Taxonomy and Biology of Anamorphic Fungi and Agarics

Part I. Introduction

Research area: The group is interested in the systematics and biology of anamorphic fungi and agaric-like macrofungi. Biodiversity of some anamorphic fungi and agarics, connections between the orbiliaceous fungi and nematode-trapping hyphomycetes, molecular basis of invading nematodes by fungi, molecular ecology of nematophagous fungi, and techniques related to mass-production and formulation of fungal pesticides are involved in our current research.

Faculty and staff:Xing-Zhong Liu: Research Professor, Ph. D. at Beijing Agricultural University in 1992; Postdoctoral fellow in University of Minnesota (19971999). Professor and Director of the Key Laboratory of Systematic Mycology and Lichenology at Institute of Microbiology from 2001 to present. Assistant, associate professor (19931997), Deputy Director (19951997) and Associate Professor (19951997, 19992000) and Professor (20002001) at Biocontrol Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Teaching Assistant and Lecturer at Beijing Agricultural University (19861993).

Staff:Hua-An Wen, Associate Research Professor; Man-Hong Sun, MS, Research Associate; Hai-Lei Wei, MS, Research Assistant; Guo-Zhu Zhao, Postdoctoral fellow.

Students: Bing Wang, Li-Mei Zhang, Ying Yang, Bin Liu, Bing-Da Sun, Jun-Xin Duang, Li Gao, En-Ce Yang, Juan Chen.

Part II.Background and Significance

Anamorphic fungi are commonly encountered and important in science and technology. Nematophagous hyphomycetes represent a special ecological group of fungi that destroy nematodes and manipulate nematode dynamics in nature. Information about the systematic position of those fungi and their interaction with nematodes on molecular and ecological bases is essential for understanding and exploiting them in biocontrol of nematodes. Agaricalean fungi composed of important edible and medicinal mushrooms are significant in mushroom cultivation and medical utilization.

Part III. Major Achievements

1)More than 800 specimens including agaric-like, orbiliaceous, helicoids, and entomogenous fungi were collected from natural reserves in over 20 provinces, and about 3000 isolates were obtained. More than 10 new species were identified.

2)Connections between the orbiliaceous fungi and nematode-trapping hyphomycetes have been extensively established; evolutionary radiation of predatory fungi of the Orbiliaceae (Ascomycotina) has been concluded by evidence from analysis of the ribosomal DNA and multiprotein nucleotide sequences.

3)Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Heterodera glycines as a research system has been established in this laboratory. A gene hrp1 coding 31 kDa serine protease was isolated and cloned from the culture of H. rhossiliensis (stain OWVT-1).

4)Quantitative detection and factors affect population dynamic of H. rhossiliensis in soil were conducted by real-time PCR with comparison of parasitism analysis.

Part IV.Future Research Plan

1)Taxonomy of economically significant anamorphic fungi.

2)Molecular mechanism of fungi invading nematodes

3)Basic knowledge and technique involving in development of mycopesticides

4)Resources of agarics and their exploitation in cultivation and medical utilization.

List of publications and awards (2001-2005)

Research article:

Liu, B., *Liu, X.Z. Zhuang, W.Y. 2005. A new species of Hyalorbilia and its anamorph from China. Nova Hedvigia (accepted).

Zhao, G.Z., Wu, W.P., Liu, B. & *Liu, X.Z. 2005. Two new species of Xenosporium (Hyphomycetes) lacking of secondary conidia. Nova Hedwigia (accepted).

Zhang, L.M., *Liu, X.Z., Zhu, S.F., Chen, S.Y. 2005. Detection of the nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis in soil by real-time PCR and parasitism bioassay. Biological Control (accepted)

Wang, M., Zhang, L.M., *Liu, X.Z. 2005. Verticimonosporiumverticale sp. nov. from Jiangxi Province, China. Mycotaxon 92:197-200.

Cao, A.X., *Liu, X.Z., Zhu, S.F. & Lu, B.S. 2005. Detection of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, using a real-time PCR assay. Phytopathology 95(5):566-571.

Liu, B., *Liu, X.Z. & Zhuang, W.Y. 2005. Orbilia querci sp. nov. and its knob-forming nematophagous anamorph. FEMS Microbiology Letters 245: 99–105.

