This issue of Mycological Research News features: Davidiella, a new generic name for the teleomorph of Cladosporium s. str.; Will European forest fires favour Neurospora ascomata?; Programmed cell death alive and well in fungi; and Complex conidia as branched hyphal systems; An obituary for Colin Booth (1924–2003), a leading authority on Fusarium and a past-President of the British Mycological Society, is also presented.

A detailed review of chemical interactions between mycorrhizal fungi and toxic metal cations is followed by ten original research papers. These consider the molecular phylogenetics of Caloplaca and Xanthoria, Termitomyces spp. and related fungi, the separation of Linocarpon and Neolinocarpon spp. using ultrastructural features, the Leptosphaeria maculans–L. biglobosa complex, diversity within Hyaloperonospora parasitica and Thanatephoriu cucumeris (anamorph Rhizoctonia solani), the development of markers for studies within Phialocephala fortinii, host–parasite relationships in Hypomyces spp., hypovirulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and airborne mould spores in apartments.

No new scientific names are introduced in this part.