TABLE 2.
Approximate phenetic key to the species of the E. spinifera cladea
| No. | Characteristic | ITS cluster |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | Conidiogenesis preponderantly annellidic | 2 |
| 1b | Conidiogenesis preponderantly sympodial | 9 |
| 2a | Erect, multicellular conidiophores present that are darker than the supporting mycelium | 3 |
| 2b | Erect, dark, multicellular conidiophores absent | 4 |
| 3a | Annellated zones long with clearly visible, frilled annellations | E. spinifera |
| 3b | Annellated zones inconspicuous, degenerate | E. attenuata |
| 4a | Mature conidiogenous cells rocket shaped, slightly darker than the supporting hyphae, with regular, tapering annellated zone | E. jeanselmei |
| 4b | Mature conidiogenous cells otherwise remaining concolorous with supporting hyphae | 5 |
| 5a | Conidiogenous cells intercalary, conidia being produced from repent hyphae | E. lecanii-corni |
| 5b | Conidiogenous cells intercalary and lateral, the latter being elongate, flask to rocket shaped | 6 |
| 6a | Budding cells only; hyphal fragments mostly without marked conidiation | E. exophialae |
| 6b | Hyphae producing conidia are preponderant | 7 |
| 7a | Annellated zones minute, tooth shaped | E. heteromorpha |
| 7b | Annellated zones having the appearance of inconspicuous flat scars | 8 |
| 8a | Large chlamydospore-like cells present | E. nishimurae |
| 8b | Chlamydospore-like cells absent | E. oligosperma |
| 9a | Dark-brown, thick-walled conidiophores present | 10 |
| 9b | Conidiophores only slightly darker than the remaining mycelium | 11 |
| 10a | Conidiophores unbranched | R. anceps |
| 10b | Conidiophores composing a basitously branched system | R. basitonum |
| 11a | Conidia broadly ellipsoidal, pale brown | R. aquaspersa |
| 11b | Conidia cylindrical, hyaline | R. atrovirens; R. similis |
a
For reliable species identification, ITS rDNA sequencing remains necessary.