Abstract
The ustilaginaceous fungi, traditionally synonymous with the smuts, now include recent taxa derived from the yeasts. Although generally placed next to the rusts, these fungi only superficially resemble the Uredinales-the resistant cell, here termed a ustospore, is not a teliospore and its one or more germ hyphae bear somatic sporidia, not meiotically derived basidiospores. Examination of the ultrastructure of a number of species shows the septa to be basidiomycetously layered but with pores lacking a dolipore/parenthesome complex. Further, inLeucosporidium andRhodosporidium, in which the clamps also have simple pores, the electron microscopic observations admit the interpretation that the ustospore is an encysted proascus. Because the characteristics of these fungi do not allow them to be satisfactorily included among either the Ascomycota or the Basidiomycota, it is proposed to accommodate them in a new taxon of equal rank, the Division Ustomycota.
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Grateful acknowledgement is made to the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Zuiver Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (ZWO) for their support of this research. It is also a particular pleasure to thank Professor J. G. H. Wessels and Dr. N. J. W. Kreger-van Rij for their hospitality and to extend my appreciation to the Laboratory of Ultrastructural Biology for use of facilities. A particular note of gratitude is made to Hans Cappon for the preparation of the drawings. This study was made during a leave of absence from North Carolina State University.
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Moore, R.T. Ustomycota, a new division of higher fungi. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 38, 567–584 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02328123
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02328123