tamagawa-Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan. t.tokiwa@n-m-g.co.jp. 

Japanese species of Hypomyces and their anamorphs VI. 

Three interesting Hypomyces species are herewith reported from Japan. Hypomyces 

state of Cladobotryum apiculatum (Tubaki) W. Gams & Hooz. Subiculum 

on the substrate pale yellow to pastel yellow and KOH(-); ascospores 

fusiform, 2-celled, (25.5-)29.5-32(-36) x 6.5-7(-9) micrometer; anamorph 

Cladobotryum apiculatum. The teleomorph grew on the plant debris on the 

ground probably after the fruiting bodies of host agaric with Cladobotryum 

anamorph were completely decomposed. C. apiculatum is known in Japan, but its 

teleomorph has not yet been reported. Collected in Chiba, Japan. Hypomyces 

transformans Peck. Subiculum on the substrates vivid yellow, KOH(-); ascospores 

fusiform, aseptate, (21-)35-37(-41) x 6.5-8(-11) micrometer; anamorph 

Sepedonium sp. According to Rogerson & Samuels, this species has been recorded 

on the fruiting bodies of Suillus bovines in North America, as our specimen 

was. New to Japan. Collected in Yamanashi, Japan. Hypomyces chlorinigenus 

Rogerson & Samuels. Subiculum on the substrates yellowish brown to brown and 

KOH(-); ascospores fusiform, 2-celled and (5.5-)11.5-13(-15) x 3-3.5(-4) micrometer; 

anamorph Sepedonium chlorinum. The anamorph and the corresponding 

teleomorph have once been reported from Japan. A new antibacterial antibiotic 

was purified from the culture filtrate of this fungus. Distributed in various 

parts of eastern Japan including Yamanashi, Japan. poster 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Tokuda, Sawako 1 *, Ota, Yuko 2 and Hattori, Tsutomu 2 . 1 Hokkaido Forestry Research 

Institute, Higashiyama, Koshunai-cho, Bibai, Hokkaido 079-0198, Japan, 

2 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, P.O. Box 16, Norin Kenkyu 

Danchi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan. yuota@ffpri.affrc.go.jp. Spatial distribution 

of Heterobasidion annosum clones in a Todo fir stand. 

Heterobasidion annosum sensu lato is a serious pathogen of coniferous 

trees throughout the boreal and temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. 

Recently, Tokuda et al. (2003) reported that H. annosum s.l. causes decay in Abies 

sachalinensis (Todo fir) in Hokkaido Japan, and, via phylogenetic analysis of the 

ITS region, appears closely related to European S and F groups. To reveal the spatial 

distribution of Heterobasidion annosum clones, a 80 X 60 m plot was established 

in a clear-cut area of a 68-yr-old Todo fir plantation at Urahoro, Hokkaido. 

All stumps in the plot were mapped, then decay fungi were isolated from each 

stump. All isolates of Spiniger spp., the anamorphic stage of Heterobasidion spp., 

were selected, then clone analyses were made by somatic incompatibility tests and 

molecular analysis (RAPD). Twelve clones in total were detected within the plot. 

The number of trees infected by a single clone varied from 1 to 9. The largest 

clone occupied an area of up to 14 X 39 m. RAPD analyses indicated that neighboring 

clones were genetically more related than those apart in many cases. We 

suggest that this fungus spreads by multiple inoculations of basidiospores in addition 

to mycelial outgrowth through root contacts. contributed presentation 

Tokumasu, Seiji. Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 

1278-294 Osa, Sanada-machi, Chiisagata-gun, Nagano 386-2201, Japan. tokumasu@sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp. 

Ecology of microfungi inhabiting pine leaf litter. 

Fungal successions associated with the decay of pine needles on the ground 

progress slowly under various climates, which is suited for the study on the relation 

of a fungal species to environment: the geographic range of a species, its 

niche within a community and its competition for available resource with other 

species. To study the geographic distributions of saprotrophic microfungi inhabiting 

pine leaf litter, I began from a detailed description of a mycofloral succession 

on fallen needles in the O horizon of a pine forest. The influence of seasonal 

change on the succession occurring on the needles was clarified directly by field 

experiments. The species composition involved in the succession varied according 

to the needles fallen at different seasons. It appeared that temperatures at the 

surface of the O horizon were a cardinal factor contributing to these phenomena. 

The geographical distribution of saprotrophic microfungi in pine forests of Japan 

have been studied based on the data of over 280 fungal communities of pine leaf 

litter collected over diverse climatic conditions. Centers and boundaries of distribution 

of equivalent species populations were scattered along the temperature gradient, 

similar to plants. This means that the climatic factors can explain the distribution 

patterns of microfungi inhabiting decaying pine needles for a long period 

in Japan. MSJ Award Lecture 

Toledo-Hernandez, Carlos*, Sabat, Alberto and Bayman, Paul. Departamento de 

Biologia, Universidad de Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan 

PR 00931, USA. donq65@hotmail.com. Multiple Aspergillus species associated 

with sea fan aspergillosis. 

Among the coral disease recently reported from the Caribbean, aspergillosis 

is perhaps the best studied. Aspergillosis in sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina and 

G. flabellum) was reported to be caused by Aspergillus sydowii. However, we believe 

that aspergillosis may be caused by other fungi as well. Here we report for 

the first time other species of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolated from healthy 

and diseased sea fan tissues. Fungi were isolated from healthy and diseased Gorgonia 

ventalina colonies in Puerto Rico. Of 129 colonies sampled in this study, 

40% showed signs of aspergillosis. Aspergillus was isolated from 24% of diseased 

colonies and 4% of healthy colonies. The most common species isolated 

were A. niger, A. terreus, and A. flavus. Aspergillus sydowii was not found in any 

tissue sample, in marked contrast to previous studies. These data suggest that 

other species of Aspergillus might also cause aspergillosis. Aspergillus species 

may be part of the commensal flora of sea fans, becoming opportunistic pathogens 

under conditions of stress. contributed presentation 

Trest, Marie T. and Gargas, Andrea*. Dept. of Botany, University of Wisconsin 

– Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. mttrest@wisc.edu. Phenotypic characters 

used for species delimitation in the lichenized genera Everniastrum and 

Cetrariastrum. 

Species of the lichen genera Everniastrum and Cetrariastrum are delimited 

by morphological characters, reproductive structures, and secondary chemical 

compounds. Inhabiting higher elevation sites across tropical regions, as well as 

extending into some temperate areas, species exhibit distributional differences - 

either widespread or narrow. Here we assess how these characters and the distribution 

of species correlate with phylogeny by sequencing the ITS region for multiple 

individuals of species of both genera to estimate their phylogenetic relationships. 

Species of Cetrariastrum are sister to a group of species of Everniastrum 

while the remaining species of Everniastrum form a well-supported sister group 

‘core Everniastrum’. Asexual reproductive structures have arisen multiple times 

within Everniastrum, and species concepts will need to be adjusted especially 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

with respect to chemistry and geography. The secondary chemical compounds of 

core Everniastrum are not good predictors of relatedness within the clade; however, 

the presence of secondary chemical compounds is helpful in recognizing 

theEverniastrum+Cetrariastrum clade and the core Everniastrum clade. In order 

to reflect monophyletic groups, both genus and species concepts will require some 

revision. poster 

Tsuchiya, Yuki 1 *, Uchida, Masaki 2 , Koizumi, Hiroshi 3 and Okuda, Toru 1 . 1 Tamagawa 

University Research Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawa-Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 

194-8610, Japan, 2 National Institute for Polar Research, 1-9-10 Kaga, Itabashi, 

Tokyo 173-8515, Japan, 3 Gifu University River Basin Research Center, 1-1 

Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan. tsuchy@lab.tamagawa.ac.jp. Fungi decomposing 

leaf litter under the snow. 

Although microorganisms decompose leaf litter even under the deep snow, 

mycoflora is still unknown under such an environment in the cool temperate forest. 

We thus investigated saprophytic fungi grown under the snow. In January 

2004, 15 samples of leaf-litter of Quercus crispula and Betula ermanii were collected 

under the deep snow in Gifu Pref., Japan (36N, 137E; 1420 m a.s.l.). Ten 

pieces in 7 mm in diam. were punched out from each leaf sample and treated with 

surface washing and/or sterilization. The chips were placed onto a water agar 

medium containing chloramphenicol and incubated at 2C for two months. Hyphae 

grown from the chips were transferred onto LCA medium and the isolates 

were examined under the microscope. The isolates recognized were Cylindrocarpon 

destructans, Epicoccum nigrum, Fusarium sp., Mortierella spp., Mucor spp., 

Penicillium sp., Phoma spp., Varicosporium elodeae. However, 194 isolates 

(82%) did not sporulate. To clarify their taxonomic positions, the ITS region including 

5.8S rDNA of these sterile strains were sequenced. According to the homology 

search, 99 strains (51% of the sterile isolates) were close to the Helotialean 

fungi reported from the mycorrhizal roots. We thus isolated fungi from the 

roots under the snow and compared the ITS region. The mycoflora and their infection 

to the roots under the snow will be discussed. poster 

Tsui, Clement K.M.* and Berbee, Mary L. Department of Botany, The University 

of British Columbia, #3529-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4, 

Canada. clement@mail.botany.ubc.ca. Evolutionary origins and phylogenetic 

relationships of helicosporous fungi inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences. 

We have been investigating the evolutionary origins and phylogenetic relationships 

among helicosporous fungi in the asexual genera Helicoma, Helicomyces, 

Helicosporium, Helicodendron, and Helicoon, and in the sexual genus 

Tubeufia (Tubeufiaceae, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota). We initially generated 

SSU and partial LSU rDNA sequences from thirty-nine fungal cultures. These 

and related sequences from GenBank were analysed using parsimony, likelihood 

and Bayesian analysis. Results showed that helicosporous species arose convergently 

from six lineages of fungi in the Ascomycota. The Tubeufiaceae s. str. 

formed a strongly-supported monophyetic lineage comprising most species from 

Helicoma, Helicomyces and Helicosporium. However, within the Tubeufiaceae, 

none of the asexual genera were monophyletic. In spite of their distinctive, barrelshaped 

spores, Helicoon species were polyphyletic and had evolved in different 

ascomycete orders. Helicodendron appeared to be polyphyletic although most 

representatives originated from Leotiomycetes. We speculate that some of the 

convergent spore forms may represent adaptation to dispersal in aquatic environments. 

The relationships among Helicoma, Helicomyces and Helicosporium within 

Tubeufiaceae s. str. were further inferred from phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences 

from forty-five taxa. Helicoma sensu stricto and Helicosporium sensu 

stricto are recognised but Helicomyces is doubtful. Traditional generic characters, 

such as whether conidiophores were conspicuous or reduced, the thickness of the 

conidial filament, and whether or not conidia were hygroscopic were more useful 

for species delimitation than for predicting higher level relationships. contributed 

presentation 

Tsujiyama, Sho-ichi 1 and Tsujiyama, Komako 2 *. 1 Graduate School of Agriculture, 

Kyoto Prefectural University, Simogamo-nakaragi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 

606-8522, Japan, 2 Kinoko Seminar, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8163, Japan. 

pony_kom@za.cyberhome.ne.jp. The increasing occurrence of Echinochaete 

ruficeps at Mt. Yoshida in Kyoto City. 

Echinochaete ruficeps (Berk. & Br.) Ryvarden (Japanese name, sabihachinosutake) 

is a tropical white-rot fungus. There are few reports about its distribution 

and ecology in Japan. We found the occurrence of E. ruficeps and observed that 

the number of its fruit bodies increased in these 5 years while we researched the 

mushroom flora at Mt. Yoshida in Kyoto City. Mt. Yoshida is a hill which is located 

on the residential area and belongs to the temperate zone. The vegetation at 

the area are mainly Fagaceae (Quercus, Cyclobalanopsis), and others, such as 

Theaceae (Cleyera, Eurya), Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis), Aquifoliaceae (Ilex), 

Aceraceae (Acer). In the area, we examine the relationship between the numbers 

of fruit bodies and the meteorology. As the result, the temperature of winter season 

became warmer in these decades. So we presume that the increase of E. ruficeps 

occurrence relates to the rise of temperature accompanied with urban heat island 

because E. ruficeps could survive in warmer winter. We will investigate the distribution, 

habitat and occurrence season of E. ruficeps in Japan and overseas. poster 


Tsukihara, Takahisa*, Honda, Yoichi, Watanabe, Takahito and Watanabe, 

Takashi. Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, Japan 611-0011. tsukihara@rish.kyoto-u.ac.jp. Homologous 

expression of versatile peroxidase, MnP2, in Pleurotus ostreatus. 

Pleurotus ostreatus is a white-rot fungus known as an efficient degrader of 

lignin and various organo-pollutants. One of the major P. ostreatus MnP 

isozymes, MnP2 has versatile functions: it can oxidize not only Mn2+ to Mn3+ 

but also non-phenolic compounds and high-molecular weight compounds which 

are not oxidized by other ‘classical’ MnPs directly. To establish a homologous expression 

system for MnP2, a recombinant plasmid containing the coding sequence 

of mnp2 under the control of sdi1 expression signals was constracted and 

introduced in wild-type P. ostreatus. We isolated 32 transformants containing the 

recombinant mnp2 sequence. In a screening experiment, 13 transformants showed 

elevated decolorizing activity for Poly R-478 in the absence of Mn2+. On a synthetic 

liquid medium, significant MnP activity was produced by one of the recombinants, 

TM2-10, while no detectable MnP activity was observed for wildtype 

control. In TM2-10, transcripts from the recombinant mnp2 were observed 

by an RT-PCR experiment. Moreover, an anion-exchange chromatography analysis 

with a Mono-Q column showed secretion of MnP2 by the recombinant. On the 

other hand, for wild-type strain, neither transcript nor MnP2 enzyme were detected 

in the similar experiments. From these results, it was demonstrated that a successful 

expression of the recombinant mnp2 was carried out in the transformant. 

poster 

Tsurumi, Yasuhisa. Fermentation Research Labs., Astellas Pharma Inc., 5-2-3, 

Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2698, Japan. yasuhisa.tsurumi@jp.astellas.com. 

How can mycologists contribute in the invention of commercial products? 

Most important and first step to discover drug seeds from microbial metabolites 

is an isolation of microorganisms producing useful compounds from natural 

resources. An antifungal products Micafungin (FUNGARD® / MYCAMINE®) 

was synthesized as a derivative of lipopeptides which were purified from fungal 

culture broth. The producing strain F-11899 was isolated from a forest soil, using 

dilution plate and ultraviolet (UV) radiation method. UV radiation treatment is effective 

to selective isolation of dematiaceous fungi, because dark pigment contained 

in their cell protect against DNA damage induced by high energy. Strain F- 

11899 had hyaline conidia and dark hyphae; the former was sensitive while the 

later was resistant against UV ray. It didn’t form reproductive structures on many 

kinds of agar media, so we induced their conidial structure using the autoclaved 

leaf put on Miura’s LCA or its modified medium. As a result of identification, the 

strain belonged to the coelomycete fungus Coleophoma empetri (Rostrup) Petrak. 

On the basis of this taxonomic knowledge, we collected new isolates related to 

Coleophoma empetri from living/decayed leaves using dilution plate and UV radiation 

method. Then we succeeded the discovery of similar but new antifungals 

from other strains of Coleophoma spp. I will discuss about the role of mycologists 

on natural products research. symposium presentation 

Twieg, Brendan D. 1 , Durall, Daniel M. and Simard, Suzanne W. 2 1 University of 

British Columbia, Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, 

Canada, 2 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, 

BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. dmdurall@ouc.bc.ca. Below-ground ectomycorrhizal 

community succession of Douglas-fir and paper birch in stands initiated 

by clearcutting and wildfire. 

Studies on below-ground succession of ectomycorrhizal communities after 

forest stand initiation are few, and those conducted thus far have not utilized molecular 

techniques for identification of fungal species. We examined ectomycorrhizal 

communities on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and paper birch (Betula 

papyrifera) roots in a chronosequence of stands initiated by clearcut or 

wildfire. Median stand ages of four replicates for each of the four age classes studied 

were: 5, 25, 60, and 100 years. We used thorough morphological examination 

of ectomycorrhizal root tips and subsequent sequencing of their fungal ITS regions 

to identify the fungal community. Species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi 

in 5 year-old burned and clearcut stands was lower than in the older age classes 

for both host trees, but the magnitude of this difference was greater for Douglasfir. 

The Douglas-fir ectomycorrhizal community also had low species richness in 

the 25 year-old burned stands, being dominated, like the 5 year-old stands, by Rhizopogon 

spp. Similarity between the five year-old and older stands was higher in 

birch ectomycorrhizal communities than those of Douglas-fir. Perhaps this is because 

new birch stems sprout directly from parent stumps after being cut or 

burned whereas Douglas-fir do not. All stands besides 5 year-old stands and 25 

year-old burned stands had a high portion of their ectomycorrhizal communities 

composed of fungal species common to both host trees, ranging between 25-40% 

of each host’s total community. Fungal species shared by both hosts included Piloderma 

fallax, Cenococcum geophilum, a Hysterangium sp., and Lactarius scrobiculatus, 

as well as species in the genera Russula, Tomentella, and Hebeloma. 

