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Mycologia, 95(4), 2003, pp. 714-727.
© 2003 by The Mycological Society of America

Taxonomic re-evaluation of three related species of Graphium, based on morphology, ecology and phylogeny


Karin Jacobs 1

     Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6 Canada

Thomas Kirisits

     Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (IFFF), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU), Hasenauerstrasse 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria

Michael J. Wingfield

     Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 

Two fungi associated with bark beetles, Graphium pseudormiticum (described in 1994) and Rhexographium fimbriisporum (described in 1995), have two micromorphological characters in common. Both species produce conidia with conspicuous basal frills, and the conidia align in chains, despite being produced in slime. The association of G. pseudormiticum with the pine bark beetle, Orthotomicus erosus, and the association of R. fimbriisporum with the spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, suggest ecological differences between the two fungal species. Analyses of micromorphology and phylogenetic analyses of aligned 18S and ITS sequences suggest that these two species are congeneric and should be classified in Graphium but that they represent distinct species. A collection of strains tentatively identified as Graphium spp., isolated from Ips typographus on Picea abies, Ips cembrae on Larix decidua and Tomicus minor on Pinus sylvestris in Austria share the same unusual basal conidial frills and conidial chains. Isolates from spruce were identified as G. fimbriisporum and those from pine as G. pseudormiticum. The strains from Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, distinguished by the reddish color of their colonies, microscopic structures and molecular characteristics, are described as the new species Graphium laricis sp. nov., and the close relationship of this species with the other two species is confirmed.

Key words: conidium development, Graphium, Ips spp, Larix, phylogeny, Picea, Pinus, Rhexographium


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
A diverse assemblage of fungi, belonging to a wide variety of systematic groups, is associated with bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) on conifer and hardwood trees (Upadhyay 1981Citation, Whitney 1982Citation, Kirschner 1998Citation, Jacobs and Wingfield 2001). The insects act as vectors of these fungi, and specific associations exist among individual bark beetle species and certain fungi. Ophiostoma Syd. & P. Syd species and related mitosporic fungi, in particular Leptographium Lagerb. & Melin and Pesotum J.L. Crane & Schokn., are the most common fungi associated with bark beetle species such as Ips typographus L. and I. cembrae Heer (Mathiesen-Kaärik 1953Citation, Solheim 1986Citation, van der Westhuizen et al 1995Citation, Kirisits 1996Citation, Krokene and Solheim 1996Citation, Jacobs et al 1998Citation, Yamaoka et al 1997Citation, 1998Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation). Until recently, synnematous anamorphs of Ophiostoma were accommodated in Graphium Corda (Upadhyay 1981Citation, Seifert and Okada 1993Citation). However, recent studies have shown that the synnematous anamorphs of Ophiostoma phylogenetically are distant from other species in Graphium and should be accommodated in a distinct taxon (Okada et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation). Synnematous anamorphs of Ophiostoma thus were transferred to Pesotum, but taxa with annellidic conidiogenensis and microascaceous affinities related to Graphium penicillioides Corda are retained in Graphium (Okada et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation).

Graphium pseudormiticum M. Mouton & M.J. Wingf. was isolated and described in 1994 from galleries of the bark beetle Orthotomicus erosus Wollaston infesting pine in South Africa (Tribe 1990Citation, 1992Citation, Mouton et al 1994Citation). Orthotomicus erosus is native to Europe and accidentally was introduced into South Africa in the 1970s (Kfir 1986Citation, Tribe 1990Citation, 1992Citation). The fungus is characterized by darkly pigmented synnemata, percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells and aseptate conidia that accumulate in mucilagenous masses, characteristic of the anamorph genus Graphium. Unlike other species in Graphium, strains of G. pseudormiticum produce conidia with conspicuous basal frills that accumulate in a chain-like formation (Mouton et al 1994Citation). A detailed study of the conidium development in this species revealed that these are not true chains (Minter et al 1982Citation, 1983Citation) and are composed of conidia that adhere to each other as a result of the attachment of the basal frills (Mouton et al 1994Citation).

