Foliicolous fungi of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India
V.B.
Hosagoudar 1, V. Dhivaharan 2, K. Thiyagesan 2 & K. Kandavel 2
1 Tropical Botanic
Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695562, India
2 Centre for Mycological Research, Sengamala Thayaar
Educational Trust Women's College, Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu 614001, India
Email: vbhosagoudar@rediffmail.com
Date of
publication (online): 26 February 2010
Date of
publication (print): 26 February 2010
ISSN 0974-7907
(online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Vatsavaya S
Raju
Manuscript
details:
Ms # o2056
Received 13
September 2008
Final received
15 January 2010
Finally accepted
11 February 2010
Citation: Hosagoudar,
V.B., V. Dhivaharan, K. Thiyagesan & K. Kandavel (2010). Foliicolous
fungi of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa2(2): 705-708.
Copyright: © V.B.
Hosagoudar, V. Dhivaharan, K. Thiyagesan & K. Kandavel 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
are thankful to Dr. S. Ganeshan, Director, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research
Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala for the facilities. We are
grateful to Forest Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu for the forest permission.
The survey of
foliicolous fungi during Feb-March 2007 in the montane forests of Kodaikanal in
Madurai District of Tamil Nadu resulted in the discovery and reporting of three
interesting taxa besides a new species of Phyllachora. Mahonia leschenaultii (Berberidaceae)
and Phoebe sp. (Lauraceae) were found infected with rust fungi; both
these rust fungi formed telial columns bearing black hair-like growths on the
abaxial surface of the leaves. While the former host did not show much
difference with rest of the leaf portion, the latter host developed tender
blisters on which telia are borne. Probably, to hold the weight of the columns, they were deeply seated in
the host.
Enumeration
1. Gambleola
cornuta Massee (Pucciniosiraceae)
(Image 1)
Gambleola cornutaMassee,
Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1898: 115, 1898. Pucciniosira cornuta (Massee) Burified & J.F. Henner
(1988).
Pycnia, aecia
and uredinia not seen. Telia in
columns of 10-20 in number, hypophyllous, born on dark spots, originate
subepidermally, deeply sunk in the host tissue, cupulate. Telial initials originate beneath the
epidermis by forming coarse hyphal strands. Large numbers of rectangular, pale, thin walled cells produce columnar
telial structures bordered with globose cells. While central cells produce telial columns, bordered cells produce
peridial layer. Telial columns up to
10mm long and up to 0.5mm broad, straight, curved, coiled like tendrils, dry,
horney, brownish-black; teliospores formed successively from the basal
hymenium, developed in chains, laterally coalescent to form firm spore column; spores two-celled
with horizontal septum, brown, attenuated towards both terminals, catenate with
intercalary cells firmly united laterally and longitudinally, cells 38-48x14-19
µm, wall smooth, 2-4µm thick; intercalary cells pale, cylindrical, up to 15µm
long; telial column capsuled in peridial cell layer, peridial cells fusiform,
elongated, 25-36x15-20 µm, smooth-walled.
Material
examined:08.iii.2007, on living leaves of Mahonia leschenaultii (Berberidaceae),Then shola, Kodaikanal, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, V.B.
Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 48064, TBGT 2847.
This is an
endemic unispecific rust known from India. (i) It was described on leaves of Berberis
nepalensis (= Mahonia napaulensis) from Chakrata (Gamble), Mussorie
and Kumaon (Butler), and there are two collections of it at IMI gathered on 23
May 1957 by E. Müller & B.D. Sanwal from Uttar Pradesh. (ii) It was collected earlier from Nilgiris
(Fischer) and recently (1962-63) from Kodaikanal (Raghunathan &
Ramakrishnan 1972). Therefore, the
present collection is after a lapse of more than four decades. It is to be noted that the host Mahonia
napaulensis is distributed in northern India whereas M. leschenaultii (Wight
& Arn.) Takeda ex Dunn occurs in southern India. It is interesting to record that the latter
host taxon was treated as a variety under the former - first as Berberis
napaulensis var. leschenaultii (Wight & Arn.) Hook.f.
& Thomson and later as Mahonia napaulensis var. leschenaultii(Wight & Arn.) Fedde.
2. Kernella
lauricola (Thirum.) Thirum. (Pucciniaceae) (Image 2)
Kernella
lauricola(Thirum.) Thirum., Mycologia 41: 97, 1949.
Kernia lauricola Thirum., Mycologia 38(6): 685, 1947.
Puccinia
lauricola (Thirum.) Raghunathan
& K. Ramakr., Mysore J. Agric. Sci. 7(1): 72, 1973, non Cummins,
1949.
