609
Forest microfungi. I.
n. gen., n. sp. on leaves of
Amplllliferina persimplex
labrador tea
B. C. SUTTON
Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Forest Research Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Received November 21, 1968
SUTTON, B. C. 1969. Forest microfungi.1. Alllplilliferina persilllplex n. gen., n.sp. on leaves of labrador tea.
Can. J. Botany, 47: 609-616.
Ampllllijerill11 persimplex n. gen., n. sp. is described and illustrated from material on moribund leaves
of Ledllm groenlandiclIlIl Ocder collected in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The fungus is characterized by
hyphopodiate superficial mycelia, simple separate unicellular conidiophores each forming an un­
branched acropetal chain of cylindrical, brown, I-septate, truncate conidia. The genus is compared
and contrasted with Xylohypha (Fr.) Mason, Septonema Corda, Bispora Corda, Ampullije
' ra Deighton,
Clasterosporilllll Schw., Septotrullllia Hiihn., Amplilli/erella Bat. & Caval., and Amplillijeropsis Bat. &
Caval.
Ampllllifel"ina gen. nov.
Introduction
During taxonomic investigations of the micro­
(Etym.
Ampullijera et -inus adj. suff., indicating
resemblance)
fungi from different forest habitats, an unusual
hyphomycete was found colonizing fallen dead
leaves of Ledum groenlandicum Oeder (labrador
tea). The fungus is quite inconspicuous but has
been found several times on this substrate, to­
gether with
Lophodermiwn sphaerioides (Alb. &
Schw. ex Fr.) Duby and the conidial state of
Griphosphaeria corticola (Fuckel) Hahn. These
three fungi have been found to be the most com­
mon constituents of the mycoflora of rotting
labrador tea leaves in Manitoba and Saskatch­
ewan.
Attempts
to
collect
the
fungus in a
natural environment from March to November
have been unsuccessful; however, it has been
repeatedly recovered from leaves in sphagnum
moss used for packing insect cocoons. In studies
of the larch sawfly parasite complex undertaken
in this region, larch sawfly cocoons are collected
Deuteromycotina, Hyphomycetes
Coloniae effusae. Mycelium superficiale ex
hyphis ramosis, brunneis, septatis compositum;
hyphopodia lateralia, brunnea, porosa. Coni­
diophorae
singulae
ex
lateribus
hypharum
oriundae, erectae, aseptatae, basibus attenuatis.
Conidia acropeta, catenata, recta, cylindric a,
brunnea, levia, I-septata, extremiis truncatis.
SP. TYP.:
Ampullijerina persimplex Sutton
Colonies effuse. Superficial mycelium formed
from branched, brown, septate hyphae; hypho­
podia lateral, brown, with a pore. Conidiophores
single, straight, aseptate, tapered at the base,
originating laterally from the hyphae. Conidia
acropetal, catenate, straight, cylindrical, brown,
smooth-walled, I-septate, truncate at both ends.
in sphagnum moss in mid-July and stored in the
Ampllllifedna pel"simpiex n. sp.
moss in polyethylene bags at 0 C until December,
(Fig.
at which time they are sorted to size, weighed,
1)
(Etym. L. persimplex, very plain)
and dissected. The sphagnum moss is invariably
mixed with plant debris typical of tamarack
Coloniae epiphyllae, effusae, fuscae vel atrae.
(Larix laI'icina (DuRoi) K. Koch) and black
spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.) bogs, and
ramosis, pall ide brunneis vel brunneis, septatis,
Mycelium
superficiale
ex
hyphis
repentibus,
of this extraneous material. So far the fungus
levibus, 2-5 �L crassis, reticulatis compositum;
hyphopodia lateralia, globosa, clavata vel raro
has only been recovered from leaves SUbjected
lobata, brunnea vel fusco-brunnea, porosa, 3-
leaves of labrador tea constitute a major part
� diam. Conidiophorae singulae ex lateribus
to the above treatment and has neither been
7.5
found colonizing
hypharum oriundae, erectae, singulae, pallide
sphagnum moss nor
larch
sawfly cocoons. A survey of hyphomycetes re­
brunneae, aseptatae, basi bus attenuatis,
ported from these types of substrate has not
longae. Conidia acropeta, catenata, recta, cylin­
revealed the formal description of any fungus
drica, brunnea, levia, I-septata, extremiis trun­
corresponding to the one from labrador tea.
catis,
10-12.5 X 4.5-5.5
11.
