Spiropes leonensis M.B. Ellis, Mycol. Pap. 114: 15, 1968

Bermudez-Cova, Miguel A., Hofmann, Tina A., Yorou, Nourou S. & Piepenbring, Meike, 2024, Systematic revision of species of Atractilina and Spiropes hyperparasitic on Meliolales (Ascomycota) in the tropics, MycoKeys 103, pp. 167-213 : 167

Spiropes leonensis M.B. Ellis, Mycol. Pap. 114: 15, 1968

Fig. 17

Description.

Colonies effuse, grey to dark blackish-brown, hairy. Hyphae superficial, branched, septate, 2-6 µm wide, pale brown, smooth. Conidiophores arising singly, as terminal and lateral branches on the hyphae, erect, straight or flexuous, septate, up to 700 µm long, 8-12 µm thick, sometimes swollen to 16-17 µm at the base, dark brown to dark blackish-brown, paler towards the apex, smooth, with scattered conidial scars. Conidia solitary, obclavate, rostrate, 3(-4)-septate, (38-)40-54(-63) × (8-)10-11(-13) µm, 4-6 µm wide at the truncate base, pale brown to brown, verruculose. As seen by SEM, the ornamentation of the spores is distinctly reticulated, with thin networks and no ridges. It was not possible to see the scars by SEM.

Specimen examined.

On Meliola garciniae on leaves of Pentadesma butyracea ( Clusiaceae ), Sierra Leone, Rokupr, 1951, F.C. Deighton M3920 (IMI 46589b, holotype); on Meliola garciniae on Pentadesma butyracea , Sierra Leone, near Rokupr, 1939, F.C. Deighton (IMI 9992a, type of Spiropes leonensis ).

Illustrations.

This species was illustrated by Ellis (1968).

Known hosts and distribution.

On colonies of Meliola garciniae on living leaves of Pentadesma butyracea ( Clusiaceae ) in Sierra Leone ( Ellis 1968).

Notes.

Spiropes leonensis is similar to S. helleri by the presence of rostrate, obclavate, 3-septate conidia ( Ellis 1968). However, conidia in S. helleri are smaller (36-43 µm).

Figures

Figure 17. Spiropes leonensis (IMI 46589 b) a conidiophore with scars and a young conidium, shown in optical section b part of a conidiophore growing on a hypha of Meliola sp., shown in optical section c conidia shown in optical section (first two drawings, from left to right) and as seen by SEM d conidium as seen by SEM. Scale bars: 8.5 μm (a-c); 7 μm (d).