Three new black mildews from Kerala , India

Acknowledgements: We express our gratitude to Dr. P.G. Latha, Director, JNTBGRI, Palode for the facilities. During the study of foliicolous fungi of Western Ghats in Kerala State, authors could come across three black mildew fungi infected leaves of Argyreia sp., Ficus sp. and Pavetta tomentosa. Microscopic study of these fungi revealed that they are hitherto undescribed species. Hence, they are described and illustrated here in detail.

During the study of foliicolous fungi of Western Ghats in Kerala State, authors could come across three black mildew fungi infected leaves of Argyreia sp., Ficus sp. and Pavetta tomentosa.Microscopic study of these fungi revealed that they are hitherto undescribed species.Hence, they are described and illustrated here in detail.

Western Ghats Special Series
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.Asterina argyreiae is known on Argyreia capitata from Java (Hansford 1954).Because of its peculiarity of the appressoria it has been placed under the genus Bheemamyces (Hosagoudar et al. 2010).As such there is no Asterina species on the host genus Argyreia.Asterina mananthavadiensis differs from other Asterina species known on the members of family Convolvulaceae in having lateral and stellately lobate appressoria.
Etymology: Named after its collection locality.
Based on the globose head cells of the appressoria, this species can be compared with Meliola bangalorensis Hansf.& Thirum., collected from the Western Ghats region of Karnataka (Hansford & Thirumalachar 1948;Hansford 1961).However, Meliola ficigena differs from it in having only entire head cells in contrast to lobed ones, and further, phialides are mixed with appressoria.
Etymology: Named after its host plant Prillieuxina pavettae sp.nov.(Fig. 3; MycoBank # 805652) Colonies mostly epiphyllous thin, up to 2mm in diam., confluent.Hyphae flexuous to crooked, branching We could locate the teleomorph of this fungus and has been accommodated in a new species (Hosagoudar 2012).
Etymology: Named after its host plant.