Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. B, 47(1), pp. 21–25, February 22, 2021

Two Lichenicolous Fungi, Illosporium carneum and Ovicuculisporaparmeliae (Bionectriaceae, Ascomycota), New to Japan
Kensuke Tadome1,* and Yoshihito Ohmura2
1

Saitama Nature Study Center, 5-200 Arai, Kitamoto, Saitama 364–0026, Japan2
Department of Botany, National Museum of Nature and Science,
4–1–1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305–0005, Japan*E-mail: k_tadome@yahoo.co.jp(Received 16 December 2020; accepted 23 December 2020)

Absract Two lichenicolous fungi, Illosporium carneum and Ovicuculispora parmeliae, arereported as new to Japan. Illosporium carneum was found on Peltigera didactyla growing on rockin Nagano Prefecture, central Honshu, at an elevation of 2,300 m. Ovicuculispora parmeliae wasfound on Heterodermia japonica growing on rock in Saitama Prefecture, central Honshu, at an elevation of 1330 m.
Key words : anamorph, Asia, distribution, Heterodermia japonica, lichen, mycota, parasite,
Peltigera didactyla, Pronectria robergei, taxonomy.

Introduction
Lichenicolous fungi are parasitic or parasymbiotic fungi growing on lichens and over 1,800
species have been described in the world (Lawrey and Diederich, 2018). In Japan, ca. 150 species have been reported (Zhurbenko et al., 2015,2017; Tadome et al., 2018; Zhurbenko and Ohmura, 2019). However, only about 30% of Japanese lichenicous fungi is estimated to be found(Zhurbenko et al., 2015).
During the course of our research on the diversity of lichenicolous fungi in Japan, Illosporiumcarneum Fr. and Ovicuculispora parmeliae(Berk. & M.A.Curtis) Etayo were newly found inJapan based on morphological and chemical
examinations.
The genus Illosporium is an anamorph of thegenus Pronectria (Bionectriaceae, Ascomycota),
and characterized by the pink irregular-shaped
sporodochial conidiomata and globose to subglobose conidia (Hawksworth, 1979). Most species© 2021 National Museum of Nature and Scienceof Illosporium are non-lichenicolous parasitic
fungi found usually on vascular plants, but I. carneum is only known as lichenicolous species
within the genus (Diederich et al., 2018). Illosporium carneum is an anamorph of Pronectria robergei. It was proved that P. robergei was developed from I. carneum on infected Peltigera by
long-term observation in the ﬁeld (Killian andErner, 1925).
The genus Ovicuculispora is characterized by
the ascus producing two types of ascospores, i.e.,
macrospores and microspores, and currently two
accepted taxa have been known in the world(Etayo, 2010).
This paper aims to describe the morphologicaland anatomical features of these two species
based on the Japanese materials.
Materials and Methods
This study is based on the examinations ofherbarium specimens housed in the herbarium of
the National Museum of Nature and Science(TNS), Tsukuba, Japan.

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Kensuke Tadome and Yoshihito Ohmura

Morphological observations were made using
a dissecting microscope (Olympus SZX12,Tokyo, Japan) and a diﬀerential interference contrast microscope (Olympus BX51, Tokyo,
Japan). Anatomical examinations were made on
hand-cut sections mounted in water. Measurements of ascospores and conidia are given as(minimum–) range including mean±standard
deviation (–maximum) (n＝number of measurements).
Chemical reactions of the epihymenium wereobserved by the use of 10% KOH (K). The amyloidity of the hymenial gels was observed in
1.5% Lugolʼs iodine solution directly (I) or after
a 10% KOH pretreatment (K/I).
Results and Discussion
Illosporium carneum Fr., Syst. Mycol. (Lundae) 3(1): 259. 1829.
[Fig. 1A–B]
Colonies formed by sporodochial conidiomata, usually discrete, sometimes conﬂuent
each other to form irregular mass in shape, erumpent through the upper cortex of the host thallus,
200–300 μm wide, 80–100 μm tall, pink toorange, K–, K/I–. Conidiophores micronematous, subglobose to ellipsoid or irregular inshape, densely compacted with adjacent cells.
Conidiogenous cells ellipsoid to irregular inshape, hyaline. Conidia subglobose but often
rather angular due to compression by adjacentconidia, connected, (4.7–)5.3–6.7(–7.7)×(4.7–)
4.3–6.1(–7.0) μm (n＝40), hyaline to pale pink.
This species is characterized by the pink irregular-shaped sporodochial conidiomata and subglobose conidia. Morphological and anatomical
features of the Japanese material mentioned
above agree well with the protologue and thedescription provided by Hawksworth (1979) as
well as those of exsiccatae of Illosporium carneum [Santesson: Fungi Lichenicoli Exs. 13,
265, 354 (TNS!); conidia size (4.5–)5.2–
6.6(–7.3)×(4.0–)4.8–6.2(–6.9) μm (n＝45)].
In Japan, the teleomorph of I. carneum, i.e.,
Pronectria robergei, has not been found so far.

