Table 2 Comparison between P. anserina and N. crassa biology

Ecology

   Habitat

Restricted on dung of herbivores

Prefers plants killed by fire

Always small biotopes and high competition

Often large biotopes and low competition

   Distribution

Worldwide

Prefers hot climate

Vegetative growth

   Growth rate

Average (7 mm/d)

High (9 cm/d)

   Ageing syndrome

Senescence in all investigated strains

Mostly immortal with some ageing strains

   Hyphal interference

Present

Not yet described

   Major pigments

Melanins (green)

Carotenoids (orange)

Reproduction

   Asexual reproduction

None

Efficient with germinating conidia

   Sexual generation time

One week

Three weeks

   Mating physiology

Pseudohomothallic

Strict heterothallic

   Ascospore dormancy

No

Yes

   Ascospore germination trigger

Passage through digestive track of herbivores in nature (on low nutrient media containing ammonium acetate in the laboratory)

60°c heat shock or chemicals (for example, furfural)

Gene inactivation processes

   RIP

Not efficient

Very efficient

   MSUD

Not yet described

Efficient

   Quelling

Not yet described

Efficient