ABSTRACT Two new Penicillium species are reported from soil of an agroforestry system and an Atlantic Rainforest fragment in Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Using a polyphasic approach, combining partial β-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene sequences and morphological characters, Penicillium gercinae sp. nov. (section Ramigena, series Georgiensia), and Penicillium stangiae sp. nov. (section Lanata-Divaricata, series Dalearum) are described. Descriptions based on morphological features are provided. Penicillium gercinae is phylogenetically closely related to P. georgiense; however, P. gercinae does not grow on Czapek yeast extract (CYA) and has monoverticillate and biverticillate conidiophores. Penicillium stangiae is phylogenetically closely related to P. penarojense and P. vanderhammenii. As diagnostic features, P. stangiae had slower growth on CYA (28-30 mm in 7 days) and on DG18 (6-7 mm in 7 days) and lacked the production of acid on creatine agar. This research contributes to the expansion of knowledge on the taxonomy and diversity of Penicillium species in Brazil.

ABSTRACT 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.

RESUMO Austropuccinia psidii é o agente etiológico de uma das principais doenças do jambeiro-do-pará: a ferrugem-amarela. Em uma ocorrência dessa doença foi constatada a ação de um fungo hiperparasito sobre uredossoro de A. psidii. A partir de folhas lesionadas, dois isolados de Fusarium foram caracterizados por análise morfológica e molecular. Os resultados revelaram que esses organismos pertencem a dois complexos de espécies: Fusarium fujikuroi (FFSC) e Fusarium solani (FSSC). A ocorrência desses fungos micoparasitas é uma forma de controle biológico natural para esta ferrugem e o seu estudo contribuirá para o manejo da ferrugem amarela.

ABSTRACT Austropuccinia psidii is the etiologic agent of one of the major diseases affecting “jambeiro-do-pará”: yellow rust. During the incidence of yellow rust, the action of a hyperparasitc fungus on uredosore of A. psidii was observed. From injured leaves, two Fusarium isolates were characterized based on morphological and molecular analysis. Results evidenced that these organisms belong to two species complexes: Fusarium fujikuroi (FFSC) and Fusarium solani (FSSC). Occurrence of these mycoparasite fungi is a form of natural biological control for this rust and the study of these fungi will contribute to the management of yellow rust.