This number of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; Ballistospore release captured; and Erratum: Protolichenes vs Proteolichenes.

Eleven papers are included in this part. These include molecular studies on Glomus, Geosmithia, Pythium on Phragmites, Botryosphaeria synanamorphs on Eucalyptus, Beauveria bassiana, Phytophthora megakarya, and aquatic hyphomycetes. Other contributions address heavy metal damage to Boletus edulis, the antimicrobial effects of different Trichoderma species, macrofungi associated with Salix repens, and the occurrence of zygomycetes on dung.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Geosmithia fassatiae, G. langdonii, G. obscura, and Pythium phragmites spp. nov.

This issue is dedicated to John Webster, a former President of the International Mycological Association, and twice President of the British Mycological Society. It includes 17 papers from close colleagues, former students, and other mycologists. A list of John Webster's scientific publications is also provided.

Mycological Research News contains: A tribute to John Webster: holomycologist extraordinaire; John Webster: reflections; Fire, hypogeous fungi and mycophagous marsupials; and Palaeopyrenomycites devonicus: a 400 Myr old pyrenomycete.

The research papers address conidiogenesis types in Agaricales (with a key), and provide an overview of propagule types in Ingoldian fungi, observations on helicoid aero-aquatic conidia, a synopsis of Pseudaegerita, a polyphasic approach to classification in Rosellinia, and a study on Basifimbria aurea. Molecular phylogenetic methods are used to provide a reappraisal of the Lulworthiales, justify the re-introduction of the entomopathogenic genus Isaria, and investigate Phragmidium rusts on dog roses. The endophyte Acremomium zeae produces antifungal compounds, and the production of sordarin in Podospora pleiospora is examined. Other contributions address stipe elongation biomechanics in Coprinopsis cinerea, endophytic fungi of cacti, and septa in Peronosporaceae.

The following new scientific names are introduced in this issue: Lulwoana and Lulwoidea gens. nov.; Pseudaegerita conifera, and P. websteri spp. nov.; Isaria cateniannulata (syn. Paecilomyces cateniannulatus), I. cateniobliqua (syn. P. cateniobliquus), I. coleopterora (syn. P. coleopterorus), I. ghanensis (syn. P. ghanensis), I. javanica (syn. Spicaria javanica), Kohlmeyeriella crassa (syn. Lulworthia crassa), Lulwoana uniseptata (syn. Lulworthia septata, and Lulwoidea lignoarenaria (syn. Lulworthia lignoarenaria) combs. nov.

Mycological Research News features: Checks and balances in endophyte-host interactions; In this issue; TrichoBLAST: a multilocus database for Trichoderma and Hypocrea identifications; Did pathogenic fungi contribute to dinosaur extinction?; and Forthcoming international mycological meetings.

This part starts with a major review of the nature of endophytic associations involving fungi, and includes eight other research papers. These describe a new genus associated with ambrosia beetles, characterise Scutellospora reticulata, analyse a chaperone homologue gene in Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis, examine growth responses of soil chytrids, revise the hyphomycete genus Piricauda, assess the status and relationships of Agaricus mushrooms in sect. Duploannulati, report decreasing effectiveness of prochloraz-manganese to control Verticillium fungicola over time, and examine the mineral contents (including metal ions) in Amanita fruit bodies.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Dryadomyces gen. nov.; D. amasae, and Piricauda vulcanensis spp. nov.; and Acrodictys caribensis (syn. P. caribensis) comb. nov.

This number of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; Centenary of a mycologist: C. Terence Ingold; Terence Ingold reflects; Assembling the fungal tree of life (AFTOL); and Limestone as a source of unidentifiable melanized fungi.

The 11 research papers in this issue consider: the genetic basis of autolysis in Aspergillus nidulans; the life-cycle of Cymadothea trifolii; interaction of the mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum with sclerotia; effects of flavonoids on AM-fungal growth; the influence of AM-fungi on growth in Coleus forskohlii; molecular detection of Eutypa lata; genetic variation in Pyrenophora teres; discovery of an Aschersonia teleomorph; a new basidiomycete genus from mangroves; a new conidial nectriaceous genus from Celtis; and a reconsideration of Pseudoperonospora cubensis and P. humuli.

