Nodulosphaeria italica
Nodulosphaeria italica Phook., Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, in Hyde et al., Fungal Diversity 80: 106 (2016)
Index Fungorum number: IF 552202; Facesofungi number: FoF 02261
Etymology The specific epithet ‘‘italica’’ refers to the country, where the holotype was collected.
Holotype: MFLU 16-1359
Saprobic on Cirsium sp. Sexual morph: Ascomata 240–330 μm high (excluding necks), 280–330 μm diam., dark brown to black, scattered, gregarious, immersed to erumpent through the host cortex, globose to subglobose, uniloculate, setose, covered by dark brown, septate, vegetative hyphae. Papilla 190–330 μm high, 120–140 μm diam., truncate to cylindrical, composed of several layers of thick, brown to dark brown, pseudoparenchymatous cells, arranged in a textura angularis, ostiole central, pore-like opening, with brown, 2–3-septate, setae-like periphyses. Peridium 16–34 μm wide, thin-walled, of equal thickness, composed of two types of brown to dark brown, pseudoparenchymatous cells, inner layers comprising 2–3 layers, of flattened, dark brown cells, arranged in textura prismatica to textura angularis, outer layers comprising 1–2 layers, of thickened, subhyaline to black cells, arranged in textura angularis to textura globulosa. Hamathecium composed of dense, 2–4 μm wide, cellular pseudoparaphyses, distinctly septate, anastomosing at the apex, embedded in a hyaline gelatinous matrix. Asci (157–)170–200(–206) × (11–)12–14(–15) μm (x̄ = 183.5 × 13.2 μm, n = 30), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical, short pedicellate, with obtuse to furcate pedicel, apically rounded, with well-developed ocular chamber. Ascospores (114–)120–150(–158) × (2–)3–4(–5) μm (x̄ = 141.5 × 3.8 μm, n = 30), tri- to tetra-seriate in parallel, not fasciculate, yellowish-brown to brown, filiform, with rounded ends, tapered towards lower cell, enlarged at the 8th cell, multi-septate (17–20 septa), constricted at the central septum, smooth-walled, with guttules. Asexual morph Undetermined.
Material examined: ITALY, Province of Trento[TN], Mezzana, Marilleva 900, on dead stem of thistle (Cirsium sp.), 3 June 2014, E. Camporesi, IT 549 (MFLU 16-1359, holotype; MFLU 16-1360, isotype); ibid. 9 June 2014, E. Camporesi (MFLU 16-1361); 16 July 2012, E. Camporesi (MFLU 15-0449).
GenBank:
Notes: Nodulosphaeria italica is similar to N. cirsii in having brown, scolecosporous ascospores with multi-septa. However, they can be distinguished by the size of asci and ascospores, as N. italica has smaller asci and ascospores than N. cirsii. Based on phylogenetic analyses, N. italica sits with N. senecionis in a robust clade, while N. scabiosae is basal to both species (Hyde et al. 2016).