Gabriela Heredia

A revision of the genus pseudospiropes and some new taxa

Abstract A revision of the anamorph genus Pseudospiropes is made using the morphology of the conidiogenous loci and conidial septation as circumscribing characters. Three new genera Minimelanolocus anam. gen. nov., Nigrolentilocus anam. gen. nov., and Matsushimiella anam. gen. nov. are proposed for previously described taxa no longer fitting under our current Pseudospiropes generic concept. Dichotomous keys are provided for all but the excluded taxa.

Talaromyces ocotl sp. nov. and observations on T. rotundus from conifer forest soils of Veracruz State, Mexico

Two unusual Talaromyces species were en- countered by using heat and chemical pasteurization techniques to survey soil fungi in Pinus hartwegii and Pinus patula forests of the Volcanic Cordillera of Ve- racruz state, Mexico. Talaromyces ocotl is described as a new species based on morphological analyses and phylogenetic inferences made from ITS and 28S rDNA sequence alignments. The geographic range of Talaromyces rotundus is extended to Mexico and its relationship to other Talaromyces species is investigat- ed based on ITS sequence alignments.

The hyphomycete genus Piricauda, with the description of a new species

The genus Piricauda comprises eight species characterized by monotretic conidiogenous cells and micronematous arched conidiophores: P. cochinensis, P. cubensis, P. longispora, P. mexicana, P. paraguayensis, P. pseudarthriae, P. taiwanensis, and P. vulcanensis sp. nov. P. caribensis is transferred to Acrodictys. Species usually colonize dead petioles and rachides of palms in tropical and subtropical areas, but can also be found on branches and leaves of different trees. The species are illustrated and briefly described, and a key to them is provided.

Two new dematiaceous hyphomycetes on Cyathea from Mexico

Belemnospora navicularia anam. sp. nov. and Hermatomyces amphisporus anam. sp. nov., two new taxa of hyphomycetes collected on a rotten branch of Cyathea sp. (a fern tree) in a Mexican forest are described and illustrated. B. navicularia is characterized by navicular, 3-septate conidia with brown central cells and paler ends. H. amphisporus is distinguished by two kinds of conidia, the first turbinate, gray brown towards the apex and hyaline at the lower cells and other type lenticular and black at the center as typical for the genus Hermatomyces. Keys to Belemnospora and Hermatomyces species are proposed.

Antimicrobial and nematicidal screening of anamorphic fungi isolated from plant debris of tropical areas in Mexico

1 Departamento de Microbiologia Ambiental y Biotecnologia, Universidad Autonoma de Campeche Mexico. 2 INIFAP Campo Experimental Mococha, Yucatan, Mexico. 3 Departamento de Posgrado, Instituto Tecnologico de Conkal, 97345, Yucatan, Mexico. 4 Departamento de Biologia de Suelos, Instituto de Ecologia A.C., Xalapa, 91070, Veracruz, Mexico. 5 Unidad de Biotecnologia, Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, A.C., Merida, 97200, Yucatan, Mexico.

New species of Lobatopedis and Minimelanolocus (anamorphic fungi) from a Mexican cloud forest

Abstract : Two new species in the genera Lobatopedis and Minimelanolocus were found during an investigation of anamorphic fungi from plant debris collected in a cloud forest in Veracruz State, Mexico. Both are described and illustrated. Lobatopedis kirkii sp. nov. is characterized by brown, macronematous conidiophores, monoblastic conidiogenous cells, and brown, cylindrical, narrowly obclavate to sub-acicular conidia which differ from those of other species of Lobatopedis in shape. Minimelanolocus limpidus sp. nov. is characterized by macronematous dark brown conidiophores, polyblastic conidiogenous cells with slightly melanized scars, and obclavate, (3–)6-septate, pale golden brown conidia. A comparative table and a key to Lobatopedis species are also provided. Key words : hyphomycetes, microfungi, nature conservation, taxonomy. Introduction Cloud forests (CF) are among the most diverse biomes in the world. In Mexico, this kind of forest, although covering less than 1% of the land surface, contains 10–12% of the country’s flowering plant species (Rzedowski 1996). Because of the climatological characteristics, all kinds of fungi grow in the wide variety of habitats provided by these forests. Unfortunately, CF are severely threatened not only in Mexico but also worldwide. Urgent exploration of the few remnants of such forests is therefore needed. As part of a long-term study of anamorphic fungi from cloud forests, multiple

Fungal Diversity of Central and South America

In the last 30 years, 3757 taxa and 104 genera of microfungi have been described from the Central and South American Neotropic. The Neotropical zone in Central and South America is a megadiverse ecozone where a large number of undescribed fungal taxa remain to be discovered. This chapter reviewed the studies conducted on diversity of microfungi from different substrates and habitats in the Neotropic in the past 30 years and discussed the generic novelties described from these studies. At the same time, the methodology of sample collection, preparation, and incubation used in these studies is provided in detail.

Two new fungi from Mexico: Anaseptoidium gen. nov. and Cylindrosympodium sosae sp. nov.

Two new anamorphic fungi are described and illustrated from a cloud forest in Mexico. Anaseptoidium mycophilum gen. & sp. nov. is distinguished by monoblastic, integrated, mostly determinate conidiogenous cells and solitary, 2 -3-septate, oblong to cylindrical, pale brown conidia that usually remain attached after maturity. Cylindrosympodium sosae sp. nov. is characterized by cylindrical, mostly 4 -5-septate, smooth, hyaline to subhyaline, sometimes

New species of Hughesinia and Stachybotryna and new records of anamorphic fungi from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

During an investigation of anamorphic fungi on tropical plant debris from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, two new species in the genera Hughesinia and Stachybotryna were described. Additionally, 15 other anamorphic fungi were determined; five of them are newly recorded for Mexico. Hughesinia heterospora sp. nov. is characterized by conidiophores macronematous light brown, conidiogenous cells monotretic and dark brown, muriform conidia which differ from other species of Hughesinia in having great morphological heterogeneity. Stachybotryna variegata sp. nov. is characterized by conidiophores macronematous light brown, variegated setae, brown below and hyaline towards the apex, conidiogenous cells monophialidic and ellipsoidal to broadly fusiform, guttulate, hyaline conidia. Descriptions, illustrations and keys are provided.

Merimbla humicoloides sp. nov. from conifer forest soil of Veracruz state, Mexico

Merimbla humicoloides sp. nov. was isolated after heat treatment of soil collected in a pine forest of Veracruz state, Mexico. The fungus is characterized by pale buff to cinnamon colonies that become dark brown to black in reverse and conidiophores that vary from irregularly asymmetrical penicilli to symmetrical penicilli with inflated metulae, and Humicola-like chlamydospores on the submerged hyphae. Phylogenetic inferences made from the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences indicate that M. humicoloides is a member of the Trichocomaceae and that it is related to M. ingelheimensis, Hamigera avellanea, and Penicillium species.