Morelet (1995)Citation described Rhexographium fimbriisporum M. Morelet (as R. fimbriasporum) as a Graphium-like species almost identical to G. pseudormiticum, but he chose to separate it from Graphium in the monotypic genus Rhexographium M. Morelet based on apparent differences in conidiogenesis. Rhexographium fimbriisporum was isolated from the galleries of the bark beetle Ips typographus on Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and is characterized by dark, synnematous conidiophores similar to those in Graphium. Morelet (1995)Citation distinguished his strains from Graphium based on an apparently unique form of conidium development, although it was almost the same as that described for G. pseudormiticum. No reference was made to G. pseudormiticum because Morelet (1995)Citation apparently was unaware of the study of Mouton et al (1994)Citation. This morphological similarity also was noted by Okada et al (1998)Citation, who speculated that R. fimbriisporum and G. pseudormiticum are synonomous.

In recent years, a number of intensive surveys of fungi associated with the bark beetle Ips cembrae on European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) have been conducted in Austria and Scotland (Kirisits et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation). One of the aims of these surveys was to compare the ophiostomatoid fungi associated with I. cembrae with those of the closely related I. typographus, which have been well-studied (Mathiesen-Kaärik 1953Citation, Solheim 1986Citation, 1992Citation, Kirisits 1996Citation, Krokene and Solheim 1996Citation, Viiri 1997Citation). As part of these surveys, a fungus falling within the taxonomic circumscription of Graphium, and with conidium development similar to that of G. pseudormiticum and R. fimbriisporum, consistently was isolated from the galleries of I. cembrae in Scotland and Austria (Kirisits et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation). Unlike G. pseudormiticum and R. fimbriisporum, this fungus is characterized by reddish-brown conidiophores and conidial masses.

The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the taxonomic placement of R. fimbriisporum and its relatedness to G. pseudormiticum. Furthermore, we have included a wide range of isolates, tentatively identified as Graphium spp., associated with bark beetles on spruce, larch and pine in Europe. Special consideration has been given to the identity of the commonly occurring red-colored fungus associated with I. cembrae.


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Isolation of fungal cultures – The strains considered in this study (Table I) all originated from bark beetles, bark beetle galleries or sapwood associated with damage by these insects on conifers in South Africa, Austria, France and Scotland. Fungi were isolated from adult beetles or larvae by macerating the insects in a few drops of sterile water. The water with the macerated beetle or larva parts then was diluted and spread on the surface of malt-extract agar (MEA) (20 g Merck malt extract, 16 g Sigma agar, 1000 mL water) amended with 100 mg streptomycin sulphate after autoclaving. Fungi were isolated from stained sapwood by placing small pieces of wood on 2% MEA. Isolations also were made from stained sapwood of European larch logs, 6 wk after inoculation of adult I. cembrae, following similar methods to those described by Furniss et al (1990)Citation and Krokene and Solheim (1996)Citation. Direct isolations were made from the conidial masses of synnemata occurring in the galleries of the insects. The plates were incubated at room temperature. Pure cultures were obtained by transferring mycelia or conidial masses from primary isolation dishes onto fresh MEA plates. All strains are maintained in the culture collection of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria (CMW), and the culture collection of the Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection (IFFF), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU). Representative strains have been deposited in the Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures and Herbarium (DAOM) and at Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands (CBS).


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TABLE II. Comparison between Graphium pseudormiticum, Rhexographium fimbriisporum (= Graphium fimbriisporum comb. nov.) and Graphium laricis sp. nov

 
Morphological comparisons – All measurements and microscopic observations were made on fungal structures grown 7–10 d on 2% MEA and oatmeal agar (OA) (Gams et al 1998Citation, Jacobs et al 2003Citation), incubated in the dark or in incidental light at 25 C. Measurements are reported as the maximum and minimum values of 50 measurements as well as the mean ± standard deviation. Fungal structures were mounted on slides in 85% lactic acid and examined with phase or differential interference contrast microscopy. Color codes were determined with the Methuen handbook of color (Kornerup and Wanscher 1978Citation). Growth rates were determined on both MEA and OA at 25 C with incident light. Cycloheximide tolerance was determined on MEA plates amended with 100 mg/L cycloheximide at 25 C with incident light.

For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), small blocks of agar about 5 mm wide were cut from sporulating colonies and fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde and 0.5% osmium tetroxide in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer, dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, then critical-point dried (Tousimis SAMDRI PVT-3). Specimens were mounted and coated with gold-palladium alloy (Technics Sputter Coater) and examined with a Phillips XL30 Environmental Scanning Electron microscope.

DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses – Single conidial strains used for phylogenetic analysis were grown on commercial potato-dextrose agar (PDA) (Difco) for 10 d in the dark at 25 C. DNA extractions from pure cultures were prepared with the UltraCleanTM Microbial DNA kit (MoBio Laboratories, California, U.S.A.). Successful isolation of DNA was confirmed on 1% agarose gels. Amplifications of the 18S gene and ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal DNA) were made using standard protocols for PCR reactions. PCR reactions were conducted with Ready-To-Go (RTG) PCR-beads (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, New Jersey, U.S.A.) and the primers NS1 and ITS4 (White et al 1990Citation). PCR products were purified with the UltraCleanTM PCR-cleanup kit (Mo-Bio Laboratories, California, U.S.A.) and sequenced with the Big-dye terminator cycle sequencing premix kit (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems California, U.S.A.) on an ABI PRISM 310 automatic sequencer (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems California, U.S.A.). Primers NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4, NS5, NS6, NS7, NS8, ITS1, ITS2, ITS3, and ITS4 (White et al 1990Citation) were used to sequence both strands of the 18S and ITS regions. Sequence contigs were assembled with Sequencher version 4.0.5. (Gene Codes Corporation, Michigan, U.S.A.); a computer-generated alignment (Wisconsin Package Version 10.1, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), Madison, Wisconsin; Canadian Bioinformatics Resource (http://www.cbr.nrc.ca/) of the resulting sequences together with imported reference sequences from GenBank then was adjusted manually in PAUP* version 4.0b8 (Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony) (Swofford 1999Citation). Bases from the 3' end and 5' end of the 18S region and 5' ends of the ITS1 as well as the 5' end of large ribosomal subunit were excluded from the analysis of datasets to align them with sequences deposited in GenBank.

For analysis, the 18S and ITS-datasets were constructed and compared with sequences of closely related species and genera deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using a heuristic search in PAUP* version 4.0b8. The aligned 18S dataset consisted of 931 characters. In all sequences, characters were treated in the analysis as unweighted and gaps were treated as a fifth base. One area with only single-strand sequences was excluded from the 18S analysis (characters 451–564 in the aligned dataset). Five hundred fifty-one characters were constant, 105 parsimony uninformative and 275 parsimony informative. The aligned ITS dataset consisted of 549 characters. Three hundred six characters were constant, 69 parsimony uninformative and 174 parsimony informative. A heuristic search was performed on both datasets with tree-bisection-reconnection (TBR) branch swapping. Starting trees were obtained through stepwise addition. The resulting trees were used to obtain a consensus tree. Confidence levels were estimated using a Bootstrap analysis (1000 replicates) with the "fast" stepwise addition option.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Morphology – Comparison of the type specimens of Graphium pseudormiticum (PREM 51539) and Rhexographium fimbriisporum (MPFN 1494), as well as the ex-type strains, confirmed that Rhexographium fimbriisporum (MPFN 281 = CMW 6505 = CBS 870.95) has similar morphological features to G. pseudormiticum (CMW 503) (Figs. 1–7). Both have conidia characterized by conspicuous basal frills and are aligned in chains, as described in detail for G. pseudormiticum by Mouton et al (1994)Citation (Figs. 1–2). In both these fungi, conidia develop after percurrent proliferation of the conidiogenous cells and pronounced annellations are clearly visible (Figs. 3–4). Conidia in R. fimbriisporum display delayed secession (Fig. 5), similar to that observed in G. pseudormiticum (Mouton et al 1994Citation) (not considered by Morelet 1995Citation) (Table II). Rhexographium fimbriisporum, however, has larger conidia than those observed and documented for G. pseudormiticum (Mouton et al 1994Citation, Morelet 1995Citation). While G. pseudormiticum is characterized by dark olive-green colonies (K&W-3D7), R. fimbriisporum has camel brown (K&W-6D4) colonies. Thus, based on morphology, R. fimbriisporum and G. pseudormiticum are similar but probably represent distinct species within Graphium.



