Colacogloea: a new genus in the auricularioid Heterobasidiomycetes

A new genus, Colacogloea, is described in the auricularioid Heterobasidiomycetes having simple septal pores. The genus is based on Platygloea peniophorae, a mycoparasite of some Aphyllophorales species. It is a segregate from the heterogeneous Platygloea s.l. The most important distinguishing features of Colacogloea are (i) the frequently simultaneous presence of basidial and conidial stages, (ii) a dimorphic life cycle including a yeast phase, (iii) mycoparasitism by colacosomes, (iv) simple septal pores with rounded margins, but without associated electron-opaque bandings and globules, and (v) aseptate basidiospores. Key words: Heterobasidiomycetes, Platygloea, Colacogloea peniophorae, mycoparasitism, colacosomes.