A new black mildew fungus Meliola erumeliensis from Idukki, Kerala, India

 

V.B. Hosagoudar 1, G.R. Archana 2, M. Rajendraprasad  2 & A. Nazarudeen  2

 

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

E-mail: vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com1

 

 

Date of online publication 26 June 2009

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

 

Editor: Richard K. Mibey

 

Manuscript details:

Ms # o2064

Received 13 September 2008

Finally accepted 20 May 2009

 

Citation: Hosagoudar, V.B., G.R. Archana, M. Rajendraprasad & A. Nazarudeen(2009). A new black mildew fungus Meliola erumeliensis from Idukki, Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa1(6): 347.

 

Copyright: © V.B. Hosagoudar, G.R. Archana, M. Rajendraprasad & A. Nazarudeen2009. 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 facilities. We are grateful to the Ministry of Environment & Forests, New Delhi for the financial support and to the Forest Department, Govt. of Kerala for permission.

 

 

For Figure – Click here

 

During a survey of meliolaceous fungi in IdukkiDistrict of Kerala State, authors came across the plant, Drypetes elata, infected with a black mildew fungus.  Microscopic examination of the fungus revealed the presence of a new species of the genus Meliolawhich is described here.

 

Meliola erumeliensis sp. nov.

(Fig. 1)

 

Coloniae hypophyllae, subdensae, ad 2mm diam., confluentes.  Hyphae rectae vel subrectae, opposite vel irregulariter acuteque vel laxe ramosae,laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 11-32 x 6-8µm.  Appressoria plerumque opposita, alternata, recta vel curvula, antrorsa, subantrorsa vel retrorsa, 9-22µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 2-8µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae, oblongae, integrae vel  plerumque angularis, 8-16 x 8-11µm.  Phialides appressoriis mixtus,numerosae, oppositae vel alternatae, ampulliformes, 11-22 x 6-10µm.  Setae myceliales simplices, anfractuae, uncinatae, ad apicem obtusae, ad 294µm longae. Perithecia globosa, dispersa vel aggregata, ad 176µm diam.; ascosporae obovoideae, 4-septatae, constrictae ad septatae, 36-43 x 17-21µm.

Colonies hypophyllous, subdense, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent.  Hyphae straight to substraight, branching opposite to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 11-32 x 6-8µm. Appressoria mostly opposite, alternate, straight to curved, antrorse, subantrorse to retrorse, 9-22µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 2-8µm long; head cells ovate, oblong, entire to predominantly angular, 8-16 x 8-11µm.  Phialides mixed with appressoria, numerous, opposite to alternate, ampulliform, 11-22 x 6-10 µm.  Mycelial setae simple, crooked, uncinate, obtuse at the tip, up to 294µm long. Perithecia globose, scattered to grouped, up to 176µm in diameter; ascospores obovoidal, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 36- 43 x 17-21µm.

 

Material examined

Type: 16.iii.2006, on the leaves of Drypetes elata(Bedd.) Pax & Hoffm. (Euphorbiaceae), Murinjapuzha, Erumeli range, Peeramed, Idukki, Kerala, India, coll. A. Nazaruddin& M. Rajendraprasad HCIO 46831 (type), TBGT 2172 (isotype), (MycoBank# MB 513424)

Meliola drypeticola Hosag. is the only species known on the host genera Drypetes and Epiprinusfrom the Western Ghats region of Peninsular India (Hosagoudar1996).  Meliola erumeliensis distinctly differs from it in having crooked and uncinate mycelialsetae.

The species is named after the collection locality.

 

References

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