Eurotiaceae Trovate in Risaia

Abstract

Studying the mycological flora of paddy and grass-fields we had the opportunity to isolate some species of Eutotiaceae which are of particular interest. Three species were not yet known in Italy and only one was found in a soil of mountain pasture. The last one is also common in paddy fields. One of the isolated species was a Pseudoeurotium van Beyma, ascomycete with asci containing 16 ascospores, not identifiable with the systematically related species described as Pseudoeurotium indicum (Chattopadhyay and Das Gupta) Chattopadhyay from « oryzetis » in India and Pseudoeurotium multisporum (Saito and Minoura) Stolk in Japan. Some distinct morphological differences exist between our isolates and P. multisporum; but they differ only faintly from P. indicum: that is our isolates have pedicellate asci. Therefore we suggest the new variety: Pseudoeurotium indicum (Chattopadhyay and Das Gupta) Chattopadhyay var. orizetorum nobis. Three species of the genus Emericellopsis van Beyma: E. minima Stolk, E. terricola van Beyma and E. humicola (Cain) Cain were also isolated. The first one from the paddy-fields and the last two, not yet described in Italy, from grass fields. The possible relationship between E. minima Stolk arid E. pusilla Mathur, Sukapure and Thirumalachar has been discussed.