Mycology

In the natural T. melanosporum truffle regions of Southern Europe, fine-textured soils present unique challenges to prospective cultivators. With reference to the edaphic and climatic conditions encountered at a hazel plantation in Piedmont, Italy, this study examines these challenges in great detail, and presents a novel phytosociological approach to the analysis of suitable truffle habitat. Ellenberg Indicator Values for T. melanosporum are derived, and then used to quantitatively explain the link between Vitis vinifera, the common grape vine, and T. melanosporum habitats. The significance of a locally-udic moisture regime for T. melanosporum development is also explored. Important new cultural procedures, including the potential of host tree early-season defruiting to achieve enhanced mycelial and ascocarp growth, are introduced. The latest version discusses the significance of humus forms, and of the 'mesoMull/oligoMull boundary' in particular, in greater detail.

With more than two-dozen contributors and over 450-pages of content Fly Agaric is the most comprehensive book on the iconic red and white-spotted mushroom ever assembled. In the 29 chapters contained herein the reader is taken on a journey through history, folklore, and the magical landscapes experienced under the influence of the Fly Agaric, and its many close relatives. The reader of this book will learn:

*How to recognize and identify over a dozen types of psychoactive Amanita species, subspecies, and varieties occurring in North America, and how to distinguish them from look-alikes.
*What psychoactive and other active compounds are found in psychoactive Amanitas, and how they affect the mind and body.
*The differences between the effects and experiences produced by psychoactive Amanitas and psychedelic Psilocybe mushrooms.
*How the Fly Agaric can be detoxified and safely prepared for the dinner table.
*The history of medicinal and homeopathic use of the Fly Agaric.
*How the Fly Agaric can be used topically and internally to treat conditions such as pain, inflammation, insomnia, and anxiety.
*Theories regarding the historical and religious use of psychoactive Amanitas around the world based on archaeological, folkloric, and other evidence.

Funghi. Alimentazione e nutraceutica è uno dei pochi testi universitari sulla materia attualmente in commercio in Italia. Il libro analizza le caratteristiche generali dei funghi e le tecniche di raccolta e identificazione dei macromiceti di interesse alimentare e medicinale.
È inclusa la descrizione di ventidue funghi di interesse alimentare, con consigli su raccolta, trattamento, conservazione, commercializzazione e tecniche di coltivazione. Un capitolo è dedicato inoltre alle proprietà alimentari e medicinali. L’analisi delle proprietà medicinali è un’assoluta novità nello scenario dei testi universitari italiani e fornisce al lettore utili informazioni sul settore della nutraceutica dei funghi, in costante crescita anche in Europa.

Toxic fungi in Buenos Aires city and surroundings. In the Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales,Universidad de Buenos Aires there is a service called Servicio de Identificación de Hongos Tóxicos, directed by researchers of Programa de Plantas Medicinales y Programa de Hongos que Intervienen en la Degradación Biológica (PROPLAME-PRHIDEB, CONICET) that assist hospitals and other health establishments, identifying the different samples of fungi and providing information about their toxicity, so that patients can receive the correct treatment. The objective of the present study was to analyze all the cases received from 1985 to 2012. This analysis permitted the confection of a table dentifying the most common toxic species. The information gathered revealed that 47% of the patients were under 18 years of age and had eaten basidiomes; the remaining 53% were adults who insisted that they were able to distinguish edible from toxic mushrooms. Chlorophyllum molybdites turned out to be the...

Dermatophytes are fiamentous fungi that survive on keratinous materials. There is a broad prevalence of dermatophytes infection among the world.
Dermatophytosis is the disease that mainly caused by diffrent species of dermatophytes within the cutaneous layer of the skin. It has contagious
properties to spread from person to another and also from the animal to the human. The skin, hair, and nail of all types of mammalian, including
human, are under the risk to develop dermatophytosis. Atotal of 2530 articles have been investigated in PubMed (n = 1525), Medline (n = 705), and
Google Scholar (n = 300). From 2530 articles, just 48 studies were included in this review. This study aimed to review available data and current
literature as well as information from personal experiments regarding dermatophytes infection to focus on the dermatophytes general features,
dermatophytosis, pathogenesis presented by enzymes production, most common factors associated with infection, prevalence, and treatment
of dermatophytes infection, and also to yield a clear vision to other researches about this worldwide predominant contiguous fungal disease.

