We developed 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the symbiotic fungi cultivated by leaf cutter ants, then assessed allelic variation in North American leafcutter-fungus populations (Mexico, Cuba, USA). Polyploidy was indicated by 21 of the 23 loci, consistent with the multinucleate nature of leafcutter fungi. Microsatellite fingerprinting can now assess fungal genetic variation within lea...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, important plant mutualists, provide plants with nutrients such as phosphorus (P) in return for carbon. AM fungi also enhance the attractiveness of plants to aphids via effects on emissions of plant volatiles used in aphid host location. We tested whether increased P uptake by plants is the mechanism through which AM fungi alter the volatile profile of plants a...

Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of Manilkara bidentata (Sapotaceae) collected in Puerto Rico. One leaf was collected from each of three trees. Four 5 X 20 mm panels were cut from each leaf, surface sterilized, cut into 50 1 X 2 mm pieces, and plated on malt agar. Petioles were cut into ten 1 mm segments. Fungi were isolated from 90%-95% of the leaf pieces and all of the petio...

Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi are facultative biotrophs that associate with hundreds of plant species, contributing to their growth. These fungi may therefore aid in the search for sustainable agricultural practices. However, several ecological functions of DSE fungi need further clarification. The present study investigated the effects of DSE fungi inoculation on nutrient recovery effici...

ed by: African Index Medicus (WHO), CAB Abstracts, Index Copernicus, Global Health Abstracts, Asian Science Index, Index Veterinarius, Bioline International , African Journals online Full-text available at http://www.ajbrui.com http://www.bioline.br/md http://www.ajol.com Received: February 2007 Accepted (Revised): September 2007 Published January 2008 Full Length Research Article Antimicrobial...

Introduction Fungi are adapted to a diverse array of freshwater ecosystems. In streams and rivers, flowing water provides a mechanism for downstream dispersal of fungal propagules. The dominant group of fungi in these habitats, aquatic hyphomycetes, have conidia that are morphologically adapted (tetraradiate and sigmoid) for attachment to their substrates (leaf litter andwoody debris from ripar...

water deficit stress permanent or temporary limits the growth and distribution of natural vegetation and performance of plants more than other environmental factors. in order to investigate the effect of drought stress and mycorrhizal-arbuscular fungi inoculation on the growth and yield of savory (satureja hortensis l.) a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design were conducted...