Black mildews (Ascomycetes) from southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with description of 14 new species

 

V.B. Hosagoudar 1, C. Jagath Thimmaiah 2, M. Jayashankara 3 & A. Sabeena 4

 

1,4 Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695562, India

2,3 Department of Studies and Research in Microbiology, Mangalore University post Graduate Centre, Cauvery Campus, Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka 571201, India

1 vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com (corresponding author), 2 jgtct@rediffmail.com, 3 mjayashankara@yahoo.com

 

 

 

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3262.3661-69 

 

Editor: R.K. Verma, Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur, India. Date of publication: 26 February 2013 (online & print)

 

Manuscript details: Ms # o3262 | Received 20 July 2012 | Final received 06 January 2013 | Finally accepted 15 February 2013

 

Citation: Hosagoudar, V.B., C.J. Thimmaiah, M. Jayashankara & A. Sabeena  (2013). Black mildews (Ascomycetes) from southern Western Ghats of peninsular India with description of 14 new species. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(2): 3661–3669; doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3262.3661-69

 

Copyright: © Hosagoudar et al. 2013. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

 

Funding: Jawaraharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

 

Competing Interest: None.

 

Acknowledgements:We are grateful to Dr, P.G. Latha, Director, JNTBGRI, Palode for the facilities. C. Jagath Thimmaiah is grateful to UGC FIP Fellowship.

 

 

The publication of this article is supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Commission, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank.

 

 

 

For figures  -- click here

 

 

This paper gives an account of 15 black mildew fungi collected from Kodagu in Karnataka and Kollam in Kerala states.  Of these, Asterina cassiigena, A. chrysophylligena, A. hemidesmi, A. ushae, A. thevalakkaraensis, A. vitacearum, Asterostomella derridicola, A. vernoniae, Prillieuxina humboltiae, Echinodella mimusopsidis, Mahanteshamyces litseae, Sarcinella bischofiae, S. pogostemonisand S. securinegae are new species, while Asterina antidesmatisforms a new record for India.

 

Description of species

 

Asterina antidesmatis Petrak, Sydowia 12: 472, 1959. (Fig. 1)

Materials examined: TBGT 5814, 09.i.2010, on leaves of Antidesma sp. (Stylaginaceae), Hoddur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

This species is recorded here for the first time from India (Hosagoudar 2012).

Colonies amphigenous, thin, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 25–37 x 5–7 µm.  Appressoria alternate to unilateral, antrorse to subantrorse, sublobate to deeply lobate, 5–10 x 5–10 µm; thyriothecia, scattered, orbicular, up to 160µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre; asci globose, octosporous, up to 22µm in diameter; ascospores, conglobate, uni septate, constricted at the septum, 15–20 x 5–10 µm, wall echinulate at maturity.

 

Asterina cassiigena Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

 (Fig. 2) (MycoBank 803144)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5838, 08.i.2010, on leaves of Cassia glauca Lam. (Caesalpiniaceae), Hoddur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

Asterina cifferiana Petrak, A. contiguaSydow are known on the members of family Caesalpiniaceae (Hosagoudar & Abraham 2000).  However, Asterina cassiigena differs from both in having distantly appressoria.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, subdense to dense, up to 3mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae straight to substraight, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 15–27 x 2–5 µm.  Appressoria alternate, unicellular, distantly placed, antrorse to subantrorse, globose, oblong, entire, 5–7 x 5–10 µm.  Thyriothecia, scattered, orbicular, up to 240 µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin crenate to fimbriate; asci globose, octosporous, up to 25µm in diameter; ascospores brown, conglobate, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 20–22 x 7–10 µm, wall smooth.

 

Asterina chrysophylligena Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp .nov.

(Fig. 3) (MycoBank 803145)

Material examined: Holotype: TBGT 5761, 26.i.2011, on leaves of Chrysophyllum roxburghii G. Don (Sapotaceae), Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmaiah.

