Thilini Chethana Kandawatte

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Lecturer at Mae Fah Luang University

Dicephalospora is a discomycetous genus belonging to the family Helotiaceae (Helotiales). The genus currently comprises 19 species. Among them, 17 species have been reported from Asia, of which 14 were reported from China. During a survey of Leotiomycetes, we collected six specimens of Dicephalospora species from southwest China and northern Thaila...

Fungal endophytes have generally been considered as hidden microorganisms that reside asymptomatically within plant tissues and have been exploited for their potential in medicine and plant pathology. They are ubiquitous and associated with nearly all plant species sampled. Even though the exact roles of endophytic fungi within a plant is yet to be...

Blueberry has been a burgeoning fruit in China in recent years, but its perishable nature places a constant strain on industrial development. To determine the pathogens infecting blueberry fruits, diseased samples were collected from Guizhou and Fujian Provinces. Isolates from the samples were identified by morphological characterization and phylog...

This paper represents the fifth One Stop Shop (OSS) series contribution. This series provides background, disease symptoms, pathogen biology and epidemiology (when available) distribution, hosts for the treated genera, and important gene regions for a better resolution. Species that have pathogenic data are also provided under each genus. This fift...

Geoglossomycetes is a class within the phylum Ascomycota that accommodates a single order and a single family, comprising nine genera. Geoglossomycetes is traditionally referred to as “earth tongues”. The class is characterised by tongue-shaped to clavate, stipitate, black ascomata covered with or without black setae, a swollen ascigerous portion,...

Proliferodiscus is a discomycete genus belonging to the family Lachnaceae (Helotiales). In the present study, a new Proliferodiscus species is identified and introduced based on morphological characteristics and multi-loci phylogenetic analyses of the combined ITS and LSU sequences. Proliferodiscus ailaoensis sp. nov. is characterized by yellow to...

In our study, dead stems of two Asteraceae species (weeds) were collected from northern Thailand. Both morphology and multigene phylogeny were used to determine the identity of the taxa. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, tef1-α and rpb2 data revealed two new species Pseudoroussoella bidenticola, and Neoro...

Medicinal plants serve as vital resources for preventing and treating diseases, with their flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, or entire plants being utilized in the pharmaceutical industry or as direct therapeutic agents. During our investigation of microfungi associated with medicinal plants in Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces, China, several asexual an...

Ascomycota exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution across soil ecosystems, with notably higher diversity in tropical forests. The climatic and edaphic conditions in the natural forests of Thailand create a favorable niche for soil-dwelling Ascomycota. This study explores cellulophilic and keratinophilic pleosporalean taxa in tropical forest soils of Th...

Estimates of global fungal diversity have varied widely, suggesting a range from fewer than one million to over 10 million species, with each of the estimates drawing data from various criteria. In 2022, Fungal Diversity published a special issue on fungal numbers. It had been hoped that the editorial would provide a more accurate account of the nu...

This manuscript represents the first contribution to the CREAM notes series, including detailed descriptions and illustrations of 30 taxa distributed across two phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), including three classes (Agaricomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Sordariomycetes), 11 orders, and 23 families. Taxa in this study were collected randomly...

Bats (Chiroptera), the second largest group of mammals, are known for their unique immune system and their ability to act as vectors for various zoonoses. Bats also act as important carriers of fungi, which include plant, animal, and human pathogens. Their roosting areas, foraging behaviors, and even migration routes make bats ideal vectors for fun...

Fungi are ubiquitous and essential to ecosystem functioning and biotechnology and have been estimated to have a global value of US$ 54.57 trillion annually. This is the eleventh in a series of Mycosphere notes where we provide entries on new species and higher taxa, new host records, geographical (country) records, and habitat records of fungi. Spe...

Bats are one of the most diverse mammal groups, with over 1400 species distributed across the planet, and they provide key ecological and economic services. In addition, bats provide an ideal habitat for fungal growth and harbour a high diversity of fungal species. Previous studies have described 423 fungal species associated with bats and bat carc...

