Geobotanical characteristics of plant communities with participation of rare species Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.

The article gives a geobotanical description and a floristic analysis of communities with the participation of the rare and relict species Alnus glutinosa in condition of Aktobe region. The aim of the study is to provide a geobotanical assessment of the current status of a rare, relict species of the Alnus glutinosa population, which was included in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan. At present, the flora of the Aktobe region is not sufficiently studied. Conservation of the biodiversity of the Aktobe region flora is one of the most topical issues. In Aktobe region, due to the lack of grazing, felling of trees, using as fuel and the emergence of uncontrolled tourism and at the same time due to the lack of natural renewal of the area, these consequences lead to a quantitative reduction in the species. In this regard, it is necessary to study the species and organize protection and conservation measures. The results of the study showed that the plant Alnus glutinosa is rarely found in the flora of Kazakhstan and also the distribution areas are reduced. Of the three investigated points, plants from 24 families were identified. Plant communities of Alnus glutinosa are being studied for the first time in the Aktobe region. For the first time in the conditions of the Aktobe region, the habitat of black alder was discovered. The floral composition of plant communities of Alnus glutinosa grown in various ecological environments was revealed, the ratio of life forms and phytocenotic features were studied for the first time. In addition, alder felt mite and ground bug, damaging black alder, were identified from 3 studied populations. It has been established that the main reason for the spread of this pest is a very strong moistening of the ground on which sticky Alder grows. Results sequencing showed that the DNA sample under study belongs to the fungus Alternaria alternata.

Biogenetic study of the emissions of species: Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Alnus acuminata in Riobamba canton, Ecuador.

Background: Air pollution is one of the biggest problems in the world, and it is generated by industrial production, vehicular flow and use of fossil fuels, leaving aside other important emission sources such as vegetation. The aim of this research is to quantify the emissions of natural volatile organic compounds produced by the forest species: Eucalyptus globulus L., Pinus radiata and Alnus acuminata in Riobamba, Ecuador. Methods: Identification of plant coverings in the years 2014 and 2017was performed using geographic information systems tools, complemented with the application of the Guenther model for the calculation of monoterpenes and other organic volatile compounds; thus, to analyze the relationship between meteorological variables and concentrations of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen dioxide per species. Results: Mathematical calculation of emissions in Riobamba showed that Eucalyptus globulus L. registered higher emissions in the years 2014-2017, followed by Pinus radiata and Alnus acuminata. These emissions are due to the vegetation cover covering each species. The analysis of volatile organic compounds in forest plantations in air is directly related to the emissions represented in the environment and correlated with the meteorological variables of temperature, global solar radiation and wind velocity. The proposed method manages to estimate concentrations of monoterpenes and volatile organic compounds for the two examined seasons, presenting the influence of the species introduced in this study such as Eucalyptus globulus L. and Pinus radiata, with a reduction in their emissions (less area found in the year 2017, with respect to 2014). However, the emission of Alnus acuminata can be quantified only in 2017, since in 2014 no records of this species were found. Conclusions: Volatile organic compound concentrations in the air are directly related to the emissions represented spatially and correlated with the meteorological variables of temperature, global solar radiation and wind velocity.

The ectomycorrhizas of Lactarius cuspidoaurantiacus and Lactarius herrerae associated with Alnus acuminata in Central Mexico.

Two pure Alnus acuminata stands established in a montane forest in central Mexico (Puebla State) were monitored between 2010 and 2013 to confirm and recognize the ectomycorrhizal (EcM) systems of A. acuminata with Lactarius cuspidoaurantiacus and Lactarius herrerae, two recently described species. Through comparison of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from basidiomes and ectomycorrhizas sampled in the forest stands, we confirmed their ectomycorrhizal association. The phytobiont was corroborated by comparing ITS sequences obtained from EcM root tips and leaves collected in the study site and from other sequences of A. acuminata available in Genbank. Detailed morphological and anatomical descriptions of the ectomycorrhizal systems are presented and complemented with photographs.

