Abstract
Information on ten species of genus Steccherinum in India is provided. Of these nine are based on the collections made from state of Uttarakhand during 2010–2012, whereas S. laeticolor has been described by earlier workers but could not be collected during the present study. S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. ciliolatum, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, S. robustius, and S. subcrinale are new records for the state of Uttarakhand and described in detail; however for S. fimbriatum, S. laeticolor, and S. ochraceum annotated notes have been given. S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, and S. robustius are being reported for the first time from India.
1. Introduction
Genus Steccherinum Gray belongs to family Phanerochaetaceae of order Polyporales in class Agaricomycetes (Phylum Basidiomycota, subphylum Agaricomycotina). It is a worldwide distributed genus with 73 known species (http://www.mycobank.org/, 2015). The genus is characterized by being resupinate, effused, reflexed to subpileate or pileate, and odontoid to hydnoid basidiocarps, usually cream coloured with pinkish, orange hymenial surface having violaceous or brown tints, fibrillose margins, usually dimitic hyphal system (monomitic in Steccherinum albofibrillosum), encrusted skeletocystidia and ellipsoid to ovoid to subglobose, smooth, acyanophilous, and inamyloid basidiospores. According to Binder et al. [1, 2], genus Steccherinum does not show any clear cut monophyletic lineage but belongs to “residual polyporoid clade,” a heterogeneous group of Polyporales that did not belong to any of the recognized lineages (Antrodia, core polyporoid, and phlebioid clades) defined by them. Earlier workers Thind and Khara [3]; Rattan [4]; Lalji [5]; Bhosle et al. [6]; Ranadive et al. [7]; Sharma [8]; Prasher and Ashok [9]; Prasher and Lalita [10]; Ranadive [11]; Dhingra et al. [12] have described/listed 5 species, namely, S. ochraceum, S. ciliolatum, S. fimbriatum, S. laeticolor, and S. subcrinale from different localities of India, of which S. ochraceum, S. fimbriatum, and S. laeticolor are known to be from Uttarakhand. Here we account 10 species, of which S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. ciliolatum, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, S. robustius, and S. subcrinale are being reported for the first time from Uttarakhand with S. albofibrillosum, S. bourdotii, S. cremeoalbum, S. oreophilum, and S. robustius being new records from India. A key to all the 10 species has also been given in Table 1.
2. Materials and Methods
Material has been collected from various localities of Uttarakhand during fungal forays conducted from 2010 to 2012. Microscopic details related to hyphae, cystidia, basidia, and basidiospores of the specimens were studied by making crush mounts and hand cut sections in water, 3–5% KOH solutions, and stained in 1% Congo red, 1% Phloxine, 1% Cotton Blue in Lacto-phenol, Melzer’s Reagent, and Sulphovanillin. Line diagrams were made using camera lucida in combination with compound microscope at different magnifications and were compared with the published literature. Interesting specimens were sent to Professor Nils Hallenberg (Sweden) for expert opinion and comparison. Colour standards used are as per Methuen’s Handbook of colors by Kornerup and Wanscher [13]. Specimens pertaining to these species have been deposited in the Herbarium, Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, India (PUN). Nomenclature follows Blackwell et al. [14]; James et al. [15]; Hibbett et al. [16]; Kirk et al. [17]; Bernicchia and Gorjón [18]; and http://www.mycobank.org/ (2015) as far as possible.
3. Taxonomy
3.1. Steccherinum albofibrillosum
Steccherinum albofibrillosum (Hjortstam & Ryvarden) Hallenb. & Hjortstam, Mycotaxon 31 (2): 443, 1988. Phlebia albofibrillosa Hjortstam & Ryvarden, Mycotaxon 20 (1): 139, 1984 (Figures 1(1), 1(2), and 2(15–18)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 210 μm thick in section; hymenial surface odontoid, yellowish white to pale orange to grayish orange when fresh, not changing much upon drying; margins thinning, fibrillose to indeterminate, paler or concolorous. Hyphal system monomitic. Generative hyphae, branched, clamped, thin-to thick-walled; basal hyphae up to 6.8 μm wide, parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae up to 4.8 μm wide, vertically arranged, compact. Skeletocystidia 73–113 × 9.4–10.6 μm, subcylindrical to subfusiform, thick-walled, heavily encrusted; projecting up to 43.0 μm out of the hymenium. Basidia 18.8–25 × 5–5.6 μm, clavate, 4-sterigmate, with basal clamp; sterigmata up to 2.6 μm long. Basidiospores 3.4–5 × 2.4–3.6 μm, ovoid to subglobose, smooth, thin-walled, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Pithoragarh, Chaukori, on stump of Aesculus indica, Sanyal 6903 (PUN), September 06, 2011.
