From the Editor's Desk
The year 2017 mark the centennial year of birth of Late Professor S. B. Saksena of Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar (M.P.), who has been a legendry mycologist in the league of Late Professor K. S. Thind of Panjab University, Chandigarh and Late Professor C. V. Subramanian of CAS in Botany, Guindy Campus, Chennai. The present issue of Kavaka is dedicated to his memory by Mycological Society of India in honour of the significant contributions made by him to the Indian Mycology, in recognition of which, like his other contemporaries, Dr. Saksena earned international fame. Decision to this effect was taken by the executive of the Mycological Society of India, which was later ratified in the general body meeting of MSI at Jaipur. I take it as a personal pride to be associated with the commemorative volume being released by Mycological Society of India on this auspicious day of the completion of the centennial year of his birth.
As has already been intimated, our Journal is now rated at 5.30 in the NAAS rating of the Journals by National Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Recently it was listed by University Grants Commission in its approved list of Journals for publication of research articles for calculation of API score in career progression of university and college teachers.
Members are requested to submit their good research/review articles through online submission portal(http://www.kavaka.fungiindia.co.in) which can also be accessed through the official website of the Mycological Society of India (http://www.fungiindia.co.in) as well. This will help us in further improvement of the Journal rating.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the contributors and the reviewers of the research articles published in this issue of Kavaka.
August 10, 2017
N. S. Atri
Editor-in-Chief
KAVAKA
Professor, Department of Botany
Punjabi University, Patiala
PIN-147 002, PUNJAB, INDIA
Front Page 
, Contents
KAVAKA 48(2):1-5(2017)
Professor Shyam Bahadur Saksena Birth Centennial Year Tribute
R.S. Mehrotra* and Ashok Aggarwal**
Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (*Present
address# 263/7, Urban Estate, Kurukshetra, 136118
**Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017; Accepted on July 5, 2017)
KAVAKA 48(2):6-10(2017)
Saksenaea vasiformis revisited after 64 years
R.S. Mehrotra* and Ashok Aggarwal**
Department of Botany, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra- 136119 (*Present address# 263/7, Urban Estate, Kurukshetra, 136118)
**Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in February, 2017; Accepted on July 20, 2017)
ABSTRACT
The genus Saksenaea was first discovered from India in 1953 from the forest soils of Sagar (Madhya Pradesh) by Late Professor S.B.Saksena of Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) and named after his Ph.D. supervisor, Prof. R.K.Saksena of Allahabad University, Allahabad. Incidentally the same fungus was discovered by Farrow around this time in 1954 from Barro Colorado Island from the soils of Panama region. The fungus was once thought to be limited in distribution has now been reported from various places from India and abroad. Because of its unique sporangial characters and non-motile spores in a columellate sporangium it was placed in the order Mucorales of the Division Zygomycota. Ellis and Hesseltine (1974) created a new family Saksenaeaceae for the genus. However, Kirk et al. (2008) have placed the genus in the family Radiomycetaceae. The taxonomic status of the family has been critically evaluated. In 1976, Azello et al published an important paper in which the fungus was found to be serious human pathogen. From 1976 to 2017, more than 50 research papers have been published on the pathogenic nature of the fungus causing severe cutaneous, sub-cutaneous and rhino-orbital-cerebral infections on humans as well as animals. In 2010, Alvarej et al. published a paper based on molecular phylogeny and proposed two more species of this genus. The paper closes with a discussion on the origin of Zygomycetes and the possible origin of Zygomycetes from Chytridiaceous ancestors such as Nowakowskiella whose sporangia look very similar to Saksenaea and also based on biochemical parameters of Chytridiomycetes and Zygomycetes.
KEY WORDS : Saksenaea, Taxonomy, pathogenic aspects and phylogeny.
KAVAKA48(2):11-20(2017)
Mycobiome:An emerging perspective in fungal biology!
Apekcha Bajpai and BN Johri
Department of Biotechnology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal-462026
Corresponding a uthor Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in March, 2017; Accepted on July 5, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Fungi represent an important and highly diverse group of eukaryotic microbes on earth. They play a vital role in ecosystem by driving biogeochemical cycling and nutrient uptake eventually influencing the ecological fitness. As compared to bacterial counterpart of microbiome the knowledge about fungi is still lacking from a mycobiome perspective which represents the total fungal biota in the environment. Fungi are widely distributed across all major biomes on earth. However, global fungal diversity patterns are determined by abiotic factors, geographical location, climate change and other environmental factors. With advances in high throughput sequencing platforms fungal biodiversity has been unraveled at a greater depth. This has shed light on fungal community dynamics and its contrasting features from microbiome perspectives. Additionally, a growing body of evidence suggests inter and intra-kingdom interactions and possible role of mycobiome as an integral part of the human welfare. In this article, the mycobiome is discussed in context of its association and significance in major biomes of earth.
Keywords: Fungi, biomes, next generation sequencing, mycobiome, microbiome
KAVAKA 48(2): 21-25(2017)
Isolation, Characterization of Endophytic Fungi of Mimusops elengi (Bakul)
Shilpa Amit Verekar , Ved Prakash ,Y. G. Chavan and S. K. Deshmukh *
Mérieux NutriSciences, Microchem House, A513, TTC Ind. Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai, 400701 India
Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, 211004, India
geneOmbio Technologies Private Limited, S No 39/3, Yogi Park, Baner, Pune 411 045, India
TERI Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi, 110 003, India.
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in July, 2017; Accepted on August 2, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Fresh bark pieces of Mimusops elengi Linn. were used for the isolation of fungal endophytes using standard methods. Mimusops elengi is a small to a large evergreen medicinal plant found all over the different parts of India. Seventy one endophytic fungi belonging to ascomycetes (11.27%), coelomycetes (39.44%) and hyphomycetes (49.29%) were isolated from 200 segments of Mimusops elengi collected from Dr. H. S. Gour University campus in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The identification of these fungi was confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/GenBank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Sixteen different fungal species belonging to 16 genera viz. Botryosphaeria mamane, Chaetomium globosum, Rhytidhysteron sp., Phoma putaminum, Pestaliopsis sp., Colletotricum gleosporoides, Phomopsis sp., Acremonium sp., Alternaria alternata, Beltraniella portoricensis, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Nigrospora oryzae and Torula herbarum were isolated. The most frequently isolated endophytes were Cladosporium cladosporioides (22.53%), Pestaliopsis sp.,(19.71%), Phomopsis sp., (9.86%) and Chaetomium globosum (8.45%). This study shows that a great number of endophytic fungi exist in the samples obtained from bark samples of M. elengi.
Key words: Fungal endophytes, bark samples, Mimusops elengi, medicinal plants.
KAVAKA 48(2):26-32(2017)
Diversity and technological potential of fungi from solar salterns of southern India
N. Thirunavukkarasu 1 , T.S.Suryanarayanan 2 *, T.Rajamani 1 and M.B. Govinda Rajulu 2
1 PG & Research Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai 600004, India
2 Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM), Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai 600004, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in February, 2017; Accepted on July 30, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Twenty three species belonging to ten genera of fungi were isolated by two methods from three saltern soils of southern India. Species of Aspergillus were the most common fungi present in these samples. Three of these fungi, viz. Aspergillus sp. 3, A. terreus, and a sterile fungus (SF2) were further studied for their salt tolerance, production of some extracellular enzymes and bioactive metabolites as influenced by external salt concentration. The fungi were halotolerant and not halophilic and two of them could grow on 20% NaCl medium. Extracellular enzyme production was influenced by salt in these fungi. Some enzymes were produced through a range of salt concentration (0 to 18 %), some enzymes showed more activity in the presence of salt and a few enzymes were salt-induced. Antialgal and antifungal metabolites were elaborated only in the presence of salt.
KEY WORDS : Extremozymes, halotolerant, salt tolerant fungi
KAVAKA 48(2): 33-40(2017)
Role of Phosphate Solubilizing Fungi and Microbes for sustainable Agriculture and Agro forestry
C. Manoharachary* and D. Nagaraju
*Mycology and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad - 500007,
Telangana, India
Department of Botany, Govt. Degree College, Eturnagaram-506165, Distt. Warangal, Telangana, India.
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in March, 2017; Accepted on July 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Phosphorus is an important nutrient required for plant growth, yield and adaptability to different ecological conditions. Many Indian soils are deficient in phosphorus. The organic form of available phosphorus is meagre and mineral phosphorus such as rock phosphate is found in large quantities. The mineral phosphorus needs to be solubilized by varied groups of microorganisms, thus making 'P' available for crop plants and forestry. This review presents information on role of phosphate solubilizing fungi and microbes for sustainable agriculture and agro-forestry.
KEYWORDS: Agriculture, agroforestry, fungi, microbes, phosphorus, rock phosphate.
KAVAKA 48(2): 41-46 (2017)
Nutritional and Neutraceutical potential of some wild edible Russulaceous mushrooms from NorthWest Himalayas, India*Samidha Sharma, N. S. Atri, Munruchi Kaur and **Balwant Verma Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala.147002.
* Department of Botany, Arya College, Ludhiana, (Punjab) 141001
**Department of Biotechnology, Thapar University, Patiala, (Punjab) 147004
Corresponding author Email: samidha8885@ gmail.com
(Submitted in January, 2017 ; Accepted on June 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Seven wild edible russulaceous mushrooms, namely R. brevipes Peck, R cyanoxantha (Schaeff.) Fr., R. heterophylla (Fr.) Fr., R. virescens (Schaeff.) Fr., Lactarius sanguifluus (Paulet) Fr., L. deliciosus (L.) Gray and Lactifluus piperatus (L.) Kuntze were selected for nutritional and nutraceutical evaluation. Their complete nutritional profile with respect to per cent occurrence of protein, carbohydrate, fat, ash, free sugars and energy values present were evaluated. For neutraceutical evaluation, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and â carotenoids were evaluated. To evaluate antioxidant activity, reducing power assay was conducted. Nutritional analysis confirmed the presence of good amounts of protein which ranged from 19.84- 37.77%, sufficient carbohydrate content that ranges from 40.81-63.24%, low fat content that ranges from 1.7-5.44%, good ash content ranging from 6.17-16.43 %, moisture 6.89-8.34 % and energy value 253.84- 287.40 Kcal/ 100g of the sample. Mannitol and trehalose occur as the main sugars in all the mushrooms evaluated. Amongst the neutraceutical components phenolic content ranged from 1.78-17.55 mg/g, flavonoid content ranged from 0.14-2.47 mg/g, ascorbic acid content ranged from 0.12-0.31 mg/g, â carotene content ranged from 4.47-32.73μg/g and the reducing power of mushroom methanolic extract was found to range between 0.06-0.77.
Key Words: Wild mushrooms, edibility, neutraceutical potential, reducing power, Russula, Lactarius, Lactifluus
KAVAKA48(2): 47-58(2017)
Production, characteristics and potential applications of the cellulolytic enzymes of thermophilicmouldsBijender Singh1 ,Anju Bala1 , Seema Dahiya1 and T. Satyanarayana21 Laboratory of Bioprocess Technology, Department of Microbiology, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124001, India
2 Division of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Azad Hind Fauz Marg, Sector 3,
Dwarka, New Delhi-110078, India
*Corresponding author Email.:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.(Submitted in February, 2017;Accepted on July 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Thermophilic moulds are capable of degrading plant organic residues at elevated temperatures by secreting a large array of hydrolases. These moulds produce cellulolytic enzymes in submerged as well as solid substrate fermentations. Cellulases from these moulds have been characterized, which display a high thermostability, catalytic activity and fast rate of reactions as compared to their mesophilic counterparts. Their optimal activities lie in the range of 50-70 o C and pH of 3.0-6.0 with molecular masses between 40 and 240 kDa. The genes encoding cellulolytic enzymes of the moulds have been cloned and expressed in both homologous and heterologous systems. Cellulolytic enzymes of thermophilic moulds have been shown to be efficient in plant biomass degradation. The applicability of cellulases in a number of biotechnological processes such as the production of biofuels, food and animal feeds, detergents and paper pulp processing has been demonstrated.
KEYWORDS: Thermophilic moulds, cellulases, lignocellulosics, solid state fermentation, submerged fermentation, biofuels, bioethanol
KAVAKA48(2): 59-60(2017)
Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis: First report as an endophyte and a new record for India
Indu Bhushan Prasher and Reena Kumari Dhanda*
Department of Botany, Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017;Accepted on June 20, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis Abdollahz, Zare & A.J.L. Phillips is isolated and described as an endophyte from Ficus krishnae L. It constitutes the first report of L . hormozganensis as an endophytic fungus from F. krishnae world-wide and a new record for India. It is one of the most frequently occurring species in different vegetative parts of F. krishnae.
Key Words: Endophytic fungus, Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, India.
KAVAKA48(2):61-69(2017)
Seasonal occurrence of marine ascomycetes and anamorphic marine fungi in mangroves of Godavariand Krishna deltas, East coast of India
V. Venkateswara Sarma* and B.P.R. Vittal
Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Pondicherry-605 014, India.
Centre for Advanced studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600025, India.
*
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017; Accepted on June 25, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Seasonal occurrence of marine ascomycetes and anamorphic marine fungi in mangroves of Godavari and Krishna deltas, East coast of India was studied. The results showed more percentage occurrence of ascomycetes during dry period and more anamorphic fungi during wet period and converse was true in dry and wet periods for respective groups where the percentage occurrence was less than the usual. Among the various environmental factors studied such as maximum and minimum air temperatures, relative humidity, salinity, surface water temperature and average monthly rainfall only average monthly rainfall showed an effect on the species richness and abundance of ascomycetes and anamorphs. No or low rain fall favored higher percentage of ascomycetes and a good rainfall has favored an increase in the anamorphic fungi and a decrease in ascomycetes.
Key words: Seasonality, Ascomycetes, anamorphic marine fungi, Rhizophora spp., Avicennia spp.
KAVAKA 48(2): 70-75(2017)
Morphological and Molecular characterization of Pleurotus flabellatus from Paechiparai forest ofTamil Nadu, India
Arul Kumar Murugesan, V. Kaviyarasan and Johnpaul Muthumary*
Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, Guindy Campus, University of Madras, Chennai- 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Corresponding author Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017; Accepted on July 20, 2017)
ABSTRACT
An isolate of Pleurotus flabellatus was collected from Paechiparai forest, Tamil Nadu, India. In this manuscript macroscopic, microscopic and molecular systematic details of this mushroom have been documented. The rDNA sequencing analysis was carried out to determine the inter species and intra species relation using phylogenetic tree construction. The rDNA sequencing data revealed 98% match to represent P. flabellatus.
