University of Calicut

Abstract Systematic assessments of species extinction risk at regular intervals are necessary for informing conservation action 1,2 . Ongoing developments in taxonomy, threatening processes and research further underscore the need for reassessment 3,4 . Here we report the findings of the second Global Amphibian Assessment, evaluating 8,011 species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. We find that amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate class (40.7% of species are globally threatened). The updated Red List Index shows that the status of amphibians is deteriorating globally, particularly for salamanders and in the Neotropics. Disease and habitat loss drove 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Ongoing and projected climate change effects are now of increasing concern, driving 39% of status deteriorations since 2004, followed by habitat loss (37%). Although signs of species recoveries incentivize immediate conservation action, scaled-up investment is urgently needed to reverse the current trends.

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic papers where materials are examined, described and novel combinations are proposed where necessary to improve our traditional species concepts and provide updates on their classification. In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections, DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets (rDNA, TEF-α, RBP2 and β-Tubulin) to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic position of taxa within appropriate ranks. Wherever new species or combinations are being proposed, we apply an integrative approach (morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable). Notes on 125 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper, including eight new genera, 101 new species, two new combinations, one neotype, four reference specimens, new host or distribution records for eight species and one alternative morphs. The new genera introduced in this paper are Alloarthopyrenia, Arundellina, Camarosporioides, Neomassaria, Neomassarina, Neotruncatella, Paracapsulospora and Pseudophaeosphaeria. The new species are Alfaria spartii, Alloarthopyrenia italica, Anthostomella ravenna, An. thailandica, Arthrinium paraphaeospermum, Arundellina typhae, Aspergillus koreanus, Asterina cynometrae, Bertiella ellipsoidea, Blastophorum aquaticum, Cainia globosa, Camarosporioides phragmitis, Ceramothyrium menglunense, Chaetosphaeronema achilleae, Chlamydotubeufia helicospora, Ciliochorella phanericola, Clavulinopsis aurantiaca, Colletotrichum insertae, Comoclathris italica, Coronophora myricoides, Cortinarius fulvescentoideus, Co. nymphatus, Co. pseudobulliardioides, Co. tenuifulvescens, Cunninghamella gigacellularis, Cyathus pyristriatus, Cytospora cotini, Dematiopleospora alliariae, De. cirsii, Diaporthe aseana, Di. garethjonesii, Distoseptispora multiseptata, Dis. tectonae, Dis. tectonigena, Dothiora buxi, Emericellopsis persica, Gloniopsis calami, Helicoma guttulatum, Helvella floriforma, H. oblongispora, Hermatomyces subiculosa, Juncaceicola italica, Lactarius dirkii, Lentithecium unicellulare, Le. voraginesporum, Leptosphaeria cirsii, Leptosphaeria irregularis, Leptospora galii, Le. thailandica, Lindgomyces pseudomadisonensis, Lophiotrema bambusae, Lo. fallopiae, Meliola citri-maximae, Minimelanolocus submersus, Montagnula cirsii, Mortierella fluviae, Muriphaeosphaeria ambrosiae, Neodidymelliopsis ranunculi, Neomassaria fabacearum, Neomassarina thailandica, Neomicrosphaeropsis cytisi, Neo. cytisinus, Neo. minima, Neopestalotiopsis cocoës, Neopestalotiopsis musae, Neoroussoella lenispora, Neotorula submersa, Neotruncatella endophytica, Nodulosphaeria italica, Occultibambusa aquatica, Oc. chiangraiensis, Ophiocordyceps hemisphaerica, Op. lacrimoidis, Paracapsulospora metroxyli, Pestalotiopsis sequoiae, Peziza fruticosa, Pleurotrema thailandica, Poaceicola arundinis, Polyporus mangshanensis, Pseudocoleophoma typhicola, Pseudodictyosporium thailandica, Pseudophaeosphaeria rubi, Purpureocillium sodanum, Ramariopsis atlantica, Rhodocybe griseoaurantia, Rh. indica, Rh. luteobrunnea, Russula indoalba, Ru. pseudoamoenicolor, Sporidesmium aquaticivaginatum, Sp. olivaceoconidium, Sp. pyriformatum, Stagonospora forlicesenensis, Stagonosporopsis centaureae, Terriera thailandica, Tremateia arundicola, Tr. guiyangensis, Trichomerium bambusae, Tubeufia hyalospora, Tu. roseohelicospora and Wojnowicia italica. New combinations are given for Hermatomyces mirum and Pallidocercospora thailandica. A neotype is proposed for Cortinarius fulvescens. Reference specimens are given for Aquaphila albicans, Leptospora rubella, Platychora ulmi and Meliola pseudosasae, while new host or distribution records are provided for Diaporthe eres, Di. siamensis, Di. foeniculina, Dothiorella iranica, Do. sarmentorum, Do. vidmadera, Helvella tinta and Vaginatispora fuckelii, with full taxonomic details. An asexual state is also reported for the first time in Neoacanthostigma septoconstrictum. This paper contributes to a more comprehensive update and improved identification of many ascomycetes and basiodiomycetes.