All of these taxa, with the exception of Cenococcum, were far more prevalent in 

stands greater than 5 years of age. poster 


Upadhyay, Srijana, Long, Melissa and Shaw, Brian D.* Program for the Biology 

of Filamentous Fungi, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas 

A&M University, College Station, Texas 77803, USA. bdshaw@tamu.edu. Protein 

glycosylation is essential for maintenance of hyphal growth in Aspergillus 

nidulans. 

Two temperature sensitive developmental mutants of A. nidulans have been 

isolated and characterized. The swoM1 mutant extends a primary germ tube that 

quickly losses polarity and swells to a uniform cell of approximately 20 micrometer 

diameter, while the swoN1 mutant is roughly wild type, with the exception of 

numerous periodic swellings along the hyphae that give rise to multiple germ 

tubes leading to a hyper-branched appearance. The swoM1 mutant is fully complemented 

by a gene encoding a homolog of a phosphoglucose isomerase. This 

enzyme interconverts glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. The swoN1 

mutant is fully restored to wild type growth when transformed with a gene encoding 

a GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase. This enzyme synthesizes GDP-mannose 

from GTP and mannose-1-phosphate. These two enzymes are both upstream 

of production of Dol-P-Mannose and thus are important for protein glycosylation. 

Previous work with the swoA mutant defective in a protein mannosyl transferase 

also implicated mannoprotein synthesis in cell morphogenesis (Shaw and Momany, 

2002). We hypothesize that a mannosylated protein(s) is critical for proper 

cell wall assembly that leads to maintenance of polar growth. symposium presentation 

van der Merwe, Marlien M. 1 *, Maier, Wolfgang, Burdon, Jeremy J. 2 , Thrall, Peter 

H. 2 , Ericson, Lars 3 and Walker, John 2 . 1 CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia, 

2 FABI, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 3 University of Umea, 

Umea, Sweden. marlien.vandermerwe@csiro.au. Phylogenetic relationships 

within the family Pucciniaceae with emphasis on Puccinia and Uromyces. 

The family Pucciniaceae is by far the most speciose family in the Uredinales. 

Within this family species numbers per genus vary dramatically among the 

genera with Puccinia and Uromyces having between 3000 and 4000 and over 600 

described species respectively with less than 8 species in most of the other genera. 

Thus species diversity within the family can be attributed almost exclusively 

to Puccinia and Uromyces. As with most rusts morphological characters do not 

always shed light on evolutionary relationships among the species within this 

family. The aim of our study is to get a deeper understanding of the evolutionary 

relationships among the species within this family by integrating DNA sequence 

data with what is known regarding host plant specificity and morphological characters. 

Here we use the results from two separate studies to discuss phylogenetic 

patterns found mainly within Puccinia and Uromyces. Sequence data from three 

genes, the nuc lsu rDNA, beta-tub 1 and EF 1-alpha, was generated. As has been 

hinted at before neither Uromyces nor Puccinia were supported as monophyletic 

genera with the molecular data. However all three data sets supported the division 

of the sampled taxa into two clades. The host plant specificities of the telial stage 

seem to mirror the evolutionary split of these two clades. symposium presentation 

Van der Nest, Magrieta A 1 , Slippers, Bernard 2 , Wingfield, Brenda D. 1 * and 

Wingfield, Michael J 1 . 1 Dept. of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology 

Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa, 2 Dept. 

of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 

Uppsala, Sweden. brenda.wingfield@fabi.up.ac.za. Vegetative incompatibility 

in Amylostereum areolatum. 

The wood wasp, Sirex noctilio and its fungal symbiont, Amylostereum areolatum, 

seriously threaten pine plantations in the southern hemisphere. The genetic 

diversity of A. areolatum, as expressed in vegetative incompatibility (VC) 

groups, is limited. This is most pronounced in areas where the fungus is introduced, 

but also in some native environments. To explore the potential impact of 

the introduction of new VC groups into Southern Hemisphere countries and to 

promote our understanding of VC in this fungus, we are investigating the genetics 

of vegetative incompatibility in A. areolatum. Basidiomata were collected 

from native European locations and single basidiospore cultures were made. 

These monokaryons were subjected to mating-type compatibility tests, where sexual 

compatibility was reflected in the formation of clamp connections. Sexually 

compatible monokaryons from one parent sporocarp were paired to produce sibling 

dikaryons. Sib-related dikaryons were also generated by pairing 

monokaryons from the first parent with those of a second, unrelated parent. The 

results of the sexual compatibility tests confirmed that A. areolatum has a typical 

tetrapolar mating system. VC interactions were either compatible, weakly incompatible 

or strongly incompatible. Approximately 25% of the interactions among 

the sib-related dikaryons were compatible, which indicates that a minimum of two 

hetloci control VC in A. areolatum. Such low numbers of VC loci are also present 

in other basidiomycetes (e.g. Armilaria ostoyae, Phellinus weirii and Heterobasidion 

annosum). Our findings also suggest that VC tests may result in an underestimation 

of the true genetic diversity as compatible isolates may differ 

genetically. poster 

Van Wyk, Marelize*, Roux, Jolanda, Barnes, Irene, Wingfield, Brenda D. and 

Wingfield, Michael J. Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology 

Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. 

marelize.vanwyk@fabi.up.ac.za. Ceratocystis tribiliformis prov. nom. a new 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

species from Sumatra, Indonesia. 

Two recently described Ceratocystis spp. (C. bhutanensis and C. moniliformopis) 

are morphologically almost indistinguishable from C. moniliformis. This 

similarity in morphology has led us to consider previous suggestions that C. 

moniliformis could represent a species complex. The aim of this study was to consider 

the phylogenetic relationships between isolates identified as C. moniliformis 

from various hosts and origins, based on comparisons of DNA sequences for three 

gene regions. Results showed that most of the isolates of C. moniliformis used in 

this study represent a well-resolved monophyletic group. However, a collection of 

isolates initially identified as C. moniliformis, from Pinus merkusii in Sumatra 

resided in a distinct clade. These isolates can also be distinguished from C. moniliformis 

based on minor morphological features and the fungus is being described 

as Ceratocystis tribiliformis prov. nom. Recognition of this new species adds credence 

to the view that C. moniliformis includes many cryptic species and we expect 

that more will be identified in the future. poster 

Vellinga, Else C.* and Bruns, Thomas D. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 

University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720-3102, USA. vellinga@berkeley.edu. 

Lepiotaceous fungi in California - diversity and phylogenetics. 

California is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and lepiotaceous fungi 

(Agaricaceae) bear this out. Stands of endemic Sequoia sempervirens and Cupressus 

macrocarpa harbor an exceptional variety of this group, notably 26 

species in one small cypress grove south of San Francisco. Inventories during the 

last six years in the northern coastal part of the state have revealed approx. 70 

species, of which about a third are endemic, and at least 20 are new to science. 

The species are distinguished by morphological and molecular characters; ITS 

and EF1alpha have proven especially useful. Phylogenies of the family Agaricaceae 

as a whole with representatives from all over the world have been constructed 

using a variety of loci and several analytical methods. The Leucoagaricus/Leucocoprinus 

clade, which contains many species that fruit with the first 

rains at the end of the long dry summer, is the most diverse with around 40 

species. The Lepiota clade, with approx. 25 species, has its peak fruiting later 

when temperatures are lower. This reflects a universal biogeographic pattern, in 

which species in the Leucoagaricus/Leucocoprinus clade occur at lower latitudes 

and altitudes than Lepiota species. In addition, the few Chlorophyllum species in 

California are cosmopolitan cultivation followers, whereas the genus Macrolepiota 

occupies natural habitats but occurs very rarely. poster 

Vilgalys, Rytas J. 1 *, Moncalvo, Jean-Marc 2 , Parrent, Jerri L. 1 , O’Brien, Heath 1 , 

Richter, Daniel D. 1 and Jackson, Jason L 1 . 1 Dept. of Biology and Nicholas 

School of the Environment and Earth and Ocean Sciences, Duke University, 

Durham, NC 27708, USA, 2 Royal Ontario Museum, and Department of Botany, 

University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. fungi@duke.edu. Probing fungal diversity 

using sequence libraries: lessons from the Duke Forest Mycological 

Observatory (DFMO). 

This talk will summarize results from recent culture-independent studies of 

fungal diversity in southeastern USA Piedmont forests based in the Duke Forest 

(Durham, NC) and the Calhoun Experimental Forest (Sumter National Forest, 

SC). Analysis of ribosomal DNA sequences from soil clone-libraries reveals a 

diverse community of eukaryotic microorganisms dominated by fungi, and also 

including protistan, chlorophyte and metazoan lineages. Phylogenetic analysis of 

ITS sequences from basidiome surveys and environmental sources, combined 

with data available in public databases, permits the identification to the species 

level for many common saprobic and mycorrhizal groups (Russula, Suillus, 

Mycena, Gymnopus and others). As a taxonomic reference database, the DFMO 

sequence collection used to study how fungal communities respond to global 

change. Examples include study of community shifts in response to CO 2 enrichment 

(FACE study), and community response to long-term land-use histories 

with different recovery histories (Calhoun Forest). The development of DFMO 

protocols also identified a number of technical problems (chimeric sequences, 

PCR-bias, etc.); these will be discussed. Development of new screening technologies, 

including RT-PCR and the use of taxon-specific primers will also be discussed. 


Voth, Peter D. 1 *, Lockhart, Ben 2 and May, Georgiana 3 . 1 Plant Biological Sciences 

Graduate Group, 2 Dept. of Plant Pathology, and 3 Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and 

Behavior; University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. voth0016@umn.edu. 

Population dynamics of a fungal virus across the Americas. 

Fungal viruses appear to be ubiquitous throughout Fungi, often persisting 

with no detriment to the host. All mycoviruses have no extracellular stage and are 

transmitted only through cytoplasmic fusion of host cells. Symbiotic interactions 

strongly affect the evolutionary trajectory of each other and are important in structuring 

communities. One such symbiosis is that of Ustilago maydis, Ustilago 

maydis Virus H1 (UMV- H1), and Zea mays. Ustilago maydis, commonly known 

as corn smut, causes infections on vegetative and reproductive tissues of corn. 

UMV- H1 is vertically transmitted during mating of U. maydis individuals and, 

thus, the population dynamics of U. maydis can affect the population structure of 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

UMV- H1. In this work, I investigate the population dynamics of a dsRNA virus 

(UMV- H1) with U. maydis to determine the phylogeography of UMV- H1 

throughout the Americas. I have collected sequence data from regions of two 

genes in the viral genome. Infection frequency, genetic diversity, and recombination 

frequency have indicated that Mexico is the ancestral population. The demographics 

of UMV-H1 in South America will be discussed. poster 

Walker, John F.*, Johnson, Loretta C., Simpson, Nicholas B., Trowbridge, Justin 

and Jumpponen, Ari*. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 

KS 66506, USA. jfw@ksu.edu. Arctic ericoid plants depend on a unique assemblage 

of fungi for uptake of organic N. 

We investigated the diversity and function of fungi isolated from five arctic 

ericoid tundra plant species. The predominant fungi were Phialocephala sp. (195 

isolates), Pezicula sp. (72), Irpex sp. (12), cf. Leptodontidium sp. (12), two Hymenoscyphus 

spp. (10), Lachnum sp. (6), and Mollisia sp. (3) based on molecular 

characterization of ~350 cultures obtained from surface sterilized roots. These 

fungi all formed intracellular coils in roots in resynthesis tests with Ericales. Most 

types were referred to the Helotiales, ascomycetes typically forming ericoid mycorrhizae. 

However, several of the isolated genera have not previously been reported 

from ericoid hosts, and Hymenoscyphus ericae was not detected. To test 

the function of the root/soil fungi, we assessed uptake of 15N by an ericoid plant 

Vaccinium vitis-idea in intact sections of tundra: organic N uptake was 40% lower 

when fungal activity was inhibited by fungicides, while uptake of inorganic N was 

unaffected. The ability of the dominant fungal types to provide ericoid plants with 

a variety of organic N sources is being investigated currently in petri plate resynthesis 

systems. poster 

Wand, Qi 1 *, Li, Yu 1 and Kakishima, Makoto 2 . 1 College of Chinese Medicinal 

Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, P. R. China, 2 Graduate 

School of Life and Environment Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 

305-8572, Japan. qwang2003@hotmail.com. Observation of plasmodia and 

cysts of Trichiales (Myxomycetes). 

Alexopoulos (1960) reported three basic types of plasmodia: protoplasmodium 

(Echinosteliales) (Pr), aphanoplasmodium (Stemonitales) (Ap) and 

phaneroplasmodium (Physarales) (Ph). However, plasmodia of Trichiales were 

not characterized well though they were known as intermediate type between Ap 

and Ph. Therefore, in order to clarify their characteristics, plasmodia and cysts of 

8 species of Perichaena, Arcyria, Metatrichia, Hemitrichia and Trichia were cultured 

in the laboratory by corn-meal agar with E. coli JA-01 or oat meal agar 

media, and observed with a stereoscope and a light microscope. Plasmodia of 

Trichiales obtained in this study are divided into 2 groups. Group I is small, not 

fun-shaped, veined and similar to the type Ap (T. decipiens, T. fovoginea,). Group 

II is big, fun-shaped, and the front margin of fun is thick, dense and similar to the 

type Ph (P. depressa, A. pomiformis, A. denudata, H. calyculata, H. clavata M. 

vesparium). When plasmodia lost water and dried, they gradually become dense 

and divide into many small blocks (cysts). These cysts are bigger than those of 

Stemonitales, sometimes visible, globose, nearly globose, angular or irregular, 

composed of 1~7 small cells and sometimes covered by the same membrane. The 

wall of cyst is thick and dark when it is observed by transmission light. [Supported 

by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30270008).] poster 

Wang, C.J.K. 1 and Zhou, Shuang 2 *. 1 Faculty of Environmental and Forest Biology, 

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 

(SUNY-ESF), Syracuse, NY 13210, USA, 2 Faculty of Construction Management 

and Wood Products Engineering, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. 

szhou@syr.edu. Synanamorphs of Pseudaegerita corticalis. 

The hyphomycete Pseudaegerita corticalis (Peck) J.L. Crane & Schohn. 

collected in Wales, 1979 has both phialidic and sympodial conidiogenesis. Type 

and authentic specimens and/or cultures of Oidium corticale Peck, Pseudaegerita 

corticalis, P. matsushimae Abdullah & Webster, and P. viridis (Bayl.Ell.) Abdullah 

& Webster were studied. A re-interpretation of the conidiogenous structures 

of P. corticalis is presented that is based on the results of light microscopy, 

scanning electron microscopy, DNA sequences of the ITS regions of specimens 

or cultures. poster 

Wang, Guangyi* and Li, Quanzi. University of Hawaiì at Manoa, 1680 East- 

West Road, POST 109, Honolulu, Hawaiì 96822, USA. guangyi@hawaii.edu. 

Diversity of marine fungi associated with marine sponges in Hawaiì. 

Marine fungi play significant roles in nutrient regeneration cycles in the marine 

environment and impact coral reef ecosystems as decomposers, pathogens, 

parasites, and symbionts. In the center of the Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian Islands 

offer different unique micro-ecological niches for diverse marine fungi and other 

marine organisms. However, the diversity of marine fungi in Hawaiì has barely 

been explored. In our efforts to study microbial diversity in the Hawaiian marine 

ecosystems, we found marine sponges harbored morphologically and phylogenetically 

diverse filamentous fungi and were different among various sponge 

species. Some of isolates were not described species. Phylogenetic analyses of 

fungal isolates from two sponge species Haliclona caerulea and Gelliodes fibrosa 

revealed a high diversity of fungal phylotypes. Fungi from H. caerulea failed into 

to two phyla, Acomycota and Basidiomycota. On the phylogenetic tree, the iso- 


lates of ascomycetes are clustered in 7 major clades (xylariales, mycosphaerellales, 

hypocreales, eurotiales, diaporthales, pleosporales, and an unknown order). 

One isolate stood alone as an unclassified basidiomycetes fungus. On the other 

hand, fungi associated with G. fibrosa were less diverse than those in H. caerulea. 

All the isolates belonged to the phylus Ascomycota and were clustered in only 5 

major clades (eurotiales, mycosphaerellales, hypcreales, pleosporales, and an 

unidentified order). Several fungal species (e.g. Myrothecium cinctum) were present 

in both species. Investigation of the specificity and symbiosis of marine fungi 

with the two sponges are in progress. poster 

Wang, Guangyi* and Li, Quanzi. University of Hawaiì at Manoa, 1680 East- 

West Road, POST 109, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. guangyi@hawaii.edu. Diversity 

of marine fungi associated with marine algae in Hawaiì. 

The symbiotic co-existence between fungi and algae is very well established. 