7-10
�L
610
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY.
VOL.
47, 1969
FIG. 1. Ampulliferina persimpiex. (A) WINF(M) 5725b superficial hyphopodiate mycelium; (B-H)
WINF(M) 5714b; (B) intact conidium chain, (C) young conidium chains formed from conidiophores on
hyphopodiate mycelium, (D) very young conidiophore with second and third conidia in early stages of
formation, showing acropetal growth, (E) fragmenting conidium chain, (F) mature conidia, (G) mature
apical conidium, (H) unfragmented parts of conidium chain.
HOLOTYPUS: in foliis emortuis Ledi groenlandici
WINF(M) 5752c; Norgate Rd., Riding Moun­
Oeder, Clearwater Lake, The Pas, Man., C.
tain National Park, Man., D. Shepherd, 31 Oct.
Tidsbury, 2 Nov. 1967, WINF(M) 8742a.
1967, WINF(M) 8739a;
Riverton,
Manitoba,
PARATYPI: in f oliis emortuis Ledi groenlandici
D. Shepherd & G. Still, 31 Oct. 1967, WINF(M)
Oeder, Cranberry Portage, Man., C. Tidsbury,
8740; Loon Lake, Sask., C. Rentz, July 1966,
2 Nov. 1967, WINF(M) 8741a; Clearwater Lake,
WINF(M) 5714b; Armit,
The Pas, Man., C. Tidsbury, 25
July 1966, WINF(M) 5725b; Crutwell, Sask.,
July 1966,
Sask., B. McLeod,
611
SUlTON: FOREST FUNGI: AMPULLIFERINA
B. McLeod, July 1966, WINF(M) 5715b;
Crutwell, Sask., B. McLeod, July 1966, WINF­
(M) 5716.
Comparison with Similar Fungi
Parts of WINF(M) 8742a have been deposited
in the Mycological Herbarium, Plant Research
Ampullijerina persimplex corresponds with that
Institute, Ottawa (DAOM 119797), the Her­
barium of the Commonwealth Mycological In­
stitute, Kew, England (IMI 134269), and the
Hughes
National Fungus Collection, Beltsville, Mary­
land, U.S.A. (BPI 71763). Part of WINF(M)
5716 is deposited in the Commonwealth Myco­
logical Institute Herbarium as IMI 12394l.
The fungus is limited to the upper leaf surface
and its macroscopic growth habit varies from
conspicuous, dense, brown to blackish brown
colonies occupying extensive regions of the leaf,
to small diffuse areas occupied by separate
conidium chains. The latter are quite obscure.
The superficial mycelium is composed of repent,
much branched, pale brown to brown, septate,
smooth-walled, reticulate hyphae, 2-5 J.t wide.
Hyphae are attached to the leaf by lateral hypho­
podia which are globose, clavate or rarely lobed,
brown to dark brown, 3-7.5 J.t diam., each with
a single, circular pore. No haustoria have been
observed. Conidiophores which are formed as
erect branches of the superficial mycelium are
single, pale brown, aseptate, tapered towards
the base, 7-10 J.t long and separated from the
superficial mycelium by a single transverse
septum at the base. The growth of the conidio­
phore ceases as the first conidium is formed,
and subsequent elongation of the conidium chain
is effected by each conidium developing from
the apex of the preceding one. The delimitation
of mature conidia occurs by the formation of a
thick dark brown transverse septum. Matura­
tion of conidia is not protracted. Acropetal
chains comprising 4-10 (mostly 8-10) conidia
are strictly erect, straight, and unbranched with
no marked constrictions at the separating septa.
