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Michael J. Wingfield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) Research and Development Sub-centre, Darla, Department of Forest and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
    2020
    Co-Authors: Thomas Kirisits, Michael J. Wingfield, Heino Konrad, Dal Bahadur Chhetri
    Abstract:

    A brief synthesis of recent studies on the ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the Eastern Himalayan spruce bark beetle, Ips schmutzenhoferi and on the pathogenicity of selected fungal associates of this insect to Picea spinulosa and Pinus wallichiana is presented. I. schmutzenhoferi is intimately associated with ophistomatoid fungi and eleven fungal associates belonging to the genera Ceratocystis, Ceratocystiopsis, Grosmannia, Ophiostoma, Leptographium and Pesotum were documented in a survey in Western Bhutan in 2001. In inoculation experiments with four ophiostomatoid fungi, conducted in 2005, Leptographium sp. 1, the most common fungal associate of I. schmutzenhoferi, displayed high levels of virulence to P. spinulosa. In contrast, P. wallichiana was highly resistant to inoculation with all four fungal species. The pathogenicity trials indicate that fungal associates of I. schmutzenhoferi and especially Leptographium sp. 1 prefer P. spinulosa over P. wallichiana as host, as is true of the insect itself

  • Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Leptographium olivaceum complex (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota), including descriptions of six new species from China and Europe.
    MycoKeys, 2019
    Co-Authors: Mingliang Yin, Riikka Linnakoski, Xudong Zhou, Michael J. Wingfield, Z. Wilhelm Beer
    Abstract:

    The Leptographium olivacea complex encompasses species in the broadly defined genus Leptographium (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota) that are generally characterized by synnematous conidiophores. Most species of the complex are associates of conifer-infesting bark beetles in Europe and North America. The aims of this study were to reconsider the delineation of known species, and to confirm the identity of several additional isolates resembling L. olivacea that have emerged from recent surveys in China, Finland, Poland, Russia, and Spain. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for five loci (ACT, TUB, CAL, ITS2-LSU, and TEF-1α) distinguished 14 species within the complex. These included eight known species (L. cucullatum, L. davidsonii, L. erubescens, L. francke-grosmanniae, L. olivaceum, L. olivaceapini, L. sagmatosporum, and L. vescum) and six new species (herein described as L. breviuscapum, L. conplurium, L. pseudoalbum, L. rhizoidum, L. sylvestris, and L. xiningense). New combinations are provided for L. cucullatum, L. davidsonii, L. erubescens, L. olivaceum, L. olivaceapini, L. sagmatosporum and L. vescum. New Typifications: Lectotypes are designated for L. olivaceum, L. erubescens and L. sagmatosporum. Epitypes were designated for L. olivaceapini and L. sagmatosporum. In addition to phylogenetic separation, the synnematous asexual states and ascomata with almost cylindrical necks and prominent ostiolar hyphae, distinguish the L. olivaceum complex from others in Leptographium.

  • putative origins of the fungus Leptographium procerum
    Fungal Biology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Stephen J. Taerum, Robert Jankowiak, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Tuan A. Duong, Thierry B Hoareau, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Appropriate management of invasive fungi requires adequate understanding of their global diversities and movement histories. The fungus Leptographium procerum is associated with root-colonizing forest insects in pine forests throughout the world, and may have contributed to the aggressive behaviour of the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) in the beetle's invasive range in China. We used microsatellites and mating type loci to investigate the global diversity of L. procerum and the source population of L. procerum associated with D. valens in China. Clustering analyses supported the separation of the fungal data set into three genetically and geographically-distinct clusters: Europe, North America, and China. The fungus had the highest genetic diversity in Europe, followed by North America and China. Analyses using Approximate Bayesian Computation supported Europe as the most likely source of the North American and Chinese populations. Overall, the results suggested that Europe is the global centre of diversity of L. procerum. Furthermore, they suggested that L. procerum most likely arrived in China independently of D. valens and adopted this beetle as a vector after its introduction.

