A previously undescribed, sclerotial, low-temperature-tolerant fungus with orange sclerotia, is common on a wide range of plant species and substrates in Western Canada. It is often associated with snow mold complexes. It has also been found in eastern Canada and Norway, indicating a circumpolar distribution. It is described as Acremonium boreale n.sp. Some isolates were antagonistic towards common snow molds, viz. Fusarium nivale, Sclerotica borealis, Typhula ishikariensis var. ishikariensis and var. canadensis, and the nonsclerotial low-temperature basidiomycete in culture at low temperatures. Although it was weakly parasitic towards two grass species, its main ecological importance seems to be as an invasive primary saprophyte on a wide range of substrates. It may play a significant role in determining the nature and intensity of damage in snow mold complexes.
Haptoglossa heterospora Drech. is redescribed and compared with H. zoospora, which is described as new. In H. zoospora the contents of the infection thallus cleave to form primary zoospores. The encysted zoospore is homologous with the spherical primary spore of H. heterospora. The secondary glossoid spores are apparently not adhesive as previously claimed. The peculiar shape of glossoid spores is related to a unique mechanism of infection whereby infective tertiary spores are injected into nematodes in an extremely short period of time. Tertiary spores develop into separate thalli.
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