In a comprehensive survey of fungi conducted in the northern (Chiang Rai Province) and southern (Narathiwat Province) regions of Thailand, several xylariales-like specimens were discovered. Through the integration of molecular phylogeny and morphological analyses, one previously undocumented taxon, Oxydothis narathiwatensissp. nov., was identified,...

The global diversity of fungi has been estimated between 2 to 11 million species, of which only about 155 000 have been named. Most fungi are invisible to the unaided eye, but they represent a major component of biodiversity on our planet, and play essential ecological roles, supporting life as we know it. Although approximately 20 000 fungal gener...

Dicephalospora is a discomycete belonging to the fungus family Helotiaceae (Helotiales). In the present study, a new species of Dicephalospora is identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS and LSU sequences. Dicephalospora xishuangbannanensis sp. nov. is characterized by yellow-orange, stipitate apot...

True mangroves and mangrove associates are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that serve a critical role in preserving the ecological balance of tropical and subtropical estuarine environments. However, they are not immune to the damage caused by fungal pathogens. In this study, leaves exhibiting leaf spot symptoms were gathered from mangrove estuary a...

In the present study, Chromolaenicola specimens were collected from the dead stems of Bidens pilosa in northern Thailand and compared with other Chromolaenicola species. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses were conducted on a combined LSU, SSU, ITS, tef-1, and rpb2 data set. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses revealed three species, Chrom...

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze var. assamica (Miang tea) is widely distributed in northern Thailand due to its traditional and industrial attributes, including black tea and Miang production. In this study, two Pestalotioid taxa associated with C. sinensis leaf spots were collected in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Species deline...

Chlorociboria , a commonly reported saprobic genus in Chlorociboriaceae , is characterized by discoid, blue-green, olivaceous, yellow or white apothecia, filiform or thin-clavate paraphyses, cylindric-clavate asci, and ascospores that are elliptic to fusiform, or allantoid, hyaline. According to our morphological and phylogenetic studies of nine Ch...

The field of mycology has grown from an underappreciated subset of botany, to a valuable, modern scientific discipline. As this field of study has grown, there have been significant contributions to science, technology, and industry, highlighting the value of fungi in the modern era. This paper looks at the current research, along with the existing...

Velutinus sichuanensis gen. et sp. nov. was collected from dead branches of the medicinal plant Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum (Hamamelidaceae) in Sichuan Province, China. The genus Velutinus is characterized by having cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, septate, hyaline conidiophores, holoblastic, polyblastic conidiogenous cells, and thick...

During a survey of fungi on Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong Province, China, three novel species, Periconia endophytica, P. yangjiangensis, and P. wurfbainiae, belonging to Periconiaceae in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes are proposed based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Periconia endophytica was isolated from the healthy leaves of W. vi...

During the investigations of discomycetes in Yunnan, China, five species of Tatraea were discovered on decayed, decorticated oak trees or unidentified wood. All species have typical disc-like, large fruiting bodies with grey, brown or greyish-green colors. The ITS sequence analysis showed that they belong to Tatraea (Helotiaceae, Helotiales) and th...

Peatswamp forest is a unique habitat that supports high biodiversity, particularly fungal diversity. The current study collected submerged and dead plant parts from Eleiodoxa conferta , Eugeissona tristis and Licuala paludosa from a peatswamp forest in Narathiwat Province, Thailand. Morphological features coupled with multigene phylogenetic analyse...

Aims: This study aimed to identify endophytic fungi from Anthemis altissima, Matricaria parthenium, Cichorium intybus, Achillea millefolium, and A. filipendulina with plant-promoting ability on the ZP684 maize hybrid-cultivar. Methods and results: Plants were collected from northeast-Iran and endophytic fungi were isolated and identified using part...

During our taxonomic effort to document the woody litter microfungi of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), two collections of lophiostomataceae-like taxa were isolated from terrestrial habitats in China. Flabellascoma lancangense sp. nov. was isolated from dead woody twigs of Castanopsis indica, and a new collection was made for Biappendiculispora...