Soil organisms, including earthworms, are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems. However, little is known about their diversity, their distribution, and the threats affecting them. We compiled a global dataset of sampled earthworm communities from 6928 sites in 57 countries as a basis for predicting patterns in earthworm diversity, abundance, and biomass. We found that local species richness and abundance typically peaked at higher latitudes, displaying patterns opposite to those observed in aboveground organisms. However, high species dissimilarity across tropical locations may cause diversity across the entirety of the tropics to be higher than elsewhere. Climate variables were found to be more important in shaping earthworm communities than soil properties or habitat cover. These findings suggest that climate change may have serious implications for earthworm communities and for the functions they provide.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia : Apiognomonia lasiopetali on Lasiopetalum sp., Blastacervulus eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus adesmophloia , Bullanockia australis (incl. Bullanockia gen. nov.) on Kingia australis , Caliciopsis eucalypti on Eucalyptus marginata , Celerioriella petrophiles on Petrophile teretifolia , Coleophoma xanthosiae on Xanthosia rotundifolia , Coniothyrium hakeae on Hakea sp., Diatrypella banksiae on Banksia formosa , Disculoides corymbiae on Corymbia calophylla , Elsinoë eelemani on Melaleuca alternifolia , Elsinoë eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus kingsmillii , Elsinoë preissianae on Eucalyptus preissiana , Eucasphaeria rustici on Eucalyptus creta , Hyweljonesia queenslandica (incl. Hyweljonesia gen. nov.) on the cocoon of an unidentified microlepidoptera, Mycodiella eucalypti (incl. Mycodiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus diversicolor , Myrtapenidiella sporadicae on Eucalyptus sporadica , Neocrinula xanthorrhoeae (incl. Neocrinula gen. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Ophiocordyceps nooreniae on dead ant, Phaeosphaeriopsis agavacearum on Agave sp., Phlogicylindrium mokarei on Eucalyptus sp., Phyllosticta acaciigena on Acacia suaveolens , Pleurophoma acaciae on Acacia glaucoptera , Pyrenochaeta hakeae on Hakea sp., Readeriella lehmannii on Eucalyptus lehmannii , Saccharata banksiae on Banksia grandis , Saccharata daviesiae on Daviesia pachyphylla , Saccharata eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus bigalerita , Saccharata hakeae on Hakea baxteri , Saccharata hakeicola on Hakea victoria , Saccharata lambertiae on Lambertia ericifolia , Saccharata petrophiles on Petrophile sp., Saccharata petrophilicola on Petrophile fastigiata , Sphaerellopsis hakeae on Hakea sp., and Teichospora kingiae on Kingia australis . Brazil : Adautomilanezia caesalpiniae (incl. Adautomilanezia gen. nov.) on Caesalpina echinata , Arthrophiala arthrospora (incl. Arthrophiala gen. nov.) on Sagittaria montevidensis , Diaporthe caatingaensis (endophyte from Tacinga inamoena ), Geastrum ishikawae on sandy soil, Geastrum pusillipilosum on soil, Gymnopus pygmaeus on dead leaves and sticks, Inonotus hymenonitens on decayed angiosperm trunk, Pyricularia urashimae on Urochloa brizantha , and Synnemellisia aurantia on Passiflora edulis . Chile : Tubulicrinis australis on Lophosoria quadripinnata . France : Cercophora squamulosa from submerged wood, and Scedosporium cereisporum from fluids of a wastewater treatment plant. Hawaii : Beltraniella acaciae , Dactylaria acaciae , Rhexodenticula acaciae , Rubikia evansii and Torula acaciae (all on Acacia koa ). India : Lepidoderma echinosporum on dead semi-woody stems, and Rhodocybe rubrobrunnea from soil. Iran : Talaromyces kabodanensis from hypersaline soil. La Réunion : Neocordana musarum from leaves of Musa sp. Malaysia : Anungitea eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus grandis × pellita , Camptomeriphila leucaenae (incl. Camptomeriphila gen. nov.) on Leucaena leucocephala , Castanediella communis on Eucalyptus pellita , Eucalyptostroma eucalypti (incl. Eucalyptostroma gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita , Melanconiella syzygii on Syzygium sp., Mycophilomyces periconiae (incl. Mycophilomyces gen. nov.) as hyperparasite on Periconia on leaves of Albizia falcataria , Synnemadiella eucalypti (incl. Synnemadiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita , and Teichospora nephelii on Nephelium lappaceum . Mexico : Aspergillus bicephalus from soil. New Zealand : Aplosporella sophorae on Sophora microphylla , Libertasomyces platani on Platanus sp., Neothyronectria sophorae (incl. Neothyronectria gen. nov.) on Sophora microphylla , Parastagonospora phoenicicola on Phoenix canariensis , Phaeoacremonium pseudopanacis on Pseudopanax crassifolius , Phlyctema phoenicis on Phoenix canariensis , and Pseudoascochyta novae-zelandiae on Cordyline australis . Panama : Chalara panamensis from needle litter of Pinus cf. caribaea . South Africa : Exophiala eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Fantasmomyces hyalinus (incl. Fantasmomyces gen. nov.) on Acacia exuvialis , Paracladophialophora carceris (incl. Paracladophialophora gen. nov.) on Aloe sp., and Umthunziomyces hagahagensis (incl. Umthunziomyces gen. nov.) on Mimusops caffra . Spain : Clavaria griseobrunnea on bare ground in Pteridium aquilinum field, Cyathus ibericus on small fallen branches of Pinus halepensis , Gyroporus pseudolacteus in humus of Pinus pinaster , and Pseudoascochyta pratensis (incl. Pseudoascochyta gen. nov.) fromsoil. Thailand : Neoascochyta adenii on Adenium obesum , and Ochroconis capsici on Capsicum annuum . UK : Fusicolla melogrammae from dead stromata of Melogramma campylosporum on bark of Carpinus betulus . Uruguay : Myrmecridium pulvericola from house dust. USA : Neoscolecobasidium agapanthi (incl. Neoscolecobasidium gen. nov.) on Agapanthus sp., Polyscytalum purgamentum on leaf litter, Pseudopithomyces diversisporus from human

