Mycosphaerellaceae

Mycosphaerellaceae is a family of fungi in the order Capnodiales. The family is large and diverse, with species that are found in a variety of habitats worldwide. Many species are plant pathogens, causing diseases in a wide range of host plants.

Taxonomy

The family Mycosphaerellaceae was first described by the mycologist Hans Sydow in 1915. The family is part of the order Capnodiales, in the class Dothideomycetes, division Ascomycota. The family includes several genera, including Mycosphaerella, Septoria, and Ramularia.

Description

Species in the Mycosphaerellaceae are typically filamentous fungi, forming a mycelium of hyphae. The hyphae produce conidia, which are asexual spores. The conidia are typically borne on conidiophores, which are specialized hyphae. Many species produce characteristic fruiting bodies, or ascocarps, which contain the sexual spores, or ascospores.

Ecology and distribution

Mycosphaerellaceae species are found in a wide range of habitats worldwide. Many species are plant pathogens, causing diseases in a wide range of host plants. Some species are also found in soil, or on decaying plant material.

Economic importance

Many species in the Mycosphaerellaceae are of economic importance as plant pathogens. They cause diseases in a wide range of crops, including cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Some species, such as Mycosphaerella graminicola, cause significant yield losses in wheat crops.

See also

• List of Mycosphaerellaceae genera
• Fungal plant pathogens and diseases