March 2008 - Mycological Society of America

Newsletter of the Mycological Society of America 

— In This Issue — 

Feature Article 

The Chytrid Epidemic Revisited 

MSA Business 

From the President’s Corner 

MSA Secretary’s Email Express 

Inoculum Editor’s Note 

MSA Abstracts 2007 

Mycological News 

Northern Thailand and the Mushroom Research Centre 

Did Fusarium or Warm Temperatures Kill New York Bats? 

Smoky Mountains Treetop Exploration Airs on Wild Chronicles 

Announcing the 2008 Annual Mycological Society of America 

Meeting 

MNRC 2008 Award for Best Student Poster 

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology 

John W. Rippon Fellowship in Medical Mycology 

Middle Atlantic States Mycology Conference (MASMC 2008) 

Introduction to Food- and Air-Borne Fungi 

Fleshy Fungi of the Highlands Plateau 

2008 Seminars at the Humboldt Institute 

APS Centennial Celebration 2008 

China-Japan Pan-Asia Pacific Mycology Forum 2008 

International Congress on Systematics and Ecology 

of Myxomycetes 

Saccardo’s Sylloge Fungorum Now Available Online 

Seeking Air-Dried Collections of Red Nectria-Like Fungi 

Fungal Conservation in Canada and the USA 

Mycologist’s Bookshelf 

Mycology, Vols. 1 and 2, DVD-ROM 

Exploitation of Fungi: Symposium of the British 

Mycological Society 

Compendium of Brassica Diseases 

Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests 

Field Guide to North American Truffles 

Annotated List of Polypores for the Iberian Peninsula 

and Balearic Islands 

Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology 

Recently Received Books 

Previously Listed Books 

Take a Break 

MycoLotus 1 Crossword 

Cookery Corner 

Mycological Jobs 

Faculty Position in Molecular Plant Pathology at Ohio State 

Ph.D. or Postdoctoral Fellow in Food and Bioproduct Sciences 

M.S. or Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship in Marine Mycology 

Research 

Mycological Classifieds 

Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats (Vols. I and II), 1949 

Mold testing and Identification Services 

Mycology On-Line 

Calendar of Events 

Sustaining Members 

— Important Dates — 

April 15, 2008 

Deadline for Submission to Inoculum 59(3) 

July 28–August 5, 2008 

China-Japan and Pan Asia Pacific Mycology Forum 

Changchun, China 

August 9–14, 2008 

MSA Meeting 

State College, Pennsylvania, U.S. 

September 4–7, 2008 

NAMA Annual Foray in memory of Dr. Orson K. Miller 

McCall, Idaho 

Editor — Jinx Campbell 

Dept. of Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Lab 

University of Southern Mississippi 

703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 

Telephone: (228) 818-8878, Fax: (228) 872-4264 

Email: jinx.campbell@usm.edu 

The Chytrid Epidemic Revisited 

Supplement to 

Mycologia 

Vol. 59(2) 

March 2008 

by Frank H. Gleason and Deborah J. Macarthur 

Spring has finally come to Big Pond after a long harsh 

winter. The snow is beginning to melt in the catchment 

bringing nutrients into the pond. The ice on the pond has 

melted so that sunlight can penetrate into the water. The 

temperature is rising on the surface. Many species of phytoplankton 

are beginning to resume growth. The surface of 

the pond is suddenly dusted with pine and sweet gum 

pollen, which provide substrates for many microorganisms. 

Mosquito and midge larvae abound feeding on 

plankton. Tadpoles are beginning to swim along the edge. 

Birds are diving in to look for fish. However, unnoticed by 

the casual observer, resistant sporangia of chytrids, which 

have over-wintered attached to substrates throughout the 

water column, are beginning to release zoospores. Soon 

many different substrates will become colonized by 

chytrid zoospores, and the chytrid epidemic is about to 

Continued on following page 

Fig. 1. A diatom (Pinnularia sp., 170 µm long) 

infected with chytrids.

egin. This kind of phenomenon occurs in many 

aquatic ecosystems throughout the world. 

The chytrid epidemic appears suddenly as long as 

substrates are available (Sparrow, 1960). The life 

cycle of most chytrids is completed rapidly, and many 

zoospores are released from each sporangium. Therefore, 

a large increase in population numbers is possible 

within a very short period of time. For this reason 

all chytrids are considered to be ruderal in their life 

histories (sensu Dix and Webster, 1995, p.7). 

Nearly fifty years ago Frederick Sparrow (1960, 

pp. 104-114) defined the chytrid epidemic to include 

host-parasite interactions involving chytrids (Phyla 

Blastocladiomycota and Chytridiomycota). Sparrow’s 

examples considered only phytoplankton and fungi as 

hosts but zooplankton and larger aquatic animals need 

to be included as well. According to Sparrow, beginning 

in early spring, population densities of parasitic 

chytrids rapidly increase for a short period, then decline 

due to the loss of available substrates and finally produce 

resting spores. We would expect to find the same 

pattern of growth in both parasitic and saprophytic 

chytrids in aquatic ecosystems. 

Donald Barr, Hilda Canter, John Couch, John Karling, 

Joyce Longcore, Frederick Sparrow, Howard 

Whisler, Guy Willoughby and many other mycologists 

have spent their lives recording the presence of parasitic 

chytrids on aquatic plants and animals and saprophytic 

chytrids colonizing nonliving substrates in 

aquatic environments. Sparrow (1960, pp. 1073-1104) 

provides a long list of substrates reported for the 

growth of chytrids. Studies on chytrid parasites and 

saprophytes in freshwater lakes, particularly in northern 

Michigan, the Netherlands and the English Lake 

District, have continued for many years. Dix and Webster 

(1995, pp. 227-231) briefly summarized the roles 

of chytrid parasites and saprophytes in freshwater 

ecosystems. Yet, the ecological importance of this 

group of fungi and its roles in food web dynamics remain 

unappreciated and are not very well understood. 

Furthermore, chytrids sometimes have been either totally 

ignored or wrongly classified in studies on the biodiversity 

of fresh water ecosystems (Kagami et al., 

2007; Lefèvre et al., 2007). 

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the 

ecology of chytrids in aquatic environments. Ibelings 

et al. (2003) and Kagami et al. (2007) have 

again examined the large number of species of phytoplankton 

affected by chytrid parasites. The role of 

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in reduction in size 

of amphibian populations and in extinctions of 

species is currently under investigation (Fisher & 

Garner 2007). Chytridiomycosis is an emerging in- 

2 Inoculum 59(2), March 2008 

fectious disease of amphibians world-wide. Kagami 

et al. (2007) have suggested that chytrid zoospores 

are an excellent food source for zooplankton and facilitate 

the transfer of energy to higher trophic levels 

in food webs. Chytrid zoospores are rich in 

stored lipids and glycogen. Studies on DNA extracted 

from water samples from a mountain lake in 

France have revealed a significant number of ribosomal 

DNA sequences belonging to known and unknown 

clades of chytrids (Lefèvre et al., 2007). 

Chytrid biodiversity is apparently surprisingly high 

in many freshwater lakes. Research on the ecology 

of chytrids in freshwater lakes in France is being 

continued by T. Sime-Ngando and his colleagues 

and students at Laboratoire Microorganismes: 

Génome et Environnement, Université Blaise Pascal, 

63177 AUBIERRE cedex. 

Evidence is emerging that the interactions between 

the chytrid parasite and its host may involve 

strong phenotypic selection pressures. A recent 

study by D. J. Macarthur (unpublished data), funded 

by the NSW Environmental Trust, involved the inoculation 

of cultures of the bloom forming cyanobacteria 

Anabaena circinalis and Microcysis aeruginosa 

with diatoms infected with chytrids (Fig. 1) and with 

pure cultures of chytrids in the Rhizophydiales from 

our culture collection. One of these isolates, SPP, 

adapted to the new host environments by parasitising 

both species of cyanobacteria. SPP was isolated into 

pure culture from a phytoplankton sample containing 

infected diatoms (by E. Lefèvre) and was tentatively 

identified as Rhizophydium sp. These results tend to 

support the assertion by Kagami et al. (2007) that the 

host range of chytrid parasites, often thought to be 

host-specific, could be altered by environmental 

stress. More interesting, however, was an apparent 

enhancement of growth and survival of A. circinalis 

cultures. Clearly, in this case, there are benefits to 

both the chytrid parasite and the cyanobacteria host. 

However, more data is required in order to unravel 

the complicated interactions between the chytrid parasite 

and its host. 

The growth and survival of chytrids are quite 

sensitive to physical factors, such as moisture, temperature, 

salinity and dissolved oxygen (Gleason et 

al., 2007) and possibly toxic chemicals. With global 

warming and environmental deterioration on the increase, 

it is high time that more mycologists begin 

to undertake intensive studies on the ecology of the 

chytrids in aquatic ecosystems. The survival of 

many aquatic ecosystems in their present state could 

even depend on the activities of chytrids along with 

other groups of microorganisms.

Literature Cited 

Dix NJ, Webster J, 1995. Fungal ecology. Chapman & 

Hall, London. 

Fisher MC, Garner WJ, 2007. The relationship between 

the emergence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, 

the international trade of amphibians 

and introduced amphibian species. Fungal Biology 

Reviews 21: 2-9. 

Gleason FH, Mozley-Standridge SE, Porter D, Boyle 

DG, Hyatt A, 2007. Preservation of Chytridiomycota 

in culture collections. Mycological Research 

111: 129-136. 

Ibelings BW, de Bruin A, Kagami M, Rijkeboer M, 

Brehm M, van Donk E, 2004. Host parasite interactions 

between freshwater phytoplankton and 

chytrid fungi (Chytridiomycota). Journal of Phycology 

40: 437-453. 

From the President’s Corner . . . 

Preparations are well underway for 

the 2008 Annual Meetings in August at 

Penn State University. David Geiser 

has been on top of preparations for several 

years now so the foray sites have 

been identified, the lunches have been 

ordered, and all we need now are some 

of those big ol’ mushrooms that 

abound in the forests of central Pennsylvania 

to get us off to a great start. Jo 

Taylor and her committee have been 

hard at work on organizing the program 

and have selected three gangbuster 

symposia emphasizing everything 

from discussions on techniques 

for measuring fungal diversity to recent 

advances in live-microscopy tools 

to take a closer look at the hyphal apex. It’s not too 

early to start selecting some treasures and novelties 

for the annual social and auction. Last year we made 

over $10,000 at LSU and we surely want to reach 

that mark again. Let Endowment Chair Betsy 

Arnold know so she can start making a list. 

Our goal to increase the amounts in the mentor 

travel funds is doing well, but again we ask for your 

support of your favorite mentor so we can get all the 

funds over $10,000 and be able to assist young mycologists 

in attending our annual meetings. Our 

mentor research funds did get a tremendous boost 

from long-time member and all-around good guy 

Tom Volk who donated $10,000 in honor of med- 

MSA BUSINESS 

Don Hemmes, President 

Kagami M, de Bruin A, Ibelings BW, van Donk E, 

2007. Parasitic chytrids: their effects on phytoplankton 

communities and food-web dynamics. 

Hydrobiologia 578: 113-129. 

Lefèvre E, Bardot C, Noel C, Carrias J-F, Viscogliosi E, 

Amblard C, Sime-Ngando T, 2007. Unveiling fungal 

zooflagellates as members of freshwater picoeukaryotes: 

evidence from a molecular diversity 

study in a deep meromictic lake. 

Environmental Microbiology 9: 61-71. 

Sparrow FK, 1960. Aquatic Phycomycetes. 2nd ed, 

The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI. 

Frank H. Gleason and Deborah J. Macarthur 

are members of the School of Biological 

Sciences at the University of Sydney in 

Australia. For more information, send an 

email to frankjanet@ozemail.com.au. 

ical mycologist John Rippon. We have 

an article detailing Dr. Rippon’s career 

in this issue of Inoculum. Tom added 

another $500 on top of that to make 

sure the funds were awarded this year. 

I hope you all saw the criteria for the 

award that was sent in an email blast to 

the membership and on the webpage. 

With a symposium in cell biology and 

research awards in medical mycology, 

we hope to get more mycologists in 

these fields back in the fold and participating 

in the annual meetings. 

The council will hold its annual 

mid-year meetings at University of 

California at Berkeley in late March. I 

just couldn’t talk anyone into the trip 

to Hawai’i. Thanks go to John Taylor for making 

local arrangements. If any of you have issues you 

would like to have brought up at the mid-year meetings, 

please email me or secretary Cathie Aime as 

soon as possible and we’ll make sure they get on the 

agenda. 

And while I’m at it, don’t you all think the Inoculum 

issues are just terrific! Kudos go to Jinx 

Campbell for a job well done. If you appreciate her 

efforts as much as I do, drop her an email and give 

her a pat on the back. 

—Don Hemmes 

President 

Inoculum 59(2), March 2008 3

MSA Secretary’s Email Express 

MSA Council has completed two email 

polls since my last report, approving the following: 

• MSA Full Council poll 2008-01: Council 

approved the establishment of a new 

Graduate Research Award in the name 

of John W. Rippon for research in Medical 

Mycology. The Award was established 

by a generous donation from 

Tom Volk and will be presented for the 

first time this year at the 2008 Annual 

MSA meeting at Penn State. 

• MSA Exec Council poll 2008-02: MSA 

council approved the allocation of an 

additional $1500 to supplement the 

symposium budget for the 2008 Annual 

Meeting at Penn State. This will allow 

Program Chair Jo Taylor to provide 

support for three top-notch symposia 

this year. 

New Members: It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome 

to the following new (or returning) members. New 

memberships will be formally approved by the Society at the 

Annual Business Meeting at Penn State in 2008. 

• Canada: Kevin J Beiler, Laura Biggs 

• China: Meichun Xiang 

• Colombia: Maria Camila Pizano 

• Gambia: Felix C. Onyemachi 

• Germany: Martin Strohmeyer 

• Panama: Meike Piepenbring 

• United States: Aaron Brown, Catharine Mattison Catranis, 

Sharron L. Crane, Georgia Davis, Stephen L. 

Franke, Nancy Fisher Gregory, Jonatan Hernandez-roa, 

Inoculum Editor’s Note 

You will notice we have some great new changes to Inoculum. 

From this issue there is an expanded list of contents. 

This list is hyperlinked so you can click on the article you 

want to read and jump straight to it. No more scrolling 

through looking for a specific page! Also all web sites are 

hyperlinked so you can click on them direct from Inoculum 

and be taken through cyberspace to the webpage directly. 

Additionally, email addresses have been hyperlinked so one 

click on those will open up a new mail message window with 

the recipient’s address. 

If you have any comments or suggestions to improve Inoculum 

or some content you wish to see added, please let me 

know. If you would like to submit an article or have any 

news or classifieds etc for Inoculum, please send your materials 

to me at jinx.campbell@usm.edu. Do not send materials 

to Kay Rose at Allen Press. All submissions should be sent 

as attachments, preferably in Word. If you submit pictures, 

these need to be sent as separate JPGS or GIFFS, not em- 


Cathie Aime 

Cedar Nelson Hesse, David R Huff, Joe D. 

McFarland, Brienne Jean Meyer, Antonis 

Rokas, Noah Rosenzweig, Sergio Manuel 

Salcedo, Paul Hamilton Scott, Brian Seitzman, 

Anna R Simonin, Jennifer Talbot, Andrew 

David Thaler 

Emeritus candidates: I have received 

two applications for emeritus status by long 

standing members Jack Fell (Key Biscayne, 

FL) and F Brent Reeves, Jr. (Fort Collins 

CO). Emeritus status is conferred upon retired 

or retiring members who have at least 

15 years good standing with the Society. 

REMINDER: MSA Directory Update: Is 

your information up-to-date in the MSA directory? 

The Society is relying more and 

more on email to bring you the latest MSA 

news, awards announcements and other 

timely information, and our newsletter. To ensure that you 

receive Society blast emails and the Inoculum as soon as it 

comes out, and so that your colleagues can keep in touch, 

please check the accuracy of your email address and contact 

information in the online directory. This can be accessed via 

our web site at www.msafungi.org. If you need assistance 

with updating your membership information, or help with 

your membership log-in ID and password, please contact our 

Association Manager at Allen Press, the always-helpful Kay 

Rose at krose@allenpress.com. 

—Cathie Aime 

MSA Secretary 

maime@agcenter.lsu.edu 

bedded in the word document. Please do not send your submission 

in the body of the email as copy often has to be 

cleaned of extraneous symbols, brackets, etc and reformatted 

for use. My concern is that on reformatting and cleaning up, 

typographical errors may occur that could alter the context of 

your submission. 

Inoculum is published in odd numbered months (January, 

March, May, July, September, November). The deadline 

for submitting is the 15 th of even numbered months: February, 

April, June, August, October, except December, which 

is the 10 th . 

If you would like to review a book or CD, please contact 

Amy Rossman at Amy.Rossman@ars.usda.gov. She 

will send it to you, you write the review, and then you can 

keep the book. Titles for review can be found in the Mycologist’s 

Bookshelf section. 

—Jinx Campbell 

Inoculum Editor 

jinx.campbell@usm.edu

MSA ABSTRACTS 2007 

Abstracts from 2007 MSA Meeting at LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Acevedo, Carmen T. University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 

Department of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 23323, San Juan, PR 

00931-3323. ctacevedo@uprrp.edu. Fungi diversity in Puerto Rican 

mangroves and algae and their potential as bioremediation agents. 

