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Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and notes on G. citricola
Short Communications
380
Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and notes on G. citricola LAURA ZUCCONI AND SILVANO ONOFRI Laboratorio di Micologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Universita 'La Sapienza', Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, Rome, Italy
Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and notes on G. citricola. Mycological Research 92 (3): 380-382 (1989). Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and G. citrieola, found on dead leaves of Bauhinia sp., in the Ivory Coast, are described and illustrated. Key words: Gyrofhrix ramosa, Gyrothrix citrieola, Circinotriehum, Systematics.
Two interesting fungi belonging to Gyrothrix (Corda) Corda have been found on dead leaves of Bauhinia sp., collected near Lamto Scientific Station, Ivory Coast. Gyrothrix ramosa Zucconi & Onofri, sp. nov.
(Fig. 1)
£tym.: ramosus, branched. Coloniae pundiformes, circumscriptae, cineraceae, conidiis albae sub setarum ramis. Mycelium partim superficiale, partim immersum; mycelium superficiale ex ramosis, anastomosantibus, septatis, levibus, pallide brunneis vel subhyalinis, tenuitunicatis, atro-brunneis et crassitunicatis in setarum origine, super substratum reptantibus, setas et cellulas conidiogenas ferentibus hyphis, compositum. Setae eredae, redae, septatae (raro and basim), verrucosae, crassiores tunicatae et brunneae ad basim, gradatim angustiores et pallidiores ad apicem, 1-3 ramosae, ex cellula expansa mycelii superficialis orientes, usque ad 150 11m longae et 3-3'5 11m prope basim crassae. Rami curvi vel circinati, verrucosi, subhyalini ad filiformes apices versus; rami
primarii plerumque 2-3 in verticillo vel raro solitarii, rami secundi saepe solitarii et plus minusve verticales, nonnumquam 2 in verticillo. Cellulae conidiogenae obclavatae vel lageniformes, tenuitunicatae, hyalinae vel subhyalinae, ex hyphis superficialibus (interdum prope setarum basim) orientes, 6'7-9'2 x 3'3-4'5 11m. Conidia aseptata, hyalina, omnia agglutinata, recta vel modice ~rvata et apice leniter rotundato praedita, 14-19 x 2-2'7 11m, In foliis emortuis Bauhiniae sp., Lamto, in Ora Eboris, A. Rambelli, Mar. 1987, ROHB 133A. holotypus.
Colonies punctiform, circumscribed, greyish, whitish below due to sporulation under the branching of the setae. Mycelium partly superficial, partly immersed; superficial mycelium composed of a network of branched, septate, pale brown to subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth hyphae creeping on the substratum, bearing setae and conidiogenous cells and becoming thickened and dark brown at the point of the origin of the setae. Setae erect, straight, septate (rarely near the base),
Fig. 1. Gyrothrix ramosa. A. Setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia; B, network of creeping hyphae; C, habit sketch.
A
; j) \\"0 ?/. "C
'.
;':,;
~ C
Short Communications
381
verrucose and coarsely verrucose at the origin of branching (mainly at the primary branches), thicker-walled and brown at the base, progressively paler and gradually tapering towards the apex, 1-3 times branched, up to 150 IJm high, 3-3'5 IJm wide above the base; arising from a swollen cell of the superficial mycelium. The setae, with the exception of the branching area, seem to be smooth when observed in lactic acid. Branches curved or circinate, verrucose, paler at the filiform apices; primary branches commonly in verticils of 2-3 or, rarely, solitary; secondary ones more frequently solitary and more or less vertical, sometimes in verticils of 2. Conidiogenous celIs borne on the superficial hyphae (sometimes near the base of the setae), obclavate to lageniform, thinwalled, hyaline or subhyaline, 6-7-9'2 x 3-3-4-5 IJm. Conidia aseptate, hyaline, aggregated in slimy masses, straight or gently curved, with an acuminate and sometimes slightly curved base and a slightly rounded apex, 14-19 x 2-2'7 1Jrn. This fungus can certainly be included in Gyrothrix (Corda) Corda, given the morphology of setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia. Within the limits of this genus, it must be compared with G. hughesii Piroz. and even more with G. inops (Berlese) Piroz. It differs from the first in its dimensions, possessing generally larger setae and conidia, and in the morphology of the setae, which are characterized by long,
flexuous and filiform apices. Moreover the species described here is characterized by branches arising at approximately right angles and not curling very markedly inwards. It shows more affinities with G. inops mainly in the general appearance of the branching of the setae. The description and illustration by Berlese (1886) were used for comparison because attempts to find the type specimen were unsuccessful, like those of Pirozynski (1962). Berlese (1886) reported setae only 'prope basim I-septatis' and illustrated a Single septum, while G. ramosa is repeatedly septate on the stipe as well as on the branches. He also described setae 'minute verrucosis' and observed that the presence of verruculae is restricted to the stipe and to the base of the primary branches. G. ramosa shows coarsely verrucose setae when mounted in distilled water or in normal saline solution; the verrucosity disappears after a few hours except in the area where branching begins and in the filiform apices. In lactic acid, the setae appear smooth immediately, except, as above, where branching begins. The ornamentations may be composed of crystalline incrustations easily soluble in lactic acid and, less rapidly, in water. In G. ramosa the extremities are generally longer and more flexuous and not hyaline. The conidia of G. inops are described as solitary at the apices of the conidiogenous cells instead of aggregated in slimy masses.
