Septate Ascospores Research Articles

Over 200 New Lichen Records from Sri Lanka, with Three New Species to Science

Two hundred and seven lichen species are newly reported from Sri Lanka, eight of which were previously thought to be endemic in India; 91 species are new to the Indian subcontinent, and four to Asia, and three are described here as new to science: Astrothelium nitidulum which has 7-septate ascospores with diamond-shaped lumina, mostly simple ascomata in shiny olive pseudostromata and an inspersed hamathecium; Heterodermia queensberryi which is similar to Heterodermia propagulifera but with a corona of lobules around the apothecia; and Malmidea papillosa, which is similar to Malmidea granifera but has regular warts and lacks medulla in the excipulum.

Isalonactis, a new genus ofRoccellaceae(Arthoniales), from southern Madagascar

AbstractThe new genus and speciesIsalonactis madagascariensisis characterized by a crustose, non-corticate, often sorediate thallus containing psoromic acid, tiny white pruinose ascomata with a thalline margin, an inconspicuous excipulum, a pale brown hypothecium, 3-septate hyaline ascospores and curved filiform conidia. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU andRPB2sequences placeIsalonactisin theRoccellaceae, close to the generaLecanactisandChiodecton. The new species was collected on sheltered siliceous rocks in the dry landscape of the Isalo Massif (S Madagascar).Dermatiscum thunbergiiis newly recorded from Madagascar.

The foliicolous lichen biota of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the description of six new species

AbstractSix new species of foliicolous lichenized fungi are described as new to science from lowland rainforest in the Congo Basin: Bapalmuia serusiauxiana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Pilocarpaceae) characterized by (7–)15(–19)-septate ascospores of (40–)50–65(–72)×1·5–2·5 μm, Microtheliopsis ramazaniana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Microtheliopsidaceae) characterized by 1-septate ascospores of 13–16×3–5 μm, Phylloblastiaverheyeniana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Verrucariaceae) characterized by 3-septate ascospores of 13–15(–17)×3·0–4·5 μm, Porina duduana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Porinaceae) characterized by 3-septate ascospores of 11·0–14·5×2·5–3·0 μm, perithecia 130–150(–170) μm diam. and a photobiont with angular-rounded and irregularly arranged cells, Porina gryseelsiana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Porinaceae) characterized by orange-brown perithecia and 7–9(–12)-septate ascospores of 29–46×5·0–7·5 μm, Porina weghiana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz (Porinaceae) characterized by the presence of disc-shaped isidia, yellow perithecia without apical appendages and (7–)9-septate ascospores of 33–50×5·0–6·5 μm. In addition, 53 species new for the Democratic Republic of the Congo are listed, including five species new for tropical Africa and six new for the Palaeotropics, thus raising the number of species known from the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 150 to 209. Keys are presented to all known species of Microtheliopsis and to species of Porina with disc-shaped isidia.

Molecular phylogeny reveals the true colours of Myeloconidaceae (Ascomycota: Ostropales)

The lichen-forming fungal family Myeloconidaceae, with the single genus Myeloconis, has been suggested to share affinities with Porinaceae (Lecanoromycetes: Ostropales). We examined its position relative to this family by using molecular data from the mitochondrial small-subunit and nuclear large-subunit rDNA. Our results revealed that Myeloconis forms a monophyletic group nested within Porinaceae, closely related to Porina farinosa. Neither Porina s.str. nor Clathroporina sensu Harris form monophyletic groups; instead, two strongly supported clades were recovered, which differ in ascospore septation (septate v. muriform), with the clade producing muriform ascospores including Myeloconis. We therefore reduce Myeloconidaceae to synonymy with Porinaceae; however, because generic delimitations within Porinaceae remain unclear, we retain Myeloconis as a separate genus within the family. The species concept currently used in the genus, based largely on secondary metabolites and ascospore measurements, is supported by the phylogeny.

