Tamaricicola muriformis Thambugala, Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov. Index Fungorum number: IF552088
Etymology: Named after its muriform ascospores
Holotype: MFLU 16–0676
Saprobic on dead herbaceous stems and branches. Sexual morph: Ascomata 140–200 μm high × 175–300 μm diam. (x =175 × 230 μm, n = 6), immersed to partially erumpent, solitary or scattered to gregarious, black, coriaceous, ostiolate. Peridium 20–40 μm wide, comprising several layers, outer layers heavily pigmented, thick-walled, comprising blackish to dark brown cells of textura angularis, inner layers composed of lightly pigmented to hyaline, thin-walled cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium composed of 1–2.5 μm wide, numerous, septate, branched or not, cellular pseudoparaphyses. Asci 70–105 × 12–15(−16.7) μm (x = 86 × 13.6 μm, n = 24), (4–)8 spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical to cylindric-clavate, pedicellate, apically rounded, with a distinct ocular chamber. Ascospores 13–19 × 5.5–9 μm (x = 15.8 × 7.3 μm, n = 40), partially overlapping, uni- to biseriate, ellipsoidal, muriform, transversely 3-septate, with 1–3 vertical septa, upper part wider, constricted at the central septum, initially hyaline, becoming yellowish brown at maturity, smooth-walled, without a mucilaginous sheath. Sexual morph: coelomycetous. Conidiomata 90–160 μm high × 90–165 μm diam. (x = 106 × 124 μm, n = 10), pycnidial, immersed, dark brown to black, subglobose, ostiolate. Conidiomatal wall 10–21 μm wide, comprising few layers of dark brown to hyaline cells of textura angularis. Conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells 3–4.5 × 1.8–3.8 μm (x = 3.7 × 2.9 μm, n = 10), phialidic, hyaline, smooth, ampulliform. Conidia 2–4.5 × 1.2–2.3 μm (x =3.1 × 1.7 μm, n = 60), ellipsoidal or short-cylindrical, hyaline, rounded at both ends, 1-celled, smooth-walled.
Culture characteristics: Ascospores germinating on PDA within 24 h and germ tubes produced from one end or both ends. Colonies growing on PDA reaching 25 mm diam. After 12 days at 25 °C, circular, umbonate, dense, surface iron-gray, white at the margin, reverse black, olivaceous brown at the margin, smooth surface with edge entire to curled.
Material examined: ITALY, Province of Forlì-Cesena, Ravaldino in Monte- Forlì, on dead branches of Tamarix gallica L. (Tamaricaceae), 10 January 2014, Erio Camporesi IT 917–3 (MFLU 16–0676, holotype), ex-type living culture MFLUCC 15–0488, ICMP 21254; ibid. (HHUF 30463, isotype); ibid., 21 January 2015, Erio Camporesi IT 917–4 (MFLU 16–0677), living culture MFLUCC 15–0489, ICMP, ibid., 22 November 2012, Erio Camporesi IT 917 (MFLU 14– 0582, paratype), living culture MFLUCC 13–0071, ICMP 20690; TALY, ibid., 23 November 2014, Erio Camporesi IT917–5 (MFLU 16–0678), living culture MFLUCC 15–0490, ICMP, ibid., 22 November 2012, Erio Camporesi IT 917–2 (MFLU 14–0583), living culture MFLUCC 16–0488
FIG Tamaricicola muriformis (holotype). a, b Appearance of ascomata on host surface c, d Vertical sections through ascomata e Peridium f Pseudoparaphyses g Immature ascus h, i Mature bitunicate asci j Apex of ascus k-m Ascospores. Scale bars: c = 100 μm, d-e = 50 μm, f = 20 μm, g-i = 25 μm, j = 10 μm, k-m = 5 μm
FIG Tamaricicola muriformis (asexual morph) a, b Appearance of conidiomata on host surface c, g Vertical section through conidiomata d, e, h Conidiomatal wall, conidiogenous cells and developing conidia f, i Conidia (g-i from MFLUCC 15–0488). Scale bars: c, d = 50 μm, e = 15 μm, f = 10 μm