Beiträge von Steve_mt

I had examined the capillitium now. What I believe is the capillitium (not so sure!), consists of hyphae that are very narrow in diameter, 1-2um, jagged and irregular, not-spinulose, with blobs staining dark in congo red appearing like dalmatian spots. The issue here is that I may be seeing hyphae of a parasitic fungus (there are at least three different spores in the mash network, one looking like spores of Penicillium). The spores show some basal reticulation (affining with M. conium).

Would like to get opinions if these are capillitium or a branched micro fungus.

Close up

I should also show you this pic, with the underground mycelium is rather extensive. Scleroderma can also be considered maybe.

Here are the spores, spherical, variable in size, ranging between 10 to 16 um (average 12.2um) covered with distinct spines, up to 2um long, curved, conical and with a broad base like canines. I could not see well the capillitium, possibly decomposed, I would check again carefully if required. I have to mention that the fruiting bodies were about 4cm across (closed) and I don't know if this is too small for M. corium

Mycenastrum corium : love: Thank you. I got a short circuit thinking Sarcophaeria, when I saw the second set of images with flower-shaped dehiscence, I jumped to conclusions and forgot about the Gasteromycete! THANKS ! I try to show you the spores.

Dear mycologists,

I kindly ask for help on this fungus, a Gasteromycte that I found in Malta in March 2021 on calcareous soil in a field with many organic debris of wild plants. It was a dry year with unexpected low rain in mid-January and February. I was suspecting about a Sarcosphaera sp. (coronaria / eximia?) that did not dehisce welI due to arid conditions. There were two other fruiting bodies that did split wide open. I collected the dry fungus and I can perform some further microscopical examination or chemical tests. Thank you.

Thank you Julia for your time and for sharing your expertise

All the best

Stephen

Dear friends.

We have a 100% confirmation from DNA sequencing and genetic matching thanks to the assistance of Uwe Winkler and Dimar Balint. It corresponds to Cortinarius ayanamii A. Ortega, Vila, Bidaud & Llimona

Thank you Julia, investigation solved then. 😎. I have two further questions

1. Am I right to assume that it won't kill the host plant? Infection seems to be effecting only sone florets (5-20%)

2. Is the fungus 'dormant' in the host perennially and then emerges with the inflorescence.

Thank you,

In the meantime I had a look at the spores, and they dont seem particularly interesting although i have a curiosity. The spores are globular with a preipheral rim (thick wall?) and amorphous semi-translucent bodies which I think they are guttulae. The spherical spores had a diameter of 5.0-5.8 um (see details below). Surface smooth sometimes with some eroded portions in the wall. The images are froum spores mounted in an anti-surfactant and KOH (3%).

The curious part is that within the spores mass there were spinulose spores which I judged as doubtfully artifacts/foreign extrinsic matter, but they were definitely in the spore mass extracted from the glume pockets. They were rare (1-2 in 200 spores in one slide, 1-2 in 80 spores in another). They measure about 12um. I thought it is worth mentioning.

Spore measurements

5.28 5.28

4.98 4.72

5.64 4.44

5.24 5.11

5.53 4.68

5.05 4.72

5.02 4.87

4.57 4.42

5.99 5.31

4.76 4.55

5.11 4.79

5.02 5.02

5.19 5.19

5.47 5.10

5.68 5.15

5.99 5.39

5.62 5.09

5.00 4.77

5.19 4.47

4.17 4.05

5.78 4.95

5.57 5.04

5.16 4.90

5.41 5.29

4.97 4.73

5.52 4.94

5.25 5.13

5.13 5.02

6.26 5.55

(4.2) 5 - 5.8 (6.3) × (4.1) 4.5 - 5.3 (5.6) µm

Q = 1 - 1.2 (1.3) ; N = 29

Me = 5.3 × 4.9 µm ; Qe = 1.1

Thank you Stefan for your message and moving the post. I follow this fungal pathogen as much as possible.

Is Julia on this forum or I have to email her?

Thanks

Hi, years ago I found dark rust fungal spore mass inside the inflorescences of Lygeum spartium (Esperanto grass). Some five years later I still see the same infection in the same population. I am curious to investigate. For the moment, I can share only macro features and will hopefully work on the micro tomorrow and try to cultivate on culture media next week.

