Descriptions of Four New Species in Cunninghamellaceae (Mucoromycota) from the Brazilian Savanna Through Integrative Taxonomy

During a survey on Mucorales fungi from soil in the world’s most biodiverse savanna, the the Brazilian Cerrado, nine specimens belonging to the Cunninghamellace were isolated. Morphological, multiloci analyses (ITS-nLSU-act) and maximum temperature growth data revealed that those specimens represent four new species: two in Absidia and two in Gongronella. Morphological characteristics of the isolates distinguishes them from other species: Absidia rhizoidea sp. nov. forms rhizopodiform rhizoids at the end of stolons, commonly next to the sporangiophores; A. variabilis sp. nov., mostly with slightly dorsiventrally flattened sporangia; Gongronella longapophysata sp. nov., which forms a long apophysis below sporangia; and G. verticilatta sp. nov., with whorled-branched sporangiophores. The maximum temperatures growth (Tmax) of those new species are as follows: A. rhizoidea (33 °C on MEA and 32 °C on PDA), A. variabilis (31 °C on MEA and 32 °C on PDA), G. longapophysata (32 °C on MEA and 33 °C on PDA), and G. verticilatta (31 °C on MEA and PDA). The present study highlights and discusses the micromorphological, physiological (Tmax) and phylogenetic characteristics of the new species.