Two dark-spored agaric species from Asia are placed in the genus Anamika (Agaricales or euagarics clade). This result is supported by ITS and nLSU-rDNA sequences with strong measures of branch support, in addition to several morphological and ecological similarities. An inclusive ITS study was performed using a mixed model Bayesian analysis that suggests the derived status of Anamika within Hebeloma, thereby rendering Hebeloma a paraphyletic genus. However, the monophyly of Hebeloma cannot be rejected outright given ITS and nLSU-rDNA data. Thus, we propose two new Asian species in Anamika: A. angustilamellata sp. nov. from dipterocarp and fagaceous forests of southwestern China and northern Thailand; and A. lactariolens comb. nov., a Japanese species originally described in the genus Alnicola. A complete description of A. angustilamellata, including illustrations, is provided.

The distribution and behaviour of nuclei in conidia of 11 coelomycete species with tri- and tetraradiate conidia and belonging to five genera has been investigated: Cornutispora (C. ciliata, C. intermedia, C. lichenicola, C. limaciformis, and C. pittii), Eriosporella (E. calami), Furcaspora (F. abieticola, F. pinicola), Suttoniella (S. eriobotryae, S. gaubae), and Tetranacrium (T. gramineum). They have been studied by the HCl-Giemsa technique using dried, preserved material including holotypes and isotypes with ages ranging from 3 to 116 yr. Conidia of Cornutispora species showed different ploidy levels, and C. limaciformis showed a very high (>90%) frequency of stable and viable micronuclei with an unusual type of ploidy level, occurring naturally. Frequency of ploidy levels in nuclei within conidia of Cornutispora species appeared to be associated with changes in gross conidial morphology. This is the first report of micronuclei in coelomycetes. The types of appendages on arms or parts of conidia have been studied using various stains including erythrosin in ammonia and a modified Leifson's flagella staining technique. In Furcaspora species the apical and basal conidial appendages are cellular maintaining protoplasmic continuity with the arms on which they are sited. The results have been compared with those of Crucellisporium species which have tetraradiate conidia. The new species, Cornutispora intermedia, C. pittii and Furcaspora abieticola spp. nov. are described, and illustrated, and a key to all known Cornutispora species is provided.

A transformation system is described for the edible mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Volvariella volvacea. The system developed is based on a positive selection strategy using the trp3iar gene from Coprinus cinereus, which confers resistance to the antimetabolite 5-fluoroindole. Transformation frequencies were low in both species. Southern blot analysis confirmed the integration of transforming DNA into the genome of transformants and indicated the presence of tandemly duplicated copies of the plasmid in some of these transformants. The system has potential for introducing beneficial traits such as enhanced substrate bioconversion and faster sporophore development.

An α-L-arabinofuranosidase gene (abf1) from Penicillium purpurogenum was identified and sequenced. abf1 has an open reading frame of 1518 bp, does not contain introns and codes for a protein of 506 amino acids. The deduced mature protein has a molecular mass of 49.6 KDa, and its sequence is homologous to arabinofuranosidases of glycosyl hydrolase family 54. Southern blots suggest that abf1 is a single copy gene. Putative sequences for the binding of the transcriptional regulators XlnR, CreA, PacC, AlcR and AreA are present in the promoter. Northern-blot analysis shows that abf1 is expressed at neutral but not at alkaline or acidic pH values. The presence of binding sites for regulatory elements in the promoter region has been compared to the genes of other fungal enzymes belonging to the same family. This is the first characterization of an abf gene from a Penicillium species.

As part of an investigation into the factors influencing the colonization of the rhizosphere and the root tissues of host plant, by pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum, the effect of a range of carbon (C) sources on the growth habits of five strains of F. oxysporum were compared. The strains used were two F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol strains), two F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl strains) pathogenic on tomato and strain Fo47, a non-pathogenic strain of F. oxysporum, currently used as a biocontrol agent to reduce severity of fusarium diseases on several crops. Radial extension rates on solid media were measured using soluble saccharides (glucose, xylose and D galacturonic acid), polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose, xylan and pectin) and soluble and insoluble extracts of tomato roots as C sources. Growth parameters were estimated by fitting a logistic equation to biomass data recorded from liquid culture using the same C sources.