Mangroves and algae are suitable substrates for marine fungi. Red and 

brown algae and red mangrove Rhizophora mangle were examined for 

the presence of endophytic marine fungi and various cultures were 

screened for the ability to degrade phenanthrene. Ten species of marine 

fungi were collected from mangroves, ten species in four genera of 

brown algae, and eighteen species in twelve genera of red algae from 

beaches in Puerto Rico. Thirty marine manglicolous and endophytic 

fungi were used for biotransformation of phenanthrene assays. Thirteen 

isolates transformed significant amounts of phenanthrene in culture, 

eleven of which were endophytes. Two of the metabolites of phenanthrene 

produced were identified by HPLC/MS as dihydrodiol phenanthrene 

and phenanthrol. Surfactants were tested for their ability to solubilize 

phenanthrene, and therefore increase the biotransformation of 

phenanthrene. Four different fungi were used with surfactants in two 

concentrations. Results indicate that the surfactants examined can either 

enhance or inhibit biotransformation depending on the fungus and 

concentration. Xylaria biotransformed significant amounts of phenanthrene 

with and without surfactants. Results suggest that marine fungi 

and particularly endophytes are potentially useful for bioremediation in 

marine environments. Symposium Presentation 

Adams, Gerard C. Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, 

East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. gadams@msu.edu. A multigene 

phylogenetic analysis of species of Valsa revealing lineages of 

medically important strains. Valsa is a cosmopolitan genus of fungi 

in the Diaporthales. Species in the genus cause cankers on woody angiosperms 

and gymnosperms and occasionally parasitize herbaceous 

plants. Identification of Valsa species based on morphology has long 

been problematical. Species discovery has been ongoing yet description 

of new species has foundered on the lack of distinguishing features. 

Members of the Diaporthales are recognized as a profitable resource 

for drug discovery. Valsa contains several strains that have 

received U.S. Patents because they produce unique compounds with 

important medical properties. The compounds include Cytosporacins, 

Cytosporin A, B & C, Cytosporone D & E, and Grahamimycin A, A1 

& B. Most of the strains are not identified. We examine the lineage of 

the patented strains in relation to clades containing well-characterized 

species using multigene phylogenetic analysis. The analysis is based on 

partial sequences from DNA of the following five nuclear genes: the 

complete ITS, the 3’-end of the LSU, EF-1 alpha, beta-tubulin, and histone 

H3. Poster 

Aime, M. Catherine 1 , Henkel, Terry W. 2 * and Ryvarden, Leif. 3 

1 USDA-ARS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, Beltsville, MD 

20705, USA, 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State 

University, Arcata, CA 95521,USA, 3 Department of Botany, University 

of Oslo, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway. twh5@humboldt.edu. 

Polyporoid fungi of Guyana: diversity, new species, and ecological 

roles. Seven years of field work in a remote region of Guyana have uncovered 

a diverse assemblage of polypores associated with mixed 

and/or ectotrophic Dicymbe corymbosa (Caesalpiniaceae)-dominated 

rainforests in the Pakaraima Mountains. As a result, the total known 

species of polypores in Guyana has nearly doubled, from 55 to 91, including 

nine new species in seven genera of the Polyporales, Hymenochaetales 

and Russulales (Amauroderma, Ceriporia, Dichomitus, 

Fomitopsis; Coltricia, Coltriciella; Wrightoporia) and new distribution 

records for rarely collected species (e.g. Antrodiella dentipora, 

Antrodiella luteocontexta, Junghuhnia minuta). We report new species 

that expand current generic and family concepts, such as Amauroderma 

coltricioides, which is the first known species in the Ganodermataceae 

with smooth basidiospores. In addition to describing a variety of 

wood-decay strategies among these polypores, we provide habitat, 

morphological and molecular evidence supporting an ectomycorrhizal 

nutritional mode for Coltricia spp. and examine the ecological consequences 

of Phellinus heart rot in D. corymbosa forests. Contributed 

Presentation 

Alexander, Mark* and Baird, Richard. Plant Pathology, P.O. Box 

9655, 206 Dorman Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. MAlexander@plantpath.msstate.edu. 

Baseline data on pathogenic and ectomycorrhizal 

fungi associated with old growth eastern hemlock in 

the GSMNP and effects of imidacloprid on rhizospheric fungi and 

future restoration efforts. At its current rate of spread the exotic Hemlock 

Wooly Adelgid (HWA) will infest and devastate the entire native 

range of eastern hemlock within the next 2 decades. Baseline data on 

all associated fungal organisms must be obtained before forest habitat 

succession occurs. The effects of the loss of hemlock on associated 

soilborne fungal communities and on subsequent hemlock seedling establishment 

and regeneration are unknown. Select stands are being preserved 

using the systemic insecticide imidacloprid. The current application 

method, soil drenching, has an unknown impact on belowground 

fungal communities. Two study sites were selected in the Great Smoky 

Mountains National Park at two elevations within pure stands of mature 

hemlock. Twenty mature trees randomly selected at each site were 

subjected to one of 5 imidacloprid treatments varying rate and frequency 

and replicated 4 times at 2 elevations. Effects of treatments 

were analyzed by collecting a 120cm root sample from each replicate 

tree for identification of fungi using cultural techniques and molecular 

sequence data. Baseline data on fungal population diversity and abundance 

were compared among treatments and controls. In addition, all 

terrestrial macrofungi within the plots were collected monthly. Ectomycorrhizal 

fungi were isolated from fresh sporocarps and cryogenically 

stored in a fungal repository. Poster 

Alspaugh, Andrew. Dept. of Medicine, Duke University School of 

Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. andrew.alspaugh@duke.edu. Transcriptional 

profiling in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus 

neoformans. Similar to other microbial pathogens, Cryptococcus neoformans 

must coordinate the expression of many genes to adapt to the 

environment of the infected host. We have previously demonstrated 

that the cAMP signal transduction pathway coordinately regulates the 

expression of genes required for capsule and melanin production. 

Using whole genome microarrays, we have begun to explore the transcriptional 

network controlled by the cAMP pathway. Several transcription 

factors act downstream of this conserved pathway, including 

the Nrg1 protein. In addition to capsule and melanin production, C. 

neoformans must also control subtle morphogenic events to retain full 

virulence. The cytoskeletal changes required for altered morphogenesis 

are regulated by Ras signaling pathways. Gene microarray studies have 

also demonstrated the role of Ras-dependent gene expression in morphogenesis. 

Transcriptional profiling of targeted C. neoformans mutant 

strains with altered virulence has begun to demonstrate the complex 

ways in which a microbial pathogen develops an adaptive cellular response 

to the host environment. Symposium Presentation 

Arnold, A. Elizabeth. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 

Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. arnold@ag.arizona.edu. Barcoding 

endophytic fungi: lessons, limitations, and linkages with multilocus 

data sets. Drawing from surveys of endophytic fungi from (1) all major 



lineages of land plants and (2) biogeographic provinces ranging from 

the arctic to the tropics, I will explore the degree to which a large-scale, 

single-locus (bar-code) data set based on the nuclear ribosomal internal 

transcribed spacer (ITS) can further our understanding of fungal diversity 

and ecology. Specifically, I will (1) address patterns of geographical 

distributions, taxonomic makeup, host specificity, and diversity of 

endophytic fungi using a data set of over 6000 ITS sequences from cultures 

and environmental samples; (2) explore empirical approaches for 

delimiting meaningful taxonomic units from ITS data alone; (3) highlight 

a variety of limitations imposed by the single-locus and ITS-specific 

approach, and demonstrate that such issues vary in intensity 

among clades of Ascomycota and among different geographic sites; (4) 

discuss the degree to which ITS data are congruent and incongruent 

with inferences based on multi-locus datasets; and (5) describe several 

new methods for visualizing ITS data in spatial and phylogenetic contexts, 

with the goal of critically evaluating the biological realism and inferential 

strength of the bar-code approach for studies of highly diverse 

fungi. Symposium Presentation 

Atkinson, Toni J. 1 *, Orlovich, David, A. 2 and Miller, Andrew N. 11 Section 

for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S. Oak St., 

Champaign, IL 61820, USA, 2 Department of Botany, University of 

Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. 

toni@botany.otago.ac.nz. From the Land of the Long White Cloud 

to the Great Smoky Mountains: New Zealand and Appalachian diversity 

among woody decay pyrenomycetes. The New Zealand archipelago, 

a temperate, oceanic island group 1600 km south-east of 

Australia, forms the largest landmass in the south Pacific. Island biotas 

are usually considered ‘depauperate’ when compared with those of 

continents. New Zealand does have fewer plant and animal taxa than a 

continent, but its biota has long been noted for its uniqueness. Recent 

research among woody decay pyrenomycetes in New Zealand, while 

finding a high level of endemism, nonetheless shows that families, genera, 

and frequently morphological species are shared with the continental 

northern hemisphere. From knowledge to date, we will discuss 

the striking morphological and molecular similarities and differences 

between New Zealand and Appalachian members of the Lasiosphaeriaceae, 

Chaetosphaeriaceae, and Helminthosphaeriaceae. Contributed 

Presentation 

Avis, Peter G.*, Leacock, Patrick and Mueller, Greg M. Department of 

Botany, The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore 

Drive, Chicago IL 60605, USA. pavis@fieldmuseum.org. Scale dependent 

responses of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities to simulated 

nitrogen deposition in oak forests of the Chicago region. Nitrogen 

deposition can dramatically impact the diversity and species 

composition of ectomycorrhizal communities, but it is uncertain at 

what level of added nitrogen or at what spatial scale these responses 

occur in temperate deciduous ecosystems. We tested the impact of projected 

realistic increases in nitrogen deposition levels in the Chicago region 

by measuring the response of ectomycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen 

fertilization at two oak dominated forests. We systematically surveyed 

ectomycorrhizal sporocarps in treatment and control plots from 2003- 

2006, but did not detect any significant differences in either abundance 

or species richness of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. Belowground, we 

measured ectomycorrhizal fungi colonizing roots by morphological 

and molecular methods including terminal restriction length fragment 

length polymorphisms and sequencing. We detected significant differences 

between treatment and controls in species richness and composition 

at the scale of the treatment plots but not at the scale of the soil core 

or individual roots. Such responses indicate that realistic future increases 

of nitrogen deposition could impact ectomycorrhizal communities, 

especially at larger spatial scales. Contributed Presentation 

Baucom, Deana*, Romero, Marie and Creamer, Rebecca. New Mexico 

State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA. dbaucom@nmsu.edu. 

Morphological and genetic characterization of 

new fungal endophytes of locoweed found in six western states. 

Toxic locoweeds (Astragalus and Oxytropis spp.) found throughout the 


western USA are accountable for significant losses to grazing animals. 

Fungal endophytes of locoweed are responsible for production of the 

toxic alkaloid swainsonine and have been shown to cause symptoms of 

locoweed toxicity outside of the plant environment. Fungal endophytes 

of locoweed have been characterized previously from only a few of the 

many species of Astragalus and Oxytropis. To further expand our understanding 

of this endophytic fungus, we examined culture morphology 

and genetics of fungi isolated from nine locoweed species collected 

from six states. Although all isolates were typically slow growing in 

culture, as indicative of the locoweed fungal endophyte, we found 

novel morphological characteristics that were not seen in the previously 

limited examination of locoweed species. Genetic differences were 

also observed in nucleic acid sequences of the ITS (internal transcribed 

spacer) and gpd (glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase) regions of 

the different isolates. The morphological and genetic differences we 

found illustrate the diversity of the fungal endophyte and allow us to 

distinguish between isolates collected from a number of different locoweed 

species. Poster 

Beard, Charles E. Department of Entomology, Soils, and Plant Sciences, 

Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. 

cbrd@clemson.edu. Trichospore shapes of the trichomycete fungus 

Harpella melusinae. The trichomycete fungus Harpella melusinae is a 

common symbiote in the midgut of larval black flies. The variation and 

wide distribution of Harpella melusinae probably represents the existence 

of a species complex, but limited morphological characters are 

available for discriminating possible cryptic species. The asexual 

spores (trichospores) of the fungus vary from coiled to straight. Straight 

and coiled or curved trichospores have not been found on the same thallus. 

Straight-spored thalli might represent a species or genotype distinct 

from coiled- or curved-spore thalli. We are testing the heritability of 

spore shape by allowing horizontal transmission of the fungus from 

field-collected larvae to lab-reared trichomycete-free larvae. The 

straight spore shape (from Simulium innoxium) carries over to the new 

host (Simulium vittatum). Coiled spores are more difficult to collect and 

horizontal transmission is less successful, suggesting that the lab-reared 

larvae are less competent hosts for the coiled spores from field-collected 

larvae (Simulium tuberosum grp.), or that the coiled spores are less 

infective in this study. Spore shape might be related to other parameters 

such as host physiology. We also demonstrate that horizontal transmission 

between host species occurs. Contributed Presentation 

Bechara, Mark A. 1 *, Heinemann, Paul 1 , Walker, Paul N. 1 and Romaine, 

C. Peter. 21 Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 249 

Agriculture Engineering Building, The Pennsylvania State University, 

University Park, PA 16802, USA, 2 Department of Plant Pathology, 211 

Buckhout Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University 

Park, PA 16802, USA. mab568@psu.edu. The development of noncomposted 

grain-based substrates for mushroom production. Two 

different systems for Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) production 

are proposed as alternatives to the traditional environmentally problematic 

mushroom production system that relies on composting of plant and 

animal organic matter. Each system involves processing grains into suitable 

mushroom substrates. The first system proposes the use of commercial 

grain spawn, the vehicle typically used to inoculate traditional 

substrates, supplemented with high protein delayed-release supplements. 

In this system, grain spawn producers supply mushroom producers the 

entire substrate for mushroom production. The second system consists of 

producing mushrooms on sterilized grains supplemented with oilseeds. 

In this system, an aseptic processing system would be located on-site at 

the mushroom production facility to sterilize grain substrates. For the second 

system, mushroom producers would need to get their inoculum from 

grain spawn producers to inoculate the sterilized substrates. The highest 

yield of mushrooms for the commercial grain spawn substrate supplemented 

with delayed-release supplements was 13.7 kg/m 2 , whereas yield 

from substrates composed of cereal grains and oilseeds was 16.9 kg/m 2 . 

A discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative 

mushroom production system will be addressed. Poster 

Continued on following page

Beiler, Kevin J. 1 *, Durall, Daniel M. 2 and Simard, Suzanne W. 1 1 Department 

of Forest Sciences, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada, 2 Department 

of Biology, University of British Columbia-Okanagan, 

Kelowna, BC V1Y 1V7, Canada. KJBeiler@interchange.ubc.ca. Structure 

of mycorrhizal networks between Rhizopogon vesiculosus/ R. 

vinicolor and Pseudotsuga menziesii trees. We investigated the structure 

of mycorrhizal networks (MNs) formed between genets of Rhizopogon 

vinicolor/ R. vesiculosus and multiple cohorts of Interior Douglas-fir 

(P. menziesii) trees in British Columbia. Structure was 

determined based on DNA obtained from tuberculate mycorrhizas sampled 

within a 30m x 30m plot, and tree needles obtained from trees inside 

and within 10m of the plot. Microsatellite regions of DNA were 

used to distinguish both tree and fungal individuals, and to match the 

identities of tree roots in mycorrhizas with trees above ground. This data 

was used to model MN structure from the phytological perspective with 

trees as nodes and R. vinicolor/ R. vesiculosus genets colonizing >1 tree 

as links. Based on 210 mycorrhizas collected among 55 trees, we recovered 

21 R. vesiculosus genets, 22 R. vinicolor genets, and 77 tree 

genotypes, 69 of which were linked to other trees through shared fungal 

genets. The degree of tree-node connectivity ranged from 0 to 30, with 

an average of 1.4 fungal genets and 5.7 linkages per tree. Thus, there is 

a high degree of connectivity between Douglas-fir trees and R. vesiculosus/ 

R. vinicolor genets in this site, with an uneven and clustered degree 

distribution. Continuing work will resolve the MN structure by integrating 

spatial data with genetic and network analyses. Poster 

Berbee, Mary L. Department of Botany, University of British 

Columbia, Vancouver BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada. 

berbee@interchange.ubc.ca. What makes a fungus? Fungalspecific 

genes and the origin of chitinous cell walls. The 

Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota include ancient fungal lineages 

that may have originated hundreds of millions of years before 

plants invaded land. Complete genomic sequences are now 

available for species in both groups. We have been studying 

genes that distinguish the fungi from other kingdoms. Among 

the fungal specific genes, genes involved in cell wall construction, 

notably chitin synthases and chitin deacetylases were diverse 

among fungi and divergent compared with their closest 

paralogues in other organisms. Both chitin synthases and chitin 

deacetylases were more numerous in the basal fungi than in the 

Ascomycota, where the genes have been best characterized. 

While most filamentous ascomycete species have ~7-8 paralogues 

of the chitin synthases, the zygomycete Rhizopus 

oryzae has 25; the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has 

16 and an EST library of Blastocladiella emersonii has at least 

8 different chitin synthases. Suggesting that diverse chitin synthases 

were common to the ancestor of almost all fungi, the earliest 

duplications of the cell wall genes, and establishment of 

fungal specific biosynthetic domains, preceded the divergence 

of the chytrids from other fungi. Contributed Presentation 

Berube, Jean A. 1 * and Stefani, Franck O.P. 21 Canadian Forest Service, 

1055 du PEPS, P.O. Box 10380, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4C7, Canada, 

2 CRBF, Faculte de foresterie et de geomatique, Universite Laval, Quebec 

City, QC, G1K 7P4, Canada. jberube@cfl.forestry.ca. Foliar endophyte 

biodiversity of cloned needles versus plated needles. We 

compared the foliar endophyte biodiversity of black spruce (P. mariana) 

cloned needles versus the endophytes recorded in Petri plated needles. 

