Dothideales


Dothideales are an order of bitunicate fungi consisting mainly of saprobic or plant parasitic species.

Description

Taxa in this order are characterized by the absence of a hamathecium in a locule, and formation of ovoid to cylindrical fisstunicate asci, usually in bundles or cluster called fascicles. During development, the asci push through the stromatic tissue, creating the locules.

Classification

Until 2001, this order was thought to contain five families: Botryosphaeriaceae, Coccoidiaceae, Doditheaceae, Dothioraceae, and the Planistromellaceae. Several molecular phylogenetic studies since that time have resulted in an organization restructuring of classification. In the most recent revision of Ascomycota classification the Dothideales contains two families, the Dothidiaceae and the Dothioraceae. The Botryosphaeriaceae and the Planistromellaceae have been moved to order and family incertae sedis, respectively, pending the acquisition and analysis of additional molecular data.