https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/ Mycologia Iranica en daily 1 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134892.html The cultivation of citrus trees is affected by many plant pathogenic fungi, which can cause various diseases and reduce citrus production. The members of Colletotrichum genus are the causal agent of anthracnose in a broad range of host plants, including Citrus species. More than 35 Colletotrichum species have been reported on Citrus species worldwide. So far, five species of C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. novae-zelandiae, and C. siamense, have been identified in association with citrus trees in the north and south parts of Iran. The diversity of Colletotrichum species and the wide range of anthracnose symptoms on citrus indicate a lack of specific pathogen-host relationships. These pathogens can induce various symptoms, including fruit and leaf spots, necrosis, post-flowering fruit drop, dieback, twig blight, and post-harvest rots, leading to significant yield and market value losses. In this review article, we provide an overview of the most prominent Colletotrichum species associated with citrus, their geographical distribution, lifestyle, symptoms, pathogenicity, host resistance and management. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134045.html Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, penicillin has earned its reputation as a revolutionary antibiotic, profoundly altering the treatment of bacterial infections and marking a pivotal moment in medical history. Penicillium chrysogenum, a high-yielding fungal species, remains central to the industrial production of penicillin. Efforts to improve the yield of penicillin remain an active area of research, with different approaches, such as induced mutagenesis, applied to maximize production efficiency. This study aims to investigate the effects of induced mutations and the utilization of various carbon sources on penicillin biosynthesis in Penicillium chrysogenum. Mutant strains developed through gamma radiation exposure were evaluated against wild-type strains for antibiotic production in culture media containing lactose, sucrose, and various combinations of both at different concentrations. Penicillin production was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with 96 analyses conducted in triplicate. The study found a marked increase in penicillin production in mutant strains compared to wild-type strains, particularly in sucrose media. However, the relationship between antibiotic yield and carbon source concentration was nonlinear. Increasing carbon source concentration was not always associated with increased penicillin production. The research suggests optimizing carbon source concentration and mutation methods to enhance penicillin production. It has implications for the schematic development of bioprocesses for the production of industrial antibiotics.  https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134239.html Pyricularia oryzae is a devastating pathogen affecting rice and a wide range of cereal crops. Accurate and specific detection of this species is essential for population genetics, epidemiological studies, and the enforcement of quarantine measures. In this study, the specificity of several P. oryzae-specific diagnostic primer pairs, including pfh2a/pfh2b, Pot2a-L2/Pot2a-R2, mif23_01F/mif23_01R, MIF-forward/MIF-reverse, MHP1F/MHP1R, and PoM-1F/PoM-1R were re-evaluated using in silico and PCR assays. In addition, the efficacy of an ISSR marker was assessed as a cost-effective, species-level screening method for a large set of Pyricularia isolates. The results of in silico analysis revealed that PoM-1F/PoM-1R primer pair was not species-specific, while four other primers showed probable specificity for P. oryzae detection. However, PCR assays revealed that none of the tested P. oryzae-specific primers could reliably distinguish this species from other formally accepted species within the genus Pyricularia. These results highlight the urgent need to develop novel molecular markers that can unambiguously differentiate P. oryzae from related Pyricularia species. Such markers would significantly improve the diagnosis and surveillance of blast diseases. Meanwhile, the ISSR-PCR banding patterns produced from 36 strains representing seven formally accepted Pyricularia species were reproducible and congruent with phylogenetic species recognition. Therefore, in studies with large numbers of isolates, where cost-effective grouping is required prior to multi-gene sequencing, this marker represents a highly beneficial tool for selecting representative isolates corresponding to distinct species.  https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134433.html The genus Stagonospora (Massarinaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) is both morphologically and phylogenetically diverse, with more than 500 species epithets reported; however, only a limited number of species have been critically evaluated using molecular data. As part of surveys of fungi associated with wetland plants in Iran, twelve isolates with morphological characteristics resembling Stagonospora were obtained. These isolates were subjected to detailed morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on multi-locus sequence data (ITS and LSU). Two species, Stagonospora pseudoperfecta Kaz. Tanaka & K. Hiray and S. uniseptata Quaedvl., Verkley & Crous, were identified and are reported here as new records for the Iranian funga. This study provides comprehensive morphological descriptions and illustrations of the identified species, and discusses their habitats, distribution, and phylogenetic placement. The findings expand the known diversity of Stagonospora in Iran, refine species delimitation within Massarinaceae, and underscore the ecological significance of wetlands as reservoirs of fungal diversity.  