The leaf properties and construction costs (CC) are reported for eight indigenous heath (kerangas) forest species and three invasive (exotic) species of Acacia. Both groups of species co-occur and colonise disturbed lowland tropical heath rainforest habitats in Brunei, Borneo Island. Across species, CC mass-based increased with nitrogen (N) and heat of combustion (H C ), and decreased with ash content. CC area-based showed similar trends (although weaker in strength) in addition to significant positive correlation with leaf mass per unit area (LMA). Within the native species, the CCs of the shrub and small tree species were lower and significantly different from those of medium-sized tree species. Given the invasive success of the three acacias, it is hypothesised that these species may require less energy for biomass construction than do the native species. Within similar life growth form, no difference in CC mass-based was detected between the native trees and the invasive acacias. For CC area-based, the invasive Acacia species had a higher value. These findings failed to uphold our hypothesis. LMA and leaf N and phosphorus (P), but not potassium (K), were higher in the invasive acacias. The higher N and LMA could have been the cause of higher CC area-based in the invasive acacias. From the ordination of 11 species on the basis of leaf properties, the invasive and native species are more likely to be found in different groupings-although some native species seem more affiliated with the invasive than with their own guild, especially Alphitonia and Macaranga.

Se estudian 24 especies de boletáceos y dos de gonfidiáceos pertenecientes a 11 géneros; el género mejor investigado es Boletus con nueve especies; le siguen Suillus y Tylopilus con tres especies cada uno. El material se basa en 220 colecciones de 70 localidades del Estado de México. Del total de especies se tienen 14 nuevos registros para le estado y tres nuevos registros para México: Pulveroboletus hemichrysus, Tylopilus alboater y Veloporphyrellus pantoleucus.

BackgroundFungi strongly influence ecosystem structure and functioning, playing a key role in many ecological services as decomposers, plant mutualists and pathogens. The Mediterranean area is a biodiversity hotspot that is increasingly threatened by intense land use. Therefore, to achieve a balance between conservation and human development, a better understanding of the impact of land use on the underlying fungal communities

Volvorax gen. nov. is validated instead of invalid Endocoenobium Ingold and E. eudorinae Ingold (in New Phytol. 39: 97. 1940) which were not validly published due to the lack of Latin diagnosis/description. Since the host range was extended to include Eudorina unicocca and Pandorina morum (Canter in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 91: 95-116. 1995), the species epithet is not preserved, being changed to ‘ingoldii’ to honour the name of Cecil Terence Ingold (1905-2010).

Sorghum is one of the important cereals consumed by humans, animals and also used for the production of mushroom spawns in Ghana. Aim: Identification of fungi present on sorghum grains before and after pretreatment (steam and gamma radiation) principally for mushroom cultivation.

The five human senses are the result of complex psycho-physiological phenomena (Geldard, 1953) allowing us to perceive our environment. It is important to stress the psychoneurological aspect of biological processes involving our senses. Indeed, without this link between memory and senses, the latter would not be as important. Identifying a fungus in situ is difficult, but remembering it is even more so. When identifying a fungus in the field, four of our five senses are mainly involved: touch, smell, taste, and sight. Hearing does not help in direct identification of the fungus. In this series of articles, the role and importance of these four senses in identifying a fungus are non-exhaustively reviewed.

Claviceps cynodontis is a widespread parasite of Cynodon spp. (Bermuda grass) in the paleotropical and subtropical regions. The sphacelial stage of ergot on Cynodon dactylon in México and Texas was identified as that of Claviceps cynodontis by comparison of conidial morphology, rDNA sequence, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns with an African isolate of this species. Sequence of internal transcribed spacers ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 of Claviceps cynodontis clustered phylogenetically with those of Claviceps maximensis, Claviceps rhynchelytri, and Claviceps sp. SG (from Setaria geniculata). This is the first record of the identification of Claviceps cynodontis in the Americas.

A comparative study of four different staining methods for estimation of live yeast form cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was carried out. The staining methods used were fluorescent staining, vital dye exclusion tests with erythrosin B and by Janus green and lactophenol cotton blue staining. Colony forming units (cfu) of the yeast form of eight P. brasiliensis isolates on brain heart infusion agar (BHIA) supplemented with 4% horse serum plus 5% P. brasiliensis cell extract (BHIA + HS + EXT) were examined for reliability of staining in determining the number of live fungal units in eight different isolates. Cfu on BHIA + HS + EXT plates showed an excellent plating efficiency over 96% in all isolates tested. The percentage of the live cells indicated by fluorescent staining (FL) or vital dye exclusion test with erythrosin B (EB) or Janus green (JG-1) was lower than that of cfu. By contrast, the percentage due to modified dye exclusion test with Janus green (JG-2) and that due to lactophenol cotton blue staining (LPCB) showed a close correration to that of cfu. Our results indicate that the modified dye exclusion test with Janus green and lactophenol cotton blue staining are useful for estimating cell viability of yeast form cells of P. brasiliensis.

Conventional agriculture has had major environmental impacts, in particular with respect to soil degradation. Soil structure, fertility, microbial and faunal biodiversity have declined, and root diseases are common unless genetic resistance, soil fumigation and/or seed treatments are used. Primarily for environmental reasons and increasing demands for safe and healthy food from the public, farmers have switched over to organic production at an increasing rate. During a transition period of about 5 years, organic farmers may face problems with yield losses and pest or disease problems. However, in well-managed, long-term organic farms, soilborne diseases need not be a problem. Several studies in which disease severity was compared in organic and conventional farming systems (or with soils from those systems) showed that root diseases are generally less severe in organically than conventionally managed soils. The reasons for reduced root disease severity have seldom been investigated, although relationships with nitrogen supply or microbial diversity have sometimes been found. Crop protection in organic farming is generally not directed at controlling particular pathogens or pests but at management of the environment so that plants are able to withstand potential attacks. Resistant cultivars adapted to the local conditions are in demand among organic farmers. However, the main practices that contribute to disease control are long, balanced rotations, organic amendments and reduced tillage, all geared towards maintenance of the soil organic matter content and fertility. Organic farmers can make use of biological control agents and natural toxic compounds in plant extracts. However, these practices are methods of last resort. A P 0 3 0 2 9 I n t e g r a t e d r o o t d i s e a s e m a n a g e me n t i n o r g a n i c f a r m i n g A . H . C . v a n B r u g g e n a n d A. J . T e r m o r s h u i z e n Additional keywords: conventional agriculture, organic agriculture, soil health, soil quality.

Canopy-stored seed banks are a common trait among members of several plant families in sclerophyllous woodlands of Australia and South Africa, with their fruits usually opening in response to damage or fire. Unknown is whether the degree of dormancy and of germination differs among age cohorts in seeds stored on the mother plant. We examined the extent and speed of germination from two intensely serotinous myrtaceous species, Callistemon glaucus and Calothamnus quadrifidus, for seed held in capsules for up to 9 years. Germination of both species differed significantly among age cohorts (P < 0.0001). However, no consistent increase in germination over a range of temperatures with storage was found, suggesting that no after-ripening occurred and that seeds were non-dormant at maturity. Differences among cohorts may be due to pre-conditioning. Significant (P 0.0214) differences occurred between the small-seeded Callistemon and the large-seeded Calothamnus. Germination was (1) optimum at !20 C for Callistemon but at <20 C for Calothamnus, (2) 9-12 days earlier for Callistemon than for Calothamnus, and (3) higher in light than in darkness for Callistemon but equal in both light conditions for Calothamnus. While germination of the species differed in important features, we would expect synchronous germination of all age cohorts to occur following fire and the onset of regular rainfall.

Extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) are commonly found in Passiflora L. Reports have been made on the occurrence of resin-producing structures morphologically similar to EFNs in the genus. The objective of this study was to characterise the morphoanatomy and development of leaf secretory structures in Passiflora amethystina and to use chemical and histochemical tests to detect the presence of sugars in the exudates. Samples of leaf blade and petioles in different developmental stages were collected and subjected to usual techniques using light and scanning electron microscopy. Secretion samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of total sugars in the secretion amounted to 39.67% for blade EFNs and 52.82% for petiolar EFNs. EFNs consist of a secretory, uni-or bistratified palisade epidermis, arising from the protoderm by means of anticlinal and periclinal divisions, glandular parenchyma originated from the ground meristem, and xylem and phloem elements formed from the procambium. Exudate accumulated in a subcuticular space formed outside the epidermal cells from where it was then released. Histochemical tests showed a positive reaction for neutral polysaccharides. The results confirm that the leaf secretory structures are indeed extrafloral nectaries, and these findings constitute important information for studies on the taxonomy and ecology of this species.

Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi, the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative proteincoding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter-and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.

A survey (2012-2014) of forest plant pathogenic fungi in Vikarabad, Narsapur, Manchippa, Bhadrachalam, Eturnagaram, Mannanoor, Adilabad and other areas revealed 20 pathogenic fungi. Among these eleven form new additions to the fungi of Telangana State besides being new host records.

Over the past decade, the emergence of anthracnose disease has newly challenged the health of turfgrasses on North American golf courses, resulting in considerable economic loss. The fungus responsible for the outbreaks, Colletotrichum cereale, has also been identified from numerous natural grasses and cereal crops, although disease symptoms are generally absent. Here we utilize phylogenetic and population genetic analyses to determine the role of ecosystem in the advancement of turfgrass anthracnose and assess whether natural grass and/or cereal inhabitants are implicated in the epidemics. Using a four-gene nucleotide data set to diagnose the limits of phylogenetic species and population boundaries, we find that the graminicolous Colletotrichum diverged from a common ancestor into distinct lineages correspondent with host physiology (C3 or C4 photosynthetic pathways). In the C4 lineage, which includes the important cereal pathogens Colletotrichum graminicola, C. sublineolum, C. falcatum, C. eleusines, C. caudatum and several novel species, host specialization predominates, with host-associated lineages corresponding to isolated sibling species. Although the C3 lineage--C. cereale--is comprised of one wide host-range species, it is divided into 10 highly specialized populations corresponding to ecosystem and/or host plant, along with a single generalist population spread across multiple habitat types. Extreme differentiation between the specialized C. cereale populations suggests that asymptomatic nonturfgrass hosts are unlikely reservoirs of infectious disease propagules, but gene flow between the generalist population and the specialized genotypes provides an indirect mechanism for genetic exchange between otherwise isolated populations and ecosystems.

In recent years, due to the negative impact of toxigenic mycobiota and of the accumulation of their secondary metabolites in malting barley grains, monitoring the evolution of fungal communities in a certain cultivation area as well as detecting the different mycotoxins present in the raw material prior to malting and brewing processes have become increasingly important. In this study, a survey was carried out on malting barley samples collected after their harvest in the Umbria region (central Italy). Samples were analyzed to determine the composition of the fungal community, to identify the isolated Fusarium species, to quantify fungal secondary metabolites in the grains and to characterize the in vitro mycotoxigenic profile of a subset of the isolated Fusarium strains. The fungal community of barley grains was mainly composed of microorganisms belonging to the genus Alternaria (77%), followed by those belonging to the genus Fusarium (27%). The Fusarium head blight (FHB) complex was represented by nine species with the predominance of Fusarium poae (37%), followed by Fusarium avenaceum (23%), Fusarium graminearum (22%) and Fusarium tricinctum (7%). Secondary metabolites bio-synthesized by Alternaria and Fusarium species were present in the analyzed grains. Among those biosynthesized by Fusarium species, nivalenol and enniatins were the most prevalent ones. Type A trichothecenes (T-2 and HT-2 toxins) as well as beauvericin were also present with a high incidence. Conversely, the number of samples contaminated with deoxynivalenol was low. Conjugated forms, such as deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside and HT-2-glucoside, were detected for the first time in malting barley grains cultivated in the surveyed area. In addition, strains of F. avenaceum and F. tricinctum showed the ability to biosynthesize in vitro high concentrations of enniatins. The analysis of fungal secondary metabolites, both in the grains and in vitro, revealed also the presence of other compounds, for which further investigations will be required. The combination of microbiological analyses, of molecular biology assays and of multi-mycotoxin screening shed light on the complexity of the fungal community and its secondary metabolites released in malting barley.

