Assigning Xiuguozhangia (genus incertae sedis) to Pseudoberkleasmiaceae (Dothideomycetes, Pleosporomycetidae, Pleosporales) and introducing X. broussonetiae as a novel species Author Gomdola, Deecksha 0000-0002-0817-1555 Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025, China & School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand Author Jeewon, Rajesh 0000-0002-8563-957X Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand & Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, Mauritius Author Gentekaki, Eleni 0000-0002-3306-6714 Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia Author S. Jayawardena, Ruvishika 0000-0001-7702-4885 School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand Author Hyde, Kevin D. 0000-0002-2191-0762 School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand & Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, Mauritius Author Alotibi, Fatimah 0000-0003-3629-5755 Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Réduit 80837, Mauritius Author Wang, Yong Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nicosia School of Veterinary Medicine, Cyprus 24005, Cyprus text MycoKeys 2024 2024-12-20 111 181 210 journal article 306756 10.3897/mycokeys.111.136202 722cf592-2c2c-48a8-9d7d-f8f598aeddc4 Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae Gomdola, Jayaward. & K. D. Hyde sp. nov. Fig. 3 Holotype . MFLU 24-0227 . Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the host genus, Broussonetia , from which the species was isolated. Description. Saprobic on decaying stems of Broussonetia papyrifera . Sexual morph not observed. Asexual morph on substrate. Hyphomycetous. Colonies on the substrate effuse, hairy, olivaceous to dark brown, appearing velvety due to numerous conidiophores. Mycelium semi-immersed or immersed, composed of septate, branched, smooth, hyaline or pale brown to brown hyphae. Conidiophores (430 –) 550–750 (– 890) µm long (x – = 681 µm, n = 10), 15–24 (– 34) µm wide (x – = 21.8 µm, n = 10) at the base, 11–14 (– 16) µm wide (x – = 12.3 µm, n = 10) in the middle, 7–10 µm (– 12) wide (x – = 7.8 µm, n = 10) at the apex, rarely branched, macronematous, mononematous, differentiated, smooth, thick-walled, erect, straight or flexuous, brown to dark brown, wider at the base and ocasionally conical at the apex, comprising 12–17 septa. Conidiogenous cells 5–12 µm long × 4–9 µm wide (x – = 7.4 × 6.2 µm, n = 10), holoblastic, enteroblastic, integrated, smooth-walled, ovoid to ampulliform, hyaline or brown to dark brown, occurring terminally or intercalary on conidiophores, with up to four successive percurrent proliferations, with new conidiogenous cells developing on subtending cells. Conidia 25–40 µm long × 30–60 µm wide (x – = 35 × 47 µm, n = 30), width measured between the two extremities of the apices, solitary, dictyospored and cheirospored, fan-shaped to cheiroid, lenticular in edge view, occasionally apically 2–3 - lobed, dark brown to olivaceous brown, dictyoseptate, with up to 15 columns of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 2–3 µm wide, septa obscured by dark pigmentation, and with 1–3 apical appendages (rarely without appendages). Apical appendages (2 –) 6–16 (– 20) µm long (x – = 10.9 µm, n = 10), 4–5 µm wide (x – = 4.4 µm, n = 10) at the base, 4–5 µm wide (x – = 4.1 µm, n = 10) at the apex, mostly short and untapered, sometimes long and tapering, arising from the sides of the outermost rows of cells of the conidium, pale brown to brown, becoming hyaline and rounded at the tips, and consisting of 1–5 septa. Culture characteristics. On PDA , colony circular with lobate to crenated margin, reaching 25 mm diam. after 28 days incubated at 25 ° C, greyish white to olivaceous brown from center to edge, fluffy, raised to convex, penetrating the media and displaying a dark brown colour around the media. Material examined. Thailand • Chiang Rai Province , Mae Fah Luang University Botanical Garden , on decaying stems of Broussonetia papyrifera ( Moraceae ) , 19 May 2023 , D. Gomdola , F 2 - A ( MFLU 24-0227 , holotype ), ex-type MFLUCC 24-0258 . Additional material examined. Thailand • Chiang Rai Province , Mae Fah Luang University Botanical Garden , on decaying stems of Broussonetia papyrifera ( Moraceae ) , 19 May 2023 , D. Gomdola , F 2 - B ( MFLU 24-0228 ), living culture MFLUCC 24-0259 . GenBank accession numbers. MFLUCC 24-0258 ; ITS = PQ 137417 , LSU = PQ 137419 , SSU = PQ 137421 , RPB 2 = PQ 488459 and TEF 1 = PQ 488461 ; MFLUCC 24-0259 ; ITS = PQ 137418 , LSU = PQ 137420 , SSU = PQ 137422 and RPB 2 = PQ 488460 . Notes. Our two isolates ( MFLUCC 24-0258 and MFLUCC 24-0259 ) group together with 100 % ML and 1.00 PP support, and this subclade is sister to Pseudoberkleasmium species with 100 % ML and 1.00 PP support (Figs 1 , 2 ). Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae ( MFLUCC 24-0258 ) A substrate ( Broussonetia papyrifera ) B, C colonies on the substrate D – F conidiophores and attachment of conidia G – I conidiogenous cells with percurrent proliferations J – O, Q, R conidia bearing appendages P top view of a conidium S top view of colonies on PDA after 7 days T top and reverse colonies on PDA after 28 days. Scale bars: 100 µm ( B, C ); 50 µm ( D – F ); 10 µm ( G – I, P ); 20 µm ( J – O, Q, R ). A close comparison of the morphological characters across the existing Xiuguozhangia species is collated and presented in Table 3 to support the establishment of the new species, X. broussonetiae . Phenotypic comparison of Xiuguozhangia species. Features that depict X. broussonetiae from other Xiuguozhangia species are in bold.
