Protothelenella santessonii H. Mayrhofer

Herzogia, 7, 3-4: 332, 1987.
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Description: Thallus inapparent, not lichenized, the hyphae developing inside the thalli of Cladonia-species, which are bleached and finally killed. Perithecia black,, 0.1-0.2 mm across, ovoid to subpyriform, scattered, semi-immersed in the host thallus, without incolucrellum. Exciple dark brown and thick in upper part, paler and thinner at base; hamathecium of thread-like, richly branched and anastomosing pseudoparaphyses; hymenial gel hemiamyloid. Asci 8-spored, cylindrical, thick-walled, with two functional wall layers, the outer one I+ dull reddish, K/I+ blue, the apex with an I+ blue, more or less layered apical apparatus. Ascospores submuriform, with 3-5 tranverse septa and a single longitudinal septum that sometimes does not extend to the apices, hyaline, ellipsoid, 18-24 x 10-12 µm. Photobiont absent. Spot tests: all negative (eventual positive reactions are due to the host thallus). Chemistry: not known, probably without lichen substances.
Note: an apparently rare, but widespread lichenicolous fungus delevoping on the squamules and podetia of Cladonia-species, strongly damaging the host. It seems to have a Holarctic distribution, and is also known from the Alps (Austria). To be looked for in Italy.
Growth form: Lichenicolous fungus
Substrata: soil, terricolous mosses, and plant debris
Reproductive strategy: mainly sexual
paras Cladonia-species

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Predictive model

Source: Frisch, A., Holien, H., Klepsland, J.T., Suija, A. & Bendiksby, M. 2022. New data on lichenicolous fungi in Norway. Graphis Scripta 34 (7): 59–133. Oslo. ISSN 2002-4495. - CC BY-4.0
Protothelenella santessonii (on Cladonia cf. macrophyllodes). TRH-L-24921. Scale = 2 mm. Photo: A. Frisch.