Greenhouse seedlings of Alnus showed low host intrageneric specificity and a strong preference for some Tomentella ectomycorrhizal associates.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal associates of Alnus are relatively few in comparison with those associated with other tree hosts. The composition of ECM assemblages associated with Alnus seems to change very little across the Northern Hemisphere. However, Alnus-associated ECM assemblages from the Western United States, Mexico, and Argentina tend to differ from those in eastern North America and Europe, presumably due to their different biogeographic histories. Alnus glutinosa is a northern European species subjected to diverse environmental conditions. To address intrageneric host preference within two distantly related Alnus species (Alnus acuminata and A. glutinosa), we tested the ECM colonization on seedlings of both species inoculated with natural soil from A. acuminata forests. Two tomentelloid ECM fungi from A. acuminata natural soils were determined from the anatomotyping and molecular analysis. Both species colonized A. glutinosa seedlings and presented similar relative abundances. Additional soil sequence data from A. acuminata sites suggest that a variety of tomentelloid taxa occur, including several unidentified Tomentella lineages. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences from various locations do not reflect associations of taxa based on their biogeographic origin, and clades are in general constituted by sequences from diverse regions, including South America, Mexico, USA, and Europe. Results illustrate the probable role of specific tomentelloid fungi in the early colonization of seedlings in A. acuminata forests as well as their importance in the structure of the ECM propagule community at the sites.

Two new species of Lactarius associated with Alnus acuminata subsp. arguta in Mexico.

In pure stands of Alnus acuminata subsp. arguta trees from Sierra Norte de Puebla (central Mexico) two undescribed ectomycorrhizal species of Lactarius were discovered. Distinction of the two new species is based on morphological characters and supported with phylogenetic analyses of the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS region and part of the gene that encodes for the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2). The phylogenies inferred recovered the two species in different clades strongly supported by posterior probabilities and bootstrap values. The new Lactarius species are recognized as part of the assemblage of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Alnus acuminata. Information about these taxa includes the morphological variation achieved along 16 monitories 2010-2013. Descriptions are provided. They are accompanied by photos including SEM photomicrographs of basidiospores and information on differences between them and other related taxa from Europe and the United States.

Large-scale fungal diversity assessment in the Andean Yungas forests reveals strong community turnover among forest types along an altitudinal gradient.

The Yungas, a system of tropical and subtropical montane forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes, are extremely diverse and severely threatened by anthropogenic pressure and climate change. Previous mycological works focused on macrofungi (e.g. agarics, polypores) and mycorrhizae in Alnus acuminata forests, while fungal diversity in other parts of the Yungas has remained mostly unexplored. We carried out Ion Torrent sequencing of ITS2 rDNA from soil samples taken at 24 sites along the entire latitudinal extent of the Yungas in Argentina. The sampled sites represent the three altitudinal forest types: the piedmont (400-700 m a.s.l.), montane (700-1500 m a.s.l.) and montane cloud (1500-3000 m a.s.l.) forests. The deep sequence data presented here (i.e. 4 108 126 quality-filtered sequences) indicate that fungal community composition correlates most strongly with elevation, with many fungi showing preference for a certain altitudinal forest type. For example, ectomycorrhizal and root endophytic fungi were most diverse in the montane cloud forests, particularly at sites dominated by Alnus acuminata, while the diversity values of various saprobic groups were highest at lower elevations. Despite the strong altitudinal community turnover, fungal diversity was comparable across the different zonal forest types. Besides elevation, soil pH, N, P, and organic matter contents correlated with fungal community structure as well, although most of these variables were co-correlated with elevation. Our data provide an unprecedented insight into the high diversity and spatial distribution of fungi in the Yungas forests.

Effects of tropical montane forest disturbance on epiphytic macrolichens.

