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A strain of Kalmusia variispora associated with grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) was identified in Iran and induced disease symptoms on the host in greenhouse conditions. The grapevine pathogens are able to produce a plethora of toxic metabolites belonging to different classes of naturally occurring compounds. Two homogeneous compounds were isolated from the organic extract of K. variispora culture filtrates. They were identified by physic (specific optical rotation), and spectroscopic (essentially 1D 1 H and 13 C NMR and HR ESIMS) methods as the fungal polyketides massarilactones D and H ( 1 and 2 ). The unassigned absolute configuration of massarilactone D was unambiguously determined by X-ray diffractometric analysis. Massarilactones D and H showed phytotoxic activity on Vitis vinifera L. at two concentrations used and depending from the days of inoculation. Phytotoxicity is also increased when the 3,4,7- O,O',O"- triacetyl derivative of massarilactone D ( 3 ) was assayed on the host plant. This is the first report on the investigation of phytotoxic metabolites produced by K. variispora isolated from infected grapevine in Iran and they seem to be involved in the development of disease symptoms.

Two phytotoxic furan derivatives were isolated, together with the well-known fungal and plant phytotoxin tyrosol, from the culture filtrates of Stilbocrea macrostoma . This fungal pathogen isolated from Quercus brantii trees induced wood necrosis and decline symptoms on the host plant in Iran. The two furan derivatives, isolated for the first time from Stilbocrea macrostoma , were identified by spectroscopic methods (essentially 1 D and 2 D 1 H and 13 C NMR and ESIMS spectroscopy) as 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde and 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran. The phytotoxic activity of the three metabolites was evaluated by leaf puncture assay on holm oak ( Quercus ilex L.) and tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum L.) leaves. All compounds induced necrosis on holm oak leaves while very low toxicity was showed against tomato leaves. The two furan derivatives were more toxic than tyrosol and particularly 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde was the most phytotoxic compound.

To identify apple canker casual agents and evaluate their pathogenicity and virulence in apple production hubs including West Azarbaijan, Isfahan and Tehran provinces; samples were collected from symptomatic apple trees. Pathogenic isolates on the detached branches were identified as Cytospora cincta, Diplodia bulgarica, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Eutypa cf. lata. E. cf. lata was reported as a potential apple canker causal agent in Iran for the first time based on the pathogenicity test on the detached branches, whereas it caused no canker symptoms in apple trees until 6 months after inoculation. Currently, E. cf. lata seems to be adapted to a single city. C. cincta, D. bulgarica and N. dimidiatum caused canker symptoms in apple trees. "C. cincta" and also "C. cincta and N. dimidiatum" were the most widespread and aggressive apple canker species, respectively, associated with apple canker in Iran. Therefore, they are considered to be the main threat to apple production in Iran and should be carefully monitored. Disease progress curve, area under the disease progress curve and optimum temperatures were determined for mentioned species. It is concluded that the establishment of each species occurs in appropriate areas and times in terms of the optimum temperature for their growth., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Biscogniauxia rosacearum, recognized for the first time as a pathogen involved in grapevine trunk diseases in Paveh (west of Iran) vineyards, produced meso -2,3-butanediol ( 1 ) as the only phytotoxin. Nectriapyrone ( 2 ), (3 R )-5-methylmellein ( 3 ), (3 R )-5-methyl-6-methoxymellein ( 4 ), and tyrosol ( 5 ) were instead produced as phytotoxins from a strain of the same fungus isolated from oak trees in Zagros forests of Gilan-e Gharb, Kermanshah Province. They were identified comparing their 1 H and 13 C NMR, ESIMS, and specific optical rotation data with those already reported in the literature. The phytotoxicity of metabolites ( 1-5 ) was estimated by leaf puncture assay on Quercus ilex L. and Hedera helix L., and by leaf absorption assay on grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) at a concentration of 5 × 10 -3 and 10 -3 M. Tested on grapevine, meso -2,3-butanediol ( 1 ) and (3 R )-5-methyl-6-methoxymellein ( 4 ) resulted to be the most phytotoxic compounds. On Q. ilex , nectriapyrone ( 2 ) and tyrosol ( 5 ) showed severe necrosis at the highest concentration while none of the compounds ( 1 - 5 ) was active on H. helix . Furthermore, the phytotoxicity of compounds 3 and 4 was also compared with that of some related natural melleins to perform a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study. The results of this study were also discussed.

