Sordariaceae Explained

The Sordariaceae are a family of perithecial fungi within the Sordariales order.^[1]

The family includes the important model organism Neurospora crassa that is used in genetic research. Members of the family include the red bread molds in the genus Neurospora, including Neurospora sitophila, which is used to produce the fermented food oncom. Other species in the family inhabit herbivore dung or plant parts.^[2]

Characteristics

Sordariaceae have dark, usually ostiolate ascomata, and unitunicate, cylindrical asci. Their ascospores are brown to black, often with a gelatinous sheath or with wall ornamentations, but lack gelatinous appendages.^[3]

Systematics

The family includes the following genera:

• Cainiella
• Copromyces
• Effetia
• Gelasinospora
• Guilliermondia
• Neurospora
• Pseudoneurospora
• Sordaria
• Stellatospora

The Gelasinospora might be included in Neurospora.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Lumbsch TH, Huhndorf SM. . December 2007 . Outline of Ascomycota  - 2007 . Myconet . 13 . 1–58 . The Field Museum, Department of Botany . Chicago, USA .
2. C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell, Introductory Mycology, 4th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004)
3. Kirk PM, Cannon PF, David JC, Stalpers JA, 2001. Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi, ninth edn. CABI International, Wallingford
4. Cai, L. et al., Phylogenetic investigations of Sordariaceae based on multiple gene sequences and morphology. Mycological Research 110 (2006) 137–150