Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2020 | 12(5): 15671–15674

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5137.12.5.15671-15674

#5137 | Received 31 May 2019 | Final received 03 April 2020 | Finally accepted 09 April 2020

 

 

Meliola elaeocarpicola sp. nov. (Ascomycetes, Meliolales) from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala State, India

 

Lini K. Mathew 1  & Jacob Thomas 2

 

1 P.G. & Research Department of Botany, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, Kerala 689641, India.

 2 P.G. & Research Department of Botany, Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla, Kerala 689103, India.

1 linikmathew1985@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 jacobnthomas@gmail.com

 

 

Editor: K.R. Sridhar, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, India.       Date of publication: 26 April 2020 (online & print)

 

Citation: Mathew, L.K. & J. Thomas (2020). Meliola elaeocarpicola sp. nov. (Ascomycetes, Meliolales) from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala State, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(5): 15671–15674. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5137.12.5.15671-15674

 

Copyright: © Mathew & Thomas 2020. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: KSCSTE, Govt. of Kerala.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: We thank are due to Dr. Icy John, Principal, Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla for providing facilities and KSCSTE, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram for financial support to conduct the research.

 

 

 

A huge number of meliolaceous fungi were reported from India and there was a requirement for the consolidation of this group and Hosagoudar (1996) published a monograph for India by including six genera and 378 species.  The enthusiastic work on this group continued in Kerala.  Hosagoudar & Abraham (1996a, b), Hosagoudar et al. (1997), Hosagoudar & Abraham (1998 a,b,c,d,e), Hosagoudar et al. (1998 a,b,c,d,e,f; 1999a,b), Goos & Hosagoudar (1998), Hoasgoudar & Jacob Thomas (2013) contributed to Meliolales of Kerala and other southern parts of India; Hosagoudar (2008, 2013) for Meliolales of India and Hosagoudar & Agarwal (2008), for the world monograph are the subsequent works.  This study describes a new species that belongs to the genus Meliola from Kerala State.

 

Materials and Methods

Infected leaves of Elaeocarpus sp. (Elaeocarpaceae) were collected and field notes were prepared regarding their nature of colonies, infection and the collection locality.  For each collection, a separate field number was given.  In the field, each infected plant part was collected separately in polythene bags along with the host twig (preferably with the reproductive parts, to facilitate the identity of the corresponding host).  These infected plant parts were pressed neatly and dried between blotting papers.  After ensuring their dryness, they were used for microscopic study.  Scrapes were taken directly from the infected host and mounted in 10% KOH solution.  After 30 mins, KOH was replaced by Lactophenol.  Both the mountants performed well as clearing agents and made the septa visible for taking measurements.  To study the entire colony in its natural condition, a drop of high quality natural colored or transparent nail polish was applied to the selected colonies and carefully thinned with the help of a fine brush without disturbing the colonies.  Colonies with hyper parasites showing a woolly nature were avoided.  The treated colonies along with their host plants were kept in a dust free chamber for half an hour.

When the nail polish on the colonies dried fully, a thin, colorless or slightly apple rose colored (depending upon the colour tint in the nail polish) film or flip was formed with the colonies firmly embedded in it.  In case of soft host parts, the flip was lifted off with a slight pressure on the opposite side of the leaves and just below the colonies.  In case of hard host parts, the flip was eased off with the help of a razor or scalpel.  A drop of dibutyl phthalate polystyrene xylene (DPX) was spread on a clean slide and the flip was spread properly on it.  One or two more drops of DPX were added additionally on the flip and a clean cover glass was placed over it.  By gently pressing on the cover glass, the excessive amount of DPX was removed after drying.  Care was taken to avoid air bubbles.

These slides were labeled and placed in a dust free chamber for one to two days for drying.  These permanent slides were then used for further studies.  For innate fungi, sections were made and stained in cotton blue.  After the study of each collection, part of the material was retained in the regional herbarium, Mar Thoma College Herbarium, Thiruvalla (MTCHT).

 

Meliola elaeocarpicola sp. nov. Lini K. Mathew (Figure 1, Image 1)

MycoBank # 835348

Colonies epiphyllous, dense, up to 5mm in diameter, rarely confluent.  Hyphae  straight to flexuous, branching alternate to opposite at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 13–20 x 3–6.6 µm.  Appressoria alternate to opposite, antrorse to subantrorse to retrorse, spreading, straight to curved, 10–20 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3–5 µm long; head cells ovate, rarely globose, entire, 9–15 x 9–12 µm.  Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 13–20 x 6.6–10 µm.  Mycelial setae scattered to grouped around the perithecia, simple, straight, acute, up to 650µm long.  Perithecia scattered, up to 180µm in diameter; ascospores oblong to cylindrical, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 33–40 x 13–17 µm.

On leaves of Elaeocarpus sp. (Elaeocarpaceae), Peruvannamuzhy, Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Calicut, Kerala, December, 26, 2014, MTCHT 106 (Type), TBGT 6999 (Isotype), collected by Lini K. Mathew.

