Complete issue - IMA Fungus

Piątek
ARTICLE
Table 1. Spore size range, and mean spore sizes with standard deviation of Anthracoidea kenaica specimens examined in this study.
Spore size range (µm) Average spore size with
standard deviation (µm)
Specimen
(14.5–)15.0–20.5(–21.5) ×
12.0–17.5(–18.5)
17.0–20.5(–22.0) × 12.0–
18.0(–20.5)
(14.0–)15.0–20.5(–21.0) ×
(11.5–)12.0–17.5(–18.5)
18.1 ± 1.6 × 15.2 ± 1.7 USA, Alaska, Kenai Peninsula, Head of Palmer Creek Valley, 26 July 1951,
J.A. Calder 6229 (DAOM 28108 – holotype)
19.2 ± 1.3 × 16.1 ± 1.8 Same locality, date and collector (S F-36682 – isotype)
18.2 ± 1.7 × 15.2 ± 1.8 USA, Alaska, St. Paul, Pribilof Island, 22 Aug. 1914, J.M. Macoun (DAOM
66925)
(14.5–)17.0–20.5(–22.0) ×
13.5–18.5(–19.0)
18.5 ± 1.2 × 15.9 ± 1.4 Canada, British Columbia, Bella Coola, Mt. Fougner, 23 Aug. 1956, J.A.
Calder, J.A. Parmelee & R.L. Taylor (DAOM 70101)
to boiling point and cooled, then examined under a Nikon
Eclipse 80i light microscope. LM micrographs were taken
with a Nikon DS-Fi1 camera. Spores were measured using
NIS-Elements BR v. 3.0 imaging software. Spore size range,
mean spore size, and standard deviation of 50 measured
spores of each investigated specimen were calculated (Table
1). The species description includes combined values from
all measured specimens. The spores were measured in
plane view and measurements were adjusted to the nearest
0.5 µm. Spore size ranges were assigned to one of the three
groups distinguished by Savile (1952): (1) small-sized spores,
13–21(–23) × 9–17(–20) µm; (2) medium-sized spores, 15–
25(–27) × 10–21 µm; and (3) large-sized spores, 18–33 ×
13–28 µm.
For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spores taken
directly from dried specimens were dusted onto carbon tabs
and fixed to an aluminium stub with double-sided transparent
tape. The stubs were sputter-coated with carbon using a
Cressington sputter-coater and viewed under a Hitachi
S-4700 scanning electron microscope, with a working
distance of ca. 11 mm. SEM micrographs were taken in the
Laboratory of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy
and Microanalysis at the Institute of Geological Sciences of
Jagiellonian University (Kraków).
RESULTS
Detailed morphological characteristics of the holotype,
isotype, and two non-type specimens of Cintractia carpophila
var. kenaica are embraced in the species description and
illustrated (Figs 1–2). The internal soral structure in the
holotype was typical of species of Anthracoidea in that
the spores were produced directly on the outer surface of
the achene, and not within U-shaped cavities embedded
in sterile stroma, a characteristic of Cintractia (Kukkonen
1963, Kukkonen & Vaissalo 1964, Piepenbring 2000).
This indicated this smut fungus was better placed in
Anthracoidea, as was suggested in other studies (Kukkonen
1963, Zambettakis 1978, Piepenbring 2000). The spores
were uniform in shape and size ranges between collections
(Table 1). My examination of specimens of Cintractia
carpophila var. kenaica matched well the short description
given by Savile (1952), although the spore surface was
not smooth as stated in the protologue, but smooth or
very finely punctate in LM, and very finely verruculose in
SEM. The very fine ornamentation of spores was probably
outside the limits of resolution of Savile’s light microscope.
In general, the present examination confirms the decision
of Savile (1952) to consider this smut as distinct. However,
a specific status seems to be appropriate for this taxon.
This is in line with the conclusion of Kukkonen (1963), who,
however, did not formally make the transfer. Accordingly, a
new combination is necessary.
TAXONOMY
Anthracoidea kenaica (Savile) M. Piątek, comb. nov.
MycoBank: MB804512
(Figs 1–2)
Basionym: Cintractia carpophila var. kenaica Savile, Can. J.
Bot. 30: 419 (1952).
Synonym: Anthracoidea heterospora var. kenaica (Savile)
Zambett., Bull. trimest. Soc. mycol. Fr. 94: 177 (1978),
nom. inval. (Art. 41.5).
Type: USA: Alaska: Kenai Peninsula, Head of Palmer Creek
Valley, 60°49’N, 149°33’W, on Carex micropoda (syn. Carex
pyrenaica subsp. micropoda), 26 July 1951, J.A. Calder 6229
(DAOM 28108 – holotype, S F-36682 – isotype).
Description: Sori in all or single ovaries of the inflorescence,
black, globose or ovoid, about 1–1.5 mm diam, at first covered
by a silvery membrane and perigynium that later ruptures
revealing agglutinated spores, powdery on the surface, the sori
are partly hidden by the perigynium and scales. Sori develop
around reduced achenes that are consecutively surrounded
by a thin dark layer of the remnants of achene epidermis, a
hyaline layer of sporogeneous hyphae with young spores, a
layer of gradually maturing dark spores, and a thin membrane
of host origin. Spores usually more or less flattened, chestnut
brown, reddish brown to dark brown, quite regular in shape
and size, globose, subglobose or broadly ellipsoidal, small,
(14.0–)15.0–20.5(–22.0) × (11.5–)12.0–18.5(–20.5) µm [av.
± SD, 18.5 ± 1.5 × 15.6 ± 1.7 µm, n = 200/4], rarely enclosed
by a thin, hyaline, mucilaginous sheath; wall even, 1.0–1.5
µm thick, somewhat darker than the rest of the spore, without
protuberances and light-refractive spots, but with 2–5 distinct
internal swellings; surface smooth or very finely punctate in
LM, spore profile smooth, surface very finely verruculose in
SEM.
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