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Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species
Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613481501458432 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Yilmaz, Neriman |
| author_browse | Yilmaz, Neriman |
| author_facet | Yilmaz, Neriman |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/88902 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:50.231Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/88902 Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species Yilmaz, Neriman u16002769@tuks.co.za Wingfield, Michael J. Visagie, Cobus Van Vuuren, Nicole Innike Microbiology Curvularia Stipagrostis ciliata Fungal diversity Namib desert Fairy circles UCTD Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. In the Namib desert a poorly understood phenomenon is found, known as “fairy circles”. These are almost circular, baren patches of land that are surrounded by a margin of flourishing Stipagrostis ciliata (Poaceae). Over the past 50 years, these circles have received considerable attention, however, no consensus has been reached regarding their maintenance or cause. One of the more recent hypotheses, is that they could result from the activity of microbial phytopathogens. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of literature pertaining to the various hypotheses surrounding their formation and maintenance, their life-cycle, as well as their distribution. In this study, we surveyed the fungal diversity associated with S. ciliata tissues collected from fairy circles located at two sites in the Namib. For each fairy circle, five samples were collected from the almost barren inside, five from the lush margin, and five from the matrix vegetation that occurs between circles. Plant tissues were surface disinfested and plated onto Fusarium Selective Media (FSM), Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and Dichloran-Glycerol (DG18), supplemented with chloramphenicol and streptomycin. A total of 487 strains, representing 54 genera and 114 species were isolated and identified based on DNA sequence data of the beta-tubulin for Penicillium, calmodulin for Aspergillus, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase for Bipolaris, Curvularia, Exserohilum and other Pleosporales, internal transcribed spacer rDNA region (ITS) and/or 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU) for morphologically unidentified genera, RNA polymerase II second largest subunit for Didymellaceae, and/or translation elongation factor 1-alpha for Trichoderma and Fusarium. The most prevalent genera identified included Curvularia (n = 73), Fusarium (n = 73), and Monosporascus (n = 41), with Curvularia including the largest number of species (n = 12). Four Curvularia species were considered novel based on comparisons with known species using both multi-locus sequence and morphological comparisons. Descriptions of these species are subsequently provided. Overall, this study indicates the rich fungal diversity present in the Namib desert that could play a role in the biology of the curious phenomenon, which certainly requires more explorations in future. Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM) MSc (Microbiology) Unrestricted 2023-01-19T11:09:48Z 2023-01-19T11:09:48Z 2022-12 2022 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88902 10.25403/UPresearchdata.21750617 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Microbiology Curvularia Stipagrostis ciliata Fungal diversity Namib desert Fairy circles UCTD Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title | Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title_full | Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title_fullStr | Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title_short | Fungal diversity in Namibian Stipagrostis ‘fairy circles’ including the description of new Curvularia species |
| title_sort | fungal diversity in namibian stipagrostis fairy circles including the description of new curvularia species |
| topic | Microbiology Curvularia Stipagrostis ciliata Fungal diversity Namib desert Fairy circles UCTD |
| url | https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/88902 |