Carbonea austroshetlandica

Carbonea austroshetlandica is a species of lichenicolous fungus belonging to the family Lecanoraceae. It was discovered in the South Shetland Islands where it grows on Carbonea assentiens but has since been reported from King George Island where it uses Rhizocarpon geographicum as a host.[1]

Carbonea austroshetlandica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lecanoromycetes
Order: Lecanorales
Family: Lecanoraceae
Genus: Carbonea
Species:
C. austroshetlandica
Binomial name
Carbonea austroshetlandica

Description edit

Carbonea austroshetlandica has dispersed to aggregated ascomata, which are up to 0.3 mm in diameter, abruptly becoming convex with excluded margin. Hypothecium and exciple are dark brown and the epihymenium is greenish. The hymenium is hyaline, 35–48 μm high and stains blue with KI solution. Paraphyses are branched and anastomosing, slightly enlarged at the apex. Asci are broadly ellipsoid, 28–32 × 15–16 μm. Ascospores hyaline, ellipsoid, simple, 9–10 × 3.5–4.5 μm.[1]

Ecology edit

Carbonea austroshetlandica is a parasite or saprobe, unlike the similar Carbonea aggregantula which has a symbiotic relationship with its host.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Alstrup, V.; Olech, M.; Wietrzyk-Pelka, P.; Wegrzyn, M. H. (2018). "The lichenicolous fungi of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica: species diversity and identification guide". Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae. 87 (4): 3607. doi:10.5586/asbp.3607.