Syncephalastrum racemosum RR 96, MTCC 2774, synthesized extra-cellular β-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) when cultivated with starch as sole carbon source. The strain showed maximum β-amylolytic activity on the fourth day of cultivation, and the partly purified enzyme showed highest activity at 60° and pH 5. About 60% of the activity was found to be retained within the range pH 4–7. The enzyme activity was not increased in presence of exogenous thiols and remained unaffected in presence of heavy metals and the thiol inhibitor p-chloromercuribenzoate, indicating the absence of thiols at the active site of the enzyme. Absence of substrate cross specificity and ability to hydrolyse waste starches made the enzyme competent for industrial application.

Daldinia macaronesica (from the Canary Islands and Madeira), D. palmensis (from the Canary Islands), D. martinii and D. raimundi (from Sicily), and D. vanderguchtiae (from Jersey, Channel Islands) spp. nov., are described, based on new combinations of teleomorphic and anamorphic characters. They all resemble the pantropical D. eschscholzii and/or the European D. concentrica with regard to teleomorphic characters and secondary metabolite profiles generated by analytical HPLC. The status of the newly described taxa was established by SEM of ascospores and microscopic studies of their anamorphs in comparison with various materials of the aforementioned known species. HPLC and SEM studies on the holotype of D. bakeri confirmed its relationships to D. fissa and D. loculata. Yellowish pigments contained in the type specimen of D. bakeri are probably artificial.

Forty-seven isolates of Verticillium albo-atrum, 35 from hop (Humulus lupulus), seven from lucerne (alfalfa, Medicago sativa) and five from four other hosts, were analysed for DNA polymorphisms. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were detected in ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) using Southern hybridization. Polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were detected in ethidium bromide stained gels after digestion of total genomic DNA with restriction enzymes which recognize four bases containing only G and C. Amplified polymorphic DNA (APD) was analysed using primers based on rDNA sequences from the intergenic spacer (IGS) and 25S regions. These data were used to construct phenograms using either squared Euclidean dissimilarity coefficients (SEDC) and cluster analysis, or unweighted pair grouping with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA). rDNA RFLPs revealed one group with 44 isolates, a second group with two atypical hop isolates, and a third group containing a single avirulent lucerne isolate. mtDNA RFLPs separated rDNA group one into two subgroups, one group containing 38 isolates from different hosts and the other containing all six virulent lucerne isolates. APD analysis divided the isolates into 16 phenotypes, 12 of which contained most of the hop isolates, but there was no correlation with origin, hop cultivar, pathogenicity or year of isolation. One APD phenotype contained all six virulent lucerne isolates, indicating the genetic differentiation between hop and lucerne isolates. Two further APD phenotypes coincided with the second atypical group containing two hop isolates and a distinct avirulent lucerne isolate, respectively. The three methods revealed that three isolates differed markedly from those of the main group.

Isolates of Chondrostereum purpureum were characterised on malt agar by rapid growth of white, flat, velvety to cottony mycelium and formation of yellow fruitbody crusts with apiculate basidiospores. The presence of cystidia was diagnostic, but not a reliable taxonomic character. Above 33 °C isolates exhibited a differential growth response and only three failed to grow following 20 d incubation at 36°. Tolerance of high temperature was not correlated with RAPD banding patterns nor geographic origin. All isolates were pathogenic to willow, poplar and apple regardless of their original host, locality or RAPD profiles. No zones of demarcation were observed following infection of wounds by multiple isolates. RAPD banding patterns exhibited considerable diversity, enabling discrimination of isolates with single primers, and this was indicative of the extensive genetic diversity within the NZ population. No RAPD banding combinations specific to host species or locality were observed. An explanation is given for the wide dissemination of C. purpureum isolates throughout NZ.

Preussia aquilirostrata is newly described from submerged plant debris in Iraq. A key to the identification of Preussia species with hairy ascomata is provided. Since Sporormiella is regarded as a synonym of Preussia, the new combinations Preussia lasiocarpa, P. pilosa, P. pilosella and P. chaetomioides are proposed.

Segregation and recombination in sexual progeny of Phaeosphaeria spp. were analysed using three PCR based techniques which targeted arbitrary DNA sequence (random amplified polymorphic DNA, RAPD–PCR), microsatellites (microsatellite primed PCR, MP–PCR) and dispersed repetitive DNA elements (rep-PCR). Polymorphic DNA markers were not detected in three sets of P. avenae f. sp. triticea ascospores isolated sequentially from single asci. It is hypothesised that ascospores of P. avenae f. sp. triticea were produced from a sexual process in which fusion of genetically identical nuclei took place. On the other hand, polymorphic DNA fragments were found in three sets of eight P. nodorum isolates recovered from ascospores sequentially liberated from single asci produced by in vitro mated ‘+’ and ‘−’ strains. Among 172 polymorphic markers identified in two sets of isolates (ascospores) of the fungus, 171 segregated in a ratio 1[ratio ]1. We have demonstrated for the first time that the inheritance of PCR based markers in P. nodorum progeny follows Mendelian genetics. Thereby, a molecular proof for bipolar heterothallism of the fungus was provided. In contrast, of 48 polymorphic markers detected in the third cross, only 26 segregated in an expected Mendelian frequency 4[ratio ]4 and the other 22 demonstrated either aberrant segregation pattern or possessed new DNA fragments amplified in PCR which were not detected previously in parental DNA profiles. The reasons underlying the high frequency PMS type markers identified almost exclusively in one cross have yet to be conclusively determined. If such recombinants were found in the progeny of in vitro mated P. nodorum isolates it is obvious that they also occur under natural conditions. Thus, the study provides a molecular evidence for generation of novel genotypes of the pathogen.

Linocarpon smilacis sp. nov., Nitschkia phaeospora sp. nov., Ophiodothella cyclobalanopsidis sp. nov., Physalospora palmicola sp. nov., Physalospora smilacis sp. nov. and Tubeufia miscanthi sp. nov. from Taiwan are described and illustrated by microphotographs. Each is compared with related taxa.

A key to 13 species in the genus Hygrocybe subgenus Pseudohygrocybe section Firmae is provided for the Greater Antilles. Seven new species and one species that is a new report for the Greater Antilles are described. The new species are H. brunneosquamosa, H. cinereofirma, H. flavocampanulata, H. laboyi, H. miniatofirma, H. neofirma and H. olivaceofirma. The new report is H. trinitensis.

Crypticola is re-evaluated, following a commentary on the nature of its straminipilous ornamentation, zoosporogenesis and habitat range. Atkinsiella entomophaga is transferred to Crypticola, but because this species was made the type species of Halocrusticida, new names are required for Halocrusticida and species therein (Halodaphnea hamanaensis – type species; H. parasitica, H. awabi, H. okinawaensis, H. panulirata). A new family, the Crypticolaceae, is erected for Crypticola. The family is placed, with reservations, in the Myzocytiopsidales, Peronosporomycetes.

Chitin, an insoluble polymer, induces the chitinolytic system of Trichoderma harzianum, which is made up of two N-acetylglucosaminidases and four endochitinases. Only one N-acetylglucosaminidase, CHIT 102, was found to exhibit extracellular basal activity. The initial inducer of the chitinolytic system was found to be the chitin monomer N-acetylglucosamine, which preferentially induces CHIT 102.

The entomophthoralean fungi Batkoa sp., Furia sp. and Neozygites floridana have been suggested for biocontrol of insect pests: the first two for control of spittlebug pests of pasture and sugarcane, and the third for mites of agricultural importance. To develop these agents as biopesticides and bioacaricides, it is important to have available culture media that maximize production at low cost. The research reported here evaluates, in different combinations and concentrations, the effect of four complex sources of nitrogen on production of mycelium or hyphal bodies in liquid media of all three species. Yeast extract allowed the highest production of Batkoa sp., with a concentration of 0.5% being the most suitable for vegetative (mycelial) growth. The combination of 0.33% each of yeast extract+beef extract+skim milk allowed the highest production of Furia sp. Mycelium. The combination of yeast extract+skim milk (0.5% of each) allowed the second highest production of Furia sp., and was the most suitable for mass production due to the lower cost. The combination of 1%each of yeast extract+peptone+skim milk was the most suitable for production of N.floridana hyphal bodies.

A new keratinophilic species, Chrysosporium fluviale sp. nov., isolated from river sediments in Catalonia, Spain, is characterized by having small, slender and verrucose conidia borne on slightly swollen conidiogenous cells. Morphological and molecular characters obtained by sequencing of the corresponding ITS-5.8S rDNA regions and of the RFLPs support the separation of Chrysosporium fluviale from the morphologically closest C. evolceanui, C. indicum and the Chrysosporium anamorph of Arthroderma curreyi.

Ascospore progenies from two crosses between a wild single-ascospore strain and two mutants of Phaeosphaeria nodorum were obtained in vitro. Cultural characters, sensitivity to carbendazim (MBC), nitrate utilization, mating type, esterase zymograms and aggressiveness of these progenies and parents were compared and differences were detected between the ascospores. The single-ascospore strains from each single ascus could always be grouped into four pairs using a combination of markers. Recombinations were observed between nitrate non-utilizing phenotype and mating type or esterase patterns for one cross. For the other cross, recombinations between MBC resistance and esterase patterns were detected. The values of aggressiveness in each progeny were distributed along a wide range confirming the polygenic character of aggressiveness in P. nodorum. No close relationship was observed between in vitro conidiogenesis, the intensity of leaf necrosis and the fertile pycnidia production on leaf lesions.

