Volume 9 - 2026 - issue 1

1. Enhanced Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes by Mangrove Fungal Endophytes Co-cultured with Pathogenic and Beneficial Fungi

Authors: Bitacura JG, dela Cruz TEE

Recieved: 03 February 2025, Accepted: 03 December 2026, Published: 20 January 2026

Mangrove ecosystems host diverse fungal endophytes with potential ligninolytic activity, yet their functional roles under competitive stress remain underexplored. This study assessed 30 mangrove-derived fungal endophytes (MFE) for their ability to produce key ligninolytic enzymes — laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) — in single- and dual-culture with the pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and beneficial Trichoderma afroharzianum. Enzyme production was evaluated using qualitative colorimetric assays and quantified through potency index (PI), a measure of enzyme efficiency relative to colony growth. Initial screening revealed that enzyme production was species-specific, with only one isolate, Schizophyllum commune RmLE-P12, producing all three enzymes. Notably, Nigrospora and Penicillium isolates exhibited strong Lac and MnP activity, respectively, and with high PI values designating them as hyper-ligninolytic strains. Under co-culture conditions, enzyme expression and growth rates varied. Some MFE showed enhanced enzyme production in response to competition or antagonistic interaction, while others exhibited reduced or suppressed activity. Interaction assays identified six types of fungal interactions, with growth halts near contact (Type C) and challenge species overgrowth (Type E) being most prevalent. Antagonism indices indicated that T. afroharzianum exerted a stronger inhibitory effect than F. oxysporum. This comprehensive analysis highlights the species-dependent ligninolytic capabilities of MFE and reveals dynamic enzyme regulation under biotic stress.

Keywords: antagonism – beneficial fungi ¬– co-culture – fungal interaction – lignin-degrading enzymes

2. AJOM new records and collections of fungi: 201–250

Authors: Luangharn T, Rathnayaka AR, Armand A, Walker A, Tennakoon DS, Gomdola D, Gonkhom D, Bundhun D, Ren G, Gui H, Aumentado HDR, Su H, Shen H, Bera I, Senanayake IC, Promputtha I, Ma J, Liu J, Zhang J-Y, Lei L, Wu N, Afshari N, Chaiwan N, Samaradiwakara NP, de Silva NI, Kularathnage ND, Sysouphanthong P, Zhao Q, Xu R, Jayawardena RS, Khyaju S, Absalan S, Tibpromma S, Karimi O, Salichanh T, Du T, Yang YY, Sun Y, Gao Y, Lu Y-Z, Yang Y, Hu Y, Htet ZH, Luo Z, Hyde KD.

Recieved: 16 May 2025, Accepted: 11 December 2025, Published: 27 January 2026

This article is the fourth in the Asian Journal of Mycology Notes series, enabling researchers to report 50 new fungal collections, including fungus-host and fungus-taxa. Herewith, we report the distribution of taxa in two phyla (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota), four classes (Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Sordariomycetes, and Agaricomycetes), 18 orders, and 30 families. The present study provides descriptions and illustrations for six new species (Amniculicola yunnanensis, Melanographium reniforme, Mucispora yunnanensis, Neomassaria yunnanensis, Neoarthrinium bambusae, and Tryblidiopsis xizangensis), 19 new records, 19 new host records, and five new host and geographical records. This article aims to enhance knowledge of novel fungi, their host occurrence, and geography reports. Comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and multi-gene phylogenetic trees show the placements of the described taxa. Additionally, a platform for disseminating data on fungal collections, including new sequence data, could support future studies. This study aims to expand knowledge on fungal taxa, their host occurrences, and geographical distribution. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses are provided to clarify taxonomic placements.

Keywords: 6 new species – Ascomycota – Basidiomycota – Morphology – Phylogeny

3. Developing a modified mycological culture medium for Malassezia furfur by supplementing sabouraud dextrose agar with extracted lipid oil from egg yolk

Authors: Shalini R, Kannathasan S, Gnanakarunyan TJ, Sivasinthujah S.

