Two isolates of fungal endophytes were obtained from the leaves of Tillandsia catimbauensis (Bromeliaceae) in the Brazilian tropical dry forest (Caatinga), according to their morphology, they were previously identified as Phialophora-like fungi. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis using ITS and LSU rDNA sequences, along with morphological features, these isolates are here described as Cladophialophora bromeliacearum sp. nov. The new species is morphologically characterized by Phialophora-like conidiogenous cells, subspheric to ellipsoid conidia, and the production of chlamydospores in culture.

Cytospora species are mainly found as phytopathogens but are also reported as endophytes and saprophytes in several host plants. During a study of the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with Anacardium occidentale in an area of the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado), isolates of Cytospora were identified and differentiated from other species by morphological and phylogenetic analyses (ITS, act, rpb2, tef1, and tub2). Cytospora anacardii has been proposed as a new endophytic species, and it has pycnidia and conidiogenous cells smaller than those of the phylogenetically related species Cytospora phitsanulokensis. Our data highlight the importance of investigating endophytes as important economic hosts and expand our knowledge of global Cytospora diversity and distribution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Cytospora being an endophyte of Anacardium occidentale.

Brazilian biomes, such as the Atlantic Forest, are hotspots for microbial diversity. Fungi at some stages of their life cycle can inhabit the interior of plants without apparent damage and are called endophytes. This study aimed to verify the culturable diversity of endophytic fungi present in the leaves of Miconia mirabilis in a conservation unit of the Atlantic Forest, in Northeast Brazil. A total of 273 endophytes were isolated, and 88 % of the estimated richness was recovered from 40 taxa with a Shannon diversity index of H′ = 2.79. The most abundant order was Xylariales (37.73 %), with Xylaria cf. cubensis being the most abundant species, followed by Glomerellales (14.65 %), Eurotiales (3.66 %), and Diaporthales (3.33 %). Additionally, a novel endophytic fungal species of Muyocopron was identified. Our results indicate the potential of endophytic diversity in the plants of tropical forests, reinforcing the need for further studies to better understand their ecological relationships.

Caves are important but understudied reservoirs of fungal diversity, particularly for genera such as Cladosporium ( Cladosporiales , Dothideomycetes ). This study aimed to characterise the richness of Cladosporium species from six caves in the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado) using an integrative approach combining morphology and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses ( ACT , ITS, RPB2 , TEF1-α , and TUB ). To improve species recognition in Cladosporium , selected ex-type strains were studied, for which RPB2 and TUB barcodes were also sequenced. Species were delimited using morphology and phylogenetic inferences, supplemented by the pairwise homoplasy index (PHI) test to evaluate species boundaries. Twenty-three species were identified among 94 Cladosporium isolates. The polyphasic approach resulted in the description of six new species: five in the C. cladosporioides complex ( C. carsi , C. lacerdae , C. mambaiense , C. nogueirae , and C. propiciense ) and one in the C. sphaerospermum complex ( C. mesquitapaivae ). Additionally, analyses based on morphology, genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition (GCPSR), and the PHI test resulted in the synonymisation of C. ribis and C. speluncae under C. bambusicola , C. brigadeirense under C. puris , and C. marinisedimentum under C. sphaerospermum . Among the previously known species identified, 11 represent new records for cave environments, with C. bambusicola being the most frequent (29.17%). These findings substantially expand the known diversity of Cladosporium in Neotropical caves, highlighting the Brazilian Cerrado as a hotspot of mycodiversity. Furthermore, ACT , RPB2 , TEF1-α , and TUB are proposed as the primary phylogenetic barcodes for distinguishing closely related Cladosporium species, particularly within the C. cladosporioides complex. This study further emphasises the necessity of using a polyphasic approach to achieve accurate taxonomic resolution among Cladosporium species, trace their distribution in caves, and help to understand their ecology.

Gonatobotryum is an anamorphic fungus reported mainly as a saprophyte, parasite, or endophyte. The genus has traditionally been identified based on morphological features, with its phylogenetic placement remaining uncertain due to the lack of molecular data. During the analysis of fungi obtained from mangrove sediments in Brazil, nine isolates were morphologically identified as Gonatobotryum and subsequently analysed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, including the intervening 5.8S nRNA gene and the nuclear ribosomal RNA large subunit (LSU) gene, leading to the description of a new species, Gonatobotryum mangrovei . Additionally, the type material of Gonatobotryum bahiense was re-evaluated regarding its phylogenetic placement. Here, we propose a new combination, Ophiostoma bahiense , to place this species within the genus. Our results clarify the phylogenetic position of Gonatobotryum and expand the current understanding of fungi in mangrove environments.