Fungal Diversity Paracryptophiale pirozynskii sp. nov., an undescribed hyphomycete Wen Ping Wu1* and B.C. Sutton2 1Novozymes China, 14 Xin Xi Lu, Shangdi Zone, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, PR China 2Apple Tree Cottage, Blackheath, Wenhaston, nr Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 9HD, UK Wu, W.P. and Sutton, B.C. (2003). Paracryptophiale pirozynskii sp. nov., an undescribed hyphomycete. Fungal Diversity 14: 265-270. Paracryptophiale pirozynskii sp. nov., occurring on dead branches of unidentified trees, collected from tropical China, is described and illustrated. Key words: Anamorphic fungi, Cryptophiale, Paracryptophiale kamaruddinii Introduction We are studying the plant-inhabiting microfungi of tropical China (eg. Wu and McKenzie, 2003). In this paper, we report on two collections bearing an interesting dematiaceous hyphomycete belonging to the genus Paracryptophiale. Comparison of these collections to the only other species in the genus, P. kamaruddinii Kuthub. & Nawawi, showed that they represent an undescribed species (Kuthubutheen & Nawawi, 1994). Paracryptophiale pirozynskii W. Wu & B. Sutton sp. nov. (Figs 1-16) Coloniae effusae, pilosae, inconspicuosae. Mycelium immersum sparsum, ex hyphis ramosis, septatis, brunneis, 2-5 µm diam. compositum. Setae steriles, simplices, erectae, rectae vel a basibus leniter curvatae, brunneae vel atrobrunneae, laeves, 3-8 septata, apicem acutum versus attenuatae, 170-225 µm longae × 5-7.5 µm latae. Conidiophora macronematosa, mononematosa, erecta vel apicem versus curvata, non ramosa, atrobrunnea, laevia, parietibus incrassatis, usque ad 12 septata, basim irregulariter bulbosa, regionem fertilem versus deminuta sed in regione fertili leviter latiora, demum apicem acutum abrupte deminuta, usque ad 500 µm longa, ad basim 30 µm lata deinde 15 µm lata, in regione fertili 5-10 µm lata. Regio fertilis apicalis, cylindrica, 37.5-50 µm longa × 17.5-22.5 µm lata, cellulis conidiogenis a clypeo ex cellulis sterilibus, lobatis, pallide brunneis 4 µm diam. vel 10 µm longis × 2.5-5.0 µm latis. Causae conidiogenae 15 (‘phialidicae’) (Kirk et al., 2001). Conidia hyalina, leave, ellipsoidea, dictyospora, 15-20 × 8-11.5 µm. Setula apicalis 12.5 µm longa deminuta. Colonies effuse, hairy, inconspicuous. Mycelium partly superficial and partly immersed, sparse, composed of branched, septate, brown, smooth *Corresponding author: W.P. Wu; e-mail: [email protected] 265 hyphae, 2-5 µm diam. Setae erect or slightly curved at base, simple, brown to dark brown, 3-8-septate, smooth, tapering towards acute apex, 175-225 µm long, 5-7.5 µm wide at the base. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, erect, curved towards the apices, unbranched, dark brown, smooth, thick-walled, up to 12-septate, bulbous to irregular at the base, tapering gradually towards the fertile region but becoming slightly wider in the fertile region finally abruptly tapering to an acute apex, up to 500 µm long, up to 30 µm wide at the base, tapering to 5-10 µm wide below the fertile region. Fertile region apical, cylindrical, 37.5-50 µm long × 17.5-22.5 µm wide, the conidiogenous cells obscured by a shield of sterile, flat, lobed, pale brown cells varying from 4 µm diam., up to 10 µm long × 2.5-5 µm wide. Conidiogenous event no. 15 (‘phialidic’) (Kirk et al., 2001). Conidia hyaline, smooth, 2-3 transversely septate and 1-3 longitudinal septa, constricted at transverse septa, ellipsoid, 15-20 × 8.5-11.5 µm, apical cell with a single, apical appendage up to 12.5 µm long. Habitat: On dead stem of unidentified plant. Known distribution: China. Material examined: CHINA, Guang Dong Province, Dinghushan, 10 October 1998, Wen Ping Wu (WUWP2008 holotypus in Herbarium of Novozymes China, Beijing; ATCB 260, isotypus). CHINA, Guang Dong Province, 9 October 1998, Wen Ping Wu (WUWP2050). Notes: The genus Paracryptophiale was erected by Kuthubutheen and Nawawi (1994) for a dematiaceous hyphomycete, P. kamaruddinii, which is similar to Cryptophiale in having setiform conidiophores and lateral ‘phialidic’ conidiogenous cells, which are shielded by a plate of modified cells. It however, differs from Cryptophiale by its appendaged dictyospores. Until now, the genus has remained monotypic. Paracryptophiale pirozynskii is congeneric to P. kamaruddinii but differs from it by the presence of sterile setae mixed together with conidiophores, smaller conidia (28-35 × 14-16 µm in P. kamaruddinii), and longer appendages (4-6 µm in P. kamaruddinii). Among the many hyphomycete genera, Cryptophiale is the only genus which shows any similarity with Paracryptophiale, especially the setiform conidiophores with a shield-shaped outgrowth of cells associated with the conidiogenous apparatus (Pirozynski, 1968; Ellis, 1971, 1976; Carmichael et al., 1980; Kuthubutheen and Nawawi, 1994). Sixteen species are accepted in Cryptophiale (Sutton et al., 1989; Goh and Hyde, 1996). All have falcate or subulate conidia with only transverse septa. Appendaged conidia are found in C. aristata Kuthub. & B. Sutton, C. enormis B. Sutton, Nawawi & Kuthub., C. iriomoteana Matsush. and C. udagawae Piroz.. However, in Cryptophiale the appendages are simply a cellular extension of the apical cell, while in Paracryptophiale the apical appendage is not cellular but setular. 