The amazing potential of fungi:50 ways we can exploit fungi industrially

Fungi are an understudied,biotechnologically valuable group of organisms.Due to the immense range of habitats that fungi inhabit,and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi,bacteria,and animals,fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms.The unique attributes of fungi thus herald great promise for their application in biotechnology and industry.Moreover,fungi can be grown with relative ease,making production at scale viable.The search for fungal biodiversity,and the construction of a living fungi collection,both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products.This manuscript reviews fifty ways in which fungi can potentially be utilized as biotechnology.We provide notes and examples for each potential exploitation and give examples from our own work and the work of other notable researchers.We also provide a flow chart that can be used to convince funding bodies of the importance of fungi for biotechnological research and as potential products.Fungi have provided the world with penicillin,lovastatin,and other globally significant medicines,and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.

Fungal diversity notes 367-490:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic papers where materials are examined,described and novel combinations are proposed where necessary to improve our traditional species concepts and provide updates on their classification.In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections,DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets(rDNA,TEF-a,RBP2 and b-Tubulin)to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic position of taxa within appropriate ranks.Wherever new species or combinations are being proposed,we apply an integrative approach(morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable).Notes on 125 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper,including eight new genera,101 new species,two new combinations,one neotype,four reference specimens,new host or distribution records for eight species and one alternative morphs.The new genera introduced in this paper are Alloarthopyrenia,Arundellina,Camarosporioides,Neomassaria,Neomassarina,Neotruncatella,Paracapsulospora and Pseudophaeosphaeria.The new species are Alfaria spartii,Alloarthopyrenia italica,Anthostomella ravenna,An.thailandica,Arthrinium paraphaeospermum,Arundellina typhae,Aspergillus koreanus,Asterina cynometrae,Bertiella ellipsoidea,Blastophorum aquaticum,Cainia globosa,Camarosporioides phragmitis,Ceramothyrium menglunense,Chaetosphaeronema achilleae,Chlamydotubeufia helicospora,Ciliochorella phanericola,Clavulinopsis aurantiaca,Colletotrichum insertae,Comoclathris italica,Coronophora myricoides,Cortinarius fulvescentoideus,Co.nymphatus,Co.pseudobulliardioides,Co.tenuifulvescens,Cunninghamella gigacellularis,Cyathus pyristriatus,Cytospora cotini,Dematiopleospora alliariae,De.cirsii,Diaporthe aseana,Di.garethjonesii,Distoseptispora multiseptata,Dis.tectonae,Dis.tectonigena,Dothiora buxi,Emericellopsis persica,Gloniopsis calami,Helicoma guttulatum,Helvella floriforma,H.oblongispora,Hermatomyces subiculosa,Juncaceicola italica,Lactarius dirkii,Lentithecium unicellulare,Le.voraginesporum,Leptosphaeria cirsii,Leptosphaeria irregularis,Leptospora galii,Le.thailandica,Lindgomyces pseudomadisonensis,Lophiotrema bambusae,Lo.fallopiae,Meliola citri-maximae,Minimelanolocus submersus,Montagnula cirsii,Mortierella fluviae,Muriphaeosphaeria ambrosiae,Neodidymelliopsis ranunculi,Neomassaria fabacearum,Neomassarina thailandica,Neomicrosphaeropsis cytisi,Neo.cytisinus,Neo.minima,Neopestalotiopsis cocoe¨s,Neopestalotiopsis musae,Neoroussoella lenispora,Neotorula submersa,Neotruncatella endophytica,Nodulosphaeria italica,Occultibambusa aquatica,Oc.chiangraiensis,Ophiocordyceps hemisphaerica,Op.lacrimoidis,Paracapsulospora metroxyli,Pestalotiopsis sequoiae,Peziza fruticosa,Pleurotrema thailandica,Poaceicola arundinis,Polyporus mangshanensis,Pseudocoleophoma typhicola,Pseudodictyosporium thailandica,Pseudophaeosphaeria rubi,Purpureocillium sodanum,Ramariopsis atlantica,Rhodocybe griseoaurantia,Rh.indica,Rh.luteobrunnea,Russula indoalba,Ru.pseudoamoenicolor,Sporidesmium aquaticivaginatum,Sp.olivaceoconidium,Sp.pyriformatum,Stagonospora forlicesenensis,Stagonosporopsis centaureae,Terriera thailandica,Tremateia arundicola,Tr.guiyangensis,Trichomerium bambusae,Tubeufia hyalospora,Tu.roseohelicospora and Wojnowicia italica.New combinations are given for Hermatomyces mirum and Pallidocercospora thailandica.A neotype is proposed for Cortinarius fulvescens.Reference specimens are given for Aquaphila albicans,Leptospora rubella,Platychora ulmi and Meliola pseudosasae,while new host or distribution records are provided for Diaporthe eres,Di.siamensis,Di.foeniculina,Dothiorella iranica,Do.sarmentorum,Do.vidmadera,Helvella tinta and Vaginatispora fuckelii,with full taxonomic details.An asexual state is also reported for the first time in Neoacanthostigma septoconstrictum.This paper contributes to a more comprehensive update and improved identification of many ascomycetes and basiodiomycetes.

