Among the numerous items of equipment with the ‘Iceman’, who died more than 5000 years ago on an alpine glacier, were three fungal objects: two different shaped fruitbody pieces of the polypore Piptoporus betulinus, each mounted separately on a leather thong, and, found in his girdle bag, a relatively large quantity of tinder material prepared from the ‘true tinder bracket’ Fomes fomentarius. A full description of these items and a chronological report on their identification is given. The question about the possible use of the fungi is discussed on the basis of a comprehensive collection of ethnomycological and pharmacological literature data.

Isolates of Tiarosporella parca from needles of Picea abies growing in Lapland, southern Finland, southern Norway and Switzerland were compared with each other by using their combined fatty acid and sterol profiles (FAST) and randomly amplified microsatellite (RAMS) markers.

Nineteen fatty acids and four sterols were recorded, nine of which appeared only at low amounts (<1% of the total amount of extractives). In a discriminant analysis of their FAST-profiles the isolates could be separated into three non-overlapping groups: (i) Lappish and southern Norwegian, (ii) Southern Finnish and (iii) Swiss isolates. The Swiss isolates form the most distinct group with 11 out of 23 extractives significantly different from those of the other geographical populations.

In RAMS analysis two out of five primers tested with ten isolates resulted in polymorphic banding patterns. Using these two primers 26 variable markers in eight size areas were observed which allowed separation of the 39 isolates investigated into 35 different haplotypes. Thus, only four pairs of identical isolates were observed. Determination of the genetic diversity among the isolates revealed that 59% of variation was due to variance within populations, 27% was due to variance between populations within geographical regions and 13% was due to variation between regions.

Hence, both methods show a differentiation of the European T. parca population according to geographical origin.

Epichloë species are endophytic symbionts of grasses which may differ in the relative importance of their sexual or asexual life cycles. Sexual reproduction of the fungus by stroma-formation prevents host flowering (choke) and thus is highly antagonistic, whereas asexual reproduction through clonal propagation in host seeds does not affect host fitness. Stroma-forming Epichloë endophytes from Bromus erectus and non-stromal strains from B. benekenii and B. ramosus were recognized as a distinct mating population (MP) based on complete sexual compatibility among strains and intersterility between other MPs established by mating tests. This biological species represents the only documented case of highly antagonistic strains interfertile with highly mutualistic strains. A second distinct MP of Epichloë was evident on Brachypodium sylvaticum including both stroma-forming and non-stromal isolates. These two MPs were further characterized by distinct morphologies of fruiting structures, allozyme divergence, β-tubulin gene phylogeny, and host preferences, and were described as new species: E. bromicola associated with Bromus spp. and E. sylvatica with Bp. sylvaticum. Additional mating tests among Epichloë from several, previously unexamined, hosts including Brachypodium pinnatum, Calamagrostis villosa, Festuca spp., Phleum pratense, and Poa spp., expanded the known host ranges of three other European species, E. typhina, E. festucae and E. baconii. Genetic variability of all five European species and gene diversity of host subpopulations were analysed based on allozyme data from a total of 497 Epichloë isolates. Average gene diversity (Hs) within MPs ranged from 0·09 to 0·36 with E. typhina being the most diverse, and GST values, a measure for between subpopulation differentiation, ranged from 0·73 to 0·90 indicating that genetic isolation of endophytes on many host grasses is likely.

Norway spruce needles were sampled from two series of stand areas located in southern Finland. Both series consisted of five sampling areas in mature managed stands and one in a mature virgin stand. The proportion of spruce varied from 8 to 100% of the basal tree area and the major other species were pubescent birch and Scots pine. From each sampling area (some of which consisted of several sites) 40 mature spruces were randomly chosen and healthy looking needles of the third age class were sampled from heights of 5–8 m and incubated on water agar for isolation of endophytic fungi.

The majority of isolates were identified by their combined fatty acid and sterol profiles (FAST-profiles) as Lophodermium piceae. Tiarasporella parca was less common and Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii, Sclerophoma pythiophila, Lirula macrospora and Thysanophora penicillioides occurred occasionally. For calculations of fungal diversity all isolates were classified by their FAST-profiles into 81 groups (=operational chemotaxonomic units) according to a defined upper variation limit, i.e. an upper FAST-profile mismatch limit.

The highest percentage of endophytically infected needles was found in pure spruce stands and dense virgin stands. Location of the stand, its proportion of spruce and total basal area of trees (i.e. tree density) explained 82% of the variation of the overall infection rate. The effect of location was probably a consequence of differences in air quality between the various sampling areas.

The endophyte diversity, expressed as the number of FAST-groups per 40 spruces of each sampling area, correlated positively and statistically significantly with the percentage of needles infected or with the proportion of spruce in the stand. The highest endophytic diversity, expressed as FAST-groups per tree, was found in pure spruce and mixed virgin stands.

