Stigmidium cerinae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Dothideomycetes
Order: Capnodiales
Family: Mycosphaerellaceae
Genus: Stigmidium
Species:
S. cerinae
Binomial name
Stigmidium cerinae
Cl.Roux & Triebel (1994)

Stigmidium cerinae is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Mycosphaerellaceae.[1] It was formally described as a new species in 1994 by mycologists Claude Roux and Dagmar Triebel. The type specimen was collected in Austria from the apothecia of the muscicolous (moss-dwelling) species Caloplaca stillicidiorum.[2] It infects lichens in the genus Caloplaca, and more generally, members of the family Teloschistaceae.[3] Infection by the fungus results in bleaching of the host hymenium.[4]

Description

Stigmidium cerinae is distinguished by its globular to slightly elongated ascomata, which are exceptionally dark, glossy, and appear in abundance, ranging from 6 to 60 on the apothecia of the lichen host. These ascomata partially or fully darken the disc of the host, appearing embedded to varying degrees. The wall of the ascomata has a deep rufous-brown hue, with the upper portion appearing darker compared to the lighter lower part. This structure measures between 5 and 10 μm in thickness and consists of cells with a similarly coloured wall, which are internally coated with very fine brown pigment granules.[2]

The cellular lumina within the ascomata wall are distinguishable, with sizes varying in tangential and vertical planes. The periphyses and pseudoparaphyses within the ascomata are well-defined and visible. The asci, which house the spores, have a club-like shape and are almost sessile or bear a short stalk. As for the ascospores, they initially appear colourless, turning to a light brown towards the end of their lifecycle, possibly when they are dead. These spores are long, narrow, and range in their dimensions, typically three to four times as long as they are wide. They possess a thin wall and an outer perispore that is barely discernible, not creating a halo. The cells within the spores are nearly equal, containing two large oil droplets.[2]

In addition to the reproductive ascomata, Stigmidium cerinae also features conidiomata, albeit infrequently observed. These structures are globular and consist of a light brown wall made up of isodiametric cells. The conidia generated are small in size. Vegetative hyphae are present, colourless, and hardly visible without staining, scattered throughout the hymenium and subhymenium of the host.[2]

Distribution

The fungus has been recorded from several localities: Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland,[2] Taymyr Peninsula in the Far North of Russia,[4] the East Siberian Lowland,[5] Romania,[6] and Slovenia.[7] Although it was reported from North America in 2001,[8] these sightings were later revised to represent the species Stigmidium epistigmellum.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Stigmidium cerinae Cl. Roux & Triebel". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Roux, C.; Triebel, D. (1994). "Révision des espèces de Stigmidium et de Sphaerellothecium (champignons lichénicoles non lichénisés, Ascomycetes) correspondant à Pharcidia epicymatia sensu Keissler ou à Stigmidium schaereri auct" [Revision of the species of Stigmidium and Sphaerellothecium (non-lichenized lichenicolous fungi, Ascomycetes) corresponding to Pharcidia epicymatia sensu Keissler or to Stigmidium schaereri auct.]. Bulletin de la Société Linnéenne de Provence (in French). 45: 451–542 [480].
  3. ↑ Diederich, Paul; Lawrey, James D.; Ertz, Damien (2018). "The 2018 classification and checklist of lichenicolous fungi, with 2000 non-lichenized, obligately lichenicolous taxa". The Bryologist. 121 (3): 340–425 [366]. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.3.340. S2CID 92396850.
  4. 1 2 Zhurbenko, Mikhail (2009). "Lichenicolous fungi and lichens from the Holarctic. Part II". Opuscula Philolichenum. 7: 121–186 [154].
  5. ↑ Kristinsson, Hörður; Zhurbenko, Mikhail; Steen Hansen, Eric (July 2010). Panarctic checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi. CAFF Technical Report No. 20 (Report). CAFF International Secretariat. p. 95.
  6. ↑ Vicol, I. (2017). "Chorology of Stigmidium genus in Romania". Romanian Journal of Biology - Plant Biology. 62 (1): 19–22.
  7. ↑ Hafellner, Josef (2015). "Lichenicolous Biota (Nos 201–230)" (PDF). Fritschiana (Graz). 80: 21–41.
  8. ↑ Cole, M.S.; Hawksworth, D.L. (2001). "Lichenicolous fungi, mainly from the USA, including Patriciomyces gen. nov". Mycotaxon. 77: 305–338.
  9. ↑ Kocourková, Jana; Knudsen, Kerry (2009). "Stigmidium epistigmellum (Mycosphaerellaceae), a lichenicolous fungus from maritime Caloplaca in North America". The Bryologist. 112 (3): 578–583. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-112.3.578.
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