Taxonomy and Biology of Anamorphic Fungi and Agarics
Part I. Introduction
Research area: The group is interested in the systematics and biology of anamorphic
fungi and agaric-like macrofungi. Biodiversity of some anamorphic fungi and agarics,
connections between the orbiliaceous fungi and nematode-trapping hyphomycetes,
molecular basis of invading nematodes by fungi, molecular ecology of
nematophagous fungi, and techniques related to mass-production and formulation of
fungal pesticides are involved in our current research.
Faculty and staff: Xing-Zhong Liu: Research Professor, Ph. D. at Beijing
Agricultural University in 1992; Postdoctoral fellow in University of Minnesota
(19971999). Professor and Director of the Key Laboratory of Systematic Mycology
and Lichenology at Institute of Microbiology from 2001 to present. Assistant,
associate professor (19931997), Deputy Director (19951997) and Associate
Professor (19951997, 19992000) and Professor (20002001) at Biocontrol Institute
of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Teaching Assistant and Lecturer at
Beijing Agricultural University (19861993).
Staff:
Hua-An Wen, Associate Research Professor; Man-Hong Sun, MS, Research
Associate; Hai-Lei Wei, MS, Research Assistant; Guo-Zhu Zhao, Postdoctoral fellow.
Students: Bing Wang, Li-Mei Zhang, Ying Yang, Bin Liu, Bing-Da Sun, Jun-Xin
Duang, Li Gao, En-Ce Yang, Juan Chen.
Part II. Background and Significance
Anamorphic fungi are commonly encountered and important in science and
technology. Nematophagous hyphomycetes represent a special ecological group of
fungi that destroy nematodes and manipulate nematode dynamics in nature.
Information about the systematic position of those fungi and their interaction with
nematodes on molecular and ecological bases is essential for understanding and
exploiting them in biocontrol of nematodes. Agaricalean fungi composed of important
edible and medicinal mushrooms are significant in mushroom cultivation and medical
utilization.
Part III. Major Achievements
1) More than 800 specimens including agaric-like, orbiliaceous, helicoids, and
entomogenous fungi were collected from natural reserves in over 20 provinces,
and about 3000 isolates were obtained. More than 10 new species were identified.
2) Connections
between
the
orbiliaceous
fungi
and
nematode-trapping
hyphomycetes have been extensively established; evolutionary radiation of
predatory fungi of the Orbiliaceae (Ascomycotina) has been concluded by
evidence from analysis of the ribosomal DNA and multiprotein nucleotide
sequences.
3) Hirsutella rhossiliensis and Heterodera glycines as a research system has been
established in this laboratory. A gene hrp1 coding 31 kDa serine protease was
isolated and cloned from the culture of H. rhossiliensis (stain OWVT-1).
4) Quantitative detection and factors affect population dynamic of H. rhossiliensis in
soil were conducted by real-time PCR with comparison of parasitism analysis.
Part IV. Future Research Plan
1) Taxonomy of economically significant anamorphic fungi.
2) Molecular mechanism of fungi invading nematodes
3) Basic knowledge and technique involving in development of mycopesticides
4) Resources of agarics and their exploitation in cultivation and medical utilization.
List of publications and awards (2001-2005)
Research article:
Liu, B., *Liu, X.Z. & Zhuang, W.Y. 2005. A new species of Hyalorbilia and its anamorph from
China. Nova Hedvigia (accepted).
Zhao, G.Z., Wu, W.P., Liu, B. & *Liu, X.Z. 2005. Two new species of Xenosporium
(Hyphomycetes) lacking of secondary conidia. Nova Hedwigia (accepted).
Zhang, L.M., *Liu, X.Z., Zhu, S.F., Chen, S.Y. 2005. Detection of the nematophagous fungus
Hirsutella rhossiliensis in soil by real-time PCR and parasitism bioassay. Biological Control
(accepted)
Wang, M., Zhang, L.M., *Liu, X.Z. 2005. Verticimonosporium verticale sp. nov. from Jiangxi
Province, China. Mycotaxon 92: 197-200.
Cao, A.X., *Liu, X.Z., Zhu, S.F. & Lu, B.S. 2005. Detection of the pinewood nematode,
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, using a real-time PCR assay. Phytopathology 95(5): 566-571.
Liu, B., *Liu, X.Z. & Zhuang, W.Y. 2005. Orbilia querci sp. nov. and its knob-forming
nematophagous anamorph. FEMS Microbiology Letters 245: 99–105.
