Pleosporales - CBS - KNAW

Fungal Diversity
Pleosporales, but definite conclusions could only be obtained
by further molecular phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we
assign it to Dothideomycetes incertae cedis.
Zeuctomorpha Sivan., P.M. Kirk & Govindu, Bitunicate
Ascomycetes and their Anamorphs: 572 (1984). (Venturiaceae)
Generic description
Habitat terrestrial, hemibiotrophic. Ascomata small, gregarious,
superficial, globose to slightly flattened, ostiolate,
covered with setae. Peridium thin, composed of heavily
pigmented pseudoparenchymatous cells of textura angularis.
Hamathecium of rare, septate, branching and anastomosing
pseudoparaphyses. Asci 8-spored, with a short thick pedicel,
bitunicate, fissitunicate, broadly clavate to obclavate. Ascospores
ellipsoid, dark brown, 1-septate, asymmetrical, deeply
constricted at the septum.
Anamorphs reported for genus: Acroconidiellina (Sivanesan
1984).
Literature: Sivanesan 1984.
Type species
Zeuctomorpha arecae Sivan., P.M. Kirk & Govindu, in
Sivanesan, Bitunicate Ascomycetes and their Anamorphs:
572 (1984). (Fig. 104)
Ascomata 175–300 μm diam., gregarious, superficial,
globose to slightly flattened, collapsed at the apex when
dry, ostiolate, covered with numerous long setae
(Fig. 104a). Peridium up to 25 μm wide, composed of
heavily pigmented pseudoparenchymatous cells of textura
angularis, to7μm diam. Hamathecium of rare, 2–5 μm
broad, septate, branching and anastomosing pseudoparaphyses.
Asci 83–185×29–40(−50) μm (x ¼ 134 35:3mm, n=
10), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, broadly clavate to
obclavate, with a short thick pedicel, up to 40 μm long,
apically rounded, with a small ocular chamber (to 4 μm
wide×7 μm high) (Fig. 104b, c and d). Ascospores 35–43×
12.5–18 μm (x ¼ 36:5 15:4mm, n=10), 2–4 seriate, ellipsoid,
dark brown, 1-septate, deeply constricted at the septum,
usually slightly asymmetric, smooth (Fig. 104e,f,g,handi).
Anamorph: Acroconidiellina arecae (Sivanesan 1984).
Material examined: INDIA, Shimogee, on Areca
catechu L. leaf, 1 Nov. 1979, H.C. Govindu (IMI 246067,
holotype).
Notes
Morphology
Zeuctomorpha was formally established by Sivanesan
(1984) based on its superficial setose ascomata, clavate
asci, ellipsoid and 1-septate ascospores, and presence of
pseudoparaphyses, and was monotypified by Z. arecae.
Zeuctomorpha arecae is widely distributed in tropical
regions of East South Asia exclusively on the leaves of
Areca catechu (Sivanesan 1984).
Phylogenetic study
None.
Concluding remarks
This taxon is unusual amongst the Pleosporaceae as it
has hairy superficial ascomata, few pseudoparaphyses,
broadly clavate to obclavate asci and 1-septate pigmented
ascospores. All of these morphological characters are
most comparable with species of Acantharia, which
might be closely related to Venturiaceae (Zhang et al.
data unpublished).
Muroia I. Hino & Katum., J. Jap. Bot. 33: 79 (1958).
(Ascomycota)
Generic description
Habitat terrestrial, saprobic or parasitic. Ascostromata erumpent
through the host surface in linear rows parallel to the
host fibers. Ascomata small- to medium-sized, semiimmersed
to erumpent, subglobose to rectangular, black,
coriaceous, cells of ascostromata pseudoparenchymatous,
cells of peridium composed of pigmented cells of textura
angularis. Hamathecium of rare, pseudoparaphyses. Asci
bitunicate, clavate to cylindro-clavate. Ascospores oblong to
elongated oblong, hyaline, 1-celled, usually slightly curved.
Anamorphs reported for genus: none.
Literature: Hino and Katumoto 1958.
Type species
Muroia nipponica I. Hino & Katum., J. Jap. Bot. 33: 79
(1958). (Fig. 105)
Ascostroma 1–6 mm long, 360–470 μm broad, linear
parallel to the host fibers with several linearly arranged
ascomata (Fig. 105a). Ascomata 250–400 μm diam.,
semi-immersed in substrate to erumpent, subglobose to
rectangular with a furrow-shaped ostiole, black, coriaceous,
cells of ascostromata pseudoparenchymatous.
Peridium composed of pigmented cells of textura
angularis. Hamathecium of rare, 3–4.5 μm broad
pseudoparaphyses. Asci (120-)150–190×30–45 μm, 8-
spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate dehiscence not observed,
clavate to cylindro-clavate, with a short, thin, knob-like
pedicel, lacking an ocular chamber (Fig. 105b). Ascospores
43–50×13–18 μm (x ¼ 46:6 15:2mm, n=10), biseriate, ob-