Mycological teaching diagrams by Meike Piepenbring

(These diagrams are also available in Spanish)

All diagrams

Introduction

These diagrams have been created for teaching of mycology and phytopathology. They are shared here in order to extend our knowledge on fungi, especially those living in the tropics.

Phylogeny of fungi (names in bold), simplified

Cellular structures of fungi and algae

Vegetative development starting from a hypha

Life cycle, generations and nuclear stages
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Types of fertilization
Different types of fertilization. Long, red arrows indicate direction of movement. Short red arrows indicate growth by which compatible cells get in contact with each other and fuse. Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

(Old version) Groups of Fungi
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

(Old version) Divisions of true fungi, Fungi, simplified

Life cycle with dikaryotic stage, Ascomycota Basidiomycota

Chitin and ergosterol, Fungi

Basidiomycota

Phylogeny of Basidiomycota

Development of a clamp connection
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Types of basidia

Discharge of a ballistospore
Based on Money (1998), simplified.
Money, N.P. 1998. More g’s than the space shuttle: ballistospore discharge. Mycologia 90: 547-558.

Development starting from a basidiospore

Pores in septa of hyphae of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota

Life cycle Basidiomycota basidium (diagram by M. Piepenbring)

Life cycle of Basidiomycota, basidium
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Types of fruiting bodies, Basidiomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

(Old version) Concepts of Agaricales and Polyporales, Basidiomycota

Connections of a lamella to the stipe, Agaricales Basidiomycota

Hemiangiocarpic fruiting body of Amanita sp., Agaricales Basidiomycota
Modified after diagrams by Yang Zhu-Liang; with permission.

Life cycle of Agaricus sp., Agaricales Basidiomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Bromatium of leaf-cutting ants, asexual stage of Agaricales Basidiomycota

(Old version) Escovopsis weberi, parasite of the fungus cultivated by leaf-cutting ants, conidiophore with conidia, asexual form of Hypocreales, Ascomycota

Termite nest, Termitomyces sp., Termitosphaera sp., Agaricales Basidiomycota
Diagram on the left hand side based on Heim (1977) and Buyck (1994).
Buyck, B. 1994. Ubwoba: les champignons comestibles de l'Ouest du Burundi. Publ. Agric. 34.
Heim, R. 1977. Termites et champignons. Les champignons termitophiles d´Afrique Noire et d´Asie méridionale. Société Nouvelle des Éditions Boubée, Paris.
Drawing on the right hand side based on a drawing by Roland Kirschner, used with permission.

(Old version) Hyphae with conidia of Moniliophthora roreri, asexual stage of Agaricales Basidiomycota

Ectomycorrhizae in their habitat, Boletales Basidiomycota (left hand side) and Tuberales Ascomycota (right hand side)
In collaboration with Ingrid Kottke.

Ectomycorrhiza anatomy, Basidiomycota
In collaboration with Ingrid Kottke.

Monotropa uniflora, mycoheterotrophic (erroneously called saprotrophic) plant with its fungus in the habitat
In collaboration with Ingrid Kottke.

(Old version) Types of hymenophores of Polyporales, Basidiomycota

Skeletal hyphae of Lentinus sp., Polyporales Basidiomycota

(Old version) Hypha with conidia of Allescheriella crocea, asexual form of Basidiomycota

Types of fruiting bodies of gasteromycetes, Basidiomycota

Types of basidia of gasteromycetes, Basidiomycota

Fruiting bodies of Geastraceae, gasteromycetes, Basidiomycota

Fruiting bodies of Phallales, gasteromycetes, Basidiomycota

Classification of Auriculariales and Tremellales, Basidiomycota

Hymenium with basidium and basidiospores of Exidiopsis basidia, Auriculariales Basidiomycota

Phylogeny of smut fungi (black, bold) and closely related groups, Basidiomycota

Basidia of smut fungi, Basidiomycota

Sori of smut fungi, Basidiomycota

Life cycle of Ustilago maydis on corn, Ustilaginales Basidiomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Tilletia ayresii on Panicum maximum, Tilletiales Basidiomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Teliospore ball of Doassansia sagittariae in a leaf, Doassansiales Basidiomycota

Teliospores, a basidium, and dikaryotic cells of Entyloma sp. in a leaf, Entylomatales Basidiomycota

Fruiting body with elaters and basidia of Graphiola spp., Exobasidiales Basidiomycota