A survey about the orophilous shrubby vegetation of the Teide volcano (Tenerife) is provided, based on literature and unpublished data. The investigated communities are dominated by broom-shaped nanophanerophytes, chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes, well adapted to the climatic continentality characterizing their growing-sites, due to the localization above the cloud layer. From the syntaxonomical point of view, in this paper is proposed to refer this vegetation to the class Cytiso-Pinetea canariensis Rivas Goday & Esteve ex Sunding 1972, to the order Spartocytisetalia supranubii Schönfelder & Voggenreiter 1994 and to three alliances: Spartocytision supranubii Oberd. ex Esteve 1973, grouping the broom-shrublands occurring on relatively developed andosoils; Juniperion cedri all. nova, regarding the juniper communities colonizing steep rocky slopes; Violion cheiranthifoliae all. nova, grouping the hemicryptophytic communities of screes and unstable substrata. To support the syntaxonomic proposal, a multivariate numerical analysis, considering literature and personal data, has been performed. Moreover, considerations on the role that bioclimate plays on these plant-communities are given too. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)Wir geben einen Überblick der orophytischen Buschvegetation des Vulkans Teide (Teneriffa), auf der Basis von Literatur und unveröffentlichten Daten. In den untersuchten Pflanzengesellschaften dominieren besenförmige Nanophanerophyten, Chamaephyten und Hemikryptophyten, die dank ihrer Lage oberhalb der Wolken gut an das kontinentale Klima ihrer Heimat angepasst sind. Vom syntaxonomischen Standpunkt aus betrachtet schlagen wir vor, diese Vegetation der Klasse Cytiso-Pinetea canariensis Rivas Goday & Esteve ex Sunding 1972, der Ordnung Spartocytisetalia supranubii Schönfelder & Voggenreiter 1994 und drei Verbänden zuzuordnen (Spartocytision supranubii Oberd. ex Esteve 1973, die die besenförmige Buschvegetation auf relativ gut entwickelten Andosols umfassen; Juniperion cedri all. nova für die Wacholdergesellschaften, die steile, felsige Abhänge kolonisieren; Violion cheiranthifoliae all. nova, welches die hemikryptophytischen Gesellschaften auf steilen Schutthängen und instabilem Untergrund einschließt). Zur Unterstützung dieses syntaxonomischen Vorschlags haben wir eine multivariate numerische Analyse auf der Grundlage von veröffentlichten und unveröffentlichten Daten durchgeführt. Wir diskutieren weiterhin den Einfluss des Bioklimas auf diese Pflanzengesellschaften.

, and T. violaceum (including T. soudanense and T. yaoundei) rarely form macroconidia [3-5]. Therefore, phenotypic identifi cation problems, in addition to pleomorphism, of dermatophytes are common and well-known in clinical laboratories [5]. Importantly, the actual prevalence or clinical presentations of these moulds may be unrecognized or underreported. Moreover, macroconidial structures are characterized as species-specifi c (e.g., the ' rat-tail ' of the macroconidia of T. verrucosum). Additionally, the presence of other structures, such as ' pectinate hyphae ' and terminal or intercalary chlamydospores (M. audouinii), ' coarse hyphae ' with prominent septate called ' bamboo hyphae ' (M. ferrugineum), ' coiled or antler-like hyphae ' (T. schoenleinii), or ' refl exive branches ' (T. soudanense), may be helpful in identifying these moulds. Therefore, species identifi cation is largely based on the morphology and arrangement of the conidia [3-5]. Internally transcribed sequences (ITS) between ribosomal RNA genes are suffi ciently polymorphic for species recognition of dermatophytes and have been

A field isolate of Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici that was more than 200-fold less sensitive to strobilurin fungicides (respiration inhibitors at the Qo center of the cytochrome bc 1 enzyme complex) was compared to a sensitive isolate using molecular methods. With degenerate primers, 60% of the cytochrome b gene of E. graminis was cloned and sequenced, including all known positions of mutations affecting sensitivity. Sequence comparison between resistant and sensitive isolates revealed a single point mutation leading to a change at amino acid (aa) position 143 from glycine to alanine. This change is known to occur also in the naturally tolerant basidiomycete Mycena galapoda. It is assumed that this aa change is responsible for resistance to strobilurin fungicides in E. graminis. In resistant isolates, DNA from all mitochondria seem to contain the mutation. Because of mitochondrial inheritance, resistance to strobilurins will be donated after sexual recombination only if it is present in the maternal crossing partner. The described mode of resistance and the frequency, migration, and fitness of resistant isolates in field populations have to be considered when strategies concerning the method of delaying resistance buildup under field conditions are defined. ᭧

The forests of Bhadrachalam, Kothagudem and Paloncha of Khammam District in Andhra Pradesh, India during were surveyed 2007-2010 for micro-and macro-fungi colonizing litter, fruit, bark, humid soils, wood, dung and water, which revealed 131 species associated with diversified substrates of which 96 were micro-fungi and 35 being macro-fungi. Thirty four fungi were cultured, while the remaining could not be cultured. Sixty five species were found colonizing litter, whereas the rest were associated with other habitats of Bhadrachalam forest. Anamorphic fungi dominated the mycofloristics followed by Basidiomycotina. Mastigomycotina, Zygomycotina and Ascomycotina members.

