SYSTEMATIC AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE BALANSIEAE AND RELATED ANAMORPHS .3. ASCOSPORE AND MACROCONIDIAL GERMINATION AS A TAXONOMIC CRITERION

Ascospore and Ephelis macroconidial anamorph germination in vitro on a gar media is described in Balansia aristidae Diehl and B. epichloe (We ese) Diehl, and ascospore germination in Myriogenospora atramentosa (B erk. & Curt.) Diehl. A review of the literature on the subject of spor e germination in the Balansieae is presented. Consideration is given t o the usefulness of differing germination patterns in the taxonomy of the tribe, including species of Atkinsonella Diehl, Balansia Speg. and Epichloe (Fr.) Tul. It appears that, in the taxa so far studied in de tail, differences occur that are reflective of both generic and specif ic distinctions.