نشریه رستنیها
سال چهاردهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 45، پاییز و زمستان 1392)

In this research, 10 species of Agaricales including, Agrocybe dura, A. ochracea, A. vervacti, Conocybe dunensis, C. lacteal, Entoloma griseorubellum, Pholiota highlandensis, Psilocybe atrobrunnea, Stropharia coronilla and S. magnivelaris belonging to Bolbitiaceae, Entolomataceae and Strophariaceae families are identified from Kermanshah and Harsin region in Kermanshah province (W Iran). From identified species, A. ochracea, C. dunensis, E. griseorubellum, Ps. atrobrunnea, S. coronilla and S. magnivelaris are new for Iranian mycobiota. More information on the studied specimens are as follows:Agrocybe dura (Bolton) Singer (Figs 1 A-D)Kermanshah province: Mahidasht, on soil, 1530 m, 28.04.2010, H. Fadavi (IRAN 14813 F); Kermanshah, Sarfiroozabad, on soil, 1548 m, 04.05.2010,H. Fadavi, (IRAN 14814 F); Kermanshah, Sefidkooh, on soil, 1545 m, 25.04.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14815 F); Kermanshah, Sarabghanbar, on soil, 1490 m,14.05.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14816 F).Agrocybe ochracea Nauta, Persoonia 18(3): 429 (2004). (Figs 2 A-D)Kermanshah province: Sarabghanbar, on wood, 1535 m, 05.04.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14817 F).Agrocybe vervacti (Fr.) Singer. (Figs 3 A-B)Kermanshah province: Sarabghanbar, on soil, 1506 m, 14.01.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14818 F).Conocybe dunensis T.J. Wallace, Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 43(2): 192 (1960). (Figs 4 A-D)Kermanshah province: Sefidkooh, on soil, 1455 m, 16.05.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14819 F).Conocybe lactea (J.E. Lange) Métrod. (Figs 5 A-B)Kermanshah province: Kermanshah, on soil, 1400 m, 03.05.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14820 F).Entoloma griseorubellum (Lasch) Kalamees & Urbonas, in Urbonas, Kalamees & Lukin, Conspectus florum agaricalium fungorum (Agaricales s.l.)Lithuaniae, Latviae et Estoniae (materies 1778-1984 annorum) (Vilnius): 39 (1986). (Figs 6 A-B)Kermanshah province: Harsin, Bisetoon, Chehr village, on soil, 07.04.2010, Z. Chehri (IRAN 14840 F).Pholiota highlandensis (Peck.) Smith & Hesler. (Figs 7 A-D)Kermanshah province: Taghebostan, on cinder, 1353 m, 09.01.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14862 F).Psilocybe atrobrunnea (Lasch) Gillet, Hyménomycètes (Alençon): 586 (1878). (Figs 8 A-D)Kermanshah province: Sarabghanbar, on soil, 1535 m, 05.04.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14860 F).Stropharia coronilla (Bull.) Quél., Mém. Soc. Émul. Montbéliard, Sér. 2 5: 110 (1872)). (Figs 9 A-D)Kermanshah province: Taghebostan, on soil, 1553 m, 27.09.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14866 F); Kermanshah, Sarabghanbar, on soil, 1535 m, 13.03.2010,S. Fadavi (IRAN 14867 F); Kermanshah, Mahidasht, on soil, 1530 m, 09.04.2010, H. Fadavi (IRAN 14868 F); Kermanshah, Sanandaj Road, on soil,03.05.2010, H. Fadavi (IRAN 14869 F); Kermanshah province: Sefidkooh, on soil, 1540 m, 05.05.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14870 F); Kermanshah,Sarfiroozabad, on soil, 1547 m, 03.05.2010, H. Fadavi (IRAN 14871 F).Stropharia magnivelaris Peck. Harriman Alaska Expedition 5: 44 (1904). (Figs 10 A-D)Kermanshah province: Kermanshah, Sefidkooh, on soil, 1455 m, 15.04.2010, S. Fadavi (IRAN 14872 F).

In order to determine soil inhabitant fungi of Mazandaran and Golestan provinces (N Iran), some soil samples from arable and non-arable areas were collected. After the isolation, purification and identification of fungi, 61 isolates, belonging to Absidia, Actinomucor, Cunninghamella, Lichtheimia, Mucor, Syncephalastrum and Rhizopus were identified. After DNA extraction, all genera were subjected to PCR using ITS4 and ITS5 primers then amplified regions were sequenced. To confirm the morphological identification and sequencing, dendrogram was drawn using MEGA5 by Maximum Parsimony and Neighbor Joining methods. Dendrograms derived from the primers ITS 4 & 5 were separated into three groups. Between the studied isolates, Absidia repens, Cunninghamella blakesleeana and Mucor fragilis (species) and Syncephalastrum racemosum, Lichtheimia ramosa (genera and species) are new records from Iranian mycobiota.