However, the diversity of marine fungi associated with algae and their coevolution 

relationship are still poorly understood. Investigation of the diversity of 

marine fungi associated with marine algae can be crucial to understand the significances 

and impacts of marine algal invasions and biocomplexity in marine 

ecosystems. In our efforts to understand the microbial diversity in Hawaiian marine 

ecosystems, we isolated marine fungi from several algae collected on several 

Hawaiian Islands. The fungal isolates from algae displayed diverse morphologies 

and phylotypes. Comparison of the diversity of fungi associated with a 

specific algal species at different locations or different algal species at the same 

location revealed interesting results. This study greatly improves our understanding 

of the specificity of fungi associated with marine algae and spatial variation of 

fungal diversity associated with marine algae in Hawaiì. poster 

Wang, Wei*, Gibas, Connie and Currah, Randolph S. Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2E9, Canada. ww1@ualberta.ca. 

New reports of Cryptosporiopsis species from the roots of Populus 

tremuloides in western Canada. 

Species of Cryptosporiopsis are usually considered pathogens of woody 

plants but a few species occur as apparently harmless endophytes in roots. Recently 

we obtained 83 isolates of species of this genus from apparently healthy 

roots of P. tremuloides in central Alberta. Ten isolates were identified as C. ericacea 

Sigler, a species recently described from the roots of ericaceous plants. Our 

cultures of this species produced phialides on simple conidiophores borne in 

sporodochial tufts and produced aseptate, cylindrical, slightly curved, macro and 

microconidia. Identifications were confirmed using 5.8S nuclear rDNA and ITS1, 

2. In contrast to the original description, our isolates indicate that this species is 

not confined to the Ericaceae. Two isolates of C. radicicola, a species described 

originally from the roots of oak in Europe, were identified using morphological 

features and confirmed using DNA sequence comparisons. Sequencing results 

also support recognizing both species as anamorphs of the genus Pezicula. poster 

Wang, Zheng, Binder, Manfred and Hibbett, David S. Department of Biology, 

Clark University, 950 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA. 

zwang@clarku.edu. Characterizing atp6 in multilocus phylogenetics of polyporoid 

homobasidiomycetes. 

Phylogetic relationships of polyporoid homobasidiomycetes have been difficult 

to resolve using ribosomal RNA genes. We are investigating the phylogenetic 

utility of atp6 (coding for the subunit 6 of ATPase in mitochondria) in polyporoid 

homobasidiomycetes. Touch-down PCR using four primers (atp6-1, -2, -3 

and atp6-4) is useful for amplifying partial atp6 genes. Nucleotide sequences coding 

for this atp6 region have been generated from 43 polypores and many representatives 

of other major clades in the homobasidiomycetes. The resolution using 

atp6 gene to infer phylogenetic relationships within homobasidiomycetes at higher 

fungal taxonomic level and within polyporoid classes is being evaluated. Each 

of the 3 codon positons are being investigated for A-T bias, saturation, phylogenetic 

information level, and substitution frequency. Phylogenetic analyses are applied 

using amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences of atp6, separately 

and combined with a dataset of 4 rDNA regions and partial atp2 genes using parsimony, 

likelihood and Baysian methods. poster 

Wang, Zheng 1 *, Binder, Manfred 1 , Hibbett, David S. 1 , Schoch, Conrad L. 2 and 

Spatafora, Joseph W. 2 1 Department of Biology, Clark University, 950 Main 

Street, Worcester, MA 01610, USA, 2 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. zwang@clarku.edu. 

Phylogenetic relationships of the Helotiales inferred from 3 rDNA regions. 

The Helotiales is probably the largest and the most diverse group of nonlichen 

forming ascomycetes, which includes 13 families and 395 genera (92 with 

uncertain positions). The helotialean fungi inhabit diverse ecosystems and utilize 

a broad range of nutritional sources and form saprobic, parasitic, and symbiotic 

associations with plants and other fungi. High ecological and morphological diversity 

make this group of fungi one of the most problematic group in terms of 

classification. Sequences from 3 rDNA regions (18s, 28s and 5.8s, total 2025 bp) 

have been generated from 41 species in major groups of the Helotiales in Hibbett 

lab at Clark University. Combined with data generated from Spatafora lab at Ore- 


gon State University and downloaded from GenBank, a dataset of 3 rDNA regions 

from 88 taxa including 5 orders and 17 families in the Leotiomycetes is 

available. Analyses using equally weighted Parsimony and Baysian approaches 

under GTR and GTR+I+R models have been applied. Relationships between the 

Helotiales and Geoglossaceae, Rhytismatales, Erysiphales and Cyttariales and 

within the Helotiales have been investigated. This work provides a framework for 

future phylogenetic study and classification of the Helotiales and the Leotiomycetes. 

poster 

Watanabe, Kyoko* and Kurihara, Masayuki. Dept. of Agriculture, Tamagawa 

University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan. wkyoko@agr.tamagawa.ac.jp. 

Endophytes coexisting in leaves of Japanese andromeda and their infection 

manner. 

All foliage supports phylloplane fungi and most of them, if not all, contain 

symptomless endophytic fungi. We monitored the frequency of endophyte within 

green leaves of Japanese andromeda over two full seasons (2000, 2001). Of the 

many fungi isolated as endophyte, Guignardia mangiferae (anamorph = Phyllosticta 

), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Pestalotiopsis neglecta were the 

most consistent and numerous, although their numbers were different in each 

sampling day. To determinate the distribution of endophyte within leaves, each 

leaf was cut into 60 to 141 pieces, about 9 mm 2 /pice, depending on leaf size. Each 

piece was numbered to confirm its original position on a leaf when plated out. 

These species coexisted in a leaf, and their distribution within leaves was random. 

The frequencies increased as leaves aged and/or senesced, although the species 

isolated were same. Seeds were picked out from surface sterilised fruits, and were 

plated out for isolation of these endophytes. They were also examined by PCR for 

detection. But the above species were not found by either method. Results indicate 

that dispersal of these endophytes is horizontal. poster 

Weraduwage, Sarathi 1 * and Moncalvo, Jean-Marc 1,2 . 1 Department of Botany, 

University of Toronto, Canada, 2 Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, 

Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada. sarathi.weraduwage@utoronto.ca. 

Biogeographic relationships of Amanita from Thailand. 

At least 23 species of Amanita are known from Thailand but many more 

species probably exist in the country. Thailand encompasses a high diversity of 

forest ecosystems, ranging from exclusively tropical (dipterocarp-dominated, 

evergreen or deciduous) in the lowlands to subtemperate (oak and conifer-dominated) 

in the highlands. Are highland taxa related to taxa found in the tropical lowland 

areas, or are they more closely related to taxa from other temperate areas of 

the world? We sequenced ITS for several Thai Amanitas, and examined their phylogenetic 

relationships to species from other regions of the world. We found a 

high level of relationships between collections from Thailand, China, and Japan, 

with no evidence for a clear disjunction between tropical and subtemperate collections. 

A very high level of ITS sequence variation was found among species of 

the A. caesarea/hemibapha complex, suggesting that many cryptic species may 

exist in this group. poster 

White, Merlin M.* and Lichtwardt, Robert W. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary 

Biology, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7534, USA. 

trichos@ku.edu. Phylogeny of insect-associated gut fungi with emphasis on 

the Harpellales. 

Worldwide, obligately symbiotic gut fungi, Harpellales (Trichomycetes), 

may be found living in various aquatic arthropods (more commonly in larval insects, 

although one genus is associated with isopods). Current efforts in our lab include 

two fronts 1) to continue to discover new taxa of gut fungi and 2) to build 

a molecular based phylogeny that incorporates new and interesting taxa for a more 

complete understanding of the evolutionary relationships of this unique group of 

Zygomycota. Evolutionary relationships have been difficult to infer because of 

the paucity of morphological characters and unculturability of most of the 38 genera 

of Harpellales. We report here current phylogenetic analyses that incorporate 

newly discovered harpellid taxa, some isolated in culture while most were obtained 

from guts (mixed genomic template) to generate rDNA sequences to infer 

the phylogeny of the Harpellales using cladistic analyses. We highlight the genus 

Orphella and its affinity to the Kickxellales (Zygomycetes) and expand the phylogeny 

of the otherwise monophyletic Harpellales. Polyphyly of the largest genera, 

Smittium and Stachylina, is masked morphologically by convergent and limited 

characters. We consider this to be a comparative, molecular snapshot of the 

taxonomy and systematics of the gut fungi, which will ultimately lead to revisions 

in their classification. symposium presentation 

Wicklow, Donald T. 1 *, Roth, Shoshanna 2 , Deyrup, Stephen T. 2 and Gloer, James 

B. 1 USDA, ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria 

IL, USA, 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA, USA. 

wicklodt@ncaur.usda.gov. A protective endophyte of maize: Acremonium 

zeae antibiotics inhibitory to Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides. 

The maize endophyte Acremonium zeae is antagonistic to kernel rotting and 

mycotoxin producing fungi Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides in cultural 

tests for antagonism and interferes with A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination 

of preharvest maize kernels. Chemical studies of an organic extract 

from maize kernel fermentations of A zeae NRRL 13540, which displayed sig- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

nificant antifungal activity against A. flavus and F. verticillioides, revealed that the 

metabolites accounting for this activity were two newly reported antibiotics pyrrocidines 

A and B. Pyrrocidines were detected in fermentation extracts for twelve 

NRRL cultures of A. zeae isolated from maize kernels harvested in the USA. 

Pyrrocidine B was detected by LCMSMS in whole symptomatic maize kernels 

removed at harvest from ears of a commercial hybrid that were wound-inoculated 

in the milk stage with A. zeae. In an evaluation of cultural antagonism between 

13 isolates of A. zeae in pairings with A. flavus and F. verticillioides, A. zeae 

NRRL 6415 and NRRL 34556 produced the strongest reaction, inhibiting both organisms 

at a distance while continuing to grow through the resulting clear zone at 

an unchanged rate. The potential significance of pyrrocidines in A. zeae interactions 

with fungal or bacterial pathogens of maize is considered. This is the first report 

of natural products from Acremonium zeae. poster 

Wilson, Andrew W.* and Hibbett, David S. Clark University Biology, 950 Main 

St., Worcester, MA 01610, USA. anwilson@clarku.edu. Toward a phylogeny of 

the Sclerodermatineae with emphasis on the taxonomic position of 

Calostoma. 

The suborder Sclerodermatineae is a diverse group of gasteroid basidiomycetes 

that form a monophyletic group within the Boletales. This group is represented 

by a number of morphologically distinct genera, including Scleroderma, 

Calostoma, Astraeus, and Gyroporus, among others. The gasteroid genus 

Calostoma represents a unique fruiting structure, with its gelatinized tissues and 

wide variety of spore morphologies. Previous phylogenetic studies position 

Calostoma alongside genera such as Gyroporus (non-gasteroid) and Astraeus 

(earth-star like). Only two species of Calostoma from North America, out of the 

nearly 28 spp. worldwide, have ever been used for phylogenetic analysis. The primary 

goal of this study is to create a comprehensive phylogeny of the Sclerodermatineae 

and define Calostoma’s position within the suborder. This study will 

sample 40 Sclerodermatineae species, including 8 Calostoma species, from which 

six genetic loci identified in the Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life (AFTOL) 

project will be collected. A preliminary analysis utilizing all six AFTOL loci from 

a subset of 12 Sclerodermatineae taxa is being conducted now. The preliminary 

analysis will help determine which loci are most appropriate for sequencing in all 

40 taxa. This presentation will outline the results of this preliminary analysis and 

the implications for future study of the Sclerodermatineae. poster 

Winder, Richard S.* and Ka, Kang-Hyeon. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian 

Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 W. Burnside Rd., Victoria, B.C. 

V8Z1M5 CANADA. Fungal indicators of disturbance and productivity in 

forests of Vancouver Island. 

Fungi are potentially useful indicators of sustainable forest growth, particularly 

where regulators must evaluate the safety of pest control or other forest management 

practices. At the Pacific Forestry Centre, we are searching for microbial 

indicators of forest soil health, including fungi. Field studies were conducted at 

two Levels of Growing Stock (LOGS) sites on Vancouver island, each containing 

replicated plots with various levels of applied thinning. One site (Shawnigan 

Lake, B.C.) is relatively unproductive, while the other site (Sayward, B.C.) is relatively 

productive. During the autumn and spring of 2004-2005, mushrooms 

from 45 genera and 102 species were observed at Shawnigan Lake, while 46 genera 

and 109 species were observed at Sayward. In the Sayward plots , some fungi 

such as Cantharellus formosus, and Lactarius rubrilacteus fruited only in the control 

plots, while others such as Armillaria spinapina only fruited in the thinned 

plots. At Shawnigan Lake, fungi including Cortinarius cinnamomeus and Pluteus 

cervinus) fruited only control plots, while Hypholoma capnoides only fruited 

in the thinned plots. Soil DNA amplified by PCR with primers targeting fungal 

ITS regions has been subjected to DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel 

Electrophoresis). DGGE has produced electrophoretic bands unique to control or 

clear-cut stands; these bands are currently being sequenced. By continuing to accumulate 

information in thinned stands and other sites, we hope to eventually separate 

the signal of background effects, such as site productivity, tree removal, or 

tree retention, from other disturbances or impacts. poster 

Winder, Richard S.* and Keefer, Michael E. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian 

Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, 506 W. Burnside Rd., Victoria, B.C. 

V8Z1M5 Canada Cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic studies of Morchella 

elata (Black morel) in British Columbia. 

Morels are a well-known non-timber forest product (NTFP) in burned 

forests of the Pacific Northwest. This study characterized 1) the cultural growth 

of Morchella elata collected in 2003 on Vancouver Island, 2) the ecology of M. 

elata in vast burned areas of the East Kootenay region during 2004, and 3) the socioeconomic 

status of morel pickers in the E. Kootenay. Sucrose, mannose, and 

lactose were optimal substrates, but some isolates grew poorly in some composite 

media. Growth was best in a composite medium containing 1:1 sucrose:mannose. 

Faster growth correlated with the length of the parental pileus, and ascocarps 

that initially produced dormant or abortive colonies produced thriving 

colonies after storage at 20 o C for 96 wk. In liquid cultures adjusted with KOH, 

growth was optimal at pH 7.0, and was relatively sensitive to more acidic or al- 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

kaline pH. In the E. Kootenay region, fires produced an average of 760 ascocarps 

/ ha, while areas devastated by mountain pine beetle produced ca. 120 ascocarps 

/ ha. Production was highest in areas where 50-60% of the duff layer was consumed. 

Overall commercial production from the area was ca. 122 metric tons, 

one third of it dried. Although morel habitat was very heterogeneous, preliminary 

measurements indicated a tendency of ascocarps to associate with members of the 

Rosaceae (e.g. Spirea betulifolia) and other plants such as Erythronium grandiflorum. 

During 2004, 27 morel pickers were surveyed at buying stations near the 

burns. Pickers earned $ 90 - $ 7,500 (CDN), averaging $175/day. Half of the 

pickers had not picked the previous year, but half also reported harvesting other 

NTFPs. poster 

Wingfield, Brenda D. 1 *, Coetzee, Martin 1 , Maphosa, Lance 1 , Mwenje, Eddie 2 and 

Wingfield, Michael J. 1 . 1 Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural 

Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South 

Africa, 2 Dept. Applied Biology, National University of Science and Technology, 

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Brenda.Wingfield@fabi.up.ac.za. African Armillaria 

species: increasingly better understood. 

Modern DNA-based techniques have made identification of Armillaria 

species considerably less subjective. However, linking DNA sequences or RFLP 

profiles to species described based on morphology is possible only if appropriate 

herbarium material is available. In the case of many isolates obtained from a wide 

variety of African countries, the available herbarium material does not lend itself 

to DNA analysis. In addition, morphological descriptions of Armillaria basidiocarps 

are often incomplete or ambiguous. This has resulted in confusion as to the 

number of Armillaria spp. occurring in Africa. A question that is particularly contentious 

concerns the relationship between A. heimii and A. fuscipes. We present 

an overview of the Armillaria spp. found in Africa and examine the DNA evidence 

(sequence, RFLPs and AFLPs) for the different species. We show that A. 

mellea is present in Africa but that it most likely entered the continent a number 

of times via the activities of humans. We further suggest that A. heimii and A. 

fuscipes represent the same taxon but that a number of other undescribed Armillaria 

spp. also occur in Africa. contributed presentation 

Winsett, Katherine E.*, Rajguru, Satyendra, Silberman, Jeffrey and Stephenson, 

Steven L. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 

72701 USA. kwinset@uark.edu. Genetic variation in local and widespread 

populations of myxomycetes. 

Myxomycetes (also called plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) are eukaryotic 

protists whose classification is based almost entirely on the morphology 

of the fruiting body and spores. Many of the described species appear to be cosmopolitan, 

but the level of genetic variation within local populations and the extent 

of gene flow between geographically widespread populations of the same 

morphospecies are not yet understood. The data for this project were obtained 

from specimens of Didymium squamulosum collected from localities on several 

continents, and the variation revealed by a preliminary study of the DNA sequence 

data suggests a more complex situation than might be anticipated from a 

consideration of observable morphological differences. These molecular data and 

previously published studies of reproductive compatibility suggest that there is an 

appreciable degree of genetic distinction among geographically separated specimens 

that would be classified as the same morphological species. It remains to be 

seen if many of the myxomycetes regarded as cosmopolitan are, instead, complexes 

of cryptic species. (Supported in part by two grants from the National Science 

Foundation.) contributed presentation 

Winter, Melanie D.* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University of 

Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

winter.mela@students.uwlax.edu. “Rediscovery” of C.W. Hesseltine’s PhD 

thesis on the Mucorales (Zygomycota). 

