Marine-Derived Cladosporium sp. MBLC9-138 as a Source of Mycophenolic Acid with Preliminary Antibacterial Activity

Morpho-Molecular Approach Reveals Three Novel Cladosporium Species Associated with Camellia sinensis cv. Fenghuang Dancong in China

The genus Cladosporium represents one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, which are commonly found on plants. The species comprising this group predominantly function as plant endophytes, producing important bioactive compounds, or act as pathogens damaging crops of significant economic interest. Nevertheless, their association with Camellia spp. remains to be fully elucidated, with only seven recorded cases mentioning three known species. During an investigation into fungi associated with tea plant, several Cladosporium isolates were obtained from symptomatic leaves of Camellia sinensis cv. Fenghuang Dancong. Using a polyphasic approach that combined morphological observations with multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), actin (act), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), these isolates were identified as three new species in the C. cladosporioides complex, namely C. dancongensis sp. nov., C. fenghuangensis sp. nov., and C. leptosporum sp. nov. These new species can be distinguished from their close relatives (e.g., C. benschiae, C. dracaenae, C. kuwanaspidi, and C. tenuissimum) by distinct morphological features such as conidial dimensions, mycelial width, and colony characteristics. This study expands the understanding of fungi associated with Camellia sinensis and is the first case in which new Cladosporium species inhabit tea plants. Moreover, it will facilitate further research into the phylogenetic relationships of these new species and their role relative to tea plant disease.

Culturable Fungi Recovered from Deep-Sea Sediments: Diversity, Phylogenetic Placement, and In Vitro Antagonistic Activity Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Deep-sea sediment-derived fungal isolates remain underrepresented in organized living collections for phenotype-based screening. We applied 12 complementary isolation protocols—dilution plating, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) pretreatment, and plate stamping—to four deep-sea sediment materials (2595–6000 m) representing three sampling units from the Mariana Trench slope region and the South China Sea. After morphotype-based purification, isolates were characterized by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) closest-match analysis and phylogenetic placement; selected representatives were further screened against five phytopathogenic strains using dual-culture, culture filtrate, and volatile organic compound (VOC) assays. In total, 159 isolates were placed within Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota, representing 35 closest-match genus-level groups and 22 low-similarity ITS phylotypes (<95% similarity) preserved as living cultures. Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus were most frequent. Recovered diversity profiles varied among sediment materials and protocols, with plate stamping capturing a large, compositionally distinct subset of the collection. In dual culture, all 23 tested isolates inhibited at least one pathogen, with maximum mycelial growth inhibition reaching 98.74%. Culture filtrate and VOC assays produced partially discordant activity profiles, highlighting assay-format-dependent effects. This study establishes an ITS-organized living fungal collection and provides a phenotype-based framework for targeted taxonomic, chemical, and biocontrol-oriented follow-up.

“Edible plant-associated fungal endophytes as sources of bioactive specialized metabolites: antimicrobial and docking insights”

Comparative Metabolite Profiling and Bioactivity Evaluation of Pneumatophore-Derived Aspergillus Strains From Three Geographically Distinct Mangrove Ecosystems of India: Isolation of a New Dahejpyrone Derivative

The land use land cover classes reveal a strong correlation of mangroves with microbial nature, and a first time report, new dahejpyrone (kavapyrone analog, 5) from Aspergillus niger.

Probiotic and Antimicrobial Potential of Endophytic B. subtilis UzMU25 Isolated from Inula helenium

Overall, UzMU25 exhibited preliminary enzymatic, antagonistic, and biofilm-forming characteristics of biotechnological interest, but whole-genome antimicrobial-resistance screening and more comprehensive phenotypic and toxicological evaluations are required before the strain can be recommended for probiotic or other practical applications.

Additions to Didymosphaeriaceae: two novel species of Chromolaenicola crataegicola and Paraphaeosphaeria fulva with notes on antibacterial and antifungal activities

Abstract Didymosphaeriaceae is an important family within Pleosporales, widely distributed globally as saprophytes, pathogens and endophytes on plants, possessing potential for agricultural and medicinal applications. Due to the environmental risks posed by chemical pesticides, plant-associated microorganisms have become an important resource for developing eco-friendly biopesticides. During a study of Didymosphaeriaceae fungi with woody litter from northeast China, decaying wood tissue samples were collected and examined. Through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis (ITS, SSU, LSU, tef1-α and rpb2), we described two novel species, Chromolaenicola crataegicola and Paraphaeosphaeria fulva and preliminarily assessed the antibacterial and antifungal activities of their secondary metabolites. This research further enriches the diversity of plant-associated ascomycetes in northeast China and highlights their potential strains for the development of biopesticides.