Parameliola Hongsanan, Peršoh&K.D. Hyde, gen. nov.
Index Fungorum number: IF 551765, Facesoffungi number: FoF 01664
Etymology: From Greek Para meaning near or beside, meliola is from the genus name, in reference to the occurrence on Meliolaceae.
Hyperparasite on the surface of hyphae of Meliola thailandicum Hongsanan & K.D. Hyde. On superficial hyphae of M. thailandicum, growing on the lower surface of living leaves, branched, septate, darker at the septum, brown to dark brown, with hyphopodia, later forming outwardly radiating black colonies with capitate hyphopodia, mostly alternate or sometimes opposite on hyphae, near to hyphal septum, 2-celled, brown and hyphal setae 5 μm diam., aseptate, brown to reddish brown, pale brown to hyaline at the apex. Conidiomata of Parameliola superficial, solitary, globose to subglobose, attached to the superficial hyphae of Meliola thailandicum, ostiole absent, thin-walled, brown to dark brown. Peridium comprising 2 layers of textura angularis, inner layer very thin and hyaline, outer layer dark brown. Hamathecium lacking pseudoparaphyses. Conidiophores not observed. Conidiogenous cells holoblastic in cavity of conidiomata, cylindrical, hyaline, smooth-walled. Conidia borne singly at the apex of the conidiophore, ellipsoid to cylindrical, both ends broadly rounded, aseptate, hyaline, smooth-walled.
Notes: Parameliola was found on the surface of leaves based of a black sooty mould collected in northern Thailand. The species develops among the setae and on the hyphae of Meliola thailandicum Hongsanan & K.D. Hyde, as a hyperparasite. The morphology of Parameliola is typical of Coniothyrium in having globose, black conidiomata and unicellular hyaline conidia. It is distinct from Coniothyrium and other genera in Pleosporales in being hyperparasitic on the thallus or hyphae of Meliola species. DNA extraction of Parameliola dimocarpi and P. acaciae were made directly from dry fruiting bodies which contained many conidia to obtain sequence data. Molecular analyses of LSU and SSU sequence data indicate that these two species are separated from other known genera in Pleosporales. Therefore, Parameliola should be a new genus in Pleosporales, typified by P. dimocarpi. Furthermore, Parameliola species do not clusterd in any family of Pleosporales in phylogenetic tree. More collections are needed to confirm their placement which is possibly a new family in Pleosporales.
Type species: Parameliola dimocarpi Hongsanan & K.D. Hyde.
Species