Rhizospheric Penicillium and Talaromyces strains in Austrocedrus chilensis native forests: identification and evaluation of biocontrol candidates against the pathogen Phytophthora austrocedri

The aims of this study were to prospect Penicillium and Talaromyces species associated with Austrocedrus chilensis in sites with and without Austrocedrus Root Disease (ARD), which is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora austrocedri; and to find Penicillium sp. strains with biocontrol activity against this disease. Isolations from sites with and without the prevalence of ARD were made, and the obtained isolates were phenotypically and molecularly identified to species level. Several Penicillium species were isolated from all sites; five of them were exclusively isolated from sites with ARD. Penicillium communities were compared through multivariate analyses; communities were more complex in sites with ARD. Biocontrol activity of Penicillium and Talaromyces isolates was evaluated using co-cultures with Ph. austrocedri. Penicillium glabrum, T. amestolkiae, P. palitans, and P. crustosum showed the highest biocontrol effect. Our results highlight that Penicillium species have high biocontrol activity, which also reinforces the hypothesis that some Penicillium species could be used in formulating a control strategy

Five new Escovopsis species from Argentina

Escovopsis atlas, E. catenulata, E. longivesica, E. primorosea, and E. pseudoweberi spp. nov. are described from fungal gardens of higher attine ants in Argentina. All these species possess clear diagnostic features: E. atlas characterized by subglobose vesicles; E. catenulata by the presence of claviform vesicles forming short chains; E. longivesica by longer vesicles than the rest of the species; E. primorosea by pink coloration of colony in mCYA medium; and E. pseudoweberi by the smallest conidia known in the genus.Fil: Marfetán, Jorge Ariel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Hormigas; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Andrea Irene. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; ArgentinaFil: Cafaro, Matías J.. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Folgarait, Patricia Julia. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Hormigas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin