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Myxotrichum is a genus of fungi belonging to the family Myxotrichaceae within the class Ascomycetes.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Myxotrichum Kunze (1823)
• Family: Myxotrichaceae
• Class: Ascomycetes
• Phylum: Ascomycota
• Order: Onygenales
• Kingdom: Fungi
• Synonyms/Related Genera (Anamorph/Asexual State): Geomyces, Malbranchea, Oidiodendron

Species Examples

• Myxotrichum arcticum
• Myxotrichum chartarum
• Myxotrichum deflexum (Myxotrichum deflexum Berk.)
• Myxotrichum fuscum (Schumach.) Fr. (Original name: Myxotrichum chartarum)
• Myxotrichum herbariense (G.F. Orr &amp Kuehn) Apinis
• Myxotrichum ochraceum Berk. &amp Broome, 1875
• Myxotrichum setosum (Eidam) G.F. Orr &amp Plunkett
• Myxotrichum spinosum Massee &amp Salmon
• Myxotrichum stipitatum
• Myxotrichum uncinatum
• Myxotrichum caesium (Nees) Fr., 1832
• Myxotrichum bicolor
• Myxotrichum dicyma

Habitat and Distribution

• Myxotrichum species are commonly found in soil.
• They can also be found indoors on decomposing carpets, paper, and wet drywall.
• Specific mentions include isolation from cardboard and presence on wind barriers and wood, particularly in basements and crawl spaces inside isolated outer walls.

Ecological Role

• Some Myxotrichum species are cellulolytic, meaning they can decompose cellulose-containing materials like paper and drywall.
• One study mentions Myxotrichum sp. as an endolichenic fungus producing allelopathic polyketides.
• Myxotrichum sp. may be responsible for light red-spotted paper alterations.

Morphological Characteristics

• Myxotrichum deflexum produces cleistothecia composed of a lax network of peridial hyphae. The outer peridial hyphae (appendages) are very thick-walled.

Genetic Information

• Myxotrichum arcticum (UAMH 7565) has a GenBank accession number of AF062810.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Myxotrichum sp. has been identified as an endolichenic fungus.
• Myxotrichum species can occur alongside other fungi like Gymnoascus reessii.
• They may interact with bacteria such as Stachybotrys and Streptomyces sp. in the alteration of paper.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Myxotrichum deflexum.
• The DGfM checklist (German Mycological Society) includes Myxotrichum in its taxon list of fungi and fungal-like organisms from Germany.
• ResearchGate hosts information about Myxotrichum chartarum as a low-temperature fungus from cardboard.
• Encyclopedia of Life also has information on the Myxotrichum chartarum