Nematophagous Fungi: Guide by Philip Jacobs, BRIC-Version

Nematoctonus leiosporus

Nematoctonus leiosporus DRECHSLER 1941

Form Genus: Nematoctonus DRECHSLER 1941
Form Subfamily: Hyalosporae
Form Family: Moniliaceae
Form Order: Moniliales (Hyphomycetes)
Form Class: Deuteromycetes (Fungi imperfecti)
Division: Eumycota

Class in the natural system: Basidiomycetes

(System of anamorphs according to SACCARDO 1886)

In contrast to a number of other Nematoctonus species, no teleomorph of Nematoctonus leiosporus is known. Because of the clamp mycelium, it is assumed since the discovery of the fungus, that it belongs to the Basidiomycetes (DRECHSLER 1941).

The ifection of the nematodes proceeds by attachment of conidia germinated with an adhesive hourglass-shaped knob on the cuticle. No mycelium is developed in absence of a host (without infection). The adhesive knobs are much smaller than in the predaceous Nematoctonus species, which are facultative saprophytes developing mycelium outside the host (DRECHSLER 1941).