Hyphomycetes is an obsolete class of fungi in the equally obsolete phylum Deuteromycota that lack fruiting bodies. Most hyphomycetes have now been assigned to the Ascomycota, mainly as a result of DNA sequencing, but many remain unassigned. Identification of hyphomycetes is primarily based on microscopic morphology including: conidial morphology, especially septation, shape, size, colour and cell wall texture, the arrangement of conidia as they are borne on the conidiogenous cells (e.g. if they are solitary, arthrocatenate, blastocatenate, basocatenate, or gloiosporae), the type conidiogenous cell (e.g. non-specialized or hypha-like, phialide, annellide, or sympodial), and other additional features such as the presence of sporodochia or synnemata.[1]
[edit] Ecological Importance
• Common on submerged decaying leaves and other organic matter – Particularly in clean running water – Good aeration • Branched septate mycelium – Spreads through leaf tissue • Conidiophores – Project into the water – Bear conidia • Usually branched tetraradiate structures • Important role in the breakdown of organic matter in rivers – Leaf litter falls into river – Colonised and conditioned by fungi • Mycelium spreads over surface and penetrates leaf • Extra-cellular enzymes break down leaf tissue • Leaf tissue made more palatable to invertebrates • Leaves with fungi (conditioned) are a more nutritious source of food than unconditioned leaves • Hyphomycete fungi increase the food value of leaves in the aquatic environment
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[edit] References
- ^ Kendrick, W.B.; Carmichael, J.W. (1973). Ainsworth, G.C.; Sparrow, F.K.; Sussman, A.S.. ed. Hyphomycetes. Academic Press, New York. 323–509. ISBN 0-12-045604-4.
