Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants
Dracaena species are widely recognized for their exceptional drought tolerance, making them ideal candidates for sustainable landscaping and ecological restoration in arid regions. Limestone outcrops hosting Dracaena are unique ecosystems characterized by extreme environmental conditions such as nut...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1550824/full |
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| author | Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Napalai Chaiwan Napalai Chaiwan Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Saowaluck Tibpromma Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe Ishara Sandeepani Manawasinghe Dimuthu S. Manamgoda Itthayakorn Promputtha |
| author_facet | Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Napalai Chaiwan Napalai Chaiwan Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Saowaluck Tibpromma Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe Ishara Sandeepani Manawasinghe Dimuthu S. Manamgoda Itthayakorn Promputtha |
| author_sort | Kevin David Hyde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dracaena species are widely recognized for their exceptional drought tolerance, making them ideal candidates for sustainable landscaping and ecological restoration in arid regions. Limestone outcrops hosting Dracaena are unique ecosystems characterized by extreme environmental conditions such as nutrient-poor substrates. Thus, they provide valuable opportunities for studying fungal diversity and their adaptations. Despite their ecological importance, knowledge concerning fungal communities associated with limestone-inhabiting Dracaena species remains limited, particularly within the diverse biogeographic contexts of Thailand. Microfungal samples were collected from dead wood and leaves of Dracaena species across seven provinces in Thailand (Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, and Tak). Fungal taxa were identified and characterized through detailed morphological examinations combined with multi-gene phylogenetic analyses using Actin (act), Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU), translation elongation fac-tor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and beta-tubulin (tub) gene regions. This study documents eleven fungal taxa isolated from Dracaena substrates, belonging to seven families across five fungal orders. Three new species viz. Cladosporium dracaenae, C. dracaenicola and Torula dracaenae were described, and eight new host records were established (Bipolaris coffeana, Curvularia lunata, Lasiodiplodia bruguierae, L. lignicola, L. thailandica, Longididymella clematidis, Ochroconis musae and Zasmidium citrigriseum). Species de-scriptions, color photographic plates, phylogenetic trees and updated taxonomic notes are provided for all isolated taxa. The findings advance the current understanding of microfungal diversity associated with limestone outcrop habitats and Dracaena species, contributing to broader ecological and conservation efforts. By revealing novel fungal species and previously undocumented host-fungus interactions, this study underscores the rich but underexplored fungal biodiversity of limestone ecosystems in Thailand. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e08eaadde4c44ddd92e012a9538a9f8f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e08eaadde4c44ddd92e012a9538a9f8f2025-08-20T03:41:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-08-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15508241550824Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plantsKevin David Hyde0Kevin David Hyde1Kevin David Hyde2Napalai Chaiwan3Napalai Chaiwan4Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena5Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena6Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena7Saowaluck Tibpromma8Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe9Ishara Sandeepani Manawasinghe10Dimuthu S. Manamgoda11Itthayakorn Promputtha12Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, ThailandMushroom Research Foundation, School of Science, Chiang Mai, ThailandSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, ThailandOffice of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, ThailandMushroom Research Foundation, School of Science, Chiang Mai, ThailandSchool of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, ThailandCenter for Yunnan Plateau Biology Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Soil Science, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaInnovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Botany, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri LankaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandDracaena species are widely recognized for their exceptional drought tolerance, making them ideal candidates for sustainable landscaping and ecological restoration in arid regions. Limestone outcrops hosting Dracaena are unique ecosystems characterized by extreme environmental conditions such as nutrient-poor substrates. Thus, they provide valuable opportunities for studying fungal diversity and their adaptations. Despite their ecological importance, knowledge concerning fungal communities associated with limestone-inhabiting Dracaena species remains limited, particularly within the diverse biogeographic contexts of Thailand. Microfungal samples were collected from dead wood and leaves of Dracaena species across seven provinces in Thailand (Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, and Tak). Fungal taxa were identified and characterized through detailed morphological examinations combined with multi-gene phylogenetic analyses using Actin (act), Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU), translation elongation fac-tor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and beta-tubulin (tub) gene regions. This study documents eleven fungal taxa isolated from Dracaena substrates, belonging to seven families across five fungal orders. Three new species viz. Cladosporium dracaenae, C. dracaenicola and Torula dracaenae were described, and eight new host records were established (Bipolaris coffeana, Curvularia lunata, Lasiodiplodia bruguierae, L. lignicola, L. thailandica, Longididymella clematidis, Ochroconis musae and Zasmidium citrigriseum). Species de-scriptions, color photographic plates, phylogenetic trees and updated taxonomic notes are provided for all isolated taxa. The findings advance the current understanding of microfungal diversity associated with limestone outcrop habitats and Dracaena species, contributing to broader ecological and conservation efforts. By revealing novel fungal species and previously undocumented host-fungus interactions, this study underscores the rich but underexplored fungal biodiversity of limestone ecosystems in Thailand.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1550824/fullfungal biodiversityDothideomycetesdrought tolerance plantmulti-loci phylogenetic analysisnew fungal taxa |
| spellingShingle | Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Kevin David Hyde Napalai Chaiwan Napalai Chaiwan Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Ruvishika Shehali Jayawardena Saowaluck Tibpromma Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe Ishara Sandeepani Manawasinghe Dimuthu S. Manamgoda Itthayakorn Promputtha Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology fungal biodiversity Dothideomycetes drought tolerance plant multi-loci phylogenetic analysis new fungal taxa |
| title | Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants |
| title_full | Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants |
| title_fullStr | Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants |
| title_short | Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Dothideomycetes fungi associated with Dracaena plants |
| title_sort | morphology and molecular phylogeny of dothideomycetes fungi associated with dracaena plants |
| topic | fungal biodiversity Dothideomycetes drought tolerance plant multi-loci phylogenetic analysis new fungal taxa |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1550824/full |
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