Recieved: 02 October 2025, Accepted: 18 December 2025, Published: 29 January 2026

Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a lipophilic yeast that is associated with a variety of superficial and systemic dermatological conditions, including pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic eczema. Though it’s a clinically important etiological agent, in vitro research has been insufficient due to a lack of convenient culture media to isolate and subculture the organism. This study was aimed at developing a modified mycological culture medium for M. furfur by supplementing sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) with extracted lipid oil from egg yolk. Malassezia furfur was isolated from Pityriasis versicolor patients attending Teaching Hospital Jaffna, in SDA with ghee (10%) media, and its presence was confirmed using microscopic, macroscopic, and biochemical examinations. Egg yolk oil was extracted by the solvent extraction method. SDA culture plates with different volumes of egg yolk oil (2x, x, x/2, x/4, x/8, and x/16; x refers to egg yolk oil extracted from one egg yolk) were streaked with confirmed colonies of M. furfur and incubated at 32 °C. Additionally, the optimal growth temperature and the impact of additives such as Na₂HPO₄, NaCl, and MgSO₄ were evaluated. Growth level (5-point scale), isolation, and isolated colony size (mm) were taken on the 3^rd and 5^th days of incubation. Furthermore, the growth of M. furfur in the modified culture medium, incorporating all optimized conditions, was assessed and compared with traditional agar formulations like SDA and SDA supplemented with ghee. The isolated colony size was reported as the mean and standard deviation (SD), and the data were subjected to examination by analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P<0.05) followed by Tukey’s test (α = 0.05) by using software, SPSS Statistics version 21.0. The volume of oil extracted from one egg yolk and the yield in percentage of oil were 2 mL and 33.33 % respectively. Among the tested concentrations of egg yolk lipid oil, the x/8 was selected as the minimal volume required for optimal growth of M. furfur.The organism exhibited optimal growth at 32 °C. Furthermore, supplementation with Na₂HPO₄, NaCl, and MgSO₄ significantly enhanced growth. In the comparative study, the modified culture medium demonstrated better performance compared to the other existing culture media.

Keywords: Egg yolk oil – Lipophilic yeast – Malassezia furfur – Modified mycological culture media –Pityriasis versicolor – Solvent extraction

4. Trends on Biocontrol Potential of Metarhizium: A Bibliometric Analysis

Authors: Balkrishna A, Arya D, Gautam AK, Arya V.

Recieved: 17 October 2025, Accepted: 06 January 2026, Published: 30 January 2026

Metarhizium is widely recognized as an entomopathogenic fungus with a natural ability to control insects and pests. It has the dual ability to act as a biopesticide and a significant plant growth promoter. This bibliometric analysis was conducted to study global research trends on Metarhizium biocontrol from 2001 to 2024, based on the 772 publications indexed in the Scopus database. VOSviewer and the R Bibliometrix package have been used to examine publication trends, citation patterns, influential authors, journals, institutions, and international collaborations. The results show consistent research productivity with an annual growth rate of 7.6%, which has significantly increased after 2015. The analysis revealed that the highly cited studies are focused on host-pathogen interactions, comparative genomics, and ecological safety of Metarhizium species. Countries like China, Brazil, and the United States are the global centers, while India, Spain, and Kenya are the emerging contributors to the Metarhizium biocontrol research. In recent years, the research themes have evolved from taxonomy and pathogenicity studies to molecular biology and applied pest management for integrated pest management strategies. The analysis reveals strong global progress; however, gaps remain at the stages of formulation stability, field-level trials under diverse climatic conditions, and non-target ecological safety. The integration of advanced genomics with formulation technology and improving international collaborations are vital to enhancing the practical use of Metarhizium species for eco-friendly biocontrol. This study presents the first comprehensive bibliometric mapping of biocontrol research using Metarhizium species over a 24-year period, providing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to inform future innovations in biological pest control.

