Rosa María Arias

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.

A new species of endophytic Balansia from Veracruz, Mexico

A new graminicolous species of Clavicipitaceae, Balansia brunnans sp. nov., has been found to infect Panicum xalapénse. Staining of living host tissues indicates the presence of intercellular endophytic mycelium. Stromata develop just below the nodes on the culms. Balansia brunnans is comparable to Balansia aristidae, B. discoidea, B. gaduae, B. nigricans, and B. strangulans in development of stromata on culms and possession of an endophytic mycelial stage. Among the differences between Balansia brunnans and other comparable species is that it possesses a brown perithecial stroma, whereas comparable species have black perithecial stromata. A key is provided to distinguish B. brunnans from similar species.

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

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.

Minteriella cenotigena anam. gen. & sp. nov. from submerged plant material in Mexico

Minteriella cenotigena gen. & sp. nov., found on decaying bark submerged in a sinkhole from the southern of Mexico, is described and illustrated. The new taxa is distinguished by synnematous conidiomata, with polyblastic, discrete, indeterminate, sympodially proliferating conidiogenous cells, with flat conidiogenous loci and cylindrical, 3- to 4- (to 5) euseptate, hyaline conidia.

Digitella rigidophora and Redbia inflata, two new microfungi from Mexico

Two microfungi collected from plant debris in cloud forests during a survey of the fungi associated with leaf litter in Veracruz are described and illustrated. Digitella rigidophora gen. et sp. nov. is distinguished by polytretic conidiogenous cells having a successive sympodial but rectilinear or geniculated proliferation and with discoid to papillate- perforate thickened conidiogenous loci and digitate solitary dark brown to brown conidia. Redbia inflata sp. nov. is characterized by alternate, curved to coiled, slightly echinulate branches that possess a distinct ampulla at the ends and by coarsely verruculose, subhyaline, 0-1-septate conidia.