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Clavariadelphus species (Clavariadelphaceae, Gomphales) in China were examined using morphology, molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS data and chemical reactions. Eleven taxa were identified in China, including four species known previously to occur in China (C. griseoclavus, C. ligula, C. sachalinensis and C. yunnanensis), two new record species from China (C. elongatus and C. himalayensis), four novel species (C. alpinus, C. amplus, C. gansuensis and C. khinganensis) and one species that could not be described due to the paucity of material. Finally, we also provided a taxonomic key for the identification of Clavariadelphus species in China.

Many animals have been shown to eat fungi and most truffle-like fungi depend on animals for spore dispersal via mycophagy. Although these interactions are widespread, they are understudied in many habitats. In this study, we show that bonobos (

We conducted the first ecological study of epigeous gasteroid fungi associated with the endangered ecosystem of high altitude Polylepis australis woodlands in Córdoba, Argentina. We collected samples from 48 plots of 900 m2 each, located in four river basins. Plots were classified according to five successional stage categories: early and late regeneration; young, mixed and mature forests. We performed PERMANOVA and PERMDISP analysis in order to compare species composition among fungal assemblages between the conservation categories. Rank-abundance curves were also generated for the five conservation categories. Twenty species were recollected within the 48 P. australis plots. Bovista pusilliformis was the most abundant species within the plots classified as the early regeneration stages; Geastrum saccatum was the most abundant species present in plots classified as mixed forest; plots classified as mature forests presented G. indicum and Lycoperdon pyriforme as the most abundant species. Plots classified as mixed forest showed the highest species richness values and significant differences in species composition than plots classified as both, early and late regeneration stages. With this work we contribute to the ongoing effort to protect and conserve the endangered ecosystem of our treeline species P. australis. Fil: Hernández Caffot, María Luciana. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina Fil: Pereyra, Laura Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; Argentina Fil: Robledo, Gerardo Lucio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Domínguez, Laura S.. Fundación Fungicosmos; Argentina

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Los gasteromicetes son un grupo artificial de hongos con basidiomas gasteroides que presentan un himenio encerrado. Actualmente, se ubican en las subclases Agaricomycetidae y Phallomycetidae de la clase Agaricomycetes del Phylum Basidiomycota. Hasta ahora no existe un trabajo que los aborde específicamente en el bosque mesófilo de montaña (BMM), por lo que el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar la diversidad taxonómica de los Agaricomycetes gasteroides del BMM.Métodos: Se realizaron 10 exploraciones de 2012 a 2015 a los BMM de los municipios Molango de Escamilla, Tlanchinol y Zacualtipán de Ángeles en el estado de Hidalgo, México. Adicionalmente, se revisó la colección de hongos del herbario ENCB. Los especímenes se estudiaron siguiendo las técnicas tradicionales micológicas y se encuentran depositados en las colecciones micológicas ENCB y MEXU.Resultados clave: Se estudiaron 20 especies de Agaricomycetes gasteroides pertenecientes a 12 géneros, seis familias y cinco órdenes de las subclases Agaricomycetidae y Phallomycetidae dentro de la clase Agaricomycetes. De éstas, Aseroë rubra, Calvatia rugosa, Laternea pusilla, Lycoperdon eximium, L. juruense, L. marginatum, L. nigrescens, Mutinus bambusinus, Scleroderma michiganense y Protubera jamaicensis son nuevos registros para el estado de Hidalgo.Conclusiones: Al igual que otros grupos de hongos, los gasteroides presentaron una alta diversidad en los bosques mesófilos de montaña de Hidalgo. Anteriormente, se habían registrado solamente 12 especies y en este trabajo se mencionan 10 más para el estado. Se considera necesario seguir realizando exploraciones micológicas para un mejor conocimiento de los micobiota en este ecosistema.

