First fossil evidence of sooty molds from India and their significance

Sooty molds are produced by complex species mixtures of epifoliar, saprotrophic Pezizomycotina. While amber deposits dominate their fossil record, direct evidence on fossilized angiosperm leaves has remained elusive. This study describes seven distinct morphotypes of sooty molds, including moniliform hyphae, setae, pycnidia, and setose sporocarps, preserved in situ on angiosperm leaf cuticles from the Late Miocene Siwalik deposits (ca. 12-8 Ma) of Himachal Pradesh, India. These specimens provide the first direct evidence of multispecies sooty mold communities associated with angiosperm surfaces in the fossil record. This discovery confirms that the saprotrophic epiphyllous habit was well established in Siwalik Miocene forests, offering significant insights into the evolutionary history and paleoecological interactions of these fungal communities.