The nucleotide sequence of the L RNA of Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV) was determined. Combined with the previous work on M and S RNAs, the whole genomic sequence of this member of the genus Tospovirus was completed. The L RNA is 8,917 nucleotides in length, with one large open reading frame encoding a translation product of 2,878 amino acids (331.8 kDa) on the viral complementary strand. The L protein shares amino acid identities of only 44.3 and 46.5% with Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Impatiens necrotic spot virus, respectively; but an amino acid identity of 91.3% with Peanut bud necrosis virus. Among the sequenced tospoviruses, L protein was the most conserved gene product, whereas the nonstructural S protein was generally the most variable. Comparison of the deduced L protein of WSMoV with those of other members of the family Bunyaviridae revealed that its amino acid sequence includes the reported conserved motifs of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. To develop a method for detecting tospo-viruses by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), two pairs of degenerate primers were designed from conserved regions of the L genes and used to amplify the corresponding regions of the L genes from total RNAs extracted from plant tissues infected with five serologically distinct tospoviruses. The DNA fragments obtained were identified as those of tospoviruses by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. For field samples, watermelon and wax gourd infected with WSMoV, and lisianthus infected with TSWV were also successfully detected by these two pairs of degenerate primers, with a sensitivity similar to N-gene-specific primers. The results indicated that the RT-PCR with the degenerate primers is a fast and reliable method for detecting tospoviruses in different serogroups.

Significance: Antrodia cinnamomea, a mushroom, has long been used as a remedy for cancer, hypertension, and hangover. However, the molecular basis of its medicinal effects is unclear and its genome has not been studied. We obtained a genome draft and conducted gene annotation. Genome ontology enrichment and pathway analyses shed light on sexual development and metabolite biosynthesis. We identified genes differentially expressed between mycelium and fruiting body and also proteins in the mevalonate pathway, terpenoid pathways, cytochrome P450s, and polyketide synthases, which may contribute to production of medicinal metabolites. Genes of metabolite biosynthesis pathways showed expression enrichment for tissue-specific compounds in mycelium and in fruiting body. Our data will be useful for developing a strategy to increase the production of valuable metabolites.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Chamaecyparis formosensis wood has been examined. GC-MS data and retention indices for reference samples were used to identify 32 constituents. α-Eudesmol (18.06%), β-guaiene (8.0%), (–)-β-cadinene (7.89%), γ-costal (7.03%), α-muurolol (6.49%), 4α-hydroxy-4β-methyldihydrocostol (5.52%), σ-selinene (4.78%), santolina triene (4.60%), eremophilene (4.32%), humulene (4.11%), myrtenol (4.11%), and τ-cadinene (3.25%) were the most abundant components. Tests with the typical wood decay fungi, Laetiporus sulphureus and Trametes versicolor, proved the antifungal activity of the oil, as the growth of L. sulphureus and T. versicolor was inhibited at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The following characteristic volatile compounds were isolated and purified from ethyl acetate fractions: epi-cubenol, chamaecynone, myrtenol, cis-myrtanol, 12-hydroxyisointermedenol and 4α-hydroxy-4β-methyldi-hydrocostol. Chamaecynone possessed the strongest antifungal activity, with an antifungal index of 88.2% and 67.3% for L. sulphureus and T. versicolor at a dose of 50 μg ml⁻¹, respectively.