This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L. Agricola Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L.

Paramphisphaeria costaricensis gen. et sp. nov. and Pachytrype rimosa sp. nov. from Costa Rica

     Botany Department, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496

Jack D. Rogers

     Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6430

Yu-Ming Ju

     Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan

Sabine M. Huhndorf

     Botany Department, The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496

Loengrin Umaña

     Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio), apartado postal 430-3100, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS TAXONOMY LITERATURE CITED

 

Paramphisphaeria is described as a new genus on the basis of the single species, P. costaricensis. It differs from Amphisphaeria spp. primarily in having bicellular ascospores with a germ slit and in having an ascus apical ring that does not become blue in iodine. It resembles Amphisphaeria in its brown color and lack of constriction at the septum of the ascospore. An anamorph is unknown. It tentatively is placed in the Xylariaceae for reasons discussed. Pachytrype rimosa is described as a new species.

Key words: Ascomycetes, Calosphaeriales, Diaporthales, pyrenomycetes, Xylariaceae, Xylariales

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS TAXONOMY LITERATURE CITED

 
The national fungal inventory currently being carried out in Costa Rica has yielded numerous collections of Ascomycetes. Two previously undescribed pyrenomycetes were encountered during observations of dry collections at the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio). One of them does not appear to fit neatly into any described genus or family of Ascomycetes; its possible affinities are discussed herein. We describe it here as a new genus and species. The other taxon is described as a new species.

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS TAXONOMY LITERATURE CITED

 
Ascospores were removed from perithecia under sterile conditions and spotted onto scratch malt-extract agar (SMEA) (Kenerley and Rogers 1976), essentially malt-extract agar without peptone. Resulting colonies were transferred to 2% oatmeal agar (Difco) (OMA) and 2% potato-dextrose agar + 5 g/L yeast extract (Difco) (PDYA). Colonies were incubated at ca 20 C in natural cycles of daylight and darkness or in the dark.

Ascomata were sectioned at 5 µm for light microscopy using the techniques of Huhndorf (1991). Photomicrography was obtained by using bright field (BF), phase contrast (PH), differential interference microscopy (DIC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Digital photomicrography was obtained by using a Sony DXC-107A digital camera attached to a Zeiss SV6 stereo microscope. Some of the images of microscopic morphological structures were captured using a Power Computing Powertower Pro 225 Mac/OS system with a Scion LG-3 Framegrabber from a Dage DC-330 video system on an Olympus BH-2 and Wild M5A microscopes. Ascospore measurements were made for 25 spores and the ranges of length and width cited with exceptional dimensions in parentheses. Cultures were deposited at Center for Forest Mycology Research, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. Color designations are after Rayner (1970).

	TAXONOMY

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS TAXONOMY LITERATURE CITED

 

Paramphisphaeria F. A. Fernández, J. D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, Huhndorf, et L. Umaña, gen. nov.

Stromata et perithecia subglobosa, subicula nulla. Asci cylindrici, stipitati, annulo apicali in liquore iodato Melzeri non colorato. Ascosporae brunneae, ellipsoideo-inequilaterales, bicellulares, rima germinativa praeditae. Paraphyses angustae. Anamorphosis ignotus.

Typus generis. Paramphisphaeria costaricensis F.A. Fernández, J.D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, Huhndorf et L. Umaña.

Etymology. "para", meaning close to or beside, + Amphisphaeria in reference to that genus.

Stromata and perithecia subglobose, lacking a subiculum. Asci cylindrical, stipitate, the apical ring not staining in Melzer's iodine reagent. Ascospores brown, ellipsoid-inequilateral, bicellular, with a germination slit. Paraphyses narrow. Anamorph unknown.

Paramphisphaeria costaricensis F. A. Fernández, J. D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, Huhndorf et L. Umaña, sp. nov. Figs. 1–10

View larger version (155K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIGS. 1–10. Paramphisphaeria costaricensis. 1–3. Ascomata on the substrate. 4, 5. Longitudinal sections through ascoma. 6. Ascus and paraphyses. 7. Ascal apices showing apical ring. 8. One-septate ascospores, each showing its own germ slit. 9, 10. SEM micrographs of ascospores. FIGS. 1–3 and 8 by BF; FIGS. 4–6 by DIC; FIG. 7 by PH; FIG. 9, 10 by SEM. FIGS. 1–3, 6, 8–10 from holotype; FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 from SMH 4246. Bars in FIG. 1 = 1 mm; 2 = 0.5 mm; 3 = 0.2 mm; 4 = 50 µm; 5 = 50 µm; 6 = 10 µm; 7 = 10 µm; 8 = 5 µm; 9 = 4 µm; 10 = 5 µm

Stromata subglobose, solitary or several fused, 0.2–0.3 mm diam, externally and internally dull black; soft. Perithecia subglobose, 0.1–0.2 mm diam. Ostioles umbilicate, slightly raised. Asci 8-spored, arranged uniseriately or partly biseriately, ca 110 µm total length x 6–9 µm wide, the spore-bearing part ca 90 µm long, with ascus apical ring not bluing in Melzer's iodine reagent, discoid, 0.9 um high, 2.5 um wide. Ascospores brown, ellipsoid-inequilateral, equally 2-celled at maturity, smooth, 14.5–17.5(–19) x 5–6.5 µm, with indistinct spore-length germination slit on the flattened side. Paraphyses narrow, abundant.

