Phonetic: Sky-tah-lyd-ee-um

Scytalidium is a widespread mitosporic dematiaceous fungus. This saprobe is commonly associated with wood or soils, and sometimes with diseases of woody plants, especially in tropical to subtropical areas. Scytalidium is considered to be valuable as a mycoparasite on pathogenic rust and wood-rotting fungi. If established some species can prevent colonization of the wood by decaying fungi, such as Poria. Scytalidium can also produce an antibiotic called scytalidin, which is heat-stable. This fungus is also an agent of onychomycosis and dermatomycosis (skin and nail infections). One case of subcutaneous cyst was caused by S. hyalinum, and a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis was caused by S. lignicola. The colonies grow rapidly, and are wooly in texture, and white to grayish-black in color. Scytalidium can be distinguished from Geotrichum by its wooly colonies, and by its brown-pigmented hyphae and arthroconidia. Scytalidium does not grow in the presence of cycloheximide. Culture - Potato dextrose agar, 20° – 25°C, 7 – 10 days.