Folia Biologica et Oecologica 10: 130–138 (2014) Acta Universitatis Lodziensis Gasteroid fungi – the morphological characteristics of selected endangered and rare species noted in Poland JANUSZ ŁUSZCZYŃSKI* & AGNIESZKA TOMASZEWSKA** Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University, Świętokrzyska 15, 25-406 Kielce, Poland E-mail: * [email protected]; **[email protected] ABSTRACT The aim of the work was to present the characteristics of selected species from Disciseda, Geastrum and Tulostoma genera which due to the small differences in morphology of their fruit bodies may pose some identification problems. The selected species of gasteroid fungi of these genera are described based on the materials collected during the course of our studies. All materials were gathered during the research into macromycetes in xerothermic habitats located in the Nida Basin. Taxa noted by us are considered to be very rare in the mycobiota of Poland and are highly endangered. KEY WORDS: Gasteromycetes, thermophilic fungi, endangered species of fungi, Agaricaceae, Geastraceae, Lycoperdaceae Introduction The gasteroid fungi (formerly pseudoparenchyma; Pilát 1958, Gasteromycetes) are polyphyletic group Rudnicka-Jezierska 1991). of fungi which currently belong to Fruit bodies of gasteroid fungi different taxa in the Agaricomycetes class develop underground (hypogeously) and (Hibbett & Thorn 2001, Binder & are spherical. As they mature they Bresinsky 2002). Biological and emerge over ground becoming epigeous. morphological properties as well as the Gasteroid fungi are mainly saprobionts development, maturation and dispersal of that grow in woodless areas, xerothermic, spores are characteristic features of the sandy and steppe sites, in forests, but also Gasteromycetes. Gasteroid fungi are in wet places and even on the moors usually spherical, piriform and clavate. (Pilát 1958, Rudnicka-Jezierska 1991). The hymenium is enclosed inside the Species that differ by small macro- fruit body until spores mature. Fruit and micromorphological characters of the bodies consist of three basic parts: fruit body’s structure in individual genera peridium (the wall), gleba (the fertile were selected for morphological analysis. area) and trama (sterile hyphae that form A scrupulous submicroscopic and molecular examination of the structure of DOI: 10.2478/fobio-2014-0005 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET OECOLOGICA similar taxa helps to identify fruit bodies from Disciseda, Geastrum and correctly and reduces the risk of Tulostoma genera, which due to the small determination errors (e.g. Tomaszewska differences in morphology of their fruit et al. 2011). bodies may pose some identification The aim of this study was to present problems. the characteristics of selected species Material and methods Species were collected during the size and colour of the endoperidium, the research into macromycete fungi in colour of the exoperidium and the xerothermic habitats located in the Nida manner in which it flakes, and also the Basin (south of Poland) between 1991 pigmentation and the structure of the and 2013. The studies were intensified stem surface, were all noted during from 2010 until 2013. The investigations collections. were conducted in protected areas such The laboratory examinations were as nature reserves (Krzyżanowice, conducted using light microscopy (LM) Skorocice), landscape parks and Natura and scanning electron microscopy 2000 sites (Nida Landscape Park – (SEM). The structure, size and shape of PLH260003 Ostoja Nidziańska, Szaniec the capillitium and the spores were Landscape Park – PLH260034 Ostoja measured using standard reagents and Szaniecko-Solecka, Kozubów Landscape light microscope. The measurements Park – PLH260029 Ostoja Kozubowska). were performed using 400x and 1000x The examined plant communities are magnification. The episporium sculpture protected under the Habitats Directive. was investigated using SEM. The investigations conducted in these The material (gleba samples with respected areas also provided data about spores) was mounted on an aluminium their functioning and the interactions stub and coated with 24-carat gold between fungi and xerothermic (Karcz 1996, 2009). The electron vegetation. micrographs were taken at the The mycological investigations were magnifications of: 3000, 5000, 10000 conducted using permanent research and 12000x. The studies with the help of plots and were supplemented with the the scanning electron microscope (SEM) route method. A total of 30 plots (each of were carried out in the Department of them of 100 m2) were established in six Environment Protection of Jan communities of xerothermic vegetation Kochanowski University in Kielce and in from Festuco-Brometea class, such as: the Laboratory of Field Emission, Adonido-Brachypodietum pinnati, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Festucetum pallentis, Inuletum Microanalysis at the Institute of ensifoliae, Sisymbrio-Stipetum capillatae, Geological Sciences of Jagiellonian Seslerio-Scorzoneretum purpureae and University in Kraków. Thalictro-Salvietum pratensis (names The following studies were used for according to Matuszkiewicz 2012). The taxonomic identification: Pilát (1958), observations and collections of fruit Wright (1987), Rudnicka-Jezierska bodies were carried out at intervals. The (1991), Sarasini (2005) and Sunhede number of species fruit bodies, the (1990). The nomenclature of the taxa is organoleptic properties, i.e. the shape, given after Index Fungorum (2014). MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLISH GASTEROID FUNGI 131 FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET OECOLOGICA Results Eight selected species of gasteroid farinaceous surface of the endoperidium fungi were examined. Macro- and is a characteristic feature of the species. micromorphological characters were Peristome cristate with delimited bulge, used to describe the species. Species from 12 to 20 ridges (Fig. 2a). Gleba descriptions are based on material dark brown. Spores globose, finely collected in our investigations. A list of verrucose, 4.8–7(–8) µm. It should be similarities and differences between the noted that there is a possibility of described species is given in Tables 1, 2 mistaking this species with Geastrum and 3. berkeleyi Massee which also has Disciseda bovista (Klotzsch) Henn. granulately surface of the endoperidium Mature fruit bodies globose, rarely and cristate peristome. flattened. Exoperidium white, whitish Geastrum minimum Schwein. yellow, mature brownish ashen. Exoperidium splits into 6 to 12 not Endoperidium is rigid, pergameneous hygroscopic segments that reach 3 to 4 and nut-like coloured. Spores globose, cm in diam. when expanded. (5–)6.5–7.8(–8.6) µm in diam. Endoperidium globose is 0.4 to 1.2 cm in (according to Lizárraga et al. 2010: 4–7 diam., grey-brown, ochraceous-brown or µm in diam.), distinctly strongly grey-white. A white layer of fine crystals verrucose, verrucae 1–1.5 µm, without of calcium oxalate on the endoperidium sterigmata (Fig. 1a). Capillitium is light is the main diagnostic trait of the species. yellow, hyaline, quite thick-walled. Peristome sericeous-fimbriate is lighter Capillitium threads are wavy, brittle and than the remainder of theendoperidium, 2.7–3.5 µm thick. with a collar delimited by a bulge (Fig. Disciseda candida (Schwein.) Lloyd 2b). Gleba dark brown. Spores globose, Mature fruit bodies are loaf-like. 3.5–5.5(–7) µm in diam., minutely Exoperidium is dirty whitish yellowish, verrucose. mature, earth brown. Endoperidium Geastrum schmidelii Vittad. strong, leathery, matt, brown-grey to Exoperidium splits into 5 to 10 ashen in colour. Spores globose, entirely not hygroscopic segments that punctate, delicately verrucose or reach 1-3 cm in diam. when expanded. glabrous, (3.8–)4.5–5 µm (according to Endoperidium globose is brown-grey to Bates et al. 2009: 4.0–5.6(–6.4) × 4.0– brown at the bottom, whitish at the top, 5.6(–6.4) µm in diam.), without especially in young fruit bodies. sterigmata (Fig. 1b). Capillitium light Peristome sulcate, from 10 to 19 ridges, yellow, hyaline and thin-walled. delimited by a furrow, covered with Capillitium threads wavy, brittle and 2.5 farinose coating in young fruit bodies µm thick. (Fig. 2c). Gleba dark brown. Spores Geastrum campestre Morgan globose, 4.7–7.5 µm (according to Exoperidium splits into 5 to 12 Sarasini 2005: (4–)4.2–4.8(–5.5) µm in triangular segments that are hygroscopic diam.), distinctly thickly verrucose. or subhygroscopic. It is beige-coloured, Tulostoma brumale Pers. grey-brown, light brown to dark brown Exoperidium whitish, membranous, and when expanded 3 to 5 cm in diam. on soon flaking away. Mature endoperidium average. Endoperidium globose is 0.5 to ochraceous-white, sometimes with rusty- 2 cm in diam. and only partially with brown stains, also yellowish brown. apophysis. The granulately rough, Peristome tubular, mouth area darker 132 ŁUSZCZYŃSKI J. & TOMASZEWSKA A. FOLIA BIOLOGICA ET OECOLOGICA coloured, yellowish or dirty brown. Stem 1997: 4.5–5 µm, without the fibrillose, ochraceous-fawn, minutely and ornamentation). Capillitium subhyaline, very delicately squamulose, straight (Fig. thick-walled, well visible lumen, 3a). Spores (4.2–)4.7–5.64 µm in diam. colourless and not thickened at septa, (according to Sarasini 2005: (3.5–)4.2– moderately branched, without crystals. 4.7(–5.5) µm in diam.), globose, light Tulostoma squamosum Gmelin yellow, minutely verrucose (Fig. 3b). Exoperidium dark, sometimes Capillitium hyaline, thick-walled, lumen whitish, thin-walled, persisting longer. small, coloured