However, it will be expected to be found in further investigation as it is common lichenicolous
fungus parasitized on various Peltigera genera
around the world (Vondrák and Liška, 2013;
Moisejevs, 2017; Maloles et al., 2018; Suija andJüriado, 2020).
This species was reported in Asia (Turkey)(Volker et al., 2020), Europe (Austria, England,
Finland, Greenland, Latvia, Norway, Poland,
Russia, Romania, and Spain) (Elvebakk and Prestrud, 1996; Urbanavichus et al., 2007; Hansen,
2008; Kukwa and Flakus, 2009; Hawksworth etal., 2010; Vondrák and Liška, 2013; van den
Boom and Etayo, 2014; Hafellner, 2015; Moisejevs, 2017; Suija and Jüriado, 2020), North
America (Canada) (Maloles et al., 2018), andOceania (New Zealand) (Galloway, 2007). The
distribution is now extended to Japan.
Specimen examined. JAPAN. Nagano Pref.:Mt. Akadake, 2300 m elev., on Peltigera didactyla on rock, 13 September 2017, K. Tadome 496(TNS).
Exsiccate examined. SWEDEN. Uppland:
Estuna par., 0.5 km of Kullsta, on a sandy roadside, on Peltigera spuria (=P. didactyla) (thallus), 7 July 1940 (Santesson: Fungi Lichenicoli
Exs. 13, TNS); Torne Lappmark Prov., the Tornetrask area, Abisko, near the Tourist Station,
68°20′N 18°51′E, alt. 385 m, on the railway
bank, on Peltigera didactyla (thallus), 16 August
1947 (Santesson: Fungi Lichenicoli Exs. 265,
TNS). AUSTRIA. Salzburg Prov., Pinzgau, Hohe
Tauern, Glockner-group, Stubachtal, Enzingerboden, on the W lowermost slope of Rotenkogel,
47°10′20″N 12°37′40″E, alt. 1500 m, slope withboulders and open Pinus mugo grove, on Peltigera polydactylon (thallus), 31 August 1996
(Santesson: Fungi Lichenicoli Exs. 354, TNS).
Ovicuculispora parmeliae (Berk. & M.A.Curtis)
Etayo, Bull. Soc. Linn. Provence 61: 112. 2010.
[Fig. 1C–G]
Ascomata occur on upper surface of thallus of
the host lichen, scattered or grouped, globose to
subglobose, with brighter colored small papilla,surface covered with long hair, pink to red, 200–

Illosporium carneum and Ovicuculispora parmeliae

23Fig. 1. Illosporium carneum and Ovicuculispora parmeliae collected in Japan. A–B. Illosporium carneum (K.
Tadome 496, TNS). C–G. Ovicuculispora parmeliae (K. Tadome 613, TNS). A. Growth habit on Peltigera
didactyla. B. Conidiomata. C. Growth habit on Heterodermia japonica. D. Ascomata. E. Cross section of an
ascoma. F. Macrospores. G. Microspores. Scale bars: A=0.5 mm, B＝20 μm, C＝1 mm, D＝100 μm,
E＝50 μm, F＝10 μm, G＝5 μm.

