Vulcanochloris canariensis Vančurová, Peksa, Němcová et Škaloud, 2015

Vančurová, Lucie, Peksa, Ondřej, Němcová, Yvonne & Škaloud, Pavel, 2015, Vulcanochloris (Trebouxiales, Trebouxiophyceae), a new genus of lichen photobiont from La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, Phytotaxa 219 (2), pp. 118-132 : 125

Vulcanochloris canariensis Vančurová, Peksa, Němcová et Škaloud , sp. nov.

Vegetative cells spherical or oval, up to 21 μm in diameter ( Figs. 4A–C ). Cell wall thin, seldom a flat local thickening of the cell wall (up to 3 μm thick) can be distinguished ( Fig. 4B ). Very rarely, the cell wall is slightly thickened along its entire surface. Chloroplast in young cells assumes the central position with several lobes spreading towards the cell’s periphery ( Fig. 4A ). Mature cells exhibit a crenulate chloroplast, characterized by a central, massive chloroplast with a regularly nodulated surface ( Figs. 4B–E ). Rarely, the shallowly lobed chloroplast has been observed as well ( Figs. 4F, G ). The chloroplast contains one distinct, centrally positioned pyrenoid, frequently containing one to several spherical incisions ( Figs. 4A–C, H ). A number of small starch grains are distributed around the pyrenoid ( Fig. 4C ). Asexual reproduction by 16–64 aplanospores formed in spherical or ellipsoidal sporangia, often bearing a local cell wall thickening ( Fig. 4I ). Zoospores not observed.

Type:— SPAIN. Santa Cruz de Tenerife: La Palma, slope of Volcán Teneguía, 28.473056º N, 17.847222º W, 330 m a. s. l., L. Vančurová, 16 October 2011 (holotype: CAUP!, cryopreserved photobiont cells isolated from the specimen L 1620, deposited in the Culture Collection of Algae of the Charles University in Prague as the item TYPE-H 1016). Reference strain: CAUP H 1016.

Habitat:—In thalli of Stereocaulon vesuvianum growing on basalt lava stones and rocks. Etymology:—The specific epitheton reflects the place of origin of all known samples (Canary Islands).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Vulcanochloris, gen. nov. Morphology in a light or a confocal microscope. A–I. Vulcanochloris canariensis, sp. nov. A– C. Spherical or oval vegetative cells. B–E. Crenulate chloroplast. F−G. Shallowly lobed chloroplast. A−C, H. One distinct, centrally positioned pyrenoid, frequently containing one to several spherical incisions. I. Asexual reproduction by 16–64 aplanospores formed in spherical or ellipsoidal sporangia. J−U. Vulcanochloris symbiotica sp. nov. J, K, N. Spherical, oval and oviform vegetative cells. K−M. Deeply lobed chloroplast. N, O. Shallowly lobed chloroplast. P, Q. Crenulate chloroplast. R. Echinate chloroplast. K, N, P. One distinct pyrenoid located in its centre. N. One to several spherical incisions in pyrenoid. S, T. Asexual reproduction by 32 aplanospores or 128 zoospores produced in spherical or ellipsoidal sporangia. U. Zoospores drop-shaped, naked, with two apical flagella and a simple basal chloroplast. V−DD. Vulcanochloris guanchorum, sp. nov. V, W. Spherical, occasionally oval vegetative cells. V. Chloroplast in young cells in the central position with several lobes spreading towards the cells periphery. W−Y. Deeply lobed chloroplast. Z−AA. Shallowly lobed chloroplast. BB. One distinct, centrally positioned pyrenoid, often containing one to several spherical incisions. CC, DD. Asexual reproduction by 16−32 aplanospores or 64−128 zoospores produced in spherical or ellipsoidal sporangia. Scale bars = 5 μm.