MORPHOLOGICAL AND REPRODUCTIVE ASPECTS OF CLADOSPORIUM-MACROCARPUM AND C-HERBARUM FROM BING-CHERRY FRUITS

Absence of major morphological discontinuities characterized a series of isolates of Cladosporium macrocarpum and C. herbarum. Conidial size , degree of septation, and relative nodosity of conidiophores all decr eased along a series from the former to the latter species. Termini of the series were well separated morphologically and morphometrically. Isolates toward the macrocarpum terminus of the series produced pseudo thecia under experimental conditions, whereas isolates toward the herb arum terminus produced sclerotium-like bodies. Based upon the observed morphological continuum from C. herbarum to C. macrocarpum and lackin g any evidence that gene flow is restricted between the two taxa, we a ccept the previously proposed synonymy of C. macrocarpum with C. herba rum.