  • Large Shift in Symbiont Assemblage in the Invasive Red Turpentine Beetle
    2016
    Co-Authors: Stephen J. Taerum, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Tuan A. Duong, Nancy Gillette, Jiang-hua Sun, Donald R, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Changes in symbiont assemblages can affect the success and impact of invasive species, and may provide knowledge regarding the invasion histories of their vectors. Bark beetle symbioses are ideal systems to study changes in symbiont assemblages resulting from invasions. The red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) is a bark beetle species that recently invaded China from its native range in North America. It is associated with ophiostomatalean fungi in both locations, although the fungi have previously been well-surveyed only in China. We surveyed the ophiostomatalean fungi associated with D. valens in eastern and western North America, and identified the fungal species using multi-gene phylogenies. From the 307 collected isolates (147 in eastern North America and 160 in western North America), we identified 20 species: 11 in eastern North America and 13 in western North America. Four species were shared between eastern North America and western North America, one species (Ophiostoma floccosum) was shared between western North America and China, and three species (Grosmannia koreana, Leptographium procerum, and Ophiostoma abietinum) were shared between eastern North America and China. Ophiostoma floccosum and O. abietinum have worldwide distributions, and were rarely isolated from D. valens. However, G. koreana and L. procerum are primarily limited to Asia and North America respectively. Leptographium procerum, which is thought to be native to North America, represented>45 % of the symbionts of D

  • ORIGINAL PAPER Grosmannia and Leptographium spp. associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia, including Leptographium taigense sp. nov.
    2016
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Pekka Niemelä, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    ium anamorphs include important forest pathogens and agents of blue stain in timber. They are commonly found in association with forest pests, such as bark beetles. During a survey of ophiostomatoid fungi in eastern parts of Finland and neighboring Russia, species belonging to the genus Grosmannia were isolated from 12 different bark beetle species infesting Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, the most economi-cally important conifers in the region. Identification of these fungi was based on morphology, DNA sequence comparisons for three gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. A total of ten taxa were identified. These belonged to six different species complexes in Gros-mannia. The phylogenetic analyses provided an opportunity to redefine the G. galeiformis-, L. proce-rum-, L. lundbergii-, G. piceiperda-, G. olivacea- and G. penicillata-complexes, and to consider the species emerging from the survey within the context of these complexes. The species included G. galeiformis, G. olivacea, L. chlamydatum, L. lundbergii, L. trunc-atum and a novel taxon, described here as L. taigense sp. nov. In addition, species closely related to G. cu-cullata, G. olivaceapini comb. nov., G. piceiperda and L. procerum were isolated but their identity could not be resolved. The overall results indicate that the diversity of Grosmannia species in the boreal forests remains poorly understood and that further studies are needed to clarify the status of several species or species complexes

Tuan A. Duong - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • putative origins of the fungus Leptographium procerum
    Fungal Biology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Stephen J. Taerum, Robert Jankowiak, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Tuan A. Duong, Thierry B Hoareau, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Appropriate management of invasive fungi requires adequate understanding of their global diversities and movement histories. The fungus Leptographium procerum is associated with root-colonizing forest insects in pine forests throughout the world, and may have contributed to the aggressive behaviour of the red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) in the beetle's invasive range in China. We used microsatellites and mating type loci to investigate the global diversity of L. procerum and the source population of L. procerum associated with D. valens in China. Clustering analyses supported the separation of the fungal data set into three genetically and geographically-distinct clusters: Europe, North America, and China. The fungus had the highest genetic diversity in Europe, followed by North America and China. Analyses using Approximate Bayesian Computation supported Europe as the most likely source of the North American and Chinese populations. Overall, the results suggested that Europe is the global centre of diversity of L. procerum. Furthermore, they suggested that L. procerum most likely arrived in China independently of D. valens and adopted this beetle as a vector after its introduction.