The following new scientific names are introduced in this part: Dematiocladium and Haloaleurodiscus gens. nov.; D. celtidis, H. mangrovei, and Hypocrella zhongdongii spp. nov.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; A century of rhizosphere research: fungal interactions with plant's hidden half; Two major changes in fungal nomenclature enacted in Vienna; UNITE: molecular identification of ectomycorrhizal fungi; and Sex and natural selection in yeast populations.

A review article details the 1244 descriptions of ectomycorrhizal fungi published since 1961, covering 814 morphotypes. Seven research papers are included in this part. The first addresses ectomycorrhizal mycobionts of Pisonia grandis in Australia.

Five focus on the characterization of ophiostomatoid fungi, combining morphological and molecular approaches: optional mitochondrial introns/insertions are analyzed in the Ophiostoma ulmi s. lat. complex, focussing on three genes (rns, rnl and cox1). A new Ophiostoma species is described from oak in Europe which has a Sporothrix anamorph. The Ceratocystis polonica complex is found to contain three species. A re-appraisal of the Leptographium lundbergii complex shows that also to comprise three species. The Leptographium species associated with the mountain pine beetle and a devastating lodgepole pine disease is described as new.

Finally, the manganese superoxide dismutases in Phytophthora nicotianae have been analysed and compared with those in other members of the genus.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Ceratocystis fujiensis, Hyalorhinocladiella pinicola, Leptographium longiclavatum, and Ophiostoma dentifidum spp. nov.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; The coronomycin producer: a case of mistaken identity?; Long-range self-organization in Dictyostelium; and Resistance variation in natural pathosystems.

Thirteen research papers are included in this part, seven concerning the phylogenetic relationships of plant pathogens: a new invasive Phytophthora on trees, variation and mating systems in P. ramorum, the status of the Microdochium nivale varieties, the position of Pseudocercospora cladosporioides on olives, Verticillium s. lat., an ancestral powdery mildew, and a consideration of Sawadaea spp. along with their maple hosts. Other papers report on parthensomes in corticioid fungi, collembola grazing, the cultivation of Cordyceps unilateralis, genetic diversity in Entomophaga maimaiga, the gold content of macromycetes, and a fossil Aspergillus species from Tertiary amber.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Caespitotheca gen. nov.; Aspergillus collembolorum, and Phytophthora kernoviae spp. nov.; and C. forestalis (syn. Uncinula forestalis), and Microdochium majus (syn. Fusarium nivale var. majus) combs. nov.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: Fungal irritability and survival mechanisms; In this issue; Genetic markers in single spores of AM fungi; Rice blast fungus attacks leaves and roots differently; Why picking wild mushrooms might be bad behaviour; and life-style choices in lichen-farming and lichen-dwelling fungi.

Physiological and ecological papers in this part investigate peroxide accumulation and cell death, stress responses to peroxide and paraquat, and fungal decomposition of leaves in streams.

Molecular studies address: phylogenetic relationships of Lecanoromycetes; correlations with toxin production in Fusarium species; detection techniques for ectomycorrhizal fungi; the status of Xanthoria aureola; the identity of a sterile red endophyte of cereals; Lepista in Australia; native Alternaria brassicicola populations; and the placement of southern African truffles.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Eremiomyces and Kalaharituber gens. nov.; E. echinulatus (syn. Choirmyces echinulatus) and K. pfeilii (syn. Tuber pfeilii) combs. nov.

This number of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; Fungi associated with insects or used for applied biocontrol; Powdery mildews as invasive plant pathogens: new epidemics caused by two North American species in Europe; and Genetic differences among nuclei in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

This theme issue on fungi associated with insects includes ten papers on this topic. These demonstrate that beetle guts are an amazingly rich source of hitherto unknown yeasts, and a zygosporic stage in Harpellales; report the discovery of the first fossil member of Laboulbeniomycetes, and a new Leptographium associated with a bark beetle; examine genetic diversity at the molecular level in Pandora neoaphidis and Beauveria bassiana; identify the genes expressed during conidiation in Metarhizium anisopliae; report a heterothallic mating system in Termitomyces; and describe two low cost methods for the bulk-culturing of Zoophthora radicans and other entomophthoralean fungi.

Other papers introduce a new molecular fingerprinting method for the biofungicidal Pseudozyma flocculosa; reassesses generic concepts in six genera of smut fungi; reveal that Podosphaera tridactyla is paraphyletic; and demonstrate the production of a N-acetylglucosaminidase by a Neotyphodium endophyte inside its grass host.

Fruit body initiation in Pleurotus ostreatus is found to require a sugar moeity, and the localization and expression of ostreolysin during the fruiting process is also examined.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Leptographium koreanum, and Stigmatomyces succini spp. nov.; and Sporisorium fascicularis (syn. Lundquistia fascicularis) comb. nov.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: Mycological Research: now number two for citations; In this issue; Ectomycorrhizas and copper toxicity; Copper deficiency or copper toxicity in ectomycorrhizal pines?; Cloning mating-type genes in non-model mushrooms; Genomic strategies in yeast evolution; Host specificity in Pestalotiopsis; Is long-distance dispersal by wind a reality?; and Daldinia loculata in Scotland.

A critical review of basidiomycete mycelia and their roles in forest soils precedes ten original research papers. The results of major molecular phylogenetic studies on Micareaceae, Anthracoidea, and Cordyceps are presented. Marchandiomyces is considered to have arisen from lignicolous ancestors. Genetic variability is examined in Macrophomina phaseolina and Pleurotus eryngii, and IGS nrDNA data is analyzed in 15 Alternaria spp.

Primers to detect Sclerotinia pseudotuberosa have been designed, molecular methods to study the interactions of wood-rotting basidiomycetes are described, and the occurrence of lignin peroxidase and laccase genes in macromycetes is explored.

The following new scientific name is introduced: Marchandiomyces lignicola sp. nov.

This number of Mycological Research News features: In this issue; and Novel nitrogen transfer by AM fungi.

Thirteen papers are included in this part, eight utilizing molecular approaches. These concern the detection of tooth fungi, identification of Armillaria tabescens, Armillaria species in Africa, a new genus for Entyloma ossifragi, Anamika species from Asia, a new Hypocrella, the Peronospora attacking sweet basil, and a diagnostic assay for Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum.

Also included are articles on foraging behaviour of Armillaria rhizomorphs, basidiospore release and dispersal by Amanita muscaria var. alba, metabolites of Penicillium albocoremium, interactions between rock-inhabiting fungi and algae from lichens, and root colonization by Monosporascus cannonballus.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Gjaerumiaceae fam. nov.; Gjaerumia gen. nov.; Anamika angustilamellata, and Hypocrella macrostroma spp. nov.; and A. lactariolens (syn. Alnicola lactariolens), and G. ossifragi (syn. Entyloma ossifragi) combs. nov.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: Announcement: a new publisher for all BMS journals; In this issue; Dictyostelium may be related to Fungi after all; and the origin of ascomycetes the proteolichenes hypothesis.

Eight research papers are included in this part. Species diversity in Penicillum in a nature reserve in Australia yielded an unexpected proportion of species new to science. P. daleae has been too widely conceived and appears restricted to one area of Europe. Nine new Candida species allied to C. membranifaciens isolated from insect hind guts are formally described here.

Five papers concern tree pathogens and address: mating gene sequences in Ophiostoma species causing Dutch elm disease; PCR detection of Mycosphaerella species on Eucalyptus; Botryosphaeria spp. on native trees in Ethiopa; PCR detection of Septoria spp. on poplars; and a new genus allied to Endothia on Terminalia ivorensis in Ecuador.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Rostraureum gen. nov.; Candida amphixiae, C. blattariae, C. cerambycidarum, C. endomychidarum, C. friedrichii, C. gorgasii, C. lessepsii, C. michaelii, C. sinolaborantium, C. temnochilae, Diplodia rosulata, Penicllium virgatum and R. tropicale spp. nov.; and R. longirostris (syn. Endothia longirostris) comb. nov.