This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Greif, M. D. Articles by Currah, R. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Greif, M. D. Articles by Currah, R. S. Agricola Articles by Greif, M. D. Articles by Currah, R. S.

Leptographium piriforme sp. nov., from a taxonomically diverse collection of arthropods collected in an aspen-dominated forest in western Canada

     Botany Department, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60605-2496

Connie Fe C. Gibas

     University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbarium, Devonian Botanic Garden, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1 Canada

Randolph S. Currah

     Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9 Canada

During a survey of fungi associated with arthropods collected in a southern boreal mixed-wood forest in Alberta we obtained 29 isolates of a unique species of Leptographium. This species displayed a distinct combination of characteristics, including curved conidia on short-stipitate conidiophores, a secondary micronematous conidial state, stalked pear-shaped cells and an optimal growth rate at 35 C, and is described as Leptographium piriforme sp. nov. The isolates were most similar morphologically to L. crassivaginatum, but ITS sequence comparisons indicate that our isolates cannot be assigned to this or any other sequenced species in the genus. Initial observations on the pear-shaped cells in feeding experiments with Sancassania berlesei show that these structures may act as a nutritional incentive for visiting arthropods. Most arthropods carrying this new species were caught in traps baited with dung which, in light of its optimum growth temperature, suggests a coprophilous phase in the life cycle of this species. Additional isolates from woody species typical of the survey area might clarify whether Leptographium piriforme in its forest habitat occurs as a plant pathogen or saprobe.

Key words: Bromatia, Coprophilous, Leptographium, ITS, Morphology, Ophiostomatales

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. Lu, C. Decock, X. Y. Zhang, and H. Maraite Leptographium sinoprocerum sp. nov., an undescribed species associated with Pinus tabuliformis-Dendroctonus valens in northern China. Mycologia, March 1, 2008; 100(2): 275 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.D. Greif and R.S. Currah Patterns in the occurrence of saprophytic fungi carried by arthropods caught in traps baited with rotted wood and dung Mycologia, January 1, 2007; 99(1): 7 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]