Study of Optimal Conditions to Grow Thai Ganoderma, Fruiting Test, Proximate and Their Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity.

Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae) has a worldwide distribution and has been widely used in traditional medicines. In this study, we report wild strains of Ganoderma that include two G. sichuanense and one G. orbiforme from northern Thailand. Optimal conditions for mycelium growth were ensured. The most favourable medium was potato sucrose agar for G. sichuanense and oatmeal agar for G. orbiforme and at 25 °C and 30 °C and pH 4-8. All types of cereal grains can be used to promote the growth of the mycelia of Ganoderma species. Fruiting tests were performed. All strains of Ganoderma produce fruiting bodies successfully in bag culture at 28 ± 1 °C with 75-85% relative humidity. Only G. orbiforme produced fruiting bodies in field cultivation at the laboratory scale. In the first flush yields, the G. sichuanense strain MFLUCC 22-0064 gave better production (the B.E was 152.35 ± 6.98 g). This study is the first to document the bag and field cultivation of wild Thai G. orbiforme. Ganoderma species are revealed to contain high amounts of fiber (47.90-52.45% d.b.), protein (12.80-14.67% d.b.), fat (4.90-5.70% d.b.), and carbohydrates (3.16-4.02% d.b.). Additionally, G. sichuanense and G. orbiforme were preliminarily screened for biological activity for inhibition of alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity. The IC50 values of G. orbiforme (MFLUCC 22-0066) was 105.97 ± 1.36 µg/mL and G. sichuanense (MFLUCC 22-0064) was 126.94 ± 0.87 µg/mL. Both strains had better inhibition than acarbose (168.18 ± 0.89 µM). These results on wild strains of Ganoderma will be useful for further studies on the applications of Ganoderma. Later the species can be introduced to domestic markets for cultivation and medicinal use.

Endophytic Diaporthe Associated with Morinda officinalis in China.

Diaporthe species are endophytes, pathogens, and saprobes with a wide host range worldwide. However, little is known about endophytic Diaporthe species associated with Morinda officinalis. In the present study, 48 endophytic Diaporthe isolates were obtained from cultivated M. officinalis in Deqing, Guangdong Province, China. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), partial calmodulin (cal), histone H3 (his), and Beta-tubulin (ß-tubulin) gene regions were sequenced and employed to construct phylogenetic trees. Based on morphology and combined multigene phylogeny, 12 Diaporthe species were identified, including five new species of Diaporthe longiconidialis, D. megabiguttulata, D. morindendophytica, D. morindae, and D. zhaoqingensis. This is the first report of Diaporthe chongqingensis, D. guangxiensis, D. heliconiae, D. siamensis, D. unshiuensis, and D. xishuangbanica on M. officinalis. This study provides the first intensive study of endophytic Diaporthe species on M. officinalis in China. These results will improve the current knowledge of Diaporthe species associated with this traditional medicinal plant. Furthermore, results from this study will help to understand the potential pathogens and biocontrol agents from M. officinalis and to develop a disease management platform.

Pleocatenatachiangraiensis gen. et. sp. nov. (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from medicinal plants in northern Thailand.

Pleocatenata, a new genus, is introduced with its type species, Pleocatenatachiangraiensis, which was isolated from withered twigs of two medicinal plants, Clerodendrumquadriloculare (Blanco) Merr (Verbenaceae) and Tarennastellulata (Hook.f.) Ridl (Rubiaceae) in northern Thailand. The genus is characterized by mononematous, septate, brown or dark brown conidiophores, monotretic conidiogenous cells and catenate, obclavate, olivaceous to blackish brown conidia. Phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, SSU, tef1-α, rpb2 and ITS sequence data showed Pleocatenata forms a distinct phylogenetic lineage in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes. Therefore, we treat Pleocatenata as Pleosporales genera incertae sedis based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are provided, and it is compared with morphologically similar genera.

Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) Species from the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The cosmopolitan fungal genus Ganoderma is an important pathogen on arboreal plant hosts, particularly in tropical and temperate regions. It has long been used as a traditional medicine because of its medicinal properties and chemical constituents. In this study, Ganoderma collections were made in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), encompassing tropical parts of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and temperate areas in Yunnan Province, China. The specimens used in this study are described based on micro-macro-characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, LSU, TEF1α, and RPB2 sequence data. In this comprehensive study, we report 22 Ganoderma species from the GMS, namely, G. adspersum, G. applanatum, G. australe, G. calidophilum, G. ellipsoideum, G. flexipes, G. gibbosum, G. heohnelianum, G. hochiminhense, G. leucocontextum, G. lucidum, G. multiplicatum, G. multipileum, G. myanmarense, G. orbiforme, G. philippii, G. resinaceum, G. sichuanense, G. sinense, G. subresinosum, G. williamsianum, and G. tsugae. Some of these species were reported in more than one country within the GMS. Of these 22 species, 12 were collected from Yunnan Province, China; three were collected from Laos; three species, two new records, and one new species were collected from Myanmar; 15 species and four new records were collected from Thailand, and one new species was collected from Vietnam. Comprehensive descriptions, color photographs of macro- and micro-characteristics, the distribution of Ganoderma within the GMS, as well as a phylogenetic tree showing the placement of all reported Ganoderma from the GMS are provided.