Asterina chrysophylli Henn. is known on this host genus and Theissen (1913) has given the detailed description of this species.  A. chrysophylligenadiffers from A. chrysophylli in having distinctly smaller ascospores (14–16 x 9–4 vs. 28–34 x 12–15 µm).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, subdense, up to 4mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae straight to substraight, branching alternate to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 16–32 x 4–7 µm.  Appressoria alternate, unilateral, unicellular, globose, entire, 4–10 x 8–10 µm.  Thyriothecia scattered to loosely grouped, orbicular, up to 300µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin fimbriate, fringed hyphae small; asci few, globose, up to 30µm in diameter; ascospores brown, conglobate, oblong, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 24–30 x 11–15 µm, wall smooth.  Pycnothyriospores oval to globose, brown, 14–16 x 10–14 µm.

 

Asterina hemidesmi Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 4) (MycoBank 803146)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5829, 13.i.2010, on leaves of Hemidesmus sp. (Periplocaceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

This forms the first report on this host genus (Doidge 1942; Stevens & Rayan 1939).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, subdense, up to 4mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 15–27 x 3–5 µm.  Appressoria alternate, opposite (10%) to unilateral, two celled, antrorse to subantrorse, straight to slightly curved, 9–14 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, often gibbous, 3–6 µm long; head cells ovate, globose, oblong, angular to sublobate, 4–10 x 4–8 µm. Thyriothecia grouped in the centre of the colonies, orbicular, up to 180µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin crenate to fimbriate, fringed hyphae flexuous; asci ovate, globose, octosporous, 16–22 µm in diameter; ascospores, conglobate, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 14–18 x 6–8 µm, wall smooth.  Pycnothyriospores ovate, pyriform, 12–16 x 8–10 µm.

 

Asterina ushae Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & G.R. Archana sp. nov.

(Fig. 5) (MycoBank 803148)

Material examined: Holotype: TBGT 5756, 27.viii.2010, on leaves of Glochidion bourdillonii Gamble (Euphorbiaceae), Hoddur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmaiah.

Oblong, narrowly cylindrical, entire, angular to sublobate head cells of the appressoria distinguishes this species from rest of the Asterina species known on the members of Euphorbiaceae (Hosagoudar 2012).

Etymology: Species named in honour of Mrs. Dr. Usha Mane (Machale), for her selfless service to mankind.

Colonies epiphyllous, thin, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching opposite, alternate to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 19–37 x 3–5 µm.  Appressoria alternate, unilateral, two celled, antrorse, subantrorse, straight to slightly curved, 10–22 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3–8 µm long; head cells ovate, oblong, entire to angular, 6–15 x 3–6 µm.  Thyriothecia scattered, orbicular, stellately dehisced at the centre, up to 120µm in diameter, margin crenate; asci oval to globose, octosporous, up to 32µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, oblong to cylindrical, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 16–23 x 7–11 µm, wall smooth. Pycnothyriospores brown, oval, entire, 15–24 x 10–15 µm.

           

Asterina thevalakkaraensis Hosag. & R. Bindu sp. nov.

(Fig.6) (MycoBank 803149)

Material examined: Holotype: TBGT 6123, 15.i.2012, on leaves of Hydnocarpussp. (Flacourtiaceae), Thevalakkara, Karunagappally, Kollam, coll. R. Bindu.

Based on the unicellular appressoria, this species can be compared with A. granulose (Hansf. ) Hosag. et al. (Hosagoudar et al. 1996) but differs from it in distantly arranged, mostly alternately placed appressoria with entire margin in contrast to sublobate ones.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the collection locality.

Colonies amphigenous, mostly epiphyllous, about 2mm in diameter. Hyphae straight, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 12–16 × 3–4 µm.  Appressoria unicellular, distantly placed, alternate, unilateral, rarely opposite, oval to globose, entire, 6–17 × 7–10 µm. Thyriothecia scattered, orbicular, stellately dehisced at the centre, up to 110µm in diameter, margin fimbriate, fringed hyphae few; asci globose, up to 29µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, oblong to cylindrical, brown, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 12–17 × 5–7 µm.

 

Asterina vitacearum Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig.7) (MycoBank 803155)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5800, 01.i.2010, on leaves of Cissus repens Lam. (Vitaceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

This species has slightly shorter ascospores but distinctly narrow ascospores.  Usually thyriothecium develops on the mycelium or slightly lateral to the hyphae but in the present species, thyriothecia developed in the 1–3 celled stalk.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host family.

