Fungos Gasteróides (Basidiomycota) na Caatinga: estudo de duas áreas de conservação no Ceará e Paraíba, Brasil

Abstract

Gasteroid fungi consist of several clades of Basidiomycota with distinct evolutionary origins (polyphyletic group). Even though their taxa exhibit wide morphological diversity, for a long time they were grouped into one well-defined class, denominated Gasteromycetes, based on angiocarpic basidiomata and passive spore dispersal (statismospores). The northeast region of Brazil areas considered of extreme biological importance, with considerable species richness, but lacking in studies on gasteroid fungi. The Caatinga, the focus of this study, has twentyfive recorded species. Thus, the aim of the present study was to carry out a survey of gasteroid fungi in two highland areas considered of extreme biological importance: Serra de Ibiapaba Environmental Protection Area, in Ceará State and Mata do Pau-Ferro State ecological Reserve, in Paraíba State. Excursions were conducted between April and June 2012, resulting in 103 samples of gasteroid fungi. Microscopic analyses used scanning electronic microscopy in order to observe details that are difficult to perceive with optical microscopy. We identified 17 species belonging to the following families: Clathraceae, Geastraceae, Lycoperdaceae, Phallaceae and Rhizopogonaceae. The genus with the largest number of species collected was Geastrum (Geastraceae) with nine, followed by Morganella (Lycoperdaceae) with two. The remaining genera: Abrachium, Calvatia, Lycogalopsis, Mutinus and Phallus were represented by one species each. Calvatia cava sp nov. and Morganella nuda sp. nov. are new species for science. Rhizopogon luteolus and Lycogalopsis sp. are the records for the Northeast region and the Caatinga. Geastrum morganii, G. pectinatum, G. rusticum and Mutinus caninus are the first records for the Caatinga. There was an increase of four species (5,7%) for the Northeast region, totaling 74 species of gasteroid fungi. For the Caatinga there was an increase of eight species (32%), totaling 33. The highlands of the Caatinga were propitious for studies on gasteroid fungi and, as such, further surveys should be carried out in these areas in order to increase sampling effort, thereby widening our knowledge of gasteroid fungi in these regions.