New records and notes on gasteroid fungi of arid regions in Argentina

F. Kuhar1,*, V. Castiglia1, J. C. Zamora2 & L. Papinutti1

1 Laboratorio de Micología Experimental, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2 Departamento de Micología, Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, E-28014, Madrid, Spain.

F. Kuhar, V. Castiglia, J. C. Zamora & L. Papinutti (2012) New records and notes on gasteroid fungi of arid regions in Argentina. – Sydowia 64 (2): 233–244.

A survey of gasteroid fungi from arid regions in the La Rioja province (northwestern Argentina) resulted in 20 species of 13 genera. Each species is briefly commented on and descriptions are provided for taxa poorly known or with few records in the world. In addition, photographs of basidiomata and SEM micrographs illustrating basidiospores are provided for most of the taxa. The most noticeable records are , new for Argentina, with few records in the world, and and , new for South America. In addition, the distribution of the species among the main types of habitat is discussed in relation to spore release and humidity.

Keywords: desert, ecology, Gasteromycetes, spore dispersion.