Asterina myristicae, Hosagoudar & Sabeena, 2011

Hosagoudar, V. B. & Sabeena, A., 2011, The genus Asterina (Asterinaceae) on the members of Myristicaceae in Kerala State, India, Journal of Threatened Taxa 3 (10), pp. 2143-2146 : 2144

Asterina myristicae sp. nov.

( Fig. 2 )

Material examined: 07.i.2008, on leaves of Myristica sp. (Myristicaceae) , Arboretum, TBGRI Campus, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, K. Anilkumar TBGT (holotype) (MycoBank 563496). Part of the collection has been deposited in HCIO, New Delhi.

Coloniae hypophyllae, tenues, crustosae, ad 3mm diam., confluentes. Hyphae subrectae, flexuosae vel

a - Appressoriate mycelium; b - Thyriothecium; c - Ascus;

d - Ascospores; e - Pycnothyriospores

leniter anfractuae, opposite, alternate vel irregulariter acuteque vel laxe ramosae, laxe vel arte reticulatae, cellulae 12–29 x 3–5 µm. Appressoria alternata, opposita, unilateralis,antrorsa, subantrorsa vel retrorsa, 1–3 cellula, recta, curvula, flexuosa vel anfractua, 9–35 µm longa; cellulae basilares unicellularis vel 1–2 septatis, rectae, flexuosae vel anfractuae, 3–27 µm longae; cellulae apicales ovatae, oblongae, rectae vel curvulae, integrae vel sublobatae, 4–11 x 3–8 µm. Thyriothecia dispersa vel aggregata, orbicularis vel leniter ovata, ad 160µm diam., margine crenatae, stellatim dehiscentes ad centre; asci numerosi, globosi vel ovati, octospori, 19–40 x 16–25 µm; ascosporae brunneae, oblongae, conglobatae, uniseptatae, 16– 21 x 8–10 µm, parietus glabrus. Pycnothyriosporae brunneae, pyriformes, unicellularis, 12–15 x 6–10µm.

Colonies hypophyllous, thin, crustose, up to 3mm in diameter, confluent. Hyphae substraight, flexuous to slightly crooked, branching opposite, alternate to irregular at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells12–29 x 3–5 µm. Appressoria alternate, opposite, unilateral, antrorse, subantrorse to retrorse, 1–3 celled, straight, curved, flexuous to crooked, 9–35 µm long; stalk cells unicellular to 1–2 septate, straight, flexuous to crooked, 3–27 µm long; head cells ovate, oblong, straight to curved, entire to sublobate, 4–11 x 3–8 µm. Thyriothecia scattered to grouped, orbicular to slightly ovate, up to 160µm in diameter, margin crenate, stellately dehisced at the centre; asci many, globose to ovate, octosporous, 19–40 x 16–25 µm; ascospores brown, oblong, conglobate, uniseptate, 16–21 x 8–10 µm, wall smooth. Pycnothyriospores brown, pyriform, unicellular, 12–15 x 6–10µm.

Note: This species stands distinct from all other Asterina species known on the members of Myristicaceae in having 1-3-celled appressoria.

Figures

Figure 2. Asterina myristicae sp. nov.