Cryptothecia panchganiensis Pushpi Singh, 2019

Singh, Pushpi, 2019, A new species of Cryptothecia (Arthoniales, Arthoniaceae) from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India, Phytotaxa 409 (2), pp. 101-104 : 101-102

Cryptothecia panchganiensis Pushpi Singh sp. nov. ( Figure 2. A–E )

Mycobank No. MB831787

Differing from Cryptothecia awasthii in that the thallus produces small (33–40 × 14–16 μm vs 84–96 × 25–28 μm in Cryptothecia awasthii ) ascospores, and barbatic acid and zeorin as secondary compounds.

Type:— INDIA, Maharashtra, Satara district, Panchgani, on way to Table land , on Ficus benghalensis , 17°92’29.1”N and 73°80’36.7”E, alt. c. 1297 m, November 2017, Pushpi Singh 10502 (Holotype BSA) .

Thallus crustose, corticolous, epiphloeodal, tightly attached, greenish white to whitish grey, uneven, verrucose, ecorticate, heteromerous, 100–160 μm thick; lacking isidia and soridia. Prothallus whitish, byssoid, mainly of radiating, loosely interwoven hyphae, up to 4 mm wide. Photobiont layer 45–55 μm thick, photobiont Trentepohlia , in short, irregular threads, single to aggregated, cells rounded to oblong, 6–10 × 5–8 μm. Medulla white, 50–80 μm thick, I+ blue medullary hyphae, 1–3 μm wide.

Ascomata (ascigerous areas) delimited, ± rounded to irregular areas, paler than the thallus, distinctly raised, evenly scattered, (0.5–) 1.0– 2.5 mm diam., white pruinose, sometimes exposed as blackish brown. Paraphysoids tightly enclosing the asci, I+ pale blue, KI+ blue. Asci aggregated in whitish brown ascigerous parts, broadly clavate, stalked, bitunicate, 6–8- spored, 90–112 × 45–60 μm; ascospores colourless, broadly ellipsoid, muriform, transversely 7–11-septate and longitudinally 2–4 septate, 33–40 × 14–16 μm (n=40).

Secondary chemistry:— Thallus K–, C–, KC–, P–, UV–. TLC: Barbatic acid (major) and zeorin (major).

Etymology:— This specific epithet panchganiensis refers to its type locality of Western Ghats.

Ecology and Distribution: — Cryptothecia panchganiensis was found growing on a trunk of Ficus benghalensis at an altitude c. 1273 m on the road that heads towards Table land in Satara district of Maharashtra. So far, only two species viz. C. awasthii Makhija & Patw. and C. macrocarpa Makhija & Patw. have been recorded from state of Maharashtra ( Makhija et al. 2014).

Discussion:— Cryptothecia panchganiensis is characterised by verrucose, heteromerous thallus with a well-developed prothallus, large distinctly raised whitish ascigerous areas, 33–40 × 14–16 μm ascospores and presence of barbatic acid and zeorin. In general appearance, it resembles C. awasthii Makhija & Patw. (1985: 4) and C. macrocarpa Makhija & Patw. (1985: 7) known from Maharashtra. However, both species differ from our species in having larger ascospores and their presence of confluentic and gyrophoric acids ( Makhija & Patwardhan 1985). Chemically, in having barbatic acid and in its ascospores character, it shows a resemblance to C. aleurina (Nyl.) Makhija & Patw. (1985: 3) , C. austrocoreana J.-J. Woo, L. Lőkös, E. Farkas & J.-S. Hur ( Woo et al. 2017: 341), C. fuscopunctata F. Seavey & J. Seavey (2014: 396) and C. lunulata (Zahlbr.) Makhija & Patw. (1985: 6) . However, C. aleurina has inconspicuous ascigerous areas with unknown lichen substances while C. austrocoreana has large (36–51 × 19–23 μm) ascospores and in addition, produces atranorin and chloroatranorin. C. fuscopunctata also differs in morphology and produces atranorin whereas C. lunulata produces gyrophoric acid and have large (33–53 μm long) ascospores.

In its ascospores character, C. panchganiensis closely resembles C. albomaculata Makhija & Patw. (1994: 62) , C. subtecta Stirt. (1879: 320) and C. stockeri G. Neuwirth & Aptroot (2016: 98) . C. albomaculata Makhija & Patw. has endophloeodal thallus with unknown lichen substances and broader (16.5–23 μm wide) ascospores. The species C. stockeri G. Neuwirth & Aptroot. known from the Seychelles is characterized by the smooth thallus with psoromic acid while C. subtecta Stirt. has endophloeodal smooth thallus with indistinct ascigerous parts and lacks lichenic substances ( Makhija & Patwardhan 1994, Neuwirth & Aptroot 2016).

Additional specimens examined:— INDIA. Maharashtra, Satara district, Panchgani, near rock bunglow , on Ficus religiosa , 21.11.2017, Pushpi Singh 10503, 10504 ( BSA) ; on way to Sydney point , on Ficus benghalensis , 21.11.2017, Pushpi Singh 10507 ( BSA) on way to Gureghar , on bark, 23.11.2017, Pushpi Singh 10590 ( BSA)

Figures

FIGURE 2. Cryptothecia panchganiensis [Pushpi Singh 10502 (BSA)]. A. Thallus on Ficus benghalensis. B. Thallus with whitish prothallus. C. Central part of thallus with distinct ascigerous areas. D. Asci with ascospores. E. Mature ascospores. Scales: C = 1 mm, D–E = 20 μm.