1. The genus Fomitopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) reconsideredViacheslav Spirin, K. Runnel, J. Vlasák, I. Viner, M.D. Barrett, L. Ryvarden, Annarosa Bernicchia, B. Rivoire, A.M. Ainsworth, Tine Grebenc, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Based on seven- and three-gene datasets, we discuss four alternative approaches for a reclassification of Fomitopsidaceae (Polyporales, Basidiomycota). After taking into account morphological diversity in the family, we argue in favour of distinguishing three genera only, viz. Anthoporia, Antrodia and Fomitopsis. Fomitopsis becomes a large genus with 128 accepted species, containing almost all former Fomitopsis spp. and most species formerly placed in Antrodia, Daedalea and Laccocephalum. Genera Buglossoporus, Cartilosoma, Daedalea, Melanoporia, Neolentiporus, alongside twenty others, are treated as synonyms of Fomitopsis. This generic scheme allows for morphologically distinct genera in Fomitopsidaceae, unlike other schemes we considered. We provide arguments for retaining Fomitopsis and suppressing earlier (Daedalea, Caloporus) or simultaneously published generic names (Piptoporus) considered here as its synonyms. Taxonomy of nine species complexes in the genus is revised based on ITS, ITS + TEF1, ITS + TEF1 + RPB1 and ITS + TEF1 + RPB2 datasets. In total, 17 species are described as new to science, 26 older species are reinstated and 26 currently accepted species names are relegated to synonymy. A condensed identification key for all accepted species in the genus is provided. Keywords: brown-rot fungi, new taxa, phylogeny, polypores, taxonomy Published in DiRROS: 28.02.2024; Views: 122; Downloads: 60 Full text (12,89 MB) This document has many files! More... |
2. Effect of belowground deployment of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum on strawberry plants and aboveground pestsJaka Razinger, Darinka Koron, Špela Modic, Eva Praprotnik, Primož Žigon, Uroš Žibrat, Matej Knapič, Janez Lapajne, Andrej Vončina, Lovro Sinkovič, Nika Cvelbar Weber, 2023, short scientific article Keywords: biological control, integrated pest management, agricultural entomology, entomopathogenic fungi, hyperspectral imaging, remote sensing, plant-microbe-pest interaction, plant physiology, rhizosphere competence Published in DiRROS: 27.07.2023; Views: 295; Downloads: 0 |
3. Effects of desiccation and freezing on microbial ionizing radiation survivability : considerations for Mars sample returnWilliam H. Horne, Tine Grebenc, Rok Tkavc, Cene Gostinčar, Nina Gunde-Cimerman, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Increasingly, national space agencies are expanding their goals to include Mars exploration with sample return. To better protect Earth and its biosphere from potential extraterrestrial sources of contamination, as set forth in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, international efforts to develop planetary protection measures strive to understand the danger of cross-contamination processes in Mars sample return missions. We aim to better understand the impact of the martian surface on microbial dormancy and survivability. Radiation resistance of microbes is a key parameter in considering survivability of microbes over geologic times on the frigid, arid surface of Mars that is bombarded by solar and galactic cosmic radiation. We tested the influence of desiccation and freezing on the ionizing radiation survival of six model microorganisms: vegetative cells of two bacteria (Deinococcus radiodurans, Escherichia coli) and a strain of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae); and vegetative cells and endospores of three Bacillus bacteria (B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. thuringiensis). Desiccation and freezing greatly increased radiation survival of vegetative polyploid microorganisms when applied separately, and when combined, desiccation and freezing increased radiation survival even more so. Thus, the radiation survival threshold of polyploid D. radiodurans cells can be extended from the already high value of 25 kGy in liquid culture to an astonishing 140 kGy when the cells are both desiccated and frozen. However, such synergistic radioprotective effects of desiccation and freezing were not observed in monogenomic or digenomic Bacillus cells and endospores, which are generally sterilized by 12 kGy. This difference is associated with a critical requirement for survivability under radiation, that is, repair of genome damage caused by radiation. Deinococcus radiodurans and S. cerevisiae accumulate similarly high levels of the Mn antioxidants that are required for extreme radiation resistance, as do endospores, though they greatly exceed spores in radioresistance because they contain multiple identical genome copies, which in D. radiodurans are joined by persistent Holliday junctions. We estimate ionizing radiation survival limits of polyploid DNA-based life-forms to be hundreds of millions of years of background radiation while buried in the martian subsurface. Our findings imply that forward contamination of Mars will essentially be permanent, and backward contamination is a possibility if life ever existed on Mars. Keywords: ionizing radiation, life on Mars, astrobiology, radiation, fungi, bacteria, radiotolerance Published in DiRROS: 03.11.2022; Views: 572; Downloads: 279 Full text (922,44 KB) This document has many files! More... |
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