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Observations on Biatoropsis usnearum, a lichenicolous heterobasidiomycete, and other gall-forming lichenicolous fungi, using different microscopical techniques

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2001

Martin GRUBE
Affiliation:
Institute of Botany, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Holteigasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria. E-mail: martin.grube@kfunigraz.ac.at
Asunción de los RÍOS
Affiliation:
Centro de Ciencias Medioambientales, Serrano 115 dpdo, 28002 Madrid, Spain.
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Abstract

The structure and development of galls caused by the heterobasidiomycete Biatoropsis usnearum on Usnea thalli are studied in detail using different microscopical techniques. The galls induced by this fungus are devoid of algae and composed of hyphae of both fungal symbionts. The parasite forms tremelloid haustoria primarily in the central part of the gall. Infections of the parasite start in the cortical layer of the host and induce growth of the host hyphae resembling those of the central cord. The galls include a large amount of intact Usnea hyphae, to some extent also in the uppermost parts of the gall. Mature galls are compared with those caused by other lichenicolous fungi. The investigations show that the anatomies of galls and interactions between host and parasite differ significantly in gall-forming lichenicolous fungi.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The British Mycological Society 2001

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