**5. Bamboo ascomycetes taxonomic distribution**

important taxonomic feature in the diagnosis of conidial fungi [65]. Mostly, the conidiophores of coelomycetous fungi are reduced to conidiogenous cells, when they grow on the host substrate. However, some of them remain hyphomycetous (producing free conidiophores) on

**Figure 6.** Asci types. a, b, c, h: bitunicate asci (note in b, jack-in-a-box spore release mechanism). d, e: unitunicate asci; f: unitunicate ascus with a special elastic ring at the tip; g: unitunicate asci with a flat apex; h: bitunicate ascus with a long

culture, as in *Arthrinium* [51].

narrow basal portion; i: fissitunicate asci.

172 Bamboo - Current and Future Prospects

The ascomycetes on bamboo are very diverse, together with their asexual morphs. In [30], the author recorded 460 species belonging to 218 genera in 43 families from all over the world. A reference [3] reported 630 species distributed in 121 families and 436 genera within ascomycota. According to our investigation on the basis of the current references, 800 ascomycetous species (**Figure 8**) belonging to 465 genera within 128 families were documented.

**Figure 8.** Numbers of ascomycetous, coelomycetous, and hyphomyceteous species on bamboo.

Families of *Xylariaceae* and *Hypocreaceae*, which are most represented, have 74 species and 63 species in 18 and 14 genera, respectively, known from bamboo (**Figures 9** and **10**). This was followed by the families, *Phyllachoraceae* and *Lasiosphaeraceae*, with 35 species in 9 genera and 33 species in 10 genera, respectively. *Roussoellaceae* with 32 species, *Clavicipitaceae* with 28 species, *Lophiostomataceae* with 25 species, *Diatrypaceae* with 24 species, *Amphisphaeriaceae* with 22 species, and *Melanommataceae* with 20 species are the next common families on bamboo

A Review of Bambusicolous Ascomycetes http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76463 175

**Figure 10.** Ascomycete families with more than five genera recorded on bamboo until 2017.

**Figure 11.** Ascomycetous genera with more than 10 recorded species on bamboo until 2017.

The genus *Phyllachora* with a maximum number of species (22) occurs on bamboo, followed by *Nectria* (21) and *Hypoxylon* (20) (**Figure 11**). *Phyllachora* species are the commonly known fungi on the grass families [3]. *Rosellinia* has hundreds of epithets listed, with 18 species occurring on bamboo. *Roussoella* is a well-known genus on bamboo and palm hosts, with 17 species known from the bamboo. Genera such as *Didymosphaeria* with 15 species, *Anthostomella* with 14, *Arthrinium* with 16, *Hypocrea* with 11, and *Astrosphaeriella* and *Chaetosphaeria* with 10 are also seen on bamboo. *Bambusicola* is a new genus introduced by [45] and contains 10 species

(**Figure 9**).

as well found on bamboo culms during 2012–2017.

**Figure 9.** Ascomycete families with more than 10 recorded species on bamboo until 2017.

**Figure 10.** Ascomycete families with more than five genera recorded on bamboo until 2017.

species, *Lophiostomataceae* with 25 species, *Diatrypaceae* with 24 species, *Amphisphaeriaceae* with 22 species, and *Melanommataceae* with 20 species are the next common families on bamboo (**Figure 9**).

The genus *Phyllachora* with a maximum number of species (22) occurs on bamboo, followed by *Nectria* (21) and *Hypoxylon* (20) (**Figure 11**). *Phyllachora* species are the commonly known fungi on the grass families [3]. *Rosellinia* has hundreds of epithets listed, with 18 species occurring on bamboo. *Roussoella* is a well-known genus on bamboo and palm hosts, with 17 species known from the bamboo. Genera such as *Didymosphaeria* with 15 species, *Anthostomella* with 14, *Arthrinium* with 16, *Hypocrea* with 11, and *Astrosphaeriella* and *Chaetosphaeria* with 10 are also seen on bamboo. *Bambusicola* is a new genus introduced by [45] and contains 10 species as well found on bamboo culms during 2012–2017.

**Figure 11.** Ascomycetous genera with more than 10 recorded species on bamboo until 2017.

**Figure 9.** Ascomycete families with more than 10 recorded species on bamboo until 2017.

Families of *Xylariaceae* and *Hypocreaceae*, which are most represented, have 74 species and 63 species in 18 and 14 genera, respectively, known from bamboo (**Figures 9** and **10**). This was followed by the families, *Phyllachoraceae* and *Lasiosphaeraceae*, with 35 species in 9 genera and 33 species in 10 genera, respectively. *Roussoellaceae* with 32 species, *Clavicipitaceae* with 28

**Figure 8.** Numbers of ascomycetous, coelomycetous, and hyphomyceteous species on bamboo.

174 Bamboo - Current and Future Prospects
