Balansia Claviceps in Artificial Culture

SUMMARY

This is the first known report on the artificial culture of the ephelidial (conidial) state of the genus Balansia. On the basis of germination and cultural behavior of the conidia and ascospores, and examination of the structure on its host, the ephelidial fructification is considered to be a true sporodochium and not a pycnidium. The conidial (Ephelis) fungus thus is considered to be a member of the form family Tuberculariaceae, confirming the observations of Höhnel (1923) and Kamat (1961) in this respect. The abortive nature of the ascostromata in culture may be attributed to heterothallism as the cultures were monosporous in origin.