Graphis panhalensis (Patw. & C.R. Kulk.) Chitale, Makhija & B.O. Sharma, Mycotaxon 115: 474 (2011)

Index Fungorum number: IF 519294; Mycobank number: MB 519294; Facesoffungi number: FoF 16053; Fig. 1

≡ Graphina panhalensis Patw. & C.R. Kulk., Norw. Jl Bot. 26(1): 47 (1979)

Thallus crustose, corticolous, corticate, surface smooth to indistinctly warty, pale glaucous green to greenish grey. Ascocarp lirellate black, emergent, long, flexuous or curved, simple to sparsely branched, with a lateral thick thalline margin, ends sub-acute, 0.5–6×0.1–0.4 mm. Disc concealed. Labia striate, black, not pruinose. Exciple convergent, 4–5 striate, pale brown, apically to sometimes laterally carbonized. Epithecium granular, brown. Hymenium hyaline, clear, KI–, 70–140 μm high. Subhymenium hyaline, 10–17 μm high. Ascospores 8 per ascus, hyaline, muriform, ellipsoid, I–, 45–65×12–16 μm.

Secondary chemistry: Stictic acid detected by TLC; K+yellow.

Material examined: India, Maharashtra, Satara, Thoseghar (17° 36′ 05″ N, 73° 52′ 17″ E,+1106 msl.), 30 September 2021, P. A. Ansil and K. C. Rajeshkumar, (AMH21.48).

GenBank numbers: AMH21.48: mtSSU = OR807880, LSU=OR807874.

Notes: This study presents the phylogenetic placement of Graphis panhalensis. Graphis panhalensis was established as Graphina panhalensis by Patwardhan and Kulkarni (1979), Later renamed as Graphis panhalensis (Chitale et al. 2011) based on the convergent, well-developed exciple with distinct carbonized areas and colourless ascospores. This species was known only for its type. G. panhalensis is similar to G. parilis Kremp. in external morphology, thallus chemistry and spore size and septation. However, G. panhalensis differs by having 8 spores per ascus and I– ascospores when compared to G. parilis having 2–8 spores per ascus and I+ascospores. The phylogenetic analyses using combined mtSSU, LSU and rpb2 sequences placed in G. panhalensis sister to G. parilis.

Figure 1 – Graphis panhalensis (AMH21.48). a, b Thallus. c, d Cross section of lirellae. e hymenium. f, g Ascus showing ascospores. h, i ascospore. i Ascospore. Scale bars: a=1 mm, b=500 µm, c–d=50 µm, e=40 µm, f–g=20 µm, h–i=10 µm