Two new species and a new record of the asexual micromycete genus Endophragmiella from Mexico

Background and Aims: Endophragmiella species are saprobic asexual microfungi with a wide geographical distribution. Morphologically, the genus is characterized by simple or branched conidiophores, monoblastic, percurrently extending conidiogenous cells, and 0- or multiseptated conidia, variable in shape and seceding rhexolytically. The aim of this study was to describe two new species, Endophragmiella chiapanensis and E. multiseptata, and to record E. gardeniae for the first time from Mexico. Methods: Plant debris was collected from the soil in areas of oak-pine forest in Chiapas and in a cloud forest in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Material was transported to the laboratory and incubated in moist chambers. Microscopic slides of the sporophores were made, and spores were simultaneously transferred to plates with culture media. Reference materials (microscopic preparations) were deposited in the herbarium XAL of the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Key results: Taxonomic determination was based on morphological analysis of sporophores. Endophragmiella chiapanensis is characterized by fusiform, mostly 3-euseptate, versicolorous conidia, brown to pale brown, often bearing a selenosporella-like synanamorph in the apical cell, whereas E. multiseptata is distinguished by cylindrical to obclavate, mostly 9-septate, concolorous, pale brown conidia. With the present contribution, 13 species of Endophragmiella have been reported from Mexico. Conclusions: The species described as new taxa present conidiogenesis, secession and conidial morphological features typical of the genus Endophragmiella. However, conidial size and shape distinguish them from the remaining species described so far within the genus. Endophragmiella species have been poorly studied in Mexico. More field work and molecular studies are necessary to increase our knowledge of their diversity as well as to define their phylogenetic affinities.