A new microfungal isolate, Embellisia sp., associated with the Antarctic moss Bryum argenteum

Abstract

A microfungal isolate of Embellisia sp. (Simmons), assigned Embellisia sp2, not previously described from the Antarctic, has been identified by morphological means and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing. Embellisia sp2 was shown to be associated with the bryophyte Bryum argenteum, collected from Marble Point in Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, and grew only in samples plated from crushed moss tissue and surface-sterilized leafy stems. Two other types of microfungi, Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma sp., were cultivated from a surface rinse of the moss.