Fig. 2. Gyrothrir citricola. Setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia.
• •~ r.: .~
"'.
,~c;::::J
,; " '."
·f
Short Communications
Gyrothrix citricola Piroz., Myco/. Pap. (eMf) 84: 19 (1962). (Fig. 2)
Colonies circumscribed, whitish due to sporulation. Mycelium partly superficial, partly immersed. Superficial mycelium composed of a network of branched, septate, pale brown to subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth hyphae creeping on the substratum and bearing setae and conidiogenous cells. Setae erect, flexuous, smooth, septate, thicker-walled and brown at the base, gradually tapering towards the subhyaline and filiform apex, l--(rarely 2) times branched or unbranched, up to 240 IJIlllong, 3-4 !-lm wide above the base. Branches long and flexuous, septate, paler and flagellate at the filiform apices, sometimes perpendicular to the vertical axis near the point of branching, alternate when 2-branched. Conidiogenous cells borne on the superficial hyphae (sometimes near the base of the setae), obclavate to lageniform, thin-walled, subhyaline, 5'5-9 x 2'5-3'5 !-lm. Conidia aseptate, hyaline, aggregated in slimy masses, more or less cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, acuminate and slightly curved at the proximal end and more rounded at the apex, 11-13'5 x 1'8-2 !-lm.
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branched setae and of shorter and highly dichotomous branched ones. The contemporaneous presence of branched and unbranched setae constitutes evidence in favour of a possible synonymy between Gyrothrix and Circinotrichum, an hypothesis already discussed by Kendrick (1980). In Circinotrichum, as well as in Gyrothrix, some cases of setal dimorphism have been reported, e.g. C. falcatisporum (Pirozynski, 1962) and C. poonense (Pirozynski & Patil, 1970), where coiled setae and, scattered among them, long and straight setae are both present. We do not consider the discovery of transitional forms among contiguous taxa a sufficient reason for combining other distinct taxa, as some have done. Since Gyrothrix and Circinotrichum are separated on the basis of a specific character, Le. the morphology of the setae, we think that the existence of different instances of contemporaneous presence, in the same species, of two morphotypes, utilized in monothetically separating two genera, increasingly strengthens the oftrepeated yet never realized proposal to condense these two genera.
Specimen examined: on the same dead leaves of Bauhinia sp. colonized by G. ramosa (133A), Lamto, Ivory Coast, A Rambelli, Mar. 1987.
Pirozynski (1962) described G. citricola as '1-5 times branched'. Our specimen shows either unbranched setae or setae 1-2 times branched. All other morphological characteristics of our specimen correspond with Pirozynski's description. Pirozynski (1962) has already described G. verticillata with unbranched setae characterized by nodose swellings from which branches successively arise. Kirk (1981) described Circinotrichum britannicum with nodose swellings similar to those of G. verticillata and hinted at the possibility that they might be the same species. The hypothesis that C. britannicum may be immature G. verticillata is considered irrelevant. A real dimorphism is evident in G. magica Lunghini & Onofri (Rambelli et al., 1981) which is characterized by the contemporaneous presence of long, slender, straight, un-
REFERENCES
BERLESE, AN. (1886). Fungi Moricolae. Fasc. 3, no. 5. KENDRICK, B. (1980). The generic concept in Hyphomycetes - a reappraisal. Mycotaxon 11, 339-364. KIRK, P. M. (1981). New or interesting microfungi. III. A preliminary account of microfungi colonizing Laurus nobilis leaf litter. Transactions of the British mycological Society 77, 457-473. PIROZYNSKI, K. A (1962). Circinotrichum and Gyrothrix. Mycological Papers (CMf) 84, 1-28. PIROZYNSKI, K. A & PATIL, S. D. (1970). Some setose Hyphomycetes of leaf litter in South India. Canadian Journal of Botany 48, 567-581. RAMBELLI, A, ONOFRI, S. & LUNGHINI, D. (1981). New dematiaceous hyphomycetes from Ivory Coast forest litter. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 76, 53-58.
