A fungal endophyte (NRRL 50072) isolated from Eucryphia cordifolia from Patagonia that produces hydrocarbon derivatives is identified as an Ascocoryne sp. It was classified as Clonostachys rosea (Gliocaldium roseum) strain C-13 = NRRL 50072 primarily based upon its morphological characteristics. The fungus produced slimy clumped conidia on verticillated conidiophores and red- pigmented particles in culture. However, DNA sequence analysis (ITS rDNA) suggested a 99% identity to Ascocoryne sarcoides rather than to fungi assigned to the group of Gliocladium-like anamorphs. Comparative genetic, biological and morphological studies confirmed that the anamorphic stage of an authenticated field-collected culture of Ascocoryne sarcoides AV-70 shares many of the same morphological, and genetic features as NRRL 50072, but the latter is unable to produce synnematal masses unless it is grown on a proper substratum. These data suggest that NRRL 50072 is most closely related to the asexual stage of A. sarcoides, namely a Coryne sp. Serial transfer of the A. sarcoides AV-70 resulted in major cultural changes in the fungus especially in the production of aerial hyphae, pigment production and the number of synnemata being formed. This report appropriately sets the taxonomic framework for further molecular biological and biochemical work on NRRL 50072 and related fungi.

Muscodor albus strain GBA is a newly isolated endophytic fungus from Ginko biloba (family Ginkoaceae) collected in Newport, RI, USA. The cultural characteristics (color, growth pattern) and mycelial/hyphal characteristics resemble many isolates of Muscodor albus. The ITS rDNA sequence of the strain has at least 98% similarity with other isolates of M. albus and M. crispans. This xylariaceaous species effectively inhibits and kills certain test microbes via a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that it produces. Some of the target test microbes were totally inhibited by M. albus strain GBA and not by other M. albus isolates, making this isolate unique in its biological activity. The VOCs of this fungus were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as esters, lipids, alcohols, acids and ketones, including proportionally large quantities of 1-butanol, 3-methyl-, acetate. A terpenoid, not observed in other strains of this fungus, vitrene was tentatively identified in the VOCs of this organism. This is the first record of M. albus in Ginko biloba and is the first report of any M. albus strain from the United States. The organism is normally found in tropical latitudes (16° north/south) but the plant host M. albus strain GBA is located at 41° north latitude. Most importantly, however, the discovery of M. albus in the USA has enormous implications vis-a.vis governmental regulation of M. albus for use as a biological control agent in agriculture and industry, as this organism naturally occurs in the USA. A discussion on the relationship of this taxon with its host is also included.

An endophyte, designated “AV 17-3”, was isolated from a stem sample of an Australian Prickly Tea Tree, Leptospermum junipae, growing in the coastal area of the state of Victoria, Australia. Isolation of the partial 18S rDNA sequence and a subsequent search in GenBank revealed high homology to the fungal genus Quambalaria. Standard scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as environmental SEM of the isolate revealed that it produces widely elliptically shaped spores (4.5–5.5 × 1–2.2 μm) and secondary budding spores (2.0–3.0 × 1.5–1.7μm) on conidiophores, all showing a close similarity to Quambularia pitereka. The fungus produces bioactive compounds that were inhibitory to all and lethal to some pathogenic fungi, such as Phytophthora erythroseptica. It also inhibited or killed other tested bacteria and fungi, including Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas citri, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, Saccharomyces cerevisae and Bacillus subtilus. It is well known that Quambalaria pitereka is a cause of blight in Australian tree species; however, our isolate of Quambalaria produced no evidence of disease in its host plant and exhibited strong antimicrobial activities against a variety of human and plant pathogens. At least one reddish biologically active product was isolated and shown to be polar and labile.