The Neotropics are among the least explored regions from a mycological perspective. A few recent molecular studies in South America have shown high fungal diversity as well as numerous groups of mostly undescribed taxa. Through soil metabarcoding analysis we compared richness and species composition among macrofungal communities, belonging to Agaricales, Russulales, Boletales and Phallomycetidae groups, in three elevational forests types in the subtropical Yungas of Northwestern Argentina (Piedmont forest; Montane forest, Montane cloud forest). The aims of this study were to assess richness of taxonomic and functional groups along the elevation gradient and to assess the relationships between environmental variables and species composition in the studied fungal communities. The results have shown rich Agaricomycetes communities, diversely structured among forests habitats. The elevation gradient differentially affected the richness and distribution of Agaricales, Russulales, Boletales and Phallomycetidae. Based on fungal trophic modes and guilds, the gradient also affected the ectomycorrhizal taxa distribution. When considering the basidiomata growth forms (agaricoid, boletoid, gasteroid, etc.), only the secotioid type showed significant elevational differences. Additional analyses indicated that saprotrophic nutritional mode was dominant along the entire gradient, being partially replaced by biotrophic modes at higher elevations. Fungal communities in the Montane cloud forests are most dissimilar when compared with communities at the Piedmont forest and Montane forest, which is consistent with the different biogeographic origins of these forests. DNA metabarcoding sequence analysis provided detailed information on the diversity and taxonomic and functional composition of macrofungal communities. Fil: Nouhra, Eduardo Ramon. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Soteras, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Pastor, Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Geml, József. Leiden University; Países Bajos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Cerca de 97% das espécies fúngicas existentes ainda não foram descritas pela ciência, mesmo a identificação sendo embasamento para uma gama de estudos aplicados (e.x. bioprospecção, evolução, ecologia, conservação). A utilização dos códigos de barras moleculares (barcodes) vem auxiliando a delimitação de espécies. Sobretudo para os fungos gasteroides (Basidiomycota), o espaçador transcrito interno do DNA ribossômico nuclear (ITS) vem demostrando eficiência para o descobrimento de uma diversidade escondida. A família Geastraceae é constituída pelos gêneros gasteroides Geastrum e Myriostoma, sendo os espécimes popularmente conhecidos como estrelasda-terra (earthstars). Embora seja uma das mais ricas da ordem Geastrales, o conhecimento sobre a diversidade desta família apresenta lacunas, especialmente na região Neotropical, onde há países megadiversos, “hotspots” e ecossistemas tropicais, os quais demonstram elevado potencial para abrigar uma diversidade escondida. Assim, objetiva-se revisar coleções de representantes da família Geastraceae, enfatizando os que apresentam distribuição Neotropical. As análises basearam-se em dados morfológicos e moleculares. Foram investigadas 215 amostras provenientes de 10 diferentes herbários nacionais e internacionais; sendo destas 14 coleções tipo. A metodologia consistiu em uma profunda revisão dos caracteres morfológicos, além de análises filogenéticas moleculares das regiões ITS, LSU, ATP6, RPB2 e TEF1α, sobre os critérios de Máxima Parcimônia, Máxima Verossimilhança e Inferência Bayesiana. Foram geradas 186 sequências novas, as quais foram comparadas com 294 sequências homólogas provenientes do banco de dados GenBank. Foram descritas 12 espécies novas de Geastrum: G. laevisporum J.O. Sousa & Baseia; G. pusillipilosum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. verrucoramulosum T.S. Cabral, J.O. Sousa & Baseia; G. magnosporum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. caatingense J.O. Sousa, M.P. Martín & Baseia; G. parvistellum J.O. Sousa, M.P. Martín & Baseia; G. baculicrystallum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. brunneocapillatum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. courtecuissei P.-A. Moreau & C. Lécuru, G. neoamericanum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. rubellum P.-A. Moreau & C. Lécuru; G. rubropusillum J.O. Sousa et al. O nome Geastrum hirsutum Baseia & Calonge foi revalidado e teve sequência de seu parátipo disponibilizano GenBank. Para o gênero Myriostoma duas espécies novas foram descritas: M. calongei Baseia, J.O. Sousa, & M.P. Martín e M. australianum J.O. Sousa Baseia & M.P. Martín; ademais, foram propostas duas combinações novas: M. areolatum (Calonge & M. Mata) M.P. Martín, J.O. Sousa & Baseia e M. capillisporum (V.J. Stanek) L.M. Suz et al. Foram propostos, também, um lectótipo e um epitipo para a espécie M. coliforme (Dicks.) Corda. Os dados gerados por esta revisão modificaram as interpretações sobre a sistemática de Geastraceae, sendo possível comprovar que os complexos de espécies existentes subestimavam a diversidade da família Geatraceae em região Neotropical. About 97% of existing fungi species have not been described by science, although the identification being the basis for many appliced studies (ex: bioprospecting, evolution, ecology, conservation). Barcodes have been very useful to species delimitation. Mainly for gasteroid fungi (Basidiomycota), the Internal Transcribed Spacer of Nuclear rDNA (ITS) has demonstrated to be very efficacy to discover hidden diversity. The family Geastraceae is constituted by the gasteroid genus Geastrum and Myriostoma, being the specimens popularly known as earthstars. Although it is one of the richest families in the Geastrales order, the knowledge about the diversity of this family has gaps, especially in the Neotropical region, where there are megadiverse countries, “hotspots” and tropical ecosystems, which have high potential to shelter hidden diversity. Thus, this study aimed to review collections of family Geastraceae, emphasizing those with Neotropical distribution. Two hundred and fifteen samples from 10 distinct international and national fungal collections were investigated, of these, 14 type collections. The methodoly consisted in a deep revision of morphological characters, besides the molecular phylogenetic analyses of the DNA regions ITS, LSU, ATP6, RPB2 e TEF1α, following Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference criteria. There were generated 186 new sequences, which were compared with 294 homologue sequences from GenBank data. Twelve news species of Geastrum were described: G. laevisporum J.O. Sousa & Baseia; G. pusillipilosum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. verrucoramulosum T.S. Cabral, J.O. Sousa & Baseia; G. magnosporum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. caatingense J.O. Sousa, M.P. Martín & Baseia; G. parvistellum J.O. Sousa, M.P. Martín & Baseia; G. baculicrystallum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. brunneocapillatum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. courtecuissei P.-A. Moreau & C. Lécuru, G. neoamericanum J.O. Sousa et al.; G. rubellum P.-A. Moreau & C. Lécuru; G. rubropusillum J.O. Sousa et al. For the genus Myriostoma, two new species were described: M. calongei Baseia, J.O. Sousa, & M.P. Martín and M. australianum J.O. Sousa Baseia & M.P. Martín; moreover, two new combinations were proposed: M. areolatum (Calonge & M. Mata) M.P. Martín, J.O. Sousa & Baseia and M. capillisporum (V.J. Stanek) L.M. Suz et al. A lectotype and an epitype for the specie M. coliforme (Dicks.) Corda was elected. The data generated by this revision changed the systematic interpretations about the family Geastraceae, it was possible to prove that there were species complex which underestimated the knowledge about the richness of this family in Neotropical region.

