Bheemamyces, a new genus of the family Asterinaceae (Ascomycetes)

V.B. Hosagoudar ¹, A. Sabeena ² & M.C. Riju²

^1,2 Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695562, India

Email: ¹ vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com

Date of publication (online): 26 November 2010

Date of publication (print): 26 November 2010

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

Editor: Richard Mibey

Manuscript details:

Ms # o2583

Received 23 September 2010

Finally accepted 09 November 2010

Citation: Hosagoudar, V.B., A. Sabeena & M.C. Riju(2010). Bheemamyces, a new genus of the family Asterinaceae(Ascomycetes). Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(12): 1323-1324.

Copyright: © V.B. Hosagoudar, A. Sabeena & M.C.Riju 2010. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. 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 Dr. A. Subramoniam, Director, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode for the facilities and Dr. R. Ansari, Managing Director (Retd.), Malabar Botanic Garden, Kozhikode for providing the facilities during the collection trip.

For figures, image -- click here

During a survey of foliicolous fungi in the Western Ghats region of Kerala State, authors came across infected leaves of Argyreianervosa, collected from the Malabar Botanic Garden, Kozhikode. The fungus revealed brown mycelium with the lateral appressoria and stellatelydehisced orbicular thyriothecia. These are the characters of the genus Asterina. In addition to these typical characters, the mycelia originated from the main hyphae, lifted slightly above the host surface, appearing like a ‘whip’, possessing intercalary and sub intercalary or sub lateral appressoria, making it distinct from the genus Asterina. Because of the intercalary appressoria, it can not be placed under the genus Asterolibertiabecause it also possesses the characters of the genus Asterina, having lateral appressoria (Muller & Arx 1962; Arx & Muller 1975; Hosagoudaret al. 2001). Hence, to accommodate such fungi, the genus Bheemamyces is proposed here. This is a transitional genus between the genera Asterina and Asterolibertia.

Bheemamyces

V.B. Hosagoudar, gen. nov.

The name Bheema is derived from the brave personality of Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata.

Coloniae foliicolae,brunneae, ramosae, septatae, appressoria uterque intercalaris vel lateralis, saepe hyphae formansannulus. Thyriothecia orbicularis,stellatim dehiscentes ad centre; asci globosi, octospori; ascosporae conglobatae, brunneae, uniseptatae.

Colonies foliicolous, brown, branched, septate,appressoria both intercalary and lateral, often form mycelial ring. Thyriothecia orbicular, stellatelydehisce at the centre; asci globose,octosporous; ascospores conglobate, brown, uniseptate.

Type species Bheemamyces argyreicola sp. nov.

Bheemamyces argyreicola sp. nov.

(Image 1, Figs. 1 & 2)

Material examined: 04.xi.2009, on leaves of Argyreianervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer. (Convolvulaceae), Malabar Botanic Garden, Kozhikode, Kerala, India, coll. A. Sabeena& M.C Riju, TBGT 4324 (holotype). Isotype is in HCIO, New Delhi.

Coloniae epiphyllae, dense vel arte dispersae, ad 2mm diam., saepe confluentes. Hyphaebi-typus: subrectae vel anfractuae, irregulariter acuteque vel laxe ramosae,laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 12-32 × 4-5μm. Appressoria dispersa, alternata vel unilateralis,unicellularis, ovata, oblonga, globosa, integra, angularis vel sublobata, 5-17 × 5-10 μm hyphae secundus exorioratus a hyphae primariae, angustatae, curvulae, leniter elevatae a hostus surfacalis et acutus ad apicem. Appressoria intercalaribus,sub intercalaribus et lateralis. Annulae hyphales irreggularibus et appressoria nulla. Appressoria intercalaria et sub intercalaria, ovala vel globosa, loculum hyalinae ad centre persistantis, 5-10 × 5-7 μm. Thyriothecia dispersa vel connata, orbicularis, stellatim dehiscentes ad centre, ad 90 μmdiam., margine crenatae vel fimbriatae, hyphae fringiorum rectae, flexuosae vel anfractuae; asci globosi, octospori, 32-35 μm diam.; ascosporae brunneae, conglobatae, uniseptatae, constrictus ad septatae, 15-25 × 7-12 μm, parietus glabrus, confestatim germinatae.

Colonies epiphyllous, densely or closely scattered, up to 2mm in diameter, often confluent. Hyphae of two types: substraight to crooked, branching irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 12-32 × 4-5 μm. Appressoria scattered, alternate to unilateral, unicellular, ovate, oblong, globose, entire, angular to sublobate, 5-17 × 5-10 μm. The second type of hyphaeoriginated from the main hyphae, narrower, curved, slightly elevated from the host surface and sharply pointed at the tip. These hyphae possess intercalary, sub intercalary and lateral appressoria. Hyphal rings are formed randomly but are devoid of appressoria. The intercalary and sub intercalary appressoria oval to globose, having a central slightly hyaline spot, 5-10 × 5-7μm. Thyriotheciascattered to connate, orbicular, stellately dehisced at the centre, up to 90μm in diameter, margin crenate to fimbriate, fringed hyphaestraight, flexuous to crooked; asci globose, octosporous, 32-35 μm in diameter; ascosporesbrown, conglobate, uniseptate, constricted at the septum, 15-25 × 7-12 μm, wall smooth, readily germinated.

Bheemamyces argyreiae (Hansf.) Hosag., comb. nov.

Asterina argyreiae Hansf., Reinwardtia 3: 130, 1954.

Hansford (1954) has also mentioned peculiarity about the appressoria in Asterina argyreiae Hansf. However, the presence of intercalary and sub intercalary appressoria does fit this taxoninto the genus Bheemamyces.

References

Arx, J.A.V. & E. Muller (1975). A re-evaluation of the bitunicate ascomycetes with key to the families and genera. Studiesin Mycology 9: 1-159.

Hansford, C.G. (1954). Some Microthyriales and other fungi from Indonesia. Reinwardtia 3: 113-144.

Hosagoudar, V.B., T.K. Abraham & C.K. Biju (2001). Re-evaluation of the family Asterinaceae. J. Mycopathol. Res. 39: 61-63.

Muller, E. & J.A.V. Arx (1962). Die Gattungen der didymosporen Pyrenomyceten. Beitr. Kryptogamenfl. Schweiz 11: 1-922.