A gombák az élővilág jelentős méretű csoportját alkotják: bár a tudományosan leírt fajok száma csupán százezer körüli, a létező, de még nem ismert fajokkal együtt számukat milliósra becsülik. A régi felfogás alapján a növényekhez sorolták őket, a gombákkal foglalkozó tudományág, a mikológia fejlődésével azonban kiderült, hogy önálló – a növényekkel és az állatokkal egyenrangú – csoportot képeznek. Gondoljunk a rengeteg mikroszkopikus, fonalas, termőtestes, vízben, talajban élő vagy az állatokat és a növényeket fertőző gombákra. A mindennapi életben is számos területen találkozunk velük, az alapvető élelmiszereink (kenyér és egyéb pékáruk, egyes sajtok), élvezeti cikkeink (sör, bor, pezsgő), gyógyszereink (antibiotikumok) vagy a kulináris csemegék (szarvasgomba, rókagomba) jókora részét köszönhetjük a gombavilág képviselőinek. A betegségeink (bőrgomba stb.), illetve a termények, tárolt élelmiszerek romlásának (egyes penészgombák stb.) egy részét is gombák okozzák. Ezekből a példákból is látszik, hogy mennyire sokrétű élőlénycsoportról van szó. Napjainkban egyre nő a gombák felhasználása az ipari, a mezőgazdasági és a környezetvédelmi területeken is.

Four methods were evaluated in measuring resistance of strawberry cultivars to crown rot caused by Phytophthora cactorum. Meristem propagated plants grown in vitro were inoculated with mycelial discs. Four to five days after inoculation, it was possible to distinguish between cultivars with large differences in susceptibility to the disease. Ten days later, all plants were totally necrotic making it impossible to distinguish between cultivars. When detached leaves were inoculated by inoculating a plug of mycelium into the petiole, disease symptoms developed more slowly in resistant cultivars, but leaf age greatly affected the rate of symptom development. When plug plants (not cold stored) were lightly wounded in the rhizome with a scalpel and inoculated with either zoospores or mycelium, differences in disease development between cultivars were mainly as would be expected from previous information on susceptibility, but both age and size of plants influenced the rate of disease development. Unwounded, inoculated plants did not develop symptoms. When cold-stored plug plants were either unwounded or lightly wounded with a scalpel in the rhizome and inoculated with zoospores, the relative rates of disease development consistently reflected the susceptibility to crown rot. At the time of final assessment, disease was much more severe in wounded plants, but the relative susceptibility of cultivars was not affected by the wounding.

The nomenclature of the species of rust fungi that occur on species of Myrtaceae is reviewed. Three teleomorph and five anamorph species are accepted. One new combination is made in Physopella, a new species of Uredo is described and a new name is proposed in Uredo. To facilitate identification of the known rust fungi occurring on Myrtaceae, keys are provided to the uredinial and telial taxa. The known hosts of the myrtaceous rusts are recorded. Guava rust, Puccinia psidii, is now known to occur on species in both subfamilies of Myrtaceae, including one of two tribes of the subfamily Psiloxyloideae and seven of the 15 tribes of subfamily Myrtoideae, a total of 20 genera and 71 species. Susceptibility to Puccinia psidii seems to be low among species of Myrtaceae from the Americas but more common among taxa from Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

The article presents the results of perennial research of wood-destroying basidiomycetes species of the
Southern Urals within the Orenburg region. It shows the distribution in the region and substrate specialization
of 307 species in 121 geni and 43 families belonging to 11 orders of the class Agaricomycetes of the division
Basidiomycota. The results of taxonomic analysis of the mycobiota are given.

