Spiropes carpolobiae Berm.-Cova & M. Piepenbr., 2024

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 carpolobiae Berm.-Cova & M. Piepenbr. sp. nov.

Fig. 6

Holotype.

On Meliola cf. carpolobiae on living leaves of Carpolobia lutea ( Polygalaceae ), Benin, Atlantique, Attogon, Niaouli Forest, 6°44'41"N, 2°7'52"E, 68 m a.s.l., 28 February 2022, M.A. Bermúdez, A. Tabé, D. Dongnima, I. Agonglo, O.P. Agbani, M. Piepenbring, N.S. Yorou, MB166 (M).

Etymology.

Named after the genus of the host plant.

Description.

Colonies effuse, dark brown to black, velvety to hairy. Hyphae superficial, branched, anastomosing, septate, 1-2 µm wide, straw-coloured, smooth. Conidiophores arising singly, erect or ascending, straight to flexuous, septate, up to 250 µm long, 2-5 µm thick, sometimes thicker at the apex, brown, not smooth, with scattered scars mostly in the upper parts of the conidiophores. Conidia solitary, straight or slightly curved, ovate to slightly fusiform, 3-septate, (12.5-)13-16(-19) × 5-7 µm, 2-2.5 µm wide at the base, brown, the cells at each end pale brown, septa darker, surface verrucose. As seen by SEM, the ornamentation of the conidia is distinctly reticulated, with thin to thick networks that can form ridges.

Known distribution.

On colonies of Meliola cf. carpolobiae on living leaves of Carpolobia lutea in Benin.

Notes.

S. carpolobiae is the only known species of Spiropes with ovate to slightly fusiform conidia.

Figures

Figure 6. Spiropes carpolobiae (MB 166) a conidiophores growing intermingled with hyphae of Meliola sp. on a leaf of Carpolobia lutea b conidiophore with scars c Conidia shown in optical section. The thickness of the wall is shown in the left-hand drawing d, e as seen by SEM d conidiophore with scar e conidium. Scale bars: 0.3 mm (a); 5 μm (b, c); 5 μm (d); 3 μm (e).