The dark brown spores only exhibits themselves inside the single floret of the species. Apart from its presence, it also deforms the flowers making it look to have 2-4 florets but it may be that each corresponds to the two glumes, lemma and palea (infection is causing dysplasia). One member (Bjorne) suggested and sp. which is probably correct, but a further resolution to species level is desired

It should be some species of Penicillium.

I revisited the same population and just collected a few infected inflorescences. I post on a fresh topic in the forum. Bjorne, if you want to follow just look in the respective topic-group where I should post this again. I will have a look at the spores tomorrow

https://www.123pilzsuche.de/daten/details/Weisse-Adern-Dachpilz.htm

Pluteus inquilinus - Funghi Non Commestibili o Sospetti - Funghi in Italia - Fiori in Italia - Forum Micologia e Botanica

Inquilinus seems to be a more petite fungus with semi-translucent stipe, and a whiter -> whitish-cream pileus ... but closely related of course. I am just confused/undecided between inquilinus and plautus.

Further comments are welcomed!

I am convinced that it is a washed-out melantina. Thanks a lot for your replies!

Dear friends, sorry for the late reply. I was inquiring and researching the possibilities based on your kind answers. I have found a closely related species of P. inquilinus which often grows on oak forests, hence a pale form of P. plautus. Could this species be considered? I know usually it is medium brown in color, but paler forms are often documented and met in the wild:

Whitish roof mushroom, different colored roof mushroom, velvet-footed roof mushroom, bulbous roof mushroom (PLUTEUS PLAUTUS SYN.PLUTEUS DEPAUPERATUS)

spore:(6.5) 6.8-7.4 (-7.8) x (4.8)5.1-5.9(-7.8)

The link above shows strong similarities!

Pluteus plautus (Weinm.) Gillet 1876 - Funghi Non Commestibili o Sospetti - Funghi in Italia - Fiori in Italia - Forum Micologia e Botanica

Spore 6.6-7.9 x 5.9-7.2 µm; media 7.3 x 6.6 µm; Q = 1.0-1.2; M = 1.1, as a subglobose largamente ellissoidali, lisce, con apicolo, guttulate

This is also valid for terrestrial orchids! Very nice quote from the mycologist.

Zitat von Peter

Hi,

nice that you speak English so well.

There was once the saying of an experienced mycologist (who was also familiar with the publication by HILBER): "Everyone who describes new species should be forced to spend 1 year in an oyster mushroom cultivation facility beforehand. Then not every small change is recorded as a new species. "

regards

Peter

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If you want this sample and other samples from Malta and sometimes Finland - I will help

Not being any mushrooms around, I am trying to re-investigate old collections. I have found this collection in an oak forest (Quercus ilex) which is beige, medium-small (8cm long, pileus 4.5 cm wide). It had a fragile stipe but I don't think it is a Psathyrellaceae for its spores are subglobular and hyaline giving a light cinnamon-brown spore print (but I am aware of how diverse this family is!!!). Gills free. Cheilos present. No ornamentation on the cap, no smell, no volva, no ring, no bruising, no reaction, very boring! Basidia clavate, x4-sporous. Frequent, variable in size, utriform (45-90um long), pleurocystidia rare or absent. Spores 5.1-7.3 x 4.1x5.9 µm, subglobular-pip shaped. 'Hymenoderme of subglobular to broadly oval, slightly angular hyphae with a very short appendiculate peduncle. If I have to guess, I chose the genus pluteus. I don't have an exsiccatum for further investigations

Hi dear friends,

I. wanted to chare this beautiful species and confirm if it is Helvella leucomelanea.

Well done Claudia and many thanks for this forum members and respondents - I am learning a lot!

Oh well, yes for the fact that P./C. melantina is very common in Mslta and grows in similar habitat and habit (with spores matching). I forgot that this particular species have pale spores. I did rehydrate the old specimens in 5%KOH before staining and then cleaning in glycerol/KOH mixture. it is a good suggestion, thanks! I will check more images of this species as probably when photographed in situ they were overmature, wet, and weathering (eroding) away. thanks as always !

Section in Lugol's iodine - spores inamyloid

The spores are ovoid, hyaline, smooth, with an eccentric tiny apiculum. Guttulae not seen and some are kinda broken, maybe because they are old spores(?). I can see variability in size too (9-12um long). If necessary I can test if they are amyloid.

(8.8) 9.2 - 11.4 (12.1) × (4) 5.2 - 6.4 (7.1) µm

Q = (1.5) 1.6-1.9 (2.2); N = 17

Me = 10 x 5.6 µm; Qe = 1.8