The high diversity of epiphytes typical of undisturbed montane tropical forests has been negatively affected by continuous deforestation and forest conversion to secondary vegetation. Macrolichens are an important component of these epiphytes. Because their physiology is strongly coupled to humidity and solar radiation, we hypothesized that microclimatic changes derived from forest clearing and logging can affect the diversity of these poikilohydric organisms. In southern Ecuador, we examined three types of forests according to a disturbance gradient (primary forests, secondary forests, and monospecific forests of Alnus acuminata) for the presence/absence and coverage of epiphytic macrolichens that we identified on 240 trees. We found that total richness tended to decrease when the range of the disturbance increased. The impoverishment was particularly drastic for "shade-adapted lichens", while the richness of "heliophytic lichens" increased in the drier conditions of secondary growth. Epiphytic composition also differed significantly among the three types of forests, and the similarity decreased when the range of the disturbance was greater. We concluded that a span of 40 years of recovery by secondary vegetation was not enough to regenerate the diversity of epiphytic macrolichens that was lost due to forest disturbances.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi in Mexican Alnus forests support the host co-migration hypothesis and continental-scale patterns in phylogeography.

To examine the geographic patterns in Alnus-associated ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal assemblages and determine how they may relate to host plant biogeography, we studied ECM assemblages associated with two Alnus species (Alnus acuminata and Alnus jorullensis) in montane Mexico and compared them with Alnus-associated ECM assemblages located elsewhere in the Americas. ECM root samples were collected from four sites in Mexico (two per host species), identified with ITS and LSU rRNA gene sequences, and assessed using both taxon- (richness, diversity, evenness indices) and sequence divergence-based (UniFrac clustering and significance) analyses. Only 23 ECM taxa were encountered. Clavulina, an ECM lineage never before reported with Alnus, contained the dominant taxon overall. ECM assemblage structure varied between hosts, but UniFrac significance tests indicated that both associated with similar ECM lineage diversity. There was a strikingly high sequence similarity among a diverse array of the ECM taxa in Mexico and those in Alnus forests in Argentina, the United States, and Europe. The Mexican and United States assemblages had greater overlap than those present in Argentina, supporting the host-ECM fungi co-migration hypothesis from a common north temperate origin. Our results indicate that Alnus-associated ECM assemblages have clear patterns in richness and composition across a wide range of geographic locations. Additional data from boreal western North America as well as the eastern United States and Canada will be particularly informative in further understanding the co-biogeographic patterns of Alnus and ECM fungi in the Americas.

Description and identification of Alnus acuminata ectomycorrhizae from Argentinean alder stands.

The objective of this study was to describe the morphological and anatomical features of five unidentified ectomycorrhizal types of Alnus acuminata and to complement their identification based on ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. The combined approach of morphotyping and sequence analysis based on ITS sequence comparison with sequences contained in GenBank and the UNITE database let us assign three of the five field-collected ectomycorrhiza morphotypes to the tomentella-thelephora lineage that closely matched European and North American species. The sequencing results within Tomentella point toward alder specific clades within T. sublilacina, T. ellisii and T. stuposa sensu lato. The two other EcM morphotypes matched Lactarius omphaliiformis and a Russula sp. Better focused, concomitant fruit body surveys are needed for accurate identification of South American ectomycorrhizal fungi because of the evidence of cryptic speciation in both agaricoid and resupinate mycobionts.

Arbuscular mycorrhizae of dominant plant species in Yungas forests, Argentina.

In Argentina the Yungas forests are among the ecosystems most affected by human activity, with loss of biodiversity. To assess the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spore numbers in these ecosystems, the roots of the most dominant native plants (one tree, Alnus acuminata; three herbaceous, Duchesnea indica, Oxalis conorrhiza, Trifolium aff. repens; and one shrub, Sambucus peruviana) were studied throughout the year from two sites of Yungas forests. Assessments of mycorrhizal colonization (percent root length, intraradical structures) were made by washing and staining the roots. Soil samples of each plant species were pooled and subsamples were obtained to determine AM spore numbers. The herbaceous species formed both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies, whereas the tree and the shrub species formed respectively single structural types of Arum- and Paris-type. AM colonization, intraradical fungi structures and AMF spore numbers displayed variation in species, seasons and sites. D. indica showed the highest AM colonization, whereas the highest spore numbers was observed in the rhizosphere of A. acuminata. No correlation was observed between spore numbers and root length percentage colonized by AM fungi. Results of this study showed that Alnus acuminata is facultatively AM. The AM colonization, intraradical fungi structures and AMF spore numbers varied in species depending on phenological, climatic and edaphic conditions.

