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Abstract: Knowledge of the abundance, diversity, and plant interactions of melanised root-associated fungi remains limited. The objective of this study was to isolate a wide variety of melanised root-associated fungi within the Sydney basin (NSW, Australia) and assess growth response of Trifolium subterraneum to inoculation with individual isolates. Of 902 root-associated fungi isolated from plant roots, 118 were melanised. All but two of these fungi were re-isolated from inoculated T. subterraneum seedlings after 7 weeks in a controlled environment. Approximately 60 % of the melanised root-associated fungi did not reduce plant growth. Twenty-four isolates tended to increase plant growth and were tentatively identified as predominantly ascomycetes, and one zygomycete. Melanised root-associated fungi appeared to form complex interactions with T. subterraneum, the natures of which remain to be further explored. Melanised root-associated fungi could potentially play key ecological roles including positively influencing edaphic conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Growths were found on the surface of Catenella nipae at Patonga, New South Wales, Australia. Morphologically similar growths on C. impudica from Indonesia have been reported as the red algal parasite Catenellocolax leeuwenii. The internal anatomy of the Australian growths showed that they all contained septate fungal hyphae. The hyphae formed spherical clusters that, in larger galls, produced inwardly directed hyphae terminating in spores. It is proposed in this paper that these galls are caused by fungal infection, as is the case in other algae. The lack of sexual structures precludes identification of this fungus to any definite species, although it is probably an ascomycete. Inspection of the type material of C. leeuwenii did not reveal any parasites. The limited description of the parasite of C. impudica, the proposed growths induced by fungi in C. nipae, and the lack of holotype specimens, warrants treating the generic name Catenellocolax with caution until more collections from the type locality can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abundant fruiting of a black morel was encountered in temperate northwestern New South Wales (NSW), Australia, during a mycological survey in Sep 2010. The site was west of the Great Dividing Range in a young, dry sclerophyll forest dominated by Eucalyptus and Callitris north of Coonabarabran in an area known as the Pilliga Scrub. Although the Pilliga Scrub is characterized by frequent and often large, intense wildfires, the site showed no sign of recent fire, which suggests this species is not a postfire morel. Caps of the Morchella elata-like morel were brown with blackish ridges supported by a pubescent stipe that became brown at maturity. Because no morel has been described as native to Australia, the collections were subjected to multilocus molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses to assess its identity. Results of these analyses indicated that our collection, together with collections from NSW and Victoria, represented a novel, genealogically exclusive lineage, which is described and illustrated here as Morchella australiana T. F. Elliott, Bougher, O'Donnell & Trappe, sp. nov.

Background: In inland NSW, Australia, allergic sensitization to the fungi Alternaria and Cladosporium and to pollen is common and an important risk factor for asthma., Objective: We report the results of a series of experiments designed to assess the nature of personal exposure to these airborne allergenic particles. We have tested the effect of exposure conditions and level of activity on measurements of the personal exposure., Method: Personal Air Samplers (PAS) and Nasal Air Samplers (NAS) were employed. NAS are fitted just inside the nose and collect inhaled particles by impaction, while the PAS use a pump-operated filter with constant air flow (2 L/min). Thirty-three subjects (adults and children) used both NAS and PAS simultaneously for four one hour periods during which they performed activities or rested, both inside and outside their homes. Samples were analysed by light microscopy. Alternaria spores, Cladosporium spores, grass pollen and nongrass pollen were counted., Results: Both samplers detected substantial variation in exposure between subjects. Between members of the same household, the intrahouse correlation coefficient ranged from < 0 - 0.38. Levels of pollen grains and fungal spores inhaled were higher during periods of activity than during rest, and higher while subjects were outdoors than indoors. During the active outdoor period, the number of Alternaria spores inhaled ranged from 4 to 794 (median 11) spores/hr, Cladosporium from 0 to 396 (median 4) spores/hr, grass pollen from 0 to 81 (median 1) grains/hr and nongrass pollen from 0 to 72 (median 5) grains/hr., Conclusion: This is the first study to quantify individual inhaled levels of allergenic fungal spores and pollen under normal domestic circumstances. Exposure can be substantial and highly variable between individuals. The amount of particles inhaled relates both to location of the individual and activity being performed, independent of age group.

Background: Four sawmills, a wood chipping mill, and five joineries in New South Wales, Australia, were studied for the effects of personal exposure to wood dust, endotoxins. (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi on lung function among woodworkers., Methods: Personal inhalable and respirable dust sampling was carried out. The lung function tests of workers were conducted before and after a workshift., Results: The mean percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function was markedly high for woodworkers compared with the controls. Dose-response relationships among personal exposures and percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function and percentage predicted lung function were more pronounced among joinery workers compared with sawmill and chip mill workers. Woodworkers had markedly high prevalence of regular cough, phlegm, and chronic bronchitis compared with controls. Significant associations were found between percentage cross-shift decrease in FVC and regular phlegm and blocked nose among sawmill and chip mill workers. Both joinery workers and sawmill and chip mill workers showed significant relationships between percentage predicted lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%) and respiratory symptoms., Conclusions: Wood dust and biohazards associated with wood dust are potential health hazards and should be controlled.