Meliolaceae of Kerala, India – XX: Three new species and one new variety of genus Meliola

Kerala, coll. A. Manojkumar, on leaves of Dimocarpus longan Lour.(Sapindaceae), TBGT 971.Diagnostic features Similis Meliola capensis (Kalch.& Cooke) Theiss.var.baileyana Hansf.differt a appressoriis et ascosporis brevioribus.Colonies epiphyllous, dense, crustose to velvety, up to 2mm in diameter, confluent.Hyphae straight, branching alternate at acute to wide angles, loosely to closely reticulate, cells 17-21 x 5-7µm.Appressoria opposite, about 1% solitary, antrorse, 14-16µm long; stalk cells cylindrical to cuneate, 3-5µm long; head cells ovate, conoid, entire, attenuated and broadly rounded at the apex, 10-12 x 7-9µm.Phialides mixed with appressoria, alternate to opposite, ampulliform, 18-23 x 5-7µm.Mycelial setae numerous, simple, straight, very few flexuous, curved to uncinate, acute, obtuse, acute to 2-4 times dentate at the tip, up to 400µm long.Perithecia scattered, globose, up to 125µm in diameter; ascospores oblong, 4-septate, constricted at the septa, 32-34 x 12-15µm. RemarksOpposite appressoria with conoid head cells and simple to denate mycelial setae brings the present collection to Meliola capensis (Kalch.& Cooke) Theiss.group (Hansford, 1961).The Beeli Formula 31 1 /3 2.3222 brings it closer to M. capensis (Kalch.& Cooke) Theiss.var.baileyana Hansf.However, the new variety differs from it in having shorter appressoria and smaller ascospores.Meliola cassiae-fistulae V. B. Hosagoudar et A. Manojkumar, sp.nov.(Fig. 2) Material examined Type: 4.x.2002,Parakuzhy forest, Karikulam, Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India, coll. A. Manojkumar, on leaves of Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae), HCIO 44707.Isotype: 4.x.2002,Parakuzhy forest, Karikulam, Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India, coll. A. Manojkumar, on leaves of Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae