NeBIO An international journal of environment and biodiversity Vol. 8, No. 1, March 2017, 21 - 24 ISSN 2278-2281(Online Version) ☼ www.nebio.info I www.neceer.org.in

RESEARCH PAPER

A new species of and additional records of (: ) from the state of Karnataka, India

Pushpi Singh and K.P. Singh Botanical Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, 10-Chatham Lines, Allahabad -211 002, India

ABSTRACT

Fissurina shivamoggensis is described here as a species new to science from Karnataka, India. It is characterized by its immersed lirellae with widely exposed whitish pruinose disc; clear hymenium with uncarbonized exciple; 1-spored asci; large, muriform 100-150 µm long amyloid ascospores and the absence of substances. Twelve species enumerated by their distributional notes are new records to the lichen flora of Karnataka.

KEYWORDS: Lichenized fungi, new species, Graphidaceae, taxonomy, Karnataka

Received 2 January 2017, Accepted 18 January 2017 I *Corresponding Author: [email protected]

Introduction were stained with Lugol’s solution to check the amyloid reaction Karnataka, one of the southern peninsular states of the country and measured in water. Secondary metabolites were identified by forms the part of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspots. thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using solvent A following Orange Lichenologically, the area is quite rich and interesting and was not et al. (2010). explored thoroughly although sporadic lichen collections from some selected localities in Shivamoggha, Chikmagaluru, Uttar and Fissurina shivamoggensis Pushpi Singh and Kr. P. Singh sp. nov. North Kanada, Kodagu and other districts were made and Figure 1 A-D published (Patwardhan & Kulkarni, 1977; Awasthi & Upreti, 1980; Myco Bank No.: MB 820529 Patwardhan & Makhija, 1981; Patwardhan et al., 1985; Makhija & Differs from Fissurina submonospora in the elongate lirellae with Patwardhan, 1985, 1990, 1994; Nagarkar et al., 1988; Makhija et striate divergent labia and exposed, white-pruinose disc. al., 1994; Chatterjee et al., 1996; Nayaka & Upreti, 2002; Nayaka Type: India, Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Shivamogga et al., 2003; Adawadkar & Makhija, 2007; Vinayaka et al., 2010; road, Chithrate forest, 17th December 2014, K.P. Singh 9743 Dudani et al., 2015; Rashmi & Rajkumar, 2015). But as a whole, (Holotype BSA). major area remained unexplored or under explored. Singh and Sinha (2010) listed 395 species from the state. However, in the Thallus corticolous, pale fawn or yellowish-brown, smooth, present state of knowledge, about 474 species are known from glossy, effuse, continuous; cortex 8–12 µm thick; algal layer Karnataka. While studying a small collection of Graphidaceae continuous, 15–25 µm thick with crystals; algal cells 8–10 µm recently made from Sagara Taluk of Shivamogga district, an across; medulla pale grey, encrusted with numerous crystals, 10– interesting new species Fissurina shivamoggensis is discovered 30 µm thick; prothallus indistinct. and described. The remaining 12 species as new additions to the lichen flora of Karnataka are enumerated by their distributional Ascomata lirelliform, numerous, immersed, conspicuous, sparsely notes. branched, closely scattered, almost straight to curved, 2–12 mm long and 0.4–0.6 mm wide; labia striate, divergent; disc exposed, Materials and Methods whitish pruinose; exciple uncarbonized, laterally studded with Specimens collected from Shivamogga district (between the crystals; epihymenium hyaline, 6–9 µm high; hymenium clear, latitudes 13°27' and 14°39' N and longitudes 74°38' and 76°04' E) 170–190 µm high, I–; hypothecium hyaline, 12–18 µm high; in southern part of Karnataka and deposited in BSA herbarium paraphyses simple, 1.5 µm thick; asci 1-spored, clavate, 130–170 were examined morphologically, anatomically and chemically. × 17–25 µm; ascospores hyaline, muriform, oblong, 100–150 × Morphological characters of thallus, reproductive structures, 38–55 µm with 11–23 µm thick halo, amyloid. colour, size and shapes were examined under a stereomicroscope (NIKON SMZ 1500). Thin hand-cut sections of thalli and ascomata Chemistry: No lichen substances detected by TLC. were mounted in water and KOH and examined. All anatomical Etymology: The specific epithet refers to district from where the measurements were made in tap water mounts and examined collection is made. under a compound microscope (NIKON Eclipse 50i). Ascospores

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RESEARCH PAPER Singh & Singh » A new species of Fissurina and additional records of Graphidaceae from Karnataka, India » NeBIO 8(1): 21-24 ------

Figure 1. A–D. A. Habit, B. Cross section of apothecium, C. Ascus with ascospore, D. Ascospore. Scale Scales: A=1mm, B=100 µm, C-D= 25µm.

Distribution and ecology: The new species so far known from the Morphologically, it closely resembles Fissurina niveoalba Poengs. type collection and grows inside forest in shady moist places on & Kalb, which has 8-spored asci and smaller 17–25 µm long trunks of trees. ascospores (Poengsungnoen et al., 2014). In ascospores size, it also resembles F. submonospora B. O. Sharma, Khadilkar & Remarks: This species is characterized by its immersed elongated Makhija which has short (0.5–1.0 mm long) emergent lirellae lirellae with whitish pruinose disc; 1-spored asci with large with slit-like disc; entire labia and convergent exciple covered by muriform amyloid ascospores and lack of lichen substances. thalline margin up to the top (Sharma et al., 2012).

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RESEARCH PAPER Singh & Singh » A new species of Fissurina and additional records of Graphidaceae from Karnataka, India » NeBIO 8(1): 21-24 ------

New additions to Karnataka lichen flora: Specimens examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Diorygma albovirescens Makhija & al., Mycotaxon 109: 382. 2009. Soraba road, Malve, K.P. Singh 9676A, 9786A (BSA); Shivamogga, Distribution: This endemic species was reported earlier from Sagar-Talgoppa road, Shiranvanthe, K.P. Singh 9656A (BSA) Maharashtra (Makhija et al., 2009). Specimens examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Graphis dendrogramma Nyl. in Cromb., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 16: 226. Shivamogga road, Chithrate forest, K. P. Singh 9728A (BSA); 1878. Shivamogga, Sagar-Soraba road, near Bellikoppa, K. P. Singh Distribution: This species was earlier reported from Arunachal 9800 (BSA). Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Sikkim and West Bengal (Singh & Sinha, 2010). Diorygma megaspermum Makhija & al., Mycotaxon 109: 386. Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- 2009. Soraba, Chithrate forest, K.P. Singh 9615B (BSA). Distribution: Diorygma megaspermum is an endemic species which was earlier reported only from Maharashtra (Makhija et al. Graphis pseudoaquilonia Lücking, Lichenologist, 44 (3): 393. 2012. 2009). Distribution: It was previously reported from Assam (Gupta & Specimens examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar, Sinha, 2012). Talgoppa road, Kugve, K.P. Singh 9628 (BSA); Shivamogga, Sagar, Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar Talgoppa road at Shirarvanthe, K.P. Singh 9656 (BSA); Sagar, railway station platform trees, K.P. Singh 9617 (BSA). Shivamogga road, Uullur, K.P. Singh 9752 (BSA). Hemithecium croceum Makhija & Adaw., Mycotaxon 91: 348. Diorygma megasporum Kalb & al., Symb. Bot. Upsal. 34(1): 160. 2005. 2004. Distribution: This endemic species was earlier reported from Distribution: This endemic species known from Arunachal Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Singh & Sinha, 2010). Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Talgoppa and West Bengal (Kalb & Staiger, 2004; Singh et al. 2015; Singh road, at Kugve, K.P. Singh 9627 (BSA). & Singh 2015). Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Phaeographis intricans (Nyl.) Staiger, Biblioth. Lichenol. 85: 329. Talgoppa road, Shiranvanthe, K.P. Singh 9656 (BSA). 2002; Graphis intricans Nyl., Acta Soc. Sci. Fenn. 7: 473. 1863. Distribution: This species was earlier reported from Kerala, Diorygma soozanum (Zahlbr.) M. Nakan. & Kashiw., in Nakanishi, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu (Singh & Sinha, 2010). Kashiwadani & Moon, Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, B 29(2): 86. Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Talgoppa 2003. Graphina soozana Zahlbr., Feddes Repert. 31: 215. 1933. Railway crossing, K. P. Singh 9745 (BSA). Distribution: This species was earlier reported from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland (Singh & Singh, 2015). Thelotrema albidopallens Nyl., Bull. Soc. Linn. Normandie, ser. 2, Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga distinct, Sagar- 7: 168. 1873. Shivamogga road, Chithrate forest, K. P. Singh 9615B (BSA). Distribution: This endemic species was previously reported from Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Western Ghats (Singh and Sinha, Fissurina cingalina (Nyl.) Staiger, Biblthca Lichenol. 85: 128. 2002. 2010). Graphis cingalina Nyl. Acta Soc. Sci. Fenn., 26 (10):21. 1900. Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Distribution: This species was previously reported from Kerala, Shivamogga road, Chithrate, K. P. Singh 9731 (BSA). Maharashtra, Manipur and Tamil Nadu (Singh & Sinha, 2010). Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Sagar- Astrochapsa pseudophlyctis (Nyl.) Parnmen, Lücking & Lumbsch, Shivamogga road, Chithrate forest, K.P. Singh 9748B (BSA). PLoS ONE 7(12): e51392, 9. 2012. Graphis pseudophlyctis Nyl., in Hue, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. 3: 163. 1891. Fissurina subcontexta (Nyl.) Nyl., Lich. Nova Zeland.: 125. 1888. Distribution: This species was previously reported from Graphis subcontexta Nyl., Bull. Soc. Linn. Normandie, ser, 2, 2: Meghalaya and Sikkim (Singh & Sinha, 2010). 118. 1868 Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivamogga district, Talgoppa Distribution: This species was earlier reported from Arunachal road, Shiranvanthe, K. P. Singh 9656 (BSA). Pradesh (Singh et al., 2015). Specimen examined: Karnataka, Shivmogga district, Talgoppa Acknowledgements road, K.P. Singh 9750 (BSA). The authors are thankful to Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for encouragement and the Head of Office, Botanical Graphis caesiella Vain., Acta Soc. Fauna Fl. Finn. 7: 122. 1890. Survey of India, Central Regional Centre, Allahabad for facilities. Distribution: This species was previously reported from Arunachal Pradesh and Lakshadweep (Singh & Sinha, 2010). References Adawadkar, B. and Makhija, U. 2007. New species and new records of Graphis from India with partially carbonized

