MYCOTAXON ISSN (print) 0093-4666 (online) 2154-8889 Mycotaxon, Ltd. ©2021 April–June 2021—Volume 136, pp. 523–528 https://doi.org/10.5248/136.523 Didymocyrtis epiphyscia, Lichenochora weillii, and Lichenoconium xanthoriae newly recorded from Turkey Mustafa Kocakaya Department of Organic Agriculture, Boğazlıyan Vocational School, University of Yozgat, Bozok 66400 Yozgat , Turkey * Correspondence to: mustafa.kocakaya@yobu.edu.tr Abstract—Three lichenicolous fungal species, Didymocyrtis epiphyscia, Lichenochora weillii, and Lichenoconium xanthoriae, are reported for the first time from Turkey. Comments on the taxonomy, ecology, and hosts and photographic illustrations are provided for each species. Key words—biodiversity, lichens, Lichenoconiaceae, Phaeosphaeriaceae, Phyllachoraceae Introduction The lichenicolous fungi of Turkey have received increasing attention during the last fifteen years since Hafellner & John (2006) compiled the first checklist recognizing 63 taxa. Halıcı (2008) published an updated list and key for the 117 known taxa of lichenicolous Ascomycota (including mitosporic fungi), and subsequent papers have published new records (Halıcı & al. 2012; Kocakaya & al. 2016a, 2018, 2020) and new species (Kocakaya & al. 2016b, Hawksworth & al. 2016). Among the c. 200 lichenicolous fungi species currently known from Turkey, Lichenoconium Petr. & Syd. is represented by six species, Lichenochora Hafellner by three species, and Didymocyrtis Vain. by one species (John & Türk 2017, Yazıcı & al. 2011). Here, I report the presence of three additional species from those genera and provide interesting information on their anatomy and ecology. 524 ... Kocakaya Material & methods All specimens were collected in Çamlık National Park (Yozgat) during 2018–19. Çamlık National Park is Turkey’s first National Park. As a national park, it is a wellpreserved area, with oak (Quercus pubescens) and hawthorn (Crataegus orientalis) woods dominating the lower parts, while the higher elevations are occupied by Pinus nigra forests. Lichenicolous fungi are more common in preserved areas. Vouchers are stored at the lichen herbarium of Yozgat Bozok University, Science and Art Faculty, Yozgat, Turkey, 66400 Yozgat, Turkey (YBUL); herbarium accession numbers are given in parentheses after locality details. Specimens were examined in water, 10% KOH, Lugol’s, and Meltzer’s iodine solutions. Spores were generally measured in water mounts. The specimens were examined with an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope and an Olympus BX53 light microscope. Micro- and macrophotographs were taken with an Olympus DP72 digital microscope camera with c-mount interface and with a 5-megapixel CCD. New records Didymocyrtis epiphyscia Ertz & Diederich, Fungal Diversity 74: 71 (2015) Fig. 1a,b Conidiomata superficial and aggregated on host apothecia, black, ≤150 µm. Conidiogenous cells ampulliform, aseptate, hyaline, 3–6 µm. Conidiospores simple, hyaline, ellipsoid, with usually one or two small guttules, 4–7 × 3.5–5 µm (n = 50). The lichenicolous fungus host apothecia blacken when infected (Fig. 1a). Specimen examined—TURKEY. Yozgat, Çamlık National Park, 39°48′04″N 34°48′49″E, 1615 m, on apothecia of Physcia stellaris (L.). Nyl., 20 July 2019, M. Kocakaya MK-4114 (YBUL). Comments—The Turkish specimen was found growing on the apothecia of Physcia stellaris on Quercus spp. Ertz & al. (2015) segregated D. epiphyscia s.lat. on Physcia adscendens and P. tenella from genetically related D. epiphyscia s.str. on Physcia aipolia based on consistently narrower conidia—3.7 –8.0 × 2.0–3.5 µm in D. epiphyscia s.lat. and 4.0–7.8 × 3.2–5.0 µm in D. epiphyscia s.str. Our specimen completely matches the description of D. epiphyscia s.str. (Ertz al. 2015). Didymocyrtis epiphyscia has also been reported from other host genera, e.g., on Physconia distorta (Hawksworth 1981), Phaeophyscia orbicularis (Brackel 2011), and Parmelia sulcata (Brackel 2007, 2009; Zhurbenko & al. 2012). The species has previously been reported from Austria, France, Scotland, Luxembourg, and Canada (Ertz & al. 2015) as well as Phoma physciicola Keissl. from Russia (Zhurbenko & Tugi 2013). Lichenicolous fungi newly recorded for Turkey ... 