White Pruinose Research Articles

Taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the genus Diploschistes (Ostropales, Thelotremataceae) reveals one new species from Pakistan

Diploschistes pakistanicus sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forest, Pakistan. ITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Diploschistes and, together with its morphology and chemistry, suggest that it is separate from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by grey to greyish white pruinose thallus, perithecioid-type ascomata, small apothecia 0.1‒0.4 mm wide, hypothecium 20‒25µm thick, ascus of 85‒110 × 9‒17 µm in size, 3‒5 transverse and 2‒4 longitudinal septa in large ascospores 42‒55 × 18‒30; also differing from related species in ITS region.

<p><strong><em>Lecanographa atlantica</em> (Arthoniales, Lecanographaceae), a widespread and conspicuous but still undescribed lichen-forming fungus</strong></p>

Lecanographa farinosa was considered to be a lichen inhabiting coastal rocks of the Mediterranean region and to possess psoromic and conpsoromic acids as major secondary metabolites. A revision of its type specimen from Germany proved that the species has been misunderstood. In this paper, L. farinosa is shown to have a thallus containing confluentic and 2’-O-methylmicrophyllinic acids and to have a different ecology and distribution. A revision of previous reports of L. farinosa from continental Portugal and the study of recent specimens of Lecanographa cf. farinosa from the Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and continental Portugal revealed a new species described as L. atlantica. Moreover, reports of L. dialeuca from France (Brittany) and of L. subgrumulosa from the Azores are considered misidentifications of L. atlantica. This latter has thus a widespread distribution ranging from the Azores to the Atlantic coast of the European continent where it inhabits volcanic rocks near the sea. Lecanographa atlantica is characterized by a whitish to cream coloured thallus, usually rounded or oblong to shortly lirelliform and white pruinose ascomata with a widely exposed hymenial disc and thin margin, (3–)5–7-septate ascospores of (16–)18.9–23(–26) × (3–)3.4–4(–4.5) µm, and a chemistry including at least 2’-O-methylperlatolic acid but lacking confluentic and 2’-O-methylmicrophyllinic acids. Psoromic acid is sometimes present in L. atlantica but its origin is unclear. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU sequences place L. atlantica as sister to L. hypothallina.

Remarkable cases of parallel evolution of the placodioid thallus growth form in theLecanographaceae(Arthoniales) with the description of a new species ofAlyxoriafrom Mexico

AbstractThe new speciesAlyxoria sierramadrensisis described from Mexico where it inhabits limestone rocks. The lichen developing from this fungus is characterized by a placodioid to subfoliose thallus with a white pruinose surface; rounded to shortly elongated ascomata with a black epruinose margin and a widely exposed, white pruinose hymenial disc; hyaline, 3-septate ascospores, 17–25 × 7–9 μm; the presence of anthraquinones rendering the medulla orange. Phylogenetic analyses of nuLSU, mtSSU andRPB2sequences place this species in the genusAlyxoria(Lecanographaceae). This generic affiliation is surprising because all knownAlyxoriaspecies have a crustose thallus.Lecanographaceaemainly includes species without a thallus (lichenicolous taxa) or with a thin crustose thallus, the only exception beingSimonyella variegatawith a fruticose thallus. The new species belongs to theAlyxoria ochrocheilasubgroup, which includes lichens also frequently known to have anthraquinones, white pruinose hymenial discs and 3-septate ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses further determined the systematic position of the monotypic genusPhoebus. This genus, considered as anArthonialesof uncertain family affiliation, is shown to belong to theLecanographaceae. With its placodioid thallus, it is another example of a lichenized fungus with a deviating morphology in thallus structure for the family, increasing the number of remarkable cases of parallel evolution of lichen growth forms within theArthoniales.Phoebus hydrophobiusis newly recorded for Mexico.

Pluteus squarrosus sp. nov. (Pluteus sect. Celluloderma, Pluteaceae) from northeast China

Pluteus squarrosus from northeast China (Liaoning Province) is described as a new species. It is characterized by a squarrose pileus, a dull white to grayish white pruinose stipe with surface covered by caulocystidial elements, nearly globose to subglobose basidiospores 5.5–6.5 × 5–6 µm, mostly fusoid pleurocystidia, and a trichoderm to trichohymeniderm pileipellis. Data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region shows that this new species is nested in Pluteus sect. Celluloderma, and it appears as sister to P. hirtellus. The description is accompanied by color photographs of the basidiomata and line drawings of the main microscopic features. The new species is compared with closely related taxa of Pluteus, and its phylogenetic placement is also assessed.

