Botanical Studies (2007) 48: 319-324.

*

Corresponding author: E-mail: ho@tea.ntue.edu.tw; Tel:

+886-2-27321104 ext 3319; Fax: +886-2-27375419.

INTRODUCTION

Species of the genus Syncephalis (Piptocephalidaceae,

Zoopagales, Zygomycetes) are common inhabitants

of soil and dung. They are small, often inconspicuous

mycoparasites, mainly of members of the Mucorales.

Syncephalis are distinguished by the formation of

simple, straight, or recurved sporangiophores, cylindrical

merosporangia born on terminal vesicles, basal rhizoids,

and spores released into droplets of fluid at maturity

(Benjamin, 1959). Fifty-seven species of Syncephalis

have been described (Benjamin, 1985; Gruhn and Petzold,

1991; Kirk et al., 2001; Patil and Patil, 1994; Zycha et

al., 1969), and seven of them (S. cornu Tiegh. & G. Le

Monn., S. depressa Tiegh. & G. Le Monn., S. obconica

Indoh, S. parvula Gruhn, S. sphaerica Tiegh., S. tenuis

Thaxter, S. cf. ventricosa Tiegh.) have been found in

Taiwan (Ho, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003). During a continuing

investigation of merosporangiferous Zygomycetes in

Taiwan, two new species of Syncephalis were discovered,

and they are described in this paper.

Materials and Methods

Species of Syncephalis were isolated from soil or dung

in Taiwan. Soil samples were collected by the roadside

or in forests and brought to the laboratory in plastic bags.

Two to three milligrams of soil particles were placed on

the surface of BBL

TM

corn meal agar (Becton Dickinson

211132) plates. For the dung samples, dung of herbivores,

small omnivorous rodents or amphibians were collected

from forests, national parks, school campuses, and houses

and then carried back to the laboratory in clean containers.

Each sample was placed on a moist filter paper in a Petri

dish. The plates were left on a bench at room temperature,

incubated for nearly one week, and then observed using a

dissecting microscope. Sporangiophores of Syncephalis,

along with the host, were transferred to a fresh corn meal

agar plate and incubated as described above. Microscope

slides were prepared from one-week-old cultures using tap

water or lactic acid-cotton blue (cotton blue, 0.5 g; 90%

lactic acid, 1L) as mounting media (Kurihara et al., 2001).

Specimens were observed and photographed using a Leica

MPS32 light microscope (LM).

TAXONOMY

Syncephalis clavata H. M. Ho et Benny, sp. nov.

Figures 1A-F, 2A-E

Hyphae vegetativae 1-2 £gm diam. Sporangiophora rec-

ta, simplicia, (75)-124-155(-163) £gm alta, basi 11.3-13.8

£gm crassa, apice 7.5-10 £gm crassa. Rhizoidei crassa,

simple vel 2-3 lobati, nonseptati. Vesiculae obovatae,

9-14(-15) £gm diam, cum 8 merosporangiis superiorem

vesiculae. Merosporangia dichotomosin ramose, 3 me-

rosporas gignentia. Merospora doliiformis, 8-9 £gm

longa, 4.0-4.2 £gm crassa. Zygosporae ignotae. (Typus:

TNMF19552).

MICROBIOlOgY

Two new species of Syncephalis from Taiwan, with a key

to the Syncephalis species found in Taiwan

Hsiao-Man HO

1,

* and Gerald L. BENNY

2

1

Department of Science Education, National Taipei University of Education, 134, Sect. 2, Heping E. Rd., Taipei 106,

Taiwan

2

Department of Plant Pathology, 1453 Fifield Hall, P.O. Box 110680, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

32611-0680, USA

(Received October 13, 2006; Accepted December 27, 2006)

ABSTRACT.

Two new species of Syncephalis from Taiwan are described and illustrated. Syncephalis clavata

differs from other taxa by the formation of branched merosporangia, a clavate sporangiophore apex, and

larger, doliiform merospores. Syncephalis formosana is distinguished from other species by the production

of branched merosporangia, the height of sporangiophores, the relatively large merospores, and the number

of spores per merosporangium. These new taxa are compared with other species of Syncephalis. A key to the

nine species of Syncephalis known in Taiwan is provided.

Keywords: Dung; Soil; Syncephalis clavata; Syncephalis formosana; Zygomycetes.

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007

Vegetative hyphae slender, creeping on the host, 1-2

£gm wide. Sporangiophores hyaline, erect, simple, arising

singly or in groups of two, (75-)124-155(-163) £gm height,

11.3-13.8 £gm diameter at the broadest portion near the

base, slightly tapering gradually upwards reaching 7.5-10

£gm just below the vesicle, with a septum near the base.