Fungal diversity notes 253-366:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

Notes on 113 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper,including 11 new genera,89 new species,one new subspecies,three new combinations and seven reference specimens.Awide geographic and taxonomic range of fungal taxa are detailed.In the Ascomycota the new genera Angustospora(Testudinaceae),Camporesia(Xylariaceae),Clematidis,Crassiparies(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),Farasanispora,Longiostiolum(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),Multilocularia(Parabambusicolaceae),Neophaeocryptopus(Dothideaceae),Parameliola(Pleosporales genera incertae sedis),and Towyspora(Lentitheciaceae)are introduced.Newly introduced species are Angustospora nilensis,Aniptodera aquibella,Annulohypoxylon albidiscum,Astrocystis thailandica,Camporesia sambuci,Clematidis italica,Colletotrichum menispermi,C.quinquefoliae,Comoclathris pimpinellae,Crassiparies quadrisporus,Cytospora salicicola,Diatrype thailandica,Dothiorella rhamni,Durotheca macrostroma,Farasanispora avicenniae,Halorosellinia rhizophorae,Humicola koreana,Hypoxylon lilloi,Kirschsteiniothelia tectonae,Lindgomyces okinawaensis,Longiostiolum tectonae,Lophiostoma pseudoarmatisporum,Moelleriella phukhiaoensis,M.pongdueatensis,Mucoharknessia anthoxanthi,Multilocularia bambusae,Multiseptospora thysanolaenae,Neophaeocryptopus cytisi,Ocellularia arachchigei,O.ratnapurensis,Ochronectria thailandica,Ophiocordyceps karstii,Parameliola acaciae,P.dimocarpi,Parastagonospora cumpignensis,Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei,Polyplosphaeria thailandica,Pseudolachnella brevifusiformis,Psiloglonium macrosporum,Rhabdodiscus albodenticulatus,Rosellinia chiangmaiensis,Saccothecium rubi,Seimatosporium pseudocornii,S.pseudorosae,Sigarispora ononidis and Towyspora aestuari.New combinations are provided for Eutiarosporella dactylidis(sexual morph described and illus trated)and Pseudocamarosporium pini.Descriptions,illustrations and/or reference specimens are designated for Aposphaeria corallinolutea,Cryptovalsa ampelina,Dothiorella vidmadera,Ophiocordyceps formosana,Petrakia echinata,Phragmoporthe conformis and Pseudocamarosporium pini.The new species of Basidiomycota are Agaricus coccyginus,A.luteofibrillosus,Amanita atrobrunnea,A.digitosa,A.gleocystidiosa,A.pyriformis,A.strobilipes,Bondarzewia tibetica,Cortinarius albosericeus,C.badioflavidus,C.dentigratus,C.duboisensis,C.fragrantissimus,C.roseobasilis,C.vinaceobrunneus,C.vinaceogrisescens,C.wahkiacus,Cyanoboletus hymenoglutinosus,Fomitiporia atlantica,F.subtilissima,Ganoderma wuzhishanensis,Inonotus shoreicola,Lactifluus armeniacus,L.ramipilosus,Leccinum indoaurantiacum,Musumecia alpina,M.sardoa,Russula amethystina subp.tengii and R.wangii are introduced.Descriptions,illustrations,notes and/or reference specimens are designated for Clarkeinda trachodes,Dentocorticium ussuricum,Galzinia longibasidia,Lentinus stuppeus and Leptocorticium tenellum.The other new genera,species new combinations are Anaeromyces robustus,Neocallimastix californiae and Piromyces finnis from Neocallimastigomycota,Phytophthora estuarina,P.rhizophorae,Salispina,S.intermedia,S.lobata and S.spinosa from Oomycota,and Absidia stercoraria,Gongronella orasabula,Mortierella calciphila,Mucor caatinguensis,M.koreanus,M.merdicola and Rhizopus koreanus in Zygomycota.

