A new species of Echidnodella (Asterinales, Lembosiaceae) from Western Ghats of Kerala State, India

Black mildews belong to a wide range of leaf inhabiting fungal genera, which causes severe damage to the living leaves, affect photosynthetic efficiency, cause physiological imbalances, and reduces the plants’ aesthetic value. During a survey of foliicolous fungi in Vagamon hills of Kerala state’s Western Ghats region, an endemic medicinal plant Xanthophyllum arnottianum was found infected with an undescribed species of black mildew causing fungal genus Echidnodella. Their mycelia are non-appressoriate and devoid of hypostroma. Thyriothecia are oval, ellipsoidal, X or Y shaped, elongated producing eight uniseptate brown coloured ascospores in each bitunicate asci. Echidnodella was distinguished from the allied genus Echidnodes in the absence of paraphyses and from the genera Lembosia and Morenoella in the lack of appressoria (haustoria). This new species, Echidnodella vagamonensis is described and illustrated in detail to provide the consolidated account of the species known on this host genus.

Meliola elaeocarpicola sp. nov. (Ascomycetes, Meliolales) from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala State, India

During a survey of the foliicolous fungi in the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats region of Kerala State, India, a new black mildew fungus was collected from the leaves of Elaeocarpus sp. (Elaeocarpaceae). Microscopic examinations of the infected plants revealed that it is an undescribed species of the genus Meliola Fries, and hence, this note.

A new species of Sarcinella (Ascomycetes) from Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Warangal District, Telangana, India

During the survey (2011–2014) and documentation of foliicolous fungi of Pasra forest localities of Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a black mildew fungus infected leaves of Hardwickia binata Roxb.(Fabaceae) were collected. A critical microscopic examination revealed that it as an undescribed species of the genus Sarcinella.