Batistia Annulipes and its Anamorph, Acrostroma Annellosynnema

ABSTRACT

Batistia annulipes was grown in pure culture. Phialophora-like conidiophores formed in agar cultures derived from isolated ascospores, followed by synnemata of Acrostroma annellosynnema. Synnemata of Acrostroma annellosynnema were also found in nature associated with ascomata of B. annulipes. The conidiophores of A. annellosynnema found in vivo and in vitro were identical to the Phialophora- like conidiophores found in vitro. Although B. annulipes is a highly distinctive ascomycete, the morphological characters of the teleomorph are generalized to such an extent that it is difficult to see relationships for the fungus. That there is a phialidic anamorph in its life-cycle indicates that B. annulipes is not a member of the Xylariaceae and that it should be classified in the Sordariales, where it is placed in a new, monotypic family, the Batistiaceae.

Key Words:

• Batistia
• Acrostroma
• Sordariales
• Cephalothecaceae
• taxonomy