Paraliomyces lentiferus: an ultrastructural study of a little-known marine ascomycete

Abstract

A collection of Paraliomyces lentiferus from Taiwan, Republic of China, is compared with that of the type description and examined at both scanning and transmission electron microscope levels as part of our review of the taxonomy of the marine Ascomycotina. Particular attention was devoted to the structure of the ascospore appendage. The ascospore wall comprises a mesosporium, an episporium, and a mucilaginous sheath (exosporium?) In addition, there is a single, gelatinous, lateral appendage adjacent to the central septum. The appendage comprises electron-opaque fibrils that in immature ascospores are connected to the ascospore wall via fine electron-opaque strands and larger electron-opaque aggregates of material. The origin of the appendage is discussed. Key words: ascospore, attachment, marine ascomycete, scanning electron microscopy, spore appendage, transmission electron microscopy.