The strains were characterized by means of the pattern of radial extension rates on the various C sources, and the two Forl strains were discriminated further from the other strains. The growth parameters were unique features of each F. oxysporum strains, whatever the C source. The pathogenic strains did not exhibit particular abilities in degrading the cell wall components. It was concluded that growth habits related to carbohydrate utilization are unique to each strain of F. oxysporum and that these traits are not related to pathogenicity.

Cladistic analysis was performed on partial sequences from the nuclear-encoded small subunit ribosomal DNA. Four Halosarpheia spp., Lignincola laevis and Nais inornata were examined to determine the placement of these genera within the unitunicate ascomycetes. Two equally most parsimonious cladograms resulted from the analysis of the data. In a strict consensus of the two cladograms the taxa sampled did not form a monophyletic group, and Halosarpheia was shown to be polyphyletic. The marine Halosphaeriales formed a subclade with taxa from the Microascales. Data indicate that L. laevis and N. inornata may be congeneric, but other species of both genera require further study.

Six species of Mycosphaerella and eight anamorphs with unknown Mycosphaerella states occurring on myrtaceous hosts other than Eucalyptus are treated in the present study. Eight additional species that have recently been described elsewhere are discussed, while a further six species remain unconfirmed, and two are excluded from Mycosphaerella. New species are described in Mycosphaerella, Mycovellosiella, Passalora, Pseudocercospora and Stenella, and new combinations proposed in Eruptio and Microthyrium. Keys are provided to distinguish the accepted species occurring on Myrtaceae other than Eucalyptus, while their morphological similarities with taxa known from this host are discussed.

The occurrence of Lophodermium on fallen needles and Leptostroma, the mitosporic state of Lophodermium, on living needles of Japanese black pine trees treated with simulated acid rain (SAR, pH 3) or tap water (control, pH 6·3) were studied. The amount of fallen needles was also examined. Significantly more needles fell from SAR-treated trees than from control trees, though there were no visible symptoms in the needles of SAR-treated trees. The detection frequency of Lophodermium on fallen needles, and that of endophytic Leptostroma on 2 year old and 3 year old needles, was lower in SAR-treated than control trees. The reduction in the detection of Lophodermium/Leptostroma on needles implied the reduction in the density of endophytic fungi with air pollution.

The succession of microfungal communities on Myrtus communis leaf litter was monitored from Jan. 1993 to Nov. 1994 using the litter bag method. Three main groups of fungal colonizers were identified, whose presence is correlated with the successive decomposition stages of the substrate and with seasonal variations.

The phylogenetic relationships of several smut fungi parasitic on dicotyledons were analysed. Parsimony analysis was performed based on the sequences of the ITS regions of the rDNA genes. Three genera were considered: Microbotryum, Sphacelotheca and Ustilago. The cladogram showed a dichotomy: the species of Microbotryum and Ustilago parasitic on dicotyledons (dicot Ustilago) were found to be divided into two independent taxa among the Microbotryaceae. A divergent mechanism of evolution of the species of each of these two clades with their respective hosts could be involved in this dichotomy. According to our results, Microbotryum appears monophyletic and restricted to the anthericolous smuts on Caryophyllaceae. However, no morphological characters have yet been found to support this distinction, and we refute the denomination Bauhinus as defined by Moore to describe the group of ‘dicot Ustilago’ as it leads to controversial determinations. Sphacelotheca belongs to Microbotryales, but could not be synonymised with Microbotryum as S. polygoni-persicariae is in an independent clade. Lastly, U. duriaeana is independent of the ‘dicot Ustilago’ clade; the position of this species among Microbotryales is still uncertain.

