A Reclassification of the Genus Pericystis Betts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The generic name Ascosphaera is proposed as a substitute for Pericystis of the fungi, the latter name having been applied much earlier to a genus of red algae. Accordingly, new combinations are made for the two known species Ascosphaera apis.(Pericystis a. Maassen ex Claussen) the cause of "chalk brood" of honey-bees in Europe; and A. alyei (P. a Betts) found on pollen in beehives in Great Britain. The two species are redescribed and two varieties of A. apis are recognized, namely A. apis var. apis and A. apis var. major. the latter having larger spore cysts and spores than the former. The genus is placed in a newly described family Ascophaerac. which in turn is placed in the Plectascales of the Ascomycetes. A. apis (and probably A. alvei) is morphologically heterothallic, the male mycelium producing ascogonia, each with nutriocyte and trichogyne. The trichogyne functions both in plasmogamy and as a female gametangium. An ascogenous hypha develops from the trichogyne into the nutriocyte and proliferates there to form numerous croziers and asci. The asci become clustered into a number of groups which are later recognized as spore balls within the nutriocyte.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: