The species-rich Fusarium sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC; Fusarium, Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) is well-known for including devastating plant pathogens and toxigenic species. However, this group of grass-loving fungi also accommodates soil saprobes, endophytes, mycoparasites and rare opportunistic pathogens of humans and other animals. Recent publications have highlighted the vast phylogenetic and biochemical diversity of the FSAMSC, although a large number of taxa in FSAMSC have not been systematically described and still lack Latin binomials. In this study we established the phylogenetic breadth of the FSAMSC using an integrative approach including morphological, multilocus phylogenetic, and coalescence analyses based on five gene regions (calmodulin, RNA polymerase II largest and second largest subunits, translation elongation factor 1-alpha, and beta-tubulin). Results obtained support the recognition of 75 taxa in FSAMSC, including all the currently known species segregates of the Fusarium head-blight pathogen F. graminearum s. lat. Thirty novel species are formally described and illustrated, while four phylogenetic species remain undescribed. An epitype is proposed for the generic type of Fusarium, F. sambucinum, from recently collected material identified by means of morphology, phylogenetics and mating experiments, fixing the phylogenetic application of the name. Additional notes are included on the typification of Fusisporium cerealis (syn. Fusarium cerealis).

The Fusarium lateritium species complex (FLSC) currently comprises 11 phylogenetic species, including accepted names such as F. lateritium, F. sarcochroum, and F. stilboides, which have mostly been reported in association with citrus and coffee. Many varieties were documented by Wollenweber & Reinking (1935), which is indicative of a wider diversity of species within this group. The lack of type material in some cases, especially for the older names, means that definition by molecular phylogeny is very difficult. In the present study, we examined 179 strains related to F. lateritium from different countries and substrates. Historic reference material, including representative strains from the Wollenweber & Reinking (1935) varieties were included in this study, DNA sequences were generated for comparison, and the morphology correlated with original descriptions to enable the correct application of older names. Strains were characterized by multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on fragments of the β-tubulin (tub2), calmodulin (CaM), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes, evaluation of morphological characters and host-substrate preferences. The biological species concept was tested by crossings in vitro. Strains previously identified as F. lateritium, F. stilboides, or one of their varieties based on morphology, were found to belong to 16 species in the FLSC, but also to species from six other species complexes (SC), including the F. citricola SC, F. heterosporum SC, F. incarnatum-equiseti SC, F. redolens SC, F. sambucinum SC, and the F. tricinctum SC. Eleven new phylogenetic and two biological species are described in the FLSC, and emended descriptions are provided for four previously described species. An epitype is designated for F. lateritium, and F. lateritium var. longum, a former variety within the FLSC, is lecto- and epitypified, and elevated to species level with a replacement name. Taxonomic novelties: New species: F. aurantii M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. chlamydocopiosum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. citri-sinensis L. Zhao & J.X. Deng, F. coffeibaccae M.M. Costa, L.H. Pfenning, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. crocatum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. malawiense M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. microcyclum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. oliniae M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous; F. rufum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. stramineum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. velutinum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous, F. verruculosum M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous; Replacement name: F. hanswilhelmii M.M. Costa, Sand.-Den. & Crous; Epitype (basionym): F. lateritium Nees, F. lateritium var. longum Wollenw.; Lectotype (basionym): F. lateritium var. longum Wollenw. Citation: Costa MM, Sandoval-Denis M, Moreira GM, Kandemir H, Kermode A, Buddie AG, Ryan MJ, Becker Y, Yurkov A, Maier W, Groenewald JZ, Pfenning LH, Crous PW (2024). Known from trees and the tropics: new insights into the Fusarium lateritium species complex. Studies in Mycology 109: 403-450. doi: 10.3114/sim.2024.109.06.