At maturity the chains break apart readily, but
only at the thick septa, and the resulting conidia
are straight, cylindrical, brown, smooth-walled,
constantly I-septate, with both ends truncate
(except the terminal conidium which is obtuse
at the apex and truncate at the base) and meas­
ure 10-12.5 X 4.5-5.5 �l. The truncate ends
are each encircled by a minute frill which has
arisen during conidium secession in a similar
manner to that for the basal frills on conidia
formed from annellophores.
Discussion
The method of
conidium
development in
shown by the fungi placed in section 1A by
(1953). Blastic conidia are produced in
acropetal succession at the apices of simple or
branched conidiophores which do not increase
in length after the first spore has been formed.
Of the genera dealt with by Hughes in this sec­
tion, Xylohypha (Fr.) Mason, Septonema Corda,
and Bispora Corda are closely related to Ampul­
lijerina, while, as derivation of the generic name
Ampullijera Deighton (1960), Ampul­
lijerella Bat. & Caval. (1964) and Ampulliferopsis
Bat. & Caval. (1964) are also similar. Compari­
sons with Clasterosporium Schw. and Septo­
trullula Hahn. are also relevant to a discussion
indicates,
of the generic relationships.
Ampullijerina shows a basic similarity with
Septonema as conidia are formed in acropetal
chains which arise on branches from the super­
ficial mycelium. However, in Septonema the
conidiophores are crowded into loose sporodo­
chia or caespituli; less often are they separate.
The conidia in Septonema become multiseptate
depending on the species, and obviously develop
from the preceding conidium, since early in
development there is a marked constriction be­
tween established conidia and the younger ones
that is evident throughout the maturation pro­
cess. Hughes (1951, 1952) showed that growth
and maturation of conidia may be protracted or
very protracted, giving entire chains of subhya­
line, pale brown, aseptate conidia in S. secedens
Corda, or, as in S. tetracoilum (Corda) Hughes
and S. chaetospira (Grove) Hughes, conidia
may be successively shorter towards the apex of
the developing chain. In addition, characteristic
conidium chains are conspicuously branched in
Septonema. In Ampullijerina the conidiophores
are never aggregated into distinct fructifications
and the constantly I-septate conidia are produced
from single unbranched chains in which there
is no protraction in maturation. It was difficult
to establish that the conidial chains were acropet­
al owing to the paucity of immature conidia at
the apices of the chains. There is no constriction
between the catenate conidia although thick,
dark, transverse septa mark the upper and lower
limits of each conidium. Additional features
612
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY.
VOL.
47, 1969
Ampulliferina and not found in
Septonema include the hyphopodiate super­
labrador
ficial
conidiophores
peculiar to
mycelium
and
the
distinct
unicellular
conidiophore.
tea.
The
characteristic
features
of
Bispora are the relatively short inconspicuous
each
forming
a
single,
long,
acropetal, unbranched chain of didymosporous
In the type of acropetal conidium develop­
conidia. In
B. antennata (Pers. ex Fr.) Mason
ment, relative constancy in conidium form, lack
(Fig. 2) the fuligineous colonies are invariably
of branching in the conidial chain, and minimal
effuse and spreading with short conidiophores
amount of protracted maturation under normal
rarely branched at the base. Conidia become I­
Ampulliferina is similar to Septo­
to 2-septate (mostly I-septate) and maturation
trullula but again major differences separate the
is rarely protracted. The dark median septum
and barrel-shaped conidia are typical of the
conditions,
two
genera.
Sutton
and
Pirozynski
(1965)
Septotrul­
lula are aggregated into stromata on diffuse,
demonstrated that conidiophores in
fibrillose
superficial
subicles
species.
