Fossil fungi
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Fossil fungi is a highly intricate subject, investigated by only few palaeobotanists, although they represent an important component of ancient ecosystems [1,2]. Much work on fossil fungi has been done lately but some of the fungi and related phenomena reported here are not covered by the recent monograph Fossil Fungi [4].
Fungus chlamydospores of two largely differing sizes

The delicate hyphae are seldom preserved, not even in chert, with the exception of the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert, where they are abundant and represent several species. More suitable for preservation are the spherical or ovoid objects called resting spores, chlamydospores, or vesicles. A diverse collection of these is shown in a comprehensive early publication on fossil fungi in the Rhynie chert [3]. Some are not named but only numbered there, and apparently some of them have not yet got a scientific name hitherto. Hence it seems useful to look for more details related to fungi in chert.  
chlamysospore
left: Fungus chlamydospore and hypha near forking xylem strand of the early land plant Trichopherophyton ; transparent chalcedony with yellow precipitate and quartz crystals in the background, Rhynie chert. Image width 1.4mm.

hyphae
above: Fungus chlamydospores of two largely differing sizes within plant debris in Rhynie chert. Image width 2mm.

right: Fungus hyphae, interconnected, well preserved in Rhynie chert. Picture width 2.5mm.

The fungus-related phenomena described here are listed below along with the number of the contribution in Rhynie Chert News and Permian Chert News. Every number is linked to the related text.


Rhynie Chert News
  4    fungus-induced void pattern on cross-sections of Rhynie chert plant
19    small chlamydospores within big one in decayed Rhynia
21
    fungus-induced void pattern on twin cross-sections of Rhynie chert plant
28    fungus-affected Asteroxylon cross-section with dark cell fills
32    symbiotic fungus in
Rhynie chert plants forming dark clots in cells
54    additional evidence for fungus-induced void pattern formation
55    funny fossil fungus formations
63    several manifestations of Devonian fungi
76   
symbiotic fungus in Trichopherophyton forming dark clots in cells
77    stepwise silicification deduced from hypha coating thickness
78    hyphae curved and surprisingly straight
84    miniature fossil sewage tank
85    cell-size dark clots often mistaken for mite coprolites

87    hyphae with microbial debris and thick coating
104  instructive examples of fungus resting spores
108  clusters of chytrid (?) zoosporangia resembling but differing from Trewinomyces  
109  wavy hyphae resembling the extant
mycoparasite Trichoderma
111  more wavy hyphae like Trichoderma
113  microbial formations with cluster of ZwergimycesPermian fungus chlamydospores
115  Zwergimyces globules densely clustered
116  fungus-related spheres that come in pairs
117  fungus-induced voids on cross-sections
119  fungus-related spheres with fancy fills
120. 
fungus-related spheres with alga connection
124. Asteroxylon tissue affected by fungi 
130. Aglaophyton hollow straw twin sections
142. hyphae with thick silica gel coatings
143. branched hyphae with thick silica gel coatings
145. tangles of hyphae with silica gel coatings
148.
more wavy hyphae like Trichoderma
153. nematophyte or fungus ?
160.
straight and wavy hyphae in Aglaophyton
163. big chlamydospores with coloured fills
173. surprisngly straight hyphae
165. parasite scabs on Rhynie chert plants
177.
big glossy chlamydospores
186. conspicuous big ellipsoid-shaped chlamydospore in hollow Aglaophyton
187. Symbiotic fungus Glomites in the early land plant Aglaophyton
188. Rhynia twice affected: first by parasite, then by Glomites
190. Fungus-related fossil spheres in Rhynie chert

Permian Chert News
14   hyphae with multiple coatings
17   microbes, hyphae, chlamydospores, Scolecopteris

Picture on the right: Fungus chlamydospores in decayed Permian plant matter. Image width 2mm.

Most of the cell-size dark clots in Palaeozoic plant fossils thought to be mite coprolites are no such but fungus formations instead. Nevertheless the "mite coprolites" have got widespread popularity among palaeobotanists who, by
frequent mutual quotation, created a semblance of their reality. That problem has been separated here. It is dealt with under Misconceptions, Oribatid mite coprolites, and under "Wood rot or coprolites".

H.-J. Weiss      2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023

[1] T.N. Taylor, J.M. Osborn:  The importance of fungi in shaping the paleoecosystem.
      Rev. Palaeobot. Palyn. 90(1996), 249-262.
[2] D. Redecker: New views on fungal evolution based on DNA markers and the fossil record.
     Res. Microbiology 153(2002), 125-130.
[3]  R. Kidston, W.H. Lang : On Old Red Sandstone plants showing structure ... Part V. The Thallophyta ...
      Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 52 (1921), 855-902.
[4] T.N.Taylor, M. Krings, E.L. Taylor: Fossil Fungi. Elsevier 2015.

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