KEYWORDS: Pleurotus flabellatus, rDNA sequence, phylogenetic construction
KAVAKA 48(2): 76-83(2017)
Insights into the Aquatic Hyphomycetes*
K. R. Sridhar
Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in May, 2017; Accepted on July 25, 2017)
ABSTRACT
The discipline 'aquatic hyphomycetology' with exciting historical background addresses the biology and ecology of a specific group of mycota adapted to stream ecosystems. The major attractions of these fungi are production of characteristic conidia (mainly staurosporous and scolecosporous) and wide geographic distribution. Their important ecological functions include breakdown and mineralization of plant lignocellulosic substrata and the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels in streams. The global proportion of life sustaining freshwater amounts to 2.75% with only 0.01% present as surface water in diverse habitats. Therefore, occurrence, distribution and role of aquatic hyphomycetes in freshwater food webs are of immense significance. In addition to field studies in streams, these fungi serve as model community for mesocosm and microcosm experiments to address many ecological issues. Many species of aquatic hyphomycetes remain unknown and are yet to be explored.
There are many unsettled questions on their occurrence, distribution, adaptations and functions. In the current global scenario (climate change, global warming and pollution), the role of aquatic hyphomycetes in streams is highly valuable to understand their ecosystem services to enforce conservation strategies. This contribution is a general account of the inventory, approaches, boundaries, ecological services and future challenges concerning aquatic hyphomycetes.
Keywords: Distribution, diversity, ecology, food web, freshwater hyphomycetes, streams
KAVAKA 48(2):84-94(2017)
New additions to the genus Agaricus (Agaricaceae, Agaricales) from Northwest India
Harwinder Kaur, Munruchi Kaur 1 * and Nazir Ahmad Malik 1
Akal University Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda (Punjab) - 151302
1 Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala-147002
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on January 1, 2017 ; Accepted on June 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
In the present paper 11 taxa of genus Agaricus L.: Fr. collected from different tropical, subtropical and temperate areas of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir (India) are described. These are A. porphyrocephallus F.H.Møller, A. subrutilescens (Kauffman) Hotson & Stuntz, A. parvitigrinus Guinb. & Callac, A. silvaticus var. pallidus (F.H. Møller) F.H. Møller, A. mealgaris var. obscuratus (Maire) Heinem, A. rubribrunnescens Murrill,W.A, A. andrewii Freeman A.E.H, A. blazei Murrill W.A, A. fuscovelatus Kerrigan R.W, A. bolorhizus Berk. & Broome and A. californicus Peck. Based on morphotaxonomy all these 11 species are new records for Indian mycobiota and described here for the first time along with their identification key, distribution, ecological and edibility status.
KEYWORDS: Taxonomy, identification key, distribution, ecology, edibility.
KAVAKA: 48(2):95-98(2017)
Five New Records of Family Atheliaceae from Jammu Division (J. & K.)
Jyoti Sharma*, Avneet Pal Singh and G. S. Dhingra
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in May, 2017; Accepted on July 25, 2017)
ABSTRACT
A detailed account of five species (Amphinema byssoides, Athelopsis subinconspicua, Leptosporomyces galzinii, L. roseus and Tylospora fibrillosa), which are new reports for the Jammu division (J&K) has been given. Of these, Tylospora fibrillosa is a new record for India, whereas the other four species are being described for the first time the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Key words: Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, Corticioid fungi
From the Editor's Desk
While releasing the 46 volume of Kavaka being transactions of Mycological Society of India, I promised to add efficiency to the editorial process by initiating online manuscript submission and processing. In the beginning of the year 2017 an independent portal http://www.kavaka.fungiindia.co.in
was started so as to initiate the manuscript processing through open journal system (OJS). With the cooperation of the contributors the editorial office has started receiving manuscripts through this newly started portal. All the manuscripts to be included in Volume 49 scheduled for release in December, 2017 are being processed through open Journal system. The members of Mycological Society of India are requested to avail this facility. For this purpose the website can be assessed either directly or through the portal available on the homepage of the official website of Mycological Society of India (http://www.fungiindia.co.in). Before submitting the manuscript the contributor is required to register which is an obligatory requirement. My sincere thanks are due to all the authors of the articles and the reviewers for their cooperation in various ways without which timely release of the journal would not have been possible.
June 30, 2017
N.S. Atri
Editor-in-Chief
KAVAKA
Department of Botany
Punjabi University,
Patiala-147002, Punjab
INDIA
Front Page , Contents
KAVAKA 48(1): 1-9 (2017)
Fungal Endophytes: An Eclectic Review
T. S. Suryanarayanan
Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM), RKM Vidyapith, Chennai-
600004, India
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The horizontally transmitted fungal endophytes, especially the members of Ascomycota , establish endosymbiotic relationship with plants of all lineages. Endophytes are universal in their occurrence and have been reported from plants from different habitats. Their ability to elaborate an array of secondary metabolites showing different desirable biological activities has resulted in studying these fungi for technological use. It is imperative that we conduct basic studies to acquire information about the biology of endophytes to harness more profitably their technological traits.
Keywords: Fungal ecology, fungus-plant interaction, biotechnology, bioactive compounds
KAVAKA 48(1):10-16(2017)
Ten new records of lichen species in the genus Sticta (Lobariaceae) for Taiwan
Wan Lin1 , Chung-Kang Lin2 , Chang-Hsin Kuo3 ,Chi-Yu Chen4 , and TeikKhiang Goh3
1 Department of Biological Resources, National Chiayi University), 300 Syuefu Road, Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan
2 National Museum of Natural Science, 1, Guancian Rd., Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
3 Department of Plant Medicine, National Chiayi University, 300 Syuefu Road, Chiayi City 60004, Taiwan
4 Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Road, South District, Taichung City 402, Taiwan, R.O.C.
