ABSTRACT Studies involving endophytic fungi isolated from endemic plants and their antibacterial potential are largely unknown in the Pampa biome. In this study, we identified endophytic fungi isolated from Kelissa brasiliensis (Iridaceae), an endemic species of the Brazilian Pampa, and assessed their antibacterial activity. Endophytic fungi were first grouped based on macro-and micro-morphology, and one representative of each morphospecies was analyzed using sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA region. We then tested the fungal extracts against laboratory isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli for antibacterial activity. A total of 30 endophytes were isolated from the tissues of K. brasiliensis, with the majority from the leaves. Endophytes were then grouped into seven morphospecies based on their morphological features and one representative from each was selected for phylogenetic analysis. The inference from the ITS rDNA sequences identified the endophytes of the seven selected morphospecies as belonging to six taxonomic groups: Colletotrichum (two), Diaporthe (one), Epicoccum (one), Fusarium (one), and Pestalotiopsis (one). The endophyte extracts revealed better results against E. coli than S. aureus, although the extracts from Colletotrichum and Pestalotiopsis sp. were statistically similar to the control antibiotic. Our study is a basis for endophytic fungi studies in Pampa.

ABSTRACT The knowledge of the geographical distribution of fungi is essential to promote the understanding of global and national fungal diversity patterns. In this study, we provide a literature-based checklist of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces species recorded in the biomes of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and the Brazilian Pampa. Only Penicillium digitatum was reported for the Pampa biome. For the Atlantic Forest, a total of 169 species (68 Aspergillus, 79 Penicillium, and 22 Talaromyces) are reported, of which 20 are typified with specimens from this biome, including the novel species Penicillium nordestinense (section Lanata-Divaricata) that is described in this study. Penicillium nordestinense is phylogenetically related to the invalidly described species Penicillium setosum, and this species is validated here. Soil was the most common substrate from where species were reported. Several reported species are well known in biotechnological processes. Penicilliopsis zonata and Sclerocleista ornata, species previously treated in Aspergillus, are recorded. This checklist reflects the limited knowledge of fungal species in tropical environments, such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes. This information is a good framework for understanding the Brazilian diversity of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces and provides data for future fungal biogeographical studies in tropical environments.

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.

ABSTRACT Twenty-seven Tritirachium strains were present in the URM culture collection originally founded in Brazil by Augusto Chaves Batista. Fifteen freshly-prepared cultures were obtained from these original strains preserved under mineral oil. DNA was extracted for analysing phylogenetic relationships using the sequence information available from Tritirachium type materials and reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA sequences revealed that eight of these strains belong to the same clade as of T. oryzae and that the four other strains belong to the same clade as of T. candoliense. The strain URM 38, which was previously identified as “T. brumptii”, appeared to exist as a single lineage, related to T. roseum and T. candoliense. Based on morphological features and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, including the analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA, and rpb2 sequences, we propose that URM 38 belongs to the new species T. batistae. This novel species exhibited velutinous to cottony colonies of varying colour, septate hyphae without clamp connections, conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous cells with a distinct sympodial rachis, and single-cell conidia that was globose to subglobose, obovoid, smooth, and hyaline. The morphological features of species accepted in Tritirachium are included in this study.

ABSTRACT 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.

ABSTRACT Here, Diaporthe myracrodruonis is introduced as new species from Brazil, isolated as endophyte from Myracrodruon urundeuva. Asterina mandaquiensis is epitypified and ilustrated for the first time. Serpula similis is reported as new to the Neotropics, while Perenniporia centrali-africana is reported for the first time as endophyte and Preussia africana as endophyte from Spondias tuberosa in Caatinga in Brazil.

ABSTRACT Here, Quambalaria fabacearum and Neopestalotiopsis brasiliensis are introduced as new species from Brazil, isolated as endophyte from Mimosa tenuiflora and causing post-harvest rot disease on fruits of Psidium guajava, respectively. Diaporthe inconspicua is emended to include a more detailed morphological description. Neopestalotiopsis egyptiaca is reported as new to the Americas and as causing post-harvest rot disease on fruits of Psidium guajava, while Umbelopsis isabellina is reported as endophyte.

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.