Stegolerium kukenani gen, et sp nov an endophytic taxol producing fungus from the Roraima and Kukenan tepuis of Venezuela

Stegolerium kukenani gen. et sp. nov. is described as a hyphomycetous speci es associated as an endophyte with Stegolepis guianensis on the summits of the Roraima and Kukenan tepuis of Venezuela. The genus is characterized by arthrocatenate conidia which vary from ovoid, obpyriform, dumbbell to spher ical in shape and do not possess cross walls. The spores and hyphae have mi cro-fine protrusions and brownish, slightly thickened walls. The conidia co mmonly contain 3-10 readily discernable lipid bodies and are catenate in th e hyphae. They germinate into one or more germ tubes arising per conidia. T he fungus produces numerous dark brown sclerotia (0.2-0.6 mm in diameter) a nd loosely consolidated hyphae in culture. No other endophyte was obtained from this plant. Each isolate produced taxol as measured by a monoclonal an tibody technique.