Conidium ontogeny in hyphomycetes. Development and morphology of Cladobotryum

Abstract

Conidium formation in Cladobotryum variospermum (Link) Hughes is analyzed by time-lapse photomicrography, and a developmental concept of the genus is proposed. We show how this concept can be reconstructed from observations of conidiogenous cells and conidia fixed at various ages. The morphology of conidiogenous cells and conidia of C. mycophilum (Oudem.) W. Gams and Hoozem., and C. dendroides (Bull. per Mérat) W. Gams and Hoozem. is interpreted in terms of development, and comparisons drawn with C. variospermum. We recommend that C. dendroides be excluded from Cladobotryum.