Growth and development of Nivatogastrium, a gastromycete related to Pholiota

The morphological features of <i>Nivatogastrium nubigenum</i> are compared with closely related gastromycetes and lamellate agarics. Only one genus, <i>Pholiota</i> in the Cortinaricaeae, was found to have many features similar to <i>N. nubigenum</i>. The subgenus <i>Flammuloides</i> has many features in common with this gasteromycete. The fruiting bodies and cultural characteristics of <i>P. decorata, P. scamba, P. spumosa, and P. subangularis</i> are compared with <i>N. nubigenum</i>. All of the fungi studied are found in the western United States on conifer wood. Smooth, brown, thick-walled spores, large cystidia, and a somewhat visicid pileus are found in these species. Thick-walled cystidia, similar to those found in <i>P. decorata</i>, are reported for the first time in <i>N. nubigenum</i>. Growth rates, oxidase reactions, and morphological features were found to be similar for <i>N. nubigenum, P. decorata. and P. spumosa</i>. Positive oxidase tests, oidia, amorphous refractive bodies, "textura intricata" and inflated hyphal cells were found in these three similar species. Different media were used and additional morphological features were found that can be used to distinguish the species.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Botany

Department dc:contributor.department

Botany

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1974

Author dc:creator

• Ray, Ilene Baxter

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54852

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/54852