  • Large Shift in Symbiont Assemblage in the Invasive Red Turpentine Beetle
    2016
    Co-Authors: Stephen J. Taerum, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Tuan A. Duong, Nancy Gillette, Jiang-hua Sun, Donald R, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Changes in symbiont assemblages can affect the success and impact of invasive species, and may provide knowledge regarding the invasion histories of their vectors. Bark beetle symbioses are ideal systems to study changes in symbiont assemblages resulting from invasions. The red turpentine beetle (Dendroctonus valens) is a bark beetle species that recently invaded China from its native range in North America. It is associated with ophiostomatalean fungi in both locations, although the fungi have previously been well-surveyed only in China. We surveyed the ophiostomatalean fungi associated with D. valens in eastern and western North America, and identified the fungal species using multi-gene phylogenies. From the 307 collected isolates (147 in eastern North America and 160 in western North America), we identified 20 species: 11 in eastern North America and 13 in western North America. Four species were shared between eastern North America and western North America, one species (Ophiostoma floccosum) was shared between western North America and China, and three species (Grosmannia koreana, Leptographium procerum, and Ophiostoma abietinum) were shared between eastern North America and China. Ophiostoma floccosum and O. abietinum have worldwide distributions, and were rarely isolated from D. valens. However, G. koreana and L. procerum are primarily limited to Asia and North America respectively. Leptographium procerum, which is thought to be native to North America, represented>45 % of the symbionts of D

  • Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato.
    Fungal Biology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Brenda D Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Species of Leptographium sensu lato are sap-stain fungi vectored by bark beetles and some species cause or are associated with tree diseases. Sexual states have been reported for more than 30 species in this group and these have been treated in the sexual genus Grosmannia. No sexual state is known for at least 59 additional species and these reside in the genus Leptographium. The discovery of sexual states for species of Leptographium relies mainly on the presence of fruiting bodies on host tissue at the time of isolation and/or intensive laboratory mating studies, which commonly have low levels of success. We developed mating-type markers to study sexual compatibility of species in Leptographium sensu lato. Using these markers, it was possible to identify mating types for 42 species and to determine thallism in many species for the first time. Surprisingly, the results showed that heterothallic and putatively heterothallic species are abundant (39 out of 42 species) in Leptographium sensu lato, and only three species were confirmed to be homothallic. The mating type markers developed in this study will be useful for future studies concerning mating type and sexual compatibility of species in this genus.

  • ORIGINAL PAPER Grosmannia and Leptographium spp. associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles in Finland and Russia, including Leptographium taigense sp. nov.
    2016
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Pekka Niemelä, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    ium anamorphs include important forest pathogens and agents of blue stain in timber. They are commonly found in association with forest pests, such as bark beetles. During a survey of ophiostomatoid fungi in eastern parts of Finland and neighboring Russia, species belonging to the genus Grosmannia were isolated from 12 different bark beetle species infesting Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, the most economi-cally important conifers in the region. Identification of these fungi was based on morphology, DNA sequence comparisons for three gene regions and phylogenetic analyses. A total of ten taxa were identified. These belonged to six different species complexes in Gros-mannia. The phylogenetic analyses provided an opportunity to redefine the G. galeiformis-, L. proce-rum-, L. lundbergii-, G. piceiperda-, G. olivacea- and G. penicillata-complexes, and to consider the species emerging from the survey within the context of these complexes. The species included G. galeiformis, G. olivacea, L. chlamydatum, L. lundbergii, L. trunc-atum and a novel taxon, described here as L. taigense sp. nov. In addition, species closely related to G. cu-cullata, G. olivaceapini comb. nov., G. piceiperda and L. procerum were isolated but their identity could not be resolved. The overall results indicate that the diversity of Grosmannia species in the boreal forests remains poorly understood and that further studies are needed to clarify the status of several species or species complexes

  • Draft genome sequences of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygamai, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, and Thielaviopsis punctulata
    IMA Fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Brenda D Wingfield, Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Peter K. Ades, Fatima A. Al-naemi, Lisa A. Beirn, Wubetu Bihon, Jo Anne Crouch, Christopher J. Fields, Gerda Fourie
    Abstract:

    The genomes of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygami, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti , and Thielaviopsis punctulata are presented in this genome announcement. These seven genomes are from endophytes, plant pathogens and economically important fungal species. The genome sizes range from 26.6 Mb in the case of Leptographium lundber gii to 44 Mb for Chrysoporthe austroafricana. The availability of these genome data will provide opportunities to resolve longstanding questions regarding the taxonomy of species in these genera, and may contribute to our understanding of the lifestyles through comparative studies with closely related organisms.

