Submuriform Ascospores Research Articles

Phylogeny of the Pyrenula ochraceoflava group (Pyrenulaceae) reveals near-cryptic diversification and the inclusion of the Mazaediothecium album aggregate

In this study we present an analysis of the Pyrenula ochraceoflava group (Pyrenulaceae), focusing on the Neotropics and based on morphological, chemical, and molecular data of the mtSSU, nuLSU and ITS markers. We described three new species from tropical dry forests of Mexico, confirm the monophyly of the P. ochraceoflava group and provide evidence for the inclusion of species currently placed in the genus Mazaediothecium within Pyrenula. Pyrenula aurantiacoretis sp. nov. is characterized by an orange pigment covering the thallus in net-like fashion, muriform ascospores with 4 rows of 1–4 cells each, 12–15.5 × 8–10.5 µm, and 7-chloroemodin and emodin as major compounds. Pyrenula connexa sp. nov. is closely related to Mazaediothecium album, being characterized by mazaedioid pyrenocarps, basal and lateral excipular carbonization, highly variable mature ascospores, 1-septate to submuriform, thallus with abundant white verrucae, and lichexanthone as major compound. Pyrenula moldenkeorum sp. nov. is characterized by an orange thallus, submuriform ascospores that frequently show pigmented septa forming a cross septation pattern, 7.5–11 × 5.5–8.5 µm in size, and 7-chloroemodin and emodin as major compounds. The taxonomy of the most common and widespread species of the group, P. ochraceoflava and P. ochraceoflavens, is briefly discussed, presenting evidence to support the consideration of P. ochraceoflava as a species complex. The two species Mazaedothecium album and M. mohamedii are transferred to Pyrenula as P. aptrootiana nom. nov. [non Pyrenula alba (Schrad.) A.Massal.] and P. mohamedii comb. nov.

The crustose species of Normandina (Verrucariaceae)

AbstractNormandina acroglypta, as recently circumbscribed, is shown to comprise two species: N. acroglypta s. str. with subsquamulose marginal areoles, two unidentified terpenoids by thin-layer chromatography, and growing over rock; and N. chlorococca, with convex marginal areoles, zeorin or no substances detected by thin-layer chromatography, and growing over bark. Normandina dictyospora is newly described from the Falkland Islands and is characterized by relatively large, submuriform ascospores, and no substances detected.

A new species of Reichlingia (Arthoniaceae) from the grasslands of central North America

Reichlingia americana, a new saxicolous species, is described from Oklahoma, U.S.A., representing the first records of the genus in North America. The species is distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of its epilithic, rimose thallus; submuriform ascospores; presence of 2′-O-methylperlatolic acid; and unique habitat on sheltered sandstone faces. Distinctions from related species are discussed and a key to members of the genus is provided.

Haematomma rubidum sp. nov. from China

Haematomma rubidum from southern China is described as new species characterized by convex apothecia with thin whitish margins that become hidden in age; submuriform ascospores with 15–21 transverse and 0–3 longitudinal septa; and a thallus containing atranorin and russulone but lacking dibenzofurans or xanthones. Photographs of the new species accompany a detailed taxonomic description.

Burrowsia, a new genus of lichenized fungi (Caliciaceae), plus the new species B. cataractae and Scoliciosporum fabisporum, from Mpumalanga, South Africa

The new genus Burrowsia (Caliciaceae) is proposed to accommodate the new species B. cataractae, which is known from only a single locality in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Burrowsia is characterized by its pigmented, submuriform ascospores and ascus with an apical tube structure, and also by its DNA sequence data that place it outside related buellioid genera. We also describe the new species Scoliciosporum fabisporum, also known from a single locality in Mpumalanga, which differs from all other species of that genus in having distinctive kidney-shaped, 0–1-septate ascospores. It is most closely related to the Northern Hemisphere species S. intrusum, which is here confirmed by molecular data as belonging to this genus in a well-supported Scoliciosporaceae. The potential of the region to yield additional novel lichen taxa is explored.

