In this paper, four fungi collected in Nansei Islands are reported. One is Strasseria garciniae, which must be transferred to the genus Phyllosticta. This fungus was collected in Okinawa Main Island and Iriomote Island. The other three fungi are newly added to the Japanese fungal flora. Phyllosticta ghaesembillae on Codiaeum variegatum and Cercospora asplenii on Asplenium antiquum were collected in Yoron Island. The last one, Coniella australiensis on Eucalyptus robusta was collected in Okinawa Main Island. Their morphology and symptoms on the host plant are described, with some mycological notes.

The snow mold fungus, Sclerotinia borealis, shows optimal growth at 4˚C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and can grow even at subzero temperature. Its mycelial growth was improved on frozen PDA at -1˚C and on PDA containing potassium chloride (KCl) (water potential, -4.27 to -0.85 MPa) or _D(-) sorbitol (-3.48 to -0.92 MPa). Its optimal growth temperature shifted from 4 to 10˚C on PDA amended with KCl or sorbitol, indicating that inherent optimal growth occurs at high temperatures. These results suggest that S. borealis uses concentrated nutrients in the frozen environment and that such physiologic characteristics are critical for the fungus to prevail at subzero temperatures.

The diversity and distribution of fungi on naturally submerged wood from 12 high-altitude streams of the Western Ghats in India were studied by damp chamber incubation and bubble chamber incubation. The damp chamber incubation of wood samples yielded 29 fungal taxa (17 anamorphs, 11 ascomycetes, 1 basidiomycete). Acrogenospora sphaerocephala, Canalisporium sp., Dictyosporium heptasporum, Leptosphaeria ginimia, L. typharum, Massarina australiensis, Sporoschisma saccardoi, and Sporoschismopsis australiensis were the most common taxa and were widely distributed on wood in streams of the Western Ghats. The bubble chamber incubation of bark and cambium revealed 30 aquatic hyphomycetes (bark, 28; cambium, 18). Anguillospora longissima, Flagellospora curvula, F. penicillioides, and Lunulospora curvula were most common in bark as well as cambium. There was only 1 species (Helicomyces roseus) that was identified following both incubation methods, indicating that methodology influences the detection of fungal communities. It is recommended that studies on freshwater fungi should incorporate both damp incubation and bubble chamber techniques.

Phylogeographic analysis of Dasyscyphella longistipitata (Hyaloscyphaceae, Helotiales), which occurs on decaying Fagus crenata cupules, was carried out. The ITS-5.8S regions of the 120 isolates from 12 sites in areas across Japan revealed 38 haplotypes, the majority of which comprised the haplotype designated H12 (42.5%). H12 was found in isolates from all sites, followed by H28 and H10, which were detected in isolates from 10 and 7 sites, respectively. Thirty-two haplotypes were obtained in single isolates. In the haplotype network, H12 was the root, and it formed interior clades with H28 and H10. Genetic diversity was higher in northern and southern Japan, but genetic distance was not correlated with geographical distance, nor with the phylogenetic clades of F. crenata. Therefore, it was concluded that D. longistipitata forms a genetic continuum that covers all of the areas in which it is distributed in Japan, with variations being generated in local populations from the major haplotypes.

Mycochaetophora gentianae, the causal agent of brown leaf spot on gentian (Gentiana scabra), is characterized by its hyaline besom-like sporophore, although its conidiogenesis and phylogenetic position have so far remained unknown. We isolated the causal fungus from a new host, G. triflora, in Iwate, Japan. Both the G. triflora isolate and the ex-type M. gentianae isolate produced symptoms on G. triflora but not on G. scabra. Microscopic observations of the diseased leaves indicated that conidiogenesis was blastic from short conidiophores, and schizolytic secession of conidia left unthickened and inconspicuous conidial scars on the conidiogenous cells. Conidia were catenate, in branched acropetalous chains; secondary conidia were blastically produced from the first or second cell at the base of primary conidium. The G. triflora isolate was identified as M. gentianae because of its identity to the ex-type in characteristics of culture, pathogenicity, and conidia. Phylogenetic analyses using three ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences combined [small subunit (SSU) + large subunit (LSU) + 5.8S rDNA] indicated that both isolates clustered with Rhexocercosporidium carotae, and the cluster was placed within Helotiales–Rhytismatales. Additional analyses using internal transcribed spacers including 5.8S rDNA sequences revealed that both isolates were monophyletic and that they were closely related to three helotialean Pseudocercosporella-like hyphomycetous genera: Helgardia, Rhexocercosporidium and Rhynchosporium.