Munkovalsaria donacina from grapevines and Desert Ash in Australia

A bitunicate ascomycete bearing brown 1-septate ascospores consistent with the botryosphaeriaceous genera Dothiorella and Spencermartinsia was observed on discarded grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) canes, and in culture was purported to yield a coelomycetous asexual morph in Spencermartinsia. However, morphological studies and amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and portions of the small (18S) and large (28S) subunits of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene identified the ascomycete as Munkovalsaria donacina (Niessl) Aptroot, and revealed that the fungus is neither connected to an asexual morph in Spencermartinsia, nor related to the Botryosphaeriaceae (Botryosphaeriales). Instead, these findings provide the first report of M. donacina from grapevines and Desert Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. angustifolia Vahl), extending the range of the taxon to 38 species in 24 families.

Three new species ofGraphis(Ascomycota:Ostropales:Graphidaceae) from Mexico, with updates to taxonomic key entries for 41 species described between 2009 and 2013

AbstractThree species ofGraphis(Graphidaceae) are described from Mexico from two research stations of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Chamela Biological Station in the Cuixmala-Chamela Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, and Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biological Station in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz. The new speciesGraphis bungartziiBarcenas-Peña, Lücking, Herrera-Campos & R. Miranda is characterized by erumpent lirellae with a lateral thalline margin, striate labia and laterally carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic and connorstictic acids.Graphis chamelensisBarcenas-Peña & Lücking has prominent lirellae with a basal to lateral thalline margin, entire labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic acid. Finally,Graphis rosae-emiliaeBarcenas-Peña & Lücking is characterized by erumpent lirellae with lateral thalline margin, striate labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and no substances detected by TLC. We present updates to the world key toGraphisfor 41 newly described or reinstated species since the world key was published in 2009. The following new combination is proposed:Pallidogramme parvicarpum(B. O. Sharma & Khadilkar) Lücking comb. nov., based onGraphis parvicarpaB. O. Sharma & Khadilkar.

Arenariomyces truncatellus sp. nov., an ascomycete on driftwood from the north coast of Zealand, Denmark

Incubated driftwood from the north coast of Zealand, Denmark, yielded a new species, Arenariomyces truncatellus, belonging to the Halosphaeriaceae, Ascomycota. The species is characterized by globose, spiny ascomata formed on wood with asci deliquescing before spore maturity and 1-septate ascospores with three delicate appendages at each spore end. The species is compared with A. majusculus, A. parvulus, A. trifurcatus, and A. triseptatus. A key to the species is provided.

Two new Crypthonia species and a new Syncesia from Chapada do Araripe, Ceará, NE Brazil (Ascomycota: Arthoniales), with a key to Crypthonia

AbstractTwo new species of the small genus Crypthonia are described from the Chapada do Araripe, an isolated table mountain in the state of Ceará, in NE Brazil. Both share the thallus and ascoma organization with the other known species of the genus, and are mainly characterized by differences in ascospores and chemistry. Crypthonia lichexanthonica A. A. Menezes, M. Cáceres & Aptroot has 7-septate ascospores and contains lichexanthone in the thallus, and C. submuriformis A. A. Menezes, M. Cáceres & Aptroot has (sub)muriform ascospores and also contains lichexanthone, but only in the ascigerous areas. A key to all known species of the genus Crypthonia is provided, in which Crypthonia olivacea Frisch & G. Thor is newly reported from Argentina. The new species Syncesia byssolomoides A. A. Menezes, M. Cáceres & Aptroot is described from the same area. It also has a thin byssoid thallus, but differs by the narrowly fusiform ascospores and by containing psoromic acid. It differs from all Syncesia species by the absence of carbonization and the presence of psoromic acid. The epiphytic lichen flora in this Caatinga forest area is dominated by crustose lichens, with Graphis and Polymeridium as the most speciose genera.

Three new species of Hymenoscyphus from tropical China

Three new species of Hymenoscyphus collected from tropical regions of China are described and illustrated. Hymenoscyphus magnicellulosus possesses whitish sessile apothecia with large-celled textura prismatica at flank and isodiametric cells at the base, and inequilateral ellipsoid ascospores 12.5–19(–22) × 4.5–6.7 μm. Hymenoscyphus uniseptatus has white stipitate apothecia, rectangular ectal excipular cells, broadly clavate asci, and broadly fusoid 1-septate ascospores 16.7–20.5 × 5–6.5 μm. Hymenoscyphus yunnanicus is characterized by cream to light yellow stipitate apothecia, narrow ectal excipular hyphae, and multiguttulate fusoid ascospores 16.5–19.5 × 5–5.6 μm. Comparisons were made among the new species and their morphologically similar fungi.

