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Title: CHAETOSPHAERIACEAE, A NEW FAMILY FOR CHAETOSPHAERIA AND ITS RELATIVES

Author
item REBLOVA, MARTINA - CZECH REPUBLIC
item BARR, MARGARET - SIDNEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
item Samuels, Gary

Submitted to: Sydowia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Fungi are an extremely diverse group of organisms that are not well known particularly those that are very small, yet they play an important role in ecosystems particularly in recycling nutrients in woody substrates. Knowledge of such fungi is essential to understanding their role as well as in using them for increased lignin degradation. This paper examines the classification of a group of wood-decay fungi and recognizes a new family for several genera. In addition a synopsis of each genus is provided with a key for their identification. These results will be used to identify these microfungi when they are encountered as potential agents for lignin degradation and as representative of the biodiversity of fungi.

Technical Abstract: The systematic position of the genus Chaetosphaeria among pyrenomycetous ascomycetes is discussed. The families Lasiosphaeriaceae, Helminthosphaeriaceae and Trichosphaeriaceae are rejected as possible families for Chaetosphaeria. A new family, Chaetosphaeriaceae (Sordariales) is introduced for Chaetosphaeria and for other closely related genera, including Ascocodinaea, Melanochaeta, Melanopsammella, Porosphaerella, Porosphaerellopsis and Striatosphaeria. Anamorphs are dematiaceous and phialidic; they include the genera Catenularia, Cylindrotrichum, Chalara, Chloridium, Cordana, Custingophora, Dictyochaeta, Gonytrichum, Menispora, Phialophora, Sporoschisma, Sporoschismopsis and Zanclospora. A dichotomous key to genera of the Chaetosphaeriaceae is provided. The accepted genera are listed along with synonymy, brief descriptions and other references.