Geographical and seasonal influences on the distribution of fungal endophytes in Laurus nobilis

The species composition of the endophytic mycobiota in bark, leaves and twigs of Laurus nobilis were studied in Western Anatolia. Four sampling sites were selected; one of which was sampled twice, in spring and autumn. About 3892 fungal isolates obtained grouped into 85 morphological types. The 11 dominant species, with isolation frequencies >1.5%, were Alternaria alternata, Botryosphaeria sarmentorum, Colletotrichum dematium, C. gloeosporioides, Hendersonula sp., Paraconiothyrium sp., Phoma sp., three species of Phomopsis and Seimatosporium lichenicola. Numbers of fungal species isolated per tree differed between the sampled sites. Isolation frequencies of the dominant species, and other less frequent species, were dependent on the sampling site. The degree of endophytic infection and the diversity of fungal species were significantly higher in spring. Frequencies of all dominant species depended significantly on season, except for Stemphylium sp. and S. lichenicola. Analysis of the total endophytic mycoflora of the sampled trees suggested that geographical factors affects the endophytic distribution patterns more significantly than seasonal factors.     

Fungal endophytes associated with Sonneratia (Sonneratiaceae) mangrove plants on the south coast of China

The aim of this study was to describe endophytic fungal communities residing in five mangrove species (Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia hainanensis, Sonneratia ovata, Sonneratia Paracaseolaris, Sonneratia apetala) collected at the south coast of China. The colonization frequency (CF) of endophytes in roots, stems and leaves was measured and the structures of endophytic communities were investigated, using endophytic fungal diversity indices and similarity coefficients. We found high biodiversity and tissue specificity of endophytic fungi. A total of 391 fungal isolates were identified using morphological and molecular methods. We recovered a total of 39 distinct endophytic species, of which Cytospora, Diaporthe, Fusarium, Glomerella, Mycosphaerella, Phoma, Phomopsis and Stemphylium were the dominant fungal taxa. Most recovered species were found on more than one host species but the dominant species differed according to host and tissue type.     

Fungi Isolated from Diseased Nursery Seedlings in Spain

Fungal endophytes in container-grown seedlings in forest nurseries located in the North Plateau of Spain have been studied. Influences of nursery, season (spring and autumn), host genus and plant part on those fungal assemblages have been also evaluated. Four nurseries were sampled in spring and three in autumn. Analysed material consisted of stems, roots and rhizosphere from five host species, Quercus ilex, Q. pyrenaica, Pinus pinea, P. nigra and P. sylvestris. A total of 581 isolates corresponding to 13 taxa were found in this study. Fusarium moniliforme, F. oxysporum and Trichoderma viride were the most frequently isolated fungi. Number of fungal species per observation differed significantly among the sampled parts. Multivariate Correspondence Analysis allowed the discrimination of samples in five groups based on nursery, season, host genus and plant part. Isolation frequencies of F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum were higher in the roots and in spring, whereas those of T. viride were higher in the rhizosphere and in autumn. A relationship was observed between presence of T. viride and absence of Fusarium spp. in forest nurseries. T. viride, could serve as a biological control agent against Fusarium spp. in forest nurseries.     

Biodiversity of endophytic fungi from seven herbaceous medicinal plants of Malnad region,Western Ghats,southern India

A total of 3611 fungal isolates were recovered from 4200 leaf segments incubated from 7 medicinal herbs during monsoon, winter and summer seasons. These fungal isolates belonged to teleomorphic Asco-mycota （23.5%）, anamorphic Ascomycota producing conidiomata （17.4%）, anamorphic Ascomycota without conidiomata （46.9%）, Zygo-mycota （1.42%） and sterile forms （10.6%）. Chaetomium globosum, As-pergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullulans, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Pestalotiopsis spp., Trichoderma viridae, Cladosporium cladosporioides, were frequently isolated from more than one host plant. The number of endophytic isolates was higher in winter than in monsoon and summer seasons.     

