Articles by Taxonomic Group

Microbotryum marginale is reported for the first time on Bistorta plumosa, based on a collection from the Yukon coast, Canadian Arctic, at 68°55'N. This locality is a new northern limit for M. marginale in North America.

The group of seed-destroying Microbotryum species on caryophyllaceous hosts includes ten species, among which only M. alsines, on Stellaria nitens from USA, is known on Stellaria. Recently, a specimen of Stellaria media from Greece, infected by a seed-destroying Microbotryum species, was found in a phanerogams herbarium. Based on distinct morphology and phylogenetic evidence, this fungus was considered to represent an unknown species which is described and illustrated as Microbotryum graecum. It can be distinguished from M. alsines by having smaller spores, fewer meshes per spore diameter, a different spore ornamentation, wider meshes, and higher spore wall muri.

Two poorly known smut fungi are recorded for the first time from Africa: Tilletia brachypodii-ramosi on Brachypodium retusum (from Morocco) and Ustilago constantineanui on Sporobolus schoenoides (from Algeria). Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

Two generic names, Meira and Acaromyces, and nineteen species names of basidiomycetous yeasts, earlier proposed and invalidly published, are validated.

Bauerago (with B. abstrusa on Juncus as the type species) is a small genus in the Microbotryales. Its species infect plants belonging to three, monocotyledonous families, Commelinaceae (Commelina and Tinantia), Juncaceae (Juncus and Luzula), and Cyperaceae (Cyperus). There are four Bauerago species on hosts in the Commelinaceae (three species on Commelina and one on Tinantia). Bauerago commelinae on Commelina communis was studied by molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses using rDNA (ITS, LSU, and SSU) sequences indicate that B. commelinae does not cluster with other species of Bauerago on Juncaceae. For accommodation of this smut fungus in the Microbotryaceae, a new genus, Kalmanago, is introduced, with four new combinations: Kalmanago commelinae (Kom.) Denchev et al., K. combensis (Vánky) T. Denchev et al., K. boliviana (M. Piepenbr.) T. Denchev et al., and K. tinantiae (J.C. Lindq.) T. Denchev et al. A lectotype is designated for K. commelinae.

Two smut fungi, Bauerago vuyckii on Luzula alpina and Moreaua kochiana on Schoenus nigricans and Schoenus ×scheuchzeri, are reported for the first time from Austria. Luzula alpina is a new host association for Bauerago vuyckii. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

Thecaphora thlaspeos, known only from Europe and East Asia (South Korea), is reported for the first time from Africa (from Algeria), on a new host plant, Arabis pubescens.

A type specimen of Bauerago capensis, a smut fungus endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, is re-examined and designated as a lectotype. An emended description of that species and for the first time, illustrations of the spores in SEM are presented.

Microbotryum polygoni-alati, known only from India and China, is reported for the first time from Africa (from Ethiopia).

Twelve species of the genus Ganoderma, G. amboinense, G. applanatum, G. australe, G. crebrostriatum, G. curtisii, G. lobatum, G. lucidum, G. mediosinense, G. parvulum, G. ramosissimum, G. resinaceum, and G. subumbraculum, are reported and illustrated from different localities of state of Punjab (India) and its capital Chandigarh, which is also a union territory. Of these, G. mediosinense is a new record for India, while G. amboinense, G. australe, G. curtisii, G. crebrostriatum, G. lobatum, G. parvulum, G. ramosissimum, G. resinaceum, and G. subumbraculum are reported for the first time from the state of Punjab. A key to all twelve species from the study area is presented.

Anthracocystis compacta, known only from the type collection from Senegal, is reported from a second locality, from Mali.

Haradaea moenchiae-manticae is reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula (from Spain), on Moenchia erecta subsp. erecta, and from Africa (from Morocco and Algeria), on a new host plant, M. erecta subsp. octandra.

Anthracoidea melanostachyae, previously known from Iran and Tajikistan on Carex melanostachya, is reported from Armenia and Azerbaijan on the same host plant, and from a new Tajik locality, on a new host plant, C. songorica.

