The fungus, Anthomyces brasiliensis described in 1899 in Rio de Janeiro causing rust on Caesalpinia sp. or Piptadenia sp., was rediscovered in 2001 in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil on Caesalpinia echinata. In the original description only telia and uredia were described, but spermogonia or aecia was not observed. Leaves with small necrotic lesions were collected from seedlings and trees of C. echinata at Pau-Brasil Experimental Station (CEPLAC) in the municipality of Porto Seguro, Bahia. Material from fresh and dried leaflets was examined under dissecting and compound microscopes. Micrographs were obtained using the compound and scanning electron microscopes. Group VI (type 7) spermogonia were found for the first time on the material collected in Bahia. They were subcuticular, round in outline, flattened, 70-100 x 30-56 ìm with spermatiophores hyaline, cylindrical, grouped in palisade, 12-14 x 2-3 ìm. Spermatia ellipsoid, hyaline, smooth, 3-4 x 2-3 ìm. Pustules associated with spermogonia were interpreted as uredinoid aecia. They are larger than uredia and telia, 200-700 ìm wide. Aeciospores are similar to urediniospores, measuring 22-24 x 18-22 ìm. Thus, A. brasiliensis can now be defined as a macrocyclic, autoecious rust containing 0 to IV states.
rust; taxonomy; biological cycle; micology
