Fungi in a Psaronius root mantle from the Rotliegend (Asselian, Lower Permian/Cisuralian) of Thuringia, Germany

摘要: Abstract Much is known about the biology and ecology of plants that comprised forest ecosystems during Carboniferous Early Permian. However, a broad understanding interrelatedness between other organisms living in these forests has been slow to develop. The tree fern Psaronius (Marattiales), an important element many Pennsylvanian Permian peat-forming ecosystems, gained mechanical stability from massive root mantle. Thin sections permineralized mantle Manebach Formation (Asselian, Lower Permian/Cisuralian) near Ilmenau, Germany, show diverse assemblage predominantly intracellular fungi all tissues. Especially interesting fungus produces prominent, boot-shaped swellings close where it passes through host cell walls what appear be physiological interfaces short, densely clustered hyphal branches within cells. Other fungal remains occur form chytrid-like sporangia, several types basidiomycete hyphae with simple, medallion, ampulliform clamp connections, tenuous mycelia resembling present-day ‘fine endophytes.’ This represents one best preserved Carboniferous-Early communities documented date. It strengthens hypothesis plant-fungus associations were highly complex late Paleozoic forests, likely because long-lived morphology internal organization, thus provided multiple contact sites ecologically distinct microhabitats for fungi.