Fungalpedia – Note 3290, Sordariomycetes

 

Sordariomycetes O.E. Erikss. & Winka, Myconet 1(1): 10 (1997).

Citation when using this data: Wijayawardene NN et al. 2024 – Fungalpedia.

Index Fungorum, Faceoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.

Classification: Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Dikarya, Fungi.

Notes: The class Sordariomycetes, one of the largest classes of the phylum Ascomycota was introduced by Eriksson and Winka (1997). Nevertheless, previous exceptional studies by Barr (1983, 1987, 1990) and Eriksson and Hawksworth (1986, 1993) provided a comprehensive background for the classification of these unitunicate fungi. Classification of sexually typified genera in Sordariomycetes was provided along with the Phylum Ascomycota by Lumbsch and Huhndorf (2007, 2010). 

Hyde et al. (2011) made the first attempt at compiling asexually typified genera of the kingdom Fungi and listed the genera and morphologically doubtful genera (like genera) according to their ‘natural classification’. After completion, Hyde et al. (2011) provided the asexually typified genera in Sordariomycetes, and subsequent studies by Wijayawardene et al. (2012, 2017b, 2022b) updated the lists with the notes, and Wijayawardene et al. (2021b) provided the entries for all pleomorphic genera in Sordariomycetes. Maharachchikumbura et al. (2015) provide the first attempts at assembling both sexually and asexually typified genera, along with morphology and DNA sequence-based phylogenies. Hongsanan et al. (2017) provided the divergence time estimates for the various orders and families in the class. Hyde et al. (2020) is the latest study that provides a comprehensive background on the taxonomy of the genera and the higher-level classification of Sordariomycetes. 

Sordariomycetes have been recognized with six subclasses i.e. Hypocreomycetidae, Sordariomycetidae and Xylariomycetidae (Eriksson and Winka 1997), Diaporthomycetidae, Lulworthiomycetidae (Maharachchikumbura et al. 2016), and Savoryellomycetidae (Hongsanan et al. 2017). 

Many members of Sordariomycetes have been reported as pleomorphic taxa (Kirk et al. 2008). Thus, it was proposed to adopt one name (between two generic names) when the links between the morphs are confirmed. Rossman et al. (2015b) and Réblová et al. (2016) are important publications that deal with the recent nomenclatural changes.

Type order: Sordariales Chadef. ex D. Hawksw. & O.E. Erikss., Syst. Ascom. 5(1): 182 (1986).

Type family: Sordariaceae G. Winter [as ‘Sordarieae’], Rabenh. Krypt.-Fl., Edn 2 (Leipzig) 1.2: 162 (1885).

Type genus: Sordaria Ces. & De Not., Comm. Soc. crittog. Ital. 1(fasc. 4): 225 (1863).

Type species: Sordaria fimicola (Roberge ex Desm.) Ces. & De Not. 1863.

Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Sordariomycetes.

 

Figure 1 – Morphological features of different taxa in Sordariomycetes. a Stromata of Xylaria sp. b stromata of Collodiscula sp. c Stromata of Daldinia sp. d Stromata of Xylaria bambusicola. e Fruiting bodies of Nectria pseudotrichia. f Fruiting bodies of Eutypa linearis. g Stromata of Xylaria sp. h Fruiting bodies of Astrocystis mirabilis. i Longitudinal section of the fruiting bodies of Daldinia bambusicola. j, k Longitudinal section of Eutypa linearis. l, m Longitudinal section of Arthrinium longistromum. n Longitudinal section of Leptosporella bambusae. o Longitudinal section of perithecium of Anthostomella sp. p Longitudinal section of Daldinia bambusicola. q Longitudinal section of perithecium of Lopadostoma sp. r Longitudinal section of perithecium of Fasciatispora sp. s Longitudinal section of perithecium of Nigropunctata sp. t Conidia arrangement of Pleurophragmium bambusinum. u Ascus of Reticulosphaeria sp. v Ascus of Xylaria sp. w Ascus of Fasciatispora sp. x Ascus of Pemphidium sp. y Ascus of Nigropunctata sp. z Ascus of Collodiscula sp. aa Ascus of Arecophila sp. bb Ascus of Eutypella sp. cc Ascus of Arthrinium rasikravindrae. dd Ascus of Leptosporella bambusae. ee Ascospore of Collodiscula sp. ff Ascospore Spirodecospora sp. gg Ascospore Anthostomella sp. hh Ascospore Reticulosphaeria sp. ii Ascospore Durotheca sp. jj Ascospore Pseudomassaria sp. kk Ascospore of Pleurophragmium bambusinum. ll Ascospore of Cytospora sp. mm Ascospore of order Diaporthales sp. nn Ascospore of Arthrinium sp. oo Conidia of Arthrinium yunnanum. pp Ascospore of Pustulomyces bambusicola.