We explored the phylogenetic relationships of Tremellodendropsis tuberosa from western North America. The species has tough, coralloid fruiting bodies that emerge from a basal tuber, as well as unusual, partially septate basidia, large elliptical spores, and regular clamp connections. It has been classified variously in Auriculariales, Tremellales, and in its own order, Tremellodendropsidiales. To evaluate support for these alternatives, we extracted DNA from four specimens and sequenced ∼5000 bp from the ribosomal large subunit, small subunit and internal transcribed spacer region from each. We aligned sequences from T. tuberosa with sequences from GenBank that represented 31 Basidiomycota orders and then analyzed the individual and concatenated sequence regions using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches. Analyses agreed that T. tuberosa is an early diverging member of Agaricomycetes, but did not provide unequivocal support for its sister group relationships within the class. From the concatenated alignment, after removal of poorly aligned sites using Gblocks, T. tuberosa appeared as the sister group to a clade encompassing four orders, three of them from Phallomycetidae. This relationship had a Bayesian posterior probability of 1.0 and appeared, although without bootstrap support, in maximum likelihood trees. Tree topology tests ruled out placing T. tuberosa within the Auriculariales. We accept that T. tuberosa should be placed in its own order, the Tremellodendropsidales, and not in Auriculariales or Tremellales. As a taxon that diverged early from other Basidiomycota clades, T. tuberosa should be included in further studies of phylogeny and character evolution in Agaricomycetes.

