*4.1.1. Ascomata*

Recent contributions to the knowledge of bamboo-associated ascomycetes were the following. An article in 2000 reviewed 189 species of fungi, of which were 80 ascomycetes, 40 coelomycetous, and hyphomycetous fungi on bamboo substrates [34]. Kevin D. Hyde and colleagues reviewed bamboo fungi in detail in 2002 [3]. A total of 80 fungi were recorded on submerged

During 2003–2008, the Japanese mycologists carried out a series of studies on bambusicolous fungi in Japan and introduced around 25 new taxa based on the morphological characters [15, 36–42]. In 2007, authors analyzed molecular diversity of bamboo-associated fungi from Japan, based on 257 endophytes strains, isolated from bamboo tissues; however, most isolates were not identified to species level [43]. Until 2009, the significant phylogenetic analysis was

Currently, during 2011–2017, approximate 145 new species and new records belonging to 65 genera, 37 families have so far been described or reported by mycologists [16, 45–52] based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. In the short period of 6 years, six new families *viz. Anteagloniaceae* K.D. Hyde & Mapook [53], *Bambusicolaceae* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde [54], *Occultabambusaceae* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde [3], *Parabambusicolaceae* Kaz. Tanaka & K. Hiray [52], *Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae* Phookamsak & K.D. Hyde [55], *Roussoellaceae* J.K. Liu et al. [56]. and 21 new genera viz. *Amphibambusa* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde, *Bambusaria* Jaklitsch et al., *Bambusicola* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde, *Bambusistroma* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde, *Botryobambusa* Phook., J.K. Liu & K.D. Hyde, *Brunneoclavispora* Phook. & K.D. Hyde, *Embryonispora* G.Z. Zhao, *Flammeascoma* Phook. & K.D. Hyde, *Gregarithecium* Kaz. Tanaka & K. Hiray, *Kalmusibambusa* Phookamsak, Tennakoon, *Multilocularia* Phook., Ariyaw. & K.D. Hyde, *Neoanthostomella* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde, *Neogaeumannomyces* D.Q. Dai & K.D. Hyde, *Neoramichloridium* Phookamsak et al., *Neoophiosphaerella* Kaz. Tanaka & K. Hiray., *Neoroussoella* J.K. Liu, Phook.

bamboo in 2003, see [35].

168 Bamboo - Current and Future Prospects

first used to classify the new taxa by [44].

**Figure 2.** Number of fungi described from bamboo until 2017.

The ascomata of bambusicolous fungi have various types, no matter what shapes or colors. They can form on bamboo leaves, culms, or even sheathes (**Figure 4**), with the positions being immersed, erumpent, or superficial (**Figure 5**). Some ascomata are stromatic, with unilocule to multilocules. Ascomata produce asci and ascospores within, when mature. An ostiole, where ascospores release, is commonly present at the top of an ascoma. Peridium is the wall of an ascoma and usually is composed of several layers of angular cells. The hamathecium is the sterile tissue, formed by hyaline filaments which are called paraphyses.

**Figure 3.** Line drawing of a fruiting body (ascoma) of sexual morph of ascomycete.

**Figure 4.** Ascomata on different bamboo substrates. (a), (b) on bamboo leaves. (c) on bamboo sheath.(d) on bamboo culm.