https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134649.html Members of Diaporthales occur on a broad range of hosts and substrates, such as trees, crops, soil, and even living tissues of animals and humans, and comprise pathogenic, saprobic and endophytic species. This study was carried out to contribute to the knowledge of Diaporthales biodiversity in Iran. Juglanconis appendiculata from dead branch of Juglans regia in East Azerbaijan Province and Melanconiella chrysomelanconium from dead branch of Carpinus betulus in Golestan Province were identified using morphological characteristics and molecular data. Phylogenetic analysis of the elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) gene using maximum likelihood approach strongly supported the placement of two Iranian isolates, i.e., IRAN 2457C (identified as J. appendiculata) and IRAN 5294C (identified as M. chrysomelanconium), within the Diaporthales. Both species are described and illustrated herein based on Iranian material and compared with closely related species. This study represents the first report of J. appendiculata and M. chrysomelanconium from Iran, providing geographic range extensions of both species. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134780.html During a study on the biodiversity of ascomycetous micro-fungi from 2020 to 2024, several fungal isolates from healthy Cannabis seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) and healthy Camelthorn roots (Alhagi maurorum Medik), as endophytic fungi, and some of them from laboratory air, as airborne fungi, were recovered and characterized. Based on the morphological investigations, part of the identified fungi belonged to the genus Microascus (Microascaceae). Molecular phylogenetic analysis using the partial nucleotide sequence of the β-tubulin (tub2) gene and the resulting consensus phylogenetic tree revealed that the recovered isolates belong to three different Microascus species, including M. cinereus from healthy Camelthorn root, M. croci from laboratory air and M. trigonosporus from healthy Cannabis seed with high levels of sequence similarity with the relevant sequences from GenBank. In the resulting consensus phylogenetic tree, these three identified Microascus species were completely resolved from each other as well as from the other species with high bootstrap support and posterior probability, confirming the correct morphological identification and the effectiveness of the used genomic region. To the best of our knowledge, these three Microascus species are new to the funga of Iran. Additionally, the Alhagi maurorum and Cannabis sativa plants are reported here as new hosts (matrix nova) for M. cinereus and M. trigonosporus, respectively, in the world. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134889.html Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. The cultivation of safflower has gained increasing attention due to its valuable seed oil, vibrant flower color, and tolerance to drought and salinity. However, infections caused by Fusarium species pose a significant challenge worldwide. To investigate the morphological and molecular characteristics of Fusarium species associated with crown and root rot in safflower, samples were collected from infected crowns and roots across various cultivation areas in Isfahan Province. Based on morphological traits and molecular data obtained from sequencing the ITS-rDNA region and a portion of the TEF1 gene, two Fusarium species—F. nygamai, and F. falciforme were identified among 36 isolates exhibiting symptoms of crown and root rot disease. Pathogenicity tests conducted under greenhouse conditions confirmed their pathogenic nature according to Koch’s postulates. Notably, this study represents the first report of F. nygamai and F. falciforme as causal agents of crown and root rot in safflower worldwide. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134963.html The genus Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes) is a globally widespread group of fungi, many of which are ecologically and agriculturally important. In Iran, however, the diversity of this genus has been largely overlooked. In this study, fungal samples collected between 2012 and 2024 from dried leaves and plant tissue were investigated. Multiple Cladosporium isolates from various Iranian regions were examined using an integrative morpho-phylogenetic approach, combining morphological analyses with molecular phylogenetic studies based on ITS, act, and tef-1α loci. Our results revealed three species of Cladosporium, namely Cladosporium limoniforme, Cladosporium ramotenellum, and Cladosporium guizhouense, which were identified based on morphology, culture characteristics and molecular phylogenetics. This study represents the first report of Cladosporium guizhouense in Iran. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic placements are provided for these species. