Arecophila clypeata Q.R. Li, J.C. Kang & K.D. Hyde, 2022

Li, Qi Rui, Zhang, Xu, Lin, Yan, Samarakoon, Milan C., Hyde, Kevin David, Shen, Xiang Chun, Liao, Wan Qing, Karunarathna, Anuruddha, Long, Si Han, Kang, Ying Qian & Kang, Ji Chuan, 2022, Morpho-molecular characterisation of Arecophila, with A. australis and A. clypeata sp. nov. and A. miscanthi comb. nov., MycoKeys 88, pp. 123-149 : 123

Arecophila clypeata Q.R. Li, J.C. Kang & K.D. Hyde sp. nov.

Fig. 3

Diagnosis.

Arecophila clypeata differs from similar species by its ascomata with clypeus and ascospores (18.5-22.5 × 6.5-9 µm).

Holotype. China, Yunnan Province, Kunming City, Kunming Botanical Garden (25°8'51"N, 102°44'57"E), on dead culm of gramineous plant, 20 March 2014, Q.R. Li, kib21 (holotype: GZUH0110; isotype: GACP QR0173; ex-type living cultures: GZUCC0110).

Etymology.

In reference to the clypeus.

Description.

Saprobic on dead stem of a gramineous. Sexual morph: Ascomata 367-448 × 278-363 µm (x̄ = 403 × 323 µm, n = 8), immersed under a black clypeus, solitary, slightly raised, dome-shaped areas, scattered or gregarious, subglobose to globose, with a central, erumpent, cone-shaped papilla, in vertical section. Ostioles Ostioles papillate on the centre, black. Peridium 15-30 µm (x̄ = 25 µm, n = 10) wide, comprising several layers, outer layer brown, thick-walled angular cells, inner layer hyaline. Paraphyses 3-5 μm (x̄ = 4 µm, n =15) wide, hyaline, unbranched, septate. Asci 180-245 × 10.5-14.5 µm (x̄ = 215.5 × 12 µm, n=20), 8-spored, unitunicate, long-cylindrical, short-pedicellate, apically rounded, with a square-shaped, J+, apical ring, 3-4 × 3-4 μm. Ascospores 18.5-22.5 × 6.5-9 µm (x̄ = 20.5 × 7.5 µm, n = 30), overlapping uniseriate, 2-celled, light brown to brown, equilateral ellipsoidal, constricted at the septum, longitudinal, sulcate along the entire spore length, faint, surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath, lacking germ slits and appendages. Asexual morph: undetermined.

Culture characteristics.

Colonies on PDA, reached 3 cm diam. after one week at 25 °C, white, cottony, flat, low, dense, with slightly wavy margin; fructifications were not observed in culture.

Known distribution.

China

Additional material examined.

China, Guizhou Province, Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in southern Guizhou Province, Maolan National Nature Reserve (25°17'17"N, 107°59'1"E), on dead culm of an unidentified gramineous plant, 12 June 2015, Q.R. Li, GZ120 (GACP QR0129; GZUH0127; living cultures, GZUCC0127) .

Additional sequences.

ACT: MT741737

Notes.

Arecophila clypeata has long and weakly striate ascospores similar to A. coronata (Rehm) Umali & K.D. Hyde, A. serrulata (Ellis & G. Martin) K.D. Hyde and A. bambusae ( Hyde 1996; Umali et al. 1999). However, A. coronata does not have a prominent clypeus and has longer and fusiform ascospores. Arecophila clypeata differs from A. serrulata by the ascomata without a central papilla surrounded by a circle of white tissue, further in having ascospores with wide sheaths ( Hyde 1996). Arecophila clypeata is similar to A. bambusae which, however, has narrower ascospores (19-22.5 × 5.5-7 µm) covered by the strong striations and has ascomata without a central papilla surrounded by a black corolla protuberance ( Umali et al. 1999).

Figures

Figure 3. Arecophila clypeata (holotype) A material B ascomata on the surface of host C, D section of ascomata E peridium F, G ascus apex with a J +, apical ring (stained in Melzer's reagent) H-K asci with ascospores L-O ascospores. Scale bars: 500 μm (B, C); 100 μm (D); 10 μm (E, H-K); 5 μm (F, G, L-O).