Influence of roadside pollution on the phylloplane microbial community of Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae)

The North Eastern region of India is undergoing industrial development at a faster rate than expected. Roads form the main system of transportation and communication owing to the hilly topography of the region. Automobiles discharge a number of gaseous and trace metal contaminants. Human activities like stone grinding, road construction and sand milling also increase the atmospheric dust and heavy metal contaminant level. These contaminants get settled on leaf surfaces at roadsides and enter in contact with phylloplane microorganisms. This study compares microorganisms on leaf surfaces of alder (Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae)) on roadside and non-roadside environments. Two sites dominated by alder were selected. One at a busy road intersection on the National Highway no. 44 in Shillong with high traffic density (8 000-9 000 heavy vehicles/day), taken as the polluted site and the other one in a forest approximately 500 m away from the roadside considered as the unpolluted site. Analysis of phylloplane microorganisms, lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur was carried out from leaves. The bacterial population was higher at the unpolluted site. Bacterial population showed a significant negative correlation with lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur. Similarly, fungal population was higher at the unpolluted site. A total of 29 fungal species were isolated from the phylloplane of A. nepalensis (polluted site 16 species; unpolluted site 28 species). Some fungal forms like Mortierella sp., Fusarium oxysporum and Aureobasidium pollulans were dominant in the polluted site. Numbers of phylloplane fungi and bacteria were significantly reduced in the polluted site. The correlation coefficient indicated a detrimental effect of metals like lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur on the microbial community of leaf surfaces. The specificity of certain fungi to the unpolluted site may be attributed to their sensitivity to pollution. The predominance of Aureobasidium pollulans, Fusarium oxysporum and Mortierella sp. in the polluted site may be due to their resistance to pollutants in roadside conditions. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (3): 1521-1529. Epub 2008 September 30.

La región nororiental de la India está experimentando un rápido desarrollo industrial y debido a la topografía montañosa de la región, los automóviles descargan variedad de contaminantes. Actividades humanas como moler piedra y construir caminos también aumentan el polvo atmosférico y la contaminación con metales pesados. Este estudio compara microorganismos en superficies foliares del árbol Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae). Se estudió uno sitio en una intersección de Shillong, con alta densidad de tráfico (8 000-9 000 vehículos pesados/día), tomada como el sitio contaminado, y otro en un bosque aproximadamente a 500 m de la carretera (sitio no contaminado). Se contabilizaron bacterias, hongos, plomo, zinc, cobre, cadmio y sulfuro. La población bacteriana era más alta en el sitio no contaminado. La población bacteriana mostró una correlación negativa significativa con el contenido de plomo, cinc, cobre, cadmio y sulfuro foliares en el sitio contaminado, mientras que en el sitio no contaminado la correlación fue insignificante. La población de hongos también fue más alta en el sitio no contaminado. Un total de 29 especies de hongos fueron aislados A. nepalensis: 16 en el sitio contaminado y 28 en el no contaminado. Algunas especies de hongos como Mortierella sp., Fusarium oxysporum y Aureobasidium pollulans fueron dominantes en el sitio contaminado. El número de hongos y bacterias fue significativamente menor en el sitio contaminado. El coeficiente de correlación indicó un efecto perjudicial de metales como el plomo, el zinc, el cobre, el cadmio y el sulfuro en esta comunidad que habitan superficies de hojas. La especificidad de ciertos hongos al sitio no contaminado se puede atribuir a su sensibilidad a la contaminación. El predominio de Aureobasidium pollulans, Fusarium oxysporum y Mortierella sp. en el sitio contaminado puede ser debido a su resistencia a los agentes contaminadores.

