Joblinomyces apicalis Hanafy, Vikram B. Lanjekar, Prashant K. Dhakephalkar, T.M. Callaghan, Dagar, G.W. Griff., Elshahed & N.H. Youssef, sp. nov.
MycoBank number: MB 830868; Index Fungorum number: IF 830868; Facesoffungi number: FoF;
Typification: The holotype (FIG. 7c) was derived from the following: INDIA. HARYANA: City of Sonipat, 28.988°N, 76.941°E ~220 m asl, 3-d-old culture of isolate GFH683, originally isolated from freshly deposited feces of a domesticated goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), Sumit Dagar.
Ex-type strain: GFH683.
GenBank: MK910268 (D1–D2 28S rDNA).
Etymology: The species epithet “apicalis” refers to the zoospore discharge through the dissolution of a wide apical portion of the sporangial wall.
Obligate anaerobic fungus that produces globose monoflagellate zoospores. Biflagellate zoospores were occasionally observed. Zoospores germinate to produce both endogenous and exogenous monocentric thalli. Endogenous sporangia vary in shape between globose, subglobose, ovoid, and obovoid, with sizes ranging between 8 and 10 and 40 μm L × 40 μm W. Exogenous sporangia are terminal and vary in shape between globose, ovoid, obovoid. Sporangiophores vary in length from 20 to 80 µm. Zoospores discharge occur through gradual dissolution of a wide apical portion of sporangial wall, resulting in formation of an empty cup-shaped sporangium. Produces 1 to 2 mm-sized colonies with a dense, dark central core of abundant sporangial growth, surrounded by long and thin radiat- ing rhizoids. In liquid media, it produces numerous fungal thalli that attach to the glass bottles on initial days of growth and later develop into thin, mat-like structures. The clade is defined by the sequences MK910278–MK910282 (ITS1) and MK910268– MK910272 (D1–D2 28S rDNA).
Additional specimens examined: INDIA. HARYANA: City of Sonipat, 28.988°N, 76.941°E, ~220 m asl, 3-d-old culture of isolates strains GFH681 and GFH682, originally isolated from freshly deposited feces of a domesticated goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), Sumit Dagar. Genbank (D1–D2 28S rDNA): GFH681 (MK910263–MK910267) and GFH682 (MK775330).
Figure 7. Microscopic features of Joblinomyces apicalis (clade 5, domesticated goat and sheep) strain GFH683 (D-HA). Phase-contrast (a, b, c, e), fluorescence (d, f), scanning electron (g–j, m), and differential interference (k–l) micrographs. a. A monoflagellate zoospore. b. A biflagellate spherical zoospore. c–f. Monocentric thalli; nuclei were observed in sporangia, not in rhizoids or sporangiophores; note the empty cup-shaped sporangium after zoospore release (arrow in c). g. Ovoid endogenous sporangium. h–i. Exogenous sporangia: h. Ovoid sporangium with short sporangiophore. i. Subglobose sporangium with long sporangiophore. j–l. Zoospore release: j. Dissolution of the apical portion of sporangial wall (arrow). k–l. Cup-shaped sporangia with wide apical pores and intact sporangial walls (arrows). m. Colonization of rice straw fibers by fungal rhizoids. Bars = 20 μm.