Conidial fungi from the semi-arid Caatinga biome of Brazil . The genus Menisporopsis

The genus Menisporopsis S. Hughes is characterized by synnematous conidiomata around a central seta, phialidic conidiogenous cells and falcate to lunate 0to 1-septate conidia with terminal setulae. Currently, nine species are included in the genus. In the course of investigating conidial fungi associated with decaying plant material in the semi-arid region of Brazil, we identified five Menisporopsis species: M. kobensis Matsush.; M. novae-zelandiae S. Hughes & Kendr.; M. pirozynskii Varghese & Rao; M. profusa Piroz. & Hodges; and M. theobromae S. Hughes. Ours represents only the second record of M. kobensis for the world. We present descriptions, comments, geographic distributions and illustrations for all five species, as well as a key to the recognized species.


Introduction
The genus Menisporopsis S. Hughes was first introduced with the description of the species Menisporopsis theobromae S. Hughes, which was isolated from decaying leaves of Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) in Ghana (Hughes 1952).This genus is characterized by synnematous conidiomata that surround a central, simple, dark brown seta, phialidic conidiogenous cells and lunate to falcate 0-to 1-septate conidia with terminal setulae.
Studies using cell extracts of Menisporopsis theobromae have resulted in the isolation of menisporopsin A, a compound with antimalarial and antimicrobial properties (Chinworrungsee et al. 2004).Other M. theobromae isolates have been tested, and eight bioactive compounds have been identified (Chinworrungsee et al. 2006).
The aim of the present study was to provide descriptions, comments, details of geographic distributions, and Acta bot.bras.28(3): 339-345.2014.illustrations for all Menisporopsis species associated with plant litter in the semi-arid region of Brazil.We also provide a dichotomous key to the recognized species within the genus.

Material and methods
During several expeditions carried out between 2004 and 2006 in the Serra da Jibóia Mountain Range (12°51'S; 39°28'W), we collected specimens of the genus Menisporopsis from a fragment of Atlantic Forest within the vegetation formation known as caatinga (shrublands, hereafter Caatinga Biome), in the municipality of Santa Terezinha, located in the state of Bahia, Brazil.Plant litter samples were placed in separate paper bags and taken to the laboratory.Samples were washed as described by Castañeda Ruiz (2005), after which they were placed in Petri dishes and incubated for 30 days, in moist chambers at 25°C, within polystyrene containers (150-L capacity), together with 500 ml of sterile water plus 2 ml of glycerol.The samples were scanned in stereoscopic microscope at regular intervals.Reproductive structures of fungi were removed and mounted in resin composed of polyvinyl alcohol, lactic acid, and phenol.Slides were deposited in Herbarium of Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (HUEFS).Matsush., Matsush. Mycol. Mem. 10: 141. 2003.Fig. 1a-c Setae septate, erect, straight or slightly flexuous, simple, smooth, brown, 150.0-440.0× 6.0-7.5 μm.Conidiomata synnematous, erect, straight or slightly flexuous, brown at the base to pale brown toward the apex, 114.0-225.0× 12.0-31.5μm.Conidiogenous cells monophialidic, integrated, cylindrical, smooth.Conidia solitary, 0-septate, allantoid, aggregated into a slimy mass, hyaline, 16.0-25.0× 3.0-4.0μm, with one setula at each end, 6.5-9.0 μm long.Notes: Menisporopsis kobensis and its teleomorph, Menisporopascus kobensis Matsush., were described on fragments of a decaying dicotyledonous plant in Kobe, Japan (Matsushima 2003).The species differs from Menisporopsis theobromae by having larger conidia (Tab.1).The morphological characteristics of the studied specimens are consistent with the description provided by Matsushima (2003), although the setae and conidia are shorter than those reported in the original study.This constitutes the second record of this species for the world and the first for Brazil.Specimen examined: BRAZIL.Bahia: Santa Terezinha, on decaying petioles of an unidentified dicotyledonous plant, 17/II/2006, M.F.O.Marques (HUEFS 192229).

Table 1 .
Synopsis of the Menisporopsis species described to date.