Rhizoids stout, short, 2-3 lobed. Vesicle not distinct, club-

shaped, 9-14(-15) £gm diameter, slightly rounded above,

attenuated below gradually, bearing about eight branched

merosporangia on the top of the vesicle. Merosporangia

branched once, forming V-shaped arms, each containing 3

spores, basal cells cordate, symmetrical or asymmetrical,

8-10 ¡Ñ 4-5 £gm, detached when mature, leaving warts on

top of the fertile vesicle. Merospores doliiform, 8-9 ¡Ñ

4-4.2 £gm, hyaline. Zygospores not observed.

Holotype. Taiwan. Miaoli City: parasitizing

Thamnostylum piriforme (Bainier) Arx & H. P. Upadhyay

growing on mouse dung collected April 2002 by H.-M. Ho

DMML0101. A slide deposited in the National Museum of

Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan (TNM F19552).

Etymology. Clavatus (L); referring to the clavate

sporangiophore apex.

Notes. Several species of Syncephalis produce

branched merosporangia and doliiform merospores.

Among the species, S. clavata most closely resembles

Figure 1. Syncephalis clavata

(TNM F19552). A- F, L M

(DIC). A, S porophore wit h

a f e r t i l e v e s i c l e b e a r i n g

meros porangia and the basal

rhizoid (arrowhead) on base;

B, Dichotomous ly branched

m ero spo rangi a on a fert ile

v e s i c l e ; C, S y m m e t ri c a l

cordate basal cell on a fertile

v e s i c l e ( a r r o wh e a d) ; D ,

A s y m m e t r i c a l ba s a l c e ll

( a r r ow h e a d ) o n a f e rt i l e

ves icle; E, P rom ine nt warts

(arrowhead) left on a fertile

vesicle after meros porangial

d e ta c hm e nt ; F, Dol ii fo rm

m eros pores and ba sa l ce lls

(a rrowhea ds ). Bars: A = 20

£gm; B-F = 10 £gm.

HO and BENNY ¡X Two new species of

Syncephalis

321

S. pygmae M. S. Patil & B. J. Patil, which also has

clavate sporangiophores without a distinct vesicle.

Syncephalis pygmae, however, has shorter (25-30 £gm)

and apically narrower (7-8 £gm wide) sporangiophores,

smaller merospores (4-6 ¡Ñ 1-2 £gm), and more spores

per merosporangium (4-6) (Patil and Patil, 1994). These

differences merit the establishment of a new species.

Syncephalis formosana H. M. Ho et Benny, sp. nov.

Figures 3A-F, 4A-E

Hyphae vegetativae graciles, 1 £gm diam. Sporangio-

phora recta, simplicia, 700-790 £gm alta, basi (28-)30-47

£gm diam, apice 14-33 £gm crassa, aureaxanthinus.

Rhizoidei irregulariter ramose, septati. Vesiculae ovatae,

(33-)40-58(-65) £gm diam, (38-)50-70(-83) £gm alta,

cum pleuribus merosporangiis supra partem superiorem

vesiculae. Merosporangia dichotomosin ramose, 55-70 ¡Ñ

7.5 £gm, 4-5 merosporas gignentia. Merospora cylindracea,

13-15(-17) £gm longa, 5-6 £gm crassa. Paries merosporangii

persistens, potius crassus. Zygosporae ignotae. (Typus:

TNM F19551).

Vegetative hyphae slender, 1 £gm diameter.

Sporangiophores simple, 700-790 £gm high, (28-)30-47

£gm diameter at the broadest part near the base, gradually

attenuated upward, 14-33 £gm diameter just below the

vesicle, golden yellow. Rhizoids branched irregularly, with

several septa. Vesicles ovoid, (33-)40-58(-65) £gm diameter

at the broadest part, (38-)50-70(-83) £gm high, bearing

Figure 2. Syncephalis clavata (TNM F19552). A, Whole sporangiophores, showing merosporangia and basal cells; B, Apices of

sporangiophores bearing nearly mature merosporangia; C, Apices of sporangiophores with or without basal cells after merosporangial

detachment; D, Basal cells; E, Spores. Bars: A = 20 £gm; B-E =10 £gm.

322

Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007

merosporangia on the upper one third of the vesicle.

Merosporangia branched dichotomously once or rarely

twice at the base; the branches cylindrical, 55-70 ¡Ñ 7.5 £gm,

containing 4-5 spores; basal cells cordate, symmetrical or

asymmetrical, 7.5-12.5 £gm diameter, 12.5-15 £gm long,

tending to remain on the fertile vesicle after merosporangia

detached. Merospores cylindrical, 13-15(-17) ¡Ñ 5-6 £gm,

surrounded by a wrinkled merosporangial wall remnant

when mature. Zygospores not observed.

Holotype. Taiwan. Nantou County: Hsiaochilai, host

unknown, isolated from soil collected Dec 2002 by H.-M.

Ho SHCL0101. A dried culture deposited in the National

Museum of Natural Science, Taichung, Taiwan (TNM

F19551).

Etymology. Formosanus (L); referring to the place of

collection.

Notes. Syncephalis formosana resembles S .

asymmetrica Tiegh. & G. Le Monn., S. cordata Tiegh.

& G. Le Monn., S. intermedia Tiegh. and S. ramosa

Tiegh. in having simple, yellow, straight sporangiophores,

V-shaped branching merosporangia over the upper

surface of the vesicle, and heart-shaped basal cells of the

Figure 3. Sy nce ph al is

formosana ( T N M

F19551). A-F, LM (DIC).

A, S porangiophore with

merosporangia on a fertile

v es i c l e; B , Im m a tu re ,

dichotomously branched

merosporangia on a fertile

vesicle; C, Nearly mature

branched meros porangia

s egm ent ed int o spore s;

D , C o r d a t e b a s a l

c e l ls (a r ro wh e a ds ) o f

merosporangia remaining

o n a f e r t i l e v e s i c l e

a f t e r m e r o s p or a n gi a l

detachment; E, Detached

merospores with wrinkled

m e ro s p o ra ng i a l wa l l

rem nants ; F, Branc hing

rhizoids with septa. Bars:

A = 50 £gm; B-F = 20 £gm.

HO and BENNY ¡X Two new species of

Syncephalis

323

branching merosporangia. However, S . formosana has

larger merospores (13-15(-17) ¡Ñ 5-6 £gm) than all these

species (4-8 ¡Ñ 2-4 £gm in S. asymmetrica; 8-10 ¡Ñ 6 £gm

in S. cordata; 6-13 ¡Ñ 6 £gm in S. intermedia and 6-12 £gm

i n S. ramosa). Also, sporangiophores of S. formosana

(700-790 £gm) are longer than those of S. intermedia

(400-600 £gm) or S. ramosa (500-600 £gm) and shorter

than those of S. cordata (up to 3 mm). In addition, spore

number per merosporangial branch is also different, being

4-6 in S. formosana and 10 and 5-7 in S. cordata and S.

intermedia, respectively. The present fungus can be easily

distinguished from S. ramose because in the latter species,

merosporangia have various branching forms, either

simple, bifurcate, or trifurcate at the base, bearing many

branches at various heights along its length, and spore

shape is oval or globose. Finally, unlike S. formosana, S.

asymmetrica and S. intermedia lack secondary branches

(Indoh, 1962; Van Tieghem and Le Monnier, 1873; Van

Tieghem, 1875; Zycha et al., 1969). We thus propose S.

formosana as a new species.

DISCUSSION

The two species of Syncephalis described here

present some characters that are common to other

taxa. Several other members of the genus Syncephalis

produce merosporangia that are basally branched. In S.

asymmetrica, S. cordata and S. intermedia, the spores

formed at the branching point are noticeably different

in morphology (cordate, symmetrical, asymmetrical)

from those in the other portions (cylindrical to doliiform

with rounded apices) of the merosporangium (Van

Tieghem and Le Monnier, 1873; Van Tieghem, 1875).

The aforementioned taxa also exhibit the same range of

variation in spore morphology and ornamentation observed

in S. clavata and S. formosana.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF SYNCEPHAlIS

KNOWN FROM TAIWAN

A. Sporangiophore curved up to 270. ............... S. cornu

AA. Sporangiophore straight .......................................... B

B. Fertile vesicles more or less globose ....................... C

BB. Fertile vesicles obovoid to clavate .......................... E

C. Sporangiophores less than 200 £gm high ................. D

CC. Sporangiophores more than 200 £gm high ................

................................................................ S. sphaerica

D.

Sporangiophores more than 80 £gm high; vesicle at

base

................................................... S. cf. ventricosa

DD.

Sporangiophores more than 80 £gm high; no vesicle

at base .........................................................S. parvula

E. Merosporangia simple, 2-spored ...................S. tenuis

Figure 4. Syncephalis formosana (TNM F19551).

A, Terminal vesicle of a sporangiophore bearing

you ng m er os po ra ngi a ; B , Te rm in al v es i cl e

of s p ora n gi op ho re s h ow in g ne a rl y m a tu re

meros porangia; C, Vesicle with basal cells after

meros porangial detachment; D, Bas al cells; E,

Spores. Bar: A-E = 20 £gm.

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Botanical Studies, Vol. 48, 2007

EE. Merosporangia branched, with more than 2 spores .. F

F.

Fertile vesicle apex truncate; merosporangia arising

in a circle on the upper edge of the vesicle ............. G

FF.

Fertile vesicle apex convex; merosporangia formed

over the upper portion of the vesicle ....................... H

G.

Merosporangia initially developing horizontally and

then forming several vertical branches .... S. depressa

GG.

Merosporangia initally developing more or less

vertically, with a single branch................. S. obconica

H.

Merosporangia with one branch; spore at branching

point cordate to irregular in shape, other spores

doliiform

......................................................S. clavata

HH.

Merosporangia with one or, less commonly, two

branches; spore at basal branching point cordate,

other spores cylindrical ..........................S. formosana

acknowledgements. This study was supported by a grant

from the National Science Council, Executive Yuan, ROC

(NSC-91-2621-B-152-001).

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