Colonies epiphyllous, thin, up to 1mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 12–20 x 2–5 µm.  Appressoria alternate to unilateral, unicellular, antrorse to subantrorse, sublobate to deeply lobate, 5–7 x 5–10 µm. Thyriothecia scattered to grouped in the centre of the colony, orbicular, up to 100µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin crenate to fimbriate, fringed hyphae flexuous; asci globose, octosporous, up to 18µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, brown, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 12–20 x 5–7 µm, wall smooth.

 

Asterostomella derridicola Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

 (Fig. 8) (MycoBank 803156)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5811, 06.ii.2010, on leaves of Derris canarensis (Dalz.) Baker (Fabaceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

Asterina derridis Henn., A. trachycarpaSyd. & A. singaporensis Syd. are known on this host genus from Philippines and Singapore (Theissen 1913; Stevens & Ryan 1939).  But the present species differs from all these teleomorphs in having sublobate to lobate appressoria.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, very thin, spreading, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 12–25 x 3–4 µm. Appressoria alternate to unilateral, antrorse to subantrorse, straight to curved, globose to clavate, sublobate to lobate, 5–12 x 5–12 µm.  Pycnothyria scattered, orbicular, up to 140µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre; pycnothyriospores ovate, globose, unicellular, 12–15 x 7–12 µm, wall smooth.

 

Asterostomella vernoniae Hosag., C. Jagath

Thimmaiah & G.R. Archana sp. nov.

(Fig. 9) (MycoBank 803157)

Material examined: Holotype: TBGT 5813, 09.i.2010, on leaves of Vernonia monosisBenth. ex C.B. Clarke (Asteraceae), Tadiyandamol, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmaiah.

This is the first asterinaceous fungus on this host genus (Stevens & Ryan 1939; Doidge 1942).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, thin, crustose, up to 3mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 11–29 x 3–5 µm.  Appressoria alternate to unilateral, sessile to slightly stipitate, globose, ovate, entire, 4–8 x 4–9 µm.  Pycnothyria scattered, orbicular, up to 75µm in diameter; stellately dehisced at the centre, margin fimbriate; pycnothyriospores brown, unicellular, ovate, pyriform, 16–24 x 8–13 µm.

 

Prillieuxina humboltiae Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah

& G.R. Archana sp. nov.

(Fig. 10) (MycoBank 503150)

Material examined: Holotype: TBGT 5791, 01.viii.2010, on leaves of Humboltiasp. (Fabaceae), Sampaje Ghats, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmaiah.

The genus Humboldtiais known to have three Lembosia species from the Western Ghats (Hosagoudar et al. 2009) but the present fungus differs from them in having orbicular thyriothecia and the mycelium being free from appressoria.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies hypophyllous, thin, crustose, up to 3mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight, flexuous to slightly crooked, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 8–32 x 3–5 µm.  Thyriothecia scattered to loosely grouped, orbicular, up to 245µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin fimbriate, fringed hyphae small; asci globose, octosporous, up to 28µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 20–24 x 9–12 µm.  Pycnothyriospores oval, pyriform, unicellular, 16–24 x 9–13 µm.

 

Echinodella mimusopsidis Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 11) (MycoBank 803158)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5855, 31.i.2010, on leaves of Mimusops elengi L. (Sapotaceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

Prillieuxina mimusopsidis (Doidge) Ryan is known on this host genus (Steven & Ryan 1939) but differs from it in having elongated thyriothecia with a centrally dissolved suture.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies hypophyllous, subdense, up to 6mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 20–27 x 3–5 µm. Appressoria absent.  Thyriothecia scattered, oval to elongated, 350–1100 x 200–300 µm in diameter, longitudinally dehisced at the centre, margin crenate; asci ovate, globose, octosporous, up to 27µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 27–30 x 10–12 µm, wall smooth.

