THALASSIOMYCETES: VI. COMPARATIVE GROWTH STUDIES OF LINDRA THALASSIAE AND LIGNICOLOUS ASCOMYCETE SPECIES

Abstract

Physiological studies of Lindra thalassiae Orpurt et al., a scolecosporous pyrenomycete infecting leaves of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum König), have demonstrated the stimulating effect of leaf tissue on fungal reproduction. The fungus does not sporulate on wood under field and laboratory conditions. In contrast, Thalassia leaves are an ineffective substrate for reproduction by various lignicolous marine Ascomycetes common in Biscayne Bay, Florida. L. thalassiae shows a euryhaline growth response in the mycelial stage, but requires higher concentrations of seawater for maximal reproduction. Thiamine and biotin, in conjunction with gas-sterilized leaf sections, support fungal reproduction. The vitamin combination can be replaced by additions of natural plant materials to culture media. It has been shown that maturation of the reproductive structure rather than vegetative growth alone is a more valid criterion for differentiation of physiological characteristics of L. thalassiae and lignicolous species.