First record of the halophilic fungus penicilliopsis clavariiformis from diospyros paniculata

Abstract

Penicilliopsis clavariiformis, an ascomycete fungus is reported for the first time from Diospyros paniculata. Conspicuous clavarioid ascomata of P. clavariiformis were found emerging out of fruits and seeds of D. paniculata growing in a sacred grove in Kerala State, India. Based on morphological and molecular evidences, the identity of the fungus was confirmed.