The third report of Cunninghamellaceae fungi in the Brazilian Amazon forest: Two new species of Cunninghamella isolated from soil

Five strains of Cunninghamella were isolated from Amazon forest soils in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Strains URM 9031 and URM 9187 form sporophores with main axes ending in a vesicle or dividing into several branches with globose to subglobose sporangiola. Lateral branches can rebranch up to four times. The maximum temperature growth (Tmax) is 38 C. Strains URM 9032, URM 9199, and URM 9108 form axial sporophores ending in a vesicle or forked, with lateral branches rebranching up to four times; sporangiola are exclusively globose. The Tmax is 41 C. Based on distinct morphologies, along with physiological and multilocus phylogenetic evidence of the nuc rDNA regions ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer [ITS]) and partial D1–D2 domains (28S) and the elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) gene, Cunninghamella ramificata sp. nov. and C. amazonica sp. nov. are proposed. A taxonomic discussion of both new species and an updated identification key for the Cunninghamella are provided.