Three-years old asymptomatic healthy needles were collected in 

Valcartier near Quebec City, surface sterilized and then plated on nutrient 

agar or DNA extracted, ITS PCR amplified and cloned. Twentythree 

plated needles yielded only three foliar endophyte species and 

never more than one endophyte per needle, whereas six cloned needles 

yielded 11 OTU’s, with an average of 6 OTU’s per cloned needle. The 

most common foliar endophyte from plated needles was also found in 

cloned needles but the two other rare foliar endophytes from plated 

needles were not found in cloned needles. Cloned needles yielded 9 

new foliar endophytes, of which eight seem to be new fungal species. 

In this sampling protocol, one single cloned needle yielded more foliar 

endophyte OTU’s than the normal sampling effort of plated needles 

from a spruce stand. Cloning needles also lead to the discovery of 9 

new foliar endophytes never recorded before as foliar endophytes using 

traditional plating methods. Poster 

Binder, Manfred 1 *, Matheny, P. Brandon 1 , Larsson, Karl-Henrik 2 , 

Larsson, Ellen 2 and Hibbett, David S. 11 Clark University, Biology Department, 

Lasry Center for Bioscience, 950 Main Street, Worcester, 

MA 01610, USA, 2 Goteborg University, Department of Plant and Environmental 

Sciences, Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22 B, P. O. Box 461, 

40530 Goteborg, Sweden. mbinder@clarku.edu. New perspectives on 

the early evolution of Agaricomycetidae. The Agaricomycetidae is a 

terminal clade of Basidiomycota that includes the well-known Agaricales 

and Boletales, which are dominated by pileate-stipitate forms, and 

the more obscure Atheliales, which is a relatively small group of resupinate 

taxa. We have developed a six-locus nuclear dataset (nuc-ssu, 

nuc-lsu, ITS, RPB1, RPB2, tef1), with taxon sampling focused on resupinate 

forms that may be related to the Agaricomycetidae. Our analyses 

of these data corroborate the view that Boletales evolved from athelioid 

forms. We have also resolved an additional early-branching clade 

within the Agaricomycetidae that is composed primarily of resupinate 

forms, as well as the pagoda fungus, Podoserpula pusio. This clade, 

which we tentatively call the Anomoporiales, is the sister group of the 

Agaricales. Thus, our results suggest that the greatest radiation of 

pileate-stipitate mushrooms resulted from the elaboration of resupinate 

ancestors. Contributed Presentation 

Blackwell, Meredith 1 *, Suh, Sung-Oui 1 and Nguyen, Nhu H. 21 Department 

of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 

LA 70803, USA, 2 Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University 

of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. mblackwell@lsu.edu. 

Yeasts across the gulf divide. More than 1000 yeasts were isolated 

from mycophagous insects in Panama and the southeastern USA over 

a seven-year period; the isolations resulted in the discovery of about 

500 taxa of which almost 250 had not been described previously. Our 

data indicate that few yeast species span the geographical region between 

Panama and the southeastern USA. In a few cases when species 

do occur in both regions, populations display genetic variation consistent 

with the region. Collection data, including repeated isolation of 

yeasts from specialized gut pouches of beetles and recovery of certain 

yeasts from different life stages of the same beetle species, have been 

taken as evidence of close association between yeast and insect, rather 

than yeast and fungal host. Many potential basidiomycete hosts (e.g., 

Tinctoporellus epimiltinus, Pycnoporus sanguineus, other polypores, 

species of Hymenochaetaceae) occur throughout the Caribbean and 

Gulf of Mexico coastal plain spanning both collecting regions, but the 

beetle hosts have more restricted distributions. Now, phylogenetic evidence 

lends additional support for a hypothesis that isolation occurs in 

association with the insect host. Certain beetle genera are associated 

with yeast clades that have diverged independently with related beetles 

either in Panama or in the southeastern USA. Symposium Presentation 

Blinkova, Olga*, Feldman, Tracy and Walker, Nathan. 246 NRC, Department 

of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State 

University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. blinkova@biochem.okstate.edu. 

Mycoviruses in symbiotic plant-fungal interactions. 

Mycoviruses or fungal viruses have frequently been reported 

from fungi and often associated with symptomless infections. 

Several examples of virus regulation of hypovirulence in the pathogenic 

fungi are known from the many investigations. However, the effect 

of mycoviruses on mutualistic interactions, especially in the natural 

ecosystems, is practically unknown. We are investigating the biodiversity 

and ecology of endophytic fungi and their mycoviruses from a 

dominant grass, big bluestem (Andropogin gerardii) collected from 

2004 - 2006 from plots periodically burned at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, 

Pawhuska, OK. This study showed that the root fungal endophyte 

community is very diverse: most fungi are from the classes Dothideomycetes 

and Sordariomycetes, the predominant fungal genera 



were Perconia, Gaeumannomyces, Fusarium, Anguillospora, and 

many unknown species. We found that many of the fungi are infected 

by viruses. The majority of these viruses may be newly discovered and 

previously unknown. Future studies will aim to understanding the role 

of the discovered mycoviruses on the character and intensity of plantfungus 

interactions and possibly how disturbances, such as fire, can influence 

virus-fungal-plant interactions. Poster 

Boerstler, Boris*, Raab, Philipp and Redecker, Dirk. Institute of 

Botany, University of Basel, Hebelstr.1, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland. 

boris.boerstler@unibas.ch. Mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit 

sequences as potential marker for population studies of Glomus intraradices. 

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with 

the majority of land plants. Glomus intraradices is a widespread member 

of this group which was found in an extremely broad range of habitats, 

indicating a high tolerance for a multitude of environmental factors. 

Despite this ecological versatility, almost nothing is known about 

the local and geographic structure of this fungal species which might 

reveal specialized ecotypes. As the well-established marker genes of 

the nuclear-encoded rDNA subunits and internal transcribed spacers 

(ITS) display sequence heterogeneity even within single fungal spores 

we have developed a nested PCR approach for the mitochondrial 

rDNA large subunit (mtLSU). These sequences display no intra-isolate 

heterogeneity but different haplotypes can be distinguished among isolates 

of G. intraradices. The development of highly specific primer sets 

makes it possible to obtain mtLSU sequences of G. intraradices from 

colonized roots. The varying content of introns in the analyzed gene region 

represents a further feature to distinguish genotypes. Therefore 

mtLSU has the potential to be a highly sensitive marker for population 

studies of G. intraradices. Contributed Presentation 

Bogale, Mesfin*, Wingfield, Michael J., Steenkamp, Emma T. and 

Wingfield, Brenda D. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute 

(FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. mesfin.bogale@fabi.up.ac.za. 

Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum 

isolates from Ethiopia using SSR, AFLP and DNA sequence analyses. 

Fusarium oxysporum is known for the wilt and rot diseases that it 

causes in many plant species. However, little is known regarding the 

genetic diversity of this fungal species in Ethiopian agriculture. We 

used SSR, AFLPs and DNA sequence analyses to study 32 Ethiopian 

isolates. For comparative purposes, we also included strains representing 

18 formae speciales, and GenBank sequences representing the 

three phylogenetic clades in this species. The three methods separated 

the strains into three lineages, which corresponded with the three clades 

known to reflect groups in F. oxysporum. Five translation elongation 

factor-1 alpha nucleotide sites were found to be fixed differently among 

the lineages, further supporting the separation of the lineages. Thirty of 

the Ethiopian isolates grouped in Lineage 2, whereas the remaining two 

isolates grouped in Lineages 1 and 3. The genetic diversity observed 

among the Ethiopian isolates was also low. This most probably reflects 

the nature of the Ethiopian agricultural system that heavily relies on 

local crop varieties, thereby restricting the introduction of new genotypes 

of the fungus via infected seeds. The 18 formae speciales did not 

separate according to host, with any of the three DNA-based techniques 

used. This confirmed that pathogenicity of isolates does not necessarily 

correlate with phylogenetic grouping. Contributed presentation 

Bogale, Mesfin*, Wingfield, Michael J., Steenkamp, Emma T. and 

Wingfield, Brenda D. Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute 

(FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. mesfin.bogale@fabi.up.ac.za. 

Species-specific primers for Fusarium 

redolens and a PCR-RFLP technique to distinguish among three 

clades of Fusarium oxysporum. The presence of strains with intermediate 

macroconidial sizes between F. redolens and F. oxysporum 

makes morphological differentiation of these species problematic. The 

PCR-RFLP technique developed to differentiate these species does not 

distinguish F. redolens from F. hostae. Grouping of isolates into the 

three phylogenetic clades of F. oxysporum requires DNA sequencing 

and inclusion of strains/sequences representing each clade. DNA se- 


quencing is, however, not available to most plant pathologists, especially 

to those in the developing world. To solve these problems, we 

used nucleotide sequences from the translation elongation factor 1 

alpha (TEF-1 alpha) genes of these species and their close relatives. We 

aligned these sequences to design F. redolens-specific primers, and to 

identify restriction sites that discriminate among the three clades of F. 

oxysporum. The F. redolens-specific primers distinguished this species 

from all others included in the study based on the presence of an amplification 

product only in F. redolens. Restriction of F. oxysporum 

TEF-1 alpha products with endonucleases MseI and AluI resulted in 

three TEF-1 alpha-RFLP patterns. These PCR-RFLP patterns corresponded 

with the three clades of F. oxysporum. These techniques provide 

simple and inexpensive diagnostic methods for the identification 

of F. redolens and members of the three clades of F. oxysporum. Contributed 

Presentation 

Bonito, Gregory* and Vilgalys, Rytas. Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708, USA. gmb2@duke.edu. Molecular ecology of truffles (Tuber) 

and their mycorrhiza. Truffles belonging to the genus Tuber are mycorrhizal 

fungi characterized by belowground fruitbody production and 

a northern hemisphere distribution. Of the 100 or so described species 

of Tuber worldwide, a dozen or so species have economic value and are 

harvested commercially. This has stimulated interest to better understand 

truffle ecology. DNA sequencing is a common component in systematics 

and ecological studies of mycorrhizal communities. The public 

database Genbank includes approximately 30 unidentified 

ectomycorrhiza submissions that BLAST closest to Tuber, and another 

30 accessions from unidentified Tuber sp. sporocarps. Our research 

on the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Tuber has resulted 

in a Tuber phylogeny and has resolved 7 well-supported clades. In this 

study, we analyzed unidentified Tuber collections and mycorrhiza from 

our field studies and from Genbank accessions in a phylogenetic framework 

to determine the identification of unidentified samples and to ascertain 

the prevalence of ‘novel’ or undocumented lineages. Our results 

show that the majority of unidentified Tuber sequences belong to noneconomically 

important (and less studied) species within the Puberulum 

and Maculatum clades. Further ecological insights into host, habitat, 

and geographical ranges of these species are discussed. Poster 

Branco, Sara. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; The 

Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60601, USA. sbranco@uchicago.edu. Is 

there a serpentine ectomycorrhizal community? Serpentine soils are 

extreme environments rich in heavy metals and poor in nutrients that 

host depauperate plant communities with high rates of endemism. I am 

investigating whether the symbiotic fungal communities from serpentine 

forests follow the same pattern seen for plants. I surveyed the ectomycorrhizal 

(ECM) communities from serpentine and non-serpentine 

oak forests in northeastern Portugal using the rDNA Internal 

Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region and found enormous diversity. All 

three forests showed very different and rich communities with very low 

ITS type overlap. Additionally, sampling of fungi in the same forest in 

consecutive years revealed a tremendous ITS type annual turnover. The 

pattern of species-poor communities found for plants does not seem to 

hold for ECM fungi and the existence of endemic ECM serpentine 

species is still unclear. However, the detection of many ITS types restricted 

to the serpentine forest is an indication of putative endemics. A 

few ITS types were detected in serpentine and non-serpentine forests, 

suggesting the existence of plastic species tolerant to both soils. These 

results document high ECM diversity associated with Mediterranean 

oak forests. Further investigation is needed to clarify the existence of 

particular ECM communities specifically associated with serpentine 

soils and determine the role of this extreme habitat in the evolution of 

symbiotic fungi. Contributed Presentation 

Brooks, Micheal C., Powell, Martha J.*, Blackwell, Will H., Letcher, 

Peter M. and Wakefield, William S. Department of Biological Sciences, 

The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344, USA. 

mpowell@biology.as.ua.edu. Detection of chytrid fungi involved in 


the degradation of chitin in Lake Lurleen (Tuscaloosa County, Alabama). 

Chitin is one of the most abundant biopolymers in aquatic 

habitats and is a bait commonly used to retrieve chytrid fungi from environmental 

samples. Current ecological models for the role of microorganisms 

in the degradation of chitin in aquatic habitats, however, 

largely ignore chytrids. The purpose of this study is to use culture and 

culture-independent nucleic acid techniques to detect through multiple 

seasons the diversity of chytrids on chitin from Lake Lurleen, a reservoir 

in the Black Warrior River Basin. In the first phase of this study, 

ribosomal genes are sequenced for all chytrids cultured, generating a 

reference database of molecular diversity detected with direct culture 

techniques. This study will be the foundation for continued studies 

where total DNA from chitin incubated in traps in the same lake site 

and from floating particulate matter along the lake shore will be isolated 

and ribosomal genes sequenced. This approach provides baseline 

data for (1) determining if direct culture methods and identifications 

based on morphology adequately monitor the diversity of chytrids in 

the lake; (2) recognizing culture-independent organisms and potential 

novel chytrid clades; and (3) elucidating chytrid diversity in chitin 

biodegradation in a freshwater habitat. Poster 

Brown, Matthew, W.* and Spiegel, Frederick, W. Department of Biological 

Sciences, SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 

72701, USA. mwbrown@uark.edu. Assessment of protostelid diversity 

in Ozark Plateau oak-hickory forests in south central USA. Protostelids 

are unicellular amoeboid slime molds commonly found on 

dead plant substrates. To assess protostelid species distribution and assemblages, 

164 samples were collected in uplands and riparian habitats 

in oak-hickory forests in the Arkansas Ozarks. Ninety-two percent of 

samples yielded at least one protostelid. A total of 22 described species 

of protostelids and one myxomycete, Echinostelium bisporum, were 

found during this study. If the variants of Protostelium mycophaga are 

considered, then there were 27 species, the highest species richness 

recorded for a temperate habitat. Microhabitat distributions of protostelids 

indicate that Protostelium mycophaga and Soliformovum irregularis 

are the most abundant species in ground and aerial litter microhabitats. 

Three other species were commonly encountered on the ground 

litter. Four species were frequently encountered in bark microhabitats. 

Species composition between upland and riparian forest types is different. 

Though Protostelium mycophaga and Soliformovum irregularis 

were well represented in the two habitats, some species, e.g. Echiosteliopsis 

oligospora and Protostelium arachisporum, are markedly different, 

especially for ground litter microhabitats. Six species were found on 

all microhabitat types and also found in all habitat types. Overall, 

species’ microhabitat distribution is consistent with other studies. Poster 

CANCELED Bushley, Kathryn E.* and Turgeon, B. Gillian. Cornell 

University, Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Science Building, 

Room 343, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. keb45@cornell.edu. Evolution of 

chemical arsenals in filamentous fungi: rapidly evolving NRPSs 

among closely related taxa. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases 

(NRPSs) are multimodular enzymes, found in ascomycete fungi and 

bacteria that make non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs) through a thiotemplate 

mechanism independent of ribosomes. NRPs are structurally diverse 

and often bioactive small molecules with biological functions 

ranging from antibiotics to immunosuppressant drugs. Previous studies 

suggest that genes encoding NRPSs are rapidly evolving and have highly 

discontinuous distributions even among closely related taxa. Various 

evolutionary processes could explain this pattern: 1) gene duplication 

and differential loss, 2) recombination, 3) gene conversion, 4) diversifying 

selection, and 5) horizontal gene transfer. We are investigating diversity 

and evolution of NRPSs among closely related species utilizing 

data from genome sequencing projects as well as data generated from a 

suite of closely related Cochliobolus species and in order to address 

which of these mechanism(s) are involved in generating novel NRPS 

genes. We are also exploring the relationship between NRPSs and their 

chemical products by addressing the roles of both modular domain architecture 

and amino acid residues involved in substrate recognition in 

shaping the chemical structure of the NRP peptide product. Poster 

CANCELED Cabanela, Marivic V. 1,2 *, Smitana, Prasartporn 1 , To- 

Anun, Chaiwat 1 , Jeewon, Rajesh 3 and Hyde, Kevin D. 31 Chiang Mai 

University, Department of Plant Biotechnology, Laboratory of Plant 

Pathology, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2 Mushroom Research Centre, 128 

Moo3 Ban Phadeng, Pa Pae, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai 50150, Thailand, 

3 University of Hong Kong, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, 

The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. 

mvc0206@yahoo.com. Biodiversity of freshwater fungi in Paoay 

Lake, the Philippines and the Mushroom Research Centre, Thailand. 

This study is focusing on the fungi on submerged wood samples 

collected from Paoay Lake, in the Philippines and MRC Lake, in Thailand. 

Wood or bamboo samples that have been submerged for several 

months have been collected from both lakes and examined for fungi 

following incubation in a moist chamber. The fungal communities are 

compared. This project is important to understanding the biodiversity 

of freshwater fungi. This is the first study of fungi at Paoay Lake and 

one of the few studies of fungi in the Philippines, which has been poorly 

studied for fungi. Fungi identified so far from MRC Lake are Annulatascus 

biatriisporus, Dactylaria plovercovensis, Digitodesmium heptasporum, 

Sporoschisma saccardoi, and Sporoschisma uniseptatum 

and Savoryella lignicola, S. aquatica, Kirschsteiniothelia elaterascus, 

Annulastascus triseptatus, Aniptodera triseptata have been identified 

from Paoay Lake. A new genus of freshwater ascomycetes, Paoayensis 

lignicola collected from Paoay Lake in Ilocos Norte, in the Philippines 

is described and illustrated and compared with analogous taxa. 