Magnaporthiopsis, a new genus in Magnaporthaceae (Ascomycota)

The phylogenetic relationships among taxa in the Magnaporthaceae are investigated based on DNA sequences of multiple genes including SSU, ITS, LSU, MCM7, RPB1 and TEF1. The genera Magnaporthe and Gaeumannomyces are shown to be polyphyletic and their members are divided into four major groups based on the phylogenetic analyses. Considering morphological, biological and molecular data, we establish a new genus, Magnaporthiopsis. It is characterized by black and globose perithecia with a cylindrical neck, two-layered perithecial wall, clavate asci with a refractive apical ring, fusiform to fusoid and septate ascospores, simple hyphopodia, and Phialophora-like anamorph. Species in this genus are necrotrophic parasites infecting roots of grasses. Three new combinations, Magnaporthiopsis poae, M. rhizophila and M. incrustans, are proposed accordingly. Pyricularia is suggested as the generic name for the rice blast fungus over Magnaporthe, following Article 59.1 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. A new combination, Nakataea oryzae, is proposed for the rice stem rot fungus.

New lichen species of the genera Porina and Byssoloma from an urban Atlantic rainforest patch in Sergipe, NE Brazil

AbstractThe new species Byssoloma catillariosporum and Porina isidioambigua are described from NE Brazil. The first is reminiscent of B. leucoblepharum but differs by the consistently uniseptate ascospores. The second is characterized by tiny isidia and black perithecia with relatively large, 3-septate ascospores. Both species were found at the Área de Proteço Ambiental (APA) Morro do Urubu, an area of c. 214 hectares in the large (500 000 inhabitants) city of Aracaju. It is the only urban Mata Atlântica remnant in Aracaju, with mesophytic deciduous and semi-deciduous forest, and cerrado enclaves in isolated points.

A new Eugeniella from a small Atlantic rainforest remnant in Sergipe, NE Brazil

AbstractThe new species Eugeniella nigrodisca is described from Fazenda Cafuz, Serra de Itabaiana, Sergipe, NE Brazil, where it was found on bark. It is characterized by the clavate, consistently 7-septate ascospores.

A new non-isidiate Leptogium species with transverse septate ascospores from Southeastern Brazil

A non-isidiate Leptogium species with transverse septate ascospores is described as new. The species was collected in Serra da Mantiqueira and initially identified as L. megapotamicum, but the study of the type specimen demonstrated differences in the tissues of the apothecia, which supported the observed morphological variations of the thalli and apothecia found by our descriptive protocol.

Tortulomyces thailandicus gen. et sp. nov. and Nitschkia siamensis sp. nov. (Coronophorales, Ascomycota) from northern Thailand

Two new species collected in northern Thailand are herein described and discussed. Tortulomyces thailandicus is the type of a new genus characterized by a combination of such features as a dense subiculum, non-ostiolate ascomata, two kinds of paraphyses (filiform and bead-like), and 1-septate, brown ascospores. Nitschkia siamensis has non-ostiolate, turbinate and stalked ascomata and hyaline, often slightly curved, 1-septate ascospores.

