Baseia, Iuri GoulartFreitas Neto, Julimar Freire de2022-01-142022-01-142021-08-31FREITAS NETO, Julimar Freire de. Taxonomia integrativo dos complexos Geastrum Javanicum Lév. e G. Velutinum Morgan (Geastrales, Basidiomycota) com ênfase em espécies neotropicais. 2021. 73f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sistemática e Evolução) - Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 2021.https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/45635The genus Geastrum is the most representative (100-120 spp) of the family Geastraceae and is characterized primarily by its basidiomes with starlike dehiscence, making them known as "earthstars". It has a distribution on all continents except Antarctica. The last estimate made in 2019 reported 72 species of Geastrum in Brazilian territory, which represents about 65% of the known species. This genus presents a great pharmacological and biotechnological potential, besides the important participation in the biogeochemical cycle of molecules such as carbon and nitrogen, reinforcing the importance of knowing and correctly identifying these organisms. The identification of fungi using only morphological characters, in some cases has proven insufficient due to the presence of cryptic and semi-cryptic species. The nominal species Geastrum javanicum and Geastrum velutinum have recently been recognized as includes species complexes, concealing the diversity of the genus, mainly due to the use of these names for distinct species not yet described by science. Thus, comparative studies using molecular (sequencing of ribosomal DNA regions) and morphological data from exsiccate named as G. javanicum and G. velutinum were performed to correctly identify the specimens. The analyses were based on specific methodologies for Geastrum and adding new taxonomic characters (size of hyphae of the exoperidium, ornamentation size of the basidiospores, crystals found in the rhizomorph). Sixty-two exsiccata named G. javanicum and G. velutinum were analyzed, of these, three new species were identified: Geastrum calycicoriaceum, G. tupiense and Geastrum sp. nov divided into three chapters. Chapter I was published in Persoonia (volume 44) and results in the description of G. calycicoriaceum, as well as the production of new nucleotide sequences for the Neotropical region. Chapter II of this project was submitted to the journal Folia Geobotanica and brings the description of a new species (G. tupiense) typical of the Atlantic Forest and the provision of unpublished molecular data that contributed to the phylogeny of the genus. Chapter III will be submitted to an indexed international scientific journal and brings the insertion of new sequences for the sections Exareolata and Myceliostroma (subsection Velutina) coming mainly from Neotropical species, as well as the description of a new species of the genus Geastrum.Acesso AbertoBiodiversidadeEspécies crípticasEstrela-da-terraSistemática filogenéticaGeastraceaemasterThesis