Alternative repetitional conidia in Conidiobolus adiaeretus: development and germination

We report the ability of Conidiobolus adiaeretus to form repetitional micro conidia and capilliconidia. Detailed descriptions of development and germin ation are given. This is the first report of any entomophthoralean fungus p roducing both these alternative conidial types. This cuts across current de finitions of subgenera in Conidiobolus which are based on the absence of th ese conidial types or on the presence of either microconidia or capilliconi dia but not both. Co-occurrence of both these spore types, along with the u nusual mode of formation of the microconidia, and the ability to derive cap illiconidia directly from the latter, reinforce other features which set C. adiaeretus apart. Taxonomic, evolutionary and ecological implications are briefly discussed.