Fungal diversity notes 929-1035:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungi

This article is the ninth in the series of Fungal Diversity Notes,where 107 taxa distributed in three phyla,nine classes,31 orders and 57 families are described and illustrated.Taxa described in the present study include 12 new genera,74 new species,three new combinations,two reference specimens,a re-circumscription of the epitype,and 15 records of sexualasexual morph connections,new hosts and new geographical distributions.Twelve new genera comprise Brunneofusispora,Brunneomurispora,Liua,Lonicericola,Neoeutypella,Paratrimmatostroma,Parazalerion,Proliferophorum,Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis,Septomelanconiella,Velebitea and Vicosamyces.Seventy-four new species are Agaricus memnonius,A.langensis,Aleurodiscus patagonicus,Amanita flavoalba,A.subtropicana,Amphisphaeria mangrovei,Baorangia major,Bartalinia kunmingensis,Brunneofusispora sinensis,Brunneomurispora lonicerae,Capronia camelliaeyunnanensis,Clavulina thindii,Coniochaeta simbalensis,Conlarium thailandense,Coprinus trigonosporus,Liua muriformis,Cyphellophora filicis,Cytospora ulmicola,Dacrymyces invisibilis,Dictyocheirospora metroxylonis,Distoseptispora thysanolaenae,Emericellopsis koreana,Galiicola baoshanensis,Hygrocybe lucida,Hypoxylon teeravasati,Hyweljonesia indica,Keissleriella caraganae,Lactarius olivaceopallidus,Lactifluus midnapurensis,Lembosia brigadeirensis,Leptosphaeria urticae,Lonicericola hyaloseptispora,Lophiotrema mucilaginosis,Marasmiellus bicoloripes,Marasmius indojasminodorus,Micropeltis phetchaburiensis,Mucor orantomantidis,Murilentithecium lonicerae,Neobambusicola brunnea,Neoeutypella baoshanensis,Neoroussoella heveae,Neosetophoma lonicerae,Ophiobolus malleolus,Parabambusicola thysanolaenae,Paratrimmatostroma kunmingensis,Parazalerion indica,Penicillium dokdoense,Peroneutypa mangrovei,Phaeosphaeria cycadis,Phanerochaete australosanguinea,Plectosphaerella kunmingensis,Plenodomus artemisiae,P.lijiangensis,Proliferophorum thailandicum,Pseudoastrosphaeriellopsis kaveriana,Pseudohelicomyces menglunicus,Pseudoplagiostoma mangiferae,Robillarda mangiferae,Roussoella elaeicola,Russula choptae,R.uttarakhandia,Septomelanconiella thailandica,Spencermartinsia acericola,Sphaerellopsis isthmospora,Thozetella lithocarpi,Trechispora echinospora,Tremellochaete atlantica,Trichoderma koreanum,T.pinicola,T.rugulosum,Velebitea chrysotexta,Vicosamyces venturisporus,Wojnowiciella kunmingensis and Zopfiella indica.Three new combinations are Baorangia rufomaculata,Lanmaoa pallidorosea and Wojnowiciella rosicola.The reference specimens of Canalisporium kenyense and Tamsiniella labiosa are designated.The epitype of Sarcopeziza sicula is re-circumscribed based on cyto-and histochemical analyses.The sexual-asexual morph connection of Plenodomus sinensis is reported from ferns and Cirsium for the first time.In addition,the new host records and country records are Amanita altipes,A.melleialba,Amarenomyces dactylidis,Chaetosphaeria panamensis,Coniella vitis,Coprinopsis kubickae,Dothiorella sarmentorum,Leptobacillium leptobactrum var.calidus,Muyocopron lithocarpi,Neoroussoella solani,Periconia cortaderiae,Phragmocamarosporium hederae,Sphaerellopsis paraphysata and Sphaeropsis eucalypticola.

