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Title: Muscodor yucatanensis, a new endophytic ascomycete from Mexican chakah, Bursera simaruba

Author
item GONZALEZ, MARIA - Autonomous National University Of Mexico
item ANAYA, ANA LUISA - Autonomous National University Of Mexico
item Glenn, Anthony - Tony
item MACIAS-RUBALCAVA, MARTHA - Autonomous National University Of Mexico
item HERNANDEZ-BAUTISTA, BLANCA - Autonomous National University Of Mexico
item HANLIN, RICHARD - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Mycotaxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2009
Publication Date: 12/1/2009
Citation: Gonzalez, M.C., Anaya, A., Glenn, A.E., Macias-Rubalcava, M.L., Hernandez-Bautista, B.E., Hanlin, R.T. 2009. Muscodor yucatanensis, a new endophytic ascomycete from Mexican chakah, Bursera simaruba. Mycotaxon. 110(1):363-372.

Interpretive Summary: Fungal endophytes are fungi that live and grow within plants, generally between the plant cells, and often do not cause any adverse effects on the plants. During a study on the fungal endophytic associations with some trees of the secondary forest of El Eden Ecological Reserve located in the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, a new fungal species was isolated as an endophyte of a tree named chakah, chachah or hukúp (Bursera simaruba) by indigenous Mayas. This fungus is characterized by producing a strong musty odor and absence of reproductive structures. Based on study of its limited morphological characteristics in combination with DNA sequence analyses, the endophyte was identified as a member of the Xylariales with high similarity to the species Muscodor albus and Muscodor vitigenus. Due to distinct differences not previously described, the new species Muscodor yucatanensis is proposed for this endophyte of the chakah tree.

Technical Abstract: During a study on the fungal endophytic associations with some trees of the secondary forest of El Eden Ecological Reserve located in the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, a new fungal species was isolated as an endophyte of a tree named chakah, chachah or hukúp (Bursera simaruba) by indigenous Mayas. This fungus is characterized by producing a strong musty odor and absence of reproductive structures. Cultures of this fungus on PDA form a whitish, flocculose colony with an uncolored reverse and a mycelium that grows slowly. Scanning electron microscopy photographs showed in aerial and submerged mycelium the early formation of unique intercalary swollen, thin-walled, rugulose hyphae. Based on morphological and DNA sequence analyses, the Mexican isolate is a member of the Xylariales with high similarity to Muscodor albus and the related species Muscodor vitigenus, but with distinct differences not previously described, therefore, Muscodor yucatanensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated.