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Orbilia fungi, nematode-trapping fungi
3 genera · 4 species
Orbiliomycetes is a small class of filamentous ascomycetes with one order (Orbiliales) and one family (Orbiliaceae). The sexual stage forms tiny, waxy, translucent, light-colored cups (apothecia), usually well under 2 mm across, on bark, dead wood, leaves and dung. Their asexual stages are microscopic moulds, and many of them trap and digest nematodes with sticky nets, sticky knobs or constricting rings. These nematode-trapping fungi (for example Arthrobotrys) are studied as biological control agents, including against nematodes that feed on mushroom mycelium in compost.
Apothecia: tiny (about 0.1-1.5 mm in recent Orbilia descriptions), waxy, translucent, light-colored, sessile to short-stalked. Living mature ascospores contain a refractive 'spore body', the most prominent feature of the family. Asci usually 8-spored. Asexual morphs: hyphomycetes (Arthrobotrys, Dactylella, Dactylellina, Drechslerella, Dicranidion and others); the nematode-trapping members form adhesive networks, adhesive knobs, adhesive columns, non-constricting rings or constricting rings.
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