Download Copy a link to this page Cite this record

Johnston, P.R. 1988: A new species of Meloderma (Rhytismataceae), with notes on Meloderma and related genera. Mycotaxon 33: 423-436.

Reference record
Names_Fungi record source
Is NZ relevant
This record has descriptions
Show more

Click to collapse Details Info

Johnston, P.R. 1988: A new species of Meloderma (Rhytismataceae), with notes on Meloderma and related genera. Mycotaxon 33: 423-436.
Article

Click to collapse Descriptions Info

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED: 12 collections were examined, including, Taranaki, Mt. Taranaki, Enchanted Trail Tr., on Dracophyllum longifolium, coll. Johnston (R239), Samuels & Petersen, 24 Mar 1983 (PDD 45037). Taupo, Tongariro National Park, vic. Mangatepopo Hut, on Dracophyllum longifolium, coll. Johnston (R422) & McKenzie, 25 Mar 1984 (PDD 45303). Mid Canterbury, Arthur's Pass, Cass, on Dracophyllum uniflorum, coll. Johnston (R785), 22 Feb 1988 (PDD 48511).
Ascocarps and pycnidia developing in pale areas of fallen leaves, often surrounded by narrow, black zone lines. Ascocarps 0.5-0.8 x 0.4-0.5 mm, broad-elliptic to more or less circular in outline. Immature, unopened ascocarps with uniformly black walls. When mature, walls oriented at a steep angle to surrounding host tissue, black, with a flattened, pale area around the single opening slit. Opening not extending to ends of ascocarp, and often with the two sides of the opening slit pulling apart so exposing the hymenium even when ascocarp dry. Pycnidia 0.2 mm, circular in outline, brown-walled, pustulate.

Ascocarps subcuticular. In vertical section upper wall up to 100 µm wide near ascocarp opening, narrower toward outer edge. Upper wall comprising 2 layers, an outer layer of dark brown, thick-walled, angular cells, and an inner layer of hyaline, thin-walled, downward-projecting, cylindric cells. The cells in part of the inner layer near the ascocarp opening becoming dark brown and thick-walled as the ascocarp matures. Exposed face of broken upper wall lined with layer of short-cylindric, hyaline to pale brown cells. Lower wall 10-15 µm wide, of 2-3 layers of brown to dark brown, thick-walled cells.

Paraphyses 1.5-2 µm diam., often circinate near apex, extending 10-15 µm beyond asci. Asci 95-125 x 9-12.5 µm, clavate, tapering gradually to base, and tapering to small, truncate apex, 8-spored. Ascospores 19-25 x 3.5-4 mm, narrowly obovoid, tapering toward base, ends rounded, 0 septate, surrounded by a well-developed gelatinous sheath.

Pycnidia in vertical section subcuticular, upper wall 5 µm wide, comprising very dark tissue with no obvious cellular structure. Lower wall 10-15 µm wide, comprising dark brown, thick-walled, angular cells lined with conidiogenous layer. Conidiogenous cells 15-22 x 2-3 µm, tapering to apex, solitary, with sympodial proliferation, often with 2 conidia held at apex. Conidia 3.5-5 x 1-1.5 µm, cylindric with rounded ends, 0 septate. Amongst conidiogenous cells are filiform sterile elements up to 45 µm long.

CHARACTERISTICS IN CULTURE: Ascospores germinating on agar plates within 48 hours. On oatmeal agar colonies 4.5 mm diam. after 6 weeks; aerial mycelium low, sparse, cottony, white. agar surface with pinkish, vinaceous, or yellowish colours toward centre of colony. Black-walled, globose pycnidia on agar surface, opening by an irregular slit to expose conidial ooze, conidiogenous cells and conidia as described in vivo.

New Zealand: Taupo, Gisborne, Taranaki, Buller, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury.
On dead, fallen leaves of Dracophyllum longifolium, D. uniflorum Hook.f, D. subulatum Hook.f.
Ab M. richea ascis 8-sporis, ascosporae 19-25 x 3.5-4 µm differens.

ETYMOLOGY: dracophylli; refers to host substrate.

NOTES: M. dracophylli is macroscopically indistinguishable from the Australian species M. richeae. However, M. richeae has shorter, 4-spored asci, and larger, often 1-septate ascospores.

GISBORNE, Urewera National Park, near Lake Waikaremoana, Puniho Swamp, on Dracophyllum longifolium (J.R. & G. Forst.) R. Br., coll. Johnston (R286), 29 May 1983 (PDD 44481).

Click to collapse Metadata Info

1cb0f5de-36b9-11d5-9548-00d0592d548c
reference
Names_Fungi
18 March 2001
24 February 2005
Click to go back to the top of the page
Top