This dissertation explores the usefulness of mycorrhizal fungal networks as a metaphor for community support systems in human societies. The research is intentionally positioned between academic scholarship and activism, practising hope as a discipline, radical care as praxis and decoloniality as a priority. I begin by proposing a liberatory, decolonial approach toward nature that rejects extractivism, with the intention of situating the research field of mycology within a historical and social context. Next, I conduct a literature review of peer-reviewed scientific journals to ascertain the key characteristics of mycorrhizal networks that allow them to support life in forest ecosystems. I then apply the findings of the literature review to a case study of UK-based mutual aid networks in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, I evaluate the strength of the mycorrhizal network metaphor, arguing that it can reveal certain nuances involved in mutual aid work – the messy, worldly realities of care work in practice. Given that the discipline of Science and Technology Studies (STS) analyses social and historical phenomena to inform actions in the present and the future, I further argue that the mycorrhizal network metaphor has the potential to guide future social justice work in STS.

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin (Acron MC) and polyamide resin (Flexite MP) specimens (n=116) were prepared, and their surface roughness was standardized (0.34 ±0.02 μm). Surface free energy (SFE) was measured for some specimens (n=20 per resin), while the ...

Značaj gljiva je ogroman, od biodegradacije različitih oblika organske materije preko primene u biotehnologiji, do njihove sposobnosti da izazivaju različite infekcije i oboljenja biljaka, životinja i ljudi. Pored pomenutog, neke gljive su i producenti antibiotika, mikotoksina i drugih biološki aktivnih supstanci. Zbog sve češće pojave rezistencije na postojeće antifungalne medikamente u svetu se poslednjih decenija intenzivno proučava antifungalna aktivnost supstanci biološkog porekla (Rees i dr., 1998; Vanden Bossche i dr., 1998; Arthington-Skaggs i dr., 1999). Kvantifikacija fungalnog porasta se na relativno brz i pouzdan način može vršiti na osnovu prisustva ergosterola, dok fiziološka specifičnost sinteze melanina predstavlja jedan od faktora virulencije patogenih vrsta gljiva. Stoga, kvantifikacija fungalnih melanina i ergosterola predstavlju metode kojima treba posvetiti posebnu pažnju prilikom izučavanja fungalne kontaminacije različitih supstrata i testiranja antifungalne aktivnosti.

Baudoinia was described to accommodate a single species, B. compniacensis. Known as the ‘whiskey fungus’, this species is the predominant member of a ubiquitous microbial community known colloquially as ‘warehouse staining’ that develops on outdoor surfaces subject to periodic exposure to ethanolic vapours near distilleries and bakeries. Here we examine 19 strains recovered from environmental samples near industrial settings in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Far East. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a portion of the nucLSU rRNA gene confirms that Baudoinia is a monophyletic lineage within the Teratosphaeriaceae (Capnodiales). Multilocus phylogenetic analysis of nucITS rRNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and partial nucLSU rRNA, beta-tubulin (TUB) and elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) gene sequences further indicates that Baudoinia consists of five strongly supported, geographically patterned lineages representing four new species (viz. Baudoinia antilliensis, B. caledoniensis, B. orientalis and B. panamericana).

Южное Приуралье отличается малой лесистостью, что определяет повышенное внимание к состоянию лесов региона. Одним из факторов, определяющих динамику древостоев являются фитопатогенные базидиальные грибы. В статье приводятся данные о видовом составе и закономерностях распространения фитопатогенных базидиальных грибов в регионе. Отмечено снижение доли
фитопатогенных видов в широтном градиенте при переходе о лесостепной к степной зоне, что свидетельствует об увеличения времени консервации биофильных элементов в древесине

Because the genus Colletotrichum is among the most important groups of plant pathogenic fungi worldwide, the ability to accurately diagnose species is vital for the implementation of effective disease control and quarantine measures. Although the long-standing, unresolved taxonomic issues in the genus have recently begun to be addressed through multi-locus phylogenetic research, the tools most commonly used for Colletotrichum species identification are either insufficiently variable (e.g. morphology) or homoplasic (e.g. morphology and host range criteria). In this study, using the systematically well-defined falcate-spored, grass-associated group (FG) of Colletotrichum as a model, we test the utility of ITS sequence data to diagnose species affiliations through similarity-based searches of the NCBI GenBank database or by means of gene trees constructed using phylogenetic methods. 43% of all Colletotrichum sequences accessioned by GenBank are from the ITS region, making it the single most common sequence curated by the community; however, 34% of the ITS accessions existed only as sequence data in the database, with no associated publication. Using Colletotrichum ITS sequence data from 53 FG defined isolates and 16 falcate-spored, non-graminicolous isolates to perform GenBank BLAST searches, we found that erroneous identifications were possible for 86% of the 14 species tested. In contrast, the phylogenetic tree generated by the ITS sequence data, although poorly supported by bootstrap values, correctly grouped most of the species, but 10% of the individual isolates were incorrectly placed. From this study, we conclude that the currently available infrastructure of Colletotrichum ITS sequence data may yield unreliable species diagnoses, particularly when sequence similarity alone is the only criterion applied.

