Grandigallia M.E. Barr et al.

Ariyawansa, Hiran A., Kang, Ji-Chuan, Alias, Siti A., Chukeatirote, Ekachai & Hyde, Kevin D., 2013, Towards a natural classification of Dothideomycetes: The genera Dermatodothella, Dothideopsella, Grandigallia, Hysteropeltella and Gloeodiscus (Dothideomycetes incertae sedis), Phytotaxa 147 (2), pp. 35-47 : 40-42

Grandigallia M.E. Barr et al. , Mycotaxon 29: 196. 1987.

MycoBank MB12090

Parasitic on Polylepis cericea (Rosaceae) Ascostromata scattered, tissues composed of large thick-walled, with two to numerous locules. Locules base embedded and upper region becoming erumpent, globose to subglobose or obpyriform, coriaceous, rough, ostiolate. Ostiole broadly papillate, ostiolar canal filled with periphyses. Peridium comprising several layers of thick-walled, brown to dark brown. Hamathecium composed of dense cellular, septate, anastomosing and branched pseudoparaphyses. Asci 8-spored, fissitunicate, clavate to sub-cylindrical with a minute ocular chamber. Ascospores uniseriate or distichously arranged, partially overlapping, ellipsoidal to fusoid, but becoming narrowed towards the poles, brown to chestnut brown, multi-septate. Asexual state: unknown.

Type species: Grandigallia dictyospora M.E. Barr et al. , Mycotaxon 29: 196 (1987), MycoBank: MB 130504. FIG. 3 A–N .

Parasitic on Polylepis cericea (Rosaceae) . Ascostromata scattered, tissues composed of large thick-walled, dark brown to black cells, with two to numerous locules. Locules 610–700× 450–600 µm (x = 650× 500 µm, n = 10), base embedded and upper region becoming erumpent, globose to subglobose or obpyriform, wall dark brown to black, coriaceous, rough, ostiolate. Ostiole broadly papillate, ostiolar canal filled with a tissue of hyaline cells. Peridium 60–70 µm (x = 65 µm, n = 10) wide, comprising several layers of thick-walled, brown to dark brown, heavily pigmented small cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium composed of dense 2– 3 µm diam (x = 2.5 µm, n = 20), broad, numerous, cellular, septate, anastomosing and branched pseudoparaphyses, embedded in gelatinous matrix between and above the asci. Asci 100–250× 25–50 µm (x = 160× 30 µm, n = 20), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, clavate to sub-cylindrical, thickened and rounded at the apex and minute ocular chamber with a short, broad, pedicel. Ascospores 60–80× 15–20 µm (x = 70× 17 µm, n = 40), wide uniseriate or distichously arranged, partially overlapping, ellipsoidal to fusoid, but becoming narrowed towards the poles, brown to chestnut brown, multi-septate, thick, smooth-walled, without a sheath. Asexual state: unknown.

Notes: Grandigallia was introduced by Barr (1987) and is monotypic, represented by Grandigallia dictyospora . The fungus was collected on branches of Polylepis sericea in Venezuela where it forms large stromatic tissues on the host ( Barr 1987) A similar fungus was observed by Lewis [Ludwig] David von Schweinitz in 1822 on branches of Prunus sp. in north America, but these are clearly differentiated from Grandigallia in the shape of the ascomata, septation and colour of the ascospores ( Barr 1987) Grandigallia is somewhat similar to Shiraia bambusicola ( Hennings 1900) . Grandigallia shares similar characters to Shiraia in producing conspicuous stromatic tissues on the host, with papillate ostioles and muriform ascospores. Grandigallia differs in having black (as compared to orange) ascostromata, the thickness of the locule peridium (60–70 µm versus 30–40 µm)and in having asci with eight (versus six) ascospores. Barr (1987) suggested that Teichospora also shares some common features with Grandigallia in possessing muriform ascospores and obpyriform ascomata with a thick, layered peridium, but species of Teichospora do not form stromatic tissues on the host.

Based on the above morphological characters we suggest that Grandigallia can be referred to Pleosporales where it may be related to Shiraiacaeae. Therefore we place Grandigallia in Shiraiaceae . Molecular studies are needed to confirm this placement.

Material examined: Venezuela, Merida, parasitic on Polylepis sericea , December 1984, L. Cedeno, J. Parra, R. Hernandez (NY, isotype)

Schizothyriaceae Höhn. ex Trotter, Sacc., D. Sacc. & Traverso [as 'Schizothyrieae'], in Saccardo, Syll. fung. (Abellini) 24(2): 1254. 1928.

MycoBank: MB 81266

= Microthyriellaceae Luttr., Univ. Mo. Stud. 24(3): 79. 1951.

The family Schizothyriaceae was introduced by Höhn. ex Trotter, Sacc., D. Sacc. & Traverso (1928), and typified with Schizothyrium acerinum ( Hyde et al. 2013) Initially Clypeolum, Mycrothyriella , Polyclypeolum , Phragmothyriella and Schizothyrium were accepted to the family ( Hyde et al. 2013) The family is characterized by superficial, scutate or dimidiate, subcuticular ascomata or hysterothecia opening via a longitudinal slit, clavate, spherical or obovoid asci surrounded by a slimy mass or paraphyses-like filaments and uni to multi septate, hyaline or brownish ascospores ( Hyde et al. 2013)

Figures

FIGURE 3. Grandigallia dictyospora (holotype). A. Herbarium material. B–C. Close up of the ascostroma. D–E. Cross section of locules. F. Close up of locule wall. G. Close up of ostioles. H. Narrow, cellular pseudoparaphyses. I–K. Asci with short pedicel bearing 8 ascospores. L–M. Ellipsoidal to fusoid ascospores with smooth wall. Scale Bars: D–E = 200 µm, F–G = 30 µm, H = 10 µm, I–K = 30 µm, L–M = 5 µm.