 

References

Barr ME. 1983 – The ascomycetes connection. Mycologia 75:1–13

Barr ME. 1987 – Prodromus to class Loculoascomycetes. Newell, Amherst

Barr ME. 1990 – Prodromus to nonlichenized, pyrenomycetous members of class Hymenoascomycetes. Mycotaxon 39:43–184.

Eriksson O, Hawksworth DL. 1993 – Outline of the Ascomycetes— 1993. Syst Ascomycetum 12:1–257.

Eriksson OE, Hawksworth DL. 1986 – Notes on ascomycete systematics. Nos 1–224. Syst Ascomycetum 5:113–174.

Eriksson OE, Winka W. 1997 – Supraordinal taxa of Ascomycota. Myconet. 1:1–16.

Hongsanan S, Maharachchikumbura SS, Hyde KD, Samarakoon MC et al. 2017 – An updated phylogeny of Sordariomycetes based on phylogenetic and molecular clock evidence. Fungal Divers 84:25–41.

Hyde KD, McKenzie EHC, KoKo TW. 2011 – Towards incorporating anamorphic fungi in a natural classification – checklist and notes for 2010. Mycosphere 2:1–88.

Lumbsch HT, Huhndorf SM. 2007 – Outline of Ascomycota – 2007. Myconet 13:1–58.

Lumbsch HT, Huhndorf SM. 2010 – Myconet Volume 14. Part one. Outline of Ascomycota – 2009. Part Two. Notes on Ascomycete Systematics. Nos. 4751–5113. Fieldiana Life Earth Science 1:1–64.

Maharachchikumbura SS, Hyde KD, Jones EG, McKenzie EH et al. 2015 – Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Sordariomycetes. Fungal Divers 72:199–301.

Rossman AY, Crous PW, Hyde KD, Hawksworth DL et al. 2015b – Recommended names for pleomorphic genera in Dothideomycetes. IMA fungus 6:507–523.

Wijayawardene DNN, McKenzie EHC, Hyde KD. 2012 – Towards incorporating anamorphic fungi in a natural classification–checklist and notes for 2011. Mycosphere 3:157–228. 

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Anand G, Dissanayake LS et al. 2021b – Towards incorporating asexually reproducing fungi in the natural classification and notes for pleomorphic genera. Mycosphere 12:238–405.

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Tibpromma S, Wanasinghe DN et al. 2017b – Towards incorporating asexual fungi in a natural classification: checklist and notes 2012–2016. Mycosphere 8(9):1457–1555. 

Wijayawardene NN, Phillips AJ, Pereira DS, Dai DQ et al. 2022b – Forecasting the number of species of asexually reproducing fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota). Fungal Divers 114(1):463–490.

 

Entry by

Nalin N. Wijayawardene, Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan 655011, P.R. China, Tropical Microbiology Research Foundation, 96/N/10, Meemanagoda Road, 10230 Pannipitiya, Sri Lanka, Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University, Sri Lanka

 

Published online 25 September 2026

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