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135014.html Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important legume crop. This annual plant is widely cultivated across many regions of the world. A notable characteristic of chickpeas is their multiple symbiotic associations with diverse microorganisms that contribute to soil fertility. In this study, we investigated the diversity of endophytic fungi in seeds, aerial and underground organs of twenty-one genotypes of chickpea. The genotypes were obtained from the Dryland Agricultural Research Institute (Maragheh, East Azerbaijan, Iran). The genotypes were grown under both greenhouse and field conditions using disinfected and non-disinfected seeds. Additionally, to assess endophytic fungal diversity under field conditions, sampling was conducted in chickpea fields in the villages of Anjirak and Znylaan-Sofla, Kermanshah County, as well as in fields on the experimental campus of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Razi, Kermanshah, Iran. A total of 366 fungal strains were isolated, of which 80 isolates were obtained from plants grown from non-disinfected and 60 isolates from disinfected seeds in the greenhouse. Moreover, from chickpea genotypes planted on a farm in Hamadan Province and 48 plant samples collected across six fields in Kermanshah Province, a total of 50 and 155 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained, respectively. Furthermore, a total of 21 fungal isolates were recovered from seeds of genotypes ‘Desi 37’, ‘Kaka’, ‘Sufi’, and ‘Flip 09-2780’. Following morphological characterization and sequencing of representative isolates based on the genomic regions tef1-α, tub2, ITS rDNA, cal and rpb2, ten fungal species were identified, belonging to six genera. The identified species were Allophoma labilis, Aspergillus fumigatus, A. luchuensis, A. niger, A. tubingensis, Chaetomium rectangulare, Cladosporium ramotenellum, Fusarium acuminatum, F. redolens and Penicillium chrysogenum. The most isolates belong to Aspergillus (60.65%) and Fusarium species (27.86%). Among the chickpea genotypes, the greatest number of isolates were obtained from ‘Flip 09-2780’ (43 isolates) and ‘Adel’ (41 isolates).  https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134605.html Smut fungi, particularly those within the genera Tilletia, Ustilago, Sporisorium, and Urocystis, threaten cereal crops worldwide. Accurate molecular identification of these pathogens requires high-quality genomic DNA, however, extracting DNA from smut teliospores remains a challenge due to their thick and resilient cell walls. To address this, four commonly used DNA extraction methods — Murray & Thompson, Raeder & Broda, Chelex 100 and HotSHOT — were comparatively evaluated across ten species of smut fungi: Tilletia laevis, T. caries, T. controversa, T. indica, Ustilago tritici, U. nuda, U. hordei, Sporisorium maydis, S. ehrenbergii, and Urocystis agropyri. Mechanical disruption using sterilized carborundum, with or without liquid nitrogen, was applied uniformly across all methods. The quality and quantity of extracted DNA were assessed by Nanodrop spectrophotometry and PCR amplification using ITS1/ITS4 primers. All methods yielded PCR-amplifiable DNA; however, substantial differences were observed in yield and purity. Raeder & Broda method yielded the highest average DNA concentration (1050.55 ng/μl), followed by HotSHOT (951.33 ng/μl), Murray & Thompson (918.82 ng/μl), and Chelex (879.37 ng/μl). While HotSHOT offered a higher yield than Murray & Thompson and Chelex, its lower purity suggested co-purification of cellular contaminants. Murray & Thompson and Raeder and Broda-extracted DNA exhibited better overall purity based on their average A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios. Electrophoresis of PCR products revealed strong and consistent bands for all samples, indicating successful DNA amplification. This study demonstrates that Murray & Thompson remains optimal when purity is crucial, while Raeder & Broda is effective for higher-yield applications. HotSHOT and Chelex, despite lower purity, remain useful for rapid and routine diagnostics. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134773.html During September–November 2022 and 2023, white, powdery fungal growth was observed on leaves of wild-grown prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.) in the Firouragh county (Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province), Iran. Infected leaves were collected and subjected to morphotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. The integration of morphological and molecular characteristics revealed the identity of the species as Golovinomyces orontii species complex. Based on a phylogeny inferred using ITS-rDNA sequences obtained in the present study and sequence data from GenBank, the isolates from prickly lettuce clustered together with G. bolayi from the other Lactuca spp. such as L. sativa and L. serriola. On the members of the genus Lactuca, G. bolayi has been previously reported on L. sativa and L. tuberosa in Iran. This study provides the first report on the occurrence of G. bolayi on L. serriola in Iran. Hitherto, Leveillula lactucae-serriolae has been reported on L. serriola in Iran. With this study, we provide a comprehensive illustration of G. bolayi on L. serriola and further discuss the phylogeny, host range, and ecology of this species.  https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_134995.html Curvularia species are associated with a wide range of ecological roles, functioning as pathogens of plants, animals, and humans, as well as occurring as epiphytes, saprophytes, or endophytes, predominantly on cultivated cereals. In this study, two putative isolates of the genus Curvularia were collected from leaves of Setaria sp. and Sorghum sp. in Rasht County, Guilan Province, Iran. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, GAPDH, and TEF1 sequences clustered the studied isolates in a well-supported lineage together with ex-type and representative strains of Curvularia austriaca. This species, previously known only as a human pathogen, is recorded for the first time from Iran. This study expands the known geographic distribution of C. austriaca, and reports Setaria sp. and Sorghum sp. as novel hosts worldwide, highlighting the importance of integrative morphological and molecular approaches for accurate species identification in Curvularia. