Loratospora luzulae
Phaeosphaeriaceae
Loratospora luzulae Jayasiri, Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, in Ariyawansa et al., Fungal Diversity: 10.1007/s13225-015-0346-5, [82] (2015)
Index Fungorum number: IF 551325; Facesofungi number: FoF 00882
Etymology: In reference to host genus.
Holotype: MFLU 15-1394.
Saprobic on dead stem of Luzula nivea (Juncaceae). Sexual morph: Ascomata 112–120 × 93–100 μm (x̄ = 98 × 115 μm, n = 5), scattered to clustered, solitary, immersed, visible as small, black spots on the host surface, uni-loculate, globose to subglobose, glabrous, brown to dark brown, ostiole central, with a minute papilla containing hyaline periphyses. Peridium 8–20μm wide, of unequal thickness, thickened at the apex, composed of several layers of brown to dark brown, pseudoparenchymatous cells, arranged in a textura globulosa. Hamathecium of 1.5–2 μm wide, septate, long, cellular pseudoparaphyses, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 64–75 × 14–16 μm (x̄ = 70 × 15 μm, n = 10), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, short pedicellate, apically rounded and thick-walled, with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 14–19 × 4–7 μm (x̄ = 16 × 4.6 μm, n = 30), overlapping 2–4-seriate, initially hyaline to subhyaline, pale yellowish at maturity, fusiform with rounded ends, 3-septate, slightly curved, constricted at the septa, wall rough, surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath. Asexual morph: Undetermined
Culture characteristics: Ascospores germinating on MEA within 36 h. Colonies growing on MEA, slow-growing, reaching 0.5 mm diam. in 1 week at 28 °C. Mycelium superficial, felty, grey.
Material examined: ITALY, Province of Forlì-Cesena [FC], Campigna-Santa Sofia, on dead stems of Luzula nivea (Nathh.) DC (Juncaceae), 8 June 2014, E. Camporesi, IT 1918 (MFLU 15-1394, holotype, BBH), ex-type living culture MFLUCC 14-0826, BCC.
GenBank Numbers: LSU: KT328495, SSU: KT328496, ITS: KT328497.
Notes: Loratospora was introduced by Kohlmeyer and Volkmann-Kohlmeyer (1993) as a monotypic genus, with Loratospora aestuarii. Suetrong et al. (2009) transferred Loratospora to Phaeosphaeriaceae based on phylogenetic data, whereas based on morphology it had previously been placed in Planistromellaceae (Barr 1996). This group was not well-resolved in Phookamsak et al. (2014). In this study, Ariyawansa et al. (2015) introduce a new species to the genus because it is morphologically and phylogenetically different to Loratospora aestuarii. Loratospora luzulae forms a separate branch with Loratospora aestuarii in the phylogenetic analysis as well.
Figure x. Loratospora luzulae (holotype) a, b Appearance of ascomata on host surface. c, d Section through ascomata. e Peridium. f Pseudoparaphyses. g Immature ascus. h–k Mature asci. l–p Ascospores. Scale bars: a=400 μm, b=100 μm, c, d=50 μm, e, g–k=30 μm, l–p, f=5 μm.
References:
Ariyawansa HA, Hyde KD, Jayasiri SC, Buyck B et al. 2015 – Fungal diversity notes 111–252-taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal diversity: an international journal of mycology 75, 27–4.
Barr ME 1996 – Planistromellaceae, a new family in the Dothideales. Mycotaxon 60, 433–442.
Kohlmeyer J, Volkmann-Kohlmeyer B 1993 – Atrotorquata and Loratospora: new ascomycete genera on Juncus roemerianus. Systema Ascomycetum 12, 7–22.
Phookamsak R, Liu JK, McKenzie EHC, Manamgoda DS et al. 2014 – Revision of Phaeosphaeriaceae. Fungal Diversity 68, 159–238.
Suetrong S, Schoch CL, Spatafora JW, Kohlmeyer J et al. 2009 – Molecular systematics of the marine Dothideomycetes. Studies in Mycology 64, 155–173.
Last update: 02 Feb 2021