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FIGS. 1–7. Light and scanning micrographs of the ex-type strain of Graphium fimbriisporum (MPFN281 = CBS 870.95). Fig. 1. Light micrograph of the conidia with conspicuous basal frills forming short chains (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 2. Scanning electron micrograph of conidia showing conspicuous basal frills. (Bar = 5 µm). Fig. 3. Conidiogenous cells showing annellidic conidium development (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 4. Conidiogenous cells with pronounced annellations (Bar = 5 µm) . Fig. 5. Conidiogenous cell showing delayed secession of conidia (Bar = 5 µm). Fig. 6. Light micrograph of a synnematous conidioma with parallel stipe hyphae (Bar = 20 µm). Fig. 7. Scanning electron micrograph of a synnematous conidioma with parallel stipe hyphae (Bar = 5 µm)

 

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TABLE I. Strains of Graphium pseudormiticum, Rhexographium fimbriisporum (= Graphium fimbriisporum comb. nov.) and Graphium laricis sp. nov. used in this study

 
Phylogeny – The morphological similarity but taxonomic distinctiveness of G. pseudormiticum and R. fimbriisporum was confirmed by analyses of DNA sequence data. Heuristic analysis of the 18S sequence data resulted in 12 most-parsimonious trees (Fig. 8). Strains of G. pseudormiticum and R. fimbriisporum clustered together with other species of Graphium, including the type species, G. penicillioides, in a clade within the Microascales. These data confirm that R. fimbriisporum should be classified in Graphium and that it does not represent a distinct genus. Analysis of the ITS dataset resulted in 16 most-parsimonious trees (Fig. 9). Rhexographium fimbriisporum and G. pseudormiticum clustered with other species of Graphium, including the type species G. penicillioides. The ex-type strain of R. fimbriisporum, together with other strains from Ips typographus on Picea abies, formed a clade separate from G. pseudormiticum, confirming the unique nature of the former fungus. One strain (CMW 5611 = IFFF I/2/2/5) from pine infested by Tomicus minor clustered with the ex-type strain of G. pseudormiticum (CMW 503) and thus represents this fungus. Based on both morphological characterization and analyses of DNA sequence data, we propose this new combination for R. fimbriisporum.



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FIG. 8. One of the 12 most-parsimonious trees generated by heuristic analysis of the 18S dataset (1071 steps, RI = 0.811, CI = 0.511, HI = 0.489). Branches with 100% support in a consensus tree are indicated in bold. Bootstrap values are indicated above the branches. These strains from GenBank were included: Graphium penicillioides (AB038423); Graphium basitruncatum (AB038421); Graphium eumorphum (AB007684); Graphium putredinis (AB007683; AB007673); Microascus cirrosus (M89994); Pseudoallescheria boydii (M89782); Graphium tectonae (AB007662); Graphium fructicola (AB007659); Ceratocystis fimbriata (CFU43777); Graphium album (AB007657); Sporothrix schenckii (M85053); Ophiostoma stenoceras (M85054); Ophiostoma ulmi (M83261); Neurospora crassa (X04971); Chaetomium elatum (M83257); Sordaria fimicola (X69851); Cryphonectria radicalis (L42442); Leucostoma persoonii (M83259); Xylaria carpophila (Z49785); Hypocrea lutea (D14407); Graphium silanum (AB007661); Graphium rubrum (AB007660); Exophia calicioides (AB007655); Exophiala mansonii (X78480); Capronia pilosella (U42473); Monoascus purpureus (M83260); Eurotium rubrum (U00970); Talaromyces flavus (M83262); Ascosphaera apis (M83264); Renispora flavissima (U29393); Uncinocarpus reesii (URU29394); Gymnoascoideus petalosporus (U29392); Ctenomyces serratus (U29391); Thermoascus crustaceus (M83263); Byssochlamus nivea (M83256); Eremascus albus (M83258); Auxarthron zuffianum (U29395); Spathularia flavida (Z30239); Cudonia confusa (Z30240); Sporormia lignicola (LU42478); Lophiostoma crenatum (U42485); Pleospora rudis (U00975); Leptosphaeria bicolor (U04202); Innermisia aggregata (Z30241); Urnula hiemalis (Z49754); Debaryomyces hansenii (X58053); Saccharomyces cerevisiae (J01353)

 


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FIG. 9. One of the eight most-parsimonious trees generated by heuristic analysis of the ITS dataset (549 steps, RI = 0.932, CI = 0.915, HI = 0.085). Branches with 100% support in a consensus tree are indicated in bold. Bootstrap values are indicated above the branches. These strains from GenBank were included: Graphium basitruncatum (AB038425; AB038427); Graphium penicillioides (AB038430; AB038432; AB038431); Pseudoallescheria boydi (AF022486); Petriella setifera

 
Graphium fimbriisporum (Morelet) K. Jacobs, T. Kirisits & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov.

