Lembosia mahabaleshwarensis Bhise & Patil, 2014

Bhise, M. R., Patil, C. R. & Salunkhe, C. B., 2014, Two new species of asterinaceous fungi from Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India, Phytotaxa 184 (5), pp. 283-289 : 286

2. Lembosia mahabaleshwarensis Bhise & Patil , sp. nov.

Fig. 2

MycoBank MB 809994

Type: INDIA. Maharashtra: Mahabaleshwar, Par , on living leaves of Syzygium rubicundum , 17°55’22.30”N, 73°36’00.20”E, elev. 762m, 17 October 2013, Bhise M. R., HCIO 51673 (holotype) .

Colonies amphigenous, mostly epiphyllous, closely scattered, crustose, confluent, dark black, up to 4 mm in diameter. Hyphae dark brown, substraight to flexuous, branching alternate to unilateral at acute to wide angles, loosely reticulate, cells 20–39 × 5–7 μm. Appressoria opposite, rarely alternate, distantly formed in closed groups of 3 to 4 pairs, mostly just below the end of hyphae, antrorse to subantrorse, bicelled, 16–21 μm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 5–7 × 6– 7 μm; head cells subglobose, ovate to oblong, straight to recurved, entire, 9–14 × 7–12 μm. Thyriothecia numerous, closely scattered, initially globose to orbicular, elliptic, elongate to irregular in shape, 314–838 × 240–329 μm, longitudinally fissured at center, sometimes forming Y shaped dehiscence at the center, margin crenate to fimbriate with fringed hyphae. Asci numerous, initially globose, obovate to oval, octosporous, 60–73 × 43–59 μm. Ascospores oblong, conglobate, golden yellow, uniseptate, slightly constricted at the septum, 38–43 × 16–18 μm, wall smooth.

Habitat/Distribution: Inhabiting living leaves of Syzygium rubicundum , along the streams in Par, Pratapgad, Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India.

Etymology: Specific epithet based on the name of the type location (Mahabaleshwar).

Other material examined: INDIA. Maharashtra: Mahabaleshwar, Pratapgad , on living leaves of Syzygium rubicundum , 17°56’10.70”N, 73°35’07.50”E, elev. 829m, 13 December 2013, Bhise M. R., HCIO 51674 .

Notes: About 12 species of Lembosia have been described on host species of Syzygium and Eugenia (Song and Hosagoudar 2003, Far and Rossman 2014). The literature survey revealed that, the present species is close to Lembosia hosagoudarii Sivan. & R. G. Shivas (2002:163) ; L. syzygii Sivan. & R.G. Shivas (2002:160) and L. syzygiicola (Hansf. 1944:115) Deighton (1978:518) , known on the host species of Syzygium from India, Australia and Uganda respectively (Song and Hosagoudar 2003, Hosagoudar 2012, Far and Rossman 2014). However, the new species differs from the related species in having larger appressoria mostly opposite and distantly arranged in groups of 3 to 4 pairs, larger ascospores which are slightly constricted at septum and smooth-walled ( Table 2). Lembosia mahabaleshwarensis can be easily distinguished by arrangement of appressoria and larger, smooth walled ascospores.

This species is associated with Asteridiella syzygii Hansf. (1957:50) and Asterina jambolanae Kar & Maity.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Lembosia mahabaleshwarensis (holotype). A. Infected leaves; B. Colony with thyriothecia; C, G. Appressoriate mycelium; D. Thyriothecium; E, H. Ascus; F, I. Ascospores.