ISSN (print) 0093-4666 © 2011. Mycotaxon, Ltd. ISSN (online) 2154-8889 MYCOTAXON http://dx.doi.org/10.5248/118.27 Volume 118, pp. 27–46 October–December 2011 Contribution to the taxonomy of Bovista in Mexico Silvia Bautista-Hernández1*, Teófilo Herrera2, Elvira Aguirre-Acosta2 & Martín Esqueda3 1Laboratorio de Micología, Departamento de Botánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, IPN, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Distrito Federal 11340, México 2Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Apartado Postal 70-233, Distrito Federal 04510, México 3Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Apartado Postal 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora 83304, México Correspondence to *: [email protected] Abstract — Specimens of the genus Bovista from eight Mexican herbaria (CESUES, ENCB, FCME, HEMIM, IBUG, IZTA, MEXU, XAL) were examined and studied, and fifteen taxa were identified: Bovista aestivalis, B. brunnea, B. dermoxantha, B. dominicensis, B. fusca, B. grandipora, B. graveolens, B. heterocapilla, B. leucoderma, B. oblongispora var. longispora, B. oblongispora var. oblongispora, B. plumbea, B. pusilla, B. sempervirentium, and B. tomentosa. The new information obtained indicates a wider distribution forB . aestivalis, B. dermoxantha, B. fusca, B. graveolens, B. leucoderma, B. oblongispora var. longispora, B. pusilla, and B. tomentosa. New records for the Mexican mycobiota are: B. dominicensis, B. grandipora, B. heterocapilla, B. oblongispora var. oblongispora, and B. sempervirentium. Key words — Basidiomycota, taxonomy, gasteroid fungi Introduction The genus Bovista Pers. is characterized by globose to pyriform basidiomes with/without a short pseudostipe and with/without mycelial cords (Pegler et al. 1995) and a thin, fragile, scaly exoperidium. On maturing the basidiome may form plates, areolae, verrucae, or scales microscopically composed of hyphal elements, sphaerocysts, claviform cells (Kreisel 1967), or mycosclereids (Calonge et al. 2005). The endoperidium is persistent, in consistency papyraceous, pseudopapyraceous, or rigid, smooth and generally shiny or with a metallic luster (Coker & Couch 1928), although this does not distinguish Bovista from other related genera. According to Smith (1951), spores are 28 ... Bautista-Hernández & al. smooth or ornamented. Shape varies, from globose, subglobose to oblong, with a pedicel, which may be short or long, straight or curved, corresponding to the sterigma of the basidium. The subgleba, present only in some species, has a filamentous, compact appearance and is generally reduced in size and not well developed. There are three types of capillitium: Lycoperdon, Bovista, and intermediate (Calonge 1998; Krüger et al. 2001). Bovista, traditionally placed in Lycoperdaceae but currently classified in Agaricaceae (Kirk et al. 2008), is divided into two subgenera based on capillitial type. Taxa characterized by a Lycoperdon or intermediate capillitium are placed in subg. Globaria, while those with either a Bovista or heteromorphic (bovista- + intermediate) capillitium belong in subg. Bovista. These subgenera are further divided into sections and series based on capillitium type, absence or presence of capillitial pores, and presence or absence of a subgleba (Kreisel 1967). In Mexico few researchers have addressed the taxonomy of Bovista (Herrera 1959); the genus is generally included in general gasteromycete treatments (Salcedo & Herrera 1966, Guzmán & Herrera 1969, 1973, Rodríguez & Herrera 1970, Urista et al. 1985, Esqueda et al. 1990, 1996, 1998, Pardavé 1991, Pérez- Silva et al. 1994, Calonge et al. 2004a,b, Ochoa & Moreno 1996, 2006). Bovista has been confused with Lycoperdon Pers., Disciseda Czern., Calvatia Fr., Vascellum F. Šmarda, Bovistella Morgan, and Calbovista Morse ex M.T. Seidl, owing to shared macro- and microscopic characteristics. There are, however, differences that allow them to be quite easily separated. Confusion surrounding the correct identification of species has prompted this revision of Bovista with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the genus in Mexico. Materials & methods Herbarium material was examined from CESUES (Centro de Estudios Superiores del Estado de Sonora, Unidad Hermosillo), ENCB (Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, IPN), FCME (Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM), HEMIM (Herbario Micológico de Morelos, UAEM), IBUG (Instituto de Botánica, Universidad de Guadalajara), IZTA (Facultad de Estudios Superiores campus Iztacala, UNAM), MEXU (Instituto de Biología, UNAM), and XAL (Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Unidad Xalapa). Macroscopic characters were transcribed from specimen labels or recorded directly from the basidiomes. For microscopic examination, temporary preparations were made using 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) for observing and measuring basidiospores and capillitial elements with an optical microscope (OM). Lactophenol cotton blue was used for observing the paracapillitium. Material was also prepared for observation using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to properly describe spore ornamentation and perforations in the hyphal walls of the capillitium. The keys of Kreisel (1967), Demoulin & Marriot (1981), Calonge (1992, 1998) and Pegler et al. (1995) were mainly used for species identification. Bovista in Mexico ... 