Massarioramusculicola chiangraiensis Huanraluek., Thambugala & Hyde, 2018

Huanraluek, Naruemon, Thambugala, Kasun M., Wang, Yong & Hyde, Kevin D., 2018, Introducing Massarioramusculicola, a novel genus in Massariaceae, Phytotaxa 371 (1), pp. 17-24 : 20

Massarioramusculicola chiangraiensis Huanraluek., Thambugala & Hyde , sp. nov. Fig. 2

Index Fungorum number: IF554426; Facesoffungi number: FoF 04479

Etymology: — The epithet ‘‘chiangraiensis’’ refers to Chiang Rai Province where the holotype was collected.

Life mode: saprobic; Habitat: on a dead twigs in terrestrial environments. Sexual morph: Ascomata 150–250 μm high × 180–260 μm diam., immersed to semi-immersed, solitary or scattered, coriaceous, globose to subglobose, black, uniloculate, ostiolate. Peridium (15–)20–40 μm wide, composed of two strata; outer stratum comprising several layers of dark brown to black, thick-walled cells of textura angularis fusing at the outside with the host tissues, inner stratum comprising several layers of lightly pigmented to hyaline, somewhat compressed, thin-walled cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium comprising 1–2 μm wide, cylindrical to filiform, trabeculae, rarely branched and septate, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 70–86 × 8–11 μm (x = 77 × 9.2 μm, n = 15), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical, short pedicellate, with a distinct ocular chamber. Ascospores 20–24(–26) × (3.5–)4–5.8 μm (x = 22.6 × 4.8 μm, n = 45), overlapping 1–2-seriate, hyaline, fusiform, 0–1-septate when young, becoming 3-septate at maturity, slightly constricted at the septa, guttulate when young, surrounded by a thin mucilaginous sheath, smooth-walled. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Culture characteristics:— Colonies growing on MEA, reaching a diameter of 15 mm after 7 d at 25 °C, circular to slightly irregular, flat to slightly raised, dense, surface white, reverse saffron to brown, white at the margin, smooth surface with entire to slightly undulate edge.

Specimen examined:— Thailand, Chiang Rai Province, Mueang District, on dead twig, 28 January 2017, Naruemon Huanraluek, Ts 1 ( MFLU 18–0632 holotype), ibid. ( HKAS isotype), ex-type living culture MFLUCC 17– 2240 = ICMP 22458 ; GenBank accession no. ITS: MH040227 , SSU: MH040229 .

Notes:— The genus Massarioramusculicola has somewhat similar morphological characteristics traits as Neomassaria and is clearly different from Massaria , whereas the latter has larger ascomata typically firmly embedded in pseudostromatic tissues intermixed with substrate cells, often surrounded by blackened marginal zones and covered by a dark clypeus, as well as brown to dark brown, larger, 3-disto- or euseptate ascospores. However, Massarioramusculicola and Neomassaria can be clearly distinguished using several characters as mentioned in the key to genera of Massariaceae . Massarioramusculicola and Neomassaria are reported as monotypic genera and the type species of Massarioramusculicola is recorded in Thailand on dead twigs of an unknown host, while the type species of Neomassaria was reported in Italy from dead branches of Hippocrepis emerus (L.) Lassen. Moreover, in the present phylogenetic analysis Massarioramusculicola clearly groups as a distinct lineage in Massariaceae with a high BS support (fig.1). In present study three genera are accepted in Massariaceae and a key to genera of the family is provided.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Massarioramusculicola chiangraiensis (MFLU 18–0632, holotype) a, b. Appearance of ascomata on host tissue. c. Vertical sections through ascomata. d. Peridium. e. Hamathecium f–h. Immature and mature asci. i–l. Ascospores. m.Ascospore stained in Indian ink. n. germinating ascospore. Scale bars: c = 50 μm, d, e = 20 μm, f–h = 50 μm, i–m = 10 μm, n = 50 μm.