This issue of Mycological Research News features: Standardized data on 474 fungal metabolites; Doubt over the identity of soma; Additional evidence for recombination in Candida albicans; Unexpectedly high diversity in leaf decomposition in water and Synthesys: the world's largest network of natural history institutions.

Original research papers in this part examine phosphate transfer in ectomycorrhizal fungi, phosphate efflux in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and the diversity of AM fungi associated with aquatic plants.

The frequencies of dsRNA elements in Helicobasidium mompa and Rosellinia necatrix have been assessed, and that in H. mompa has been characterized. The separation of H. mompa from H. brebissonii is also examined.

A PCR-based detection method for Rhizoctonia solani on rice, and a genetic transformation system for use in Pochonia chlamydosporia, have been developed. Endophytic Phoma medicaginis can produce brefeldin A which inhibits some phylloplane fungi.

Molecular phylogenetic studies included an examination of Mycosphaerella species on Eucalyptus in South Africa, Aphanomyces species, ophiostomatoid fungi on pine beetles, and report a novel Leptographium. A new family and genus are described in the Glomeromycota for two species formerly referred to Glomus.

The following new scientific names are introduced in this part: Gerdemanniaceae fam. nov.; Gerdemmania gen. nov.; Letographium bistatum, Mycosphaerella fori, and Ophiostoma pulvinisporum spp. nov.; and G. chimonobambusae (syn. Glomus chimonobambusae) and G. scintillans (syn. Glomus scintillans) combs. nov.