Influence of roadside pollution on the phylloplane microbial community of Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae).

The North Eastern region of India is undergoing industrial development at a faster rate than expected. Roads form the main system of transportation and communication owing to the hilly topography of the region. Automobiles discharge a number of gaseous and trace metal contaminants. Human activities like stone grinding, road construction and sand milling also increase the atmospheric dust and heavy metal contaminant level. These contaminants get settled on leaf surfaces at roadsides and enter in contact with phylloplane microorganisms. This study compares microorganisms on leaf surfaces of alder (Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae)) on roadside and non-roadside environments. Two sites dominated by alder were selected. One at a busy road intersection on the National Highway no. 44 in Shillong with high traffic density (8 000-9 000 heavy vehicles/day), taken as the polluted site and the other one in a forest approximately 500 m away from the roadside considered as the unpolluted site. Analysis of phylloplane microorganisms, lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur was carried out from leaves. The bacterial population was higher at the unpolluted site. Bacterial population showed a significant negative correlation with lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur. Similarly, fungal population was higher at the unpolluted site. A total of 29 fungal species were isolated from the phylloplane of A. nepalensis (polluted site 16 species; unpolluted site 28 species). Some fungal forms like Mortierella sp., Fusarium oxysporum and Aureobasidium pollulans were dominant in the polluted site. Numbers of phylloplane fungi and bacteria were significantly reduced in the polluted site. The correlation coefficient indicated a detrimental effect of metals like lead, zinc, copper, cadmium and sulphur on the microbial community of leaf surfaces. The specificity of certain fungi to the unpolluted site may be attributed to their sensitivity to pollution. The predominance of Aureobasidium pollulans, Fusarium oxysporum and Mortierella sp. in the polluted site may be due to their resistance to pollutants in roadside conditions.

El efecto de la interacción Frankia - micorrizas - micronutrientes en el establecimiento de árboles Aliso (Alnus acuminata) en sistemas silvopastoriles / The effects of the interaction Frankia - mycorrhizal fungi - microelements in the establishment of Alder trees (Alnus acuminata) in tree grass systems

Frankia es un género de microorganismos llamados actinomicetos capaces de inducir la formación de nódulos radiculares fijadores de nitrógeno atmosférico en algunas angiospermas no leguminosas, denominadas plantas actinorrízicas. El desarrollo de fijación de Nitrógeno (N) simbiótico envuelve múltiples procesos que se llevan a cabo en compartimentos subcelulares endosimbióticos donde Francia produce los nódulos de la raíz que convierten el N2 en forma combinada. La simbiosis micorriza y nódulo es generalmente sinérgica, promueve el crecimiento vegetal, la multiplicación de las micorrizaspropicia un ambiente de mayor competencia, no favorable para los agentes patógenos. A lo anterior se debe sumar la participación de microelementos como el molibdeno(Mo), el cual es constituyente dela nitrogenasa y cuya deficiencia en el medio causa un efecto directo y negativo en la fijación del N; con el boro(B,) donde su deficiencia produce una desestabilización de la cubierta protectora contra el oxígeno, afectando considerablemente la nodulación de la planta y con el cobalto(Co), forman un componente estructural de la coenzima de la vitamina B12 en el proceso de fijación de N. Sin embargo, muchos aspectos relacionados de estos microelementos en la interrelación y de la simbiosis micorriza y Frankia se desconocen. Por lo anterior, es importante determinar sus efectos sobre los microorganismos del suelo y el desarrollo de los nódulos; para intepretar una óptima manifestación, sin embargo su complejidad hace que su efecto no sea predecible bajo todas las condiciones ni para todas las especies. Por lo tanto, es importante incentivar la investigación al respecto, así como profundizar en el conocimiento de sus principios de funcionamiento, interacciones y mostrar los resultados encontradosen su uso en árboles promisiorios para sistemas silvopastoriles trópico alto como el aliso (Agnus acuminata), especie forestal útil en la solución de problemas de degradación de suelos y deforestación.