杭州湾海涂造林后气象因子动态变化

通过对杭州湾海涂造林后气象因子的变化进行的定点研究,结果表明:造林后林地内的月平均气温与未造林地上的差异不大,在冬季有一定的保温作用;在树木生长季节能明显增加空气湿度,而在冬季可适当降低空气湿度;海涂造林后在秋冬季能提高地温,春夏季能降低地温,并且能明显地降低风速;在树木生长季节林木有降低大气压作用,在树木停止生长后林木又有增加大气压作用。     

Non-mycorrhizal fungal endophytes in two orchids of Kaiga forest (Western Ghats), India

We used standard isolation protocols to explore the endophytic fungal communities in three tissue types of two dominant orchids (Bulbophyllum neilgherrense and Vanda testacea) of the Kaiga forest ofthe Western Ghats. We surface sterilized and assessed 90 segments ofeach orchid for the occurrence and diversity of endophytic fungal taxa.The 118 fungal isolates were obtained from root, bulb and leaves of B.neilgherrense, consisting of 17 anamorphic taxa (range, 10 15 taxa) with 1.3 fungal taxa per segment (range, 1.2 1.4 taxa). Four taxa (Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium sp. and morpho sp. 1) belonged to the coregroup (11.1% 32.2%). The relative abundance of A. flavus and morpho sp.1 was more than 10%. A total of 130 fungal isolates from roots, stems and leaves of V. testacea yielded 20 anamorphic taxa (range, 11 15 taxa)with 1.4 fungal taxa per segment (range, 1.4 1.5 taxa). Aspergillus flavus,A. niger, A. ochraceus, Gliocladium viride, Penicillium sp. and morphosp. 1 belonged to the core group. Relative abundance exceeded 10% for A. flavus, A. niger, and morpho sp. 1. The Simpson and Shannon diversity indices were higher in leaf than root or bulb/stem of both orchids.Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was higher between root and leaf in both orchids (56.3% 60%) than between other pairs. Our study revealed thatthe endophytic fungal assemblage and diversity of B. neilgherrense and V.testacea of Kaiga forest of the Western Ghats were relatively similar between orchids and their tissues.     

Variation of endophytic cork oak‐associated fungal communities in relation to plant health and water stress

The main objective of this study was to obtain more comprehensive knowledge about the effect of water stress on endophytic fungal communities in asymptomatic and declining cork oak trees. Six asymptomatic and six declining cork oak trees were randomly selected in a natural cork oak forest located in Sardinia, Italy. In February 2003, the soil around three asymptomatic and three declining trees was covered with a circular plastic film to reduce rain water supply with the intention to induce water stress. The remaining six trees served as controls. Predawn xylematic water potential (PWP) was used as water status indicator and measured seasonally. Between July 2003 and June 2004, fungal endophytes were isolated every 2–4 months from twigs, branches and woody tissues. Significant differences in PWP between covered and control trees were detected mainly in autumn. Gas exchange was greatest in asymptomatic control plants. All tissues were colonized by endophytic fungi. Nineteen fungal species were isolated from 1620 plant fragments. Biscogniauxia mediterranea was the most frequently isolated fungus. Its isolation frequency was significantly higher in declining covered trees than in control trees (p < 0.05). Presence of this fungus in asymptomatic control trees was significantly higher in winter than in summer. Water stress seems to reduce species diversity of the endophytic mycobiota in cork oak and to promote proliferation of some potentially pathogenic endophytes.     

油茶栽培品种新梢生长特性研究

在湖南长沙对油茶栽培品种新梢生长特性进行观测研究。结果表明:①油茶周年可抽新梢多次,对应四季萌发分为春、夏、秋、冬梢4种,它们的生长各具特点,其中:春梢旺盛,萌发量最多,夏梢生长期长,幼树常连续抽发2次夏梢,秋梢长势弱,冬梢少或无,春、夏梢是油茶幼树新梢的主体,是树体结构及产量的基础;②油茶新梢生长在不同林龄及品种间存在差异,它是鉴别品种及其早期丰产树型的条件之一,是树体调控以及栽培的理论基础和依据。     

三峡库区云阳县三种类型马尾松林微生物区系及优势种群分析Ⅱ.林地空气、叶面和树皮表面

为探讨马尾松不同类型林地地上部微生物区系及优势种群及其季节性变化,对三峡库区云阳县马尾松近熟龄天然林、中龄天然林和人工林林地空气、叶面和树皮表面等地上部的可培养细菌和真菌进行了分析。结果表明,空气、叶面和树皮表面的真菌、细菌两大类微生物数量四季变化趋势基本一致,夏季和秋季的数量多于冬季和春季,中龄天然林的两大类微生物数量最大且四季变化亦最大;优势种群的种类和数量随季节和林地类型不同而有所变化。人工林空气中可培养真菌种类秋、冬、春、夏分别有4、3、4、3种,近熟龄天然林和中龄天然林四季中均为3种;优势种群多     

Temporal variations in endophytic fungal assemblages of Ginkgo biloba L.