The phytopathogenic fungus Truncatella angustata , associated with grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) in Iran, produces the well-known secondary metabolite isocoumumarin (+)-6-hyroxyramulosin and surprisingly also phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). PCA, identified by spectroscopic (essentially 1 H NMR and ESI MS) spectra, is a bacterial metabolite well known for its antifungal activity and was found for the first time in T. angustata culture filtrates. The antifungal activity of PCA was assayed against four different fungi responsible for GTDs, Phaeoacremonium minimum , Phaeoacremonium italicum , Fomitiporia mediterranea , involved in grapevine esca disease, and Neofusicoccum parvum , responsible for Botryosphaeria dieback. The activity was compared with that of the known commercial fungicide, pentachloronitrobenzene, and the close phenazine. PCA and phenazine exhibited strong antifungal activity against all phytopathogenic fungi, inhibiting the fungal growth by about 90-100% and 80-100%, respectively. These results suggested that T. angustata could use PCA to compete with other phytopathogenic fungi that attack grapevine and thus PCA could be proposed as a biofungicide against the fungi responsible for grapevine esca and Botryosphaeria dieback diseases.

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are well-known and significant fungal diseases of Vitis vinifera with a worldwide distribution. During August to November 2016 in a survey to characterize fungi associated with grapevine trunk diseases in Kermanshah Province (west of Iran) vineyards, 286 fungal isolates were obtained. Based on morphology and DNA sequences data eight species were identified, of which Biscogniauxia rosacearum, Neoscytalidium hyalinum and Phaeoacremonium minimum were the most aggressive fungal pathogenic species characterized in this research. N. hyalinum was the most prevalent species. N. hyalinum and Ph. minimum have previously been reported from Vitis vinifera. Thus far, there are two records of Biscogniauxia mediterranea and Biscogniauxia capnodes on grapevine in the world with no data on pathology aspects. To our knowledge, it is the first time B. rosacearum is reported from grapevine across the globe. Pathogenicity test with three strains of B. rosacearum on 2-year-old potted grapevines confirmed the pathogenicity of B. rosacearum on grapevine. The proximity of vineyards to the oak trees in Zagros forests as one of the plant hosts of Biscogniauxia spp. further highlights the need for extensive studies on B. rosacearum as a new fungal pathogen.

Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum are serious worldwide-distributed plant pathogenic fungi with a wide host range in tropical and temperate climates. They cause fruit rot, canker, and dieback of twigs in various woody plants. Protection of pruning wounds using fungicides is the prevalent strategy for the management of the diseases caused by these fungi. Chemical control of plant diseases is not environmentally safe and the residues of fungicides are a threat to nature. Furthermore, genetic resources of resistance to plant diseases in woody plants are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of RNA silencing using an efficient hairpin structure based on Tef-1α gene for the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum. Hairpin structure of Tef-1α was cloned in pFGC5941 binary vector and the recombinant construct was named pFGC-TEF-d. Transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d using Agrobacterium LBA4404 in grapevine (Bidaneh Sefid cv.) and strawberry cultivars (Camarosa and Ventana) led to a reduction in disease progress of L. theobromae. The disease reduction in grapevine was estimated by 55% and in strawberries cultivars Camarosa and Ventana by 58% and 93%, respectively. Further analysis of transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d in strawberry (Camarosa) shown disease reduction using Neofusicoccum parvum. Here we introduce RNAi silencing using pFGC-TEF-d construct as an efficient strategy to the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum for the first time.

