Mycologia Iranica
Volume:7 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2020

A first annotated checklist of agarics and boletes in Iran is presented based on literature and new collections. A total number of 128 new DNA sequences, obtained from the ITS region as well as the nrLSU, is provided. Based on vouchered specimens, 19 species are newly recorded from Iran, all provided with nrDNA data from basidiomata. Overall, 585 species (comprising 556 agarics and 29 bolete species) are recorded from Iran, representing 147 genera and 34 families. The order Agaricales encompasses 82% of the species. Twenty-eight species are excluded from the Iranian mycobiota. The Hyrcanian forests harbor 79% of the species, with Mazandaran being the most species-rich province in the country. The three largest genera are Russula, Cortinarius, and Inocybe. We also scrutinized the available DNA sequences of Iranian agarics and boletes deposited in public databases. It is shown that 64 species of agarics and boletes in Iran are from environmental sequences, and nine species have been retrieved as plant endophytes. In total, only 24% of Iranian species are shown to have at least one nrITS sequence in GenBank or UNITE. Our analyses reveal that 42% of records in Iran arise merely from abstracts presented at various conferences, most of which lacking sufficient characterization and are suggested to be considered tentatively. General recommendations are given to avoid dissemination of low quality and ambiguous species records. This study fills in some of the gaps in our knowledge of agarics and boletes in Iran and provides a framework for biodiversity and phylogenetic studies.

Based on revision of 533 herbarium specimens and literature review, 227 lichenized and 36 lichenicolous fungi belonging to 115 genera and 52 families (including 8 "incertae sedis" taxa) are reported from Arasbaran UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve. In addition, 103 taxa are reported for the first time from Arasbaran. Of these nineteen lichenized fungi and two lichenicolous fungi were not known from Iran before, the lichenized fungi Aspicilia pavimentans,Bryobilimbia hypnorumCaloplaca phaeothamnos,Cetreliamonachorum,Circinaria elmorei, Cladonia borealis, L. populicola, Lecidea auriculata, Pertusaria flavicans, P. pluripuncta, P. pseudocorallina, P. xanthoplaca, Phaeophyscia poeltii, Rinodina trachytica,Scytinium aragonii, Usnea glabrata, Varicellaria lactea, Xanthocarpia tominii, and the lichenicolous fungi Rosellinula haplospora and Telogalla olivieri. ITS rDNA was used to confirm the identity ofLecidea auriculata. The history of floristic study and the diversity of lichen species in the region are briefly discussed.

ITS region and protein coding genes such as actA, cmdA, gapdh, his3, rpb2, tef1 and tub2 have been applied to investigate the molecular phylogeny of Cercospora species in recent years. Although gapdh is an informative gene for species delimitation in the genus, difficult amplification of this locuswith available primers limits its use for Cercospora. Therefore, in this study novel primers including GpdF-Cer (5’-TTC ATY GAG CCM CAC TAC GCT-3’) and GpdR-Cer (5’-RTC GGT GAC KRC GAG VAC-3’) were developed to supplement previously published primers for the amplification of gapdh. Besides, in a taxonomic survey on the genus Cercospora in Iran based on consolidated species concept, leaf samples with leaf spot symptoms were collected and Cercospora isolates were characterized based on a combination of morphological features and sequence data from the ITS, actA, cmdA, gapdh, his3 and tef1 loci. Seventeenspeciesof the genus Cercospora were recognized of which C. mercurialis on Mercurialis annua is confirmed for the first time, for Iran (Asia) mycobiota using sequence data of six genomic loci.Several new hosts are recorded for C. apii (one), C. beticola (one), C. cf. flagellaris (10), C. gamsiana (one), C. iranica (one), Cercospora sp. G (three) and Cercospora sp. T (four). Thus, new host families were added to the host range of C. beticola (Brassicaceae), C. cf. flagellaris (Lamiaceae, Polygonaceae, Vitaceae), and Cercospora sp. T (Lamiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Rosaceae) in the world.

