Pleosporales - CBS - KNAW

Fungal Diversity
difference could be observed, and both are described from
rotting needles of conifers (Barr 1975; Batista et al. 1959;
Höhnel 1918b). Morphologically, Extrawettsteinina is
comparable with Kriegeriella. In particularly, E. pinastri
could not be distinguished from K. transiens or K.
mirabilis. Thus, K. transiens including Extrawettsteinina
pinastri was treated as synonyms of K. mirabilis, andwas
included in the section of Kriegeriella under the genus
Kriegeriella (von Arx and Müller 1975; Barr1975). The
other section of Kriegeriella, Extrawettsteinina, includes
two previous Extrawettsteinina species, i.e. K. minuta and
K. mediterranea. Barr(1987b) introduced a family, i.e.
Kriegeriellaceae (Dothideales) to accommodate Kriegeriella
and Extrawettsteinina. This proposal is rarely
followed, and Kriegeriella is usually assigned to Pleosporaceae
(Pleosporales) (Eriksson2006; Lumbsch and Huhndorf
2007).
Phylogenetic study
None.
Concluding remarks
Kriegeriella might belong to Microthyriaceae, although it
would be unusual in this family in having 5-6-septate
ascospores. Micropeltidaceae better accommodates the
ascospores, however, the parallel arrangement of cells of
the upper peridium are not typical. Asterinaceae may be
most suitable as Luttrell (1973) suggested.
Phaeotrichum Cain & M.E. Barr, Can. J. Bot. 34: 676
(1956). (Dothideomycetes, family incertae sedis,
Phaeotrichaceae)
Generic description
Habitat terrestrial, saprobic (coprophilous). Ascomata
small, cleistothecial, solitary, or in small groups,
superficial, with long straight or slightly flexed, thin,
black appendages evenly scattered on the surface of the
ascomata, globose, black. Peridium thin, carbonaceousmembraneous,
1-layered, composed of dark brown thickwalled
cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium not
observed. Asci bitunicate form not clear, fissitunicate
dehiscence not observed, broadly clavate, with a relatively
thick pedicel. Ascospores oblong to ellipsoid,
hyaline when young, turning reddish brown at maturity,
1-septate, deeply constricted at the septum, each end with
a subhyaline and broadly rounded germ pore, readily
forming partspores at the septum at maturity.
Anamorphs reported for genus: none.
Literature: Cain 1956; Malloch and Cain 1972.
Type species
Phaeotrichum hystricinum Cain & M.E. Barr, Can. J. Bot.
34: 677 (1956). (Fig. 103)
(Some information for the following description is from
Cain 1956)
Ascomata 170–280 μm diam., cleistothecial, solitary, or
in small groups, superficial, with 15–20 long straight or
slightly flexed, thin, black appendages evenly scattered on
the surface of the ascomata, 0.5–1 mm long, 15–25 μm
wide at base, tapering to less than 5 μm at the blunt apex,
with few or without septa, globose, black, smooth
(Fig. 103a). Peridium thin, carbonaceous-membraneous,
1-layered, composed of dark brown thick-walled cells
of textura angularis, cells 8–16 μm diam., cell wall
0.5–1.5 μm thick (data obtained from Cain 1956)
(Fig. 103b). Hamathecium not observed. Asci 42–48×
14–17 μm, 8-spored, bitunicate form not typical, lacking
fissitunicate dehiscence, broadly clavate, with a relatively
thick pedicel which is about 18 μm (data obtained from
Cain 1956). Ascospores 14–16×4–5 μm, 4-seriate, oblong
to ellipsoid, hyaline when young, turning reddish
brown at maturity, 1-septate, deeply constricted at the
septum, each end with a subhyaline and broadly rounded
germ pore, smooth, readily separating into partspores at
the septum at maturity (Fig. 103c, d, e and f).
Anamorph: none reported.
Material examined: CANADA, Ontario, Muskoka,
Stoneleigh, on porcupine dung, 18 Aug. 1932, Cain (TRTC
4361, holotype).
Note: the ascomata of the specimen are fragile and no
asci could be obtained.
Notes
Morphology
Phaeotrichum was formally established by Cain (1956)
to accommodate two new coprophilous fungi, i.e. P.
hystricinum and P. circinatum Cain, and P. hystricinum
was selected as the generic type. Phaeotrichum is
mainly characterized by its coprophilous habitat, superficial
cleistothecial ascocarps covered by long hairy
appendages, reddish brown 1-septate ascospore with a
broadly rounded germ pore at each end, readily breaking
into partspores (Cain 1956). According to Cain (1956),
Phaeotrichum possesses untypical bitunicate ascus, and
the ascospore releasing is described as “simply break
down and allow the contents to become free in the
cavity of the ascocarp”. This ascospore releasing
mechanism is considered as evolutionarily developed
compared to those that “discharge the ascospores
through an apical pore” (Cain 1956). Although lacking