G)
B. betulina (Corda) Hughes (Fig. 3E­
B. antennata in that fructifica­
is similar to
and are almost
tions are punctiform to effuse, conidiophores
indistinguishable from the thick-walled cells of
are relatively inconspicuous, and conidium for­
the basal stromatic region and the older conidia
mation is not protracted. However, the chains
at the base of the chains.
are much shorter and conidia more variable,
The presence of a hyphopodiate superficial
being
to 2-septate and less rigid in general
0-
B. pusilla Sacco
mycelium is unusual in temperate hyphomycetes
form. A single collection named
and suggests the possibility of relationships be­
(Fig. 3C, D), a species considered by Hughes
Clasterosporium Schw. and Ampulliferina.
showed that Clasterosporium is
similar type of colony with inconspicuous conid­
typified by short conidiophores arising singly
iophores forming long unbranched chains of
tween
Ellis
(1958)
(1958)
to be the same as
B. betulina, showed a
to I-septate conidia varying considerably in
as lateral branches on the superficial hyphopo­
0-
diate mycelium. The multiseptate brown conidia
form. B. effusa Peck (Fig. 3, A, B) differs from
these three Bispora species by not forming col­
are formed singly in a blastic manner from the
apices of the conidiophores and in some species
onies but instead producing sparse, distinct in­
successive conidia may then develop singly on a
dividual conidiophores from ramifying super­
ficial mycelia. Short acropetal chains of conidia
succession of proliferations, a feature placing
Clasterosporium in section III of Hughes' scheme
(1953). The I-septate conidia in Ampulliferina
the apices of conidiophores, and conidia are
could be interpreted as conidium fragments de­
septate.
rived from a
'Clasterosporium-like' spore which
breaks at predetermined points (the dark septa)
with no protracted maturation are formed from
Of
the
1-
Bispora species studied, B.
effusa alone shows really close similarity with
Ampulliferina but it differs significantly in lack­
Coremiella ulmariae (Mac­
species of Geotrichum
which were placed in section VII by Hughes.
strictions between the conidia.
The acropetal meristem shown in Fig. ID sug­
similar to
gests that the
ultimately by the septation of the conidia, al­
similar to fungi like
ing
Weeney) Mason
conidiophores, and conidial chains with con­
and
I-septate units are individual
hyphopodia,
though Deighton
frequently it is considered sufficient to place
in
methods of conidium development, the mature
conidia in both genera being I-septate. Several
species of
Bispora were obtained to establish the
range in variation shown by the genus, since in
preliminary studies
Bispora appeared the most
likely genus to accommodate the fungus from
multiseptate
elongated
Bispora is very
Xylohypha and may only be separated
acropetal conidia and although not observed
Ampull(ferina in section IA.
Apart from Ampullifera, the genus Ampulli­
ferina more closely resembles Xylohypha and
Bispora than any of the previously considered
genera. Bispora and Ampullijerina have identical
its
(1965)
notes that the conidia
X. nigrescens (Fr.) Mason are very occasion­
ally I-septate. In normal X. nigrescens the conid­
iophores are short, often compacted together
and poorly differentiated, each bearing a single
rarely
branched
chain
of
acropetal, brown,
Ampullifera Deigh­
ton (1960) is maintained distinct from Xylohypha
aseptate conidia. Similarly,
by the presence of a superficial hyphopodiate
mycelium. In
Ampulli/era conidiophores were
described
erect,
as
straight, septate, simple,
rarely branched, with catenate, aseptate, acro­
petal conidia. Later, Deighton
(1965)
extended
613
SUlTON: FOREST FUNGI: AMPULLIFERINA
A
D
c
c
o
30
20
Jl-
FIG. 2. Bispora antennata. WINF(M) 9195; (A) I-septate conidia, (B) 2-septate conidium, (C) acropetal
chains of conidia, (D) fragmented chains of mature conidia, (E) branched conidiophore.
the concept of Ampullijera to include A. brasi­
liensis Deighton, which is typified by multi­
septate conidia. Batista and Cavalcanti (1964)
proposed two new genera, Ampullijeropsis and
Ampullijerella, to accommodate similar li­
chenicolous hyphomycetes. Ampullijerella con­
tained a single species in which the superficial
mycelium bore lateral hyphopodia of two types
-one mucronate, the other irregularly lobed.
