Articles by Taxonomic Group

The first Red List assessment of lichenized fungi reported from Bulgaria is presented. The IUCN Red List criteria were applied to 138 species to assess their current extinction risk and to highlight the main threats for them. Our results revealed that six species are Regionally Extinct (RE), 23 species are Critically Endangered (CR), 20 species are Endangered (EN), 13 species are Vulnerable (VU), 11 species are Near Threatened (NT), 58 species are Least Concern (LC), and seven species are Data Deficient (DD). The most important floristic regions for lichen conservation are the Pirin Mts (26 species), the Balkan Range (25), the Rila Mts (25), the Rhodopes (20), Mt. Vitosha (16), Mt. Strandzha (16), and the Black Sea coast (15). The main threats are development of tourism and recreation activities that destroy habitats (60 species affected), air pollution (55), climate change (53), development of tourism and recreation areas (41), harvesting trees and other woody vegetation (unintentional effects) (27), ecosystem modifications that convert or degrade habitats (18), and development of housing and urban areas (14). The information provided in this Red List will assist to further develop the national conservation strategy for Bulgaria.

A checklist of all taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi recorded from Bulgaria is presented. The lichen biota as currently known includes 1137 taxa (1115 species, 5 subspecies, and 17 varieties) of lichenized fungi, 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 28 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. Lepra corallina is reported for the first time from Bulgaria. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1761 infrageneric names.

Thirty-six taxa of lichenized fungi, Acarospora irregularis, Arthonia mediella, Caloplaca asserigena, C. atroflava, C. subpallida, Catillaria detractula, Diplotomma hedinii, Endohyalina insularis, Lecanora rouxii, L. rupicola subsp. subplanata, Lecidea berengeriana, L. sarcogynoides, Lepra leucosora, Lepraria borealis, L. diffusa, L. elobata, L. nylanderiana, L. vouauxii, Ochrolechia arborea, Pertusaria flavicans, Protoparmeliopsis muralis var. dubyi, Pycnora praestabilis, Rinodina freyi, R. luridata var. immersa, R. occulta, R. roscida, R. sicula, R. teichophila, R. trevisanii, Rinodinella dubyanoides, Scoliciosporum umbrinum var. corticicolum, Solorina bispora var. macrospora, Strigula affinis, Tephromela atra var. torulosa, Umbilicaria freyi, and U. maculata, are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. The finding of Rinodina sicula represents the first record for the Balkan Peninsula.

Two novel species of the asexual ascomycete genus Neosporidesmium are described as N. garoense and N. khasianum from Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, India, respectively. Neosporidesmium garoense growing on bamboo litter is distinguished from closely related species by the larger size of synnema and smaller conidia. Neosporidesmium khasianum growing on litter of the tree Wightia speciosissima is distinguished by the size of conidia, the presence of multiple proliferations and the size of synnema.

Two lichen-forming fungi, Hydropunctaria scabra and Verrucaria alpicola (Verrucariaceae, Ascomycota), are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Descriptions and ecological observations based on the Bulgarian populations are provided. For Verrucaria alpicola the ability to survive a continuous submersion over a period of at least four years is confirmed.

The new species Kiliophora novozhilovii (Ascomycota, Incertae sedis), found in Vietnam on a dead leaf of an unidentified tree, is described, illustrated, compared with other species assigned to Kiliophora, and keyed out. The asexual, hyphomycetous ascomycete Zanclospora cf. novae-zelandiae has been found in Vietnam for the first time. This hitherto rarely encountered species is described and illustrated based on the Vietnamese collection, and its taxonomy is briefly discussed.

Nine new species of cercosporoid fungi were found on leaves of plants in family Fabaceae from the Brazilian Cerrado: Asperisporium galactiae on Galactia peduncularis, Sirosporium sclerolobii and Zasmidium sclerolobii on Sclerolobium paniculatum, Pseudocercospora acosmii-subelegantis on Acosmium subelegans, and Pseudocercospora stryphnodendri on Stryphnodendron adstringens. In addition, four other Pseudocercospora species were found on Cassia s. lat., including Chamaecrista and Senna: Pseudocercospora aquae-emendadasensis on Chamaecrista orbiculata; Pseudocercospora sennae, Pseudocercospora sennae-rugosae, and Pseudocercospora subcuticularis on Senna rugosa. Descriptions, illustrations, and discussions of the new taxa are supplemented by keys to Pseudocercospora species on hosts belonging to Cassia s. lat., and to Zasmidium species on Fabaceae.

