James W. Kimbrough

Current trends in the classification of discomycetes

I N F L U E N C E O F A P O T H E C I A L S T R U C T U R E O N T H E C L A S S I F I C A T I O N OF D I S C O M Y C E T E S .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 D e v e l o p m e n t of t he A s c o g e n o u s Sys tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 E x c i p u l u m ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Asci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Ascospores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 P a r a p h y s e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 A p o t h e c i a l S h a p e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 U l t r a s t r u c t u r e of D i scomyce t e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

AN OUTBREAK OF FUNGAL DERMATITIS AND STOMATITIS IN A FREE-RANGING POPULATION OF PIGMY RATTLESNAKES (SISTRURUS MILIARIUS BARBOURI) IN FLORIDA

Between September 1997 and March 1998, a severe skin, eye, and mouth disease was observed in a population of dusky pigmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri), at the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in Volusia County, Florida (USA). Three affected pigmy rattlesnakes were submitted for necropsy. All snakes had severe necrotizing and predominantly granulomatous dermatitis, stomatitis, and ophthalmitis, with involvement of the subadjacent musculature and other soft tissues. Numerous fungal hyphae were seen throughout tissue sections stained with periodic acid Schiff and Gomoris methenamine silver. Samples of lesions were cultured for bacteria and fungi. Based on hyphae and spore characteristics, four species of fungi were identified from culture: Sporothrix schenckii, Pestalotia pezizoides, Geotrichum candidum (Galactomyces geotrichum), and Paecilomyces sp. While no additional severely affected pigmy rattlesnakes were seen at the study site, a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and a ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritis) with similar lesions were found. In 1998 and 1999, 42 pigmy rattlesnakes with multifocal minimal to moderate subcutaneous masses were seen at the study site. Masses from six of these snakes were biopsied in the field. Hyphae morphologically similar to those seen in the severe cases were observed with fungal stains. Analysis of a database representing 10,727 captures in previous years was performed after the 1998 outbreak was recognized. From this analysis we determined that 59 snakes with clinical signs similar to those seen during the 1998 outbreak were documented between 1992 and 1997. This study represents the first documented report of a mycotic disease of free-ranging snakes.

Characteristics of the Fusicoccum anamorph of Botryosphaeria ribis, a potential biological control agent for Melaleuca quinquenervia in South Florida.

Eight isolates of the Fusicoccum anamorph of Botryosphaeria ribis (six from Melaleuca quinque? nervia; two from Hhizophora mangle) were obtained from South Florida. Morphological characteristics of these isolates were studied on various culture media

A rapid staining technique for Rhizoctonia solani and related fungi.

Apinis, A. E., and C. G. C. Chesters. 1964. Ascomycetes of some salt marshes and sand dunes. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 47: 419-435. Backus, M. P., and P. A. Orpurt. 1961. A new Emericellopsis from Wisconsin, with notes on other species. Mycologia 53: 64-83. Cain, R. F. 1956. Studies on soil fungi. Saturnomyces, a new genus of the Aspergillaceae. Canad. J. Bot. 34: 135-141. Davidson, D. E., and M. Christensen. 1971. Emericellopsis stolkiae sp. nov. from saline soils in Wyoming. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 57: 385-391. Durrell, E. 1959. Some studies of Emericellopsis. Mycologia 51: 31-43. Grosklags, J. H., and M. E. Swift. 1957. The perfect stage of an antibioticproducing Cephalosporium. Mycologia 49: 305-317. Malan, C. E. 1952. Spora un interessante plectomicete umicolo nuovo per la scienza: Peyronellula mirabilis n.g. et n.sp. Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl. 6: 164-178.

Hyphal Fusion, Nuclear Condition, And Perfect Stages of Three Species of Rhizoctonia

Complete fusion occurred between two hyphae of the same isolate or closely related isolates of Rhixoctonia spp. Hyphae of Rhizoctonia ramicola did not fuse with hyphae of either R. solani or R. zeae. Hyphal cells of R. zeae and R. ramicola were always binucleate, whereas those of R. solani were always multinucleate. A multinucleate isolate of R. solani produced the basidial stage on the surface of previously sterilized soil. The basidial stage of this fungus was identified as Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk. R. ramicola formed white, web-like basidial fructifications on the lower sides of infected leaves of Pittosporum tobira. Hypobasidia were 8.0-(11.1)-16.5 X 5.2-(7.8)-14.4 ., epibasidia were almost the same length as hypobasidia, and basidiospores measured 5.2-(8.5)-10.5 X 3.4-(5.2)6.9 u. The perfect stage of R. ramicola is described herein as Ceratobasidinum amiicla.

