Kathistaceae

Wilson, Megan M., Emam, Amany, Davis, Steven R., Hall, Gene, Barden, Phillip & Ware, Jessica L., 2023, Description of a novel termite ectoparasite, Termitaria hexasporodochia sp. nov. (Kathistaceae), presenting an unusual six-sectioned infestation, and a key to the fungal family Kathistaceae, Phytotaxa 591 (2), pp. 106-124 : 124

Diagnostic key for the Kathistaceae

1. Sexual morph present with sporodiomata ...................................................................................................................................... 10

- Asexual morph present with sporodochium ..................................................................................................................................... 2

2. The production of microconidia and macroconidia appendages ................................................................................ T. cavernosum

- Microconidia produced at conidiogenous locus................................................................................................................................3.

3. Phialide tips echinulate and pigmented ........................................................................................................................... T. coronata

- Phialide tips flat and unpigmented .................................................................................................................................................. 4.

4. Phialides greater than 160 μm in length ................................................................................................................... T. longiphialidis

- Phialides less than 120 μm in length ............................................................................................................................................... 5.

5. Conidia are large; dimensions ~ 8 μm × 4 μm ............................................................................................................ T. macrospora

- Conidia are small; dimensions ~4 μm × 2 μm ................................................................................................................................ 6.

6. Large rhomboid or ellipsoid sporodochia; 5–6 mm in diameter .............................................................................. T. rhombicarpa

- Circular or ellipsoid sporodochia; less than 1 mm in diameter ....................................................................................................... 7.

7. Maximum of 5 conidia per collarette ................................................................................................................................. T. snyderi

- Minimum of 8 conidia per collarette ............................................................................................................................................... 8.

8. Phialides tips exposed at surface of sporodochium and terminate in flaps; phialides are fertile and not arranged into compartments .......................................................................................................................................... T. hexasporodochia sp. nov.

- Phialide tips covered at surface of sporodochium by superficial epihymenium; phialides arranged into sterile and fertile compartments .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9.

9. Sporodochia exhibit a beak-like pycnidium and ostiole and are ellipsoid in shape; conidiogenous locus ~15 μm from base .......... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... M. crustosa

- Sporodochia lack pycnidia and ostiole; sporodochia are stellate or ellipsoid in shape; conidiogenous locus ~ 50 μm from base ..... ........................................................................................................................................................................................... M. silvestri

10. 4 ascospores produced in ascus ........................................................................................................................... Kathistes fimbriata

- 8 ascospores produced in ascus ........................................................................................................................................................11

11. Ascospores develop with 3 septa........................................................................................................................ Kathistes calyculata

- Ascospores develop with 5 septa ................................................................................................................ Kathistes analemmoides