Fungalpedia – Note 1909, Microascaceae

 

Microascaceae Luttr

Citation when using this data: Hyde KD et al. 2020 – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank.

Classification: Microascales, Hypocreomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi

Saprobic and pathogenic on various plants. Sexual morph: Ascomata black, globose cleistothecial or perithecial, superficial to immersed, ostiolate, ampulliform, aggregated to scattered, glabrous or covered with scattered hairs. Ostiole often comprises a neck with variable length and shape, with ostiolar hairs. Peridium thick-walled, dark brown to black, composed of cells of textura angularis or textura intricata. Hamathecium without interascal tissues. Asci 8- spored, globose to barrel-shaped, evanescent, thin-walled, obovate, unitunicate, sessile to short pedicellate, arranged in basipetal rows. Ascospores crowded, aseptate, seriate, pale to dark reddishbrown, asymmetrical, reniform, triangular or quadrangular, dextrinoid when immature, germ pores present, or with germ slits, smooth-walled. Asexual morph: Conidiophores smooth-walled, elongate, macronematous, mononematous or sporodochial to synnematous, with or without rhizoids. Conidiogenous cells short simple or little branched, cylindrical annellides, borne singly or in groups of 2–5 on the vegetative hyphae, ampulliform or lageniform, subhyaline to dark when mature, smooth- to rough-walled. Conidia aseptate, pale yellow to dark brown, obovate or clavate, base truncate and rounded to pointed at the apex, globose to subglobose, smooth thin-walled to finely roughened thick-walled, produced singly or in basipetal dry chains. Presence of solitary conidia in some species, sessile or on short stalks from the vegetative hyphae (adapted from Sandoval-Denis et al. 2016a, Maharachchikumbura et al. 2016b).

Notes: Microascaceae was circumscribed by Luttrell (1951) in Microascales and validated by Malloch (1970) (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2016a, Maharachchikumbura et al. 2016b). It comprises several closely related genera of saprobic, plant and opportunistic human pathogenic fungi (de Hoog et al. 2011, Sandoval-Denis et al. 2013, 2016b, Maharachchikumbura et al. 2016b). Sandoval-Denis et al. (2016a, b) revised and proposed several new taxa and combinations under Microascaceae. Unlike the studies by Issakainen et al. (2003), Sandoval-Denis et al. (2016a) used combined gene (LSU, ITS, tef1 and tub2) phylogenetic analysis and confirmed the polyphyletic nature of the two groups, Microascus and Scopulariopsis. As a result, they reported several uncertain genera which were later resolved in Sandoval-Denis et al. (2016b). For example, Acaulium and Fairmania were circumscribed as a new lineage in Microascaceae (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2016a). In our current revision of Microascaceae, we accommodate 23 genera. Yunnania, Fairmania, Acaulium, Gamsia, and Rhinocladium are the latest additions in the family (Sandoval-Denis et al. 2016a, b, Wijayawardene et al. 2017a, 2018a).

Type species: Microascus Zukal.

 

References

de Hoog GS, Guarro J, Gené J, Figueras MJ. 2011 – Atlas of clinical fungi. CD-ROM version 3.1. CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Luttrell ES. 1951 – Taxonomy of the Pyrenomycetes. University of Missouri Studies 24, 1–120.

Maharachchikumbura SSN, Hyde KD, Jones EBG, McKenzie EHC et al. 2016b – Families of Sordariomycetes. Fungal Diversity 79, 1–317.

Malloch D. 1970 – New concepts in the Microascaceae illustrated by two new species. Mycologia 62, 727–740.

Sandoval-Denis M, Sutton DA, Fothergill AW, Cano-Lira J et al. 2013 – Scopulariopsis, a poorly known opportunistic fungus: spectrum of species in clinical samples and in vitro responses to antifungal drugs. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 51, 3937–3943.

Sandoval-Denis M, Gené J, Sutton DA, Cano-Lira JF et al. 2016a – Redefining Microascus, Scopulariopsis and allied genera. Persoonia 36, 1–36.

Sandoval-Denis M, Gené J, Sutton DA, Wiederhold NP et al. 2016b – New species of Cladosporium associated with human and animal infections. Persoonia 36, 281.

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Lumbsch HT, Liu JK et al. 2018a – Outline of Ascomycota: 2017. Fungal Diversity 88, 167–263.

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Rajeshkumar KC, Hawksworth DL et al. 2017a – Notes for genera: Ascomycota. Fungal Diversity 86, 1–594.

 

Entry by

Kevin David Hyde, Institute of Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Haizhu District, Guangzhou 510225, P.R. China, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, Mushroom Research Foundation, 128 M.3 Ban Pa Deng T. Pa Pae, A. Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, World Agroforestry Centre, East and Central Asia, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China

 

Published online 5 March 2026

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