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RESEARCH PAPER Singh & Singh » A new species of Fissurina and additional records of Graphidaceae from Karnataka, India » NeBIO 8(1): 21-24 ------

exciples and transseptate ascospores. Mycotaxon 99: 303- Nayaka, S., Upreti, D. K., Gadgil, M. and Pandey, V. 2003. 326. Distribution pattern and heavymetal accumulation in Awasthi D.D. and Upreti, D.K. 1980. A note on the lichens from of Bangalore city with special reference to Lalbagh Garden. Lalbagh garden, Bangalore. Indian. J. Bot. 3: 181-184. Curr. Sci. 84: 674– 680. Chatterjee, S., Sinha, G. P. and Singh, A. 1996. Lichens from Orange, A., James, P. W. and White, F.J. 2001. Microchemical some monuments in Karnataka and Orissa. Geophytology 25: methods for the identification of lichens. London: British 83–90. Lichen Society. Dudani, S.N., Nayaka, S., Mahesh, M.K., Chandran, M.D.S and Patwardhan, P. G. and Kulkarni, C. R. 1977. A contribution to our Ramachandra, T.V. 2015. Lichen Diversity in the Sacred knowledge of the Lichen flora India I: Family Forest Fragments of Central Western Ghats. J. Biodivers. Thelotremataceae. Kavaka 5: 1–17. Manage. Forestry 4: 1–6. Patwardhan, P.G. and Makhija, U. 1981. The Lichen Kalb, K. Staiger, B. and Elix, J.A. 2004. A monograph of the lichen Lopadium (Family Lecideaceae) in the Western Ghats, genus Diorygma– a first attempt. Symb. Bot. Ups. 34: 133– Southwestern India. Indian J. Bot. 4: 20–26. 181. Patwardhan, P. G., Sethy, P. K. and Nagarkar, M. B. 1985. A Gupta, P. and Sinha, G.P. 2012. A new of lichen in the genus Contribution to our knowledge of the Lichen Family Graphis record for India from Assam. 35: 133–134. Thelotremataceae from South India. Biovigyanam 11: 133– Makhija, U. and Patwardhan, P. G. 1985. A Contribution to our 140. knowledge of the genus Cryptothecia. Biovigyanam 11: 1–13. Poengsungnoen, V., Manoch, L., Mongkolsuk, P. and Kalb, K. Makhija, U. and Patwardhan, P. G. 1990. On the Lichen Genus 2014. New species of Graphidaceae from Loei Province, Pleurotrema Müll. Arg. Biovigyanam 16: 10–37. Thailand. Phytotaxa 189 (1): 255–267. Makhija, U. and Patwardhan, P. G. 1994. A Contribution towards a Rashmi, S and Rajkumar, H.G. 2015. First Report of Foliicolous monograph of the Lichen Genus Cryptothecia (Family Lichen Biota in South Karnataka-India. Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. Arthoniaceae): In Sarma et al (eds.) Current Researches in App. Sci. 4: 250–256. Plant Sciences, pp. 57–72. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Sharma, B.O., Khadilkar, P. and Makhija, U. 2012. New species Dehradun. and new combinations in the lichen genera Fissurina and Makhija, U., Adawadkar, B. and Patwardhan, P. G. 1994. The Hemithecium from India. Lichenologist 44: 339–362. Lichen genus Porina (Family-Trichotheliaceae) from India. J. Singh K.P. and G.P. Sinha. 2010. Indian lichens; an annotated Econ. Taxon. Bot. 18: 521– 545. checklist. Botanical Survey of India, Salt lake city, Kolkata. Makhija, U., Chitale, G., and Sharma, B. 2009. New species and 571 pp. new records of Diorygma (Graphidaceae) from India: species Singh, P. and Singh, K.P. 2015. Additional lichen records of with convergent exciples. Mycotaxon 109: 379–392 Graphidaceae for Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland, North- Nagarkar, M. B., Sethy, P.K. and Patwardhan, P.G. 1988. Lichen East India. Geophytology 45: 181– 194 Genus Ocellularia (Family Thelotremataceae) from India. Singh, P., Singh, K.P. and Bhatt, A.B. 2015. Diversity and Biovigyanam 14: 24–43. distribution of microlichens in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Nayaka, S. and Upreti, D.K. 2002. Lichen flora of Shravathi river Eastern Himalaya, India. Check List 11: 1–20. basin, Shimoga district, Karnataka, India, with six new Vinayaka, K.S., Krishnamurthy, Y.L. and Nayaka, S. 2010. records. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 27(3): 626– 648. Macrolichen flora of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, India. Ann. For. 18: 81– 90.

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