Phragmocephala garethjonesii H.Y. Su, Udayanga & K.D. Hyde, 2015

- Yan, Hong, Udayanga, Dhanushka, Luo, Zong-Long, Manamgoda, Dimuthu S., Zhao, Yong-Chang, Yang, Jing, Liu, Xiao-Ying, Mckenzie, Eric H. C., Zhou, De-Qun & Hyde, Kevin D., 2015, Hyphomycetes from aquatic habitats in Southern China: Species of Curvularia (Pleosporaceae) and Phragmocephala (Melannomataceae), Phytotaxa 226 (3), pp. 201-216 : 211-212

Phragmocephala garethjonesii H.Y. Su, Udayanga & K.D. Hyde , sp. nov.

Etymology: Named in honour of the mycologist Prof. E.B. Gareth Jones, in recognition of his contribution to the taxonomy of aquatic fungi in Asia.

Index Fungorum number: IF551025; Facesoffungi number: FOF 00574, Fig 6

Colonies superficial, scattered, glistening, dark brown. Mycelium partly immersed, composed of septate, dark brown, smooth hyphae. Conidiophores mononematous, macronematous, in fascicles, septate, unbranched, erect, dark brown at the base, pale brown at apex, 4–6-septate, 163.5–199.5 μm (x=181.5 μm, SD=18 μm, n=10) long and 4.5–6.5 μm (x=5.5 μm, SD=1 μm, n=10) wide. Conidiogenous cells monoblastic, light brown, terminal, integrated, elongated, pale brown. Conidia 28–35 (x=31.5 μm, SD=3.5 μm, n=45) long, 16.5–20.5 μm (x=18.5 μm, SD=2μm, n=45) wide, 5–6 septate, dark brown, paler at the apex and base, with dark brown middle cells; rounded at apex, truncate at base, ellipsoidal to subglobose; after release, the conidia bear part of the membranous conidiogenous cell; Conidial secession schizolytic.

Type:— CHINA. Yunnan Province, Canshang Mountain, on decaying wood submerged in a stream, March 2014, Hongyan Su WHXM 31-1(S-047) (HKAS 83992!, holotype) ex-type living culture, MFLUCC 15-0018.

Notes: Based on a megablast search of GenBank, the closest hits of the ITS sequences are uncultured fungus clone CMH233 (GenBank KF800324; Identities = (473/502(94%)), Calluna vulgaris root associated fungus (GenBank FM172853; Identities = 469/499(94%)) and uncultured Pleosporales clone FM029.3 (GenBank JF691066; Identities = 467/498(94%)). The new species described here is morphologically distinct from the type species of the genus Phragmocephala elliptica (Berk. & Broome) S. Hughes. In P. elliptica the two central cells are the largest, and are dark brown to very dark brown, with a broad black band over the central septum; narrower dark bands are formed over the other septa. The two cells at each end of the conidium are smaller and pale brown to brown and conidia are (29–) 36–41 × 18–21.5 μm. Phragocephala garethjonesii can be distinguished from the P. elliptica by its characteristic pale brown single cell at both ends of the conidium. The conidia of type species, P. elliptica comprise 2 or more pale brown or hyaline cells in the type species. However, the ex-type cultures or sequence data of any of the known species of Phragmocepahla are not available. Based on the morphological and ecological distinctiveness, we therefore describe this freshwater species as a novel taxon.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Phragmocephala garethjonesii (holotype) a. Fungus on substrate; b, c. Squash mount of synnemata in distilled water; d–e. Conidia attached to conidiophore; f–k. Conidia; l. Germinating conidium; m Surface view of cultures on PDA; n. Reverse view of cultures on PDA. Scale bars: b = 70 μm, c = 100 μm, d–e = 20 μm, f–l =15 μm.