A new lichenicolous species of Capronia (Ascomycota ...

Fungal Diversity (2010) 40:37–40
DOI 10.1007/s13225-009-0003-y
A new lichenicolous species of Capronia
(Ascomycota, Herpotrichiellaceae), with a key to the known
lichenicolous species of the genus
M. Gökhan Halıcı & David L. Hawksworth &
Mehmet Candan & Ayşen Özdemir Türk
Received: 22 September 2008 /Accepted: 30 January 2009 /Published online: 12 January 2010
# Kevin D. Hyde 2010
Abstract A new lichenicolous fungus in the genus Capronia
is described: C. minutosetosa sp. nov. from the thallus
of Chromatochlamys muscorum in Turkey and Spain. The
new species differs from those previously recognized in the
genus in the size and septation of the ascospores and
peridial setae, as well as in occurring on unrelated hosts. A
key to the eleven lichenicolous species of the genus now
known is also presented.
Keywords Lichenicolous fungi . Lichens .
Chromatochlamys . Turkey . Spain
Introduction
The genus Capronia Sacc. 1883, typified by Sphaeria
sexdecimspora Cooke 1871, comprises 59 accepted
M. G. Halıcı (*)
Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Erciyes Üniversitesi,
38039 Kayseri, Turkey
e-mail: mghalici@erciyes.edu.tr
D. L. Hawksworth
Departamento de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia,
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal,
Ciudad Universitaria,
28040 Madrid, Spain
D. L. Hawksworth
Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road,
London SW7 5BD, UK
M. Candan : A. Ö. Türk
Fen Fakültesi, Biyoloji Bölümü, Anadolu Üniversitesi,
Eskişehir, Turkey
species (http://www.indexfungorum.org). The genus is
characterized by usually setose ascomata with periphysate
ostioles, bitunicate asci of the Herpotrichiella-type with
eight or more pale brown ascospores; the ascospores can
be 1-many septate or dictyoseptate. However, two species
of the genus; C. glabra W.H. Hsieh et al. 1997 (Hsieh et
al. 1997) andC. episphaeria (Peck) M.E.Barr 1991(Barr
1991) have non-setose ascomata. Most of the anamorphs
described for this genus belong to the “black yeast”
Exophiala-Ramichloridium-Rhinocladiella complex
(Untereiner et al. 1995) and some have been referred to
as similar to Cladosporium Link 1816 (Müller et al.
1987). Although many of the species in the genus are
saprotrophs on decaying wood, bark and leaves, some may
be fungicolous (Müller et al. 1987; Barr1991; Untereiner
1994; Dugan et al. 1995; Untereiner et al. 1995; Réblová
1997). Ten species are known to be lichenicolous, growing
obligately on lichens (Hawksworth 1980, 1990; Kondratyuk
and Galloway 1995; Etayo1996, 2002, 2003; Aptroot et al.
1997; Etayo and Diederich 1998; Etayo and van den Boom
2006).
The lichenicolous fungi of Turkey have only recently
started to be studied in detail and remain scarcely
known. After Hafellner and John’s (2006) compilation
of the information of lichenicolous fungi in Turkey
which recognized 63 species, Halıcı (2008) provided a
key to 117 infrageneric taxa of lichenicolous Ascomycota
(including mitosporic fungi). After this key was published,
some more additions have been reported and the
number of infrageneric taxa of lichenicolous fungi
reached has 136 (Halıcı et al. 2009). Here we describe
a further lichenicolous species of Capronia, as well as
presenting a key to all the known lichenicolous species of
the genus.

38 Fungal Diversity (2010) 40:37–40
Materials and methods
The type material of this new species is deposited in
ANES. Specimens were examined in an Olympus BH-2
research microscope fitted with Nomarski differential
interference contrast optics and a drawing tube. Photomicrographs
were prepared on a Nikon Eclipse 80i.
Sections were prepared by hand and examined in I
(Lugol’s iodine and Melzer’s iodine, with [K/I] and
without pre-treatment with 10% KOH), 10% KOH alone,
and water. Ascospore measurements were made in water
and 10% KOH; the extreme values outside the main range
are given in parentheses. The length/breadth (l/b) ratio of
the ascospores is given in the same way. The key was
prepared according to data from the literature and
information in the files of D.L.H.