*Corresponding author Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in November, 2016; Accepted on May 13, 2017)
ABSTRACT
This paper is part of a study of lichen species from Taiwan. Ten species in the genus Sticta (Schreber) Ach. are described and illustrated in this paper, and they represent new records for Taiwan. They are foliose lichens belonging to the Family Lobariaceae. The species are Sticta beauvoisii Delise, S. carolinensis T. McDonald, S. cyphellulata (Müll. Arg.) Hue, S. filix (Sw.) Nyl., S. hypochra Vainio, S. marginifera Mont., S. martini D.J. Galloway, S. myrioloba (Müll. Arg.) D.J. Galloway, S. sayeri Müll .Arg. and S. sublimbata(Steiner) Swinscow & Krog
KEYWORDS: Cyphellae, foliose lichens, Lobariaceae, morphology, taxonomy
KAVAKA 48(1):17-21(2017)
Pattern of Fungal Colonization and Co-occurrence on Avicennia officinalis Woody Litter in a South-
western Mangrove of India
G.L. Maria and K.R. Sridhar*
Department of Botany, St. Agnes College, Mangalore 575 002, Karnataka, India
Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri 574 199, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017; Accepted on June 17, 2017)
ABSTRACT
This study outlines the pattern of colonization and co-occurrence of saprophytic fungi on woody litter of Avicennia officinalis tree species in Nethravathi mangrove. Two types of woody litter (naturally and artificially submerged) during two seasons (monsoon and summer) were assessed. Natural woody litter consists of 57 fungal species, while it was 34 species in submerged woody litter. Composition of fungi was a mosaic of typical marine and terrestrial fungi. Higher number of fungi (teleomorphs, anamorphs and core-group species) was found in natural than submerged wood, so also during monsoon than summer. Eight species (Aniptodera sp., Lignincola laevis, Lulworthia grandispora, Savoryella lignicola, S. paucispora, Tricladium linderi, Tirispora sp. and Zalerion varia) were common to natural and submerged wood in both seasons. The Shannon diversity was higher during monsoon than summer irrespective of type of wood assessed. The co-occurrence of fungi per wood was maximum up to 8 and 11 species during monsoon in submerged and natural wood, respectively. The pattern of three fungal species co- occurrence was also similar to overall colonization on woody litter. In both wood types, three species co-occurrence was the highest in both seasons. Per cent co-occurrence of 20 core-group species showed dominance in natural than in submerged wood, so also during monsoon than summer. Single species occurrence of core-group fungi on woody litter was as low as 0% (16 core-group fungi on either of wood or season) and 12% (Lignincola laevis). The core-group fungus L. laevis co-occurred up to a maximum of 72% during summer in natural wood which reveals its compatibility and accommodating ability with other associated fungi. Overall, this study reveals that the colonization and co-occurrence of fungi on woody litter in mangroves are dependent on the type of woody litter as well as the monitoring season.
Keywords: Diversity, mangrove fungi, species assemblage, species consortia, core-group fungi, monsoon, summer
KAVAKA 48(1):22-26(2017)
Clonostachys indicus sp. nov. from India*
Indu Bhushan Prasher and Radha Chauhan
Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India
Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector- 42D, Chandigarh-160036.*
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.(Submitted in November, 2016; Accepted on June 20, 2017)*
ABSTRACT
Clonostachys indicus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from pure culture, obtained from bark of twigs of Ficus virens (Miq.) Domin, collected from Chandigarh, India. The new species was disguised by morphological and in vitro cultural characters from its related species. Additionally, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analysis support this species as distinct within Clonostachys. A comprehensive table of Clonostachys species possessing dimorphic conidiophores has been provided.
KEYWORDS: Hyphomycete, conidia, conidiophores, systematic, ITS
KAVAKA 48(1):27-32 (2017)
The health benefits of Cordyceps militaris - a review
Aarti Mehra, Kamal U.Zaidi*, Abin Mani and Vijay Thawani
Biotechnology Pharmacology Laboratory, Center for Scientific Research and Development, People's University, Bhopal-462037, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in November, 2016; Accepted on June 22, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Cordyceps militaris, a macro fungus is medicinally important for having potential therapeutic applications. Its medicinal properties are due to variety of therapeutically important constituents including cordycepin, cordymin, ergosterol, glycoprotein, polysaccharides, as a part of its composition. This review focuses on the pharmacological properties of Cordyceps militaris explored by different workers from time to time.
Keywords: Cordyceps militaris, Bioactive compound, Cancer, Cordymin, Polysaccharides
KAVAKA 48(1):33-41(2017)
Decolorization of textile dye by laccase from newly isolated endophytic fungus Daldinia sp.
Sheetal Chanyal and Pavan Kumar Agrawal*
Department of Biotechnology G.B. Pant Engineering College, Ghurdauri, Pauri, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in November, 2016; Accepted on June 2, 2017)
ABSTRACT
In view of application of laccase in bioremediation of textile dyes, a total of six endophytic fungi were isolated from needle of healthy Gymnosperm plant,Cupressus torulosa D. Don of Garhwal, Himalayan region. The colonization rate of these fungi on PDA was higher for various sampling sites in S1 (90) >S2(60) > S3 (40) but colonization rate of fungi in KMM was S3(73) > S1(60)> S2(40). All endophytic fungi were screened for laccase assay as it plays a crucial role in detoxification of toxic dye for human health. Out of six fungi only one endophytic fungus known as KCT34 showed significant laccase activity in solid and liquid media. Initial screening on the malt extract agar plates supplemented with 200 mg L−1 of each Congo red, Rosebangal, Orange G and Rhodamine B dye showed that KCT34 was able to decolorize all of the four dyes. Quantitative analysis of the dye decolorization showed that KCT34 was able to decolorize textile dyes efficiently and dye decolorization percentage was maximum on 16th day with percentage ranging from 90.45% for Congo red, 87.91% for Rose bangal, 85.81% for Orange G and 54.39% for Rhodamine B. Molecular identification of the fungal isolate KCT34 using primer ITS1 and ITS4 showed 99% sequence similarity with Daldinia sp, an Ascomycetous fungus. The ability to decolorize different types of textile dyes by the isolated Daldinia sp. suggested a possible application of fungal endophytes in the decolorization of dyestuff effluents from textile, food and aquaculture industries.
Keywords: Decolorization, Laccase, bioremediation, textile dye, endophytic fungi, Daldinia sp.
KAVAKA 48:42-43(2017)
A new species of lichenicolous fungus Epicladonia from India
Yogesh Joshi*, Arti Falswal and Rachna Joshi
Department of Botany, S.S.J. Campus, Kumaun University, Almora 263601, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in December, 2016; Accepted on June 12, 2017)
ABSTRACT
A new species of lichenicolous fungus Epicladonia heterodermiae characterized by superficial conidiomata arising in stromata on the apothecial disc of Heterodermia, with 0-(2) septate, hyaline, narrowly ellipsoid, conidia (9-10 × 2-2.5 μm) with 1-2 guttules is described as new to science from India. A key to so far known species of this genus is also provided.
Keywords: Heterodermia, parasite, secondary fungi
KAVAKA 48(1):44-49(2017)
Occurrence, Distribution and Bioactive Potential of Mangrove Fungal Endophytes: An Appraisal
V. Kumaresan
Department of Plant Science, Bharathidasan Govt. College for Women (Autonomous), Puducherry 605003, India
Corresponding author email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in October, 2016; Accepted on June 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Around 30 different mangrove species have been screened for fungal endophytes from different geographical locations that have revealed that the genera of fungi isolated from terrestrial plants are also present in the mangroves, especially, Phomopsis, Phyllosticta, Sporormiella, etc. Species belonging to mangrove Rhizophora from different geographical locations, have been studied for fungal endophytes. Mangrove fungal endophytes have been studied for the production of bioactive compounds, which has resulted in recording of a wide array of compounds having antibiofilm, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and insecticidal activities. An appraisal has been presented on these aspects in this paper.
Keywords: Endophytes, bioactive compounds, mangroves, Rhizophora
KAVAKA 48(1):50-51(2017)
Passalora rhamnaecearum comb.nov. (Capnodiales, Mycosphaerellaceae) from India
Raghvendra Singh and Shambhu Kumar*
Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P., India
* Forest Pathology Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in October, 2016; Accepted on June 15, 2017)
ABSTRACT
The hyphomycete Phaeoramularia rhamnaecearum is recombined as Passalora rhamnaecearum based on critical re-examinations of type collections. The species was originally collected on leaves of Ziziphus jujuba during a taxonomic survey carried out in Pankaj Nursery at Sagar, India.