Paoayensis lignicola is characterized by immersed, slightly erumpent 

ascomata which fuse into a single ostiole. Asci are unitunicate, clavate 

and short pedicellate with a discoid refractive apical ring and ascospores 

are lemoniform, brown to dark brown and with a unique germ 

slit. Characters suggest that the genus should be placed in the Sordariales, 

possibly Sordariaceae. Molecular based phylogenies support 

morphological based assumptions. 18S rDNA sequence data indicates 

a close relationship to Xylomelasma sordida and Ceratostomella pyrena 

whose taxonomic placement is still obscure. 28S rDNA based phylogenies, 

on the other hand, depict a close affiliation with members of 

the Annulatascaceae which are freshwater ascomycetes. An appropriate 

familial placement for Paoayensis lignicola is still unknown (Sordariomycetes 

incertae sedis). Contributed Presentation 

Cai, Guohong 1 *, Myers, Kevin 1 , Hillman, Bradley I. 2 and Fry, William 

E. 1 1 Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 

14853, USA, 2 Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers 

University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. gc228@cornell.edu. 

Identification of viruses in Phytophthora infestans. Phytophthora infestans 

continues to be a threat to potato and tomato production worldwide 

– more than one and a half centuries after the Irish famine. Recent 

migrations of diverse, virulent populations into many parts of the world 

has rendered the disease more difficult to control. These populations 

contain individuals of A2 as well as A1 mating type. Additionally, molecular 

genetic studies remain very difficult in P. infestans. In order to 

explore additional potential control measures and to enable development 

of an efficient system for gene expression/silencing in P. infestans, 

we are searching for viruses in this oomycete. Viruses might have 

a role in biocontrol, and they might also have potential to be engineered 

into vectors for gene expression/silencing. We have therefore screened 

P. infestans isolates for virus-like double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), 

and to date (spring 2007) have found five dsRNAs in four patterns. Sequencing 

of a doublet showed that it has the characteristics of the 

replicative form of a single-strand RNA virus. The first RNA (RNA1) 

encodes an RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, pfam 00680) 

and the second (RNA2) encodes a putative trypsin-like serine protease. 

Preliminary sequence data indicate that the other three dsRNAs also 

have characteristics of viruses. Contributed Presentation 

Campbell, Jinx. Department of Coastal Sciences, University of Southern 

Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach 

Drive, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564, USA. 



jinx.campbell@usm.edu. Diversity and role of fungi in coastal 

ecosystems. Growing interest in marine and estuarine habitats in recent 

years has led to an increase in studies on marine fungi. Although the 

first marine fungi were described in 1846, the existence of fungi entirely 

confined to a marine environment was not recognized until about 

40 years ago. Marine and estuarine environments occupy 75% of the 

globe. However, marine fungi occur mainly in intertidal habitats such 

as sandy beaches, jetties, saltmarshes and mangroves. Compared with 

terrestrial fungi, the number of higher marine fungi is small. To date 

only 444 species have been described from marine habitats. Marine 

fungi can be saprophytes, symbionts or parasites on plants or animals. 

All are microscopic; the largest being only 4-5mm in diameter. Saprophytic 

fungi are important decomposers of cellulose, in the form of 

driftwood, pilings, mangrove roots, marsh plants, algae and seagrass 

leaves. They are also found on the exoskeletons, shells and protective 

tubes of animals and fish where they degrade chitin, keratin, tunicin and 

calcium carbonate. Marine fungi are able to form several types of symbiotic 

associations: lichenoids which have phototrophic partners, usually 

microscopic cyanobacteria or green algae, that can also occur in a 

free-living state; true marine lichens that form obligate associations between 

a mycobiont and a photobiont; and mycophycobioses that are 

obligate symbioses between systemic fungi and a dominant marine 

macroalgae. Of the known parasitic species of marine fungi, all but two 

parasitize algae: one has been found on the carapace of crabs and the 

other on proproots of mangroves. Marine fungi have often been overlooked 

as participants in coastal ecological processes. However as interest 

has grown in the existence of a marine mycota, so has the quest 

for knowledge of what are they doing there and how are they doing it. 

Marine fungi play a role in some of the major coastal ecosystem 

processes. They are important in driving or controlling the mineral and 

energy cycling within the ecosystem as well as influencing the community 

composition of other organisms within the ecosystem. 

Symposium Presentation 

Cantrell, Sharon A.* and Perez-Jimenez, Jose R. School of Science and 

Technology, Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, PR 00778, USA. scantrel@suagm.edu. 

Fungi thrive in hypersaline microbial mats. Microbial 

mats are a laminated consortial system, functionally integrated and 

self-sustained that harbor specific microbial communities. Three layers 

are formed during the formation of the microbial mat (surface oxic - 

green, a redox transition - pink and lower anoxic – black). The objective 

is to document the fungal community within microbial mats using 

molecular tools. Sampling was conducted in April (dry season) and October 

(wet season) of 2006. We extracted DNA with MoBio Soil DNA 

kit. For TRFLP, the ITS region was amplified using FAM-ITS1/ITS4. 

Amplicons were digested with Hae III, cloned with TopoTA, sequenced 

with Big Dye Terminator and analyzed in an ABI 3130. 

TRFLP showed higher diversity in the wet season (49 phylotypes vs 

25) particularly in the transition layer probably due to decrease in salinity 

and increase in oxygen. Unique phylotypes were observed in the 

green layers due to entrapment of exogenous spores. Diversity decreased 

from the green to black layers. In the dry season the growth of 

indigenous fungi is promoted by the increase in salinity. Many isolates 

were dematiaceous fungi, C. sphaerospermum and H. werneckii, as 

well as A. pullulans, Emeriocellopsis, Preussia, Rhodosporidium, Rhizoctonia 

and fungal endophytes. Fungal molecular signature was detected 

in microbial mats across layers and seasons suggesting that fungi 

thrive in this hypersaline consortial. Contributed Presentation 

Carmaran, Cecilia C. and Romero, Andrea I.* Facultad de Ciencias Exactas 

y Naturales, UBA, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología 

Experimental, Pabellon 2, piso 4, Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Int. 

Guiraldes 2620, CP1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

romero@bg.fcen.uba.ar. Microfungal conservation. Fungal conservation 

raises some difficult issues, and is a topic novel for many people. 

Because most fungi are inconspicuous most of the time, there is little 

understanding of their diversity and even less of their importance. 

The public is simply unaware that fungi are indispensable components 

of the world’s ecosystems and that microfungi are a key source of many 


important pharmaceuticals and other commercial products. This lack of 

understanding and awareness results in a political lack of concern about 

conservation of fungi. For most countries participating in the Rio Convention 

on Biological Diversity (CBD) this is evidenced by a total absence 

of effort to implement the convention for this important group of 

organisms. In 1994, Argentina approved the CBD; the Secretariat for 

the Environment & Sustainable Development is in charge of promoting 

the country’s biodiversity conservation but the scientific policy is 

implemented through another Secretariat, which manages the financial 

support. Argentine scientists are concerned that these two bodies have 

divergent interests and that implementation of CBD goals in Argentina 

is delayed by their different opinions. This symposium presentation 

will discuss the impact of that problematic situation on fungal conservation, 

and will review national responsibilities to the CBD as a legally 

binding convention in respect of the fungi. Symposium Presentation 

Carris, Lori M. 1 * and Castlebury, Lisa A. 21 Dept. of Plant Pathology, 

Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA, 2 USDA 

ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, 10300 Baltimore Ave., 

Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. carris@wsu.edu. Is Tilletia contraversa 

the causal agent of dwarf bunt of wheat? Tilletia contraversa is accepted 

as the valid name for the dwarf bunt pathogen of wheat. This 

species is a quarantine status pathogen with a host range including 45 

grass hosts in 13 genera. In 1952, G.W. Fischer erected T. brevifaciens 

for the dwarf bunt pathogen, which had previously been considered a 

variant of T. caries, and designated a type on Agropyron intermedium 

(now Thinopyrum intermedium). T. brevifaciens was then synonymized 

with T. contraversa, described by Kühn (1874) for a smut on 

Triticum repens (now Elymus repens). There are no valid species described 

for the dwarf bunt pathogen based on a type from wheat. We 

have noted differences in spore germination, and morphology of 

teliospores and sterile cells among specimens of T. contraversa from 

different host genera. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted using sequence 

data from rDNA ITS, RPB2 and translation elongation factor 1 

alpha to test conspecificity of specimens from Triticum and other grass 

genera. Collections from Hordeum, Secalis, Thinopyrum and other 

genera were found to represent species distinct from a complex of 

wheat bunt pathogens consisting of T. caries, T. contraversa, and T. 

laevis. This indicates that the broad synonymies proposed by various 

authors may not accurately reflect phylogenetic or morphological 

species and that the species status of T. contraversa needs further investigation. 

Contributed Presentation 

Castellano, Michael A. USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research 

Station, Forestry Sciences laboratory, 3200 Jefferson Way, Corvallis, 

OR 97331, USA. mcastellano@fs.fed.us. Fungal conservation 

efforts on Federal lands in the USA. The conservation and management 

of forest macrofungi came to the forefront in the USA in 1993 

with the creation of the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment 

Team (FEMAT) to address the issues of forest management on Federal 

forests in the Pacific Northwest. One of the key objectives of the 

FEMAT was to develop forest management alternatives that allowed 

for the “maintenance and or restoration of habitat conditions to support 

viable populations, well-distributed across their current ranges, of 

species known (or reasonably expected) to be associated with oldgrowth 

forest conditions.” Thus began focused attention on creating 

lists of fungal species on Federal lands in western Washington and Oregon 

and northern California (approx. 24 million acres) and identification 

of specific fungal species at risk for reduction in population viability 

due to forest management. Nearly concurrently the Federal 

government begin an assessment of the Interior Columbia River Basin 

(encompassing Idaho, eastern Washington and Oregon and small portions 

of Utah and Nevada, totaling nearly 72 million acres) for species 

(fungi included) in need of special consideration to ensure continued 

viability. Later the All Taxa Biological Inventory (ATBI) initiative was 

begun supported by the National Science Foundation. At present, 19 reserves 

have begun or plan to begin an ATBI. This includes 12 National 

Parks, five Tennessee State Parks, Adirondack Park in New York, 


and Nantucket Island (a Nature Conservancy/Massachusetts preserve). 

This presentation will review the highlights and challenges of these efforts 

and identify some of the future needs and opportunities in fungal 

conservation in the USA in relation to the objectives of the Rio Convention 

of 1992. Symposium Presentation 

Catal, Mursel, Adams, Gerard C.*, Tumbalam, Pavani and Kirk, 

Willie. Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, 

East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. gadams@msu.edu. Wildtype isolates 

of Phytophthora infestans can be heterokaryons with aneuploid, 

diploid and heteroploid nuclei which may segregate among 

zoospores. We are investigating “super-race” strains of P. infestans 

that produce mitotic zoospores that vary in race, virulence and fungicide 

sensitivity. The goal is to understand the mechanism(s) of asexual 

variation which we hypothesize may involve rearrangements in chromosomes 

near the telomeres similar to mechanisms described for Magnaporthe 

grisea. The experimental approach has been to: 1) determine 

ploidy, 2) locate avirulence genes near telomeres, 3) separate and isolate 

telomere fragments, 4) clone and sequence subtelomeric DNA, and 

5) correlate rearrangements in subtelomere regions with changes in 

phenotype. We have used laser flow cytometry for the first time to 

study nuclear condition in P. infestans. While the majority of our isolates 

are diploid and none are polyploid, surprisingly, several are heterokaryons 

of: a) two different diploid nuclei, b) aneuploid and diploid 

nuclei, and c) aneuploid, diploid, and heteroploid nuclei. For several 

heterokaryotic isolates, single zoospore-derived cultures frequently 

(e.g., 8/32) vary from the parent in nuclear type with some being aneuploid, 

some diploid, and others heterokaryons of aneuploid and 

diploid nuclei. This partially explains mitotic variation. Several subtelomeric 

DNA fragments of about 600 bp are cloned using the Vectorette 

system and sequences verify the presence of the telomere repeat 

at one end of the sequence. Poster 

Chalkley, David, Stamenova, Elena and Zhou, Jim.* American Type 

Culture Collection (ATCC), Mycology Program, 10801 University 

Blvd, Manassas, VA 20110, USA. jzhou@atcc.org. Enhanced authentication 

facilitates the determination of the identity of a marine 

fungus. A fungus isolated from the roots of Rhizophora (black mangrove) 

in Australia was deposited as Hypoxylon sp. (ATCC® MYA- 

3540). It grew slowly and produced only pigmented mycelia and a reddish 

water-soluble pigment on various media. Hypoxylon species 

generally produce perithecia within stromata when grown on aboveground 

parts of woody plants, and not in culture. The failure of this fungus 

to sporulate or produce other structures in several efforts hindered 

its identification. The genomic ITS sequence of this organism did not 

show significant match to fungal ITS sequences in GenBank or 

ATCC’s data sets, but it suggested the closeness of this organism to a 

Xylaria species. However, this suggestion is not consistent with what is 

currently known about this isolate. We are conducting further molecular 

characterizations to identify this potentially novel organism. Results 

and discussion will be presented. Poster 

Cifuentes, J.B.* and Vazquez-Estup, R. Area de Biología, Facultad de 

Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F. 

04510. jcb@hp.fciencias.unam.mx. New additions to Cystoderma in 

Central and Southern Mexico. While 30-40 spp. are known worlwide 

in the genus, in Mexico only five taxa have been recorded: Cystoderma 

amianthinum, C. cinnabarinum , C. fallax, C. granulatum, C. terrei. 

Based on the study of more than 150 collections from ENCB, 

FCME, IBUG and MEXU seven taxa are so far recognized in Mexico. 

The five previously cited species are confirmed, and two putative new 

species are added, one of them from temperate forest and one from 

tropical forest. The putative new species are described and illustrated, 

notes on related taxa are commented. Poster 

Cline, Erica T. 1 * and Rossman, Amy Y. 21 University of Washington, 

Tacoma, WA 98402, USA, 2 Systematic Botany and Mycology Lab, 

USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 

20705, USA. ecline@u.washington.edu. Septoria malagutii sp. nov., 

cause of annular leaf spot of potato. The fungus causing annular leaf 

spot of potato, reported only from South America, poses a risk as a potentially 

invasive species due to its ability to flourish in the cooler temperatures 

typical of potato-producing regions in Europe and North 

America. Initially described as “Septoria lycopersici var. malagutii”, 

the variety is not validly published as required by the International 

Code of Botanical Nomenclature because no type specimen was specifically 

designated. Specimens of S. lycopersici var. lycopersici and S. lycopersici 

“var. malagutii” were examined and their rRNA ITS regions 

and (TEF)-1-alpha genes were sequenced. The ‘var. malagutii’ conidia 

were significantly longer and narrower with the conidiogenous cells 

significantly shorter and narrower than the “var. lycopersici” cells. Although 

the sequences were similar — ITS at 99.6% and TEF-1-alpha 

at 99.2% — the “var. lycopersici” ITS was more similar to several 

other Septoria species than to its “var. malagutii” counterpart, suggesting 

that the latter should be recognized as a new species: Septoria 

malagutii. Poster 

Cripps, Cathy L. 1 * and Horak, Egon. 21 Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology 

Dept., Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA, 

2 Mikrobiologisches Institut, Universitat Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 

25, 6. Stockwerk, AT-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. ccripps@montana.edu. 

Alpine agarics with Dryas octopetala (Rosaceae) in arctic-alpine 

habitats of the Rocky Mountains (USA). Dryas octopetala is a low 

woody mat plant common in Ca-rich arctic-alpine habitats. It has a circumpolar 

distribution and occurs with isolated populations in alpine 

areas including the middle to southern Rocky Mountains (RM) at latitude 

38N. Dryas is anomalous as an ectomycorrhizal genus in the 

Rosaceae, a family of predominantly AM hosts. During a survey of 

alpine agarics in the RMs, a number of saprobic and mycorrhizal 

macromycetes were recorded with D. octopetala. A majority of ectomycorrhizal 

agarics are arctic-alpine species that also associate with 

alpine willows (Salix spp). During several RM expeditions basidiomes 

were gathered belonging to seven species of Inocybe, Cortinarius 

(Telemonia) tenebricus, Entoloma alpicola, E. sericeum, Hebeloma 

alpinum, Laccaria laccata var. pallidifolia, and Russula aff. delica. 

Major portions of Dryas roots host Cenococcum geophilum as well. 

Most agarics are considered early-colonizers which fits the pioneering 

status of Dryas and appear to enter opportunistic associations with this 

host. However, some agarics are recorded exclusively with Dryas over 

its large range. Examples are the highly specialized, saprobic species 

Marasmius epidryas and Clitocybe dryadicola (a first record for the 

RM). Dryas is of current interest as a model system for global climate 

change although its mycorrhizal status is generally not recognized in 

this regard. Contributed Presentation 

Crouch, Jo Anne 1 *, Johnston, Peter R. 2 and Hillman, Bradley I. 11 Rutgers 

University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2 Landcare Research, 

Auckland, NZ. jcrouch@eden.rutgers.edu. Species concepts in the 

genus Colletotrichum: are we finally moving towards a consistent 

and accurate classification after 50 years of von Arxian generalizations? 

