Recent Papers

Volume 3 - 2012 - Issue 1

1. A preliminary checklist of macrofungi of Guatemala, with notes on edibility and traditional knowledge

Authors: Flores Arzú R, Comandini O, Rinaldi AC

Recieved: 16 November 2011, Accepted: 26 November 2011, Published: 13 January 2012

Despite its biological wealth, current knowledge on the macromycetes inhabiting Guatemala is scant, in part because of the prolonged civil war that has prevented exploration of many ecological niches. We provide a preliminary literature–based checklist of the macrofungi occuring in the various ecological regions of Guatemala, supplemented with original observations reported here for the first time. Three hundred and fifty species, 163 genera, and 20 orders in the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota have been reported from Guatemala. Many of the entries pertain to ectomycorrhizal fungal species that live in symbiosis with the several Pinus and Quercus species that form the extensive pine and mixed forests of the highlands (up to 3600 m a.s.l.). As part of an ongoing study of the ethnomycology of the Maya populations in the Guatemalan highlands, we also report on the traditional knowledge about macrofungi and their uses among native people. These preliminary data confirm the impression that Guatemala hosts a macrofungal diversity that is by no means smaller than that recorded in better studied neighboring Mesoamerican areas, such as Mexico and Costa Rica.

Keywords: Ectomycorrhizal fungi – Ethnomycology – Macromycetes – Neotropical fungi – Regional list

2. Neotypification of Amauroderma picipes Torrend, 1920 (Ganodermataceae, Agaricomycetes)

Authors: Gomes–Silva AC and Gibertoni TB

Recieved: 28 December 2011, Accepted: 30 December 2011, Published: 13 January 2012

The holotype of Amauroderma picipes, described by Torrend in 1920 from material collected in the State of Bahia, Brazil, was recently located in herbarium URM, but it was in poor conditions. Due to the loss of the typical characteristics of the species, a neotype is designated here. The material chosen for A. picipes was collected in the State of Rio de Janeiro and deposited in herbarium SP (95472) as A. schomburgkii f. schomburgkii. A full modern description, pictures of the basidiomata and basidiospores in light microscopy and SEM are provided.

Keywords: Ganodermataceae – taxonomy – typification – Brazil

3. An exceptional find on rabbit dung from Italy : third record worldwide of Ascobolus perforatus

Authors: Doveri F.

Recieved: 07 January 2012, Accepted: 11 January 2012, Published: 24 January 2012

An on-going survey of coprophilous fungi from Italy has continued, resulting in reports of a new onygenalean taxon and a very rare Ascobolus species. The morphological characteristics of Ascobolus perforatus are described and compared with similar taxa. Additional differences between this species and another belonging to the same section of Ascobolus are provided from examination of two Italian collections. The likeness between Ascobolus perforatus and some Ascodesmis species is stressed and further proved by comparative colour figures obtained from Italian collections of Ascodesmis microscopica, A. nana, and A. nigricans.

Keywords: Ascobolus – Ascobolus reticulatus – Ascodesmis – coprophilous fungi – Pseudascodesmis.

4. Crassoascus monocaudatus and Iodosphaeria podocarpi, two new species on Podocarpus parlatorei from "Las Yungas", Argentina

Authors: Catania M del V, Romero AI.

Recieved: 12 January 2012, Accepted: 16 January 2012, Published: 25 January 2012

During a biodiversity study of micromycetes occurring on bark and decorticated wood of a native gymnosperm, Podocarpus parlatorei Pilg., from Argentina, new taxa of Crassoascus and Iodosphaeria were found. They are described, illustrated and compared with the known species within each genus.

Keywords: Amphisphaeriaceae – Ascomycota – Clypeosphaeriaceae – Iodosphaeriaceae

5. Three resurrected species of the genus Bulbothrix Hale (Parmeliaceae, Lichenized Fungi)

Authors: Benatti MN

Recieved: 07 October 2011, Accepted: 26 January 2012, Published: 19 February 2012

Bulbothrix laeviuscula, B. pseudocoronata and B. subscortea are proposed as new combinations in the Parmeliaceae based on type studies. Descriptions are presented and their characters discussed.

