Browsing by Author "Michael Krings"

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    Fossil fungi with suggested affinities to the Endogonaceae from the Middle Triassic of Antarctica
    (2012) Michael Krings; Thomas, N.Taylor; Nora Dotzler; Gianna Persichini
    Documented fossil evidence of zygomycetous fungi is rare. A conspicuous fungal fossil, Jimwhitea circumtecta gen. et sp. nov., occurs in permineralized peat from the Middle Triassic of Antarctica. The fossil is interpreted as a mantled zygosporangium that buds from a macrogametangium subtended by a sac-like macrosuspensor. The macrogametangium is united at its tip with a mlCrogametangium which is subtended by a microsuspensor. This configuration is strikingly similar to the zygosporangium-gametangia complexes seen in certain modern Endogonaceae. Co-occurring with j. arcumtecta are isolated propagules closely resembling the zygosporangium ofj. circumtecta and a portion of a sporocarp containing zygosporangia embedded in a gleba. Several of the sporangia are borne on ovoid or e~ongate structures, which we interpret as gametangia. These fossils offer an exceptionally detailed view of the morphology and reproductive biology of early Mesozoic zygomycetes.