Creolophus cirrhatus, Hericium erinaceus and H. coralloides were paired against over 20 other wood decay fungi from beech (Fagus sylvatica) covering a range of ecological strategies, on 2% malt agar (MA), 0.5% MA, 0.5% MA adjusted to −1.25 MPa by addition of KCl, 0.5% MA adjusted to pH 4 with KOH/H3PO4 and 0.5% MA under 5% O2/30% CO2 all at 20 °C. Creolophus cirrhatus and H. coralloides were also paired against 17 other species in wood, incubated at 20 ° for 36–38 wk. They were average to good combatants, deadlocking with or replacing over half of the antagonists, H. erinaceus being slightly more combative than the other two species. Outcomes in wood were representative of those in agar. Abiotic conditions altered the outcomes slightly, reduced water potential favouring C. cirrhatus and H. erinaceus. Overall extension rate of C. cirrhatus and H. erinaceus often increased in the presence of antagonists. There was prolific production of fruit bodies in controls and interactions, though notably not under altered gaseous regime. Results are discused in an ecological context.

Several hyaline-spored coelomycetes placed in Ascochyta, Phoma and Phyllosticta have been recorded from spots on leaves and pods of soybean. Comparison of herbarium material, pathogenicity tests and in vitro studies have demonstrated that Phoma sojicola comb. nov. (syn. Ascochyta sojicola) was predominantly involved as a pathogen of soybean. The diagnostic characters and history of this fungus and other hyaline-spored coelomycetes occurring on soybean are described.

For assessments of intraspecific mating using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, two compatible basidiospore-derived isolates were selected from each of four parental basidiomata of North American Biological Species (NABS) X. The nuclear status in NABS X varied with basidiospore-derived isolates. Nuclei within basidiospore-derived isolates existed as haploids, diploids (doubled haploids), or a mixture of haploids and diploids (doubled haploids). Depending on the nuclear status of the basidiospore-derived lines of NABS X, intraspecifically mated cultures can exist as diploids or tetraploids, and possibly triploids or aneuploids under in vitro conditions. Based on previous in vitro mating studies, seven basidiospore isolates were specifically selected to assess rare, interspecific mating among Armillaria cepistipes, A. sinapina, NABS X, and NABS XI. Cultures from basidiospore-derived isolates were paired to produce four interspecifically paired cultures, and matings were assessed using flow cytometry and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Based on flow cytometric analysis, the A. cepistipes isolate exhibited compatibility with a NABS X isolate, and the A. sinapina isolate exhibited compatibility with a NABS X isolate, and the A. sinapina isolates were individually compatible with isolates of NABS X and NABS XI. Mean fluorescence intensities of A. cepistipes × NABS X, A. sinapina × NABS X, and A. sinapina × NABS XI mated cultures revealed a triploid or tetraploid nuclear status compared to the haploid or diploid (doubled haploid) nuclear status of initial basidiospore-derived isolates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and RFLP of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region generated banding patterns for basidiospore-derived isolates and mated cultures. Four species-specific RFLP banding patterns were observed in basidiospore-derived isolates of A. cepistipes, A. sinapina, NABS X, and NABS XI. PCR-RFLP analysis showed combined banding patterns from mated cultures. Flow cytometry and PCR-RFLP analysis are effective tools to assess matings of Armillaria species.

Dichomitus is re-examined in Africa and six species are accepted. Dichomitus citricremeus and D. kirkii are described as new species. Megasporoporia is reduced to synonymy with Dichomitus, and the new combinations D. carvernulosus, D. delicatulus and D. setulosus, are proposed. An emended description of Dichomitus is provided, to accommodate species with hyphae with a dextrinoid reaction. A key to all accepted species in Dichomitus is given.

Genetic variation within a collection of 25 isolates of Monascus from red rice and sofu was assessed with RAPD markers using genetic distances (1-Jaccard's coefficient) calculated for all combinations of isolates. Cluster analysis based on genetic distance was performed using the Ward's minimum variance method. Five distinct clusters were revealed based on genetic distances between and among clusters. The robustness (reproducibility) of the cluster assignments was tested by resampling (bootstrap) analysis. Cluster distribution was visualized as a three-dimensional graph based on multiple correspondence analysis. A dendrogram, based on the clusters, was constructed to examine the relationships. Three clusters accounted for 21 isolates; the fourth cluster consisted of three isolates which were quite distinct from each other and all other isolates. The fifth cluster, a single isolate from Japan, was very different from all others in RAPD patterns and was used as an outgroup. Resampling analysis indicated that the 25 isolates represented four genetic lineages of red rice fungi, suggesting that a relatively narrow genetic source of Monascus isolates is used in food products in Asia.