Keywords: bulbate cilia – Bulbothrix fungicola – Bulbothrix goebelii – Bulbothrix isidiza – Bulbothrix viridescens – Parmeliaceae

6. Effect of some heavy metals on the growth and development of Pleurotus tuber-regium

Authors: Akpaja EO, Nwogu NA, Odibo EA

Recieved: 12 January 2012, Accepted: 16 January 2012, Published: 19 February 2012

The effects of five heavy metals (cadmium, copper, mercury, lead and zinc) on the growth and fruit body production in Pleurotus tuber-regium was investigated. Lead sulphate, zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, cadmium nitrate and mercury chloride were added to garden soil at concentrations of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol per 3 kg of soil. Sclerotia of the test mushroom were used to inoculate the artificially contaminated soil. Mercury prevented growth and fruit body production in P. tuber-regium. Fungal morphometry was greatly affected by lead. The heavy metal content in the fungal biomass complex increased with increase of heavy metal concentration in the soil. The highest concentration (183.06 mg/kg) was found in zinc at 2 mmol/L.

Keywords: bioaccumulation – heavy metals – morphology – white-rot fungi

7. Stigmidium lobariae, a new lichenicolous fungus from the Holarctic

Authors: Zhurbenko MP, Etayo J

Recieved: 03 February 2012, Accepted: 06 February 2012, Published: 20 February 2012

The lichenicolous fungus Stigmidium lobariae growing on Lobaria pulmonaria is described from Spain and Alaska.

Keywords: Ascomycota − lichenicolous fungi on Lobaria − taxonomy

8. Two new Morganella species from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest

Authors: Alfredo DS, Leite AG, Braga-Neto R, Baseia IG

Recieved: 06 February 2012, Accepted: 07 February 2012, Published: 22 February 2012

Two new Morganella species, M. albostipitata and M. rimosa were found during studies of gasteroid fungi in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, Amazonas State, Brazil. The new taxa are described, and illustrated with photographs and line drawings, and taxonomical comments are made.

Keywords: Basidiomycota – Gasteromycetes – Neotropics – Taxonomy

9. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Chaetopyrena penicillata from Iran with description of a hyphomycete synanomorph

Authors: Arzanlou M, Khodaei S

Recieved: 25 January 2012, Accepted: 02 February 2012, Published: 25 February 2012

During a survey of fungi associated with Russian olive fruit rot in Northern Iran, a coelomycete fungus with setose pycnidia was isolated from symptomatic fruits. The fungus was identified as Chaetopyrena penicillata based on morphological characteristics and sequence data of ITS and LSU rDNA. A hyphomycete synanamorph, which was observed in pure cultures of this species for the first time, is described. The morphology and phylogeny of Chaetopyrena penicillata is discussed.

Keywords: Coelomycete – microcyclic conidiation – Phoma – Pyrenochaeta – setose pycnidia

10. A contribution to the ITS-LSU phylogeny of the genus Leucopaxillus (/tricholomatoid clade, Agaricales), with three new genera and notes on Porpoloma

Authors: Vizzini A, Ercole E, Contu M

Recieved: 01 February 2012, Accepted: 07 February 2012, Published: 29 February 2012

Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS-LSU rDNA sequences dataset indicate that Leucopaxillus, as currently defined, is a highly polyphyletic genus. The new genera Giacomia, Notholepista and Pseudoclitopilus are introduced to accommodate Leucopaxillus mirabilis, L. subzonalis and L. rhodoleucus, respectively. Leucopaxillus subg. Aspropaxillus also seems to represent an independent evolutionary line in the /tricholomatoid clade, for which we suggest resurrecting the genus Aspropaxillus. Furthermore, the morphologically allied genus Porpoloma is also polyphyletic.

Keywords: Agaricomycetes – new combinations – ITS-LSU sequences – taxonomy