Indian Phytopath. 62 (1) : 124-125 (2009) *Corresponding author: singhsksingh@rediffmail.com A new endophytic ascomycete from healthy leaves of Pongamia pinnata Merr. SANJAY K. SINGH*, VARSHA P. GAIKWAD and VIMAL M. WAINGANKAR Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004 Key words: Endophyte, Gnomoniella pongamiae, Medicinal plant, India Considering immense potential, isolation of endophytic fungi from living leaves was undertaken and a species of Gnomoniella was frequently isolated round the year from healthy leaves of Pongamia pinnata. This is described and illustrated as a new species alongwith its cultural characters. The leaves of the P. pinnata were collected in alternate month (in a year) in 2004 from Pune (India) and adjoining areas. Leaves were surface sterilized following the technique by Rodrigues and Samuels (7) and isolation of endophytic fungi was done on agar medium. The technique by Crous (3) was followed to obtain single ascospore culture. The morphological characteristic was studied on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Potato Carrot Agar (PCA) and Oat Meal Agar (OA) (all Hi-media) at 25 ± 2 0 C. Type culture has been deposited in National Collection of Industrial Micro-organisms (NCIM), National Chemical Laboratory, Pune (INDIA). Gnomoniella pongamiae Singh, Gaikwad & Waingankar sp.nov. (Fig. A-F). Coloniae in PDA regulares, luteo aurantiacus, usque ad 6-6.5 cm diam post 7dies. Reversus luteo viride vel creameus. Cleistothecia sparsa, partim superficialibus, globosa vel raro-piriformibus, atrobrunnea vel brunnea, (35-) 65-173 μm lata, (40-) 60-200 μm alta. Asci, unitunicati, octospori, sursum paulatis attenuates, 40-80 x 8-11.5 μm. Paraphysibus absentibus. Ascosporae obliquo uniseriatae vel biseriatae, oblongae, ellipsoideae, cylindricae, hyalinae, 10-22 x 4-5.5 μm. Holotypus: Cultura in PDA exiccata, extractis in foliis vivis Pongamia pinnata, Pune, India, leg. S.K. Singh, Jan.2004, NCIM 1318 holotypus. Colonies on PDA regular in outline, dry, faint- orange, flat, later form dark brown concentric rings, attaining a diam. of 6.5 cm after 7 days. Colonies reverse light green to creamy. Cleistothecia scattered, partly immersed in the aerial mycelium produced in concentric rings, globose to rarely pyriform, dark brown to brown or black, wall consists of polygonal cells, (35-) 65-173 μm wide, (40-) 60- 200 μm high. Asci unitunicate, 8 spored, narrowed towards the upper end with invisible apical rings, gradually narrowed towards lower end, 40-80 x 8- 11.5 μm. Paraphyses absent. Ascospores obliquely uni-biseriate, 1-celled, oblong, ellipsoid or cylindrical with rounded ends, hyaline, 10-22 x 4-5.5 μm. The formation of ascomata was observed after 7 days of incubation on PDA and OA at RT (30±1 0 C), while after 15 days on PCA. Overall the PDA supports the luxuriant growth and earlier formation of ascomata in culture. Survey of literature indicates that 10 species are currently accepted in the genus Gnomoniella Sacc. (1,2,5). Out of which only one species, G. cassiae Tilak (9) has been reported from India on dead stem of Cassia tora Linn. Present species is different from G. cassiae in having non-ostiolate, smaller ascomata and ascospores, from G. hyparctica (Lind.) Barr and G. papillostoma (Dearness and House) Mond. in having rounded ends of ascospores as compared to acute ends. It differs from G. fraxini Redlin & Stack (6), G. lithocarpicola Hsieh, Chens & Sivanesan (4), G. lignicola Romero & Samuels (8), G. tubaeformis (Tode : Fr.) Sacc. and G. vagans Johanson in