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Curvularia is a genus of Hyphomycetes (mold) fungus which can be but also act as beneficial partners of many plant species. They are common in soil. Most Curvularia species are found in tropical regions, though a few are found in temperate zones.
Curvularia is defined by the type species C. lunata (Wakker) Boedijn.
Curvularia lunata appears as shiny velvety-black, fluffy growth (on the fungus colony surface). These fluffy 'hairs', which really are branching, fine filamentous structures called Hypha, are divided inside by cell walls named Septum (-> the hyphae are 'septate'). The walls of these hyphae contain dark pigments, which makes for their black appearance and which is called Black yeast. The hyphae produce brown spore bearing organs, 'conidiophores', which are distinguished by their 'geniculate' [1] shape, meaning they have bends of abrupt kneelike angles. The immobile, asexual fungal spores born on those conidiophores, the conidia, have a slightly to distinctly curved shape; they are divided inside by horizontally spreading cell walls (= are 'transversely[2] septate'), and have one expanded cell (the thirdclarification cell) at one end (the poreclarification end of the conidium).
Curvularia can be distinguished from the species Bipolaris and Drechslera by the way (angle) walls (septae) divide the inner structure of their spores.
The name of the teleomorphic state of the type species Curvularia lunata is Cochliobolus lunatus (Fam. Pleosporaceae, Ord. Pleosporales, Cla. Loculoascomycetes, Phy. Ascomycota).
Primary species of Curvularia commonly found in soils and on plant tissues (including seeds) are shown here:
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