Remarks. S. albofibrillosum is characterized by grayish white to orange white, fibrous basidiocarps, and subglobose basidiospores. It was first described by Hjortstam and Ryvarden [19] as Phlebia albofibrillosa. Hallenberg and Hjortstam [20] shifted it to genus Steccherinum. Earlier, it was reported from Costa Rica and Nepal (http://www.mycobank.org/, 2015). Here, it is being described for the first time from India.
3.2. Steccherinum bourdotii
Steccherinum bourdotii Saliba & A. David, Cryptogamie Mycologie 9 (2): 100, 1988 (Figures 1(3), 1(4), and 2(19–23)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 250 μm thick in section; hymenial surface odontoid, aculei up to 1.5 mm long, pale orange to orange red when fresh, brownish orange upon drying; margins whitish, thinning, fibrillose to indeterminate, paler to concolorous. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 3 μm wide, branched, clamped, thin-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 4.4 μm wide, generally unbranched, thick-walled, without septa and clamps. Skeletocystidia 98–112 × 6.8–8 μm, subcylindrical to subfusiform, richly encrusted, thick-walled; projecting up to 49 μm beyond the hymenium. Basidia 18–20 × 4.4–5.6 μm, clavate to subclavate, 4-sterigmate, with basal clamp; sterigmata up to 3.4 μm long. Basidiospores 3.0–4.4 × 3–3.8 μm, subglobose, smooth, thin-walled, guttulate, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Chakrata, on stick of Cupressus torulosa, Sanyal 6904 (PUN), September 17, 2012.
Remarks. This species is characterized by being subcylindrical to subfusiform, richly encrusted skeletocystidia, and subglobose basidiospores. It is distributed in the Caucasus, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom (http://www.mycobank.org/, 2015) and is here described as a new record for India.
3.3. Steccherinum ciliolatum
Steccherinum ciliolatum (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Gilb. & Budington, Journal of the Arizona Academy of Sciences 6: 97, 1970. Hydnum ciliolatum Berk. & M. A. Curtis, Hooker’s Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany 1: 235, 1849.
Specimens Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Nainital, Bheemtal, on stump of Quercus leucotrichophora, Sanyal 6905 (PUN), July 24, 2010; Tehri Garhwal, Jaunpur, on stump of Quercus leucotrichophora, Sanyal 6906 (PUN), October 10, 2012.
Remarks. Steccherinum ciliolatum is characterized by being subcylindrical to subfusiform, richly encrusted skeletocystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. It has earlier been reported from India by Rattan [4] from Himachal Pradesh, Lalji [5] from district Nainital (Uttarakhand), Sharma [8] from district Chamoli (Uttarakhand) and Himachal Pradesh and listed by Prasher and Ashok [9] from Himachal Pradesh, Ranadive [11] from unspecified localities of India, and Dhingra et al. [12] from Himachal Pradesh. Here we record it for the first time from district Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand).
3.4. Steccherinum cremeoalbum
Steccherinum cremeoalbum Hjortstam, Mycotaxon 19: 507, 1984 (Figures 1(5), 1(6), and 2(24–28)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 150 μm thick in section; hymenial surface odontoid, orange white, pale orange to brownish orange when fresh, orange white to pale orange upon drying; margins thinning, fibrillose to fimbriate to indeterminate, paler to concolorous. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 4.6 μm wide, branched, simple septate, thin- to thick-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 5 μm wide, thick-walled, rarely branched. Skeletocystidia 49–71 × 6.8–12.6 μm, subcylindrical to subfusiform, richly encrusted, encrustation dissolves in 3% KOH solution; projecting up to 34 μm beyond the hymenium. Basidia 15.6–16.3 × 3.8–5 μm, clavate, somewhat sinuous, 4-sterigmate, without basal clamp; sterigmata up to 4.4 μm long. Basidiospores 3–4.4 × 1.2–1.8 μm, ellipsoid, smooth, thin- to somewhat thick-walled, acyanophilous, inamyloid, with oily contents.