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula ( Torulaceae ), Scolecoleotia ( Leotiales genus incertae sedis ) and Xenovaginatispora ( Lindomycetaceae ) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis , Cercophora dulciaquae , Cladophialophora aquatica , Coprinellus punjabensis , Cortinarius alutarius , C. mammillatus , C. quercoflocculosus , Coryneum fagi , Cruentomycena uttarakhandina , Cryptocoryneum rosae , Cyathus uniperidiolus , Cylindrotorula indica , Diaporthe chamaeropicola , Didymella azollae , Diplodia alanphillipsii , Dothiora coronicola , Efibula rodriguezarmasiae , Erysiphe salicicola , Fusarium queenslandicum , Geastrum gorgonicum , G. hansagiense , Helicosporium sexualis , Helminthosporium chiangraiensis , Hongkongmyces kokensis , Hydrophilomyces hydraenae , Hygrocybe boertmannii , Hyphoderma australosetigerum , Hyphodontia yunnanensis , Khaleijomyces umikazeana , Laboulbenia divisa , Laboulbenia triarthronis , Laccaria populina , Lactarius pallidozonarius , Lepidosphaeria strobelii , Longipedicellata megafusiformis , Lophiotrema lincangensis , Marasmius benghalensis , M. jinfoshanensis , M. subtropicus , Mariannaea camelliae , Melanographium smilaxii , Microbotryum polycnemoides , Mimeomyces digitatus , Minutisphaera thailandensis , Mortierella solitaria , Mucor harpali , Nigrograna jinghongensis , Odontia huanrenensis , O. parvispina , Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii , Parafuscosporella niloticus , Phaeocytostroma yomensis , Phaeoisaria synnematicus , Phanerochaete hainanensis , Pleopunctum thailandicum , Pleurotheciella dimorphospora , Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense , Pseudodactylaria albicolonia , Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora , Russula paravioleipes , Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi , Seriascoma honghense , Synandromyces makranczyi , Thyridaria aureobrunnea , Torula lancangjiangensis , Tubeufia longihelicospora , Wicklowia fusiformispora , Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora . One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici , Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis , Camarosporidiella laburni , Canalisporium caribense , Chaetoscutula juniperi , Chlorophyllum demangei , C. globosum , C. hortense , Cladophialophora abundans , Dendryphion hydei , Diaporthe foeniculina , D. pseudophoenicicola , D. pyracanthae , Dictyosporium pandanicola , Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus , Ernakulamia tanakae , Eutypa flavovirens , E. lata , Favolus septatus , Fusarium atrovinosum , F. clavum , Helicosporium luteosporum , Hermatomyces nabanheensis , Hermatomyces sphaericoides , Longipedicellata aquatica , Lophiostoma caudata , L. clematidis-vitalbae , Lophiotrema hydei , L. neoarundinaria , Marasmiellus palmivorus , Megacapitula villosa , Micropsalliota globocystis , M. gracilis , Montagnula thailandica , Neohelicosporium irregulare , N. parisporum , Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum , Phaeoisaria aquatica , Poaceascoma taiwanense , Saproamanita manicata , Spegazzinia camelliae , Submersispora variabilis , Thyronectria caudata , T. mackenziei , Tubeufia chiangmaiensis , T. roseohelicospora , Vaginatispora nypae , Wicklowia submersa , Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis . The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© MUSHROOM RESEARCH FOUNDATION 2021.)

A new phytotoxic tetrasubstituted chromen-4-one ( 1 ) and a new hexasubstituted benzophenone ( 2 ), named rabenchromenone and rabenzophenone, respectively, were isolated from the culture filtrates of Fimetariella rabenhorstii , an oak-decline-associated fungus in Iran. Rabenchromenone and rabenzophenone, isolated together with known moniliphenone ( 3 ) and coniochaetone A ( 4 ), were characterized as methyl 3-chloro-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methyl-9-oxo-1,9-dihydrocyclopenta[ b ]chromene-1-carboxylate and methyl 4-chloro-2-(2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzoyl)-3-hydroxybenzoate, respectively, by spectroscopic methods (primarily nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry). The R absolute configuration at C-1 of rabenchromenone was determined by quantum chemical calculations and electronic circular dichroism experiments. All metabolites ( 1 - 4 ) were tested by leaf puncture on tomato and oak plants. All compounds were active in this assay by causing in both plants a necrosis diameter in the range of 0.2-0.7 cm. Specifically, rabenzophenone ( 2 ) was found to be the most phytotoxic compound in both plants.

