348 



CLASS ASCOMYCETEAE 



Dodge should be consulted by all mycologists interested in medical 

 mycology. 



Family Rhodotorulaceae (The Red Yeasts). This family was set 

 apart by Lodder from the Torulopsidaceae because of the production in 

 the yeast-like cells of carotinoid pigments, thus giving the colonies a red 

 to orange color. Rhodotorula is the one genus recognized. The cells are 

 round to elongated and bud freely. Occasionally the resulting cells remain 

 attached in a row to form a short moniliform pseudohypha. No true fer- 

 mentation of sugars occurs but dextrose and various other sugars are 

 oxidized in aerobic respiration. In some species growth occurs in ethyl 

 alcohol. Some species are soil inhabitants, probably saprophytes, but 

 some are found in human sputum and others apparently attack hair. The 

 relationship of this genus is uncertain. It may be a true yeast that has 

 lost its power of producing asci or it may be a much reduced, yeast-like 

 fungus of entirely different origin. 



Family Sporobolomycetaceae. In 1930, Derx recognized two genera, 

 with seven species in Sporobolomyces and two in Bullera, and another 

 genus, Tilletiopsis, which he suggested showed affinities to these. In 1948, 

 the same author described another genus, Itersonilia, which together with 

 the other three he now recognizes as belonging to the family. They are all 

 characterized by the production of aerial "ballistospores," a name pro- 

 posed by Derx for spores usually asymmetrically perched at the apex of 



Fig. 116. Saccharomycetales (?), Family Sporobolomycetaceae. Sporobolomyces 

 roseus Kl. & van N. (A) Vegetative cell. (B-D) Stages in formation of bud. (E-H) 

 Stages in formation of aerial spore. (I) Mother cell after discharge of spore. (Courtesy, 

 Buller: Researches on Fungi, vol. 5, London, Longmans, Green & Co.) 



