Asterina dysoxyli P.D. Natekar, A.P. Patil, C.R. Patil, M.R. Bhise & S.V. Kambhar

Natekar, Pratik D., Patil, Anjali P., Patil, Chandrahas R., Bhise, Mahendra R. & Kambhar, Sidanand V., 2024, New teleomorphic and anamorphic taxa of Asterinaceous black mildew from Western coast of India, Phytotaxa 642 (1), pp. 73-83 : 74

Asterina dysoxyli P.D. Natekar, A.P. Patil, C.R. Patil, M.R. Bhise & S.V. Kambhar sp. nov. ( Fig. 1 )

MycoBank number: MB 849598

Etymology:—Based on the host genus.

Holotype:—AMH-10591

Colonies epiphyllous, thin to sub-dense, up to 3 mm in diameter, rarely confluent. Hyphae straight to flexuous, branching mostly opposite at acute angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 15–24 × 4–7 µm. Appressoria opposite, sub-opposite, alternate and solitary, conoid, ovate, ampulliform, unicellular, entire, angular to rarely lobate, 7.5–11 × 4–7.5 µm. Thyriothecia loosely grouped, orbicular, up to 180 µm in diameter, margin dentate to fringed, fringed hyphae tortuous, elongated and devoid of appressoria, thyriothecia dehiscing stellately at the center; asci many, globose, eight spored, 37–41 µm in diameter; ascospores conglobate, brown, uniseptate, deeply constricted at septum, cells unequal, 26.5–29 × 13–15 µm, wall smooth. Pycnothyria few, similar to thyriothecia, smaller; conidia brown, ovoid to pyriform, 15–22 × 10–13 µm, wall smooth.

Distribution:— India (Maharashtra).

Material examined:— INDIA. Maharashtra: Waravade, Ratnagiri , on leaves of Dysoxylum gotadhora (Buch.- Ham.) Mabb. ( Meliaceae ), 16°56’67” N, 73°83’48” E, 80 m, 23 December 2021, Pratik Dilip Natekar- 5304, AMH-10591 (holotype) .

Notes:—Four species of Asterina have been reported on four hosts of Meliaceae viz. Asterina aglaiae Hosag. on Aglaia sp. ; A. chukrasiae Hosag. on Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss. ; A. cipadessae Yates on Cipadessa baccifera (Roxb. ex Roth) Miq. ; and A. trichiliae Doidge on Heynea trijuga Roxb. ex Sims , none of which match the present collection ( Table 1 ). There is no record of Asterina on the present host. Therefore, based on the host specificity, the present collection is treated as a new species.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Asterina dysoxyli. A. Infected leaf. B. Mycelial colony. C. Thyriothecium. D. Asci. E. Ascospores. F. Conidia. G. Mycelial colony with thyriothecium. H. Ascus. I. Ascospores. J. Conidia. Illustrated by Pratik D. Natekar.