The first Finnish records of Athelia singularis and Leptosporomyces mundus (Basidiomycota) are reported and notes of their habitats and substrata are given. The descriptions of the species are presented as well as their microscopical drawings. The taxonomy of two species is briefly discussed. The new records derived from Northern Finland, Rovaniemi, Pisavaara Strict Nature Reserve.

Four species of smut fungi are reported for the first time from the following areas: Melanopsichium pennsylvanicum from Egypt and Madagascar, Sporisorium foveolati from the Canary Islands and Somalia, Sporisorium lanigeri from Somalia, on a new host, Cymbopogon pospischilii, and Urocystis corsica from the Canary Islands. Echinochloa stagnina is a new host of Ustilago trichophora in Africa (based on a record from Zambia).

Tilletia lolioli, previously known only from Lebanon and Iran, is reported from Armenia.

Leucocintractia scleriae is reported for the first time from Japan.

Langdonia aristidae is reported for the first time from Madagascar, on a new host plant, Aristida tenuissima.

The basidiomycete Hyphobasidiofera malaysiana, described from Malaysia, has been found in Vietnam for the first time. This hitherto rarely encountered species is described, illustrated and discussed.

Sporisorium nyassae is reported for the first time from Togo and Benin. Hyparrhenia nyassae and H. diplandra var. mutica are recorded as new host plants of Sporisorium nyassae. Based on the current revision, Sporisorium barcinonense is removed from the list of smut fungi in Togo. Cintractia limitata is reported for the first time from Benin. All species of smut fungi known from Togo and Benin and their host plants are listed.

The data about some interesting representatives of the genus Conocybe found in Ukrainian Carpathians (Vyzhnytsia National Nature Park) are presented. A total of 14 taxa (including three varieties) were found. Four species and one variety new for this country (C. apala, C. inocybeoides, C. juniana var. sordescens, C. magnispora, and C. tuxlaensis) are reported, as well as some previously unknown localities for a further 9 taxa (C. echinata, C. hexagonospora, C. juniana var. subsejuncta, C. macrospora, C. pulchella, C. rostellata, C. siliginea, C. subpallida, and C. subxerophytica var. brunnea).

Two new Entyloma species, E. castillejae on Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) and E. violae on Viola (Violaceae), are described and illustrated from the USA.

This study endeavors to clarify the taxonomy of Anthracoidea species occurring in East Asia. Being a cosmopolitan genus, more widely distributed in temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Anthracoidea is insufficiently studied in East Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea. A comprehensive account of the species composition and distribution of the Anthracoidea species in Japan is presented herein. Further, information about the Anthracoidea species in the Kuriles, Sakhalin, and Korean Peninsula is also provided. Three new smut fungi are described and illustrated as follows: Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae on Carex grallatoria from Japan, Anthracoidea lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata from South Korea, and Anthracoidea pseudomichelii on Carex michelii from Central Europe. For Cintractia japonica on ‘Carex capillacea’, a new combination, Anthracoidea japonica, is proposed. Anthracoidea grallatoriae Vánky is a superfluous name and a synonym of A. japonica. The existence of the type specimen of Cintractia subglobosa S. Ito makes the lectotypification of C. subglobosa redundant. Similarly, a lectotype of Cintractia variabilis S. Ito is also made redundant. Based on a comparative morphological investigation, 20 Anthracoidea species were established in Japan, all of them on host plants of Carex. In addition to Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae, six other species, A. capillaris, A. humilis, A. irregularis, A. karii, A. michelii, and A. sempervirentis, are reported for the first time from Japan. Eight plant species are reported as new hosts of Anthracoidea species in Japan: Carex gmelinii with Anthracoidea buxbaumii; Carex foliosissima, C. mitrata, C. morrowii, C. nervata, and C. subebracteata with Anthracoidea caryophylleae; Carex fernaldiana and C. tenuinervis with Anthracoidea microsora. Ten fungus-host combinations, Anthracoidea capillaris on Carex tenuiformis, A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. caryophylleae on Carex mitrata, A. caryophylleae on Carex foliosissima, A. caryophylleae on Carex morrowii, A. humilis on Carex lanceolata, A. karii on Carex omiana var. monticola, A. microsora on Carex fernaldiana, A. microsora on Carex tenuinervis, and A. sempervirentis on Carex makinoensis, are new for science. Additional distribution records are given for some Anthracoidea species hitherto known from Japan. The genus Anthracoidea is recorded for the first time from the Korean Peninsula, with three species from South Korea: A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata, and A. siderostictae on Carex siderosticta. Two species, Anthracoidea caryophylleae and A. variabilis, are reported for the first time from the Kuriles. Anthracoidea variabilis is a new species for Russia. Three species, Anthracoidea globularis, A. heterospora, and A. paniceae, are reported for the first time from Sakhalin. The study further found that four fungus-host combinations had been wrongly recorded in the literature, specifically, Carex cespitosa is not a host of Anthracoidea variabilis; Carex foliosissima and C. conica are not hosts of Anthracoidea microsora; and Carex tarumensis is not a host of Anthracoidea buxbaumii.

