Mycol. Res. 101 (12) : 1496–1498 (1997) 1496 Printed in the United Kingdom Further Mycovellosiella species from the Indian sub-continent K I R T I B H A L L A, S A N J A Y K. S I N G H A N D A. K. S R I V A S T A V A Mycology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur-273009 (U.P.), India Mycovellosiella malloti-repandi, M. nerii-indici and M. solanacearum, occurring on Mallotus repandus (Euphorbiaceae), Nerium indicum (Apocynaceae) and Solanum verbascifolium (Solanaceae), respectively, are described and illustrated. The first was collected from the North-Eastern Terai region of India and the other two from Nepal. Mycovellosiella Rangel currently contains over 128 species (Ellis, 1971, 1976 ; Deighton, 1974, 1979 ; Braun, 1990, 1991, 1993 a, b, 1995 ; Crous & Braun, 1994, 1995 ; Bhalla, Srivastava & Srivastava, 1996 a ; Bhalla, Srivastava & Kamal, 1996 b ; Kharwar, Singh & Chaudhary, 1996 ; Meenu, Bhalla & Singh, 1996). The generic circumscription of Mycovellosiella has been dealt with by Deighton (1976, 1979), Braun (1990) and Bhalla et al. (1996 a). In this paper three new species, M. malloti-repandi, M. nerii-indici and M. solanacearum, occurring on Mallotus repandus, Nerium indicum and Solanum verbascifolium, respectively, are described, illustrated and compared with allied species. The first was collected from the NorthEastern Terai region of India and the other two from Nepal. hyphae septate, branched, sometimes forming rope-like structures ascending the leaf hairs, light olivaceous, 2±0–6±5 µm wide. Stromata absent. Conidiophores arising singly from external hyphae as terminal or lateral branches, micronematous to semimacronematous, mononematous, branched, thin and smooth-walled, erect, straight to flexuous, cylindrical, 0–3septate, geniculate, olivaceous brown, 2±5–65±0¬2±5–6±0 µm. Conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal to intercalary, poly- Leaf spots amphigenous, angular, vein-limited, sometimes coalescing, greyish brown, 2–6 mm wide. Colonies hypophyllous, greyish brown. Mycelium mostly superficial, external 20 lm 4 3 5 20 mm Maculae amphigenae, angulares, per venas limitatae, interdum coalescentes, griseo-brunneae, 2–6 mm latae. Coloniae hypophyllae, griseo-brunneae. Mycelium plerumque superficiale ; hyphae externae, septatae, ramosae, interdum funiculares vel pilos folii scandentes, pallide olivaceae, 2±0–6±5 µm latae. Stromata nulla. Conidiophora singularia, ex hyphis superficialibus terminaliter vel ex latere oriunda, micronematosa vel semimacronematosa, mononematosa, ramosa, tenuitunicata, laevia, erecta, recta vel flexuosa, cylindrica, 0–3septata, geniculata, olivaceo-brunnea, 2±5–65±0¬2±5–6±0 µm. Cellulae conidiogenae integratae, terminales vel intercalares, polyblasticae, sympodiales, cylindricae, cicatrices conidiales incrassatae. Conidia sicca, solitaria, acropleurogenosa, holoblastica, recta vel curvata, 2–4transverse septata, tenuitunicata, laevia, pallide olivacea, apice subacuta vel rotundata, basi anguste obconico truncata, hila conspicua et leniter incrassata, 27±5–82±0¬3±0–6±5 µm. In foliis vivis Malloti repandi Muell. (Euphorbiaceae), India, Bansi, Siddharthnagar, U.P., March 1996, Kamal, IMI 373100 holotypus, HCIO No. 42207, GPU 50}96 isotypi. 20 lm Mycovellosiella malloti-repandi K. Bhalla, S. K. Singh & A. K. Srivast., sp. nov. (Figs 1–5) 1 2 Figs 1–5. Mycovellosiella malloti-repandi. Fig. 1. Mycelium forming rope-like structures ascending the leaf hair. Fig. 2. Unbranched conidiophores. Fig. 3. Branched conidiophore. Fig. 4. Conidia. Fig. 5. Leaf spots. K. Bhalla, S. K. Singh and A. K. Srivastava 1497 20 lm In foliis vivis Nerii indici Mill. (Apocynaceae), Nepal, Narainghat, Chitvan, Jan. 1994, Kamal, IMI 37474 holotypus ; HCIO No. 42037, GPU 3135 isotypi. 