Vaginatispora microarmatispora B.Devadatha, V.V Sarma & E.B.G Jones, 2017

Devadatha, B., Sarma, V. V., Wanasinghe, D. N. & Hyde, Kevin D., 2017, Introducing the new Indian mangrove species, Vaginatispora microarmatispora (Lophiostomataceae) based on morphology and multigene phylogenetic analysis, Phytotaxa 329 (2), pp. 139-149 : 144-145

Vaginatispora microarmatispora B.Devadatha, V.V Sarma & E.B.G Jones , sp. nov.

MycoBank ID: MB 821500, Facesoffungi Number: FoF 03424

Etymology: Name reflects the smaller size of the ascospores in this species when compared to Vaginatispora armatispora

Holotype: AMH (9887)

Saprobic on intertidal wood of Aegiceras corniculatum . Sexual morph: Ascomata 200–400 μm high, 100–400 μm diam. (= 300 × 356 μm, n = 25) immersed to partially erumpent, sub globose to conical, solitary to gregarious, coriaceous to carbonaceous, black, ostiolate. Ostiole 60–200 μm long, 50–200 μm diam. (= 126 × 99 μm, n = 20), black, medium to long slit like, crest shaped on the host surface, papillate, filled with brown cells. Periphyses 20–40 μm long 1.3–3.9 μm wide, (= 25.1–2.5 μm, n = 20) wide, unbranched facing upwards. Peridium unequal in thickness 15–40 μm (= 24.4 μm, n = 20) wide at the base and 20–70 μm (x = 37.1 μm, n = 20) wide at sides, comprising two layers, inner strata with several layers of hyaline to light brown cells of textura angularis and outer strata with compact light brown to brown pseudoparenchymatous cells fusing with the host tissue. Hamathecium composed of 1–4 μm (= 2.7 μm, n = 20) wide, numerous, septate, unbranched, cellular pseudoparaphyses resembling hyphae embedded in a gelatinous matrix, anastomosing above the asci, fused at the base and sides of the ascomata and united at the apex with the periphyses. Asci 75–190 × 8–25 μm (x = 135 × 14 μm, n = 40), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical to clavate, with medium to long pedicel, 10–90 μm (= 36.6 μm, n = 40), apically rounded, sub apically thickened with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 22–30 × 4–8.7 μm (x = 25.2 × 6.8 μm, n = 50) uniseriate to biseriately arranged, partially overlapping, constricted at the septa, smooth-walled, hyaline, fusiform to ellipsoidal, 1–2-guttulate, each cell contains a large guttule closer to the central septum, with or without an indistinct mucilaginous sheath, with distinct, partly curved, hyaline, polar appendages 2–8 μm (= 5.5 μm, n = 35) long and 1–3 μm (= 2.6 μm, n = 35) wide at both ends. Asexual morph: Undetermined

Culture characteristics:— Ascospores germinating on seawater agar within 24 hours, germ tubes arising from terminal ends of the ascospore. Colonies on malt extract agar, slow growing, reaching 2.5 cm diameter after 25 days of incubation at room temperature, initially dirty white to light grey becoming dark grey at maturity, surface convex, undulate, irregular, reverse pale yellow in the centre and hyaline at margins. Mycelium hyaline 1–4 μm diameter, hyaline, branched, septate, not producing asexual or sexual propagules even after incubation for 3 months at room temperature.

Known distribution: ― INDIA, on intertidal wood of Aegiceras corniculatum , Primulaceae .

Material examined: ― INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur, Muthupet mangroves (10.4°N 79.5°E), on intertidal wood of Aegiceras corniculatum ( L.) Blanco ( Primulaceae ), 28 November 2015, B. Devadatha ( AMH 9887, holotype), ibid. isotype PUHD 62 at Pondicherry University; ex-type living culture, MTCC 12733.

Notes:―Morphological and phylogenetic data of Vaginatispora microarmatispora showed affinities with the marine species, V. armatispora . Vaginatispora microarmatispora shares similar characteristics of ascomata, asci and ascospores as those of V. armatispora , including the arm-like polar appendages ( Table 2). However, V. microarmatispora differs from V. armatispora in having a medium to longer slit-like neck, a thicker peridium, asci that are larger, and ascospores having a distinct larger guttule in each cell, shorter in length (22–30 × 4–8.7 μm) ( V. armatispora 28–39.2 × 7–9.8 μm), and lacks or has only a slight mucilaginous sheath ( V. armatispora has a narrow mucilaginous sheath).

Vaginatispora microarmatispora ( Fig. 2 ) morphologically differs from V. fuckelii in having longer ascospores (22–30 × 4–8.7 μm), with distinct partly curved hyaline terminal appendages, while V. fuckelii has shorter ascospores (15–17 × 4–5 μm) and globose appendages at both ends. Vaginatispora microarmatispora is different from V. aquatica in having shorter ascospores (22–30 × 4–8.7 μm) with appendages. Vaginatispora microarmatispora shares similarities with V. appendiculata in having a large guttule in each cell, with or without mucilaginous sheath and being constricted at the septum. However, V. appendiculata differs from V. microarmatispora by occurring in both freshwater and terrestrial habitats and having longer ascospores (40–45 × 10–15 μm) with distinct hyaline polar appendages (3–6 μm long). Vaginatispora microarmatispora differs in having shorter ascospores (22–30 × 4–8.7 μm), with distinct partly curved hyaline terminal appendages (2–8 μm) long and (1–3 μm) wide, at the both ends.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Vaginatispora microarmatispora (holotype). a–b. Ascomata immersed, aggregated, erumpent on the dead wood of Aegiceras corniculatum. c–d. Longitudinal sections of ascomata e. Ostiole with periphyses. f. Section of peridium comprising inner hyaline to pale brown cells of textura angularis. g. Cellular and hyaline pseudoparaphyses. h–j, l. Immature and matured asci. k. Ascospore with an indistinct mucilaginous sheath and distinct hyaline appendages. m–p. Ascospores with large guttules. o. Ascospore stained in Indian ink. q. Germ tubes developed from terminal ends of ascospore. Scale bars: c–d = 100 μm, e, j, l = 50 μm, f–h, k, m–q = 10 μm.