A new genus of smut fungi, Aizoago, is described and illustrated, with two new species, A. tetragoniae on Tetragonia diptera and A. tetragonioides on T. tetragonioides (Aizoaceae), from Australia.

A new genus, Eriocortex is proposed to accommodate a peculiar, new smut fungus, E. eriocauli, collected in Australia on Eriocaulon scullionii.

An emended description of the genus Anomalomyces is given to accommodate a new species of smut fungus, Anomalomyces yakirrae, on Yakirra pauciflora (Poaceae) from Australia. The systematic placement of the fungus within the genus Anomalomyces is based on morphological characters and molecular data from two loci.

A new species of Sporisorium, S. emariae on Sclerachne punctata (Poaceae), is described and illustrated from Transcaucasia, Republic of Georgia.

A new family, Erratomycetaceae, is described as distinct from Tilletiaceae based on host specialization, morphological features of the sori and spores, and results of published molecular phylogenetic analyses. Eight invalidly published names of Indian smut fungi are discussed. Four of these are considered to apply to distinct species and their names are validated as Eballistra punensis, Anthracocystis kolhapurensis, Sporisorium mahabaleshwarense, and Sporisorium lohagadense. The remaining names are recognized as synonyms of validly published names. A new name, Anthracocystis guoae, is proposed to replace Sporisorium apludae-muticae L. Guo (non Anthracocystis apludae-muticae (A.R. Patil et al.) McTaggart & R.G. Shivas).

This work provides new information about five interesting and uncommon hypogeous fungi from Greece – Balsamia vulgaris, Geopora clausa, Hydnocystis piligera, Sclerogaster compactus and Wakefieldia macrospora. Descriptions of the five species are included based upon Greek collections, accompanied by colour macro- and microphotographs, and molecular data of four of them. On the basis of molecular results, the genus Wakefieldia seems to be closely related to Hebeloma in the Hymenogastraceae, while Geopora clausa appears to be related to Geopora in the Pyronemataceae.

Agrocybe pediades is a rather widespread species mentioned in many Russian regional check-lists. However, there is no agreement among different authors concerning the volume of this species. Some of them recognize single polymorphic species A. pediades with several intraspecies groups. In this case Agrocybe arenicola, A. semiorbicularis and A. subpediades are accepted as synonyms of A. pediades. Under another above-listed species are considered as a group of close but separate taxa. In this research the representatives of A. pediades species complex collected in different parts of Russia have been studied using both molecular and morphological techniques. The analysis of nrITS1-5.8-ITS2 regions has revealed one large well supported clade consisting of specimens labeled before this study as Agrocybe arenicola, A. pediades, A. semiorbicularis and A. subpediades. This clade was characterized by the absence of the reliable morphological differences between included collections. The obtained results correspond to the wide species concept of A. pediades. Several small subclades have been also revealed inside the main clade. Most of them were inconstant with low bootstrap support in NJ, MP and ML analyses. They were shown to belong presumably to A. pediades var. pediades. One subclade recovered in all analyses with high bootstrap support was characterized by some distinct morphological features and was considered afterwards as a new variety of A. pediades – var. bispora. Therefore, all known so far Russian collections belong to A. pediades var. pediades and A. pediades var. bispora.

