Taxonomy of an anamorphic xylariaceous fungus from a termite nest found together with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xylaria angulosa</Emphasis>

Two xylariaceous fungi were isolated from a nest of a termite, Odontotermes formosanus, that was incubated in a laboratory after collecting from Iriomote Is., Okinawa Pref., in Japan. One of the two fungi was identified as Xylaria angulosa on the basis of the morphology of branched stroma produced on medium, tiny asci, and ascospores having a germ slit. Another fungus is an anamorphic fungus that produces synnemata up to 50 mm long from which dendritic conidiophores branch out. Unicellular conidia are holoblastically produced on a sympodially proliferating conidiogenous cell. Such morphological characters resemble those of the genus Geniculosporium. However, its distinctive synnema formation and dendritic conidiophores do not assign the fungus to Geniculosporium or other known genera and warrant establishment of a new genus. The phylogenetic tree based on the ITS regions of rDNA shows that the fungus is nested in the cluster of the genus Nemania (Xylariaceae), whose species have mainly Geniculosporium-like anamorphs. We describe here the present anamorphic fungus as Geniculisynnema termiticola gen. et sp. nov., and discuss its phylogenetic and ecological relationships to xylariaceous fungi, especially termiticolous species.     

Molecular and ultrastructural characterization of two ascomycetes found on sunken wood off Vanuatu Islands in the deep Pacific Ocean

A new genus of a deep-sea ascomycete with one new species, Alisea longicolla, is described based on analyses of 18S and 28S rDNA sequences and morphological characters. A. longicolla was found together with Oceanitis scuticella, on small twigs and sugar cane debris trawled from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu Islands. Molecular and morphological characters indicate that both fungi are members of Halosphaeriaceae. Within this family, O. scuticella is phylogenetically related to Ascosalsum and shares similar ascospore morphology and appendage ontogeny. The genus Ascosalsum is considered congeneric with Oceanitis and Ascosalsum cincinnatulum, Ascosalsum unicaudatum and Ascosalsum viscidulum are transferred to Oceanitis, an earlier generic name.     

Ophiocordyceps sessilis sp. nov., a new species of Ophiocordyceps on Camponotus ants in Japan

Ophiocordyceps sessilis, a new species of Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales, was found on Camponotus obscuripes ants, where the ants were primarily infected by another close relative, O. pulvinata. Morphological observation clearly indicated that O. sessilis and O. pulvinata are distinct species. Ophiocordyceps sessilis exhibited superficial development of perithecia and ascospore disarticulation into part-spores, not known in O. pulvinata. Nucleotide sequence data suggested that O. sessilis belongs in Ophiocordyceps, Ophiocordycipitaceae. Molecular data also indicated that O. sessilis is a close relative of O. cuboidea, O. prolifica, O. paracuboidea, and O. ryogamiensis, which are all known to produce part-spores. Since O. sessilis is always associated with ants infected by O. pulvinata, O. sessilis may be a hyperparasite of O. pulvinata.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clohiesia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraniesslia</Emphasis> collected from freshwater habitats in China

Two fungi collected from submerged woody debris were found to represent hitherto undescribed species of the ascomycete genera Clohiesia and Paraniesslia. They are described as Clohiesia curvispora sp. nov. and Paraniesslia aquatica sp. nov. based on morphological characters. Clohiesia curvispora is characterized by immersed ascomata under a clypeus, and unitunicate, cylindrical asci containing one-celled, curved, elongate-fusiform ascospores. Paraniesslia aquatica is characterized by small, superficial, setose ascomata, and unitunicate, clavate asci containing verrucose, brown ascospores. Each species is illustrated with light micrographs and compared with similar taxa in this article.     