{equiv} Rhexographium fimbriisporum M. Morelet, Ann. Soc. Sci. Nat. Aschéol. ToulonVar. 47, 90. 1995 (basionym).

Strains from Larix decidua Strains from Larix decidua infested by Ips cembrae are characterized by a pattern of conidium development similar to that observed in G. pseudormiticum and G. fimbriisporum. The conidia of these strains are characterized by conspicuous basal frills that are produced in chains (Figs. 10, 16). Unlike G. pseudormiticum and G. fimbriisporum, strains from Larix decidua have reddish (K&W-7D7) conidiophores and conidial masses. Furthermore, sequences of the 18S region showed that the strains from Larix phylogenetically are related closely to G. pseudormiticum and G. fimbriisporum (Fig. 8). However, the ex-type strain of G. pseudormiticum (CMW 506) is characterized by a 433 bp Group I intron in the 18S gene. The intron is located at nt1430 position of the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. No introns were observed in strains from Larix decidua or G. fimbriisporum. In the analysis of the ITS dataset, the strains from Larix decidua formed a clade close to G. pseudormiticum and G. fimbriisporum but constituted a discrete group within the clade (Fig. 9). Thus, based on morphology, ecological characteristics and analyses of DNA sequences, we conclude that the red-colored Graphium, commonly occurring in the galleries of I. cembrae on L. decidua in Europe, represents a previously undescribed species for which we provide this description



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FIGS. 10–15. Light micrographs of the ex-type strain of Graphium laricis (CMW 5601 = IFFF IC/L/MEA/13). Fig. 10. Cylindrical conidia with conspicuous basal frill, occurring in short chains (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 11. Conidiogenous cell showing annellidic conidium development (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 12. Three-level branching pattern of the conidiophore (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 13. Divergent capitulum of conidiogenous cells (Bar = 20 µm). Figs. 14, 15. Synnematous conidiomata with parallel hyphae in the stipes (Bar = 20 µm)

 


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FIGS. 16–19. Scanning electron micrographs of Graphium laricis. Fig. 16. Conidia showing conspicuous basal frills (Bar = 2 µm), Fig. 17. Conidiogenous cells with pronounced annellations (Bar = 5 µm). Fig. 18. Conidiogenous cells showing delayed secession of conidia (Bar = 5 µm). Fig. 19. Synnema of G. laricis (Bar = 20 µm)

 
Graphium laricis K. Jacobs, T. Kirisits et M.J. Wingf. sp. nov. Figs. 10–21.


Etymology; from the host Larix.

Coloniae in MEA 25 C pervenientes diametrum 15 mm post 12 dies, in OA ad 25 C pervenientes diametrum 25 mm post 12 dies. Cycloheximidum non tollitur. Coloniae perinum incoloratae in MEA et OA, poster rubescentes. Conidiophora macronematos, synnematos, stipes rubellus ad basim, hyalinum versus apicem. Synnemata (103–) 157 ± 32 (–218) µm longus, (10–) 30 ± 2 (–55) latus in medio, (18–) 44 ± 17 (–88) µm ad apicem, rhizoidea ad basim parce evoluta. Cellulae conidiogenae annellatae, hyalinae, (19–) 21 ± 8 (–52) µm longae. Conidia unicellularia, hyalina, cylindrica, subrotumda, fimbriis basilaribus prominentibus 4.0–6.0 µm x 1.0–2.0 µm. Holotypus: DAOM 229757.

