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

Abstract

The genus Menisporopsis S. Hughes is characterized by synnematous conidiomata around a central seta, phialidic conidiogenous cells and falcate to lunate 0- to 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 semiarid 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.