I. Fungi and Arthropods: Some fungi from complex
associations with arthropods.
These may be parasitic, mutualistic,
or often spore dispersal related.
1. Section
through the basidioma of the polypore Ganoderma
The
pores, some of which are filled with basidiospores, are seen in
longitudinal section. The large hole was made by a ciid beetle which
lays its eggs in the polypore. (M. Blackwell)
2. Antennopsis:
a minute conidial fungus known only on termites (SEM)
(M.
Blackwell)
3. Septobasidium:
a basidiomycete, parasitizes a few aphids while providing
a
home for most of the colony
(M.
Blackwell)
4. Laboulbenia
on a legionary ant, Eciton
The
many species of Laboulbeniales are obligate parasites of insects, mites,
and a few millipedes. (M. Blackwell)
5. Pyxidiophora
perithecia, one of which (in the center) has exuded the
ascospores
of a single ascus
(M.
Blackwell)
6. Pyxyidiophora
perithecia
Higher
magnification of a perthecium of with ascospores visible at the base
of the perithicium. (M. Blackwell)
7. Pyxidiophora
ascospores
Ascospores
of Pyxidiophora species develop a dark holdfast region which
attaches to mites and insets. The dark spots on the mite are the holdfasts.
(M. Blackwell)
8. Anamorphs
of Pyxidiophora
Anamorphs
of Pyxidiophora developed directly from ascospores on mite
ventral surface. Notice dark holdfasts and beginning of conidium
production. (M. Blackwell)
II. Chytridiomycetes
10. Synchytriumpapillatum
infection induces production of a red pigment
by
the desert plant
Erodiumcicutarium.
(R.L. Gilbertson)
11. Rhizophidium
on pine pollen
(R.L.
Gilbertson)
12. Phlyctochytrium
rhizomycelium
(M.
Blackwell)
13. Phlyctochytrium
zoospores within a zoosporangium
(M.
Blackwell)
14. Gametangia
of Allomyces
The
larger female gametes are being released from one female gametangium;
the male gametangia are terminal in this species. (M. Blackwell)
15. Resting
sporangium of Allomyces
Showing
the pitted pigmented cell wall. (M. Blackwell)
III. Ascomycetes
16. Developing
asci of Balansia epichloe, an endophyte of grasses
Ascongonial
hyphae with crozirs are visible. Giemsa stain showing nuclei
in deep blue. (J.P. Jones)
17. Young
ascus with four of eight ascospores visible in the section (TEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
18. Ascus
slightly older than slide 17. Note thicker ascospore walls (TEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
19. Ascus
with mature ascospores with ornamental walls (TEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
20. Immature
tailed ascospores in an ascus (Echinopodospora)
(J.P.
Jones)
21. Muriform
ascospores at tip of "Jack-in-the-box" ascus (Leptosphaerulina)
(M.
Blackwell)
22. Sordaria
crossover experiment
Results
of an experiment on meiotic crossover using ascospore color as a
genetic marker (Sordaria). (M. Blackwell)
23. Taphrina
deformans
Showing
early stages of infection of peach leaves; the disease is call peach
leaf curl and the symptoms are brought about partly by fungus production
of plant growth regulators. (J.P. Jones)
24. Cleistothecia
of a powdery mildew of lilac leaves
The
fungus reproduces asexually until late summer when it forms
appendaged ascomata. (M. Blackwell)
25. Crushed
cleistothecium (as in slide 24)
Asci
containing four ascospore have been released. (M. Blackwell)
26. Stromata
with pertithecia of the fungal endophyte Atkinsonelli on the grass
Danthonia
Endophytes
grow between the plant cells, and some convey insect resistance to the
plants. (J.P. Jones)
27. Tuber,
a truffle that grows in an obligate association with some tree species
These
ascomata are derived apothecia of the hypogenan fungus. Cut ascomata
show the convoluted hymenial area. (J.P. Jones)
28. The
Cylindrocarpon
asexual stage of Calonectria showing nuclei
(
J.P. Jones)
29. Helicosporium
is names for its coiled conidia
(J.P.
Jones)
30. Mycelium
and developing conidiophores of Aspergillus nidulans (SEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
31. Nematode
trapped by a conidium-producing mycelium
The
nematode is held by fungus nooses and eventually digested. The fungus
thus supplements its nitrogen supply. (E. McGawley)
IV. Basidiomycetes
32. Mycelium
of a wood decaying basidiomycete
Notice
the droplets of exudate produced by the mycelium. This mycelium
also produces extracellular enzymes that help to digest the cell walls
of the
wood. (M. Blackwell)
33. Dolipore
septum
An
elaborate septal pore structure, the dolipore septum, is characteristic
of
the mycelium of most basidiomycetes. (C.W. Mims)
34. Developing
basidia and basidiospores
This
type of sexual reproduction is the hallmark of the basidiomycetes.
(C.W. Mims)
35. Amanita
muscaria mushrooming through soil beneath a pine tree
These
ectomycorrhizal fungi are also known for producing hallucinogenic
compounds.
36. Ectomycorrhizae formed by a basidiomycete and Helianthanum
37. Basidiome
of the polypore, Laetiporus sulphureus
This
fungus decays living trees by selectively degrading cellulose from
the wood cell walls and leaving behind brown lignin residue. This type
of decay is known as brown rot. (M. Blackwell)
38. Inonotus
dryadeus
Inonotus
dryadeus produces
golden droplets that appear to have antibiotic
activity against certain bacteria. This photograph was taken at night when
slugs feed upon the basidiome tissue. Basidiospores are produced in pores
on the underside of this root rot basidiomycete.
39. Rust
life cycle
In
addition to the more familiar mushrooms and polypores, many other
fungi produce basidia. One such group is the rust fungi that are parasites
of plants. Rusts have complex life cycles, some involving two unrelated
host plants and a variety of spore types besides basidiospores, as shown
in the diagram. (C.W. Mims)
40. Urediniospores
of a rust (SEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
41. Mass
of rust teliospores (SEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
42. Higher
magnification of rust teliospores in slide 41 (SEM)
(C.W.
Mims)