Colonies on MEA reaching 15 mm diam., on OA reaching 25 mm diam after 12 d at 25 C. Not tolerant to low concentrations of cycloheximide (100 mg/L). Colony color on MEA white, becoming reddish-brown (K&W-7D7) toward the center, sporulation on MEA sparse, colony margin smooth, reverse white, becoming reddish-brown toward the center. Colony colorless on OA, becoming cinnamon brown (K&W-6D6) with age. Sporulation and formation of synnemata abundant on OA, sparse aerial mycelia developing with age. Mucilaginous conidial masses reddish-brown, giving the colony a reddish-brown appearance, reverse reddish-brown, colony margin smooth. Hyphae mostly submerged in agar with little aerial mycelium, hyaline, smooth-walled, not constricted at the septa, 2–5 µm wide. Synnemata arising singly or in groups, consisting of a stipe of parallel hyphae, a divergent capitulum of conidiogenous cells and a mucilaginous mass of conidia. Synnematal stipe, reddish at the base, becoming hyaline toward the apex, (103–) 157 ± 32 (–218) µm long, (10–) 30 ± 2 (–55) µm wide at the center, (18–) 44 ± 17 (–88) µm wide at the apex. Rhizoids at the base scanty. Conidiophores produced in the divergent capitulum with three series of branches, with 3–5 metulae or conidiogenous cells per branch point, metulae and conidiogenous cells (4–) 11 ± 7 (–21) long and 1.0–2.0 µm wide, conidium development annellidic, inconspicuous, conidial dehiscence sometimes delayed and thus giving the impression of sympodial proliferation. Conidia aseptate, hyaline, cylindrical rounded with conspicuous basal frill 4.0–6.0 µm x 1.0–2.0 µm, accumulating in hyaline mucilaginous masses forming chain-like formations at the apices of conidiophores, turning reddish-brown (K&W-7D7) with age.

HOLOTYPE: DAOM 229757, Austria, Styria, Kindberg, isolated from a larvae of Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, 1 Jul 1995, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits and P. Baier, (living cultures: CMW 5601 = IFFF IC/L/MEA/13). Additional specimens: DAOM 229754, United Kingdom, Scotland, Atholl, isolated from conidiophores in the galleries of Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, 28 Aug 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, M.J. Wingfield and D.B. Redfern, (living cultures: CMW 5598 = IFFF Scotland/4); DAOM559755, United Kingdom, Scotland, Elgin, isolated from conidiophores in the galleries of Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, 29 Aug 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, M.J. Wingfield and D.B. Redfern, (living cultures: CMW 5599 = IFFF Scotland/8); DAOM 229756, United Kingdom, Scotland, Peebles, isolated from conidiophores in the galleries of Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, 26 Aug 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, M.J. Wingfield and D.B. Redfern, (living cultures: CMW 5600 = IFFF Scotland/11); DAOM 229758, Austria, Styria, Glein, isolated from an adult Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, 25 Jun 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, (living cultures: CMW 5602 = IFFF IC/38); DAOM 229759, Austria, Styria, Glein, isolated from the sapwood of Larix decidua inoculated with Ips cembrae 6 wk earlier, 14 Aug 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, (living cultures: CMW 5603 = IFFF IC/GL/26/4); DAOM 229760, Austria, Tyrol, Ehrwald, isolated from conidiophores in the galleries of Ips cembrae on Larix decidua, Jul 1997, collected and isolated: T. Kirisits, (living cultures: CMW 5604 = IFFF Conidia/1).


    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
In this study we distinguish three species of Graphium, which commonly occur in the galleries of bark beetles that infest conifers in Europe. Until recently, the occurrence of Graphium spp. in bark beetle galleries would not have been considered unusual. This is because the dominant fungi in this niche are Ophiostoma spp. (Mathiesen 1951Citation, Mathiesen-Kaärik 1953Citation, Solheim 1986Citation, 1992Citation, Wingfield et al 1993Citation, Krokene and Solheim 1996Citation, Viiri 1997Citation), and the synnematous anamorphs of these fungi generally have been classified in Graphium (Upadhyay 1981Citation, Seifert and Okada 1993Citation). However, the taxonomy of Graphium long has been in disarray and it has taken a recent series of studies based on DNA sequence data to resolve this problem. In the first of these studies, Okada et al (1998)Citation re-established Pesotum for synnematous anamorphs of Ophiostoma and reserved Graphium for fungi related to the Microascales (Crane and Schocknecht 1973Citation, Okada et al 1998Citation). The next necessary step was the typification of the type species of Graphium, G. penicillioides [epitype designated by Okada et al (2000)Citation], and this study confirmed that Graphium is unrelated to species of Ophiostoma. The results of this study provide further evidence that two phylogenetically unrelated groups of fungi produce synnematous anamorphs, present in the galleries of bark beetles.