Freshwater ascomycetes: Wicklowia aquatica, a new genus and species in the Pleosporales from Florida and Costa Rica

During a latitudinal survey of freshwater ascomycetes, an unidentified fungus with bitunicate asci was found on submerged wood and herbaceous material from Florida and Costa Rica. Based on morphological characteristics and 28S rDNA large subunit (LSU) sequence data, this fungus is described as a new genus and species, Wicklowia aquatica, and placed in the Pleosporales (Pleosporomycetidae, Dothideomycetes). Phylogenetic analyses based on LSU sequences did not resolve the familial placement of W. aquatica within the Pleosporales. The characteristic features of W. aquatica are subglobose, dorsiventrally flattened, ostiolate, immersed to erumpent, black ascomata; a peridial wall composed of 4–5 layers of darkened pseudoparenchymatic cells; cellular pseudoparaphyses immersed in a gel matrix; broadly clavate, bitunicate asci; and cylindrical, hyaline, one-septate ascospores with rounded apices and surrounded by a gelatinous sheath that expands in water; ascospore sheath attached at the ascospore base with a gelatinous curtain extending from the base that fragments into basal filamentous appendages which radiate from the base of the ascospore.     

GENETICS OF SORDARIA FIMICOLA. IV. LINKAGE GROUP I

El -Ani , Arif S., L. S. Olive , and Y. Kitani . (Columbia U., New York City.) Genetics of Sordaria fimicola. IV. Linkage group I. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(8): 716–723. Illus. 1961.—A general technique for isolating and testing various morphological mutants induced by X ray is described. Eleven mutants differing in ascospore color, fertility, and rate and type of growth were studied in different crosses. This has led to the construction of the first linkage group in S. fimicola. The chromosome on which the 11 mutant loci occur is marked by a single locus on one arm and 10 on the opposite arm. The ascospore color mutant gray is autonomous, maintaining the mutant spore color in both homozygous and heterozygous asci, whereas milky, the other color mutant studied. expresses its mutant effect only in asci homozygous for the factor. Certain crosses involving 2 sterility mutants controlled by 2 non-allelic loci are fertile, and the progeny give rise to parentals as well as double-mutant and fertile recombinants.     

肉疣衣属中国新记录种——乌普萨拉肉疣衣

采用形态解剖、化学、生态类型及地理成分分析等传统分类方法对新疆天山南部巴音布鲁克山区地衣外部形态和内部构造、地衣附属结构、地衣繁殖器官进行观察。利用显色反应法(CT)、微量化学结晶法(MCT)、薄层层析法(TLC)等生物化学方法,鉴定地衣次生代谢产物,发现了1个中国新记录种:乌普萨拉肉疣衣[Ochrolechia upsaliensis(L.)A.Massal]。文中描述了该新记录种地衣的形态解剖、化学特征和生境,并提供了地衣体、子囊及子囊孢子的彩色图片。     

Phylogenetic affiliation of the desert truffles <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa juniperi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa lefebvrei</Emphasis>

The molecular phylogeny and comparative morphological studies reported here provide evidence for the recognition of the genus Picoa, an hypogeous desert truffle, in the family Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales). Picoa juniperi and Picoa lefebvrei were reassigned to the genus Picoa based on large subunit (LSU) sequence (28S) rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA (including the partial 18S, ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S gene, and partial 28S of the nuclear rDNA) data. Morphological studies of spores, asci, perida, and gleba revealed high similarities between P. lefebvrei and P. juniperi, thereby confirming the membership of both species in the genus Picoa. These two species were primarily distinguishable based on ascospore ornamentation.     