In order to explore biodiversity of Fusarium species associated with the inflorescences of poaceous weeds, heads and inflorescences were collected from wild grasses in Ardabil province (Iran). Fusarium species were isolated using general and selective media. Pure cultures were established using a single spore technique. The isolates were identified based on morphological and molecular data. Sequence data were generated for TEF-1' gene, following PCR amplifciation. The results revealed that several species of Fusarium are present on inflorescences of wild grasses in Ardabil province. Among the identified species, F. brachygibbosum, F. torulosum and F. cf. reticulatum var. negundis represent new records to the mycobiota of Iran. There is no description available for these taxa in Persian literature and references to the original descriptions are not easily accesible. Here we provide detailed descriptions for these taxa and discuss their morphology, phylogeny and ecology. This is the first study on biodiversity of Fusarium spp. associated with the inflorescences of wild poaceous grasses by using a combination of morphology and DNA sequence data.

Pollen analysis and AMS radiocarbon dating of a short sediment core from a mire in Veisar (Mazandaran province, N Iran) reveals the late-Holocene vegetation history of the area. High pollen values suggest that Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata) has been present in the vicinity of the mire throughout the record. Wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), which was previously abundantly present, shows a dramatic decline around 900 BP and gradually disappears thereafter. Being also present in other palynological studies from the central Hyrcanian forests as well as from western Georgia, the Pterocarya decline might be attributed to a regional climate change, synchronous with the Mediaeval Climatic Anomaly. The high values of beech (FAGUS), hornbeam (CARPINUS), oak (QUERCUS) and elm (ULMUS) pollen imply the presence of species-rich forest on the slopes surrounding the study area over the past 1500 years. The occurrence of anthropogenic pollen grains, e.g. JUGLANS and CORYLUS, suggests long-term human impact in the region, whereas high values of ARTEMISIA and CHENOPODIACEAE AND AMARANTHACEAE pollen indicate open vegetation on or in the immediate vicinity of the peatland.

The Oak genus (Quercus L.) is one of the most important genera of beach family (Fagaceae) that has ecological and economical importance. Chestnutleaf oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey.) is native to Iran and distributed in Hyrcanian forests. Pure and mixed stands of this taxon have covered about 6.5 % of Hyrcanian forests. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of ecological factors on the morphological characteristics of Q. castaneifolia leaves and fruits in various habitats of forests of Guilan province. Thus, eight habitats (ecotypes) with variable ecological conditions in the forested areas of Guilan province were selected and in each ecotype 3-5 100 m2 plots were established. 970 leaf and 880 fruit samples were collected from 180 trees. In addition to measuring and recording ecological factors (climate, topographic and edafic factors) of each habitat, 10 leaf morphological characters (six quantitative and four qualitative traits) and nine fruit characters (five quantitative and two qualitative traits) were also recorded. Finally, the raw data were analyzed by SAS, SPSS and NTYSYS softwares. The results showed that ecological conditions in different regions lead to different qualitative and quantitative morphological traits of leaves and fruits, so that the habitats can be considered as distinct ecotypes.

The Gibberella fujikuroi species complex with Fusarium anamorphs is the causal of diverse diseases of many important plants. Many of the known species in this species complex produce a wide range of secondary metabolites. In this study, morphological characteristics of 46 isolates from rice, maize, sugarcane and onion and phylogenetic relationships of 22 isolates on the basis of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and EF-1! gene sequences were investigated. According to the morphological characteristics of 46 isolates, five species including F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, F. sacchari, F. thapsinum, and F. verticillioides were identified. Moreover, earlier morphologically two isolates obtained from sugarcane were very similar to F. verticillioides but, using EF-1! gene sequence were identified as F. andiyazi. On the basis of EF-1! sequence, six clades were identified and differentiated all of six species (F. andiyazi, F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, F. sacchari, F. thapsinum and F. verticillioides) from one another. Moreover, sequencing of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region identified five clades and differentiated F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides from each other but this region could not differentiate F. proliferatum and F. fujikuroi or F. andiyazi and F. verticillioides from each other. Generally, EF-1! gene was appropriate for differentiation of Gibberella fujikuroi species complex.

In the framework of the project "collection and Identification of fungi in Iran" mycobiota of Kiasar National Park located in Mazandaran province (Northern Iran) was studied. During the first phase of this research, micromycetes of trees and shrubs from Kiasar National Park were collected and identified. In the current paper, 25 species of micromycetes of this region are reported. Among identified taxa, Erysiphe lonicerae var. ehrenbergii on Lonicera floribunda, Melasmia berberidis on Berberis sp., Cystodendron dryophilum on Quercus sp. and Monodictys fluctuata on Pyrus boissieriana, are newly reported from Iran. Moreover, Didymosporina aceris on Acer sp. and Septoria berberidis on Breberis sp. are reported in Iran for the second time and after several decades from first report. Concerning Septoria berberidis, its Asteromella state was also seen on infected leaves besides the septoria state.