Colony on OMA at ca 20 C and 12 h daylight/12 h darkness covering 9 cm diam Petri plate in 3 wk, usually not completely growing to plate periphery, white, thin, appressed. Reverse uncolored. Anamorph not observed.

Specimens examined. COSTA RICA: Guanacaste Province, Cantón Bagaces, Area de Conservación Tempisque, Reserva Biológica Lomas de Barbudal, 10° 27' 59'' N, 85° 21' 06'' W, 6 Jul 2000, trail from station to river, F. A. Fernández SMH 4246; Parque Nacional Palo Verde, log decomposition study, 10° 21' 26'' N, 85° 19' 10'' W, 20 May 2001, M. Oses 1541 (INB3464948); 28 Jul 2001, M. Oses 1820 (INB3465027); 15 Nov 2001, M. Oses 2162 (HOLOTYPE INB3466410, ISOTYPE WSP 70470); 12 Sep 2002, M. Oses 3259 (INB3548443); 12 Sep 2002, M. Oses 3266 (INB3559791); 11 Nov 2002, M. Oses 3415 (INB3559792); 11 Nov 2002, M. Oses 3416 (INB3559793), M. Oses 3417 (INB3559794).

Etymology. costaricensis, meaning "from Costa Rica".

Commentary. Paramphisphaeria resembles Amphisphaeria Ces. & De Not. in the perithecioid stromata that are not associated with a subiculum and, especially, in the brown equally 2-celled ascospores that are not constricted at the septum. It differs principally in that the ascospores of P. costaricensis have a full-length germ slit and the ascus apical ring does not blue in iodine. An anamorph unfortunately was not produced in cultures and, indeed, anamorphs are mostly unknown among Amphisphaeria species.

Paramphisphaeria does not fit unequivocally into any pyrenomycetous family. We are inclined to place it in the Xylariaceae despite its bicellular ascospores and the iodine-negative ascus tip. Owing to the reticulate pattern of characters now accepted in the Xylariaceae, this view seems justified. For example, Vivantia J. D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, & Candoussau has 2-celled subhyaline ascospores that lack a germ slit and an ascus apical ring that blues in iodine; Biscogniauxia anceps (Sacc.) J. D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, & Candoussau has both 2-celled hyaline ascospores that lack a germ slit and 2-celled ascospores with one of them colored and with a germ slit (Rogers et al 1996). Both taxa have a Nodulisporium Preuss anamorph. Collodiscula I. Hino & Katum. has dark 2-celled ascospores devoid of a germ slit, an ascus apical ring that blues in iodine and an Acanthodochium Samuels, J. D. Rogers & Nagasawa anamorph (Samuels et al 1987). Astrocystis Berk. & Broome (Rosellinia De Not. fide Ju & Rogers) has dark one-celled ascospores with a germ slit and an Acanthodochium anamorph; its resemblance to Collodiscula is striking (Ju and Rogers 1990). Moreover, one species (probably both) of the taxa discussed by Ju and Rogers has ascospores with a hyaline cell that is lost before ascospore maturation, i.e., they are initially 2-celled (Ju and Rogers 1990). Laessøe (1994), correctly in our opinion, considered Collodiscula to be a xylariaceous taxon despite the ascospores that are atypical of the family. The problem of delimiting family Xylariaceae is discussed by Rogers (1994, 2000).

Pachytrype rimosa F. A. Fernández, J. D. Rogers, Y.-M. Ju, Huhndorf et L. Umaña, sp. nov. Figs. 11–22

View larger version (152K): [in this window] [in a new window]   FIGS. 11–22. Pachytrype rimosa. 11. Perithecial stroma. 12. Longitudinal section through stroma showing perithecial locules and entostroma. 13–15. Perithecial beaks showing through cracks in stroma. 16. Perithecial beaks. 17. Paraphysis. 18.Young ascus and part of ascogenous system. 19, 20. Asci. 21, 22. Individual ascospores. All images from the holotype. FIGS. 11 by digital photography; 12–16 by photomicrography; 17, 18 and 20 by PH; 19, 21 and 22 by DIC. Bars in FIG. 11 = 2.5 mm; 12 = 1 mm; 13 = 500 µm; 14 = 500 µm; 15 = 250 µm; 16 = 100 µm; 17–20 = 10 µm; 21, 22 = 5 µm

Stromata irregularly pulvinate on narrow connective, 3 cm long x 1.5 cm broad x 1 cm thick. Surface cracked into dull black or cream blocks; interior white. Texture cartilaginous when dry, rubbery when wet. Perithecia globose, 0.3–0.5 mm diam, polystichous, with short to long necks. Ostioles papillate, inconspicuous. Asci thin-walled, more or less rectangular, with ascospores irregularly arranged, 23–27 x 4–5 µm, with a very short narrowed connective. Apical ring somewhat cubical, 1.5 um x 1.5 um, not staining in Melzer's iodine reagent. Asci free at maturity. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid to ellipsoid-inequilateral to more or less allantoid, smooth, (4.5–) 5–6.5 (–7.5) x (1.5–) 2–2.5 µm Paraphyses abundant, ca. 5 µm at base, tapering to a narrow apex.