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs)are known as the most important factors in crop reduction and cause considerable economic problems in grapevines worldwide. During 2016 to 2018, several field surveys were conducted on numerous vineyards in Khorasan-Razavi province to study fungal species associated with grapevine trunk diseases. In this study, samples were collected from trunk and branches of trees showing yellowing, stunted growth, dieback and wood discoloration in cross sections. In this study, 258 fungal isolates were obtained and identified based on morphological characteristics and comparison of DNA sequence data (ITS-rDNA region and a part of β-tubulin gene). These isolates were identified as Phaeoacremonium minimum (75 isolates), P. parasiticum (19 isolates), P. iranianum (52 isolates), P. tuscanum (8 isolates), Fomitiporia mediterranea (56 isolates) and Seimatosporium vitis (48 isolates). Pathogenicity of the selected isolates was verified by inoculation of potted grapevines shoots under greenhouse conditions. Based on the mean length of wood discoloration in the wood, P. minimum and F. mediterranea were the most and least virulent species, respectively. Our findings indicated that known fungal trunk pathogens such as Phaeoacremonium species and F. mediterranea occur on grapevine in Khorasan-Razavi province. This study is the first report of S. vitis associated with grapevine decline in Iran.

The Erysiphaceae are obligatory and biotrophic fungal parasites that infect many landscape and ornamental plants which results in reduction of beauty and marketability of these plants. This study was performed to identify powdery mildew fungi on landscape and ornamental plants in four provinces (Isfahan, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Markazi and Lorestan) of Iran. Consequently, 24 powdery mildew taxa on 28 host species were collected during 2017 to 2019. According to our findings,Golovinomyces asperifolii (on Nonea sp.) and Podosphaera euphorbiae-helioscopiae (on Pedilianthus sp.) are new records to Iran mycobiota. Three plant species including Coreopsis sp., Catharanthus roseus and Fragaria vescaare new hosts for powdery mildew fungi of Iran. Moreover, Podosphaera xanthii on Dahlia sp. is reported for the first time from Iran.

Determination of the genetic structure of the Fusarium oxysporum populations provides different levels of pathogen behavior and environmental compatibility in the management of root rot disease in bean farms. In this study, Short Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were used to determine the genetic structure and estimate genetic diversity in sixty F. oxysporum isolates from five counties in Ilam province located in the west of Iran (Ilam, Ayvan, Malekshahi, Sirvan, Chardavol). A set of five microsatellite primer pairs revealed one allele in each locus across the populations. The average number of alleles (Na) and the mean number of effective alleles (Ne) observed among populations were 1.484, and 1.438 respectively. The number of Genetic diversity (H) and Shannon's coefficient (I) were also maximum in Chardavol (He = 0.442, I=0.333) but the minimum values were estimated in Ilam (He = 0.228, I = 0.333). The minimum genetic distance was found between Ayvan and Malekshahi (0.046) but the maximum genetic distance (0.151) was revealed between Ilam and Chardavol. The total gene diversity (Ht) and genetic variability between the subpopulations (Hs) were estimated to be 0.312 and 0.261, respectively. Gene diversity attributable to differentiation among the population (Gst) was 0.162, while gene flow (Nm) was 0.5717. Cluster analysis based on UPGMA showed the lowest genetic distance between Ayvan and Malekshahi. The dendrogram showed a clear break between the population from Sirvan and Chardavol and other remaining populations. Results from this study could be useful in breeding programs for developing root rot resistant cultivars.

In this study, we report some Ascomycete genera from Nectriaceae, Botryosphaeriaceae, Cryphonectriaceae and Hypocreaceae families from Guilan province, Iran. Cultural and morphological characteristics and sequence information of rDNA ITS and translation elongation factor 1-α encoding gene (tef1) were used for identification. Among isolates studied in this research, six species viz. Microthia havanensis, Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis, Lasiodiplodia parva, Thyronectria austroamericana, Trichoderma cf. chromospermum and Trichoderma cf. longibrachiatum are reported as new or less known species for the region. As a result, two genera viz. Thyronectria (Nectriaceae) and Microthia (Cryphonectriaceae) and two species (Lasiodiplodia parva and Trichoderma cf. chromospermum)are new reports for Iran mycobiota.

Afghanistan is one of the major countries which contributes to illegal poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) cultivation, globally. The objectives of the present study were to report the Fusarium species associated with P. somniferum and to investigate a potential biocontrol agent against P. somniferum. A total of 155 Fusarium isolates were obtained from four provinces in Afghanistan, including Helmand, Kandahar, Daikundi and Bamyan. The pathogenic Fusarium spp. isolates were characterized by morphological and molecular identification, using the translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α) gene. The results of isolation revealed the most predominant species as F. proliferatum (27%), followed by F. equiseti (26%), F. solani (13%), F. incarnatum (12%), F. acuminatum (7%), F. oxysporum (5%), F. verticillioides (5%), F. pseudograminearum (2%) and F. coeruleum (2%). With the exception of F. oxysporum and F. solani, other identified species are the first reported Fusarium species associated with poppy plants in Afghanistan. Furthermore, pathogenicity testing of F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. acuminatum and F. verticillioides isolates were performed. Although disease symptoms were observed in all species; F. oxysporum infected poppy samples showed an early development of wilt symptoms and their disease severity was significantly higher than all other isolates. The results suggest that F. oxysporum isolates have the potential to be used as biological control agents against poppy plants in Afghanistan.