Ma, R., *Liu, X.Z., Jian, H., Li, S.D. & Chen, S.Y. 2005. Detection of Hirsutella spp. and
Pasteuria sp. parasitizing second-stage juveniles of Heterodera glycines in soybean fields in
China. Biological Control 33: 223-229.
Yang, Y. & *Liu, X.Z. 2005. Dactylella coccinella sp. nov., anamorph species. Mycotaxon 91:
127-32.
Zhao, G.Z. & *Liu, X.Z. 2005. A review of Cirrenalia (Hyphomycetes) and a new species.
Fungal Diversity 18: 201-209
Li,S.D., Miao,Z.Q., Zhang,Y.H., *Liu,X.Z. 2003. Monacrosporium janus, a new
nematode-trapping hyphomycete parasitizing sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
Mycological Research 107 (7): 888-894.
Liu, X.Z. & Chen, S.Y. 2003. Nutritional requirements of the Pochonia chlamydospora and
ARF18, fungal parasites of nematode eggs. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 83: 10-15.
Miao,Z.Q., *Liu,X.Z., Li,S.D. & He,M.X. 2003. Dactylella pseudoclavata, a new
nematode-trapping fungus. Canadian Journal of Botany 81(5): 452-456.
Miao,Z.Q., *Liu,X.Z. 2003. Notes on seasonal fluctuation of nematode-trapping fungi in Orchard
soils in Beijing. Mycosystema 22: 77-81.
Liu, X.Z. & Chen, S.Y. 2002. Nutritional requirements of nematophagous fungus Hirsutella
rhossiliensis. Biocontrol Science & Technology 12: 381-393.
Liu, X.Z. & Chen, S.Y. 2001. Screening isolates of Hirsutella species of biocontrol of
Heterodera glycines. Biocontrol Science & Technology 11: 151-160.
Chen, S. Y. & Liu, X. Z. 2005. Control of the soybean cyst nematode by the fungi Hirsutella
rhossiliensis and Hirsutella minnesotensis in greenhouse studies. Biological Control 32:
208-219.
Meyer, S. L. F., Huettel, R. N., Liu, X-Z., Humber, R. A., Juba, J. & Nitao, J. 2004. Activity of
fungal culture filtrates against soybean cyst nematode and root-knot nematode egg hatch and
juvenile mobility. Nematology 6: 23-32.
Sun, M.H., Liu, X.Z. & Jin, Z.P. 2002. Effects of Paecilomyces lilacinus on egg hatching and
juvenile mortality of Heterodera glycines. Acta Phytophylacica Sinica 29: 57-61. (in
Chinese)
Books and Chapter:
Liu, X.Z. & Li, S.D. 2004. Fungal Secondary Metabolites in Biological Control of Crop Psets. In:
Handbook of Industrial Mycology (Z.Q. An ed.), Marcel Dekker Inc., Yew York. pp.
723-747
Liu, X.Z., Zhang, K.Q. & Li, T.F. (eds). 2004. Biological Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes.
Chinese Sci. & Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)
Zhang, K.Q., Liu, X.Z. & Li, T.F. 2001. Biology of Nematophagous Fungi. Chinese Sci. &
Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)
Liu, X.Z., Yin, Y.P. & Huang, B. 2003. Research and Application of Entomogenous Fungi in
China. Vol. 5. Chinese Agric. Sci. & Techn. Press, Beijing. (in Chinese)
Abstracts:
Zhang, L.M., Wang, B. & *Liu, X.Z. 2004. Hirsutella rhossiliensis: pathogensis related protease
and quantitative detection in soil. Journal of Nematology 36:354-355
Li, S. D., Zhang, Y. H., Miao, Z. Q. & Liu, X. Z. (2001). Nematode-trapping hyphomycetes as
mycoparasites on sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in soil. Phytopathology 91: S55.
Patents:
Liu, X.Z., Cao, A.X. & Zhu, S.F. 2004. A new method for detecting pine-wood nematode and
thespecific primers and probe. Chinese Discovery Patent, Appl. No. 200410098620.X.
Liu, X.Z., Sun, M.H. & Gao, L. 2004. A new cultural method for studying fungal sporulation.
Chinese Discovery Patent, Appl. No.200410008478.5.
Awards:
Liu, X.Z. 2004. Biocontrol resources and their application in management of root-knot nematodes.
The second grade of national science and technology progress award (2004 －
J-201-2-04-R03), Third place.