Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis Z.X. Zhang, J.W. Xia & X.G. Zhang, 2022

Hsu, Sheng-Yu, Xu, Yuan-Cheng, Lin, Yu-Chen, Chuang, Wei-Yu, Lin, Shiou-Ruei, Stadler, Marc, Tangthirasunun, Narumon, Cheewangkoon, Ratchadawan, AL-Shwaiman, Hind A., Elgorban, Abdallah M. & Ariyawansa, Hiran A., 2024, Hidden diversity of Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis (Amphisphaeriales, Sporocadaceae) species allied with the stromata of entomopathogenic fungi in Taiwan, MycoKeys 101, pp. 275-312 : 275

Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis Z.X. Zhang, J.W. Xia & X.G. Zhang, 2022

Fig. 9

Description.

On carnation leaves ( Dianthus caryophyllus ) supplanted on WA (NTUPPMCC 18-163). Sexual morph was not observed in culture. Asexual morph: Conidiomata acervular, globose, semi-immersed, solitary or gregarious, 50-250 μm diam.; oozing globose, dark brown to black conidial masses. Conidiophores obclavate to subcylindrical, hyaline, smooth, annelidic, indistinct and frequently merged to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells ampulliform to subcylindrical, hyaline to pale brown, smooth, (2-)2.3-3.6(-5.2) × (5.4-)6.4-9(-10.1) μm, x- ± SD = 2.9 ± 0.7 × 7.7 ± 1.3 μm. Conidia fusoid to oval, straight or slightly curved, 4-septate, smooth, (4.7-)4.8-5.6(-6.4) × (22.6-)23.7-26.4(-28.5) μm, x- ± SD = 5.2 ± 0.4 × 25 ± 1.3 μm, bearing appendages; basal cell obconic with a truncate base, hyaline, thin-walled, (2.9-)4.3-5.5(-5.9) μm long, x- ± SD = 4.9 ± 0.6 μm; three median cells doliiform to subcylindrical, versicoloured, septa darker than the rest of the cell, thick-walled, the first median cell from base pale brown, (4.4-)4.6-5.4(-6.3) μm long (x- ± SD = 5 ± 0.4), the second median cell honey-brown to brown, (4.1-)4.4-5.2(-5.6) μm long (x- ± SD = 4.8 ± 0.4 μm), the third median cell brown, (4.6-)4.8-5.5(-5.9) μm long (x- ± SD = 5.2 ± 0.4 μm), together (13.4-)14.1-15.9(-17.5) μm long (x- ± SD = 15 ± 0.9 μm); apical cell conical to subcylindrical with a truncate or acute apex, hyaline, thick-walled, (3.5-)4.6-5.6(-6) μm long (x- ± SD = 5.1 ± 0.5 μm). Appendages tubular, hyaline, straight or slightly bent, apical appendage 2-3 (mostly 3), unbranched, (15.5-)17.7-25.5(-33.4) μm long (x- ± SD = 21.6 ± 3.9 μm), basal appendage single, centric, unbranched, (3.2-)4-6.3(-8.2) μm long (x- ± SD = 5.1 ± 1.2 μm).

Culture characteristics.

Colonies on PDA reaching 45.65 mm diam. on average after culturing at 25 °C in the dark for seven days, filamentous to circular, flat with undulate edge, aerial mycelium moderate dense, white to grey white; reverse similar in colour.

Materials examined.

Taiwan, New Taipei City, Sanxia District, Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area , on stroma of Ophiocordyceps sp. parasitic on an insect ( Hymenoptera ), 1 August 2018, Wei-Yu Chuang, living culture NTUPPMCC 18-163 (= CD04) . Taiwan, Yilan County, Fushan Botanical Garden , on stroma of Ophiocordyceps sp. parasitic on an insect ( Hymenoptera ), 19 July 2018, Wei-Yu Chuang, living culture NTUPPMCC 18-164 (= CD05) . Taiwan, New Taipei City, Sanxia District, Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area , on stroma of Tolypocladium sp. hyperparasitic on an ascocarps of Elaphomyces sp. ( Ascomycota), 15 July 2021, Yu-Chen Lin, living culture NTUPPMCC 21-057 (= CD12) .

Notes.

Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis revealed that three newly-identified strains (NTUPPMCC 18-163, NTUPPMCC 18-164 and NTUPPMCC 21-057) form a clade closely associated with the ex-type strain of N. haikouensis SAUCC 212271, with robust statistical support (MLB = 100%, MPB = 96%, PP = 1.00). Additionally, the DNA sequences of ITS (100%), tub2 (99.73%) and tef1-α (99.77%) genes of NTUPPMCC 18-163 closely resemble those of the ex-type strain of N. haikouensis (SAUCC 212271) and the morphological features of NTUPPMCC 18-163 align with the original taxonomic description in Zhang et al. (2022). Hence, based on both the phylogenetic analysis utilising DNA sequence data and morphological characteristics, strains NTUPPMCC 18-163, NTUPPMCC 18-164 and NTUPPMCC 21-057 were identified as Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis . To the best of our knowledge, this study marks the first report of N. haikouensis in Taiwan.

Figures

Figure 9. Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis (NTUPPMCC 18 - 163 = CD 04) A the original habitat of Neopestalotiopsis haikouensis; the stroma of Ophiocordyceps sp. B top view (left) and bottom view (right) of the colony on potato dextrose agar (PDA) after incubation for seven days C conidiomata on carnation leaf D, E conidiogenous cells and immature conidia F-I conidia. Scale bars: 250 μm (C); 20 μm (D-I).