We isolated endophytic fungi from living healthy leaves, petioles, and current-year twigs of Ginkgo biloba L. from April to November 2004 with the objective of identifying the dominant endophytic fungal taxa, and monitoring their occurrence and frequency. A total of 9 fungal taxa were identified to the genus level. Diversity measures inferred from the Shannon–Wiener, Morisita–Horn, and S?rensen indices indicated that leaves and petioles harbored more diverse endophytic fungal assemblages than twigs, and that fungal taxa involved in twigs shared less with those in leaves and petioles. Among the organs, the occurrence pattern of overall endophytic fungi differed significantly, and two taxa, Phomopsis sp. and Phyllosticta sp., were the most frequently isolated and thus regarded as the dominant endophytic fungi. Phomopsis sp. was isolated frequently from twigs (84.8%) but rather few from leaves (16.1%) and petioles (24.3%). Phyllosticta sp. was isolated frequently from leaves (72.9%) and petioles (65.7%) but was never isolated from twigs. Temporal changes in relative frequency of total endophytic fungi tended to differ among sampling dates for all three organs. The occurrence of Phyllosticta sp. in both leaves and petioles was first detected in August and peaked in October. Phomopsis sp. was detected in twigs throughout the growing season. These results suggest that the distribution of the two dominant endophytic fungi was organ-specific and differed within seasons.     

核桃伤流研究述评

核桃属是极容易产生伤流的树种之一。核桃伤流不仅是重要的生物学现象,也影响到修剪、嫁接等一些农艺措施的效果和成败。核桃属有别于多数其他树种,除了春季伤流外还存在秋季伤流和土壤结冻期间的冬季伤流,甚至在生长季也可以发生伤流。核桃秋季和春季伤流源于根压,而冬季伤流源于茎压。根压伤流主要取决于根系活力等,而茎压伤流是非结冰条件下冻-融循环引起枝干可溶性物质含量提高、压强增大造成的,茎压伤流还与木质部栓塞修复密切相关。2种伤流组分也有较大不同。文中对国内外核桃伤流的研究进行梳理和归纳,对一些重要结果进行评述,以期对核桃伤流发生机制有较全面和系统的认识,为改进和优化农艺措施提供理论指导。文中也就需进一步研究的问题进行讨论,提出初步的意见和建议。     

Culture‐based methods using low‐temperature incubation revealed cold‐adapted fungal endophytes from semiarid forests

Fungal endophytes are an important part of the plant microbiome and participate in maintaining the stability of ecosystems. Culture‐based methods are frequently considered in studying fungal communities because of their advantages in providing cultures for further experiments and their low cost. In comparison with next‐generation sequencing methods, their ability to assess fungal diversity is questionable. Here, we show how using two different incubation temperatures can improve the yield of fungal endophytes by culture‐based methods. Diversity, organ preference and spatiotemporal variability of endophytic fungal communities living within Quercus brantii L. were investigated using two different incubation temperatures. To test the effects of using low‐temperature incubation on diversity estimations, twigs and leaves of Quercus brantii were incubated under 25°C and 4°C conditions. Isolation rate and Hill's series of diversity were calculated for each sample. Model‐based analysis was used to evaluate the effects of (a) incubation temperature, (b) organ type and (c) spatiotemporal variations on fungal isolation rate, fungal diversity and community composition. Our results showed a strong organ specificity and temporal dynamics among endophytic fungal communities, but the location of the forest stand had only a limited effect on fungal community composition. Low‐temperature incubation enabled us to improve culture‐based methods by discovering the diversity of cold‐adapted fungal endophytes and a significantly different part of the endophytic communities that is usually missed by customary culturing temperature. The isolation of cold‐adapted endophytes from a semiarid environment opens a new window to further studies on this kind of fungi in such ecosystems.     

Food habits and selective grazing of Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) in Hulunber Grassland

The food availability, composition of the diets and selective grazing of the Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) were studied in Hulunber Grassland in Nei Monggol. The food availability of Mongolian gazelle showed seasonal changes. The plant biomass was higher in spring and summer than that in autumn and winter. The fecal compositions of the gazelle demonstrated that fibrous parts occupied 62.4%, 74.8%, and 66.0% in spring, autumn, and winter, respectively. The Mongolian gazelle preferred to grazeCompositeae, Leguminosae, Allium spp. and other forbs in spring and autumn, while the grasses, such asAneurolepidium chinense andStipa spp. were selectively feeding in winter. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

