The genus Uncinocarpus (Onygenaceae) and its synonym Brunneospora: new concepts, combinations and connections to anamorphs in Chrysosporium, and further evidence of relationship with Coccidioides immitis

Abstract

The genus Uncinocarpus (Onygenales, Onygenaceae) is emended to include keratinophilic fungi with discrete, globose gymnothecial ascomata without differentiated ascomatal hyphae and bearing uncinate, helical, or no appendages; oblate, punctate ascospores sometimes with irregular reticulations; bulbous initials, and Malbranchea or Chrysosporium anamorphs. The new combination Uncinocarpus orissi is proposed for Pseudoarachniotus orissi; Gymnoascus arxii is shown to be a synonym. New records show that the fungus has a wide distribution from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The teleomorph is formed under laboratory conditions by mating representative isolates. The anamorph has been described under the names Chrysosporium zonatum and Chrysosporium gourii. Chrysosporium queenslandicum is morphologically similar. Its teleomorph Apinisia queenslandica is transferred also to the genus Uncinocarpus as Uncinocarpus queenslandicus. Brunneospora reticulata, the type species of the genus Brunneospora, is a synonym. Orromyces spiralis appears to be another name applied to this fungus. Development of helical coils in an isolate of Coccidioides immitis provides further evidence of a possible relationship between this dimorphic human pathogen and this group of ascomycetes.Key words: Uncinocarpus, Onygenales, systematics, keratinophiles, human pathogen.