Assessment of diversity (including both species richness and intraspecific variation) within a habitat may often be difficult when morphological criteria are used for identification and classification of isolates. Here we describe how combined fatty acid and sterol profiles (FAST-profiles) can be used for classification of fungal isolates into FAST-groups (i.e. operational chemotaxonomic units) according to a defined upper variation limit. Data analysis includes a two stage statistical approach. First, the isolates are grouped into taxonomic species using a discriminant model based on well identified ‘model’ isolates. These species groups together with one group that includes isolates which could not be identified with the discriminant model are further divided into operational chemotaxonomic units using a FAST-profile mismatch threshold. This method is demonstrated with Norway spruce needle endophytes.

The model isolates were obtained from fallen spruce needles and identified by morphological criteria. Five species fruited on the needles: Lophodermium piceae, Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii, Lirula macrospora, Tiarosporella parca, and Thysanophora penicillioides. Additionally, mycelia of Sclerophoma pythiophila were frequently noted. These model isolates were separated by their FAST-profiles by applying a multivariate discriminant model into six distinct non-overlapping clusters corresponding to their species. This model was used for identification of 1740 isolates obtained from surface sterilized Norway spruce needles. As an example, isolates identified as T. parca were further divided into FAST-groups by applying a FAST-profile mismatch threshold value. This threshold value was the average within-species mismatch-value obtained for isolates identified by morphological criteria. This method allows a division of any batch of fungi cultivable in vitro into operational chemotaxonomic units according to a defined upper variation limit.

A series of comparative physiological and morphological analyses are described for eighteen Dendryphiella isolates. Conidial characteristics of ten isolates showed relatively little variation as a result of different incubation conditions. Isolates were markedly tolerant to NaCl and KCl, although some variation between isolates was noted. A variety of nitrogen compounds could be utilized by most isolates although some grew poorly with certain nitrogen sources. Most isolates showed a wide pH growth range, particularly at alkaline values, and broad temperature growth profiles. The relevance of these physiological characteristics to the survival and fitness of Dendryphiella species in the marine environment is discussed.

Three grass smuts are recorded from tropical Australia. Sporisorium simile destroys the inflorescence of its host Chionachne in tropical Western Australia. It is distinct from the inflorescence smut Sporisorium reilianum, here recognised for the first time on Chionachne, in Queensland, and from the ovary smut Ustilago polytocae, found on Chionachne in India. Recent use of binomials based on Ustilago holci-sorghi Rivolta for the smut named S. reilianum is discussed and not recommended. Ustilago brunkii is recorded from leaf sheath lesions on Dichanthium in tropical Western Australia. Comparison with a collection of this species from Texas, U.S.A. and with the type species of Jamesdicksonia from India indicates that U. brunkii is best placed in Jamesdicksonia. The identity of its known grass hosts in the U.S.A., Central America and Australia, and their significance in its taxonomy, are discussed.

Sordaria brevicollis is a filamentous ascomycete previously considered to be exclusively heterothallic. Here we show that S. brevicollis can exhibit homothallism, and describe the genetic and environmental factors favouring the process. Both mating types can produce perithecia in unmated cultures, but only in the uncrossed perithecia of mtA are ascospores formed (in <30% of the fruitbodies). In most cases, only one or two asci are produced in any uncrossed mtA perithecium, although as many as 13 have been observed. The ascospores show no segregation for mating type; all are mtA. Heterokaryon analysis established that meiosis and recombination occurred during ascospore production in both homothallic and heterothallic development. Homothallic fruiting is inhibited both by crossing with the opposite mating type, and by light.

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.

Three British rust fungi reported to form aecia on daisy (Bellis perennis) are compared. A recently discovered species, possibly introduced from Australia, is identified as Puccinia distincta. It is a short-cycled -opsis form lacking uredinia, with aecia and telia confined to Bellis and its aeciospores capable of reinfecting the same host. This rust is compared with a macrocyclic heteroecious eu-form, P. obscura, which produces pycnia and aecia on Bellis and uredinia and telia on Luzula. Puccinia distincta is probably derived from and correlated with P. obscura because both species have the same aecial host, and because their teliospores are closely similar in morphology and dimensions. Comparison is extended to P. lagenophorae, a common rust with aecia and telia on Senecio spp., which has been reported to form aecia on Bellis following inoculation with aeciospores from Senecio. The repeated failure of our own reciprocal inoculation experiments using aeciospores from the two different hosts and differences in teliospore morphology between P. distincta and P. lagenophorae lead us to conclude that the current rust epidemic on daisies is caused by P. distincta which is distinct from P. lagenophorae.