This article is the ninth in the series of Fungal Diversity Notes, where 107 taxa distributed in three phyla, nine classes, 31 orders and 57 families are described and illustrated. Taxa described in the present study include 12 new genera, 74 new species, three new combinations, two reference specimens, a re-circumscription of the epitype, and 15 records of sexual-asexual morph connections, new hosts and new geographical distributions. Twelve new genera comprise <i>Brunneofusispora</i>, <i>Brunneomurispora</i>, <i>Liua</i>, <i>Lonicericola</i>, <i>Neoeutypella</i>, <i>Paratrimmatostroma</i>, <i>Parazalerion</i>, <i>Proliferophorum</i>, <i>Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis</i>, <i>Septomelanconiella</i>, <i>Velebitea</i> and <i>Vicosamyces</i>. Seventy-four new species are <i>Agaricus memnonius</i>, <i>A. langensis</i>, <i>Aleurodiscus patagonicus</i>, <i>Amanita flavoalba</i>, <i>A. subtropicana</i>, <i>Amphisphaeria mangrovei</i>, <i>Baorangia major</i>, <i>Bartalinia kunmingensis</i>, <i>Brunneofusispora sinensis</i>, <i>Brunneomurispora lonicerae</i>, <i>Capronia camelliae</i>-<i>yunnanensis</i>, <i>Clavulina thindii</i>, <i>Coniochaeta simbalensis</i>, <i>Conlarium thailandense</i>, <i>Coprinus trigonosporus</i>, <i>Liua muriformis</i>, <i>Cyphellophora filicis</i>, <i>Cytospora ulmicola</i>, <i>Dacrymyces invisibilis</i>, <i>Dictyocheirospora metroxylonis</i>, <i>Distoseptispora thysanolaenae</i>, <i>Emericellopsis koreana</i>, <i>Galiicola baoshanensis</i>, <i>Hygrocybe lucida</i>, <i>Hypoxylon teeravasati</i>, <i>Hyweljonesia indica</i>, <i>Keissleriella caraganae</i>, <i>Lactarius olivaceopallidus</i>, <i>Lactifluus midnapurensis</i>, <i>Lembosia brigadeirensis</i>, <i>Leptosphaeria urticae</i>, <i>Lonicericola hyaloseptispora</i>, <i>Lophiotrema mucilaginosis</i>, <i>Marasmiellus bicoloripes</i>, <i>Marasmius indojasminodorus</i>, <i>Micropeltis phetchaburiensis</i>, <i>Mucor orantomantidis</i>, <i>Murilentithecium lonicerae</i>, <i>Neobambusicola brunnea</i>, <i>Neoeutypella baoshanensis</i>, <i>Neoroussoella heveae</i>, <i>Neosetophoma lonicerae</i>, <i>Ophiobolus malleolus</i>, <i>Parabambusicola thysanolaenae</i>, <i>Paratrimmatostroma kunmingensis</i>, <i>Parazalerion indica</i>, <i>Penicillium dokdoense</i>, <i>Peroneutypa mangrovei</i>, <i>Phaeosphaeria cycadis</i>, <i>Phanerochaete australosanguinea</i>, <i>Plectosphaerella kunmingensis</i>, <i>Plenodomus artemisiae</i>, <i>P. lijiangensis</i>, <i>Proliferophorum thailandicum</i>, <i>Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis kaveriana</i>, <i>Pseudohelicomyces menglunicus</i>, <i>Pseudoplagiostoma mangiferae</i>, <i>Robillarda mangiferae</i>, <i>Roussoella elaeicola</i>, <i>Russula choptae</i>, <i>R. uttarakhandia</i>, <i>Septomelanconiella thailandica</i>, <i>Spencermartinsia acericola</i>, <i>Sphaerellopsis isthmospora</i>, <i>Thozetella lithocarpi</i>, <i>Trechispora echinospora</i>, <i>Tremellochaete atlantica</i>, <i>Trichoderma koreanum</i>, <i>T. pinicola</i>, <i>T. rugulosum</i>, <i>Velebitea chrysotexta</i>, <i>Vicosamyces venturisporus</i>, <i>Wojnowiciella kunmingensis</i> and <i>Zopfiella indica</i>. Three new combinations are <i>Baorangia rufomaculata</i>, <i>Lanmaoa pallidorosea</i> and <i>Wojnowiciella rosicola</i>. The reference specimens of <i>Canalisporium kenyense</i> and <i>Tamsiniella labiosa</i> are designated. The epitype of <i>Sarcopeziza sicula</i> is re-circumscribed based on cyto- and histochemical analyses. The sexual-asexual morph connection of <i>Plenodomus sinensis</i> is reported from ferns and <i>Cirsium</i> for the first time. In addition, the new host records and country records are <i>Amanita altipes</i>, <i>A. melleialba, Amarenomyces dactylidis</i>, <i>Chaetosphaeria panamensis</i>, <i>Coniella vitis</i>, <i>Coprinopsis kubickae</i>, <i>Dothiorella sarmentorum</i>, <i>Leptobacillium leptobactrum</i> var. <i>calidus</i>, <i>Muyocopron lithocarpi</i>, <i>Neoroussoella solani</i>, <i>Periconia cortaderiae</i>, <i>Phragmocamarosporium hederae</i>, <i>Sphaerellopsis paraphysata</i> and <i>Sphaeropsis eucalypticola</i>.

