This Mycological Research News features: Non-lichenized ascomycete lineages are derived from lichenized ancestors; and Changes in Coprinus questioned.

The issue contains the Presidential Address given by Stefan Buczacki in December 2000 on Berkeley's legacy, and 15 original research papers.

A protocol for protoplast preparation in Rhizoctonia solani is presented and transformation reported. Four papers describe molecular variability in different fungi; mycorrhizal Pisolithus strains in Australia; Mycosphaerella species on Eucalyptus; Phytophthora infestans; and Sphaeropsis sapinea.

The fungus causing anthracnose of tobacco is shown to be Colletotrichum destructivum, and the infection process followed.

One biotype of Trichoderma harzianum causing damage in Agaricus bisporus beds is tolerant of inhibitory bacteria. An extracellular mutanase from this same species may have applications in oral hygiene, and a protease from Cryptococcus neoformans has been found to be a metallopetidase.

Two papers focus on fungal development: sclerotial formation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum may be triggered by oxidative stress; and rhizomorphs of Armillaria luteobulbina formed in aerial and submerged culture are compared.

The assemblages of endophytic fungi in different species of mangroves differ.

Systematic papers in this issue: revise the corticioid Sistotremateae in the Patagonian Andes; describe a new genus in the Kickxellales; and describe a new species of Chionosphaera.

The following new scientific names are introduced: Myconymphaea gen. nov.; Chionosphaera cuniculicola, M. yatsukahoi, Sistotrema botryobasidioides, and S. globosa spp. nov.; C. phylacicola (syn. Fubulostilbum phylacicola) comb. Nov.