Interactions between Widely Spaced Young Poplars (Populus spp.) and the Understorey Environment

Silvopastoral systems involving poplars are common to rural landscapes in many parts of New Zealand. The effect of widely spaced trees of Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii, aged 8–11 years, on the surrounding micro-environment in a tree-pasture system was determined over 3 years at a southern North Island hill country site. Relative to open (unshaded, no trees) pasture, understorey pasture received 33% less radiation while radiation on the north side of trees (North) was similar to that on the south side of trees (South). Around one tree, soil temperature averaged 14.9°C annually on the North and 13.8°C on the South. Soil water content was highest in spring and winter (0.35–11;0.39 m³ m⁻³) and lowest in summer and autumn (0.21–11;0.26 m³ m⁻³), and differences occurred between plots in open pasture and those beneath trees in all seasons except spring. Soil water content of tree aspects differed slightly (<10%) in summer (South > North) and autumn (North > South), but not in spring and winter, when contents were similar. Soil pH was 0.2 units higher beneath trees than in open pasture in one of 2 years. Concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, and S were similar in tree and open environments. The study results complement those collected for mature trees, and will be useful in developing tree-pasture models.     

浙北马尾松人工林鸟类群落结构和多样性指数的季节变化

浙江省北部马尾松人工林春季鸟各丰富度最高（４７种），秋季最少（３１种），冬、夏季分别为３５种和３６种。留留种类秋季最多是（６７７％），春季的迁徙鸟种类最多（５７．４％）。冬、春、夏、秋，鸟类平均密度分别为５６．８７、５６．８１、４７．２５及４９．３５只／１０ｈｍ＾２。春季留鸟的平均密度最高（４３．１０只１０／ｈｍ＾２），依次是夏、秋、冬季，分别为４１．４７、３９．０５和３６．７６只／１０ｈｍ＾２。     

北京市典型道路防护林滞尘时空分布及其影响因子分析

[目的]研究北京海淀区3种道路防护林(油松林、圆柏林、银杏林)的滞尘能力、林内滞尘的空间分布规律、滞尘作用与气象因子和PM10浓度的相关性。[方法]滞尘量的测定用单位叶干质量滞尘量(mg·g-1)表征叶面滞尘能力。于冬、春、夏、秋4季对3种道路防护林内距道路不同距离处的滞尘量进行连续观测,比较3种道路防护林滞尘能力,分析3种道路防护林滞尘的空间分布特征及降雨等气象因子及PM10浓度与滞尘作用的相关性。[结果](1) 3种道路防护林总体单位滞尘量圆柏林(4. 20±0. 19 mg·g-1)银杏林(1. 98±0. 07 mg·g-1)油松林(1. 71±0. 07 mg·g-1);油松和圆柏林的单位滞尘量冬季春季秋季夏季,银杏林的单位滞尘量春季和秋季基本无差异,夏季最低; 3种道路防护林的单位滞尘量在各季节均为圆柏林最高,银杏林次之,油松林最低。(2) 3种道路防护林空间分布的总体特征为:油松和圆柏林的滞尘空间分布均表现为"两端高、中间低",银杏林单位滞尘量林分中间位置略高于两侧;不同季节表现为冬季北侧高,春季南侧高,夏、秋季南北侧差异不显著。(3)降水量对3种道路防护林滞尘作用影响最大,是3种道路防护林滞尘的最主要限制因子,极大风速、气温、相对湿度和PM10浓度对3种道路防护林滞尘均具有不同程度的正的直接作用。[结论]在相同配置模式(5 m×5 m)及林龄(18年)下,林地尺度滞尘量油松林最大、圆柏林次之、银杏林最低。道路防护林迎风一侧往往具有较高滞尘量,可根据盛行风向强化迎风侧的树木配置。降雨是树木滞尘的主要限制因子,冬季和春季降雨少,树木滞尘量较大,可结合人工冲洗措施使其发挥更大滞尘作用。     

Seasonal variation of selected trace elements in rare endemic species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thuriferous Juniper</Emphasis> growing in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aurès</Emphasis> Mountains of Algeria

We used energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) to determine the seasonal variation of selected trace elements (Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Se and Fe) and some potential toxic elements (Cd, Pb and Br) in Juniperus thurifera subsp. africana Maire (Cupressaceae) a rare medicinal tree, growing indigenously in Aurès Mountains of Algeria. The precision of the results was assessed by analyzing the certified reference material IPE44 (WEPAL) grass leaves. Results showed J. thurifera was characterized by high Cr and Mn contents. During autumn and winter mineral concentrations were higher in general. The levels of Cr, Se and Mn were higher during autumn and winter than during spring and summer. Zn contents were higher during summer than in other seasons. Cu content did not vary by season. The potential toxic elements in J. thurifera (Pb > Cd > Br) were below the permissible limits recommended by the Joint WHO/FAO guidelines except for Pb in autumn and winter.     