The effects of a hot water-soluble extract of Grifola frondosa on the viability of multiple immune cell lines were examined in vitro. The extract and the 1000-cut extract, a low molecular weight fraction, improved the viability of a human monocyte cell line, THP-1, treated by the anticancer drug mitomycin C. DNA microarray and immunoassay results revealed increases in interleukin (IL)-8 expression by THP-1 cells in response to the 1000-cut extract. These data suggest that the extract would enhance the immune system through induction of IL-8 production by human blood monocytes, which leads to activated neutrophils.

In this work, adenosine has been shown to stimulate Suillus luteus mycelial growth, branching, and aggregates on solid substrate. Adenosine promoted S. luteus mycelial growth and branching, and the fungus responded significantly at a concentration as low as 0.01mg/ml. The highest mycelial biomass and density of three strains were observed at 0.16mg/ml in SNP-20, 0.08mg/ml in SAF-501, and 0.16mg/ml in PT-501. Adenosine enhanced mycelial aggregate at concentration of 0.02mg/ml in SNP-20. The study suggests that adenosine promotes S. luteus mycelial growth, branching, and aggregation. Thus, it may be a good candidate as a biological elicitor of mycelial growth for S. luteus.

Previous molecular data demonstrated that, although Helicoma is polyphyletic, most species in the genus, including the type Helicoma muelleri, are in the Tubeufiaceae. Here, we use analysis of the small subunit and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) rDNA regions to show that two species, H. monilipes and H. olivaceum, are phylogenetically distant from the type, branching outside of the Tubeufiaceae near Troposporella fumosa in a basal clade of the Dothideomycetes. The phylogeny does not support the recent transfer of T. fumosa to Helicoma. Instead, based on the molecular evidence as well as the examination of cultures and type specimens, Troposporella is reinstated at the generic level, and Helicoma monilipes and Helicoma olivaceum are transferred to Troposporella. All three Troposporella species share the production of helicoid conidia borne on sporodochial conidiomata from blastic conidiogenous cells. A key to accepted species is provided.

Batai (Falcataria moluccana) is a valuable tree species for forest plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia. Since 1993, a gall rust disease has caused severe damage to all growth stages, from seedlings in the nursery to mature trees in the field. To identify the fungus causing gall rust disease on F. moluccana in Malaysia and Indonesia, study of the mode of infection and changes in the anatomy of infected cells were carried out in the anatomy laboratory. The disease in Malaysia and Indonesia is caused by Uromycladium tepperianum. The fungus produces three longitudinally ridged teliospores on each head, with spores measuring 13-20μm wide and 17-28μm long. The fungus is microcyclic, completing its entire life cycle on F. moluccana. This study confirmed that the teliospores themselves cannot infect the host. Under favorable conditions, about 10 h after inoculation, teliospores germinate to produce basidiospores that form penetration pegs about 6 h later, and it is this peg which penetrates the host cells directly through the epidermis. Pycnia, recognized as small brown pustules, break through the epidermis about 7 days after inoculation.

Nineteen holotype specimens of the genus Torrubiella described by Dr. Yosio Kobayasi and Mr. Daisuke Shimizu were relocated and accession numbers (TNS-F number) were given. A new scientific name, Torrubiella plana Hiroki Sato, Ban, Masuya & Hosoya nom. nov. (TNSF- 12061), was proposed for T. minutissima Kobaysi & Shimizu (homonym of T. minutissima Lagarde). The other 18 species follow: T. alboglobosa (TNS-F-12067), T. aurantia (TNS-F-12069), T. corniformis (TNS-F-12064), T. ellipsoidea (TNS-F-12055), T. formosana (TNS-F- 12059), T. fusiformis (TNS-F-234548), T. globosostipitata (TNS-F-12057), T. longissima (TNS-F-12071), T. mammillata (TNS-F-12060), T. miyagiana (TNS-F-12062), T. neofusiformis (TNS-F-12058), T. oblonga (TNS-F-12070), T. ooaniensis (TNS-F-12063), T. pallida (TNS-F-12789), T. rosea (TNS-F-12065), T. ryogamimontana (TNS-F- 12058), T. ryukyuensis (TNS-F-11932), and T. superficialis (TNS-F-12072).