Key words:Anamorph, new combination, Passalora, taxonomy
KAVAKA 48(1):52-63(2017)
Characterization of a mutant of a unique predicted protein essential for virulence in Botrytis cinerea
Esha Sharma and Rupam Kapoor*
Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in May, 2017; Accepted on June 15, 2017)
ABSTRACT
A nonpathogenic mutant of Botrytis cinerea was obtained by insertional mutagenesis using Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. The mutant (Bcnpm) was deficient in expression of a predicted protein unique to B. cinerea. No disease symptoms were observed on tomato plants inoculated with Bcnpm. Bcnpm exhibited reduced ability to penetrate and colonize leaf tissue as compared to its wild type (WT). The concentration of oxalic acid was considerably reduced in Bcnpm. The tomato plants inoculated with Bcnpm provoked lesser oxidative damage in terms of H 2 O 2 production and lipid peroxidation. The magnitude of defence response elicited by Bcnpm was far lesser than that from WT. Bcnpm inoculated plants possessed lower concentration of phenols and reduced activities of defence and antioxidative enzymes. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis revealed lesser transcript levels of some defence related genes in Bcnpm as compared to WT. It was further observed that pre-inoculation of tomato plants with Bcnpm offered protection to plants challenged with biotic stress. The mechanism behind this protective ability could be induced resistance which might have resulted in priming the plant defence response.
Keywords: Botrytis cinerea, predicted protein, non-pathogenic mutant, virulence, Oxalic acid, protective ability
KAVAKA 48(1):64-67(2017)
Some New Reports of Resupinate Non-Poroid Agaricomycetous Fungi From Punjab and Adjoining Areas
Gurpreet Kaur, Avneet Pal Singh* and Gurpaul Singh Dhingra
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002 (Punjab), India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in January, 2017; Accepted on April 10, 2017)
ABSTRACT
An account of five species [Athelia decipiens (Höhn. & Litsch.) J. Erikss., Clavulicium macounii (Burt) J. Erikss. & Boidin ex Parmasto, C. venosum (Berk. & Ravenel) Ginns, Lindtneria chordulata (D.P. Rogers) Hjortstam and Piloderma lanatum (Jül.) J. Erikss. & Hjortstam] of resupinate non-poroid Agaricomycetous fungi is given here based on collections made from different localities of Punjab and adjoining areas. All the five species are described and illustrated for the first time from the study area. Of these, Clavulicium venosum, Lindtneria chordulata and Piloderma lanatum are new records for India.
Keywords: Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, wood rotting fungi, corticioid fungi
Obituary, Book Review Instructions
From the Editor's Desk
This issue of Kavaka- being Transactions of Mycological Society of India is dedicated to the fond memory of Late Professor K.S.Thind who established a school of Mycology with a dedicated team of Research Students at Botany Department, Panjab University, Chandigarh and brought international recognition to the Indian Mycology through his quality research in recognition of which he was elected as the first Chairman of International Mycological Association Committee for Asia (IMACA) founded on September 2, 1977 during the second International Mycological Congress (IMC 2) held in Thampa, Florida, USA. Mycological Society of India in its last meeting held at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in recognition of his contributions, decided to bring out a special issue of the Journal on the eve of the beginning of centennial year of Professor Thind's birth which started on 31st October, 2016 and will end on 30th October, 2017. On personal front, he has been a teacher of my teacher Late Professor S. S. Saini, so I take this pride to represent the third generation of the legacy started by Late Professor K.S.Thind at Panjab University, Chandigarh. I owe a great debt of gratitude to him for encouragement and guidance during my formative days when I was a Ph. D. Scholar. It is yet another opportunity for me to feel honoured to be associated with this centenary issue which contain research and review articles contributed by renowned mycologists of India, five of whom are his direct students.
My sincere thanks are due to all the authors of the articles and the reviewers for their significant contributions without which the timely release of this issue of the Journal would not have been possible.
November 16, 2016
N.S. Atri
Professor
Department of Botany
Punjabi University,
Patiala-147002, Punjab
INDIA
| Editorial |
Title
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Contributions of Professor K.S.Thind to the development of Mycology in India
Indu Bhushan Prasher
Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
Corresponding author email: chromista @yahoo.co.in
I feel deeply honoured to have been asked to write about the contributions of a doyen of Indian mycology Professor Kartar Singh Thind, popularly known as K.S.Thind, for publication in special volume of KAVAKA being dedicated to him in his birth centenary year (2017). I have had an opportunity to know him as a student while pursuing my doctorate at Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh and then as my senior colleague, although I was not his direct student but I am one of the fortunate ones to have taken my initial lessons in mycology and plant pathology from two of his illustrious students, Late Professor S.S.Saini, being M.Sc. student at Punjabi University, Patiala and then from Late Professor G.S.Rawla at Panjab University, Chandigarh under whose guidance I earned my doctorate. I have no hesitation in taking this pride to inherit the legacy of hard work and dedication from this legendry mycologist and carry it forward at a place where Professor Thind established a school of mycology in his own right and attracted the attention of National and International mycologists of repute including Professor T.S.Sadasivan, Professor C.V.Subramanian, Professor E.J.H.Corner, Professor R.P.Korf and many others listed in the ongoing account. On my own behalf and on behalf of mycological fraternity, I appreciate the effort of Mycological Society of India for remembering the contributions of Professor K.S.Thind by bringing out a dedicated issue of KAVAKA on his birth centenary which falls on 30th October, 2017.
Professor K.S. Thind: The Humane Scientist
T. N. Lakhanpal
Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in18-06-2016; Accepted on 20-08-2016)
ABSTRACT
In this manuscript besides recollecting my life long memories of association with my revered teacher Late Professor K.S.Thind, I have tried to give a glimpse of my work on myxomycetes, morels , agarics and boletes, the three areas of research in which I was introduced by this great man. Along with key to the Indian species of Hemitrichia, a new species H. thindii in honour of late Professor K. S. Thind has also been described.
Keywords : Slime moulds , plasmodia, capillitium, morels, agarics, boletes
Genus Cyathus Haller ex Pers. (Agaricomycetes) from Eastern Himalaya
B. M. Sharma
Department of Plant Pathology,H.P.Agriculture University, Palampur-176061
Corresponding Author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 20, 2016; Accepted on September 30, 2016)
ABSTRACT
This paper deals with the morphology and taxonomy of sixteen species of Cyathus from Eastern Himalaya, including India and Royal Kingdom of Bhutan. Of these, Cyathus thindianus has been described as a new species. Three species viz.C.berkeleyanus. C.ellipsoideus and C.montagnei have been reported for the first time from Himalaya while C.gracilis is being circumscribed for the first time from India. Remaining species viz. C.striatus, C.novae-zealandiae. C.griseocarpus, C.limbatus, C.poeppigii, C.microsporus, C.intermedius, C.colensoi, C.hookeri, C.stercoreus and C.triplex have only been briefly annotated. A key is provided for the Eastern Himalayan species.