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135490.html During a survey of ornamental landscape trees in Bushehr Province, southern Iran, dark-brown leaf spot symptoms were observed on Ficus binnendijkii trees, a popular cultivated ornamental species. Fungal isolates from symptomatic leaves were identified as Colletotrichum fructicola through morphological and molecular analyses of the tub2 and gapdh loci, with phylogenetic evidence confirming their close similarity to reference strains. To confirm pathogenicity, both wounded and unwounded F. binnendijkii leaves were inoculated with C. fructicola mycelial plugs and spore suspensions, and the isolated fungus was found to induce substantial necrosis, thus fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated highly significant differences in lesion progression metrics (lesion length and width) among the different inoculation methods (P < 0.0001). Specifically, inoculation of wounded leaves with mycelial plugs resulted in more severe lesions compared to the other inoculation methods tested. This study represents the first documented global incidence of anthracnose caused by C. fructicola on F. binnendijkii. These findings highlight the need for future investigations into the epidemiology of this pathogen on other ornamental plants and the development of effective disease management strategies. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135583.html Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by Zymoseptoria tritici, is a major disease of wheat worldwide. The avirulence effector AvrStb6 is central to the gene-for-gene interaction with the wheat resistance protein Stb6. In this study, the AvrStb6 locus was analyzed in three isolates from Golestan Province, Iran. Sequencing identified two haplotypes that encoded two distinct protein isoforms of 82 amino acids. Structural modelling using SWISS-MODEL showed that many nonsynonymous substitutions were located in surface-exposed loops, potentially affecting effector–host interactions. Pathogenicity tests revealed a clear association between isoform sequence and virulence: an I01‑like isoform produced very low pycnidial coverage on Stb6‑containing wheat, whereas divergent isoforms produced high pycnidial coverage. Notably, the persistence of an I01‑like isoform in Iran contrasts with global reports of its absence. Global phylogenetic analysis placed the Golestan haplotypes within Turkish–European lineages. These findings demonstrate rapid effector diversification in Golestan province and emphasize the importance of diversified resistance breeding for durable STB management. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135617.html The mycovirome comprises viruses that interact with fungi. These viruses are transmitted intracellularly during cell division, sporogenesis, or hyphal anastomosis, typically lacking an extracellular phase in their life cycle. Mycoviruses have been identified in a wide variety of fungal species, but their host range is restricted to compatible vegetative groups. While many mycoviruses exhibit no apparent effects on their hosts, others induce phenotypic changes, including uneven growth, abnormal pigmentation, and, in some cases, alterations in sexual reproduction. Notably, many virus-infected fungi display reduced virulence toward plants, a phenomenon termed hypovirulence. Such viruses often possess broad infectivity across multiple fungal species, making them valuable tools for the biological control of plant fungal diseases. Most known mycoviruses possess RNA genomes, either single-stranded or double-stranded, with only a few having single-stranded DNA genomes. To date, no mycoviruses with double-stranded DNA genomes have been identified, possibly due to technological limitations. However, advances in nucleic acid sequencing technologies hold significant promise for advancing mycovirus research. This review explores the biology, diversity, structural features, and applications of mycoviruses, with a focus on their potential in plant protection. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135620.html An extensive survey of Amanita species in northern and western Iran was conducted to document the diversity of this genus and related taxa. Among the collected specimens, Saproamanita vittadinii, a saprotrophic and edible species, is recorded for the first time in Iran, representing the first report of the genus Saproamanita in the country. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed to describe its morphological characteristics. To complete species identification, the ITS rDNA was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. This discovery expands the known distribution of S. vittadinii, highlights the ecological diversity of saprotrophic Amanita-related taxa in Iran, and provides baseline data for future taxonomic, ecological, and phylogenetic studies.   https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135641.html Mangrove forests are resilient ecosystems inhabiting tropical coastlines and provide a habitat for species such as Avicennia marina, which exhibits notable tolerance to environmental stresses. These mangrove-associated habitats support the production of bioactive metabolites and host diverse endophytic fungi, highlighting their potential applications in agriculture and pharmaceutical development. Endophytic fungi are potent biological agents capable of suppressing plant pathogens, synthesizing medically relevant metabolites, degrading environmental pollutants, thereby contributing substantially to sustainable agriculture and environmental health. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic fungal species associated with mangrove trees in Qeshm region of Hormozgan Province, Iran. Root, stem, and leaf tissues were surface-sterilized in 70 % ethanol for 30 seconds (leaves) or 1 minute (roots and stems), followed by diluted 2% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1.5 minutes (leaves) or 3 minutes (roots and stems), and finally rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. The disinfected tissues were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and water agar (WA), and the emerging endophytic fungi were subsequently purified to obtain monoconidial isolates. Morphological identification was conducted using standard taxonomic references, while molecular characterization was based on sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. Morphological and molecular characterization indicated that 9.8% of leaf isolates, 36.84% of stem isolates, and 7.14% of root isolates belong to the genus Hortaea, with phylogenetic analysis confirming these isolates as Hortaea werneckii. Based on current knowledge, H. werneckii represents a new record for mangrove forests in Iran Funga, with Avicennia marina serving as a plant host. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135682.html The family Didymellaceae comprises a large number of genera and species, as well as numerous host types and geographical spreads. In the present research, 30 Didymellaceae isolates were obtained from Zagros forests in Khuzestan Province. Using phylogenetic analysis and morphological features, these isolates were identified as follow: Didymella glomerata, D. microchlamydospora, D. pinodella, D. pomorum, Neomicrosphaeropsis juglandis, Paramicrosphaeropsis iranica, and P. salandica. New hosts are reported for all of these spe­cies including Crataegus and Astragalus plant genera for D. glomerata, Crataegus for D. microchlamydospora and N. juglandis, Cerasus microcarpa for D. pinodella, Quercus brantii for D. pomorum, Celtis caucasica and Cerasus microcarpa for P. iranica, and Rhamnus persica for P. salandica. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135770.html Sugarcane is one of the most important industrial crops in Iran, particularly in Khuzestan Province, where soilborne pathogens can threaten crop establishment and productivity. During surveys of sugarcane fields in Khuzestan, plants showing severe root rot, yellowing, and stunting were collected along with samples of rhizosphere soil and irrigation water samples. In total, 526 oomycete isolates were obtained using CMA-PARP selective medium, of which 11 isolates were identified as Pythium aphanidermatum based on morphological characteristics, including filamentous inflated sporangia, globose smooth oogonia, aplerotic oospores, and intercalary antheridia. Molecular identification of a representative isolate was carried out using sequence data from the ITS region and the cox1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this isolate belongs to Clade A of Pythium sensu stricto and groups with reference isolates of P. aphanidermatum with strong support. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that this species caused severe root rot, yellowing, stunting, and wilting on sugarcane four weeks after inoculation, reproducing symptoms similar to those observed in the field. This study reports the first confirmed occurrence of P. aphanidermatum causing sugarcane root rot in Iran. The detection of this aggressive oomycete in sugarcane fields of Khuzestan highlights the need for continuous monitoring and integrated management of soilborne diseases in Iranian sugarcane production systems. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135823.html Cellulase enzymes degrade cellulose, the most abundant structural polysaccharide in plant biomass, thereby playing a central role in fungal ecology and biotechnology. Here, we conducted a bioinformatic analysis of cellulase enzymes across the phylum Ascomycota to examine their diversity, domain architecture, conserved motifs, and evolutionary relationships. We retrieved cellulase protein sequences from 69 representative Ascomycota species in the UniProtKB database, analyzed them using InterProScan, COBALT, and the MEME Suite, and conducted phylogenetic reconstruction in MEGA11. Our domain analysis identified five major CAZy families: glycoside hydrolase families GH5, GH7, GH10, GH11, and auxiliary activity family AA9, demonstrating the structural diversity found in ascomycete cellulases. Motif analysis revealed multiple conserved and family-specific motifs, indicating strong conservation of catalytic cores and variability in peripheral regions. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses showed that cellulase proteins clustered clearly within CAZy families, with high bootstrap support, suggesting that domain and motif architectures provide robust phylogenetic signals. Together, these results clarify the structural and evolutionary diversity of ascomycete cellulases and establish a foundation for future functional, ecological, and biotechnological studies of fungal cellulases. https://mij.areeo.ac.ir/article_135967.html Fungal keratitis (FK) is a sight-threatening corneal infection that is particularly prevalent in developing countries. This report describes a case of Podospora bulbillosa keratitis, a rare organism confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) following negative culture results. A 63-year-old male presented with a well-demarcated yellow-brown stromal infiltration. Microbiological evaluation revealed pigmented septate hyphae; however, culture remained negative, and molecular identification was performed using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences, which identified the isolate as Podospora bulbillosa (formerly Cladorrhinum bulbillosum). The patient received intensive topical voriconazole 1% and chlorhexidine 0.2% combined with oral voriconazole. Progressive thinning required cyanoacrylate glue. The infection resolved over three months, leaving a central scar. While infections by this organism have been rarely reported, additional cases are crucial to consolidate knowledge of clinical presentation and potential aggressiveness. This case emphasizes the value of molecular diagnostic tools in detecting unusual pathogens and guiding therapy.