Hypomyces hyalinus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hypomyces hyalinus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Hypocreales |
| Family: | Hypocreaceae |
| Genus: | Hypomyces |
| Species: | H. hyalinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypomyces hyalinus (Schwein.) Tul. & C. Tul. | |
Hypomyces hyalinus is a species of parasitic fungi that attacks fungi of the genus Amanita.
The earliest recording of this parasite was in 1822 in Salem, North Carolina,[1] but microscopic descriptions of H. hyalinus do not appear in the literature until 1886.[2]
Description
Host
Hypomyces hyalinus is a host-specific pathogen which exclusively attacks species of the genus Amanita,[3] which is famous for containing some of the most toxic mushrooms in the world.
Hypomyces hyalinus specifically attaches to the basidiocarp on the sporocarp (fruiting body) of the fungus.[4]
Effects
The parasitic effects of H. hyalinus thoroughly disfigures its host and in the absence of a nearby healthy specimen it can be impossible to determine the identity of the host in the field.[3]
Infection often covers the host mushroom preventing the expansion of the pileus (cap) and causing the pileus to deform and fuse to the stipe (stalk).[3] As a consequence of this, the gills of the mushroom are also destroyed and the fruiting body dies without dispersing spores.[3]
Reproduction and life cycle
The life cycle for H. hyalinus is not currently completely understood.[4][3] The life cycle of fungi in the division Ascomycota generally alternates between an asexual stage and a sexual stage respectively termed the anamorph stage and the teleomorph stage. Each of these stages contains intermediary steps that vary depending on the species.
Anamorph
Although anamorphs have been observed in some samples of H. hyalinus, there in no consistently identifiable connection H. hyalinus and an anamorph.[4]
Teleomorph
The teleomorph of H. hyalinus is observable and can be identified. A teleomorphic structure called the subiculum covers the fruiting body of the host, resulting in destruction of the host's gills and inability of the host to expand its pileus.[3]
Another teleomorphic structure, the perithecia, forms throughout the subiculum with pores facing outward to facilitate the release of ascospores into the environment.[4] Despite this, researchers have not been able to associate any specific ascospore with H. hyalinus.[4]
Distribution
Hypomyces hyalinus has a large geographic distribution and has been recorded in Eastern Canada, throughout the northern United States as well as the southeast U.S., and Eastern Asia including China.[4]