Specimen Examined. India, Dehradun: Mussoorie, on decaying angiospermic stick, Sanyal and Hallenberg 6907 (PUN), August 18, 2010.
Remarks. Steccherinum cremeoalbum is characterized by lacking clamps and having fibrillose to fimbriate margins. It has earlier been reported from Sweden and Denmark by Hjortstam [21]. Here, it is being described for the first time from India.
3.5. Steccherinum fimbriatum
Steccherinum fimbriatum (Pers.) J. Erikss., Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 16 (1): 134, 1958. Odontia fimbriata Pers., Observationes mycologicae 1: 88, 1796 (Figures 1(7), 1(8), and 2(29–33)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 400 μm thick in section; hymenial surface odontoid with round aculei, grayish orange to brownish orange when fresh, grayish red to brownish upon drying; margins thinning, fibrillose to fimbriate, paler to concolorous. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 4.3 μm wide, branched, septate, clamped, thin-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 5 μm wide, thick-walled, rarely with simple septa. Skeletocystidia very long, encrusted part 60–85 × 7.4–12.6 μm, subcylindrical to subfusiform, apically widened, richly encrusted; projecting up to 52 μm out of the hymenium. Basidia 13.8–18 × 4.4–5 μm, clavate, 4-sterigmate, with basal clamp; sterigmata up to 5 μm long. Basidiospores 3-4 × 1.6–1.8 μm, ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Champawat, Budhangarhi, on stump of Alnus nepalensis, Sanyal 6908 (PUN), September 04, 2011.
Remarks. This species differs from S. cremeoalbum by clamped generative hyphae. Rattan [4] and Sharma [8] described it from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. It has also been listed by Ranadive [11] from unspecified localities of India and Prasher and Ashok [9] and Dhingra et al. [12] from Himachal Pradesh. It is being reported for the first time from Uttarakhnad.
3.6. Steccherinum laeticolor
Steccherinum laeticolor (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Banker, Mycologia 4 (6): 316, 1912. – Hydnum laeticolor Berk. & M. A. Curtis, Grevillea 1 (7): 99, 1873.
Distribution. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand.
Remarks. It has earlier been described from India by Rattan [4] from Himachal Pradesh and by Sharma [8] from district Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand). Later, it has also been listed by Bhosle et al. [6] from Maharashtra, Prasher and Ashok [9] from Himachal Pradesh, Ranadive [11] from unspecified localities of India, and Dhingra et al. [12] from Himachal Pradesh.
3.7. Steccherinum ochraceum
Steccherinum ochraceum (Pers.) Gray, A natural arrangement of British plants 1: 651, 1821. Hydnum ochraceum Pers. ex J. F. Gmel., Systema Naturae 2: 1440, 1792.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Bageshwar, Bhedchulla, on log of Quercus leucotrichophora, Sanyal 6909 (PUN), September 02, 2011.
Remarks. The species has earlier been described from India by Thind and Khara [3] from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Rattan [4] from H.P., Natrajan and Kolandavelu [22] from Tamil Nadu, Lalji [5] from Uttarakhand, and Sharma [8] from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and listed by Bhosle et al. [6] as well as Ranadive et al. [7] from Maharashtra, Prasher and Ashok [9] from Himachal Pradesh, Prasher and Lalita [10] from Uttarakhand, Ranadive [11] from unspecified localities of India, and Dhingra et al. [12] from Himachal Pradesh. Here we, report it for the first time from district Bageshwar (Uttarakhand).