New fungal genera, Tectonidula gen. nov. for Calosphaeria-like fungi with holoblastic-denticulate conidiogenesis and Natantiella gen. nov. for three species segregated from Ceratostomella

Two morphologically similar groups of ascomycetes with globose to subglobose perithecia, elongate necks, unitunicate asci floating freely at maturity, and hyaline ascospores currently placed in Calosphaeria s. lat. and Ceratostomella s. lat., respectively, are studied. The Calosphaeria-like fungi have groups of perithecia growing between cortex and wood, arranged in circular groups with converging necks and piercing the cortex in a common point; the asci with a shallow apical ring and U- to horseshoe-shaped hyaline ascospores are compared with Calosphaeria pulchella, the type species of the genus. Conidiogenesis of the investigated Calosphaeria-like fungi is holoblastic-denticulate; ramichloridium-like and sporothrix-like conidiophores and conidia were formed in vitro. Ascospore and ascus morphology, structure of the ascal apex, ascogenous system, mode of conidiogenesis and the large subunit rRNA sequences of this group differ considerably from C. pulchella and both groups are unrelated. Thus a new genus, Tectonidula, is described with two accepted species, T. hippocrepida and T. fagi; they are separated by ascospore and ascus morphology and holoblastic-denticulate conidiogenesis from the core species of Calosphaeria. The placement of Tectonidula among perithecial ascomycetes is discussed. The relationship of Tectonidula with Barbatosphaeria and two ramichloridium-like hyphomycetous genera Rhodoveronaea and Myrmecridium is investigated. Three species formerly attributed to Ceratostomella are studied. The revision of the herbarium type specimen and fresh material of Ceratostomella ligneola revealed that it is conspecific with Ceratostomella ampullasca and Ceratostomella similis. The LSU phylogeny clearly separated C. ligneola from Ceratostomella s. str. and morphologically similar Lentomitella. On the basis of molecular sequence data and detailed comparison of morphology of asci, ascospores and ascogenous system the genus Natantiella is described for C. ligneola with C. ampullasca and C. similis as its synonyms. Natantiella produced sterile mycelium in vitro.     

Taxonomic re-evaluation of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lambertella</Emphasis> (Rutstroemiaceae,Helotiales) and allied stroma-forming fungi

The genus Lambertella is currently considered to be one of the largest genera in the family Rutstroemiaceae, and its major distinguishing character is the pigmentation of ascospores, besides a substratal stroma. Although Lambertella appears to be well-defined by morphological characters, its phylogenetic heterogeneity has been suggested in earlier studies. To circumscribe the genus more precisely, morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis was conducted on some Lambertella species and some allied stroma-forming fungi. In total, 58 taxa were included in the study, including 16 species with both a substratal stroma and pigmented ascospores. The polyphyly of Lambertella sensu lato was confirmed based on the phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, and RPB2 regions. A highly supported clade is composed of five Lambertella species, including the type L. corni-maris. Morphologically, all species here included in Lambertella s. s. have brown ascospores prior to being discharged from asci, whereas in other species currently placed in Lambertella, but now excluded from the genus, they turn brown only after discharge. This clade was defined as Lambertella sensu stricto. Pigmentation of the ascospores was also recognized in Lanzia and Poculum, and even in the helotiaceous genus Hymenoscyphus, but always only after discharge. The convergent evolution of a dark substratal stroma in Rutstroemiaceae and Helotiaceae was also indicated.     

New records of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ardhachandra</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicyma</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sibirina</Emphasis> species from basidiomata of Aphyllophorales (Basidiomycetes) in Japan

Three mitosporic fungi, i.e., Ardhachandra cristaspora, Dicyma pulvinata, and Sibirina gamsii from basidiomata of Aphyllophorales (Basidiomycetes), are described and illustrated. These fungi have not been previously reported in Japan.     

Systematic analyses of Ophiocordyceps lanpingensis sp. nov., a new species of Ophiocordyceps in China

A new species of Ophiocordyceps, Ophiocordyceps lanpingensis collected from Lanping County, Yunnan Province, southwestern China, was described based on morphological characteristic, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequences analyses, 5-gene (nrSSU, nrLSU, tef-1α, rpb1 and rpb2) sequences analyses and MAT1-2-1 gene sequences analyses. This species was characterized by thinner stroma, smaller perithecium, thinner ascospore (multiseptate with short septation). The phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS, the 5-gene and MAT1-2-1 gene dataset showed O. lanpingensis had the closest evolution relationship with O. robertsii and O. sinensis, but still had obvious distances to them. Both morphological character and systematic analyses supported that O. lanpingensis was a new species of Ophiocordyceps.     

