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Bat flies are obligate ectoparasitic dipterans that are highly specialised to bats and have apomorphic characteristics, such as absent or reduced wings, and specialised legs and claws, which contribute to their survival. They are often associated with fungi and harbour a fungal diversity that is still poorly understood. Fungi were found in association with the bat flies in a cave of the Caatinga dry forest in Brazil. In total, 43% of the captured bat flies were associated with fungi. Seventy-six flies were collected. DNA sequence analyses of 39 isolates showed that the isolates belonged to 13 species within nine genera, with 38 isolates belonging to Ascomycota and one isolate to Basidiomycota, and Aspergillus was the most frequently isolated genus. Most of the genera found have also been isolated from bat bodies and other substrates/hosts in caves in different regions of the world. Based on morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, two new species of Ascomycota were described: Allophoma brasiliensis sp. nov. and Pyrenochaetopsis cecavii sp. nov.

In this study, we examined endophytic fungi in leaves of Mandevilla catimbauensis, an endemic plant species found in the Brazilian dry forest (Caatinga), and endophytic fungi’s potential to produce L-asparaginase (L-ASNase). In total, 66 endophytes were isolated, and the leaf-fragment colonisation rate was 11.78%. Based on morphology, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and partial large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA sequencing, the endophytic fungi isolated belonged to six Ascomycota orders (Botryosphaeriales, Capnodiales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Marthamycetales, and Pleosporales). Phyllosticta species were the most frequent endophytes isolated (23 isolates [45.1%] from two species). The Shannon–Wiener and Fisher alpha index average values were 0.56 and 3.26, respectively. Twenty endophytes were randomly selected for the L-ASNase production test, of which fourteen isolates showed potential to produce the enzyme (0.48–2.22 U g(−1)), especially Phyllosticta catimbauensis URM 7672 (2.22 U g(−1)) and Cladosporium sp. G45 (2.11 U g(−1)). Phyllosticta catimbauensis URM 7672 was selected for the partial optimisation of L-ASNase production because of its ability to generate considerable amounts of enzyme. We obtained the highest L-ASNase activity (3.47 U g(−1)), representing an increase of 36.02% in enzymatic production, under the following experimental conditions: a pH of 4.2, 1.0% inoculum concentration, and 2.5% L-asparagine concentration. Our study showed that M. catimbauensis harbours an important diversity of endophytic fungi with biotechnological potential for L-ASNase production. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42770-021-00505-3.

Members of the genus Cytospora are often reported as endophytes, saprobes or phytopathogens, primarily causing canker diseases of woody host plants. They occur on a wide range of hosts and have a worldwide distribution. Although several species have in the past been reported from China, the vast majority are not known from culture or DNA phylogeny. The primary aim of the present study was thus to clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of a large collection of Cytospora species associated with diverse hosts in China. Cytospora spp. were collected in northeast, northwest, north and southwest China, indicating that the cold and dry environments favour these fungi. In this paper, we provide an assessment of 52 Cytospora spp. in China, focussing on 40 species represented by 88 isolates from 28 host genera. Based on a combination of morphology and a six-locus phylogeny (ITS, LSU, act1, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2), 13 new species and one new combination are introduced. The majority of the species investigated here appear to be host-specific, although further collections and pathogenicity studies will be required to confirm this conclusion.

Numerous new taxa and classifications of Dothideomycetes have been published following the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013. A recent publication by Honsanan et al. in 2020 expanded information of families in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae with modern classifications. In this paper, we provide a refined updated document on orders and familiesincertae sedisof Dothideomycetes. Each family is provided with an updated description, notes, including figures to represent the morphology, a list of accepted genera, and economic and ecological significances. We also provide phylogenetic trees for each order. In this study, 31 orders which consist 50 families are assigned as ordersincertae sedisin Dothideomycetes, and 41 families are treated as familiesincertae sedisdue to lack of molecular or morphological evidence. The new order, Catinellales, and four new families,Catinellaceae,Morenoinaceae NeobuelliellaceaeandThyrinulaceaeare introduced. Seven genera (Neobuelliella,Pseudomicrothyrium,Flagellostrigula,Swinscowia,Macroconstrictolumina,Pseudobogoriella, andSchummia) are introduced. Seven new species (Acrospermum urticae,Bogoriella complexoluminata,Dothiorella ostryae,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Macroconstrictolumina megalateralis,Patellaria microspora, andPseudomicrothyrium thailandicum) are introduced base on morphology and phylogeny, together with two new records/reports and five new collections from different families. Ninety new combinations are also provided in this paper.

Fusarium isolates obtained as endophytes from healthy leaves of Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Bignoniaceae) in the Atlantic Forest of north-eastern Brazil were characterised morphologically and phylogenetically on the basis of partial rDNA sequences encompassing the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, translation elongation factor EF-1 alpha, and β-tubulin genes. A novel species within the Fusarium lateritium species complex (FLSC) is described as Fusarium massalimae. Isolates of F. pseudocircinatum of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) were also isolated as endophytes from leaves of H. chrysotrichus. Mating type gene analyses suggested that obtained isolates of F. massalimae and F. pseudocircinatum are heterothallic.

A multitude of plants from the Brazilian savanna are known for their medicinal properties. Many plants contain endophytic fungi, which lead to the production of bioactive compounds by both the fungi and their hosts. This study investigated the bioprospecting of endophytic fungi recovered from the leaves of Palicourea rigida, a native medicinal plant of the Brazilian savanna. Four fungal taxa (Colletotrichum sp. SXS649, Pestalotiopsis sp. SXS650, the order Botryosphaeriales SXS651, and Diaporthe sp. SXS652) were recovered. The phenolic, flavonoid, extracellular degrading enzymes (amylase, cellulase, protease, and tannase) and antioxidant activity of these taxa were determined. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity showed that the Botryosphaeriales SXS651 extract displays a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 23.20 mg mL−1 against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the Diaporthe sp. SXS652 extract exhibited an MIC of 27.00 mg mL−1 against Escherichia coli. The Colletotrichum sp. SXS649 isolate inhibited tumors in potato discs by 69% at a concentration of 9.70 mg mL−1. All isolates had potential bioremediation criteria against soil contaminated with soybean oil, as proved by a high percentage of germination of Lactuca sativa and a reduction in phytotoxicity. Furthermore, the taxa under investigation demonstrated antagonistic action to phytopathogenic fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger, Inonotus rickii, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae, and Coniophora puteana, with an inhibition range between 34.2% and 76.9%. The preliminary toxicity assessment showed that all isolates possessed an LC50 of less than 100 mg mL−1 to the microcrustacean Artemia salina. These results indicate that the endophytic fungi of the Brazilian savanna are promising candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications and, in agricultural applications, for the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi.

This article provides an outline of the classification of the kingdom Fungi (including fossil fungi. i.e. dispersed spores, mycelia, sporophores, mycorrhizas). We treat 19 phyla of fungi. These are Aphelidiomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Basidiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Calcarisporiellomycota, Caulochytriomycota, Chytridiomycota, Entomophthoromycota, Entorrhizomycota, Glomeromycota, Kickxellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Mucoromycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota and Zoopagomycota. The placement of all fungal genera is provided at the class-, order- and family-level. The described number of species per genus is also given. Notes are provided of taxa for which recent changes or disagreements have been presented. Fungus-like taxa that were traditionally treated as fungi are also incorporated in this outline (i.e. Eumycetozoa, Dictyosteliomycetes, Ceratiomyxomycetes and Myxomycetes). Four new taxa are introduced: Amblyosporida ord. nov. Neopereziida ord. nov. and Ovavesiculida ord. nov. in Rozellomycota, and Protosporangiaceae fam. nov. in Dictyosteliomycetes. Two different classifications (in outline section and in discussion) are provided for Glomeromycota and Leotiomycetes based on recent studies. The phylogenetic reconstruction of a four-gene dataset (18S and 28S rRNA, RPB1, RPB2) of 433 taxa is presented, including all currently described orders of fungi., Nalin N. Wijayawardene thanks Mushroom Research Foundation and National Science Foundation of China (No. NSFC 31950410558) for financially supporting this project. Kevin D. Hyde acknowledges the Foreign Experts Bureau of Yunnan Province, Foreign Talents Program (2018; grant no. YNZ2018002), Thailand Research grants entitled Biodiversity, phylogeny and role of fungal endophytes on above parts of Rhizophora apiculata and Nypa fruticans (grant no: RSA5980068), the future of specialist fungi in a changing climate: baseline data for generalist and specialist fungi associated with ants, Rhododendron species and Dracaena species (grant no: DBG6080013), Impact of climate change on fungal diversity and biogeography in the Greater Mekong Subregion (grant no: RDG6130001). H.T. Lumbsch thanks support by the Grainger Bioinformatics Center. E. Malosso is grateful to CAPES for financial support (grant no. 88881.062172/2014-01). B.T. Goto, G.A. Silva and K. Jobim, L.C. Maia acknowledges CNPq (Brazilian Scientific Council, grants no. 465.420/2014-1, 307.129/2015-2 and 408011/2016-5) and CAPES for support. The study was partially supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, under Grants No. 2015/17/D/NZ8/00778 and 2017/25/B/NZ8/00473 to Julia Pawłowska. The research of Martin Kukwa received support from the National Science Centre (NCN) in Poland (project no 2015/17/B/NZ8/02441). Alan J.L. Phillips acknowledges the support from UID/MULTI/04046/2019 Research Unit grant from FCT, Portugal to BioISI. H. Zhang is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project ID: NSF 31500017). S. Boonmee would like to thank the Thailand Research Fund (Project No. TRG6180001). Dong-Qin Dai and Li-Zhou Tang would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. NSFC 31760013, NSFC 31260087, NSFC 31460561), the Scientific Research Foundation of Yunnan Provincial Department of Education (2017ZZX186) and the Thousand Talents Plan, Youth Project of Yunnan Provinces for support. R. Phookamsak, M. Doilom, D. N. Wanasinghe, S.C. Karunarathna and J.C. Xu express sincere appreciations to Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. QYZDY-SSW-SMC014) for research financial support. R. Phookamsak thanks the Yunnan Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (grant no. Y836181261), Chiang Mai University and National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) project code 31850410489 for research financial support. S.C. Kaunarathna thanks CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) for funding his postdoctoral research (No. 2018PC0006) and the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for funding this work under the project code 31851110759. S. Tibpromma would like to thank the International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program (number Y9180822S1), CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) (number 2020PC0009), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation and the Yunnan Human Resources, and Social Security Department Foundation for funding her postdoctoral research. Yuri S. Tokarev, Elena S. Nassonova and Irma V. Issi are indebtful to Yuliya Y. Sokolova (Institute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersbug, Russia) and Anastasia V. Simakova (Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia) for kind permission of reproduction of electron microscopy images of Metchnikovella incurvata and Crepidulospora beklemishevi, respectively. Yuri S. Tokarev and Irma V. Issi thank Russian Foundation of Basic Research, grant number 17-04-00871 (taxonomy of Rozellomycota). Elena S. Nassonova thank Russian Foundation of Basic Research, grant number 18-04-01359 (early evolution of Microsporidia, phylogeny of Metchnikovellida). Adam Flakus and Pamela Rodriguez-Flakus are greatly indebted to all staff of the Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz and the SERNAP (http://sernap.gob.bo), for their generous cooperation providing permits, assistance and facilities support for scientific studies. The research of AF and PRF were financially supported by the National Science Centre (NCN) in Poland (DEC-2013/11/D/NZ8/03274). Adam Flakus and Pamela Rodriguez-Flakus received additional support under statutory funds from the W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland. The authors would like to thank Yunnan Innovation Platform for Development and Utilization of Symbiotic Fungi Resources for finance support. Li-Fang Zhang would like to thank grant-in-aid from Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province (2018FD080) for finance support. Chun-Ying Deng thanks the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China (2019HJ2096001006). Yingqian Kang would like to thank Guizhou Scientific Plan Project [(2019) 2873]; Excellent Youth Talent Training Project of Guizhou Province [(2017) 5639]; Guiyang Science and Technology Project [(2017) No. 5-19]; Talent Base Project of Guizhou Province, China [FCJD2018-22]; Research Fund of Education Bureau of Guizhou Province, China [(2018) 481]. D. N. Wanasinghe would like to thank the CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) for funding his postdoctoral research (number 2019PC0008), the National Science Foundation of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences for financial support under the following grants: 41761144055, 41771063 and Y4ZK111B01. Yuri K. Novozhilov and Oleg N. Shchepin acknowledge support from the Russian Foundation of Basic Research, project 18-04-01232 А. Ivana Kušan, Neven Matočec, Armin Mešić and Zdenko Tkalčec are grateful to Croatian Science Foundation for their financial support under the project grant HRZZ-IP-2018-01-1736 (ForFungiDNA). K. Tanaka would like to thank the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS 19K06802)