Keywords: Bird’s nest fungus, Agaricomycetes, peridioles, taxonomy
My dates with Perithecial Fungi
J. S. Dargan
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala-147002
Corresponding authors Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in August 06, 2016 ; Accepted on September 05, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Perithecial fungi traditionally known as Pyrenomycetes, a class under division Ascomycota has recently been treated under class Sordariomycetes of sub division Pezizomycotina under Ascomycota. Several fungi belonging to this group of fungi have been reported by the author and his associates from various regions of North -West India. In the recent years several monographic contributions on various families and genera have been made by the experts in the field. Based on these recent works, various taxa of perithecial fungi, reported from this region of India have been reassessed and assigned to their respective taxonomic groups.
Keywords : Ascomycetous fungi, perithecia, taxonomy, Indian contribution
Myxomycetes: The forgotten Fungi like living organisms from India
C. Manoharachary and D. Nagaraju*
Mycology and Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana., India
*Department of Botany, Govt. Degree College, Eturnagaram-506165, Distt. Warangal, Telangana., India.
Corresponding author email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on May 25, 2016; Accepted on August 25, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Myxomycetes represent fungi like organisms which are commonly known as slime molds. Earlier these were included in fungi, but now are included in kingdom Protista. Around 2000 species are reported from all over the world and India has a record of around 200 species, indicating need for further exploration of different ecological niches and habitats. This contribution reviews general account of myxomycetes diversity spectrum, methodology, habitat relationship, ecology and economic importance. Further it adds some information on myxomycetes collected on different substrates in some forest localities of Telangana state which form new additions to this region.
Keywords: Diversity, ecology, economic importance, fossil, habitat, Myxomycetes.
Symbiotic Response of Ocimum sanctum to different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
E. Jyothi1&2 and D. J. Bagyaraj1*
1Centre for Natural Biological Resources and Community Development (CNBRCD), #41, RBI Colony, Anand Nagar, Bangalore 560024, Karnataka
2Centre for Research and Development, PRIST University, Thanjavur-613403, Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on May 15, 2016; Accepted on August 15, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to be supportive to crop plants through uptake of diffusion limited nutrients, biological control, hormone production, drought resistance, etc. Ocimum sanctum L. is one of the major medicinal plant of our country. Pot experiment was conducted to screen and select the efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for inoculating O. sanctum. Screening was done with eleven different species of AM fungi (Acaulospora laevis, Gigaspora margarita, Glomus bagyarajii, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus intraradices, Glomus leptotichum, Glomus macrocarpum, Glomus monosporum, Glomus mosseae and Scutellospora calospora). Plant parameters like height, stem girth, biovolume index, biomass of shoot and root and mycorrhizal parameters like root colonization, spore number in the root zone soil, etc. have been recorded according to the standard procedures. Based on the improved plant parameters like bio-volume index, plant biomass, oil yield and phosphorus uptake it is concluded that Glomus monosporum is the best AM fungus for inoculating O. sanctum.
Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Ocimum sanctum, Glomus monosporum, Plant growth response.
Thermomyces lanuginosus: A True Representative of Thermophilic, Fungal World!
Anil Prakash and Bhavdish N Johri*
Department of Microbiology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal 462026, M.P
*Department of Biotechnology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal 462026, M
Corresponding author email.:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on June 26, 2016 ; Accepted on August 15, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Miehe was first to isolate Thermomyces lanuginosus with four other species of thermophillic fungi. Tsiklinskaya, in 1899 found Thermomyces lanuginosus (Humicola lanuginosa) a chance contaminant on potato inoculated with garden soil. This fungus is explicitly associated with organic substrates such as compost resources, paddy straw , wheat straw, manures of birds and mammals droppings, dried and dead materials of plant like litter fall as leaves, twigs, stems and root, and municipal refuse where the process of decomposition by the mesophilic paves way for its colonization. Humicola lanuginosus (Thermomyces lanuginosus) grows from 30 to 52-55°C. The fungus possesses both intra- and exocellular thermozymes like xylanase, protease, lipase, amaylase, etc. However, for cellulose degradation it seems to live as a commensal with cellulose-decomposing species, like Chaetomium thermophile. Phylogenetically Thermomyces lanuginosus is classified as a mitosporic fungus (imperfect fungus), that reproduces asexually by forming aleurioconidia. It is also reported as a member of the order Eurotiales in a sister relationship with Talaromyces thermophilus. Thermomyces lanuginosus is a candidate organism for future of bioenergy based technologies by virtue of its colonization capacity, ability to deconstruct wood and wood based products, and release of cellulase-free xylanase.
Keywords: Compost, mycoflora, thermal adaptation, enzyme, biofuel alternative
Development of Fungicide Resistance in Plant Pathogens with Reference to Indian Scenario
T.S. Thind
Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludiana-141004, India
Corresponding authors E.mail :
(Submitted on 05-03-2016 ; Accepted on 25-05-2016)
ABSTRACT
Fungicides are essential component of crop protection and have played significant role in managing several devastating crop diseases. However, their indiscriminate use has resulted into development of resistance in several pathogens. This has led to poor disease control in many instances. The problem is more common with site-specific fungicides and performance of many of the systemic fungicides developed in the past three decades has been adversely affected. Some of the fungicide groups such as benzimidazoles, phenylamides, dicarboximides and the recently introduced strobilurins carry high resistance risk while fungicides like sterol biosynthesis inhibitors possess moderate risk. In India, development of resistance to various site-specific fungicides is now well known in some plant pathogens under practical field situations. This calls for implementation of suitable resistance management strategies to get expected disease control levels and to prolong the active life of potential fungicides.
Keywords : Fungicides, resistance, plant pathogens, competitive fitness, pathogenic potential, site-specificity
Researches on Russulaceous Mushrooms-An Appraisal
N.S. Atri, Samidha Sharma*, Munruchi Kaur Saini and Kanad Das**
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002, Punjab, India.
*Department of Botany, Arya College, Ludhiana 141001, Punjab, India.
**Botanical Survey of India, Cryptogamic Unit, P.O. Botanic Garden, Howrah 711 103, India
Corresponding author email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 10, 2016 ; Accepted on October 2, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Russulaceae is one among the large families of the basidiomycetous fungi. Some significant studies during the last decade on their systematics and molecular phylogeny resulted in splitting of well known milkcap genus Lactarius s.l. and inclusion of number of gastroid and resupinate members under its circumscription. Presently, there are seven genera (including agaricoid, gasteroid and resupinate members) in this family viz. Russula Pers., Lactarius Pers., Lactifluus (Pers.) Roussel, Cystangium Singer & A.H. Smith, Multifurca Buyck & Hofst., Boidinia Stalper & Hjortstam and Pseudoxenasma K.H. Larss. & Hjortstam spread over 1248 + recognised species the world over. Out of a total of about 259 + species/taxa of Russulacous mushrooms,146 taxa of Russula, 83 taxa of Lactarius, 27 taxa of Lactifluus, 2 species of Boidinia and 1 species of Multifurca are documented from India. In this manuscript an appraisal of the work done on various aspects of the members of the family Russulaceae including their taxonomic, molecular, phylogenetic, scanning electron microscopic, ectomycorrhizal, nutritional and nutraceutical aspects has been attempted.
