Helotiales

Habit

• Helotiales is distinguished by its disc or cup-shaped apothecia.
• Its asci are only slightly thickened in contrast to other Leotiomycetes
• Most Helotiales live as saprobes on soil humus, dead logs, manure and other organic matter.
• The order includes most fungi that engage in ericoid mycorrhiza. Including Rhizoscyphus ericae, Meliniomyces species and Cairneyella variabilis.
• The order contains some of the worst plant pathogens such as Monilinia fructicola, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, D. rosae, Sclerotium cepivorum