RESUMEN
Melanconis-like fungi are distributed in several families of Diaporthales, mainly Juglanconidaceae, Melanconidaceae, Melanconiellaceae and Pseudomelanconidaceae. A new Melanconis-like genus of Pseudomelanconidaceae was discovered on branches of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) in southern China, which was confirmed by both morphology and phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, LSU, tef1a and rpb2 sequences. The new genus Micromelanconis is characterized by two types of conidia from natural substrate and manual media of PDA, respectively. Conidia from Chinese chestnut branches are pale brown, ellipsoid, multiguttulate, aseptate with hyaline sheath. While conidia from PDA plates are pale brown, long dumbbell-shaped, narrow at the middle and wide at both ends, multiguttulate, aseptate, and also with hyaline sheath. All Pseudomelanconidaceae species were only reported on tree branches in China until now. More interesting taxa may be discovered if detailed surveys on tree-inhabiting fungi are carried out in East Asia in the future.
RESUMEN
Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is an important crop tree species in China. In the present study, Cytospora specimens were collected from Chinese chestnut trees and identified using molecular data of combined ITS, LSU, ACT and RPB2 loci, as well as morphological features. As a result, two new Cytospora species and four new host records were confirmed, viz. C. kuanchengensis sp. nov., C. xinglongensis sp. nov., C. ceratospermopsis, C. leucostoma, C. myrtagena and C. schulzeri.
RESUMEN
Dendrostoma was recently proposed in Erythrogloeaceae (Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes), with all known members recorded as being plant pathogenic on economically important tree hosts. During our collections of Dendrostoma species in China, mild to severe canker symptoms were observed on sweet chestnut (Castaneamollissima) and oak (Quercus spp.) trees. Dead and dying plant tissues exhibiting Dendrostoma canker symptoms were sampled for fungal isolation. A total of 37 Dendrostoma isolates were obtained and analysed using morphological characteristics and molecular data (ITS, LSU, RPB2, TEF1-α). Based on these data, 10 novel clades could be distinguished, which also proved to represent morphologically distinct species described here as Dendrostomaaurorae, D.castaneae, D.castaneicola, D.chinense, D.dispersum, D. parasiticum, D.qinlingense, D.quercus, D.shaanxiense and D.shandongense spp. nov. A key to species of the genus is also provided.
RESUMEN
Diaporthe species have often been reported as important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of plant hosts. Although several Diaporthe species have been recorded in China, little is known about species able to infect forest trees. Therefore, extensive surveys were recently conducted in Beijing, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi and Zhejiang Provinces. The current results emphasised on 15 species from 42 representative isolates involving 16 host genera using comparisons of DNA sequence data for the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), calmodulin (cal), histone H3 (his3), partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) and ß-tubulin (tub2) gene regions, as well as their morphological features. Three known species, D.biguttulata, D.eres and D.unshiuensis, were identified. In addition, twelve novel taxa were collected and are described as D.acerigena, D.alangii, D.betulina, D.caryae, D.cercidis, D.chensiensis, D.cinnamomi, D.conica, D.fraxinicola, D.kadsurae, D.padina and D.ukurunduensis. The current study improves the understanding of species causing diebacks on ecological and economic forest trees and provides useful information for the effective disease management of these hosts in China.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on pulmonary artery remodeling induced by smoke exposure in rats. METHODS: Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into a control group (A group), a smoke exposure one month group (B group), a smoke exposure and high dose CTGF antisense oligonucleotide (ASON) one month group (C group), a smoke exposure and low dose CTGF ASON one month group (D group), a smoke exposure two month group (E group), a smoke exposure and high dose CTGF ASON two month group (F group), and a smoke exposure and low dose CTGF ASON two month group (G group). Pulmonary artery remodeling was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the CTGF mRNA expressions of pulmonary arteries were evaluated by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry methods were performed to determine CTGF protein expression in pulmonary artery smooth muscle. The difference between the groups was analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The pulmonary artery WA% of the seven groups were respectively (28.6 +/- 1.2)%, (42.5 +/- 2.3)%, (33.7 +/- 1.8)%, (42.1 +/- 2.4)%, (49.6 +/- 2.1)%, (34.3 +/- 1.9)% and (38.4 +/- 2.0)%. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 5.09, P < 0.01). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 8.15, 3.75, all P < 0.05). (2) The CTGF protein expressions (A value) of pulmonary artery smooth muscle were respectively 0.098 +/- 0.015, 0.159 +/- 0.023, 0.118 +/- 0.017, 0.153 +/- 0.022, 0.406 +/- 0.036, 0.109 +/- 0.012 and 0.146 +/- 0.024. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 3.26, P < 0.05). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 67.08, 18.09, all P < 0.01). (3) The CTGF mRNA expressions (A(CTGF)/A(beta-actin)) of pulmonary artery were respectively 0.051 +/- 0.010, 0.823 +/- 0.096, 0.216 +/- 0.056, 0.810 +/- 0.085, 2.452 +/- 0.267, 0.207 +/- 0.062 and 0.509 +/- 0.067. There was significant difference between B group and C group (q = 53.50, P < 0.01). Compared to E group, there were significant decreases in F group and G group (q = 132.22, 93.70, all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Administration of CTGF ASON in vivo could significantly reduce pulmonary artery remodeling induced by smoke exposure in rats, indicating that CTGF may play an important role in pulmonary hypertension.