Döbbeler P., Davison P.G.
Vol. 11 (6) – 24 December 2019
doi: 10.25664/art-0278
Open Access
Abstract: Two leaf-perforating ascomycetes occurring on bark-inhabiting liverworts in Southeastern North America are described as new species and documented by numerous records. Their life style is regarded as biotrophic parasitism. Epibryon ventrale infects three species of Cheilolejeunea sect. Leucolejeunea, Hypobryon bacillare grows on Frullania inflata. Common characters are globose ascomata, lacking setae, asci surrounded by hymenial jelly, and brown, bacilliform, transversely septate ascospores. Both species form anamorphic structures along portions of their hyphae: Torula-like, disarticulating cell-chains in E. ventrale and phialidic conidiogenous cells in H. bacillare
Perforation of host leaves in hepaticolous ascomycetes by fruit-bodies borne beneath the protective covering of the host leaf is a successful strategy that may reduce rapid water loss and allow unhindered ascospore discharge into the open air. The ascomata develop on the ventral side of the leaf […]