2021
Smut Fungi: A Compendium of Their Diversity and Distribution in India
Ajay Kumar Gautam, Rajnish Kumar Verma, Shubhi Avasthi, Sushma, Bandarupalli Devadatha, Shivani Thakur, Prem Lal Kashyap, Indu Bhushan Prasher, Rekha Bhadauria, Mekala Niranjan, Kiran Ramchandra Ranadive
MycoAsia 2021/01. [Article Link]
Abstract: A compendium of Indian smut fungi with respect to their diversity and distribution is provided in this paper. After compiling all the information available in online and offline resources, it was revealed that Indian smut fungi comprise 18 genera and 159 species belonging to five families. About 189 host plant species belonging to eight families are reportedly infected by smut fungi, with Poaceae being the most infected. The genus Ustilago was reported with the highest number of species (48) from India, accounting for 30.38% of the total number of species. Ustilago was followed by Sporisorium and Anthracocystis. Other genera recorded from India include Ahmadiago, Bambusiomyces, Cintractia, Clinoconidium, Eriocaulago, Farysia, Franzpetrakia, Macalpinomyces, Melanopsichium, Melanotaenium, Moesziomyces, Pericladium, Stollia, Tolyposporium, and Tranzscheliella. The dispersed literature of Indian smut fungi, caused by the inaccessibility of literature on online platforms and the ceased publications of many journals, poses difficulties for researchers, especially young and emerging mycologists working on or starting taxonomic work on smut fungi. This paper provides a complete account of the diversity and distribution of Indian smut fungi in a single-source document, benefiting national and international students and plant pathologists working on smut fungi.
Plain Language Summary: Information about smut fungi, a group of plant-disease-causing fungi in India, is currently scattered and hard to find. This creates a challenge for scientists, particularly young researchers. This paper addresses the issue by compiling all available data into a single, complete resource. The guide reveals that India has 159 species of smut fungi that infect around 189 types of plants, with the grass family being the most affected. By creating this all-in-one document, the authors provide an essential tool for students and plant disease experts in India and around the world.
Didymocrea leucaenae: A New Record in Indian Mycoflora
Rashmi Dubey
MycoAsia 2021/02. [Article Link]
Abstract: During a field survey conducted in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India, as part of a study on the diversity of litter fungi in the Northern Western Ghats, a species of Didymocrea was discovered. Through morphological and molecular analysis, the species was identified as Didymocrea leucaenae. This finding represents a new record in the Indian mycoflora, as confirmed through consultation of relevant literature.
Plain Language Summary: During a field study of fungi that grow on dead plant material in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India, researcher discovered an interesting species. After carefully examining its physical features and analyzing its DNA, they identified it as Didymocrea leucaenae. A review of scientific literature confirmed that this particular fungus had never been officially reported in India before. This discovery represents a new addition to the known fungal diversity of the country, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
Two Fungal Species Associated with Canker Disease of Jujube Tree in China
Meng Pan, Chengming Tian, Xinlei Fan
MycoAsia 2021/03. [Article Link]
Abstract: Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is a widely cultivated fruit tree with significant economic and ecological importance. However, Jujube trees face the threat of canker diseases caused by various pathogens during cultivation. In this study, we investigated destructive canker diseases affecting Z. jujuba in Beijing, China. Through morphological comparison and DNA sequence analysis, we identified the causal organisms of these diseases as Dothiorella acericola and Nothophoma spiraeae. This study represents the first report of D. acericola and N. spiraeae on Z. jujuba, contributing to our understanding of the fungal species associated with canker or dieback diseases on this important tree species. The findings also provide valuable insights for the development of effective disease management strategies for Z. jujuba in China.
Plain Language Summary: The Chinese Jujube is an economically important fruit tree that can be seriously damaged by canker diseases, which cause sores on its bark and branches. Researchers in Beijing, China, studied these diseases to find the cause. By examining the physical traits and DNA of the fungi present, they identified two species, Dothiorella acericola and Nothophoma spiraeae, as the culprits. This is the first time these particular fungi have been reported to cause disease on jujube trees. This finding is crucial for understanding the threats to this crop and for developing effective strategies to manage the disease.