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Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and notes on G. citricola LAURA ZUCCONI AND SILVANO ONOFRI Laboratorio di Micologia, Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Universita 'La Sapienza', Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, Rome, Italy
Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and notes on G. citricola. Mycological Research 92 (3): 380-382 (1989). Gyrothrix ramosa sp. nov. and G. citrieola, found on dead leaves of Bauhinia sp., in the Ivory Coast, are described and illustrated. Key words: Gyrofhrix ramosa, Gyrothrix citrieola, Circinotriehum, Systematics.
Two interesting fungi belonging to Gyrothrix (Corda) Corda have been found on dead leaves of Bauhinia sp., collected near Lamto Scientific Station, Ivory Coast. Gyrothrix ramosa Zucconi & Onofri, sp. nov.
(Fig. 1)
£tym.: ramosus, branched. Coloniae pundiformes, circumscriptae, cineraceae, conidiis albae sub setarum ramis. Mycelium partim superficiale, partim immersum; mycelium superficiale ex ramosis, anastomosantibus, septatis, levibus, pallide brunneis vel subhyalinis, tenuitunicatis, atro-brunneis et crassitunicatis in setarum origine, super substratum reptantibus, setas et cellulas conidiogenas ferentibus hyphis, compositum. Setae eredae, redae, septatae (raro and basim), verrucosae, crassiores tunicatae et brunneae ad basim, gradatim angustiores et pallidiores ad apicem, 1-3 ramosae, ex cellula expansa mycelii superficialis orientes, usque ad 150 11m longae et 3-3'5 11m prope basim crassae. Rami curvi vel circinati, verrucosi, subhyalini ad filiformes apices versus; rami
primarii plerumque 2-3 in verticillo vel raro solitarii, rami secundi saepe solitarii et plus minusve verticales, nonnumquam 2 in verticillo. Cellulae conidiogenae obclavatae vel lageniformes, tenuitunicatae, hyalinae vel subhyalinae, ex hyphis superficialibus (interdum prope setarum basim) orientes, 6'7-9'2 x 3'3-4'5 11m. Conidia aseptata, hyalina, omnia agglutinata, recta vel modice ~rvata et apice leniter rotundato praedita, 14-19 x 2-2'7 11m, In foliis emortuis Bauhiniae sp., Lamto, in Ora Eboris, A. Rambelli, Mar. 1987, ROHB 133A. holotypus.
Colonies punctiform, circumscribed, greyish, whitish below due to sporulation under the branching of the setae. Mycelium partly superficial, partly immersed; superficial mycelium composed of a network of branched, septate, pale brown to subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth hyphae creeping on the substratum, bearing setae and conidiogenous cells and becoming thickened and dark brown at the point of the origin of the setae. Setae erect, straight, septate (rarely near the base),
Fig. 1. Gyrothrix ramosa. A. Setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia; B, network of creeping hyphae; C, habit sketch.
A
; j) \\"0 ?/. "C
'.
;':,;
~ C
Short Communications
381
verrucose and coarsely verrucose at the origin of branching (mainly at the primary branches), thicker-walled and brown at the base, progressively paler and gradually tapering towards the apex, 1-3 times branched, up to 150 IJm high, 3-3'5 IJm wide above the base; arising from a swollen cell of the superficial mycelium. The setae, with the exception of the branching area, seem to be smooth when observed in lactic acid. Branches curved or circinate, verrucose, paler at the filiform apices; primary branches commonly in verticils of 2-3 or, rarely, solitary; secondary ones more frequently solitary and more or less vertical, sometimes in verticils of 2. Conidiogenous celIs borne on the superficial hyphae (sometimes near the base of the setae), obclavate to lageniform, thinwalled, hyaline or subhyaline, 6-7-9'2 x 3-3-4-5 IJm. Conidia aseptate, hyaline, aggregated in slimy masses, straight or gently curved, with an acuminate and sometimes slightly curved base and a slightly rounded apex, 14-19 x 2-2'7 1Jrn. This fungus can certainly be included in Gyrothrix (Corda) Corda, given the morphology of setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia. Within the limits of this genus, it must be compared with G. hughesii Piroz. and even more with G. inops (Berlese) Piroz. It differs from the first in its dimensions, possessing generally larger setae and conidia, and in the morphology of the setae, which are characterized by long,
flexuous and filiform apices. Moreover the species described here is characterized by branches arising at approximately right angles and not curling very markedly inwards. It shows more affinities with G. inops mainly in the general appearance of the branching of the setae. The description and illustration by Berlese (1886) were used for comparison because attempts to find the type specimen were unsuccessful, like those of Pirozynski (1962). Berlese (1886) reported setae only 'prope basim I-septatis' and illustrated a Single septum, while G. ramosa is repeatedly septate on the stipe as well as on the branches. He also described setae 'minute verrucosis' and observed that the presence of verruculae is restricted to the stipe and to the base of the primary branches. G. ramosa shows coarsely verrucose setae when mounted in distilled water or in normal saline solution; the verrucosity disappears after a few hours except in the area where branching begins and in the filiform apices. In lactic acid, the setae appear smooth immediately, except, as above, where branching begins. The ornamentations may be composed of crystalline incrustations easily soluble in lactic acid and, less rapidly, in water. In G. ramosa the extremities are generally longer and more flexuous and not hyaline. The conidia of G. inops are described as solitary at the apices of the conidiogenous cells instead of aggregated in slimy masses.