Species and characters X. appendiculata X. broussonetiae X. indica X. macrospora X. punicae X. rhaphidophorae X. rosae
Colonies on the natural substrates Features Effuse, hairy Effuse, appearing velvety due to numerous conidiophores Effuse, hairy Effuse, hairy, growing in association with species of lichen Effuse, hairy Effuse, hairy Effuse, hairy
Colour Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown Olivaceous to dark brown
Conidiophores Size (µm) Up to 620 µm long, 18–35 µm wide at the base, 13–18 µm wide in the middle, 7–11.5 µm wide at the apex (430 –) 550–750 (– 890) µm long , 15–24 (– 34) µm wide at the base, 11–14 (– 16) µm wide in the middle, 7–10 µm (– 12) wide at the apex Up to 530 µm long, 13–15 µm wide at the base, 10–12 µm wide in the middle, 3.6–5 µm wide at the apex 160–340 (– 570) µm long, 12–21 µm wide at the base, 11–14 µm wide in the middle, 6–7.5 µm wide at the apex Up to 550 µm long, 20–30 µm wide at the base, 10–17 µm wide in the middle, 5–8 µm wide at the apex Up to 630 µm long, 18–25 µm wide at base, 10–15 µm wide in the middle, 4–7 µm wide at apex Up to 730 µm long, 12–20 µm wide at the base, 7–14 µm wide in the middle, 5–9 µm wide at the apex
Features Mononematous, erect, straight or flexuous, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 4–8 septa Macronematous, mononematous, erect, straight or flexuous, rarely branched , smooth, thick-walled, wider at the base and ocasionally conical at the apex, comprising 12–17 septa Mononematous, basal portion sheath-like, erect, straight, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 4–13 septa Mononematous, erect, straight, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 3–8 septa Macronematous, mononematous, erect, straight or flexuous, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 5–11 septa Macronematous, mononematous, erect, straight or flexuous, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 10–15 septa Macronematous, mononematous, erect, straight or flexuous, unbranched, smooth, thick-walled, comprising 8–14 septa
Colour Dark brown Brown to dark brown Brown, becoming paler towards the apex Brown Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned
Conidiogenous cells Size (µm) Not mentioned 5–12 µm long, 4–9 µm wide 7.5–13.5 × 4.2–7.4 µm 9–19 × 7.5–10.0 µm Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned
Features Holoblastic, integrated, terminal, sometimes lateral, truncate after conidium secession Holoblastic, enteroblastic, integrated, terminal or intercalary, smooth-walled, ovoid to ampulliform, percurrently proliferating; sometimes new condiogenous cells developing on subtending cells Flask-shaped, integrated, terminal and lateral, truncate after conidial secession, proliferating percurrently up to 4 times Flask-shaped, integrated, terminal, truncate after conidial secession, proliferating percurrently up to 5 times Monotretic, integrated, terminal, sometimes lateral, with up to five successive percurrent proliferations Monotretic, integrated, terminal and lateral Monotretic, integrated, terminal and lateral, with up to three successive percurrent proliferations
Colour Not mentioned Hyaline or brown to dark-brown Brown Brown Not mentioned Not mentioned Not mentioned
Conidia Size (µm) 50–80 µm long, 60–90 µm wide 25–40 µm long, 30–60 µm wide 34–44 µm long, 39–52 µm wide (73 –) 81–120 (– 135) µm long, (51 –) 67–94 (– 106) µm wide 50–65 µm long, 58–95 µm wide 27–41 µm long, 30–43 µm wide 45–50 µm long, 53–76 µm wide