250 μm diam, K–, K/I–; ascomatal wall hyaline
to slightly orange, 30–45 μm thick; hymenium
hyaline, 100–130 μm tall. Asci clavate,

100×30 μm, with 1 macrospore and 3–4
microspores/ascus. Ascospores ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid, rounded at the apices, con-

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Kensuke Tadome and Yoshihito Ohmura

Table. 1. Comparisons of morphological features of Ovicuculispora parmeliae depending on country
Country
Bolivia
CanadaDominica
EnglandJapan
Russiamacrospore

microspore

34–60 × 12–23 μm
34–50(–60) ×
12–18(–20) μm
40–45 × 20 μm

8–17 × 3–7 μm
8–17 × 3.5–7 μm
8–10 × 5 μm

34–50(–60) ×
8–17 × 3.5–7 μm
12–18(–20) μm(30.4–)29.7–47.7(–54.4) × (4.9–)6.6–11.2(–12.1) ×(11.1–)12.0–22.1(–25.5) μm (2.3–)3.1–5.9(–6.6) μm(18.4–)42.4–73.0(–86.0) × (6.8–)8.7–11.7(–16.5) ×(6.8–)18.3–33.3(–40.0) μm (3.3–)4.5–5.5(–7.0) μm

U.S.A. (North N/ACarolina)
U.S.A. (South 51 × 23 μm
Carolina)(Type locality)

N/A
9–11 × 4–6 μmstricted at the septum, hyaline; macrospore
1-septate, (30.4–)29.7–47.7(–54.4)×(11.1–)12.0–
22.1(–25.5) μm (n=22); microspore 0–1-septate,(4.9–)6.6–11.2(–12.1)×(2.3–)3.1–5.9(–6.6) μm(n = 44). Anamorph not observed.
This species is characterized by the hairy pink
to reddish ascomata and extremely diﬀerent sizedascospores (macrospore and microspore) within
an ascus. Morphological and anatomical featuresof the Japanese material mentioned above agree
well with the protologue and the description provided by Berkely (1874).
In the genus Ovicuculispora, only two species,
O. parmeliae and O. macrospora Etayo, are
known. Ovicuculispora parmeliae is reported
from worldwide, while O. macrospora is known
only from Peru. These species were originallydistinguished by the macrospore size:
31–45×13–18 μm for O. parmeliae vs.
67–105×32–40 μm for O. macrospora (Etayo,2010). However, various range of ascospore size
both for macrospores and microspores werereported in O. parmeliae (Table 1) and the rangesof ascospores are largely overlapped with thoseof O. macropora. Further taxonomic studies areneeded for the independency of O. macrosporaor the possibility of multiple species within O.
parmeliae.
Ovicuculispora parmeliae was reported in
Asia (South Korea) (Zhurbenko et al., 2015),

Shape ofmacrospora

Host

1–septate
Candelariella sp.
1(–3)-septate Hypogymnia physodes,
Parmelia sulcata
Not observing Pyxine sp.

Reference
Flakus et al. (2006)
Samuel (2020)

1-septate

Lecanora chlarotera,
Xanthoria parietina
Heterodermia japonica

Etayo and van den
Boom (2013)
Hawksworth et al.
(2010)
This study

1-septate

Anaptychia sp., Cladonia sp.,

Zhurbenko (2014)

1–2-septate(very rarely Heterodermia cf. microphylla,
Heterodermia cf. obscurata,
2-septate)
Myelochroa entotheiochroa,
Parmelia sp., Pyxine sorediata,
Rinodina xanthophaea
1–septate
Physcia millegrana, Punctelia
rudecta
1-septate
Punctelia rudecta

Flakus et al. (2006)
Hawksworth (1981)

Europe (England and Russia) (Etayo, 2010;
Hawksworth et al., 2010), North America(Hawksworth, 1981; Maloles et al., 2018), andSouth America (Bolivia and Dominica) (Flakus
et al., 2006; Etayo and van den Boom, 2013).
The distribution is now extended to Japan.
Specimen examined. JAPAN. Saitama Pref.:Mt. Myouhou, 1330 m elev., on Heterodermia
japonica on rock, 29 July 2018, K. Tadome 613(TNS).
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