Four new
Meliolaceae (Sordariomycetes: Meliolales) members from Kottayam forests in
Kerala State, India
V.B. Hosagoudar 1& P.J. Robin 2
1,2 Tropical Botanic Garden and
Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695562, Kerala
Email: 1 vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com
(corresponding author)
Date of publication (online): 26 May 2011
Date of publication (print): 26 May 2011
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Richard Mibey
Manuscript details:
Ms
# o2747
Received
05 April 2011
Finally
accepted 22 April 2011
Citation: Hosagoudar, V.B & P.J. Robin (2011). Four
new Meliolaceae (Sordariomycetes: Meliolales) members from Kottayam forests in
Kerala State, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(5): 1782–1787.
Copyright: © V.B. Hosagoudar & P.J. Robin 2011. 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 Director, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute,
Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala for providing facilities.
During a survey of the
foliicolous fungi in the Western Ghats region of Kerala State, authors
collected several specimens from the Kottayam forest. Of these, the following
five distinct and interesting Meliolaceae taxa are described and illustrated
here. Four taxa do not match
with any of the described Meliolaceae members, hence are described as new.
1. Appendiculella
elaeocarpicola sp. nov.
(Fig. 1)
Materials examined: 04.iii.2007, on leaves of Elaeocarpus
tuberculatus Roxb. (Elaeocarpaceae), Chapathu, Ponthanpuzha, Kottayam, Kerala,
India, coll. P.J. Robin, HCIO 48808 (holotype), TBGT 3184 (isotype) (MycoBank
561265).
Coloniae epiphyllae,
subdensae, ad 3mm diam.. Hyphae rectae vel undulatae, plerumque oppositae acuteque
vel laxe ramosae, laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 22–29 x 3–5 µm.
Appressoria alternata, antrorsa vel subantrorsa, 17–19 µm longa; cellulae
basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 5–7 µm longae; cellulae apicales
globosae, ovatae, integrae, 12–14 x 7–10 µm. Phialides
appressoriis intermixtae, alternatae vel oppositae, ampulliformes, 14–22
x 7–10 µm. Perithecia
dispersa, globosa, ad 106µm in diam.; appendages peritheciales conoideae,
rectae vel curvulae, striatus horizontalis, attenuatae vel late roundata ad
apicem, ad 24µm longae; ascosporae oblongae vel ellipsoideae, 4-septatae,
constrictae ad septatae, 34–38 x 12–14 µm.
Colonies
epiphyllous, subdense, up to 3mm in diameter. Hyphae straight to undulate, branching mostly opposite at
acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 22–29 x 3–5
µm. Appressoria alternate,
antrorse to subantrorse, 17–19 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to
cuneate, 5–7 µm long; head cells globose, ovate, entire, 12–14 x 7–10
µm. Phialides mixed with
appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 14–22 x 7–10 µm. Perithecia scattered, globose, up to
106 µm in diameter; perithecial appendages conoid, straight to curved,
horizontally striated, attenuated to broadly rounded at the apex, up to 24µm
long; ascospores oblong to ellipsoidal, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 34–38
x 12–14 µm.
Asteridiella
elaeocarpi-tuberculati Hosag., A. elaeocarpicola Hansf. and Meliola
elaeocarpi Yates are known on this host genus (Hansford 1961; Hosagoudar
1996, 2008; Hosagoudar et al. 1997; Hosagoudar & Agarwal 2008). Appendiculella elaeocarpicola sp. nov.differs from all these species in having perithecial
appendages.
Etmology: The specific epithet is
based on the host genus.
2. Meliola
sterculicola sp. nov.
(Fig. 2)
Materials examined: 22.xii.2006, on leaves of Sterculia sp. (Sterculiaceae),
Ponthanpuzha, Placherry, Kottayam, Kerala, India, coll. P.J. Robin & M.
Harish HCIO 48143 (holotype), TBGT 2879 (isotype) (MycoBank 561266).
Coloniae
epiphyllae, tenues, ad 3mm diam., confluentes. Hyphae rectae vel subrectae, plerumque
oppositae ad laxe ramosae, laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 19–26 x 4–7
µm. Appressoria plerumque
alternata, unilateralis, antrorsa vel subantrorsa, 21–26 µm longa;
cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 5–10 µm longae; cellulae
apicales ovatae, globosae, integrae, angularis vel leniter lobatae,19–14 x 10–12
µm. Phialides producentes a mycelia separata, oppositae, alternatae vel
unilateralis, ampulliformes,14–24 x 5–7 µm. Setae paucae,
simplices, rectae, acute ad apicem, ad 480µm longae. Perithecia
dispersa, globosa, ad 110µm diam.; ascosporae oblongae, ellipsoidalae,
4-septatae, constrictus ad septatae, 34–41 x 14–17 µm.
Colonies epiphyllous, thin,
up to 3mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching mostly opposite at wide
angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 19–26 x 4–7 µm. Appressoria mostly alternate,
unilateral, antrorse to subantrorse, 21–26 µm long; stalk cells
cylindrical to cuneate, 5–10 µm long; head cells ovate, globose, entire,
angular to slightly lobate,19–14 x 10–12 µm. Phialides borne on a separate mycelial
branch, opposite, alternate to unilateral, ampulliform,14–24
x 5–7 µm. Mycelial setae few, simple, straight, acute at the tip, up to
480µm long. Perithecia scattered,
globose, up to 110µm in diameter; ascospores oblong, ellipsoidal, 4-septate,
constricted at the septa, 34–41 x 14–17 µm.
Based on the digital
formula 3111.3222, it can be compared with Meliola sterculiacearum Hosag. & Kamar. known on the same host genus from Wayanad in Western Ghats.