Taxonomic confusion relating to Graphium has resulted in considerable difficulty in providing names for synnematous fungi in the galleries of bark beetles (Mathiesen-Kaärik 1953Citation, Wingfield and Gibbs 1991Citation, Viiri 1997Citation, Zhou et al 2001Citation, Jacobs et al 2003Citation). These fungi tend to be similar morphologically, and identifications based on micromorphology and/or colony characters are likely to continue to be difficult. However, Graphium and Pesotum now are clearly separated and a reasonably robust set of sequence data is available for most species of Graphium. This study represents an example of the use of these sequence data, together with morphology and ecological information, to characterise fungi of previously confused taxonomic status.

Graphium pseudormiticum, G. fimbriisporum and G. laricis appear to represent a species complex within Graphium, characterized by apparently unique conidium ontogeny and morphology (Mouton et al 1994Citation, Morelet 1995Citation). Graphium pseudormiticum, G. fimbriisporum and G. laricis not only are similar in their patterns of conidium development, but all three species have synnemata ranging in length from 100 to 260 µm, although those of G. laricis, on average, are slightly shorter. Graphium fimbriisporum can be distinguished from the other two species based on its slightly longer conidia. Colony color is also a useful character to distinguish among these species. Graphium pseudormiticum is characterized by olivaceous-green (K&W-3D7) colonies, and G. fimbriisporum has colonies that are almost dark brown (K&W-6D4). This is in contrast to the colonies of G. laricis, which have a very obvious reddish (K&W-7D7) color.

The three species of Graphium treated in this study occupy three discrete ecological niches. Graphium pseudormiticum initially has been isolated from galleries of O. erosus on Pinus spp. in South Africa (Mouton et al 1994Citation), and we suspect it to be associated with a wide variety of pine bark beetles in Europe. Graphium fimbriisporum appears to be commonly associated with Ips typographus infesting spruce in Europe (Morelet 1995Citation, Kirisits 1996Citation, Kirisits et al 2000Citation). In surveys in Austria it also has been isolated from various other bark beetle species on Norway spruce, including Pityogenes chalcographus L., Ips amitinus Eichh., Hylurgops glabratus Zett., Hylurgops palliatus Gyll. and Dryocoetus autographus Ratz. (Kirisits 1996Citation, Kirisits et al 2000Citation). In contrast, G. laricis is one of the dominant fungi found on I. cembrae and in its galleries on Larix decidua in Austria and Scotland (Kirisits et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation).

When G. pseudormiticum first was described, it was assumed that the fungus was of European origin. This is because of its association with Orthotomicus erosus, which is well known and native to Europe, from where it accidentally was introduced to South Africa (Tribe 1990Citation, 1992Citation). Kirschner (1998)Citation investigated the fungi associated with bark beetles in Germany and reported Graphium pseudormiticum as a common associate of various bark beetles on spruce (Crypturgus cinereus, Crypturgus pusillus, Dryocoetes autographus, Hylurgops palliatus, Polygraphus poligraphus, Trypodendron lineatum, Pityogenes chalcographus and Ips typographus) and pine (Ips sexdentatus and Orthotomicus laricis). He did not distinguish between isolates from spruce (= G. fimbriisporum) and those from pine (= G. pseudormiticum) as separate species and might not have been aware of the description of G. fimbriisporum by Morelet (1995)Citation. In a recent survey of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles in South Africa, Zhou et al (2001)Citation failed to detect G. pseudormiticum. They thus considered this species to be an infrequent or occasional associate of O. erosus. A possible explanation for this could relate to a lack of ability to compete in its non-native environment or the fact that it naturally occurs at a low frequency.

