Nodulosphaeria aconiti

Nodulosphaeria aconiti Mapook, Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, in Mapook, Boonmee, Ariyawansa, Tibpromma, Campesori, Gareth Jones, Bahkali & Hyde, Mycol. Progr. 15(no. 34): 7 (2016)

Index Fungorum number: IF 551942; Facesofungi number: FoF 00446

Etymology: Named after the host genus Aconitum, from which this species was collected.

Holotype: MFLU 14–0019.

Saprobic on dead herbaceous stems of Aconitum vulparia Rchb., noticeable as black dots on the host surface. Sexual morph: Ascomata (198–)208–210 × 113– 120(–142) μm (x̄ =205 × 125 μm, n = 5), immersed, erumpent at maturity, solitary, scattered, subglobose to obpyriform, coriaceous, dark brown, Ostiole short papillate, with numerous internal dark brown setae. Peridium 11–16 μm wide, comprising 2–3-layers of thick-walled, dark brown cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium comprising 2–2.5 μm wide, cylindrical, septate, branching pseudoparaphyses, anastomosing above the asci. Asci (58–)62–79(–83) × 9–10 μm (x̄ = 69 × 9 μm, n =10), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical to cylindric-subclavate, slightly curved, with a short, bulbous pedicel apically rounded, with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 29–33× 4–5 μm (x̄ =31 × 5 μm, n = 20), overlapping 2–3-seriate, hyaline or pale brown, cylindric-fusiform, tapering towards the rounded ends, 4-septate, broader and constricted at second cell from the apex, straight to slightly curved, smooth-walled, without terminal appendages. Asexual morph: Undetermined.

Culture characteristics: Ascospores germinating on MEA and PDA within 36 h at 18 °C and germ tubes produced from both ends.

Material examined: ITALY, Trento Province, Marilleva, on stems of Aconitum vulparia (Ranunculaceae), 27 June 2012, E. Camporesi (MFLU 14–0019, holotype), ex-type living culture MFLUCC 13–0728, MUCL; (isotype in HKAS, under the code of HKAS 90975); on dead stem of Aconitum vulparia (Ranunculaceae), 19 August 2013, E. Camporesi (MFLU 15–1880, paratype)

GenBank:

Notes: Nodulosphaeria aconiti was collected from dead stems of Aconitum vulparia. The new species is similar to Nodulosphaeria modesta in having 4-septate ascospores, enlarged at the second cell from the apex and a similar host family association (Holm 1961; Shoemaker 1984; Phookamsak et al. 2014). Nodulosphaeria aconiti differs from N. modesta in having distinct setae in the ostiole and larger ascomata [(198–)208–210 × 113–120(–142) μm vs. 130–200× 150–250 μm]. Nodulosphaeria aconiti is also similar to N. scabiosae which we introduce as a new species, but differs in having distinct setae around the ostiole, larger ascomata and smaller ascospores (29–33 × 4–5 μm vs. 35– 40× (3–)5–6 μm). The phylogeny also supports this as a distinct species with high bootstrap support.