Mycological Research News features : Second fungal genome sequenced; Gliocladium roseum belongs in Clonostachys; and fungi from coral reefs.

This issue contains 13 papers. The molecular phylogeny of the keratinophilic members of some Onygenales has been examined, with an emphasis on Auxarthron, a genus that proved to be monophyletic with nine species, while Amauroascus was polyphyeltic (pp. 388–396). Concern over oak decline in Europe has led to in-depth studies on Phytophthora species in oak forest soils which have been found to yield not only eight already recognized species, but three species new to science have also been discovered in the rhizosphere, one (P. uliginosa) being particularly aggressive in inoculation experiments (pp. 397–411); these have been compared anatomically, in culture, and by ITS sequence data and are illustrated in colour. The two macrolichens Usnea florida and U. subfloridana have long been regarded as related but differing in their reproductive methods, distributions, and air pollution sensitivity; analyses of rDNA and β-tubulin sequences, however, show that a single species is involved as they formed one monophyletic group with the specimens intermixed in the trees (pp. 412–418). In Phoma exigua, however, rDNA ITS sequences failed amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprint patterns showed clear clustering of most (pp. 419–427). AFLP's also prove to be a reliable tool for the identification of Alternaria brassicicola and indicate that there this apparently asexual species has a means of generating and maintaining genetic variation (pp. 428–434).

This contribution of Mycological Research News features: Can edible mushrooms promote sustainability in Beijing?; and Mycorrhizal fungi increase available calcium.

Molecular phylogenetic papers in this issue concern the phylogeny of Trichoderma based on a multigene approach, the molecular phylogeny of Nephroma, and monophyletic groups in Parmelia saxatilis. The synthesis and resynthesis of the lichen Baeomyces rufus has been examined molecularly and morphologically. Strains of Coniothyrium minitans are compared by morphological, physiological and molecular methods. Laccase genes from Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis, and polygalacturonases from Botrytis cinerea, have been characterized. Genetic transformation has been successfully achieved to insert markers into Clonostachys rosea, and ISSR-PCR fingerprinting used to examine the distribution of dark septate endophytes.

Three papers focus on hitherto undescribed fungi, a new genus of Harpellales on mayfly nymphs, and new species of Gaeumannomyces on Stenotaphrum and of Phytophthora on Ipomoea.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Tectimyces gen. nov.; and Gaeumannomyces wongoonoo, Phytophthora ipomoeae, T. leptophlebiidarum, and T. robustus spp. nov.

The Book Reviews section of this issue (Mycological Research106(10): 1247–1248, October 2002) includes an appraisal of Dick's Straminipilous Fungi (Dick 2001). This seminal work synthesises the state of our knowledge of the Peronosporomycetes (syn. Oomycetes), marine straminipilous protists, plasmodiophorids, and similar organisms. It also introduces the new kingdom name Straminipila M. W. Dick 2001 to be used in preference to the earlier published kingdom name Chromista Cavalier-Smith 1981. This step is taken because it is the flagellar apparatus of the zoospores (heterokont; one whiplash and one tinsel) that is the critical diagnostic feature of the kingdom, not the presence of pigmented organelles (i.e. chromophyte endosymbionts). For this reason, the terms ‘stramenopilous’ and ‘straminipilous’ had already gained popularity in the literature during the last decade, although the kingdom name has not been formally proposed. More detailed information is given in the review, but mycologists in general need to be aware of this change and to adopt the name in their teaching and writing for what used to be known as the chromistan fungi, oomycete fungi, or pseudofungi.

This contribution of Mycological Research News features : Why are mushroom caps mushroom-shaped? An obituary for Noel F. Robertson (1923–1999), a former President of the British Mycological Society is also included in the issue.