Taxonomy
Capronia minutosetosa Halici, D.Hawksw., A.O.Turk &
Candan, sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2)
MycoBank No. MB 512398
Fig. 1 Capronia minutosetosa
(holotype). a Perithecia with
peridial setae on the host Chromatochlamys
muscorum (see
arrows). b Section showing the
peridial setae. c Asci and
ascospores
Etymology: The specific epithet recalls the minute
peridial setae of the species.
Similis Caproniae peltigerae sed ascosporis pallide
brunneis et 3-5-septatis, et similis C. andina sed ascosporis
(19–)22–25(–28)×6.5–7 µm.
Typus: Turkey: Manisa: Salihli, Western part of Demirköprü
Dam, 38° 36′N, 28° 18′E, alt. 210 m, on thallus of
Chromatochlamys muscorum on mosses, 15 August 2006,
M. Candan (ANES 11043—holotypus).
Ascomata perithecioid, ostiolate, arising singly, dispersed,
superficial, immersed only at the base when mature,
subglobose, black, 75–90 µm diam, smooth-walled but
with non-septate or 1–3 septate unbranched dark brown
setae arising from the upper part; setae smooth-walled,
rounded at the apex and hardly attenuated, 13–26×2–
2.5 µm, peridial walls mainly 5–8 µm thick, composed of
7–11 layers of radially compressed angular pseudoparenchymatous
cells (textura angularis), the outermost layers
brown to dark brown, darkest near the ostiole, the inner
layers pale brown. Hamathecium gelatinized, pseudoparaphyses
absent; centrum I–. Asci obpyriform to broadly
clavate, bitunicate in structure, wall apically thickened, I–,
41–52×10–15 µm, 8-spored, ascospores overlapped in the

Fungal Diversity (2010) 40:37–40 39
Fig. 2 Capronia minutosetosa (holotype). a Ascospore outlines. b
Peridial setae. Bars = 10 µm
asci. Ascospores pale brown, 3–5 septate, constricted at the
septa, no longitudinial septa observed, some slightly
curved; smooth-walled, (19–)22–25(–28)×6.5–7 µm. Anamorph
not observed.
Host: On the thallus of Chromatochlamys muscorum
overgrowing mosses on volcanic rocks. As no damage or
discolourations were observed in the host thalli, we
presume the species is commensalistic.
Distribution: Turkey and Spain. As the host species has
a wide distribution in the North Hemisphere, it can be
expected elsewhere.
Notes: This new species is the first lichenicolous member
of the genus Capronia growing on Chromatochlamys
muscorum. Capronia minutosetosa is most similar to C.
Key to the lichenicolous species of Capronia
peltigerae, but as well as the different hosts, in that species
the ascospores are hyaline, 1–3 septateand19–24×6–8 µm
and the ascomata are larger (100–150 µm) (Hawksworth
1980). The only lichenicolous member of the genus with
septate setae, C. andina, was described on Placopsis gelida
and has 3-septate (rarely submuriform), grey ascospores
measuring 13–19×4.5–6 µm (Etayo 2003). Amongst the
lichenicolous specıes, the new species has particularly short
setae, only those of C. hypotrachynae (5–35×3–5 µm) and
C. pseudonormandinae (10–30×2.5–4 µm) being similar.
The descriptions of all Capronia species which are not
lichenicolous were also checked before describing this new
species. C. apiculata, a saprophytic species on Betula
glandulosa, has 6–12 septate, 32–45×3–3.5 µm ascospores
(Barr 1991). C. borealis, described on Cassiope mertensiana,
has (1–3–)5-septate, (10–)15–27.5×(3.5–)4.5–6 µm ascospores
(Barr 1991). C. collapsa, another saprophytic species
on old wood, has greyish brown, 3-septate, (10–)12–18×
3.5–5.5 µm ascospores (Barr 1991). C. obesispora, a
saprophytic fungus on decaying remnants of unidentified
wood, has smoky to olive-green, 3-septate, (29.5–)32.5–39(–
42)×10.5–12.5 µm ascospores. Our investigations showed
that the new species was clearly distinct from all others
described in Capronia.
