Matsushimamyces, a new genus of keratinophilic fungi from soil in central India

During a collecting trip exploring new habitats and locations for keratinophilic fungi, soil samples were collected from Bohani village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Following isolation using a hair baiting technique, one sample yielded an interesting hyphomycetous fungus. The fungus, which could easily be observed under a dissecting microscope, formed prominently large, dark brown to opaque, fusoid conidia on horse hair after 2 mo of incubation. Single-conidial colonies were cultivated on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium by direct transfer, using a fine needle under a dissecting microscope. Morphologically the fungus resembles genera such as Bahugada, Hadrosporium, Manoharachariella, Pithomyces, and Septosporiopsis, but differs with regard to its conidia and conidiogenous cells. Based on its unique morphology, the present collection is described as a new genus, Matsushimamyces, with M. bohaniensis as type species. Phylogenetic analysis of the LSU region placed Matsushimamyces in Latoruaceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). Furthermore, based on the morphological and phylogenetic similarity (ITS and LSU rDNA), a second species, Polyschema venustum, is also referred to Matsushimamyces.