This issue contains 15 original research papers. Fast-tracked is a major molecular phylogenetic study of Russula species in Europe with a comparison of proposed infrageneric classification systems. Molecular studies also include a technique for in situ PCR detection and identification, consider the detection of Neonectria galligena, variation and infection patterns in endophytic Lophodermium nitens, and compare a newly discovered Paraphaeosphaeria with other species of the genus. Incompatability studies between strains of Monascus purpureus have demonstrated the occurrence of different compatability groups in the species.

Ingestion of ectomycorrhizal Rhizopogon fungal spores by small mammals is explored and their subsequent effectiveness assessed. Fungi able to grow in TNT-contaminated soil have been isolated and their biotransformation ability compared. The α-amylase production in Thermomyces lanuginosus and the proteins involved has been investigated. Trichoderma koningii and T. virens protoplast fusants have been made and their biocontrol effectiveness against Rhizoctonia solani studied.

A technique for the visualization of ectomycorrhizal rhizomorphs by scanning confocal microscopy has been developed, and the use of different fluourescent stains for the detection of soil fungi is compared.

Taxonomic papers consider Mycosphaerella species in Queensland, new species of Anthostomella on Juncus and Spartina, and of Paraphaeosphaeria on Yucca.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Anthostomella spissitecta, A. torosa, Mycosphaerella cuttsiae, M. cyperi, M. dodonaeae, M. glochidionis. M. khayae, M. melaleucoides, M. morindae, M. platylobii, M. queenslandica, M. wollemiae, M. xylomeli, and Paraphaeosphaeria barrii spp. nov.; M. escalloniae (syn. Sphaerella escalloniae) comb. nov.

This contribution of Mycological Research News features : New generic concepts in Verticillium sect. Prostrata, and The sterigmata of Volucrisporium: a clarification.

This issue includes 17 papers. The first describes a technique for genetically transforming ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes. Molecular studies, often in association with other approaches, are applied to reassess species concepts in Polymyxa, explore the relationships of Melanospora and similar genera, examine lineages in violet root rot fungi, filament-beaked and other Alternaria species, Nectria galligena and N. coccinea var. faginata in North America, Phialophora gregata f. sp. sojae, the pine rusts Cronartium flaccidum and Peridermium pini, Rosellinia necatrix isolates from avocado, Claviceps purpurea populations on Spartina, Colletotrichum species on Hevea.

A major paper examines secondary metabolite profiles of 153 Alternaria isolates grown under standard conditions and assesses them in relation to morphological and RAPD data.

In addition, protein expression after low temperature exposure associated with fruit body formation in Flammulina velutipes is documented, the use of natural products to control sapstaining fungi reviewed, and the aerodynamics of conidia in Erynia neoaphidis and some other entomophthoralean fungi studied.

A new genus of mycorrhizal Cortinariaceae is described, and the Coemansia spiralis complex revised.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Anamika gen. nov.; Coemansia bainieri nom. nov.; A. indica, and C. linderi spp. nov.; and Polymyxa graminis f. sp. colombiana, f. sp subtropicalis, f. sp. tepida, f. sp. temperata, and f. sp. tropicalis f. spp. nov.

Two papers have been fast-tracked for publication in this issue. The first reports the transformation of the genome of Verticillium fungicola using PEG- and Agrobacterium-mediated methods; both were successful and provide a new tool for the study of the epidemiology of this important pathogen of cultivated Agaricus bisporus (pp. 4–11). In the second, double-stranded RNA mycovirus elements have been found in Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group three (AG 3) and its transmission and elimination investigated (pp. 12–22).

Other molecular papers in this issue describe the development of primers for the identification of Alternaria species in carrots and compare the approach with other techniques (pp. 23–33); the diversity and molecular strain characterization of Lentinula edodes in Japan (pp. 34–39); the genotypic variation within Beauveria bassiana has been examined by a variety of methods and eight phylogenetic clusters found – which were not significantly correlated with the groups of insects from which they were obtained (pp. 40–50); the Eucalyptus pathogen Coniothyrium zuluense is established as present in Thailand, the first time the fungus has been found outside South Africa (pp. 51–59); and molecular data has been sued to show that the causal agent of Rhododendron anthracnose is Colletotrichum dematium (pp. 60-69).

