Development of the Ascocarp of Anthracobia melaloma

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Abstract
A. melaloma is a small operculate discomycete, found most frequently on burnt wood. It grows and fruits readily in pure culture. The species is heterothallic. Archicarps are produced by both mating types when these are grown separately. Antheridia cannot be distinguished, except when they are in contact with a trichogyne. Plasmogamy is effected by the coiling of the tip of the trichogyne around an antheridial hypha. One cell of the antheridial hypha swells until it is almost spherical. The walls between this swollen cell (the antheridium) and the trichogyne break down, permitting the interchange of nuclei and cytoplasm. The use of a combination of 3 previously published techniques, 2 on slide culture work and 1 on staining, afforded an excellent opportunity to observe early stages of ascocarp development. The ascogonium in the central portion of the archicarp consists of cells which are much larger than those of the tapering and more distal trichogyne. The ascogonial cells give rise to ascogenous hyphae. Many nuclei migrate from the ascogonium into the elongating ascogenous hyphae, and septation of these hyphae occurs[long dash]apparently at random with reference to the number and kinds of nuclei present. Asci develop from lateral branches of this hyphae. The proximal cells or stalk cells are similar to the ascogonial cells, but these give rise to the sterile portion of the ascocarp. Broad hyphae developing from the stalk cells give rise to cortex, paraphyses, and hairs. Marginal development of additional sterile elements is the result of sympodial growth of certain of the less differentiated sterile hyphae as described by Corner (1929).