The class Dothideomycetes is the largest and most ecologically diverse class of fungi, comprising endophytes, epiphytes, saprobes, human and plant pathogens, lichens, and lichenicolous, nematode trapping and rock-inhabiting taxa. Members of this class are mainly characterized by bitunicate asci with fissitunicate dehiscence, and occur on broad range of hosts in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Since the last monograph of families of Dothideomycetes in 2013, numerous novel species, genera, families and orders have been discovered. This has expanded information which has led to the modern classification in Dothideomycetes. In this paper, we provide a refined updated document on families of Dothideomycetes with emphasis on Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae. We accept three orders with 25 families and four orders with 94 families in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae, respectively. The new family Paralophiostomataceae is introduced in Pleosporales. Each family is provided with an updated description, notes, including figures to represent the morphology, list of accepted genera, and economic and ecological significances. We also provide an overall phylogenetic tree of families in Dothideomycetes based on combined analysis of LSU, SSU, rpb-2 and tefl sequence data, and phylogenetic trees for each order in Dothideomycetidae and Pleosporomycetidae. Family-level trees are provided for the families which include several genera such as Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae. Two new genera (Ligninsphaeriopsis and Paralophiostoma) are introduced. Five new species (Biatrisopora borsei, Comoclathris galatellae, Ligninsphaeriopsis thailandica, Paralophiostoma hysterioides and Torula thailandica) are introduced based on morphology and phylogeny, together with nine new reports and seven new collections from different families.

Two initially unidentifiable isolates were found when endophytic fungi from healthy leaves of Myracrodruon urundeuva (Anacardiaceae) were being investigated in Brazil. Based on phylogenetic analyses using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and partial large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA, RNA polymerase II (RPB2), translation elongation factor EF-1 alpha (TEF1), and tubulin (TUB2), the isolates were identified as members of the family Pseudoplagiostomataceae (Diaporthales). In this paper, we introduce a new species, Pseudoplagiostoma myracrodruonis, thus accepting eight species in Pseudoplagiostoma (Pseudoplagiostomataceae). The new species is proposed to accommodate endophytes characterized by a coelomycetous asexual morph, pycnidial conidiomata with lageniform to ampulliform and hyaline to pale brown phialidic conidiogenous cells that produce unicellular, ellipsoid to oblong-cylindrical, hyaline, and guttulate conidia. In the current phylogenetic analysis, P. myracrodruonis is placed in a well-supported clade in Pseudoplagiostoma (Pseudoplagiostomataceae). A discussion about the relationship of Pseudoplagiostoma species is included in the paper.

Mycoleptodiscus includes plant pathogens, animal opportunists, saprobic and endophytic fungi. The present study presents the first molecular phylogeny and revision of the genus based on four loci, including ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1. An extensive collection of Mycoleptodiscus cultures, including ex-type strains from the CBS, IMI, MUCL, BRIP, clinical isolates from the USA, and fresh isolates from Brazil and Spain, was studied morphologically and phylogenetically to resolve their taxonomy. The study showed that Mycoleptodiscus sensu lato is polyphyletic. Phylogenetic analysis places Mycoleptodiscus in Muyocopronales (Dothideomycetes), together with Arxiella, Leptodiscella, Muyocopron, Neocochlearomyces, and Paramycoleptodiscus. Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, the type species, and M. sphaericus are reduced to synonyms, and one new species is introduced, M. suttonii. Mycoleptodiscus atromaculans, M. coloratus, M. freycinetiae, M. geniculatus, M. indicus, M. lateralis (including M. unilateralis and M. variabilis as its synonyms) and M. taiwanensis belong to Muyocopron (Muyocopronales, Dothideomycetes), and M. affinis, and M. lunatus to Omnidemptus (Magnaporthales, Sordariomycetes). Based on phylogenetic analyses we propose Muyocopron alcornii sp. nov., a fungus associated with leaf spots on Epidendrum sp. (Orchidaceae) in Australia, Muyocopron zamiae sp. nov. associated with leaf spots on Zamia (Zamiaceae) in the USA, and Omnidemptus graminis sp. nov. isolated from a grass (Poaceae) in Spain. Furthermore, Neomycoleptodiscus venezuelense gen. & sp. nov. is introduced for a genus similar to Mycoleptodiscus in Muyocopronaceae.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Chaetomella pseudocircinoseta and Coniella pseudodiospyri on Eucalyptus microcorys leaves, Cladophialophora eucalypti, Teratosphaeria dunnii and Vermiculariopsiella dunnii on Eucalyptus dunnii leaves, Cylindrium grande and Hypsotheca eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus grandis leaves, Elsinoe salignae on Eucalyptus saligna leaves, Marasmius lebeliae on litter of regenerating subtropical rainforest, Phialoseptomonium eucalypti (incl. Phialoseptomonium gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × camaldulensis leaves, Phlogicylindrium pawpawense on Eucalyptus tereticornis leaves, Phyllosticta longicauda as an endophyte from healthy Eustrephus latifolius leaves, Pseudosydowia eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Saitozyma wallum on Banksia aemula leaves, Teratosphaeria henryi on Corymbia henryi leaves. Brazil, Aspergillus bezerrae, Backusella azygospora, Mariannaea terricola and Talaromyces pernambucoensis from soil, Calonectria matogrossensis on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves, Calvatia brasiliensis on soil, Carcinomyces nordestinensis on Bromelia antiacantha leaves, Dendryphiella stromaticola on small branches of an unidentified plant, Nigrospora brasiliensis on Nopalea cochenillifera leaves, Penicillium alagoense as a leaf endophyte on a Miconia sp., Podosordaria nigrobrunnea on dung, Spegazzinia bromeliacearum as a leaf endophyte on Tilandsia catimbauensis, Xylobolus brasiliensis on decaying wood. Bulgaria, Kazachstania molopis from the gut of the beetle Molops piceus. Croatia, Mollisia endocrystallina from a fallen decorticated Picea abies tree trunk. Ecuador, Hygrocybe rodomaculata on soil. Hungary, Alfoldia vorosii (incl.Alfoldia gen. nov.) from Juniperus communis roots, Kiskunsagia ubrizsyi (incl. Kiskunsagia gen. nov.) from Fumana procumbens roots. India, Aureobasidium tremulum as laboratory contaminant, Leucosporidium himalayensis and Naganishia indica from windblown dust on glaciers. Italy, Neodevriesia cycadicola on Cycas sp. leaves, Pseudocercospora pseudomyrticola on Myrtus communis leaves, Ramularia pistaciae on Pistacia lentiscus leaves, Neognomoniopsis quercina (incl. Neognomoniopsis gen. nov.) on Quercus ilex leaves. Japan, Diaporthe fructicola on Passiflora edulis × P. edulis f. flavicarpa fruit, Entoloma nipponicum on leaf litter in a mixed Cryptomeria japonica and Acer spp. forest. Macedonia, Astraeus macedonicus on soil. Malaysia, Fusicladium eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus sp. twigs, Neoacrodontiella eucalypti (incl. Neoacrodontiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves. Mozambique, Meliola gorongosensis on dead Philenoptera violacea leaflets. Nepal, Coniochaeta dendrobiicola from Dendriobium lognicornu roots. New Zealand, Neodevriesia sexualis and Thozetella neonivea on Archontophoenix cunninghamiana leaves. Norway, Calophoma sandfjordenica from a piece of board on a rocky shoreline, Clavaria parvispora on soil, Didymella finnmarkica from a piece of Pinus sylvestris driftwood. Poland, Sugiyamaella trypani from soil. Portugal, Colletotrichum feijoicola from Acca sellowiana. Russia, Crepidotus tobolensis on Populus tremula debris, Entoloma ekaterinae, Entoloma erhardii and Suillus gastroflavus on soil, Nakazawaea ambrosiae from the galleries of Ips typographus under the bark of Picea abies. Slovenia, Pluteus ludwigii on twigs of broadleaved trees. South Africa, Anungitiomyces stellenboschiensis (incl. Anungitiomyces gen. nov.) and Niesslia stellenboschiana on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Beltraniella pseudoportoricensis on Podocarpus falcatus leaf litter, Corynespora encephalarti on Encephalartos sp. leaves, Cytospora pavettae on Pavetta revoluta leaves, Helminthosporium erythrinicola on Erythrina humeana leaves, Helminthosporium syzygii on a Syzygium sp. barkcanker, Libertasomyces aloeticus on Aloe sp. leaves, Penicillium lunae from Musa sp. fruit, Phyllosticta lauridiae on Lauridia tetragona leaves, Pseudotruncatella bolusanthi (incl. Pseudotruncatellaceae fam. nov.) and Dactylella bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus leaves. Spain, Apenidiella foetida on submerged plant debris, Inocybe grammatoides on Quercus ilex subsp. ilex forest humus, Ossicaulis salomii on soil, Phialemonium guarroi from soil. Thailand, Pantospora chromolaenae on Chromolaena odorata leaves. Ukraine, Cadophora helianthi from Helianthus annuus stems. USA, Boletus pseudopinophilus on soil under slash pine, Botryotrichum foricae, Penicillium americanum and Penicillium minnesotense from air. Vietnam, Lycoperdon vietnamense on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

