Abstract
We analyzed the morphology and phylogenetic placement of three isolates of Plectospira belonging to Plectospira gemmifera and P. myriandra that were isolated from soil, water bodies and reservoir sediment. The molecular data are from the partial large subunit and the complete internal transcribed regions of the ribosomal DNA. The genus is characterized by the presence of lobulated zoosporangia and mode of zoospore discharge forming an evanescent cluster in the exit orifice. Our isolates clustered together with the single isolate of the genus available in GenBank, however, our phylogenetic analysis and morphological characterization showed that the isolate identified as Plectospira myriandra CBS 523.87 is possibly another taxon. In addition, P. gemmifera is recorded for the first time in Brazil and its sequences were inserted for the first time in a phylogenetic reconstruction.