Remispora spitsbergenensis sp. nov., a marine lignicolous ascomycete from Svalbard, Norway

Abstract

Remispora was established for R. maritima, a fungus with globose/subglobose, lightly colored and coriaceous ascomata; deliquescing asci; ellipsoidal ascospores; and bipolar, pleomorphic ascospore appendages. Seven species currently are included in Remispora: R. crispa, R. galerita, R. maritima, R. minuta, R. pilleata, R. quadriremis and R. stellata. Variations on ascospore appendages can be observed in Remispora. In general the appendage is exosporic in nature and comprises an amorphous, electron-transparent matrix and a fibrous, electron-dense component. An eighth Remispora species, R. spitsbergenensis sp. nov., is described here, discovered from washed-up wood collected at the shore of Long-yearbyen, Svalbard, Norway. Ascospore appendages of R. spitsbergenensis appear as fibrous strands and amorphic material under the scanning electron microscope, which are characteristic of a Remispora species. Remispora spitsbergenensis resembles R. quadriremis and R. stellata because all possess four or more ascospore appendages at one end. Remispora spitsbergenensis possesses consistently four polar appendages at each end in contrast to six in R. stellata. Also ascospore appendages of R. spitsbergenensis are ribbon-like, compared with the obclavate, curved and attenuate appendages in R. quadriremis and R. stellata. A key for the identification of the eight Remispora species is provided.

• arctic
• Ascomycota
• Halosphaeriales
• marine fungi

We acknowledge the support of the Scholarship Enhancement Scheme grant No. 9368005 of City University of Hong Kong. We thank the governor of Svalbard for letting us collect in Svalbard and Mr Ian Gertz for the swift process of our application of permit; Dr. Steve Coulson (UNIS, Svalbard) for the provision of laboratory space and equipment; Prof Gareth Jones for a presubmission review; Pen Chan, Eric Wong and Daniel Tsang for help during collection.