REMERSONIA, A NEW GENUS FOR STILBELLA-THERMOPHILA, A THERMOPHILIC MOLD FROM COMPOST

The thermophilic synnematous hyphomycete Stilbella thermophila is rede scribed and illustrated based on the study of type and supplementary m aterial. The species is transferred to a new anamorph genus, Remersoni a, characterized by determinate synnemata with scarcely branched conid iophores, percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells, relatively l arge ameroconidia that accumulate in slime, and thermotolerant growth. Cladistic analysis of partial 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences sug gest that the fungus is a member of the Sordariales. Septal ultrastruc ture and a failure to grow on benomyl-emended media support the ascomy cetous affinities of the fungus. Failure to grow on cycloheximide emen ded media supports sequencing data suggesting that the species is not allied with the Ophiostomatales. The biology of the fungus is briefly discussed.