Hi Gernot,

with the key provided by Hawksworth 1980 (fungi on Peltigera) I come with a quick attempt to Trichosphaeria lichenum.

Regards,

Martin


Update: Spores a too short in this species (see attach.)

thank you! I already used this key but I didn't find any species that would fit. Trichosphaeria lichenum is described with hyaline, 6-9 x 2 µm big ascospores, so quite different from what we found.

Best wishes,

Gernot

Hi Gernot,
I have seen many fungi species growing on Peltigera but not with the asci, spores and hairs you show us. I can not find a name for the genus.
Best wishes. Javier Etayo

Very interesting. The combination of the hairy perithecia with the spore size and form is also interesting for me. If someone has a digital version of Hawksworth (1980), I would be interested in it!

regards,
björn

Yes interesting by having apical ring in ascus and paraphyses (s.l.). Perhaps it's new. I'm looking around non-lichenicolous species, but I don't find any track to follow.
Kazama-Björn, I send you jpg pages of Hawksworth 1980.
Alain

Hi again,

I think Acanthostigma peltigerae (Fuckel) G. Winter has some similarities with your finding, it has a colour plate in BERLESE 1 (3), XCIX, descr. p. 102, "sp. 17-20x6-7µm".

That was just an idea ;)

best wishes,
björn

Hi,

thank you all! Luckily we have enough material left for further examination.

@Alain: Yes, I have seen the description by Hawksworth but its not easy to compare it living material.

@Björn: Acanthostigma peltigerae is a synonym of Capronia peltigerae which isn't really close to our find.

Best wishes,

Gernot

Hi Gernot,
Looks like a great find, indeed.

Alain, peux-tu m'envoyer la clé de Hawksworth 1980?, comme ça, je pourrais fouiner sur les Peltigera aussi.

Amitiés, joyeuses fêtes - LUC.

Hi Luc,

the key is available on Cyberliber: http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59351/0074/002/0363.htm

Best wishes,

Gernot

Ah, alright. Thanks, Gernot.

Hello Gernot,

What you have is a member of the Helminthosphaeriaceae. Jacques Fournier, Andy Miller and I are in the middle of doing a revision on some members of this group, expanding the concepts of some of the genera. It appears to be similar to two species we have observed: Chaetosphaeria flavocompta (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Sacc.? and Chaetosphaeria ludens Morg. Both will be transferred to Helminthosphaeria in the upcoming paper. Full measurements are needed to determine whether it matches either of these or is another species altogether.

It is a very fine looking species and your images are excellent!

Best regards,
Sabine Huhndorf

René,
The link is perhaps not the good one because here it was a Pleosporaceae.
Sabine, your information is really interesting because sometimes we meet such species.
Best regards,
Alain

Hi Sabine,

thank you very much for your answer! I add a complete description of our find:

Ascomata: originating from the upper and lower surface of old lichen thalli; 250-350 µm in diameter, 350-450 µm high; pyriform, with hardly visible central ostiole; surface dark brown to black, mat, somewhat uneven/rough or even partially cracked, with stiff, straight to somewhat curved, light hairs all over the surface. Perithecial wall: outer layer out of dark brown, ± thick walled, isodiametrical cells. Asci: unitunicate, cylindrical but narrowed towards the apex; 90-120 x 15-19 µm, shortly stipitate; 8-spored, ascospores irregularly arranged; apical apparatus as a disc, ca. 4 x 1,7-2 µm. Hamathecium: consists of several multi-septate, hyaline paraphyses, not exceeding the asci. Ascospores: 25-30(32) × 7,5-9 µm, ellipsoid, symetrical, ends obtuse or slightly tapering; at first with one transverse middle septum, when mature with 3 transverse septa, not or slightly constricted at septa; hyaline and smooth when young, later light brown and finely verrucous; filled with small guttules. Hairs: 150-220(-250) x 8-12 µm, straight to slightly bent, wall somewhat flexuous; ends obtuse; originating from a simple septa, not rooting; thick walled (3-3,5 µm) but with a thinner wall at the apex, pseudoseptate (without true septa); brown at the base, turning lighter toward the apex. Substrate: on old thalli of Peltigera cf. polydactylon, mainly on the lower surface but some ascomata also on the upper surface, often on whitish spots of the thallus.

Does it fit to one of these species of the Helminthosphaeriaceae?

Best wishes,

Gernot

Hi Gernot,

The ascospores of your collection are somewhat larger than either of the two species I suggested. Because of the ascospore size, the lichen substrate and the amount and kind of ascomatal hairs, I believe that it is an undescribed species of Helminthosphaeria.

Is there a collection number and locality data?

Cheers,
Sabine

Hello René?,

I located the AscoFrance post (Setose pyrenomycetes, Hans-Otto Baral, 08-05-2011 21:42) and the specimen you are referring to is indeed a member of Helminthosphaeria. Jacques Fournier was correct in his reply to that post, in suggesting that it is similar to collections formerly placed in Lasiosphaeria stuppea and Lasiosphaeria coacta. These are of course not true Lasiosphaeria. Your collection may be similar to the one posted by Gernot or maybe be close something similar in our collection that was sent to us by Thomas Laessoe. Your collection would have to be examined and compared.

Best regards,
Sabine

Hi Sabine,

the specimen in my herbarium has the number "GF 20110224". T. Richter also has a specimen in his herbarium but I don't know his collection number yet, if you want I'll ask him. In case of a new species I can deposit it in herbarium GJO.

Here are the data of the collections we examined:

15.X.2011 & 11.XII.2011. Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, district Nordwestmecklenburg; south of Rehna, 1 km north of Stresdorf, former gravel pit; on dying thalli of Peltigera cf. polydactylon. Leg.: T. Richter. 

Best wishes,

Gernot

Hi Yan,

I didn't observe any reaction with Lugol.

Best wishes,

Gernot