Genistellospora homothallica Lichtw., Mycologia

Barón, Daniel E. & Valle, Laia Guàrdia, 2018, First record of trichomycetes associated with aquatic insects from Colombian Moorland and Andean forests, Phytotaxa 361 (1), pp. 1-24 : 8

Genistellospora homothallica Lichtw., Mycologia 64: 167. 1972. (Figs 17–19)

Specimens examined: — COLOMBIA. SANTANDER: Tona; Río Seca o Chucurí, prepared from Simulium sp. Larvae, D. Baron, COL6–Tr15; Suratá; Río La Hoja, prepared from Simulium sp. Larvae, D. Baron, COL7–Tr25; Floridablanca; Río La Tarrarra, prepared from Simulium sp. larvae, D. Baron, COL14–Tr42 and Tr43.

Comments: — Genistellospora homothallica is a cosmopolitan species, and its Simuliidae hosts are widely spread in diverse environments ( Lichtwardt et al. 2001). It has been documented from USA ( Lichtwardt 1972), Canada ( Moss & Lichtwardt 1976) England ( Lichtwardt 1986), Spain ( Girbal & Santamaria 1998), France ( Valle 2004), Italy ( Valle et al. 2013), Portugal (Valle 2013) to tropical regions, counting Costa Rica ( Lichtwardt 1997), Puerto Rico ( White et al. 2000), Dominican Republic ( Valle & Cafaro 2010), Chile ( Lichtwardt & Arenas 1996) and Argentina (López-Lastra et al. 2005). Colombian thalli measured up to 320 μm long, with a holdfast about 3 μm diam. Trichospores were typically ovate-elongated, slightly asymmetrical, measuring 29–36 × 11–12 μm, without a collar. Generative cells (38–98 μm long) were several times longer than the trichospores. Zygospores were not found, although we observed the intermediate cell (supporting cell) and the zygosporophore, the latter measuring 55–75 μm long, with a straight or reflexed thumb-like branch, bearing a terminal cell measuring 45–60 μm length (FIG. 18). Two Colombian specimens (COL14–Tr42 and Tr43) had trichospores larger than usual, measuring 43.5–47 × 11–13 μm, and generative cells 41–157 × 7–8 μm, with a holdfast 7.5–17 μm diameter. We assume these are intraspecific variations.