Resumo Em um levantamento de espécies de fungos Mucorales no Brejo da Serra do Benedito, um Brejo de altitude do semi-árido pernambucano, Brasil, um espécime de Backusella gigacellularis foi isolado. Até o momento, B. gigacellularis (holótipo) só havia sido isolada de solo no Domínio Cerrado, no estado de São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil. Este é segundo registro mundial de B. gigacellularis e o primeiro para o nordeste do Brasil, especificamente em um a área de Brejo de altitude. Nesse trabalho, são apresentadas uma descrição detalhada e ilustração do espécime isolado.

Abstract In a survey mucoralean fungi in the Brejo da Serra do Benedito, a fragment of Upland Forest in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, Brazil, a specimen of Backusella gigacellularis was isolated. So far, B. gigacellularis (holotype) had only been isolated from soil in the Cerrado domain, in São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. This is the second report of B. gigacellularis worldwide, and the first record to northeastern Brazil. A detailed description, as well as the illustration of the specimen, are presented.

ABSTRACT During a survey of Mucorales in soil from an upland forest area in Pernambuco, Brazil, two specimens were isolated and characterized based on their morphological, physiological, and molecular data (ITS and LSU rDNA). Phylogenetic analyses of the isolates revealed that the strains URM 8209 and URM 8210 are closely related to species of Absidia. URM 8209 forms conical, subglobose, and strawberry-shaped columellae and the sporangiospores are cylindrical and ellipsoid. URM 8210 produces hemispheric, subglobose, and strawberry-shaped columellae and the sporangiospores are globose, subglobose, ellipsoid, and short cylindrical. Based on evidence obtained through analysis of datasets (LSU and ITS rDNA regions), A. saloaensis sp. nov. (URM 8209) and A. multispora sp. nov. (URM 8210) are proposed here as novel species of Absidia. A table with morphological characteristics of Neotropical Absidia spp. is provided.