The selective anti-fungal metabolites from Irpex lacteus and applications in the chemical interaction of Gastrodia elata, Armillaria sp., and endophytes.

The investigation of the metabolites from endophyte Irpex lacteus cultured in host "tian ma" (Gastrodia elata) revealed five new tremulane sesquiterpenes (1-5), and a new tetrahydrofuran derivative (6). Compound 1 was the first tremulane glucoside, and 6 possessed a rare tetrahydropyran-tetrahydrofuran scaffold. Main metabolite (2,3-dihydroxydodacane-4,7-dione, 14) from I. lacteus showed significant selectivity for antifungal activity against phytopathogen and endophytes associated with G. elata rather than against Armillaria sp. providing nutrition for the host G. elata. 14 accounted for 27.4% of isolated compounds from G. elata medium, and 69.3% by co-culturing with Armillaria sp. So the I. lacteus tended to promote the growth of Armillaria sp. in co-culture by producing 2,3-dihydroxydodacane-4,7-dione (14) to selective inhibit the phytopathogen and endophyte existed in host G. elata for the benefit of G. elata-Armillaria symbiosis. And the results were in accord with the real environment of G. elata depending on the nutrition of Armillaria. Some metabolites had anti-fungal activities against phytopathogens of G. elata with MICs ≤8 µg/mL.

Clonal evolution and genome stability in a 2500-year-old fungal individual.

Individuals of the basidiomycete fungus Armillaria are well known for their ability to spread from woody substrate to substrate on the forest floor through the growth of rhizomorphs. Here, we made 248 collections of A. gallica in one locality in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. To identify individuals, we genotyped collections with molecular markers and somatic compatibility testing. We found several different individuals in proximity to one another, but one genetic individual stood out as exceptionally large, covering hundreds of tree root systems over approximately 75 hectares of the forest floor. Based on observed growth rates of the fungus, we estimate the minimum age of the large individual as 2500 years. With whole-genome sequencing and variant discovery, we also found that mutation had occurred within the somatic cells of the individual, reflecting its historical pattern of growth from a single point. The overall rate of mutation over the 90 mb genome, however, was extremely low. This same individual was first discovered in the late 1980s, but its full spatial extent and internal mutation dynamic was unknown at that time. The large individual of A. gallica has been remarkably resistant to genomic change as it has persisted in place.