Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

680 ANAMORPHIC FUNGI
Fig 25.6 Drechslerella sp.
(a) Conidiophore with a single
terminal conidium typical of the
former genus Monacrosporium.
(b) Three-celled constricting ring
traps. (c) Two traps, one inflated.
(d) Nematode caught in constricting
ring trap. (e) Germinating conidium.
Hohenbuehelia basidiospores and Nematoctonustype
conidia produce sticky drops (Barron &
Dierkes, 1977). Drops are formed at the tapering
ends of the conidia which are sometimes bent
at an angle, attaching them to the cuticle of
a nematode brushing them (Figs. 25.7c,d).
Hohenbuehelia therefore shows a transition of
predatory and endoparasitic features (Poloczek
& Webster, 1994). There are also transitions
between Hohenbuehelia and Pleurotus because
Thorn et al. (2000) have described a
Hohenbuehelia sp. producing both sticky knobs
and toxin-secreting lollipop-shaped branches.
Unidentified toxins have also been shown to be
present in the sticky drops on Nematoctonus-type
conidia (Giuma et al., 1973).
25.1.3 Endoparasitic nematophagous fungi
Several genera of anamorphic fungi include
forms which are endoparasitic. Although some
of these fungi can be grown in pure culture in
the laboratory, in nature probably most of them