3.8. Steccherinum oreophilum
Steccherinum oreophilum Lindsey & Gilb., Mycologia 69 (1): 193, 1977 (Figures 1(9), 1(10), and 3(34–38)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 1.5 mm thick in section; hymenial surface aculeate, aculei irregularly flattened, orange white to pale orange to grayish orange when fresh, grayish orange to brownish orange upon drying; margins thinning to indeterminate, paler to concolorous. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 3.8 μm wide, branched, clamped, thin-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 4.4 μm wide, thick-walled. Skeletocystidia very long, encrusted part 88–125 × 5.6–7.6 μm, tubular, apically widened, richly encrusted; projecting up to 67 μm beyond the hymenium. Basidia 11.8–17 × 4.4–5 μm, clavate, 4-sterigmate, with basal clamp; sterigmata up to 3.8 μm long. Basidiospores 5–6.4 × 2.4–3 μm, ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Devban, on bark of Quercus leucotrichophora, Sanyal 6910 (PUN), September 18, 2012.
Remarks. This species has earlier been described from USA and Europe (http://www.mycobank.org/, 2014). We report it for the first time from India.
3.9. Steccherinum robustius
Steccherinum robustius (J. Erikss. & S. Lundell) J. Erikss., Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 16 (1): 134, 1958. Mycoleptodon robustior J. Erikss. & S. Lundell, Fungi Exsiccati Suecici Fasc. 43-44: p. 26, 1953 (Figures 1(11), 1(12), and 3(39–43)).
Basidiocarps resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 500 μm thick in section; hymenial surface aculeate with conical aculei up to 1 mm long; pale orange to orange red when fresh, orange white to grayish orange to brownish orange upon drying; margins thinning to indeterminate, paler to concolorous. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 3 μm wide, branched, septate, clamped, thin-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 5 μm wide, thick-walled. Skeletocystidia very long, encrusted in the apical region; projecting up to 31 μm beyond the hymenium. Basidia 13.8–18 × 4.4–5 μm, clavate, 4-sterigmate, with a basal clamp; sterigmata up to 5 μm long. Basidiospores 3–4.4 × 2.6–3 μm, ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimens Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Udham Singh Nagar, on angiospermous stick, Sanyal 6911 (PUN), September 10, 2011; Udham Singh Nagar, on angiospermous stick, Sanyal 6912 (PUN), September 10, 2011.
Remarks. This species is characterized by very long, apically encrusted cystidia and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores. It has earlier been reported from Bulgaria, the Caucasus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine and is here described for the first time from India.
3.10. Steccherinum subcrinale
Steccherinum subcrinale (Peck) Ryvarden, Norwegian Journal of Botany 25: 294, 1978. Hydnum subcrinale Peck, Bulletin of the New York State Museum 167: 27, 1913 (Figures 1(13), 1(14), and 3(44–48)).
Basidiocarp resupinate, effused, adnate, up to 0.5 mm thick in section; hymenial surface odontoid with conical aculei, grayish orange to brownish orange when fresh, brownish orange to light brown upon drying; margins thinning, sometimes reflexed, fibrillose, whitish to orange white. Hyphal system dimitic. Generative hyphae up to 3 μm wide, branched, septate, clamped, thin-walled; basal hyphae parallel to substrate, loosely interwoven; subhymenial hyphae densely packed, vertically arranged. Skeletal hyphae up to 3.8 μm wide, thick-walled. Skeletocystidia very long, encrusted part up to 34.4–53 × 6.2–9.4 μm, cylindrical to tubular, richly encrusted, thick-walled; projecting up to 39 μm beyond the hymenium. Basidia 11.4–13.8 × 3.8–5 μm, clavate, 4-sterigmate, with a basal clamp; sterigmata up to 2.6 μm long. Basidiospores 3–3.8 × 1.4–1.8 μm, narrowly ellipsoid, smooth, thin-walled, generally uniguttulate, acyanophilous, inamyloid.
Specimen Examined. India, Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Devban, on bark of Cedrus deodara, Sanyal 6913 (PUN), September 18, 2012.
Remarks. Steccherinum subcrinale is characterized by having narrowly ellipsoid, generally uniguttulate basidiospores. It has earlier been reported from India by Lalji [5] from Punjab. It is here reported for the first time from Uttarakhand.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Head of Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala, for providing research facilities and Professor Nils Hallenberg (Sweden) for his expertise and comments.