Hi Dieter,

This looks to me like an immature ascomycete.  The chain-like cells may be the sort of paraphyses produced by species of the Microascaceae or Melanospora.  If it developed so well in your cooling room, maybe you should just give it time to mature there.

Dave

Aha, that's the reason! What time range are we speaking of? Because the ascomata are already a few weeks there.

If it is a species of Microascus it might be very slow.  Some of my cultures have matured only after six months or more.  Other species may be mature in three or four weeks.

I have attached a copy of my paper on Microascus caviariformis, which illustrates the chain-like paraphyses typical of the family.

Beginning asci? I hope so!

Those look like immature asci to me, but they are still very young.  Progress!

I think I have spores! A few weeks ago I decided to take it out of the cold room, since there was no progress anymore, looks like the risk was worth it. I only don't see the asci. Broken because of the pressure I put on the cover glass?

Nobody suggestions? I will change the topic to Microascaceae

Anybody with keys, suggestions or something? Can't find asci. I think I crush them under my slide...

Dieter

Hi Dieter..

I apologize for not replying to your message in May.  I was away on holiday and did not have access to the internet.

Your collection is definitely a species of Microascus.  The ascospores resemble those of M. longirostris, a species found in a variety of habitats.  Microascus longirostris has quite small ascospores, only about 3-4 X 2.5 µm, so if yours are larger it is probably some other species.  Precise identification requires studying pure cultures, mainly because the anamorphs are important.  These may be Scopulariopsis, Cephalotrichum (Doratomyces), Trichurus, Wardomyces and perhaps others.  If you have access to Petri dishes and culture media you could probably still germinate the ascospores.

There is a key to species in Arx, J.A.,M.J.Figueras and J.Guarro: Sordariaceous Ascomycetes without Ascospore Ejaculation. 1988.  Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 94, but I do not have a pdf to send you.  An older paper by Barron in Canadian Journal of Botany 39: 1609-1631 (1961) has good illustrations and a key to species.

I hope this helps.

Dave

Yes, I do have access to petri dishes. What kind of medium do I have to use specific? As many details as nescessary are welcome! I never did this before. How do I put the spores on the medium? And the most important thing, is there a way to avoid contamination?

Thanks!
Dieter

Spore dimensions: 4,5-6 x 2,5-3 µm

Hi Dieter,

Making a culture of your Microascus is possible but perhaps difficult.  We have fairly good results growing these on DPYA (dextrose-peptone-yeast agar).  I have included a formula for this on my web site at http://website.nbm-mnb.ca/mycologywebpages/Moulds/Cultivation.html.  Most Microascaceae grow well when the carbon/nitrogen ratio is fairly low as in DPYA.  The antibiotics, oxgall and sodium propionate help to control contaminants when making isolations from field material.  If you cannot get all of these just use the ones you have .  After you obtain a pure culture you can grow it on DPYA without the inhibitors.  Keep the incubation temperature low; 10-18° C if possible; this will help to keep Trichoderma from destroying your culture.

To make the isolation you must clean the surface of a perithecium without breaking its peridium.  I do this by gently pushing one prithecium over and through the agar medium until it seems to be entirely clean.  Use a dissecting microscope for this operation.  When it is quite clean transfer the perithecium to a new dish and break its peridium to release the ascospores.  When the spores come out, transfer them to another part of the plate and spread them out over the agar surface.  If they are still alive they should germinate within 1-3 days.

Good luck!

Dave

Hi Dave,

Sorry for not replying on this but at that time I did not had time to go deeper into this. Recently I found these fruitbodies again on Laetiporus!!! These should be the asci I suppose? I will try to follow up these fruitbodies. :)

Dieter