An investigation of endophytic fungi on healthy leaves of Sorghum bicolor in Brazil led to the identification of an interesting fungus. Based on morphological features and multi-locus analyses, including ITS and LSU nrDNA, rpb1, and tef1 sequences, we propose a new genus, Bifusisporella, in the family Magnaporthaceae. The isolates exhibited a phialidic asexual morph with the following characteristics: curved conidiogenous cells, elongated, cylindrical or clavate, solitary or aggregate. Dimorphic conidia: macroconidia curved, falcate, hyaline, smooth, non-septate, guttulate, tapering at both ends; microconidia falcate, straight to slightly curved, hyaline, smooth, non-septate, hyphopodia are brown, smooth, elongated, and multi-lobulate.

This article is the tenth series of the Fungal Diversity Notes, where 114 taxa distributed in three phyla, ten classes, 30 orders and 53 families are described and illustrated. Taxa described in the present study include one new family (viz. Pseudoberkleasmiaceae in Dothideomycetes), five new genera (Caatingomyces, Cryptoschizotrema, Neoacladium, Paramassaria and Trochilispora) and 71 new species, (viz. Acrogenospora thailandica, Amniculicola aquatica, A. guttulata, Angustimassarina sylvatica, Blackwellomyces lateris, Boubovia gelatinosa, Buellia viridula, Caatingomyces brasiliensis, Calophoma humuli, Camarosporidiella mori, Canalisporium dehongense, Cantharellus brunneopallidus, C. griseotinctus, Castanediella meliponae, Coprinopsis psammophila, Cordyceps succavus, Cortinarius minusculus, C. subscotoides, Diaporthe italiana, D. rumicicola, Diatrypella delonicis, Dictyocheirospora aquadulcis, D. taiwanense, Digitodesmium chiangmaiense, Distoseptispora dehongensis, D. palmarum, Dothiorella styphnolobii, Ellisembia aurea, Falciformispora aquatic, Fomitiporia carpinea, F. lagerstroemiae, Grammothele aurantiaca, G. micropora, Hermatomyces bauhiniae, Jahnula queenslandica, Kamalomyces mangrovei, Lecidella yunnanensis, Micarea squamulosa, Muriphaeosphaeria angustifoliae, Neoacladium indicum, Neodidymelliopsis sambuci, Neosetophoma miscanthi, N. salicis, Nodulosphaeria aquilegiae, N. thalictri, Paramassaria samaneae, Penicillium circulare, P. geumsanense, P. mali-pumilae, P. psychrotrophicum, P. wandoense, Phaeoisaria siamensis, Phaeopoacea asparagicola, Phaeosphaeria penniseti, Plectocarpon galapagoense, Porina sorediata, Pseudoberkleasmium chiangmaiense, Pyrenochaetopsis sinensis, Rhizophydium koreanum, Russula prasina, Sporoschisma chiangraiense, Stigmatomyces chamaemyiae, S. cocksii, S. papei, S. tschirnhausii, S. vikhrevii, Thysanorea uniseptata, Torula breviconidiophora, T. polyseptata, Trochilispora schefflerae and Vaginatispora palmae). Further, twelve new combinations (viz. Cryptoschizotrema cryptotrema, Prolixandromyces australi, P. elongatus, P. falcatus, P. longispinae, P. microveliae, P. neoalardi, P. polhemorum, P. protuberans, P. pseudoveliae, P. tenuistipitis and P. umbonatus), an epitype is chosen for Cantharellus goossensiae, a reference specimen for Acrogenospora sphaerocephala and new synonym Prolixandromyces are designated. Twenty-four new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions are also reported (i.e. Acrostalagmus annulatus, Cantharellus goossensiae, Coprinopsis villosa, Dothiorella plurivora, Dothiorella rhamni, Dothiorella symphoricarposicola, Dictyocheirospora rotunda, Fasciatispora arengae, Grammothele brasiliensis, Lasiodiplodia iraniensis, Lembosia xyliae, Morenoina palmicola, Murispora cicognanii, Neodidymelliopsis farokhinejadii, Neolinocarpon rachidis, Nothophoma quercina, Peroneutypa scoparia, Pestalotiopsis aggestorum, Pilidium concavum, Plagiostoma salicellum, Protofenestella ulmi, Sarocladium kiliense, Tetraploa nagasakiensis and Vaginatispora armatispora).

Two isolates of fungal endophytes were obtained from the leaves of Tillandsia catimbauensis (Bromeliaceae) in the Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga), according to their morphology, they were previously identified as Phialophora-like fungi. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis using ITS and LSU rDNA sequences, along with morphological features, these isolates are here described as Cladophialophora bromeliacearum sp. nov. The new species is morphologically characterized by Phialophora-like conidiogenous cells, subspheric to ellipsoid conidia, and the production of chlamydospores in culture.

Plants harbour diverse communities of fungal species in their internal compartments. Endophytic fungi help their hosts to establish, survive, and adapt to different environments. Here, we examined the diversity of endophytic fungi in the leaflets and branches of Poincianella pyramidalis, a plant species endemic to the Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga). A total of 360 fragments of leaflets and branches were analysed and 189 endophytic fungi were isolated and distributed among 21 ascomycetous genera based on their ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. Diaporthe was the most frequently identified genus, followed by Didymella and Rhytidhysteron. The colonisation rate of plant fragments was higher in the branches (74 %) than in leaflets (14 %). The richness of the genera of endophytic fungi was also higher in the branches than in leaflets, whereas no difference was observed in endophyte diversity between the plant parts, based on Shannon-Wiener and Fisher alpha diversity indices. Our results indicate that endemic plant species from Brazilian dry forest, such as P. pyramidalis, are predominantly colonised by ascomycetous fungi, especially members of the class Dothideomycetes.

Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) is considered as one of the richest insecticolous species. Fusarium species synthesize toxic secondary metabolites that are not fully understood. Mycotoxin production and pathogenicity on germinating seeds, seedlings, and leaves must be carefully studied for the use of Fusarium species in the biological control of insect pests. In this study, we evaluated the mycotoxin production and phytopathogenic potential of entomopathogenic strains of Fusarium sulawesiensis (1), F. pernambucanum (3), and F. caatingaense (23). The phytopathogenicity tests of F. caatingaense (URM 6776, URM 6777, URM 6778, URM 6779, and URM 6782) were performed during the development of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, and Phaseolus lunatus), and corn (Zea mays) seedlings, using four treatments (soil infestation with the inoculum, spraying on leaves, root dip, and negative control). The mycotoxins, monoacetyl-deoxynivalenols (AcDON), deoxynivalenol (DON), beauvericin (BEA), fusarenone-X (FUS), T-2 toxin (T2), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), and zearalenone (ZEA), were detected in the study; BEA (detected in 25 strains) and FUS (detected in 21 strains) were found to be predominant. None of the strains showed any ability to cause disease or virulence in beans and corn. The FIESC strains showed a highly variable production of mycotoxins without the potential to be used as phytopathogenic agents for the cultures tested.

A literature-based checklist of species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces recorded in the Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga), the largest tropical dry forest region in South America, is provided. A total of 130 species (60 Aspergillus, 57 Penicillium, and 13 Talaromyces) are reported. Soil was the most common substrate, with 122 species records. Various reported species are well known in biotechnological processes. This checklist reflects the limited knowledge of fungal species in tropical dry environments. These data provide a good starting point for biogeographical studies on species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces in dry environments worldwide. In addition, the new species Penicillium vascosobrinhous is introduced, an endophytic fungus isolated from cactus of the Caatinga forest in Brazil.

Species of Diaporthe are important plant pathogenic fungi that commonly occur on a wide range of hosts. They are relatively difficult to identify due to their extreme similarity in morphology and confusing multigene phylogeny, especially in the Diaporthe eres complex. In the present study, isolates were collected from diseased branches of Juglans regia in China. Most strains were clustered into the D. eres species complex based on the combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, partial calmodulin (CAL), histone H3 (HIS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-α) and beta-tubulin (TUB) genes. To focus on this complex, CAL, TEF1-α and TUB were selected in further phylogenetic analyses that showed a better topology compared with combined five-gene phylogeny. Results revealed that all strains which clustered in the Diaporthe eres complex from Juglans regia in China were Diaporthe eres. Results suggested a revised species criterion in the Diaporthe eres complex. The current study uncovered a new species here described as Diaporthe. tibetensis.