Pycnia, aecia
and uredinia not seen. Telia
present. This rust causes hypertrophy,
form blisters of 3-8cm in diameter on the abaxial surface the corresponding upper
portion of the leaf surface depressed and pushed inside. Telia in columns, 10-20 telial columns
produced on the blistered portion, 10-20 mm long, dark-brown, simple, straight,
curved, twisted like tendrils, originate sub-epidermally, deep seated in to the
host tissues, cupulate, non-peridiate, produce two-celled, long pedicellate
teliospores in loosely packed columns. Teliospores pale brown to brown, oblong, uniseptate, septum horizontal,
24-46x18-26 µm, both cells equal in size, wall deep brown, smooth, 3-8µm thick. Pedicels
pale yellow, persistent, 40-100x4-8 µm.
Materials
examined: 08.iii.2007, on leaves of Phoebesp. (Lauraceae), Then shola, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu,
V.B. Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 48071, TBGT 2854.
The genus KernellaThirum.(1949) was published as a new name for Kernia Thirum. (1947),
which is a later homonym (non Nieuwland 1916). Although Thirumalachar (l.c.1949) clearly stated that his Kernella lauricola is a nomen novum, this name was based on his earlier
illegitimate genus Kernia. Therefore, there is a requirement to make use of the specific epithet
and create the combination, Kernella lauricola (Thirum.) Thirum. Perhaps, it
could be the reason for the discrepancy in the author citation of this taxon in
literature. Kernella is a
unispecific genus and was merged with Puccinia by some authors, and the
combination proposed by Raghunathan & Ramakrishnan (1973) is
illegitimate in view of pre-occupied Puccinia lauricola by Cumminis
(1949). No new name is proposed here
since earlier Cummins & Hiratsuka (1983) and currently the present authors
consider Kernella as distinct from Puccinia because of the
formation of the telial columns. This
taxon was collected from Nilgiris between years 1945-62; the present collection
is after a lapse of more than four decades and located in Kodaikanal hills for
the first time.
3. Phyllachora
sageretiae sp. nov. (Phyllochoraceae)
During the survey in the shola
forests of Kodaikanal hills, leaves of Sageretia hamosa were found
infected with the tar spot disease causing fungus. Microscopic study of the
fungus revealed that it is different from its allied species, Phyllachora
rhamni, known on Rhamnus wightii from Udhagamandalam. Hence, it is
described and illustrated in detail.
Phyllachora
sageretiaesp. nov.
(Image 3)
Maculae
infectionis nullae. Stromata epiphylla, dispersa, elevata, nigra, nitida, rotunda vel
ovata, 1-2mm diam., 1-3-loculata. Perithecia globosa vel craterviformes, subepidermalis posita, ostiolata,
280-330x90-120 µm, clypeata; clypeus nigrum, solum superiorum positus, 60-100µm
crassus; asci numerosi, cylindrici, octospori, paraphysati, directus ad
ostiolatus, leniter stipitati, 60-100x8-10 µm, apparatus apicalis distinctus;
paraphyses hyalinae, filiformes, directus ad ostiolatus; ascosporae plerumque
uniseriatae, raro irregularis, hyalinae, oblongae, ellipsoideae, fusiformes vel
obclavatae, utrinque late rotundatae vel leniter attenuatae ad basim, leniter
obliquetus positae, saepe leniter constrictae ad medius vel profunde inquinatae,
14-16x4-6 µm.
Infection spots absent. Stromata epiphyllous, scattered, raised,
black, shining, round to oval, 1-2mm in diameter, loculate, locules 1-3 per
stromata. Perithecia globose to bowl-shaped,
subepidermal, ostiolate, 280-330x90-120 µm, clypeate, clypeus black, only at
the adaxial surface, 60-100µm thick; asci numerous, cylindrical, octosporous,
paraphysate, directed towards ostiole, slightly stipitate, 60-100x8-10 µm,
apical apparatus well defined; paraphyses hyaline, filiform, directed towards
the ostiole; ascospores predominantly uniseriate, rarely irregular, hyaline,
oblong, ellipsoidal, fusiform to obclavate, broadly rounded to slightly
attenuated at the base, slightly obliquely placed, slightly constricted and
deeply stained with cotton blue at the middle, 14-16x4-6 µm.
Material
examined:06.ii.2007, on living leaves of Sageretia hamosa Brongn. (Rhamnaceae), Kookal shola, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India, V.B.
Hosagoudar et al. HCIO 48074 (Holotype), TBGT 2857 (isotype).
Phyllachora
rhamniT.S. Ramakr. is known on Rhamnus wightii from
Udahagamandalam, a high altitude montane forest element in Tamil Nadu
(Ramakrishnan 1950; Kamat et al. 1978). However, Phyllachora sageretiae differs from it in not producing
infection spots around stromata besides the stromata are restricted to the leaf
adaxial surface. Further, ascospores are
oblong, ellipsoidal to obclavate with slight constriction and stain very deeply
in the middle portion.
