ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ASCI AND ASCOSPORES OF DESMAZIERELLA-ACICOLA (SARCOSCYPHACEAE, PEZIZALES, ASCOMYCETES) - SYSTEMATICS AND BIOLOGY

TEM studies reveal that the asci of Desmazierella acicola, type specie s of the genus, are of the Sarcoscypha type, the ascospores being also very similar to those of this genus. So, in spite of a rather dark ap othecial aspect the genus Desmazierella has to be included in the Sarc oscyphaceae and not in the Sarcosomataceae. Biological adaptations in apothecia (stiff hairs and strongly differenciated paraphyses observed with SEM) indicate that the genus Desmazierella results from a long e volution, as some other genera in the Sarcoscyphaceae. The structural construction of the ascus of Desmazierella is like that of the rest of the Sarcoscyphaceae, and unlike that of the Sarcosomataceae. The inte rest of this criterium in systematics is mentioned.