The influence of copper on leaf litter decomposition was examined in experimental streams. Controls and three levels of contamination (5, 25, and 75 microg/L) were tested in triplicate in 20-m-long mesocosms. Equal quantities of alder, maple, and oak leaves were enclosed in mesh bags and placed in the upper and lower mesocosm sections that exhibited different habitat characteristics (shallow wi...

Our previous research has shown that the termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), protects itself from entomopathogenic fungi by mutual grooming behavior. The termite removes and discards foreign organisms, such as fungal conidia, from the body surface of its nestmates by mutual grooming behavior. The role of the antennae in detecting the condia was examind here. Thr...

In present study, two species of Hyphomycetes fungi including, Cephaliophora tropica (in soil), and Monascus pilosus (on corn silage) are reported for the first time to Iranian mycobiota. Descriptions of these species have been provided with morphological characteristics and ITS rDNA sequence analyses.  

The draft genome of the Antarctic endemic fungus Cryomyces antarcticus is presented. This rock inhabiting, microcolonial fungus is extremely stress tolerant and it is a model organism for exobiology and studies on stress resistance in Eukaryots. Since this fungus is a specialist in the most extreme environment of the Earth, the analysis of its genome is of important value for the understanding ...

In forested streams where light is a limiting factor for primary production, energy sources are mainly allochthonous (leaf litter), the metabolic processes being typically heterotrophic (Fisher & Likens 1973, Minshall et al. 1983). In Mediterranean systems, the greatest input of plant material occurs in autumn, thereby providing the potential for decomposition processes. The initial breakdown o...

Petri disease and esca are very destructive grapevine decline diseases that occur in most countries where grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is cultivated. Phaeoacremonium species are among the principal hyphomycetes associated with symptoms of the two diseases, producing a range of enzymes and phytotoxic metabolites. The present study compared the phylogeny of a global collection of 118 Phaeoacremoniu...