Mantled fungal reproductive units in land plant tissue from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert

Morphology and ontogenetic development of Zwergimyces vestitus, a fungal reproductive unit enveloped in a hyphal mantle from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert

“…It is likely that the host cell walls and rhizoids have provided some level of protection (e.g., from mechanical abrasion and microbial degradation) which resulted in the near-perfect preservation of even the delicate periphery in these specimens. A similar, protective effect has been noted previously in another Rhynie chert fungal reproductive unit that occurs in clusters embedded in a loose meshwork of delicate hyphae within thin-walled land plant cells(Krings and Taylor, 2015b). The confluent hyphal meshwork in these specimens would no doubt have become dissociated (and consequently lost) along with the disintegration of the host cells.…”

“…It has been suggested that the mantled fungal reproductive units from the Rhynie chert may have systematic affinities with the Glomeromycota or Mucoromycotina based on similar features in modern lineages known to produce spores or sporangia with hyphal mantles . One form has also been compared to the so-called 'birdsnest' condition of certain peronosporomycte oogonia (Krings and Taylor, 2015b), while another resembles the pycnidia and cleistothecia formed by certain modern ascomycetes (Krings and Taylor, 2015a).…”

Fungi and fungal interactions in the Rhynie chert: a review of the evidence, with the description ofPerexiflasca taylorianagen. et sp. nov.†

“…Especially interesting is that this investment morphology closely corresponds to that seen in certain Carboniferous fungal 'sporocarps', including Dubiocarpon and Mycocarpon (see [49,50]). The fourth investment type is similar to Z. vestitus, but differs in that the [51]. Finally, the investment of Scepasmatocarpion fenestrulatum occurs in the form of a pseudotissue comprised tightly interwoven hyphae [52].…”

“…Krings & Taylor [46,48] and Krings et al [40,47] suggest that most mantled reproductive units from the Rhynie chert have systematic affinities with the Glomeromycotina or Mucoromycotina based on similar features in modern lineages known to produce spores or sporangia with hyphal investments. One form has also been compared to the so-called 'birdsnest' condition of certain peronosporomycte oogonia [51], while S. fenestrulatum is reminiscent of the pycnidia and cleistothecia formed by certain modern ascomycetes [52].…”

Morphological diversity of fungal reproductive units in the Lower Devonian Rhynie and Windyfield cherts, Scotland: a new species of the genus Windipila

“…Only a few forms occur in characteristic configurations or possess special features that make it possible to recognize distinctiveness and sometimes even reveal affinities (e.g., Dotzler et al 2009). Consequently, one important first step in assessing fungal diversity in the Rhynie paleoecosystem is to report the occurrence of distinctive morphologies and document their features as thoroughly as possible (Krings et al 2017b).…”