Class Taphrinomycetes

The Taphrinomycetes consist of 1 order, the Taphrinales, with 2 families, 9 genera, and 155 species. Many are plant pathogens, causing stem, fruit, and foliage deformities of broadleaf trees and shrubs.

Order Taphrinales

The Taphrinales are a group of fungi that lack ascomata, instead producing simple, exposed layers of asci on host tissues. Infected plant tissues often become enlarged, deformed and brightly pigmented. Asci are thin-walled, and often contain large numbers of spores because the ascospores bud while still encased in the ascus.

Family Taphrinaceae

This family of species consists of parasitic ascomycetes associated with leaves and fruit of broadleaf trees and plants, producing a layer of exposed asci on deformed and often brightly pigmented plant tissue. Some species are associated with leaf curl and premature defoliation. Asci have a single thin wall and may contain large numbers of colourless single-celled spores due to ascospores budding while still in the ascus.

• Birch leaf blister
  Pathogen name: Taphrina carnea Johanson
• Oak leaf blister
  Pathogen name: Taphrina caerulescens (Desmaz. & Mont.) Tul.