Phylogeny and morphology of dematiaceous freshwater microfungi from Perú

Abstract

A survey of freshwater ascomycetes conducted along an elevational gradient in Perú in the Districts of Cusco, Junín, and Madre de Dios yielded specimens of Cancellidium applanatum, Cordana abramovii, Sporoschisma juvenile, S. uniseptatum, and S. saccardoi. With the exception of S. saccardoi, these are new records for Perú. Molecular data was generated for three previously unsequenced species: Cancellidium applanatum, Cordana abramovii and Sporoschisma saccardoi. These taxa are reported herein from the neotropics with an accompanying phylogeny based on partial 28S nuclear ribosomal large-subunit sequence data. The sexual morph of S. saccardoi has previously been linked to Melanochaeta hemipsila through cultural studies. Molecular data from ascospores and conidia of M. hemipsila and S. saccardoi, respectively, were used to demonstrate a genetic connection of the sexual and asexual morphs of these fungi for the first time, resulting in the new combination Sporoschisma hemipsila being made.