Fungalpedia – Note 413, Isalonactis
Isalonactis Ertz, Tehler, Eb. Fisch., Killmann, Razafindr. & Sérus.
Citation when using this data: Tibpromma et al. 2024 (in prep.) – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1
Classification: Roccellaceae, Arthoniales, Arthoniomycetidae, Arthoniomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi.
Based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis of LSU and RPB2, Isalonactis was introduced by Damien et al. (2014) as a monotypic genus within Roccellaceae, with the type species Isalonactis madagascariensis. Currently, only one species is accepted in this genus with only a sexual morph, which was collected from sheltered siliceous rocks in Madagascar (Damien et al. 2014). Isalonactis is mainly characterized by crustose, noncorticate, often sorediate thallus containing psoromic acid, tiny white pruinose ascomata with a thalline margin, an inconspicuous excipulum, a pale brown hypothecium, 3-septate hyaline ascospores, and curved filiform conidia (Damien et al. 2014). Phylogenetically, Isalonactis is closely related to Lecanactis and Chiodecton. However, Isalonactis differs from Lecanactis by apothecia having a thalline margin with a pale brown hypothecium, in contrast to lecideine exciple with a usually dark brown to carbonized hypothecium of Lecanactis species (Damien et al. 2014). Isalonactis differs from Chiodecton in that it has a perithecioid to lirelliform ascomata aggregated into stroma-like structures and obovate or slightly biclavate ascospores (Thor 1990, Damien et al. 2014). Morphologically, Isalonactis is similar to Sigridea in thalline margin and 3-septate ascospores; however, it differs from the latter having carbonized hypothecium and much shorter conidia (Tehler 1993, Damien et al. 2014). Isalonactis can be distinguished from other genera based on its morphology and phylogeny.
Type species: Isalonactis madagascariensis Ertz, Tehler, Eb. Fisch., Killmann, Razafindr.. & Sérus.
Other accepted species: This genus is monotypic.
Figure 1 – Morphological features of Isalonactis madagascariensis. a Thallus and apothecia. b Asci. c Ascospores. Scale bars: a = 1 mm, b, c = 10 μm. Redrawn from Damien et al. (2014).
References
Thor G. 1990 – The lichen genus Chiodecton and five allied genera. Opera Botanica 103, 1–92.
Entry by
Liu XF, Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan 655011, China; 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.
(Edited by Saowaluck Tibpromma, Samaneh Chaharmiri-Dokhaharani, & Achala R. Rathnayaka)
Published online 26 November 2024