New light on the systematics of fungi associated with attine ant gardens and the description of Escovopsis kreiselii sp. nov.

ABSTRACT: Since the formal description of fungi in the genus Escovopsis in 1990, only a few studies have focused on the systematics of this group. For more than two decades, only two Escovopsis species were described; however, in 2013, three additional Escovopsis species were formally described along with the genus Escovopsioides, both found exclusively in attine ant gardens. During a survey for Escovopsis species in gardens of the lower attine ant Mycetophylax morschi in Brazil, we found four strains belonging to the pink-colored Escovopsis clade. Careful examination of these strains revealed significant morphological differences when compared to previously described species of Escovopsis and Escovopsioides. Based on the type of conidiogenesis (sympodial), as well as morphology of conidiogenous cel

SUBMITTER: Meirelles LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4305282 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature