Mycenastrum catimbauense(Agaricales,Basidiomycota),a new puffball species from the Brazilian semi-arid region

Mycenastrum catimbauense is found growing in the xerophytic biome named“Caatinga”in the Catimbau National Park,Pernambuco State,Brazil.Basidiomata are found solitary in an open place and exposed to sunlight.The morphological analyses of macro-and microstructures followed the specific literature of the group.The fundamental diagnostic characteristics for this new taxon are the dark-colored peridium and gleba,tomentose peridium and spiny capillitium with brittle thorns.Full description,color photographs of the basidiomata and microstructures of this new species,and a discussion are provided.

Cyathus tenuicorticalis(Agaricales,Basidiomycota),a new species from La Selva Biological Station,Costa Rica

Cyathus tenuicorticalis was found growing on decaying wood from La Selva Biological Station,Costa Rica.Specimens were analyzed using the methodology proposed for the group and specific literature for the genus.The fundamental diagnostic features for this new species are the very thin double-layered cortex in peridioles,exoperidium strongly hirsute,and a platinum bright endoperidium.Description,discussion and photographs of this new species are provided.

Tulostoma reticulatum(Agaricales,Basidiomycota),a rare stalked puffball reported from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Tulostoma reticulatum,until this report only found occurring on the Australian mainland,was found growing in sandy soil of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest.The specimens are described and illustrated macro-and micro-morphologically,and data on taxonomy,distribution and ecology are given.This is the first record of this species outside Australia.

Geastrum hyalinum(Basidiomycota,Geastraceae),a new species from Brazilian Southern Amazon

The genus Geastrum Pers.has cosmopolitan distribution and can be found in humid,arid or semi-arid climates.Geastrum hyalinum is a new species found in the Brazilian Southern Amazon in the Rio Ronuro Ecological Station.This new species can be recognized by its hyaline microscopic structures,such as peridium hyphae,capillitium and spores;indeed,this character is unusual for the genus Geastrum.Description,discussion and photographs of this new taxon are given.

Morphological description and new record of Panaeolus acuminatus(Agaricales)in Brazil

Panaeolus acuminatus is described and illustrated based on fresh specimens collected from Northeast Brazil.This is the second known report of this species for the country,since it was already reported in 1930 by Rick.The species is characterized by the acuminate,pileus with hygrophanous surface,basidiospores measuring 11.5-16×5.5-11μm and slender,non-capitate cheilocystidia.A full description accompanies photographs,line drawings and taxonomic discussion.

Research on arbuscular mycorrhizae in Cuba:a historical review and future perspectives

This review presents the development of researches on arbuscular mycorrhizae(AM)conducted in Cuba,a tropical Caribbean island rich in biodiversity.The key findings from this work are highlighted and presented as a stepping stone for future research.Cuban research has contributed to understand the diversity and functionality of AM in several tropical ecosystems,mainly evergreen forests,agroecosystems,sand dunes and pasturelands.Inventories were conducted in 10 out of 16 provinces reported 79 AM species,representing 25%of the known species worldwide.Cuban researchers have a great deal of expertise in Glomeromycota taxonomy and have described 11 new species,of which six were not reported elsewhere in the world.Furthermore,important studies conducted in Cuba have shed light on the mycotrophic plants,the role of AM in forest ecosystems,and their use in crop production.The contribution of AM to ecosystem processes is a priority line of research.Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary researches are necessary to define the role of AM symbioses and improve biogeochemical models.Recently created Cuban Mycorrhizal Research Network will help to coordinate validation campaigns for various biofertilizers with training courses for Cuban farmers to disseminate the key results on AM.Despite the challenges for Cuban mycorrhizologists,molecular(genomic)techniques,stable isotopes and nuclear magnetic resonance should also be included as priority lines of research in the future.

Phallus fluminensis(Phallaceae,Basidiomycota),a new species of stinkhorn from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Basidiomata of a Phallus species were found near bamboo trees in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden.This species was described as new to science and was named as Phallus fluminensis based on morphological characteristics.A detailed description,color images of microstructures and basidiomata of P.fluminensis,a comparison of P.fluminensis with its morphologically closely related taxa and a key to the genus Phallus in Brazil are given.A comparative analysis of P.glutinolens collections from the type locality was also made.

Geastrum echinulatum and G.rusticum(Geastraceae,Basidiomycota)-two new records for Central America

Present work describes two new records of Geastrum species from Central America,Geastrum echinulatum(Costa Rica)and G.rusticum,(Panama).Identification of species confirmed based on the macro-and micro-morphological analyses and the published literature of the two species.Field photographs,macroscopic and microscopic characteristics,taxonomic observations and a map of collection sites are provided.

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(Glomeromycota)in maritime sand dunes of Brazilian northeast

The symbiotic association between AMF and plants in coastal areas is a major strategy for the survival of native vegetation,due to the ability of external hyphae of fungi to absorb the scarce nutrients in substrates and to further the aggregation of soil particles promoting its stability.Despite its importance to the maintenance of coastal ecosystems,little is known about the dynamics of the AMF communities in tropical areas.The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and diversity of AMF in maritime dunes from the Parque Ecológico Dunas de Genipabu,in Rio Grande do Norte(RN),Brazil.From August/2010 to February/2012,on four occasions in the rainy and dry seasons,rhizosphere soil samples from 48 plants were collected and 46 species of AMF were found,distributed among 10 families:Glomeraceae(12),Acaulosporaceae(7)Dentiscutataceae(7),Diversisporaceae(2),Gigasporaceae(5),Scutellosporaceae(4),Ambisporaceae(3),Racocetraceae(3),Intraornatosporaceae(2)and Sacculosporaceae(1).A higher richness and diversity were associated with dry season.The data obtained show that coastal areas are AMF diversity hotspots,with a high number of species associated with native vegetation.

Forecasting the number of species of asexually reproducing fungi(Ascomycota and Basidiomycota)

Asexually reproducing fungi play a significant role in essential processes in managed and wild ecosystems such as nutrients cycling and multitrophic interactions.A large number of such taxa are among the most notorious plant and animal pathogens.In addition,they have a key role in food production,biotechnology and medicine.Taxa without or rare sexual reproduction are distinguished based on their sporulating structures and conidiomata in traditional morphology-based taxonomy.The number,variation and diversity of asexually reproducing taxa are insufficiently known,even though fungi capable of asexual reproduction may provide an untapped,rich biological resource for future exploitation.Currently,ca.30,000 asexual species belonging to ca.3800 genera have been reported(including 1388 coelomycetous and 2265 hyphomycetous genera).Recent reports(2017–2020)reiterate that the number of asexually producing fungi is higher than the number of frequently sexually-reproducing fungi.With the advent of molecular tools and the abandonment of the dual nomenclature system for pleomorphic fungi,priority criteria were established and revisited in the latest outline of fungi and fungus-like taxa.However,species numbers and taxonomic boundaries of pleomorphic taxa and their synanamorphs or synasexual morphs have yet to be addressed.The number of species of speciose genera(e.g.Alternaria,Aspergillus,Cercospora,Fusarium,Phoma and Pseudocercospora),cryptic species,species of pleomorphic genera,less studied life modes(such as lichenicolous taxa,taxa from extreme environments)and species from biodiversity-rich areas still need evaluation to achieve more reliable estimates of their diversity.This paper discusses the current knowledge on the matter,with diversity estimates,and potential obstacles in several chapters on(1)speciose genera;(2)pleomorphic genera;(3)cryptic species;(4)well-studied but insufficiently resolved taxa,e.g.leaf inhabiting species,marine fungi,(5)less studied life modes,e.g.lichenicolous,rock-inhabiting fungi,insect-associated and yeast-forming taxa and(6)species from biodiversity-rich areas.