Penicillium and Talaromyces species have a worldwide distribution and are isolated from various materials and hosts, including insects and their substrates. The aim of this study was to characterize the Penicillium and Talaromyces species obtained during a survey of honey, pollen and the inside of nests of Melipona scutellaris. A total of 100 isolates were obtained during the survey and 82% of those strains belonged to Penicillium and 18% to Talaromyces. Identification of these isolates was performed based on phenotypic characters and ß-tubulin and ITS sequencing. Twenty-one species were identified in Penicillium and six in Talaromyces, including seven new species. These new species were studied in detail using a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic, molecular and extrolite data. The four new Penicillium species belong to sections Sclerotiora (Penicillium fernandesiae sp. nov., Penicillium mellis sp. nov., Penicillium meliponae sp. nov.) and Gracilenta (Penicillium apimei sp. nov.) and the three new Talaromyces species to sections Helici (Talaromyces pigmentosus sp. nov.), Talaromyces (Talaromyces mycothecae sp. nov.) and Trachyspermi (Talaromyces brasiliensis sp. nov.). The invalidly described species Penicillium echinulonalgiovense sp. nov. was also isolated during the survey and this species is validated here.

Species of Elsinoë are phytopathogens causing scab and spot anthracnose on many plants, including some economically important crops such as avocado, citrus, grapevines, and ornamentals such as poinsettias, field crops and woody hosts. Disease symptoms are often easily recognisable, and referred to as signature-bearing diseases, for the cork-like appearance of older infected tissues with scab-like appearance. In some Elsinoë-host associations the resulting symptoms are better described as spot anthracnose. Additionally the infected plants may also show mild to severe distortions of infected organs. Isolation of Elsinoë in pure culture can be very challenging and examination of specimens collected in the field is often frustrating because of the lack of fertile structures. Current criteria for species recognition and host specificity in Elsinoë are unclear due to overlapping morphological characteristics, and the lack of molecular and pathogenicity data. In the present study we revised the taxonomy of Elsinoë based on DNA sequence and morphological data derived from 119 isolates, representing 67 host genera from 17 countries, including 64 ex-type cultures. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU, rpb2 and TEF1-α DNA sequence data were used to reconstruct the backbone phylogeny of the genus Elsinoë. Based on the single nomenclature for fungi, 26 new combinations are proposed in Elsinoë for species that were originally described in Sphaceloma. A total of 13 species are epitypified with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny. A further eight new species are introduced, leading to a total of 75 Elsinoë species supported by molecular data in the present study. For the most part species of Elsinoë appear to be host specific, although the majority of the species treated are known only from a few isolates, and further collections and pathogenicity studies will be required to reconfirm this conclusion.

Bat caves are very special roosts that harbour thousands of bats of one or more species. Such sites may hold an incredible “dark fungal diversity” which is still underestimated. We explored the culturable fungal richness in the air, on bats, and in the guano in a bat cave in Brazil’s Caatinga dry forest. Fungal abundance was 683 colony-forming units (CFU) in the guano, 673 CFU in the air, and 105 CFU on the bats. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, and TUB2 sequences, fungal isolates of 59 taxa belonging to 37 genera in the phyla Ascomycota (28 genera, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Talaromyces), Basidiomycota (eight genera, including Rhodotorula and Schizophyllum), and Mucoromycota (only Rhizopus) were identified. The fungal richness in the air was 23 taxa (especially Aspergillus taxa), mainly found at 15 m and 45 m from the cave entrance; on the bodies of bats it was 36 taxa (mainly Aspergillus taxa), especially on their wing membranes (21 taxa, nine of which were exclusively found in this microhabitat); and in guano 10 fungal taxa (especially Aspergillus and Penicillium) were found. The fungal richness associated with guano (fresh and non-fresh) was similar from bats with different eating habits (insectivorous, frugivorous, and haematophagous). Sampling effort was not sufficient to reveal the total fungal taxa richness estimated. Eight (21.6%) of the 37 genera and 17 (53.1%) of the 32 identified fungal species are reported for the first time in caves. Our results highlight bat caves in Brazil as hotspots of fungal diversity, emphasizing the need to protect such special roosts.

Members of Cytospora encompass important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of woody hosts with a worldwide distribution. In the current study, we obtained seven representative isolates from six tree hosts of Betulaceae, Juglandaceae, Rosaceae, Tiliaceae and Ulmaceae in Mount Dongling of China. Based on morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses using partial ITS, LSU, act, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 gene sequences, we identified two known species (Cytospora leucostoma and C. pruinopsis) and two novel species (C. coryli and C. spiraeicola). These results represent the first study on Cytospora species associated with canker disease from Mount Dongling of China.

The order Botryosphaeriales includes many latent fungal pathogens with a wide range of woody hosts. The taxonomy of these pathogens has been difficult due to the use of poorly informing markers in phylogenetic analyses and the lack of good morphological characters. Many genera and families in this order have not yet been systematically studied in different hosts and from different regions. In this study, a total of 29 fungal strains from the Aplosporellaceae and Botryosphaeriaceae were isolated from branches or twigs with symptoms of canker and dieback disease in Mount Yudu of China. Morphology and multigene analyses (ITS, LSU and TEF1-α) indicated five distinct lineages, including Aplosporella javeedii, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia quercicola sp. nov., Phaeobotryon aplospora sp. nov. and Phaeobotryon rhois. Diplodia quercicola is characterized by multiloculate conidiomata, producing oblong to cylindrical, thick-walled, hyaline, aseptate conidia. Phaeobotryon aplospora is characterized by pulvinate, multiloculate conidiomata, producing ellipsoid to oblong, brown, aseptate conidia. The new species differ from related species phylogenetically and ecologically and in morphological features.

We studied the fungal endophyte community of the leaves of Myracrodruon urundeuva in Brazil along with their potential to produce L-asparaginase. In total, 187 endophytes were isolated. The colonization rate of leaf fragments from caatinga (10.41 %) was lower than those from brejo de altitude (39.58 %). Sequences of ITS rDNA from all endophytes revealed relationships with Ascomycota (Botryosphaeriales, Chaetothyriales, Diaporthales, Eurotiales, Glomerellales, Hypocreales, and Pleosporales) and Basidiomycota (Polyporales). The most frequent endophytes were members of the genus Diaporthe. Talaromyces was an indicator genus for caatinga while Phyllosticta, Diaporthe, and Colletotrichum were for brejo de altitude. The composition of endophytic fungi in caatinga and brejo de altitude differed significantly, its richness and diversity (H' = 3.41) being significantly higher in brejo de altitude. Diaporthe sp. URM 7793 was the best producer of L-asparaginase (2.41 U/g), followed by Diaporthe sp. URM 7779 (2.00 U/g), Talaromyces sp. URM 7785 (1.91 U/g), and Diaporthe sp. URM 7792 (1.47 U/g). The composition of endophytic fungi assemblages is strongly influenced by the type of ecosystem. In its natural habitat, M. urundeuva harbors an important diversity of endophytes, which could be used to produce L-asparaginase.

The discovery of new metabolites potentially bioactive against pathogenic microorganisms, mainly multidrug resistant, has aroused interest in endophytic fungi. The plant-associated microorganisms have been an important source for development of new compounds of biotechnological interest. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial capacity of the endophytic fungus, Phoma sp. URM 7221 isolated from the medicinal plant Schinus terebinthifolius against human-pathogenic bacteria. An endophyte was isolated from S. terebinthifolius leaves. Phoma herbarum URM7221 was characterized morphologically and on the basis of ITS rDNA sequence. Primary antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method and fermentation in liquid medium. Six different solvents were used to extract the active metabolites from fungal biomass and metabolic liquid. An antimicrobial activity test from the extract was carried out using a disk diffusion method with the endophytic extract containing the best antibacterial activity. Two tests were performed: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Partially purified secondary metabolite extracts were analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Liquid metabolically bioactive compounds extracted with petroleum ether revealed a MIC of 25 and 500 μg.mL−1 against S. aureus and MRSA, respectively. Ether and methanol extracts were assessed by chemical analyses and contained phenolic compounds, triterpenes, steroids, reducing sugars, mono- and sesquiterpenes. The thin layer chromatography assay showed the activity of different antimicrobial compounds produced by Phoma sp. URM7221. This endophyte (URM7221) could be efficiently used for production of bioactive metabolites against pathogenic microorganisms, with significant biotechnological potential. Key words: Bioactive compounds, endophytic fungi, pathogenic bacteria, multidrug-resistance, antibacterial agents.

During a survey of endophytic fungi from the cactus Tacinga inamoena in a Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga) some undescribed ascomycetous fungi were isolated. These fungi are characterized by superficial and immersed, globose to subglobose, smooth or hairy ascomata, bitunicate asci, and muriformly septate, ellipsoidal ascospores. Multigene phylogenetic analyses using sequences from partial ITS, SSU and LSU nrDNA and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1) demonstrated a monophyletic clade accommodating these endophytic fungi in the class Dothideomycetes, closely related to the order Tubeufiales. Based on morphological features and phylogenetic analyses, these fungi could not be placed in the order Tubeufiales, in the new order Wiesneriomycetales, or any other known genus in the class Dothideomycetes. Thus, two new genera (Bezerromyces, with B. brasiliensis and B. pernambucoensis, and Xiliomyces with X. brasiliensis), a new family (Bezerromycetaceae) and a new order (Bezerromycetales) are introduced to accommodate these novel taxa. Our phylogenetic analyses also demonstrated that the clade accommodating Wiesneriomycetaceae represents a new order, here introduced as Wiesneriomycetales.

Brazil has the most immense biodiversity in the world, and therefore, it also harbors an incredible variety of fungal species. Over the past several decades, starting in the 1950s, Brazilian fungal diversity has been studied by several foreign groups as well as Brazilians not only because of its importance to taxonomy and ecology but also because of its potential as a source for biomolecules of economic interest. The study of endophytic fungi from Brazil has grown during the last 20–30 years, and its contribution to the estimation of global fungal diversity and its potential to produce several molecules have also contributed to the improvement of industrial procedures. Also, some studies investigating fungal endophytic diversity have contributed ecological information to programs for the protection of natural areas. In this chapter, selected publications about the taxonomy, ecology, and/or biotechnological potential of fungal endophytes from Brazil are summarized in order to show the importance of Brazilian endophyte mycodiversity.