Three new crustose lichens from Thailand

Three corticolous crustose lichens are described from Thailand as new to science. Astrochapsa elongata Poengs. & Lumbsch is characterized by elongated apothecia, a clear hymenium, submuriform ascospores and the lack of secondary metabolites. Graphis khaoyaiensis Poengs. & Lumbsch is characterized by a laterally carbonized exciple, striate labia, a clear hymenium, muriform ascospores and the absence of secondary metabolites, differing from Graphis dichotoma in having smaller ascospores, and not radiately branched ascomata. Phlyctis sirindhorniae Poengs., Vongshew. & Lumbsch is distinguished by apothecia being solitary or sometimes aggregate or fused into groups, muriform ascospores and the presence of norstictic acid, differing from P. agelaea in having larger apothecia and more ascospores per ascus. Descriptions of the new species are provided and discussions on similar species.

Eight new species of Pyrenulaceae from the Neotropics, with a key to 3-septate Pyrgillus species

AbstractEight new species of Pyrenulaceae are described as new to science from Brazil, Guyana and Puerto Rico. Pyrenula sanguineomeandrata Aptroot & Mercado Diaz (with a thallus with red, KOH+ purple pigmentation of lines or a reticulum, simple ascomata with vertical ostioles, a deep red inspersed, KOH+ orange hamathecium, and dark brown 3-septate ascospores 25–29×10–12 μm) and P. sanguineostiolata Aptroot & Mercado Diaz (with a thallus with deeply immersed simple ascomata with vertical ostioles, which are superficial and bright red, and 3-septate ascospores 25–28×9–12 μm) are described from submontane evergreen forests in Puerto Rico. Pyrenula biseptata Aptroot & M. Cáceres (with simple ascomata with vertical ostioles, an inspersed hamathecium and 2-septate ascospores 11–12×4·5–5·0 μm) and P. xanthinspersa Aptroot & M. Cáceres (with an ecorticate thallus containing lichexanthone, simple ascomata with vertical ostioles, not inspersed hamathecium and 3-septate ascospores 14–17×6·0–7·5 μm) are described from rainforest in Amazonian Brazil. Pyrenula subvariabilis Aptroot & Sipman (with fused ascomata with lateral ostioles and submuriform ascospores 17–20(–25)×6–9 μm) and Sulcopyrenula biseriata Aptroot & Sipman (with a thallus containing lichexanthone, simple ascomata with lateral ostioles and lozenge-shaped ascospores with 8 locules, (13–)15–17(–20)×8–10 (width)×6–7 (thickness) μm) are described from savannahs in Guyana. Special attention is paid to the genus Pyrgillus: two new species from the 3-septate core group of this small genus are described from Brazil, viz. P. aurantiacus Aptroot & M. Cáceres (with a corticate thallus containing lichexanthone, mazaedium with orange, KOH+ violet, UV+ red pruina and ascospores of 13–16×6·0–7·5 μm) and P. rufus Aptroot & M. Cáceres (with a corticate thallus containing lichexanthone, mazaedium with dark red, KOH+ orange, UV+ red pruina and ascospores of 15·0–17·5×5·0–6·5 μm). An updated key to the 3-septate species of Pyrgillus is provided.

Three new species of Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota) from the semi-arid region of northeast Brazil

Three new lichenized fungal species in the family Graphidaceae are described from Northeast Brazil. Graphis alba has lirellae with a conspicuous white cover, eventually becoming striate, small, (sub-)muriform ascospores, and stictic acid. Halegrapha redonographoides features somewhat pseudostromatic ascomata with immersed lirellae, a completely carbonized excipulum, and small, submuriform ascospores, in combination with a norstictic acid chemistry. Thelotrema pachysporoides has an ecorticate, white thallus and produces brown, 7–13-septate, 25–35 × 7–10 µm large ascospores. The new species were found in an isolated remnant of Caatinga vegetation, at Fazenda Santa Maria da Lage, Poço Verde, Sergipe state, with additional material of one of the species also detected in the state of Tocantins.

