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Type: Article
Published: 2017-02-08
Page range: 159–172
Abstract views: 22
PDF downloaded: 1

Coprophilous ascomycetes with passive ascospore liberation from Brazil

Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Micologia, Av. da Engenharia, s/n, 50740‒600, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Micologia, Av. da Engenharia, s/n, 50740‒600, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Ascomycota coprophilous fungi Microascales non-ostiolate ascomycetes Fungi Brazil

Abstract

Ascomycetes with passive ascospore liberation fruiting on herbivore dung are discussed. A total of 270 samples of cattle, goat and horse dung were collected for 20 months along an edaphic and climatic gradient from the Atlantic Forest complex to the semi-arid Caatinga complex in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Thirteen species were identified and described. Lophotrichus bartlettii and Kernia nitida were the most frequently recorded species. Corynascus sepedonium, Leuconeurospora pulcherrima, Melanospora damnosa, M. zamiae, Mycoarachis inversa, Zopfiella erostrata and Zopfiella longicaudata are reported for the first time in Brazil. Descriptions, a photographic plate and an identification key to the studied species, along with a table with key characters of the most common genera of coprophilous ascomycetes with passive ascospore liberation are provided.