In the present study, five species of Cladosporium including C. perangustum, C. basi inflatum, C. cladosporioides, C. herbarum and C. subtilissimum, and three species assigned to other fungal genera including Truncatella angustata, Alternaria atra and Nigrospora oryzea are reported as endophytic fungi of common yew (Taxus baccata L.), native to Iran. Out of these, C. perangustum, C. basi-inflatum and C. subtilissimum are new taxa to the Iranian mycobiota. Common yew is a new host for all identified species, except N. oryzae in the world.

Biodiversity of soil fungi was explored in soils of the National Park of Urmia Lake. For this purpose, 46 soil samples were collected from 5–15 cm depth and isolation was made using soil dilution plate and Warcup soil plate methods. Fungal isolates were identified based on cultural and morphological criteria. The results obtained in this study revealed that there is a rich diversity among hyphomycetes in this region. Twenty-one species belonging to 15 genera are identified. These species are: Acremonium larvarum, A. potronii, Sarocladium strictum, Acrostalagmus luteoalbus, Alternaria chlamydospora, Alternaria rhizophorae, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris prieskaensis, Botrytis cinerea, Chaetomium truncatulum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Embellisia chlamydospora, Embellisia tellustris, Fusarium tricinctum, Penicillium expansum, Stachybotrys chartarum, Trichoderma atroviride, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichothecium roseum and Ulocladium alternariae. Among them, four species viz. Acremonium larvarum, A. potronii, Alternaria rhizophorae and Embellisia tellustris are new records from Iran.

In the present study, four species of Bipolaris viz. B. salkadehensis, B. coicis, B. ellisii, and B. maydis and two species of Curvularia viz. C. tuberculata and C. comoriensis were isolated and identified from different poaceous species. Bipolaris coicis on Coix lacryma-jobi, B. ellisii on Zea mays, C. tuberculata on Oryza sativa, Sorghum bicolor, Cyperus rotundus and C. comoriensis on Oryza sativa are new records for mycobiota of Iran. Moreover, B. salkadehensis species is first report on Sparganium erectum and Cladium mariscus in Iran. Phylogenetic relationships of some Bipolaris and Curvularia species were studied based on sequencing of rDNA-ITS region.

Species in the genus Castanea Mill. are one of the worthwhile species in the Hyrcanianforest of west Guilan (N Iran) with low region such as Siahmazgi, Ghalerodkhan and Visrod. that do not have good condition by reason of human interfering and disease. They have varying economic importance as nut tree crops, therefore, DNA barcoding technique can be a straightforward method for taxonomic status appointment of the genus Castanea Mill. in the north of Iran. In this research, six individuals from three relict populations of Castanea in western regions of Hyrcanian forest (Guilan province) were selected and amplified for plastid trnHpsbA region. Results indicated that, the length of psbA region is about 66 bp without any nucleotide diversity, and the length of trnHpsbA intergenic spacer is 427-416 bp. The Hyrcanian samples of Castanea with a 11 bp deletion in trnH-psbA spacer have the minimum length (416 bp). From five singleton position, first and second singleton positions were related to C. dentata (position 366 and 495), third position was related to C. sativa (position 401), and the fourth and fifth positions were related to C. pumila (positions 406 and 437). Hyrcanian samples did not show genetic distance, and they had most similarity with C. sativa. Haplotype diversity was 0.58, and totally, four haplotypes were recognized. Based on the obtained phylogenetic tree, the Hyrcanian samples of Castanea form a distinct clade but with bootstrap lower than 50%.

Several specimens belonging to the genus Pseudocercospora were collected from different localities of Mazandaran province (N Iran) during the 2011–12. All specimens were microscopically studied and identified. As the result Pseudocercospora abeliae (on Abelia grandiflora), P. rhamnaceicola (on Paliurus spina-christi) and P. sordida (on Campsis grandiflora) are newly recorded for Iran. Furthermore Morus nigra is new host for P. mori in Iran.