Actividad antiinflamatoria de amirona y 4 7-dimetoxiapigenina aislados de Alnus acuminata / Anti-inflammatory activity of amyrone and Apigenin-4, 7- dimethylether isolated from Alnus acuminata

El presente trabajo determinó el efecto antiinflamatorio de -amirona (olean-13(18)-en-3-ona) y 4', 7-dimetoxiapigenina (5-hidroxi-4,7-dimetoxiflavona), aislados de Alnus acuminata (Betulaceae), por el método del edema plantar en ratas hembra, en dosis de 30, 60 y 100 mg/kg y de 30, 60 y 80 mg/kg respectivamente. Ambas sustancias mostraron una actividad antiinflamatoria significativa. El efecto más alto de -amirona se presentó a la primera hora en las tres dosis ensayadas comparable con el efecto antiinflamatorio obtenido a las tres horas con el patrón indometacina en la dosis de 5 mg/kg, mientras que el mejor efecto de 4,7-dimetoxi-apigenina se observó a la tercera hora, en las tres dosis ensayadas, siendo de un nivel comparable en las dosis de 60 y 80 mg/kg al presentado por el patrón indometacina en la dosis de 5 mg/kg

Ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of Alnus acuminata from Calilegua National Park (Argentina).

The objective of this study was to determine patterns of ectomycorrhizas (ECM) and arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) colonization associated with Alnus acuminata (Andean alder), in relation to soil parameters (electrical conductivity, field H(2)O holding capacity, pH, available P, organic matter, and total N) at two different seasons (autumn and spring). The study was conducted in natural forests of A. acuminata situated in Calilegua National Park (Jujuy, Argentina). Nine ECM morphotypes were found on A. acuminata roots. The ECM colonization was affected by seasonality and associated positively with field H(2)O holding capacity, pH, and total N and negatively associated with organic matter. Two morphotypes (Russula alnijorullensis and Tomentella sp. 3) showed significant differences between seasons. Positive and negative correlations were found between five morphotypes (Alnirhiza silkacea, Lactarius omphaliformis, Tomentella sp. 1, Tomentella sp. 3, and Lactarius sp.) and soil parameters (total N, pH, and P). A significant negative correlation was found between field H(2)O holding capacity and organic matter with AM colonization. Results of this study provide evidence that ECM and AM colonization of A. acuminata can be affected by some soil chemical edaphic parameters and indicate that some ECM morphotypes are sensitive to changes in seasonality and soil parameters.

Anatomical and molecular characterization of Lactarius aff. omphaliformis, Russula alnijorullensis and Cortinarius tucumanensis ectomycorrhizae on Alnus acuminata.

Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) of Lactarius aff. omphaliformis Romagn., Russula alnijorullensis (Sing.) Sing. and Cortinarius tucumanensis Mos. on Andean alder (Alnus acuminata Kunth) were characterized and identified. The identification of the fungal symbionts was achieved by morpho-anatomical observations of mycorrhizae and by comparison of ITS-RFLP patterns obtained from ECM and fruitbodies. L. aff omphaliformis ECM differed in some morphological details such as ramification and mantle type from ECM of the same species on A. glutinosa. L. aff omphaliformis ECM show an orange to ochre mantle containing latex cells, which stain with sulpho-vanillin, emanating hyphae without clamps. R. alnijorullensis ECM represent a typical Russula-type-ECM, light yellow to pinkish, the outer mantle being composed of triangular latex-filled cells staining with sulpho-vanillin, emanating hyphae without clamps. C. tucumanensis ECM exhibit a white (silvery) to yellowish brown mantle covered with soil particles, emanating hyphae with clamps.

Morphological, molecular and ecological aspects of the South American hypogeous fungus Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov.

Field studies in Argentina's Yunga District revealed Alpova austroalnicola sp. nov., a hypogeous fungus associated with Alnus acuminata ssp. acuminata. Morphological and molecular studies based on amplification and sequencing of the nuclear LSU rDNA gene showed its unique identity within Alpova. Related genera included in the analyses were Boletus edulis, Rhizopogon spp., Suillus luteus and Truncocolumella citrina. Additional observations of animal diggings around the sites and microscopic examination of fecal pellets of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus novemcinctus) indicate A. austroalnicola is consumed and its spores dispersed by animals.

