Worobiec G, Worobiec E, Gedl P, Kowalski R, Peryt D, Tietz O. Fossil history of fungus host-specificity: Association of conidia of fossil Asterosporium asterospermum with macro- and microremains of Fagus.
Fungal Biol 2023;
127:1312-1320. [PMID:
37821153 DOI:
10.1016/j.funbio.2023.07.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Fossil staurosporous conidia almost identical to modern conidia of Asterosporium asterospermum were found from three Central European localities ranging from the Late Oligocene (Germany) to Middle/Late Miocene (Poland). Extant A. asterospermum is strictly host-specific and found only on branches or bark of various Fagus species from Europe, Asia and North America. Conspicuous association of conidia of A. asterospermum with numerous macro- and microremains of Fagus were reported from all the localities where fossil conidia of Asterosporium were found confirming the host-specificity of fossil A. asterospermum to ancient beeches. The host-specific relationship of A. asterospermum and beech was presumably established early in the history of the Fagus genus.
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