Spirodecospora gen. nov. (Xylariaceae, Ascomycotina), from Bamboo in Hong Kong

Abstract

Monographic studies on Anthostomella and related genera have yielded an interesting taxon having immersed, obpyriform ascomata with a central ostiole. The ascospores are relatively large, olivaceous, with conspicuous spiral wall ornamentations, and are surrounded by a hyaline mucilaginous sheath. At the transmission electron microscopic level, the ascospore wall comprises a thin, electron-dense episporium and a thick, electron-transparent mesosporium, with verrucose ornamentations arising from the episporium. The sheath surrounding the ascospores comprises fibrillar material. The subapical ring observed in the ascus is typically xylariaceous. Spirodecospora gen. nov., with one species, S. bambusicola, is described, and compared with other genera in the Xylariaceae.