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic and phylogenetic papers on the fungi where materials were collected from many countries, examined and described. In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections, DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic positions of taxa within appropriate ranks. Wherever new species or combinations are proposed, we apply an integrative approach using morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable. Notes on 112 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper including Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae, Didysimulans gen. nov., 81 new species, 18 new host records and new country records, five reference specimens, two new combinations, and three sexual and asexual morph reports. The new species are Amanita cornelii, A. emodotrygon, Angustimassarina alni, A. arezzoensis, A. italica, A. lonicerae, A. premilcurensis, Ascochyta italica, A. rosae, Austroboletus appendiculatus, Barriopsis thailandica, Berkleasmium ariense, Calophoma petasitis, Camarosporium laburnicola, C. moricola, C. grisea, C. ossea, C. paraincrustata, Colletotrichum sambucicola, Coprinopsis cerkezii, Cytospora gelida, Dacrymyces chiangraiensis, Didysimulans italica, D. mezzanensis, Entodesmium italica, Entoloma magnum, Evlachovaea indica, Exophiala italica, Favolus gracilisporus, Femsjonia monospora, Fomitopsis flabellata, F. roseoalba, Gongronella brasiliensis, Helvella crispoides, Hermatomyces chiangmaiensis, H. chromolaenae, Hysterium centramurum, Inflatispora caryotae, Inocybe brunneosquamulosa, I. luteobrunnea, I. rubrobrunnea, Keissleriella cirsii, Lepiota cylindrocystidia, L. flavocarpa, L. maerimensis, Lophiotrema guttulata, Marasmius luculentus, Morenoina calamicola, Moelleriella thanathonensis, Mucor stercorarius, Myrmecridium fluviae, Myrothecium septentrionale, Neosetophoma garethjonesii, Nigrograna cangshanensis, Nodulosphaeria guttulatum, N. multiseptata, N. sambuci, Panus subfasciatus, Paraleptosphaeria padi, Paraphaeosphaeria viciae, Parathyridaria robiniae, Penicillium punicae, Phaeosphaeria calamicola, Phaeosphaeriopsis yuccae, Pleurophoma italica, Polyporus brevibasidiosus, P. koreanus, P. orientivarius, P. parvovarius, P. subdictyopus, P. ulleungus, Pseudoasteromassaria spadicea, Rosellinia mearnsii, Rubroboletus demonensis, Russula yanheensis, Sigarispora muriformis, Sillia italica, Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola, Strobilomyces longistipitatus, Subplenodomus galicola and Wolfiporia pseudococos. The new combinations are Melanomma populina and Rubroboletus eastwoodiae. The reference specimens are Cookeina tricholoma, Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae, Helvella costifera, Polythrincium trifolii and Russula virescens. The new host records and country records are Ascochyta medicaginicola, Boletellus emodensis, Cyptotrama asprata, Cytospora ceratosperma, Favolaschia auriscalpium, F. manipularis, Hysterobrevium mori, Lentinus sajor-caju, L. squarrosulus, L. velutinus, Leucocoprinus cretaceus, Lophiotrema vagabundum, Nothophoma quercina, Platystomum rosae, Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei, Tremella fuciformis, Truncatella spartii and Vaginatispora appendiculata and three sexual and asexual morphs are Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Dothiora buxi and Hypocrella calendulina.

This review evaluates the health benefits of the functional food, conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) - a heterogeneous group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid predominantly found in milk, milk products, meat and meat products of ruminants. During the past couple of decades, hundreds of reports - principally based on in vitro, microbial, animal, and of late clinical trials on humans - have been accumulating with varying biological activities of CLA isomers. These studies highlight that CLA, apart form the classical nuclear transcription factors-mediated mechanism of action, appear to exhibit a number of inter-dependent molecular signalling pathways accounting for their reported health benefits. Such benefits relate to anti-obesitic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic, anti-diabetagenic, immunomodulatory, apoptotic and osteosynthetic effects. On the other hand, negative effects of CLA have been reported such as fatty liver and spleen, induction of colon carcinogenesis and hyperproinsulinaemia. As far as human consumption is concerned, a definite conclusion for CLA safety has not been reached yet. Parameters such as administration of the type of CLA isomer and/or their combination with other polyunsaturated fatty acids, mode of administration (eg., as free fatty acid or its triglyceride form, liquid or solid), daily dose and duration of consumption, gender, age, or ethnic and geographical backgrounds remain to be determined. Yet, it appears from trials so far conducted that CLA are functional food having prevailing beneficial health effects for humans.

