Microthecium japonicum

Microthecium japonicum
scanning electron microscopy of ascospore;
scale bar: 5 μm
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Coronophorales
Family: Ceratostomataceae
Genus: Microthecium
Species:
M. japonicum
Binomial name
Microthecium japonicum
(Y.Horie, Udagawa & P.F.Cannon) Y.Marín, Stchigel, Guarro & Cano (2018)
Synonyms[1]
  • Persiciospora japonica Y.Horie, Udagawa & P.F.Cannon (1986)

Microthecium japonicum is a species of fungus in the family Ceratostomataceae.[2] It was first described as a new species in 1986, as Persiciospora japonica. The species epithet refers to Japan, where the type specimen was collected in 1975.[3] It was reclassified in Microthecium in 2018.[4]

It is distinguished by its ostiolate ascomata (fruiting bodies with a small pore-like opening) and ellipsoid to spindle-shaped (fusiform) ascospores with a pitted, net-like surface pattern. It resembles M. moureai in these general features, but differs in producing a phialidic asexual form and small bulbil-like propagules, which are absent in M. moureai. The spore surface in M. japonicum is also more finely reticulate, whereas M. moureai has a coarser reticulation.[4]

References

  1. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy. Current Name: Microthecium japonicum (Y. Horie, Udagawa & P.F. Cannon) Y. Marín, Stchigel, Guarro & Cano, in Marin-Felix, Guarro, Cano-Lira, García, Miller & Stchigel, MycoKeys 44: 110 (2018)". Species Fungorum. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Microthecium japonicum (Y. Horie, Udagawa & P.F. Cannon) Y. Marín, Stchigel, Guarro & Cano". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  3. ^ Horie, Yoshikazu; Udagawa, Shin-ichi; Cannon, Paul F. (1986). "Four new Japanese species of the Ceratostomataceae (Ascomycetes)". Mycotaxon. 25 (1): 229–245 [233].
  4. ^ a b Marin-Felix, Yasmina; Guarro, Josep; Cano-Lira, José F.; García, Dania; Miller, Andrew N.; Stchigel, Alberto M. (2018). "Melanospora (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) and its relatives". MycoKeys. 44: 81–122. doi:10.3897/mycokeys.44.29742. PMC 6306512. PMID 30598621.