Although Dr. C.W. Hesseltine is probably best known for his work in food 

and industrial mycology, his 1950 doctoral thesis, “A revision of the Mucorales 

based especially upon a study of the representatives of this order in Wisconsin”, 

was a far-reaching, 568 page, 2-volume study. Besides a history of their everchanging 

classification, Hesseltine also proposed possible evolutionary relationships 

between the genera that are now being substantiated through modern genetic 

methods. However, the most striking accomplishments in this work are the 

extensive identification keys. Keys distinguishing the families Choanephoraceae, 

Cunninghamellaceae, Mortierellaceae, Pilobolaceae, and Thamnidiaceae are included. 

Even more impressive are the keys to 30 genera including Absidia, 

Choanephora, Circinella, Cunninghamella, Mortierella, Mucor, Mycotypha, 

Phycomyces, Pilobolus, Rhizopus, Spinellus, Syzygites, Thamnidium, and Zygorhynchus. 

These keys are exceptional because the primary characteristics they 

use are from the asexual state. This makes them much more practical, since most 

species, especially heterothallic species, will not form zygospores under typical 

laboratory conditions. Despite the scale of his work, many mycologists remain 

unaware of it. Through this presentation, hopefully more will become aware of 

and appreciate Hesseltine’s impressive and exhaustive study. poster 


Wong, Valerie. Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, 321 Koshland Hall, 

University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. vwong@uclink.berkeley.edu. 

Seduction of mycorrhizal fungi: characterizing an epiparasitic 

model for plant-fungal networks. 

Plant-fungal mycorrhizal networks are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems 

and influence ecosystem structure. These extremely complex networks involve a 

unique degree of connectivity among a multitude of organisms. Individual plants 

typically host many mycorrhizal fungi, and each fungus colonizes a number of 

plants. Epiparasitic plants are non-photosynthetic and obtain all of their fixed carbon 

from surrounding photosynthetic plants through a shared mycorrhizal fungus. 

In doing so, epiparasites reverse the normal direction of net carbon flow in mycorrhizal 

interactions and apparently cheat one of the most widespread mutualisms 

in terrestrial ecosystems. Epiparasitic interactions represent extremes in a continuum 

of plant-fungal interactions within mycorrhizal symbioses. I propose to investigate 

the molecular basis of these interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and 

epiparasitic plants. My approach will involve constructing a genomic shotgun microarray 

for Rhizopogon salebrosus (section Amylopogon). Using genomic 

clones will avoid the high copy and developmental stage biases often found in 

cDNA arrays. This microarray will be the first of its kind for mycorrhizal fungi 

and will serve as an important and versatile tool for further studies. I will use it 

to characterize the transcriptional changes in R. salebrosus as it establishes mycorrhizae 

with the epiparasitic plant Pterospora andromedea through the following 

stages of seed germination: pre-contact, cracked seed coat, swollen seed, and 

radicle formation. This will greatly expand our understanding of not only mycoheterotrophic 

interactions but also inform our understanding of epiparasitic mycorrhizal 

interactions. poster 

Wong, Yiu-Kwong*, Lee, Pui-Nin, Gong, Jun, Yu, Stephen and Chiu, Siu-Wai. 

Environmental Science Programme, and Dept. of Biology, The Chinese University 

of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. SWChiu@cuhk.edu.hk. Production 

of citrinin-free statin-containing Monascus biomass and novel water-soluble 

Monascus pigments with anti-cancer effects by submerged 

fermentation. 

Monascus purpurus-fermented rice is a traditional Chinese medicine for 

improving blood circulation and invigorating digestion. The lipophilic Monascus 

pigments with strong antioxidation capacity can be applied as food colorants and 

preservative substitute. Yet during fermentation, Monascus often produces citrinin, 

a nephrotoxin, heptatoxin and carcinogen. By formulating a cultivation 

medium and manipulating the fermentation condition, a citrinin-free fermentation 

protocol was developed. The Monascus biomass generated was rich in minerals, 

proteins and dietary fiber, and bore red color and strong cheese-flavor. It also contained 

the beneficial lovastatin, GABA and squalene and other terpenes. 

Monascus also secreted a novel highly water-soluble red pigment which showed 

higher stabilities than the reported Monascus pigments. Both novel Monascus 

products were non-toxic, and possessed anti-proliferation property against liver 

and prostate cancer cells via induction of apoptosis. poster 

Woolfolk, Sandra W.*, Baird, Richard E. and Goodman, Daisy M. Department of 

Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, USA. 

woolfolk@entomology.msstate.edu. Fungi associated with fire ants and 

mounds in Mississippi: an effort to discover potential biological control 

agent(s). 

Fire ant is one of the major pests throughout southeastern of the United 

States. This aggressive pest is difficult to control and has caused problems in agricultural 

settings as well as human and animals. Area-wide control efforts are currently 

being conducted in the midsouth area. As a part of the control efforts, in Mississippi 

we are conducting a study to determine fungi present in hybrid/black 

imported and red imported fire ant mounds. Once identified, many of the isolates, 

particularly those which were shown to be pathogens for other insects, will be tested 

for their potential as biological control agents. Fungi were isolated from four 

counties inhabited by hybrid/black imported fire ants and three counties inhabited 

by red imported fire ants in Mississippi. Identification using standard mycological 

references showed the following taxa were associated with the fire ants and 

mounds: Cytosporella, F. graminearum, Fusarium sambusinum, Gloeosporium, 

Macrophoma, Mucor, Nigrosphora sphaerica, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, 

Phoma, Pythium, Rhinocladiella, Rhizopus, Speggazina, Trichoderma, and Tubercularia. 

Identification is currently in progress and confirmation of identification 

will be conducted for each representative isolate using molecular technique. poster 

Woolfolk, Sandra W. 1 *, Cohen, Allen C. 2 and Inglis, G. Douglas 3 . 1 Department 

of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, 

USA, 2 Insect Diet and Rearing Institute, P.O. Box 65708, Tucson, AZ 85728, 

USA, 3 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge AB T1J 4B1, Canada. 

woolfolk@entomology.msstate.edu. Morphology of the alimentary canal of 

Chrysoperla rufilabris adults: Do those yeasts play roles in nutritional provision 

to lacewings? 

An internal morphology study of the alimentary canal of Chrysoperla rufilabris 

adults in relation to yeast symbionts was conducted utilizing scanning and 


transmission electron, and epifluorescence microscopy. The alimentary canal 

adults possessed a large diverticulum at the posterior end of the foregut. Although 

yeast cells were distributed throughout the gut, large numbers of yeasts were observed 

to accumulate within the diverticulum. Large tracheal trunks were attached 

to the lateral side of the diverticulum suggesting a high demand for gas exchange 

within this organ. However, the diverticulum was lined with cuticle, and the underlying 

tissues indicated that minimal absorption occurs within this gut region. 

This suggests that the high potential for gas exchange in the diverticulum is primarily 

to support yeast metabolic activity. Observation with fluorescence particles 

indicated that the foregut and/or diverticulum do not possess an absolute mechanism 

for retaining particles based on size. The presence of large numbers of yeast 

cells in between hairs of proventriculus suggests that the proventriculus may play 

a role in retention of yeast cells. The midgut possessed typical absorptive structures. 

Since evidence indicated no or minimal absorption of nutrients within the 

diverticulum, nutrients provided by the yeasts must be transferred to the midgut 

where absorption occurs. poster 

Woolley, Lance P.* and Henkel, Terry W. Department of Biological Sciences, 

Humboldt State University, Arcata, California 95521, USA. 

twh5@humboldt.edu. The role of the heart rot fungus Phellinus robustus in 

shoot turnover and long-term development of the multi-stemmed, tropical 

monodominant tree Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae). 

Preliminary investigations examined the the role of the heart rot fungus 

Phellinus robustus (Karst.) Bourd. & Galz. in the structural development of the 

multi-stemmed, monodominant tree Dicymbe corymbosa Spruce ex Benth. in the 

Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana. Dicymbe corymbosa persistently produced reiterated 

shoots resulting in large individual trees with multiple stems of various 

size classes. Turnover of canopy shoots may be driven by Phellinus heart rot, 

which occurred in nearly 100% of fallen shoots. Canopy shoot turnover and subsequent 

reiteration may allow for prolonged survival of mature D. corymbosa individuals, 

promoting continual canopy coverage and a clumped distribution. By 

circumventing gap-phase dynamics, successive reiteration may reduce the ability 

of other species to establish and maintain themselves in monodominant stands. 

The reiterative capacity of D. corymbosa may be an evolutionarily-derived response 

to the high incidence of Phellinus heart rot. poster 

Worrall, James J. 1 *, Johnston, Barry C. 2 and Adams, Gerard C. 3 1 USDA Forest 

Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Forest Health Management, Gunnison CO 

81230, USA, 2 USDA Forest Service, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison 

National Forests, Gunnison, CO 81230, USA, 3 Department of Plant Biology, 

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. jworrall@fs.fed.us. 

Dieback and mortality of Alnus in the southern Rocky Mountains. 

Poor condition of thinleaf alder (Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia) has been 

noted in the Southern Rocky Mtns. in recent years. To quantify the extent and 

severity, and gather data that may suggest a cause, we surveyed watersheds that 

had alder and were at least partly in Colorado. Of 6,503 standing stems (>= 3 cm 

DBH) inspected, 34% were live and healthy, 29% live with dieback, and 37% 

were dead. Alder condition was unrelated to geographic area, elevation, distance 

to stream, and distance to road. Alder clumps with the most dieback and mortality 

also had low numbers of sprouts. Transects with full sun exposure had significantly 

poorer alder condition than transects in full shade. Cytospora canker appears 

to be consistently associated with dieback and mortality. Isolates clustered 

into a distinct clade in phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-rDNA sequence. Cytospora 

isolates from other studies of alder were unrelated. Morphological and 

phylogenetic studies helped differentiate the Cytospora state from similar species; 

preliminary results indicate the pathogen is Valsa melanodiscus. This disease is 

usually associated with plant stress. Other potential causes are climate dynamics, 

bark beetles, wood borers, alder phytoplasma, and alder Phytophthora (though 

preliminary isolations were negative and symptoms are not consistent). poster 

Wu, Mei-Lee 1 and Yu-Zhi Su 2 . 1 Graduate School of Environmental Education, 

Taipei Municipal Teachers’ College, 2 Institute of Life Science, National Kaohsiung 

Normal University, Taiwan. wuml@mail1.tmtc.edu.tw. Discomycetes from 

Tengjhih and Shanping, Taiwan. 

Most of the saprophytic discomycetes were reported recently from northern 

Taiwan. Therefore southern mountain areas of Taiwan including Tengjhih and 

Shanping had been selected for investigating the flora of discomycetes since September, 

2004. Total 317 samples including 9 terricolous, 10 foliicolous, 73 

pteridicolous, 129 lignicolous, 40 grassicolous as well as 23 samples from gymnosperms 

and 33 from bamboos had been collected. Twenty-one species from 10 

genus, 8 families and 4 orders were identified. Among the above 21 species Lachnum 

brasiliense, Lachnum oncospermatium and Lachnum sclerotii were abundant 

in the warm season while Clavidisculum acuum and Lachnum abnormis 

were abundant in the cold season. However, Lachnum controversum, Lachnum 

pteridophyllum, Lachnum lanariceps and Baeomyces absolutes were dominant 

either from cold or warm months. Clavidisculum acuum, Lachnum 

blechnophilum and Lachnum lanariceps were reported for the first time in Taiwan 

from this study. Besides photographs of macroscopic and microscopic morphologies 

of the newly reported species, the ecological distribution of the species collected 

from the above two areas will be also discussed in detail. poster 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

Yaguchi, Takashi 1 *, Horie, Yoshikazu 2 , Tanaka, Reiko 1 , Matsuzawa, Tetsuhiro 1 

and Nishimura, Kazuko 1 . 1 Res. Ctr. for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, 

Chiba Univ., 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan, 2 Natural 

History Museum and Inst., Chiba, 123 Yoshio, Katsuura, Chiba 299-5242, Japan. 

t-yaguchi@faculty.chiba-u.jp. Classification of pathogenic Aspergillus Section 

Fumigati. 

About 300 strains identified as A. fumigatus and related species by morphology 

and preserved at Chiba Univ. were reexamined. First, those strains were 

genotyped based on electric flow patterns by RAPD analysis. About 95% of 

strains had a typical RAPD pattern and strains with atypical patterns were selected. 

Analyses of the sequences on beta-tubulin gene, the hydrophobin gene and the 

ITS region of some strains of A. fumigatus with a typical RAPD pattern, all strains 

with atypical patterns and related species were performed. Then, the correlation 

between molecular phylogeny and micromorphology of conidia by SEM was examined. 

As a result, the strains with a typical RAPD pattern clustered together in 

a clade and had globose conidia with lobate-reticulate ornamentations. The strains 

with atypical ones were divided into two groups distant from the clade of strains 

with a typical one, and had conidia with microtuberculate ornamentations. They 

were distinguished from a typical A. fumigatus on molecular phylogeny and micromorphology. 

poster 

Yamaguchi, Kaoru*, Nakagiri, Akira, Okane, Izumi and Ito, Tadayoshi. Biological 

Resource Center (NBRC), Department of Biotechnology, NITE, 2-5-8, 

Kazusakamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818, Japan. yamaguchikaoru@nite.go.jp. 

Phylogenetic analysis of aero-aquatic fungi, Diplocladiella 

and Candelabrum, based on rDNA sequences. 

Based on the sequences of 18S rDNA and D1/D2 region of 28S rDNA, we 

analyzed phylogeny of the two genera of aero-aquatic fungi, Diplocladiella and 

Candelabrum, which have been frequently isolated from Japan. The results suggested 

that Diplocladiella is an anamorph with affinity to Loculoascomycetes and 

that two new species, which are distinguishable in morphology from other known 

species, are included in our isolates. Phylogenetic trees showed Candelabrum 

species are separated into two groups in Ascomycota. One group including the 

type species, C. spinulosum clustered within Helotiales and the other group with 

C. brocchiatum nested in Pyrenomycetes clade. The polyphyly of the genus may 

be reflected in the difference of the morphology of conidia, especially their shape 

and mode of branching. Molecular and morphological data also suggested a new 

species of Candelabrum is included in our isolates. poster 

Yamaguchi, Yuichi*, Masuma, Rokuro, Uchida, Ryuji, Tomoda, Hiroshi and 

Omura, Satoshi. Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University and Kitasato 

Institute, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan. yyamagu@lisci.kitasato-u.ac.jp. 

Fungal strain FKI-1778, a producer of new antibiotics 

sesquicillins, isolated from mangrove mud. 

In the course of our search for new antibiotics from subtropical microorganisms, 

fungal strain FKI-1778, isolated from mangrove mud, was found to produce 

four new antibiotics, sesquicillins B to E together with known sesquicillin. 

The structures of sesquicillins were elucidated by spectropic studies including various 

NMR experiments. All sesquicillins have a common pyrano- diterpene skeleton. 

New sesquicillins B to E showed insecticidal activity against Artemina salina 

(brine shrimps) and caused the S phase arrest in Jurkat cells. On agar media the 

producing fungus showed white conidiomata, that had frill-like decoration of 

conidia, so the strain FKI-1778 was considered to belong to the genus Albophoma. 

Only one species A. yamanashiensis Kobayashi, Masuma, Omura et 

Watanabe for the genus was reported. Furthermore, their morphological characteristics, 

sequencing data of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS region) and 

metabolite profile by LC/UV were compared. Strain FKI-1778 were 95-350 mm 

(av. 170 mm, n=30) in conidiomatal length, 1.5-2.2 mm (av. 2.0 mm, n=30) in 

conidial length, 50-70 nm frill-like structure length. Albophoma yamanashiensis 

FO-2546 were 125-360 mm (av. 215 mm, n=30) in conidiomatal length, 2.0-3.0 

mm (av. 2.4 mm, n=30) in conidial length, 150-250 nm frill-like structure length. 

Strain FKI-1778 could be particularly distinguished from A. yamanashiensis by 

its frill-like structure. Comparison of the ITS 1 and 2, total length 321 bp excluding 

gaps showed that the sequence similarity between them was 92.5% with 24 

bp differences. Sequence analysis of rDNA ITS 1 and 2 supported their distinction 

in morphological analyses. Furthermore, the metabolites of strain FKI-1778 

and A. yamanashiensis FO-2546 were compared by LC/UV analysis. 