Knowledge of sequestrate Hysterangiaceae fungi in Mexico is very limited. In the present study, a new member of the family, Aroramyces guanajuatensissp. nov., is described. This speciesis closely related to A. balanosporus, but differs from the latter in possessing a tomentose peridium 165–240 µm thick, with occasional large terminal hyphae up to 170 µm, a variable mesocutis (isodiametric to angular), and distinct bright yellowish subcutis. In contrast, A. balanosporus possesses a fibrillose peridial surface with shorter hyphae, a peridium 200–450 µm thick, and a mainly hyaline isodiametric mesocutis with a slightly wider subcutis. The phylogenetic analysis of the LSU gene separated A. guanajuatensis from A. balanosporus with a Bayesian posterior probability (PP) = 1. This is the third Aroramyces species described for the American continent.

Studies have demonstrated that many cosmopolitan species actually consist of divergent clades that present high levels of morphological stasis throughout their evolutionary histories.Phallus indusiatuss.l. has been described as a circum-tropical species. However, this distribution may actually reflect the lack of taxonomic resolution due to the small number of diagnostic morphological characters, which leads to the identification of new records as populations ofP. indusiatus. Here, we examine the diversity ofP. indusiatus-like species in Brazilian Amazonia. We show a clear congruence between detailed morphological data and ITS, nuc-LSU andatp6 based phylogenetic analyses and three new species are described within the Brazilian indusiate clade. These results highlight the importance of more detailed investigation, with the inclusion of molecular information, in Neotropical fungi.

Itajahya is a member of Phallales (Agaricomycetes), which, based on the presence of a calyptra and DNA sequence data for I. rosea, has recently been raised to generic status from a subgenus of Phallus. The type species of the genus, I. galericulata, is commonly known as the Jacaranda stinkhorn in Pretoria, South Africa, which is the only area where the fungus is known outside the Americas. The common name is derived from its association with the South American originating Jacaranda mimosifolia trees in the city. The aim of this study was to consider the unusual occurrence of the fungus in South Africa, to place it on the available Phallales phylogeny and to test whether it merits generic status. Fresh basidiomes were collected during the summer of 2015 and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses were based on sequence data for the nuc-LSU-rDNA (LSU) and ATPase subunit 6 (ATP6) regions. The results showed that I. rosea and I. galericulata are phylogenetically related. They are also clearly distinguished from other members of Phallales such as Phallus spp. and Dictyophora spp., and so our new data supports the raising of Itajahya to the generic level.

Territories around industrial enterprises represent gradients of soil acidity and heavy metal excess. Exploration of soil fungal communities in pollution gradients serves the remediation interests and brings fundamental knowledge about biota response to environmental changes. In this work, using industrial pollution as a model of environmental filtering, we performed high-throughput sequencing of 180 soil samples collected along strong long-term pollution gradients in spruce-fir and birch-pine forests. Based on 1008 Agaricomycetes operational taxonomic units, we found that in unpolluted forests, communities were randomly assembled in deep phylogenetic branches and clustered at the terminal branches. Pollution caused a 32–43% reduction in Agaricomycetes richness, resulting in the phylogenetic diversity decrease and phylogenetic clustering. The Auriculariales, Thelephorales, Phallomycetidae, Typhuloid, Marasmioid, and Tricholomatoid clades were sensitive to pollution, while Agaricoid clade, Boletales, and Russulales were tolerant, evidencing a phylogenetic signal of tolerance to pollution. To compare the trophic guilds’ response to pollution, we performed phylogenetically-informed and uninformed modeling. Both approaches showed that biotrophs were more tolerant compared to saprotrophs at different taxonomic levels, illustrating that trophic mode determines fungal response to pollution or is associated with biochemical traits underlying tolerance to heavy metal excess and soil acidification. The shift in the proportions of fungal trophic guilds, which differ in the pathways and intensity of organic matter transformation, determines carbon and nitrogen dynamics in polluted lands and the rate of ecosystem restoration after the reduction of emissions.

