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Host preference in Camillea verruculospora
Volume 9, Part 4, November 1995
HOST PREFERENCE IN CAMILLEA VERRUCULOSPORA D. JEAN LODGEl & THOMAS LAESS0E2
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1 Center for Forest Mycology Research , USDA-Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, P.O. Box 1377, Luquillo, PR 00773 -1377, USA Botanical Institute, Department of Phycology & Mycology, Oster Farimagsgade 2D, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Specimens of Camillea verruculospora J.D. Rogers, Laessee & Lodge collected during the British Mycological Society Expedition in Cuyabeno, Ecuador and additional specimens from Puerto Rico indicate that this tropical ascomycete grows primarily or exclusively on trees in the genus Miconia (Melastomataceae). Camillea verruculospora (Figs 1 and 2) was described by Rogers et al. (1991) from collections in Puerto Rico, Ecuador and Peru, but only the type collection from Puerto Rico contained spores. Our two recent collections of C. verruculospora from Ecuador (Lodge & Laessoee EC-151, BMS1443; Lodge EC-153, BMS-1445) represent the first fertile collections from South America. The stromata of this species are relatively small (3- 12 mm diam x 3-6 mm tall) , short-cylindrical and have a fiat to domed apex surrounded by a raised rim (Figs 1 and 2). Unlike most species of Camillea which have pitted, ribbed or honeycombed spore ornaments, C. verruculospora and the related species, C. obularia (Fr .) Laessee, J.D. Rogers & Lodge, have warty ornamentation (Fig. 3), characteristic of the subgenus J ongiella (Laessee et al. , 1989). Camillea verruculospora fruited abundantly in Puerto Rico following damage by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, allowing us to recognize the similarity in bark of the trees on which it grew. Identification of dead host trees is normally difficult in tropical rain forests because of the high diversity of tree species. For example, Valencia et al. (1994) reported that a single hectare of rain forest at Cuyabeno had 473 tree species greater than 10 em diameter at breast height, and the forest zones where C. verruculospora grows in Puerto Rico have over 170 tree species (Wadsworth, 1951). We were thus fortunate to be working at the EI Verde Research Area of the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico, which has numerous research plots where all the trees have been identified and
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tagged. All of our initial collections of C. verruculospora from tagged trees (Lodge PR-813, 2302; Lodge & Laessee PR-I075 and same tree, Lodge PR-2301) and those with stump sprouts (Lodge PR-498; PR-1606, 1608, 2304, 2305, 2306) were growing on Miconia tetranda D. Don. Hosts for four additional collections of C. verruculospora from Puerto Rico were identified as Miconia sp. from stump sprouts (Lodge PR-488) or wood anatomy (Lodge PR-807, 1607,2303). Altogether, we collected C. verruculospora from 13 different Miconia trees in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico, and none from other potential host genera or families . When we arrived at Cuyabeno during the BMS expedition to Ecuador, we were delighted to find two collections of C. verruculospora growing on fallen trunks of a Miconia species. The host for a previous collection of C. verruculospora from the nearby Rio Napo area in Ecuador (T. Laessee 59651, cited in Rogers et al., 1991) was also identified by a wood anatomist as a member of the Melastomataceae, most likely the genus Miconia. The exclusive occurrence of C. verruculospora on species in the Melastomataceae, and usually the genus Miconia , in both Puerto Rico and Ecuador indicate a strong host-preference by this fungus.
Acknowledgments Collecting in Ecuador was supported by the British Mycological Society, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the US Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service, and the Carlsberg Foundation. Work in Puerto Rico was supported by the USDA-Forest Service, and grants RII-8802961 , BSR-8811902 and BSR90-15961 from the National Science Foundation. We thank the following people for host plant identifications: Dr Charlotte Taylor at the Missouri Botanical Garden; Regis Miller at the Forest Products Lab , USDA-Forest Service
Volume 9, Part 4, November 1995
Fig 1 Stromata of Camillea verruculospora on fallen trunk of Miconia tetranda. The leaf venation is typical of the Melastomataceae.
Figs 4, 5. Views of the laboratory building used in the Cuyabeno expedition (see the article on p 146 for details). Fig 2 Closeup of C. verruculospora stromata growing from a cankered branch of Miconia tetranda.
Fig 3 rucose (photo (1991)
Scanning electron micrograph showing verspore ornamentation in C. verruculospora by J.D. Rogers, reprinted from Rogers et al. with permission from Mycologic).
and Dr Peter Gasson at the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. We thank Dr Jack D. Rogers and Mycologia, for permission to use a published SEM image of a spore, and Jody Martin for macrophotography. References Laessee, T., Rogers, J. D. and Whalley, A.J.S. (1989) Camillea, Jongiella and light-spored species of Hypoxylon. Mycological Research 93: 121-155. Rogers, J.D., Laessee, T. & Lodge, D.J. (1991) Camillea: New combinations and a new species. Mycologia 83: 224-227. Valencia, R., Balslev, H., & Pax Y Mino, G. (1994) High tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian Ecuador. Biodiversity and Conservation 3: 21-28. Wadsworth, F. (1951) Forest management in the Luquillo Mountains. I. The setting. Caribbean Forestry 12: 93-114.