The world’s ten most feared fungi

An account is provided of the world’s ten most feared fungi.Within areas of interest,we have organized the entries in the order of concern.We put four human pathogens first as this is of concern to most people.This is followed by fungi producing mycotoxins that are highly harmful for humans;Aspergillus flavus,the main producer of aflatoxins,was used as an example.Problems due to indoor air fungi may also directly affect our health and we use Stachybotrys chartarum as an example.Not everyone collects and eats edible mushrooms.However,fatalities caused by mushroom intoxications often make news headlines and therefore we include one of the most poisonous of all mushrooms,Amanita phalloides,as an example.We then move on to the fungi that damage our dwellings causing serious anxiety by rotting our timber structures and flooring.Serpula lacrymans,which causes dry rot is an excellent example.The next example serves to represent all plant and forest pathogens.Here we chose Austropuccinia psidii as it is causing devastating effects in Australia and will probably do likewise in New Zealand.Finally,we chose an important amphibian pathogen which is causing serious declines in the numbers of frogs and other amphibians worldwide.Although we target the top ten most feared fungi,numerous others are causing serious concern to human health,plant production,forestry,other animals and our factories and dwellings.By highlighting ten feared fungi as an example,we aim to promote public awareness of the cost and importance of fungi.

Elucidation of the life cycle of the endophytic genus Muscodor and its transfer to Induratia in Induratiaceae fam. nov., based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach

Molecular phylogenetic studies of cultures derived from some specimens of plant-inhabiting Sordariomycetes using ITS,LSU,rpb2 and tub2 DNA sequence data revealed close affinities to strains of Muscodor.The taxonomy of this biotechnologi-cally important genus,which exclusively consists of endophytes with sterile mycelia that produce antibiotic volatile secondary metabolites,was based on a rather tentative taxonomic concept.Even though it was accommodated in Xylariaceae,its phylo-genetic position had so far remained obscure.Our phylogeny shows that Muscodor species have affinities to the xylarialean genera Emarcea and Induratia,which is corroborated by the fact that their sexual states produce characteristic apiospores.These data allow for the integration of Muscodor in Induratia,i.e.the genus that was historically described first.The multi-locus phylogenetic tree clearly revealed that a clade comprising Emarcea and Induratia forms a monophylum separate from representatives of Xylariaceae,for which we propose the new family Induratiaceae.Divergence time estimations revealed that Induratiaceae has been diverged from the Xylariaceae+Clypeosphaeriaceae clade at 93(69-119)million years ago(Mya)with the crown age of 61(39-85)Mya during the Cretaceous period.The ascospore-derived cultures were studied for the production of volatile metabolites,using both,dual cultures for assessment of antimicrobial effects and extensive analyses using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry(GC-MS).The antimicrobial effects observed were significant,but not as strong as in the case of the previous reports on Muscodor species.The GC-MS results give rise to some doubt on the validity of the previous identification of certain volatiles.Many peaks in the GC-MS chromatograms could not be safely identified by database searches and may represent new natural products.The isolation of these compounds by preparative chromatography and their subsequent characterisation by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy or total synthesis will allow for a more concise identification of these volatiles,and they should also be checked for their individual contri-bution to the observed antibiotic effects.This will be an important prerequisite for the development of biocontrol strains.

Microfungi associated with Clematis(Ranunculaceae)with an integrated approach to delimiting species boundaries

