Dictyosporium matherense sp. nov.: A new-fangled cheirosporous fungal species described from the Western Ghats of India

Abstract

Abstract. Dubey R. 2022. Dictyosporium matherense sp. nov.: A new-fangled cheirosporous fungal species described from the Western Ghats of India. Asian J For 6: 1-8. A new species of Dictyosporium from forest areas of Matheran, Western Ghats of India, is described and illustrated. This new-fangled cheirosporous species is characterized by large conidia being cheiroid, digitate, variable shape, having 600-3000 individual cells arranged in 15-80 rows consisting of widening apical ends with tightly appressed prolongations/arms which produce hyaline, rounded appendages which latter on produces 8-20 hyaline, long, and hypha-like septate appendages. The isolate was identified based on asexual morphs and, to some extent, stands close to D. palmae, D. digitatum, and D. stellatum but remarkably differs from all in size of conidia. To our understanding, the present taxon has turned out to be a hitherto unreported species. The morphological character of all accepted species of Dictyosporium is also presented.