Gibellula cebrennini Tasanathai, Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard, 2020

Kuephadungphan, Wilawan, Tasanathai, Kanoksri, Petcharad, Booppa, Khonsanit, Artit, Stadler, Marc & Luangsa-ard, J. Jennifer, 2020, Phylogeny- and morphology-based recognition of new species in the spider-parasitic genus Gibellula (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae) from Thailand, MycoKeys 72, pp. 17-42 : 17

Gibellula cebrennini Tasanathai, Kuephadungphan & Luangsa-ard sp. nov. Figure 2

Typification.

Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao Yai National Park, Mo Sing To Nature Trail; 14°711'N, 101°421'E; on Cebrenninus cf. magnus ( Thomisidae , Araneae ) attached to the underside of unidentified dicot leaf; 20 June 2012; K. Tasanathai, S. Mongkolsamrit, A. Khonsanit, W. Noisripoom, P. Srikitikulchai, K. Sansatchanon, R. Somnuk (Holotype no. BBH 35749, ex-type culture no. BCC 53604, isolated from ascospores and BCC 53605, isolated from conidia). GenBank (BCC 53605): ITS = MT477069, LSU = MT477062, TEF1 = MT503328, RPB1 = MT503321, RPB2 = MT503336.

Etymology.

Refers to its spider host.

Description.

Synnema arising from white to cream mycelial mat completely covering the spider host, cylindric, white to cream, slightly enlarged toward the sterile tip, consisting of multiseptate somewhat loosely bound longitudinal hyphae (Fig. 2a, c ). Conidiophores scattered, arising from a network of hyphae loosely attached to the surface of the synnema, occasionally from a mycelium covering the host, (45-)95-139(-150) × (5-)5.5-7(-8) μm, verrucose, multiseptate, tapering abruptly to a short distinct neck, enlarging into a broadly ellipsoid to globose vesicle, (4.5-)5.5-7.5(-8.5) μm in diam (Fig. 2g ). Metulae borne on vesicle, broadly obovoid to obovoid, (5-)6-7.5(-9) × (3-)4.5-6(-6.5) μm, bearing a group of narrowly obovoid phialides, thickened towards papillate apices, (4-)5.5-7.5(-9) × 1.5-2.5(-3.5) μm (Fig. 2h ). Vesicle, metulae and phialides forming spherical heads, (23-)24-29.5(-33.5) μm in diam (Fig. 2h ). Conidia fusiform, (4-)5.5-7.5(-9) × 1.5-2.5(-3.5) μm (Fig. 2i ). Perithecia developed on subiculum of the host, arranged sparingly, occasionally crowded, superficial with a loose covering of cream mycelia, reddish yellow, ovoid, (1,150-)1,209-1,400(-1,411) × (375-)427-505(-575) μm (Fig, 2b, d). Asci over 600 μm long, (3.5-)4-5(-6) μm wide, ascus cap, (6-)7-8.5(-10) × (3.5-)4-4.5(-5) μm (Fig. 2e ). Ascospores bacilliform, multiseptate, whole, over 570 μm long, 1-1.5 μm wide (Fig. 2f ). Granulomanus -like asexual morph often occurring on the mycelial mat covering the host body. Polyblastic and irregularly shaped phialides developing multiple denticles, each bearing filiform conidium , (6-)7.5-10(-12) × 1-1.5 μm (Fig. 2j ).

Culture characteristics.

Colonies derived from conidia, on PDA slow-growing, attaining a diam of 1.4 ± 0.05 cm in 4 weeks at 25 °C, white, velvety; reverse cream, becoming light brown with age toward center (Fig. 2k ). Sporulation not observed.

Additional specimen examined.

Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao Yai National Park, Kong Kaeo Waterfall; 14°711'N, 101°421'E; on Araneida , underside of unidentified dicot leaf; 28 November 2006; K. Tasanathai, W. Chaygate, B. Thongnuch (BBH 18890, BCC 23863); Mo Sing To Nature Trail; 14°711'N, 101°421'E; on Cebrenninus cf. magnus , underside of unidentified dicot leaf; 18 June 2008; J. Luangsa-ard, K. Tasanathai, S. Mongkolsamrit, B. Thongnuch, P. Srikitikulchai, R. Ridkaew, W. Chaygate, R. Promharn (BBH 24673, BCC 32072). On Cebrenninus cf. magnus , underside of unidentified dicot leaf; 11 September 2009; K. Tasanathai, P. Srikitikulchai, S. Mongkolsamrit, T. Chohmee, R. Ridkaew (BBH 32685, BCC 39705 and BCC 39706). On Cebrenninus cf. magnus , underside of unidentified dicot leaf; 6 June 2012; K. Tasanathai, S. Mongkolsamrit, A. Khonsanit, W. Noisripoom, P. Srikitikulchai (BBH 32589, BCC 53551).

Figures

Figure 2. Gibellula cebrennini a fungus on spider (BBH 35749) b perithecia c a part of synnema showing conidiophores d perithecium e asci with apical apparatus f ascospores g conidiophore h conidial head i conidia j granulomanus-like asexual morph k colonies obverse and reverse on PDA at 25 ° C after 28 days. Scale bars: 1 mm (d); 50 μm (e-f, g); 20 μm (h, j); 10 μm (i).