Cytospora hippophaes Thum.

Fan, Xin-Lei, Hyde, Kevin D., Yang, Qin, Liang, Ying-Mei, Ma, Rong & Tian, Cheng-Ming, 2015, Cytospora species associated with canker disease of three anti-desertification plants in northwestern China, Phytotaxa 197 (4), pp. 227-244 : 236-238

Cytospora hippophaes Thum. , Fungi austr.: 282 (1872) ( Fig. 6 )

Host and Distribution:—Known from Hippophae rhamnoides in Australia, China, and Spain.

Pathogen on twigs and branches of Hippophae rhamnoides . Sexual state:—Stromata immersed in bark. Ascostromata, erumpent through the surface of bark, lenticular, extending to a large circular area, (1100–)1170–1600(–1710) μm (average = 1370 μm, n = 20) in diameter. Conceptacle absent. Disc white to light brown, usually surrounded by tightly ostiolar necks, nearly flat, circular to ovoid, (390–)420–770(–820) μm (average = 560 μm, n = 20) in diameter. Ostioles numerous, at the same level as the disc or slightly above, concentrated, dark brown to black, arranged circularly in a disc, (55.7–)58.5–88.1(–89) μm (average = 73.3 μm, n = 20) in diameter. Locules dark brown, arranged circularly to triangularly, flask-shaped to spherical, (260–)280–320(–360) μm (average = 300 μm, n = 20) in diameter. Asci free, clavate to elongate obovoid, (33.8–)38.6–47.4(–49.5) × (5.1–)5.9–7.8(–8.2) μm (average = 44.5 × 7.1 μm, n = 20), 8-spored. Ascospores biseriate, elongate-allantoid, thin-walled, hyaline, eguttulate, aseptate, (10.4–)11.8–15(–16.1) × (2.6–)3–4.1(–4.4) μm (average = 13.6 × 3.4 μm, n = 50).

Asexual state:—Stromata immersed in bark. Conidiomata, erumpent through the surface of bark, flat to discoid, with multi-locules. Conceptacle absent. Disc light brown, nearly flat, ovoid to ellipsoid, (230–) 270–460(–480) μm (average = 360 μm, n=20) in diameter, with 3–5 ostioles per disc. Ostioles at the same level as the disc, dark grey to black, surrounded below disc by lighter entostroma, (72.3–)75.1–107.9(–109.5) μm (average = 98.2 μm, n = 20) in diameter. multi-locules arranged regularly with common walls, (910–)950–1190(–1220) μm (average = 1070 μm, n = 20) in diameter. Conidiophores hyaline, unbranched, or occasionally branched at the bases, (15.1–)15.6–21.9(–22.2) μm (average = 18.7 μm, n = 20). Conidia hyaline, elongate-allantoid, aseptate, eguttulate, (7.2–)7.7–10(–10.8) × (1.4–)1.8–2.3(–2.5) μm (average = 9.2 × 2.1 μm, n = 50).

Cultures:—Colony originally white, and producing dark brown pigment after 7–10 days, flat, felt-like, with concentric circular texture, conidiomata irregular on medium surface.

Material examined:— CHINA Ningxia Province: Guyuan, Jingyuan , Baimian No. 2 Middle School, 35°25’08.02” N, 106°24’00.64” E, 1760 m asl., on twigs and branches of Hippophae rhamnoides , collected by X. L. Fan, 22 Jul 2013 ( BJFC-S966 ) ; living culture, CFCC 89636 ; Guyuan, Liupan Mountain , 36°03’01.77” N, 106°14’20.83” E, 2094 m asl., on twigs and branches of Hippophae rhamnoides , collected by X. L. Fan, 15 Jul 2013 ( BJFC-S970 ) ; living culture, CFCC 89637 ; Shaanxi Province, Yulin, Yulin Middle School , 38°14’03.73” N, 109°44’22.92” E, 1055 m asl., on twigs and branches of Hippophae rhamnoides , collected by X. L. Fan, 30 Jul 2013 ( BJFC-S974 ) ; living culture, CFCC 89638 ; Gansu Province, Gannan, Diebu, Dianga , Jiangba , 34°02’06.70” N, 103°12’06.25” E, 2770 m asl., on twigs and branches of Hippophae rhamnoides , collected by X. L. Fan, 9 Aug 2012 ( BJFC-S779 ) ; living culture (from conidia), CFCC 89639 ; ibid., living culture (from ascospore), CFCC 89640 .

Notes: Cytospora hippophaes was recorded from Hippophae rhamnoides and has also been reported from Australia, China, and Spain. However, these records lacked any detailed description, illustrations, and molecular data ( Gonzalez 1916; Saccardo 1884; Zhuang 2005). Isolates CFCC 89637, CFCC 89638, and CFCC 89639 were shown to be C. hippophaes based on morphology and host ( Saccardo 1884, Zhuang 2005). In the current study, this species from Hippophae rhamnoides is redescribed firstly with both states with illustrations and phylogeny.

Cytospora hippophaes has not been epitypified and therefore we treat BJFC-S779 as an authentic specimen. This has proved as consistent results from several other authors without epitypification ( Saccardo 1884, Zhuang 2005). It makes sense to epitypify this here for further study. Thus fresh collections of Cytospora hippophaes are needed for epitypification.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Morphology of Cytospora hippophaes from Hippophae rhamnoides (BJFC-S779). a, d: Habit of conidiomata on twig. b, c: Longitudinal sections through conidiomata. e, f: Transverse sections through conidiomata. g: Conidiophores. h: Conidia. i: Colonies on PDA at 3 days (left) and 30 days (right). j: Habit of ascomata on twig. k: Longitudinal sections through ascomata. l: Disc of ascomata on twig. m: Transverse sections through ascomata. n: Asci. o: ascospores. p: Colonies on PDA at 3 days (left) and 30 days (right). Scale bars: a, j=1 mm; b–f, k–m=0.5 mm; g=20 μm; h=5 μm; n–o=10 μm.