Intraspecific variation of 25 Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae isolates from various insect hosts and geographical origins was studied using RFLP analysis of the rDNA gene complex and the mtDNA. Heterologous and homologous mitochondrial and ribosomal probes were used to produce RFLP profiles of the isolates. The rDNA analysis allowed the differentiation of only seven isolates but provided evidence for the possible presence of introns in different sites of the nuclear rRNA-gene-complex. PCR amplification of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region and the mtDNA regions corresponding to the SrRNA and the LrRNA, followed by restriction analysis of the PCR products underlined the conserved nature of these regions. By contrast, digestion with any one of endonucleases Hae III, Cfo I, Hpa II and subsequent RFLP analysis of the mtDNA, allowed the classification of the 25 isolates in 10 distinct groups. Double digestions using the restriction endonucleases Kpn I and Sac I led to maximum isolate differentiation, producing unique patterns for 16 isolates and subdividing the remainder into four groups of two or three isolates. This indicates the potential of mtDNA RFLP analysis as an excellent tool for fingerprinting M. anisopliae isolates and for studying genetic polymorphism.

Rubukia splendida sp. nov. from Mauritius is described, illustrated and compared to the only other species in the genus, R. samsonii from Honduras.

Pathways of genetic transfer outside of the normal sexual cycle were examined in Phytophthora infestans. Transformants expressing genes for resistance to G418 or hygromycin were employed to select hybrids or recombinants on double-drug media after in vitro or in planta mixing of zoospores or mycelia. In experiments using pairs of isolates of the same mating type, zoospores fused to form doubly resistant colonies. These were shown to be heterokaryons containing non-recombinant parental nuclei based on the analysis of DNA markers in the hybrids and their single-nuclear derivatives. Mixtures of vegetative hyphae failed to produce hybrids. The application of the drug selection scheme to mating cultures of A1 and A2 strains generally yielded normal progeny, but atypical progeny were also recovered which appeared to be polyploids since all markers from the parents were present.

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.

Chlorotic leaf distortion (CLD) is an unusual disorder of sweet potato caused by a morphologically unique strain of Fusarium lateritium. This study compared 15 isolates of F. lateritium from sweet potato with nine isolates from other hosts for genetic diversity by RAPD analysis and RFLP analysis of the intergenic spacer region and the ITS region of the rDNA. In RAPD analysis, 12 of the sweet potato isolates clustered very closely, nine with similarity of >0·99, and three additional isolates at a similarity of >0·86. This group comprised two pathotypes and included isolates from U.S.A., South America, Asia and Africa. The remaining isolates, comprising three from sweet potato and all isolates from other hosts, showed little similarity with the cluster of sweet potato isolates. RFLP analysis produced similar results, with the 12 isolates that were clustered in RAPD analysis and one additional sweet potato isolate clustered at >0·80 similarity. These data suggest that the sweet potato CLD pathogen is relatively homogeneous and genetically distinct from other strains of F. lateritium. There was relatively little similarity among isolates of F. lateritium from other hosts.

Glabrocyphella stercoraria, a new cyphellaceous fungus, is described on the basis of morphological and ecological features. It is characterized by grey-brown colours, lack of special hairs on the surface of the fruitbody, spore size, absence of clamps and coprophilous habitat. The holotypes of Glabrocyphella upplandensis, G. brunneocrystallina and G. palmarum have been examined and compared with the new species. Observations about the status and the possible taxonomic relationships of Glabrocyphella with some other members of the reduced series of Tricholomataceae, Arrhenia (including Leptoglossum) and Rimbachia (including Mniopetalum), are discussed.

Dactylella huisuniana sp. nov., is described and illustrated from decaying leaves. It is characterized by tall, simple, erect, hyaline, septate conidiophores which bear denticulate, terminal or subterminal to lateral conidiogenous cells. The conidiogenous cells elongate and elaborate and become somewhat geniculate or candelabrelloid in age. The conidia are predominantly fusoid, 3-septate, widest at the distal second cell. The organism traps nematodes by adhesive knobs at the apex of erect, flexuous, unicellular pedicels arising from hyphae. The differences between D. huisuniana and D. arcuata, D. asthenopaga, D. drechsleri, D. ellipsospora, D. lysipaga, D. multiformis, Dactylaria candida, D. haptotyla, and D. sclerohypha are briefly discussed.

Mycosphaerella vespa sp nov. is described from diseased leaves of Eucalyptus from south-eastern Australia. It is associated with small, circular to irregular lesions that have red-brown margins and amphigenous pseudothecia. These characters, in combination with ascospore morphology and germination, distinguish M. vespa from previously described species of Mycosphaerella on eucalypt leaves. Lesions associated with this pathogen were often found to be harbouring wasps and this observation is discussed.

This listing covers the period March 1, 1997 through to April 30, 1997. Citations are arranged in groups which roughly correspond with the British Mycological Society's Special Interest Committees. All correspondence about this item should be addressed to the Executive Editor. Reprints of this feature will not be available.