Farasanispora avicenniae Abdel-Wahab, Bahkali & E.B.G. Jones, sp. nov.
Index Fungorum number: IF 551713, Facesoffungi number: FoF 01635, Fig. 2
Etymology: In reference to the host, Avicennia marina.
Holotype: CBS H-22559

Saprobic on submerged intertidal mangrove wood. Sexual morph Ascomata 180 – 270 μm in diam., globose to subglobose, immersed to erumpent, ostiolate, solitary, coriaceous, dark-brown to black. Peridium 25 – 35 μm thick at the upper part, two-layered, forming textura angularis; outer layer 10 – 15 μm comprising polygonal, brown to dark-brown thick-walled cells; inner layer 12 – 15 μm wide, comprising hyaline thin-walled flattened cells; peridium at the lower part of the ascomata is onelayered, hyaline to light brown comprising of 10 – 15 μm diam. polygonal flattened cells. Hamathecium comprising numerous, 1.5 – 3 μm wide, septate, trabeculate pseudoparaphses, branched, within a gelatinous matrix, anastomosing above the asci and emerging through the ostiolar canal. Asci 115 –162 × 23 – 34 μm (x̄ = 37.2 × 29.3 μm, n = 25), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, clavate, short pedicellate, apically rounded, with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 30 – 39 × 9 – 13 μm (x̄ = 34.9 × 11.4 μm, n = 60), overlapping biseriate, hyaline, 1 –septate, the septum is sub-median, upper cell longer and wider, slightly curved, guttulate; senescent ascospores are larger 38 – 43 × 11 – 14 μm (x̄ = 40.5 × 12.5 μm, n = 15), light brown, flattened, striate, verrculose, 2 – 3 – septate. Asexual morph Undetermined.

Culture characteristics: Colonies on PDA reaching a 25 – 30 mm radius after 22 days at 25 °C, with white to gray aerial and immersed mycelium, from below brown.

Material examined: SAUDI ARABIA, Jizan City, Farasan Island, 16° 44′ 22′′ N 42° 4′ 41″ E, on decayed wood of Avicennia marina at a mangrove stand, 8 March 2012, M.A. Abdel-Wahab (CBS H-22559, holotype); ex-type living culture, MF 1207. CBS 141303.

Notes: Farasanispora avicenniae has ascospore dimensions that overlap with Halomassarina thalassiae (Kohlm. & Volkm.-Kohlm.) Suetrong et al., however, Farasanispora avicenniae have smaller ascomata without a clypeus or papillae and the ostiolar canal is not periphysate. Ascospores in Halomassarina thalassiae has a prominent and larger gelatinous sheath (Kohlmeyer and Volkmann-Kohlmeyer 1987) . Phylogenetically H. thalassiae and Farasanispora avicenniae are distantly related, where the latter formed a basal clade to the families Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae and its phylogenetic placement is not well – resolved (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 Phylogram generated from maximum likelihood analysis (MEGA6) based on combined dataset of SSU and LSU sequence data of the two new genera and related taxa in Pleosporales. Representatives of the orders Mytilinidiales, Capnodiales and Dothideales are used as outgroup taxa. Maximum Likelihood bootstrap values greater than 50 % are indicated at the nodes. The new genera are in blue. Ex-type strains are in bold.

Fig. 2 Farasanispora avicenniae (holotype) a, b Vertical section of ascomata c Ascus dehiscence d – e Mature asci f Senescent ascospore. Scale bars: a – b = 40 μm, c = 15 μm, d –  e = 20μm, f=5 μm.