The ascus apical apparatus ultrastructure of 12 species of the Dermateaceae (Helotiales, Ascomycota) was studied. Its development
and details are described on the basis of transmission electron microscopy micrographs for all studied species. A majority
of them, 8 species belonging to the genera
Belonopsis, Mollisia, and
Pyrenopeziza, show considerable similarity in the structure of their ascus apical apparatus. Two species,
Mollisia melaleuca and
Mollisia ramealis, show some deviations from this type, suggesting that the genus
Mollisia is not fully homogeneous. Two other species,
Podophacidium xanthomelum and
Pezicula cinnamomea represent two ascus apical apparatus structure types of their own, which are remarkably different from the
Mollisia type. The possible taxonomic implications arising from ascus apical apparatus diversity in the Dermateaceae are discussed.
Keywords Dermateaceae - taxonomy - ultrastructure