Macrofungi as a Nutraceutical Source: Promising Bioactive Compounds and Market Value.

Macrofungi production and economic value have been increasing globally. The demand for macrofungi has expanded rapidly owing to their popularity among consumers, pleasant taste, and unique flavors. The presence of high quality proteins, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals, triterpene sterols, and secondary metabolites makes macrofungi an important commodity. Macrofungi are well known for their ability to protect from or cure various health problems, such as immunodeficiency, cancer, inflammation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity. Many studies have demonstrated their medicinal properties, supported by both in vivo and in vitro experimental studies, as well as clinical trials. Numerous bioactive compounds isolated from mushrooms, such as polysaccharides, proteins, fats, phenolic compounds, and vitamins, possess strong bioactivities. Consequently, they can be considered as an important source of nutraceuticals. Numerous edible mushrooms have been studied for their bioactivities, but only a few species have made it to the market. Many species remain to be explored. The converging trends and popularity of eastern herbal medicines, natural/organic food product preference, gut-healthy products, and positive outlook towards sports nutrition are supporting the growth in the medicinal mushroom market. The consumption of medicinal mushrooms as functional food or dietary supplement is expected to markedly increase in the future. The global medicinal mushroom market size is projected to increase by USD 13.88 billion from 2018 to 2022. The global market values of promising bioactive compounds, such as lentinan and lovastatin, are also expected to rise. With such a market growth, mushroom nutraceuticals hold to be very promising in the years to come.

Climate-Fungal Pathogen Modeling Predicts Loss of Up to One-Third of Tea Growing Areas.

Climate change will affect numerous crops in the future; however, perennial crops, such as tea, are particularly vulnerable. Climate change will also strongly influence fungal pathogens. Here, we predict how future climatic conditions will impact tea and its associated pathogens. We collected data on the three most important fungal pathogens of tea (Colletotrichum acutatum, Co. camelliae, and Exobasidium vexans) and then modeled distributions of tea and these fungal pathogens using current and projected climates. The models show that baseline tea-growing areas will become unsuitable for Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (15 to 32% loss) and C. sinensis var. assamica (32 to 34% loss) by 2050. Although new areas will become more suitable for tea cultivation, existing and potentially new fungal pathogens will present challenges in these areas, and they are already under other land-use regimes. In addition, future climatic scenarios suitable range of fungal species and tea suitable cultivation (respectively in CSS and CSA) growing areas are Co. acutatum (44.30%; 31.05%), Co. camelliae (13.10%; 10.70%), and E. vexans (10.20%; 11.90%). Protecting global tea cultivation requires innovative approaches that consider fungal genomics as part and parcel of plant pathology.

A Mechanistic Review on Medicinal Mushrooms-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Potential Mycotherapy Candidates for Alleviating Neurological Disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases are highly debilitating and pose the greatest threats to public health. Diseases of the nervous system are caused by a particular pathological process that negatively affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. These diseases also lead to the loss of neuronal cell function, which causes alterations in the nervous system structure, resulting in the degeneration or death of nerve cells throughout the body. This causes problems with movement (ataxia) and mental dysfunction (dementia), both of which are commonly observed symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Medicinal mushrooms are higher fungi with nutraceutical properties and are low in calories and fat. They are also a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, and vitamins that have been used in the treatment of many ailments. Medicinal mushrooms such as Pleurotus giganteus, Ganoderma lucidium, and Hericium erinaceus are commonly produced worldwide for use as health supplements and medicine. Medicinal mushrooms and their extracts have a large number of bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharide ß-glucan, or polysaccharide-protein complexes, like lectins, lactones, terpenoids, alkaloids, antibiotics, and metal-chelating agents. This review will focus on the role of the medicinal properties of different medicinal mushrooms that contain bioactive compounds with a protective effect against neuronal dysfunction. This information will facilitate the development of drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.