The floral morphology and embryology of two species of Australian Citrus L. occurring in the most southerly range of the genus, C. australasica F.Muell. and C. australis (Mudie) Planchon, have been studied. Cytokinesis in the microsporocytes was simultaneous resulting in tetrahedral tetrads. Tapetal cells were bi-to multinucleate and unevenly one-or two-layered. Microspore development was frequently asynchronous. Anther wall consisted of a layer of endothecium, three to five middle layers and one or two layers of Secretory tapetum. The ovules were anatropous, bitegmic and crassinucellate. Although multiple sporogenous cells that grew into multiple megasporocytes were common, occurrence of twin or multiple gametophytes was rare. Development of the female gametophyte was of the Polygonum type, with antipodal cells frequently persisting until after fertilisation. Endosperm was of the Nuclear type while embryogeny was of the Onagrad type. Both integuments contributed to the seed coat. Cells of the outer layer of the testa developed fibrous thickenings and secreted mucilage. Seeds were monoembryonate and seed germination was hypogeal. The recent move incorporating Australian native citrus species in to the genus Citrus was supported on the grounds of close embryological similarities.

Сафонов М.А., Чердинцев А.А., Маленкова А.С., Зайнагабдинова З.И. СОВРЕМ
В статье приводятся данные о видовом составе биоты искусственных древесных насаждений на отвалах Кумертауского буроугольного разреза (Башкортостан). Приводятся данные об общем жизненном состоянии древостоев; анализируется видовой состав травянистых растений, произрастающих под пологом этих насаждений, фауна жесткокрылых герпетобионтов, биота древоразрушающих базидиальных грибов.
Отмечены отличия в видовом составе сравниваемых компонентов биоты между насаждениями разных типов, между насаждениями, произрастающими в условиях с разным уровнем техногенной нагрузки. Сделан вывод, что в искусственных насаждениях на отвалах происходит формирование своеобразных биотических комплексов, которые по структуре доминантов близки к комплексам других искусственных и естественных древостоев аналогичного состава в Южном Приуралье, но отличаются низким видовым разнообразием вследствие сравнительно малого возраста и специфики средовых условий, определяемых структурой насаждений.

CURRENT STATE OF THE BIOTA OF ARTIFICIAL FOREST STANDS OF THE KUMERTAU LIGNITE MINE DUMPS (BASHKORTOSTAN)

The BD Phoenix system was evaluated for species-level identification of yeasts (250 clinical isolates) and compared with the Vitek 2 system, using ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis as the gold standard. Considering only the species included in each system's database, 96.3% (236/245) and 91.4% (224/245) of the isolates were correctly identified by BD Phoenix and Vitek 2, respectively.

Alienated from this awareness, we rend great holes in this web, and there are very real limits to how much more the web can take before core functions are impaired – the cost to the biosphere may be a few thousand years of damage-limitation and recovery, but the cost to individual, large, complex creatures within this matrix (yes, mammals, including ourselves) may be extinction. The kind of holistic investigations that Vernadsky, Lovelock, Wohlleben, and the Sheldrakes have undertaken are a necessary part of our armoury in fighting back against the (self)destructive impulses our species is apparently driven by. Whether you follow Merlin into the depths of 'mycelial minds' that we may access via the drug odysseys of Terance McKenna and his ilk, or do not, Entangled Life will be an eye-opening and insightful read that will open new perspectives on Life for all readers – I recommend it.

In the past, the phrase 'environmental allocations of water' has most often been taken to mean allocation of water to rivers. However, it is now accepted that groundwater-dependent ecosystems are an important feature of Australian landscapes and require an allocation of water to maintain their persistence in the landscape. However, moving from this theoretical realisation to the provision and implementation of a field-based management regime is extremely difficult. The following four fundamental questions are identified as being central to the effective management of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs): (1) How do we identify GDEs in the field; put another way, which species or species assemblages or habitats are reliant on a supply of groundwater for their persistence in the landscape;