Teleomorph-anamorph relationships and reclassification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps cuboidea</Emphasis> and its allied species

Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny, we reclassified Cordyceps cuboidea and allied species C. alboperitheciata, C. prolifica, and Ophiocordyceps ryogamiensis. We investigated their teleomorph-anamorph relationships and revealed that these four species have Hirsutella-like anamorphs with morphological differences between them. By analyzing their molecular phylogeny, inferred from DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) D1/D2 region of rDNA, they were separated into four close-knit clades. Although C. prolifica and O. ryogamiensis formed their own clades, isolates of C. cuboidea separated into two clades, i.e., a true C. cuboidea clade and one resembling a new species, the O. paracuboidea clade. The latter two species are distinguished by the fruiting region of the stroma. In addition, C. alboperitheciata is regarded as a synonym of C. cuboidea. From the morphology, teleomorph-anamorph relationships, and molecular phylogeny, we concluded these species should be assigned to the genus Ophiocordyceps.     

Morphological assessment of the Octopus vulgaris species complex evaluated in light of molecular‐based phylogenetic inferences

Cryptic species are common in the ocean, particularly among marine invertebrates such as octopuses. Delineating cryptic species is particularly problematic in octopus taxonomy where the plasticity recorded among taxonomic characters often results in low resolution at the species level. This study investigated the morphological relationships among seven phylogenetic clades (identified using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) of the broadly distributed Octopus vulgaris species complex and close relatives. Morphological analyses in this study were successful in delimiting O. sinensis, Brazilian O. vulgaris and O. vulgaris sensu stricto, which was congruent with the molecular findings of this study. Analyses based on male morphology were successful in distinguishing 14 of 15 total pairwise comparisons and proved to be a more reliable indicator of species‐level relationships in comparison with female morphology. The majority of characters with the greatest discriminatory power were male sexual traits. Significant morphological differences were also recorded among sampling localities of conspecifics, with phenotype showing correlation with local environmental data. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that multiple O. vulgaris‐like species are currently being incorrectly treated under a single species name, O. vulgaris. Octopuses being exported globally under the name O. vulgaris are of extremely high fisheries market value and profile. Our findings have potentially significant implications for the naming and conservation of commercially harvested members of this species complex throughout their ranges.     

Morphology and development of Nigrosabulum globosum, a cleistothecial coprophile in the Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales)

Recent DNA sequence analyses indicated that Nigrosabulum globosum is a cleistothecial representative of the Bionectriaceae in the Hypocreales, but morphological characters supporting this relationship are unknown. Using light and electron microscopy we followed the development of the ascomata of this species, from the formation of gametangia through to the development of mature ascospores, and observed a series of characters that confirmed its hypocrealean affinities. These included the formation of a gel-filled centrum during early stages of ascoma development, the subsequent appearance of hyaline peridial tissue enclosed within a layer we interpret as representing a melanized uniloculate stroma, apically derived paraphyses, and an ascogenous system that gives rise to asci that were both cylindrical to clavate and globose. Ascospores, previously reported to be smooth, were ornamented with a honeycomb-like reticulum and were able to germinate within the ascoma. The carbonaceous outer (stromatic) walls of the mature, grit-like cleistothecia indicate possible resistance to UV radiation and desiccation. Furthermore, the complement of germinated ascospores would enable mature ascomata to function as propagules that could quickly initiate new growth when transferred to fresh substrate. Our reexamination of N. globosum also provides data that support the hypothesized close relationship with other bionectriaceous, cleistothecial coprophiles, i.e., species of Hapsidospora, and Bulbithecium in particular.