29 Results Of the 15 Bovista taxa identified and included in the taxonomic key, 9 represented subgenus Globaria (B. aestivalis, B. dermoxantha, B. dominicensis, B. grandipora, B. heterocapilla, B. oblongispora var. longispora, B. oblongispora var. oblongispora, B. pusilla, B. sempervirentium) and 6 subgenus Bovista (B. brunnea, B. fusca, B. graveolens, B. leucoderma, B. plumbea, B. tomentosa). Five taxa are new records for the Mexican mycobiota and are described below: B. dominicensis, B. grandipora, B. heterocapilla, B. oblongispora var. oblongispora, and B. sempervirentium. Key to the taxa of Bovista recorded from Mexico 1. Basidiomes with intermediate or Lycoperdon capillitium . 2 1’. Basidiomes with Bovista type capillitium . 11 2. Intermediate type capillitium . 3 2’. Lycoperdon type capillitium . 7 3. Basidiomes with ellipsoid spores, short pedicels . 4 3’. Basidiomes with globose spores . 5 4. Capillitium with pores . B. oblongispora var. longispora 4’. Capillitium pores absent . B. oblongispora var. oblongispora 5. Heteromorphic capillitium . 6 5’ Intermediate capillitium . 7 6. Spores with pedicels ≤ 11 μm . B. pusilla 6’. Spores with pedicels ≤ 17 μm . B. heterocapilla 7. Echinulate spores with pedicels ≤ 34 μm . B. dominicensis 7’. Spores with small verrucae . .8 8. Capillitium with branches . .9 8’. Capillitium without branches . .10 9. Capillitium with amphiseptal branches, numerous pores, giving a vacuolate appearance. B. grandipora 9’. Capillitium with subseptal branches, with pores . B. dermoxantha 10. Exoperidium verrucae made of sphaerocysts . B. aestivalis 10’ Exoperidium verrucae made of hyphal elements . B. sempervirentium 11. Basidiomes medium to large, > 55 mm . .12 11’ Basidiomes small to medium, ≤ 55 mm . .13 12. Spores subglobose to ovoid, pedicels straight . B. fusca 12’. Spores globose to subglobose, pedicels curved. B. graveolens 13. Capillitium with pores . .14 13’. Capillitium pores absent, endoperidium lead colored . B. plumbea 30 ... Bautista-Hernández & al. 14. Spores ovoid. B. tomentosa 14’. Spores globose to subglobose . .15 15. Capillitium with thick walls, LH = 0.2–0.5 . B. brunnea 15’. Capillitium with moderately thin walls, LH = 0.5–0.7 . B. leucoderma Taxa studied Subgenus Globaria Bovista aestivalis (Bonord.) Demoulin, Beih. Sydowia 8: 143, 1979. Figs 1–2 Specimens examined: MÉXICO. Hidalgo: Mineral del Chico Municipality, near Las Ventanas, El Chico National Park, October 5, 1980 G. Guzmán 19099 (ENCB). Jalisco: San Diego de Alejandría Municipality, San Diego de Alejandría-San Julián Highway, 7.5 km from the town of San Diego de Alejandría, August 30, 2000 O. Rodríguez 2332 (IBUG). Estado de México: Near Amecameca, August 31, 1969 I. Uribe 11 (ENCB); Near La Marquesa, Miguel Hidalgo National Park, July 5, 1963 E. González 12 (ENCB); Atizapan de Zaragoza Municipality, Sayavedra Farm subdivision, June 18, 2000 A. López-Villalobos 24 (XAL). Oaxaca: San Pedro Macuiltianguis, June 15, 1984 A. González (XAL). Comments — This species is characterized by a compact subgleba, evident or barely developed. Unlike Bovista dermoxantha, B. aestivalis has an intermediate type of capillitium and under the OM the spores show an ornamentation that is not very evident. Pegler et al. (1995) mention that it is a very polymorphic species and thus taxonomically difficult to identify. Bovista aestivalis has been cited for Baja California (Ochoa & Moreno 2006), Chihuahua (Moreno et al. 2010), Estado de México, Oaxaca and Veracruz (Calonge et al. 2004b). This study extends its distribution range to the states of Hidalgo and Jalisco. Bovista dermoxantha (Vittad.) De Toni, Syll. Fung. 7: 100, 1888. Figs 3–4 Specimens examined: MÉXICO. Baja California: km 2, close to the turnoff from Ensenada to the San Felipe highway, on the way to Hanson Lagoon, in the foothills of the Juárez range, March 02, 1984 G. Guzmán 24326-A (XAL). Chihuahua: Temósachi Municipality, Nabogame, July 31, 1987 J. E. Laferrière 624 (XAL); 65 km NW of Janus, September 20, 1972 P. Huerta (ENCB). Hidalgo: San Gregorio, north side of Xihuingo Hill, July 26, 1963 G. Guzmán 3865 (ENCB). Estado de México: Close to the Guadalupe Dam, July 02, 1967 G. Guzmán 5862 (ENCB). Sonora: km 12 on the Santa Rosa-Yécora highway,