Comparative Studies on the Septal Development in Ascobolaceae and Ciliarieae (Humariaceae)

Abstract

The septal structure at ascal base in the Ascobolaceae and the tribe of Ciliarieae(Humariaceae sensu Rifai) has a very similar hemispherical band as Otideae (Humariaceae). However, the septal structures of these three groups of cup fungi show different types of septal development, namely ascoboloid-, scutellinioid-, and otideoid-type. Species showing the same types of septal structures in the pores of mature asci, but exhibiting transitional differences in their early development stages , indicate a possible monophyletic origin of these groups. The study of septal development may be potentially of great use in the study of phylogeny in the Pezizales.