In 1957, Josef von Arx ushered in the modern era of Colletotrichum 

systematics by decreasing the number of accepted species 

from >750 to just 11, signaling an end to the hopelessly outdated practice 

of describing a new species taxon to correspond with every novel 

host plant association. On the 50th anniversary of von Arx‘s landmark 

treatise and at the genesis of the first Colletotrichum genome sequence 

(C. graminicola), we present a synthesis of present-day Colletotrichum 

systematics and the prospects for a long anticipated taxonomic clarification 

of this economically important genus of plant pathogens. Importantly, 

the recent formation of the International Subcommission on 

Colletotrichum and Glomerella Taxonomy, modeled on the successful 

Penicillium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma groups, will guide the future 

of this genus, providing a consistent framework for taxonomic assignments 

and a database of authentic isolates through the colletotrichum.org 

website. As a first step towards unraveling the phylogenetic 

relationships within the major Colletotrichum group species, 

we present results of our multi-locus phylogentic analysis of the grassinhabiting 

C. graminicola group. Using 4 genes from 3 loci, 11 species 



were identified from the C. graminicola circumscription, including 6 

novel, morphologically cryptic species largely defined by novel ecological 

associations. Contributed Presentation 

Crouch, Jo Anne 1 *, Milgroom, Michael G. 2 and Hillman, Bradley I. 1 

1 Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA, 2 Cornell Univeristy, 

Ithaca, NY, USA. jcrouch@eden.rutgers.edu. How have transposable 

genetic elements transformed the landscape of the Cryphonectria 

parasitica genome? The chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, 

is well known for harboring a wide array of extrachromosomal 

genetic elements. Most of these elements are virulence-suppressing cytoplasmic 

viruses, but mitochondrial viruses, plasmids, and transposons 

have also been identified. Three transposable elements have been identified 

in the genome of C. parasitica: the DNA transposons Crypt1 and 

Crypt2, and the retrotransposon Cryret1. These transposons are predicted 

to be active, are widely distributed in populations of C. parasitica 

and are also found in the genome of the sympatrically distributed 

species C. nitschkei. In addition to intact copies, degenerate transposon 

sequences have also been identified from C. parasitica; however, no 

evidence for repeat-induced point (RIP) mutation has been detected, 

despite the close phylogenetic relationship of C. parasitica to several 

Sordariomycetes in which RIP has been observed. Here we present an 

overview of our ongoing studies of transposon distribution and divergence 

in the genome of C. parasitica. Using a combination of population 

genetic and phylogenetic tools, we are using these data to explore 

evolutionary changes over space in time for this important fungal 

species, and to test hypotheses derived from nuclear genes and a second 

class of extrachromosomal element, the hypovirus CHV1. Contributed 

Presentation 

Crous, Pedro W. CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre, P.O. Box 85167, 

3508 AD Utrecht, Netherlands. crous@cbs.knaw.nl. The case for an 

International Code of Mycological Nomenclature. Botanists, zoologists 

and bacteriologists have divergent nomenclatural codes. The International 

Botanical Congress at Vienna in 1905 adopted the first draft 

of the present Rules of Botanical Nomenclature, which were revised in 

1910, by which time mycologists joined in. In 1930 the International 

Society for Microbiology, at its first International Congress, recognized 

that insofar as applicable, the International Codes of Botany and Zoology 

should be followed for naming microorganisms. Fungi have traditionally 

been associated with plants; in the botanical code several clauses 

were inserted that satisfied needs of mycologists. Rules of the ICBN 

can only be modified at International Botanical Congresses (IBC), 

which convene every six years. The Committee for Fungi (CF), which 

is appointed at the IBC, screens mycological proposals, published in 

Taxon, and its report is then screened by the General Committee and 

ratified by the IBC. However, Fungi reside in their own kingdom, and 

require a more flexible and forward looking code than the ICBN. Furthermore, 

the CF does under the present system not account for its actions 

to the mycological community in the IMA, nor the IUMS. I argue, 

therefore, that it is timely to establish a separate Code of Mycological 

Nomenclature that resides in a mycological association, rather than a 

botanical one. Symposium Presentation 

Crous, Pedro W.* and Groenewald, Johannes Z. CBS Fungal Biodiversity 

Centre, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD Utrecht, Netherlands. 

crous@cbs.knaw.nl. Mycosphaerella is polyphyletic. Mycosphaerella 

is probably one of the largest genera of Ascomycetes, encompassing 

several thousand species, with anamorphs residing in more than 30 

form genera. Previous phylogenetic studies based on the ITS locus considered 

the genus to be monophyletic. However, DNA sequence data 

derived from the 18S and 28S nrDNA genes of an extended set of taxa 

distinguish several clades and families in what has hitherto been considered 

to represent the Mycosphaerellaceae. Several important leaf 

spotting and extremotolerant species need to be disposed to the genus 

Teratosphaeria, for which a new family needs to be introduced. Other 

distinct clades represent the Schizothyriaceae, a clade consisting of 

Dissoconium spp., and some less well resolved lineages. Within the 

two major lineages, namely Teratosphaeria and Mycosphaerella, most 


anamorph genera are polyphyletic, and new anamorph concepts have 

to be derived to cope with dual nomenclature within the Mycosphaerella 

complex. Contributed Presentation 

Cuomo, Christina 1 *, Rokas, Antonis 1 , Alvarado, Lucia 1 , Grabherr, 

Manfred 1 , Pearson, Matthew 1 , Kodira, Chinnappa 1 , Galagan, James 1 , 

James, Timothy 2 , Leroux, Michel 3 , Longcore, Joyce 4 and Birren, 

Bruce. 11 Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA, 

2 Uppsala University, Uppsala, SWE, 3 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, 

BC, CAN, 4 University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA. 

cuomo@broad.mit.edu. The genome sequence of the amphibian 

pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Batrachochytrium is a 

pathogen of amphibians implicated as a primary causative agent of amphibian 

declines. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was identified in 

1998 as the cause of amphibian deaths in Australia and Central America, 

and, more recently, it has been implicated in global frog population 

declines. We sequenced the genome of strain JEL423, isolated from a 

sick Phylomedusa lemur frog from Panama. We produced a 7.4X whole 

genome shotgun assembly, which contains 23.4 Mb of sequence in 348 

contigs, linked into 69 scaffolds. The B. dendrobatidis genome encodes 

for a predicted set of 8,794 proteins. We have compared the B. dendrobatidis 

proteome to those of other animal and plant pathogens to identify 

candidate genes involved in B. dendrobatidis pathogenesis. These include 

several gene families that appear highly expanded in B. 

dendrobatidis compared to other fungi. As no sexual stage has been observed, 

we have evaluated conservation of genes important for mating 

and meiosis in other fungi. We have also characterized a set of genes 

conserved only with nonfungal organisms, some of which play a role in 

cilia or flagella in those species. As the first representative of the chytridiomycete 

phylum to have its genome sequenced, this genome provides 

a new vantage point for genomic comparisons across the fungal clade as 

well as with its sister animal clade. Symposium Presentation 

Curland, Rebecca* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University 

of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. curland.rebe@students.uwlax.edu. 

Preliminary mycodiversity studies 

of AMF colonization in a southwestern Wisconsin prairie dominated 

by the invasive exotic plant Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge). 

Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge) is a Eurasian invasive perennial forb 

that is rapidly colonizing much of North America’s prairies and rangelands, 

typically crowding out native species and destroying rangelands 

used for livestock grazing. Although E. esula’s impact on the plant and 

wildlife community has been well studied, its impact on the soil microbial 

community is not currently well understood. Specifically, there 

is a lack of studies on the dynamic between E. esula and native arbuscular 

mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) populations. Likewise, there is a deficiency 

of research concerning community feedbacks in terms of native 

plant species, native AMF community composition, and E. esula. We 

designed a study in southwestern Wisconsin to assess the AMF colonization 

in field monocultures of E. esula, mixed plots of E. esula with 

native prairie plants, and plots of native plants without E. esula. 

Through the combined use of PCR, cloning, RFLP analysis and DNA 

sequencing, we have identified AMF species that have infected the 

roots of E. esula as well as the roots of some representative native 

prairie plants at our study site. Our ultimate research goal is to formulate 

an accurate depiction of the AMF community as it relates to invasion 

by E. esula. Poster 

Davey, Marie L.*, Tsuneda, Akihiko and Currah, Randolph S. Department 

of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, 

T6G 2E9, Canada. mdavey@ualberta.ca. Morphology and development 

of Papulaspora sepedonioides Preuss. Papulospores are large 

multicellular conidia with several, thick walled central cells enclosed 

within a sheath of smaller thin-walled cells. This morphology facilitates 

survival of adverse environmental conditions. Some aspects of the developmental 

sequence of these structures have been observed, but the 

differentiation of the two cell types has not been addressed. An isolate 

of Papulaspora sepedonioides, recovered from spruce cones in Alber- 


ta, provided sporulating material that allowed us to revisit development 

using light, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Spiral 

primordia are formed from short lateral branches on vegetative hyphae. 

Branching of primordial cells produces ensheathing hyphae, creating a 

knot-like papulospore initial. Meristematic division of the original primordial 

cells produces 2-8 central cells. The surrounding ensheathing 

hyphae become septate and pseudoparenchymatous as the papulospore 

matures. As mature size is reached, the central cells’ walls become 

thickened and melanized. Autolysis of the sheathing cells produces a 

mature papulospore consisting of an outer sheath of thin walled, deflated 

hyaline cells surrounding a core of thick walled, melanized central 

cells containing large numbers of lipid globules. We suspect sheath 

cells both provide additional nutrients to the central cells and provide 

additional germination potential early in papulospore development. 

Both central cells and living sheath cells germinated to produce new 

primordia and germ tubes, suggesting microcyclic conidiogenesis occurs 

in this species. Contributed Presentation 

Dean, R. A. Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Dept. Plant Pathology, 

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. 

Ralph_Dean@ncsu.edu. An “omics” interrogation of fungal pathogenicity. 

Magnaporthe grisea is the causal agent of rice blast, the most 

devastating disease of rice world-wide and is a seminal model to elucidate 

the basis of pathogen–host interactions. The recent completion of 

the genome sequence for both Magnaporthe and rice as well as the 

genome sequences for several other pathogenic and non-pathogenic filamentous 

fungi has provided a wealth of new information regarding the 

raw components of the pathogen’s offensive arsenal and host’s defenses. 

In my presentation I will discuss some of the novel discoveries that 

have only come to light as a result of having access to the genome sequences, 

such as novel classes of secreted proteins, surface receptors 

and large suites of enzymes involved in secondary metabolism and 

what role they play a role in the disease process. I will highlight recent 

results from functional analyses including transcription profiling and 

high throughput gene knockout experiments. I will close with new 

strategies, including proteomic and comparative evolutionary approaches 

we are undertaking. Efforts are currently focused on interrogation 

of novel non-coding transcripts, transcriptional networks and 

protein-protein interactions to define the circuitry regulating hostpathogen 

interactions. In addition, I will discuss new tools and resources 

we are developing to examine the role of gene duplication in 

pathogenesis through large-scale comparative analyses of sequenced 

fungal genomes. Symposium Presentation 

Degagne, Rebecca S. 1 , Henkel, Terry W. 2 * and Steinberg, S.J. 1 1 Department 

of Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences, Humboldt 

State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA, 2 Department of Biological 

Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA. 

twh5@humboldt.edu. Examining the distribution of ectomycorrhizal 

Dicymbe forests in Guyana using satellite imagery and field 

surveys. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) canopy trees in the genus Dicymbe 

(Caesalpiniaceae) form monodominant forests in the Pakaraima Mountains 

of western Guyana. Dicymbe forests, which occur locally in the 

Upper Potaro River Basin as patches within an anectotrophic forest matrix, 

function as habitat islands for a diverse assemblage of putatively 

endemic EM fungi. Ground-based studies have not been extensive 

enough to determine the regional extent of Dicymbe forests. Distribution 

information is critical to allow broader sampling of Dicymbe 

forests and their EM fungal constituents and ultimately inform conservation 

plans for these unique habitats. The rugged, remote nature of the 

Upper Potaro River Basin study site and the spatially discrete occurrence 

of Dicymbe stands suggest that satellite technology may be an 

ideal tool for examining the extent of these relatively unknown tropical 

forest systems. The purpose of this project was to examine the distribution 

of Dicymbe forests using remote sensing and GIS technology. 

Field data and satellite imagery were used to identify and map the location 

of monodominant Dicymbe corymbosa and Dicymbe altsonii in 

the central Pakaraima Mountains. Accuracy assessment on the ground 

revealed that maps created from the image classification process are ac- 

curate at > 70% level. These results suggest that Landsat image classification 

may be successful on regional and extra-regional scales in 

identifying tropical forests dominated by EM trees. Poster 

Dentinger, Bryn T. M. 1 *, McLaughlin, David J. 1 and Henkel, Terry W. 2 

1 Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, 

USA, 2 Dept. of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, 

CA 95521, USA. dent0015@umn.edu. Gaping into gaps: evolution 

of porcini mushrooms. Phylogenetic studies in the Boletineae, which 

contains a substantial proportion of the described species of boletes, 

have suffered from poor backbone resolution resulting in phylogenetic 

combs that render circumscription of monophyletic groups tenuous. 

Most of these studies have relied primarily upon rDNA sequences and 

none have attempted to incorporate length-variation as phylogenetic 

data. One of the key questions that remains unsolved is: Are porcini 

mushrooms monophyletic? The answer to this question holds considerable 

taxonomic bearing because the porcini group contains the type 

species, Boletus edulis, on which the taxonomy of the order Boletales is 

based. In this study, we compared the phylogenetic utility of length-variable 

regions of the nuclear LSU rDNA and portions of RPB1 introns, in 

combination with the unambiguously aligned regions of these genes, to 

the unambiguously aligned regions alone. We used a small but broad 

sampling of taxa in the Boletineae, including representatives of the 

major groups of porcini. We compared the results of employing alignment-independent 

methods (implemented in POY) and recoding 

schemes (INAASE) to those obtained from standard phylogenetic methods. 

Our results indicate that while the backbone of the Boletineae remains 

poorly resolved, the hypothesis that porcini are monophyletic 

cannot be rejected. Contributed Presentation 

DeSantis, Todd Z., Torok, Tamas, Brodie, Eoin L., Piceno, Yvette M. 

and Andersen, Gary L.* Dept. of Ecology, Lawrence Berkeley National 

Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. glandersen@lbl.gov. 

Characterization of microbial diversity with high-density microarrays. 

The applicability of biomarkers, such as the ribosomal small subunit 

(SSU), internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the ribosomal 

large subunit (LSU) for microbial classification are now well accepted. 

One of the main reasons that the ribosomal operon is the most popular 

region for molecular phylogeny is that conserved segments can serve as 

priming sites to create heterogeneous PCR products from environmental 

samples. Cloning-and-sequencing the PCR products has been the 

general method of sampling the DNA types but does not scale well for 

large studies. Instead, hybridizing PCR products to a universal microarray 

allows a more rapid evaluation. We have developed a high-density 

microarray system to accurately measure the key prokaryotic components 

in air, water, and soil environments. Unique regions of DNA within 

gene sequences of 16S small subunit of bacterial and archaeal ribosomes 

are used to identify specific organisms. A minimum of 11 

oligonucleotide probes (25-mers) are used in combination to identify, in 

parallel, any of over 9,000 distinctive species or taxa on a 500,000 

probe, high-density microarray. The combinatorial approach of multiple 

probes has clear advantages over a single probe for the identification of 

a target sequence. Broad-range bacterial and archaeal 16S primers that 

target conserved areas at the 5΄ and 3΄ ends of the 16S rRNA gene are 

used to amplify 1400 to 1500-bp fragments for analysis. Building on the 

success of this phylogenetic microarray, we are developing a prototype 

high-density microarray to identify eukaryotic microbial community 

structure. As a first step, a fungal sequence repository was developed, 

similar to our greengenes site (http://greengenes.lbl.gov) bacterial repository 

to maintain a comprehensive set of aligned, chimera-screened 18S, 

ITS and the D1/D2 regions of the 28S rRNA gene sequences. From 

these alignments, 25-mer potential targets are extracted and filtered 

based on their physical properties (GC content, Tm, folding potential, 

self-dimerization potential, synthesis efficiency criteria) and their crosshybridization 

potential. Each target gene is progressively clustered into 

taxa with its nearest neighbors until a set of approved probes are found 

that target nearly all members of the taxa and do not exhibit cross-hybridization 

potential. For taxa where the ribosomal operon as a whole is 



distinctive but no probe-level sequence is identified that is not shared 

with other taxa, a set of probes are designed to a combination of regions 

on the operon that taken together do not exist in any other taxa. The selected 

probes will each be paired with a control probe containing a central 

mismatch to reduce the effects of non-specific hybridization and 

synthesized on a NimbleGen platform. This microarray could greatly 

advance our knowledge of the role fungi play in important matters such 

as bioremediation, carbon sequestration and human diseases in addition 

to providing a monitoring tool to assess the health of an ecosystem. 