266 Fungal Diversity Figs 1-12. Paracryptophiale pirozynskii (from holotype). 1-2. Setae and conidiophores on natural substrate. 3-5. Conidiophores with attached conidia. 6. Fertile region with attached conidia. 7-11. Conidia. 12. Germinated conidia. Bars: 1, 2 = 500 µm; 3, 4, 5, 12 = 25 µm; 6, 7, 8 = 10 µm; 9, 10, 11 = 5 µm. 267 Figs 13-16. Paracryptophiale pirozynskii (from holotype) 13. Conidia. 14. Conidiophore. 15. Setae. 16. Fertile regions with attached conidia. Bars: 13, 16 = 20 µm; 14, 15 = 50 µm. The striking feature of this fungus, the shield-like outgrowth of cells associated with the conidiogenous apparatus, is found in only one other genus, Cryptophiale (Pirozynski, 1968; Ellis, 1971, 1976; Carmichael et al., 1980). Development of conidiophores and conidiogenous cells in Cryptophiale were described by Pirozynski (1968) and the same development was found in Paracryptophiale. At first the conidiophore is a typical sterile seta and it is not until the setiform axis has developed fully that differentiation of the fertile 268 Fungal Diversity region is initiated. Pale brown, thick-walled, subglobose or somewhat lobed cells are budded off laterally, usually one at a time in acropetal succession from the top part of the setiform conidiophore. As growth continues these cells become crowded, much lobed and compressed laterally, and eventually form a compact, scutelliform plate that presumably protects delicate conidiogenous cells, which subsequently become functional. The cells of the shield are elongated horizontally and tangentially to the conidiophores. They fuse in the middle, form an irregular crest, and extend laterally into two palisade rows one on each side of the conidiophore. The top part of the conidiophore thus becomes covered on one side and partly enveloped laterally by this compact cellular plate. As in the Cryptophiale, the conidiogenous cells are exceedingly difficult to see. The conidia of P. pirozynskii germinate readily on potato dextrose agar (PDA) producing germ-tubes from several cells (Figs 12). On PDA the fungus grows slowly and forms a compact colony with a diameter of 10 mm in 14 days at 27ºC. The colony is at first colourless but soon becomes olivaceous green to dark gray with a thin margin. The aerial mycelium is grey and composed of pale brown to medium brown, septate, smooth hyphae. No sporulation was observed on PDA within 4 weeks. The pure culture isolated from holotype specimen WUWP2008 is preserved in Novozymes A/S culture collection. Acknowledgements W.W.P. acknowledges with thanks great support from A. Ohmans, R & D center, Novozymes China, Beijing that enabled the work to be carried out. He also thanks W.Y. Zhuang and her colleagues of Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing for their assistance during a field trip in South China where this interesting fungus was collected. References Carmichael, J.W., Kendrick, W.B., Conners, I.L. and Sigler, L. (1980). Genera of Hyphomycetes. The University of Alberta Press: Alberta, Canada. Ellis, M.B. (1971). Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute: Kew, Surrey, UK. Ellis, M.B. (1976). More Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute: Kew, Surrey, UK. Goh, T.K. and Hyde, K.D. (1996). Cryptophiale multiseptata, sp. nov. from submerged wood in Australia, and key to the genus. Mycological Research 100: 999-1004. Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., David, J.C. and Stalpers, J.A. (2001). Dictionary of the Fungi. Edition 9. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon. Kuthubutheen, A.J. and Nawawi, A. (1994). Paracryptophiale kamaruddinii gen. et sp. nov. from submerged litter in Malaysia. Mycological Research 98: 125-126. 269 Pirozynski, K.A. (1968). Cryptophiale, a new genus of hyphomycetes. Canadian Journal of Botany 46: 1123-1127. Sutton, B.C., Nawawi, A. and Kuthubutheen, A.J. (1989). Additions to Belemnospora and Cryptophiale from Malaysia. Mycological Research 92: 354-358. Wu, W.P. and McKenzie, E.H.C. (2003). Obliospora minima sp. nov. and four other hyphomycetes with conidia bearing appendages. Fungal Diversity 12: 223-234. (Received 3 January 2003; accepted 24 June 2003) 270