The cosmopolitan plant genus Clematis contains many climbing species that can be found worldwide.The genus occurs in the wild and is grown commercially for horticulture.Microfungi on Clematis were collected from Belgium,China,Italy,Thailand and the UK.They are characterized by morphology and analyses of gene sequence data using an integrated species concept to validate identifications.The study revealed two new families,12 new genera,50 new species,26 new host records with one dimorphic character report,and ten species are transferred to other genera.The new families revealed by multigene phylogeny are Longiostiolaceae and Pseudomassarinaceae in Pleosporales(Dothideomycetes).New genera are Anthodidymella(Didymellaceae),Anthosulcatispora and Parasulcatispora(Sulcatisporaceae),Fusiformispora(Amniculicolaceae),Longispora(Phaeosphaeriaceae),Neobyssosphaeria(Melanommataceae),Neoleptosporella(Chaetosphaeriales,genera incertae sedis),Neostictis(Stictidaceae),Pseudohelminthosporium(Neomassarinaceae),Pseudomassarina(Pseudomassarinaceae),Sclerenchymomyces(Leptosphaeriaceae)and Xenoplectosphaerella(Plectosphaerellaceae).The newly described species are Alloleptosphaeria clematidis,Anthodidymella ranunculacearum,Anthosulcatispora subglobosa,Aquadictyospora clematidis,Brunneofusispora clematidis,Chaetosphaeronema clematidicola,C.clematidis,Chromolaenicola clematidis,Diaporthe clematidina,Dictyocheirospora clematidis,Distoseptispora clematidis,Floricola clematidis,Fusiformispora clematidis,Hermatomyces clematidis,Leptospora clematidis,Longispora clematidis,Massariosphaeria clematidis,Melomastia clematidis,M.fulvicomae,Neobyssosphaeria clematidis,Neoleptosporella clematidis,Neoroussoella clematidis,N.fulvicomae,Neostictis nigricans,Neovaginatispora clematidis,Parasulcatispora clematidis,Parathyridaria clematidis,P.serratifoliae,P.virginianae,Periconia verrucose,Phomatospora uniseriata,Pleopunctum clematidis,Pseudocapulatispora clematidis,Pseudocoleophoma clematidis,Pseudohelminthosporium clematidis,Pseudolophiostoma chiangraiense,P.clematidis,Pseudomassarina clematidis,Ramusculicola clematidis,Sarocladium clematidis,Sclerenchymomyces clematidis,Sigarispora clematidicola,S.clematidis,S.montanae,Sordaria clematidis,Stemphylium clematidis,Wojnowiciella clematidis,Xenodidymella clematidis,Xenomassariosphaeria clematidis and Xenoplectosphaerella clematidis.The following fungi are recorded on Clematis species for the first time:Angustimassarina rosarum,Dendryphion europaeum,Dermatiopleospora mariae,Diaporthe ravennica,D.rudis,Dichotomopilus ramosissimum,Dictyocheirospora xishuangbannaensis,Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii,Fitzroyomyces cyperacearum,Fusarium celtidicola,Leptospora thailandica,Memnoniella oblongispora,Neodidymelliopsis longicolla,Neoeutypella baoshanensis,Neoroussoella heveae,Nigrograna chromolaenae,N.obliqua,Pestalotiopsis verruculosa,Pseudoberkleasmium chiangmaiense,Pseudoophiobolus rosae,Pseudoroussoella chromolaenae,P.elaeicola,Ramusculicola thailandica,Stemphylium vesicarium and Torula chromolaenae.The new combinations are Anthodidymella clematidis(≡Didymella clematidis),A.vitalbina(≡Didymella vitalbina),Anthosulcatispora brunnea(≡Neobambusicola brunnea),Fuscohypha kunmingensis(≡Plectosphaerella kunmingensis),Magnibotryascoma rubriostiolata(≡Teichospora rubriostiolata),Pararoussoella mangrovei(≡Roussoella mangrovei),Pseudoneoconiothyrium euonymi(≡Roussoella euonymi),Sclerenchymomyces jonesii(≡Neoleptosphaeria jonesii),Stemphylium rosae(≡Pleospora rosae),and S.rosae-caninae(≡Pleospora rosae-caninae).The microfungi on Clematis is distributed in several classes of Ascomycota.The analyses are based on morphological examination of specimens,coupled with phylogenetic sequence data.To the best of our knowledge,the consolidated species concept approach is recommended in validating species.

