Pontoporeia mangrovei sp. nov, a new marine fungus from an Indian mangrove along with a new geographical and host record of Falciformispora lignatilis

Abstract

Pontoporeia mangrovei, a new marine fungal species is reported from Muthupet mangroves, southeast coast of India. Pontoporeia mangrovei is characterized by cleistothecial, dark brown to black, carbonaceous, semi-immersed to superficial, non-ostiolate ascomata with broadly clavate, ovoid, or ellipsoidal asci. Ascospores are 1-septate, biturbinate to ellipsoidal, hyaline to purple when young and dark brown to black at maturity. The new species differs from Pontoporeia biturbinata in having shorter ascomata, asci and ascospores dimensions and by occurring on Avicennia marina and Suaeda monoica in mangrove environments, in contrast to a sea grass host (Posidonia oceanica) of the latter. Falciformispora lignalitis is reported from an Indian mangrove for the first time and hence the present collection expands its geographical range. Aegiceras corniculatum is a new host record for this fungus.