Life cycle of Graphiola phoenicis, Exobasidiales Basidiomycota
Based on Cole (1983) and Oberwinkler et al. (1982).
Cole, G.T. 1983. Graphiola phoenicis: a taxonomic enigma. Mycologia 75: 93-116.
Oberwinkler, F., R.J. Bandoni, P. Blanz, G. Deml & L. Kisimova-Horovitz. 1982. Graphiolales: Basidiomycetes parasitic on palms. Pl. Syst. Evol. 140: 251-277.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Teliospores of rust fungi, Pucciniales Basidiomycota

Column of germinating teliospores of Cionothrix praelonga, Pucciniales Basidiomycota

Life cycle of Puccinia graminis on a grass, Pucciniales Basidiomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Septobasidium sp. on scale insects on bark of a living tree, Septobasidiales Basidiomycota

(Old version) Fruiting body with basidia of Atractiella delectans, Atractiellales Basidiomycota

(Old version) Hypha with a conidiogenous cell and a conidium of Hobsonia mirabilis, asexual form of Atractiellales Basidiomycota

Ascomycota

Phylogeny, subphyla of Ascomycota

(Old version) Life cycle of Ascomycota, ascus
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Morphological groups, asexual fungi, imperfect fungi

Types of conidia, asexual fungi, imperfect fungi

Types of conidiogenesis, asexual fungi, imperfect fungi

Conidia, Ingoldian Hyphomycetes, staurospores, asexual fungi, imperfect fungi

Phylogeny of Pezizomycotina

Fruiting bodies of Ascomycota

(Old version) Stilboid fungus, Helotiales, Ascomycota

Types of asci, Ascomycota

Morphological groups, orders, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Ascospores, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Pezizales, Ascomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Fruiting bodies of Pezizales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Arthrobotrys superba, asexual, nematode trapping, Orbiliales, Ascomycota (drawing by R. Kirschner)

Fruiting bodies, Helotiales, Leotiales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Fruiting bodies, Rhytismatales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Rhytisma acerinum with its asexual form Melasmia acerina, Rhytismatales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Hou Cheng-Lin; with permission.

Brasiliomyces chasmothecium, chasmothecium, Erysiphales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Erysiphales with its asexual form Oidium sp., Ascomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Conidiophores of Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Eurotiales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Neurospora sp. with its asexual form Chrysonilia sp., Sordariales, Ascomycota
Based on Webster & Weber (2007), simplified.
Webster, J. & R.W.S. Weber. 2007. Introduction to fungi. Cambridge University Press.

Classification of Hypocreales, Clavicipitales, Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycota

Fruiting bodies of Hypocreales (without Clavicipitaceae), Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Life cycle of Hypocrea sp. with its asexual form Trichoderma sp., Hypocreales, Ascomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Fruiting bodies of Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Claviceps purpurea with its asexual form Sphacelia sp., Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Fungi hyperparasitic on insects on plants, Hypocreales, Ascomycota

Fruiting bodies of Xylariales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

(Old version) Fruiting bodies of Xylariales, Boliniales, Ascomycota

(Old version) Fruiting bodies, ascospores, asexual forms, Xylariales, Ascomycota

Fruiting bodies of Meliolales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Meliolales, Ascomycota
Based on Rodríguez Justavino (2006).
Rodríguez Justavino, D. 2006. Meliolaceae aus Panama. Ph.D. thesis, University of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Fruiting bodies of Phyllachorales, Ascomycota
In collaboration with Tanja Trampe.

Life cycle of Phyllachorales, Ascomycota
Based on Trampe (2009).
Trampe, T. 2009. Neotropical tarspot fungi – exploration of Phyllachorales in Panama. Ph.D. thesis, University of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

(Old version) Fruiting bodies of Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota

(Old version) Types of hamathecia, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota
Based on Eriksson (1981).
Eriksson, O. 1981. The families of bitunicate ascomycetes. Opera Botanica 60: 1-209.

