KEY TO MAJOR GROUPS OF FUNGI OCCURRING IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT 



The preliminary key separates the nine major groups 

 of fungi occurring in the marine environment: 

 Labyrinthulae, Chytridiomycetes, Hyphochytridiomy- 

 cetes, Plasmodiophoromycetes, Oomycetes. Trichomy- 

 cetes, Deuteromycetes, Ascomycetes, and Basidiomy- 

 cetes (Ma vibrissa, the only representative of the 

 Basidiomycetes included in this treatment, is keyed out 

 directly). Both the classes Ascomycetes and Deuteromy- 

 cetes are separated into genera utilizing the Saccardo 

 sporological system. Morphology and color of the spores 



and conidia are the essential features employed in the 

 Saccardo system. While the Deuteromycetes are keyed 

 directly to genera or species, the Ascomycetes are divided 

 into spore groups (Amerosporae, Dictyosporae, 

 Didymosporae, Phragmosporae, Scolecosporae). Each 

 spore group is then separated into the various genera. 

 Genera of Ascomycetes are finally delimited into species 

 based primarily on spore size and on the nature of spore 

 appendages in those species possessing them. 



Vegetative phase or stage entirely amoe- 

 boid Labv 



1 Vegetative phase or stage one- to many-celled, holocarpic or eucarpic 2 



2 (/) Flagellated cells present 3 



2 (I) Flagellated cells lacking 6 



3 (2) Motile cells uniflagellate 



