Sample ID: 59
Possible ID: Daldinia sp.
Classification:
Phylum Ascomycota
Class Ascomycetes
Order Xylariales
Family Xylariaceae
Isolation and culturing method:
Isolated from grass tissue. The grass sample was cut in half and placed flat on malt extract agar + chloramphenicol. Plate was left alone for a couple of weeks and then a small volume of hyphae was excised from the agar and transferred to achieve a pure culture.
Culture appearance and growth:
Fungus grew quickly. After one week of growth, culture was white and fuzzy. After a few more weeks of growth, culture turned grey-brown with clumps of white and black. Hyphae grew above agar. Hyphae measured 2.5 um wide. Hyphae were septate and no clamp connections were present.
Spore production:
Small spores sparsely present measuring 1.25 um in diameter. No conidia present.
Update: DNA sequencing suggests that the species is Neoascochyta desmazieri with 100% query cover and 99% identity. Neoascochyta is a genus in the Ascomycota.