Novel species of fungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Vermiculariopsiella eucalypti, Mulderomyces natalis (incl. Mulderomyces gen. nov.), Fusicladium paraamoenum, Neotrimmatostroma paraexcentricum, and Pseudophloeospora eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus spp., Anungitea grevilleae (on leaves of Grevillea sp.), Pyrenochaeta acaciae (on leaves of Acacia sp.), and Brunneocarpos banksiae (incl. Brunneocarpos gen. nov.) on cones of Banksia attenuata. Novel foliicolous taxa from South Africa include Neosulcatispora strelitziae (on Strelitzia nicolai), Colletotrichum ledebouriae (on Ledebouria floridunda), Cylindrosympodioides brabejum (incl. Cylindrosympodioides gen. nov.) on Brabejum stellatifolium, Sclerostagonospora ericae (on Erica sp.), Setophoma cyperi (on Cyperus sphaerocephala), and Phaeosphaeria breonadiae (on Breonadia microcephala). Novelties described from Robben Island (South Africa) include Wojnowiciella cissampeli and Diaporthe cissampeli (both on Cissampelos capensis), Phaeotheca salicorniae (on Salicornia meyeriana), Paracylindrocarpon aloicola (incl. Paracylindrocarpon gen. nov.) on Aloe sp., and Libertasomyces myopori (incl. Libertasomyces gen. nov.) on Myoporum serratum. Several novelties are recorded from La Réunion (France), namely Phaeosphaeriopsis agapanthi (on Agapanthus sp.), Roussoella solani (on Solanum mauritianum), Vermiculariopsiella acaciae (on Acacia heterophylla), Dothiorella acacicola (on Acacia mearnsii), Chalara clidemiae (on Clidemia hirta), Cytospora tibouchinae (on Tibouchina semidecandra), Diaporthe ocoteae (on Ocotea obtusata), Castanediella eucalypticola, Phaeophleospora eucalypticola and Fusicladium eucalypticola (on Eucalyptus robusta), Lareunionomyces syzygii (incl. Lareunionomyces gen. nov.) and Parawiesneriomyces syzygii (incl. Parawiesneriomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Syzygium jambos. Novel taxa from the USA include Meristemomyces arctostaphylos (on Arctostaphylos patula), Ochroconis dracaenae (on Dracaena reflexa), Rasamsonia columbiensis (air of a hotel conference room), Paecilomyces tabacinus (on Nicotiana tabacum), Toxicocladosporium hominis (from human broncoalveolar lavage fluid), Nothophoma macrospora (from respiratory secretion of a patient with pneumonia), and Penidiellopsis radicularis (incl. Penidiellopsis gen. nov.) from a human nail. Novel taxa described from Malaysia include Prosopidicola albizziae (on Albizzia falcataria), Proxipyricularia asari (on Asarum sp.), Diaporthe passifloricola (on Passiflora foetida), Paramycoleptodiscus albizziae (incl. Paramycoleptodiscus gen. nov.) on Albizzia falcataria, and Malaysiasca phaii (incl. Malaysiasca gen. nov.) on Phaius reflexipetalus. Two species are newly described from human patients in the Czech Republic, namely Microascus longicollis (from toenails of patient with suspected onychomycosis), and Chrysosporium echinulatum (from sole skin of patient). Furthermore, Alternaria quercicola is described on leaves of Quercus brantii (Iran), Stemphylium beticola on leaves of Beta vulgaris (The Netherlands), Scleroderma capeverdeanum on soil (Cape Verde Islands), Scleroderma dunensis on soil, and Blastobotrys meliponae from bee honey (Brazil), Ganoderma mbrekobenum on angiosperms (Ghana), Geoglossum raitviirii and Entoloma kruticianum on soil (Russia), Priceomyces vitoshaensis on Pterostichus melas (Carabidae) (Bulgaria) is the only one for which the family is listed, Ganoderma ecuadoriense on decaying wood (Ecuador), Thyrostroma cornicola on Cornus officinalis (Korea), Cercophora vinosa on decorticated branch of Salix sp. (France), Coprinus pinetorum, Coprinus littoralis and Xerocomellus poederi on soil (Spain). Two new genera from Colombia include Helminthosporiella and Uwemyces on leaves of Elaeis oleifera. Two species are described from India, namely Russula intervenosa (ectomycorrhizal with Shorea robusta), and Crinipellis odorata (on bark of Mytragyna parviflora). Novelties from Thailand include Cyphellophora gamsii (on leaf litter), Pisolithus aureosericeus and Corynascus citrinus (on soil). Two species are newly described from Citrus in Italy, namely Dendryphiella paravinosa on Citrus sinensis, and Ramularia citricola on Citrus floridana. Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS nrDNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.

