Neobaryopsis peltigerae (Lowen, Boqueras & Gómez-Bolea) Darmostuk 2025

Darmostuk, Valerii, Etayo, Javier, Rodriguez-Flakus, Pamela, Kukwa, Martin & Flakus, Adam, 2025, Expanding the genus Neobaryopsis (Calcarisporiaceae, Hypocreales): descriptions of two new species and two new combinations based on morphological and molecular data, MycoKeys 124, pp. 291-308 : 291-308

Neobaryopsis peltigerae (Lowen, Boqueras & Gómez-Bolea) Darmostuk comb. nov.

Neobarya peltigerae Lowen, Boqueras & Gómez-Bolea , Sydowia 59 (2): 206 (2007). Basionym.

Typus.

Spain • País Valenciá, Pobla de Benifassá, barranc de l’Avellanar (serra dels Ports), BF 5408 , elev. 1100 m, on Peltigera membranacea , 21 Oct. 1990, A. Gómez-Bolea & M. Boqueras ( holotype NY 00921734 [photo!], isotype BCC-Lich 5239 ) .

For detailed description see Candoussau et al. (2007). The ascospores in the examined specimens were thread-like, multiseptate (only ascospores with clearly visible septa were measured), not constricted at the septum, hyaline, with rounded apical parts, smooth-walled, twisted in the ascus, (100 –) 110–125 (– 130) × (1.5 –) 2.0–2.4 (– 2.8) µm (n = 18).

Notes.

This species was described as Neobarya peltigerae from Spain on Peltigera membranacea ( Candoussau et al. 2007) . It was later reported from scattered localities in Europe ( Candoussau et al. 2007; Stenroos et al. 2016; Zimmermann and Berger 2018; Zimmermann and Feusi 2018; Westberg et al. 2022; Brackel and Wirth 2023; Mombert et al. 2023), Asia ( Zhurbenko and Kobzeva 2014), and North America ( Zhurbenko 2009).

The diagnosis of Neobaryopsis peltigerae indicates filiform, up to 15 - septate ascospores measuring 130–185 × (4.5 –) 5.0–6.0 (– 6.5) µm, whereas the detailed description in the same work also provides measurements of smaller ascospores ( Candoussau et al. 2007). The reported ascospore width in the diagnosis appears to be the widest among known species of the genus; however, it is not supported by our examination of the available material. Upon reviewing Fig. 12 I, J in Candoussau et al. (2007: 207), we observed that the ascospore width is actually 1.5–2.5 µm. Based on this, we assume it is a typographical error in the protologue and suggest that the ascospore width of Neobaryopsis peltigerae should be interpreted as 1.5–2.5 µm.

The anamorphic stage was reported in cultures of Neobaryopsis peltigerae from the Scottish collection, but the culture is no longer accessible ( Candoussau et al. 2007). Its anamorphic stage is characterized by monophialidic conidiogenous cells and hyaline, cylindrical conidia with a truncate base, 11–14 × 3–7 µm. It is similar to the known anamorphic stage of Neobaryopsis andensis , but the latter differs by much smaller, bacilliform-ellipsoidal conidia, 4–7 × 2–2.5 µm, as well as by a distinctive synnematous-like colony ( Flakus et al. 2019).

Specimens examined.

Norway • Vestfold, Larvik Municipality, SW of Lysbu, Vemannsås reserve , 59°08'11"N, 9°57'17"E, 120 m, on Peltigera sp. on mosses, 21 Jul. 2025, V. Darmostuk 1695 ( KRAM L-75217 ) • Switzerland, Lajoux, Jura, Les Embreux , on Peltigera sp. , 16 Mar. 2023, E. Stöckli ( KRAM L-75210 ) .