Coffee is one of the most important cash crops native to north-central Africa, and the second most popular beverage ingredient worldwide. Coffee-associated fungal pathogens have been well studied, but few studies have reported saprobes of coffee. In China, Yunnan Province is the main region of coffee plantations and production. To investigate sapro...

The Global Consortium for the Classification of Fungi and fungus-like taxa is an international initiative of more than 550 mycologists to develop an electronic structure for the classification of these organisms. The members of the Consortium originate from 55 countries/regions worldwide, from a wide range of disciplines, and include senior, mid-ca...

This article is the third in the Asian Journal of Mycology Notes series, wherein we report 50 new fungal collections distributed in two phyla, five classes, 16 orders and 35 families. The present study provides descriptions and illustrations for five new species (Acrocalymma hyaline, Allocryptovalsa aquilariae, Alternaria arida, Apoharknessia thail...

Apiospora, an ascomycetous genus in Apiosporaceae, comprises saprobes, endophytes, and pathogens of humans and plants. They have a cosmopolitan distribution with a wide range of hosts reported from Asia. In the present study, we collected and isolated Apiospora species from Wurfbainia villosa and grasses in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces in China....

Soil covers a large area of the earth's crust and supports a high level of bio-diversity. This diversity is influenced by numerous geobiological variables, which impact soil fungal distribution worldwide. The taxonomy of soil-associated fungi has been investigated over the years using various approaches. To recover below-ground fungal species, rese...

A new fungal species found on decaying wood in a mangrove habitat is described. The analysis of combined LSU, ITS, and rpb2 sequence data revealed that it belongs to the family Paradictyoarthriniaceae (Pleosporales). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were used to determine the taxon’s phylogenetic affinities. The novel species is typical of...

In this study, a saprobic species of Murichromolaenicola (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Dothideomycetes) was collected from dead stems of Chromolaena odorata in northern Thailand. It is introduced as a new species Murichromolaenicola thailandensis sp. nov. based on morphology and multigene phylogeny of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, tef1-α, and rpb2 sequence data. M...

Lasiodiplodia (Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales) has a global distribution and occurs on a wide range of monocotyledonous, dicotyledonous, and gymnospermous hosts. Most Lasiodiplodia species are pathogens that cause various diseases, such as stem cankers, stem and branch gummosis, shoot blight, and fruit rot. In addition, Lasiodiplodia species...

Fungi are adapted to diverse environments, where the forest soils have complex fungal communities with a wide range of lifestyles. This study aims to explore and isolate Dothideomycetes from the forest soils in Thailand. Sampling sites were located in Chiang Rai and Krabi provinces. Cultures were obtained through soil dilution series, and the strai...

Grape is an important crop due to its consumption as fresh fruit as well as the secondary products developed from the berries such as wines, jams, juice, jellies, and vinegar. Postharvest losses in grapes can adversely affect their market value and the quality of the secondary products developed from grapes. These losses can be due to pathogenic in...

This is the eighth of the series Mycosphere notes wherein we provide descriptions and notes on various fungal genera. In this compilation, we introduce Neophaeosphaeriopsis (Phaeosphaeriaceae) as a new genus, and 25 new species. The new species are Acrodictys bambusae (Acrodictyaceae), Acrogenospora guizhouensis (Acrogenosporaceae), Aureobasidium x...

Bats represent the second largest mammal group, with over 1400 known species dispersed across six continents. Bats are unique in many ways. Notably, their incredible longevity, with a life span of up to ten times longer than what might be expected from their body size and a unique ability to tolerate viruses without displaying any symptoms, means t...

During our excursions for discomycetes from 2019–2021 in forests and plantations in northern Thailand, several Lambertella-like specimens were found. Morphological observation and BLAST sequence data search confirmed that six newly collected specimens belong to Lambertella . Further phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood and Bayesian infere...