BACKGROUND: Galls or the neoplastic growth on plants result from a complex type of interaction between the inducers (Acari, Insects, Microbes and Nematodes) and plants. The present study sheds light on the gall inducing habit of a highly host specific eriophyid mite, Aceria pongamiae, on the leaves of Pongamia pinnata leading to the production of abnormal pouch like outgrowths on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the foliage. Each leaf gall is a highly complex, irregular massive structure, and the formation of which often leads to complete destruction of leaves, especially during heavy mite infestation, and thereby adversely affecting the physiology and growth of the host plant. RESULTS: The study was carried out by making comparative observations on FE-SEM histological sections of galls representing four different growth stages categorized on the basis of difference in age groups. Apart from variations in cell metaplasia, a dramatic change was observed in the abaxial-adaxial polarity of the laminar surfaces also throughout the developmental sequence of galls, in all the four growth stages. Significant variations could be observed in the anti-oxidative potency as well as elemental composition in the all the four age groups of galls, and also revealed ATR-FTIR pattern of gall formation. CONCLUSION: Being the first attempt to unravel the mystery of gall induction by eriophyids in general and by A. pongamiae in particular, on its host plant P.pinnata, by shedding light on the structural and histological alterations taking place during leaf gall formation under the influence of the mite, the current study is to be treated as the model of plant-animal interactive system.

For the first time, unfocused Chitosan nano ZnO composite film was prepared by a simple one pot procedure. The novel composite materials were ably characterized by various physico-chemical methods. Dielectric and conductivity features of composite materials were analysed. The result showed that both dielectric constant and conductivity values were improved when nano ZnO was incorporated. The potential applicability of composite films to perform as an efficient antimicrobial packaging material was evaluated. Antimicrobial analysis showed that all composite films exhibited enhanced antimicrobial efficacy as compared to pure chitosan film and it is linearly related to the amount of ZnO particles in the matrix.

In agriculture, abiotic stress is one of the critical issues impacting the crop productivity and yield. Such stress factors lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species, membrane damage, and other plant metabolic activities. To neutralize the harmful effects of abiotic stress, several strategies have been employed that include the utilization of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials are now gaining attention worldwide to protect plant growth against abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metals, extreme temperatures, flooding, etc. However, their behavior is significantly impacted by the dose in which they are being used in agriculture. Furthermore, the action of nanomaterials in plants under various stresses still require understanding. Hence, with this background, the present review envisages to highlight beneficial role of nanomaterials in plants, their mode of action, and their mechanism in overcoming various abiotic stresses. It also emphasizes upon antioxidant activities of different nanomaterials and their dose-dependent variability in plants' growth under stress. Nevertheless, limitations of using nanomaterials in agriculture are also presented in this review.

Aluminium silicon carbide metal matrix composites are used in various fields like aerospace, aircrafts, underwater, automobile, substrate in electronics, golf clubs, turbine blades, brake pads etc. Several fabrication techniques are available for the production of aluminium silicon carbide metal matrix composites (Al-SiC MMC). Among the various methods, stir casting route is simple, less expensive, and used for mass production. The main limitations of stir cast Al-SiC MMC are improper distribution of SiC reinforcement in matrix and less wettablity of SiC reinforcement particle with molten Al. Literature survey indicate that various properties of stir cast Al-SiC MMC depends upon fabrication method, volume fraction, shape, size of particles and distribution and properties of constituents. Since metal matrix composites (MMC) lack structural simplicity its analytical modeling is complex. Further, the involvement of several parameters which affect composite properties, makes the experiments difficult. This review paper contemplates the need of simulation or numerical methods for the prediction of mechanical characteristics of Al-SiC MMC.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia : Banksiophoma australiensis (incl. Banksiophoma gen. nov.) on Banksia coccinea , Davidiellomyces australiensis (incl. Davidiellomyces gen. nov.) on Cyperaceae , Didymocyrtis banksiae on Banksia sessilis var . cygnorum , Disculoides calophyllae on Corymbia calophylla , Harknessia banksiae on Banksia sessilis , Harknessia banksiae-repens on Banksia repens , Harknessia banksiigena on Banksia sessilis var . cygnorum , Harknessia communis on Podocarpus sp., Harknessia platyphyllae on Eucalyptus platyphylla , Myrtacremonium eucalypti (incl. Myrtacremonium gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus globulus , Myrtapenidiella balenae on Eucalyptus sp., Myrtapenidiella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus sp., Myrtapenidiella pleurocarpae on Eucalyptus pleurocarpa , Paraconiothyrium hakeae on Hakea sp., Paraphaeosphaeria xanthorrhoeae on Xanthorrhoea sp., Parateratosphaeria stirlingiae on Stirlingia sp., Perthomyces podocarpi (incl. Perthomyces gen. nov.) on Podocarpus sp., Readeriella ellipsoidea on Eucalyptus sp., Rosellinia australiensis on Banksia grandis , Tiarosporella corymbiae on Corymbia calophylla , Verrucoconiothyrium eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus sp., Zasmidium commune on Xanthorrhoea sp., and Zasmidium podocarpi on Podocarpus sp. Brazil : Cyathus aurantogriseocarpus on decaying wood, Perenniporia brasiliensis on decayed wood, Perenniporia paraguyanensis on decayed wood, and Pseudocercospora leandrae-fragilis on Leandra fragilis . Chile : Phialocephala cladophialophoroides on human toe nail. Costa Rica : Psathyrella striatoannulata from soil. Czech Republic : Myotisia cremea (incl. Myotisia gen. nov.) on bat droppings. Ecuador : Humidicutis dictiocephala from soil, Hygrocybe macrosiparia from soil, Hygrocybe sangayensis from soil, and Polycephalomyces onorei on stem of Etlingera sp. France : Westerdykella centenaria from soil. Hungary : Tuber magentipunctatum from soil. India : Ganoderma mizoramense on decaying wood, Hodophilus indicus from soil, Keratinophyton turgidum in soil, and Russula arunii on Pterigota alata . Italy : Rhodocybe matesina from soil. Malaysia : Apoharknessia eucalyptorum , Harknessia malayensis , Harknessia pellitae , and Peyronellaea eucalypti on Eucalyptus pellita , Lectera capsici on Capsicum annuum , and Wallrothiella gmelinae on Gmelina arborea . Morocco : Neocordana musigena on Musa sp. New Zealand : Candida rongomai-pounamu on agaric mushroom surface, Candida vespimorsuum on cup fungus surface, Cylindrocladiella vitis on Vitis vinifera , Foliocryphia eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus sp., Ramularia vacciniicola on Vaccinium sp., and Rhodotorula ngohengohe on bird feather surface. Poland : Tolypocladium fumosum on a caterpillar case of unidentified Lepidoptera . Russia : Pholiotina longistipitata among moss. Spain : Coprinopsis pseudomarcescibilis from soil, Eremiomyces innocentii from soil, Gyroporus pseudocyanescens in humus, Inocybe parvicystis in humus, and Penicillium parvofructum from soil. Unknown origin : Paraphoma rhaphiolepidis on Rhaphiolepsis indica . USA : Acidiella americana from wall of a cooling tower, Neodactylaria obpyriformis (incl. Neodactylaria gen. nov.) from human bronchoalveolar lavage, and Saksenaea loutrophoriformis from human eye. Vietnam : Phytophthora mekongensis from Citrus grandis , and Phytophthora prodigiosa from Citrus grandis. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided.