Four new species of Arthothelium (Arthoniales, Ascomycetes) from Africa and Socotra

Four species of Arthothelium from Africa and Socotra are described as new to science: Arthothelium atrorubrum from Madagascar, characterized by irregularly rounded blackish ascomata with a deeply red hypothecium and submuriform ascospores; Arthothelium aurantiacopruinosum from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, characterized by black, irregularly rounded to stellate, orange pruinose ascomata and muriform ascospores with two larger terminal cells; Arthothelium frischianum from Madagascar, characterized by brownish-black minute irregular ascomata with remnants of thallus and muriform ascospores with one larger terminal cell; Arthothelium miesii from Socotra (Yemen), characterized by a thick thallus, immersed, stellate to cerebriform, brownish, greyish pruinose ascomata and submuriform ascospores. A key to all reported species of Arthothelium from tropical Africa (South Africa excluded) and Socotra is provided.

Three new species of Graphidaceae (Ostropales, Ascomycota) from Atlantic Forest in Northeast Brazil

Three species of Graphidaceae are here described as new to science, based on material found in the Reserva Biológica Guaribas and Área de Proteção Ambiental da Barra do Rio Mamanguape, in Paraíba State, Northeastern Brazil. Astrochapsa submuralis E.L. Lima, Lücking & M. Cáceres, with thickly pruinose ascomata and small submuriform ascospores, Chapsa angustispora E.L. Lima, Lücking & M. Cáceres, with a combination of inspersed hymenium and comparatively narrow muriform ascospores, and Graphis cilindrospora E.L. Lima, Lücking & M. Cáceres, with very large and narrow muriform, brownish ascospores. These findings underline the importance of the northern Atlantic rain forest, including the poorly studied Restinga vegetation, for the continuous discovery of new lichen taxa.

New species and new records of thelotremoid Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Thailand

Six new species of thelotremoid Graphidaceae are described from Thailand. Leucodecton confusum Papong, Mangold & Lücking has a densely corticate thallus and small, lepadinoid ascomata with double margin producing small, hyaline, submuriform ascospores. Ocellularia cerebriformis Papong, Lücking & Lumbsch is characterized by a brain-like, folded thallus surface, in combination with small, (sub-)muriform ascospores and protocetraric acid chemistry. Ocellularia kohphangangensis Papong, Mangold & Lücking features an unusual combination of small, brown, submuriform ascospores and the cinchonarum unknown chemistry. Ocellularia pseudopapillata Papong, Mangold & Lücking differs from O. papillata in the uneven-verrucose thallus, the thin, indistinctly fissured proper margin of the ascomata, and the carbonized columella. Ocellularia salazinica Papong, Mangold & Lücking is characterized by the presence of salazinic acid (a rare substance in Graphidaceae), in combination with ascomata resembling those of Rhabdodiscus, and comparatively large, muriform ascospores. A further species of Ocellularia, O. subdolichotata Papong, Mangold & Lumbsch, has a smooth, white thallus, prominent, columellate and carbonized ascomata, large, transversely septate ascospores (smaller than in O. dolichotata), and lacks secondary substances. The following 11 species are new records for Thailand: Chapsa discoides (Stirt.) Lücking, Glaucotrema glaucophaenum (Kremp.) Rivas Plata & Lumbsch, Leucodecton anamalaiense (Patw. & C. R. Kulk.) Rivas Plata & Lücking, Ocellularia fumosa (Ach.) Müll. Arg., O. granulifera (Kremp.) Müll. Arg., O. violacea Räsänen, O. viridipallens Müll. Arg., Rhabdodiscus subcavatus (Nyl.) Rivas Plata & Lumbsch, Stegobolus berkeleyanus Mont., Thelotrema defossum (Müll. Arg.) Mangold, and T. subadjectum Mangold.

Capronia paranectrioides (Herpotrichiellaceae, Ascomycota), a new lichenicolous fungus from Bolivia

AbstractThe new lichenicolous Capronia paranectrioides Etayo, Flakus & Kukwa, inhabiting thalli of Erioderma leylandii, is described from Bolivia. The species is characterized by pale brown, submuriform and bicaudate ascospores, subglobose to barrel-shaped perithecia and I+ red, K/I+ pale blue hymenial gelatine. It is the first known Capronia species producing ascospores with long apical appendages.

Graphis koreana (Graphidaceae, Ostropales), a new species from South Korea

AbstractA saxicolous Graphis discovered in the southern part of South Korea is described as new to science. The new species, Graphis koreana sp. nov., is characterized by a green to brownish green, thick, rimose thallus, completely carbonized proper exciple, trans-septate to submuriform ascospores and the presence of norstictic acid.

Buellia subericola, a new species with triseptate ascospores from the Iberian Peninsula

AbstractBuellia subericola,a new corticolous species characterized by a brown, blastidiate thallus without secondary chemistry and triseptate to occasionally submuriform ascospores, is described from the southern Iberian Peninsula. The species occurs onQuercus suberin grass-woodlands of cork-oak in the mesomediterranean belt with a warm mediterranean climate and oceanic influence. It is compared with other knownBuellias. lat. taxa which also reproduce asexually and have similar ascospores.

A new Opegrapha with submuriform ascospores from Brazil

AbstractThe new species Opegrapha subdictyospora is described from NE Brazil. It is only the third species in the genus with (sub)muriform ascospores and is further characterized by the brown pruinose discs. It was collected at Vale do Catimbau National Park in Pernambuco, which is a Caatinga area, where it is locally common.

A new species ofFellhanera(lichenized Ascomycota:Pilocarpaceae) from central North America

AbstractFellhanera crucitignorum, a blastidiate crustose lichen with anthraquinones and submuriform ascospores, is described as new to science. The species is associated with exposures of non-calcareous sandstones in Kansas and Oklahoma, in the southern portion of North America's Great Plains. The authraquinones are typically concentrated in the blastidia, creating a distinctive grey thallus with localized orange granules.

Three new species of Chapsa (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) from tropical Asia

AbstractThree new species of Chapsa in the family Graphidaceae are described from tropical Asia. Chapsa mastersonii Rivas Plata, Lumbsch & Lücking from the Philippines is characterized by large apothecia with thickly white-pruinose discs, large, muriform, non-amyloid ascospores, and the stictic acid chemosyndrome. Chapsa wijeyaratniana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking from Sri Lanka has apothecia similar to the preceding species but forms an ecorticate thallus with maculiform to capitate soralia, has small, submuriform ascospores, and lacks secondary substances. Chapsa wolseleyana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking forms apothecia with red to pinkish or purplish red discs and large, muriform ascospores becoming pale brown.

Two additional new species of Carbacanthographis from India

AbstractTwo new species of the lichen genus Carbacanthographis, namely C. albolirellata and C. indica, are reported from India. The two species are distinguished by their exciple character, ascospore septation and chemistry. Carbacanthographis albolirellata has a completely carbonized exciple, submuriform ascospores and no lichen substances. Carbacanthographis indica is characterized by a laterally carbonized exciple, trans-septate ascospores and by the presence of salazinic acid.

Two species of Carbacanthographis from India

AbstractTwo species of the lichen genus Carbacanthographis, namely C. marcescens and a new species, C. sorediata, are reported from India. The new species is characterized by a sorediate thallus, laterally carbonized exciple, submuriform ascospores, and salazinic and consalazinic acids in the thallus. A worldwide key to the species of Carbacanthographis is provided.

A new species and new records of Pyrenula (Pyrenulaceae) from India

AbstractA new lichen species, Pyrenula darjeelingensis (Pyrenulaceae), is described from the Eastern Himalayan region of India. It is characterized by having 5-septate to submuriform ascospores with papillate apices and the terminal lumina mostly not separated from the exospore by an endospore layer. Six additional species of Pyrenula are reported for the first time from India: P. acutalis R. C. Harris, P. dermatodes (Borrer) Schaer., P. mastophoroides (Nyl.) Zahlbr., P. mucosa (Vain.) R. C. Harris, P. subelliptica (Tuck.) R. C. Harris and P. thelemorpha Tuck.