Lindgomyces carolinensis
Lindgomyces carolinensis Raja, J. Fourn., Paguigan & Oberlies
Index Fungorum number: IF817996
Holotype: ILLS80483
Etymology: in reference to the state North Carolina, where the fungus was first collected.
Saprobic on decaying wood. Sexual morph: Ascomata 160–170 × 290–330 μm, black, partially immersed becoming superficial to erumpent by sloughing off the wood, scattered, globose to subglobose, ostiolate, short papillate. Peridium composed of two layers, inner layer composed of small, pale brown, isodiametric cells, outer layer of dark brown, pseudoparenchymatic cells, covered with brown amorphous material from the host 20–30 μm wide. Pseudoparaphyses cellular, abundant, ca. 2–3 μm wide, septate, slightly constricted at the septa, anastomosing above the asci. Asci 84–141 × 19–25 μm (mean and SD = 104 ± 12 × 23 ± 2 μm, n= 50), broadly cylindrical to clavate, broadly rounded at the apex, cymbiform, fissitunicate, tapering to a short stipe at the base, eight-spored. Ascospores 39–50 × 6–9 (−11) μm (mean and SD = 43 ± 2 × 8 ± 1 μm, n = 45), overlapping, biseriate, fusiform with acute ends, straight to slightly curved, broad at the apex, tapering towards the base, one-septate, constricted at the septum; primary septum supra median to mostly median (0.47–0.53; average 0.5, n=50), hyaline, with two large lipid guttules in each cell, surrounded by a large, fusiform gelatinous sheath 86–125 × 13–15 μm, with gelatinous cap-like structures on either side of the ascospore sheath; sheath evanescent and disappears completely upon contact with water; not visible in glycerin and/or lactic acid. Asexual morph: Undetermined. (Description form Raja et al. 2017)
Specimen examined: USA: North Carolina, 35o9.215′N, 81 o1.231′W, Lake Wylie, on submerged wood, 30 August 2014, Huzefa A. Rajaand Vincent P. Sica, G618 (ILLS80483), ex-type living culture DSM 103499, single ascospore isolate from holotype. Hanging Rock State Park, stream draining into Hanging Rock Park Lake, 36° 23.568′ N, 80° 16.162′ W, water 8 °C, pH 4.5, on submerged wood, 3 March 2015, leg. Huzefa A. Raja and Nicholas H. Oberlies, G833 and G834 (ILLS 80484).
Freshwater distribution: North Carolina (Raja et al. 2017)
Notes: Lindgomyces carolinensis is unique among the 11 previously described species of Lindgomyces, in that the ascospores are equipped with a large fusiform gelatinous sheath, which enlarges upon contact with water and does not stain in India ink or aqueous nigrosin. Once the sheath is fully extended in water, it shows the presence of cap-like structures on the apical apices of the sheath. After a few minutes in water, the sheath completely dissolves and becomes invisible; it is also not visible when the fungal material is fixed in glycerin and lactic acid. Lindgomyces carolinensis can be compared to the type species, L. ingoldianus, which also has a large sheath; however, the former is different from the latter in that the sheath of L. carolinensis does not stain, while that of L. ingoldianus stains black in India ink and is long, amorphous, and sticky (Shearer and Hyde 1997; Hirayama et al. 2010). In addition, molecular data (SSU + LSU nrDNA) and nuclear ribosomal ITS data clearly indicate that L. carolinensis is a phylogenetically distinct species in comparison to all 11 previously described species currently belonging to Lindgomyces. (Notes form Raja et al. 2017)
Fig. 1. Lindgomyces carolinensis (from HOLOTYPE, ILLS 80483). a Ascomata on wood. b Asci with interascal pseudoparaphyses. c, d Ascus. e, f Ascospores with fusiform gelatinous sheath; note arrows showing gelatinous cap-like structures on either side of the ascospore sheath. g, h Ascospore without gelatinous sheath in water. Scale bars: a = 200 μm; b–h = 20 μm (Raja et al. 2017; http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/N_Oberlies_Additions_2017.pdf)
References
Shearer CA, Hyde KD (1997) Massarina ingoldiana, a new ascomycete from freshwater habitats. Mycologia 89:114–119
Hirayama K, Tanaka K, Raja HA, Miller AN, Shearer CA (2010) A molecular phylogenetic assessment of Massarina ingoldiana sensu lato. Mycologia 102:729–746. doi:10.3852/09-230
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