525 Fig. 1. Didymocyrtis epiphyscia (MK-4114): A. Perithecia on apothecia of Physcia stellaris; B: Conidia. Lichenochora weillii (MK-3822): C. Perithecia on Physcia tenella; D. Ascus and ascospores. Lichenoconium xanthoriae (MK-3830): E. Conidiomata on apothecia of Xanthoria parietina; F. Conidia. The sole Didymocyrtis species previously reported from Turkey represents D. foliaceiphila (Diederich & al.) Ertz & Diederich, which differs by its narrowly ellipsoid conidia, immersed pycnidia, and Cladonia host (Ertz & al. 2015; Kocakaya & al. 2018). 526 ... Kocakaya Lichenochora weillii (Werner) Hafellner & R. Sant., Nova Hedwigia 48(3–4): 369 (1989) Fig. 1c,d Perithecia subglobose to globose, immersed-subimmersed to erumpent in the ostiolar region, 150–200 µm, aggregated in groups. Ascus 8-spored, 70–100 × 10–16 µm (n = 20), with spores are organized in a single row in ascus. Ascospores hyaline, 1-septate, slightly constricted at the septum, smoothwalled, with many guttules in each cell, 9–12 × 7–9 µm (n = 60). Specimens examined—TURKEY. Yozgat, Çamlık National Park, 39°48′02″N 34°48′46″E, 1635 m, on apothecia of Physcia tenella (Scop.) DC., 22 July 2018, M. Kocakaya MK-3822 (YBUL); 39°48′20″N 34°48′51″E, 1490 m, on apothecia of Physcia sp. 22 July 2018, M. Kocakaya MK-3860 (YBUL). Comments—Our specimens represent the first report of L. weillii on Physcia hosts. One Turkish specimen was collected from apothecia of Physcia tenella on Acer spp.; this host is quite common in Turkey (John & Türk 2017). Ascospore sizes vary in the species; they are cited as 7−11 × 5−6 µm by Werner (1937) but as 10−12 × 8−9.5 µm by Hafellner (1989); our specimen matches Hafellner’s specimen more closely. Previous studies suggest that Lichenochora weillii always develops on Physconia spp. (Hafellner 1989; Gromakova 2018; Khodosovtsev & al. 2019), but all the characteristics of our specimens match the original description. Lichenochora thallina rarely develops on Physcia, but it has longer and narrower ascospores than L. weillii (Hafellner 1989). Lichenochora weillii, which was originally described by Werner (1937) from Spain, has also been reported from Belgium (Ertz & al. 2008), Svalbard (Zhurbenko & Brackel 2013), Sweden, North America (Hafellner 1989), and Ukraine (Gromakova 2018; Khodosovtsev & al. 2019). Lichenochora species previously reported from Turkey include L. aprica, Hafellner & Nik. Hoffm., L. atrans Halıcı & al., and L. verrucicola (Wedd.) Nik. Hoffm. & Hafellner (John & Türk 2017, Yazıcı & Aslan 2019). Lichenoconium xanthoriae M.S. Christ., Friesia 5(3–5): 212 (1956) Fig. 1e, f Pycnidia immersed to erumpent, black, subglobose, (100–)150(–200) µm in diam.; conidiospores dark brown, simple, subglobose, almost smooth to slightly verruculose, 3–6 × 3–5 µm (n = 48). The lichenicolous fungus causes slightly whitening on the host apothecia and thallus (Fig. 1e). Specimen examined—TURKEY. Yozgat, Çamlık National Park, 39°48′20″N 34°48′51″E, 1490 m, on apothecia of Xanthoria parietina, 22 July 2018, M. Kocakaya MK-3830 (YBUL). Lichenicolous fungi newly recorded for Turkey ... 527 Comments—The Turkish specimen was found growing on the apothecia of Xanthoria parietina on Quercus spp. The host of the type specimen is Xanthoria parietina (Christiansen 1956), but it has also been recorded on other unrelated lichen genera (Brackel 2008; Kocourkova 2000; Triebel & al. 1991). This species was previously reported from Austria (Etayo & Berger 2009), Italy (Brackel 2008), Russia (Himelbrant & al. 2013), and USA (Haldeman 2019). Lichenoconium species previously reported from Turkey are L. aeruginosum Diederich & al., L. erodens M.S. Christ. & D. Hawksw., L. lecanorae (Jaap) D. Hawksw., L. lichenicola (P. Karst.) Petr. & Syd., L. pyxidatae (Oudem.) Petr. & Syd., and L. usneae (Anzi) D. Hawksw. (John & Türk 2017; Yazıcı & al. 2011). Acknowledgements The manuscript was reviewed by Sergio Perez Ortega (Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid, Spain) and Raquel Pino Bodas (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK). 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