4. Trochophora
fasiculata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Goos (Mycospherellaceae) (Image 4)
Trochophora
fasiculata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Goos [as ‘fasiculatum’], Mycologia 78:
759, 1986.
Helicoma
fasiculatum Berk. & M.A.
Curitis in US North Pacific Exped., No. 142,
1853-1856.
Trochophora
simplex(Petch) R.T. Moore, Mycologia 47: 90, 1955.
Helicostilbe
simplex Petch,
Roy.Bot. Gard. Peradeniya, Ann. 7: 321, 1922.
Colonies hypophyllous, dark,
brownish dark to dark, waxy, raised, 2-4mm in
diameter, surrounded by yellow haloes. Synnemata subepidermal, dark hyphae
borne from the base of the synnemata and ramify into the host tissue, synnemata
brownish black, erect, 150-600x8-38 µm at the middle, 22-83µm broad at the
base. Conidiophores macronematous,
synnematous, mostly simple, rarely branched, straight, flexuous, narrow,
cylindrical, closely adpressed along most of their length, swollen and
spreading at the apex, pale brown, 2-4µm broad at the lower side, 4-8µm broad
at the apical portion; conidiogenous cells polyblastic, integrated, terminal,
determinate to sympodial, clavate. Conidia
solitary, dry, produced at many points
on the curved conidiogenous cells, simple, strongly curved to helicoids, pale
brown, smooth, transversely 2-3-septate, septa deeply black, 13-29x8-10 µm.
Material
examined: 09.iii.2007,
on living leaves of Daphniphyllum neilgherrense (Wight) Rosenth. (Daphniphyllaceae), Mathikettan shola, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, V.B.
Hosagoudar HCIO 48063, TBGT 2846.
Daphniphyllum
neilgherrenseis known to be infected by two foliar fungal parasites, namely, Asterostomella
daphniphylli Hosag. & K. Ravik. and Trochophora fasiculata (Berk. &
M.A. Curtis) Goos. The former
fungus is known only from Kodaikanal (type locality); it infects adaxial
surface of the leaves but produces no pathogenic symptoms. The latter species infects the abaxial
surface of leaves, causes yellowing around the infected spots. Almost all helicosporous hyphomycetes are
saprobic but for a few members like Dichotomorphthoropsis, Helicomina,
Helicohoidion and Trochophora which are known to be pathogens (Zhao
et al. 2007).
Goos (1986) examined the
specimens of Helicoma simplex (Sydow) Linder, H. fasciculatum Berk.
& M.A.Curtis and Trochophora simplex (Petch) R.T. Moore and
concluded that they are conspecific. Trochophora fasiculata was reported
on Daphniphyllum sp. from Sri Lanka, Hongkong and Taiwan (Ellis
1971). In India, it was reported from
Kotagiri (Nilgiris) and Kodaikanal in 1955 (Bilgrami et al. 1991). Conversely, the fungus is re-located in
Kodaikanal after a lapse of more than five decades.
References
Bilgrami, K.S.,
S. Jamaluddin, & M.A. Rizwi (1991). Fungi of India. List and
References. Today and Tomorrow's Printers & Publishers, New Delhi, 798pp.
Cummins, G.B.
& Y. Hiratsuka (1983). Illustrated Genera of Rust
Fungi. The American Phytopathological Society, Minnesota.
Ellis, M.B.
(1971). Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. CMI, Kew, Surrey, England.
Goos, R.D. (1986). A review of the anamorph genus Helicoma. Mycologia 78: 744-761.
Kamat, M.N.,
V.S. Seshadri & A.A. Pande (1978). A
Monographic Study of Indian Species of Phyllachora. UAS Hebbal,
Mon. Ser. 4, Bangalore, 100pp.
Nieuwland, J.A.
(1916).Critical notes on new and old genera of plants. Amer. Midi. Nat. 4: 379.
Raghunathan,
A.N. & K. Ramakrishnan (1972).Rust fungi of Madras State-I. Mysore Journal of AgriculturalScience 6: 285-299.
Raghunathan,
A.N. & Ramakrishnan, K. (1973). Rust fungi of
Madras State. Ibid. 7: 62-72.
Ramakrishnan,
T.S. (1950). Additions to the fungi of Madras-X. Proceedings
of Indian Academy of Science 34: 63-72.
Zhao, G.H., X.Z.
Liu & W.P. Wu (2007). Heliosporous
hypomycetes from China. Fungal Diversity 26: 313-524.