Melanconis-like species comprise latent fungal pathogens with a wide range of woody hosts. Taxonomy of these pathogens is difficult due to their uninformative descriptions and similar asexual morphology. Based on molecular phylogenies, many species of this group were placed in various families of Diaporthales. In this study, eight species of melanconis-like fungi were isolated from Betulaalbosinensis, B.platyphylla (Betulaceae), Cornuscontroversa (Cornaceae), Corylusmandshurica (Betulaceae) and Juglansregia (Juglandaceae) in China. These species were phylogenetically placed in three families of Diaporhthales, i.e. Juglanconisjuglandina, J.oblonga (Juglanconidaceae), Melanconiellabetulicolasp. nov., M.corylinasp. nov. (Melanconiellaceae), Melanconisbetulae, Ms.itoana, Ms.stilbostoma (Melanconidaceae) and one new genus, Sheathospora (Melanconiellaceae). Sheathospora is proposed to accommodate Melanconiellacornuta with conical and discrete pycnidia with aseptate, hyaline, cylindrical to ellipsoidal conidia with distinct hyaline sheath on branches of Cornuscontroversa. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU, CAL, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequence data were used to construct the molecular phylogeny. Additionally, we provided separate phylogenetic trees for three families (Juglanconidaceae, Melanconidaceae and Melanconiellaceae) to show the species distribution of melanconis-like fungi in China.

The richness of the yeasts associated with honey obtained from the stingless bees Melipona mandacaia, M. asilvai, Patarmona sp. and Scaptotrigona sp. living in a Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga) was studied. Based on morphological and physiological characters, a total of 12 species were identified, all belong to Ascomycota, where most isolates showed anamorphic species of Candida. This study has shown that the honey of stingless bees is an important source of yeasts, particularly in tropical dry environments, where the diversity of fungi is still largely unknown.

Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaves of the medicinal plant, Indigofera suffruticosa collected at the Atlantic Coastal Forest and tropical dry forest (Caatinga), Pernambuco, Brazil, during the dry and rainy seasons. A total of 107 fungal isolates, representing nine fungal taxa, were obtained and classified as Ascomycota, among them Colletotrichum gloeosporioides with relative frequency (fr) 27.1% and Pseudocochliobolus pallescens with fr 16.82% were the most frequent. Curvularia australiensis and Chaetomella raphigera were isolated only in Caatinga during rainy and dry seasons, respectively, and for the first time they were isolated from a Caatinga plant. Lasiodiplodia theobromae was found only in Atlantic Coastal Forest in dry season, and according to Simpson (D') and Shannon-Wiener (H') indices fungal diversity were considered statistically significant in this forest. Besides, a greater similarity was observed between fungi isolated in Atlantic Coastal Forest and Caatinga in the dry season, suggesting the predominance of seasonality rather than geographical factor. This study is the first report on endophytes fungi from I. suffruticosa, and the results represent an important basis for further studies in the fields of ecology and biotechnology, since these endophytic fungi may be important source for future study in searching for new natural compounds with biological activities. Key words: Ascomycota, Caatinga, endophytic mycobiota, fungal diversity, Indigofera suffruticosa, seasonal predominance.