Leaf litter is an essential functional aspect of forest ecosystems, acting as a source of organic matter, a protective layer in forest soils, and a nurturing habitat for micro-and macro-organisms. Through their successional occurrence, litter-inhabiting microfungi play a key role in litter decomposition and nutrient recycling. Despite their importa...

Xylariales members have conspicuous to inconspicuous perithecia with unitunicate asci. The most known species are endophytes and saprobes, known to produce secondary metabolites with fundamental importance in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The current study collected samples from decaying barks of Quercus kingiana at Doi Inthanon Natio...

Lestari AS, Ekanayaka AH, Chethana KWT 2023-Phytopathogenic discomycetes, their economic impacts and control applications. Abstract Discomycetes is an artificial group in Ascomycota, comprising fungal species bearing saucer-, cup-or disc-like ascoma. There are many records of phytopathogenic discomycetes causing diseases in a wide range of vascular...

The effector proteins secreted by a pathogen not only promote the virulence and infection of the pathogen but also trigger plant defense response. Lasiodiplodia theobromae secretes many effectors that modulate and hijack grape processes to colonize host cells, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we report LtGAPR1, which has been p...

Botryosphaeriales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) occur in a wide range of habitats as endo-phytes, saprobes, and pathogens. The order Botryosphaeriales has not been subjected to evaluation since 2019 by Phillips and co-authors using phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses. Subsequently, many studies introduced novel taxa into the order and revised se...

There is an increase in the number of discomycetes and fungal taxonomic and phylogenetic investigations being conducted around the world. Previous research on discomycete fungi has been disjointedly documented. As a result, there is a need for an online platform to update the taxonomy and phylogeny of discomycetes. Discomycetes.org was created to p...

Hypomyces is an important genus of fungicolous fungi associated with different ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Numerous researchers have conducted morphological and molecular studies on this genus. In this study, we collected submerged branches of Fagus sp. from Mazandaran Province in Iran, from which a fungal isolate was obtained. Morphology coupl...

Neodeightonia species are mostly known from bamboo and palms. During an investigation of Botryosphaeriaceae species in northern Thailand, three Neodeightonia isolates were obtained. Morphological characteristics coupled with phylogenetic analyses based on the combined ITS, LSU, SSU and tef sequence data indicated that these taxa can be recognized a...

An updated account of Fagales-inhabiting Italian Ascomycota and mycogeography, with additions to Pezizomycotina. Abstract Studies of plant-associated Ascomycota are topical, as they have varied life modes depending on their hosts in different ecosystems. In Italy, Fagales are economically and ecologically important plants, especially in the Alps an...

Weeds are one of the major threats to the agricultural sector as well as to the natural environment, and it is important to control them. They cause serious threats to commercial crop production, global vegetation, and human health. Invasion by exotic weed species imposes a significant impact on native plant communities and their biodiversity, lead...

Dothiorella species occur on a wide range of plants as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens. This genus is characterized by pigmented, 1-septate ascospores, and conidia that become brown and 1-septate while still attached to the conidiogenous cells. In the current study, we introduce a novel saprobic species, Dothiorella chiangmaiensis, from dead bra...

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is known as a diverse geographic landscape and one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world with a high fungal diversity. Collections were carried out in terrestrial habitats to determine the diversity of woody litter fungi in the GMS, with an emphasis on northern Thailand and the Yunnan Province of China...

Sweet cherry is an important fruit crop in China with a high economic value. From 2019 to 2020, a leaf spot disease was reported, with purplish-brown circular lesions in three cultivating regions in China. Twenty-four Fusarium isolates were obtained from diseased samples and were identified based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phy...

Fungi are an understudied resource possessing huge potential for developing products that can greatly improve human well-being. In the current paper, we highlight some important discoveries and developments in applied mycology and interdisciplinary Life Science research. These examples concern recently introduced drugs for the treatment of infectio...