Well-managed genetic resources and associated metadata are essential to underpin research addressing the challenges to food security, healthcare, climate change, biodiversity, environment, education and our bio-based economy. Culture collections have supported microbiology research for over 100 years, whether they are collections belonging to individual scientists or institutional repositories. The 790 collections registered with the World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM) together hold over three million strains representing a wide range of microbial diversity. This review provides an overview of the uses and outputs of collections that support work in mycology, agriculture and the environment. Further, it focusses on the advantages of coordinating efforts and establishes recommendations to improve resource provisions for research and the development of the necessary infrastructure. The CABI living resource collection provides an example that holds over 28,000 strains of fungi from 100 years of research in mycology. In the modern era, microbial interventions and solutions require knowledge not only of those microorganisms that can be grown and preserved axenically but also whole microbial communities: i.e. ‘microbiomes’. Current technologies enable us to access this latter, hidden resource, thereby facilitating a better understanding of how to harness and manipulate microbial communities to improve crop yields and allow successful interventions such as biocontrol of pests, diseases and invasive species. The WDCM Analyzer of Bio-resource Citations reports that 79,224 strains from 131 collections from 50 countries have been cited in 145,133 papers published in 50,307 journals from January, 1953 until April, 2020. These organisms have a multitude of uses, for example as sources of antibiotics, therapeutic drugs and other active agents. They have been applied widely including in the biodegradation, bioremediation, biotransformation and biotreatment of wastes. Further uses include interventions in agriculture for soil and plant health or biological control of pests and diseases. All of the above may be achieved by individual institutions but, by working together, collections can form a critical mass to focus on key global issues and can achieve much more. Mechanisms are suggested for coordinating collections in order to deliver a more comprehensive support system in the advancement of science and innovation.

The retention of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity in Red Spring wheat seedlings during storage and in vitro protein digestion was evaluated toward assessing the efficacy of plant PAL as a dietary supplement for patients suffering from the metabolic disease, phenylketonuria. Retention of PAL activity in freeze-dried wheat seedling tissues following three months of storage at -20 degrees C ranged from 62% in the leaf to 89% in root/residual seed tissues. After a 3-h two-stage ("gastric-intestinal") in vitro digestion, 36% and 42% recovery of PAL activity was associated with chopped fresh leaf and root/residual seed tissues respectively; however, no activity was recovered from freeze-dried tissues. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of the residual phenylalanine (Phe) after in vitro digestion confirmed that the fresh tissues effected a significantly higher conversion of exogenous Phe than freeze-dried tissues. These results demonstrate that the plant cell walls provide protection of PAL during in vitro digestion. In cases where exogenous Phe (100 mg; 24 mM) was supplied to the tissues, the product of the reaction, trans-cinnamic acid, may have exerted a significant inhibitory effect on PAL activity.

This paper examines the incorporation of both microelectronics and micromachining (termed microtechnologies) as applied to deep space telecommunication subsystems. Using the Pluto Fast Flyby Pre-Project as a main case study we have reduced the subsystem mass by 50%. This was accomplished via the use of advanced packaging {RF and digital multichip modules (MCMs) and Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) for the transponder and advanced GaAs power device technology for solid state power amplifiers}. Micromachined diplexers, filters, and switches using membrane-supported transmission line-technology (MIST-T) provide the potential to reduce subsystem form factor. Another way to reduce mission costs is in the use of both 32 GHz (at Goldstone Deep Space Network {DSN} facility) and 8.4 GHz (at Canberra and Madrid DSN facilities) downlink frequencies. This allows the data to be returned faster, thereby saving both DSN and Mission Operation costs.

This paper examines the incorporation of both microelectronics and micromachining (termed microtechnologies) as applied to deep space telecommunication subsystems. Using the Pluto Fast Flyby Pre-Project as a main case study we have reduced the subsystem mass by 50%. This was accomplished via the use of advanced packaging {RF and digital multichip modules (MCMS) and Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICS) for the transponder and advanced GaAs power device technology for solid state power amplifiers }. Micromachined diplexers, filters, and switches using membrane-supported transmission line-technology (MIST-T) provide the potential to reduce subsystem form factor. Another way to reduce mission costs is in the use of both 32 GHz (at Goldstone Deep Space Network {DSN) facility) and 8.4 GHz (at Canberra and Madrid DSN facilities) downlink frequencies. This allows the data to bc returned faster, thereby saving both DSN and Mission Operation costs.