Keywords: Biological control – Entomopathogenic fungi – Integrated pest management – Sustainable agriculture

5. Indian Myxomycetes: A Comprehensive Review and Future Prospects

Authors: Phate PV

Recieved: 15 October 2026, Accepted: 08 December 2025, Published: 30 January 2026

Myxomycetes, commonly called slime molds or plasmodial slime molds, are a unique group of protists combining features of both protozoans and fungi. Nearly 535 species have been recorded from India, reflecting its remarkable diversity for this group of organisms. Although earlier reviews have largely emphasized taxonomy, comparatively little focus has been placed on ecological, cultural, and applied aspects of myxomycetes. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of Indian contributions, integrating taxonomic, ecological, experimental, and applied perspectives, and highlights emerging research directions and future prospects in the field.

Keywords: biochemical – cultivation – ecology – India – physiology – slime molds – taxonomy

6. A Checklist of Myxomycetes from Kazakhstan

Authors: Azirakhmet Z, Zemlyanskaya I, Novozhilov YK, Shchepin O, Nursafina A, Bersimbayev R, Schnittler M.

Recieved: 03 November 2025, Accepted: 15 January 2026, Published: 30 January 2026

This paper presents an annotated checklist of myxomycetes recorded from Kazakhstan, comprising 193 species accepted according to the current taxonomy. The checklist synthesizes data from a comprehensive evaluation of 26 relevant publications; species mentioned in these sources were treated as records unless explicitly referencing primary data of another study. Among the major vegetation zones, mountain coniferous forests where most diverse (115 taxa recorded), followed by forest steppe (87), semidesert (71), extra zonal forests in steppe (69), steppe (49), desert (48), and open mountain (25) biomes. Decaying wood was the most frequently reported substrate (157 records), closely followed by plant litter (155). Bark of living trees and shrubs (99) was also important, while living mosses (24) and dung (28) supported fewer, yet often highly specialized, species. Field surveys yielded 109 species, but an additional 48 species were detected via the moist chamber culture technique. Only 36 species were recovered at least once by both methods. These findings demonstrate that field surveys and moist chamber cultures complement each other, recovering distinct species assemblages. The latter method proved to be essential for detecting minute species, particularly those inhabiting desert environments.

Keywords: Amoebozoa – biodiversity – Central Asia – regional myxobiota – slime molds –species distribution – taxonomy

7. Mycelial growth and basidiocarp production of edible mushrooms on coconut waste-based substrates

Authors: Aguilar J, Abon M, Kalaw S, Dulay RM, Reyes R.

Recieved: 21 April 2025, Accepted: 14 April 2025, Published: 11 February 2026

Edible mushrooms are primarily cultivated for culinary purposes using agricultural waste. However, in some areas, these materials may not be readily available. This study explores the potential of coconut wastes as a substrate for mycelial growth and basidiocarp production in edible mushrooms. Coconut water from young and mature coconuts was used to assess mycelial growth performance, while coconut pulp was tested for its efficiency as a spawning material. For fruiting body production, varying formulations of rice straw and coconut coir dust were evaluated to identify the most suitable substrate for optimal productivity. Results revealed that Cyclocybe cylindracea, Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus florida, and Pleurotus sajor-caju preferred mature coconut water gelatin. The mycelial growth of P. florida was optimal in media with a pH of 5–6, whereas the other species exhibited a broader pH tolerance. Coconut pulp demonstrated a comparable mycelial diameter to rice seeds as a spawning material. All the mushrooms favored substrates with a higher proportion of rice straw, as evidenced by a shorter incubation period and primordia initiation, larger cap sizes, and higher yields and biological efficiency. These findings highlight the efficiency of coconut wastes as viable alternative substrates for mushroom cultivation, demonstrating that optimal fruiting body production can be achieved with the appropriate substrate ratio.

Keywords: biological efficiency – coconut coir – oyster mushroom – Pleurotus