Meliolaceae of Kerala, India – XXVIII

V.B. Hosagoudar & G.R. Archana

Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode - 695 562, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Email: vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com

Date of online publication 26 June 2009

ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)

Editor: Richard K. Mibey

Manuscript details:

Ms # o2057

Received 13 September 2008

Final version received 07 April 2009

Finally accepted 20 May 2009

Citation: V.B. Hosagoudar & G.R. Archana(2009). Meliolaceae of Kerala, India – XXVIII. Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(6): 348-350.

Copyright: © V.B. Hosagoudar & G.R. Archana2009. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 UnportedLicense. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

Acknowledgements: We thank Director, TBGRI, Palode for the facilities and Drs. M. Abdul Jabbar and E.S. SanthoshKumar, TBGRI, Palode for their help in identifying the host plants. Dr. B. Shivaraju, Chief Conservator of Forests, Govt. of Kerala is greatly acknowledged for the facilities during the collection trip to Silent Valley National Park. We are grateful to Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi for the financial support and to Forest Department, Govt. of Kerala for the forest permission.

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1. Meliola aristolochigenasp. nov

(Fig. 1)

Coloniae epiphyllae, tenues vel densae, ad 2mm diam. Hyphae subrectae vel flexuosae, alternatim, opposite vel irregulariter acuteque vel laxe ramosae,laxe vel dense reticulatae, cellulae 12-16 x 8-10 µm. Appressoria alternata vel ad 3% opposita, antrorsa vel subantrorsa, 14-20µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 3-7µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae vel globosae, integrae, 11-13 x 9-13 µm. Phialides appressoriis mixtus, alternatae vel oppositae, ampulliformes, 16-20 x 8-10 µm. Setae myceliales dispersae, simplices, rectae, ad apicem acutae vel obtusae, ad 540µm longae. Perithecia dispersa, ad 120 µm diam.; ascosporae oblongae vel cylindraceae, 4-septatae, constrictae ad septatae, 35-40 x 12-14 µm.

Colonies epiphyllous, thin to dense, up to 2mm in diam. Hyphae substraightto flexuous, branching alternate, opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 12-16 x 8-10 µm. Appressoriaalternate to about 3% opposite, antrorse to subantrorse, 14-20µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3-7µm long; head cells ovate to globose, entire, 11-13 x 9-13 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 16-20 x 8-10 µm. Mycelial setae scattered, simple, straight, acute to obtuse at the tip, up to 540 µm long. Perithecia scattered, up to 120µm in diam.; ascospores oblong to cylindrical, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 35-40 x 12-14 µm.

Material examined

Type: 13.xii.2003, On leaves of Aristolochia tagala Cham. (Aristolochiaceae), Sairandhri, Silent Valley, Palghat, Kerala, India, coll. V.B. Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 46237 (type), TBGT 1649 (isotype), (MycoBank # MB 513494).

Having opposite appressoria, Meliola aristolochigena can be compared with M. catharinensis Hansf. reported on Aristolochia triangularis from Brazil (Hansford 1961). However, differs from it in having distinctly longer appressoria (14-20µm against 11-15µm) and mycelial setae (540µm against 230µm).

2.Meliola pycnosporaesp. nov.

(Fig. 2)

Coloniae amphigenae, caulicolae, densae, ad 2mm diam. Hyphae subrectae, flexuosae vel anfractuae, alternatim, opposite vel irregulariter acuteque vel laxe ramosae,laxe vel dense reticulatae, cellulae 19-28 x 6-8 µm. Appressoria alternata, ad 2% opposita, antrorsa vel subantrorsa, 11-16µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 3-5µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae, globosae, rectae vel curvulae, integrae, 8-11 x 7-10 µm. Phialides appressoriis mixtus, alternatae vel oppositae, ampulliformes, 19-24 x 8-10µm. Setae myceliales paucae, dispersae, simplices, rectae, sursum obtusae, ad 300µm longae. Perithecia dispersa, ad 120µm diam.; ascosporae oblongae, cylindraceae, 4-septatae, ad septatae leniter constrictae, 30-32 x 9-11 µm.

Colonies amphigenous,caulicolous, dense, up to 2 mm in diam. Hyphae substraight, flexuous to crooked, branching alternate, opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 19-28 x 6-8 µm. Appressoriaalternate, about 2% opposite, antrorse to subantrorse, 11-16µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3-5µm long; head cells ovate, globose, straight to curved, entire, 8-11 x 7-10µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 19-24 x 8-10 µm. Mycelial setae few, scattered, simple, straight, obtuse at the tip, up to 300µm long. Peritheciascattered, up to 120 µm in diam.; ascospores oblong, cylindrical, 4-septate, very slightly constricted at the septa, 30-32 x 9-11 µm.

Material examined

Type: 14.xii.2003, On leaves of Pycnospora lutescens (Poir.) Schindl. (Fabaceae), on the way to Chempathy, Silent Valley, Palghat, Kerala, coll. V.B. Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 46244 (type), TBGT 1656 (isotype), (MycoBank# MB 513495).

Based on the Beeliformula 3113.3221, this species is close to Meliola erythrinae-microptericis Hansf.known on Erythrina micropteryx from San Domingo, but differs from it in having only 2% opposite appressoria, have straight setae and distinctly narrow ascospores (Hansford 1961).

3. Meliola sairandhrianasp. nov.

(Fig.- 3)

Coloniae amphigenae, plerumque hypophyllae, densae, velutinae, ad 5 mm diam. Hyphae rectae vel subrectae,alternatim vel unilateralis acuteque vel laxe ramosae,laxe vel arcte reticulatae, cellulae 19-32 x 6-8 µm. Appressoria opposita,raro solitaria, recta vel curvula, antrorsa,subantrorsa vel retrorsa, 14-18µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 3-5µm longa; cellulae apicales ovatae, oblongae, cylindraceae, integrae, angularis, sublobatae vel saepe bilobatae, 11-13 x 8-12 µm. Phialides appressoriis mixtus, alternatae vel oppositae, ampulliformes, 19-23 x 8-10µm. Setae myceliales numerosae, circa peritheciis aggregatae, simplices, sigmoideae, ad sursum curvulae vel uncinatae, ad apicem acutae, obtusae vel bifidae, ad 345µm longae. Perithecia laxe aggregata, ad 196 µm diam.; ascosporae ovatae, 4-septatae, constrictae ad septatae, 36-40 x 20-23 µm.

Colonies amphigenous, mostly hypophyllous, dense, velvety, up to 5mm in diam. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching alternate to unilateral at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 19-32 x 6-8 µm. Appressoria opposite, rarely solitary, straight to curved, antrorse, subantrorse to retrorse, 14-18 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3-5µm long; head cells ovate, oblong, cylindrical, entire, angular, sublobate to often bilobed, 11-13 x 8-12 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 19-23 x 8-10 µm. Mycelialsetae many, grouped around perithecia, simple, sigmoid, curved to uncinate at the apical portion, acute, obtuse to bifid at the tip, up to 345µm long. Perithecia loosely grouped, up to 196 µm in diam.; ascospores oval, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 36-40 x 20-23 µm.

Material examined

Type: 13.xii.2003, On leaves of Aglaia minutiflora Bedd. (Meliaceae), Sairandhri, Silent Valley, Palghat, Kerala, India, coll. V.B. Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 46139 (type), TBGT 1902 (isotype), (MycoBank # MB 513496).

Based on the uncinate mycelial setae, M. sairandhrianacan be compared to M. reinwardtiodendri Hosag. known on Reinwardtiodendron anamallayanamfrom the Western Ghats region but differs from it in having amphigenouscolonies, simple to dentate mycelial setae and smaller ascospores (Hosagoudar1996).

4. Meliola strebli sp. nov.

(Fig.-4)

Coloniae amphigenae, plerumque hypophyllae, densae, velutinae, ad 3mm diam. confluentes. Hyphae rectae vel subrectae, alternate vel oppositeacuteque vel laxe ramosae, laxe vel dense reticulatae, cellulae 20-24 x 6-8 µm. Appressoria alternata vel unilateralis, sparse posita, antrorsa, subantrorsa vel raro retrorsa, 17-21µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 4-6µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae, globosae, integrae, rectae vel curvulae, 11-15 x 9-11 µm. Phialides appressoriis mixtus, alternatae vel oppositae, ampulliformes, 16-19 x 8-10 µm. Setae myceliales dispersae, simplices, rectae, acutae ad apicem, ad 735µm longae. Perithecia dispersa vel laxe aggregata, ad 212µm diam.; ascosporae oblongae, 4-septatae, leniter constrictae ad septatae, 40-44 x 16-18 µm.

Colonies amphigenous, mostly hypophyllous, dense, velvety, up to 3 mm diam., confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching alternate to opposite at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 20-24 x 6-8 µm. Appressoriaalternate to unilateral, distantly placed, antrorse, subantrorse to rarely retrorse, 17-21µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 4-6µm long; head cells ovate, globose, entire, straight to curved, 11-15 x 9-11 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 16-19 x 8-10 µm. Mycelialsetae scattered, simple, straight, acute at the tip, up to 735µm long. Perithecia scattered to loosely grouped, up to 212µm diam.;ascospores oblong, 4-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, 40-44 x 16-18 µm.

Material examined

Type: 23.xi.2004, On leaves of Streblus taxoides(Heyne ex Roth) Kurz (Moraceae), near Sasthanada tribal colony, Sankili forest, ShendhurneyWildlife Sanctuary, Kollam, Kerala, India, coll. V.B.Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 46162 (type), TBGT 1574 (isotype); TBGT 1605, HCIO 46193; 23.xi.2004, S. asper Lour., Sankiliforest, Shendhurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Kollam, Kerala, coll. V.B. Hosagoudaret al. TBGT 1889, HCIO 46126; 23.xi.2004, Streblus sp., Tribal colony, Sasthanamada, Sankili forest, ShendhurneyWildlife Sanctuary, Kollam, coll. V.B. Hosagoudar et al. TBGT 1893, HCIO 46130, (MycoBank # MB 513497).

Based on the digital formula 3111.4233, this species can be compared with Meliola ficium Yates and its variety var. ugandensis Hansf. However, M. strebli differs from M. ficium in having narrow ascosporesand having longer mycelial setae (3111.4333). It also differs from M. ficium Yates var. ugandensis Hansf. in having shorter appressoria and larger ascospores(3111.4223) (Hansford 1961).

References

Hansford, C.G. (1961). The Meliolineae. A Monograph. Sydowia. Beih. 2: 1-806.

Hosagoudar, V.B. (1996). Meliolalesof India. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 363pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & H. Biju (2006). Studies on foliicolous fungi – XXII. Microfungiof Silent Valley National Park, Palghat district in Kerala State. Journal of Mycopathol.Research 44: 39-48.