Comparative analyses of fungal biota carried by the pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda L.) in northern and southern Finland

The pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda, is a secondary colonizer of pines and other conifers. Although it is necessary to understand interactions of this insect with other organisms, few studies have focused on its fungal associates. This study focused on the effect of geographical distance on the occurrence of fungi carried by the beetle. Adult beetles were collected from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in North (Rovaniemi) and South (Hyytiälä) Finland. The mycota was isolated and identified using a combination of morphological and molecular data. The results revealed a great diversity of fungal taxa isolated from T. piniperda, with a total of 3073 isolates representing 20 taxonomic units. The most frequently isolated fungi in the bark beetles from North Finland were Beauveria bassiana, Kuraishia sp., whereas Penicillium velutinum was mostly observed in the insects from South Finland. Ophiostoma canum and Ophiostoma minus were also isolated from the beetles from both North and South Finland. The number of fungi isolates per insect was 2.58 in the North and 3.74 in the South, respectively. Significant differences were found between South and North Finland in fungal taxa isolated from the beetles. The highest richness and diversity of the fungal taxa was observed in the South. However, the overall fungal diversity index analysis revealed that the mycobiota was under-sampled which suggests that a proportion of the fungal species may have remained undetected.     

不同季节旱冬瓜扦插试验

在云南普洱市思茅区和景洪市普文两地开展不同季节的旱冬瓜扦插试验。结果表明：旱冬瓜不同季节扦插,夏季愈伤组织和不定根出现时间早一些,冬季最迟,春季和秋季居中;旱冬瓜的扦插受季节的影响明显;在普洱市思茅区最适旱冬瓜扦插季节为秋季（9月份）;在景洪普文最适旱冬瓜扦插季节为春季（3月份）。     

The effect of bagging branches on levels of endophytic fungal infection in Japanese beech leaves

The species composition of the endophytic mycobiota in leaves of Japanese beech trees (Fagus crenata) and the sources for leaf infections were studied in a forest reserve situated in central eastern Honshu, Japan. To clarify the mechanism of infection of leaves, half of the branches were covered with polyethylene bags and species composition and levels of endophytic fungal infection were then compared with those of unbagged controls. Isolations were carried out from the leaves, petioles, and current‐year twigs of both, bagged and unbagged branches. Additionally, species composition was detected in overwintered terminal buds of beech trees and in the leaves of potted seedlings that had been placed in the field in different seasons. The species assemblage of the unbagged leaves, petioles, and current‐year twigs was dominated by Mycosphaerella buna, Ascochyta fagi, Periconiella sp., and Tritirachium sp. Other frequently recovered species were Xylaria sp., Phomopsis sp., and Tubakia dryina. Mycosphaerella buna and A. fagi were never isolated from leaves on bagged branches. A. fagi was, however, detected on both bagged and unbagged petioles and current‐year twigs at comparatively low isolation frequencies. The detection of Periconiella sp. on all occasions in both bagged and unbagged leaves was a characteristic feature that differs from those of the other three dominant endophytic fungi. The fungus was also detected without significant differences in bagged and unbagged petioles and current‐year twigs on most sampling dates. Furthermore, Periconiella sp. was isolated from immature twigs inside the bud scales. Tritirachium sp. was frequently detected in unbagged leaves and petioles and in both bagged and unbagged current‐year twigs, and rarely in bagged leaves and petioles, but was never recovered from terminal buds. The results of the potted seedling experiments revealed that all four dominant species had airborne inocula. The infection of leaves by M. buna occurs exclusively by airborne propagules, i.e. ascospores in spring and conidia in autumn. In Periconiella sp. hyphal growth of the fungus from immature twigs inside the buds into the leaf tissues was suggested in addition to infection by airborne inocula. Tritirachium sp. hyphae were suggested to grow from previous‐ to current‐year twigs. Ascochyta fagi was present in the outermost scales of overwintered terminal buds, but no systemic growth of the fungus into the petioles and current‐year twigs was observed. Our technique of covering the branches before new leaves unfolded was effective in preventing infection by airborne inocula of endophytic fungi.