| Curvularia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Curvularia geniculata | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Dothideomycetes |
| Order: | Pleosporales |
| Family: | Pleosporaceae |
| Genus: | Curvularia Boedijn, 1933 |
| Type species | |
| Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn | |
Curvularia is agenus ofhyphomycete (mold)fungi which can bepathogens but also act as beneficial partners of many plant species. They are common in soil.[1] MostCurvularia species are found intropical regions, though a few are found intemperate zones.
Curvularia is defined by thetype speciesC. lunata (Wakker) Boedijn.
Curvularia lunata appears as shiny velvety-black, fluffy growth (on the fungus colony surface). These fluffy 'hairs', which really are branching, fine filamentous structures calledhyphae, are divided inside by cell walls namedseptae (-> the hyphae are 'septate'). The walls of these hyphae contain dark pigments, which makes for their black appearance and which is called'dematiaceous'. The hyphae produce brown spore bearing organs, 'conidiophores', which are distinguished by their 'geniculate'[1] shape, meaning they have bends of abrupt kneelike angles. The immobile, asexual fungal spores born on those conidiophores, theproconidia, have a slightly to distinctly curved shape; they are divided inside by horizontally spreading cell walls (= are 'transversely[2] septate'), and have one expanded cell (the third[clarification needed] cell) at one end (the pore[clarification needed] end of theconidium).
Curvularia can be distinguished from the speciesBipolaris andDrechslera by the way (angle) walls (septae) divide the inner structure of their spores.
The name of theteleomorphic state of the type speciesCurvularia lunata isCochliobolus lunatus (Fam. Pleosporaceae, Ord. Pleosporales, Cla. Loculoascomycetes, Phy.Ascomycota).
One species of Curvularia,Curvularia protuberata, is anendosymbiote of thepanic grassDichanthelium lanuginosum that can enable the grass to thrive nearhot springs in soil temperatures of up to 149 °F (65 °C). The fungus confers this protective effect only when itself infected by theCurvularia thermal tolerance virus (CThTV). Plants unrelated to panic grass also experience this protective effect when inoculated with the virus-infected fungus.[2]
As of 8 August 2023[update], theGBIF lists up to 164 species,[3] whileSpecies Fungorum lists about 196 species.[4]
Primaryspecies ofCurvularia commonly found in soils and on plant tissues (including seeds) are shown here: