89 - Tilletiaria Bandoni & Johri

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Tilletiaria genus and its member species. Hyphae in this genus are septate, narrow, hyaline, and monokaryotic with retraction septa. Septal pores are primitive dolipores without parenthesomes and ballistoconidia are allantoid and falcate, and formed on sterigmata. Teliospores occur intercalarily or terminally, and are echinulate, brown, and germinate with 1–4-celled basidia. The sole member species of this genus is Tilletiaria anomala. The hyphae of this species, after undergoing growth on 5% malt extract agar for 7 days at 25° C are narrow, and usually largely lysed with retraction septa, and with lateral sterigmata. Chlamydospores are subglobose to ellipsoidal and brown and the colonies are firm to tough, pruinose, dull dark grayish-brown, and with the margin entire or eroded. Teliospores are subglobose, brown, echinulate, somewhat thick-walled, and with spines. Germination of teliospores occurs when transferred to water agar forming 1-–4-celled basidia, which form ballistospores.