Members of Botryosphaeriales are ecologically diverse, but most commonly associated with leaf spots, fruit and root rots, die-back or cankers of diverse woody hosts. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data, the Botryosphaeriales have to date been shown to contain eight families, with an additional two, Endomelanconiopsisaceae (Endomelanconiopsis) and Pseudofusicoccumaceae (Pseudofusicoccum) being newly described in this study. Furthermore, Oblongocollomyces is introduced as new genus, while Spencermartinsia is reduced to synonymy under Dothiorella. Novel species include Diplodia pyri (Pyrus sp., the Netherlands), Diplodia citricarpa (Citrus sp., Iran), Lasiodiplodia vitis (Vitis vinifera, Italy), L. sterculiae (Sterculia oblonga, Germany), Neofusicoccum pistaciarum (Pistacia vera, USA), N. buxi (Buxus sempervirens, France), N. stellenboschiana (Vitis vinifera, South Africa), and Saccharata hawaiiensis (Protea laurifolia, Hawaii). New combinations are also proposed for Camarosporium pistaciae (associated with fruit rot of Pistacia vera) in Neofusicoccum, and Sphaeria gallae (associated with galls of Quercus) in Diplodia. The combination of large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU)-rpb2 proved effective at delineating taxa at family and generic level. Furthermore, rpb2 also added additional resolution for species delimitation, in combination with ITS, tef1 and tub2. In this study we analysed 499 isolates, and produce an expanded phylogenetic backbone for Botryosphaeriales, which will help to delimit novelties at species, genus and family level in future., (Copyright © 2016 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three new species of Pythium: P. ershadii, P. pyrioosporum, and P. urmianum from soils of various regions in Iran are described and illustrated. These species are morphologically distinct from all other known species. Pythium ershadii is morphologically characterized by pyriform ornamented oogonia and rarely production of pyriform oospores. Pythium pyrioosporum differs from other species of the genus by the production of pyriform oospores and smooth walled oogonia, oospores with a tapering elongation toward a hypogynous antheridium and intercalary hypogynous antheridia. Pythium urmianum is distinguished by the presence of intercalary hypogynous antheridia, smooth walled oogonia formed laterally on hyphae or on short side branches and peanut-shaped oospores. Phylogenetic relationships of these new taxa with other Pythium species were investigated using internal transcribed spacers rDNA and partial coxI sequence data. The three species reside in clade E1 and are separated from closely related species.

Progress in molecular biology and the advent of rapid and accurate molecular techniques have contributed to precise and rapid detection and differentiation of microbial pathogens. Identification of the Botryosphaeriaceae species based on morphology has been problematic over time. In this study, we used rep-PCR technique as a molecular tool for typing and differentiation of the Botryosphaeriaceae species, well-known and cosmopolitan fungal pathogens on woody plants. Three primer sets BOX, ERIC and REP were used to differentiate 27 species belong to eight genera. The majority of them were examined in terms of typing and differentiation using molecular methods for the first time. All the primer sets were able to generate species-specific DNA fingerprints from all the tested strains, with two exceptions in the genera Diplodia and Spencermartinsia. Despite the deficiency of each primer sets to separate a few species, cluster analysis of combined data sets indicated the ability of rep-PCR technique to separate 26 out of 27 examined species in highly supported clusters corresponded to the species recognized based on DNA sequence data. Our findings revealed the efficiency of rep-PCR for detection and differentiation of the Botryosphaeriaceae species, especially cryptic species with the same ITS sequences and similar morphology., (© 2014 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dothiorella and Spencermartinsia are two botryosphaeriaceous genera with dark 2-celled conidia and found in parasitic, saprophytic or endophytic association with various woody host plants. Based on ITS and EF1-α sequence data and morphology, eight new species are described from Iran, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain. Of these, five species are placed in Dothiorella, namely D. iranica, D. parva, D. prunicola, D. sempervirentis and D. striata, and three species belong to Spencermartinsia named as S. citricola, S. mangiferae and S. plurivora. An identification key to the species of each genus is provided.

