Ascospore diversity of bryophilous Hypocreales and two new hepaticolous Nectria species

Abstract

Hypocreales represents one of the most successful orders of ascomycetes on mosses and hepatics, and more than 30 obligately bryophilous species belonging to seven genera of Bionectriaceae and Nectriaceae are known. These fungi have a remarkably wide range of ascospore types that differ in form, size and septation. Especially heterogeneous are the ascospores of the six hypocrealean parasites recorded on European populations of Frullania dilatata. Patterns of distribution of bryophilous Hypocreales on this host appear to follow the principles of island biogeography. Two new leaf-perforating species of Nectria with unusual ascospores are described. Nectria foertheri Döbbeler sp. nov. grows biotrophically on Porella sp. in Guatemala, and N. lagodes Döbbeler sp. nov. is a necrotroph on Frullania dilatata in Italy and Greece.

• ascospore morphology
• bryophilous ascomycetes
• Frullania dilatata
• Nectria foertheri
• Nectria lagodes

I am indebted to Clark T. Rogerson and Gary J. Samuels for sending the Thaxter material many years ago. The manuscript was improved substantially by critical remarks of Brian Coppins and two anonymous reviewers.