Saprolegnia atlantica sp. nov. (Oomycota, Saprolegniaceae) from Brazil, and new synonymizations and epitypifications in the genus Saprolegnia

In this study, we isolated and identified oomycete species of the genus Saprolegnia. Saprolegnia atlantica, a new species isolated from soil and freshwater bodies in areas of the Atlantic Rainforest (Sao Paulo state, Brazil), is described herein based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS and LSU regions of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nc rDNA). Taking into account the oospore type and/or the presence of terminal oogonia with androgynous antheridia, this new species appears to be related to S. litoralis and S. terrestris, but the phylogenetic placement of the isolates did not corroborate this relationship. Saprolegnia aenigmatica, S. blelhamensis, S. glomerata, and S. milanezii were also identified in the soil and submerged leaves, surface sediment, and/or water samples from freshwater bodies collected for the study. These specimens were sequenced, included in phylogenetic analyses, and described, commented and/or illustrated. Saprolegnia glomerata is a first report for Brazil, first sequences of S. blelhamensis and S. glomerata were deposited in GenBank, and Brazilian isolates of S. blelhamensis and S. glomerata are designated as epitypes. Our phylogenetic analyses of the Saprolegnia clade and previously published studies suggest that S. bulbosa, S. longicaulis, S. oliviae, and S. maragheica are new synonyms of S. ferax, and S. semihypogyna is a new synonym of S. eccentrica. (AU)