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Biatoropsis Hirtae
''Biatoropsis'' is a genus of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungi of uncertain familial placement in the order Tremellales. It comprises 11 species that parasitise various species in the fruticose lichen genera ''Usnea'' and '' Protousnea''. Taxonomy The genus was circumscribed in 1935 by the Finnish lichenologist Veli Räsänen, who assigned '' Biatoropsis usnearum'' as the type species. The genus remained monospecific for several decades, until research, starting in the 1990s, showed that ''B. usnearum'' represented a species complex. Since then another ten species have been added to the genus. Description ''Biatoropsis'' is a genus of fungi that parasitises lichens (making it lichenicolous). The fungus produces reproductive structures called basidiomata that vary in both shape and colour, with a waxy-gelatinous texture similar to jelly. At a microscopic level, the internal tissue (context) consists of thread-like cells called hyphae that lack specialised connect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Biatoropsis Usnearum
''Biatoropsis usnearum'' is a species of parasitism, parasitic fungus that grows exclusively on lichen species of the genus ''Usnea'', particularly ''Usnea subfloridana, U. subfloridana'', ''Usnea barbata, U. barbata'', and ''Usnea florida, U. florida''. First described in 1934 by Veli Räsänen, it has become a significant model organism in fungal evolution studies due to its specialised host relationships. The fungus belongs to the order Tremellales, though its precise family (biology), family classification remains uncertain. It forms distinctive swellings or galls on its host (biology), host lichens, ranging in colour from pale pink to dark reddish-brown, and notably suppresses the production of host defensive compounds like usnic acid. While initially misclassified due to its unusual characteristics, modern microscopic and molecular phylogenetics, genetic studies have revealed it to be part of a species complex, with at least three additional species now recogn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
