Revision of Entyloma (Entylomatales, Exobasidiomycetes) on Eryngium.

The genus Entyloma consists of more than 160 species of smut fungi distributed worldwide on dicots, with Apiaceae being one of the main host families. This study aims to clarify the systematics and phylogeny of Entyloma on Eryngium (Apiaceae) with molecular and morphological data. Eleven species from Eryngium are discussed herein. Four of them are described as new taxa: E. carmeli sp. nov. on Eryngium falcatum, E. eryngii-cretici sp. nov. on Eryngium creticum, E. eryngii-maritimi sp. nov. on Eryngium maritimum and E. ho-chunkii sp. nov. on Eryngium yuccifolium. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA is presented and supports the polyphyly of Entyloma on Eryngium.

Molecular characterization and enzymatic activity of laccases in two Pleurotus spp. with different pathogenic behaviour.

Pleurotus eryngii and P. ferulae, two species belonging to the P. eryngii complex, synthesize laccases, ligninolytic enzymes that play a role in the host-pathogen interaction in the first step of infection. Ecological studies have shown that although both fungi have been recognized as saprophytes, P. eryngii weakly pathogenic when colonizing the roots and stems of Eryngium campestre, whereas P. ferulae is mostly pathogenic to Ferula communis. The paper describes the genomic organization of four putative laccase genes (lac1, lac2, lac3, and lac5-like gene; gene names were assigned on the basis of sequence homologies) of P. eryngii and P. ferulae. The mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of the laccases were analysed under culture conditions where a source of lignin (wheat bran) or lyophilized roots of E. campestre or F. communis were present. These experiments indicated that the four lac-like genes were differentially regulated in the two mushrooms. Specifically, the addition of the lyophilized roots of the respective host plant to the culture media induced an advance in the mRNA expression of the four lac-like genes and a seven-fold higher total laccase activity in P. ferulae than in P. eryngii. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the possible role of laccases in the interaction of P. eryngii and P. ferulae with their respective host.

Coniolariella hispanica sp. nov. and other additions to Coniolariella.

Coniolariella hispanica, isolated as an endophyte from leaves of Eryngium campestre on the Iberian Peninsula, is established as a new cleistocarpous species. The perithecial species Rosellinia limoniispora is transferred to Coniolariella on morphological and molecular evidence. R. australis is transferred to Coniolariella as a variety of C. limoniispora. The type species of Coniolariella, C. gamsii, is considered to be a variety of C. limoniispora. The taxa discussed here have soft stromata, deliquescent asci that lack an iodine-positive apical ring, and more or less symmetrical ascospores. They lack subicula in natural conditions. C. hispanica and C. limoniispora var. limoniispora have Sporothrix- or Geniculosporium-like anamorphs associated with stromata at different stages of development, but anamorphs are not usually evident in cultures. Coniolariella limoniispora var. gamsii produces the anamorph abundantly in culture. It is not known whether or not C. limoniispora var. australis possesses an anamorph. An emendation of the description of Coniolariella is necessitated by these changes.

Epizootiological studies of Amblyospora camposi (Microsporidia: Amblyosporidae) in Culex renatoi (Diptera: Culicidae) and Paracyclops fimbriatus fimbriatus (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) in a bromeliad habitat.

The epizootiology of Amblyospora camposi was studied in a natural population of Culex renatoi, a bromeliad-inhabiting mosquito, and its intermediate host, Paracyclops fimbriatus fimbriatus, over a 2-year period. Twenty Eryngium cabrerae plants were sampled monthly from January 2003 to January 2005 and the prevalence of A. camposi in P.f. fimbriatus and Cx. renatoi populations was determined. The monthly prevalence rates of meiospore infections in Cx. renatoi larvae never exceeded 5.5% and was detected in 50% of the monthly samples. Meiospores were available in plants over the course of the study at a mean concentration of 2 x 10(4) meiospores/ml. Within each plant the parasite was maintained by horizontal transmission. P.f. fimbriatus with vegetative stages and mature spores were found regularly in bromeliads suggesting efficient meiospore infectivity to field copepod populations. The mean concentration of spores from copepods found in plants was 8 x 10(2) spores/ml. Infections in copepods were detected in 54% of the monthly samples with a prevalence rate ranging from 0.55 to 17.4% and an overall average of 5.1%. Vegetative stages in fourth instar mosquito larvae (probably derived from the horizontal pathway via spores formed in copepods) were detected in 12.5% of the monthly samples with an overall prevalence rate of 1.1%. Infections in female and male adults were detected in 20.8% of the monthly samples with an overall average of 4.1% and 6.8%, respectively.

Microbiological determinations of some vegetables from the Xochimilco zone in Mexico City, Mexico.

Vegetables intake is widely recommended because of its high content of vitamins, minerals and fiber. However, the irrigation of these vegetables, using wastewaters that have received inadequate treatment often carries unseen microbial pollution that becomes a high risk potential for humans. In the present research, two of the most consumed fresh vegetables cultivated in Mexico City were analyzed, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and Mexican coriander (Eryngium foetidum). These vegetables are commonly consumed raw. The vegetable choice and the disinfection's method were carried out by the application of two tests to two hundred people in an aleatory form. Similarly, vegetable sampling was carried out by means of a random sampling from the cultivated areas in a chosen "chinampa" (from Náhuatl or Aztec, chinamitl, bulrush or cattail stalks lattice for hydroponics cultivation). Vegetable samples were transferred, in dark plastic bags and in cool boxes at 4 +/- 1.5 degrees C, to the laboratory. Microbiological analysis for Salmonella typhi, mesophilic microorganisms, and fecal coliforms were done according to the "NOM-093SSA1-1994" (Mexico). Results obtained demonstrated that samples treated with the most preferred disinfectant, a colloidal silver based one, had a partial elimination of pathogenic microorganisms found in both vegetables lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and coriander (Eryngium foetidum) samples (mesophyllic microorganisms from 200,000 to 96,500 UFC/g and from 175,000 to 125,000 UFC/g and fecal coliforms from 75 to 0.43 NMP/g and from 150 to 2.10 NMP/g, respectively). Salmonella typhi for all samples gave a positive result. Therefore, it was recommended to the cultivators of the Xochimilco (Náhuatl or Aztec name that means "place where flowers bloom") zone, either stop using contaminated water for irrigation or to use more efficient methods in order to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms, such as diluted chlorine solutions made with commercial cotton clothing bleachers.