Genus

Thalassogena

Species

sphaerica

Author

Kohlm. & Volkm.-Kohlm.

Class

Sordariomycetes, Subclass Hypocreomycetidae

Order

Microascales

Family

Halosphaeriaceae

Synonymy:

Ascomata: 150-260 μm diam., subglobose, cream-coloured, coriaceous, superficial or immersed, solitary, ostiolate, papillate.

Necks: 230-570 μm long, 50-85 μm diam., periphysate.

Peridium: 10-16 μm thick, composed of 4-5 layers of elongated cells with large lumina, especially the inner few layers of cells.

Catenophyses: present.

Asci:  72-89 × 22-27 μm, thin-walled, unitunicate, eight-spored, clavate, persistent, flattened at the apex and with a pore, pedicellate.

Ascospores: 13-(15)-17 μm, hyaline, subglobose, rarely ellipsoidal, one-celled, lacking appendages.

Culture: -

Anamorph: undetermined.

Key references:

Kohlmeyer J, Volkmann-Kohlmeyer B (1987). Thalassogena, a new ascomycete genus in the Halosphaeriaceae. Systema Ascomycetum. 6:223-228.

 

Image: Thalassogena sphaerica. (a) Section of immersed, globose ascoma. (b) One-layered
peridium of elongated cells with large lumina, especially the inner few layers. (c) Clavate, thinwalled
ascus with a flattened apex. (d) Globose to subglobose ascospores. Scale bar: a=50 μm;
b, c, d=10 μm. Photo reproduced with the permission of the National Taiwan Ocean University.

Type & Location:
Other Specimens:
Substratum:
dead mangrove wood.
Habitat:
Distribution:
Belize, Brunei, Denmark, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand.
Pertinent Literature:
Syst. Ascomycet. 6: 223 (1987)
Comments:
This is an uncommon species in mangrove environments. A phylogenetic study is required to investigate the relationship between this species and other taxa with unappendaged ascospores in the Halosphaeriaceae, including Anisostagma, Lignincola, Nais and Neptunella. Although collected on a few occasions in Taiwan, induction of ascospore germination has not been successful (K.L. Pang, personal observation, 2011).
  • Fig 2
    Fig 2

Address

Mushroom Research Foundation 
Chiang Rai 
Thailand

torperadgj@gmail.com

Contact

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Gareth Jones: Email: torperadgj@gmail.com

Mark Calabon: Email: mscalabon@up.edu.ph