Fig. 2. Gyrothrir citricola. Setae, conidiogenous cells and conidia.
• •~ r.: .~
"'.
,~c;::::J
,; " '."
·f
Short Communications
Gyrothrix citricola Piroz., Myco/. Pap. (eMf) 84: 19 (1962). (Fig. 2)
Colonies circumscribed, whitish due to sporulation. Mycelium partly superficial, partly immersed. Superficial mycelium composed of a network of branched, septate, pale brown to subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth hyphae creeping on the substratum and bearing setae and conidiogenous cells. Setae erect, flexuous, smooth, septate, thicker-walled and brown at the base, gradually tapering towards the subhyaline and filiform apex, l--(rarely 2) times branched or unbranched, up to 240 IJIlllong, 3-4 !-lm wide above the base. Branches long and flexuous, septate, paler and flagellate at the filiform apices, sometimes perpendicular to the vertical axis near the point of branching, alternate when 2-branched. Conidiogenous cells borne on the superficial hyphae (sometimes near the base of the setae), obclavate to lageniform, thin-walled, subhyaline, 5'5-9 x 2'5-3'5 !-lm. Conidia aseptate, hyaline, aggregated in slimy masses, more or less cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, acuminate and slightly curved at the proximal end and more rounded at the apex, 11-13'5 x 1'8-2 !-lm.
382
branched setae and of shorter and highly dichotomous branched ones. The contemporaneous presence of branched and unbranched setae constitutes evidence in favour of a possible synonymy between Gyrothrix and Circinotrichum, an hypothesis already discussed by Kendrick (1980). In Circinotrichum, as well as in Gyrothrix, some cases of setal dimorphism have been reported, e.g. C. falcatisporum (Pirozynski, 1962) and C. poonense (Pirozynski & Patil, 1970), where coiled setae and, scattered among them, long and straight setae are both present. We do not consider the discovery of transitional forms among contiguous taxa a sufficient reason for combining other distinct taxa, as some have done. Since Gyrothrix and Circinotrichum are separated on the basis of a specific character, Le. the morphology of the setae, we think that the existence of different instances of contemporaneous presence, in the same species, of two morphotypes, utilized in monothetically separating two genera, increasingly strengthens the oftrepeated yet never realized proposal to condense these two genera.
Specimen examined: on the same dead leaves of Bauhinia sp. colonized by G. ramosa (133A), Lamto, Ivory Coast, A Rambelli, Mar. 1987.
Pirozynski (1962) described G. citricola as '1-5 times branched'. Our specimen shows either unbranched setae or setae 1-2 times branched. All other morphological characteristics of our specimen correspond with Pirozynski's description. Pirozynski (1962) has already described G. verticillata with unbranched setae characterized by nodose swellings from which branches successively arise. Kirk (1981) described Circinotrichum britannicum with nodose swellings similar to those of G. verticillata and hinted at the possibility that they might be the same species. The hypothesis that C. britannicum may be immature G. verticillata is considered irrelevant. A real dimorphism is evident in G. magica Lunghini & Onofri (Rambelli et al., 1981) which is characterized by the contemporaneous presence of long, slender, straight, un-
REFERENCES
BERLESE, AN. (1886). Fungi Moricolae. Fasc. 3, no. 5. KENDRICK, B. (1980). The generic concept in Hyphomycetes - a reappraisal. Mycotaxon 11, 339-364. KIRK, P. M. (1981). New or interesting microfungi. III. A preliminary account of microfungi colonizing Laurus nobilis leaf litter. Transactions of the British mycological Society 77, 457-473. PIROZYNSKI, K. A (1962). Circinotrichum and Gyrothrix. Mycological Papers (CMf) 84, 1-28. PIROZYNSKI, K. A & PATIL, S. D. (1970). Some setose Hyphomycetes of leaf litter in South India. Canadian Journal of Botany 48, 567-581. RAMBELLI, A, ONOFRI, S. & LUNGHINI, D. (1981). New dematiaceous hyphomycetes from Ivory Coast forest litter. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 76, 53-58.