This study was conducted to report the richness of endophytic Penicillium and Talaromyces species isolated from Tillandsia catimbauensis, a bromeliad endemic in the Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga), to verify their ability to produce the enzyme l-asparaginase and to partially optimise the production of biomass and l-asparaginase of the best enzyme producer. A total of 184 endophytes were isolated, of which 52 (29%) were identified through morphological and phylogenetic analysis using β-tubulin sequences into nine putative species, four in Penicillium and five in Talaromyces. Talaromyces diversus and T. cf. cecidicola were the most frequent taxa. Among the 20 endophytic isolates selected for l-asparaginase production, 10 had the potential to produce the enzyme (0.50–2.30 U/g), especially T. cf. cecidicola URM 7826 (2.30 U/g) and Penicillium sp. 4 URM 7827 (1.28 U/g). As T. cf. cecidicola URM 7826 exhibited significant ability to produce the enzyme, it was selected for the partial optimisation of biomass and l-asparaginase production. Results of the 23 factorial experimental design showed that the highest dry biomass (0.66 g) was obtained under pH 6.0, inoculum concentration of 1 × 108 and 1% l-proline. However, the inoculum concentration was found to be statistically significant, the pH was marginally significant and the concentration of l-proline was not statistically significant. l-Asparaginase production varied between 0.58 and 1.02 U/g and did not reach the optimal point for enzyme production. This study demonstrates that T. catimbauensis is colonised by different Penicillium and Talaromyces species, which are indicated for enzyme production studies.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Angola, Gnomoniopsis angolensis and Pseudopithomyces angolensis on unknown host plants. Australia, Dothiora corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neoeucasphaeria eucalypti (incl. Neoeucasphaeria gen. nov.)on Eucalyptus sp., Fumagopsis stellae on Eucalyptus sp., Fusculina eucalyptorum (incl. Fusculinaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus socialis, Harknessia corymbiicola on Corymbia maculata, Neocelosporium eucalypti (incl. Neocelosporium gen. nov., Neocelosporiaceae fam. nov. and Neocelosporiales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus cyanophylla, Neophaeomoniella corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neophaeomoniella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus pilularis, Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiicola on Corymbia citriodora, Teratosphaeria gracilis on Eucalyptus gracilis, Zasmidium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Brazil, Calonectria hemileiae on pustules of Hemileia vastatrix formed on leaves of Coffea arabica, Calvatia caatinguensis on soil, Cercospora solani-betacei on Solanum betaceum, Clathrus natalensis on soil, Diaporthe poincianellae on Poincianella pyramidalis, Geastrum piquiriunense on soil, Geosmithia carolliae on wing of Carollia perspicillata, Henningsia resupinata on wood, Penicillium guaibinense from soil, Periconia caespitosa from leaf litter, Pseudocercospora styracina on Styrax sp., Simplicillium filiforme as endophyte from Citrullus lanatus, Thozetella pindobacuensis on leaf litter, Xenosonderhenia coussapoae on Coussapoa floccosa., Canary Islands (Spain), Orbilia amarilla on Euphorbia canariensis. Cape Verde Islands, Xylodon jacobaeus on Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Chile, Colletotrichum arboricola on Fuchsia magellanica. Costa Rica, Lasiosphaeria miniovina ontreebranch. Ecuador, Ganoderma chocoense ontreetrunk. France, Neofitzroyomyces nerii (incl. Neofitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Nerium oleander. Ghana, Castanediella tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Falcocladium africanum on Eucalyptus brassiana, Rachicladosporium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Hungary, Entoloma silvae-frondosae in Carpinus betulus-Pinus sylvestris mixedforest. Iran, Pseudopyricularia persiana on Cyperus sp. Italy, Inocybe roseascens onsoilinmixedforest. Laos, Ophiocordyceps houaynhangensis on Coleoptera larva. Malaysia, Monilochaetes melastomae on Melastoma sp. Mexico, Absidia terrestris fromsoil. Netherlands, Acaulium pannemaniae, Conioscypha boutwelliae, Fusicolla septimanifiniscientiae, Gibellulopsis simonii, Lasionectria hilhorstii, Lectera nordwiniana, Leptodiscella rintelii, Parasarocladium debruynii and Sarocladium dejongiae (incl. Sarocladiaceae fam. nov.) fromsoil. New Zealand, Gnomoniopsis rosae on Rosa sp. and Neodevriesia metrosideri on Metrosideros sp. Puerto Rico, Neodevriesia coccolobae on Coccoloba uvifera, Neodevriesia tabebuiae and Alfaria tabebuiae on Tabebuia chrysantha . Russia, Amanita paludosa on bogged soil in mixed deciduous forest, Entoloma tiliae in forest of Tilia × europaea, Kwoniella endophytica on Pyrus communis., South Africa, Coniella diospyri on Diospyros mespiliformis, Neomelanconiella combreti (incl. Neomelanconiellaceae fam. nov. and Neomelanconiella gen. nov.)on Combretum sp., Polyphialoseptoria natalensis on unidentified plant host, Pseudorobillarda bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus, Thelonectria pelargonii on Pelargonium sp. Spain, Vermiculariopsiella lauracearum and Anungitopsis lauri on Laurus novocanariensis, Geosmithia xerotolerans from a darkened wall of a house, Pseudopenidiella gallaica on leaf litter. Thailand, Corynespora thailandica on wood, Lareunionomyces loeiensis on leaf litter, Neocochlearomyces chromolaenae (incl. Neocochlearomyces gen. nov.) on Chromolaena odorata, Neomyrmecridium septatum (incl. Neomyrmecridium gen. nov .), Pararamichloridium caricicola on Carex sp., Xenodactylaria thailandica (incl. Xenodactylariaceae fam. nov. and Xenodactylaria gen. nov.), Neomyrmecridium asiaticum and Cymostachys thailandica fromunidentifiedvine. USA, Carolinigaster bonitoi (incl. Carolinigaster gen. nov.)fromsoil, Penicillium fortuitum from house dust, Phaeotheca shathenatiana (incl. Phaeothecaceae fam. nov.) from twig and cone litter, Pythium wohlseniorum from stream water, Superstratomyces tardicrescens from human eye, Talaromyces iowaense from officeair. Vietnam, Fistulinella olivaceoalba onsoil. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Angola, Gnomoniopsis angolensis and Pseudopithomyces angolensis on unknown host plants. Australia, Dothiora corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neoeucasphaeria eucalypti (incl. Neoeucasphaeria gen. nov.)on Eucalyptus sp., Fumagopsis stellae on Eucalyptus sp., Fusculina eucalyptorum (incl. Fusculinaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus socialis, Harknessia corymbiicola on Corymbia maculata, Neocelosporium eucalypti (incl. Neocelosporium gen. nov., Neocelosporiaceae fam. nov. and Neocelosporiales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus cyanophylla, Neophaeomoniella corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neophaeomoniella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus pilularis, Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiicola on Corymbia citriodora, Teratosphaeria gracilis on Eucalyptus gracilis, Zasmidium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Brazil, Calonectria hemileiae on pustules of Hemileia vastatrix formed on leaves of Coffea arabica, Calvatia caatinguensis on soil, Cercospora solani-betacei on Solanum betaceum, Clathrus natalensis on soil, Diaporthe poincianellae on Poincianella pyramidalis, Geastrum piquiriunense on soil, Geosmithia carolliae on wing of Carollia perspicillata, Henningsia resupinata on wood, Penicillium guaibinense from soil, Periconia caespitosa from leaf litter, Pseudocercospora styracina on Styrax sp., Simplicillium filiforme as endophyte from Citrullus lanatus, Thozetella pindobacuensis on leaf litter, Xenosonderhenia coussapoae on Coussapoa floccosa., Canary Islands (Spain), Orbilia amarilla on Euphorbia canariensis. Cape Verde Islands, Xylodon jacobaeus on Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Chile, Colletotrichum arboricola on Fuchsia magellanica. Costa Rica, Lasiosphaeria miniovina ontreebranch. Ecuador, Ganoderma chocoense ontreetrunk. France, Neofitzroyomyces nerii (incl. Neofitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Nerium oleander. Ghana, Castanediella tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Falcocladium africanum on Eucalyptus brassiana, Rachicladosporium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Hungary, Entoloma silvae-frondosae in Carpinus betulus-Pinus sylvestris mixedforest. Iran, Pseudopyricularia persiana on Cyperus sp. Italy, Inocybe roseascens onsoilinmixedforest. Laos, Ophiocordyceps houaynhangensis on Coleoptera larva. Malaysia, Monilochaetes melastomae on Melastoma sp. Mexico, Absidia terrestris fromsoil. Netherlands, Acaulium pannemaniae, Conioscypha boutwelliae, Fusicolla septimanifiniscientiae, Gibellulopsis simonii, Lasionectria hilhorstii, Lectera nordwiniana, Leptodiscella rintelii, Parasarocladium debruynii and Sarocladium dejongiae (incl. Sarocladiaceae fam. nov.) fromsoil. New Zealand, Gnomoniopsis rosae on Rosa sp. and Neodevriesia metrosideri on Metrosideros sp. Puerto Rico, Neodevriesia coccolobae on Coccoloba uvifera, Neodevriesia tabebuiae and Alfaria tabebuiae on Tabebuia chrysantha., Russia, Amanita paludosa on bogged soil in mixed deciduous forest, Entoloma tiliae in forest of Tilia × europaea, Kwoniella endophytica on Pyrus communis. South Africa, Coniella diospyri on Diospyros mespiliformis, Neomelanconiella combreti (incl. Neomelanconiellaceae fam. nov. and Neomelanconiella gen. nov.)on Combretum sp., Polyphialoseptoria natalensis on unidentified plant host, Pseudorobillarda bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus, Thelonectria pelargonii on Pelargonium sp. Spain, Vermiculariopsiella lauracearum and Anungitopsis lauri on Laurus novocanariensis, Geosmithia xerotolerans from a darkened wall of a house, Pseudopenidiella gallaica on leaf litter. Thailand, Corynespora thailandica on wood, Lareunionomyces loeiensis on leaf litter, Neocochlearomyces chromolaenae (incl. Neocochlearomyces gen. nov.) on Chromolaena odorata, Neomyrmecridium septatum (incl. Neomyrmecridium gen. nov .), Pararamichloridium caricicola on Carex sp., Xenodactylaria thailandica (incl. Xenodactylariaceae fam. nov. and Xenodactylaria gen. nov.), Neomyrmecridium asiaticum and Cymostachys thailandica fromunidentifiedvine. USA, Carolinigaster bonitoi (incl. Carolinigaster gen. nov.)fromsoil, Penicillium fortuitum from house dust, Phaeotheca shathenatiana (incl. Phaeothecaceae fam. nov.) from twig and cone litter, Pythium wohlseniorum from stream water, Superstratomyces tardicrescens from human eye, Talaromyces iowaense from officeair. Vietnam, Fistulinella olivaceoalba onsoil. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided., Tatiana M. Bulyonkova and colleagues are grateful to Dr Rodham Tulloss for his patient guidance and help, and to Dr Torbjørn Borgen Lindhardt for his invaluable advice. Thays G.L. Oliveira, Maria T.C. Felipe, Jadson D.P. Bezerra and Oliane M. C. Magalhães acknowledge financial support and/or scholarships from the CAPES (Finance Code 001), CNPq and FACEPE. Aline O.B. da Cunha, Alexandre R. Machado, Eder Barbier, Enrico Bernard and Cristina M. Souza-Motta acknowledge financial support and/or scholarships from the CAPES (Finance Code 001), CNPq, FACEPE, CECAV and ICMBio from Brazil. Rejane M.F. da Silva and colleagues express their gratitude to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for a scholarship to Rejane M.F. da Silva and to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for a research fellowships and/or financial support to Gladstone A. da Silva, Cristina M. Souza-Motta, José L. Bezerra and Rafael J.V. de Oliveira (Processes 458622/2014-1 and 312186/2016-9). Olinto L. Pereira, Vanessa P. Abreu, Jackeline P. Andrade and colleagues would like to thank the CNPq, CAPES and FAPEMIG for financial support. The study of Olga V. Morozova was carried out within the framework of a research project of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS ‘Herbarium funds of the BIN RAS’ (АААА-А18-118022090078-2) with the support of the molecular work by the Russian Foundation for the Basic Research (project no. 15-29-02622). Anna M. Glushakova and Aleksey V. Kachalkin were supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), project no. 16-04-00624a. Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard and colleagues were supported by ‘The Promotion Project on Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration with ASEAN Member Countries under the Office of International Cooperation, MOSTThailand’. They would also like to thank Ms Duangkaew Chongkachornphong, Ms Papawee Nupason (International Cooperation Section, BIOTEC) and Ms Bakeo Souvannalath (Director of Biotechnology Division, Biotechnology and Ecology Institute, BEI) for their kind cooperation. Javier Fernández-López and colleagues are grateful to Marian Glenn for checking the text, and were supported by DGICT projects CGL2012-35559 and CGL2015-67459-P., Javier Fernández-López was also supported by Predoctoral Grants (BES- 2013-066429) from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain). Maria E. Ordoñez and colleagues acknowledge Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador for financial support for project M13415. Taimy Cantillo is thankful to PEC-PG/CAPES for the PhD grant (proc. 12636134/2014) (Finance Code 001) and to the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) for the Research Grant. Luis F.P. Gusmão is grateful to CNPq for Grant support (Proc. 303062/2014-2). Hugo Madrid was partially funded by Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT), Chile, project no. 11140562. Tor Erik Brandrud, Bálint Dima, Machiel E. Noordeloos and Egil Bendiksen thank the financial support of the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative, with funding from the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre (NBIC), The Austrian Entoloma material (by Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber) was sequenced within ABOL, subproject HRSFM University of Vienna, supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Adriene M. Soares and colleagues would like to thank the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) and the Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente (IBAMA) for support during field trips and R.L.M. Alvarenga for the figures. They also acknowledge CAPES for the Ph.D. scholarship of Adriene M. Soares, and CNPq (307601/2015-3), CAPES (CAPES-SIU 008/13), and FACEPE (APQ-0375-2.03/15) for financial support. Angus J. Carnegie acknowledges support from the Forestry Corporation of NSW, and David Sargeant for assistance with site photos. Adel Pordel and colleagues thank the University of Tehran for financial support. Luis Quijada acknowledges support from ‘Fundación Ramón Areces’. Robert W. Barreto and colleagues thank the World Coffee Research/Texas Agrilife for financial support, as well as the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Sara Salcedo-Sarmiento was supported by the ‘Programa de Estudante-Convênio de Pós-Graduação’ (PEC-PG) from CAPES. The research of Cobus M. Visagie and Keith A. Seifert was supported by grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program on the Microbiology of the Built Environment. Blaise A. Darvaux acknowledges Keith A. Seifert for help with identification, Nicholas Mauriello for validating the Latin name, Mauricia Lawrence and Meagan Tillotson for help with material preparation. We are grateful to Gavin Phillips, Seed Bank Officer, Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan for field assistance and identification of plant species collected in New South Wales, Australia. Collection of specimens from Mungo National Park was supported by the ABRS Bush Blitz program, a partnership between the Australian Government, BHP and Earthwatch Australia. The National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project is acknowledged for assistance and funding to J. Roux for material collected in Angola.