Brenda D Wingfield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato.
    Fungal Biology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Brenda D Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Species of Leptographium sensu lato are sap-stain fungi vectored by bark beetles and some species cause or are associated with tree diseases. Sexual states have been reported for more than 30 species in this group and these have been treated in the sexual genus Grosmannia. No sexual state is known for at least 59 additional species and these reside in the genus Leptographium. The discovery of sexual states for species of Leptographium relies mainly on the presence of fruiting bodies on host tissue at the time of isolation and/or intensive laboratory mating studies, which commonly have low levels of success. We developed mating-type markers to study sexual compatibility of species in Leptographium sensu lato. Using these markers, it was possible to identify mating types for 42 species and to determine thallism in many species for the first time. Surprisingly, the results showed that heterothallic and putatively heterothallic species are abundant (39 out of 42 species) in Leptographium sensu lato, and only three species were confirmed to be homothallic. The mating type markers developed in this study will be useful for future studies concerning mating type and sexual compatibility of species in this genus.

  • Draft genome sequences of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygamai, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, and Thielaviopsis punctulata
    IMA Fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Brenda D Wingfield, Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Peter K. Ades, Fatima A. Al-naemi, Lisa A. Beirn, Wubetu Bihon, Jo Anne Crouch, Christopher J. Fields, Gerda Fourie
    Abstract:

    The genomes of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygami, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti , and Thielaviopsis punctulata are presented in this genome announcement. These seven genomes are from endophytes, plant pathogens and economically important fungal species. The genome sizes range from 26.6 Mb in the case of Leptographium lundber gii to 44 Mb for Chrysoporthe austroafricana. The availability of these genome data will provide opportunities to resolve longstanding questions regarding the taxonomy of species in these genera, and may contribute to our understanding of the lifestyles through comparative studies with closely related organisms.

  • characterization of the mating type genes in Leptographium procerum and Leptographium profanum
    Fungal Biology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Brenda D Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Leptographium procerum and the closely related species Leptographium profanum, are ascomycetes associated with root-infesting beetles on pines and hardwood trees, respectively. Both species occur in North America where they are apparently native. L. procerum has also been found in Europe, China New Zealand, and South Africa where it has most probably been introduced. As is true for many other Leptographium species, sexual states have never been observed in L. procerum or L. profanum. The objectives of this study were to clone and characterize the mating type loci of these fungi, and to develop markers to determine the mating types of individual isolates. To achieve this, a partial sequence of MAT1-2-1 was amplified using degenerate primers targeting the high mobility group (HMG) sequence. A complete MAT1-2 idiomorph of L. profanum was subsequently obtained by screening a genomic library using the HMG sequence as a probe. Long range PCR was used to amplify the complete MAT1-1 idiomorph of L. profanum and both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs of L. procerum. Characterization of the MAT idiomorphs suggests that the MAT genes are fully functional and that individuals of both these species are self-sterile in nature with a heterothallic mating system. Mating type markers were developed and tested on a population of L. procerum isolates from the USA, the assumed center of origin for this species. The results suggest that cryptic sexual reproduction is occurring or has recently taken place within this population.

  • microsatellite markers for grosmannia alacris ophiostomataceae ascomycota and other species in the g serpens complex
    American Journal of Botany, 2012
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, James W Zanzot, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Brenda D Wingfield
    Abstract:

     Premise of the study: Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the pine-infecting fungus, Grosmannia alacris .  Methods and Results: Sixteen microsatellite markers were developed by using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) – PCRs and 454 sequencing methods. Seven of these markers showed polymorphisms for a South African population of G. alacris , and 13 markers showed polymorphism when European isolates were included. Most of the primer pairs also amplifi ed four closely related species: G. serpens , Leptographium gibbsii , L. castellanum , and L. yamaokae.  Conclusions: These new markers will be useful for population studies of G. alacris and other species in the G. serpens complex.

