AQUATIC HYPHOMYCETES FROM THE HEADWATERS OF THE GUARICO RIVER, STATE CARABOBO, VENEZUELA

Aquatic hyphomycetes are microscopic imperfect fungi and they are the principal decomposers of the submerged organic matter in rivers, making it easier for it to be used by other organisms. These fungi are important for the functioning of the environment and have biotechnological applications given their enzymatic makeup. They are considered as parameter indicators of water quality. In Venezuela, there are few records of these fungi; therefore monthly records were made of the species present in the headwaters of the Guarico river, Carabobo state, Venezuela. Foam samples were taken weekly from the river channels, during one year, and fungi conidia were identified, most of them to the level of species. A total of 42 species were identified, the following being new records for the country: Dedrospora erecta, D. juncicola, Speiropsis hyalospora, S. pedatospora, Tetraploa cf. aristata, Tripospermun myrti, Triscelophorus magnificus and Triscelophorus ponapensis.