The most similar genus is Botryosphaeria. Cophinforma has morphologically unique ascospores which are hyaline and aseptate. Generic type: Cophinforma eucalypti signaling pathway Doilom, J.K. Liu & K.D. Hyde. Cophinforma eucalypti Doilom, J.K. Liu & K.D. Hyde., sp. nov. MycoBank: MB 801316 (Fig. 16) Fig. 16 Cophinforma eucalyptus (MFLU 12–0752, holotype) a-b. Ascostromata on dead twigs of Eucalyptus sp. c. Ascostromata cut horizontally showing the white contents. d–e. Vertical section through ascostromata. f. Immature asci and mature asci. g. Immature ascus. h–j. Asci. k–m. Ascospores. n. Germinating ascospore. Scale bars: d–e = 100 μm, f = 50 μm, g–j, n = 20 μm, k–m = 10 μm
Etymology: Referring to the host “Eucalyptus sp.,” on which the fungus was collected. Saprobic
on recently fallen wood. Ascostromata (88-)112–125(−130) μm high × (135-)172–185(−195) μm wide \( \left( \overline x = 112 \times 165\,\upmu \mathrmm,\mathrmn = 10 \right) \), initially immersed under host epidermis, becoming semi-immersed to erumpent, breaking through cracks in bark, gregarious and fused, uniloculate, globose to subglobose, membraneous, visible white contents distinct when cut, ostiolate. Ostiole (33-)43–52 μm high, (31-)40–48 μm wide, central, papillate, pale brown, relatively broad, periphysate. Peridium (13-) 28–34 μm wide, broader at the base, comprising several layers of relatively think-walled, dark brown
to black-walled cells arranged in a textura angularis. Pseudoparaphyses XL184 hyphae-like, numerous, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 74–90(−123) × 17–23 μm \( \left( \overline x = 89 \times 20\,\upmu \mathrmm,\mathrmn = 10 \right) \), 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, clavate to cylindro-clavate, sometimes short pedicellate, mostly long pedicellate, apex rounded with an ocular chamber. Ascospores 21–26 × 8–11 μm \( \left( \overline x = 23.5 \times 9\,\upmu \mathrmm,\mathrmn = 20 \right) \), overlapping uniseriate to biseriate, hyaline, aseptate, ellipsoidal to obovoid, slightly wide above the centre, minutely guttulate, smooth-walled. 17-DMAG (Alvespimycin) HCl Asexual state not established. Culture characteristics: Ascospores germinating on PDA within 8–15 h. Germ tubes produced from both ends of the ascospore. Colonies growing on PDA 80 mm diam after 3 d at 25–30 °C, fast growing; fimbriate, flat or effuse, dense, initially white after a few days becoming pale grey starting form the centre, finally dark grey to black, convex with papillate surface, reaching the edge the Petri dish after 4 d. Material examined: THAILAND, Chiang Rai Province, Muang District, Thasud Sub District, on dead branch of Eucalyptus sp., 5 October 2011, M. Doilom, (MFLU 12–0752, holotype), ex-type living culture MFLUCC 11–0425; Ibid., living culture MFLUCC 11–0655. Lasiodiplodia Ellis & Everh., Bot. Gaz.