Dewsbury, Damon R. 1 * and Moncalvo, Jean-Marc. 2 1 Department of 

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, ON M5S 

3B2, Canada, 2 Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 

ON M5S 2C6, Canada. damondewsy@yahoo.com. A molecular phylogeny 

of Eastern North American morels (genus Morchella) focusing 

on the “Carolinian” forest zone. Members of the genus Morchella 

are easily identified in the field but species boundaries are 

problematic given the limited morpho-characters. DNA sequences of 

the ITS, LSU, RPB2 and EF-1 alpha regions are being obtained from 

many specimens sampled from four Maryland national parks and southern 

Ontario. Most of these specimens were collected in the “Carolinian” 

forest zone, which is characterized by a particular suite of flora dominated 

by Tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipifera). The Tuliptree belongs to 

the Magnoliaceae and thus is quite distinct from other dominant tree 

species in Eastern North America. It has been noted anecdotally that 

there is a correlation between these trees and morel fruitings. Sequence 

data will be used to elucidate a molecular phylogeny to answer several 

questions. Of the four morphotaxa that can be distinguished in the field, 

do any mask multiple phylogenetic species? Do Southern Ontario 

morels from the Carolinian zone cluster with Maryland collections, following 

the tree host/forest ecotype, or with geographically closer taxa 

from forests with more northern floral elements such as maple (Acer 

genus) and pine (Pinus genus)? Lastly, this study will begin to address 

whether there is a need for a taxonomic revision of the genus in eastern 

North America to provide formal names for morels that are phylogenetically 

distinct from their European counterparts. Poster 

Dianese, José Carmine* and Pereira-Carvalho, Rita C. Departamento de 

Fitopatologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito 

Federal, Brazil. jcarmine@unb.br. Fungal conservation with the Rio 

Convention: the experience of Brazil. Mycology in Brazil suffered a 

long period of stagnation mainly after the deaths of Augusto Chaves 

Batista, Ahmés Pinto Viégas in the 1960s, and more recently the loss of 

Alcides Teixeira. However, coinciding with the signature of “The Convention 

on Biodiversity”, a few people woke up for the need of fungal 

conservation starting with a systematic description of our mycodiversity. 

Thus major projects involving the study of savanna (cerrado) microfungi, 

fungi of the “caatinga” (semi-arid Northeast region), survey and 

description of endomycorrhizal fungi, microfungi of interest to biocontrol 

of insects and plant diseases, and description of important fractions 

of the Boletales and other macrofungi, were all initiated after 1992 in 

Brazil. These efforts, in some instances based upon cooperation with 

American and European mycologists, although conducted by isolated 

groups deserve consideration and an effort to present an overview of the 

mycological progress in our Country in the last 15 years. It must be emphasized 

that in Brazil the preservation of fungi “ex-situ” in culture collections 

is clearly left aside with money destined to collections being 

funneled to collateral activities even in institutions whose primary mission 

is exactly that of preserving germplasm. With the establishment of 

the “Centro de Biotecnologia da Amazônia” (Amazonian Biotechnology 

Center) in Manaus by the Federal Government it is expected that the 

first step will be the organization of a unique mycological collection, 

and the same must become real for the cerrado where Embrapa is giving 

the first steps in the same direction. On the other hand several frustrated 

experiences led to difficulties in motivating the financing agents 

to invest in culture collections, treasure still unexplored. Data will be 

gathered and presented to permit an evaluation of the mycological 

progress in Brazil post-Rio 92. Symposium Presentation 


Dianese, J. C.* and Pereira-Carvalho, R.C. Departamento de Fitopatologia, 

Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, 

Brazil. jcarmine@unb.br. A new hyphomycete genus based on Alternaria 

qualeae. A re-examination suggested by Dr. Emmory Simmons 

(personal communication) of the type material of Alternaria 

qualeae Dornelo-Silva & Dianese, deposited in Herbarium UB, led to 

the conclusion that the specimen does not really belong in an Alternaria 

species but indeed belongs in a new genus to be published soon. The 

specimen can not be included in Alternaria because of the the presence 

of a stroma produced by the fungus on the abaxial face of the host 

leaves, and the fact that a careful examination of the conidial base and 

the conidiogenous cells revealed scars but not the characteristic tretic 

condition needed to characterize an alternarian species. Finally, a close 

observation of the conidiogenous cells revealed their annellidic condition. 

The specimen could not be fitted in any of the known genera of 

dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Poster 

Didukh, Maryna* and Moncalvo, Jean-Marc. Department of Ecology 

and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, and Department of 

Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada. maryna.didukh@gmail.com. 

DNA barcoding Pleurotus species (Agaricales, 

Basidiomycota). DNA barcoding is an approach designed to increase 

the efficiency of recovering and documenting species across 

different kingdoms of life. In numerous groups of animals, a short, ca. 

600 bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (CO1) was shown 

to very be effective for that purpose, and this gene has been proposed 

as a possible universal marker. However, the utility of CO1 as a 

species marker in fungi still remains to be tested. Primary disputes 

over CO1 involve fundamental issues like accuracy (intraspecific variation 

and interspecific divergence) and the proposed use of singlegene 

thresholds as an initial step in species discovery. Prior to the barcoding 

initiative, information on the organization and variation of 

CO1 in fungi was scarce and restricted mostly to model organisms in 

the Ascomycota. In this study, over 40 strains of seven species of the 

genus Pleurotus as well as representatives of other agaricoid taxa were 

used to assess variation in the target CO1 region and to compare its 

performance with more widely used nuclear markers: nuclear ribosomal 

DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrDNA ITS) region and elongation 

factor-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha). Pleurotus strains were further used 

to compare cDNA vs. genomic sequences for CO1 and EF-1 alpha in 

order to retrieve information on nuclear gene organization. Contributed 

Presentation 

DiMarco, Michael J. and Silliker, Margaret E.* Department of Biology, 

DePaul University, 2325 N. Clifton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, 

USA. msillike@depaul.edu. RNA editing of Didymium iridis atp8 

and nad4L mitochondrial genes. Mitochondrial genomics has provided 

evolutionary insights, however, in some organisms, the mitochondrial 

DNA genes appear to be scrambled; functional genes arise 

after the mRNA undergoes an editing process. In the Myxogastria 

(plasmodial slime molds) editing is primarily by cytosine-base insertions 

that alter the transcript to remove stop codons. We characterized 

editing events in two mitochondrial genes, atp8 and nad4L of Didymium 

iridis. Total RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed, cloned, sequenced, 

and aligned with the genomic DNA sequences to reveal the 

editing sites. Nad4L was edited evenly throughout by C-insertions, 

while atp8 was predominantly edited at the beginning of the transcript. 

Editing sites were downstream of a purine-pyrimidine dinucleotide 

67% of the time. Given the base composition of the genes, A-T dinucleotides 

are predicted to occur in 16% of the sequence, however, this 

dinucleotide pair was found immediately upstream at 57% of all the upstream 

pur-pyr editing sites. The C-base insertions were preferentially 

inserted in the 3rd position (wobble position) of the codon to create a 

correct reading frame. Editing sites were conserved 63% and 85% in 

atp8 and nad4L, respectively, between D. iridis and Physarum polycephalum, 

a related Myxogastria. In both organisms a similar mechanism 

of RNA editing appears to be responsible for maintaining protein 

function. Poster 


Douhan, Greg W.*, Douhan, LeAnn I. and Huryn, Karyn. Department 

of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, 

CA 92521, USA. gdouhan@ucr.edu. Species diversity of Hypomyces 

associated with boletes in California. Mycoparasitic Hypomyces 

(anamorph = Sepedonium) species are commonly observed 

parasitizing members of the Boletales. In California, only two species 

have been recognized; the generalist pathogen H. chrysospermus which 

infects many genera within the Boletates and the specialist H. microspermus 

which infects hosts within the Xerocomus chrysenteron complex. 

We have recently discovered that cryptic species occur in both 

pathogens with two phylogenetic species occurring in each group. 

However, this was based on a limited sample size and we hypothesized 

that even more unrecognized diversity occurs in California. Therefore, 

our objective was to test this by broadening our collections. From Jan 

2003 to February 2006, parasitized mushrooms were collected throughout 

California from Humboldt to Riverside Counties and identified by 

ITS sequencing. European isolates were also obtained for comparison 

purposes. Over 120 CA isolates were recovered and we identified two 

previously unrecognized species occurring in California; H. laevigatum 

and H. ampullosporum. Contrary to our hypothesis, we only found the 

four phylogenetic species as were identified in our previous study. All 

‘species’ were distributed throughout the sampling range in CA and 

these same species were also found occurring throughout Europe. 

However, most bolete hosts are not shared between Europe and CA 

suggesting that the hosts have speciated faster than the parasites. Contributed 

Presentation 

Douhan, Greg W. 1 *, Smith, Matthew E. 2 , Huryn, Karyn L. 1 , Westbrook, 

Andrea 2 and Fisher, Alison. 31 Department of Plant Pathology, 

University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA, 2 Department of 

Plant Pathology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, 

CA 956161, USA, 3 USDA, ARS, Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research 

Unit, Albany, CA 94710, USA. gdouhan@ucr.edu. Multigene analysis 

suggests ecological speciation in the fungal pathogen Claviceps 

purpurea. Claviceps purpurea is an important pathogen of grasses and 

source of novel chemical compounds. Three groups within this species 

(G1, G2, and G3) have been recognized based on habitat association, 

sclerotia and conidia morphology, and alkaloid production. These 

groups have further been supported by RAPD and AFLP markers, suggesting 

this species may be more accurately described as a species 

complex. In this study, we used a multi-gene approach to test for speciation 

within C. purpurea using DNA sequences from ITS, a RASlike 

locus, and a portion of beta-tubulin. We found that C. purpurea 

sensu lato appears to be in the early stages of speciation. The G1 types 

are significantly divergent from the G2/G3 types based on each of the 

three loci and the combined dataset, whereas the G2/G3 types are more 

integrated with one another. Although the G2 and G3 lineages have not 

diverged as much as the G1 lineage based on DNA sequence data, the 

use of three DNA loci does reliably separate the G2 and G3 lineages. 

Our results suggest that these fungi are in the process of speciation and 

we argue that this process is driven by adaptations to ecological habitats; 

G1 isolates are associated with terrestrial grasses, G2 isolates are 

found in wet and shady environments, and G3 isolates are found in salt 

marsh habitats. All divergent ecotypes can coexist in sympatric populations 

with no obvious physical barriers to prevent gene flow. However, 

our results suggest that no genetic exchange is occurring between 

these divergent groups. Poster 

Dunek, Craig* and Volk, Tom. Department of Biology, University of 

Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

dunek.crai@students.uwlax.edu, volk.thom@uwlax.edu, TomVolk- 

Fungi.net. The incidence of antifungal drugs from fungi. The clinical 

significance of fungal pathogens has increased dramatically in the 

past 30 years. Conditions such as aspergillosis, sporotrichosis, blastomycosis, 

candidiasis, and cryptococcosis are occurring more often and 

with greater virulence, especially in those who are immunocompromised. 

Treatment of fungal pathogens with antifungal drugs is normally 

lengthy and is associated with a plethora of side effects, such as 

headaches, vomiting, as well as more serious complications such as 

hepatitis and renal failure. These side effects are not only devastating to 

the patient but also have a huge economic impact, costing millions 

every year for increased hospital stays. Once discovered, new antifungal 

drug classes could reduce side effects as well as lower overall costs 

in antifungal treatments. However, discovery of antifungal drugs is 

very difficult, because both humans and fungi have eukaryotic cells. 

Humans and fungi are so similar that antifungal drugs tend to also be 

generally anti-eukaryotic, killing both fungal and human cells, thus 

causing side effects. “Perfect” antibiotics are selective for the infectious 

agent and at the same time are innocuous to the host. This research 

looks for new antifungal compounds from fungal fruiting bodies. Extracts 

from fungal fruiting bodies were tested against six strains of pathogenic 

fungi: Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus 

neoformans, Emmonsia crescens, Sporothrix schenckii, and Trichophyton 

species. The comprehensive screenings of more than twohundred 

species of fungi have lead to some possible candidates for new 

antifungal drugs. These agents once characterized may benefit patients 

and have a significant economic impact. Contributed Presentation 

Edwards, Sally M.* and Spiegel, Frederick W. Department of Biological 

Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. smedwar@uark.edu. 

Impacts of land use changes on cellular slime molds. 

The development of forest, pastoral and riparian ecosystems has the potential 

to significantly affect the biodiversity of a given area. Previous research 

has shown the effects of land use shifts on macro-organism diversity. 

However, such works have not fully addressed the possible impacts 

on soil microorganisms. This study will examine the effects of different 

land uses on the dictyostelid cellular slime molds. Currently recognized 

as a group within the taxon Eumycetozoa, the dictyostelids are a cosmopolitan 

group of eukaryotic microorganisms. These soil and humusdwelling 

protists spend much of their life cycle as bacteriotrophic amoebae. 

Upon depletion of their microhabitat, the amoebae aggregate into a 

multicellular slug, which can then develop into a fruiting body. Collections 

of soil and dead vegetation were made from 10 sets of paired sites 

(with one site per pair disturbed by construction) throughout Arkansas. 

Five samples were collected from each site. The resulting soil samples 

were diluted according to the Cavender method and grown on WMY 

agar with E. coli at 20-26 C. Plates were examined for dictyostelid 

growth, using a Nikon SMZ1500 dissecting microscope, each day on 

days 3-14. Species richness and diversity were compared for disturbed 

versus undisturbed sites. The potential of soil microorganisms as indicators 

of environmental change is also discussed. Poster 

Everhart, Sydney E.*, Keller, Harold W. and Ely, Joseph S. Department 

of Biology, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 

64093, USA. everhart@ucmo.edu. Corticolous myxomycetes (true 

slime molds): species assemblages and distribution in the tree 

canopy of selected forests of Kentucky and Tennessee. Corticolous 

myxomycetes complete their life cycle on the bark of living trees and 

vines. Trees with grapevines (Vitaceae) were selected to compare the 

occurrence and distribution of species in the tree canopy. The doublerope 

climbing technique was used to access the canopy and sample 

bark at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 meters. Tree species sampled were Acer saccharum, 

Fraxinus americana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron 

tulipifera, Platanus occidentalis, and Tsuga canadensis. Bark from five 

trees of each species and their corresponding grapevines, Vitis aestivalis 

or V. vulpina, was used to prepare moist chamber cultures and induce 

fruiting of myxomycetes. A total of 580 moist chamber cultures 

yielded 44 myxomycete species, representing 19 genera, with an additional 

2 taxa identified only to genus. Common species found were 

Echinostelium minutum, Arcyria cinerea, and Perichaena chrysosperma. 

Variation in occurrence and assemblages of myxomycete species 

is associated with tree species and bark pH, indicating a few species are 

restricted to bark of a certain pH, while many species occur over a wide 

range. Financially supported by Willard North Graduate Research 

Award, NSF Award DEB-0343447, National Geographic Research 

and Exploration Award-7272-02, and Discover Life in America 

Awards 2001-26 and 2002-17. Contributed Presentation 



Everhart, Sydney E.*, Keller, Harold W. and Ely, Joseph S. Department 

of Biology, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 

64093, USA. everhart@ucmo.edu. Quantitative analysis of bark 

characteristics and epiphyte cover on distribution patterns of corticolous 

myxomycetes (true slime molds) in the tree canopy. Corticolous 

myxomycetes form plasmodia and fruiting bodies on the bark of 

living trees and vines. Bark was sampled from 30 trees and 30 

grapevines along a vertical transect up to 15 m, to examine the relationship 

between bark characteristics (pH, water absorption, and thickness), 

epiphyte cover, geographic location, and myxomycete species. 

Moist chamber culture technique was used to induce myxomycete 

fruiting and bark pH was measured after 24 hours using an Orion 610 

pH flat probe. Plates were scanned for presence of myxomycetes after 

4, 16, and 32 days, and percent cover data was collected in a stratified 

random design on day 32. Different species of trees and grapevines had 

significantly different bark characteristics, however, the only tree 

which had a significant difference in the vertical variation of any bark 

characteristic was P. occidentalis. Accordingly, P. occidentalis also 

had a significant decrease in richness of myxomycete species with increasing 

height in the canopy. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling 

and multi-response permutation procedure were performed; distinct 

species assemblages correspond to each tree and grapevine species and 

were differentiated by pH, DBH, and elevation. Financially supported 

by NSF Award DEB-0343447, National Geographic Research and Exploration 

Award-7272-02, and Discover Life in America Awards 

2001-26 and 2002-17. Poster 

Exeter, Ronald L. 1 and Norvell, Lorelei L. 2 * 1 USDI Bureau of Land 

Management, 1717 Fabry Road SE, Salem, OR 97306-1720, USA, 

2 Pacific Northwest Mycology Service, Portland, OR 97229-1309. 

USA. llnorvell@pnw-ms.com. Ramarias of Pacific Northwest. The 

colorful coral fungi are among the loveliest denizens of the vast temperate 

rainforests of western North America. The US government’s 

Northwest Forest Plan targeted 28 rare or uncommon taxa of Ramaria 

(Basidiomycota, Gomphales) as worthy of survey and management 

within the range of the endangered northern spotted owl. Examination 

of both type and recent collections and reference to classic papers by 

Marr & Stuntz, Petersen, and others led to the development of a single 

key identifying all species in the region and the discovery of a new 

species, Ramaria rasilisporoides. A recent 157-page USDI-BLM publication, 

Ramaria of the Pacific Northwestern United States (Exeter, 

Norvell & Cazares, 2006), treats all four subgenera: Lentoramaria, 

Echinoramaria, Ramaria, and Laeticolora. The lavishly illustrated 

monograph contains 193 color photos and covers all 90 of the region’s 

known species and varieties. Each one- to two-page taxonomic treatment 

presents synonyms, field descriptions, summary technical descriptions 

from hard-to-find publications, ecological and distributional 

data, diagnostic characters, additional comments, and references. 