Keywords: Russulaceae, taxonomy, phylogeny, SEM, ECM, nutritional, nutraceutical, review
Mycokeratinophiles: Pathogens of Onychomycosis
Sandeep Kotwal and Geeta Sumbali
Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, 180006
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on July 25, 2016; Accepted on September 20, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Mycokeratinophiles are an ecologically important group of microorganisms that have the ability to cycle keratin, which is one of the most abundant and highly stable animal protein on the earth. These are vigorous and self- sufficient saprophytes as long as environmental conditions are favourable. However, they are opportunists and may become parasitic by accident. After becoming pathogenic, they are able to survive and multiply at host's body temperature, causing further infection by invading fresh keratinized tissues. Infection is transmitted from human to human or from animal to human by direct contact or by contact with infected hairs or epidermal cells. Infact, it is the only type of fungal infection known to be of contagious type. Such mycokeratinophiles, which cause diseases of skin, hair and nails in man and animals, are commonly called as dermatophytes and their infections are known as cutaneous mycoses or dermatomycoses. The dermatophytic fungi belong to one of the three genera- Microsporum, Trichophyton or Epidermophyton. In addition to the dermatophytes, some non-dermatophytic mycokeratinophiles are emerging as leading cause of onychomycosis, that is, fungal infection of toe nails and finger nails. It is the most common nail disorder present in 2-13 per cent of general population, increasing up to 48 percent by 70 years of age. Although onychomycosis is rarely life threatening, its high incidence, prevalence and associated morbidity, makes it an important public health problem.
KeyWords: Mycokeratinophiles, mycoses, onychomycosis, dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes.
The Genus Tomentella: Indian Scenario
Gurpaul S. Dhingra
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002
Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 12, 2016 ; Accepted on September 30, 2016)
ABSTRACT
A consolidated tabulated account of 56 taxa of genus Tomentella Pers. ex Pat. from India has been given, which is based on the contributions made on the genus till date. Information about the names of taxa published by different workers, present names of taxa as per MycoBank and Species Fungorum and first report from India has been given in the table. Along with a key to the valid species of Tomentella has also been provided.
Keywords: Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, Himalaya, Wood rotting fungi
Thermophilic Mould Sporotrichum thermophile: Biology and Potential Biotechnological Applications
Bijender Singh and T. Satyanarayana*
Laboratory of Bioprocess Technology, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124001, Haryana
*Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi-110021, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on12-03-2016 ; Accepted on 02-05-2016)
ABSTRACT
Sporotrichum thermophile (Syn. Myceliophthora thermophila) is a ubiquitous thermophilic mould that exhibits strong plant organic matter decomposing ability in the temperature range between 40 and 50°C. It has a very broad and efficient enzymatic machinery which enable the mould to thrive in different environments utilizing an array of substrates. Both genome analysis and experimental data have confirmed that the mould is capable of hydrolyzing all major polysaccharides found in plant biomass. The genome analysis and characterization of the biomass-hydrolyzing enzymes confirm that the mould efficiently degrades plant organic matter at elevated temperatures. The hydrolytic enzymes secreted by the mould have several biotechnological applications. Despite low enzyme titers, the native enzymes of the mould are more efficient than their mesophilic counterparts. Attempts are being made to mine the genome through heterologous gene cloning, expression and characterization of the recombinant enzymes. The mould is also known to synthesize various bioactive molecules, which find potential applications.
Keywords: Thermophilic mould, Sporotrichum thermophile, thermostable enzymes, biomolecules, organic matter degradation
Aquatic Hyphomycetes in Detritus, Sediment and Water in the Western Ghat Streams
N.C. Karun, K.R. Sridhar* and S.D. Ghate
Department of Biosciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, Mangalore 574 199, Karnataka, India
Corresponding author's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on 15-03-2016; Accepted on 10-05-2016)
ABSTRACT
Most of the investigations on aquatic hyphomycetes in Western Ghats are confined to study their assemblage and diversity in leaf litter, foam and water. The present investigation documented aquatic hyphomycetes in different samples (leaf litter, woody litter, sediment and water) from three perennial streams located at high altitude in the Western Ghats (765-845 m asl). Ten species were common to all samples (Alatospora acuminata, Anguillospora longissima, Cylindrocarpon sp., Flagellospora curvula, F. penicillioides, Isthmotricladia gombakiensis, Lunulospora curvula, L. cymbiformis, Triscelophorus acuminatu and T. monosporus). Five species of them were top conidia producers (Anguillospora longissima, Flagellospora curvula, F. penicillioides, Lunulospora curvula and L. cymbiformis). Based on per cent conidial contribution, six species could be considered as core-group species (10%) (A. longissima, F. curvula, F. penicillioides, L. curvula and L. cymbiformis and L. cymbiformis-like sp.). A total of 8, 6, 5 and 2 species each were confined to water, woody litter, leaf litter and sediments, respectively. Those species which selectively occur in specific niche in streams deserve further study. This study recommends the evaluation of different substrates in the streams to understand assemblage and diversity of aquatic hyphomycetes more precisely.
Keywords : Aquatic hyphomycetes, leaf litter, sediments, Western Ghats, species richness, diversity
Diversity of the genus Suillus Gray from coniferous forests of the northwestern Himalayas, India: Taxonomy, ecology and some new records
Balwant Verma and M. Sudhakara Reddy*
Department of Biotechnology, Thapar University, Patiala-147004, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on 15-03-2016; Accepted on 25-05-2016)
ABSTRACT
The coniferous forests of the northwestern Himalayan region of India are rich in mycodiversity and were explored for Suillus diversity during the present study. We documented seven Suillus species viz. S. sibiricus, S. granulatus, S. flavidus, S. placidus S. triacicularis, S. himalayensis and S. indicus from this region. All these species were examined morphologically and identified molecularly by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region of basidiocarps. Out of seven species identified, two taxa namely, S. flavidus and S. placidus are new records from India, whereas S. sibiricus and S. granulatus are re-reported. Suillus flavidus, S. placidus, S. sibiricus and S. granulatus are described taxonomically as well as molecularly for the first time from India. Ecological data regarding occurrence, abundance, distribution and association of these Suillus species is also discussed and suggested that S. sibiricus is the most frequently encountered and widely distributed species in the northwestern Himalayan region of India. In addition, a key to the northwestern Himalayan species of the genus Suillus is also provided.
Keywords: Suillus, distribution, association, ITS, phylogeny, taxonomy
Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as Bio-fertilizers on Growth Enhancement of Economically Important Native Tree Species, Neolamarckia cadamba Seedlings
S.S. Sreedhar and V. Mohan*
Division of Forest Protection, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore - 641 002, Tamil Nadu
*Corresponding author email.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in June 26, 2016; Accepted on August 28, 2016)
ABSTRACT
The demand for large scale development of plantations of economically important indigenous as well as fast growing exotic tree species through ToF (Trees Outside Forests) programme has been progressively increasing in the recent past in Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country. Successful establishment of plantations is based on the survivability of the planted healthy and quality saplings in the field. Hence, an efficient production of quality seedlings of economically important tree species is of paramount importance. In this study, an attempt was made to determine the effect of commercially available beneficial microbes as bio-inoculants on growth enhancement of economically important fast growing native tree species, Neolamarckia cadamba in nursery. It was observed that dual application of bio-inoculants was found better than single inoculation indicating the synergistic effect. Further, dual combination involving both nitrogen fixers and phosphorus solubilizer/ mobilizer were found highly effective.
