Two new records of smut fungi for Panama and new combinations into the genus Tolyposporium

Abstract

Two species of smut fungi (Basidiomycota) are reported here for the first time for Panama. Narasimhania alismatis (Doassansiales) was found on Sagittaria guayanensis and Tolyposporium kuwanoanum (Ustilaginales) on Cyperus tenuis, a new species of host plant. The name of the latter fungus is a new combination based on the currently accepted name Ustanciosporium kuwanoanum. This species belongs to the genus Tolyposporium because of sori with peridia, teliospores in balls, teliospores without hyaline appendages, and LSU rDNA sequence data. Ustanciosporium cyperi is morphologically rather similar to T. kuwanoanum, so it is also placed into the genus Tolyposporium. The concept of the genus Tolyposporium is discussed.