The new lichenicolous hyphomycete species Gonatophragmium lichenophilum, found on Xanthoria parietina in Austria, is described, illustrated, discussed and compared with other species of Gonatophragmium. A key is given to all recognised species of this genus.

Thirty six species of lichenicolous fungi are reported from India, all but one being new to the country. Endococcus incrassatus and Monodictys epilepraria are new to Asia. Endocarpon and Melanelixia are new host genera for Endococcus incrassatus and Lichenoconium xanthoriae respectively. Cladosporium licheniphilum is for the first time reported on Xanthoria candelaria, as is Corticifraga peltigerae on Peltigera elisabethae and P. ponojensis, and Nectriopsis lecanodes on Peltigera elisabethae and P. scabrosa. Two possibly undescribed species of lichenicolous fungi, viz. Cercidospora sp. on Lecanora sp. and Lichenostigma subgen. Lichenogramma sp. on Seirophora contortuplicata, are briefly described and discussed. Host lichens Peltigera ponojensis, P. scabrosa and Seirophora contortuplicata are new to India.

The new species Atractilina alinae and Neosporidesmium vietnamense, collected in Vietnam on fallen leaves of an unidentified tree and on bark of a twig of an unknown tree, respectively, are described, illustrated and discussed. A. alinae resembles the hyperparasitic A. parasitica, but differs in having quite distinct conidia. Neosporidesmium vietnamense is morphologically unique by its synnematous, indeterminate conidiomata, integrated, terminal, monoblastic, non-proliferating conidiogenous cells and obclavate, rostrate, euseptate conidia, but taxonomically rather complex with regard to its generic affinity.

Five lichenized fungi in Verrucariaceae, Hydropunctaria rheitrophila, Thelidium fontigenum, T. zwackhii, Verrucaria aquatilis, and V. elaeina, are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and comments are provided.

Of the 154 taxa reported, 28 species are new to Greece, 9 new to the Greek mainland and 39 new to one or more provinces. Many of these records represent substantial range extensions of species with Central European or arctic-boreal distribution. The distribution data are briefly discussed and notes are given on the species composition of different substrates.

The genus Biazrovia is described from Siberia for the single new species B. stereocaulicolagrowing on Stereocaulon species. It is characterized by a lichenicolous habit; finally urceolate orange-brown apothecia; a cupulate non-hairy exciple; a hyaline, I−, K/I− hymenium; filiform, apically swollen paraphyses; 8-spored, I−, K/I− asci with an apically thickened wall without a distinct ocular chamber; and hyaline, trans-septate, smooth-walled, non-halonate ascospores. The new genus is provisionally included in the Ostropales.

Oncopodium lidiae sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the cortex of Fumana procumbens (Cistaceae) collected in Hungary. This species has been collected several times and from different localities in Hungary exclusively from dry twigs of Fumana procumbens. A key of Oncopodium species is presented.

Six new records of the unusual ascomycete Perrotia flammea (Helotiales, Hyaloscyphaceae) from Greece are presented, along with a detailed description based on dried material, taxonomic notes, line drawings and a colour plate.

Twenty species of ascomycetous and anamorphic fungi from twenty genera are reported for the first time from Mt. Strandzha in Bulgaria.

Thirty eight species from eighteen genera of ascomycetous and anamorphic fungi are reported for the first time from Mt. Strandzha in Turkey.

Curvularia lunata on Grewia optiva is recorded from India. Occurrence of Xylaria longipes is reported from Bulgaria.

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.

Endophytic fungi were isolated from leaf and bark tissues of Ficus religiosa and F. benghalensis (Moraceae) in a tropical forest in southern India. Five hundred leaf and bark segments from each plant species were collected. Endophytic fungi were more numerous from leaf segments than bark. In this study, hyphomycetes were the most dominant group followed by coelomycetes, ascomycetes, zygomycetes, and sterile fungi. Leaf and bark tissues of F. religiosa had more endophytic fungi than F. benghalensis. Some endophytic fungi were common to both hosts, and few appeared to be host specific.

