Lophiostoma sagittiforme sp. nov., a new ascomycete (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Island Yakushima in Japan

Tanaka K. & Hosoya T. (2008) Lophiostoma sagittiforme sp. nov., a new ascomycete (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Island Yakushima in Japan.

Sydowia 60 (1): 131-145

Lophiostoma sagittiforme sp. nov. was collected from the twigs of Machilus japonica in Island Yakushima, southern Japan . It is characterized by the ascospores with an elongated narrow sheath providing arrowhead-like tips. In terms of sheath morphology of ascospores, L. sagittiforme is similar to some aquatic species of the genus, e.g., L. armatisporum, L. bipolare, L. frondisubmersa, and L. proprietunicatum, but differs form these species in having relatively large-sized ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed region (ITS) -5.8S and partial large subunit of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (LSU nrDNA) also supported the taxonomic classification of L. sagittiforme in Lophiostoma.

Keywords: appendages, Loculoascomycetes, Lophiostomataceae, Massarina, phylogeny.