During 2012–13, the presence of ascomycetous species in soil was studied in Kermanshah province (W Iran). In each location, samples were collected from 0–30 cm depth and passed through 2 mm, 40 and 60 mesh sieves. Using soil plating method, 10 g of soil samples were placed in 90 ml of 0.1% water-agar containing 100 ppm NPX, mixed and serially diluted to 10-2 to 10-5 and 1 ml of each solution flooded on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and malt extract agar (MEA) by an L-shaped rod. These media were amended with rose bengal (45 @g/ml) and chloramphenicol (25 @g/ml). Plates were incubated at 25–27º C for 3–5 days to allow the fungi grow. Isolates were recovered from soil using malt extract agar (MEA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Anamorphic characteristics such as mycelial strands, conidiophores, phialides and conidia were investigated. Fifty measurements of each type of structure were made using BioloMICS Measure software. Radial growth of the isolates was measured on MEA and PDA after seven days at 25º C.All Gliomastix isolates previously identified based on morphological and culture characters, were amplified using the primers pair ITS1 and ITS4. An amplicon of about 600 bp was obtained for all of the Gliomastix isolates. The amplification products of all isolates were purified with GeneJET PCR purification Kit (Fermentas, UK) and sequencing reaction performed on purified PCR products in forward and reverse orientation using the primers used for amplification. Through Blast search in GenBank all isolates were identified as Gliomastix murorum. All DNA sequences of Gliomastix isolates (Accession Nos: KC292262-KC292263) showed 100% homology with valid sequences previously identified and deposited in GenBank. - Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics Colonies effuse, velvety, dark fuligineous, heavily sporulating. Colony diameter on MEA 30 mm, mycelium composed of hyaline to light fuligineous, 1.2–3 @m wide hyphae. Mycelial strand dark and 9.7(7.4–11.6) @m wide. Phialides simple or branched, 20.8(18.2–23.2) @m long, 2.5–3.0 @m wide. Phialoconidia dark, forming a chain at the phialide apex, elliptical, 2.3(1.9–2.9) × 3.95(3.0–4.8) @m (Fig. 1).

During plant collecting for a herbarium in Khuzestan province (Iran), the weed species Rottboellia cochinochinensis (Loureiro) Clayton from family Poaceae was collected. In this paper, the species is reported for the first time from Iran (Fig. 1). Specimen examined: Iran, Khuzestan province, Shoush Danyal, Haft-Tapeh, 150 m, Dinarvand & Ale-Bakhit (8959) (Research Center of Agriculture & Natural Resources of Khuzestan Herbarium, Ahvaz, Iran). Rottboellia cochinochinensis (Loureiro) Clayton Syn.: Stegosia cochinchinensis Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 51. 1790; Rottboellia exaltata Linnaeus f. (1781), not (Linnaeus) Linnaeus f. (1779). Annual herb, branched from the base and upper part, 50–150 cm high, stems with tuberculate hispid hairs. Leaves broadly linear, 1 cm wide and 15–30 cm long; acute to acuminate; with a prominent white midrib, tuberculate hispid hairs specially on the lower surface; leaf sheaths connate-perfoliate; ligule with tuberculate hispid hairs and a membrane, 2 mm. Spike 7–8 cm long; rachis between spikelets 5 mm with numerous green nerved. Spikelets sessile, pale green; upper glume 10 mm long, hispid ciliate and bifid at the apex; lower glume 5–6 mm long, pale to white, ovate and nerved; lemma 4–5 mm long. Anthers three, 1.5 mm long. Stigma plumose, 2 mm long, dark brown.

In the framework of collection and identification of bolete fungi of Iran, one specimen from the genus Strobilomyces was collected and identified as Strobilomyces strobilaceus (Scop.) Berk., based on Knudsen & Vesterholt(2008). Morphological characteristics of specimen were as follows: Pileus 5.0–15 cm, fleshy, convex, becoming broadly convex, dry, covered with coarse, large, fibrous, wooly scales on a whitish, grayish to grey-brown back colour. Margin with hanging remnants of partial veil. Pore surface whitish, soon becoming gray and finally black, bruising reddish brown, pores angular, adnate to subdecurrent. Stipe 5–10 cm long, 1–2 cm thick, solid, more or less equal, sometimes slightly curved, grayish to blackish, shaggy, solid. Spores 10–15 × 8–10 >m, subglobose, reticulated, brown. Spore print dark brown (Fig. 1). Material examined: Iran, Gilan province, Siahkal to Deilaman, 770 m, on soil (in the hole on collar of Fagus sp.), 15.10.2008, Asef & Torabi (IRAN 13629 F). This is the first report of a fungus belonging to genus Strobilomyces in Iran. S. strobilaceus is a rare fungus in the world and considered as near threatened, endangered or extinct in different countries (Ing 1993). Collecting such an endangered species in northern Iran is a valuable finding. Based on unique morphological characteristics, members of the genus Strobilomyces had been placed in the family Strobilomyceteceae, but result of recent studies moved them to the family Boletaceae (Binder & Hibbet 2006).

In a study of plants collected from the NW Iran, a specimen was identified as Bornmuellera cappadocica (DC.) Cullen & Dudley (Cullen 1965). This species and the genus Bornmuellera Hausskn. are a new record for Iran and the Flora Iranica area (Hedge & Rechinger 1968).