Four interesting species of the genus Hymenoscyphus are presented from Greece. Hymenoscyphus serotinus is newly reported from Greece, whereas H. scutulus and H. virgultorum are reported for the second time. The formation of chlamydospores was observed in apothecia of H. scutulus. Descriptions, line drawings and microscopic photographs of all studied taxa are presented.

A new species, Massariosphaeria websteri, on submerged decaying culms of a grass (possibly Phragmites karka) in freshwater in Pakistan is described, illustrated and compared with closely related taxa in the genus Massariosphaeria. It is characterized by immersed, scattered, subglobose to conical, ostiolate ascomata each with a papillate beak; 20–32 µm thick, 5–7 layers, polygonal to rectangular peridial cells; branched and anastomosed pseudoparaphyses; relatively large (170–245 × 26.5–35 µm), fissitunicate, cylindrical asci; and ascospores large-sized (av. 52.2 × 13.5 µm), narrowly fusiform to clavate, (7–) 8–11-septate, surrounded by a gelatinous sheath. Additionally, six other members of the Pleosporales, Massariosphaeria typhicola, Lophiostoma caulium, Lophiostoma compressum, Lophiostoma quadrinucleatum, Nodulosphaeria aquilana,  and Trichometasphaeria culmifida are reported.

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.

Ideas for a preliminary strategy for conserving non-lichen-forming ascomycetes and their anamorphs are presented and discussed under four main headings: infrastructure, politics, education and science.

In a brief review of hypogeous ascomycetes occurring in desert regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, north Africa, and adjacent countries, the food value, cultivation possibilities, mycorrhizal associations, and conservation status of species in the genera Delastria, Phaeangium, Terfezia, and Tirmania are discussed.

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.

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.

Six species and one subspecies of Rhizocarpon are reported from the Razavi Khorasan province of north east Iran. Rizocarpon saurinum is new to Asia, being previously reported only from western U.S.A. (Colorado and Utah), and Rhizocarpon macrosporum and R. geographicum subsp. tinei are new to Iran. The lichenicolous fungus Endococcus macrosporus is also reported for the first time from Iran.

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).

After a short review of the genus Boerlagiomyces, a short description of B. websteri is given and illustrated from material found in Hungary on old cherry stones.

Two different coelomycetous fungi were screened for the production of taxol, an anticancer drug. Taxol production was confirmed by following methods Ultra Violet (UV) spectroscopic analysis, Infra Red analysis (IR), High performance liquid chromatography analysis (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography mass spectrum (LC-MASS), and the taxol compared with authentic taxol. The fungal taxol was identical to authentic taxol. The taxol produced by the above fungi were tested against cancer A549 cell line.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Seventeen species of non-lichenized ascomycetes, anamorphic fungi, and rust fungi are reported for the first time from Mt. Strandzha in Bulgaria. Eight species among them are new records for the fungi in Bulgaria.

Twenty species of non-lichenized ascomycetes are reported from Mt. Strandzha in Turkey. Fifteen of these species are recorded from the Turkish part of this mountain area for the first time.

The “cabbage-head fungus”, Peziza proteana f. sparassoides, is a rare species and yet has been found in northern Israel. Morphological and habitat descriptions, general distribution, illustrations, and taxonomic discussion of P. proteana f. sparassoides are presented in this paper.

Genetic diversity was studied in populations of the soil fungus Sordaria fimicola at climate-contrasting environments using 132 AFLP markers. Six populations were tested from opposing slopes at ‘Evolution Canyon’ in Nahal Oren, Israel: three (upper, middle, and lower) from the harsher, drier south facing slope and the parallel three from the lusher, milder north facing slope. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that more genetic diversity among populations of S. fimicola was derived from between slopes than from within slopes; and F-statistics analysis suggested low estimations of inter-slope gene flow. In addition, clustering analysis (UPGMA) clearly grouped the six wild populations according to their appropriate slopes. These findings suggest that migration of S. fimicola between the two slopes of ‘Evolution Canyon’ is relatively small and some isolation barriers between opposing populations probably exist.

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.