Botryosphaeriaceae is the largest family in Botryosphaeriales, consisting of 22 genera. The family is worldwide in distribution and occurs on a wide variety of plant hosts. Botryosphaeriaceae includes endophytic, saprobic, and plant pathogenic species associated with canker and die-back diseases, most common on woody plants. The present study estab...

This study describes a new species, Diplocarpa constans, collected from southwestern China, characterized by its excipulum with a negative ionomidotic reaction. Phylogenetic analyses based on the combined LSU, ITS and SSU dataset supported the establishment of the new species within Diplocarpa. The study discusses the differences between the new sp...

Lophiostomataceae species commonly occur as saprobes on twigs, stems or bark on diverse woody and herbaceous plants in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the present study, we introduce Lophiostoma khanzada-kirgizbaeva sp. nov. and Paucispora xishanensis sp. nov. as new species isolated from woody substrates from Uzbekistan and China, respectivel...

The NmrA-like proteins have been reported to be important nitrogen metabolism regulators and virulence factors in herbaceous plant pathogens. However, their role in the woody plant pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae is less clear. In the current study, we identified a putative NmrA-like protein, Lws1, in L. theobromae and investigated its pathogenic...

Calycina-like specimens were collected in Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand. The combined phylogeny of ITS and LSU based on maximum likelihood and bayesian inference analyses confirmed the taxonomic placement of our specimen in Pezizellaceae. Based on morphology and multi-gene phylogeny, the new discomycete specimen was identified as Calycina mo...

Dicephalospora is a genus of Helotiaceae (Helotiales) that presently comprises 14 species, all of which were collected from Asia. The current study describes three additional species and a collection from Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai Provinces, Thailand. The new fungi were identified based on morphological characteristics coupled with phylogenetic ana...

The ascomycete class Dothideomycetes encompasses a diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by bitunicate asci, typically with fissitunicate dehiscence. Species are mostly saprobes, with the asexual states acting as important plant pathogens. Some members are also endophytes, epiphytes, fungicolous, lichenized, or lichenicolous fungi. They occur...

A new species, Chlorociboria daliensis, was discovered on decayed decorticated wood in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Chlorociboria daliensis can be distinguished from other Chlorociboria species by the colour of their discs which are light blue when fresh, pale yellowish-green, green or dark green when dry, branched paraphyses, cylindric or...

During an investigation of fungal saprobes of Yunnan Province, China, a species in Tetraplosphaeriaceae was collected from decaying stems of Saccharum arundinaceum (Poaceae). The taxon has oblong, dark brown to black, four-columned conidia with mostly three long apical appendages. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, β-tubulin and tef1-...

Dothideomycetes is the largest and most diverse fungal class of ascomycetes, containing around 20,000 species classified into two subclasses, 50 orders, 223 families and 2152 genera. Species in this class are characterised by bitunicate asci with fissitunicate dehiscence and include diverse fungal lifestyles, such as saprobic, plant pathogenic, end...

Laburnicola is a genus in Didymosphaeriaceae that includes saprobic and endophytic fungal taxa. The current study conducted in the subalpine region of Uzbekistan discovered a new species on a dead stem of a wild rose plant. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, and TEF 1-ɑ dataset confirmed the new species’ taxonomic p...

Tolypocladium, a diverse genus of fungicolous fungi belonging to Ophiocordycipitaceae, includes saprotrophic soil inhabitants, plant endophytes and pathogens of insects, nematodes, rotifers, and parasites of truffle-like fungi. Here, we review the research progress achieved for Tolypocladium regarding its taxonomy, species diversity, geographic dis...

Plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens are one of the main factors contributing to severe economic losses due to reductions in yield and the quality of crops. Studying the fungal genes related to pathogenicity to reveal their infection mechanism through genome editing can play an important role in the management of these diseases. The clustered...

This study identified the Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) in Taiwan and provides the first global checklist of Botryosphaeriaceae species recorded on this plant. Four Botryosphaeriaceae species, Barriopsis archontophoenicis, Botryosphaeria dothidea, B. fabicerciana and Neofusicoccum parvum were recorde...