Sesquicillin, sesquicillin B, C, D and E were detected in the culture broth of FKI- 

1778, while they were not detected in the culture broth of A. yamanashiensis. The 

whole chromatographic profiles by LC/UV were also different. Taken together, it 

was concluded that strain FKI-1778 differs from A. yamanashiensis, proposing 

that the strain FKI-1778 is a new species. poster 

Yamaguchi, Yuichi, Masuma, Rokuro*, Kim, Yong-Pil, Uchida, Ryuji, Tomoda, 

Hiroshi and Omura, Satoshi. Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University 

and Kitasato Institute, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, 

Japan. masuma@lisci.kitasato-u.ac.jp. Taxonomy and secondary metabolites 

of Pseudobotrytis sp. FKA-25 from Yakushima Island. 



MSA ABSTRACTS 

We have studied various fungi as a screening source for useful bioactive 

compounds. Fungal strain FKA-25, isolated from forest soil collected in Yakushima 

Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, was assigned to genus Pseudobotrytis 

based on its morphological characteristics. Conidiophores were erect, swollen at 

the end of the tip, and gave rise to umbellate conidiogenous cells that were in an 

expanded denticulate portion at the end and formed ellipsoidal to clavate conidia 

in sympodial succession. Identification as Pseudobotrytis terrestris was made on 

the basis of the character of 1-septate conidium. Though Pseudobotrytis terrestrisis 

distributed widely in nature, its isolation has been rarely reported in Japan. Furthermore, 

no secondary metabolites have been reported from the genus 

Pseudobotrytis. The culture broth of strain FKA-25 was analyzed, leading to isolation 

of four secondary metabolites A to D. From the structure elucidation, 

metabolites B to D were identified as FK-17-p2a, lunatinin, and 3,4-dihydro- 

3,4,8-trihydroxy-1(2H)-naphthalenone, respectively. Metabolite A was found to 

be a new compound designated Sespendole possessing a unique indole-sesquiterpene 

skeleton. Sespendole showed inhibitory activity against lipid droplet accumulation 

in macrophages. poster 

Yamaoka, Naoto* and Matsumoto, Isao. Lab. of Plant Pathology, Ehime University, 

Matsuyama 790-8566, Japan. yamaokan@agr.ehime-u.ac.jp. The role of 

primary germ tube for the life cycle of Blumeria graminis. 

The conidia of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), following contact 

with the host surface, first form a short germ tube, called the primary germ tube 

(PGT), and then second, an elongating germ tube emerges. It differentiates into 

the appressorial germ tube (AGT), and then the AGT elongates and swells. It 

forms a hooked, appressorial lobe that penetrates the epidermal cell wall of the 

host. In a series of infections, the positive role of PGT for morphogenesis of the 

fungus is unclear except for the possibility reported by Carver and Ingerson that 

the growth of a long germ tube, with the potential to differentiate an appressorium, 

seems to be dependent on the perception of a suitable host surface through 

contact with the PGT. Therefore, the aim of the present studies is to further clarify 

the role of PGT for morphogenesis of the fungus. When the conidia of Bgh 

were inoculated onto the coleoptile surface whose cuticle was removed with cellulose 

acetate, the emergence of the AGT was delayed. This delay was related 

with the length of PGT, that is, on the cuticleless coleoptile surface, the PGT tended 

to continue elongating without stopping. If there were gaps on the coleoptile 

surface such as a cell border, the PGT stopped elongating there and after that AGT 

emerged. Therefore, it is necessary for the trigger of AGT emergence to stop the 

PGT elongation. poster 

Yamaoka, Yuichi 1 *, Masuya, Hayato 2 , Chung, Wen-Hsin 1 , Goto, Hideaki 3 , To- 

Anun, Chaiwat 4 and Tokumasu, Seiji 1 . 1 Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. 

of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan, 2 Forestry and Forest Products Research 

Institute (FFPRI), Tsukuba 305-8687, Japan, 3 Kyusyu Branch of FFPRI, Kumamoto 

860-0862, Japan, 4 Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, 

Chiang Mai University, Chiangmai 50200, Thailand. 

yyamaoka@sakura.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp. Ophiostoma species with Leptographium 

anamorph isolated from pines invaded by bark beetles in Thailand and 

Japan. During survey of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles invading 

pines, Leptographium yunnanense was isolated from Pinus kesiya in Thailand 

and Pinus densiflora in Japan. Teleomorph state was obtained from a cross between 

isolates of the fungus. Ascocarps are black, globose to subglobose , 206- 

349 X 206-357 µm in diam lacking neck. Ascospores are hyaline, 1-celled surrounded 

by hyaline sheaths, appearing cucullate in side view, 5.6-7.2 X 2.8-4.0 

µm, quadrangular in face view, triradiate in end view. We consider the present 

fungus as a new species. poster 

Yamashita, Satoshi 1,2 * and Hijii, Naoki 1 . 1 Laboratory of Forest Protection, Graduate 

School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, 

Japan, 2 Present Address: Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), 

335 Takashima-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0878, Japan. satosiy@chikyu.ac.jp. 

Loss of lamellae does not significantly reduce Collybia sp. 

spore count. 

To examine the effects of loss of lamellae on the number of spores discharged, 

we collected 28 fruiting bodies of Collybia sp. such as C. dryophila in a 

Japanese red pine forest and estimated the daily discharge from each fruiting 

body. We divided the fruiting bodies into four groups according to the extent of 

loss of lamellae and the developmental stage: sound at early stage (n = 11); sound 

at late stage (n = 8); damaged at early stage (n = 5); and damaged at late stage (n 

= 4). We found a heavy loss of lamellae on four fruiting bodies, which lost more 

than 2/3 of the lamellae on the pileus in orthogonal projection area. The daily discharge 

of spores from each of the sound and damaged fruiting bodies ranged from 

31 250 to 95 317 500. The result of ANCOVA showed that neither the developmental 

stage nor the loss of lamellae significantly affected the number of spores 

discharged. We suggest that under natural conditions, loss of lamellae has little effect 

on the number of discharged spores of Collybia sp., probably because of insect 

feeding. poster 


Yamato, Masahide. Biological Environment Institute, Kanso Technos Co., Ltd., 

8-4 Ujimatafuri, Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan. yamato_masahide@kanso.co.jp. 

Morphology and ecology of arbuscular and orchid mycorrhizas. 

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is morphologically divided into two types, 

Arum and Paris type. The Arum type was dominantly found in herbaceous plants 

in a vacant land and seedlings of pioneer woody plants in an oil palm plantation, 

whereas the Paris type was dominant in understory plants in deciduous 

broadleaved forests. These results suggest that the Arum type could be advantageous 

to the fast-growing plants, while the Paris type is advantageous to slow 

growers in shaded condition. The hyphal coils of mycorrhizal fungi, which are 

similar to those of Paris type AM, are also formed in orchid mycorrhiza (OM). It 

was first shown in this study that Coprinus and Psathyrella in Coprinaceae form 

OM in an achlorophyllous orchid, Epipogium roseum. Most of the coiled hypae 

of the mycorrhizal fungi in E. roseum were found to be degenerated. In OM, it is 

well known that nutrients including carbon compounds are transferred from mycorrhizal 

fungi to orchids. Mycorrhizal fungus of an achlorophyllous plant 

Sciaphila tosaensis forming Paris-type AM was revealed to be Glomus sp. by 

fungal isolation and molecular analysis. The degeneration of coiled hyphae was 

found in this mycorrhiza, which was similar to that of OM. The intact and/or the 

degenerated coiled hyphae of the Paris-type AM in S. tosaensis were assumed to 

have the function to transfer the carbon compounds from AM fungi to the plant. 

MSJ Research Encouragement Award Lecture. 

Yoshida, Kouta 1 *, Yamada, Akiyoshi 1 , Murata, Hitoshi 2 and Kobayashi, Hisayasu 

3 . 1 Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minami-minowa, Nagano 399- 

4598, Japan, 2 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 

305-8687, Japan, 3 Ibaraki Prefectural Forestry Center, Naka-machi, Ibaraki 311- 

0122, Japan. akiyosh@gipmc.shinshu-u.ac.jp. Mycorrhiza synthesis between 

Tricholoma matsutake and Pinaceae plants. 

Tricholoma matsutake, one of the most commercially important edible ectomycorrhizal 

mushrooms in the world, has been established the technique for in 

vitro mycorrhization with the Japanese red pine, Pinus densiflora. Although several 

other Pinaceae species have been reported their mycorrhization with T. matsutake 

in vitro, another combination is desired from the viewpoint of suitable tree 

species for transplantation at the local scale. In vitro mycorrhiza syntheses were 

conducted between T. matsutake and three Pinaceae plants, i.e. Pinus koraiensis, 

Pinus parviflora, and Picea abies. Five months after cultivation of the seedlings 

with T. matsutake myeclium, fine roots were observed under the microscope. All 

three combinations showed ectomycorrhizal features, i.e. fungal sheath and Hartig 

net structure at the root cortex. poster 

Yoshimi, Akira 1 *, Shimizu, Kiminori 2 , Kojima, Kaihei 3, 4 , Takano, Yoshitaka 3 , 

Kawamoto, Susumu 2 and Tanaka, Chihiro 1 . 1 Laboratory of Environmental Mycoscience, 

Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, 

Japan, 2 Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba 

University, Chiba, 260-8673, Japan, 3 Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Graduate 

School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan, 4 Present address: 

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University 

Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. akira@remach.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp. 

Functional comparison of the group III histidine kinases in ascomycetous 

and basidiomycetous fungi. 

In many filamentous fungi including a model ascomycetous fungus Neurospora 

crassa and a maize pathogenic ascomycete Cochliobolus heterostrophus, 

the mutations of the group III histidine kinase (HK-III) genes resulted in resistance 

to dicarboximide- and phenylpyrrole-fungicides and also in increased osmosensitivity. 

In this presentation, we analyzed structure and function of CnNIK1 

encoding an HK-III from Cryptococcus neoformans, a human pathogenic basidiomycetous 

yeast, to ask whether the the HK-III in basidiomycete is involved in 

drug resistance and other features. The results revealed that CnNIK1 is also responsible 

for the phenylpyrrole sensitivity but not in osmo-resistance, suggesting 

that the HK-IIIs function similarly in terms of drug resistance in both ascomycete 

and basidiomycete, but not in case of osmo-tolerance. It has been shown that exposure 

to the phenylpyrrole led to improper activation of HOG1-type MAPKs in 

ascomycetous plant pathogens C. heterostrophus and Colletotrichum lagenarium. 

We analyzed the phosphorylation pattern of HOG1-type MAPKs of C. heterostrophus, 

C. neoformans and N. crassa to elucidate the relationship between 

HK-IIIs and the MAPKs in fungi in general. The results indicated that HK-IIIs 

positively regulate the activation of HOG1-type MAPKs in all fungi tested, suggesting 

that this signaling pathway is broadly conserved in the fungal kingdom. 

poster 

Yuan, G. F., Chu, W. S., Chen, C. C., Liaw, L. L. Chen, Y. P., Huang, L. N., Liua, 

T. D. and Liao, C. C. Food Industry Research and Development Institute, P.O. 

Box 246, Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. gfy@firdi.org.tw. Functional genomics 

study of Monascus spp. 

Monascus can produce various secondary metabolites useful as food additives 

and/or pharmaceuticals. A Monascus strain, BCRC 38072, isolated from red rice 

can produce monacolin K, a cholesterol serum synthesis inhibitor. The genome 


sequence of Monascus sp. BCRC 38072 was obtained by whole-genome shotgun 

of a variety of clone types at 11-fold sequence coverage. The Arachne package 

was used to assemble the genome sequence. A total of 673,853 highly qualified 

reads were input into the assembly program. The resulting draft consists of 709 

contigs, larger than 2 kb in length, with the total length of 26.8 Mb. Seventeen 

major supercontigs were assembled covering 94.8% of the whole assembly length 

and 422 ungrouped contigs were assembled in the rest 5.2%. The N50 lengths of 

supercontig and contig are 2.5 Mb and 224 Kb, respectively. With the aid of 13 

known BAC and fosmid contigs, the draft was aligned to 99.1% of the known 

contigs sequences. A total of 6,855 unigenes were generated from 41,453 EST 

reads. Positions of 8,840 introns with an average size of 79 bp were identified on 

the draft and the GT-AG rule was conserved in most exon-intron boundary. More 

than 1,000 genes are considered as novel since no significant hit was found in 

public databases. A proteomic analysis of a pigment producing strain, along with 

its albino mutant, has been performed to investigate proteins related to pigment 

production. A total of 117 protein spots with significantly differential expression 

were obtained. These protein spots were identified by tandem mass spectrometry 

and Mascot search system. An online Monascus spp. proteome database has been 

constructed by integrating 2-DE experimental data and mass spectrometric identification 

data. This proteomic analysis shall provide useful information for further 

analysis of secondary metabolites production in Monascus spp. Polyketide 

(PK) synthesis genes and their products are the focus of Monascus functional genomic 

studies. Series of PK related gene transformants were generated in 

Monascus spp. Besides the conventional PEG-mediated transformation and electroporation, 

Agrobacteria-mediated gene transfer system adapted from plant systems 

was established and successfully used in Monascus spp. with high efficiency. 

The monacolin k gene cluster of Monascus sp. BCRC 38072 was cloned and 

examined in detail. Individual genes of the gene cluster were transformed and expressed 

in E. coli. The transformants with portion of the nine genes of the cluster 

produce a polyketide-like product. symposium presentation 

Zhang, Ning 1 *, Geiser, David M. 2 and Smart, Christine D. 1 1 Dept. of Plant 

Pathology, NYSAES, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA, 2 Dept. of 

Plant Pathology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. 

nz35@cornell.edu. Molecular detection of Fusarium solani species complex 

using macroarray. 

Members of Fusiarum solani species complex (FSSC) are pathogens of a 

number of plants, ubiquitous saprophytes in soil, and opportunistic human 

pathogens. Morphologically similar, molecular phylogenetic studies revealed that 

there are more than 40 distinct lineages (phylogenetic species) in FSSC. In this 

study, we designed oligonucleotides from internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal 

RNA genes of 21 FSSC isolates in order to rapidly and accurately detect 

them from the field samples. Our hybridization results showed that the sensitivity 

and specificity of the array signals are dependent on the length and melting temperature 

of the oligomers. The 70-mers usually are able to discriminate three nucleotide 

mismatches, while the 20-mers with melting temperatures of 53 C-56 C 

are able to discriminate a single nucleotide mismatch with the target DNA. Our 

optimized array is able to distinguish FSSC down to species level and even infraspecies 

level for certain groups. poster 

Zhou, Shuang* and Anagnost, Susan E. Faculty of Construction Management and 

Wood Products Engineering, State University of New York, College of Environmental 

Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. szhou@syr.edu. Morphological 

and molecular studies of basidiomycetes isolated from utility poles 

and air samples. 

The identities of cultures of basidiomycetes are important to the population 

study of fungi in wood products and indoor air from “sick” buildings, two growing 

fields of interest. Yet, the difficulties of observing diagnostic microscopic cultural 

characters make identification prolonged and slow. With molecular biology 

techniques, morphology and phylogeny of seventy basidiomycete cultures isolat- 

MSA ABSTRACTS 

ed from utility poles and air samples in the city of Syracuse, NY were studied. 

Their ITS rDNA sequences were obtained using universal primers ITS4 and 

ITS5; phylogeny analysis was conducted using PAUP; cultural morphologies 

were observed using phase contrast illumination after phloxine staining. In our 

study, both morphology and molecular methods showed their strengths and limitations 

in identifying fungi. To use them complementarily was essential to my 

study. The basidiomycetes isolated from indoor air samples are wood-decay basidiomycetes, 

such as Trametes versicolor, Peniophora nuda/cinerea, Stereum 

sanguinolentum. The comparison of isolation numbers from indoor and outdoor 

air samples indicated a possible past water damage and on-going decaying of 

wood structures of the houses. Cultural characters and phylogeny of several representative 

genera will be presented. poster 

Zitomer, Nickolas C. 1 *, Geiser, David M. 1 , Archibald, D. D. 2 , Ward, T. J. 3 , O’- 

Donnell, Kerry 3 , Jones, A. D. 4 , Jimenez-Gasco, M. M. 1 and Kuldau, Gretchen A. 1 

1 Department of Plant Pathology, 2 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, 4 Department 

of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA, 

USA, 3 Microbial Genomics and Bioprocessing Research Unit, National Center 

for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA, Peoria, IL 61604-3999, USA. 

ncz103@psu.edu. HPLC-MS analysis of type-A trichothecene-producing 

fusaria for correspondence between toxin profiles and molecular phylogenetic 

groups. 

Trichothecenes are mycotoxins produced by many Fusarium species. 

Fusarium trichothecenes are generally divided into two categories, type A, which 

lack oxygen at the C-8 position and include T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol, and 

type B, which include nivalenol and deoxynivalenol. Phylogenetic relationships 

of trichothecene-producing fusaria (TPF) were inferred based on DNA sequences 

from seven gene regions, EF1-a translation elongation factor, phosphate permease, 

28SrDNA, Tri101, Tri4, Tri5, and B-tubulin, determined in isolates comprising 

the known species diversity of TPF. The TPF was found to represent a monophyletic 

group. Gene genealogies independently supported the existence of four 

major clades within the TPF, one of which represented a species complex that includes 

the major type B trichothecene producers Gibberella zeae and its relatives. 

