A simple method for the cultivation of the "unculturable" asterinaceous fungi (Asterinales/Dothideomycetes).

Although asterinaceous fungi have been studied for many years, all previous attempts to isolate, cultivate, and propagate these fungi in vitro have failed. This paper provides the first reports of in vitro isolation of representative strains of species belonging to five fungi from different genera belonging to Asterinales. To confirm if the sequences of DNA obtained from the mycelia are the same obtained in the direct extraction, a phylogenetic analysis of nuc LSU rDNA was performed. This paper reports for the first time the success of in vitro culturing of asterinaceous fungi using the ascospores ejection technique, opening perspectives of studies of genetics, physiology, among other aspects of the biology for this very understudied group of fungi.

Additions to the genera Asterolibertia and Cirsosia (Asterinaceae, Asterinales), with particular reference to species from the Brazilian Cerrado.

Four new Asterolibertia species and a new variety of Cirsosia splendida, all found on native Cerrado plants, belonging to three host families are described, illustrated and named as: A. bahiensis sp. nov. on Erythroxylum sp. (Erythroxylaceae); A. barrinhensis sp. nov. on Diospyros burchellii (Ebenaceae); A. campograndensis sp. nov. on Hirtella glandulosa (Chrysobalanaceae); A. parinaricola sp. nov. on Parinari obtusifolia (Chrysobalanaceae); and Cirsosia splendida var. laevigata var. nov., showing both sexual and asexual morphs, on H. glandulosa and H. gracilipes (Chrysobalanaceae). Finally, A. licaniae is reported on a new host, H. gracilipes. Keys to all the known species of Asterolibertia and Cirsosia are included.

New Meliolaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic forest 2: species on host families Annonaceae, Cecropiaceae, Meliaceae, Piperaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae and Tiliaceae.

Continuing the study of black mildews in fragments of the Atlantic forest, three new species and five new records are described herein. Irenopsis luheae-grandiflorae, Meliola vicosensis and Meliola xylopia-sericiae are new species. Cecropia hololeuca, Piper gaudichaudianum and Trichilia lepidota are new hosts for Asteridiella leucosykeae, Asteridiella glabroides and Meliola trichiliae respectively. Asteridiella obesa and Meliola psychotriae var. chiococcae are reported for the first time from Brazil. The new species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopy and tables with main characteristics of morphologically similar specimens with species collected in Viçosa are provided. Other species belonging to Meliolaceae collected on hosts belonging to the Annonaceae, Meliaceae and Tiliaceae in Brazil also were studied.

New Meliolaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic forest 1. Species on hosts in the families Asteraceae, Burseraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Sapindaceae.

Five new species, two new varieties and three newly reported taxa belonging to the Meliolaceae were collected in fragments of Atlantic forest from Minas Gerais, Brazil, in association with native plants and are described and illustrated herein. The newly described species are Appendiculella eupatorii, Meliola cassiae-ferrugineae, M. mutisiae, M. peruiferae, M. vernaliae. The new varieties are M. garugae var. protii and M. paullinifolii var. rubiginosae. These taxa are reported in Brazil for the first time: Asteridiella cyclopoda, A. entebbeensis var. codiaei and Meliola pazschkeana var. macropoda. We studied other species belonging in Meliolaceae collected on hosts belonging to the Asteraceae, Burseraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae) and Sapindaceae in Brazil.