Fungalpedia – Note 2576, Microbotryum

 

Microbotryum. Lév.

Citation when using this data: Boonmee S et al. 2021 – Fungalpedia.

Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1

Classification: Microbotryaceae, Microbotryales, Microbotryomycetidae, Microbotryomycetes, Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycota, Fungi 

Notes: In its broad circumscription, Microbotryum comprises 99 species (Denchev and Denchev 2011; Vánky 2011; Piątek et al. 2012, 2013; Denchev et al. 2019; Ziegler et al. 2018; Kemler et al. 2020). During an examination of Polygonum specimens in the herbarium of the Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium (BR), a smut fungus belonging to Microbotryum was found on a specimen of Polygonum polycnemoides (BR, s.n.) from Turkey. Based on distinct morphology and phylogenetic evidence, this fungus is introduced here as a novel species.

Type species: Microbotryum antherarum (DC.) Lév. 1847 (Designated by Pfeiffer, Nomenclator Botanicus (Cassellis) 2: 303. 1873).

Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Microbotryum.

 

 

Figure 1 – Microbotryum polycnemoides (SOMF 30200, holotype). a Habit. b, c Spores in LM (in median and surface view, respectively). d–h Spores in SEM. Scale bars: a = 0.5 cm, b, c = 10 μm, d–g = 5 μm, h = 1 μm.

 

References

Denchev CM, Denchev TT 2011 – New records of smut fungi. 4. Microbotryum coronariae comb nov. Mycotaxon 118:53–56.

Denchev TT, Kemler M, Begerow D, Denchev CM 2019 – Molecular and morphological evidence reveals a new smut fungus, Microbotryum arcticum (Microbotryaceae), on Silene uralensis (Caryophyllaceae) from Greenland and Canada. Willdenowia 49:241–255.

Kemler M, Denchev TT, Denchev CM, Begerow D, Piątek M, Lutz M 2020 – Host preference and sorus location correlate with parasite phylogeny in the smut fungal genus Microbotryum (Basidiomycota, Microbotryales). Mycol Progr 19:481–493.

Piątek M, Lutz M, Kemler M 2013 – Microbotryum silenes-saxifragae sp. nov. sporulating in the anthers of Silene saxifraga in southern European mountains. IMA Fungus 4:29–40.

Piątek M, Lutz M, Ronikier A, Kemler M, Swiderska-Burek U 2012 – Microbotryum heliospermae, a new anther smut fungus parasitic 326 on Heliosperma pusillum in the mountains of the European Alpine System. Fungal Biol 116:185–195.

Vánky K 2011 – [‘2012’] Smut fungi of the world. APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Ziegler R, Lutz M, Piątek J, Piątek M 2018 – Dismantling a complex of anther smuts (Microbotryum) on carnivorous plants in the genus Pinguicula. Mycologia 110:361–374.

 

Entry by

Saranyaphat Boonmee, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand

 

Published online 6 June 2026

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