Abstract
The Orchidaceae family comprises a highly diverse group of flowering plants. The genus Cattleya is restricted to the Neotropics, with approximately 80 % of the species present in Brazil occurring in epiphytic, rupicolous, and terrestrial habitats. During surveys that aimed to investigate root fungal endophytes of two native orchids, C. locatellii and C. violacea, a total of 10 endophytic isolates were identified as belonging to Eurotiales. A polyphasic approach was applied for the identification and characterization of the cultured species, combining morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the rDNA, beta-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase second-largest subunit (RPB2) sequences. Two new endophytic species were identified and described from roots of C. locatellii, namely Penicillium endophyticum sp. nov. (section Aspergilloides), and Talaromyces cattleyae sp. nov. (section Purpurei). In addition, P. yuyongnianii (section Lanata-Divaricata), T. amestolkiae, and T. atkinsoniae (section Talaromyces) were reported as endophytes from the genus Cattleya. Citation: Condé TO, Ramos DO, Nogueira PTS, Pereira OL (2025). Inside out: New root endophytic Penicillium and Talaromyces species isolated from Cattleya orchids (Orchidaceae) in Brazil. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 15: 179-200. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.08.