Fungalpedia – Note 602, Batistinula
Batistinula Arx
Citation when using this data: D. S. Marasinghe et al. 2023 (in prep.) – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1, 2.
Classification: Asterinaceae, Asterinales, Dothideomycetidae, Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
Colonies epiphyllous on surface of leaves. Superficial mycelium consisting of pale brown to brown, branched, unilateral or opposite, septate, radiating hyphae with lateral, with cylindrical, 2–3 lobate, unicellular appressoria. Sexual morph: Thyriothecia superficial, dimidiate, circular, dark brown to black with a central ostiole, fringed at margins opening by a star-like fissure. Upper wall comprising of radially arranged isodiametric to cylindrical cells. Hamathecium consisting with pale brown, branched, septate, cylindrical pseudoparaphyses. Asci 8-spored, bitunicate, globose or mostly broadly clavate, somewhat ovoid, with a short pedicle, apically thickened region not obvious. Ascospores brown, 3-septate, oblong, somewhat curved, with smaller end cells. Asexual morph: Colonies superficial, brown to dark brown, developing above the external mycelium. Conidiophores arising from the hyphae, monoblastic, septate, brown, erect, cylindrical and unbranched. Conidia solitary, brown, smooth-walled, germinating at the ends of arms (Hongsanan et al. 2014a; Guatimosim et al. 2015).
Notes: Hongsanan et al (2014a) accepted this genus in Asterinaceae based on its orbicular, thyriothecia with appressorial hyphae, globose to clave asci and 1-septum, brown ascospores (Fig. 1). The morphology of Batistinula closely resembles Meliolaster by having 3-septate, oblong ascospores with two small end cells, but differs in the surface mycelium with appressoria and broadly clavate asci (Hongsanan et al. 2014a) (Fig. 2). Herein, we follow Hongsanan et al. (2014a, 2020a) and accept this genus until confirmed its placement is confirmed with additional sequence data.
Type species: Batistinula gallesiae Arx, Publções Inst. Micol. Recife 287: 6 (1960).
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Batistinula.
Figure 1 – Batistinula gallesiae (VIC 42514). a Epiphyllous colonies on the surface of the leaf. b Surface mycelia with appressoria. c Ascus. d Ascospores. e Triposporium (asexual morph). Scale bars: b = 20 μm, c–e = 10 µm. Redrawn from Guatimosim et al. (2015)
Figure 2 – Batistinula gallesiae (holotype). a Herbarium package. b Appearance of thyriothecia on the leaf surface. c Squash mount of thyriothecia. d Margin of thyriothecia. e Appressoria. f Psuedoparaphyses. g Immature ascus. h, i Mature asci. j–o Ascospores. Scale bars: c = 200 μm, d = 50 μm, e, g–i = 20 μm, f, j–o = 10 μm. Adapted from Hongsanan et al. (2014a)
References
Hongsanan S, Li YM, Liu JK et al 2014a – Revision of genera in Asterinales. Fungal Divers 68:1–68.
Entry by
Diana Sandamali Marasinghe, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand, Mushroom Research Foundation, 128 M.3 Ban Pa Deng T. Pa Pae, A. Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai, 50150, Thailand
Published online 29 August 2023