Curvularia algeriensis A. Zibani & H. Benslimane

Zibani, Abdenour, Sicora, Oana, Marian, Monica & Benslimane, Hamida, 2024, Multi-locus phylogeny and morphology of Curvularia isolates associated with leaf spots of corn in northern Algeria unveiled two new species, C. algeriensis sp. nov. and C. boudouaouensis sp. nov., with a new record for C. spicifera, Phytotaxa 650 (1), pp. 23-46 : 36

Curvularia algeriensis A. Zibani & H. Benslimane , sp. nov.

MycoBank number: MB849257; FIGURE 2 .

Etymology: Named after the country, Algeria, where the material was collected.

Pathogenic on corn, causing tiny, grey leaf spots (0.4)0.5–1.5(2.6) × (0.2)0.3–0.7(1) mm. Asexual morph on PDA: Hyphae subhyaline to light grey, branched, septate, (2)3–5(7) μm. Conidiophores usually arising singly at right angles to the hyphae, producing conidia apically and laterally, mononematous, macronematous, septate, straight or flexuous, smooth or geniculate at upper part, simple or branched, pale brown to mid brown, basal cell not swollen, (36)42–111(163.5) × 4–5.5(6.5) μm (avr. 76.5 × 4.5 μm). Conidiogenous cells smooth-walled, terminal or intercalary, proliferating sympodially, pale brown, subcylindrical, slightly swollen or flared towards the apex, (5)10.5–27(36) × (3)4–6(7.5) μm (avr. 18.5 × 5 μm). Conidia smooth-walled, curved, rarely straight, asymmetrically ellipsoidal, i.e., basal cell larger than apical cell and second cell from the base enlarged, brown to olivaceous brown, end cells paler with rounded extremities, 3-distoseptate, sometimes with a faint narrow septum at the enlarged cell, (30)40– 45.5(49) × (14)16.5–19(21.5) μm (avr. 42.5 × 17.5 μm), hilum sometimes darkened, germination from one or both ends. Chlamydospores abundant, either as intercalary chains of yellowish, hyaline, or light brown cells, or as clusters of swollen cells, globose to subglobose or obovoidal, brown, thick-walled, intercalary, and rarely terminally, (9.5)11– 20.5(35.5) × (3)3.5–16.5(23.5) μm diam. (avr. 15 × 9.5 μm). Microconidiation and sexual morph not observed.

Culture characteristics: Colonies on PDA reaching 52 ± 3 mm diam. in 1 week at 25 °C, greenish grey, funiculose, with fimbriate margin, reverse dark green.

Material examined: ALGERIA. Algiers: Ain Taya (in the littoral region), from diseased corn leaves, 21 Jul. 2018, A. Zibani (holotype CBS 150506 , includes ex-type culture).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Curvularia algeriensis (CBS 150506). a 7-day-old colony on PDA. b lesions on inoculated corn leaf. c conidiophores and conidia on the host. d conidiophores with attached conidia on PDA. e conidia on PDA. f chlamydospores. Scale bars = 25 µm.