Known phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic characters, tables, a new 

glossary, complete bibliography, and previously published microscopic 

keys are also provided. Poster 

Fedorova, Natalie 1 , McDonagh, Andrew 2 , Yu, Yan 1 , Armstrong- 

James, Darius 2 , Haynes, Ken 2 , Bignell, Elaine 2 and Nierman, William 

C. 1 * 1 J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, USA, 2 Department of 

Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Imperial College London, London 

SW7 2AZ, UK. wnierman@jcvi.org. Transcriptome analysis of 

Aspergillus fumigatus during early stage mammalian lung infection. 

Aspergillus fumigatus is a particularly virulent fungus whose 

spores infect human hosts having compromised immunity. Its success 

as a pathogen is unique among close phylogenetic relatives and thought 

to depend upon concerted control over multiple functions including nutrient 

acquisition, metabolic plasticity and immunotoxin production. A. 

fumigatus virulence, and that of other opportunistic fungal pathogens, 

has escaped definition at the molecular level promoting scepticism regarding 

the existence of ‘true’ virulence factors in such species. Newly 

published genomes for several fungal pathogens and emerging evidence 

for epigenetic control of fungal virulence mechanisms support 

the view that hierarchical co-ordination of multiple processes may un- 


derpin fungal pathogenicity. Comparative genomics analysis has raised 

suspicions that niche adaptation genes may reside in lineage-specific 

regions of the Aspergillus genomes. To assess transcriptional co-ordination 

during host niche-adaptation we have characterised A. fumigatus 

gene expression during initiation of mammalian infection, using laboratory 

cultured germlings as a comparator. We show that during the 

early phase of infection A. fumigatus co-ordinately regulates expression 

of gene clusters encoding biosynthesis of gliotoxin, iron siderophore, 

and five other putative secondary metabolites. In addition our analyses 

identify multiple clusters of physically linked, co-regulated genes, 

which are likely to share a concerted function, which cannot be predicted 

from genomic analyses alone. The analysis demonstrated a 

genome-wide transcriptional reprogramming favoring subtelomeric 

and lineage-specific genes. Taken together these observations reveal a 

pattern of co-ordinated gene regulation thus far undiscovered from in 

vitro analyses, and provides the first transcriptional snapshot of a fungal 

genome during initiation of mammalian infection. Symposium 

Presentation 

Ferreira, Renato B. 1 , Inácio, Carlos A. 2 and Dianese, José C. 21 Centro 

Universitário de Brasília, UNICEUB, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, Brazil, 

2 Dep. de Fitopatologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, 

DF, Brazil. jcarmine@unb.br. New Ascomycota on petioles of Mauritia 

flexuosa (Palmae) from Central Brazil. Mauritia flexuosa (Burití) 

is a palm tree found endemically on swampy areas (“veredas”) of 

the cerrado. In 2006 leaf samples were collected from the State of 

Goiás in Central Brazil. Two new Ascomycota were detected on leaf 

petioles and are now described, as follows: 1. a new xylariaceous ascomycete, 

forming lesions that are darkened and irregular; ascomata 50 

– 213 × 105 - 300 µm, black, partially erumpent, irregular in shape with 

a convoluted internal lining, and 26 – 13 µm thick black outer wall; paraphyses: 

1 µm diam., hyaline, septate, branched; asci: 30 - 50 × 7 - 15 

µm, cylindrical, unitunicate, 7-8 ascospores, J+; ascospores: 11 – 17 × 

5 - 10 µm, ellipsoidal, guttulate when young becoming light-brown to 

brown, uniseriate, aseptate, with mucilaginous sheath and a clear germ 

slit. 2. a new Saccardiaceae (Dothideomycetidae) forming colonies 8- 

21 mm diam., dark, circular, confluent; greyish, containing dark ascomata; 

ascomata 75 – 103 × 225 - 475 µm, superficial, black, circular, 

discoid, non-ostiolate; upper wall 13 – 24 µm; paraphyses: 40 – 60 × 1 

– 2 µm diam., hyaline, filiform, simple; asci: 20 – 45 × 16 - 34 µm, globose 

to ovoid, bitunicate; ascospores: 17 – 30 × 8 - 14 µm, hyaline, ellipsoidal, 

6 - 8 transversal septa and rare longitudinal septa, covered by 

a mucilaginous sheath. Poster 

Ferrer, A. 1 *, Sarmiento, C. 2 and Shearer, C.A. 1 1 Plant Biology, University 

of Illinois, 505 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Il 61801, USA, 2 Universidad 

de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia. aferrer@life.uiuc.edu. Distribution 

of ascomycete diversity in Costa Rican freshwater 

habitats. Diversity patterns of freshwater ascomycetes in the tropics 

are undescribed. As part of an ongoing study of the distribution of 

freshwater ascomycetes along latitudinal gradients, we undertook a 

comparative survey of three lowland sites and one lower montane site 

in Costa Rica. Submerged wood was collected from streams at La 

Selva, Barra del Colorado and Las Cruces National Park and from 

lentic habitats in Caño Negro. At each site, 30 samples of submerged, 

partially decomposed woody debris were collected. Wood samples 

were incubated in moist chambers and examined periodically for fruiting 

body production. Species richness was higher than that reported 

from temperate areas and included new species discovered at each site. 

No one genus or family dominated any site. We recorded very few 

species that were shared between sites indicating high alpha and beta 

diversity in this fungal community. Numerous species collected from 

Costa Rica also have been reported from similar habitats in the paleotropics, 

suggesting a global distribution for some tropical freshwater 

species. Our results highlight the importance of sampling multiple sites 

to capture freshwater fungal diversity, and indicate that many freshwater 

taxa remain to be discovered. Poster 


Fischer, A. 1 *, Klironomos, J.N. 1 , Moncalvo, J.M. 2 and Malcolm, J.R. 3 

1 Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, 

2 Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 

Toronto, ON, 3 Department of Forestry, University of Toronto, 

Toronto, ON. fischera@uoguelph.ca. Fungal diversity measured 

across two decay classes of spruce wood in disturbed boreal forest 

sites. Woody debris is a key component for maintaining biological diversity 

in forest ecosystems. Fungi play essential roles in these systems 

by releasing nutrients from dead wood, directly providing food and indirectly 

providing shelter for many organisms. Knowledge of fungi associated 

with woody debris is therefore an important step for management 

and conservation of forest resources. To investigate fungal 

diversity in decaying wood, samples were collected from 60 spruce logs 

in 3 logged and 3 unlogged sites in a boreal forest in northern Ontario. 

Half of these logs were in an early stage of decay (decay class 1) and 

half in a late stage of decay (decay class 4). Three wood cores were collected 

from each log and pooled together. Fungal DNA was extracted 

from these samples, and the nLSU-rDNA gene was PCR amplified, 

cloned, and sequenced. These sequences were used to measure fungal 

diversity in two ways: (1) sequence or operational taxonomic unit 

(OTU) diversity and (2) phylogenetic diversity. Fungal fruiting bodies 

were collected from the same logs as a third measure of fungal diversity. 

We compare fungal diversity among the different sites and logs by 

using phylogenetic, fruiting body and OTU methods with the hypothesis 

that each of these measures will yield different results. Preliminary 

results suggest that fungal diversity measured by phylogenic diversity 

differs from fruiting body and OTU diversity measurements. Poster 

Fitzsimons, Michael S. 1 *, Miller, R. Michael 2 and Jastrow, Julie D. 2 

1 University of Chicago, Department of Ecology & Evolution, Chicago, 

IL 60637, USA, 2 Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, 

USA. fitz@uchicago.edu. Niche axes and scale of study in arbuscular 

mycorrhizal fungi. Research into microbial niches has only recently 

begun receiving the attention that such an important topic and diverse 

group of organisms deserve. In this study, we investigate the 

niche of a group of mutualistic fungi, the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal 

Fungi (AMF). Our goal was to determine the relative importance of 

host plants, soil chemical parameters, and time since disturbance in determining 

AMF community composition. We found that all three were 

important, but that the appropriate scale of inquiry is required to identify 

all three interactions. Time since disturbance was significant at both 

the point and plot level scales, but soil characters were only significant 

at the point scale and plant community change only significant at the 

plot scale. When plants and soil changes are looked at in greater detail 

(i.e. at the species and individual soil parameter) we found that individual 

plants do not alter the community enough to produce a signal, 

but that pH and nitrate levels were clear indicators of AMF community 

change. The significance of this study lies in identifying time since 

disturbance as a determinant of AMF community change, pH and nitrate 

as soil drivers of the community, and that to uncover interactions 

between groups of organisms, especially those with radically different 

dispersal abilities, point level comparisons may not be an appropriate 

scale of study. Poster 

Fulgenzi, T.D. 1 *, Henkel, T.W. 1 and Halling, R.E. 21 Department of Biological 

Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA, 

2 Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical Garden, 

Bronx, NY 60605, USA. tdfungal@aol.com. Boletaceae of Guyana. In 

the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, large expanses of primary mixed 

rainforest of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree species are juxtaposed 

with extensive ectomycorrhizal (EM) monodominant Dicymbe corymbosa 

(Caesalpiniaceae) forests. One component of current research on 

the Dicymbe system in Guyana is a multi-year investigation of macrofungal 

diversity in the D. corymbosa stands, and the surrounding mixed 

forests, and comparison of EM and saprotrophic fungal guilds and their 

ecological significance in these highly contrasting forest types. This 

work has uncovered >150 species or morphospecies of EM fungi associated 

with Dicymbe, nearly doubling the number of EM fungi known 

from the lowland Neotropics. Ongoing systematic work on the EM 

fungi indicates that >70 % are new taxa at the specific or generic level. 

Boletaceae are especially rich at the Guyana site, numbering at least 20 

morphospecies in numerous genera (Tylopilus, Xerocomus, Austroboletus, 

Pulveroboletus, Boletellus, Fistulinella, and Phylloporus) from a 

single collecting area in the Upper Potaro River Basin. Taxonomic novelties 

and their impact on generic concepts in several bolete genera will 

be discussed, as well as novel ecological roles and biogeographical implications. 


Garcia-Sandoval, Ricardo* and Hibbett, David S. Clark University, Biology 

Department, Lasry Biosciences Center, 950 Main Street, Worcester, 

Massachusetts 01610-1477, USA. rgarciasandoval@clarku.edu. 

Molecular phylogenetics of the Gloeophyllales, insights from ribosomal 

and protein-coding genes. The Gloeophyllales is a monophyletic 

group that includes representatives of the genera Gloeophyllum, 

Neolentinus, Veluticeps, and Heliocybe. Species from Donkioporia and 

Boreostereum have also been included based on analysis of the nuc-ssu 

rDNA region alone. In spite of its small size, this clade exhibits a wide 

diversity of morphological and physiological characters, including 

species with pileate-sessile, pileate-stipitate and resupinate basidiomes, 

lamellate or poroid hymenophores, brown or white rot wood-decay capabilities, 

and bipolar or tetrapolar mating systems. Previous studies 

using mitochondrial and nuclear rDNA genes suggest that this group is 

closely related to the Thelephorales, but without strong support. Our 

current research seeks to assess the phylogenetic placement and composition 

of the Gloeophyllales. For this purpose, we are extending the taxonomic 

sampling relative to prior studies, and we are gathering data 

from nuclear rDNA (ssu and lsu) and protein-coding genes (rpb2 and 

tef1). Results wil be discussed with particular regard to evolution of 

morphological and physiological characters. Poster 

Gaya, Ester 1 *, Llimona, Xavier 2 , Navarro-Rosines, Pere 2 and Lutzoni, 

François. 1 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708-0338, USA, 2 Departament de Biologia Vegetal (Unitat de Botanica), 

Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 

08028 Barcelona, Spain. eb62@duke.edu. The lobate Caloplaca: phylogeny 

and taxonomy of a problematic species complex within the 

Teloschistaceae (Ascomycota). Caloplaca is a widespread and common 

lichen-forming genus, found mostly in mesic and xeric habitats. 

Despite its conspicuous habit, it is among the least known taxonomically 

and the poor understanding of its species has often led to its being 

overlooked. The delimitation of this genus has always been problematic 

due mostly to the strong similarity between lobate species of Caloplaca 

and species of other genera within the Teloschistaceae. Among all 

lobate Caloplaca species, the C. saxicola group has been the most controversial 

taxonomically. To provide a comprehensive and more natural 

classification of this group of lobate Caloplaca, we first tested the hypothesis 

that these species form a monophyletic group within a broad 

taxon sampling of the Teloschistaceae, including taxa representing all 

species groups of Caloplaca. The results from phylogenetic analyses 

carried out on sequences of the nuclear rDNA internal trancribed spacer 

region (ITS) are reported. These analyses supported the polyphyly of 

Caloplaca and allied genera Fulgensia, Teloschistes and Xanthoria. 

Based also on an ITS phylogeny, together with morphological and 

anatomical characters, some species in the C. saxicola group thus far accepted 

were associated with high support values. The same was true for 

potentially new cryptic species. Contributed Presentation 

Gibson, Cara M. Dept. of Entomology, University of Arizona, 410 

Forbes Building, PO Box 210036, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036, USA. 

cgibson@ag.arizona.edu. Microbial community in a wasp parasitoid 

and its cockroach host. Currently, there is tremendous interest 

in understanding both the diversity of insect-associated microbes and 

the effects that they exert on their hosts. Despite frequent and intimate 

associations with insects, fungi have received comparatively little attention. 

Often, insects may be infected with multiple symbionts, including 

simultaneous infection with both fungal and bacterial symbionts. 

The vertically transmitted fungal and bacterial symbiont 



communities of a particular parasitoid wasp, Comperia merceti (Hymenoptera: 

Encyrtidae), and the cockroach it parasitizes, Supella longipalpa 

(Blattaria: Blattellidae), are examined using both molecular- and 

culture-based methods. From LSU cloning data there is evidence of 

two fungi in the wasps (basidiomycete relatives), and three fungi in the 

cockroaches. Two of the cockroach fungal symbionts are identical to 

the basidiomycete relatives recovered from wasps and there is an additional 

lecanoromycete relative. Using general 16S primers, Blattabacterium 

and Wolbachia are also recovered from the cockroaches. Culturing 

efforts reveal that only one of the basidiomycete-like fungi from 

the wasps is cultivable and an additional (possibly nitrogen fixing) bacterium 

is cultivable from the cockroaches. The characterization of the 

microbial associates in this system lays the foundation for understanding 

symbiont contributions to these wasps and cockroaches. This research 

reveals cryptic fungal diversity in an understudied niche, insect 

hosts, as well as demonstrates the role that fungi could have in shaping 

the evolution of host-parasitoid interactions. Poster 

Gillevet, Patrick, M., Sikaroodi, M. and Torzilli, Albert, P.* Department 

of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 

Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. atorzill@gmu.edu. Analysing salt-marsh 

fungal community diversity: community ARISA fingerprinting vs. 

community clone sequencing. Fungi are important decomposers in 

the detrital-based food webs of temperate salt-marsh ecosystems. 

Knowing the composition of salt-marsh fungal communities is essential 

for understanding how detritus processing is affected by changes in 

community dynamics. Previous results from our laboratory have 

shown that different salt-marsh plants harbor distinct fungal communities 

as judged by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis 

(ARISA) of fungal DNA amplified from the different plant hosts. 

ARISA fingerprinting data provide non-taxon-specific snapshots of 

community structure where each peak in a community profile represents 

an operational taxonomic unit (OTU) of a given amplicon size. In 

order to associate specific taxa with community OTUs we cloned, fingerprinted, 

and sequenced the fungal community DNA from each plant 

in order to match the size and sequence of specific clones with the community 

OTU sizes. BLAST results indicated that a given OTU amplicon 

may represent more than one species, confirming earlier observations. 

Also, the ability to assign a specific taxon to a community 

amplicon by matching amplicon sizes was limited by the extent of 

species coverage in the BLAST database. Furthermore, differences in 

the relative abundances between community fingerprint amplicons and 

comparable clone abundances suggested significant biases during the 

cloning process. Nonetheless, the cloning and sequencing data did confirm 

the conclusion from fingerprinting that plant (substrate) type is an 

important factor in determining fungal community composition. Poster 

Goldmann, Lauren* and Weir, Alex. Department of Environmental & 

Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, 

241 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. lmgold01@syr.edu. 

Laboulbeniales from western Russia. As a part of 

the SUNY-ESF Moscow State University Exchange Program we had 

the opportunity in summer 2006 to collect Laboulbeniales fungi at the 

Zvenigorod Biological Station, some 50km west of Moscow, and at the 

White Sea Biological Station near Poiakonda. The most recent literature 

of the Laboulbeniales of the western portion of Russia is that by Hulden 

(1983), who records 41 species. Our collections have added an additional 

10 species, including 3 new genera for the region; Aphanandromyces, 

Euzodiomyces, and Rhadinomyces. Of particular interest was 

our observation of very high levels of infection at both these sites with 

15% of collected beetles infected at Zvenigorod, and 14% at the White 

Sea. These figures are much higher than those recorded by Hulden (1%) 

and may be related to the range of microhabitats sampled. Poster 

Gonzalez, Maria C. 1 * and Enriquez, Diana. 21 Departamento de Botanica 

AP 70-233, Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma 

de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico DF 04510, Mexico, 2 Instituto de 

Oceanologia, Agencia del Medio Ambiente, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologia 

y Medio Ambiente de Cuba (CITMA), La Habana, Cuba. 


mcgv@ibiologia.unam.mx. Microfungi diversity in the coastal sand 

beach environment of Mexico and Cuba. The marine interstitial microfungi 

living in sandy sediments between the tide lines of the beaches 

are important ecologically because they are major decomposers of the 

vegetable organic matter that enter this marine ecosystem. In this particular 

environment, named endopsammon, the microbial production is 

dominated by eumycotes, mainly by ascomycetes. Arenicolous microfungi 

have a distinctive physiology, morphology, and adaptation to the 

endopsammophilous medium. The characteristics that the arenicolous 

species exhibit are: carbonaceous ascocarps attached to sand grains with 

a subiculum, papilla with an ostiole opening close to the subiculum, a 

pseudoparenchyma of thin walled cells with pit-like thickenings, deliquescent 

asci without an apical structure, and appendaged ascospores. 

