Leptosphaeria cichorium Phukhamsakda, Camporesi, Ariyawansa & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov.,

Index Fungorum number: IF551463, Facesoffungi number: FoF 01156

Etymology: The specific epithet cichorium is based on the host genus from which the taxon was isolated.

Holotype: MFLU 15-1406

Saprobic on dead stem of Cichorium intybus L. Sexual morph: Ascomata 206–240 μm high × 251–363 μmdiam. (x̅ = 190 × 328 μm, n = 10), solitary, scattered or in small groups, erumpent to superficial, globose to subglobose, small- to medium-sized, smooth, easily removed from the host substrate, with a flattened base, black, coriaceous, ostiolate. Ostiole apex dark brown to black, conical, shiny, with a well-developed papilla, ostiolar canal filled with periphyses. Peridium 2.5–7.5 μm wide at sides, composed of two layers, outer layer composed of small thick-walled cells of textura angularis, thinner at the apex, wide at sides, inner layer composed of subhyaline or light brown relatively thin-walled cells of textura angularis, cells near the base comparatively larger. Hamathecium of 1–2 μm (x̅ = 1.5 μm, n = 20) wide, long, septate, and cellular pseudoparaphyses, branching and anastomosing above the asci, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 71–115 × 5–8 μm (x̅ = 95 × 7 μm, n = 20), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical, short pedicellate, rounded at the apex, with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 11–20 × 3–6 μm (x̅ = 16 × 5 μm, n = 50), uni- or bi-seriate, partially overlapping, reddish to yellowish brown, fusoid with sharp to narrowly rounded edges, 3-septate, slightly constricted at each septum, cell above central septum slightly wider, smooth-walled, lacking a sheath. Asexual morph: Produced on sterilized bamboo pieces on water agar.Coelomycetous.Conidiomata189–200 × 196–220μm (x̅ = 190 × 205.9 µm, n = 10), pycnidial, superficial, immersed in media, globose to subglobose, black, without an ostiole. Conidiomata wall 15–25μm wide, composed of muti-cell layer of textura angularis, pale yellowish brown. Conidiogenous cells2–5 × 2–4 μm(x̅ = 3.4 × 2.6 µm, n = 30), enteroblastic, phialidic, determinate, discrete, subglobose to short conical. Conidia3–6 × 1–3 μm(x̅ = 3.7 × 1.3 µm, n = 50), hyaline, aseptate, oblong to ellipsoidal, thin-walled, smooth, guttulate.

Material examined: ITALY, Province of Forlì-Cesena

[FC], Fiumicello – Premilcuore, on dead stem of Cichorium intybus, 29 August 2014, E. Camporesi IT 2067, (MFLU 15-1406, holotype); ibid. (HKAS88970, isotype); – ex-type living culture, MFLUCC 14–1063, BRIP.

Fig .Leptosphaeria cichoriuma, b. Appearance of ascomata on host surface.c. Section of ascoma. d. Ostiole with periphyses. e. Close-up of the peridium. f. Pseudoparaphyses g–i. Immature and mature asci with short bulbous pedicels. j–l. Ascospores. m. germinating ascospore n. Conidiomata on host substrate. o. Close-up of the conidioma wall. p. Section of conidioma. q–s. Conidiogenous cells. t. Conidia Scale bars: a = 200 µm, b = 100 µm, c–d = 50 µm, e–h = 20 µm, i–l = 10 µm, o–t = 5 µm.

Notes:Leptosphaeriacichorium is introduced here based on both morphology and phylogeny. Leptosphaeria cichorium is typical ofLeptosphaeria in having a peridium of schleroplectenchymatous cells and reddish to yellowish brown, fusoid, 3-septate ascospores.