However, Meliola sterculicola sp. nov. differs from
it in having longer appressoria with angular to sublobate head cells and
phialides borne on a separate mycelia branch (Hosagoudar 2005).
Etmology: The specific epithet is
based on the host genus.
3. Meliola gouaniae Hansf. var. keralica var. nov.
(Fig.3)
Materials examined: 12.iii.2007, on leaves of Gouania sp. (Rhamnaceae),
Ponthanpuzha, Kottayam, Kerala, India, P.J. Robin HCIO 48793 (holotype), TBGT
3169 (isotype) (MycoBank 561268).
Affinis Meliola gouniae sed differt a var. gouniae setae myceliales
nontorulose, longioribus et dentatus.
Colonies epiphyllous, thin,
up to 4mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching mostly opposite at acute
angles, loosely reticulate, cells 19–29 x 5–7 µm. Appressoria mostly alternate,
unilateral, antrorse to subantrorse, 12–17 µm long; stalk cells
cylindrical to cuneate, 2–7 µm long; head cells ovate, globose, entire,
angular to slightly lobate, 10–14 x 7–10 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria,
alternate to opposite, unilateral, ampulliform, 21–29 x 5–7 µm. Mycelial setae scattered, simple,
straight, obtuse to dentate at the tip, up to 420µm
long. Perithecia scattered,
globose, up to 178µm in diameter; ascospores obovoidal, 4-septate, constricted
at the septa, 31–38 x 12–14 µm.
The present taxon is
similar to Meliola gouaniae Hansf. known on Gouania sp. from Sierra Leone and
Java. However, Meliola gouaniae Hansf. var. keralica var. nov. differs from the var. gouaniae in having longer and not
torulose but dentate mycelial setae.
Etmology: Named after the collection
locality.
4. Meliola
lophopetaligena sp. nov.
(Fig. 4)
Materials examined: 09.ix.2007, on leaves of Lophopetalum
wightiana Arn. (Celastraceae), Ponthanpuzha, Kottayam,
Kerala, India, coll. P.J. Robin HCIO 48792 (holotype), TBGT 3168 (isotype)
(MycoBank 561267).
Coloniae
epiphyllae, densae, velutinae, ad 4mm diam., confluentes. Hyphae rectae vel subrectae, plerumque
opposite acuteque ramosae, laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 22–31 x 7–12
µm. Appressoria opposita,
ad 3% alternata, positus ad spatium (pro parte maxima appressoria nulla), arte
antrorsa, antrorsa vel subantrorsa, 19–26 µm longa; cellulae basilares
cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 2–7 µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae,
globosae, integrae, angularis vel leniter lobatae, 10–14 x 7–10 µm. Phialides
appressoriis intermixtae, oppositae vel alternatae, ampulliformes, 19–26
x 9–12 µm. Setae myceliales numerosae, dispersae, simplices, rectae, acutae
vel obtusae ad apicem, ad 780µm longae. Perithecia
dispersa, globosa, ad 250µm diam.; ascosporae oblongae vel cylindraceae,
4-septatae, constrictus ad septatae, 36–46 x 12–17 µm.
Colonies
epiphyllous, dense, velvety, up to 4mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching mostly opposite at
acute angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 22–31 x 7–12 µm. Appressoria opposite, about 3%
alternate, arranged after an intermittent interval (in most places mycelium
devoid of appressoria), closely antrorse, antrorse to subantrorse, 19–26 µm
long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 2–7 µm long; head cells ovate,
globose, entire, angular to slightly lobate, 10–14 x 7–10 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria,
opposite to alternate, ampulliform, 19–26 x 9–12 µm. Mycelial setae
numerous, scattered, simple, straight, acute to obtuse at the tip, up to 780µm
long. Perithecia scattered,
globose, up to 250µm in diameter; ascospores oblong to cylindrical, 4-septate,
constricted at the septa, 36–46 x 12–17 µm.
Meliola lophopetali Stev. exHansf. is known on Lophopetalum toxicum from Philippines. However, Meliola
lophopetaligena sp. nov. differsfrom it in having closely arranged longer appressoria arranged after an
intermittent intervals, longer mycelial setae and larger ascospores (Hansford
1961). It also differs from Meliola
chennaiana Hosag. & Goos known on Lophopetalumsp. from Chennai, Eastern Ghats in having 3% opposite
appressoria, ovate, globose, entire, angular to slightly lobate head cells of
the appressoria and phialides mixed with appressoria (Goos & Hosagoudar
1998).
Etmology: The specific epithet is
based on the host genus.
5. Meliola garugae Stev. & Rold., Philippine J. Sci. 56: 67,1935; Hansf., Sydowia Beih. 2: 399, 1961. (Fig. 5)
Materials examined: 29.vi.2007, on leaves of Garuga pinnata Roxb. (Burseraceae), Vazhoor, Kottayam, Kerala, India, P.J. Robin HCIO 48791, TBGT
3167.
Colonies
amphigenous, mostly epiphyllous, up to 3mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching mostly opposite to
alternate at acute angles, loosely reticulate, cells 24–36 x 5–7 µm. Appressoria alternate to unilateral,
antrorse to subantrorse, 14–19 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to
cuneate, 5–7 µm long; head cells ovate, globose, entire,10–12
x 7–10 µm. Phialides mixed
with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, neck elongated, 19–24
x7–10 µm. Mycelial
setae numerous, scattered, straight, dentate, cristate, bifid to obtuse at the
tip, up to 370µm long. Perithecia scattered, up to 170µm in diameter; ascospores oblong to
cylindrical, 4–septate, constricted at the septa, 36–43 x 14–17
µm.
This species was known in Garuga sp. from the Philippines
and was known only from a single collection (Hansford 1961). It is reported here for the first time
from India on a hitherto unrecorded host species (Hosagoudar 1996, 2008).
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