Ma, R.,*Liu, X.Z., Jian, H., Li, S.D. & Chen, S.Y. 2005. Detection of Hirsutella spp. and Pasteuria sp. parasitizing second-stage juveniles of Heterodera glycines in soybean fields in China. Biological Control 33:223-229.

Yang, Y. &*Liu, X.Z. 2005. Dactylella coccinella sp. nov., anamorph species. Mycotaxon 91: 127-32.

Zhao, G.Z. & *Liu, X.Z. 2005. A review of Cirrenalia (Hyphomycetes) and a new species. Fungal Diversity 18:201-209

Li,S.D., Miao,Z.Q., Zhang,Y.H., *Liu,X.Z. 2003. Monacrosporium janus, a new nematode-trapping hyphomycete parasitizing sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Mycological Research 107 (7): 888-894.

Liu, X.Z. & Chen, S.Y. 2003. Nutritional requirements of the Pochonia chlamydospora and ARF18, fungal parasites of nematode eggs. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 83:10-15.

Miao,Z.Q., *Liu,X.Z., Li,S.D. & He,M.X. 2003. Dactylellapseudoclavata, a new nematode-trapping fungus. Canadian Journal of Botany 81(5): 452-456.

Miao,Z.Q., *Liu,X.Z. 2003. Notes on seasonal fluctuation of nematode-trapping fungi in Orchard soils in Beijing. Mycosystema 22: 77-81.

Liu, X.Z. & Chen, S.Y. 2002. Nutritional requirements of nematophagous fungus Hirsutella rhossiliensis. Biocontrol Science & Technology 12:381-393.

Liu, X.Z.& Chen, S.Y. 2001. Screening isolates of Hirsutella species of biocontrol of Heterodera glycines. Biocontrol Science & Technology 11:151-160.

Chen, S. Y. & Liu, X. Z. 2005. Control of the soybean cyst nematode by the fungi Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Hirsutella minnesotensis in greenhouse studies. Biological Control 32:208-219.

Meyer, S. L. F., Huettel, R. N., Liu, X-Z., Humber, R. A., Juba, J. & Nitao, J. 2004. Activity of fungal culture filtrates against soybean cyst nematode and root-knot nematode egg hatch and juvenile mobility. Nematology 6:23-32.

Sun, M.H., Liu, X.Z. & Jin, Z.P. 2002. Effects of Paecilomyces lilacinus on egg hatching and juvenile mortality of Heterodera glycines. Acta Phytophylacica Sinica 29: 57-61. (in Chinese)

Books and Chapter:

Liu, X.Z. & Li, S.D. 2004. Fungal Secondary Metabolites in Biological Control of Crop Psets. In: Handbook of Industrial Mycology (Z.Q. An ed.), Marcel Dekker Inc., Yew York. pp. 723-747

Liu, X.Z., Zhang, K.Q. & Li, T.F. (eds). 2004. Biological Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes. Chinese Sci. & Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)

Zhang, K.Q., Liu, X.Z. & Li, T.F. 2001. Biology of Nematophagous Fungi. Chinese Sci. & Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)

Liu, X.Z., Yin, Y.P. & Huang, B. 2003. Research and Application of Entomogenous Fungi in China. Vol. 5. Chinese Agric. Sci. & Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)

Abstracts:

Zhang, L.M., Wang, B. & *Liu, X.Z. 2004. Hirsutella rhossiliensis: pathogensis related protease and quantitative detection in soil.Journal of Nematology36:354-355

Li, S. D., Zhang, Y. H., Miao, Z. Q. & Liu, X. Z. (2001). Nematode-trapping hyphomycetes as mycoparasites on sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soil. Phytopathology91: S55.

Patents:

Liu, X.Z., Cao, A.X. & Zhu, S.F. 2004.A new method for detecting pine-wood nematode and thespecific primers and probe. Chinese Discovery Patent, Appl. No. 200410098620.X.

Liu, X.Z., Sun, M.H. & Gao, L. 2004. A new cultural method for studying fungal sporulation. Chinese Discovery Patent, Appl. No.200410008478.5.

Awards:

Liu, X.Z. 2004. Biocontrol resources and their application in management of root-knot nematodes. The second grade of national science and technology progress award (2004－J-201-2-04-R03), Third place.