Heteroacanthella ellipsospora

Last updated

Heteroacanthella ellipsospora
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Genus: Heteroacanthella
Species:
H. ellipsospora
Binomial name
Heteroacanthella ellipsospora
J.C.Zamora, Pérez-Ort. & V.J.Rico (2014)

Heteroacanthella ellipsospora is a species of fungus of uncertain familial placement in the order Auriculariales. The fungus is lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling), and it parasitises the apothecia and thallus of the crustose lichen Glaucomaria carpinea . Heteroacanthella ellipsospora was formally described as a new species in 2014 by Juan Carlos Zamora, Sergio Pérez-Ortega and Víctor Rico. It was first described from specimens collected in the Spanish provinces of Jaén and Madrid, [1] and later reported from Sweden. [2]

The fungus has spiny (acanthoid) basidia, the first known lichenicolous basidiomycete with this characteristic. The hymenium of the fungus (the spore-producing region) eventually replaces the hymenium of its host. It produces basidiospores with typical dimensions of 10–14 by 6.5–9.5  μm; the species epithet refers to the ellipsoidal shape of the spores. The effect of infection on the host ranges from being barely visible to forming pale swellings (similar to galls) that measure 0.1–0.8 mm. [1]

Related Research Articles

The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia (basidiomycetes) or paraphyses (ascomycetes). Cystidia are often important for microscopic identification. The subhymenium consists of the supportive hyphae from which the cells of the hymenium grow, beneath which is the hymenophoral trama, the hyphae that make up the mass of the hymenophore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydnaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Hydnaceae are a family of fungi in the order Cantharellales. Originally the family encompassed all species of fungi that produced basidiocarps having a hymenium consisting of slender, downward-hanging tapering extensions referred to as "spines" or "teeth", whether they were related or not. This artificial but often useful grouping is now more generally called the hydnoid or tooth fungi. In the strict, modern sense, the Hydnaceae are limited to the genus Hydnum and related genera, with basidiocarps having a toothed or poroid hymenium. Species in the family are ectomycorrhizal, forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of trees and other plants. Hydnum repandum is an edible species, commercially collected in some countries and often marketed under the French name pied de mouton.

<i>Abrothallus</i> Genus of fungi

Abrothallus is a genus of lichenicolous fungi. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Abrothallaceae, which itself is the sole taxon in the order Abrothallales.

Limnoperdon is a fungal genus in the monotypic family Limnoperdaceae. The genus is also monotypic, as it contains a single species, the aquatic fungus Limnoperdon incarnatum. The species, described as new to science in 1976, produces fruit bodies that lack specialized structures such as a stem, cap and gills common in mushrooms. Rather, the fruit bodies—described as aquatic or floating puffballs—are small balls of loosely interwoven hyphae. The balls float on the surface of the water above submerged twigs. Experimental observations on the development of the fruit body, based on the growth on the fungus in pure culture, suggest that a thin strand of mycelium tethers the ball above water while it matures. Fruit bodies start out as a tuft of hyphae, then become cup-shaped, and eventually enclose around a single chamber that contains reddish spores. Initially discovered in a marsh in the state of Washington, the fungus has since been collected in Japan, South Africa, and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lichenicolous fungus</span> Parasitic fungus that only lives on lichen

A lichenicolous fungus' (from Latin -cola 'inhabitant'; akin to Latin colere 'to inhabit') is a parasitic fungus that only lives on lichen as the host. A lichenicolous fungus is not the same as the fungus that is the component of the lichen, which is known as a lichenized fungus. They are most commonly specific to a given fungus as the host, but they also include a wide range of pathogens, saprotrophs, and commensals. It is estimated there are 3000 species of lichenicolous fungi. More than 1800 species are already described among the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. More than 95% of lichenicolous fungi described as of 2003 are ascomycetes, in 7 classes and 19 orders. Although basidiomycetes have less than 5% of lichenicolous lichen species, they represent 4 classes and 8 orders. Many lichenicolous species have yet to be assigned a phylogenetic position as of 2003.

Xenonectriella nephromatis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Nectriaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a species new to science in 2020 by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was discovered in the Hoonah–Angoon Census Area in Glacier Bay National Park, where it was growing on a Nephroma lichen. The specific epithet alludes to this host lichen.

Corticifraga nephromatis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Gomphillaceae. Found in Alaska, it was described as a new species by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type was found in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area in the east arm of Glacier Bay, where it was growing on the thallus of the foliose lichen Nephroma bellum. The specific epithet refers to the host lichen.

Sclerococcum fissurinae is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Dactylosporaceae. Found in Alaska, it was formally described as a new species in 2020 by Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, just outside of Glacier Bay National Park. Here it was found growing on the script lichen species Fissurina insidiosa, which itself was growing on the bark of an alder tree. The specific epithet refers to its host.

