ABSTRACT
Fruiting bodies (ascocarps) of epiphyllous fungi were amongst the fi rst fungal groups that were unquestionably identifi ed in microfossil
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226007, India. Email: suryatripathi.2009@rediffmail.com
assemblages. These belong to the family Microthyriaceae (Ascomycetes). Numerous types of ascocarps of epiphyllous fungi and fungal hyphae growing on leaf surfaces have been described from Cretaceous and Tertiary strata throughout the world. Fossil records indicate that the morphological diversity of microthyriaceous fruiting bodies considerably increased during mid-Tertiary (Cookson, 1947; Elsik, 1978; Ramanujam, 1982; Kalgutkar and Jansonius, 2000; Saxena and Tripathi, 2011). In most cases, distinctive morphological features of fossil ascocarps facilitate their comparison with extant counterparts. Microthyriaceous fungi have scutate fruit bodies called thyriothecia (singular thyriothecium) or ascocarps. Generally, these possess radiating rows of mycelial cells giving an appearance of tissues arranged in a radial fashion. The ascocarps contain asci that are surrounded by or enclosed within a protective tissue. The ascocarps may be in the form of closed, globose structures or fl ask-shaped bodies with an opening known as ostiole or saucer shaped open structures. The size of fossil fruiting bodies generally ranges between 80 and 160 µm. Dilcher (1965, 1973) made comprehensive studies on epiphyllous fungi and documented numerous fungal remains associated with angiospermic leaves of the Eocene age.
