FibulobasidiumBandoni (1979)

This chapter discusses the genus Fibulobasidium. It provides a systematic discussion of the species and concludes with comments on the genus. The diagnosis of the genus is done on the basis of asexual, sexual, physiology and biochemistry, and phylogenetic placement. In asexual reproduction the haploid yeast state arises at germination of large, passively released basidiospores (i.e., statismospores) or, for F.inconspicuum and F.sirobasidioides, from ballistoconidia produced by the basidiospores at germination, or by budding of special conidiogenous cells, or sometimes basidia. Haploid blastoconidia develop on hyphae of the basidiocarp in F.murrhardtense, a species in which ballistoconidia are not known. Relatively few collections have been examined of any species, and both ballistoconidia and blastoconidia might be expected to occur in all three known taxa. In sexual reproduction the compatibility system in F.inconspicuum is tetrapolar. Dikaryotic hyphae have clamp connections, but in spite of the close association with probable host fungi in F.inconspicuum and F.sirobasidioides, no haustorial branches have been reported in any of the three species. Basidiocarps are gelatinous in all species; those of the single collection of F.murrhardtense were exposed on decaying wood, as in species of Sirobasidium. In F.inconspicuum and F.sirobasidioides the basidiomes are thus far only known as subcortical forms throughout their development. Basidia are most commonly catenate, with the first terminal and subsequent ones developing by expansion of basal clamp connections of previous basidia rather than from contiguous cells between clamp connections. The basidia are four-celled, with each cell producing a single narrowly clavate to fusiform or Cymbiform sessile statismospore. © 2011