Asci of the Pezizales. IV. The Apical Apparatus of Thelebolus

Light- and electron-microscopic examinations were performed on the ascal walls of Thelebolus microsporus, T. crustaceus, T. polysporus, and T. stercoreus with special emphasis on the development, cytochemistry, and morphology of the apical apparatus formed in each species. In all species the ascus differs in size, shape, and number of ascospores, but the apical apparatus is notably similar. Wall structure most closely resembles that of the bitunicate ascus. Using Congo red and acid fuchsin for light microscopy and silver methenamine for electron microscopy, we observed that the ascal wall in T. polysporus and T. stercoreus has two layers, each with two strata. The inner layer of the wall in all species consists of microfibrils in a banded pattern. Major development of the apical apparatuses occurs during early ascosporogenesis, differing from that in operculate representatives. Ascal dehiscence occurs in a modified jack-in-the-box manner. Thelebolus does not belong in the Pezizales.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF SPORES AND HYPHA OF A GLOMUS SPECIES

The ultrastructure of spores and hyphae of a Glomus isolate (INVAM-906/312); structure and development are described with both light and transmission electron microscopy. The spore wall is formed by two layers in one group; the outer is evanescent and formed by an amorphous matrix, whereas the inner wall layer is laminated and has fibrils that seem to be arranged in an arcuate pattern as observed in other glomalean spores. The spore has a more complex wall structure than hyphae. The content of both spore and hyphae also differs regarding the presence and distribution of lipid globules, vesicles, and other structures. Intracytoplasmic bacterium-like organisms (BLOs) were observed in spores and germ tubes; some of these BLOs were apparently undergoing binary fission.

A Comparative Ultrastructural Study of Ascospore Ontogeny in Selected Species of Peziza (Pezizales; Ascomycetes)

The ontogeny of ascospore wall and ornament development in selected species of Peziza was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Primary walls are electron translucent regardless of the poststaining procedure. The primary wall is devoid of chitin and is composed of β-1,3 glucans. Barium permanganate treatment does not indicate appreciable protein and lipids. Ultrastructural data confirm light microscopic studies that showed an expansion of the investing membrane within which further wall deposition occurs. The coalescing of cytoplasmic vesicles with the investing membrane creates a large vacuole, the perisporic sac, around the spore. Simultaneous with the formation of the perisporic sac, osmiophilic lumps are deposited on the primary spore wall. The osmiophilic lumps increase, coalesce, and form the initial epispore. The epispore consists of zones or bands of varying electron opacity whose staining properties indicate complex carbohydrates. Further deposition of material from the perisporic area results in the formation of spore ornaments made up of fibrillar strands. The staining reactions indicate that spore ornaments consist of a matrix of lipids, protein, glycoproteins, and chitin.

Septal structures in apothecial tissues of the tribe Aleurieae in the Pyronemataceae (Pezizales, Ascomycetes)

The fine structure of septa in asci, ascogenous hyphae, paraphyses, and excipular cells of apothecia is described in species of Aleuria, Anthracobia, Leucoscypha, and Octospora of the tribe Aleurieae, subfamily Scutellinioideae ofthe Pyronemataceae. An electron-opaque, hemispherical structure similar to that present in the Ascobolaceae was found in the ascal septa of all taxa. The hemispherical structure in the Aleurieae differs, however, in zonation and in the presence of an electron-translucent band bordering the pore in most species. Similar pore structures were found in the ascogenous hyphae of all species studied. Septal pores of paraphyses and excipular cells possess an electron-opaque, lamellate structure characteristic of taxa in the Pezizales. Evidence suggests that septa of genera in this tribe are more similar to those ofthe Ascobolaceae than to those ofthe Pezizaceae. Phylogenetic aspects ofthe data are discussed.

Septal structures in apothecial tissues of taxa in the tribes Scutellinieae and Sowerbyelleae (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales, Ascomycetes)

ABSTRACTSeptal pore structures are described in asci, ascogenous hyphae, paraphyses, and excipular cells of species of Cheilymenia and Scutellinia (tribe Scutellinieae), and Acervus and Caloscypha ...