A previously undescribed Helotialean fungus that is superabundant in soil under maritime Antarctic higher plants

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dc.contributor.authorNewsham, Kevin K.
dc.contributor.authorCox, Filipa
dc.contributor.authorSands, Chester J.
dc.contributor.authorGarnett, Mark H.
dc.contributor.authorMagan, Naresh
dc.contributor.authorHorrocks, Claire A.
dc.contributor.authorDungait, Jennifer A. J.
dc.contributor.authorRobinson, Clare H.
dc.date.accessioned2021-01-06T16:37:32Z
dc.date.available2021-01-06T16:37:32Z
dc.date.issued2020-12-18
dc.description.abstractWe report a previously undescribed member of the Helotiales that is superabundant in soils at two maritime Antarctic islands under Antarctic Hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica Desv.). High throughput sequencing showed that up to 92% of DNA reads, and 68% of RNA reads, in soils from the islands were accounted for by the fungus. Sequencing of the large subunit region of ribosomal (r)DNA places the fungus close to the Pezizellaceae, Porodiplodiaceae, and Sclerotiniaceae, with analyses of internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA indicating that it has affinities to previously unnamed soil and root fungi from alpine, cool temperate and Low Arctic regions. The fungus was found to be most frequent in soils containing C aged to 1,000–1,200 years before present. The relative abundances of its DNA and RNA reads were positively associated with soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations and δ13C values, with the relative abundance of its DNA being negatively associated with soil pH value. An isolate of the fungus produces flask-shaped phialides with a pronounced venter bearing masses of conidia measuring 4.5–6(7) × 1.8–2.5 μm, suggestive of anamorphic Chalara. Enzymatic studies indicate that the isolate strongly synthesizes the extracellular enzyme acid phosphatase, and also exhibits alkaline phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase activities. Ecophysiological measurements indicate optimal hyphal growth of the isolate at a pH of 4.2–4.5 and a water potential of −0.66 MPa. The isolate is a psychrotroph, exhibiting measureable hyphal growth at −2°C, optimal hyphal extension rate at 15°C and negligible growth at 25°C. It is proposed that the rising temperatures that are predicted to occur in maritime Antarctica later this century will increase the growth rate of the fungus, with the potential loss of ancient C from soils. Analyses using the GlobalFungi Database indicate that the fungus is present in cold, acidic soils on all continents. We advocate further studies to identify whether it is superabundant in soils under D. antarctica elsewhere in maritime Antarctica, and for further isolates to be obtained so that the species can be formally describeden_UK
dc.identifier.citationNewsham KK, Cox F, Sands CJ, et al., (2020) A previously undescribed Helotialean fungus that is superabundant in soil under maritime Antarctic higher plants. Frontiers in Microbiology, Volume 11, 2020, Article number 615608.en_UK
dc.identifier.issn1664-302X
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.615608
dc.identifier.urihttp://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/16134
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherFrontiers Mediaen_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectHelotialesen_UK
dc.subjectChalaraen_UK
dc.subject13Cen_UK
dc.subjectcarbonen_UK
dc.subject14C (or carbon-14)en_UK
dc.subjectAntarcticaen_UK
dc.titleA previously undescribed Helotialean fungus that is superabundant in soil under maritime Antarctic higher plantsen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK

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