Myrmecridium hiemale sp nov from snow-covered alpine soil is the first eurypsychrophile in this genus of anamorphic fungi

Myrmecridium hiemale sp. nov. was isolated from snow-covered alpine bare soil and is described as the first eurypsychrophilic species of this genus of filamentous fungi. Colony growth temperature experiments were carried out in the range 4-37 degrees C. Morphological characteristics and colony appearance were in accordance with characteristics typical for Myrmecridium, but M. hiemale does not grow at temperatures of 25 degrees C and above. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer and LSU rRNA D1/D2 regions indicated that the strain in question represents a distinct taxon within the genus Myrmecridium (Myrmecridiaceae, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota). The type strain of M. hiemale is CBS 141017(T)(=JMRC 12083(T)). A morphological description is provided, and a key is presented for the currently known taxa of Myrmecridium, a group of interesting fungi that are either saprobes or plant endophytes.