8 9 7 20 mm 10 6 Figs 6–10. Mycovellosiella nerii-indici. Fig. 6. Mycelium forming rope-like structures ascending the leaf hair. Fig. 7. Conidiophores. Fig. 8. Simple conidia. Fig. 9. Catenate conidia. Fig. 10. Leaf spots. blastic, sympodial, cylindrical, cicatrized, scars thickened. Conidia dry, solitary, acropleurogenous, holoblastic, straight to curved, transversely 2–4-septate, thin and smooth-walled, light olivaceous, tip subacute to rounded, base narrowly obconically truncate, hilum conspicuous and slightly thickened, 27±5–82±0¬3±0–6±5 µm. The fungus is distinct from M. malloti Kharwar, Singh & Chaudhary (1996) reported on Mallotus philippinensis by having angular and vein-limited leaf spots, longer and branched conidiophores bearing terminal as well as intercalary conidiogenous cells, non-catenate conidia and narrowly obconically truncate conidial bases. Mycovellosiella nerii-indici K. Bhalla, S. K. Singh & A. K. Srivast., sp. nov. (Figs 6–10) Maculae amphigenae, rectangulares vel irregulares, griseo vel olivaceo-brunneae, 1–4 mm latae. Coloniae effusae, hypophyllae. Mycelium plerumque superficiale ; hyphae externae septatae, ramosae, interdum funiculares vel pilos folii scandentes, pallide olivaceae, 2±0–3±5 µm latae. Stromata nulla. Conidiophora singularia, ex hyphis superficialibus terminaliter vel ex latere oriunda, micronematosa vel semimacronematosa, mononematosa, non ramosa, tenuitunicata, laevia, erecta, recta vel flexuosa, cylindrica, aseptata vel septata, interdum geniculata, pallide olivacea, 1±5–29±5¬2±0–4±5 µm. Cellulae conidiogenae integratae, terminales, polyblasticae, sympodiales, cylindricae, cicatrices conidiales incrassatae. Conidia solitaria vel catenata, in catenis simplicibus vel raro ramosis formata, sicca, acropleurogenosa, holoblastica, recta vel curvata, 0–4-transverse septata, tenuitunicata, laevia, pallide olivacea, apice acuta vel obtusa, basi obconica vel obconicotruncata, hila conspicua et leniter incrassata, 25±5–73±5¬2±5–5±0 µm. Leaf spots amphigenous, rectangular to irregular, greyish to olivaceous brown, 1–4 mm wide. Colonies effuse, hypophyllous. Mycelium mostly superficial, external hyphae septate, branched, forming rope-like structures ascending the leaf hairs, light olivaceous, 2±0–3±5 µm wide. Stromata absent. Conidiophores arising singly from external hyphae as terminal or lateral branches, micronematous to semimacronematous, mononematous, unbranched, thin and smooth-walled, erect, straight to flexuous, cylindrical, aseptate to septate, sometimes geniculate, light olivaceous, 1±5–29±5¬2±0–4±5 µm. Conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, polyblastic, sympodial, cylindrical, cicatrized, scars thickened. Conidia solitary to catenate, in simple to rarely branched chains, dry, acropleurogenous, holoblastic, straight to curved, transversely 0–4-septate, thin and smooth-walled, light olivaceous, tip acute to obtuse, base obconical to obconically truncate, hilum conspicuous and slightly thickened, 25±5–73±5¬2±5–5±0 µm. No species of Mycovellosiella has thus far been described from members of the Apocynaceae. Morphotaxonomic features of this fungus have been compared with Pseudocercospora neriella (Sacc.) Deighton (¯ Cercospora neriella Sacc. ; Deighton, 1976) and Pseudocercospora kurimensis (Fukui) U. Braun (¯ Cercospora nerii-indici (W. Yamam.) U. Braun ; Braun, 1996) described on the same host genus. The conidial scars and hila of P. neriella are neither thickened nor darkened and the stroma is well