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Gadgil, P.D. 1995: Mycological records 4: Vizella tunicata sp. nov. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 25(1): 107-110.

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Gadgil, P.D. 1995: Mycological records 4: Vizella tunicata sp. nov. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 25(1): 107-110.
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Additional material examined: Leaves of Pittosporum tenuifolium, Haitaitai, Wellington, New Zealand (B.J. Rogan, 28.x.1994) NZFRI(M) 3522.
Leaf spots on the upper surface of the leaf, roughly circular, 2-12 mm diameter, dull black, necrotic, mostly discrete but sometimes confluent. Mycelium subcuticular, with light-brown and hyaline cells in no particular order, hyphae 5-7 µm wide with individual cells varying from 5 to 35 µm in length, septa thickened and dark-brown. Ascocarp a thyrothecium, fruitbodies arranged in groups on the black spots, discrete, shining black, dimidate or flattened convex, 120-160 µm in diameter. The ascocarp has an ostiole, 10-20 µm diameter, at maturity. Upper wall of the ascocarp composed of two layers of dark-brown, non-radiating cells, 3-5 µm wide. Lower wall composed of a single layer of subhyaline cells, 3-5 µm wide. Asci arranged radially round a central column of paraphysoid tissue, bitunicate, ellipsoidal to subclavate, 45-65 µm long x 15-20 µm wide, with 8 spores, apex rounded and thickened. Ascospores arranged in 1-2 rows, unicellular, obovate, brown with a transverse hyaline zone (1-2 µm wide) just above the middle, 10-14 µm long x 5-7 µm wide, with a small (about 2 µm long), conical, hyaline basal appendage. A thin gelatinous coat of uniform thickness surrounds the ascospore. Conidia borne in structures similar to ascocarps, ellipsoidal, hyaline, 5-8 x 4-6 µm. Conidiophores not seen.
On living leaves of Pittosporum tenuifolium and of Myrsine australis.
Maculae epiphyllae, subrotundatae 2-12 mm diametris, interdum confluentes, atrae. Mycelium subcuticulare, ex hyphis hyalinis vel pallide brunneis, 5-7 µm crassis (cellulis 5-35 µm longis), septis incrassatis et atrobrunneis compositum. Ascomata gregaria, discreta, nigra, nitida, dimidata vel planoconvexa, 120-160 µm diametric, ad maturiatem ostiolo 10-20 µm diametro praedita. Paries superior bistratosus, ex cellulis atrobrunneis 3-5 µm cr. compositus. Paries inferior subhyalinus, unistratosus, ex cellulis 3-5 µm cr. compositus. Asci circum columnam centralem (textus paraphysoidei) radiate dispositi, bitunicati, ellipsoidei vel subclavati, apice rotundati et incrassati, 45-65 µm longi et 15-20 µm lati, octospori. Ascosporae oblique 1-2 seriatae, unicellulares, obovatae, brunneae cum zona transversali pallida (1-2 µm lata) supra medium praeditae, 10-14 x 5-7 µm, appendicula basali hyalina, inconspicua, circa 2 µm longa, conica. Tunica gelatinosa, crassitiei uniformis, totam sporam cingens. Conidia ellipsoidea, hyalina 5-8 x 4-6 µm. Conidiophora a me non visum.

The specific epithet refers to the gelatinous coat surrounding the ascospore.

The main characteristic that distinguishes the New Zealand species from other Vizella spp. is the gelatinous coat surrounding each ascospore. Müller & von Arx (1955), after examining Vizella gomphispora (Berkeley & Broome) Hughes, V. royenae von Arx & Müller, and V. bingervilliana C.Moreau & M.Moreau, concluded that these three species were conspecific with the older V. appendiculosa (Montagne & Berkeley) Theissen. In addition to the possession of a gelatinous coat, the New Zealand species differs from V. appendiculosa sensu lato in that (a) its ascospores have the hyaline band in the middle rather than close to the apex (Hughes 1953; von Arx & Müller 1975) and (b) rather than having thick hyphae composed of "almost cuboid" cells up to 12 µm wide (Hughes 1953), the width of its hyphal cells does not exceed 7 µm and the length varies from 5 µm to 35 µm. In common with the Australian V. oleariae Swart, both the conidial and ascal states of the New Zealand species are found in the same colony. However, the conidia of the New Zealand species, unlike those of V. oleariae, remain hyaline at maturity and the mycelium does not have the regular alternation of paired hyaline cells as with dark cells as described for V. oleariae (Swart 1971).

Habitat in foliis vivis Pittosporii tenuifolii, Horto Botanico, Napier, Novazelandia (B.J. Rogan, 27.ix.1994) NZFRI(M) 6 holotypus, PDD 63586 isotypus. In foliis vivis Myrsiniis australis, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, Novazelandia (M.A. Stoodley 27.xi.1984) NZFRI(M) 2990, PDD 63585 paratypi.

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18 March 2001
30 September 2003
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