Morphological and Ultrastructural Characteristics of <i>Dumontinia tuberosa</i> (Bull.) L.M. Kohn from <i>Ranunculus ficaria </i>L.

Abstract

Dumontinia tuberosa fungus was observed in different stages of development growing on the roots of Ranunculus ficaria in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), over the course of several years. It is not frequently encountered, therefore, we decided that will be interesting to cultivate it on nutritive medium, and to use the morphological data and the colony’s characteristics to identify the fungus. The identity of the fungus was reaffirmed through a molecular analysis of sclerotium DNA sequences. A new favourable nutritive medium for the growth and development of the fungus is proposed. The morphology and ultrastructure of the fungus were examined by light and electron microscopy, and micrographs of the relevant details are provided. Differences between the ultrastructural characteristics of sclerotium, apothecium stipe, ascospores, asci and paraphyses are presented and discussed. Intercellular spaces were identified in sclerotium and apothecium stipe and the paraphyses. Asci and ascospores were found to be covered by a sticky mucilage. The ultrastructural characteristics of the aforementioned tissues are presented for different developmental stages. Additionally, the main food stores of the fungus, represented by glycogen, lipids and proteins, are located and described along with other characteristic compounds, such as melanin pigment and a glucan extracellular matrix. The present study complements prior information on the worldwide distribution of this rare species in nature and contributes new findings regarding its morphological and ultrastructural characteristics.

Nadir İki Ascomycota Üyesi İçin Türkiye’de Yeni Lokalite Kayıtları

“…Here we present new localities for two rare (Mircea et al 2016;Agnello et al 2018;Fokshei 2022) and previously presented ascomycete species, Dumontinia tuberosa (Bull.) L.M.…”

“…SEM images were obtained by a Hitachi SU5000 scanning electron microscope. By comparing the accumulated data with the relevant literature (Inzenga 1869;Doğan & Kurt 2016;Kim et al 2009;Uzuhashi et al 2010;Medardi 2012;Agnello et al 2013;2018;Thompson 2013;Beug et al 2014;Mircea et al 2016;Altuntaş et al 2021) the samples were identified. The specimens are kept at the Biology Department, Kamil Özdağ Science Faculty, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University.…”