In this study we accept 25 families in Diaporthales based on phylogenetic analyses using partial ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tef1-α gene sequences. Four different families associated with canker and dieback of tree hosts are morphologically treated and phylogenetically compared. These include three new families (Diaporthostomata-ceae, Pseudomelanconidaceae, Synnemasporellaceae), and one new genus, Dendrostoma (Erythrogloeaceae). Dendrostoma is newly described from Malus spectabilis, Osmanthus fragrans and Quercus acutissima having fusoid to cylindrical, bicellular ascospores, with three new species namely D. mali, D. osmanthi and D. quercinum. Diaporthostomataceae is characterised by conical and discrete perithecia with bicellular, fusoid ascospores on branches of Machilus leptophylla. Pseudomelanconidaceae is defined by conidiogenous cells with apical collarets and discreet annellations, and the inconspicuous hyaline conidial sheath when mature on Carya cathayensis, compared to morphologically similar families Melanconidaceae and Juglanconidaceae. Synnemasporellaceae is proposed to accommodate fungi with synnematous conidiomata, with descriptions of S. toxicodendri on Toxico-dendron sylvestre and S. aculeans on Rhus copallina.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica: Cadophora antarctica from soil. Australia: Alfaria dandenongensis on Cyperaceae, Amphosoma persooniae on Persoonia sp., Anungitea nullicana on Eucalyptus sp., Bagadiella eucalypti on Eucalyptus globulus, Castanediella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus sp., Cercospora dianellicola on Dianella sp., Cladoriella kinglakensis on Eucalyptus regnans, Cladoriella xanthorrhoeae (incl. Cladoriellaceae fam. nov. and Cladoriellales ord. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Cochlearomyces eucalypti (incl. Cochlearomyces gen. nov. and Cochlearomycetaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Codinaea lambertiae on Lambertia formosa, Diaporthe obtusifoliae on Acacia obtusifolia, Didymella acaciae on Acacia melanoxylon, Dothidea eucalypti on Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Fitzroyomyces cyperi (incl. Fitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Cyperaceae, Murramarangomyces corymbiae (incl. Murramarangomyces gen. nov., Murramarangomycetaceae fam. nov. and Murramarangomycetales ord. nov.) on Corymbia maculata, Neoanungitea eucalypti (incl. Neoanungitea gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus obliqua, Neoconiothyrium persooniae (incl. Neoconiothyrium gen. nov.) on Persoonia laurina subsp. laurina, Neocrinula lambertiae (incl. Neocrinulaceae fam. nov.) on Lambertia sp., Ochroconis podocarpi on Podocarpus grayae, Paraphysalospora eucalypti (incl. Paraphysalospora gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus sieberi, Pararamichloridium livistonae (incl. Pararamichloridium gen. nov., Pararamichloridiaceae fam. nov. and Pararamichloridiales ord. nov.) on Livistona sp., Pestalotiopsis dianellae on Dianella sp., Phaeosphaeria gahniae on Gahnia aspera, Phlogicylindrium tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pleopassalora acaciae on Acacia obliquinervia, Pseudodactylaria xanthorrhoeae (incl. Pseudodactylaria gen. nov., Pseudodactylariaceae fam. nov. and Pseudodactylariales ord. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp., Pseudosporidesmium lambertiae (incl. Pseudosporidesmiaceae fam. nov.) on Lambertia formosa, Saccharata acaciae on Acacia sp., Saccharata epacridis on Epacris sp., Saccharata hakeigena on Hakea sericea, Seiridium persooniae on Persoonia sp., Semifissispora tooloomensis on Eucalyptus dunnii, Stagonospora lomandrae on Lomandra longifolia, Stagonospora victoriana on Poaceae, Subramaniomyces podocarpi on Podocarpus elatus, Sympoventuria melaleucae on Melaleuca sp., Sympoventuria regnans on Eucalyptus regnans, Trichomerium eucalypti on Eucalyptus tereticornis, Vermiculariopsiella eucalypticola on Eucalyptus dalrympleana, Verrucoconiothyrium acaciae on Acacia falciformis, Xenopassalora petrophiles (incl. Xenopassalora gen. nov.) on Petrophile sp., Zasmidium dasypogonis on Dasypogon sp., Zasmidium gahniicola on Gahnia sieberiana., Brazil: Achaetomium lippiae on Lippia gracilis, Cyathus isometricus on decaying wood, Geastrum caririense on soil, Lycoperdon demoulinii (incl. Lycoperdon subg. Arenicola) on soil, Megatomentella cristata (incl. Megatomentella gen. nov.) on unidentified plant, Mutinus verrucosus on soil, Paraopeba schefflerae (incl. Paraopeba gen. nov.) on Schefflera morototoni, Phyllosticta catimbauensis on Mandevilla catimbauensis, Pseudocercospora angularis on Prunus persica, Pseudophialophora sorghi on Sorghum bicolor, Spumula piptadeniae on Piptadenia paniculata. Bulgaria: Yarrowia parophonii from gut of Parophonus hirsutulus. Croatia: Pyrenopeziza velebitica on Lonicera borbasiana. Cyprus: Peziza halophila on coastal dunes Czech Republic: Aspergillus contaminans from human fingernail. Ecuador: Cuphophyllus yacurensis on forest soil, Ganoderma podocarpense on fallen tree trunk. England: Pilidium anglicum (incl. Chaetomellales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus sp. France: Planamyces parisiensis (incl. Planamyces gen. nov.) on wood inside a house. French Guiana: Lactifluus ceraceus on soil. Germany: Talaromyces musae on Musa sp. India: Hyalocladosporiella cannae on Canna indica, Nothophoma raii from soil. Italy: Setophaeosphaeria citri on Citrus reticulata, Yuccamyces citri on Citrus limon. Japan: Glutinomyces brunneus (incl. Glutinomyces gen. nov.) from roots of Quercus sp. Netherlands (all from soil): Collariella hilkhuijsenii, Fusarium petersiae, Gamsia kooimaniorum, Paracremonium binnewijzendii, Phaeoisaria annesophieae, Plectosphaerella niemeijerarum, Striaticonidium deklijnearum, Talaromyces annesophieae, Umbelopsis wiegerinckiae, Vandijckella johannae (incl. Vandijckella gen. nov. and Vandijckellaceae fam. nov.), Verhulstia trisororum (incl. Verhulstia gen. nov.). New Zealand: Lasiosphaeria similisorbina on decorticated wood. Papua New Guinea: Pseudosubramaniomyces gen. nov. (based on Pseudosubramaniomyces fusisaprophyticus comb. nov.). Slovakia: Hemileucoglossum pusillum on soil. South Africa: Tygervalleyomyces podocarpi (incl. Tygervalleyomyces gen. nov.) on Podocarpus falcatus. Spain: Coniella heterospora from herbivorous dung, Hymenochaete macrochloae on Macrochloa tenacissima, Ramaria cistophila on shrubland of Cistus ladanifer. Thailand: Polycephalomyces phaothaiensis on Coleoptera larvae, buried in soil. Uruguay: Penicillium uruguayense from soil. Vietnam: Entoloma nigrovelutinum on forest soil, Volvariella morozovae on wood of unknown tree. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided., The research of Vit Hubka was supported through the project BIOCEV (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109) provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of CR and ERDF. Maria E. Ordoñez and colleagues obtained financial support from the Secretaria de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación del Ecuador (SENESCYT), Arca de Noé Initiative. Olinto L. Pereira would like to thank the CNPq, CAPES and FAPEMIG for the financial support. Jadson D.P. Bezerra and colleagues thank CAPES, CNPq and FACEPE from Brazil for financial support and scholarships. Rafael J.V. Oliveira and colleagues express their gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for a scholarship to R.J.V. Oliveira and grant to J.L. Bezerra. Donis S. Alfredo and Luri G. Baseia would like to thank the Brazilian agency CAPES for providing Ph.D. scholarships and CNPq, for providing the financial support of the Projeto Pesquisador Visitante Especial (PVE-407474/2013-7). Alina V. Alexandrova acknowledges financial support from the Russian Science Foundation (project N 14-50-00029). Financial support for Olga V. Morozova and Ekaterina F. Malysheva was provided in the framework of an institutional research project of the Komarov Botanical Institute RAS (N 01201255603) and the Russian Foundation for the Basic Research (project 15-04-04645a). Lynn Delgat was funded by a doctoral scholarship of the Special Research Fund (BOF), and together with Annemieke Verbeken and Mélanie Roy would like to thank Labex CEBA ANR-10-LABX-25-01 and Reserve Naturelle La Trinité. Tiara S. Cabral and colleagues acknowledge Charles R. Clement for the English revision of the text, and for coordinating financial support., Rohit Sharma and colleagues thank the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi for financial support for the establishment of National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR), Pune wide grant letter no. BT/Coord.II/01/03/2016 dated 6 April 2017 and the MycoBank team for nomenclatural corrections. Dilnora E. Gouliamova was financed by the Bulgarian Science Fund (project TK-176) and by a fellowship from Wallonie – Bruxelles International agency of the French Community of Belgium. Neven Matočec and colleagues express their gratitude to Public Institution Northern Velebit National Park for providing financial support. We are thankful to P. Evrard from Mycothèque de l‘Université Catholique de Louvain who obtained fermentation and assimilation profiles of the studied strains. Financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project 16-34-00510 mol_a) is acknowledged to Anna G. Fedosova, and a grant from VEGA (project 2/0008/15) to Viktor Kučera. We would also like to thank Prof. Morakot Tanticharoen for her support of the program Biodiversity studies of entomopathogenic fungi in Thailand. This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Development Agency, Cluster and Program Management Office (Grant no. P15-51544).

Prof. Augusto Chaves Batista was the Brazilian mycologist who established the Institute of Mycology at the University of Recife (IMUR) in 1954. During the 1950’s the Institute became the home of two important mycological collections: the herbarium Herbario Camille Torrend, and the culture collection Micoteca URM Profa. Maria Auxiliadora Cavalcanti. Today the Herbarium and Culture Collection form part of the Department of Mycology Prof. Chaves Batista at the Federal University of Pernambuco. Over the past 60 years the activities of IMUR have been influenced by the contributions of several national and international researchers and by a variety of socio-economic and political events affecting the country as a whole. Several distinct research have characterised the development of the IMUR. These include the taxonomic and systematic study of fungi; the biodiversity of fungi in various substrates; the implications of fungi for the bioremediation and maintenance of soils; and the industrial uses of fungi. These specialities, combined with the study of medically important fungi, which motivated the creation of IMUR in the first place, were important themes in its history, and they continue to be so in the twenty-first century. In addition to scientific research, the activities of Prof. Batista and collaborators contributed directly to the training and development of many mycologists, who now work in educational and research institutions throughout Brazil. The founder also established the need for continuous government investment in order to preserve the diversity of fungi ex situ and to contribute to programs that ensure the preservation of the many natural ecosystems that depend on them.

Brazil harbours a unique ecosystem, the Caatinga, which belongs to the tropical dry forest biome. This region has an important diversity of organisms, and recently several new fungal species have been described from different hosts and substrates within it. During a survey of fungal endophyte diversity from cacti in this forest, we isolated cladosporium-like fungi that were subjected to morphological and multigene phylogenetic analyses including actA, ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2 gene sequences. Based on these analyses we identified two new species belonging to the genus Toxicocladosporium, described here as T. cacti and T. immaculatum spp. nov., isolated from Pilosocereus gounellei subsp. gounellei and Melocactus zehntneri, respectively. To improve the species recognition and assess species diversity in Toxicocladosporium we studied all ex-type strains of the genus, for which actA, rpb2 and tub2 barcodes were also generated. After phylogenetic reconstruction using five loci, we differentiated 13 species in the genus. Toxicocladosporium velox and T. chlamydosporum are synonymized based on their phylogenetic position and limited number of unique nucleotide differences. Six strains previously assigned to T. leucadendri, including the ex-type strain (CBS 131317) of that species, were found to belong to an undescribed genus here named as Neocladosporium gen. nov., with N. leucadendri comb. nov. as type species. Furthermore, this study proposes the actA, ITS, rpb2 and tub2 as main phylogenetic loci to recognise Toxicocladosporium species.

