Studies of Carboniferous Fungi. Ii. The Structure and Organization of Mycocarpon, Sporocarpon, Dubiocarpon, and Coleocarpon (Ascomycotina)

Abstract

The problematic organism, Sporocarpon, was among the first fossil fungi to be described. The genus was actually a heterogeneous assemblage of fungal forms, and was eventually divided into several taxa including Sporocarpon, Dubiocarpon, and Mycocarpon. In the present paper these organisms, as well as a similar, previously undescribed genus, Coleocarpon; are described from Lower, Middle, and Upper Pennsylvanian strata in North America, and from Upper Carboniferous sediments in England. Although initially considered to be radiolarian‐like protozoa, these structures show far more similarity to ascomycetous cleistothecia. All forms are ornamented, spherical bodies with a complex wall which encloses scattered asci and ascospores. Taxa are distinguished primarily by differences in the organization of the cleistothecial wall. Structurally similar organisms are found today among the Eurotiales.

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

“…This feature is also reminiscent of certain modern Glomeromycota and zygomycetous fungi in which spores/sporangia are produced in clusters or aggregates within a confluent hyphal meshwork, sometimes termed an intrasporocarpic hyphal mycelium or a gleba (e.g., Thaxter 1922, Giovannetti et al 1991, Yao et al 1996, Oehl et al 2014. Groups of mantled fungal reproductive units embedded within a confluent hyphal meshwork have also been observed in several Carboniferous fossils (e.g., Hutchinson 1955, Stubblefield et al 1983.…”

Fossil Fungi (Endogonaceae) From the Triassic of Antarctica

“…He also described three new species, including M. bimuratus, M. jlexus, and M. ornatus. Mycocarpon ornatus has since been shown to be a species of Traquairia Carruthers, another common Carboniferous fungus (Stubblefield and Taylor, 1983). The sporocarps which we have found in Triassic sediments from Antarctica most closely resemble those ofM.…”

“…The sporocarps which we have found in Triassic sediments from Antarctica most closely resemble those ofM. jlexus (Davis and Leisman, 1962;Stubblefield et al, 1983); however, differences in sizeand age may ultimately warrant taxonomic distinction.…”

“…This proposal suggests that mutualistic relationships were established by aquatic fungi and algae, preadapting these organisms for growth in the harsher terrestrial environment. Since this hypothesis was initially proposed, additional information has accumulated on fossil fungi (e.g., Stubblefield and Taylor, 1983;Stubblefield et aI., 1983;White and Taylor, 1988), which suggests that the hypothesis may require reevaluation. The evidence for the symbiosis hypothesis comes predominantly from the discovery ofendogonaceous spores in partially decomposed axes of some Devonian vascular plants (Kidston and Lang, 1921).…”

“…In recent years there has been an increase in information about fossil fungi (e.g., Hutchinson, 1955;Dilcher, 1965;Stubblefield et al, 1983;Stubblefield, Taylor, and Trappe, 1987). These studies provide a small, but significant data base upon which to investigate, not only the diversity of fungi in the fossil record, but also the potential relationships that exist among the major groups of fungi.…”