Niesslia peltigerae is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Niessliaceae. It was described as a new species in 2020 by lichenologist Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected in the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area of Glacier Bay National Park, in muskeg and forest. The fungus was growing parasitically on the lichen Peltigera kristinssonii, which itself was growing on mountain hemlock. The specific epithet peltigerae alludes to the genus of its host. Infection by the fungus bleaches the thallus of the host lichen.

Phacopsis australis is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in a few locations in South Africa, where it grows on the thalli of several species of the leafy lichen genus Xanthoparmelia. Unlike other members of genus Phacopsis, the fungus does not induce the formation of galls in its host.

Opegrapha verseghyklarae is a little-known species of lichenicolous (lichen-eating) fungus in the family Opegraphaceae. It is found in the Russian Far East, where it grows on the thalli and apothecia of the crustose lichen Ochrolechia pallescens.

Heteroacanthella is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are corticioid with smooth surfaces and occur on dead, attached wood or on lichens. They are microscopically distinctive in having acanthoid (spiny) basidia with just one or two large sterigmata producing large, globose to ellipsoid basidiospores. The genus occurs worldwide, though individual species may be localized. Three species have been described to date.

Abrothallus boomii is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Abrothallaceae. Found in Portugal, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Ave Suija and Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected north of Ervas Tenras in a pine-oak forest along a vineyard, where it was found growing on the thallus of a Nephroma lichen. It is only known to occur at the type locality. The species epithet honours Dutch lichenologist Pieter van den Boom, "author of a long list of research articles and indefatigable collector of lichens and lichenicolous fungi".

Abrothallus canariensis is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Abrothallaceae. Found in the Canary Islands, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Sergio Pérez-Ortega, Pieter van den Boom, and Ave Suija. The type specimen was collected from Chinobre, where it was found on a Pseudocyphellaria aurata lichen that itself was growing on a species of Erica. The species epithet refers to the area of its type locality. The fungus is similar to Abrothallus secedens, but unlike that species, has four-spored asci, and larger ascospores that measure 16–25 by 6–9.5 μm.

Abrothallus ertzii is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Abrothallaceae. Found in Canada, it was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Ave Suija and Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected near Dawson Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park, where it was found growing on the thallus of the foliose lichen Lobaria pulmonaria, which itself was growing on the trunk of a Thuja plicata tree. It has also been collected in Quebec. The species epithet honours Damien Ertz, who collected the type. Abrothallus ertzii is distinguished from other Abrothallus fungi by its clavate (club-shaped) asci that contain eight two-celled ascospores; these readily split into part spores.

Abrothallus nephromatis is a widely distributed species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Abrothallaceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2015 by Ave Suija and Sergio Pérez-Ortega. The type specimen was collected near Dawson Falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park at an elevation of about 800 m (2,600 ft), where it was found on a Nephroma parile lichen that itself was growing on a dead trunk of birch tree. The species epithet refers to the host genus, Nephroma.

Abrothallus secedens is a species of lichenicolous fungus in the family Abrothallaceae. Found in Africa, South America, and the United States, it was formally described as a new species in 1994 by Swedish lichenologists Mats Wedin and Rolf Santesson. The type specimen was collected by the first author on the Martial Glacier in Ushuaia at an altitude of 550 m (1,800 ft), where it was found on the thallus of the foliose lichen Pseudocyphellaria dubia, which itself was growing on the base of a Nothofagus antarctica tree. It has also been collected in Chile, Kenya, and Alaska. The species epithet of the fungus, secedens refers to the two-celled ascospores that eventually separate into single-celled part spores. Known hosts for Abrothallus secedens include Crocodia aurata, Pseudocyphellaria dubia, P. mallota, P. obvoluta, and other Pseudocyphellaria lichens not identified to species.

Candelariella lichenicola is a rare species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Candelariaceae. This species was first found in Sonora, Mexico, and is characterised by its distinct spore shape and chemical composition. It is typically found growing on the lichen species Candelina submexicana, and while not widespread, it contributes to the ecological diversity of the regions it inhabits.

Tremella anaptychiae is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Tremellaceae. It was first reported in the literature in 1996 by mycologist Paul Diederich, who did not formally describe it as a new species due to the paucity of material. Additional material was collected in later years, and it was finally described in 2017 by Juan Carlos Zamora and Diederich. The fungus is known to occur in Italy, Macedonia, Spain, and Sweden. It is confined to the host lichen Anaptychia ciliaris, which has a largely palearctic distribution.

<i>Glaucomaria carpinea</i> Species of lichen

Glaucomaria carpinea is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Lecanoraceae. It is a widely distributed species.

References

  1. 1 2 Zamora, Juan Carlos; Pérez-Ortega, Sergio; Rico, Víctor J. (2014). "Heteroacanthella ellipsospora sp. nov., the first lichenicolous basidiomycete with acanthoid basidia". The Lichenologist. 46 (1): 17–23. doi:10.1017/s0024282913000765. S2CID   86203681.
  2. Ekman, Stefan; Svensson, Måns; Westberg, Martin; Zamora, Juan Carlos (2019). "Additions to the lichen flora of Fennoscandia III". Graphis Scripta. 31 (5): 34–46.