developed. P. kurimensis is also quite distinct from Mycovellosiella nerii-indici. The conidial shape is different, the conidia are longer and more slender, always formed singly, they are pluriseptate (3–11), with subacute tips and the conidial scars and hila are neither thickened, nor darkened. Mycovellosiella solanacearum K. Bhalla, S. K. Singh & A. K. Srivast., sp. nov. (Figs 11–15) Maculae amphigenae, suborbiculares vel irregulares, pallide brunneae, 2–10 mm latae. Coloniae hypophyllae, griseae, effusae. Mycelium plerumque superficiale ; hyphae externae septatae, ramosae, funiculares, pallide olivaceae, 2±5–4±5 µm latae. Stromata nulla. Conidiophora singularia, ex hyphis superficialibus terminaliter vel ex latere oriunda, micronematosa vel semimacronematosa, mononematosa, non ramosa, tenuitunicata, laevia, erecta, recta vel flexuosa, cylindrica, aseptata vel septata, interdum geniculata, pallide olivacea, 7±0–19±0¬3±5–5±0 µm. Cellulae conidiogenae integratae, terminales, polyblasticae, sympodiales, cylindricae, cicatrices conidiales incrassatae. Conidia solitaria vel raro catenata, in catenis simplicibus formata, non ramosa, sicca, acropleurogenosa, holoblastica, recta vel curvata, transverse 2–24-septata, tenuitunicata, laevia, pallide olivacea, apice subobtusa vel rotundata et interdum subacuta, basi fere obconica, hila conspicua et leniter incrassata, 22±5–213±5¬3±5– 5±0 µm. In foliis vivis Solani verbascifolii L. (Solanaceae), Nepal, Narainghat, Chitvan, Dec. 1993, Kamal, IMI No. 373102 holotypus ; HCIO No. 42208, GPU 3435 isotypi. Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to irregular, light brown, 2–10 mm wide. Colonies hypophyllous, greyish, effuse. New species of Mycovellosiella 1498 20 lm 12 13 shorter and more slender conidia which are rarely catenate. It is distinguished from M. costeroana and M. solani-torvi by having unbranched, smaller conidiophores and longer, multiseptate conidia which are rarely catenate. M. verbascifolii Muntan4 ola (1960), another species recorded on Solanum verbascifolium, is close to and may be identical with M. solanitorvi (Deighton, 1974). The authors thank Professor Kamal for collecting the microfungi described and the Head, Botany Department, University of Gorakhpur for providing laboratory facilities. Kirti Bhalla thanks C.S.I.R., New Delhi, for financial assistance. REFERENCES 20 mm 14 11 15 Figs 11–15. Mycovellosiella solanacearum. Fig. 11. Mycelium. Fig. 12. Conidiophores. Fig. 13. Simple conidia. Fig. 14. Catenate conidia. Fig. 15. Leaf spots. Mycelium mostly superficial, external hyphae septate, branched, forming rope-like structures, light olivaceous, 2±5–4±5 µm wide. Stromata absent. Conidiophores arising singly from external hyphae as terminal or lateral branches, micronematous to semimacronematous, mononematous, unbranched, thin and smooth-walled, erect, straight to flexuous, cylindrical, aseptate to septate, sometimes geniculate, light olivaceous, 7±0–19±0¬3±5–5±0 µm. Conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, polyblastic, sympodial, cylindrical, cicatrized, scars thickened. Conidia solitary to rarely catenate in simple chains, dry, acropleurogenous, holoblastic, straight to curved, transversely 2–24-septate, thin and smooth-walled, light olivaceous, tip subobtuse to rounded, sometimes subacute, base almost obconical, hilum conspicuous and slightly thickened, 22±5–213±5¬3±5–5±0 µm. M. solanacearum is distinct from three other species on Solanum verbascifolium, M. brachycarpa Deighton (1974), M. costeroana Liu & Guo (1988) and M. solani-torvi Deighton (1974). 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