Pseudonitschkia
Pseudonitschkia Coppins & S.Y. Kondr., Edinb J Bot 52(2): 232 (1995).
Index Fungorum number: IF 6272; Facesoffungi number: FoF 08200, 1 morphological species (Species Fungorum 2022), no molecular data available.
Lichenicolous, commensal on thallus of Parmotrema tinctorum. Sexual morph: Ascomata superficial, visible as black dots on host surface, globose to subglobose, cupulate when dry, dark brown to black, scattered, solitary, surface rough, cracked and rugulose, indistinct ostiolate. Peridium thick-walled, composed of several layers of dark brown to black, pseudoparenchymatous cells, with thickened cell walls, arranged in a textura angularis and textura epidermoidea. Hamathecium composed of dense, filamentous, branched, anastomosed, narrowly cellular pseudoparaphyses, constricted at the septa, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci (4–)5–6– (8)- spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, broadly clavate to ampulliform with sessile to short-pedicellate, apically rounded with indistinct ocular chamber, thick-walled at the apex. Ascospores overlapping 2–3-seriate, fusiform, initially hyaline, becoming yellowish brown to olivaceous at maturity, mostlyuniseptate, becoming 2(–3)-septate at maturity, the upper cell shorter and larger than the lower cell, not constricted at the septa, smooth-walled, with thin, distinctive mucilaginous sheath surrounding ascospores in immature state. Asexual morph: Unknown (adapted from Doilom et al. 2018).
Type species: Pseudonitschkia parmotrematis Coppins & S.Y. Kondr.
Notes: Pseudonitschkia is characterised by globose to subglobose ascomata, broadly clavate to ampulliform with sessile to short-pedicellate asci, and ascospores that are fusiform, initially hyaline, becoming yellowish brown to olivaceous with a distinctive mucilaginous sheath surrounding them when immature (Coppins & Kondratyuk 1995). Coppins and Kondratyuk (1995) reported Pseudonitschkia as a commensal lichenicolous taxon occurring predominantly on Parmotrema tinctorum in South America, South Africa, Malawi and Nepal. Coppins and Kondratyuk (1995) placed Pseudonitschkia in the Dothideales based on morphology. Kirk et al. (2001) transferred Pseudonitschkia to Dacampiaceae. Doilom et al. (2018) re-examined the type specimen of Pseudonitschkia parmotrematis and reported that the latter is different from other genera in the family Dacampiaceae in having colorless ascospores. The placement of Pseudonitschkia in Dacampiaceae is doubtful and molecular data is needed to confirm the correct taxonomic placement of the genus. We follow Doilom et al. (2018) and place Pseudonitschkia in Dacampiaceae until fresh material is available.
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