Micraspidales

Micraspidales Quijada & Tanney, IF:831355
Etymology: Named after the type genus Micraspis.
Diagnosis: Phylogenetically isolated within Leotiomycetes; conidiomata not distinct macroscopically from the ascomata, differs from the micro-morphologically similar Leotiales, Phacidiales and Rhytismatales by having tissues composed of textura epidermoidea in the ectal excipulum and covering layer, and ascospores producing conidia from their walls but also from germ tubes.
Type family: Micraspidaceae Quijada & Tanney
Classification: Micraspidales, Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota.
Apothecia orbicular to elliptic, developing inside the host tissues, receptacle stromatic, shining black, irregularly opening by longitudinal slits that remain as rectangular lids or disappear in a smooth protruding margin, hymenium concolor or grayorange. Ectal excipulum at flanks and margin composed of textura epidermoidea covered outside by a thick refractive smooth yellowish gel. Medullary excipulum plectenchymatous. Asci 4–8-spored, inamyloid with the apical wall strongly thickened with an ocular chamber. Ascospores cylindrical-fusoid to clavate-ellipsoid, septate, without sheaths, eguttulate or with
tiny sparse guttules, germinating at both poles and producing cylindrical or sub-cylindrical conidia directly from the ascospores walls or germ tubes. Asexual morph: Conidiomata pycnidioid, macroscopically indistinguishable from apothecia, unilocular to multilocular, convoluted. Conidiophores simple or branched, hyaline, smooth, frequently reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells enteroblastic, phialidic, hyaline, smooth, aperture minute, collarette inconspicuous. Conidia filiform to
falcate or fusiform to allantoid, hyaline, smooth, guttulate or eguttulate.

Reference:

Quijada L, Tanney JB, Popov E, Johnston PR, Pfister DH. 2020. Cones, needles and wood: Micraspis (Micraspidaceae, Micraspidales fam. et ord. nov.) speciation segregates by host plant tissues. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 5, 99-111.

 

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