Bathelium porinosporum Lucking, M.P. Nelsen & Gueidan (lichenized Ascomycota: Trypetheliaceae), a new record for Indian lichen mycota with a key to Indian species

摘要

Bathelium porinosporum Lucking, M.P. Nelsen & Gueidan is reported as a new record for Indian lichen mycota. A key toall known Indian species is provided to facilitate their identification.The genus Bathelium Ach., comprising 16 species and distributedin tropical regions of the world was revised by Aptroot & Lucking (2016). In India, it is represented by 3 species including Bathelium tuberculosum (Makhija & Patw.) R.C. Harris as endemic taxon (Aptroot & Lucking, 2016). These were reported mainly fromthe southern parts of the country. The genus is characterized by the prominent pseudostromata not covered by thallus; ascomata with apical ostioles, anthraquinones often present internally in pseudostromata; clear hamathecium with anastomosing paraphysoids; hyaline, fusiform, transversely thin septate to muriform, non amyloid ascospores having a gelatinous sheath and more or less angular lumina,. Morphologically, the genus may be confused with Nigrovothelium Lucking et al., which has black ascomata, astrothelioid ascospores and absence of anthraquinones pigment. Singh & Sinha (2010) earlier recorded 4 species of Bathelium from India. Since then some changes have occurred in the nomenclature of the species. Bathelium benguelense Mull. Arg. has been transferred to genus Marcelaria Aptroot, Nelsen & Parnmen (Aptroot et al., 2013) as M. benguelensis (Mull. Arg.) Aptroot et al., and B. phaeomelodes Mull. Arg. was synonymised with Astrothelium subdiscretum (Nyl.) Aptroot & Lucking (Aptroot & Lucking, 2016). During recent survey work on microlichens of Meghalaya state, an interesting Bathelium porinosporum Lucking, M.P. Nelsen & Gueidan, has beendiscovered as new record for Indian lichen myota and described taxonomically with microphotographs. Finally, 4 species occur in India that are keyed out to facilitate their identification.