Mauginiella scaettae is one of the most critical and devastating fungal pathogens causing date palms inflorescence rot (khamedj). This pathogen, in severe attacks, can cause 80% loss of the annual harvest. In this study, seven SSR loci (have previously been isolated and characterized in Phaeosphaeria nodorum) were evaluated for transferability on 13 single-spore isolates ofM. scaettae obtained from eight different regions of Khuzestan province, Iran. A high level of transferability of SSRs was detected. Five primer pairs, including SNOD1, SNOD26, SNOD22, SNOD17, and SNOD21, were successfully amplified and produced an amplification product of the expected size range in thirteen isolates collected from eight locations. Two microsatellite markers, including SNOD5 and SNOD16, were not amplified and showed no amplification. The rate of amplification of five amplified SSR loci was different among isolates. A total of sixteen alleles were obtained across the five SSRs loci for thirteen isolates. Among all isolates examined, the highest rate (92.3%) and the lowest rate (7.7%) of amplification were done for SNOD26 and SNOD21 SSR loci, respectively. The loci SNOD1, SNOD26, and SNOD22 generated four, and SNOD17 locus generated three alleles, and the lowest number of alleles (one allele) was identified in the SNOD21 locus.

During 2017-2018, the leaf spot disease was observed in mound-lily Yucca (Yucca gloriosa) and Spineless Yucca (Y. elephantipes) in Tehran, Fars and Bushehr provinces of Iran. In order to identify the causal agents of the disease, infected tissues were collected and transferred to the laboratory and 27 fungal isolates were isolated. Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and parts of the actin (act) and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes. According to the morphological and phylogenetic analysis, the isolates were identified as Phyllosticta yuccae. The pathogenicity test was performed on healthy and attached leaves of Y. gloriosa and Y. elephantipes plants. Inoculated plants showed leaf spot symptoms in seven days' post inoculation, while control plants remained symptomless. To complete the Koch’s postulate, P. yuccae was re-isolated from inoculated plants. The results of this study revealed that the causal agent of leaf spot disease of Yucca plants was P. yuccae.

Walnut tree is one of the most important nut crops in Iran. Dieback and decline of walnut trees are some of the factors limiting the cultivation and sustainability of this crop. During 2017 and 2018, field surveys were conducted on walnut orchards in Yazd province to study of fungal pathogens associated with diseased trees. Wood samples were collected from diseased branches showing canker, dieback and gumming symptoms. In the laboratory, affected branches were cut transversally and infected wood tissues were cut into small pieces. Wood pieces were plated on a potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) after surface sterilization. In this study, 10 isolates of a fungus were obtained from affected trees. Based on morphological and molecular (for two selected Iranian isolates based on ITS-rDNA and tef1-α gene sequences) characteristics, all isolates were identified as Graphium carbonarium. Based on literature reviews, this is the first report of this speciesassociated with necrotic wood of walnut trees in the world.

Exploring the enzymatic capabilities of fungi is of great importance to better understand their ecological roles and improving their manifold usage in industry. Therefore, rapid and reliable screening methods to evaluate fungal enzymatic potentials are needed. In this study, 76 fungal strains were isolated and identified from insect pests from citrus plantations in Guilan province, northern Iran. All the strains belonged to Akanthomyces and Lecanicillium (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). Plate assay methods were applied to investigate fungal ability to produce the following enzymes: Endo-1,4-β-glucanase (CM-cellulase, endoglucanase and endocellulase), β-Glucosidase, Cellobiodydrolase, pectinase and laccase. The results showed that the majority of the strains were able to produce at least one of these enzymes. The cellulolytic activity was found in 33 % and laccase activity was detected in 11 % of all strains tested.  Interestingly, the enzymatic ability of strains identified as A. muscarius and A. lecanii, were generally different, likely confirming their taxonomic position.