Across all four clades, at least thirty species lineages were identified based on genealogical 

concordance. The production of five type A and five type B trichothecenes 

was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography and atmospheric 

pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS) in 

rice cultures of isolates representing the phylogenetic breadth of TPF. The production 

of type B trichothecenes was found to be widespread, occurring in species 

across the TPF, including species known only to be type A producers. contributed 

presentation 

Zuccaro, Alga 1 * and Mitchell, Julian, I. 2 1 Institut für Mikrobiologie, Technische 

Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany, 

2 University of Portsmouth, School of Biological Sciences, King Henry Building, 

Portsmouth PO1 2DY, England. a.zuccaro@tu-bs.de. Development and application 

of real-time PCR approach for detection and quantification of the marine 

fungus Acremonium fuci beta tubulin sequences from its algal host. 

A TaqMan real time quantitative PCR assay targeting the intron 3 of the beta 

tubulin gene was developed to monitor the colonization rate of the saprophytic marine 

fungus Acremonium fuci in algal host tissues. Twenty-one healthy-looking and 

six decaying Fucus serratus independent tissue samples of ten grams each were 

analysed. The results were concordant with those obtained using a conventional 

nested PCR amplification of 28S rDNA fungal sequences from algal tissue and 

DGGE analysis, as well as with the recovery rate of A. fuci isolates after culturing. 

The real time procedure showed a higher abundance of the fungus in the dead compared 

to the living tissues of the alga, suggesting a latency of the fungus in healthy 

tissues. This apparent latency may represent an adaptive strategy of the saprobe for 

rapid colonization of the decaying material. contributed presentation 


MYCOLOGICAL NEWS 

A Simple Blue Staining Technique for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal 

and Other Root-Inhabiting Fungi 

Vierheilig et al. (1998) published a method for staining 

the fungal symbiont in arbuscular mycorrhizae in which they 

used ink and vinegar to reduce the use of dangerous and noxious 

chemicals such as Trypan blue. Besides having obvious 

health and safety advantages, the method is useful for circumstances 

where access to chemicals is restricted or difficult, 

as in field studies, work in which young students are involved, 

or use by amateur mycologists or gardeners who 

might wish to examine organisms in roots. 

One disadvantage of the ink and vinegar method is that 

acetic acid is somewhat unpleasant to use because of its odor. 

Consequently, another safe method of acidifying the roots 

with a less odorous compound was sought. Using very dilute 

HCl gave good results (see Figure). If, hydrochloric acid is 

not available, other weak acids can be used. Trials with Tonic 

Water (SUGAR-FREE!) (pH measured at 3.7) worked perfectly, 

resulting in an even less hazardous method. However, 

in a laboratory setting, HCl is easy to obtain, and at the dilution 

suggested, relatively safe. Probably virtually any acidic 

liquid will suffice for the acidification process. 

In the original recipe, Vierheilig et al. used various inks, 

and found them to have different efficacies. One product not 

mentioned, but which gives excellent results (see Figure), is 

Parker Quink with SOLV-X®, a proprietary solvent that appears 

to assist with the staining. This has been found to be 

available in several different countries, including Mexico, the 

UK, and Belgium. Whichever ink is chosen, ensure it is permanent. 

For example, Quink also comes in a Royal Blue 

Washable version, which should not be used. 

Reagents 

For initial clearing of alkali-soluble pigments, 1 M KOH 

solution is used. If, for example, in the field, potassium hydroxide 

cannot be obtained, a proprietary caustic drain cleaner 

(these mainly consist of sodium hydroxide) can be diluted 

and used instead, but the result is not as good because the 

roots do not soften as much as with KOH. 

For roots that retain some pigment after alkali-clearing, 

an aqueous solution of 10 % household bleach (resulting in 

approximately 0.25 % sodium hypochlorite solution) works 

very well. Other bleaching agents, such as hydrogen peroxide 

can be used. 

The ink can be made up in 1 % HCl (or other acid) at 

1:50 v/v, or it can be added with a dropper directly to the 

roots after they are placed in the acidifying reagent. 

The Protocol 

1. Wash the roots with tapwater to remove soil particles 

and select those for staining. 


An arbuscular mycorrhiza between Plantago lanceolata 

and an un-named Chinese fungus stained with acidified 

Quink. An entry point with a hyphal coil and a colonization 

unit with abundant arbuscules is revealed. 

The mycorrhiza was provided by courtesy of Yuan Yuan 

Ling (China) and Mauritz Vestberg (Finland). 

2. On a hotplate or gas burner, bring the roots to the boil in 

the alkaline solution, and immediately remove the heat 

source (take extreme care and wear suitable safety goggles). 

It is also possible to use a microwave oven by 

placing the roots in about a 2-cm depth of reagent, starting 

the microwave on full power, and when boiling point 

is observed, immediately switching off. Alternatively, 

very hot (near-boiling) alkali solution can be added, or 

the roots can be heated in the alkali solution at about 60- 

80 C for 1 hour. If the roots are not heavily pigmented, 

they can just be left in cold KOH for 24 hours with quite 

a good result. 

3. Remove heat and leave to stand for a time up to 24 hours 

(minimum, for fine roots with very little pigmentation, 2 

hours). It seems to do little harm to leave most roots for 

a few days, although some of the finest roots will disintegrate. 

It is necessary to experiment with the system for 

the particular plant species being stained. 

4. Rinse briefly in tapwater to remove excess alkali. 

5. If the roots are still dark and opaque because of pigmentation 

(as in many woody perennials), they can be 

bleached whilst observing them under a dissecting microscope 

until the stele just becomes visible. The bleaching 

should be for the shortest possible time, as excessive 

bleaching reduces the staining efficacy. Transmitted 


light helps with observations in this process, though it is 

not essential. 

6. Acidify the roots with 1 % HCL or other acid. The acidification 

can be seen to work, because the roots lighten 

in color immediately. Move the roots to acidified ink or 

add ink by dropper directly to the acidified roots. 

The roots can be examined microscopically after about 

30 minutes, though staining generally improves over a longer 

period. It is best to leave them at least 4 hours, or preferably 

overnight. They can be kept in acidified glycerol + ink indefinitely. 

Destaining for a period of a few hours in acidified 

glycerol is recommended, resulting in improved clarity and 

contrast, but if one is in a hurry, the stained root fragments 

can be transferred immediately to a suitable mountant on microscope 

slides for observation. Polyvinyl alcohol lacto-glyc- 

Joan W. Bennett, Professor of Cell 

and Molecular Biology at Tulane University, 

was elected to the National Academy 

of Sciences in May. Election to the National 

Academy, which serves as a national 

advisory group on matters of science, 

engineering and medicine, is one of the 

highest honors bestowed across the sciences. 

Dr. Bennett will be only the second 

current Academy member in the Society, 

along with T.N. Taylor from the University 

of Kansas. 

Dr. Bennett is broadly known for her 

contributions in research, teaching and 

service. Her election to the National 

Academy recognizes her seminal contributions in the areas of 

fungal production of secondary metabolites and industrial microbiology. 

She is an active instructor with responsibilities 

for many courses, and her excellence in teaching and advising 

is recognized through numerous awards. Her record of 

service, to Tulane and to professional societies, is staggering. 

Dr. Bennett has co-edited five books, and served in an 

editorial capacity on twelve different journals and book series. 

MSA members may be best acquainted with Dr. Bennett 

from her service as Editor-in-Chief of MYCOLOGIA 


erol (PVLG) (Omar, Boland & Heather 1979) produces a 

semi-permanent mount (these last many years), or acidified 

glycerol can be used if there is no need for longer term 

preservation of specimens. 

This method reduces even more the use of unpleasant 

chemicals when compared with the ink and vinegar technique. 

Nevertheless, all health and safety recommendations 

and regulations must be followed when using acids, dilute or 

otherwise, or hot alkaline solutions. 

References: Omar, M. B., Bolland, L. & Heather, W. A. 

(1979). Bulletin of the British Mycological Society 13, 31- 

32.; Vierheilig, H., Coughlan, A.P., Wyss, U. & Piché, Y. 

(1998). Applied Environmental Microbiology 64, 5004-5007. 

Christopher Walker 

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 

c.walker@rbge.org.uk 

Joan Bennett Elected to the National Academy of Sciences 

Bennett 

from 2002-2004, a period of major 

changes in the journal, including an ownership 

transition from the New York 

Botanical Garden to the MSA, on-line 

publishing, and most significantly, the 

conversion from an all-paper to an allelectronic 

submission, review and publication 

system. Dr. Bennett oversaw all of 

this turmoil with aplomb, and with all of 

those changes now safely in place, it’s 

hard to imagine how it was managed in 

such a short time period. 

We cannot claim Dr. Bennett as ours 

alone, however. Among other positions in 

the American Society for Microbiology, 

she served as its President, and throughout her career has 

been instrumental in representing fungi in the broad realm of 

microbiology, particularly on an international level. She 

counts among the very small number of fungal biologists 

with membership in the National Academy, and she is certain 

to be a strong and effective advocate for mycology. So, it is 

both with pleasure and pride that we congratulate Joan on her 

election to the National Academy. 

David M. Geiser 

dmg17@psu.edu 



Introductory Mycology – Laboratory Review – MycoAlbum CD 

A year or so ago I decided it was time I put together a 

Family Photo Album CD so I could pass along the images of 

this and earlier generations of my family to my children and 

their children and so on down the ages! So! I searched around 

the web for what I thought was the best software of the day 

and persuaded my family to buy me a program called FlipAlbum 

as a Christmas gift. Armed with this software, I started 

the family album with obsessive vigour. 

I hadn’t been long into the project when it dawned on me 

that the program was not only much better than I had anticipated 

but was even better suited to fungi than to people and 

you don’t get any complaints about the quality of the scans. 

This being true, I put the family album on hold, transferred 

my efforts from Man (sensu lato!) to Moulds and started a 

CD ALBUM on fungi. As the saying goes ‘a wise man learns 

from other peoples mistakes - a fool from his own’. Unfortunately 

this simple truth has never impressed itself on my 

senses. So I played the ‘fool’ for a year or more and, as with 

many of my other projects, if I knew as much at the beginning 

as I did at the end, I could have done it in a fraction of 

the time. Apart from the learning curve, I kept changing my 

mind about what I wanted to include and the album just grew 

and grew and GREW. This naturally added considerably to 

my headaches. Indeed, it took me so long to complete the 

project that, a few months ago, the company came out with 

an update of the software even before I had mastered the original 

version. Isn’t that the way of it? 

To cut to the merry chase, I have nearly completed my 

album. The less than dazzling title is ‘Introductory Mycology 

- Laboratory Review’. It’s an A - Z visual treatment of most 

of the fungi covered in laboratory sessions of a classical 

course in introductory mycology (am I a generation too 

late?). All the illustrations are accompanied by short, simple, 

straightforward, explanatory annotations (a student’s delight). 

Hopefully the album will be useful not only to budding 

mycology students but also as comparatively painless review 

material for graduate students in Plant Pathology, Microbiology 

and also for many other biology professionals whose lack 

of appreciation or understanding of the massive impact of 

fungi on the real world never ceases to surprise me. 


FlipAlbum has a lot of excellent features. Indeed too 

many to comfortably consider here. I’ll stick them on my 

website soon for anyone with a compelling interest in dull 

reading (www.uoguelph.ca/~gbarron). The bottom line is that 

FlipAlbum is a powerful program for presenting visual information. 

For anyone who wants to make a family album or 

make their personal mycology course into an album this software 

is hard to beat. Want to put out an E-book on mushrooms 

of Gorky Park with projected sales of ten - this is the 

way to go. 

I did have a lot of problems initially with the album but 

the upgrade solved many of these. Some difficulties still remain 

but I’m working on these as I write. Those who have 

seen my album have been pleasantly surprised. Indeed a few 

have expressed awe and wonder (e.g. my wife). There are 

over 900 images on the CD (diagrams, photomicrographs, 

SEMs, macrophotographs etc.). The MycoAlbum CD has 

twice as many images as the APS CD on ‘Fundamentals of 

Fungi’ and, all going well, will sell for about 25% of the price 

even less for grad students. There are a few poor shots but 

most are pretty good, and a few are exceptional (I’m modest 

too!). The quality of the images and file sizes are several 

times that of web pictures and those at full screen size on a 

17” LCD monitor are impressive. The idea of the CD is to put 

it out in the lab and let the students browse through it as they 

need using bookmarks preselected by the instructor for that 

particular lab . This way they can see a good ‘reality’ image 

of what they are looking for in their own mounts. 

For your delight and edification I have persuaded Don 

Hemmes to showcase the MycoAlbum CD during the poster 

sessions at the Hilo meetings. There will be Ten Copies of the 

CD available for auction. Unfortunately, much as I would 

wish it, I will be unable to attend the Hilo meeting personally. 

Those who know me will understand my deep sense of regret 

on this issue. But who knows? If I can make a few dollars 

out of this stuff I might see you all in Montreal! At least 

if I can figure out a way to market this thing and I’m not tied 

up with the Family Album. 

George Barron 

gbarron@uoguelph.ca

MYCOLOGIST’S BOOKSHELF 

This issue of Inoculum contains one book review. Books received since May are listed followed by books 

received earlier. If you look on-line for the latest Inoculum, you will see the new books for review months 

before the hardcopy comes in the mail. When you review a book, then you may keep it! All requests for 

books to review should be sent to Dr. Amy Rossman at arossman@nt.ars-grin.gov. 

Macrofungi of North Korea Collected in 1982-1986 

Macrofungi of North Korea 

Collected in 1982-1986. W. 

Wojewoda, Z. Heinrich, & H. 

Komorowska. 2004. Polish 

Botancial Studies 18: 1-289. 

IB Publisher Polish Academy 

of Sciences. W. Szafer Institute 

of Botany, Lubica 46, PL-312- 

512, Kraków, Poland, email: 

ed-office@ib-pan.krakow.pl. 

Price: €50.00 plus postage. 

This volume includes 431 

species of fungi, primarily Basidiomycota 

plus 13 species of 

Ascomycota, based on materials collected during five expeditions 

to North Korea in 1982-1986. Of these, 259 species 

are reported for the first time from North Korea (Democratic 

People’s Republic of Korea). For each species, the information 

contains short descriptions of macro- and microscopic 

features, sites and substrata, accepted names and 

synonyms with basionym, and references concerning taxonomy 

and geographical distribution, especially in Asia. Microscopic 

elements of some species are illustrated in 152 figures 

of fine line drawings. Specimens were collected at 65 

sites, especially in representative mountains of North Korea: 

Kumgang-san Mts, mountains near Kaesong city, Myohyang-san 

Mts., Paekdu-san Mts., Ryongak-san Mt., Suiansan 

Mts and Taesong-san Mts. The characteristics of North 

Korean mycobiota are given in details. 

North Korea occupies 55% of the land area of the Korean 

peninsula and is divided from China to the north by the 

Amnok-gang (Amur) and Tuman-gang (Tumen) Rivers, and 

from a slight sliver of Russia to the extreme northeast by the 

Tuman-gang. A military wire fence marks the border with 

South Korea. The climate is similar to that in South Korea, 

but the winters are colder and drier. There are four distinct 

seasons with summer monsoon rains. Annual rainfall in the 

lowlands averages (600) 800-1000 mm, and in the mountains 

1000-1500 mm. The vegetation season in the northern part of 

the country lasts 5-6 months in the lowlands and 4-5 months 

in the mountains. North Korea has a diverse range of plants, 

with climatic regions that include zones of alpine mountains, 

coniferous forests, mixed forests, and deciduous forests, thus 

providing ideal environments for mycofloral studies. 

The fungi of North Korea have been little studied and 

the mycobiota and fungal diversity are unknown outside of 

the country. This volume is the first account on North Korean 

fungi published in English, except for some short articles 

by mycologists from the Institute of Botany of the Polish 

Academy of Sciences in Krakow published in 1990-1992. 

Previous North Korean mycological papers were published 

only in Korean and are practically inaccessible to foreign 

students. This book is a valuable guide and excellent reference 

to the studies of North Korean fungi that should be of 

great interest to mycologists working in Asian regions who 

want to understand the mycoflora of this little-discovered 

country. 

Hack Sung Jung 

Department of Biological Sciences 

Seoul National University 

Seoul 151-747, Korea 

minervas@snu.ac.kr 



Books Received May – June 2005 

• Antifungal Agents: Methods and Protocols. 

Methods in Molecular Medicine 118. 2005. 

E.J. Ernst & P.D. Rogers. The Humana Press, 

999 Riverview Drive, Suite 208, Totowa, New 

Jersey 07512, USA, email: humana@humanapr.com, 

ISBN 1-58829-277-0. 198 p. 

Price: $99.50. Requested from publisher. 