Mycological Research News features: MR impact factor rises ; Functional profiling of a yeast genome; and Lichens respond to global warming.

Molecular and morphological approaches to the recognition of ectomycorrhizal fungi are compared. The core group of Peziza is re-assessed molecularly and morphologically, leading to some revision in species concepts and names, and the species of Amanita in the Iberian Peninsula are compared by restriction analysis. A high-density genetic linkage map for Lentinula edodes has been developed, and length polymorphisms discovered in races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. Fatty acid composition is demonstrated as having potential in the intrageneric classification of Pleurotus.

Soil-binding mucilage production is documented in a soil basidiomycete.

Ultrastructural studies concern the development of Pseudocercospora mori on mulberry leaves, and the lichenicolous lichen Rimularia insularis on Lecanora rupicola.

A revision of Ravenelia in Argentina is presented, and two new thermotolerant Thielavia species have been discovered and compared molecularly with others in the genus. A fossil Anzia from the European Tertiary is also described.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Anzia electra, Ravenelia argentinica, Thielavia arxii, and T. intermedia spp. nov.

Mycological Research News features: Nitrogen deposition and mycorrhizal community structure; and Identity the causal agent of rice blast.

This issue includes two review articles: an appraisal of endophytic fungi as a source of biologically active metabolites; and PCR-based methods for the detection and quantification of mycotoxin-producing fungi. Effects of antioxidants on toxin and enzyme production in Fusarium verticilloides and F. proliferatum have been investigated, as has the accumulation of toxins produced by the last species in maize.

Molecular phylogenetic papers describe a new order of ascomycetes for the aquatic genus Jahnula and its allies, assess relationships in the lyophyllid agarics, and provide new data supporting the isolation of the plasmodiophorids. Also reported are molecular studies on variability in Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, chromosome-length polymorphisms in Botryotinia fuckeliana (anam. Botrtyis cinera), the occurrence of the snowberry pathogen Erysiphe symphoricarpi in Europe, anamorph-teleomorph connections in Cordyceps, and four new Penicillium species with dark pigmented conidiophores.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Jahnulales ord. nov.; Patescospora gen. nov.; Jahnula siamensiae, P. separans, Penicillium boreae, P. canarinse, P. pullum, and P. subarcticum spp. nov.; and J. sunyatsenii (syn. Aliquandostipite sunyatsenii) comb. nov.

Mycological Research News features: Prototaxites: a 400 Myr old giant fossil, a saprotrophic holobasidiomycete or a lichen? and Non-deposit of voucher cultures.

Molecular studies examine the relationships of Rhynchosporium secalis, the species concepts in the Fusarium avenaceum/F. arthrosporioides/F. tricinctum species complex, and the intra- and intersporal genetic diversity of Glomus intraradices. The amino acid sequence of the RAD51 protein in Pleurotus ostreatus has been determined and compared to that in other fungi.

The growth of Fusarium sambucinum is shown to be inhibited by several salts. The effects of moisture and oxygen availability on rhizomorph generation in Armillaria tabescens have been compared with that of other species, and the growth, and appressorial formation in Metarhizium anisopliae was found to be affected by artificial media on which it is grown. The possibilities for the biocontrol of Botrytis cinerea using Ulocladium atrum as an antagonist have also been investigated.

Glycoproteins in the extracellular matrix formed around germ-tubes and appressoria in Colletotrichum lindemuthianum have been examined and compared with those in other species.

Sorosporella is found to be a synonym of Syngliocladium, and a new species with two varieties described from grasshoppers and locusts. The causal agent of a twig dieback of lingonberry is found to be a previously unrecognised Phomopsis species.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Phomopsis columnaris, and Syngliocladium acridiorum spp. nov.; and S. acridiorum var. madagascariensis var. nov.