Synnemacrodictys stilboidea on Ailanthus altissima and Juniperus chinensis is recorded for the first time from Korea and Asia. Occurrence of Diplodia subtecta on Acer palmatum, Melanconis aucta on Alnus glutinosa, and Microbotryum stellariae on Stellaria graminea is reported from Bulgaria. Records of three larger basidiomycetes are given as new for Ukraine (Cantharellus amethysteus) and Bulgaria (Sarcodon joeides and Pluteus salicinus). A new Turkish record of a myxomycete, Physarum perfectum, is also presented.

Examples from the spectacular and economically important fungus genus Boletus illustrate the current state of and recent events in fungal conservation in Bulgaria. National legislation is reviewed as a base for conservation and sustainable management of fungi. The evaluation approach and application of IUCN criteria for boletes on the new national Red List are illustrated by suitable examples.

Nature conservation and conservation training in Africa are actively pursued and receive much international interest, but there is little awareness of fungi, of their importance, their uses, their unexplored diversity and the need to protect them. This review summarises the current state of fungal conservation in Africa, describes the recent establishment of the African Workgroup on Fungal Conservation, and discusses possible ways forward for fungal conservation on the continent.

Fungal conservation needs a good knowledge of the ecology and distribution of target species. A computerized database is essential to store large amounts of records which can be enhanced and corrected. Three examples are given to illustrate the potential of a database for conservation management and developing conservation strategies. Distribution maps and especially estimated areas of occurrence, obtained by modelling, help build reliability. Associated organism of wood-inhabiting fungi identifies pioneer trees as exceptionally rich woody substrata which have implications in forestry management. The correlation between area size and number of inhabitants reveals the importance of urban areas for conservation.

The need for conservation of fungi in Europe has arisen after it was found in several countries that hundreds of fungal species have become extinct. Although Greece is located at the southernmost end of Europe in the Eastern Mediterranean, in a climatic zone characterized by long periods of drought, its mycota appear quite rich and unique. In recent years, Greek and also foreign companies have been picking enormous quantities of edible mushrooms from restricted geographical regions on a commercial level. There is no legislation as yet to monitor this new activity and to certify the mushrooms that are consumed by the public. After studying this situation, a technical committee submitted a proposal in 2007 for legislation to be introduced in order to protect the public from possible mushroom poisoning and also to regulate mushroom picking in an effort to conserve the fungal biodiversity. Sadly, the proposal has not been forwarded accordingly, the reason being “it was opposed by commercial interests”. It is concluded that in addition to having an integrated and sound scientific proposal on the subject, political will is also necessary.

Fungi merit protection no less than other living organisms. This is best effected using when ex situ conservation complements in situ conservation. Ex situ conservation means preservation and maintenance of fungal genetic resources in pure culture. Culture collections (“genetic resource collections” and “biological resource centres”) play a key role in successful storage of fungal strains. Specialist organizations direct global co-ordination of culture collection activities in conservation, research, and sustainable use of genetic resources. In Russia the largest culture collection preserving fungi (and various groups of micro-organisms) is the All-Russian Culture Collection (VKM), with over 5000 fungal strains. Ex situ conservation of macromycete diversity is carried out by the Komarov Botanical Institute Basidiomycetes Culture Collection (LE–BIN), a specialized collection maintaining taxonomic diversity of macromycetes with an emphasis on rare, endangered and ectomycorrhizal species, medicinal fungi, and strains useful for biotechnology. Currently that collection maintains over 1600 strains of about 600 species from 184 genera, 51 families, and 8 orders of macromycetes. The LE–BIN culture collection has been developed for ex situ conservation of as many macromycete species as possible.

