taxonID	type	description	language	source
038787FCFFFFFF98FF0DFC50FB31FE10.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — Named in honour of Dr. Anant Thite, a renowned retired mycology professor from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Colonies hypophyllous, scattered, dense, up to 1 mm in diameter, often confluent. Hyphae sub-straight to flexuous, irregularly branched at acute to wide angles, forming a closely reticulate network; hyphal cells measuring 11 – 17 × 3 – 4 µm. Appressoria numerous, scattered, occurring alternately or oppositely along the hyphae, 2 - celled, measuring 9 – 16 × 2.5 – 7.5 µm; stalk cells cylindrical to occasionally curved, 5 – 7.5 × 2 – 3.5 µm; head cells irregularly angulose to lobate, 6.5 – 9.5 × 3.5 – 7.5 µm. Thyriothecia irregularly dehiscent, up to 108 µm in diameter. Asci globose, octosporous, 18 – 24 µm in diameter. Ascospores ellipsoidal to oblong, 1 - septate, brown, 16.5 – 21 × 9.5 – 10.5 µm.	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFFFF98FF0DFC50FB31FE10.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — India (Maharashtra)	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFFFF98FF0DFC50FB31FE10.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: — On living leaves of Jasminum malabaricum Wight (Oleaceae), Kharepatan, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra; 16 ° 33 ’ 26 ” N 73 ° 37 ’ 45 ” E, elev. 68 m, 14 / 12 / 2022, AMH – 10673 (holotype). Notes: — Hosagoudar (2012) described Asterina jasmine var. indica Hosag. & C. K. Biju on Jasminum bignoniaceum Wall. ex G. Don from Karnataka, and on Jasminum sp. from Kerala. Additionally, A. jasminicola H. S. Yates was reported on J. pubescens (Retz.) Willd. from West Bengal. The present collection, found on J. malabaricum Wight, does not conform to the diagnostic features of either of these previously described taxa. It differs notably in possessing hypophyllous, scattered colonies (approximately 1 mm in diameter), hyphal cells of differing dimensions, appressorial head cells that are irregularly angulose to lobate and larger. Thyriothecia are smaller in size (Table 1). Based on these significant morphotaxonomic distinctions, the present specimen is proposed as a species new to science, and is reported here for the first time on this host. Characters Asterina jasmine var. indica A. jasminicola A. thitei sp. nov.	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFFFF98FF0DFC50FB31FE10.taxon	biology_ecology	Host Jasminum bignoniaceum, Jasminum pubescens Jasminum malabaricum Jasminum sp. Colony diam. (mm) Amphigenous, 1 Amphigenous, 2 – 6 coalesced Hypophyllous, 1	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFFFF98FF0DFC50FB31FE10.taxon	description	Hyphal cell 24 – 32 × 4 – 6 µm 4 – 5 µm long 11 – 17 × 3 – 4 µm Appressoria 1 - celled, 6 – 8 × 9 – 13, deeply 2 - celled, 8 – 10 × 6.5 – 10, 2 - celled, 9 – 16 × 2.5 – 7.5, (µm) lobate angulose to lobate irregularly angulose to lobate ... continued on the next page Characters Asterina jasmine var. indica A. jasminicola A. thitei sp. nov. Thyriothecia 200 150 108 diam. (µm) Asci Up to 35 diam. 22 – 26 diam. 18 – 24 diam. (µm) Ascospores 20 – 24 × 10 – 12, oblong 17 – 19 × 8 – 10, ellipsoidal to 16 – 21 × 9.5 – 10.5, ellipsoidal (µm) oblong to oblong	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFCFF98FF0DFE0DFAE9F7B8.