AQUATIC HYPHOMYCETES FROM THE HEADWATERS OF CHIRGUA RIVER, CARABOBO, VENEZUELA

Aquatic hyphomycetes are microscopic imperfect fungi and they are the principal decomposers of the submerged organic matter in rivers, making it possible to be used by other organisms present in the ecosystem. These fungi are of ecological and biotechnological importance,. given their enzymatic makeup, and are also considered as indicators of water quality. In Venezuela, there are few records in these fungi; therefore we carried out monthly records of the species present in the headwaters of the Chirgua river, Carabobo State. Foam samples were taken during one year from the river channels under sterile conditions and fungi species are identified. We identified a total of 44 species, Tricladiospora brunnea and Trinacrium incurvum being new records for the country.