Appendiculella elaeocarpicola Hosag. & Robin, J., Asteridiella elaeocarpi-tuberculati Hosag., A. elaeocarpicola Hansf. and Meliola elaeocarpi Yates are known on this host genus (Yates 1917; Hansford 1961; Hosagoudar 1996, 2008, 2013; Hosagoudar et al. 1997; Hosagoudar & Agarwal 2008).  Meliola elaeocarpicola differs from Appendiculella elaeocarpicola in the absence of perithecial appendages and flattened-globose perithecia.  It differs from Asteridiellaela elaeocarpicola Hansf., A. elaeocarpi-tuberculati Hosag. in absence of perethecial wall cells and presence of mycelial setae (Hansford 1961; Hosagoudar 1996, 2008, 2013; Hosagoudar & Goos 1989; Hosagoudar & Agarwal 2008; Hosagoudar & Thomas 2013).  Meliola elaeocarpi Yates was the only Meliola species on the host genus which was reported in 1917 from Philippines.  The current species differs from Meliola elaeocarpi Yates in the presence of alternate and opposite appressora and comparatively smaller ascospores, whereas Meliola elaeocarpi Yates has only opposite appressoria and larger ascospores.

Etymology: The specific epithet is based on the host genus.

 

Comparative account

Name

Beeli

formula

Distinguishing characters

Colonies

Mycelial

Mycelial setae

Appressoria

Spore

M. elaeocarpicola sp. nov.

3113.3223

Epiphyllous

Hyphae  straight to flexuous,

simple, straight, acute, up to 650µm long

alternate to opposite,; head cells ovate, rarely globose, entire, 9–15 x 9–12 µm

oblong to cylindrical, 33–40 x 13–17 µm.

 

M. elaeocarpi

3112.4221

Philippines

amphigenous

Straight

simple, acute, obtuse up to 300µm long

Opposite, subglobose to ovoid

Subellipsoid, obtuse, 44– 50 x 18 µm

 

For figure & image - - click here

 

References

 

Goos, R.D. & V.B. Hosagoudar (1998). Meliola chennaiana sp. nov. and some additional records from India. Mycotaxon 68: 41–46.

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

Hosagoudar, V.B. & R.D. Goos (1989). Meliolaceous fungi from the state of Kerala, India - I. Mycotaxon 36: 221–247

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

Hosagoudar, V.B. (2008). Meliolales of India Vol. II. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta, 390pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & D.K. Agarwal (2008). Taxonomic Studies of Meliolales Identification Manual. International Book Distributors, Dehradun, India, 263pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. (2013). Meliolales of India – Volume III. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(6): 3993–4068. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3307.3993-4068

Hosagoudar, V.B. & J. Thomas (2013). Meliolales in Peppara and Neyyar wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala State. Sadguru Publications, Udaipur, 254pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1996a). Meliola prataprajii sp. nov. from Kerala, India, pp. 14–15.  Seminar on Recent Advances in Botany, Satara, 115pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1996b). Two new Meliolaceae members from Kerala, India. Kavaka 24: 15–17.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & P. Pushpangadan (1997). The Meliolineae - A Supplement. Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, 201pp.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1998a). Some interesting meliolaceous fungi from Kerala, Indian Journal of Mycopathological Research 36: 97.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1998b). Some Meliolaceae members from Kerala, India. Sydowia 50: 14–20.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1998c). Some interesting members of the Meliolaceae from India.  Nova Hedwigia  68: 477–487.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1998d). New and interesting Meliolaceae members from Kerala. Indian Phytopathology 51: 301–303.

Hosagoudar, V.B. & T.K. Abraham (1998e). New and interesting Meliolaceae members from Kerala. Indian Phytopathology 51: 58–61.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & R.D. Goos (1998a). Three new species of the Meliolaceae from Kerala, India. Mycotaxonomy 63: 493–496.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & R.D. Goos (1998b). Meliolaceae of Kerala, India-II. Mycotaxon 66: 103–107.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & R.D. Goos (1998c). Meliolaceae of Kerala, India-III. Mycotaxon 66: 109–113.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & R.D. Goos (1998d). Meliolaceae of Kerala, India-IV. Mycotaxon 66: 115–119.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T. K. Abraham & J.L. Crane (1998e). Meliolaceae of Kerala – V.  Mycotaxon 59: 391–397.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & J.L. Crane (1998f). The identity and nomenclature of Meliolaatlantiae. Mycotaxon 66: 419–420.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & C.K. Biju (1999a). Notes on some foliicolous fungi from Kerala, Indian Journal of Mycopathological Research 37: 25–28.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & J.L. Crane (1999b). Meliolaceae of Kerala, India-VI. Mycotaxon 71: 149–153.

Yates, H.S. (1917). Fungi collected by E.D. Merrill in southern China. Philippine Journal of Science Section C, Botany 12: 313–316.