Meliola kamettiae, Hosagoudar & Riju, 2010

Hosagoudar, V. B. & Riju, M. C., 2010, Meliolaceae of Kerala, India - XXX new species and new records, Journal of Threatened Taxa 2 (4), pp. 824-826 : 825-826

Meliola kamettiae sp. nov.

( Fig. 3)

Material examined

29.ix.2007, on leaves of Kamettia caryophyllata Roxb. (Apocynaceae) , 16 th mile, Padinharathara, Wayanad, Kerala, India, coll. M. C. Riju HCIO 48175 (holotype), TBGT 2911 (isotype), (MycoBank # 518229).

Coloniae hypophyllae, dispersae, densae, velutinae, ad 4mm diam., raro confluentes. Hyphae rectae vel subrectae, plerumque opposite acuteque vel laxe ramosae, laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 13-35 x 4-7 µm. Appressoria alternata vel unilateralis, recta, antrorsa, 11-20 µm longa; cellulae basilares cylindraceae vel cuneatae, 2-9 µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae, globosae, 7-13 x 6-11 µm. Phialides appressoriis intermixtae, oppositae, alternatae, unilateralis, ampulliformes, 11-22 x 4-7 µm. Setae myceliales numerosae, ad 260µm longae, simplices, rectae, paucae curvulae vel uncinatae, ad apicem obtusae, bifidae, trifidae, saepe subdentatae, furcatae vel ramosae, ramulae ad 30µm longae. Perithecia dispersa, ad 150µm diam.; ascosporae cylindraceae, 4-septatae, leniter constrictus ad septatae, 26-33 x 8-11 µm.

Colonies hypophyllous, scattered, dense, velvety, up to 4mm in diam., rarely confluent. Hyphae straight to substraight, branching mostly opposite at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 13-35 x 4-7 µm. Appressoria alternate, unilateral, straight, antrorse, 11-20 µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 2-9 µm long; head cells ovate, globose, 7-13 x 6-11 µm. Phialides mixed with appressoria, opposite, alternate, unilateral, ampulliform, 11-22 x 4-7 µm. Mycelial setae numerous, up to 260µm long, simple, straight, few slightly curved

a - Appressorium; b - Phialide; c - Apical portion of the mycelial setae; d - Ascospores

to uncinate, obtuse, bifid, trifid, often subdentate to furcated to branched at the tip, branches up to 30µm long. Perithecia scattered, up to 150µm in diam.; ascospores cylindrical, 4-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, 26- 33 x 8-11 µm.

Straight, slightly curved to uncinate, obtuse, bifid, trifid, often subdentate to furcated mycelial setae distinguishes this taxon from rest of the Meliola species reported on the members of the family Apocynaceae ( Hansford 1961; Hosagoudar 1996, 2008; Hosagoudar et al. 1997).