Lasiobertia Sivan., Trans. Br.

Daranagama, Dinushani A., Liu, Xingzhong, Chamyuang, Sunita, Stadler, Marc, Bahkali, Ali. H. & Hyde, Kevin D., 2016, Towards a natural classification of Sordariomycetes: The genera Frondisphaeria, Immersisphaeria, Lasiobertia, Pulmosphaeria and Yuea (Sordariomycetes incertae sedis), Phytotaxa 258 (2), pp. 153-163 : 157-159

Lasiobertia Sivan., Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 70(3): 383 (1978)

Facesoffunginumber: FoF01357

Saprobic on palms. Sexual morph: Ascomata erumpent through host, superficial, partially embedded in thin subiculum, dark brown or black, uniperitheciate, turberculate, non ostiolate, single or aggregated in groups, globose. Peridium comprising several layers, outwardly comprising thick-walled, coriaceous, brown, pseudoparenchymatic cells, inwardly comprising less thickened, pale brown cells, with simple Munk pores. Hamathecium comprising numerous, hyaline, filiform paraphyses. Asci 8-spored, unitunicate, cylindrical, pedicellate, with a J+, apical apparatus. Ascospores overlapping uniseriate, hyaline, 2-celled, elongate fusoid, septate in the middle, with slightly curved, pointed ends, smooth-walled. Asexual morph: Hyphomycetous. melanographium-like, Conidiophores simple, extensively branched, brown, septate, macro-nematous. Conidiogenous cells polyblastic, terminal, integrated, short, cylindrical, sympodial, light brown, denticulate. Conidia solitary, dark brown, simple, ovoid to reniform, 1-celled, with a hyaline longitudinal slit.

Notes:— Lasiobertia was introduced by Sivanesan (1978), describing the relationship with Coronophorales and Lasiosphaeriaceae as well as to the Xylariales . Hyde (1993) suggested a generic relationship to Oxydothis Penz. & Sacc. based on the presence of an amyloid apical apparatus in asci, morphology of longfusiform, apiculate ascospores and paraphyses. Therefore, Wang & Hyde (1999) suggested the placement of Lasiobertia in the Clypeosphaeriaceae until further data are available. Kirk et al. (2001) placed the genus in Apiosporaceae . Huhndorf et al. (2004 b) introduced the second species Lasiobertia portoricensis Huhndorf et al. which differs from L. africana in having shorter, wider ascospores and with ascomata that are less coarsely tuberculate and have a smaller sterile base. The asexual morph associated with L. Africana was not found associated with L. portoricensis . We were unable to loan the type material from IMI, thus morphological observations were not possible. Based on molecular data, Lasiobertia was placed in the Xylariomycetidae ( Huhndorf et al. 2004a, b). Based on the characters described by Sivanesan (1978), we further place Lasiobertia in Xylariales incertae sedis until its taxonomic position is clarified with other similar genera like Oxydothis . The type needs recollecting, sequencing and epitypifying in order to clarify the familial status.

Type species:— Lasiobertia africana Sivan., Trans. Br. mycol. Soc. 70(3): 383 (1978).

Facesoffunginumber: FoF01358.

Saprobic on palms. Sexual morph: Ascomata erumpent and superficial, partially embedded in thin subiculum,

coarsely turberculate, dark brown or black, uniperitheciate, non ostiolate, single or aggregated to form groups , globose, in cross section 340–510 × 250–370 μm (x = 378 × 325 μm, n = 10), with sterile stalk 100–140 × 180–230 μm (x = 137 × 205 μm, n = 10), basal region of the stalk slightly immersed in the host tissue. Peridium >50 μm wide,

comprising several layers, outwardly comprising thick-walled, coriaceous, brown, pseudoparenchymatic cells, middle cell layers dark brown, thick-walled, globose, inwardly comprising less thickened, pale brown cells. Hamathecium comprising numerous, hyaline, filiform parapahyses. Asci 140–175 × 9–11 μm (x = 153 × 10 μm, n = 20), 8-spored, unitunicate, cylindrical, pedicellate, with a distinct, J+, apical apparatus. Ascospores 55–74 × 4.5–6 μm (x = 62 ×

5 μm, n = 20), overlapping uniseriate, hyaline, 2-celled, elongate fusoid, septate in the middle, with slightly curved,

pointed ends, smooth-walled. Asexual morph: Hyphomycetous, melanographium-like. Conidiophores simple,

extensively branched, brown, septate, erect, smooth, variable in length, up to 400 μm long, 3.5 μm wide at the base,

macronematous. Conidiogenous cells polyblastic, terminal, integrated, short, cylindrical, sympodial, light brown, with short, cylindrical denticles. Conidia 11–20 × 5.5–10 μm (x = 17 × 7 μm, n = 20), solitary, dry, dark brown, simple,

ovoid to reniform, 1-celled, with a hyaline longitudinal slit (re-described from Sivanesan 1978).