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HOST PREFERENCE IN CAMILLEA VERRUCULOSPORA D. JEAN LODGEl & THOMAS LAESS0E2
2
1 Center for Forest Mycology Research , USDA-Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, P.O. Box 1377, Luquillo, PR 00773 -1377, USA Botanical Institute, Department of Phycology & Mycology, Oster Farimagsgade 2D, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Specimens of Camillea verruculospora J.D. Rogers, Laessee & Lodge collected during the British Mycological Society Expedition in Cuyabeno, Ecuador and additional specimens from Puerto Rico indicate that this tropical ascomycete grows primarily or exclusively on trees in the genus Miconia (Melastomataceae). Camillea verruculospora (Figs 1 and 2) was described by Rogers et al. (1991) from collections in Puerto Rico, Ecuador and Peru, but only the type collection from Puerto Rico contained spores. Our two recent collections of C. verruculospora from Ecuador (Lodge & Laessoee EC-151, BMS1443; Lodge EC-153, BMS-1445) represent the first fertile collections from South America. The stromata of this species are relatively small (3- 12 mm diam x 3-6 mm tall) , short-cylindrical and have a fiat to domed apex surrounded by a raised rim (Figs 1 and 2). Unlike most species of Camillea which have pitted, ribbed or honeycombed spore ornaments, C. verruculospora and the related species, C. obularia (Fr .) Laessee, J.D. Rogers & Lodge, have warty ornamentation (Fig. 3), characteristic of the subgenus J ongiella (Laessee et al. , 1989). Camillea verruculospora fruited abundantly in Puerto Rico following damage by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, allowing us to recognize the similarity in bark of the trees on which it grew. Identification of dead host trees is normally difficult in tropical rain forests because of the high diversity of tree species. For example, Valencia et al. (1994) reported that a single hectare of rain forest at Cuyabeno had 473 tree species greater than 10 em diameter at breast height, and the forest zones where C. verruculospora grows in Puerto Rico have over 170 tree species (Wadsworth, 1951). We were thus fortunate to be working at the EI Verde Research Area of the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico, which has numerous research plots where all the trees have been identified and
•
tagged. All of our initial collections of C. verruculospora from tagged trees (Lodge PR-813, 2302; Lodge & Laessee PR-I075 and same tree, Lodge PR-2301) and those with stump sprouts (Lodge PR-498; PR-1606, 1608, 2304, 2305, 2306) were growing on Miconia tetranda D. Don. Hosts for four additional collections of C. verruculospora from Puerto Rico were identified as Miconia sp. from stump sprouts (Lodge PR-488) or wood anatomy (Lodge PR-807, 1607,2303). Altogether, we collected C. verruculospora from 13 different Miconia trees in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico, and none from other potential host genera or families . When we arrived at Cuyabeno during the BMS expedition to Ecuador, we were delighted to find two collections of C. verruculospora growing on fallen trunks of a Miconia species. The host for a previous collection of C. verruculospora from the nearby Rio Napo area in Ecuador (T. Laessee 59651, cited in Rogers et al., 1991) was also identified by a wood anatomist as a member of the Melastomataceae, most likely the genus Miconia. The exclusive occurrence of C. verruculospora on species in the Melastomataceae, and usually the genus Miconia , in both Puerto Rico and Ecuador indicate a strong host-preference by this fungus.
Acknowledgments Collecting in Ecuador was supported by the British Mycological Society, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the US Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service, and the Carlsberg Foundation. Work in Puerto Rico was supported by the USDA-Forest Service, and grants RII-8802961 , BSR-8811902 and BSR90-15961 from the National Science Foundation. We thank the following people for host plant identifications: Dr Charlotte Taylor at the Missouri Botanical Garden; Regis Miller at the Forest Products Lab , USDA-Forest Service
Volume 9, Part 4, November 1995
Fig 1 Stromata of Camillea verruculospora on fallen trunk of Miconia tetranda. The leaf venation is typical of the Melastomataceae.
Figs 4, 5. Views of the laboratory building used in the Cuyabeno expedition (see the article on p 146 for details). Fig 2 Closeup of C. verruculospora stromata growing from a cankered branch of Miconia tetranda.
Fig 3 rucose (photo (1991)
Scanning electron micrograph showing verspore ornamentation in C. verruculospora by J.D. Rogers, reprinted from Rogers et al. with permission from Mycologic).
and Dr Peter Gasson at the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. We thank Dr Jack D. Rogers and Mycologia, for permission to use a published SEM image of a spore, and Jody Martin for macrophotography. References Laessee, T., Rogers, J. D. and Whalley, A.J.S. (1989) Camillea, Jongiella and light-spored species of Hypoxylon. Mycological Research 93: 121-155. Rogers, J.D., Laessee, T. & Lodge, D.J. (1991) Camillea: New combinations and a new species. Mycologia 83: 224-227. Valencia, R., Balslev, H., & Pax Y Mino, G. (1994) High tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian Ecuador. Biodiversity and Conservation 3: 21-28. Wadsworth, F. (1951) Forest management in the Luquillo Mountains. I. The setting. Caribbean Forestry 12: 93-114.
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