Elotespora mumbaiensis Rashmi Dubey, 2021

Dubey, Rashmi, 2021, Elotespora mumbaiensis sp. nov.: A novel species of Anamorphic Ascomycota reported from Peninsular India, Phytotaxa 529 (1), pp. 177-180 : 178-179

Elotespora mumbaiensis Rashmi Dubey sp. nov. ( Fig.1 )

MycoBank MB 840079

Mycelium mostly immersed. Conidiomata eustromatic, cyathiform, scattered, almost superficial somewhat immersed on the substratum, dark brown to black, layers of cell forming textura angularis, unilocular, 22–30 μm diam., 11–14 μm deep. Conidiophores not observed, Conidiogenous cells not observed. Conidogenesis not observed, but Conidiomatal ‘cup’ like structure is visible both under the compound microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope, Conidial secession is not observed, but some part of the conidiomatal ‘cup’ is still attached on the base of seceded conidial chain indicating that conidia are produced directly from the conidiomatal ‘cup’. Conidia are produced directly from the conidiomata and forms acropetal chains having 2–5 conidia per chain, and the chains are sometimes branched. Conidia dry, muriform, initially brown, on maturity turn blackish brown at the apical and basal end, elongated to ellipsoidal, sometimes twisted, 42–80 × 15–24 μm (60.27 × 21.23, n=15) widely obtuse/rounded at the apex, truncate at the base, basal conidia straight and wider than other apical conidia, sometimes conidia initials are also visible on the lateral sides of conidia indicating the branching pattern of the conidial chain.

Additional Material/cultures examined: Culture was obtained on Potato Dextrose Agar ( PDA) medium and malt extract agar medium ( MEA) with different light and dark conditions. Vegetative hyphae grew on medium on seven days but did not sporulate, and culture died.

Gene sequence ex-holotype: Not known.

Teleomorh: not observed

Habitat and distribution: Terrestrial, Maharashtra, India

Holotype: IND356 , Maharashtra, Mumbai, Sanjay Gandhi National Park , Yeoor range (19° 14’ 01.97” N 72° 57’ 06.90” E) 16 th October 2018, Rashmi Dubey, on Dead twig litter, holotype deposited in Botanical Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune, 209219 BSI ( WC), Mycobank MB 840079

Etymology: species named after the place (city) of collection ( Mumbai)

Figures

FIGURE 1. Elotespora mumbaiensis sp. nov.: A–C. Chain of conidia attached to host surface, D–F. Part of conidiomatal cup attached at the basal end of conidia chain (arrowed), G conidia chain initials attached on the lateral sides of conidia, H. Blackish brown apical and basal end of conidia, I. Broad and straight basal conidia, J. Scanning Electron Microscopic images showing chain of conidia (arrowed), K. Scanning Electron Microscopic images of conidiomatal cup (arrowed), L. Host stem infested with fungal colonies (arrowed), (Scale bar A–G & I = 20 μm, H=10 μm, J–K= 10 μm)