Australia’s biota, including fungi, is highly diverse and highly endemic with many species also highly at risk of extinction. Despite ratifying international conventions and the development of national biodiversity conservation strategies, little has changed in the conservation status of Australian fungi over the last decade. Fungi remain largely neglected in most conservation legislation, notwithstanding their importance to ecosystem functioning and consequently to humanity, and there are very few mycologists employed in reference collections or conservation agencies. Few fungi have been included on formal threat status lists and a coordinated national approach toward compiling a threat status list for fungi is urgently required. Given the anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity including climate change, increases in wildfire and subsequent habitat destruction, there is a pressing need for recognition and incorporation of fungi in management and conservation initiatives. Community groups are making an increasingly significant contribution to fungal conservation, especially through mapping and monitoring, but their efforts need greater support from government. There remains a need for a coherent national strategy for the conservation of Australian fungi.

The New Zealand Government’s Department of Conservation facilitates assessment of the threat status of all species of New Zealand’s fauna, flora, and fungi on a regular basis. Fungi have been included in these assessments since 2002, and this has stimulated renewed research and awareness of fungal conservation. Assessment has centred mainly on macrofungi and obligate species on threatened plants. Currently, 49 fungal species are listed in the highest threat category (Nationally Critical), 16 species in lower threat categories, and about 1440 species as Data Deficient. In a complementary initiative, the Department is prioritising long-term recovery plans of all species of New Zealand’s threatened taxa that are in decline through evaluation of methodology, feasibility, and cost. This work includes the fungi. To support this work, recent studies have applied molecular techniques to seek new records of Data Deficient fungal species to more accurately define their threat status.

Fungal conservation started attracting the attention of mycologists when the decrease of certain groups of macrofungi became prominent in some countries in the 1980s. Today accurate information on habitat types, substrates, and host specificity of species especially in a semi-quantitative form, are most needed. There is need to pay special attention to experimental studies on the impact of man’s influence on the ecosystems and consequently on the mycoflora. Good legislation on threatened species and communities exists in Cameroon. However, there are no evaluation on the conservation studies of Cameroonian fungi, no comprehensive threat assessment for fungi, no culture collection and maintenance centres and no national organ to promote fungal protection and conservation. Poor public perception and knowledge of fungal diversity, lack of personnel, and public and stakeholder education and training should also be given priority.

More than 1,000 species of fungi have been reported from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region. Most are species known from elsewhere in the world, particularly from cool temperate and alpine habitats: few are considered truly endemic to the Antarctic region. Several legislative mechanisms are available that could be used to protect or conserve the Antarctic mycota. These include national legislation within the sub-Antarctic islands, and the Measures and Decisions of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting which have jurisdiction within the Antarctic Treaty area south of latitude 60° S.

Data on 30 species of agaricoid basidiomycetes searched out for the first time in the Western Caucasus are given. As a result, the species diversity of studied region is estimated at 867 agarics taxa.

Fifty-eight species and seven varieties of fungi and one protozoan associated with Cistus spp. have been collected and studied in the Sierra Calderona Nature Reserve, Castellón–Valencia, Spain. Significant diagnostic characteristics are given for some of them. Several species that belong to Myxomycota, anamorphic fungi and Basidiomycota are of special interest: Agrocybe ochracea, Cladosporium tenuisimum, Cortinarius scobinaceus var. volvatus, var. nov., Entoloma malenconii, Gymnopus lanipes, Hebeloma plesiocistum, Inocybe amblyspora, I. splendens, Inocybe cf. squarrosa, Lindbladia tubulina, Lyophyllum cistophilum, Melanoleuca polioleuca, M. subpulverulenta, Panaeolina foenisecii, Tomentellopsis pusilla and Tulostoma macrocephalum.

This is the first combined checklist of corticioid and polypore species from the territories in the Caucasus region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Caucasus, NE Turkey, and N–NW Iran. Altogether 389 corticioid and 246 polypore species are known from the area, 74 of which are reported as new to the entire region. Each record includes literature references, and, when available, selected unpublished specimens deposited in herbaria or collected recently are listed. The distribution of each species in the Caucasian countries is summarized, and brief notes are provided for some species. Finally, a table and a diagram representing the number of corticioids and polypores and the ratio of these in each country are provided. The checklist aims to serve as a baseline for more detailed studies of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes in the Caucasus region. The importance of this catalogue for fungal conservation is also mentioned.

