Rhagadolobiopsis, a new genus of Parmulariaceae from Brazil with a description of the ontogeny of its ascomata

Abstract

During a survey of the mycobiota of selected Brazilian ferns we discovered a new genus of Parmulariaceae causing tar spot-like symptoms on leaves of Thelypteris serrata (Thelypteridaceae). The new genus and species, decribed as Rhagadolobiopsis thelypteridis, differs from morphologically similar species of Rhagadolobium in possessing colorless, aseptate ascospores and a hymenial gel that does not become blue with iodine. In addition this is the first record of a fungus on T. serrata, and the first Parmulariaceae recorded on a member of the Thelypteridaceae. The ontogeny of the ascomata is described and illustrated here for the first time for the Parmulariaceae.

• Ascomycota
• fungal biodiversity
• Neotropics
• taxonomic novelties

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and the Co-ordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for financial support. Dr Harold Charles Evans is thanked for his helpful suggestions. Electron microscopy studies were performed at the Núcelo de Microscopia e Microanálise da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (NMM-UFV).