• Common Mushrooms of the Talamanca 

Mountain, Costa Rica. 2005. R.E. Halling & 

G.M. Mueller. Memoirs of the New York 

Botanical Garden 90: 1-195. The New York 

Botanical Garden, 200th St. & Kazimiroff 

Blvd., Bronx, New York 10458-5126 USA, 

http://www.nybg.org/bcsi/spub, ISBN 0- 

89327-460-7. Price: $19.95. Review needed. 

• Flora Agaricina Neerlandica. Volume 6. 

2005. M.E. Noordeloos, Th. W. Kuyper, & 

E.C. Vellinga. CRC Press, 6000 Broken Sound 

Parkway, NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 

33487, USA, email: orders@crcpress.com. 

ISBN 9-0541-0496-1, 310 p. Price: $59.95. 

Requested from publisher. 

• The Fungal Community: Its Organization 

and Role in the Ecosystem. Third Edition. 

2005. CRC Press, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway, 

NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487, 

USA, email: orders@crcpress.com. ISBN 0- 

8247-2355-4, c. 936 p. Price: $139.95. Requested 

from publisher. 


• Fungi: Experimental Methods in Biology. 

2005. R. Maheshwari. CRC Press, 6000 Broken 

Sound Parkway, NW, Suite 300, Boca 

Raton, FL 33487, USA, email: orders@crcpress.com. 

ISBN 1-57444-468-9. ca. 350 p. 

Price: $149.95. Requested from publisher. 

• Handbook of Industrial Mycology. 2005. Z. 

An. CRC Press, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway, 

NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487, USA, 

email: orders@crcpress.com. ISBN 0-8247- 

5655-X, 784 p. Price: $169.95. Requested from 

publisher. 

• Isolation and Characterization of 

Melanized, Slow-growing Fungi from Semiarid 

Rock Surfaces of Central Spain and 

Mallorca. 2004. C. Ruibal Villaseñor, Tesis 

Doctoral, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 

Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biologia 

Molecular. For further information, contact 

G. Bills, email: Gerald_Bills@Merck.com. 

• Macrofungi of North Korea Collected in 

1982-1986. 2004. W. Wojewoda, Z. Heinrich, 

& H. Komorowska. Polish Bot. Stud. 18: 1- 

289. IB Publisher Polish Academy of Sciences. 

W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Lubica 

46, PL-312-512, Kraków, Poland, email: ed-office@ib-pan.krakow.pl. 

Price: €50.00 plus 

postage. Reviewed in this issue. 

• Mushrooms: Cultivation, Nutritional Value, 

Medicinal Effect, and Environmental Impact, 

second Edition. 2004. S.-T. Chang & 

P.G. Miles. CRC Press, 6000 Broken Sound 

Parkway, NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 

33487, USA, email: orders@crcpress.com. 

ISBN 0-8493-1043-1. 480 p. Price: $159.95. 

Requested from publisher. 

• Röhrlinge und Blätterpilze in Europa. 2005. 

E. Horak. Elsevier GmbH, Spectrum 

Akademischer Verlag, Verlagsbereich Biologie, 

Chemie under Geowissenschaftern, Dr. Ulrich 

G. Moltmann, Slevogtstrs. 3-5, 69126 Heidelberg, 

Germany, email: info@s-f-g.com. 

Price: €40.00 plus postage. Review needed. 

Mycological Society of America — Gift Membership Form 

Sponsoring a gift membership in MSA offers tangible support both for the recipient of the membership as 

well as for mycology in general. Providing both Mycologia and Inoculum, a gift membership is an excellent 

way to further the efforts of our mycological colleagues, especially those who cannot afford an MSA 

membership. In addition to a feeling of great satisfaction, you also will receive a convenient reminder 

for renewal of the gift membership the following year. 

I want to provide an MSA Gift Membership to the following individual: 

Name ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Institution __________________________________________________________________________ 

Complete Address ____________________________________________________________________ 

Phone _____________________ FAX _________________________ Email _______________________ 

Please send renewal notices to: 

(YOUR name) ________________________________________________________________________ 

(YOUR address) ______________________________________________________________________ 

Phone _______________________ FAX _______________________ Email _______________________ 

I agree to pay $80* for this membership by check (payable to MSA, drawn on US bank) ___ VISA ___ Mastercard ___ 

Acct. # _________________ Name (as it appears on card) _____________________________ Exp. date __________ 

Send this form to: MSA Business Office, PO Box 1897, Lawrence KS 66044 

or FAX to (785) 843-1274, Attn: Processing Department 

*If this membership is given after June 1, please add $10 to cover postage for past issues.


Previously Listed Books 

• Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring 

Methods. 2004. GS Mueller, GF Bills, 

& MS Foster (eds). Elsevier Academic Press, 

Burlington, MA, www.elsevier.com, ISBN 0- 

12-509551-1, 777 pp. Price: $99.95. Requested 

from publisher. 

• CBS Centenary: 100 Years of Fungal Biodiversity 

and Ecology. 2004. PC Crous, RA 

Samson, W Gams, RC Summerbell, T 

Boekhout, G. Sybren de Hoog, JA Stalpers 

(eds). Studies in Mycology 50(1&2): 1-580. 

Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Utrecht, The Netherlands, www.cbs.knaw.nl. 

Price: €100.00. Review needed. 

• Cultivation and Diseases of Proteaceae: Leucadendron, 

Leucospermum and Protea. 2004. 

PW Crous, S Denman, JE Taylor, L Swart, & 

ME Palm. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm 227 

pp. Price: € 60.00.Review needed. 

• Cytology and Plectology of the Hymenomycetes. 

2004. H Clémençon. Bibliotheca Mycologica 

vol. 199. J. Cramer. www.schweizerbart.de 

488 pp. Price: €96.00. Reviewed in 

Jan-Feb 2005. 

• Dothideales Dictiospóricos/Dictyosporic 

Dothideales. 2004. J Checa. Flora Mycological 

Iberica vol. 6. J. Cramer, Stuttgart, Germany, 

www.schweizerbart.de, 162 pp. Price: €58.00. 

Reviewed in Jan-Feb 2005. 

• Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of the 

World. 2003. IR Hall, SS Stephenson, PK 

Buchanan, W Yun, and ALJ Cole, Timber 

Press, Inc, www.timberpress.com, 372 pp. 

Price: $40.00 U.S. Reviewed in Mar-Apr 2005. 

• Environmental Microbiology, A Laboratory 

Manual. Second Edition. 2004. IL Pepper, CP 

Gerba. Elsevier Inc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 

http://books.elsevier.com, ISBN 0-12- 

550656-2, 232 pp. Price: $39.95. Reviewed in 

Mar-Apr 2005. 

• Fire Blight. The Foundation of Phytobacteriology. 

2003. CS Griffith, TB Sutton & PD Peterson 

(eds). APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, 

St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, 144 pp. 

Price: $55.00. Reviewed in Mar-Apr 2005. 

• Fungal Biotechnology in Agricultural, Food 

and Environmental Applications. 2004. DK 

Arora (ed). Marcel Dekker, Cimarron Road, 

P.O. Box 5005, Monticello, NY 12701-5185. 

www.dekker.com, 509 pp. Price: $195.00. Review 

in progress. 

• Fungal Disease Resistance in Plants: Biochemistry, 

Molecular Biology, and Genetic Engineering. 

2004. ZK Punja (ed). Food Products Press, 

New York, www.HaworthPress.com/store/product.asp?sku=5093, 

ISBN 1-56022-961-6, 266 pp. 

Price $39.95 softbound, $59.95 hardbound. Review 

in progress. 

• Fungi of New Zealand. Nga Harore o 

Aotearoa. Vol. 1. Introduction to Fungi of 

New Zealand. 2004. E.H.C. McKenzie (ed.). 

Fungal Diversity Press, Centre for Research in 

Fungal Diversity, The University of Hong 

Kong, China, www.hku.hk/ecology/mycology/FDP.html, 

ISBN 962-86765-5, 168 pp. 

Price: $60.00. Review in progress. 

• Insect-Fungal Associations: Ecology and 

Evolution. 2005. FE Vega, M Blackwell (eds). 

Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom, 

www.oup.com/us, ISBN 0-19-516652-3, 333 

pp. Price: $49.50 (hardbound). Review in 

progress. 

• Introduction of Biodeterioration, 2nd Edition. 

2004. D Allsopp, K Seal & C. Gaylarde. Cambridge 

University Press, New York, NY, 

uk.cambridge.org/, 237 pp. Price: $75.00 hardback, 

$34.99 paperback. Review in progress. 

• Introduction to Food and Airborne Fungi. 

Seventh Edition. 2004. RA Samson, ES Hoekstra 

& JC Frisvad. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm, 389 

pp. Price: €50.00. Requested from publisher. 

• Invasive Species: Vectors and Management 

Strategies. 2003. GM Ruiz & JT Carlton (eds). 

Island Press 76381 Commercial Street, P.O. 

Box 7, Covelo, CA 95428, 

www.islandpress.org, 518 pp. Price: $40.00 paperbound, 

$75.00 hardbound. Review in 

progress. 

• Laboulbeniales, II. Acompsomyces-Ilyomyces. 

2003. S Santamaria, Flora Mycologica Iberica 

vol. 5. J. Cramer, Stuttgart, Germany, 

www.schweizerbart.de, 344 pp. Price: €78.00. 

Reviewed in Mar-Apr 2005. 

• List of Plant Diseases in Korea, Fourth Edition. 

2004. W-D Cho, H-D Shin (editors-inchief), 

The Korean Society of Plant Pathology, 

Seoul, Korea, email: s3213@korea.com, ISBN 

89-88154-37-1, 779 pp. Price: unknown. Data 

available on-line at . 

• Los Hongos de El Edén, Quintana Roo. Introducción 

a la Microbiota Tropical de México. 

2003. G Guzmán. Instituto de Ecología, Departamento 

de Pulicaciones, Xalapa, Veracruz, 

México, vallejos@ecologia.edu.mx, 319 pp 

plus 140 color plates. Price: $30.00. Reviewed 

in Jan-Feb 2005. 

• Microbe-vector Interactions in Vector-borne 

Diseases. 2004. SH Gillespie, GL Smith & A 

Osbourn. Cambridge University Press, New 

York, NY 1011-4211, 383 pp. Price: $125.00 

hardbound. Reviewed in Mar-Apr 2005. 

• Mycosphaerella and its Anamorphs: 1. Names 

Published in Cercospora and Passalora. 2003. 

PW Crous & U Braun. Centraalbureau voor 

Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 


pp. Price: €75.00. Review needed. 

• Phoma Identification Manual. Differentiation 

of Specific and Infra-specific Taxa in 

Culture. 2004. GH Boerema, J deGruyter, ME 

Noordeloos, MEC Hamers. CABI Publishing, 

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, www.cabi-publishing.org, 

448 pp. incl. one color plate. Price: 

$140.00. Review needed. 

• Die Pilzflora des Ulmer Raumes. (translated: 

The Fungus Flora of the Ulm area/Southern Germany). 

2004. M Enderle. Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft 

Ulm, Germany, www.suedvg.de, 

521 pp incl. numerous color illustrations. Price: 

€24.50. Review needed. 

• Penicillium subgenus Penicillium: new taxonomic 

schemes, mycotoxins, and other extrolites. 

2004. RA Samson & JC Frisvad. Studies in 

Mycology 49: 1-257. Centraalbureau voor 

Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 


pp. Price: €50.00.Reviewed Mar-Apr 2005. 

• A Preliminary Monograph of Lentinellus 

(Russulales). 2004. RH Petersen & KW Hughes. 

Bibliotheca Mycologica 198: 1-268. 

www.schweizerbart.de/pubs/series/bibliothecamycologica-59.html. 

Price: €80.00.Review 

needed. 

• Revision of the Genus Amphisphaeria. 2004. 

YZ Wang, A Aptroot, KD Hyde. Fungal Diversity 

Press, Centre for Research in Fungal Diversity, 

The University of Hong Kong, China, 

www.hku.hk/ecology/mycology/FDP.html, 

ISBN 962-86765-5, 168 pp. Price: $60.00. Review 

needed. 

• Sporidesmium, Endophragmiella and related 

genera from China. 2005. W Wu & W 

Zhuang. Fungal Diversity Press, Centre for Research 

in Fungal Diversity, The University of 

Hong Kong, China, www.hku.hk/ecology/mycology/FDP.html, 

ISBN 962-86765-5, 168 pp. 

Price: $60.00. Review needed. 

Inoculum 56(3), June 2005 73

MYCOLOGICAL CLASSIFIEDS 

Mushroom Ecotour in Northern Thailand 

Are you interested in looking for mushrooms in northern 

Thailand? We are currently trying to organize a mushroomoriented 

“ecotour” in northern Thailand, outside of Chiang 

Mai. The tour will include a variety of things to be determined 

by participants later, but will revolve around collecting in the 

mountainous areas near Chiang Mai. Lectures, cultivation 

workshops, cooking demonstrations, field identification and 

microscope work will also be components of the tour. 

The tour will be all-inclusive, including transport, food, 

accommodations, use of laboratory equipment and guided 

collecting trips with a native English speaker (Dr. Edward 

Research support is available for graduate study in the 

biodiversity of pyrenomycetes beginning January 1, 2006 at 

the Illinois Natural History Survey. This project is part of an 

inventory of the wood-inhabiting pyrenomycetes of the Great 

Smoky Mountains National Park and emphasizes training in: 

1) the diverse methods of traditional collections-based research, 

2) the development and management of digital information 

tools, and 3) the application of molecular sequencing 

techniques and phylogenetic analyses. The project will include 

research on the systematics, biogeography, and ecology 

of temperate pyrenomycetes and will contain a large fieldwork 

component. Desirable qualifications includes experience 

in fungal systematics and DNA sequencing techniques. 

Support includes a full RA stipend ($20,000 per year) and tuition 

waiver for 3 years including summers. The successful 

candidate will join a group using multidisciplinary approaches 

in systematic research. The Illinois Natural History Survey 

is affiliated with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

(UIUC) and is located on the south end of campus. 


Grand). Dr. Edward Grand is a recent graduate from the University 

of Tennessee, where he studied Lentinus, Panus and 

other Basidiomycetes with Dr. Ronald Petersen. The Centre 

also houses several students working with Basidiomycetes as 

well as frequent visiting researchers. 

For more information about the Centre or the tour, please 

email Dr. Edward Grand at edwardgrand@yahoo.com or visit 

our website at: www.mushroomresearchcentre.net 

Please note that biological material cannot be taken outside 

of Thailand without the permission and/or collaboration 

of a Thai university or institution. 

Postdoctoral Fellowships Available at Duke University 

The Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy’s Center for 

Evolutionary Genomics at Duke University is pleased to announce 

the continuation of its Post-doctoral Fellowships in 

Evolutionary Genomics and Molecular Evolution. This Fellowship 

provides an annual salary of $37,000 plus benefits 

and $11,000 in research funds per year for a two-year period. 

The program allows Fellows to pursue research in the laboratory 

of a sponsoring faculty member affiliated with the Institute 

for Genome Sciences & Policy. Two Fellowships will be 

awarded this year. 

We invite innovative proposals from scientists of any nationality 

to carry out research at Duke University for a twoyear 

appointment, beginning in the fall of 2005. We are particularly 

interested in proposals that address mechanisms of 

molecular evolution, comparative genomics, and the evolution 

of development. Although proposals focused exclusively 

on building phylogenies will not be considered, the appli- 

Doctoral Student Funding Available 

cation of phylogenetic approaches to analyzing the evolution 

of genes and genomes is certainly appropriate. Faculty sponsors 

can be located within any department or school at Duke 

University; the only stipulation is that the project fall within 

the areas of research listed above. 

Please send curriculum vitae, a three-page research proposal, 

a one-page summary of past research, and two letters of 

recommendation to: Evolutionary Genomics, c/o Greg Wray, 

Department of Biology, Box 90338, Duke University, Durham, 

NC 27708-0338, USA. Applications received by 1 June 2005 

will be guaranteed full consideration. Duke University is an 

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Female and 

minority candidates are especially encouraged to apply. 

Questions can be directed to Greg Wray by email 

(gwray@duke.edu). For information about the IGSP Center 

for Evolutionary Genomics and genomics at Duke University, 

visit www.genome.duke.edu. 

Students should apply to the Department of Plant Biology at 

UIUC (www.life.uiuc.edu/plantbio/). For more information, 

please contact Andrew Miller [amiller@inhs.uiuc.edu; (217) 

244-0439] at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Center for 

Biodiversity, 607 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820. 

Mold Testing and 

Identification Services 

Identification and contamination control for buildings, 

food technology, animal and plant diseases. ASTM 

& Mil-Spec testing for fungal resistance of materials. 

10% discount for regular and sustaining MSA members. 

Please contact Steve Carpenter at microbe@pioneer.net 

or voice mail at 541.929.5984. Surface mail send to 

Abbey Lane Laboratory, LLC, PO Box 1665, Philomath, 

OR 97370 USA. For more information see www.pioneer.net/~microbe/abbeylab.html.