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — Named in honour of Dr. Chandrahas Patil, a distinguished retired professor of mycology from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. Colonies epiphyllous, up to 3 mm in diameter, sub-dense, confluent. Hyphae flexuous, branching opposite, at acute to wide angles and forming loosely reticulate mat, cells 12 – 20 × 2 – 4 µm. Appressoria scattered, few, alternate, two celled 8.5 – 11.5 × 6 – 9.5 µm; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 2 – 3.5 × 3 – 4 µm; head cells ovate, globose, straight to variously curved, irregularly sub-lobate to lobate, 5.5 – 10 × 6 – 10 µm. Thyriothecia scattered, orbicular up to 150 µm in diameter, stellately dehisced at the centre, margin crenate; asci few, globose, octosporous, up to 27 µm in diameter; ascospores oblong, cylindrical, uniseptate, slightly constricted at the septum, upper cell globose, lower cell attenuated at the base, 11 – 15 × 4 – 9 µm. Pycnothyria numerous, similar to thyriothecia; pycnothyriospores pyriform, broadly rounded at the apex and narrowed towards the base, few spores possess hyaline band at the middle, 15 – 21.5 × 11 – 13 µm.	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFCFF98FF0DFE0DFAE9F7B8.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — India (Maharashtra)	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFCFF98FF0DFE0DFAE9F7B8.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined: — On living leaves of Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Salicaceae), Devadhe, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; 17 ° 57 ’ 42 ” N 73 ° 10 ’ 03 ” E, elev. 285 m, 12 / 01 / 2022, PDN – 5061, AMH – 10675 (holotype). Notes: — Hosagoudar (2012) described Asterina flacourtiacearum Hosag. & K. Ravik. On Scolopia crenata (Wight & Arn.) Clos from Tamil Nadu and on unidentified host of Salicaceae (Flacourtiaceae) from Karnataka. The present collection differs in most of the morphotaxonomical characters in having only epiphyllous colonies, undulate mycelium with opposite to irregular pattern of branching, only 2 - celled appressoria with head cell irregularly lobate and stalk cell not many celled; Thyriothecium is smaller in size; Asci also smaller in size (Table 2). Ascospores are also smaller in size, therefore based on these characters and host specificity, the present collection is treated as a species new to science, for the first time reported on new host from Maharashtra state. Characters Asterina caseariae A. flacourtiacearum A. chandrahasaii	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFCFF98FF0DFE0DFAE9F7B8.taxon	biology_ecology	Host Casearia tomentosa Scolopia crenata Flacourtia indica Colony Amphigenous, thin, 3 Amphigenous, 2, mostly Epiphyllous, dense, 3 diam. (mm) epiphyllous	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
038787FCFFFCFF98FF0DFE0DFAE9F7B8.taxon	description	Hyphal cell Branching irregular, hyphae Branching alternate, hyphae Branching opposite to irregular, (µm) flexuous, straight, hyphae undulate, 16 – 21 × 2 – 4 24 – 31 × 5 – 7 12 – 19.5 × 2 – 3.5 Appressoria Only two celled, Two celled rarely many celled, Only two celled, 8 – 10 × 6 – 8 µm; stalk cells 9 – 30 × 9 – 13 µm; stalk cells 8.5 – 11.5 × 6 – 9.5 µm; stalk unicelled, 2 – 4 µm long; head rarely 3 - celled, 3 – 22 µm long; cells unicelled, 2 – 3.5 µm long; cells ovate, clavate, globose, head cells obpyriform 2 - 3 head cells irregularly lobate, straight to variously curved, lobate, 6 – 10 × 9 – 13 µm 5.5 – 10 × 6 – 10 µm hamate, 5 – 8 × 6 – 8 µm Thyriothecia diam. (µm) 110 190 143 Asci Up to 28 Up to 31 – 41 Up to 17 – 28 diam. (µm) Ascospores 18 – 20 × 8 – 10 24 – 28 × 12 – 16 11 – 14.5 × 4.5 – 9 (µm) Pycnothyri-um Similar to thyriothecia Up to 90 µm diam. Up to 84 µm diam. Pycnothyri-ospores (µm) 15 – 18 × 8 – 10 15 – 22 × 15 – 19 15 – 21.5 × 11 – 13	en	Natekar, Pratik D., Bhise, Mahendra R., Kambhar, Sidanand V. (2025): Discovery of novel Asterinaceous black mildew fungi from coastal Maharashtra, India. Phytotaxa 711 (1): 89-94, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.711.1.7
