Dr. Akihiko (Aki) Tsuneda, Research Associate
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Contact
Room: B 602A, Biological Sciences Bldg.
Phone: (780) 492-7010
Fax: (780) 492-9234
Email: atsuneda@ualberta.ca
Academic Degrees
BAg: Hokkaido University, Japan, 1969
MAg: Hokkaido University, Japan, 1971
PhD: University of Alberta , 1977
1. Black endoconidial fungi: conidiogenesis, phylogenetic relationships, and ecology.
Melanized fungi living in extreme habitats (e.g. desert rocks) are mostly yeast-like and (or) meristematic and thus they are called “black yeasts” or “ black meristematic fungi ” (BMF). We recently found that BMF are common in Alberta on such substrates as tree bark and leaves of Sphagnum and reported new endoconidial taxa, e.g., Endoconidioma gen. nov., Scleroconidioma gen. nov., that were phylogenetically diverse. BMF are frequently described as plant, animal, and human pathogens and in fact we found that S. sphagnicola was strongly pathogenic to Sphagnum . We are presently investigating conidiogenesis and pathogenic abilities of two previously unknown BMF occurring on tree bark . Our goal in this project is to provide a comprehensive account of endoconidial BMF.
2. Ultrastructural aspects of plant host-fungal endophyte interactions.
Ultrastructural details have not been documented for the majority of known endophytic associations and it is not known whether there are distinct differences between endophytic and pathogenic interactions at the cellular level. Our current focus is on host defense reactions incited by fungal endophytes to address this question.
3. Ascomatal morphogenesis.
Convergence in form has resulted in problems with taxonomy of cleistothecial taxa based on morphological features. Recent examination of cleistothecial lineages through molecular techniques have provided evidence for placing cleistothecial taxa within perithecial or discomycetous lineages. In conjunction with these studies, we have used developmental studies to reevaluate taxa based on the cleistothecial fruiting body. This project is to address whether morphological clues support the phylogenetic positioning of the cleistothecial forms among the apothecial taxa.
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Last Modified:2007-10-17 |