Macronematous conidiophores were shown
forming from the lobed hyphopodia and conidia
were described as acrogenous, I-septate, con­
stricted, catenate, and brown. However, the
illustrations clearly show the oldest conidium at
the apex; therefore conidium development
should be interpreted as basipetal, a feature
which separates this genus from Ampullijera
and Ampullijerina. In Ampullijeropsis, which
contained two species, A. myriapoda Bat. &
Caval. and A. hippocratacearum Bat. & Caval.,
similar hyphopodiate superficial mycelia gave
rise directly to conidiophores from which a
basipetal succession of multiseptate conidia were
produced. If Batista and Cavalcanti were correct
in interpreting conidium development as basi­
petal, Ampullijeropsis is certainly distinct from
the expanded concept of Ampullijera. However,
if conidia are acropetal, and at the present there
is no way of checking the possibility, then
Ampullijeropsis must be regarded as falling
within the accepted generic limits of Ampullijera
proposed by Deighton (1965). Ampullijerina is
separated from Ampullijera because the latter
features mucronate hyphopodia, lacking a
central pore, and strongly constricted conidial
chains with distinct elongated septate conidio­
ph ores (that is, when conidia and conidio­
phores are in fact produced). Deighton (1960)
also reports that the hyphopodia are apparently
unattached to the leaf surface in Ampullijera.
The sporogenous apparatus of Ampullijerina is
far more rigidly defined and invariable than in
these similar genera. In addition, species of
Ampullijera, Ampullijerella, and Ampullijeropsis
differ considerably in growth habit and known
geographic distribution inasmuch as they are
614
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY.
VOL.
47, 1969
B
A
40
20
o
P.
.
.. .
. .• .•.• .••.
. . ..
�
�
c
E
f@
F
�
FIG. 3. Bispora effusa. (A) WINF(M) 9612 mature conidia and acropetal chains of conidia, (B) WlNF(M)
6170 mature I-septate conidia, mature conidium chain, and immature chains showing acropetal growth.
Bispora pllsilla. WlNF(M) 9192 (C) mature aseptate and I-septate conidia, (D) immature chains showing
acropetal growth. Bispora betulina. WlNF(M) 9194 (E) mature 1- to 2-septate conidia, (F) acropetal coni­
dium chains, WlNF(M) 6705, (G) elongated conidiophore producing first conidium.
TABLE
I
Synopsis of generic characters in Ampllllijerina and related genera
Genus
Fructifications
Superficial
mycelial network
Conidiophores
(Hughes's sections (1953))
Conidia
Al11pllllijera
Separate
conidiophores
Present with mucronate
ampulliform hyphopodia
Section lA, rarely
branched, septate
Catenate, constricted be­
tween conidia, aseptate
-multiseptate, brown
Amplll/ijerel/a
Separate
conidiophores
Present with mucronate and lobed hyphopodia
Section V, rarely
branched, septate
Catenate, constricted be­
tween conidia, I-sep­
tate, brown
615
SUTTON: FOREST FUNGI: AMPULLIFERlNA
TABLE I (COllcllldecf)
Genus
Conidiophores
(Hughes's sections (1953»
Superficial
mycelial network
Fructifications
Conidia
Amplllliferilla
Separate
Present with lobed or
conidiophores
simple hyphopodia
Section lA, unbranched,
aseptate
Catenate, not constricted
between conidia, 1septate, brown
Amplllliferopsis
Separate
conidiophores
Section V, rarely
branched, septate
Catenate, constricted be­
tween conidia, multi­
septate, brown
*Bispora
Caespituli-effuse Absent
sporodochia
Section lA, inconspicu­
ous, short, unbranched,
and aseptate except at
base
Catenate, constricted between conidia, mostly
1(2-3)-septate, brown
Clasterosporillm
Separate
conidiophores
Section III, short, sep­
tate, unbranched
Solitary, multiseptate,
brown
Septollema
Caespituli-effuse Absent
sporodochia
Section lA, branched,
septate, conspicuous
Catenate chains conspic­
uously branched, con­
stricted between con­
idia, multiseptate,
brown
Septotrllllllla
Sporodochia
Fibrillose su bicle
Section lA, inconspicu­
ous, short, unbranched,
and aseptate except at
base
Catenate, constricted be­
tween conidia, 2-sep­
tate, pale brown
Xylolzyplza
Caespituli-effuse
sporodochia
Absent
Section lA, occasionally
branched and septate
Catenate, constricted between conidia, mostly
aseptate, brown
*In B.
