In order to establish phylogenetic relationships and resolve a natural classification for species of Dothideomycetes, it is necessary to use multi-gene phylogeny as well as morphology. In this paper we introduce a novel genus, Juncaceicola collected from Italy, in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae, with three new species, Juncaceicola achilleae on dead twigs of Achillea millefolium, J. dactylidis on dead twigs of Dactylidis sp. and J. luzulae on dead herbaceous stems of Luzula nivea. Juncaceicola is characterized by globose to subglobose ascomata with a minute papilla, a peridium composed of pseudoparenchymatous cells arranged in a textura angularis to textura prismatica, cylindric-clavate asci with a short pedicel and yellowish brown, ellipsoidal to fusiform, 3–4-septate ascospores, with the second cell from the apex enlarged. Descriptions and illustrations for each novel taxon and a key for morphological character differences are provided. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU and SSU sequence data support the validity of the new species with high bootstrap support and the placement of Juncaceicola in Phaeosphaeriaceae. Phaeosphaeria alpina, P. oreochloae, P. padellana and P. typharum are also transferred to the new genus.

Phaeodimeriella is an epiphytic or pathogenic genus that occurs on plant surfaces associated with other fungi and belongs in the family Pseudoperisporiaceae (Dothideomycetes family, incertae sedis). The taxonomy of Phaeodimeriella has been problematic because of lack of molecular data and as some of the important morphological characters having not been reported. The present study clarifies the phylogenetic placement of Phaeodimeriella using fresh collections from northern Thailand. Two Phaeodimeriella species are characterized based on combined analyses of LSU, SSU, TEF and RPB2 sequence datasets. In the phylogenetic analyses, the two Phaeodimeriella species form a distinct lineage, adjacent to the Lentitheciaceae and Bambusicolaceae, in the order Pleosporales. The genus Phaeodimeriella is re-described and illustrated using modern concepts from fresh collections and provided with molecular data. The new species Phaeodimeriella cissampeli and P. dilleniae are introduced based on morphological characters, and molecular data is provided. The genus Lizonia is placed in Didymellaceae based on phylogenetic analysis.

(Oomycota from “Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso” (PEIC): first records for São Paulo State and Brazil). We studied the oomycetes diversity from soil and freshwater samples collected quarterly from August 2012 to June 2013 at “Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso” (PEIC), São Paulo State, Brazil. Among the species identified by morphological and/or molecular (complete ITS rDNA region) analysis, four are recorded for the first time for Brazil: Araiospora streptandra var. streptandra Kevorkian, Achlya primoachlya (Coker & Couch) TW Johnson and RL Seym., Aplanopsis terrestris Höhnk and Saprolegnia aenigmatica Sandoval-Sierra & Diéguez-Uribeondo and three for São Paulo State: Achlya crenulata Ziegler, Brevilegnia longicaulis TW Johnson and Saprolegnia truncata RL Seym. All species are described, commented and illustrated herein. The specimens were deposited in the culture collection of the “Instituto de Botânica (CCIBt)” and/or in the Herbarium SP. The ITS rDNA sequences obtained were deposited in the GenBank.

An inventory of epiphyte lichens was carried out on 15 phorophytes of Quercus laurina Humb. & Bonpl. located along a mountain ridge in a mountain cloud forest at La Cortadura Ecological Reserve, Coatepec, Veracruz. For each tree the five zones following Johansson's method were distinguished. Ascents were made in selected trees using the single-rope technique, collecting samples along the trunk and some branches of the crown. A total of 126 lichen species were found, belonging to 60 genera, 24 families and 10 orders. The most diverse genus was Graphis (12 species), followed by Parmotrema (9), Hypotrachyna (8), Pertusaria and Usnea (5). Crustose lichens dominated (79%) over foliose (38%) and fruticose (8%) types. Although some species preferred one of the trees while others were common to all (13), no significant differences were observed between phorophytes. The genus Sticta was found in basal and intermediate tree zones; Ramalina and Usnea were recorded in all areas. Twenty-one new records are reported for Mexico, and 21 for the state of Veracruz.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the taxonomic and functional diversity of corticolous lichens under the influence of different micro-climatic conditions in the Botanical Garden of Popayán. We considered 11 contrasting stations distributed in the area, selecting five individuals of Cecropia angustifolia per station. We worked with quantitative sampling locating a quadrant of 0.50 ξ 0.20 m² on the trunk of each tree, where the percentage of cover for each species was estimated. Microenvironmental parameters, such as light, temperature and relative humidity, CAP and the pH of the bark were evaluated. A total of 63 lichen species was recorded. The results showed that light and temperature had positive correlation with species richness and cover of fruticose and foliose lichens, while relative humidity was negatively related to richness and positively with crustose cover. Lichen distribution at the Popayan Botanical Garden is mainly affected by light, temperature and relative humidity

Amatoxin-containing mushroom poisonings are recorded worldwide and the frequency increases due to confusion with other macrofungi. Affected regions are characterized by important disparities in relation to available technological equipment for analytical identification of amatoxins. In this context the present study was designed to define advantages and disadvantages of the most accessible standard analytical methods for amatoxin detection. Several methods were compared: (1) a commercialized immunoassay kit, (2) standard high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and (3) high-performance thin layer chromatography (HP-TLC). For each method, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ) and recovery were determined. Six macrofungi were analysed using these compared methods, three known to contain amatoxins: Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa, Lepiota josserandii, and three free-amatoxin containing macrofungi: Amanita muscaria, Macrolepiota procera and Omphalotus olearius. Our results will allow for a choice of method with full knowledge of advantages and disadvantages of each technique as a function of local technological possibilities when facing suspected poisoning due to amatoxin-containing mushrooms. The final aim is to be able to reach faster and effective diagnosis in order to save a patient's life.

Pleoanamorphy with two types of conidia is reported for the first time in Gyrothrix verticiclada. The first conidial type has the normal morphology already known for G. verticiclada, but the second conidial type is identified here as an Idriella-like synanamorph. Both conidial types were isolated, then cultivated separately, photographed, and deposited in the Mycothèque de l'Université Catholique de Louvain (BCCM™/MUCL). The morphological similarities of both types of conidia were examined in comparison with conidia in other species of Idriella and Gyrothrix guided by a phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from three gene regions and morphological data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum parsimony as the optimality criterion using the program TNT. Results indicated that one individual of Gyrothrix verticiclada is associated with Idriella cubensis and seven with species of both genera. Both types of conidia, Gyrothrix verticiclada (MUCL54065) and the Idriella-like synanamorph (MUCL54064) were recovered as homologous. In addition to knowledge about pleomorphism of G. verticiclada, a BLAST search was made using ITS and LSU sequences in order to find the teleomorphic relationship of G. verticiclada. The teleomorphic connection suggests a correspondence with named genera belonging to the order Xylariales.