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The oldest fossil ascomycetes

Author

Listed:
  • T. N. Taylor

    (University of Kansas)

  • H. Hass
  • H. Kerp

    (Geologische-Paläontologische Institut und Museum, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster)

Abstract

Ascomycetes are the largest group of true fungi, and characteristically produce their sexual spores in a sac-like structure called the ascus. They include medicinal agents (such as ergot), plant pathogens (Dutch elm disease is caused by an ascomycete) and yeasts used in fermentation. We have found the oldest ascomycetous fungi with flask-shaped ascocarps in thin-section preparations of the Lower Devonian (400 million years old) Rhynie chert of Aberdeenshire, Scotland1. This discovery has implications for dating the origin of this group of fungi, and underscores the diversity of fungal-plant interactions early in the colonization of the land.

Suggested Citation

  • T. N. Taylor & H. Hass & H. Kerp, 1999. "The oldest fossil ascomycetes," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6737), pages 648-648, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6737:d:10.1038_21349
    DOI: 10.1038/21349
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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Strullu-Derrien & Tomasz Goral & Alan R. T. Spencer & Paul Kenrick & M. Catherine Aime & Ester Gaya & David L. Hawksworth, 2023. "A fungal plant pathogen discovered in the Devonian Rhynie Chert," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Krzysztof Owocki & Barbara Kremer & Beata Wrzosek & Agata Królikowska & Józef Kaźmierczak, 2016. "Fungal Ferromanganese Mineralisation in Cretaceous Dinosaur Bones from the Gobi Desert, Mongolia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.

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