Estudos morfológicos e moleculares de fungos gasteroides (Basidiomycota) do Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Gasteroid fungi constitute several lineages of Basidiomycota characterized by passive dispersal of basidiospores; basidiospore maturation occurs within the fruiting body and protected by an outer layer called peridium. The first record with gasteroid fungi in Brazil was around the end of the 18th century by the naturalist, José Marianno da Conceição Vellozo. However, only at the beginning of the 21st century is there a considerable increase in studies of gasteroid fungi in Brazil, with emphasis on work with fungi from the northeast region. The general objective of the study, proposed here, is to expand the taxonomic knowledge of these fungi, currently included in Agaricomycetidae and Phallomycetidae, with the contribution of more morphological and molecular data for species collected in areas of northeastern Brazil. For this, field expeditions were carried out in areas of northeastern Brazil in the months with the highest rainfall: from February to July of 2019 to 2022. At the same time, loans of specimens from the fungary UFRN-fungos were also requested. Macro and microscopic analyzes were carried out at the Laboratory of Biology of Fungi at UFRN. Scanning electron microscopy analyzes were carried out at the Laboratory of the Gas Technology Center (CTGás) – Natal/RN. DNA extractions, amplifications and purification were performed at the Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Biointeractions of the Department of Cellular Biology and Genetics at UFRN. As a result of this work, eight new species of these groups of gasteroid fungi were identified and designated: Calvatia baixaverdensis R.L.Oliveira, R.J.Ferreira, P.Marinho, M.P.Martín & Baseia sp. nov.; Calvatia nordestina R.L.Oliveira, R.J.Ferreira, P.Marinho, M.P. Martín & Baseia sp. nov.; Cyathus sp. nov. 1; Cyathus sp. nov. 2; Cyathus sp. nov. 3; Geastrum sp. nov. 1; Geastrum sp. nov. 2; Tulostoma sp. nov. Dourado-Barbosa, R.L.Oliveira, A.A.Lima, Baseia & R.Cruz. Nineteen new records were made in addition to the new species cited. Molecular analyzes proved to be important and necessary, as well as morphological analyzes that are fundamental in the description of new records and new species. Efforts like this remain necessary, enabling the expansion of knowledge about gasteroid fungi in the northeast region and allowing an increase in the conservation of these species.