Species in the large mushroom genus Russula are important ecologically as ectomycorrhizal fungi and economically as comestibles. Most infrageneric classification schemes of this genus have originated in Europe, but because of nomenclatural history and an evolving suite of characters these systems remain largely incongruent. Using ribosomal DNA sequences for 87 species representing all infrageneric taxa described from Europe, the phylogenetic position and relationships among these species were examined. Cladistic analysis of the ITS1, 5·8S, and ITS2 regions showed a cluster of five to six small to large clades basal in the topology and one large apical clade arising from the deeper nodes, none of which has been previously recognized in toto at the subgeneric level. Two of these groups, the Compactae and Pallidosporinae, which have been previously recognized as subsections of section Compacta, did not appear to be closely related. Bootstrap support and Bremer decay values indicated that collapse of the tree into monophyly at the deeper nodes would result in two large groups which are consistent with the classical subgeneric concept of the Eurussulae and a narrowed Compactae. The topology confirmed some previously described infrageneric taxa at the section level including the Tenellae and Heterophyllae and at the subsection level including the Cupreinae, Laricinae, Lilaceinae, Integroidinae, Violaceinae, Sphagnophilinae, Viridantinae, Emeticinae, Subvelatae, Pallidosporinae, and portions of the Polychromae and Sardoninae. The molecular analysis also indicated many interesting new combinations or relationships not previously conceived. Mapping of characters such as spore print colour, taste, and presence of acid resistant incrustations, which have been used to define infrageneric taxa in Russula, onto the phylogeny identified interesting patterns consistent with hypotheses regarding plesiomorphic and apomorphic characters. However, because of potential loss or reversal of character states, this analysis did not support their unequivocal use in infrageneric classification.

A technique was developed for transforming the ectomycorrhiza-forming basidiomycetes Suillus bovinus, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, and Paxillus involutus based on Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated T-DNA transfer. The selection marker employed was the Shble gene conferring resistance to phleomycin under control of the Schizophyllum commune GPD promoter and terminator. Transformants from all three investigated species were shown by PCR to contain the GPDScP-Shble-GPDScT construct, although the fate of the foreign DNA (integrated vs episomal, single-copy vs multi copy) could not be determined. The mycorrhiza formed between S. bovinus Bler transformants and Pinus sylvestris did not reveal any differences from those formed with untransformed Suillus bovinus.

Mycological Research News features: Numbers of insect and plant species.

Eleven papers are included in this issue. Ectomycorrhizal forests have been discovered in Guyana, and DNA profiles from forest soils demonstrate that ectomycorrhizal fungi are adversely affected by burning. Molecular and morphological studies have led to a reappraisal of the relationships and generic concepts of smuts on certain dicotyledons, and also of ‘subcentric’ Achlya species and allied fungi, leading to the recognition of a new genus.

Five papers concern the molecular characterization and variability of plant pathogens: Alternaria species-groups associated with core rot of apples; the identification of Verticullium longisporum on oilseed rape; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on Stylosanthes species ; the transposa and vacuma groups of Botrytis cinerea; and Pyrenophora teres. In addition, phytotoxic metabolites have been identified in Sarocladium oryzae.

A revision of Dioicomyces (Laboulbeniales) is also presented and the following new scientific names are introduced: Newbya gen.nov.; Achyla truncatiformis, Dioicomyces denticulatus, D. ladoi, and D. leptalei spp. nov.; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. stylosanthis f. nov.; C. gloeosporioides f. sp. stylosanthis f. sp. nov.; N. apiculata (syn. Achyla apiculata), N. braziliensis (syn. A. braziliensis), N. curvicollis (syn. A. curvicollis), N. megasperma (syn. A. megasperma), N. oblongata (syn. A. oblongata), N. oblongata var. gigantea (syn. A. oblongata var. gigantean), N. oligocantha (syn. A. oligocantha), N. pascuicola (syn. Aplanopsis pasuicola), N. polyandra (syn. Achlya polyandra), N. recurva (syn. A. recurva), and N. stellata (syn. A. stellata) combs nov.