NEW FOR DAGESTAN SPECIES OF TOMENTELLA (THELEPHORALES, BASIDIOMYCOTA)

Aim. To obtain new data on the species diversity and ecological characteristics of the Tomentella fungi growing in the North‐Eastern Caucasus. Materials and methods . Sampling of research material was performed in October, 2018 during a route survey of forest ecosystems in the vicinity of Delichoban, the Derbent district, and across the territory of the Upper Gunib natural park, the Gunib district, in the Republic of Dagestan. Identification of the collected material was carried out by light microscopy in the Laboratory of Systematics and Geography of Fungi, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Results. 3 Tomentella species, which are new for the Republic of Dagestan, have been identified, including T. bryophila, T. ellisii and T. fibrosa. All the discovered species are given with a brief morphological description, details of localities and comments on the current taxonomic position. Conclusion . The Tomentella Pers. ex Pat. s. l. genus is currently represented by 12 species in the territory of the Republic of Dagestan: Tomentella bryophila, T. cinerascens, T. crinalis, T. ellisii, T. ferruginea, T. fibrosa, T. lateritia, T. pilosa, T. punicea, T. stuposa , T. subtestacea and T. umbrinospora. All these species are found across a wide range of altitudinal gradient. Further mycological studies, including those using the molecular and genetic approach, are needed to reveal species new for the region and to expand the understanding of the spatial, ecological and trophic structure of its mycobiota.