Distoseptispora bambusae sp. nov. (Distoseptisporaceae) on bamboo from China and Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Bamboo is a widespread plant with medicinal value. During our taxonomic study on medicinal plants, three collections of Distoseptispora were made from China and Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and RPB2 sequence data showed that two collections represented a new species, phylogenetically distinct from other described species in Distoseptispora. NEW INFORMATION: This new species has macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, polyblastic or monoblastic conidiogenous cells and acrogenous, solitary, straight, obclavate, multi-septate, thick-walled conidia. Distoseptispora bambusae sp. nov. is introduced with illustrations and a comprehensive description. The third collection on dead wood from Thailand was identified as D. tectona with newly-generated molecular data for this taxon.

An Evaluation of Common Cordyceps (Ascomycetes) Species Found in Chinese Markets.

The common Cordyceps (more than 20 species) found in Chinese markets are evaluated and illustrated. We systematically introduce their taxonomies, allied species, hosts, distributions, yields, selling statuses, and market prices. We summarize and comment on the medicinal value and food safety of Cordyceps. The concept of "cordyceps" is explained, the "best" cordyceps is explored, and Chinese cordyceps culture is analyzed. We suggest using the word "cordyceps" instead of the Latin Cordyceps to report these important edible and medicinal mushrooms.

Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of the Fuzhuan brick tea-fermentation fungus Aspergillus cristatus.

BACKGROUND: Aspergillus cristatus is the dominant fungus involved in the fermentation of Chinese Fuzhuan brick tea. Aspergillus cristatus is a homothallic fungus that undergoes a sexual stage without asexual conidiation when cultured in hypotonic medium. The asexual stage is induced by a high salt concentration, which completely inhibits sexual development. The taxon is therefore appropriate for investigating the mechanisms of asexual and sexual reproduction in fungi. In this study, de novo genome sequencing and analysis of transcriptomes during culture under high- and low-osmolarity conditions were performed. These analyses facilitated investigation of the evolution of mating-type genes, which determine the mode of sexual reproduction, in A. cristatus, the response of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway to osmotic stimulation, and the detection of mycotoxins and evaluation of the relationship with the location of the encoding genes. RESULTS: The A. cristatus genome comprised 27.9 Mb and included 68 scaffolds, from which 10,136 protein-coding gene models were predicted. A phylogenetic analysis suggested a considerable phylogenetic distance between A. cristatus and A. nidulans. Comparison of the mating-type gene loci among Aspergillus species indicated that the mode in A. cristatus differs from those in other Aspergillus species. The components of the HOG pathway were conserved in the genome of A. cristatus. Differential gene expression analysis in A. cristatus using RNA-Seq demonstrated that the expression of most genes in the HOG pathway was unaffected by osmotic pressure. No gene clusters associated with the production of carcinogens were detected. CONCLUSIONS: A model of the mating-type locus in A. cristatus is reported for the first time. Aspergillus cristatus has evolved various mechanisms to cope with high osmotic stress. As a fungus associated with Fuzhuan tea, it is considered to be safe under low- and high-osmolarity conditions.

Prenylhydroquinone-Derived Secondary Metabolites from Cultures of the Basidiomycete Lentinus similis BCC 52578.

Two new prenylhydroquinone-derived compounds, Ientinospirol (1) and 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-l-butanone (2), were isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Lentinus similis BCC 52578, together with the known compounds panepoxydone (3), panepoxydione (4), isopanepoxydone (5), 2,2-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2H-chromene (6), and (3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-6-methoxychroman (7). Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against all cell-lines tested, while the other compounds were inactive.

In vitro studies of endophytic fungi from Tripterygium wilfordii with anti-proliferative activity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

An array of endophytic fungi which habitat in a Chinese medicinal plant, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., (TWHf) were isolated and tested for their suppressive activity on phytohemaglutinin (PHA) stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Out of the 343 isolates, representing 60 different morphotypes, were screened. Amongst the screened fungi, only 15 isolates showed anti-proliferative activity. Ethyl acetate extracts of Pestalotiopsis leucothës, Mucor sp. Verticillium sp. or Pestalotiopsis disseminata, in particular, significantly inhibited the proliferation at doses between 0.12 and 500 microg/ml (stimulation index (S.I.) ranges 0.01-0.70) (P < 0.001-0.05). IC50 values of these four fungal extracts were between 0.75-0.80 +/- 0.12 microg/ml. Trypan blue exclusion test and visual examination of cell morphology demonstrate that the anti-proliferative effect of these extracts was not a sequential consequence of their cytotoxicity. Nevertheless, fungal extracts of Acremonium sp. A and C, Pestalotiopsis suffocata, Morphotype sp. 4 and 5 show a much higher cytotoxic effects on PBMC. Our results indicate that some fungal extracts contain significant amount of immunomodulatory principles.