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, is one of the worst pests in Brazilian sugarcane crop, causing high levels of financial losses every year. Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus widely used in the biological control of several agricultural pests. The aims of this study were to: (1) evaluate the pathogenicity of B. bassiana strains against D. saccharalis (2) investigate the production of proteases and chitinase by B. bassiana in the presence of the cuticle of sugarcane borer; and, (3) evaluate the relation between the production of enzymes and pathogenicity of the strains. All isolates tested were pathogenic to D. saccharalis and the mortality ranged from 36 to 88%. The production of enzymes was higher in the medium containing cuticle, showing that the process is stimulated by specific components found in the cuticle of the host. Pr1 activity was higher than Pr2 and both were produced at 24 h. The highest production of chitinase was obtained at 96 h of culture for all strains tested. Levels of specific cuticle-degrading enzymes such as proteases correlated positively with specific virulence parameters. B. bassiana URM2915 showed promising features to be used in a biological control program of D. saccharalis. Key words: Biological control, sugarcane, subtilisin-like protease, trypsin-like protease, chitinase.

Endophytic fungi live within the healthy tissues of plants and can promote host species tolerance to different environmental stresses. However, most studies have been of plants in humid environments, and there are few reports of the benefits of such associations for plants of extreme environments. Our aims were to identify endophytic fungi using morphological taxonomy, to explore richness and estimate species frequency in a cactus, C. jamacaru, in Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga). We thus identified 59 taxa, corresponding to 69.7 % of the total number of isolates; the other 30.3 % were sterile mycelia. Cladosporium cladosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum were the species most commonly isolated, followed by Acremonium implicatum, Aureobasidium pullulans, Trichoderma viride, Chrysonilia sitophila, and Aspergillus flavus. Forty-seven species are recorded for the first time as endophytic fungi of cacti, and 18 others as endophytes for Brazil; this suggests that C. jamacaru harbors a highly diverse fungal community as measured by a diversity index. However, species accumulation curves suggest that our study still underestimates endophyte diversity because it does not provide an exhaustive sample. To our knowledge, this is the first report of endophytic fungi from C. jamacaru in tropical dry forests.

Dry environments have plants with special adaptations which enable them to live on nutrient-poor soils, in high temperatures, and with a scarcity of water. One of the most important features is the ability to establish symbiosis with different microorganisms. Studies on the diversity of endophytic fungi from dry environments are recent and scarce. The endophytic community (fungi and bacteria) of cacti has been studied in Australia, the United States, Brazil, and Mexico, revealing special features in their composition. Bioprospecting studies on these organisms are just as scarce as the ecological studies, but have shown promising results. In the United States and Brazil, endophytes isolated from cacti were selected for the production of enzymes, antimicrobials, and anticancer substances. The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on this subject, highlight the benefits of endophytic fungi species for plants on dry environments (mainly the Cactaceae family), and to emphasize the usefulness of endophytes in biotechnological processes.

ResumenEl suelo es un sistema biológico complejo, que desempeña un papel fundamental en las plantas y los animales, especialmente en los bosques secos como la Caatinga. Los hongos del suelo, tales como Aspergillus y Penicillium, pueden ser utilizados como bioindicadores para la conservación de la biodiversidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue aislar e identificar las especies de Aspergillus y Penicillium del suelo, en los municipios de Ibimirim y Tupanatinga en el Parque Nacional Catimbau. Cinco colecciones se llevaron a cabo en cada área durante la estación seca de 2012, un total de 25 muestras de suelos por área. Los hongos fueron aislados mediante la suspensión en agua destilada estéril y se sembraron en medio de cultivo Agar Sabouraud más Cloranfenicol y Rosa de Bengala, y también en el medio Agar Dicloran Glicerol. Los aislamientos fueron identificados en el Laboratorio de Colección de Hongos y se confirmaron por secuenciación del espaciador transcrito interno de ADN. Un total de 42 especies fueron identificadas, 22 de ellas pertenecientes al género Aspergillus y 20 al género Penicillium. Los aislamientos de Penicillium mostraron una distribución uniforme en Tupanatinga con índices de uniformidad entre 0.92 y 0.88 en Ibimirim. Entre los aislamientos de Aspergillus el valor encontrado en Tupanatinga (0.85) fue muy similar al encontrado en Ibimirim (0.86). Se observó una gran diversidad y bajo predominio de hongos en las muestras de suelo. Estos resultados contribuyen a la estimación de la diversidad de hongos en ambientes secos, especialmente en la Caatinga, donde la diversidad es decreciente en los suelos que han sufrido alteraciones. Abstract Soil is a complex biological system that plays a key role for plants and animals, especially in dry forests such as the Caatinga.Fungi from soils, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, can be used as bioindicators for biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify species of Aspergillus and Penicillium in soil, from the municipalities of Tupanatinga and Ibimirim, with dry forests, in the Catimbau National Park. Five collections were performed in each area during the drought season of 2012, totaling 25 soil samples per area. Fungi were isolated by suspending soil samples in sterile distilled water and plating on Sabouraud Agar media plus Chloramphenicol and Rose Bengal, and Glycerol Dicloran Agar. Isolates were identified by morphological taxonomy in the Culture Collection Laboratory and confirmed by sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer of rDNA. A total of 42 species were identified, of which 22 belong to the genus Aspergillus and 20 to Penicillium. Penicillium isolates showed uniform distribution from the collecting area in Tupanatinga, and the evenness indices found were 0.92 and 0.88 in Tupanatinga and Ibimirim, respectively. Among isolates of Aspergillus evenness, the value found in Tupanatinga (0.85) was very close to that found in Ibimirim (0.86). High diversity and low dominance of fungi in soil samples was observed. These results contributed to the estimation of fungal diversity in dry environments of the Caatinga, where diversity is decreasing in soils that have undergone disturbance. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 45-53. Epub 2016 March 01.

In March 2017, two eggplant fruit (Solanum melongena cv. Cica) were collected from field production in Cha-Grande, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, with circular, light brown and slightly sunken lesions in the apex, extending to the entire fruit in 3 to 4 days and developing a soft rot with abundant mycelial and sporangia production on the surface. After microscopic examination, a fungus belonging to the genus Gilbertella was identified. The fungus was isolated from soft rot observed in the fruit and pure cultures were obtained by transferring a single spore to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Two isolates were obtained and deposited in the culture collection “Micoteca URM Profa. Maria Auxiliadora Cavalcanti” at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil), as URM7670 and URM7671. Morphological characteristics include spherical, single sporangia with 57.2 to 96.2 µm diameter, yellow-brown to brown when young turning dark brown or black on maturity, and sporangia split longitudinally into two halves to release the spore and expose a columella obvoid, 23.4 to 65 × 26 to 52 µm. The sporangiospores were mostly globose to ellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, aseptate, and 7.8 to 13 × 5.2 to 10.4 µm. The morphological characteristics evaluated corroborate previously published data for Gilbertella persicaria (Benny 1991). The partial sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S (LSU) of the rDNA were obtained for the two isolates and deposited in GenBank (accession nos. MF804516, MF804517, MG573061, and MG573062, respectively). The isolates showed a 99% similarity with ITS and LSU sequences of the type strain G. persicaria CBS 190.32 (NR111692 and JN939197, respectively) according to BLAST search. A combined phylogenetic tree obtained by Bayesian method grouped the isolates with the G. persicaria clade with 100% of posterior probability, confirming the identification. Koch’s postulates were conducted by inoculating five asymptomatic eggplant fruit (cv. Cica) previously disinfested with 0.5% hypochlorite and unwounded or superficially wounded with a sterile needle at two equidistant points. Ten milliliters of a sporangiospore suspension (1 × 10⁵ sporangiospores/ml) obtained from a representative isolate (URM7670) were sprayed on the inoculation sites. Sterile distilled water was used as control. The inoculated fruits were maintained in plastic boxes that contained a portion of moistened cotton wool and were maintained in a moist chamber at ∼25°C for 5 days. Wounded inoculated fruit showed the first symptoms (circular, light brown spots) 48 h after inoculation and evolved into soft rot after 5 days. Hyaline hyphae and light brown to dark sporangia were observed over the surface of the infected fruit. The pathogen was reisolated, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. The control and unwounded fruit remained asymptomatic. This species is usually found in soils and dung, but has already been reported to cause rot in peach fruit (Ginting et al. 1996), dragon fruit (Guo et al. 2012), black plum (Pinho et al. 2014), and papaya (Cruz-Lachica et al. 2016). To our knowledge, G. persicaria represents a new report in the world associated with soft rot in eggplant. This work will certainly contribute to the knowledge of pathogens that affect eggplant culture and, consequently, future studies that involve disease management strategies.

Bauhinia forficata is native to South America and used with relative success in the folk medicine in Brazil. The diversity, antibacterial activity, and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes of endophytic fungi associated with this plant were studied. Plant samples, which included leaves, sepals, stems, and seeds, were used. Ninety-five endophytic fungal were isolated (18 from leaves, 22 from sepals, 46 from stems, and nine from seeds), comprising 28 species. The most frequently isolated species were Acremonium curvulum (9.5%), Aspergillus ochraceus (7.37%), Gibberella fujikuroi (10.53%), Myrothecium verrucaria (10.53%) and Trichoderma piluliferum (7.37%). Diversity and species richness were higher in stem tissues, and Sorensen's index of similarity between the tissues was low. Eleven fungi showed antibacterial activity. Aspergillus ochraceus , Gibberella baccata , Penicillium commune , and P. glabrum were those with the greatest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and/or Streptococcus pyogenes . Thirteen species showed proteolytic activity, particularly Phoma putaminum . Fourteen species were cellulase positive, particularly the Penicillium species and Myrmecridium schulzeri . All isolates tested were xylanase positive and 10 showed lipolytic activity, especially Penicillium glabrum . It is clear that the endophytic fungi from B. forficata have potential for the production of bioactive compounds and may be a source of new therapeutic agents for the effective treatment of diseases in humans, other animals, and plants. To our knowledge, this is the first study of endophytic fungi from different tissues of B. forficata and their biotechnological potential.