Species of Botryosphaeriaceae are important pathogens and endophytes associated with woody plants. Botryosphaeria and Neofusicoccum are two well known genera of the family. In this study 125 isolates morphologically resembling members of this family were collected from about 20 different fruit and forest trees in Iran. Based on morphology, MSP-PCR profile and DNA sequence data (ITS and tef1-a), four species were identified. Of these, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum mediterraneum and N. parvum are known while Botryosphaeria scharifii is described here as new. N. mediterraneum is a new record for Iran and is reported here for the first time on mango trees. High diversity within Iranian population of N. parvum suggests the need to revise and reassess the morphological species description of N. parvum and closely related species.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is the most important cause of gastritis and related morbidities. Following consumption, radioactive iodine accumulates considerably in the stomach. On the basis of this observation, we decided to determine whether the high radiation induced by radio-iodine in the stomach is effective in the eradication of this infection., Methods: All consecutive patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, who were referred for radio-iodine therapy [dose 117.1 +/- 24.4 mCi (4.3 +/- 0.9 GBq), range 100-200 mCi (3.7-7.4 GBq)], were enrolled. To detect H. pylori infection, the urease breath test (UBT) was performed 1-2 h before radio-iodine consumption and the test was repeated 2 months later., Results: Of 88 patients, 71 had pre-treatment positive UBT. Of these, 23 patients had negative post-treatment result, which means a significant reduction (26.1%, 95% CI 16.8-35.5%) in the number of positive UBT results in our treated population (32.4% of UBT-positive cases became UBT-negative)., Conclusions: Considering the high prevalence of reinfection in developing countries, the therapeutic benefit would have been more considerable if the second UBT had been done with a lag time of less than 2 months. Although radio-iodine therapy is not a logical method for the treatment of patients suffering from H. pylori, our finding provides indirect evidence about the radiosensitivity of bacteria, the future clinical applications of which need to be further evaluated. Also this finding can be useful for the food industry, where radiation is used widely to sterilize food. Regarding the possibility of H. pylori suppression, we recommend not using UBT for screening for the infection for at least within 2 months following radio-iodine therapy.

Pleurotus eryngii species-complex are known to be well distributed in Kurdistan region of Iran. During a survey in 2003-2005 fourteen wild populations of the Pleurotus eryngii species-complex were collected from Sanandaj, Hane Gelan and Saral areas. Echomorphological studies and pairing tests showed that all isolates were belong to P. eryngii and located into two groups associated with three Umbelliferous host plants including isolates associated with Prangos and Pimpinella with smaller spores and Ferula haussknechtii with larger spores. In this study we introduce Ferula haussknechtii as a new host species of P. eryngii in the world.

Introduction: At present the most widely accepted tool for follow-up management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement. It is not uncommon for the serum Tg level to be measured while the patient is taking thyroid hormones (on-treatment Tg measurement). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of on-treatment measurement of serum Tg in detecting remnant/recurrent or metastatic disease in high-risk DTC patients., Material and Methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 26 high-risk DTC patients and compared the on-treatment and off-treatment Tg levels of these patients. All patients were anti-Tg negative. Using off-treatment measurement of Tg as the gold standard, the results of on-treatment measurement of Tg in the diagnosis of remnant/recurrent disease were analysed for sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV)., Results: The median serum Tg level under thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (on-treatment Tg) was 16.5 ng/ml and after withdrawal of thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (off-treatment Tg) was 95.0 ng/ml (P value = 0.001). In 6 patients (23%) the on-treatment Tg level missed the recurrence of the disease. Regarding the off-treatment Tg as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the on-treatment Tg measurement were 72.7%, 100%, 100%, and 40% respectively., Conclusion: Normal serum Tg level without TSH-stimulation (on-treatment) is not diagnostically reliable in the follow-up of DTC patients with a high probability of residual/recurrent or metastatic disease.