Leptosphaeria chatkalica, found on dead stems of dicotyledon from Chatkal ridge of Western Tien Shan Mountains in Uzbekistan, is presented as a novel species based on morphological details and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic relationships of the novel species were established by analyzing the combined sequence data of LSU, ITS, SSU...

Botryosphaeriaceae species are associated with grapevine trunk diseases. Lasiodiplodia theobromae plays a significant role as one of the most virulent grapevine pathogens in the world. In this study, we evaluate the effects of temperature on phytotoxin‐induced virulence in Lasiodiplodia theobromae. The fungal strain is grown in Czapek‐Dox liquid me...

A survey of microfungi in the mountain areas of Uzbekistan revealed several specimens of cucurbitaria-like taxa. In this paper, one new species of Cucurbitaria is described based on a polyphasic approach, including morphological examination and molecular phylogeny. We compared the sexual morph (ascomata, asci, and ascospores) of the specimens colle...

The species is one of the basic units of biological classification. Both species concepts and recognition are essential topics in taxonomic studies and other biological research. In the first part of this review, we briefly discuss the taxonomic history of the class Dothideomycetes. In the second part of the paper, we review four commonly used spec...

A novel taxon, Pseudorobillarda camelliae-sinensis (Pseudorobillardaceae) and new host records of pleosporalean taxa viz. Neopyrenochaeta triseptatispora (Neopyrenochaetaceae), Ramusculicola thailandica (Teichosporaceae) and Vaginatispora palmae (Lophiostomataceae) resulted from our investigation of plant-associated microfungi in Alishan and Fenghu...

Fungi have evolved diverse strategies to acquire nutrients as endophytes, saprobes, symbionts, or pathogens. Appressoria have been intensively studied due to their importance in attaching and breaching the host surface. These specialized infection structures have evolved into various morpho-types: proto-appressoria, hyaline appressoria, melanized (...

This is the opening paper in the special issue of Fungal Diversity, which collates the data on defining species. Defining and recognizing species has long been a controversial issue. Since Darwin's proposed origin of species, over 30 species criteria have been brought forth and used to define species boundaries. In recent times, phylogenetic analys...

In this paper we describe a new species of cave fungus belonging to Sporocadaceae (Amphisphaeriales), collected from Gem Cave, Fumin County, Yunnan Province, China. Initial morphological observations confirmed that our fungal collection is a pestalotioid species. Phylogenetic analyses of combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β-tubulin (TUB) a...

Lasiodiplodia species are commonly as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens in tropics and subtropics. During an investigation of Botryosphaeriaceae in Thailand, two Lasiodiplodia taxa were isolated. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses based on combined ITS, tef and tub2 sequence data support the establishment of a novel species, L...

Endophytic, saprobic, and pathogenic fungi have evolved elaborate strategies to obtain nutrients from plants. Among the diverse plant-fungi interactions, the most crucial event is the attachment and penetration of the plant surface. Appressoria, specialized infection structures, have been evolved to facilitate this purpose. In this review, we descr...

In this paper, we report a coelomycetous fungus that belongs to the family Phaeosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales), associated with the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Morphologically, our fungal collection shows similarities to known asexual morphs of Phaeosphaeria, and exhibits pycnidial, globose conidiomata, a pycnidia...

This article is the second in the Asian Journal of Mycology Notes series, wherein we report 50 new fungal collections distributed in two phyla, six classes, 23 orders and 38 families. The present study provides descriptions and illustrations for three new species (Acolium yunnanensis, Muyocopron cinnamomi and Thyrostroma ulmeum), 44 new host record...

Cancellidium is a remarkable fungal genus which has been collected from wood submerged in freshwater and has unique conidia that are important in dispersal in running streams. With such a remarkable morphology, one would have expected it to be a distinct family or order. However, due to the dearth of molecular evidence in related taxa, this genus h...