(Coelomycetes) (Stem- and Leaf-fungi)

Further Information

Notes (MWS)	Coelomycetes are anamorphic ascomycetes - ie they are an asexual phase in the life-cycle. In some cases they precede the sexual stage, in others they persist in isolation and the sexual stage is rare or unknown. Some are even spermatia which produce the gametes which give rise to the sexual stage. In the absence of the sexual stage they were named and classified, according to their asexual morphology, into the so-called "form genera". Nowadays these have no taxonomic significance, although they are still used as names for the asexual morphology. This is a purely artificial classification (some would call it a "dumping ground") for anamorphic fungi (ie fungi where the stage that produces sexual spores is not formed or is unknown), and where the asexual spores (conidia) are formed inside a closed body, or one that is initially closed. Coelomycetes are saprobes on dead plant material, or parasites which cause small infection spots on living leaves and stems. Many are species-specific, or at least have traditionally been treated as distinct species on different hosts. Over the years, the members have been gradually removed as laboratory cultures have yielded the sexual states. More recently DNA sequencing has superseded this and the classification will eventually disappear. Nevertheless "coelomycete" remains a useful descriptive term for the asexual state of many ascomycetes. Coelomycetes are divided into those which form pycnidia (closed structures from which the conidia issue through the ostiole, a small circular opening) and those which form acervuli (effectively everted pycnidia) with the conidia produced on the outside and termed "pustules".	Grove, W.B., 1935 Grove, W.B., 1937
How to find	Most coelomycetes are plant-pathogens or grow on dead plant material, although a few attack lichens or rusts. It is best to collect coelomycetes in damp periods when they have ripe conidia; often these are visible en masse either as a white or grey, sometimes orange whisker arising from the ostiole or as a waxy deposit on the surface of the pycnidium or substrate.
Lab. techniques	Damp chamber culturing is useful. Often this just means leaving a few infected leaves in a sealed box in a cool place for a few days. Following such culturing, a spore tendril often issues from the ostiole. This is useful in confirming which pycnidia are living and enables easy determination of spore colour.

Sets of Photographs

These relate to individual finds ("biological records") of the organism.

Taxon

Summary

Date

Vice-county

Country

Coelomycetes	Imperfect stage	15	4	7	4	15 Oct 2008	Berks	England
Coelomycetes?	Imperfect stage	9	9			17 Apr 2007	Berks	England
Coelomycetes	Imperfect stage	6		3	3	22 Oct 2006	Carmarthen	Wales
Coelomycetes	Imperfect stage	4		1	3	11 Oct 2009	South Wiltshire	England
Coelomycetes	Imperfect stage	3			3	8 Oct 2009	Berks	England

Suggested Literature

Identification Works

Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998	Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook
Grove, W.B., 1935	British Stem- and Leaf- Fungi: Coelomycetes Vol. I … Sphaeropsidales with hyaline conidia
Grove, W.B., 1937	British Stem- and Leaf- Fungi: Coelomycetes Vol. II ... Sphaeropsidales (rest) + Melanconiales
Sutton, B.C., 1980	The Coelomycetes: Fungi Imperfecti with Pycnidia, Acervuli and Stromata
Plant pathology
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 (Not well-covered - Grove's 2-volume work remains very useful, despite being 70 years old.)	Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook
Moore, W.C., 1959	British Parasitic Fungi

BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 3 general literature references to (Coelomycetes) (Stem- and Leaf-fungi)

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BioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 2271 feeding and other relationships of (Coelomycetes) (Stem- and Leaf-fungi)

(Coelomycetes) (Stem- and Leaf-fungi)

Further Information

Sets of Photographs

Subtaxa

Suggested Literature

Identification Works

Plant pathology

References