Additional specimens examined: Turkey: Manisa,
Köprübaşı, West part of Demirköprü Dam, 38° 39′ N, 28°
20′ E, alt. 285 m, on thallus of Chromatochlamys
muscorum on mosses, 15 August 2006, M. Candan (ANES,
11044).– Spain: Extremadura, Cáceres, Road to Alto del
Portillo, mixed forest with Quercus suber, Arbutus unedo
and Quercus rotundifolia, 40° 27′ N, 6° 7′ W, alt. 923 m, on
thallus of Chromatochlamys muscorum on mosses, 19
September 2005, S. Pérez-Ortega (MAF).
1 Asci multispored, ascospores 3-septate, on Hypotrachyna
...............................................................C. triseptata (Diederich) Etayo 1996
1 Asci 8-spored .............................................................................2
2 (1) Ascospores constantly 1-septate, 3–5-septate, submuriform or muriform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Ascospores hyaline, 1–3-septate, on Peltigera sp.
.....................................................C. peltigerae (Fuckel) D.Hawksw. 1987
3 (2) Ascospores constantly 1-septate . . . . . .. . . ..........................................................4
3 Ascospores submuriform with 0–1 or 2 longitudinial septum when mature or muriform ......................5
4 (3) Ascospores hyaline or pale brown, 8–10×3.5–4 µm, on Baeomyces sp.
...............................................................C. baeomycetis Diederich 1987
4 Ascospores grey, with 2–3 guttules every cell, 15–18×3.5–5 µm, on Leptogium sp.
..........................................................C. leptogii Etayo & Diederich 2002
5 (3) Setae septate ......................................................................6
5 Setae non-septate . ..................................................................7
6 (5) Ascospores grey, 3-septate, rarely submuriform, in this case the longitiduinal septum is in the middle septum, 13–
19×4.5–6 µm, on Placopsis gelida ........................................C. andina Etayo 2003

40 Fungal Diversity (2010) 40:37–40
6 Ascospores pale brown, 3–5-septate, some of them are sightly curved; (19–)22–25(–28)×6.5–7 µm, on
Chromatochlamys muscorum ......................................C. minutosetosa Halici et al. 2010
7 (5) Ascomata less than 100 µm diam, ascospores pale brown, submuriform, with 3–5 transversal septae and 0–1
longitidunal septa, 17–23×3.5–7 µm, on Lobaria
.................................................C. epilobarina S.Y.Kondr. & D.J.Galloway 1995
7 Ascomata more than 100 µm diam .............................................................8
8 (7) Ascospores muriform, brownish from the beginning, with 7 transversal and (0–)1–3 longitudinal septa, hardly
constricted at the septa, 22–27×9–11.5 µm, on Parmotrema
......................................................C. guatemalensis Etayo & van den Boom 2006
8 Ascospores submuriform . ............................................................9
9 (8) Ascospores pale olivaceous brown, submuriform with (3–)5(–6)-transseptate and 0–1(–2)-longiseptate, (13–)15–21
(–27)×7.5–9 µm, on Normandina pulchella, Degelia plumbea, Sticta humboldtii ............................
......................................................C. normandinae R.Sant. & D.Hawksw. 1990
9 Ascospores narrower than 7.5 µm . . . . . . ................................................10
10 (9) Ascospores, light grey to brownish, 0–3-septate when young, submuriform when mature, with 3–5 transverse and
0–1 longitudinal septa, 12–19×5.5–7.5 µm, on Hypotrachyna sp.
........................................................C. hypotrachynae Etayo & Diederich 1998
10 Ascospores pale brown, ascospores submuriform with 3 transverse septa and 0–1 longitudinal septa (but both terminal cells
never with an additional longitudinal septum), 12.5–16×6–7.5 µm, on unidentified host of Lauderlindsaya simodensis
...............................................................C. pseudonormandinae Diederich 1997
Acknowledgements This study was finished while M. G. H. was
based in the Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid,
under the direction of D. L. H. with a grant from TUBITAK. Sergio
Pérez-Ortega is thanked for providing an additional specimen from Spain.
Ali Karabela is thanked for his helps in the field excursion in Turkey. D.
L. H. acknowledges support from the Miniesterio de Educacíon y Ciencia
of Spain (Proyectos I+D CGL 2008-01600).
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