Information about the first finding in Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula of Boletus roseoalbidus (= Xerocomus roseoalbidus) is presented. A description and illustrations are provided upon the Bulgarian collections. Cytospora sacculus on Ailanthus altissima is a new record for Bulgaria. Four ascomycetes, Hyponectria buxi, Plagiosphaera immersa, Pleuroceras pleurostylum, Pseudovalsa umbonata, are reported for the first time from Bulgaria.

Fourteen species of hypogeous fungi have been collected and studied in the province of Castellón in Spain. Significant diagnostic characters are given for some of them. Several species that belong to the Basidiomycota are of special interest: Alpova microsporus, Hymenogastser bulliardii, H. hessei, H. luteus, H. lycoperdineus, H. muticus, H. niveus and Protoglossum aromaticum (= Hymenogaster remyi).

Three names of families in the Pucciniomycotina, Spiculogloeaceae, Erythrobasidiaceae, and Naohideaceae, are validated.

Several species of smut fungi not previously recorded in Thailand were collected in December 2007. Amongst these were two new species, Sporisorium likhitekarajae on Ischaemum sp. and Tilletia isachneicola on Isachne globosa, which are described and compared with related species.

This work deals with 25 species and 4 varieties of fungi; which were collected in the north-east of Portugal. All of them were associated with Cistus ladanifer except Terfezia olbiensis, which was associated with Cistus ladanifer × Cistus salviifolius. Significant diagnostic characters are given for some of the collected specimens. Several species are of special interest: Amanita muscaria var. inzengae, Cortinarius asiduus var. plesiocistus, Cortinarius cystidifer and Terfezia olbiensis.

A comparative evaluation was conducted to assess the effects of some environmental parameters such as pH, type of carbon source and temperature on the mycelial growth of two species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, Tricholoma caligatum and Morchella angusticeps. All carbon sources were found to be equally beneficial for mycelial growth. However fructose and sucrose were better sources of nitrogen. Maximum mycelial growth in Petri dishes was achieved at 25 °C after 8 and 20 days for T. caligatum and M. angusticeps respectively. Growth was reduced significantly below 15 °C and above 35 °C. Different pH levels (4.5 to 8.0) markedly affected the mycelial growth of the fungi.

Thirty five isolates of Armillaria were obtained from 15 different host species in fruit orchards and forest regions of Iran. In order to identify species, diploid and haploid cultures were paired with two or three known haploid tester isolates from each intersterile group. Sexual compatibility was evaluated after 6 to 8 weeks based on changes in morphology of haploid colonies from white, with aerial mycelium (fluffy) to brownish, without aerial mycelium (crustose). Citrus aurantium and Abies alba were identified as new hosts of Armillaria mellea; Carpinus betulus was identified as a new host of Armillaria gallica in Iran, which previously has been reported from Serbia and Montenegro. Armillaria spp. isolated from Diospyros lotus, Carpinus betulus, and Alnus subcordata, were not compatible with any tester strains. Diospyros lotus, Citrus aurantium, and Abies alba were new hosts of Armillaria spp. from Iran.

The current article presents information about six species of Agaricus recorded for the first time from Bulgaria: A. albosericeus, A. fissuratus, A. maskae, A. moelleri, A. pseudopratensis, and A. tenuivolvatus.

Two new Thecaphora species, T. ulicis on Ulex minor from England, and T. hosackiae on Hosackia parviflora from the U.S.A., are described.

The distribution and ecology of forty hypogeous fungi from Sicily (southern Italy) is here pointed out. Hysterangium stoloniferum, Protoglossum aromaticum, Sclerogaster compactus and Tuber maculatum are reported as new records from Sicily. Gymnomyces xanthosporus and Melanogaster umbrinigleba are also new for Italy.

Data are presented on the second record in Europe of Entoloma exiguum. A full description and illustration of the Ukrainian collection, as well as information about its habitat are provided.

A gasteromycetous fungus, Geastrum minimum is newly recorded for the Tunisian mycobiota. It is described and illustrated based on its morphological characteristics.

After a short revision of the genus Stegocintractia, a new species, S. capitata on Juncus capitatus is described and illustrated. A key to the six known species of Stegocintractia is presented.