Detailed surveys of the fungi associated with Ips typographus and I. cembrae have been conducted in Japan (van der Westhuizen et al 1995Citation, Yamaoka et al 1997Citation, 1998Citation, Jacobs et al 1998Citation), where both insects are common on Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis Carr.) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi [Lamb.] Carr.), respectively. Neither G. fimbriisporum nor G. laricis were found in these studies. Likewise, G. fimbriisporum and G. pseudormiticum have not been mentioned in most previous investigations of the mycobiota of bark beetles in Europe (e.g., Mathiesen-Käärik 1953Citation, Solheim 1986Citation, 1992Citation, Krokene and Solheim 1996Citation, Viiri 1997Citation). We think that these fungi might have been overlooked in these surveys. After clarification of their taxonomic placement, further studies now are necessary to elucidate the biogeography and vectors of G. fimbriisporum, G. pseudormiticum and G. laricis.

While no observations are available for G. pseudormiticum, circumstantial evidence suggests that G. fimbriisporum and G. laricis are only very weak pathogens or saprophytes on their host species. They also are thought to display limited, if any, abilities to stain the sapwood of their hosts. In investigations in Austria, G. fimbriisporum and G. laricis commonly were isolated directly from Ips typographus and Ips cembrae, respectively, but less frequently were isolated from the sapwood of insect-infested spruce and larch (Kirisits 1996Citation, Kirisits et al 2000Citation, Kirisits, unpubl data). Isolation results indicate that G. fimbrisporum and G. laricis are secondary colonizers of the sapwood of infested trees, following primary invaders such as Ceratocystis polonica (Siemaszko) C. Moreau and Ceratocystis laricicola Redfern & Minter (Solheim 1992Citation, Kirisits et al 2000Citation, Kirisits, unpubl data). One isolate of G. laricis also was included in an inoculation experiment on European larch, in which it caused only small necrotic lesions in the phloem, no blue stain and only very little desiccation in the sapwood of test trees (Kirisits et al 2000Citation, Kirisits, unpubl data).

Ips typographus and I. cembrae are well-known and important insect pests in Europe and Asia (Schmitschek 1931Citation, Crooke and Bevan 1957Citation, Nobuchi 1974Citation, Postner 1974Citation, Redfern et al 1987Citation, Christiansen and Bakke 1988Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation) and both have high quarantine status in North America. Many studies have been conducted on fungi associated with the former species (Mathiesen-Kaärik 1953Citation, Solheim 1986Citation, 1992Citation, Krokene and Solheim 1996Citation, Kirisits 1996Citation, Kirisits et al 2000Citation, Jacobs et al 1998Citation, Viiri 1997Citation, Yamaoka et al 1997Citation) but this is less so for the latter (van der Westhuizen et al 1995Citation, Yamaoka et al 1998Citation, Kirisits et al 1998Citation, 2000Citation, Stauffer et al 2001Citation). One of the objectives of this study was to compare fungi associated with native and introduced I. cembrae in Austria and Scotland, respectively. The discovery of G. laricis as a common inhabitant in this niche in both locations perhaps is not surprising. It does, however, illustrate the fact that still relatively little is known about the fungi associated with important insect pests of conifers, many of which are greatly feared in terms of quarantine and international trade.


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TABLE I. Continued

 


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FIGS. 20–22. Line drawings of G. laricis, Fig. 20. Synnema with parallel hyphae in the stipe and diverging conidiophores in the capitulum (Bar = 20 µm). Fig. 21. Branching patterns of the metulae (Bar = 10 µm). Fig. 22. Conidia with conspicuous basal frills (Bar = 10 µm)

 

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
This study was significantly enhanced and to some extent motivated by cultures collected from galleries of Ips cembrae on larch in Scotland. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Derek B. Redfern, formerly of the pathology branch of Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Scotland, who assisted M.J.W. and T.K. in making these collections. We also thank Keith Seifert and Scott Redhead for advice on many aspects of this study and critical reviews of early versions of our manuscript, as well as Dr. M. Morelet and PPRI (South Africa) for providing us with the type specimens of R. fimbriisporum and G. pseudormiticum, respectively. The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (NRF), the THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and members of the Tree Pathology Co-operative Programme, South Africa, as well as a Strategic Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to C. Breuil, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, is sincerely appreciated. T.K. received financial support from the Forest Ecosystem Restoration (SF008) Special Research Program, financed by the Austrian Science Foundation and the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This paper is part of a broader study of ophiostomatoid fungi on insect-infested spruce and larch in Austria and Scotland.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 Corresponding author. E-Mail: karin.jacobs{at}fabi.up.ac.za Back

Accepted for publication October 25, 2002.


    LITERATURE CITED
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
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