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Daldinia concentrica stroma with perithecia. Photo by George Barron at University of Guelph.

Daldinia

Daldinia is a genus of endophytic fungal species from the family Hypoxylaceae in the order Xylariales. The genus is named in 1863 by the Italian mycologists Cesati & De Notaris, after Agostino Daldini (1817-1895), a Swiss monk, clergyman and botanist. It is known by several common names such as cramp balls, coal fungus, and King Alfred’s cake.

Morphology

Microscopic slide depicting a section of a Daldinia perithecium, where segments are arranged in concentric layers. Photo by Ana Andrade, University of Arizona.

Like other members of the Ascomycota division, sexual reproduction of this fungal genus is through the formation of ascospores within a sac-like ascus. The black fruiting body of Daldinia is hemi-spherical, 2-7cm wide, and is hard and friable. It is inedible and has a glebal hymenium which is purple, brown, or silvery black inside and is arranged in concentric layers. Much like how tree rings grow, the concentric layers are related to seasonal growth of the fruiting body. The cylindrical asci within the fruiting body are seen in the outermost edge of the perithecium, to allow for spore dispersal. The spores are dispersed when each ascus is engorged in fluid which extends outside the perithecium.

Classification and Characteristics

Section of a Daldinia ascospores within ascus. Photo by Ana Andrade, University of Arizona.

Like many fungi, it is often considered a saprotroph and lives on decaying wood, with a strong preference towards burnt wood. Unlike other saprotrophs, however, members of the Daldinia genus also have an endophytic or endolichenic stage, in which they live within the tissues of healthy host plants. This particulat stage of the Daldinia lifecycle likely gives the endosaprotrophic fungi a timely advantage following the death of its host. When inhabiting a lichen, it appears symptomless within lichen thalli, and associates closely with the algal or cyanobacterial partner in the thalli.

The Daldinia genus consists of endophytic fungi that acts as a generalist, and thus can form a mutualistic relationship with various woody plants and lichen. The fruiting bodies consist of pertithecia imbedded in large stomata which have internal concentric zones, which gives one of the most common species the name Daldinia concentrica . Given this shared trait, in Scandanavia and other European countries, Daldinia concentrica has been used as a given name for almost any species within the genus.

More recently, D. concentrica has been retypified to show at least five different taxa of Daldinia are found in northern Europe alone, which were all previously thought to be D. concentrica .

Lifecycle and Ecology

The cylindrical asci within the fruiting body in the outermost edge of the perithecium. Photo by Ana Andrade at the University of Arizona.

It is well known that the stromata of Daldinia often serve as a habitat for several species of pyrophilous insects, which are strongly attracted to newly burnt areas, between 0-5 years following a fire. It is therefore suggested that species such as D. loculata are spread to burnt substrates by pyrophilous insects, which can detect smoke and heat from forest fires carried over large distances.

Ecology

What microbial processes define this environment? Describe microbial processes that are important in this habitat, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.

Current and Future Research Applications

Lab culture of Daldinia loculata in Aspergillus growing media. From Photo by Ana Andrade at the University of Arizona.

Lab cultures of Daldinia spp. are able to grow on a broad range of substrates, often much faster than other Xylariaceae species, which is evidence of its ability to colonize a large range of host plants and lichen, as well as other woody substrates.

Biofuels

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References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

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