Seventy-seven species of coprophilous fungi, including Podospora macrodecipiens sp. nov., were recorded from 43 herbivore dung samples collected from fifteen Aegean islands (from 35-41^o N and 24-28^o E) and subsequently incubated in moist chambers. Collections are described and the occurrence and distribution of species is discussed. The species richness of the Aegean coprophilous mycota is lower than might be expected from simple latitudinal considerations, possibly because of a reduced diversity of herbivores and the island nature of the collections.

The genus Agaricus includes saprotrophic species occurring in a variety of ecosystems. Most of them, however, are confined to grasslands. Forty one taxa have been recorded in Greece to date. Some species, although heavily picked for their gastronomic value, seem to appear in abundance while others, which are inedible, seem to be infrequent or rare. As in recent years grass and pasturelands in Greece have been included in “improvement programmes” and subjected to the use of fertilizers, there is concern about the disturbance caused to the habitats of the Agaricus species and consequent changes in the fungal biodiversity. It is obvious that further research on the ecology and particularly the factors governing the fruiting and spreading of Agaricus species is necessary before any concrete conclusions are reached and any conservation measures are imposed.

In 1999 and 2007 mycobiota of several locations in the Eastern Carpathians, Ukraine was studied. The Chornohora, Svydovets and Horhany mountain massifs were visited, especially locations with natural (primeval or near-natural) forests. Records of 32 rare, threatened or overlooked species of macrofungi are published. Ten of them are probably new to Ukraine (Cordyceps rouxii, Gymnopilus josserandii, Hydropus atramentosus, H. marginellus, H. subalpinus, Hypholoma subviride, Hypoxylon vogesiacum, Lopadostoma pouzarii, Omphalina cyanophylla, Skeletocutis carneogrisea) and 10 can be considered bioindicators of natural forests (Cystostereum murrayi, Hohenbuehelia auriscalpium, Hydropus atramentosus, Hypoxylon vogesiacum, Multiclavula mucida, Omphalina cyanophylla, Phellinus nigrolimitatus, P. pouzarii, Rigidoporus crocatus, Skeletocutis stellae). The records are compared with the mycobiota of the Poloniny National Park, Slovakia and with data on indicator species of fungi from abroad. The Eastern Carpathians (covering parts of Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania) seem to be the best refugee for rare (especially lignicolous) fungi of mountain beech and mixed forests in Europe.

The genus Cystolepiota is new for Israel. In Israel it is represented by two species: Cystolepiota bucknallii and C. moelleri. Locations, dates of collections in Israel, general distribution, detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions and illustrations are given.

The rare Urocystis jaapiana, collected on a new host plant species, Ruscus hypophyllum in Algeria, is described, illustrated, and compared with the type specimen on R. aculeatus.

Entoloma occultipigmentatum var. cystidiatum, a very rare taxon known only from two, Austrian localities, is reported as new for Italy and the Mediterranean region and compared with similar taxa.

Physarum galbeum is reported for the first time from Turkey. Four species of fungi are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria (Botryosphaeria visci on Viscum album, Erysiphe elevata on Catalpa bignonioides, Erysiphe flexuosa on Aesculus hippocastanum, and Scleroderma polyrhizum). Additionally, Botryosphaeria visci is a new record for Romania.

Cladosporium aecidiicola on spermogonia of Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae on Anemone ranunculoides is reported from Austria. It is the first record of this species from spermogonia. The following new records are reported for the first time: Merendera attica, as a new host of Urocystis colchici (from Bulgaria); Helleborus orientalis, as a new host of Urocystis floccosa – a new species for Turkey; Cantharellus amethysteus from Bulgaria; and Badhamia dubia from Turkey. New combinations of Microbotryum viviparum on Polygonum viviparum in Bauhinus, and Neovossia japonica on Alopecurus geniculatus in Tilletia are proposed.

Ganoderma lucidum and allied species are widespread and cause white rot diseases on economically important crops, hardwoods and forest trees. An attempt has been made to distinguish G. lucidum complex by cultural characteristics. This study showed that the G. lucidum complex in a native collection is represented by G. lucidum, G. resinaceum, G. tropicum, G. weberianum, and Ganoderma sp. Most of the collections were confined to hardwood and rarely found on palm host. All the five species produced chlamydospores with varying shape and size. Ganoderma resinaceum and G. lucidum had an optimum growth rate at 30-35 °C; the former produced larger chlamydospores in culture than the later. Ganoderma tropicum produced cylindrical chlamydospores and had average growth rate at 20-25 °C. Ganoderma weberianum produced both chlamydospores and gastrospores in cultures with optimum growth rate at 30-35 °C. Ganoderma sp. produced both amyloid and inamyloid chlamydospores in culture and had optimum growth temperature of 20-25 °C. All the eight isolates showed positive reaction to acid aniline test.

This brief note provides information about the first finding in Bulgaria and the southeastern Europe of Lysurus cruciatus, an alien species in this continent. Description is provided upon the Bulgarian sample.

Antioxidant properties were studied from ten submerged cultivated mycelium Basidiomycetes strains of aphyllophoroid mushrooms using the ß-carotene bleaching method and ten strains using DPPH free-radical scavenging assay. Three different solvents: ethanol, water (culture liquid), and ethyl acetate were used for extraction. The yield of extracts from biomasses depended on the mushroom species and solvent used. Water extracts from Stereum hirsutum 524 and Ganoderma lucidum 545 showed high (74 % and 81 %) antioxidant activities (AA) at 2 mg/ml using the ß-carotene bleaching method. When the ethanol extracts were tested, the highest AA were found in Ganoderma lucidum 545, Stereum hirsutum 524, and Trametes versicolor 1013 extracts (77 %, 68 %, and 72 %, respectively) at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Water and ethanol extracts from Ganoderma lucidum showed the highest scavenging ability (70 % and 56 %, respectively) on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals at a minimal sample concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. The scavenging capacity of extracts varied from 1 to 85 % depending on the mushroom species, solvent used, and concentration. Inonotus tamaricis and Trametes gibbosa, exerted high scavenging abilities at low-effective concentrations.

The paper provides information about the first findings in Bulgaria of four rare and noteworthy taxa of Boletus. A new combination, B. persicolor, is proposed for the accommodation of Xerocomus persicolor into Boletus. Boletus depilatus, B. luteocupreus, B. permagnificus, and B. persicolor are described and illustrated. In addition a second locality in Bulgaria is reported for B. dupainii, which is one of the candidates for inclusion of the Appendix I of the Bern Convention. The potential conservation status of the five species is briefly discussed.

This paper attempts to compile available data on Turkish myxomycetes and macromycetes published between 1915 and February, 2005, and obtained from 294 publications. Two main lists of myxomycetes and macromycetes are given where the taxa are alphabetically arranged. The total number of correct names of species, recorded from Turkey and presented in both checklists, is 1778, including 177 myxomycetes and 1601 macromycetes. For each taxon, references are cited. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Turkey is appended. It includes 671 species and infraspecific taxa. Information about the species distribution in the European or/and Asian parts of Turkey is also given.

This paper provides information about the distribution of 22 species of Boletales. New data are reported or confirmations of previous older records are made.

The species of the genus Chamaemyces present in Israel and their distribution are considered. Detailed data on Chamaemyces fracidus var. pseudocastaneus, new to Israel’s mycobiota, and Ch. carmelensis M. Didukh et S. Wasser, sp. nov. are presented.

We found 131 species of wood-inhabiting fungi in two different beech forest types in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. The corticioid and poroid aphyllophorales (Basidiomycetes) showed a remarkably high species richness. Among them species highly depending on large amounts of dead wood, especially logs for growth and fruiting, such as Dentipellis fragilis. The woodruff beech forests (Galio-Fagenion) harbour a greater number of fungal species than the fir beech forests (Abieti-Fagenion). These beech forests in the Carpathian Mountains provide an interesting opportunity to study the beech forests in Europe in their natural appearance, not or hardly influenced by human activity.

The paper provides a preliminary checklist of Boletales in Bulgaria. It includes 77 species belonging to 18 genera. For each recorded taxon the distribution throughout the country, references to literature sources as well as the collection in which herbarium specimens are kept are given.