José Luiz Bezerra

Fungi play a vital ecological role in Neotropical ecosystems, yet their diversity remains poorly documented, particularly in protected areas of Brazil. This study aimed to conduct the first comprehensive assessment of macrofungal diversity along four trails located in the Chapada Diamantina National Park and the Serra do Conduru State Park, both in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. From the 266 collected macrofungal specimens, 74 representative samples were selected at the order level for molecular identification by sequencing. Taxonomic identification revealed specimens within two phyla, eight orders, 30 families, and 42 genera, with Basidiomycota being predominant (72 taxa, 97%) and represented mainly by Agaricales (47 taxa, 65%), with Entoloma as the most common genus (10 taxa, 13.5%). Phylogenetic analyses confidently identified 17 species, each represented by a single specimen. Additionally, seven specimens were tentatively assigned as confer or affinis to known taxa, 48 specimens were identified only to the genus level, and two were classified at the family level. Notably, five species were recorded for the first time in the state of Bahia: Agaricus furfuripes, Cantharellus guyanensis, Cookeina speciosa, Mycena margarita and Neofavolus teixeirae, with A. furfuripes also representing the first record for Brazil. The findings highlight both the high diversity and the taxonomic knowledge gaps in these ecosystems, reinforcing the need for further morphological and molecular studies to validate potentially novel taxa. This study establishes a taxonomic inventory as an important baseline for the region and highlights the role of responsible tourism and environmental education in conserving macrofungal diversity in Neotropical protected areas.

In June 2022, anthracnose was detected on the leaves of Annona muricata L. (soursop) in Ibirapitanga, Bahia, Brazil. To identify the pathogens, diseased leaves were surface sterilized and cultured on potato dextrose agar, resulting in the selection of two isolates, IBIRA-P5R2 and IBIRA-P2F1R2, which were used for further analysis. IBIRA-P5R2 exhibited gray to white mycelium with dark conidiomata, cylindrical conidia, and dark appressoria. In contrast, IBIRA-P2F1R2 exhibited dense, pale gray mycelium with distinct conidial and ascospore characteristics. Genetic analysis involved sequencing three regions: Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and actin (ACT), with results deposited in GenBank. BLAST analysis revealed that IBIRA-P5R2’s sequences were 95.45% similar to Colletotrichum karstii, while IBIRA-P2F1R2’s sequences were 99.06% identical to . Colletotrichum fructicolaPathogenicity tests confirmed that both isolates caused anthracnose symptoms in soursop seedlings, with dark spots developing on leaves after three days. The pathogens were reisolated from infected leaves, confirming the same cultural and morphological traits as the original isolates. This study marks the firstrecorded occurrence of C. karstii and C. fructicola causing anthracnose on soursop in Bahia, Brazil. The findings aim to inform soursop farmers about this emerging disease, highlighting the need for tailored integrated management strategies to address different plant pathogens effectively.

Sooty moulds are saprophytic epiphytic fungi that grow mostly on insect secretions, but they can also be associated with plant secretions. In this study, we aimed to describe de interaction of Capnodium alfenasii sooty mould with the extrafloral shoot nectaries of Azadirachta indica. Anatomical and histochemical studies were carried out on serial sections of extrafloral shoot nectaries of A. indica without and with C. alfenasii infestation. The total soluble sugar content of the secreted nectar was determined, and the conidial germination of the fungus in distilled water and in dextrose and nectar solutions was evaluated. The shoot nectaries of A. indica are elongated structures that occur in pairs near the base of the petiole. The exuded nectar contains an average of 534.8 µg of total soluble sugars per µL of nectar and provides ideal conditions for conidial germination and fungal growth. C. alfenasii hyphae grow on the nectary, penetrate through breaks in the cuticle, travel under the cuticle and penetrate the secretory tissue by inter- and intracellular routes. The present report is the first to describe the interaction of C. alfenasii with the A. indica nectary, including the penetration of hyphae into nectariferous tissues and the plant defence mechanisms.

