First report of a member of Balladyna (Ascomycota: Balladynaceae) on Celastrus paniculatus (Celastraceae) from India

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Postgraduate & Research Dept. of Botany, St. Thomas College, Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.

10.22092/mi.2025.369790.1316

Abstract

Microscopic examination of an epiphyllous fungus on Celastrus paniculatus (Celastraceae) revealed characteristic features of the genus Balladyna, including unicellular appressoria, mycelial setae, globose ostiolate perithecia, and successively maturing asci containing uniseptate, brown ascospores. Balladyna, a genus within the family Balladynaceae (Ascomycota: Dothideomycetes), is commonly referred to as one of the ‘black mildews’ and typically exhibits host specificity, predominantly infecting members of a few dicotyledonous plant families. Currently, approximately 17 species of Balladyna are known, primarily associated with hosts in the families Rubiaceae, Annonaceae, Hippocrateaceae, Strychnaceae and Verbenaceae. This study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of a Balladyna species on Celastrus paniculatus (Celastraceae) from India. It is suggested to represent a new species within the genus; however, due to the lack of comprehensive data, particularly DNA sequence information, it is provisionally reported here as an unidentified species of Balladyna.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 June 2025
  • Receive Date: 09 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 June 2025
  • Publish Date: 30 June 2025