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Resting cysts of dinoflagellates can persist in sediments, seeding harmful algal blooms (HABs). A DNA metabarcoding approach was employed, targeting the large subunit ribosomal (LSU D1–D2) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) to investigate the diversity and biogeography of dinoflagellate cysts from the South China Sea to the Chukchi Sea. The LSU and ITS1 datasets identified 196 and 118 species, respectively, with only 59 dinoflagellate cyst species revealed by both approaches. Eleven cyst species of potentially toxic dinoflagellates and 82 species previously unknown as cyst producers were detected. Cysts of Heterocapsa cf. horiguchii, Heterocapsa minima, Heterocapsa iwatakii, Heterocapsa rotundata, and Heterocapsa steinii were documented through germination for the first time, with the latter three species also detected via metabarcoding. This study provides critical insights into the diversity and biogeography of dinoflagellate cysts by highlighting the complementary detection capabilities of LSU and ITS1 molecular markers and their trans-latitudinal distribution patterns. The identification of potentially toxic cysts and their ecological distributions offers crucial information on the ecology of harmful dinoflagellates. These findings underscore the importance of molecular techniques in monitoring dinoflagellate cysts.

Potentially toxic dinoflagellates of the genus Ostreopsis are expanding their distribution globally, with a marked increase in the frequency of Benthic Harmful Algal Blooms (BHABs). Six of the twelve species of Ostreopsis produce a highly potent non-proteinaceous toxin known as palytoxin (PLTX) and its analogs, posing a significant threat to human and environmental health. The study of BHAB species, particularly the genus Ostreopsis, is a recent development in Mexico. With a comprehensive approach, this study aimed to taxonomically and toxicologically characterize Ostreopsis strains from three locations in the central and southeastern Gulf of California. Morphometric and tabular analyses suggested that Ostreopsis cf. ovata and O. fattorussoi are the most probable morphospecies. However, phylogenetic analyses inferred from LSU rDNA (D1-D3) and ITS rDNA sequences further narrowed our results to the Ostreopsis ovata species complex, which also suggests its dominance in the region. In a composite sample (three strains from each of the three locations) chemically analyzed with LC-MS/MS, no intact palytoxins were found; however, amine aldehyde fragment derivatives common to PLTX, OST-D, OVTX, 42-OH PLTX, deoxy PLTX, and isobaric PLTX, were found at low intracellular concentrations. These findings were consistent with an Artemia franciscana bioassay, as the mortality rate after 48 h of exposure was below 10 % and showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the control and experimental conditions. Therefore, it is concluded that the tested strains of O. cf. ovata do not currently represent a risk to human or ecosystem health.

Alexandrium species are among the most frequently reported in harmful algal blooms (HABs), posing risks to both the environment and human health. During a study of a bloom event in Paracas Bay in the austral autumn of 2018, a dinoflagellate of the genus Alexandrium was detected in phytoplankton samples, and a clonal culture was established. Morphological analyses identified A. ostenfeldii, which was confirmed by phylogenetic analyses based on the LSU rDNA D1/D2 regions, confirming that strain IMP-BG-507 clustered with strains isolated from El Callao and Chilean Patagonia belonging to sub-clade 6. LC-MS analyses revealed an atypical Paralytic Shellfish Toxin profile dominated by dcSTX, dcGTX3, and dcGTX2, followed by doSTX, doGTX2, and doGTX3. Additionally, LC-HRMS revealed the presence of 13-desmethyl spirolide C, which is the first report of this toxin in an A. ostenfeldii strain isolated from the Pacific coast of South America. The unique toxin profile of strain IMP-BG-507 reveals the need to continue studies on different strains and populations of A. ostenfeldii and to deepen the search for new species of the Alexandrium genus that could affect aquaculture development on the coasts of Peru.

A molecular hypothesis of the Infraorder Rhigonematomorpha is presented. The phylogeny recovered using combined SSU and LSU markers suggests that the Rhigonematomorpha is nested within a larger clade that includes Ascaridomorpha, Spiruromorpha and Oxyuridomorpha and is strongly supported by maximum likelihood (ML) bootstrap support values (BS) and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP). SSU and LSU ML and Bayesian analyses recovered Rhigonematomorpha as a paraphyletic clade. In the ML and Bayesian analyses of a combined matrix of complete to partial sequences of SSU and LSU, respectively, Rhigonematomorpha is recovered as a monophyletic clade with moderate BPP but low BS. Highly supported BS and BPP of a combined SSU and LSU matrix support a hypothesis of a monophyletic Superfamily Ransomnematoidea that includes the families Carnoyidae, Hethidae, Ransomnematidae plus a Brumptaemilius, Cattiena, Insulanema clade, and a monophyletic Superfamily Rhigonematoidea that probably includes the paraphyletic families Rhigonematidae and Ichthyocephalidae. It is suggested that the future inclusion of more families and genera might help resolve the monophyly of the Infraorder Rhigonematomorpha as advanced here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squash (Cucurbita spp.) is an economically important vegetable crop in Pakistan, yet its productivity is severely impacted by powdery mildew. Despite frequent outbreaks, limited data exist on its causal agents and host range in Pakistan. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, incidence, characterization and host range of associated squash powdery mildew (SPM) pathogens. Surveys conducted during 2020 and 2021 in the Pothwar region revealed 100% disease prevalence with mean incidence of 50.47% and 59.78%, respectively. Disease incidence was positively correlated with humidity and rainfall. Healthy plant assays for culture maintenance and preservation of inoculum at −20 °C were found the most efficient for maintaining the pathogen virulence even after a year whereas, 500 mg powder/L (3.4 × 104 spores) was standardized as optimum inoculum load for the onset of utmost disease severity. Microscopic observation of each sample identified two coexisting SPM causal agents i.e. Podosphaera xanthii (Px.) and Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Gc.). Nucleotide sequences of highly virulent isolates from pathogenicity tests confirmed the species identity and phylogenetic analyses revealed genetic similarity with global isolates. All cucurbit crops were susceptible to SPM whereas, the weeds were infected by other powdery mildew species. Interestingly, sunflower (both wild and cultivated) (Helianthus annuus) was found infected with both SPM species which confirms the sunflower as potential alternate host for SPM.