Fil: Kuhar, Jose Francisco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biologia Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina

Based on morphological and molecular analysis, we describe the new species Geastrum verrucoramulosum, discriminated from other species in the section Exareolata mainly by an elongated, verrucose, branched stipe. This new species is currently known from two forest locations in central and southwestern Amazonia. Species description, images, and taxonomic discussion of both morphological and molecular data are provided., The authors also thank the funding agencies Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientı´fico e Tecnol ogico (MCTIC/PCI 300775/2016-4, Universal 473422/2012-3 and PVE 407474/2013-7), and Fundac¸ ~ao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM 3137/2012).

As part of a review of gasteroid mycobiota from Rio Grande do Sul State, in southern Brazil, members of the Lysuraceae (Phallales) family were studied. Fresh and herbarium specimens were analyzed macro- and micromorphologically. Lysurus cruciatus, L. cruciatus var. nanus (new record from Brazil) and L. periphragmoides have been collected in the area. Their specific limits, distribution and ecological data are discussed. Macroscopic photographs and line drawings of the basidiospores are presented.As part of a review of gasteroid mycobiota from Rio Grande do Sul State, in southern Brazil, members of the Lysuraceae (Phallales) family were studied. Fresh and herbarium specimens were analyzed macro- and micromorphologically. Lysurus cruciatus, L. cruciatus var. nanus (new record from Brazil) and L. periphragmoides have been collected in the area. Their specific limits, distribution and ecological data are discussed. Macroscopic photographs and line drawings of the basidiospores are presented.

Sampling and analysis of gasteroid agaricomycete species (Phallomycetidaeand Agaricomycetidae) associated with relicts of native Espinal forests in the southeast region of Córdoba, Argentina, have identified twenty-nine species in fourteen genera:Bovista (4), Calvatia (2), Cyathus (1), Disciseda (4), Geastrum (7), Itajahya (1),Lycoperdon (2), Lysurus (2), Morganella (1), Mycenastrum (1), Myriostoma (1),Sphaerobolus (1), Tulostoma (1), and Vascellum (1). The gasteroid species from the sampled Espinal forests showed an overall similarity with those recorded from neighboringphytogeographic regions; however, a new species of Lysurus was found and is briefly described, and Bovista coprophila is a new record for Argentina. Fil: Hernández Caffot, María Luciana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina Fil: Broiero, Ximena A.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina Fil: Fernández, María Emilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina Fil: Silvera Ruiz, Leda. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina Fil: Crespo, Esteban María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnol.conicet - San Luis. Unidad de Adm.territorial; Argentina Fil: Nouhra, Eduardo Ramon. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

During a survey of gasteroid fungi from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, two noteworthy species of the genus Phallus were identified: P.duplicatus (new record from Brazil) and P. granulosodenticulatus. The latter is a poorly known species described by Braun in 1932 that was recently recollected, and its taxonomy is discussed based on the examination of fresh and type specimens.

Phylogenetic relationships within the Phallales were estimated via combined sequences: nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), second largest subunit of RNA polymerase (rpb2), and mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6 (atp6). The ingroup is represented by 62 taxa comprising 18 genera and 44 species, including members of the Clathraceae, Claustulaceae, Gastrosporiaceae, Lysuraceae, Phallaceae and Protophallaceae. Sixty-one new sequences were generated, including tropical and subtropical taxa. This is one of the first studies discussing the phylogenetic placement of Abrachium, Aseroe, Blumenavia, Gastrosporium, Jansia and Xylophallus. Gastrosporiaceae was demonstrated to be sister to Phallaceae and an emended description of the order is presented. Aseroe was demonstrated to be polyphyletic and as a result, A. arachnoidea is transferred to Lysurus.

The distribution and endemicity patterns of Gomphales in Mexico are analyzed here for the first time. Richness and corrected endemism were obtained from a dataset of 3,483 records for 97 species, u...