 

Mahanteshamyces litseae Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 12) (MycoBank 803159)

Materials examined: TBGT 5815, 09.i.2010, on leaves of Litsea sp. (Lauraceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

This collection persisted only in its anamorph state with angular pycnothyriospores, belonging to the genus Mahanteshamyces.  This forms the first report of the genus Mahanteshamyces on the members of the family Lauraceae (Hosagoudr et al. 2004).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies amphigenous, thin, spreading, up to 5mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 12–25 x 2–4 µm.  Appressoria unicellular, alternate, rarely opposite to unilateral, ovate, entire to sublobate, 5–7 x 2–7 µm.  Pycnothyria scattered, orbicular, up to 120µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin crenate; pycnothyriospores unicellular, angular with 1–5 rounded marginal projections, 10–12 x 7–12 µm, wall smooth.

 

Sarcinella bischofiae Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 13) (MycoBank 803160)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5805, 30.xi.2010, on leaves of Bischofia javanica Blume (Euphorbiaceae), Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

This collection persisted in its Sarcinella state. Sarcinella indica Chandra et al. known on Sapium insigne from Uttar Pradesh, but the present collection accommodated in a new species based on its host specificity (Hosagoudar 2011).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies amphigenous, thin, confluent and cover most of the leaf surface.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to unilateral at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 22–28 x 5–8 μm. Appressoria scattered, alternate to unilateral, unicellular, globose, ovate, entire, 7–13 x 9–11 μm. Sarcinella conidiophores produced laterally from the hyphae, single, straight, mononematous, 22–25 x 5–8 μm; conidiogenous cells terminal, monoblastic, integrated, cylindrical; conidia charcoal black, blastic, terminal, solitary, ovate to globose, sarciniform, 2–5 celled, constricted at the septa, 17–25 μm in diameter, wall smooth.

 

Sarcinella pogostemonis Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 14) (MycoBank 803161)

Materials examined: Holotype: TBGT 5784, 16.xi.2010, on leaves of Pogostemon benghalensis (Brurm.f.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

Sarcinella colebrookiana Kamal & Singh is known on Colebrookia oppositifolia from Uttar Pradesh (Hosagoudar 2011) but Sarcinella pogostemonis differs from it in having distinctly smaller spores (22–33 vs 30–50 μm).

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies epiphyllous, thin, spread all over the leaf, confluent.  Hyphae substraight to flexuous, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, closely reticulate, cells 25–30 x 5–8 μm.  Appressoria scattered, alternate, very rarely opposite, unicellular, globose, entire, 10–13 x 8–10 μm.  Conidia of Questieriellascattered, slightly curved, 3-septate, constricted at the septa, 32–42 x 7–10 μm.  Sarcinella conidiophores produced laterally from the hyphae, single, straight, mononematous, one septate; conidiogenous cells terminal, monoblastic, integrated, cylindrical. Sarcinellaconidia blastic, terminal, mostly sessile, solitary, subspherical to spherical, sarciniform, 2–7 celled, constricted at the septa, 22–33 μm in diameter, wall smooth.

 

Sarcinella securinegae Hosag., C. Jagath Thimmaiah & A. Sabeena sp. nov.

(Fig. 15) (MycoBank 803162)

Materials examined: TBGT 5757, 25.xi.2010,  on leaves of Securingea leucopyrus (Willd.) Muell. (Euphorbiaceae), Hodur, Kodagu, Karnataka, coll. C. Jagath Thimmiah.

Based on the host specificity and presence of Questieriella state distinguishes this species.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the host genus.

Colonies amphigenous, epiphyllous, thin, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae brown, straight to substraight, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, closely reticulate, cells 18–27 x 3–5 μm.  Appressoria alternate to unilateral, unicellular, globose, entire, 5–7 x 5–10 μm.  Conidia of Questieriella few, scattered, slightly curved, 3-septate, constricted at the septa, germinate to form colonies, 30–35 x 7–10 μm.  Sarcinella conidiophores produced lateral to the hyphae, single, straight, mononematous; conidiogenous cells terminal, monoblastic, integrated, cylindrical. Sarcinella conidia blastic, terminal, mostly sessile, solitary, ovate to globose, sarciniform, 2–8 celled, constricted at the septa, 18–30 μm in diameter, wall smooth.

 

 

References

 

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