Colony on OMA at ca 20 C in 12 h daylight/12 h darkness covering plate in 2 wk, dense, tomentose. Olivaceous Buff (89) darkening to Greenish Olivaceous (90) or Dull Green (70). Reverse uncolored. Anamorph not seen.

Specimens examined. COSTA RICA, Cartago Province, Parque Nacional Tapantí, La Esperanza del Guarco, 9° 41' 28'' N, 83° 52' 36'' W, 16 Dec 2001, L. Umaña 1010 (INB3527268); 4 Jul 2002, along main road, near research station, on a log, 1 m diam, F. A. Fernández 1066 (HOLOTYPE INB3559816, ISOTYPES F, WSP 70471).

Etymology. "Rimosa" for the cracked stromatal surface.

Commentary. The substrate for P. rimosa is probably Quercus copeyensis C.H. Müell., which is the predominant tree species in the area. Pachytrype rimosa differs from P. princeps (Penz. & Sacc.) M.E. Barr, J.D. Rogers & Y.-M. Ju (1993) in the cracked stromatal surface, the paler color of the stromatal interior, the general lack of long ostiolar necks and the lack of an anamorph in culture. Asci and ascospores of the two species are similar. The relationship of these species to P. graphidioides (Syd. & P. Syd.) M.E. Barr, J.D. Rogers & Y.-M. Ju (1993), a species known from the Philippines and New Guinea, is unknown. It has not been cultured, as far as we know. The genus Pachytrype currently is placed in family Calosphaeriaceae based on the morphology of stromata and anamorphs (Barr et al 1993). P. rimosa possesses several interesting morphological characteristics: a large well-developed stroma with a rubbery texture; clusters of perithecia embedded in the stroma; free-floating asci; and an iodine-negative ascal apical plug. Free-floating asci were observed in Calosphaeria fagi Samuels & Candoussau, a character considered unusual for a taxon in the Calosphaeriales but common among some members of the Diaporthales (Samuels and Candoussau 1996). The phylogenetic affinities of Pachytrype at the generic, familial and ordinal levels are poorly understood and require further studies.

	ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 
This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation grants DEB-9813304 to JDR and DEB-0072684 to SH and FF and the Global Environmental Facility through its implementing agency the World Bank for the project Biodiversity Resources Development, developed by INBio and the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) in Costa Rica. We thank M.J. Adams, Washington State University, Pullman, for aid with photography.

	FOOTNOTES

 
¹ Corresponding author. E-mail: ffernandez{at}fieldmuseum.org

Accepted for publication June 2, 2003.

	LITERATURE CITED

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS TAXONOMY LITERATURE CITED

 
Barr M, Rogers JD, Ju Y-M., 1993 Revisionary studies in the Calosphaeriales. Mycotaxon 48:529-535

Huhndorf SM., 1991 A method for sectioning ascomycete herbarium specimens for light microscopy. Mycologia 83:520-524

Ju Y-M, Rogers JD., 1990 Astrocystis reconsidered. Mycologia 82:342-349

Kenerley CM, Rogers JD., 1976 On Hypoxylon serpens in culture. Mycologia 68:688-691

Laessøe T., 1994 Index Ascomycetum 1. Xylariaceae. Syst Ascomycetum 13:43-112

Rayner RW., 1970 A mycological colour chart. Kew, England: Commonwealth Mycological Institute and British Mycological Society

Rogers JD., 1994 Problem genera and family interfaces in the Eupyrenomycetes. In: Hawksworth DL, ed. Ascomycete systematics: problems and perspectives in the nineties. New York: Plenum Press. p 321–331

———. 2000 Thoughts and musings on tropical Xylariaceae. Mycol Res 104:1412-1420

———, Ju Y-M, Candoussau F., 1996 Biscogniauxia anceps comb. nov. and Vivantia guadalupensis gen. et sp. nov. Mycol Res 100:669-674

Samuels GJ, Rogers JD, Nagasawa E., 1987 Studies in the Amphisphaeriaceae (sens. lat.) 1. Collodiscula japonica and its anamorph, Acanthodochium collodisculae gen. et sp. nov. Mycotaxon 28:453-459

———, Candoussau F., 1996 Heterogeneity in the Calosphaeriales: a new Calosphaeria with Ramichloridium- and Sporothrix-like synanamorphs. Nova Hedwigia 62:47-60

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L. Agricola Articles by Fernández, F. A. Articles by Umaña, L.