Phylogenetic position of Synarthonia (lichenized Ascomycota, Arthoniaceae), with the description of six new species

Background and aims – The Arthoniaceae form a species-rich family of lichenized, lichenicolous and saprophytic fungi in the order Arthoniales. As part of taxonomic revisions of the African Arthoniaceae, a number of species assignable to the genus Synarthonia were collected and sequenced. The present study aims at placing the genus in a phylogeny for the first time and at clarifying its circumscription. Methods – Nuclear (RPB2) and mitochondrial (mtSSU) DNA sequences from freshly collected specimens were obtained and analysed with phylogenetic Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) methods. Key results – Synarthonia is closely related to the genera Reichlingia and Coniocarpon in the Arthoniaceae. Six Synarthonia species are described as new to science and ten new combinations into this genus are made. A worldwide identification key to the genus Synarthonia is provided. Lectotypes are chosen for Arthonia elegans, A. inconspicua, A. lopingensis, A. ochracea, A. subcaesia and A. translucens. Arthonia thamnocarpa is synonymized with Sclerophyton elegans, and Arthonia elegans with Coniocarpon fallax. Synarthonia ochracea is shown to be a misunderstood species in the past and recent literature, since it was erroneously synonymized with Coniocarpon elegans. Synarthonia ochracea appears to start its life cycle as a non-lichenized lichenicolous fungus on Graphis before developing a lichenized thallus or it might be a facultatively lichenicolous fungus. It belongs to a complex of closely related species whose biology and circumscription are still in need of further studies.Conclusions – Synarthonia forms a monophyletic but somewhat heterogeneous lineage closely related to Coniocarpon and Reichlingia. As delimited here, Synarthonia includes corticolous lichens with a trentepohlioid photobiont as well as non-lichenized lichenicolous fungi. The core group is characterized by white pruinose ascomata, but species producing orange pruinose or non-pruinose ascomata are also included. Ascospores are transversely septate with an enlarged apical cell or are muriform. Future molecular and morphological studies are needed for a better circumscription and definition of the genus.

Two new species ofArthoniaceaefrom old-growth European forests,Arthonia thorianaandInoderma sorediatum, and a new genus forSchismatomma niveum

AbstractTwo new species ofArthoniaceaeare described from old-growth European forests:Arthonia thorianafrom Horner Combe in Great Britain andInoderma sorediatumfrom the Białowieża Forest in Poland. Phylogenetic analyses using mtSSU sequences were used to determine the generic affiliation of the two species.Arthonia thorianais characterized by a non-lichenized white thallus, pallid brown, white pruinose ascomata of 0·12–0·30 mm diam., richly anastomosing paraphysoids and (1–2–)3-septate ascospores of 9–12×3·0–3·5 µm.Inoderma sorediatumdiffers from all other species of the genus by a sorediate thallus and the production of confluentic acid. It is the sister species toI. afromontanumin our phylogenetic analyses. The discovery of the new species supports the high value of these forests for biodiversity action plans. Phylogenetic analyses also placeSchismatomma niveumin theArthoniaceaeand the new genusSnippociais described to accommodate it. The genusLepranthais resurrected for its type species (L. cinereopruinosa). A lectotype is designated forArthonia pruinosella.

New and interesting species in the family Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Vietnam

AbstractThe lowland area of southern Vietnam contains a high diversity of corticolous, crustose lichens, particularly in the family Graphidaceae. Two species, Acanthothecis verrucosa S. Joshi, Upreti & Hur and Graphis exuta S. Joshi, Upreti & Hur, are described new to science. Acanthothecis verrucosa is characterized by a verrucose, olive green thallus containing irregular to shortly lirellate apothecia, hyaline to brownish proper exciple apically lined by robust periphysoids, muriform ascospores, 30–70 × 15–20 μm, and the presence of psoromic and subpsoromic acids. Graphis exuta is characterized by a smooth, greenish white thallus, simple lirellae lacking thalline margin, entire labia coarsely white pruinose towards slit, muriform ascospores, 20–35×10–13 μm, and norstictic acid in the thallus. A new name, Acanthothecis yokdonensis S. Joshi & Hur, is proposed here for the species Acanthothecis salazinica S. Joshi & Hur, a later homonym of A. salazinica van den Boom & Sipman. In addition, 34 species from Vietnam are newly reported. A world key to the group of Graphis species characterized by short, simple and sessile lirellae lacking or with basal thalline margins (nuda-morph) is presented.

Una especie nueva y peculiar de Graphis (Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) de la selva alta perennifolia de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México

Graphis robertusii (G. robertusii) Bárcenas-Peña, Herrera-Campos and Miranda is described for the first time from the tropical rain forest in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. It is a conspicuous species characterized by erumpent lirella with lateral thalline margin separated from the excipulum, labia entire and white pruinose, completely carbonized excipulum, inspersed hymenium, transversally septate spores, and stictic, salazinic and constictic acids as secondary metabolites. G. robertusii was found on cortex at the canopy of several sites within Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz and it is one of the most abundant corticolous crustose lichen species in the region.