A survey of Geastrum species from arid lands in the La Rioja province (northwestern Argentina) recovered fourteen species previously unreported from the province: G. arenarium, G. campestre var. famatinum, G. corollinum, G. fimbriatum, G. floriforme, G. glaucescens, G. hieronymi, G. aff. lloydianum, G. pampeanum, G. pampeanum var. pallidum, G. parvistriatum, G. rufescens, G. saccatum, and G. schmidelii. Of these, new records are G. corollinum for Argentina, G. arenarium for South America, and G. parvistriatum for the Americas, and G. campestre var. famatinum is proposed as a new variety. Each taxon is described, and photographs of basidiomes and SEM micrographs illustrating spores are provided for selected taxa. Fil: Kuhar, José Francisco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Castiglia, Valeria Carolina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Papinutti, Víctor Leandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

A survey of Geastrum species from arid lands in the La Rioja province (northwestern Argentina) recovered fourteen species previously unreported from the province: G. arenarium, G. campestre var. famatinum, G. corollinum, G. fimbriatum, G. floriforme, G. glaucescens, G. hieronymi, G. aff. lloydianum, G. pampeanum, G. pampeanum var. pallidum, G. parvistriatum, G. rufescens, G. saccatum, and G. schmidelii. Of these, new records are G. corollinum for Argentina, G. arenarium for South America, and G. parvistriatum for the Americas, and G. campestre var. famatinum is proposed as a new variety. Each taxon is described, and photographs of basidiomes and SEM micrographs illustrating spores are provided for selected taxa. © 2012. Mycotaxon, Ltd. Fil:Kuhar, F. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Castiglia, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Fil:Papinutti, L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.

As part of a review of gasteroid mycobiota from Rio Grande do Sul State, in southern Brazil, members of the Lysuraceae (Phallales) family were studied. Fresh and herbarium specimens were analyzed macro- and micromorphologically. Lysurus cruciatus, L. cruciatus var. nanus (new record from Brazil) and L. periphragmoides have been collected in the area. Their specific limits, distribution and ecological data are discussed. Macroscopic photographs and line drawings of the basidiospores are presented.

Gasteroid fungi include puffballs, stinkhorns, and other forms that produce their spores inside the fruiting body. Gasteroid taxa comprise about 8.4% of the Agaricomycetes (mushroom-forming fungi) and have evolved numerous times from nongasteroid ancestors, such as gilled mushrooms, polypores, and coral fungi, which produce spores on the surface of the fruiting body. Nongasteroid Agaricomycetes have a complex mechanism of forcible spore discharge that is lost in gasteroid lineages, making reversals to nongasteroid forms very unlikely. Our objective was to determine whether gasteromycetation affects the rate of diversification of lineages "trapped" in the gasteroid state. We assembled four datasets (the Sclerodermatineae, Boletales, Phallomycetidae, and Lycoperdaceae), representing unique origins of gasteroid fungi from nongasteroid ancestors and generated phylogenies using BEAST. Using the program Diversitree, we analyzed these phylogenies to estimate character-state-specific rates of speciation and extinction, and rates of transitions between nongasteroid and gasteroid forms. Most optimal models suggest that the net diversification rate of gasteroid forms exceeds that of nongasteroid forms, and that gasteroid forms will eventually come to predominate over nongasteroid forms in the clades in which they have arisen. The low frequency of gasteroid forms in the Agaricomycetes as a whole may reflect the recent origins of many gasteroid lineages.

A new species, Geastrum episcopale, is described from Argentina. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of fresh and dry basidiomata are provided along with photographs of microscopic elements, such as spores, capillitium, calcium oxalate crystals, and exo- and endoperidium surfaces. This fungus is typical of the genus in its morphology and ecology but clearly differs from every known species. This species can be distinguished easily by the red-violet (to magenta) exoperidium and the lilac endoperidium. Specimens were collected on wet soil composed of a superficial layer of ca. 5 cm leaf litter and 15 cm of particulate and melanized lignocellulosic material (pH 6.5) under Eugenia uruguayensis and Nectandra sp. Fil: Kuhar, José Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Micología Experimental; Argentina Fil: Papinutti, Víctor Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Micología Experimental; Argentina

Geastrum trichiferum y Geastrum setiferum (Geastrales, Phallomycetidae) nuevas citas para Argentina. En el presente estudio se reportan dos nuevas citas de Geastrum para Argentina: G. trichiferum Rick y G. setiferum Baseia. Se adjuntan descripciones, comentarios e ilustraciones de los basidiomas.