Features Fan-shaped, lenticular in edge view, 2–3 - lobed, dictyoseptate, with rows of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 6–7.5 µm wide Dictyospored and cheirospored, fan-shaped to cheiroid, lenticular in edge view, occasionally apically 2–3 - lobed, dictyoseptate, with up to 15 columns of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 2–3 µm wide Fan-shaped, sometimes 2–5 - lobed, lenticular in edge view, dictyoseptate, with up to 15 rows of cells, basal cell protuberant, 3.7–5 µm wide Campanulate or fan-shaped, sometimes apically 2–3 - lobed, lenticular in edge view, dictyoseptate, smooth, with up to 18 vertical rows of cells, basal cell protuberant, 7–9 µm wide Fan-shaped, sometimes 2–3 - lobed, lenticular in edge view, dictyoseptate, with up to 18 rows of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 4.5–6.5 µm wide Fan-shaped, sometimes lobed, lenticular in edge view, dictyoseptate, with eight rows of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 2.5–5 µm wide Fan shaped, sometimes 2–3 - lobed, lenticular in edge view, dictyoseptate, with 20 rows of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell 3–5 µm wide
Colour Dark brown Dark brown to olivaceous brown Brown Brown Dark brown Dark brown Dark brown
Apical appendage (s) Size (µm) 75–120 µm long, 4–6 µm wide, tapering to 1.5–2 µm wide (2 –) 6–16 (– 20) µm long, 4–5 µm wide at the base and apex 15–30 µm long, 3–4.4 µm wide at the base, tapering to 2.4–2.8 µm wide (33 –) 52–74 (– 126) µm long, 6.5–8.0 µm wide at the base 24–99 µm long, 3–5.5 µm wide, tapering to 1–1.5 µm wide - 15–35 µm long, 3–4 µm wide, tapering to 2–3 µm wide
Features 2–4 appendages, tapering, 3–5 - septate Without or with 1–3 appendages, rounded at the tips, mostly untapered , sometimes tapering 1–5 - septate 2 appendages (Up to 4), tapering, 1–2 - septate 2 – 3 appendages (rarely up to 4), tapering, 1–3 (– 6) - septate 2 appendages (rarely up to 3), smooth, tapering, 0–3 - septate Appendages absent 2 appendages, tapering, 1–2 - septate
Color Brown, and apically hyaline Pale brown to brown, becoming hyaline at the tips Brown, and apically hyaline Brown, and apically hyaline Brown, and apically hyaline - Brown, and apically hyaline
Host (s) On dead twigs of an unknown host On decaying stems of Broussonetia papyrifera On dried bamboo culms On dead bamboo stem On dead branches of Punica granatum On dead branches of Rhaphidophora decursiva On dead branches of Rosa chinensis
Distribution (s) India Thailand India India China China China
References ( Bhat and Kendrick 1993 ) This study Sureshkumar et al. (2005) Dubey and Jash (2024) Zhang et al. (2009) , Zhang et al. (2014) Zhang et al. (2009 , 2014 ) Zhang et al. (2009) , Zhang et al. (2014)
A summary of the main findings from the morphological assessment is presented below: The conidiophores of our species, Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae , are longer than all other Xiuguozhangia taxa (up to 890 μm long), comprising numerous septa (up to 17). Furthermore, conidiophores of other Xiuguozhangia species are unbranched, while those of X. broussonetiae are sometimes branched (Fig. 3 E ). The conidia of Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae (Figs 3 J – O, Q, R ) consist of up to 15 columns of cells radiating from a protuberant basal cell that is smaller (2–3 μm wide) compared to those of other species. The appendages of X. broussonetiae are mostly untapered (Figs 3 N , 3 P – R ) and sometimes taper towards the tips (Fig. 3 B ), whereas all other Xiuguozhangia species have only tapering appendages. Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae differs from all extant species but has a close morphological overlap with X. rosae . However, the primary feature that demarcates X. broussonetiae from X. rosae is the number and features of the apical appendages. Up to three appendages were observed in X. broussonetiae (sometimes seen without appendage), while X. rosae has two appendages. In addition, the appendages of X. broussonetiae are 1–5 - septate, while those of X. rosae display one to two septa. Xiuguozhangia broussonetiae has percurrently proliferating, enteroblastic conidiogenous cells that sometimes produce new conidiogenous cells on subtending cells (Fig. 3 D – I ). This feature has not been observed in other species of the genus. Based on these morphological differences, we conclude that our taxon is distinct from the existing Xiuguozhangia species.