Asexual forms, Mycosphaerella, Mycosphaerellales, Ascomycota

Life cycle of Mycosphaerella sp. with its asexual form Ramularia sp., Capnodiales, Ascomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

(Old version) Fruiting body, ascus, ascospore, Myriangium sp., Myriangiales, Ascomycota

Asexual forms, Hyphomycetes, Pleosporales, Ascomycota

Asexual forms, Coelomycetes, Pleosporales, Ascomycota

Fruiting bodies, Asterinaceae, Microthyriales, Ascomycota
Based on Hofmann (2009).
Hofmann, T.A. 2009. Plant parasitic Asterinaceae and Microthyriaceae from the Neotropics (Panama). Ph.D. thesis, University of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

(Old version) Poliferation of ascogenous hypha, ascus, Ascomycota

(Old version) Fruiting body, Antoniomyces loranthicola, Parmulariaceae, Ascomycota
Based on Inácio et al. (2012).
Inácio, C., K. Araúz & M. Piepenbring. 2012. A new genus of Parmulariaceae from Panama. Mycological Progress (published online 2011)

Life cycle, Laboulbenia sp., Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota (diagram by M. Piepenbring)

Life cycle of Laboulbenia sp., Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota
Based on Scheloske (1969).
Scheloske, H.-W. 1969. Beiträge zur Biologie, Ökologie und Systematik der Laboulbeniales (Ascomycetes). Parasitologische Schriftenreihe 19: 1-176.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Systematic groups including yeasts (written in red), Ascomycota, Basidiomycota

Life cycles of yeasts, Saccharomycetales, Schizosaccharomycetales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Taphrina deformans, Taphrinales, Ascomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Lichens

Interactions, green alga (green), fungal hypha, lichen, Lichenes

Systematic position of lichenized Ascomycota (written in green), Lichenes
Phylogenetic position of lichenized species among Ascomycota (simplified). Names written in green indicate groups of lichens. Names written with green and black letters refer to groups which include lichenized and non-lichenized species.

Growth forms of lichens, Lichenes

Anatomy of the thallus, green alga, cyanobacterium, lichen, Lichenes

Anatomy of the thallus, details, lichens, Lichenes

Asci and ascospores of lichens, Lichenes

Glomeromycota

Chlamydospores and siphonal hyphae of a sporocarp, Glomeromycota

Arbuscular mycorrhiza, Glomeromycota
In collaboration with Ingrid Kottke.

Zygomycota

Sporangiophores, sporangia, conidia, liberation of spores, Mucorales, Zygomycota

Zygospores of Mucorales, Zygomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Life cycle of Mucor sp., Mucorales, Zygomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Conidiogenous cells and conidia of Conidiobolus sp., Zygomycota

Chytridiomycota

Types of thalli of Chytridiomycota

Life cycle of Synchytrium endobioticum on potato, Chytridiomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, asexual, Chytridiomycota
Based on Longcore et al. (1999).
Longcore, J.E., A.P. Pessier & D.K. Nichols. 1999. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis gen. et sp. nov., a chytrid pathogenic to amphibians. Mycologia 91: 219-227.

Oomycetes

Phylogeny, simplified, Oomycota

Asexual structures of Saprolegniales, Oomycota
Based on Gäumann (1964).
Gäumann, E. 1964. Die Pilze, Grundzüge ihrer Entwicklungsgeschichte und Morphologie, 2nd edition. Birkhäuser, Basel, Stuttgart.

Life cycle of Saprolegnia sp., Saprolegniales, Oomycota

Sporangiophores of Phytophthora infestans and Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Peronosporales, Oomycota

Asexual structures of Saprolegniales, Albuginales, Peronosporales, Oomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Life cycle of Phytophthora infestans on potato, Peronosporales, Oomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Protistean fungi

Phylogeny of protistean fungi, slime molds, Myxomycota and other groups
Groups of mucilaginous fungi classified among protists. For orders, only the mycological names are cited. For classes and divisions, zoological names are cited first, and mycological names are added in quotation marks.

Morphological concepts, orders of Myxomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.

Life cycle of Stemonitis sp., Stemonitales, Myxomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Dictyostelium sp., asexual, Dictyosteliales, Myxomycota
Modified after unpublished diagrams by Franz Oberwinkler; with permission.
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Dictyostelium sp., sexual, Dictyosteliales, Myxomycota
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.

Life cycle of Plasmodiophora brassicae in cabbage, Plasmodiophoromycetes
Abbreviations: 1n = haploid, P! = plasmogamy, n+n = dikaryotic, K! = karyogamy, 2n = diploid, M! = meiosis
Red and blue circles represent haploid nuclei of different mating types, circles of both colors represent diploid nuclei.