Spiropes caribensis Hol.-Jech., Ceska Mykol. 38(2): 113, 1984

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 caribensis Hol.-Jech., Ceska Mykol. 38(2): 113, 1984

Fig. 5

Description.

Colonies effuse, dark brown to black, velvety to hairy. Hyphae superficial, branched, septate, 1.5-3.5 µm wide, pale olivaceous-brown, smooth. Conidiophores arising singly, erect or ascending, straight or flexuous, septate, up to 240 µm long, 4-8 µm thick, pale brown to brown, smooth, with few scars. Conidia solitary, straight or slightly curved, obclavate, central cells barrel-shaped, 3-septate, (30-)36-48(-41.5) × (7.5-)9.5-11.5 µm, 4.5-6 µm wide at the truncate base, the central cells pale brown, the cells at the ends paler and almost hyaline, smooth.

Specimen examined.

On Meliola sp. on leaves of an unknown palm-tree, Cuba, Isla de La Juventud (= Isla de Pinos), Los Indios, south-west of La Cañada, 1981, V. Holubová-Jechová (PRM 831531, holotype).

Known hosts and distribution.

On Meliola sp. on living leaves of an unidentified palm tree in Cuba ( Holubová-Jechová and Sierra 1984).

Illustrations.

This species was illustrated by Holubová-Jechová and Sierra (1984).

Notes.

Spiropes caribensis is similar to S. helleri , but differs from the latter by paler conidia, with wider truncate base ( S. helleri has conidia with a truncate base 3-4 µm wide) and shorter conidiophores (up to 600 µm long in S. helleri ; Holubová-Jechová and Sierra (1984)). As seen by SEM, conidia of S. caribensis are smooth (Fig. 5b ), while conidia of S. helleri are distinctly reticulated (Fig. 13e ). The scars could not be observed by SEM and it is, therefore, necessary to collect fresh specimens of this fungus for further morphological analyses. S. caribensis is only known from the type specimen.

Figures

Figure 5. Spiropes caribensis (PRM 8311531) a conidia shown in optical section b, c as seen by SEM b conidium c basis of a conidium with a flat scar. Scale bars: 10 μm (a); 9 μm (b); 4 μm (c).

Figure 13. Spiropes helleri (IMI 130940) a superficial hyphae growing on a colony of Meliola sp. on a leaf of Cupania guatemalensis b conidiophore growing on a hypha of Meliola sp. shown in optical section c conidia shown in optical section (drawing on the left-hand side) and as seen by SEM (drawing on the right-hand side) d, e as seen by SEM d part of a conidiophore with a scar e conidium. Scale bars: 1 mm (a); 5 μm (b); 6 μm (c); 4 μm (b); 5 μm (c).