Fungalpedia – Note 589, Zymochalara
Zymochalara Guatim., R.W. Barreto & Crous.
Citation when using this data: Zhang et al. 2025 (in prep.) – Fungalpedia. Ascomycota.
Classification: Pezizellaceae, Helotiales, Leotiomycetidae, Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi , MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1
Based on phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU sequence data, Guatimosim et al. (2016b) introduced a chalara-like genus Zymochalara within Pezizellaceae (Helotiales, Leotiomycetes, Ascomycota) to accommodate two species, Z. cyatheae and Z. lygodii. Both species were reported as frond pathogens on ferns in Brazil (Guatimosim et al. 2016b). Zymochalara species are only known from their sexual state and are characterized by the yeast-like growth of colonies, unbranched, lageniform phialides with pedicellate or apedicellate, endogenous, basipetal, cylindrical and aseptate phialoconidia (Guatimosim et al. 2016b; Wu and Diao 2023). Zymochalara is difficult to distinguish from Chalara sensu lato. based on morphological characteristics. However their phylogenetic position was distinct, and they have different colony growth forms in culture (Guatimosim et al. 2016b; Wu and Diao 2023). Zymochalara species display a yeast-like colony in culture, while the latter exhibits filamentous growth (Guatimosim et al. 2016b).
Type species: Zymochalara cyatheae Guatim., R.W. Barreto & Crous.
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Zymochalara.
Figure 1 – Zymochalara cyatheae. a Colony on the leave of Cyathea delgadii. b conidiophores and conidiogenous cells. c phialoconidia. Scale bars: = 10 μm. Redrawn from Guatimosim et al. (2016b).
References
Wu WP, Diao YZ 2023 – The chalara-like anamorphs of Leotiomycetes. Fungal Diversity 119:213–490.
Entry by
Jing-Yi Zhang, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, 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, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550009, People’s Republic of China.
Published online 11 June 2025