More pieces to a huge puzzle: Two new Escovopsis species from fungus gardens of attine ants

Autor(es)

Montoya, Quimi Vidaurre ; Sutta Martiarena, Maria Jesus ; Polezel, Danilo Augusto ; Kakazu, Sergio ; Rodrigues, Andre

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: MYCOKEYS; v. N/A, n. 46, p. 22-pg., 2019-02-18.

Resumo

Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales, Hypocreaceac) is the only known parasite of the mutualistic fungi cultivated by fungus-growing ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini: Attina, the "amines"). Despite its ecological role, the taxonomy and systematics of Escovopsis have been poorly addressed. Here, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses with three molecular markers (internal transcribed spacer, large subunit ribosomal RNA and the translation elongation factor I -alpha), we describe Escovopsis clavalus and E. multiformis as new species isolated from fungus gardens of Apterostigma ant species. Our analysis shows that E. clavatus and E. multiformis belong to the most derived Escovopsis Glade, whose main character is the presence of conidiophores with vesicles. Nevertheless, the most outstanding feature of both new species is the presence of a swollen region in the central hypha of the conidiophore named swollen cell, which is absent in all previously described Escovopsis species. The less derived Escovopsis clades lack vesicles and their phylogenetic position within the Hypocreaceae still remains unclear. Considering the high genetic diversity in Escovopsis, the description of these new species adds barely two pieces to a huge taxonomic puzzle; however, this discovery is an important piece for building the systematics of this group of fungi. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 14/24298-1 - Filogenia de fungos parasitas associados aos jardins das formigas da tribo Attini
• Beneficiário: André Rodrigues
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 17/12689-4 - Especificidade e mecanismos de ação do parasita Escovopsis associado aos jardins das formigas atíneas
• Beneficiário: André Rodrigues
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 16/04955-3 - Filogenia, sistemática e diversificação de fungos do gênero Escovopsis associados às formigas Attini
• Beneficiário: Quimi Vidaurre Montoya
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado