Teleomorph and Anamorph Relationships in Marine Ascomycetes (Halosphaeriaceae)

Studies of the halosphaeriaceous fungi revealed six teleomorph-anamorph relationships: Corollospora pulchella - Clavariopsis bulbosa, Corollospora luteola - Sigmoidea luteola, Corollospora intermedia - Varicosporina sp., Halosphaeria mediosetigera - Trichocladium achrasporum, Halosphaeria cucullata – Periconia prolifica and Lindra obtusa - Anguillospora marina. A number of characters have been used in the taxonomy of the Halosphaeriaceae. Recently, particular attention has been devoted to ascospore appendage ontogeny. ln this paper we examine ascospore ontogeny, conidial development of anamorphs and the peridial structure of the ascocarps. The latter, along with ascospore appendage ontogeny, have been found to be stable characters and can be used in the separation of genera within the Halosphaeriaceae. In addition, the geographical distribution of several marine fungi was found to be related to their morphs as follows; those strains with only teleomorphs are distributed in the lower temperature regions, those with anamorphs only in the higher temperature regions while those with teleomorphs and anamorphs are distributed in the intermediate regions. Seasonal alternation of morphs was also observed in C. intermedia; the teleomorph occurring predominantly during the winter and the anamorph during spring through to the autumn.