I have collected several times a pyrenomycete that keeps me busy. All the collections were made on Phragmites culms.

Perithecia immersed, erumpent. Asci cylindrical 157-179 x 10-11 µm, with a well developed apical pore, amyloid in IKI. Spores 1-septate, dark greenish brown, with a long germ slit in each cell, without gelatinous caps or appendices (no China ink tested), 17-23.5 x 7.5-8.5 µm.

I think it must belong to Amphisphaeriaceae due to its 2-celled pigmented spores and asci with amyloid apparatus, but I fail to find any species with similar spores in the family, especially with those germ slits (which I would say are more typical in Xylariaceae). I compared it first with Cainia griminis, but it has longer spores with several germ-slits at the end of the spores. It keys out in Amphisphaeria according to Barr, but I do not find any species with similar spores in the genus.

Any hint? Anything I might have missed?

Thank you in advance!

Ibai.

Jacques Fournier, 30-11-2015 21:46

Re : Amphisphaeria?

Hi Ibai,
Seynesia Sacc. is a possible match, but I am not aware of a species occurring on Phragmites. It is basically a tropical genus occurring on palm and other monocots.
Hope it helps.
Cheers,
Jacques

Jacques Fournier, 01-12-2015 09:33

Re : Amphisphaeria?

the genus was placed in Xylariales before the molecular era and many species described long ago likely belong elsewhere. In absence of a monographic treatment your species is very difficult to identify. It would be worth being cultured and sequenced anyway.
I send you a paper on the three palm species recognized by Hyde so that you can compare it to S. livistonae that has the same ascospore size range.
Good luck!
Jacques

Enrique Rubio, 01-12-2015 12:04

Re : Amphisphaeria?

Hi Miguel

I don't think this is Scirrhia rimosa, a very different fungus with hyaline ascospores and more complex stromata.

See my card on this site

Björn Wergen, 01-12-2015 12:43

Re : Amphisphaeria?

Agree with Enrique. Maybe it is possible to send me something of the material, Ibai? I am very interested, it reminds me also on Arecophila with striate but one celled spores.

regards,
björn

Enrique Rubio, 21-04-2022 21:29

Re : Amphisphaeria?

This fungus has also been found on Phragmites in Galicia (see Joseba in this forum) and is the same as the one referred to by Ibai and described as Seynesia graminis ad. int. in Zizak magazine.
Have you made any progress in the description, Ibai?