Phylogenetic classification of Pleurothecium and Pleurotheciella gen. nov. and its dactylaria-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes) based on nuclear ribosomal and protein-coding genes

Two strains of an unidentified perithecial ascomycete with a dactylaria-like anamorph and another morphologically similar strain of a dactylaria-like fungus were collected on decaying wood submerged in freshwater. To study their phylogenetic relationships we (i) combined sequence data from the nuclear small and large subunits ribosomal DNA (nc18S and nc28S) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) for a multigene phylogenetic analysis and (ii) used sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the rRNA operon for a species-level analysis. The new genus Pleurotheciella is described for two new species, Pla. rivularia and Pla. centenaria, with nonstromatic perithecia, unitunicate asci, persistent paraphyses and hyaline, septate ascospores and dactylaria-like anamorphs characterized by holoblastic, denticulate conidiogenesis, subhyaline conidiophores and hyaline, septate conidia. Based on morphological and molecular data, Pleurotheciella is closely related to the genera Pleurothecium and Sterigmatobotrys. A key to the three genera and the known species is provided. In the three-gene inferred phylogeny, these genera grouped as a sister clade to the Savoryellales within a robust clade of uncertain higher rank affiliation. Phylogenetic study of the 12 strains that represent Pleurothecium recurvatum revealed four that grouped apart from the core of the species. Two of these strains, which form a monophyletic well supported clade in both phylogenies and share similar morphological characteristics, are described as a new species, Pleurothecium semifecundum.

Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the <I>Planistromellaceae</I> including its coelomycetous anamorphs: contributions towards a monograph of the genus <I>Kellermania</I>

The core species of the family Planistromellaceae are included in the teleomorphic genera Planistroma and Planistromella and the connected anamorphic, coelomycetous genera Alpakesa, Kellermania, and Piptarthron. These genera have been defined primarily on the basis of ascospore septation or number of conidial appendages. Due to a lack of DNA sequence data, phylogenetic placement of these genera within the Dothideomycetes, evaluation of monophyly, and questions about generic boundaries could not be adequately addressed in the past. Isolates of nearly all of the known species in these genera were studied genetically and morphologically. DNA sequence data were generated for the nSSU, ITS, nLSU, and RPB1 markers and analysed phylogenetically. These results placed the Planistromellaceae, herein recognised as a distinct family, in an unresolved position relative to other genera within the order Botryosphaeriales. Species representing the core genera of the Planistromellaceae formed a clade and evaluation of its topology revealed that previous morphology-based definitions of genera resulted in an artificial classification system. Alpakesa, Kellermania, Piptarthron, Planistroma, and Planistromella are herein recognised as belonging to the single genus Kellermania. The following new combinations are proposed: Kellermania crassispora, K. dasylirionis, K. macrospora, K. plurilocularis, and K. unilocularis. Five new species are described, namely K. con- fusa, K. dasylirionicola, K. micranthae, K. ramaleyae, and K. rostratae. Descriptions of species in vitro and a key to species known from culture are provided.

A new Placopyrenium (Verrucariaceae) from Turkey

AbstractThe new species Placopyrenium bullatum is described from limestone in Turkey. It is characterized by the immersed ascomata, the areolate and bullate thallus, the often blackened exciple and the 1-septate ascospores. It resembles P. iranicum, but differs by the 1-septate ascospores, the dark exciple and the black mottled medulla.

A new species of Pyrgillus from India

AbstractPyrgillus tibellii, a new lichen species, is described from India. It is characterized by mazaediate, perithecioid ascomata, an excipular margin with an orange reddish pruinose rim reacting K+ reddish violet, and large, 3-septate ascospores.

Plectocarpon dirinariae (Arthoniales), a new lichenicolous species from Cape Verde

AbstractPlectocarpon dirinariae Ertz & van den Boom is described from Cape Verde from the thallus of saxicolous Dirinariaapplanata. The new species is characterized by convex rounded ascomata not inducing basally constricted galls, non-carbonized sterile stromatic tissue, mainly 4–6-spored asci and 3-septate ascospores. Similar Plectocarpon sp. are discussed.

Plectocarpon stereocaulicola(Roccellaceae, Ascomycota), a new lichenicolous fungus from Bolivia

AbstractA new gall-inducing lichenicolous fungus,Plectocarpon stereocaulicolaKukwa, Etayo and Flakus, is described from Bolivia from the thalli ofStereocaulonsp. The new species is characterized by black, epruinose rounded ascomata with a carbonized surface and a thalline pseudo-margin, as well as a non-carbonized, light brown sterile stromatic tissue in the lower part and 3-septate ascospores becoming brown and ornamented when mature.