Ascomycota of Sweden 

www.umu.se/myconet/asco/indexASCO.html 

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Micologia (51-5) 

www.alm.org.br 

Australasian Mycological Society Website 

for Introductory Fungal Biology (53-4) 

bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/mycology/default.htm 

Authors of Fungal Names (54-2) 

www.indexfungorum.org/AuthorsOfFungalNames.htm 

Bibliography of Systematic Mycology 

www.speciesfungorum.org/BSM/bsm.htm 

Bibliography of Systematic Mycology (51-6) 

194.131.255.3/cabipages/BSM/bsm.htm 

British Mycological Society (54-1) 

britmycolsoc.org.uk 

Cordyceps Website 

www.mushtech.org 

Corticiod Nomenclatural Database (56-2) 

phyloinformatics.org 

Coverage in Ukraine of Higher Fungal Ranks (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/lists/index.htm 

Cybertruffle’s Fungal Valhalla (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/valhalla/index.htm 

Dictionary of The Fungi Classification 

www.indexfungorum.org/names/fundic.asp 

Distribution Maps of Caribbean Fungi (56-2) 

www.biodiversity.ac.psiweb.com/carimaps/index.htm 

Distribution Maps of Georgian Fungi (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/gruzmaps/index.htm 

Distribution Maps of Ukrainian Fungi (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/ukramaps/index.htm 

Electronic Library for Mycology (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/index.htm 

European Powdery mildews (52-2) 

nt.ars-grin.gov 

Fun Facts About Fungi (55-1) 

www.herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/funfacts/factindx.htm 

Funga Veracruzana (53-6) 

www.uv.mx/institutos/forest/hongos/fungavera/index.html 

Hadrianus Junius Stinkhorns (52-2) 

www.collectivesource.com/hadrianus 

IMC7 (51-3) 

lsb380.plbio.lsu.edu/ima/index.htm 

MYCOLOGY ON-LINE 

Below is an alphabetical list of websites featured in Inoculum during the past 12 months. Those wishing to 

add sites to this directory or to edit addresses should email . Unless otherwise 

notified, listings will be automatically deleted after one year (at the editors discretion). * = New or 

Updated info (most recent Inoculum Volume-Number citation) 

Index of Fungi 

www.indexfungorum.org/names/names.asp 

ING (Index Nominum Genericorum) Database (52-5) 

rathbun.si.edu/botany/ing/ingForm.cfm 

Interactive Catalogue of Australian Fungi (52-1) 

www.rbgmelb.org.au/fungi/ 

Interactive Key, Descriptions & Illustrations 

for Hypomyces (52-6) 

nt.ars-grin.gov/taxadescriptions/hypomyces/ 

ISHAM: the International Society 

for Human and Animal Mycology 

www.isham.org 

Mycologia On-Line (53-3, page 18) 

www.mycologia.org 

Mycological Progress (52-3) 

www.mycological-progress.com 

The Myconet Classification of the Ascomycota 

www.umu.se/myconet/Myconet.html 

Mycosearch web directory/search engine (51-5) 

www.mycosearch.com 

Mushroom World [new Korean/English site in 2001] (51-6) 

www.mushworld.com 

NAMA Poison Case Registry (51-4) 

www.sph.umich.edu/~kwcee/mpcr 

Pathogenic Fungi From South Africa (52-4, page 29) 

nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/southafrica 

or www.saspp.co.za/ 

Plant-associated Fungi of Brazil (54-2) 

nt.ars-grin.gov 

(Select Search Fungal Databases, option 3, Host-Fungus 

Distributions) 

Rare, Endangered or Under-recorded Fungi in Ukraine (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/redlists/index.htm 

Registry of Mushrooms in Art Website 

members.cox.net/ mushroomsinart/ 

Species of Glomeromycota Website (55-3) 

www.amf-phylogeny.com 

Systematics of the Saprolegniaceae (53-4) 

www.ilumina-dlib.org 

Tripartite Similarity Calculator (55-1) 

www.amanitabear.com/similarity 

Website for the mycological journal Mycena (56-2) 

www.mycena.org/index.htm 


CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Event dates and descriptions (bold) precede event locations (italic), contacts (plain font), and Email/Websites (bold, no brackets). 

Those wishing to list upcoming mycological courses, workshops, conventions, symposia, and forays in the Calendar 

should submit material formatted as shown below and include complete postal/electronic addresses. 

2005 (July 23-28) 

Joint Meeting of the Three Divisions 

(Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology, 

Mycology, and Virology) of the International 

Union of Microbiological Societies 

San Francisco, CA, United States 

Carol Shearer, Chair, 

US National Committee for IUMS 

www.IUMS2005.org 

IUMS@asmusa.orgor (to submit a poster) 

2005 (July 23-28) 

IX International Congress on Mycology 

San Francisco, California 

www.iums2005.org/iums.asp 

2005 (July 30 - August 5) 

2005 MSA Annual Meeting 

University of Hawaii in Hilo 

Hilo, Hawaii 

2005 (August 1-5) 

The Congress will be a joint Meeting with the 

XXXVIII Brazilian Phytopathological Congress 

and commemoration of 30 YEARS of Plant 

Pathology at the University of Brasilia 

Brasilia, Brazil 

J.C. Dianese, President 

Latin Am. Mycological Association 

alm@unb.br 


Change of Address 

2005 (August 1-5) 

V Latin American Mycological Congress / 

XXXVIII Brazilian Commemorating 

Phytopathological Congress. Thirty Years of 

Graduate Teaching in Plant Pathology 

at the Universidade de Brasília. Hotel Nacional 

Brasília, DF, Brasil 

Jose Carmine Dianese, President 

www.alm.org.br, www.sbfito.com.br, 

www.newvisonbsb.com.br 

2005 (August 15-19) 

International Congress on the Systematics 

and Ecology of Myxomycetes V 

DETAILS: Inoculum 54(6):21 

Tlaxcala, Mexico 

Arturo Estrada Torres 

arturomixo@hotmail.com 

2006 (August 21-26) 

8th International Mycological Congress 

Cairns, Australia 

Wieland Meyer, Chair 

Ceri Pearce, Vice-Chair 

www.sapmea.asn.au/imc8 

Send all corrections of directory information, including email addresses, directly to Allen Press 

Mycological Society of America Vox (800) 627-0629 (US and Canada) 

Attn: Kay Rose, Association Manager or (785) 843-1221 

P.O. Box 1897 [810 E 10th St] Fax (785) 843-1274 

Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Email krose@allenpress.com 

Note: Members may also submit directory corrections via the form included 

in the MSA directory via the MSA Home Page: www.msafungi.org

inoculum 

The Newsletter 

of the 

Mycological 

Society of America 

Supplement to Mycologia 

Volume 56, No. 4 

August 2005 

Inoculum is published six times a year and 

mailed with Mycologia, the Society’s journal. 

Submit copy to the Editor as email (in 

the body, MS Word or WordPerfect attachment 

in 10pt Times font), on disk (MS Word 

6.0, WordPerfect, *.tif. *.jpg), or hard copy. 

Line drawings and sharp glossy photos are 

welcome. The Editor reserves the right to 

edit copy submitted in accordance with the 

policies of Inoculum and the Council of the 

Mycological Society of America. 

Richard E. Baird, Editor 

Entomology & Plant Path. Dept. 

Box 9655 

Mississippi State University 

Mississippi State, MS 39762 

(662) 325-9661 Fax: (662) 325-8955 

rbaird@plantpath.msstate.edu 

MSA Officers 

President, David J. McLaughlin 

Dept. of Plant Biology 

University of Minnesota 

220 Biological Science Center 

1445 Gortner Ave. 

St. Paul, MN 55108 

Phone: 612-625-5736 

Fax: 612-625-1738 

davem@tc.umn.edu 

President-elect, James B. Anderson 

Dept. Botany, Erindale Campus 

University of Toronto 

Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6 

Phone: (905)828-5362 

Fax: (905)828-3792 

janderso@credit.erin.utoronto.ca 

Vice President, Gregory M. Mueller 

Dept. of Botany 

The Field Museum 

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. 

Chicago, IL, USA 60605-2496 

Phone: (312) 665-7840 

Fax: (312) 665-7158 

gmueller@fmnh.org 

Secretary, Faye Murrin 

Dept. of Biology 

Memorial University 

St John’s, NL, Canada A1B 3X9 

Phone: (709)737-8018 

Fax: (709)737-3018 

fmurrin@morgan.ucs.mun.ca 

Treasurer, Karen Snetselaar 

Biology Dept. 

St Joseph’s Univ. 

5600 City Ave. 

Philadelphia, PA 19131 USA 

Phone: (610)660-1826 

Fax: (610)660-1832 

ksnetsel@sju.edu 

Past President: Carol A. Shearer 

cshearer@pop.life.uiuc.edu 

MSA Endowment Funds 

Contributions 

I wish to contribute $________ to the following named fund(s): 

____ Alexopoulos ____ Fuller 

____ Barksdale/Raper ____ Korf 

____ Barr ____ Luttrell 

____ Bigelow ____ Thiers 

____ Butler ____ Trappe 

____ Denison ____ Uecker 

____ Fitzpatrick ____ Wells 

Research Funds Other Funds 

____ Backus Graduate Award ____ Alexopoulos Prize 

____ Martin-Baker Award ____ Karling Lecture Fund 

____ A.H. & H.V. Smith Award ____ Uncommitted Endowment 

____ Clark T. Rogerson Award ____ Other (specify) 

I wish to pledge $_____________ a year for ____________ years 

_____ to the following fund (s) ____________________________ 

_____ to some other specified purpose ______________________ 

_____ to the uncommitted endowment 

Name: ________________________________________________ 

Address: _________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________ 

___ Check ____ Credit Card (Visa, MC, etc): ________________ 

Credit Card No. ____________________ Exp. Date: _________ 

Signature: __________________________________________ 

Please send this completed form and your contribution to: 

Thomas C. Harrington, Chair 

MSA Endowment Committee 

Department of Plant Pathology 

Iowa State University 

Ames, IA 50011 

tcharrin@iastate.edu 

(515) 294-0582 

Please make checks payable to the 

Mycological Society of America 


Sustaining Members 

of the Mycological Society of America 

The Society is extremely grateful for the continuing support of its Sustaining Members. 

Please patronize them and, whenever possible, let their representatives know of our appreciation. 

Amycel Spawn Mate 

Attn: Dr. Steve Lodder 

R & D Lab., Level 800 

Watsonville, CA 95076 

slodder@montmush.com 

Producers of quality Agaricus and specialty 

mushroom spawn, compost nutrient supplements 

and other technical services for commercial 

mushroom production. 

BCN Research Laboratories 

Attn: Dr. Emilia Rico 

P.O. Box 50305 

Knoxville, TN 37950 

Benlabs@cs.com 

Biolog, Inc. 

Attn: Brian Sunkel 

3938 Trust Way 

Hayward, CA 94545 

www.biolog.com 

Biolog manufactures and sells microbiological 

identification systems. Their systems 

have the capability to identify over 2,000 

species of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, 

yeast, and filamentous fungi. 

Crompton Corporation 

Attn: Dr. Allyn R Bell 

Crop Protection R&D 

74 Amity Rd 

Bethany, CT 06524-3402 

Producers of crop protection/production 

chemicals, fungicides, insecticides, miticides, 

herbicides, plant growth regulants, 

and foliar nutrients. 

Fungal and Decay 

Diagnostics, LLC 

Attn: Dr. Harold H. Burdsall, Jr. 

9350 Union Valley Rd. 

Black Earth, WI 53515-9798 

Ph: 608-767-3930 

Fax: 608-767-3920 

burdsall@fungaldecay.com 

www.fungaldecay.com 

Consulting services for: Fungal identifications 

(mold, mildew, decay fungi), Fungal 

biology, Wood decay in buildings, Hazard 

tree analysis, Building mold evaluations, 

and Mold remediation recommendations. 

You are encouraged to inform the Sustaining Membership Committee of firms or 

foundations that might be approached about Sustaining Membership in the MSA. 

Sustaining members have all the rights and privileges of individual members in the 

MSA and are listed as Sustaining Members in all issues of Mycologia and Inoculum. 


Fungi Perfecti 

Attn: Paul Stamets, President 

P.O. Box 7634 

Olympia, WA 98507 

Ph: (360) 426-9292 

Fax: (360) 426-9377 

mycomedia@aol.com 

www.fungi.com 

Innovators in the domestication of wild edible 

fungi. 

Genencor International, Inc. 

Attn: Dr. Michael Ward 

925 Page Mill Rd 

Palo Alto, CA 94304 

Ph: (650) 846-5850 

Fax: (650) 845-6509 

www.genencor.com 

At Genencor International, we utilize the 

full power of modern biotechnology to deliver 

unique solutions to complex problems 

faced by health care, agricultural, and industrial 

chemical industries. 

Lane Science Equipment 

Corporation 

Nancy Zimmerman, President 

225 West 34th St., Suite 1412 

New York, NY 10122-1496 

www.lanescience.com 

Complete line of mushroom storage cabinets, 

especially herbarium cabinets, airtight 

for permanent protection. 

Merck & Company, Inc. 

Attn: Dr. Jon Polishook 

Merck Research Laboratories 

P.O. Box 2000 

Rahway, NJ 07065-0900 

Mycotaxon, Ltd. 

Attn: Dr. Richard Korf 

P.O. Box 264 

Ithaca, NY 14851-0264 

Publishers of Mycotaxon, an international 

journal of the taxonomy and nomenclature 

of fungi and lichens. 

Novozymes Biotech, Inc. 

Attn: Dr. Wendy T. Yoder 

1445 Drew Avenue 

Davis, CA 95616 

www.novozymes.com 

Novozymes Biotech, Inc. emphasizes research 

in identifying and engineering new industrial 

enzymes as well as improving the manufacturing 

process for new and existing enzymes. 

Pfizer, Inc. 

Attn: Dr. Liang H. Huang 

Central Research Division 

Eastern Point Rd 

Groton, CT 06340 

Fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals by 

means of microorganisms. 

Pioneer Hi-Bred 

International, Inc. 

Attn: Dr. James A. Berry 

Research and Product Development 

P.O. Box 1004 

Johnson, IA 50131-1004 

World leader in genetic research for agriculture. 

Sylvan America, Inc. 

Attn: Mark Wach 

Research Department Library 

198 Nolte Dr 

Kittanning, PA 16201 

www.sylvaninc.com 

Specialists in large-scale production of pure 

fungal inocula for biotechnology and commercial 

mushroom industries. 

Triarch Incorporated 

Attn: P.L. Conant, President 

P.O. Box 98 

Ripon, WI 54971 

Quality prepared microscope slides, catalog-listed, 

or custom-prepared to your specifications. 

Unicorn Imp & Mfg Corp. 

Attn: Lou Hsu 

P.O. Box 272 

113 Hwy 24 

Commerce, TX 75429 

www.unicornbags.com 

Producers of autoclavable/ micro-vented 

bags for mycological and microbiological 

research since 1991.

An Invitation to Join MSA 

THE MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 

(Please print clearly) 

2004 MEMBERSHIP FORM 

(You may apply for membership on-line at http://msafungi.org) 

Last name ______________________________ First name _________________________________ M.I. ______ 

Dept./Street _______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Univ./Organization __________________________________________________________________________________ 

City __________________________ State/Prov. __________ Country ____________________ ZIP_________________ 

Telephone: (____)______________________ Email _______________________ Fax (____)______________________ 

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP 

____ Regular $98 (includes Mycologia and MSA Newsletter, Inoculum) 

____ Student $50 (includes Mycologia and MSA Newsletter, Inoculum — Must include endorsement 

from major professor or school) 

____ Family $98 + $20 for each additional family member (fill out form for each individual) 

(includes one copy of Mycologia and two copies of Inoculum) 

____ Life Member $1,500 (one-time payment; includes Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Sustaining $278 (benefits of Regular membership plus listing in Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Associate $50 (includes only Inoculum) 

____ Emeritus $0 (benefits of Regular membership except Mycologia; $50 with Mycologia) 

____ Online Only $98 (does not receive Mycologia or Inoculum) 

AREAS OF INTEREST 

Mark most appropriate area(s) 

____ Cell Biology – Physiology (including cytological, ultrastructural, metabolic regulatory and developmental 

aspects of cells) 

____ Ecology – Pathology (including phytopathology, medical mycology, symbiotic associations, saprobic 

relationships and community structure/dynamics) 

____ Genetics – Molecular Biology (including transmission, population and molecular genetics and molecular 

mechanisms of gene expression) 

____ Systematics – Evolution (including taxonomy, comparative morphology molecular systematics, 

phylogenetic inference, and population biology) 

PAYMENT 

_____ CHECK [Payable to Mycological Society of America and 

drawn in US dollars on a US bank] 

_____ CREDIT CARD: _____ VISA _____ MASTERCARD 

Expiration Date: ____________________________________________ 

Account No: _______________________________________________ 

Name as it appears on the card: _______________________________ 

Mail membership form and payment to: 

Mycological Society of America 

Attn: Kay Rose 

P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 

Phone: (800) 627-0629 or (785) 843-1221 

Fax: (785) 843-1274 

Email: krose@allenpress.com

Inoculum 56(4) - Mycological Society of America

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