A number of microalgae species are efficient in removing toxicants from wastewater. Many of these potential species are a promising, eco-friendly, and sustainable option for tertiary wastewater treatment with a possible advantage of improving the economics of microalgae cultivation for biofuel production. The present study deals with the phycoremediation of tannery wastewater (TWW) using Scenedesmus sp. isolated from a local habitat. The test species was grown in TWW under laboratory conditions and harvested on the 12th day. The results revealed that the algal biomass during the growth period not only reduced the pollution load of heavy metals (Cr-81.2-96%, Cu-73.2-98%, Pb-75-98% and Zn-65-98%) but also the nutrients (NO3 >44.3% and PO4 >95%). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrums of Scenedesmus sp. biomass revealed the involvement of hydroxyl amino, carboxylic and carbonyl groups. The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopic analysis (EDS) revealed the surface texture, morphology and element distribution of the biosorbent. Furthermore, the wastewater generated during wet-blue tanning process can support dense population of Scenedesmus sp., making it a potential growth medium for biomass production of the test alga for phycoremediation of toxicants in tannery wastewaters.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Genome size and chromosome numbers are important cytological characters that significantly influence various organismal traits. However, geographical representation of these data is seriously unbalanced, with tropical and subtropical regions being largely neglected. In the present study, an investigation was made of chromosomal and genome size variation in the majority of Curcuma species from the Indian subcontinent, and an assessment was made of the value of these data for taxonomic purposes. METHODS: Genome size of 161 homogeneously cultivated plant samples classified into 51 taxonomic entities was determined by propidium iodide flow cytometry. Chromosome numbers were counted in actively growing root tips using conventional rapid squash techniques. KEY RESULTS: Six different chromosome counts (2n = 22, 42, 63, >70, 77 and 105) were found, the last two representing new generic records. The 2C-values varied from 1.66 pg in C. vamana to 4.76 pg in C. oligantha, representing a 2.87-fold range. Three groups of taxa with significantly different homoploid genome sizes (Cx-values) and distinct geographical distribution were identified. Five species exhibited intraspecific variation in nuclear DNA content, reaching up to 15.1 % in cultivated C. longa. Chromosome counts and genome sizes of three Curcuma-like species (Hitchenia caulina, Kaempferia scaposa and Paracautleya bhatii) corresponded well with typical hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) Curcuma spp. CONCLUSIONS: The basic chromosome number in the majority of Indian taxa (belonging to subgenus Curcuma) is x = 7; published counts correspond to 6x, 9x, 11x, 12x and 15x ploidy levels. Only a few species-specific C-values were found, but karyological and/or flow cytometric data may support taxonomic decisions in some species alliances with morphological similarities. Close evolutionary relationships among some cytotypes are suggested based on the similarity in homoploid genome sizes and geographical grouping. A new species combination, Curcuma scaposa (Nimmo) Skornick. & M. Sabu, comb. nov., is proposed.