Fungal diversity notes 491–602: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic and phylogenetic papers on the fungi where materials were collected from many countries,examined and described.In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections,DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic positions of taxa within appropriate ranks.Wherever new species or combinations are proposed,we apply an integrative approach using morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable.Notes on 112 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper including Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae,Didysimulans gen.nov.,81 new species,18 new host records and new country records,five reference specimens,two new combinations,and three sexual and asexual morph reports.The new species are Amanita cornelii,A.emodotrygon,Angustimassarina alni,A.arezzoensis,A.italica,A.lonicerae,A.premilcurensis,Ascochyta italica,A.rosae,Austroboletus appendiculatus,Barriopsis thailandica,Berkleasmium ariense,Calophoma petasitis,Camarosporium laburnicola,C.moricola,C.grisea,C.ossea,C.paraincrustata,Colletotrichum sambucicola,Coprinopsis cerkezii,Cytospora gelida,Dacrymyces chiangraiensis,Didysimulans italica,D.mezzanensis,Entodesmium italica,Entoloma magnum,Evlachovaea indica,Exophiala italica,Favolus gracilisporus,Femsjonia monospora,Fomitopsis flabellata,F.roseoalba,Gongronella brasiliensis,Helvella crispoides,Hermatomyces chiangmaiensis,H.chromolaenae,Hysterium centramurum,Inflatispora caryotae,Inocybe brunneosquamulosa,I.luteobrunnea,I.rubrobrunnea,Keissleriella cirsii,Lepiota cylindrocystidia,L.flavocarpa,L.maerimensis,Lophiotrema guttulata,Marasmius luculentus,Morenoina calamicola,Moelleriella thanathonensis,Mucor stercorarius,Myrmecridium fluviae,Myrothecium septentrionale,Neosetophoma garethjonesii,Nigrograna cangshanensis,Nodulosphaeria guttulatum,N.multiseptata,N.sambuci,Panus subfasciatus,Paraleptosphaeria padi,Paraphaeosphaeria viciae,Parathyridaria robiniae,Penicillium punicae,Phaeosphaeria calamicola,Phaeosphaeriopsis yuccae,Pleurophoma italica,Polyporus brevibasidiosus,P.koreanus,P.orientivarius,P.parvovarius,P.subdictyopus,P.ulleungus,Pseudoasteromassaria spadicea,Rosellinia mearnsii,Rubroboletus demonensis,Russula yanheensis,Sigarispora muriformis,Sillia italica,Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola,Strobilomyces longistipitatus,Subplenodomus galicola and Wolfiporia pseudococos.The new combinations are Melanomma populina and Rubroboletus eastwoodiae.The reference specimens are Cookeina tricholoma,Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae,Helvella costifera,Polythrincium trifolii and Russula virescens.The new host records and country records are Ascochyta medicaginicola,Boletellus emodensis,Cyptotrama asprata,Cytospora ceratosperma,Favolaschia auriscalpium,F.manipularis,Hysterobrevium mori,Lentinus sajor-caju,L.squarrosulus,L.velutinus,Leucocoprinus cretaceus,Lophiotrema vagabundum,Nothophoma quercina,Platystomum rosae,Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei,Tremella fuciformis,Truncatella spartii and Vaginatispora appendiculata and three sexual and asexual morphs are Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Dothiorabuxi and Hypocrella calendulina.

Thailand’s amazing diversity:up to 96%of fungi in northern Thailand may be novel

Fungi have been often neglected,despite the fact that they provided penicillin,lovastatin and many other important medicines.They are an understudied,but essential,fascinating and biotechnologically useful group of organisms.The study of fungi in northern Thailand has been carried out by us since 2005.These studies have been diverse,ranging from ecological aspects,phylogenetics with the incorportation of molecular dating,taxonomy(including morphology and chemotaxonomy)among a myriad of microfungi,to growing novel mushrooms,and DNA-based identification of plant pathogens.In this paper,advances in understanding the biodiversity of fungi in the region are discussed and compared with those further afield.Many new species have been inventoried for the region,but many unknown species remain to be described and/or catalogued.For example,in the edible genus Agaricus,over 35 new species have been introduced from northern Thailand,and numerous other taxa await description.In this relatively well known genus,93%of species novelty is apparent.In the microfungi,which are relatively poorly studied,the percentage of novel species is,surprisingly,generally not as high(55–96%).As well as Thai fungi,fungi on several hosts from Europe have been also investigated.Even with the well studied European microfungi an astounding percentage of new taxa(32–76%)have been discovered.The work is just a beginning and it will be a daunting task to document this astonishingly high apparent novelty among fungi.

Book reviews

With Common Interior Alaska Cryptogams,Gary A.Laursen and Rodney Seppelt offer the first field guide to cryptogams of the Denali National Park and Preserve.This long-awaited,fully illustrated guide documents the biodiversity of cryptograms and is destined to be the definitive work on the subject.The guide comprises ten chapters which are supported by its detailed illustrations,photos and glossary,and guides the lay person in finding and identifying the best of Alaska’s mushrooms.Entries include family,genus,and species;field characteristics,macro and micro descriptions;habitat and role;and edibility.Chapter(1)is an introductory chapter(2)Denali landscapes(3).

Book reviews

marine mycology through comprehensive reviews of various aspects of marine fungi.In the last few years,the diversity,ecological role and biotechnological applications of marine fungi have been addressed in numerous scientific publications,but they are scattered in different journals.This book combines and reviews the data from these publications,and is written by reputed marine mycologists.The book comprises 15 chapters which are supported by detailed illustrations,photographs and diagrams,and guides the lay person in understanding the latest information on topics including molecular taxonomy and phylogeny,ecology of fungi in different marine habitats such as deep sea,corals and the Dead Sea,and fungi in extreme marine environments as well as their biotechnological applications.