Diplopodomyces ramosus Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira, 2018

Santamaría, Sergi, Enghoff, Henrik & Reboleira, Ana Sofía P. S., 2018, New species of Troglomyces and Diplopodomyces (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) from millipedes (Diplopoda), European Journal of Taxonomy 429, pp. 1-20 : 8-10

Diplopodomyces ramosus Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira sp. nov.

MycoBank No: MB824138

Fig. 3

Diagnosis

Characterized by a very long and ramified primary appendage, by the scattered antheridia along the main axis of the appendage and by the stocky perithecium bearing four conspicuous acute lips on the apex.

Etymology

The species epithet means “branched”, in relation to the large and ramified primary appendage.

Material examined

Holotype

TURKEY: Mugla province, Toparlar, on Pachyiulus sp. ( Julida ), under litter and logs in a wet Liquidambar orientalis forest, 13 Nov. 2013, H. Sundberg leg., slide C-F-92268 .

Paratypes

REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: Nerez - Gornja Voda near Üsküb (Skopje) , NHMW no. 8725, 6 Jun. 1906 [ex. Mus. Wien, Inv. No. NHMW 8724], on Pachyiulus cattarensis, Slide SS E619 (BCB- Mycotheca); ibidem, 21 May 1906, slides SS E620 a and SS E620b (BCB-Mycotheca). Millipede host specimen in NHMW .

KOSOVO ( SERBIA): Kacanik, oak forest, 22 May 1906, Attems leg. [ex Mus. Wien, Inv. no. NHMW 8727], on one male and two females of Pachyiulus cattarensis , slides SS E623 a and SS E623b ( BCB- Mycotheca). Millipede host specimens in NHMW .

Description

Thallus yellowish-brown, often darker on cells II, III, VI, VII and perithecial basal cells, forming a defined stalk below the perithecium. Blackened foot, rather elongate and pointed.

Basal cell (I) 3‒4 times as long as broad, with slightly divergent margins towards the apex and nearly parallel margins in the central area; straight except for the constricted, curved and geniculate base above the foot. Suprabasal cell (II) trapezoidal, almost isodiametric or slightly broader than long. Septum I-II horizontal. Cell III 1.5 times as long as broad, cylindrical (rectangular in optical section), adnate to cell VI and to the base of the perithecium. Septum II-III slightly oblique. Septum II-VI strongly oblique.

Primary appendage very long, consisting of a main axis of 6–9 cells which are 3–4 times longer than broad, each bearing 1‒3 flask-shaped antheridia on distal and relatively large corner cells. The appendage ramifies approximately above the 4th cell, where corner cells grow into thin, long, and flexuous branches, which often ramify again forming a confused mass of appendages glued together with dirt. Primary

septum (a) well defined by a constriction and contrasting colour between the darker cell III and the pale basal cell of primary appendage, below the base of the perithecium.

Perithecial stalk cell (VI) rhomboidal, arranged obliquely between cells II and VII; slightly smaller than cell II. Secondary stalk cell (VII) and basal cells of perithecium (n, m, n’) well defined, forming a more or less defined stalk or pedicel under the ascogenic mass of the perithecium. Perithecium broadly elliptical, with a constricted lower third, an inflated venter, and a narrow tip; the apex bears 4 small, acute, teeth-like ligulae, resembling teeth, formed by the w4 tier of perithecial wall cells.

Length from foot to apex of perithecium 248‒336 µm. Perithecium (including basal cells) 130‒182 × 51‒ 67 µm. Ascospores 105‒111 µm long. Primary appendage (from primary septum to apex, undamaged) 432–860 µm long.

Remarks

This species grows on male hosts around the gonopods and on females close to the gonopores at the base of leg-pairs 1 and 2. In this feature it is analogous with Diplopodomyces veneris Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira (Santamaría et al. 2014) but despite this coincidence, the morphological characteristics of both species are incomparable. Moreover, Diplopodomyces ramosus Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira sp. nov. does not show dimorphism in relation to the host sex.

The spiny remains of the spore apex (sx) is not visible on mature thalli. Only one very young thallus has been observed showing this characteristic (sx, Fig. 3E ). The four small ligulae of the perithecial apex are well distinguished only in over-mature thalli, not when ascospores start being visible inside the perithecium ( Fig. 3F ) (which is the usual condition for most Laboulbeniales when we referring to a mature perithecium).

The four ligulae protrude when most of the external wall of the perithecium is broken and the ascospores have been released.

Both host species belong to the problematic genus Pachyiulus Berlese, 1883 ( Frederiksen et al. 2012). Pachyiulus cattarensis occurs in forests as well as open areas from sea level up to 2400 m ( Kime & Enghoff 2017).

Figures

Fig. 3. Diplopodomyces ramosus Santam., Enghoff & Reboleira sp. nov. A–C. Mature thalli with labelling of cells and other elements. D. Immature perithecium showing the trichogyne (tr). E. Young thallus showing the spinous remains of the original spore apex (sx). F. Slightly immature perithecium. G. Detail of antheridia. H. Detail of well mature perithecium apex showing acute ligulae. Scale bars: 50 µm (A‒C, F), 25 µm (D‒E, G), and 10 µm (H). Photographs from: slides SS E583a (A, C, E, H), C-F-92268 (B), SS E620a (D, G) and SS E623b (F).