Hymenoscyphus albidus is not associated with an anamorphic stage and displays slower growth than H ymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus on agar media

Summary Examination of isolates of H ymenoscyphus albidus from France revealed that this fungus does not form an anamorphic stage in culture. The lack of an asexual stage in this fungus is a conspicuous morphological difference to the ash dieback pathogen Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus , which is associated with its Chalara fraxinea anamorphic state. In growth studies on malt extract agar ( MEA ) and MEA amended with ash leaflets (ash leaf malt extract agar, AMEA ) at 20°C, isolates of H . albidus grew slower than those of H . pseudoalbidus . On AMEA , the growth of cultures of both species was greatly enhanced.