Molecular techniques have become increasingly important for the identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In this work Acaulospora longula and Glomus mosseae have been detected in plant roots from pastures using specific nucleotide primers for the two species. Part of the 5′ end of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene was amplified by nested PCR and sequenced. The distribution of the fungi within three different plant species, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens, and Holcus lanatus, and two different types of grassland, have been studied. Neither the fungi nor the plants showed specific preference for their symbiotic partnership.

Germlings of Uromyces appendiculatus respond to topographical stimuli and develop appressoria. During this period several genes are expressed, one of which is Inf24. Germlings were microinjected with a sense and antisense fragment of the ORF of Inf24. Sense (Inf24-S), 5′-ATG AGT GCT TCA TCG CAG CAG CAG-3′ fragment did not affect germling response to the topographical stimuli and the developed appressoria. Microinjection of antisense (Inf24-RC), 5′-CTG CTG CTG CGA TGA AGC ACT CAT-3′ blocked gene transcription and appressoria were rarely formed. Injection of Inf24-RC into already formed appressoria did not inhibit continued development of subsequent infection structures, e.g. penetration peg, sub-stomatal vesicle.

The taxonomic position and properties of an unidentified fungus isolated from wheat roots was investigated. The Sterile Red Fungus (SRF) is characterised by its fast growing habit, red pigmentation, non-sporing nature and mycelial form resembling some Laetisaria and Limonomyces species. rDNA variation was used to study the relationship of the SRF to Laetisaria spp. and Limonomyces spp. Nucleotide sequence obtained from eight Laetisaria and three Limonomyces species representing the ITS 1 region, were analysed by PCR and direct sequencing. Plant growth promoting properties of the five taxa were also determined. The SRF had closest identity (98%) to British material of Limonomyces roseipellis. UPGMA analysis of ITS 1 DNA sequence support a close relationship between SRF and L. roseipellis. The relationship inferred by nucleotide sequence data was supported by phenotypic analysis; both L. roseipellis and the SRF were shown to promote the growth of wheat plants. Unexpectedly, Laetisaria arvalis and material named as Limonomyces roseipellis from New Zealand appeared to be closely related with 98% rDNA sequence identity, suggesting the misidentification of the New Zealand collection.

A new species of Menisporopsis was collected from submerged wood in the Lam Tsuen River, Hong Kong. It differs from other species in having conidia with 5–6-setulae. The generic concept of Menisporopsis is briefly discussed and six species are accepted. A composite illustration of their conidial morphology is provided for comparison, and a synopsis of and a key to the genus are provided. The new species is described and illustrated with light and scanning electron micrographs.

Phylogeographic divergences of four coprinoid species, Coprinus comatus, Coprinellus disseminatus, Coprinellus micaceus and Coprinopsis lagopus were investigated using nuclear ITS sequences. Each taxon showed genetic variation that corresponds with the geographic origins of collections. Groupings produced from ITS1 and ITS2 sequences were similar together. In C. comatus, East Asian strains were well separated from New Zealand and North American strains. In C. disseminatus, Hawaiian strains formed an independent clade with that from Nepal, separating those from East Asia. And there were two distinct East Asian groups for C. disseminatus. East Asian C. micaceus strains constituted a distinct group from Hawaiian strains. In C. lagopus, Hawaiian and European strains were clearly separated from each other. There was a great genetic diversification in C. disseminatus and C. micaceus from East Asia, suggesting divergence process of these taxa in that region. However, Hawaiian strains lacked genetic variation, which indicated their recent origin in Hawaii.

Five fungal isolates, tentatively identified as belonging to Thysanophora, were re-examined to confirm their generic placement. DNA sequences from multiple loci were determined and compared to homologous sequences from other fungi. The Thysanophora-like isolates belong in the genus Penicillium on the basis of phylogenetic analysis of their gene sequences. Because these isolates have unique phylogenetic positions within Penicillium and have unique phenotypes we describe them as the new species P. boreae, P. subarcticum and P. canariense spp. nov. In addition, P. pullum sp. nov. is described for NRRL 721, which served as the typical isolate of P. fuscum in the monographic studies of Raper & Thom and Ramirez; however, the name P. fuscum has been applied and neotypified using a different specimen and NRRL 721 is markedly different phylogenetically from the neotype of P. fuscum.

The new genus Lichenopyrenis is described for L. galligena, a cecidiogenous species parasitic on the lichen Leptochidium albociliatum. This genus is characterized by perithecioid ascomata with a cellular wall, formed by relatively large, somewhat compressed cells, fissitunicate, I- asci, wide hamathecium filaments, and 1-septate, pale orange brown ascospores with distoseptate thickenings which at maturity are seemingly bulging out of the exospore wall at the septum and apices. The conidia have a rhexolytic type of secession, and are attached to the conidiogenous cells by a separating cell. Lichenopyrenis is referred tentatively to the family Pleomassariaceae.