Mitochondria, the dynamic organelles and power house of eukaryotic cells function as metabolic hubs of cells undergoing continuous cycles of fusion and fission. Recent findings have made it increasingly apparent that mitochondria essentially involved in energy production have evolved as principal intracellular signaling platforms regulating not only innate immunity but also inflammatory responses. Perturbations in mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion/fission, electron transport chain (ETC) architecture and cristae organization have now been actively correlated to modulate metabolic activity and immune function of innate and adaptive immune cells. Several newly identified mitochondrial proteins in mitochondrial outer membrane such as mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) and with mitochondrial DNA acting as danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) and mitochondrial ROS generated from mitochondrial sources have potentially established mitochondria as key signaling platforms in antiviral immunity in vertebrates and thereby orchestrating adaptive immune cell activations respectively. A thorough understanding of emerging and intervening role of mitochondria in toll-like receptor-mediated innate immune responses and NLRP3 inflammasome complex activation has gained lucidity in recent years that advocates the imposing functions of mitochondria in innate immunity. Fascinatingly, also how the signals stemming from the endoplasmic reticulum co-operate with the mitochondria to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome is now looked ahead as a stage to unravel as to how different mitochondrial and associated organelle stress responses co-operate to bring about inflammatory consequences. This has also opened avenues of research for revealing mitochondrial targets that could be exploited for development of novel therapeutics to treat various infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders. Thus, this review explores our current understanding of intricate interplay between mitochondria and other cellular processes like autophagy in controlling mitochondrial homeostasis and regulation of innate immunity and inflammatory responses.

Abstract Color images often have to be converted to grayscale for reproduction, artistic purposes, or for subsequent processing. Methods performing the conversion of color images to grayscale aim to retain as much information about the original color image as possible, while simultaneously producing perceptually plausible grayscale results. Recently, many methods of conversion have been proposed, but their performance has not yet been assessed. Therefore, the strengths and weaknesses of color‐to‐grayscale conversions are not known. In this paper, we present the results of two subjective experiments in which a total of 24 color images were converted to grayscale using seven state‐of‐the‐art conversions and evaluated by 119 human subjects using a paired comparison paradigm. We surveyed nearly 20000 human responses and used them to evaluate the accuracy and preference of the color‐to‐grayscale conversions. To the best of our knowledge, the study presented in this paper is the first perceptual evaluation of color‐to‐grayscale conversions. Besides exposing the strengths and weaknesses of the researched methods, the aim of the study is to attain a deeper understanding of the examined field, which can accelerate the progress of color‐to‐grayscale conversion.

CONTEXT: Chronic pancreatitis is common in India. However, its risk factors are not clear. There is sparse data on the current prevalence of tropical pancreatitis in India. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a prospective nationwide study of the risk factors and clinical profile of chronic pancreatitis. SETTING: Thirty-two major centers from different regions of India contributed data on 1,086 patients to a common online website (www.ipans.org). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors, clinical features complications and treatment of chronic pancreatitis. RESULTS: Of the 1,086 subjects, complete data on risk factors were available for 1,033 subjects. Idiopathic pancreatitis was the most common form of pancreatitis (n=622; 60.2%) and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis accounted for about a third of the cases (n=400; 38.7%); the rest (n=11; 1.1%) had rare risk factors. Smoking and cassava intake were documented in 292 (28.3%) and 189 (18.3%) subjects, respectively. Using well-defined criteria, only 39 (3.8%)cases could be labeled as 'tropical pancreatitis'. Pain occurred in 971 patients (94.0%). Four hundred and eighteen (40.5%) subjects had diabetes mellitus. Of alcohol consumers, alcoholism and female gender were independent risk factors for diabetes in subjects with chronic pancreatitis (OR=1.48, P=0.003; and OR=1.75, P<0.001, respectively). The most common complications were pseudocysts (15.8%) and biliary obstruction (8.2%). Pancreatic cancer occurred in 42 subjects (4.1%). Ultrasound detected calculi in 69.7%, ductal dilatation in 63.4% and atrophy in 27.3%. The majority of patients were on medical therapy (n=849; 82.2%); endotherapy and surgery accounted for the rest. About 50% percent of the patients with diabetes required insulin (198/418). CONCLUSIONS: In this first nationwide prospective survey of chronic pancreatitis in India, idiopathic pancreatitis was the most common form, followed by alcoholic pancreatitis. The classical form of tropical chronic pancreatitis is becoming less common.

Toxic trace metals are ecotoxic due to their high bioaccumulation and toxicity, acting as abiotic stress agents, causing oxidative damage to the plant cells. Plants can recognize these threat signals and activate various defense responses. Enhanced production of secondary metabolites is a vital detoxification mechanism evolved in plants to alleviate the detrimental effects caused by toxic metals. Metal stress tolerance in plants can be increased by manipulating the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. The application of elicitors in plant and cell cultures is an efficient method for triggering the large-scale production of secondary metabolites and has significant importance in pharmaceutical and therapeutic industries. This review analyses the role of secondary metabolites as metal precipitators, antioxidants, and metal chelators in plants growing under toxic metal-contaminated environments. Also, this review focuses on the contemporary progression in understanding the machinery of secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways and discusses the progress and prospects of improving their production through elicitation.

The first one pot gel combustion synthetic strategy towards ‘black TiO_2−x’ using Ti butoxide, diethylene glycol and water as the only precursors.