Chaetomium

Chaetomium:-

1. Classification:-

Kingdom:- Myceteae

Division:- Amastigomycota

Sub division:- Ascomycotina

Class:- Ascomycetes

Sub-class:- Hymenoascomycetidae

Order:- Xylariales (Sphaeriales)

Family:- Chaetomiaceae

Genus:- Chaetomium

2. Habit and Habitat:- 

> It is an obligate saprophyte which is found on decaying plant material such as logs and stumps, dead twigs and branches of trees, dead leaves and stems of herbaceous plants.

> Large genus with 96 species.

i. C. hispidum

ii. C. tetrasporum

iii. C. globosum

iv. C. convolutum

3. Thallus structure:-

> The mycelium is composed of septate hyphae.

> The hyphae are branched and composed of uninucleated cells.

4. Reproduction:-

> Only sexual reproduction takes place.

> Most of the species are homothallic, but some are heterothallic.

> Plasmogamy takes place by gametangial contact and by trichogyne contact.

> Dikaryophase is in the form of ascogenous hyphae.

> The asci are club shaped which are produced in basal tuft.

> 8 ascospores in each ascus.

Exceptions:-

i. C. hispidum

ii. C. tetrasporum

> Ascus show indirect development in C. brasiliense.

> Pore liberation of ascospores takes place.

> Perithecium:-

- The perithecia of the Chaetomium are produced superficially without a stroma.

- Most distinctive character is presence of numerous long hairs on the peridium that give the genus its name.

Gr.- chaite = long hair, mane 

> Ascospore germination:-