eDusa separate,
Present with mucron­
ate hyphopodia
Present with various
types of hyphopodia
erect, straight, septateJ rarely branched conidiophores are f o rmed from superficial mycelia.
leaf-inhabiting tropical species associated with
lichens and algae.
A brief synopsis of the generic characters in
Ampulliferina and the genera with which it has
been compared is given in Table 1.
Material Examined
Bispora antennata-On Corylus sp., Gundale,
Pickering, Yorks, U.K., W. Bramley, 7 Feb.
1965, WINF(M) 9195 (IMI 123875); on Fagus
sylvatica L., Lacey Green, Bucks, U.K., S. J.
Hughes, 20 June 1948, WINF(M) 9103 (lMI
29393a, DAOM 34482).
Bispora betulina-On Acer sp., 3 mi SE
Shawville, Quebec, Canada, S. J. Hughes, 12
July 1961, WINF(M) 9104 (DAOM 83316); on
Populus sp., 7 mi W Rennie, Man., Canada, G.
McGregor, 26 July 1966, WINF(M) 6705a; on
Populus tremuloides Michx., 1 mi W Rennie,
Man., Canada, B.c. Sutton, 26 July 1966,
WINF(M) 6498b; on indet. wood, Park Forest,
Warrensburg, N.Y., U.S.A., W. B. Kendrick, 3
Oct. 1959, WINF(M) 9194 (DAOM 63877).
Bispora effusa-On Acer saccharinum L.,
Adirondack Mtns., N.Y., U.S.A., C. H. Peck.
Type of B. effusa. Slides ex DAOM 34213
examined; on Alnus sp., 3 mi W Rennie, Man.,
Canada, B. C. Sutton, 26 July 1966, WINF(M)
6170 (DAOM 119771); on Salix sp., Paradise
Creek, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, S. J.
Hughes, 11 Aug. 1960, WINF(M) 9612 slide ex
DAOM 71170.
Bispora ? pusilla-On Ilex aquifolium L.,
Dulverton, Somerset, U.K., C. Booth, 24 May
1957, WINF(M) 9192 (IMI 69501).
Acknowledgments
I am grateful to Dr. J. A. Parmelee, curator
Herb. DAOM and Dr. S. J. Hughes of that
herbarium for their assistance in providing ma­
terial of Bispora for study, and to Dr. M. B.
Ellis of the Commonwealth Mycological In­
stitute for some helpful discussion concerning
Ampulliferina.
BATISTA, A. C. and CAVALCANTI, W. A. 1964. Novos
hyphomycetes de micelio hifopodiforme. Port. Acta
BioI. Ser. B, 7: 347-360.
DEIGHTON, F. C. 1960. African fungi. I. Mycol. Papers,
78: 1-43.
1965. Microfungi. I. Various hyphomycetes,
mainly tropical. Mycol. Papers, 101: 28-43.
ELLIS, M. B. 1958. Clasterosporillm and some allied
Dematiaceae-Phragmosporae. I. Mycol. Papers, 70:
1-89.
--
616
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY.
HUGHES, S. J. 1951. Septonema secedens Corda. Na­
turalist (London), 1951: 173-175.
1952. Four species of Septonema. Naturalist
(London), 1952: 7-12.
1953. Conidiophores, conidia, and classification.
Can. J. Botany, 31: 577-659.
---
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VOL. 47, 1969
--- 1958. Revisiones hyphomycetum aliquot cum
appendice de nominibus rejiciendis. Can. J. Botany,
36: 727-836.
SUTTON, B. C. and PIROZYNSKI, K. A. 1965. Notes on
microfungi. II. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 48: 349-366.