Inoderma and related genera in Arthoniaceae with elevated white pruinose pycnidia or sporodochia

AbstractThe genus Inoderma (Ach.) Gray is lectotypified with Inoderma byssaceum and resurrected for a small group of species in Arthoniaceae with elevated, white pruinose pycnidia, immersed to adnate white pruinose apothecia and a weakly gelatinized hymenium. Inoderma nipponicum is described from Japan, I. afromontanum from Uganda and the European Lecanactis subabietina is transferred to the genus. Sporodophoron is described for a small group of species in Arthoniaceae related to Inoderma but with a unique type of sporodochia instead of pycnidia. Sterile specimens of this new genus resemble species of Tylophoron but differ in the rounded angular to elliptical to short cylindrical, 0–2-septate sporodochial conidia with unevenly thickened walls which are formed apically in zigzag-shaped and occasionally branched chains. Sporodophoron further differs in thallus chemistry and is genetically distinct. Tylophoron americanum and Schismatomma cretaceum are transferred to Sporodophoron, and the new species S. gossypinum from Japan and S. primorskiense from eastern Russia are described. The genus Glomerulophoron is described for a single species from Mauritius, G. mauritiae, differing from Sporodophoron in the tightly coiled chains of sporodochial conidia and being genetically distinct. A phylogenetic tree showing the position of Inoderma, Sporodophoron and Glomerulophoron in Arthoniaceae is presented. A key to all species of Arthoniaceae with sporodochia or elevated white pruinose pycnidia is presented. Arthothelium spectabile, the type of the large heterogeneous genus Arthothelium, is confirmed for the cryptothecioid subclade in Arthoniaceae.

One new luminous mushroom species for the macrofungi flora of Vietnam Mycena chlorophos (Berk.: Curt.) Sacc.

The new luminous mushroom species Mycena chlorophos (Berk.: Curt.) Sacc. for the macrofungi flora of Vietnam was found in the Cattien national park, Dongnai province, South Vietnam. They grew as saprophytic clusters, quite translucent and ivory-white on rotten bamboos and leaves. Morphological features of the fruit bodies (2.3-5.6 cm in diameter of pilei and 1.8-5.7 cm in length of stipes) were described in details with sophisticated illustrations of the authentic specimens, particularly collected showing their bioluminescent ability to emit steadily a beautiful pale green light in dark nights of the rainy season (May-August). The pilei hemisphere-applanate conico-convex - applanocampanulate, radially sulcate-striate, hygrophanous, translucent-striate, minutely white-ivory pruinose at first, glabrous in age, translucently white-ivory overall or often fuliginous at the apex. Flesh thin (up to 1 mm), translucent, hygrophanous, fragile. Stipes cylindric, slightly enlarged at the base, central, slender, more or less hollow, translucently white above, fuliginous toward to the base, white pruinose over the entire length, white strigose at the base. Lamellae adnate-decurrent, crowded, thin, up to 2.7-3.2 mm broad, ivory white; edges pruinose, concolorous. Spore print chalky white. Basidiospores ellipsoid, 8.2-11.4 ´ 4.6-5.8 mm, smooth, colorless - translucent with some guttules, thin-walled. The attractive luminescent appearances of the fruit bodies (only from the pilei but not from the stipes) were observed both in young to old development stages (during 3-4 days in every flushes).

Pertusaria yunnana, a new species from south-west China

AbstractPertusaria yunnana G. L. Zhou & Lu L. Zhang from south-western China is described as new to science. This corticolous species is characterized by the white pruinose disciform apothecia, asci with 8 ascospores, and the presence of atranorin in addition to fumarprotocetraric acid. Related lichen taxa are discussed and a key to 21 corticolous species of Pertusaria with disciform apothecia and 8-spored asci is also provided.

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.

A new species of non-lichenized genus <I>Stictis</I> (<I>Ostropales</I>, <I>Lecanoromycetes</I>) from India

