Peniophora
Encyclopedia
Peniophora is a genus
of fungi which are plant pathogen
s. Members of the genus belong to the class Basidiomycetes, order Russulales
, and family Peniophoraceae
. The genus is widespread, and contains 62 species. The species of Peniophora are resupinate
, or crust-like, and are described as corticioid. A number of its members are parasitised by other fungi. For example Tremella mesenterica
is a parasite to several species of Peniophora.
in 1879. The type species
is Peniophora quercina, initially named Thelephora quercina by Christian Hendrik Persoon
in 1801 before being transferred to Peniophora by Cooke in 1879. However, this species was also chosen as the type species for the genus Corticium
as defined by Persoon in 1794. Until 1981 the starting point for the nomenclature
of the corticioid fungi was the publication of Fries' first volume of the Systema mycologicum, which was set at January 1, 1821. Corticium
Persoon (1794) was therefore a devalidated name because it was published before the starting point. Mycologists of the later 19th and 20th centuries, including Patouillard (1900), Burt (1914–26), and Bourdot and Galzin (1928) distinguished species of Peniophora Cooke by their hymenial
cystidia from species of Corticium Persoon, which lacked them. Despite being synonyms under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), Corticium and Peniophore were used in this encompassing sense well into the 20th century. Changes made to the ICBN in 1981 included moving the starting point date for fungi back to May 1, 1753, the publication date of Linnaeus' Species plantarum
. Names published between 1753 and 1821 (including Corticium) are now considered valid.
When Cooke described Peniophora, he incorporated many crustlike species whose fruit bodies possess in the hymenium
sterile, hair-like structures termed cystidia. Subsequent investigators, such as Bresadola and Burt accepted and expanded upon Cooke's concept of the genus, placing in it nearly all corticiaceous species that produced cystidia. Often, other taxonomically
significant characters were not fully considered, and as a result, Peniophora soon became a heterogeneous assemblage of species. A number of morphological
studies were carried out in the 20th century to better characterize the genus. Bourdot and Galzin (1912, 1928) were among the first investigators to recognize that certain species within the genus had more distinct affinities with each other than with other members of the genus. This prompted them to divide the genus into sections and groups of seemingly morphologically related species, such as the sections Coloratae and Membranaceae. Later, several species of the section Membranaceae would be transferred into the genus Phanerochaete
. Later attempts to refine the infrageneric classification of Peniophora included morphology, physiology, development, cytogenetics
, cytology
and biochemistry
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of fungi which are plant pathogen
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
s. Members of the genus belong to the class Basidiomycetes, order Russulales
Russulales
The Russulales are an order of the Agaricomycetes,...
, and family Peniophoraceae
Peniophoraceae
The Peniophoraceae are a family of fungi in the order Russulales. Species of this family have a cosmopolitan distribution and are mostly saprobic, causing rots of standing and fallen wood. According to a 2008 estimate, the family contains 7 genera and 88 species....
. The genus is widespread, and contains 62 species. The species of Peniophora are resupinate
Resupination
Resupination generally means being upside-down, supine, facing upward. The word is derived from the Latin. In a biological context, the concept is commonly expressed with the adjectives "resupinate" or "non-resupinate."-Examples in green plants:...
, or crust-like, and are described as corticioid. A number of its members are parasitised by other fungi. For example Tremella mesenterica
Tremella mesenterica
Tremella mesenterica is a common jelly fungus in the Tremellaceae family of the Agaricomycotina...
is a parasite to several species of Peniophora.
Taxonomy and classification
The genus was first described by Mordecai Cubitt CookeMordecai Cubitt Cooke
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke was an English botanist and mycologist.Cooke came from a mercantile family in Horning, Norfolk, and worked as an apprentice to a fabric merchant before becoming a clerk in a law firm, but his chief interest was in botany. He founded the Society of Amateur Botanists in 1862...
in 1879. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is Peniophora quercina, initially named Thelephora quercina by Christian Hendrik Persoon
Christian Hendrik Persoon
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.-Early life:...
in 1801 before being transferred to Peniophora by Cooke in 1879. However, this species was also chosen as the type species for the genus Corticium
Corticium
Corticium is a genus of crust fungi in the family Corticiaceae. According to a 2008 estimate, the genus contains 25 widely distributed species.-Species:*Corticium appalachiense*Corticium auberianum*Corticium boreoroseum...
as defined by Persoon in 1794. Until 1981 the starting point for the nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
of the corticioid fungi was the publication of Fries' first volume of the Systema mycologicum, which was set at January 1, 1821. Corticium
Corticium
Corticium is a genus of crust fungi in the family Corticiaceae. According to a 2008 estimate, the genus contains 25 widely distributed species.-Species:*Corticium appalachiense*Corticium auberianum*Corticium boreoroseum...
Persoon (1794) was therefore a devalidated name because it was published before the starting point. Mycologists of the later 19th and 20th centuries, including Patouillard (1900), Burt (1914–26), and Bourdot and Galzin (1928) distinguished species of Peniophora Cooke by their hymenial
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
cystidia from species of Corticium Persoon, which lacked them. Despite being synonyms under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), Corticium and Peniophore were used in this encompassing sense well into the 20th century. Changes made to the ICBN in 1981 included moving the starting point date for fungi back to May 1, 1753, the publication date of Linnaeus' Species plantarum
Species Plantarum
Species Plantarum was first published in 1753, as a two-volume work by Carl Linnaeus. Its prime importance is perhaps that it is the primary starting point of plant nomenclature as it exists today. This means that the first names to be considered validly published in botany are those that appear...
. Names published between 1753 and 1821 (including Corticium) are now considered valid.
When Cooke described Peniophora, he incorporated many crustlike species whose fruit bodies possess in the hymenium
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
sterile, hair-like structures termed cystidia. Subsequent investigators, such as Bresadola and Burt accepted and expanded upon Cooke's concept of the genus, placing in it nearly all corticiaceous species that produced cystidia. Often, other taxonomically
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
significant characters were not fully considered, and as a result, Peniophora soon became a heterogeneous assemblage of species. A number of morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
studies were carried out in the 20th century to better characterize the genus. Bourdot and Galzin (1912, 1928) were among the first investigators to recognize that certain species within the genus had more distinct affinities with each other than with other members of the genus. This prompted them to divide the genus into sections and groups of seemingly morphologically related species, such as the sections Coloratae and Membranaceae. Later, several species of the section Membranaceae would be transferred into the genus Phanerochaete
Phanerochaete
Phanerochaete is a genus of fungi. Several of the species in this genus are plant pathogens.This genus includes "white-rot" fungi that are able to degrade lignin to carbon dioxide. This is achieved, in part, by lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases.These peroxidases are also able to mediate...
. Later attempts to refine the infrageneric classification of Peniophora included morphology, physiology, development, cytogenetics
Cytogenetics
Cytogenetics is a branch of genetics that is concerned with the study of the structure and function of the cell, especially the chromosomes. It includes routine analysis of G-Banded chromosomes, other cytogenetic banding techniques, as well as molecular cytogenetics such as fluorescent in situ...
, cytology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
and biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
.
Partial list of species
There are too many species to list here, but notable ones include:- Peniophora albobadiaPeniophora albobadiaPeniophora albobadia is a plant pathogen.- External links :* *...
- Peniophora cinereaPeniophora cinereaPeniophora cinerea is a plant pathogen.- External links :* *...
- Peniophora sacrataPeniophora sacrataPeniophora sacrata is a plant pathogen.- External links :* *...