A study of saprobic fungi occurring on the fynbos of the Western Cape Province of South Africa yielded four unknown Anthostomella species. A. proteae from Protea nitida, A. cynaroides from P. cynaroides, A. leucospermi from Leucospermum oleifolium, and A. brabeji from Brabejum stellatifolium are described as new. New records for South Africa include A. conorum from Leucadendron sp., Protea magnifica and P. neriifolia, and A. clypeata from Ischyrolepis subverticellata, Cannomois Virgata, Restio egregius, and R. cfr confusus. A dichotomous key to the Anthostomella species in South Africa is also provided.

Spontaneously-occurring hypovirulence in the tan sclerotial isolate S10 of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from sunflower in Canada was characterized and compared to another hypovirulent isolate Ep-1PN of S. sclerotiorum from eggplant in China. Hypovirulent isolates derived from S10 were purified by single hyphal tip isolations from colonies of S10 showing abnormal growth on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and tested for pathogenicity on leaves of canola (Brassica napus cv. ‘Westar’). These abnormal isolates differed from the virulent isolate wtS10 derived from a normal colony of S10 by the reduced hyphal growth, induced production of abnormal hyphal branches, enhanced production of brown pigments, reduced sclerotial formation on PDA, reduced oxalic acid accumulation in potato dextrose broth, and reduced pathogenicity on canola. Vegetative transfers revealed that the hypovirulence phenotype of the hypovirulent isolate S10-2A-11 was stable. This preliminary in vitro transmission test indicated that the hypovirulence in the isolate S10-2A-11 was transmissible but at a lower rate than that of the hypovirulent isolate Ep-1PN. Double-stranded ribonucleic acids (dsRNAs) were detected in isolate Ep-1PN, but not in hypovirulent and virulent isolates derived from S10. The existence of dsRNA-free hypovirulence in S10 progenies suggests that another hypovirulence mechanism may exist in S. sclerotiorum.

Terminalia ivorensis, a tree of central African origin, is planted in several tropical countries for timber and veneer production. During the course of a recent disease survey, an unknown fungus was found associated with basal cankers on dying T. ivorensis in Ecuador. The fungus has orange fruiting structures and septate, fusoid ascospores, similar to those of Cryphonectria, a well-known genus of canker pathogens. The aim of this study was to identify the fungus and to assess its pathogenicity. Identification was based on morphological characteristics as well as DNA sequence data. DNA sequence data from the ITS regions of the rDNA operon and two regions of the β-tubulin gene, were compared with published sequences of Cryphonectria species and the closely related genera Endothia and Chrysoporthe. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on T. superba saplings. Morphological characterisations revealed that the conidiomata of the fungus from T. ivorensis, differed from those typical of Cryphonectria in being superficial and rostrate. Only Cryphonectria longirostris was similar to the fungus from T. ivorensis, but could be distinguished from it based on conidial size. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the fungus from T. ivorensis grouped closely with species of Cryphonectria, Chrysoporthe and Endothia, yet formed a distinct clade. Pathogenicity tests on T. superba provided evidence that the fungus is able to cause distinct stem cankers. We conclude that the pathogenic fungus from T. ivorensis represents a new genus and new species in the Diaporthales and we provide the name Rostraureum tropicale for it. The genus is typified by R. tropicale. Furthermore, C. longirostris is transferred to Rostraureum.

The genetic relatedness of twenty isolates of Paecilomyces farinosus was determined by comparison of the products of polymerase chain reaction amplification of anonymous regions of genomic DNA with single arbitrary sequence oligonucleotide primers (RAPD analysis). Isolates were collected from seven insect species in eastern Canada and they differed greatly in cultural and morphological phenotype. All P. farinosus isolates were clearly distinguished from three other entomopathogenic fungi, including P. fumosoroseus. RAPD banding patterns did not, however, correlate with ecological backgrounds or morphological phenotypes of P. farinosus isolates. These observations support the conclusion that P. farinosus from eastern Canada is not composed of strains which can be separated on the basis of the ecological or morphological criteria selected.