Discovering the cave mycobiota of the brazilian Cerrado

Caves are unique environments and have become hotspots for mycology. In recent years, studies on cave fungi have highlighted these environments as a new frontier for expanding knowledge of the mycological world. In this sense, the objective of this work was to study cultivable filamentous fungi present in different caves and cavities of the Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (SEM) of Minas Gerais. In Chapter 1, two new species of the genus Amphichorda are described. Amphichorda sp. nov. 1 was isolated from samples of animal dung, sediments and samples of particles suspended in the air in the marble caves Gruta da Viola and Gruta Teto de Seixos, located in Serra do Cipó – part of SEM. Amphichorda sp. nov. 2 was isolated from samples of animal dung collected in two caves on the outskirts of the municipality of Cuiabá – Mato Grosso. These species are the first coprophilous species of the genus Amphichorda described in caves in Brazil. Chapter 2 presents the diversity of filamentous fungi found in the Curral de Pedras cave – Conceição do Mato Dentro, MG. From samples of soil, leaf litter, rock, animal dung and airborne particles, 421 filamentous fungi were isolated, identified by sequencing the ITS region in 78 genera, within 59 families, 31 orders, 12 classes, 7 subphyla and 4 phyla. Chapter 3 discusses the diversity of filamentous fungi found in ferruginous cavities located in Serra da Ferrugem – Conceição do Mato Dentro, MG. A total of 361 filamentous fungi were isolated from samples of airborne particles, sediments, leaf litter, roots and rocks. The fungi were identified by sequencing the ITS region in 70 genera, 46 families, 26 orders, 10 classes, 6 subphyla and 4 phyla. Chapter 4 describes the taxonomic novelties, including a new genus Speluncomyces, and seven new species: Speluncomyces lunatus, Cylindromonium brasiliense, Sesquicillium flavum, Paraneoaraneomyces sp. nov, Tolypocladium sp. nov., Sarocladium sp. nov. and Rachicladosporium sp. nov. These discoveries demonstrate the mycological richness of Brazilian caves that has yet to be explored and reinforce the need for further studies. Keywords: Fungi; Serra do Espinhaço; Biospeleology