Objective: Inventories of fungi are essential, but they are rarely carried out, especially in areas of the Caatinga biome. It is therefore important to carry out surveys and mapping to make knowledge more accessible. In this context, the aim of this work was to organize and discuss the information and data related to the fungi of Raso da Catarina, cataloguing and presenting the first checklist of Ascomycota in an insufficiently researched locality, adding knowledge from scientific collections, publications, and field expeditions. Method: Literature searches were carried out on the Ascomycota of the Raso da Catarina Ecoregion; consultations of the Fungal Databases, U.S. National Fungus Collections, the EMBRAPA database (Fungi Reported on Plants in Brazil) and the Mycology Collections Portal; consultations of the speciesLink networks that integrate data from scientific collections; consultations of the Reflora Virtual Herbarium and the INCT-Herbário Virtual da Flora e dos Fungos. In addition to field expeditions in areas of the Raso da Catarina in the municipalities of Paulo Afonso, Jeremoabo and Glória. Results and conclusion: A total of 243 taxa comprising 75 asexual fungi, 85 lichenized sexual fungi and 73 non-lichenized sexual fungi, distributed in 148 genera, were catalogued. This work represents an initiative to systematize research carried out in Raso da Catarina, with the aim of adding knowledge to the estimate of Ascomycota species in the Caatinga. Originality/value: Work on fungi in areas of the Raso da Catarina is still incipient. Some data is scattered in a few publications and many taxa are in scientific collections without being published. This is therefore the first checklist of Ascomycota for the Ecoregion and provides relevant information.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Aschersonia mackerrasiae on whitefly, Cladosporium corticola on bark of Melaleuca quinquenervia, Penicillium nudgee from soil under Melaleuca quinquenervia, Pseudocercospora blackwoodiae on leaf spot of Persoonia falcata, and Pseudocercospora dalyelliae on leaf spot of Senna alata. Bolivia, Aspicilia lutzoniana on fully submersed siliceous schist in high-mountain streams, and Niesslia parviseta on the lower part and apothecial discs of Erioderma barbellatum onatwig. Brazil, Cyathus bonsai on decaying wood, Geastrum albofibrosum from moist soil with leaf litter, Laetiporus pratigiensis on a trunk of a living unknown hardwood tree species, and Scytalidium synnematicum on dead twigs of unidentified plant. Bulgaria, Amanita abscondita on sandy soil in a plantation of Quercus suber. Canada, Penicillium acericola on dead bark of Acer saccharum, and Penicillium corticola on dead bark of Acer saccharum. China, Colletotrichum qingyuanense on fruit lesion of Capsicum annuum. Denmark, Helminthosphaeria leptospora on corticioid Neohypochnicium cremicolor. Ecuador (Galapagos), Phaeosphaeria scalesiae on Scalesia sp. Finland, Inocybe jacobssonii on calcareouss oils in dry forests and park habitats. France, Cortinarius rufomyrrheus on sandy soil under Pinus pinaster, and Periconia neominutissima on leaves of Poaceae. India, Coprinopsis fragilis on decaying bark of logs, Filoboletus keralensis on unidentified woody substrate, Penicillium sankaranii from soil, Physisporinus tamilnaduensis on the trunk of Azadirachta indica, and Poronia nagaraholensis on elephant dung. Iran, Neosetophoma fic on infected leaves of Ficus elastica. Israel, Cnidariophoma eilatica (incl. Cnidariophoma gen. nov.) from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Lyophyllum obscurum on acidic soil. Namibia, Aureobasidium faidherbiae on dead leaf of Faidherbia albida, and Aureobasidium welwitschiae on dead leaves of Welwitschia mirabilis. Netherlands, Gaeumannomycella caricigena on dead culms of Carex elongata, Houtenomyces caricicola (incl. Houtenomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Carex disticha, Neodacampia ulmea (incl. Neodacampia gen. nov.) on branch of Ulmus laevis, Niesslia phragmiticola on dead standing culms of Phragmites australis, Pseudopyricularia caricicola on culms of Carex disticha, and Rhodoveronaea nieuwwulvenica on dead bamboo sticks. Norway, Arrhenia similis half-buried and moss-covered pieces of rotting wood in grass-grownpath. Pakistan, Mallocybe ahmadii on soil. Poland, Beskidomyces laricis (incl. Beskidomyces gen. nov.) from resin of Larix decidua ssp. polonica, Lapidomyces epipinicola from sooty mould community on Pinus nigra, and Leptographium granulatum from a gallery of Dendroctonus micans on Picea abies. Portugal, Geoglossum azoricum on mossy areas of laurel forest areas planted with Cryptomeria japonica, and Lunasporangiospora lusitanica from a biofilm covering a bio deteriorated limestone wall. Qatar, Alternaria halotolerans from hypersaline sea water, and Alternaria qatarensis from water sample collected from hypersaline lagoon. South Africa, Alfaria thamnochorti on culm of Thamnochortus fraternus, Knufia aloeicola on Aloe gariepensis, Muriseptatomyces restionacearum (incl.Muriseptatomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Restionaceae, Neocladosporium arctotis on nest of cases of bagworm moths(Lepidoptera, Psychidae) on Arctotis auriculata, Neodevriesia scadoxi on leaves of Scadoxus puniceus, Paraloratospora schoenoplecti on stems of Schoenoplectus lacustris, Tulasnella epidendrea from the roots of Epidendrum × obrienianum, and Xenoidriella cinnamomi (incl. Xenoidriella gen. nov.) on leaf of Cinnamomum camphora. South Korea, Lemonniera fraxinea on decaying leaves of Fraxinus sp. frompond. Spain, Atheniella lauri on the bark of fallen trees of Laurus nobilis, Halocryptovalsa endophytica from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Salicornia patula, Inocybe amygdaliolens on soil in mixed forest, Inocybe pityusarum on calcareous soil in mixed forest, Inocybe roseobulbipes on acidic soils, Neonectria borealis from roots of Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris, Sympoventuria eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., and Tuber conchae fromsoil. Sweden, Inocybe bidumensis on calcareous soil. Thailand, Cordyceps sandindaengensis on Lepidoptera pupa, buried in soil, Ophiocordyceps kuchinaraiensis on Coleoptera larva, buried in soil, and Samsoniella winandae on Lepidoptera pupa, buriedinsoil. Taiwan region (China), Neophaeosphaeria livistonae on dead leaf of Livistona rotundifolia. Türkiye, Melanogaster anatolicus on clay loamy soils. UK, Basingstokeomyces allii (incl. Basingstokeomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Allium schoenoprasum. Ukraine, Xenosphaeropsis corni on recently dead stem of Cornus alba. USA, Nothotrichosporon aquaticum (incl. Nothotrichosporon gen. nov.) from water, and Periconia philadelphiana from swab of coil surface. Morphological and culture characteristics for these new taxa are supported by DNA barcodes.

Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze (Lecythidaceae), commonly known as “Jequitibá Rosa,” an endemic tree from Brazil, is one of the largest trees that grows in the Atlantic Rain Forest. Jequitibá Rosa...

In the present research were studied fungi on the litter of Andreadoxa flava and Nectandra membranacea, in a remaining area of the Atlantic Forest in Ilhéus, BA. The mycota of those plants had not been studied. Samples were obtained in three collections between October 2018 and July 2019, during which 20 leaves at different stages of decomposition were collected per plant species. The leaves were washed and stored in wet chambers. Fungal preparations were used for microscopic analysis and identification of species. A total of 25 genera and 32 fungal species were found, 26 in the litter of A. flava and 22 of N. membranacea. Sixteen genera were associated with both plants. Microcallis was identified for the first ever associated with A. flava, a species native to the Atlantic Forest, and the taxon Thozetella falcata, was found for the first time in Bahia in the same plant. This is the first report of Parasympodiella lauri on N. membranacea in Brazil. The mycota found was analyzed taxonomically and for its diversity. Further studies on the mycota associated with the two plants must be carried out, particularly for A. flava as it is nearly extinct in nature.

Benzonitrile is a compound found in pesticides. The use of these pesticides can cause environmental contamination, and the search for non-aggressive methods to eliminate these residues is necessary. In this study, fungi Aspergillus isolated from cocoa were investigated for their benzonitrile bioremediation potential. The fungi were cultured in a solid medium supplemented with nitrile and glucose (a), nitrile (b), and glucose (c). Independent variables: time, inoculum, and nitrile were optimized using a central composite design to determine the best microbial growth and wet biomass (dependent variable) as a response in the bioremediation process. A. niger Tiegh 8285 showed good adaptation, especially in situation b in nitrile 5 days, 3 mycelial inoculums and 54 μL of benzonitrile for microbial growth, resulting in 1.83 ± 0.03 g of wet biomass, confirming the efficiency of the selected mathematical model. A. niger Tiegh 8285 proved to be a promising bioremediation agent for benzonitrile.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os fungos presentes na serapilheira das árvores Inga edulis e Lafoensia pacari. Foram realizadas três coletas no período de outubro de 2018 a julho de 2019, onde coletou-se 20 folhas em diferentes estágios de decomposição. As amostras de folhas foram lavadas em água corrente por uma hora e incubadas em câmaras úmidas, abertas 15 minutos diariamente, por um mês. As estruturas fúngicas microscópicas foram observadas e preparadas lâminas em PVLG e identificadas utilizando bibliografia específica. Foram identificados 48 táxons e 31 espécies de 23 gêneros associados às folhas da serapilheira das árvores mencionadas. Do total de táxons, um representa nova referência para as Américas: Cryptophiale hamulata e Actinocymbe sp. sendo possivelmente, uma nova espécie. Vermiculariopsiella pediculata é uma nova referência para o Brasil. A abundância de espécies identificadas está dentro da faixa de espécies encontrada na serapilheira de várias plantas em outras regiões do Brasil, porém alguns correspondem a novos registros geográficos, demonstrando que a micota presente na serapilheira das florestas brasileiras ainda não está totalmente desvendada. Todos os fungos identificados são novos registros para as duas plantas hospedeiras.Palavras-chave: Fungos decompositores, substrato vegetal, taxonomia.Survey and new records of fungi associated with the litter of Inga edulis and Lafoensia pacari in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Bahia¹A B S T R A C TThis study aimed to evaluate the fungi present in the litter of Inga edulis and Lafoensia pacari trees. Three collections were carried out from October 2018 to July 2019, where 20 leaves in different stages of decomposition were collected. The leaves were washed in running water for one hour and incubated in moist chambers, opened 15 minutes daily, for one month. The microscopic fungal structures were observed and slides prepared in PVLG and identify specific bibliography. Forty-eight taxa and 31 species of 23 genera associated with litter leaves of the mentioned trees were identified. Make the total of taxa, one represents a new reference for the Americas: Cryptophiale hamulata and Actinocymbe sp. possibly being a new species. Vermiculariopsiella pediculata is a new reference for Brazil. The abundance of identified species is within the range of species found in the litter of several plants in other regions of Brazil, but there are few geographic records, demonstrating that the mycota present in the litter of Brazilian forests is not yet fully unveiled. All identified fungi are new records for the two host plants.Keywords: Decomposing fungi, plant substrate, taxonomy.