  • barcoding and microcoding using identiprimers with Leptographium species
    Mycologia, 2010
    Co-Authors: Natalie R Van Zuydam, D. Paciura, Michael J. Wingfield, Karin Jacobs, Martin Petrus Albertus Coetzee, Brenda D Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Leptographium species provide an ideal model to test the applications of a PCR microcoding system for differentiating species of other genera of ascomycetes. Leptographium species are closely related and share similar gross morphology. Probes designed for a PhyloChip for Leptographium have been transferred and tested as primers for PCR diagnostic against Leptographium species. The primers were combined with complementary universal primers to identify known and suspected undescribed species of Leptographium. The primer set was optimized for 56 species, including the three varieties of L. wageneri, then blind-tested against 10 random DNA samples. The protocols established in this study successfully identified species from the blind test as well as eight previously undescribed isolates of Leptographium. The undescribed isolates were identified as new species of Leptographium with the aid of the microcoding PCR identification system established in this study. The primers that were positive for each undescribed isolate were used to determine close relatives of these species and some of their biological characteristics. The transfer of oligonucleotides from a micro-array platform to a PCR diagnostic was successful, and the identification system is robust for both known and unknown species of Leptographium.

Gerda Fourie - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Z. Wilhelm Beer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Leptographium olivaceum complex (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota), including descriptions of six new species from China and Europe.
    MycoKeys, 2019
    Co-Authors: Mingliang Yin, Riikka Linnakoski, Xudong Zhou, Michael J. Wingfield, Z. Wilhelm Beer
    Abstract:

    The Leptographium olivacea complex encompasses species in the broadly defined genus Leptographium (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota) that are generally characterized by synnematous conidiophores. Most species of the complex are associates of conifer-infesting bark beetles in Europe and North America. The aims of this study were to reconsider the delineation of known species, and to confirm the identity of several additional isolates resembling L. olivacea that have emerged from recent surveys in China, Finland, Poland, Russia, and Spain. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for five loci (ACT, TUB, CAL, ITS2-LSU, and TEF-1α) distinguished 14 species within the complex. These included eight known species (L. cucullatum, L. davidsonii, L. erubescens, L. francke-grosmanniae, L. olivaceum, L. olivaceapini, L. sagmatosporum, and L. vescum) and six new species (herein described as L. breviuscapum, L. conplurium, L. pseudoalbum, L. rhizoidum, L. sylvestris, and L. xiningense). New combinations are provided for L. cucullatum, L. davidsonii, L. erubescens, L. olivaceum, L. olivaceapini, L. sagmatosporum and L. vescum. New Typifications: Lectotypes are designated for L. olivaceum, L. erubescens and L. sagmatosporum. Epitypes were designated for L. olivaceapini and L. sagmatosporum. In addition to phylogenetic separation, the synnematous asexual states and ascomata with almost cylindrical necks and prominent ostiolar hyphae, distinguish the L. olivaceum complex from others in Leptographium.

  • Two new Leptographium spp. reveal an emerging complex of hardwood-infecting species in the Ophiostomatales
    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 2017
    Co-Authors: Robert Jankowiak, Piotr Bilański, Riikka Linnakoski, Beata Strzałka, Małgorzata Groszek, Halvor Solheim, Z. Wilhelm Beer
    Abstract:

    Species of Leptographium are generally characterized by mononematous conidiophores and are commonly associated with bark beetles and weevils. These species are responsible for sapstain and in some cases serious diseases on a range of primarily coniferous trees. In comparison with coniferous trees, the occurrence of Leptographium species on hardwood trees has been poorly studied in Europe. During a survey of ophiostomatoid fungi on various tree species in Norway and Poland, three unusual species, which fit the broader morphological description of Leptographium spp., were found in association with Scolytus ratzeburgi , Dryocoetes alni and Trypodendron domesticum on a variety of hardwoods, and from wounds on Tilia cordata . Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for three gene regions (ITS2-LSU, β-tubulin, and TEF1-α) showed that these Leptographium species are phylogenetically closely related to each other and form a well-supported lineage that included Grosmannia grandifoliae and Leptographium pruni . The first species could be distinguished from the other Leptographium species based on conidiophores arising from spiral hyphae, chlamydospore-like structures and a hyalorhinocladiella-like synanamorph in culture. The second species differs from the previous one by having distinctly shorter conidiophores and smaller conidia. This species also produces a well-developed sporothrix-like synanamorph with denticulate conidiogenous cells. Based on these unusual morphological characteristics and distinct DNA sequences, these fungi were recognised as new taxa for which the names Leptographium trypodendri sp. nov. and L. betulae sp. nov. are provided. The third group of isolates belonged to Grosmannia grandifoliae , representing the first report of this species outside of the USA. The newly defined G. grandifoliae complex is the first species complex in Leptographium s.l. consisting of only hardwood-infecting species.

  • Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato.
    Fungal Biology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Brenda D Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Species of Leptographium sensu lato are sap-stain fungi vectored by bark beetles and some species cause or are associated with tree diseases. Sexual states have been reported for more than 30 species in this group and these have been treated in the sexual genus Grosmannia. No sexual state is known for at least 59 additional species and these reside in the genus Leptographium. The discovery of sexual states for species of Leptographium relies mainly on the presence of fruiting bodies on host tissue at the time of isolation and/or intensive laboratory mating studies, which commonly have low levels of success. We developed mating-type markers to study sexual compatibility of species in Leptographium sensu lato. Using these markers, it was possible to identify mating types for 42 species and to determine thallism in many species for the first time. Surprisingly, the results showed that heterothallic and putatively heterothallic species are abundant (39 out of 42 species) in Leptographium sensu lato, and only three species were confirmed to be homothallic. The mating type markers developed in this study will be useful for future studies concerning mating type and sexual compatibility of species in this genus.

  • Draft genome sequences of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygamai, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, and Thielaviopsis punctulata
    IMA Fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Brenda D Wingfield, Tuan A. Duong, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Peter K. Ades, Fatima A. Al-naemi, Lisa A. Beirn, Wubetu Bihon, Jo Anne Crouch, Christopher J. Fields, Gerda Fourie
    Abstract:

    The genomes of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, Diplodia scrobiculata, Fusarium nygami, Leptographium lundbergii, Limonomyces culmigenus, Stagonosporopsis tanaceti , and Thielaviopsis punctulata are presented in this genome announcement. These seven genomes are from endophytes, plant pathogens and economically important fungal species. The genome sizes range from 26.6 Mb in the case of Leptographium lundber gii to 44 Mb for Chrysoporthe austroafricana. The availability of these genome data will provide opportunities to resolve longstanding questions regarding the taxonomy of species in these genera, and may contribute to our understanding of the lifestyles through comparative studies with closely related organisms.

  • Taxonomy and phylogeny of the Leptographium procerum complex, including Leptographium sinense sp. nov. and Leptographium longiconidiophorum sp. nov
    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 2014
    Co-Authors: Mingliang Yin, Xudong Zhou, Tuan A. Duong, Michael J. Wingfield, Z. Wilhelm Beer
    Abstract:

    Leptographium procerum (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycota) is a well-known fungal associate of pine root-infesting bark beetles and weevils, occurring in several countries of the world. The fungus is not a primary pathogen but has been associated with white pine root decline in the USA and with serious damage caused by the introduced red turpentine beetle (RTB) Dendroctonus valens in China. Several species closely related to L. procerum have been described during the past decade. The aim of this study was to reevaluate species boundaries in the L. procerum complex using multigene phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons. Phylogenetic analyses of seven gene regions (ITS2-LSU, actin, β-tubulin, calmodulin, translation elongation factor 1-α, and the mating type genes MAT1-1-3 and MAT1-2-1) distinguished between nine species in the complex. These included L. procerum, L. bhutanense, L. gracile, L. profanum, L. pini-densiflorae, L. sibiricum, L. sinoprocerum, as well as two new species described here as Leptographium sinense sp. nov. from Hylobitelus xiaoi on Pinus elliottii in China, and Leptographium longiconidiophorum sp. nov. from Pinus densiflora in Japan. Leptographium latens is reduced to synonymy with L. gracile, and an epitype is designated for L. procerum, because a living culture associated with the holotype of L. procerum did not exist. Amplification patterns of the mating type genes suggest that all known species in the L. procerum complex are heterothallic, although sexual states have not been observed for any of the species. The results also suggest that Eastern Asia is most probably the centre of species diversity for the L. procerum complex.