Zwackhiomyces

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Genus of fungi

title: "Zwackhiomyces" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["xanthopyreniaceae", "taxa-named-by-josef-hafellner", "lichenicolous-fungi", "taxa-described-in-1990"] description: "Genus of fungi" topic_path: "general/xanthopyreniaceae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwackhiomyces" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of fungi ::

| image = | image_caption = | taxon = Zwackhiomyces | authority = Grube & Hafellner (1990) | type_species = Zwackhiomyces coepulonus | type_species_authority = (Norman) Grube & R.Sant. (1990) | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = *Zwackhiomyces Grube & Triebel (1989)

Zwackhiomyces is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi in the family Xanthopyreniaceae.

Taxonomy

The genus was circumscribed by Martin Grube and Josef Hafellner in 1990, with Zwackhiomyces coepulonus assigned as the type species. The name Zwackhiomyces honours the German mycologist Philipp Franz Wilhelm von Zwackh-Holzhausen (1826–1903).

Zwackhiomyces was established to accommodate several lichenicolous fungi previously classified within the collective genus Didymella. The establishment of this new genus was based on several distinguishing morphological characteristics, particularly the structure of the , asci, and , which set it apart from Didymella and related genera. The genus was placed in the family Arthopyreniaceae within the Dothideales. When first described, the genus included nine species, all of which are parasitic or parasymbiotic on lichens containing green algae as . Three species were described as new: Z. euplocinus, Z. inconspicuus, and Z. sphinctriniformis. The remaining species were new combinations transferred from other genera:

The genus is distinguished from the related genus Didymellopsis by differences in wall texture, structure, spore wall construction, and host selection. While morphologically similar to some other lichenicolous genera like Arthopyrenia, Stigmidium, and Cercidospora, Zwackhiomyces exhibits unique combinations of characters in its ascomatal structure and development.

Description

Zwackhiomyces is a genus of fungi that grows parasitically or parasymbiotically (living in close association, sometimes harmfully) on lichens, particularly those containing green algae as their photosynthetic partner. The fungus produces several distinctive microscopic structures that define the genus. The fungus forms small, dark reproductive structures called , which range from 75 to 250 micrometres (μm) in diameter. These structures are typically pear-shaped to spherical and may be either partially or completely embedded in the host lichen's tissue. The outer surface appears black and may be either matte or slightly glossy. The wall () of the fruiting body is brown in colour and distinctively constructed, with pigments concentrated primarily in the spaces between cells (intracellular spaces). At the fruiting body's apex, these pigments form characteristic fine . The wall cells themselves are rounded and may compress against each other, creating a distinctive texture.

Inside the fruiting bodies, the fungus produces spore-bearing sacs called asci, which are cylindrical in shape and relatively rigid in structure. Each ascus typically contains 4, 6, or 8 spores and is equipped with a special opening mechanism () that helps release the spores. The asci are surrounded by thread-like sterile filaments called . These filaments are branched and interconnected, embedded in a gel-like matrix, and relatively stiff in texture. They measure about 6–10 μm long and 1–2 μm wide. The spores () are colourless (hyaline) and divided into two cells by a cross-wall (septum). They often show a fine warty surface texture and are usually asymmetrical, with the upper cell being larger and more rounded than the lower cell. The spores typically measure 11–27 μm in length.

When treated with certain laboratory stains, the fungal structures show characteristic reactions. The spore-bearing tissue turns reddish-brown with iodine, while the fungal threads (hyphae) and spore sacs often turn reddish-violet when treated with methylene blue. The warty spore surfaces may turn blue when treated with lactophenol blue stain.

Species

As accepted by Species Fungorum;

References

References

  1. "Zwackhiomyces - Search Page". Species Fungorum.
  2. Brackel, W. von. (2008). "''Zwackiomyces echinulatus'' sp. nov. and other lichenicolous fungi from Sicily, Italy". Herzogia.
  3. (2007). "''Zwackhiomyces cervinae'', a new lichenicolous fungus (Xanthopyreniaceae) on ''Acarospora'', with a key to the known species of the genus". The Lichenologist.
  4. (2009). "''Zwackhiomyces namibiensis'', a new lichenicolous ascomycete (Xantho-pyreniaceae) on Psorotichia from Namibia". Herzogia.
  5. (2009). "Biodiversity and Ecology of Lichens – Liber Amicorum Harrie Sipman". J. Cramer in der Gebrüder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung.
  6. (1990). "Studien an flechtenbewohnenden Pilzen der Sammelgattung ''Didymella'' (Ascomycetes, Dothideales)". Nova Hedwigia.
  7. (2009). "New lichenicolous fungi from Turkey". Nova Hedwigia.
  8. (2006). "Lichenicolous fungi described from Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands by Carroll W. Dodge (1895–1988)". Antarctic Science.
  9. Hertel, Hannes. (2012). "Gattungseponyme bei Flechten und Lichenicolen Pilzen". J. Cramer.
  10. (2021). "Distribution and diversity of lichenicolous fungi from western Himalayan Cold Deserts of India, including a new ''Zwackhiomyces'' species". Sydowia.
  11. (2017). "''Zwackhiomyces polischukii'' sp. nov., and other noteworthy lichenicolous fungi from Ukraine". Polish Botanical Journal.
  12. (2011). "''Zwackhiomyces turcicus'' sp. nov. (Ascomycota, Xanthopyreniaceae) from Turkey". Mycotaxon.
  13. (1995). "Some Peltigericolous fungi and lichens mainly from Poland". Graphis Scripta.
  14. (2011). "A new species of ''Zwackhiomyces'' (Xanthopyreniaceae, Ascomycota) growing on ''Austroparmelina'' from Australia". Nova Hedwigia.
  15. (2018). "New or interesting records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Suriname, with descriptions of eight new species.".
  16. (2014). "New records of lichenicolous fungi and lichenicolous lichens from the Iberian Peninsula, with the description of four new species and one new genus". Opuscula Philolichenum.
  17. (2020). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa". Mycosphere.

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xanthopyreniaceaetaxa-named-by-josef-hafellnerlichenicolous-fungitaxa-described-in-1990