STUDIES OF COPROPHILOUS ASCOMYCETES: V. SPHAERONAEMELLA FIMIGOLA

Abstract

An emended description of Sphaeronaemella fimicola Marchal refers this species to its proper taxonomic position among the Hypocreaceae, with both perfect and imperfect stages very similar to those of S. helvellae Karsten as described by Seeler. The species, found in nature on dung of various herbivorous animals (rabbit, deer, and cow), is culturable, growing more consistently on V-8 vegetable juice agar than on other media tried, most vigorously in association with other fungi like Aspergillus repens or Microascus sordidus, or with addition of filter-sterilized Czapek's broth in which A. repens had been grown. Fruiting in culture has been erratic; only early transfers from isolations made from field material yielded mature perithecia in pure culture, and then only on V-8 agar; later transfers fruited only in intimate contact with the mycelia of the other two fungi mentioned.