Bartheletia paradoxa is a living fossil on Ginkgo leaf litter with a unique septal structure in the Basidiomycota

12 Tremellomycetes and Related Groups

“…In molecular phylogenetic analyses Scheuer et al (2008) found that Bartheletia paradoxa, the only species of Bartheletia, is a member of the Agaricomycotina, but they were unable to assign it to any particular subgroup of this subphylum. Bartheletia paradoxa is a dimorphic fungus that rapidly develops on fallen Ginkgo biloba leaves in its filamentous conidiogenous anamorphic state in autumn.…”

“…Later, resting teliospores are formed that germinate a year later into longitudinally septate basidia. Since all other teliospore-generating taxa in the Agaricomycotina belong to the Cystofilobasidiales, Scheuer et al (2008) speculated about a possible relationship of Bartheletia to the Tremellomycetes. However, unlike most members of the Tremellomycetes, B. paradoxa lacks a yeast stage.…”

Dr. Robert Bauer (1950-2014) in memoriam: botanist, mycologist, and electron microscopist

“…3 Systematic arrangement and part of the phylogeny of Agaricomycotina with a selection of genera discussed from below upwards in the following text. Tree compiled after Scheuer et al (2008) and Hibbett et al (2014), and strongly modified evidence that Cymadothea degrades pectins, but not cellulose and xyloglucan (Simon et al 2005a). Also, the vegetative lifecycle of the clover pathogen was clarified by Simon et al (2005b).…”

“…Bartheletiaceae A most remarkable rediscovery in recent years was Bartheletia paradoxa, inhabiting leaves of Ginkgo biloba (Scheuer et al 2008). As mentioned above, the species has multipored hyphal septa, thus reminiscent of Kriegeria eriophori.…”

Molecular techniques revolutionize knowledge of basidiomycete evolution

“…Some unknown "living fossils" or unique taxa of basidiomycetes may be found in associated with plant living fossils. For instance, Bartheletia paradoxa, growing on leaf litter of Ginkgo biloba has a unique septal structure, and, like G. biloba, is a living fossil at the basal branching of the Agaricomycotina, which apparently used G. biloba as its Noah's Ark (Scheuer et al 2008). Taxa of significance in elucidating the phylogeny of Basidiomycota could well be harbored on living fossils of plants (e.g.…”