Epulorhiza amonilioides sp. nov.: a new anamorphic species of orchid mycorrhiza from Brazil

Abstract

In this study, a new anamorphic species of orchid mycorrhizal fungus is described and illustrated based on both morphological and molecular characteristics. Mycorrhizal fungal strains were isolated and selected from root samples of three species of rupicolous, epiphytic and terrestrial tropical orchids that are native to Brazil: Encyclia dichroma , E. ghillanyi and Brassavola tuberculata . Epulorhiza amonilioides sp. nov. is distinguished from the other species of Epulorhiza by the absence of monilioid cells in pure culture. Phylogenetic analyses based on 5.8S ITS rDNA and mtLSU indicated that E. amonilioides is phylogenetically different from other fungal lineages of Tulasnella previously identified on tropical and temperate orchid and Sebacinaceae species. E. amonilioides forms a different clade that groups with some anamorphic mycorrhizal fungi corresponding to Tulasnella irregularis . E. amonilioides is strictly related to T. irregularis , its putative teleomorph. E. amonilioides is the seventh species described for the genus and is the second from Brazil.