Abstract — Stictis subbrachyspora is described as new species from India. The new species is characterized by a non-lichenized habit; round, effigurate, chroodiscoid apothecia with white pruinose, lacerate margins, and transversely 19–32 loculate small ascospores measuring 45–55 × 4–5 µm. Stictis himalayanus is published as a new combination based on Chroodiscus himalayanus.Key words — Stictidaceae, corticolous, Ascomycota, Conotrema Introduction The family Stictidaceae (Ostropales, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota) accommodates a large group of lichenized and non-lichenized fungi. The species of the genus Stictis Pers. are perhaps the best known example of individuals representing the same fungal species having the ability to live either in a lichenized state (with algal symbionts) or as saprotrophs (non-lichenized), depending on the substrate (Wedin et al. 2004).Sherwood (1977a,b, 1979) provided a comprehensive account of c. 65 species and separated Stictis from allied genera based on the orbicular fruiting body opening by pores, periphysoids in an apothecial margin that extends down the whole length, a hymenium that splits away from the margin when dry, a thick crystalline layer in the ascoma margin and a non-parasitic niche. The ascospores exhibit variation in shape (cylindrical or filiform), size, and septation (with 3–300 septa). Stictis was segregated from the closely related Conotrema based on the lichenized living strategy and scattered crystals in apothecial margin of the latter (Gilenstam 1969, Sherwood 1977a). A phylogenetic account by Wedin et al. (2006) suggests that Stictis is paraphyletic and congeneric with

Two new species of Marasmiellus from eastern Honshu, Japan

Two new species ofMarasmiellus are described from eastern Honshu, Japan:Marasmiellus atrostipitatus sp. nov. (sectionRameales subsectionOpacini) is characterized by a white pileus and a blackish stipe covered with white pruinose to flocculos scales.Marasmiellus brunneocarpus sp. nov. (sectionTricolores) has small brownish basidiomata. Both species occur on dead leaves and twigs inQuercus-Eurya forests.

Aspicilia Excavata: A New Lichen Species From Europe

AbstractAspicilia excavata Thor & Timdal sp. nov. is described and reported from Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden. It is usually sterile and mainly characterized by an indeterminate thallus composed of small, white pruinose squamules excavated from the margin by dark brown to black soralia. The species grows on calcareous rocks and mortar, mainly on steep to overhanging faces.

Effects of a "Clean" Coal-Fired Power Generating Station on Four Common Wisconsin Lichen Species

Algal plasmolysis percentages and other morphological character- istics of Parmelia bolliana Miill. Arg., P. caperata (L.) Ach., P. rudecta Ach., and Physcia millegrana Degel. were compared for specimens growing near to and far from a rural coal-fired generating station in south central Wisconsin. SO, levels were 389 g/Im3, maximum 1 hr level, and 5-9 Ag/mm3, annual averages. Parmelia bolliana and P. caperata showed evidence of morphological alterations near the station; P. rudecta and Physcia millegrana did not. Studies of lichen communities in the vicinity of a relatively clean rural Wisconsin coal-fired power generating station in 1974 and 1978 showed that some small changes that oc- curred in lichen communities were probably caused by air pollution from the station (Will- Wolf 1980). In an attempt to further document the subtle impact of the generating station upon lichens in the area, I investigated selected morphological characteristics of four common corticolous lichen species in the vicinity of the generating station during 1979. In the community study, two of the species, Parmelia bolliana Miill. Arg. and P. caperata (L.) Ach., exhibited some distributional changes near the generating station; the other two species, P. rudecta Ach. and Physcia millegrana Degel., appeared to be unaffected. Many species of lichens are adversely affected by SO2 air pollution (Ferry et al. 1973, Le Blanc & Rao 1975). SO2 causes plasmolysis of lichen algal cells near SO2 sources (Le Blanc & Rao 1966, 1973), and increased percentages of plasmolyzed algal cells have been found in lichens exposed in the field to controlled releases of SO2 (Eversman 1978). Other morphological alterations such as yellowing or bleaching of lichens also result from SO2 exposure (Gilbert 1973, Showman 1975, Eversman 1978). Eversman (1978) reported that as SO2 levels increased, large numbers of bacteria were found attached to lichen fungal hyphae, making the hyphae appear rough rather than smooth under a microscope. The above phenomena have been observed in field or laboratory investigations of lichens ex- posed to a wide range of SO2 concentrations, the lowest being 17 pphm for several hours (Tiirk et al. 1974) or an average of 1.8 pphm for three months (Eversman 1978). The incidence of two morphological estimates of SO, injury, the percent of algal cells plasmolyzed and the percent area of fungal hyphae with bacteria attached, was surveyed for the four lichen species mentioned. In addition, the presence of an unusual character- istic, white pruinose lobe tips, was recorded for Parmelia bolliana. White pruinose lobe tips were noted on some P. bolliana specimens collected in the higher-SO2 impact area during the community study (Tibbitts et al., in press), so the phenomenon was investigated further. White pruinose deposits are common on many species of lichens, but they are not characteristic of P. bolliana. Therefore, I suspected that they may be an SO2 response in this species. The occurrence of pruina is known to be environmentally determined in many species (Weber 1962, Poelt 1973), and unusual pruina or other surface deposits have been noted in some lichen species exposed to SO2 (Le Blanc & Rao 1966, 1973).