Keywords: AM fungi, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Neolamarckia cadamba, phosphobacterium
Revision of the Genus Coltricia Gray, from India
Navpreet Kaur, Avneet Pal Singh* and Gurpaul Singh Dhingra
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala-147002, Punjab, India.
*Corresponding author's email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on July 29, 2016; Accepted on September 15, 2016)
ABSTRACT
This paper provides information about eleven species of genus Coltricia Gray (Hymenochaetaceae, Hymenochaetales, Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) from India. Of these, three species [C. cinnamomea (Jacq.) Murrill, C. focicola (Berk. and Curtis) Murrill and C. perennis (L.) Murrill], based on the collections made from Himachal Pradesh, are described and illustrated. It is pertinent to mention here that C. focicola is a new record for India.
Key words: Coltricia, Basidiomycota, basidiocarps, poroid hymenophore.
The genus Monodictys from Himachal Pradesh
I. B. Prasher and Rajnish Kumar Verma*
Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Panjab University Chandigarh, 160014
*Corresponding Author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on July 26, 2016 ; Accepted on September 15,2016)
ABSTRACT
Seven species of Monodictys S. Hughes (hyphomycete) are described. Monodictys cerebriformis (Wallr.) S. Hughes, M. Melanopa (Ach.) M.B. Ellis and M. Paradoxa (Corda) S. Hughes are being reported for the first time from India, whereas M. desquamata K. Rodr., Figueras & Guarro and M. nitens (Schewein) S. Hughes constitute a new record for N. W. Himalayas/ Himachal Pradesh.
Keywords Anamorphic fungi, Diversity, Himalayas
First report of a fertile specimen of Xanthoparmelia pseudocongensis Hale from India
Krishna Chandra1, Shashi Upadhyay1&2, Kapil Bisht1&2 and Yogesh Joshi1*
1Department of Botany, S.S.J. Campus, Kumaun University, Almora 263601, Uttarakhand, India
2Biodiversity Conservation and Management Theme, G.B. Pant National institute of Hiamlayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi- Katarmal, Almora 263643, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted in June 16, 2016 ; Accepted on September 22, 2016)
ABSTRACT
The previous documented records on specimens of Xanthoparmelia pseudocongensis Hale were all sterile throughout the country. A fertile specimen of this lichen is being reported for the first time from India. It is characterized by its distinct apothecia with spores measuring (7.5-) 10-12.5 x 5-7.5 µm.
Keywords: Xanthoparmelia, lichen, fertile, Uttarakhand
Biopesticides an eco-friendly pest management approach in agriculture : status and prospects
K. R. Aneja1, S. A. Khan2 and Ashish Aneja3
1Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119 (Haryana) India
2Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bhagwati College of Management and Technology, Siwaya, Meerut ( U.P.) India
3University Health Centre, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India
Corresponding authors Email. : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 2, 2016; Accepted on October 01, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Agriculture is adversely affected by numerous pests like insects, weeds, plant pathogens and nematodes leading to reduced yield and poor quality of the produce. Biopesticides offer powerful tools to create a new generation of sustainable agriculture products and most likely alternatives some of the most problematic, pollution creating and carcinogenic chemical pesticides currently in use. These are the formulations based on the live organisms (e.g. fungi, bacteria, viruses) and their metabolites used to manage pests in agriculture. The present emphasis on the development and use of the biopesticides is based on the disadvantages associated with chemical pesticides. Globally, their use is increasing steadily at the rate of 10% per annum. Of the three classes of biopesticides, microbial pesticides are some of the earliest developed and widely used biopesticides. About 90% of the biopesticides are derived from just one entomopathogenic, endospore producing, Gram positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, commonly called Bt. Though, India has a vast potential for biopesticides, however, these represent only 2.8% of the over all pesticide market. Biopesicides, although shows a great promise, have not come up to the desired level so as to displace the dominance of chemical pesticides. As environmental safety is a global concern, we need to create awareness among the farmers, government agencies, policy makers, manufacturers and the common man to switch-over to biopesticides for pest management requirements.
Keywords: Pests, IPM, biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, neem, Bacillus thuringiensis, Colletotrichum, Beauveria, Peniophora
First report of teleomorphic stage of Normandina pulchella from India
Y. Joshi1, V. B. Sreekumar2 and S. Sequeira3
1Department of Botany, S.S.J Campus, Kumaun University, Almora-263601,Uttrakhand, India
2Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi - 680653, Kerala
3Department of Botany, Government College Chittur, Palakkad - 678 104, Kerala
1Corresponding author Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 12, 2016; Accepted on October 06, 2016)
ABSTRACT
The paper reports the fertile stage of Normandina pulchella (Borr.) Nyl. from the state of Kerala. Previously it was known in a sterile condition from Tamil Nadu state. A taxonomic note regarding Normandina pulchella and its teleomorph [Lauderlindsaya borreri (Tul.) J.C. David & D. Hawksw.] is provided along with detailed description of the species.
Keywords: Anamorph, Kerala, lichen, taxonomy, teleomorph, Western Ghats
New records of Phaeocollybia from North Western Himalayas, India
Shilpa Sood, Ramesh C. Upadhyay, Kirti K. Koul* and Ved P. Sharma
ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research Chambaghat, Solan (HP) India-173213
*SOS in Botany, Jiwaji University Gwalior (MP) India- 474011
Corresponding author email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Submitted on August 25, 2016; Accepted on October 20, 2016)
ABSTRACT
Two mushroom species, namely Phaeocollybia attenuata subsp. mexicana Singer and Phaeocollybia similis (Bres.) Singer, collected from the hills of North West Himalayas are illustrated and described for the first time from India.
Keywords: Basidiomycota, macrofungi, taxonomy, ectomycorrhizae, Phaeocollybia.
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From the Editor’s Desk
The Presidential address by Prof. T. Satyanarayana during the 41 annual meeting of the Mycological Society of India held at the Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala on February 23, 2015 is a welcome call to the mycological fraternity to work for the growth and rejuvenation of the subject of mycology at all levels so that it becomes the subject of preference for study by the youngsters. This can be done by inculcating interest in the field of mycology at school, college and university level for which course curricula have to be designed by including socially relevant applied topics of the subject in the syllabus. To generate interest in the subject and to make it more attractive, there is a need to assign small projects in the identification and characterization of fungi affecting our surrounding environment including multipurpose plants, crops, food stuffs, fruits, vegetables, etc. and on those growing in lawns, along road sides and forested areas during monsoon season. This will definitely help the youngsters in understanding the role of fungi in nature and create interest in them to uptake further studies on various aspects of these microbes when such students join Post Graduate Programmes in the Colleges and Universities. Mycologists need to play a proactive role at all levels especially in the University Departments and Research Institutes to make the researches in mycology more attractive and application based so that bright students are attracted to nurture the field. It is essential to undertake collaborative projects with various scientists specialized in different branches of science in general and biology in particular. This will definitely help to produce a new generation of mycologists well versed in basic and applied aspects, which is the need of the day to take the field of mycology to its pristine glory that once it enjoyed in India .
20-08-2015
N.S. Atri
Editor: KAVAKA
Professor of Botany
Punjabi University,
Patiala-147 002, Punjab
INDIA