Ectomycorrhizas of Cortinarius helodes and Gyrodon monticola with Alnus acuminata from Argentina.

Field ectomycorrhizas of Cortinarius helodes Moser, Matheny & Daniele (sp. nov) and Gyrodon monticola Sing. on Alnus acuminata Kunth (Andean alder, aliso del cerro) are described based on morphological and anatomical features. Ectomycorrhizal roots were sampled beneath fruitbodies of C. helodes and G. monticola from two homogeneous A. acuminata forest sites located in Tucuman and Catamarca Provinces in Argentina. C. helodes ectomycorrhizas showed a thick white to beige mantle exuding a milky juice when injured, were bluish toward the apex, and had hyphal strands in the mantle. G. monticola ectomycorrhizas showed some conspicuous features like highly differentiated rhizomorphs, inflated brown cells on the mantle surface, and hyaline and brown emanating hyphae with dolipores. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer provided a distinctive profile for each of the collections of fruitbodies and the mycorrhizal morphotypes.

The myxomycete genus Schenella: morphological and DNA sequence evidence for synonymy with the gasteromycete genus Pyrenogaster.

The genus Schenella has proven difficult to classify since its description as a new genus in 1911. Macbride placed it with the Myxomycetes but it was unclear with which myxomycete, if any, it should be grouped. Recent identification of abundant samples of Schenella has aided a re-evaluation of its classification as a myxomycete. Morphological evidence based on light and scanning electron microscopy of recently collected specimens and on the type specimen of Macbride suggested that it might be synonymous with the gasteromycete Pyrenogaster Analysis of DNA sequences from freshly isolated samples indicates that the genus Schenella is related closely to an anciently diverged, monophyletic group of fungi that includes several gasteromycete genera, among them Geastrum, Sphaerobolus and Pseudocolus. Comparisons of the morphology and DNA sequences of authentically identified specimens of Pyrenogaster atrogleba indicate that it is synonymous with Schenella simplex. The nomenclatural implications of this discovery are discussed.

Regulation of nodulation in the absence of N2 is different in actinorhizal plants with different infection pathways.

Root nodulation in actinorhizal plants, like Discaria trinervis and Alnus incana, is subject to feedback regulatory mechanisms that control infection by Frankia and nodule development. Nodule pattern in the root system is controlled by an autoregulatory process that is induced soon after inoculation with Frankia. The final number of nodules, as well as nodule biomass in relation to plant biomass, are both modulated by a second mechanism which seems to be related to the N status of the plant. Mature nodules are, in part, involved in the latter process, since nodule excision from the root system releases the inhibition of infection and nodule development. To study the effect of N(2) fixation in this process, nodulated D. trinervis and A. incana plants were incubated under a N(2)-free atmosphere. Discaria trinervis is an intercellularly infected species while A. incana is infected intracellularly, via root hairs. Both symbioses responded with an increment in nodule biomass, but with different strategies. Discaria trinervis increased the biomass of existing nodules without significant development of new nodules, while in A. incana nodule biomass increased due to the development of nodules from new infections, but also from the release of arrested infections. It appears that in D. trinervis nodules there is an additional source for inhibition of new infections and nodule development that is independent of N(2) fixation and nitrogen assimilation. It is proposed here that the intercellular Frankia filaments commonly present in the D. trinervis nodule apex, is the origin for the autoregulatory signals that sustain the blockage of initiated nodule primordia and prevent new roots from infections. When turning to A. incana plants, it seems likely that this signal is related to the early autoregulation of nodulation in A. incana seedlings and is no longer present in mature nodules. Thus, actinorhizal symbioses belonging to relatively distant phylogenetic groups and displaying different infection pathways, show different feedback regulatory processes that control root nodulation by Frankia.