Cultural and enzymatic activity studies of a pathogenic wood-decaying fungus Fomitiporia hippophaeicola (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota), recollected in the Eastern Caucasus

Stenotrophic basidiomycete fungus Fomitiporia hippophaeicola, being a wood-decaying pathogen of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), has been recollected after 48 years in the Eastern Caucasus during the mycological and phytopathological investigations in the inner-mountainous part of the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. The identity of the species was confirmed by both morphological and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nrDNA data. We introduced and characterized the dikaryotic strain of F. hippophaeicola deposited for permanent storage to the Basidiomycete Culture Collection of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (LE-BIN). The morphological features and growth parameters of this xylotrophic fungus with phytopathogenic activity under cultivation on different agarized media (BWA, MEA, PDA) are described for the first time. The LE-BIN 4785 strain of F. hippophaeicola showed differences in growth rate and macromorphology, while the microscopic characteristics remained more robust during growth on the media tested. Qualitative analyses of oxidative and cellulolytic enzyme activities and assessment of the degradation potential of the strain examined in vitro were carried out. As a result, the newly obtained strain of F. hippophaeicola was found to exhibit medium enzyme activities and a moderate capacity to degrade the polyphenol dye azur B.

Automated summary

The wood-decaying pathogen fungus Fomitiporia hippophaeicola, which infects sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), has been rediscovered after 48 years in the Eastern Caucasus, Russia. The species identity was confirmed by both morphological and genetic data. A dikaryotic strain of F. hippophaeicola was introduced and characterized, and its growth and morphological features on different agar media were described for the first time. Enzyme activity analysis showed medium activities and moderate degradation capacity of the strain towards the polyphenol dye azur B.