The genus Corollospora is considered as one of the most diverse genera 

adapted to arenicolous habitats and is distributed widely from tropical to 

temperate regions. During the past decade, a surge has taken place in the 

investigation of the Mexican and Cuban arenicolous microfungi biodiversity. 

At present, these countries have an active interest in describing, 

preserving, and using the biodiversity of marine fungi. The advances in 

recording the distribution of species from several beaches of Mexico 

and Cuba are presented. Symposium Presentation 

Gross, Stephanie*, Suh, Sung-Oui and Blackwell, Meredith. Department 

of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 

Louisiana 70803, USA. sgross2@lsu.edu. Diet and its effect on the 

abundance of endosymbiotic gut yeast found in a wood-boring beetle 

Odontotaenius disjunctus: Passalidae. Pichia stipitis, a xylose fermenting 

and assimilating yeast, has consistently been isolated from the 

gut of over 400 adult, wood-boring beetles (Odontotaenius disjunctus: 

Passalidae). We examined the affect of beetle diet on gut yeasts by varying 

nutrients provided for the host beetles. Beetles were provided only 

autoclaved water and starved for 6 da and then were fed different diets, 

(e.g., decayed wood, sterilized decayed wood, and artificial diet containing 

polysaccharides and other nutritional resources). Beetles were 

dissected periodically and yeast colony counts were made on selective 

agar media. Colonies on each plate were identified based on morphology, 

and some were confirmed as P. stipitis by use of specific primers. 

After 6 da starvation, the abundance of P. stipitis in the gut decreased 

substantially when compared to pre-starvation numbers. However, 5 da 

after reintroduction of food, yeast numbers in the gut increased to approximately 

pre-starvation levels. We observed no significant difference 

in colony numbers between beetles fed unsterilized and sterilized wood, 

but beetles fed certain diets sometimes had low levels of yeasts compared 

to those fed wood. From this study, we concluded that within the 

O. disjunctus gut environment P. stipitis is dependent on nutrients provided 

by the insect diet. Contributed Presentation 

Guardia Valle, Laia 1 and Cafaro, Matias J. 2 * 1 Unitat Botanica Dep. 

BABVE F. Ciences, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, 

Spain, 2 Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico – 

Mayaguez, PR 00681. matcaf@gmail.com. First observation of zygospores 

in Asellariales (Trichomycetes). The ecological group of 

gut endosymbionts trichomycetes (sensu lato) includes two fungal orders, 

Harpellales and Asellariales, and two protistan orders, Amoebidiales 

and Eccrinales. Asellariales inhabit the digestive tract of aquatic, 

terrestrial and marine isopods as well as springtails (Collembola). They 

have branched and septated thalli and reproduce asexually by 

arthrospore-like cells. No sexual reproduction has been reported until 

now. In a recent survey of islands in the Carribean, a new unnamed 

species of Asellaria has been found in terrestrial isopods in Puerto Rico 

and Dominican Republic. Conjugating tubes and zygospores were observed 

in this Asellaria sp. Zygospores are spherical and hyaline in contrast 

to the ones in Harpellales, which are conical or biconical. Asellariales 

zygospores share characteristics with those of Dimargaritales and 

Kickxellales as well as their septal pore structure, which is present in 

all three orders plus the Harpellales, thus giving morphological support 

to this monophyletic group, recently established through DNA analyses. 

The spherical shape of Asellaria zygospores reveals a possible ter- 


estrial origin of the group in comparison to the conical shape of 

Harpellales zygospores, which is regarded as an adaptation to aquatic 

environments. Poster 

Gueidan, C. 1 *, Ruibal, C. 2 , de Hoog, G.S. 2 , Untereiner, W.A. 3 , Gorbushina, 

A. 4 and Lutzoni, F. 11 Duke University, Biology Department, 

Box 90338, Durham NC 27708, USA, 2 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 3 Department 

of Zoology, Brandon University, 270-18th Street, Brandon, 

MB Canada, 4 Geomicrobiology, ICBM, Carl-von Ossietzky str 9-11, 

26111 Oldenburg, Germany. cg19@duke.edu. Phylogenetic affiliations 

of non-lichenized rock-inhabiting fungi and their role in the 

evolution of the Chaetothyriomycetidae. Rock surfaces harbor ubiquitous 

communities of highly adapted fungi with peculiar lifestyles. 

Some of these rock-inhabiting fungi are found in semiarid and even 

desert habitats, and have been shown to be well adapted to extreme environmental 

conditions. Previous studies revealed that these specialized 

rock-inhabiting strains could tolerate surprisingly wide ranges of temperatures, 

irradiations and osmotic stresses, and are able to grow in conditions 

with low availability of water and nutrients. Particular characteristics 

of rock-inhabiting fungi include slow meristematic growth and 

the presence of melanin (as well as carotenoids and mycosporines) in 

their mycelia. These extremotolerant fungi were previously shown, 

using ITS similarity, to mostly belong to two classes of ascomycetes, 

the Eurotiomycetes (mostly in the order Chaetothyriales) and the Dothideomycetes. 

Three ribosomal RNA genes (nucSSU, nucLSU, and 

mtSSU) were used to estimate their phylogenetic affiliations within the 

ascomycetes. The order Chaetothyriales includes saprophytes as well 

as animal or human parasites, and is most closely related to two mainly 

lichenized orders, the Verrucariales and the Pyrenulales. Together, 

these three orders are recognized as forming the subclass Chaetothyriomycetidae, 

which is characterized by a large diversity in lifestyles and 

habitats. Preliminary results showed that the most recent common ancestor 

of this subclass was probably a lichenized rock- inhabitant. Information 

on the phylogenetic positions of non-lichenized rock-inhabiting 

fungi within this subclass will help to understand the evolution of 

lifestyles and substrate transitions in the Chaetothyriomycetidae. Contributed 

Presentation 

Hallen, Heather E.*, Guenther, John C. and Trail, Frances. Department 

of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, 

USA. hallenhe@msu.edu. Analysis of gene expression and lipid accumulation 

during sexual development in Gibberella zeae 

(anamorph Fusarium graminearum). Lipid accumulation and storage 

is vital to survival of all organisms. Stored lipids are then used for 

development. In fungi, lipids are stored in vegetative hyphae and spores 

as lipid bodies. The wheat pathogen, Gibberella zeae, stores lipids 

mainly as triacylglycerides (TAG) in anticipation of sexual development. 

We have characterized the process of lipid accumulation and utilization 

in association with perithecium development in culture and 

leading up to perithecium development in planta. We examined gene 

expression patterns for genes associated with lipid biosynthesis and 

degradation using data collected from Affymetrix GeneChips. Information 

gathered from these studies indicates an essential role for lipids 

in the formation of perithecia. Contributed Presentation 

Halling, Roy E. Institute of Systematic Botany, The New York Botanical 

Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126, USA. rhalling@nybg.org. 

Queensland boletes: a biogeographic and generic enigma. A targeted 

inventory of Boletaceae (s.l.) occurring in NE Australia and elsewhere 

in SE Asia has provided exquisite material for revisionary studies 

on well-known genera and iconic species. As with most early 

surveys of understudied regions, the application of northern hemisphere 

names to poorly documented specimens has contributed to the 

perception of globally distributed taxa. However, knowledgeable individuals 

engaged in a concerted effort with a broader bias are beginning 

to document localized endemics at one extreme as well as entities that 

appear to portray little morphological change. Because of an obligate 

symbiotic lifestyle, coupled with geographic and tectonic constraints 

on genetic exchange, localized evolutionary pressures appear to have 

contributed to a heretofore undocumented assemblage of taxa. Examples 

of such “taxa” have been discovered and documented which show 

features that would indicate classic undescribed genera and species, 

possible generic hybrids, distinct but related and widely distributed siblings, 

as well as intercontinental clinal disjuncts with no apparent distinction 

but for differences in ribosomal coding genes; this latter probably 

attributed to random drift. Contributed Presentation 

Hawkins, Lauraine* and Brantley, Elizabeth. Penn State Mont Alto, 

Mont Alto, PA 17237, USA. lkh1@psu.edu. Macrofungi of four 

Mid-Atlantic national parks. The National Park Service approved an 

Inventory of Macrofungi in the National Capital Region in late 2004. 

The parks chosen for work were Antietam Battlefield (ANTI), Catoctin 

Mountain (CATO), C&O Canal Historical (CHOH) and Prince 

William Forest (PRWI) Parks. In coordination with NPS personnel, we 

selected two 20 x 20 m plots in different areas of each park. We sampled 

each plot three times per season during peak fruiting (July-October) 

of 2005 and 2006. To complement our intensive searches of the 

small plots, we conducted one foray at each park each year. During the 

forays, small groups of people searched along Park trails. Fungi were 

much more abundant at PRWI (343 fruiting bodies collected) and 

CATO (329) than at CHOH (126) or ANTI (103). Identification work 

is in progress. The presentation will include initial results from this survey. 


Hawksworth, David L. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle 

Manuel Bartolomé Cossío S/N, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and The Natural 

History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK. 

d.hawksworth@nhm.ac.uk. Index Fungorum to Species Fungorum 

and the BioCode. Index Fungorum aims to be a nomenclator of all scientific 

names proposed for fungi, which is intended to progress towards 

a Species Fungorum which will provide a reference work giving the 

currently accepted names of species. The Index Fungorum is now a 

working tool for all systematic mycologists, and a marvellously imperfect 

work needed by all. Progress to a Species Fungorum is being made, 

but depends on the inputs of the international mycological community. 

The Draft BioCode (1997) was prepared by representatives of all current 

five internationally mandated codes to cover all groups of organisms, 

but has as a prerequisite finite lists of nomenclaturally honed 

names to be considered in the nomenclature of the future. The history 

and prospects for these three initiatives are discussed. Symposium 

Presentation. 

Henk, Daniel A.* and Aime, M. Catherine. Systematic Botany and 

Mycology Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705, 

USA. dan@nt.ars-grin.gov. Evolution of mating pheromone and receptor 

genes in Pucciniomycotina. Mating pheromones and their receptors 

act as a switch controlling phenotypic changes required for successful 

mating in fungi. Although basidiomycete mating pheromones 

and their processing were first described in Rhodosporidium toruloides, 

a “red yeast” in the Sporidiobolales, the receptor gene was never described, 

and much of the mating process remains unexplored in any 

species of Pucciniomycotina. We used published data from wholegenome-sequencing 

projects to detect putative mating pheromones and 

their receptor genes in several Pucciniomycotina. Primers were designed 

for direct amplification and sequencing of a putative receptor 

gene similar to Sterile 3 (ste3) and a closely linked gene similar to a putative 

nuclear localization protein from other red yeasts. Results suggest 

that pheromones and their receptors, as well as synteny around the 

pheromone receptor locus, are relatively conserved in the Sporidiobolales. 

Although only a single ste3 locus could be detected in Sporidiobolales 

genomes, three separate loci similar to ste3 were detected in 

the Puccinia graminis (Pucciniales) genome. In phylogenetic analyses 

the Puccinia STE3 sequences formed a well-supported clade at the 

base of the basidiomycetes while the Sporidiobolales sequences formed 

a well-supported clade nested within the basidiomycetes. Contributed 

Presentation 



Henkel, Terry W. Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State 

University, Arcata, CA 95521, USA. twh5@humboldt.edu. The importance 

of primary tropical forests for fungal biodiversity. 

Guyana is fast becoming unique among tropical countries in having the 

majority of its primary forest estate intact, including biodiversity at all 

trophic levels. Mycological inventories have historically been wanting 

in Guyana. Recent explorations have revealed a diverse macromycota 

in Guyana’s Pakaraima Mountains. Forests dominated by ectomycorrhizal 

(EM) trees, a relative rarity in lowland Neotropical regions, exist 

in a patch mosaic in the Pakaraima Mountains and appear to be regionally 

exclusive habitats for a large assemblage of endemic EM 

fungi. While ecological threats to Guyana’s ectotrophic forests are currently 

minimal due to the remoteness of the region, the majority of the 

landscape known to house these systems has no formally protected status. 

The likelihood of these Gondwanan relictual ectotrophic forests 

and their apparently unique fungal constituents persisting into the future 

will be discussed. Symposium Presentation 

Hernandez Roa, Jonatan* and Cafaro, Matias J. Department of Biology, 

University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR 00681. 

jonatan.her@gmail.com. Biodiversity of trichomycetes associated 

with marine arthropods in Puerto Rico. The increasing interest in biodiversity 

has raised an effort to define it, to characterize it and to understand 

how it is lost. There are few studies about trichomycete diversity in 

coastal ecosystems in general and even less in tropical coasts. Puerto 

Rico is an ideal place to conduct the current research on such diversity 

due to the variety of habitats and ecological zones available for trichomycete 

hosts, especially marine crustaceans. Only three surveys for 

trichomycetes in Puerto Rico exist in which Amoebidium, Genistellospora, 

Parataeniella, Harpella, Leidyomyces, Paramoebidium, Stachylina, 

Smittium, Asellaria, Enterobryus and Taeniellopsis are reported, the last 

three being associated to marine crustaceans in the isopod Ligia sp., the 

crab Uca sp., and the amphipod Orchestia sp., respectively. More recently, 

we have discovered Enterobryus halophilus in the mole crab 

Emerita portoricencis, which is a new record for this trichomycete for 

both its host species and distribution. Currently, we are conducting prevalence 

and abundance studies in beach populations of this organism in 

Puerto Rico. In this report, we present data of trichomycetes distributions 

for the Caribbean, which broadens their geographic distribution, adding 

new information about host range and specificity as well as their ecological 

preferences reflecting the potential of trichomycetes in terms of their 

biodiversity. Symposium Presentation 

Herrera, Jose. 100 E. Normal, Division of Science, Truman State University, 

Kirksville, MO 63501, USA. jherrera@truman.edu. The 

sporocidal and sporostatic effect of sodium polyborate-treated cellulose 

insulation on common indoor fungal species. Continuing interest 

in mold and mold-related health problems within indoor environments 

has spurred the building industry to develop 

ecologically-friendly, cost-effective, safe and useful antifungal additives 

for building materials. Treated cellulose insulation, made from recycled 

newsprint and amended with a variety of chemical compounds, 

has gathered attention and interest from a wide variety of sources including 

the building industry, environmentalists, and occupational hygienists. 

This study reports an assessment of antifungal properties of 

treated cellulose insulation (as a whole) and one of the most common 

principal active ingredients, sodium polyborate. Boron-treated cellulose 

and untreated paper homologs (controls) were challenged with a 

suspension containing a high concentration of fungal spores of six 

species of common molds. Results suggest that (a) paper entering processing 

facilities does not harbor large concentrations of mold; (b) 

treated cellulose insulation is sporocidal to the six species of fungi used 

in this study, and possibly many other fungal species; and (c) unilateral 

exposure to sodium polyborate, the principle active ingredient in the 

samples of treated cellulose, is sufficient to preclude spore germination 

of these same species (actually killing spores of some). Poster 

Hesse, Cedar N. 1 *, Dunham, Susie M. 2 and Spatafora, Joseph W. 2 

1 Oregon State University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 


2082 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA, 2 Oregon State University, 

Department of Forest Science, 3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, 

Oregon 97331, USA. hessec@science.oregonstate.edu. Eukaryotic 

community structure of mat-forming ectomycorrhizal 

fungi from the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Mat-forming ectomycorrhizal 

(EM) fungi are known to colonize significant portions of 

the soils of temperate conifer forests and form beneficial symbioses 

with forest trees. While it is relatively easy to identify the major matforming 

fungi, little is known about the biotic communities associated 

with these mats. To better understand the ecology and evolution of EM 

mats the “Microbial Observatory at the H. J. Andrews LTER” has been 

investigating the diversity, structure and function of EM mats in the 

Cascade Mountains of Oregon, USA. Research focused in late seral 

Douglas-fir stands has identified two major EM mat types, which exhibit 

different abiotic soil properties. Phylotyping studies identified the 

mat-forming species as belonging to the genera Piloderma and Ramaria. 

Piloderma mats tend to form in the organic horizon and are conspicuously 

rhizomorphic, whereas Ramaria mats tend to form in the 

mineral horizon and are hydrophobic. Here, we report preliminary findings 

on the eukaryotic community structure in the two different mat 

soils using ribosomal DNA clone libraries. This research, coupled with 

a complementary study designed to assess the prokaryotic community 

structure, will provide a framework for future transcriptomic or 

metagenomic research on these EM mats. Contributed Presentation 

Higgins, K. Lindsay 1 *, Arnold, A. Elizabeth 2 , Kursar, Thomas 1 and 

Coley, Phyllis D. 1 1 Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt 

Lake City, UT 84112, USA, 2 Department of Plant Sciences, University 

of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. higgins@biology.utah.edu. 

Diversity and ecological interactions of fungal endophytes in tropical 

grasses. Tropical fungal endophytes are extremely diverse, but the 

extent to which environmental factors such as rainfall, light availability, 

host phylogeny, or host origin (native or exotic) affect endophyte 

community composition has been not been well characterized. In addition, 

nearly all studies examining the diversity and abundance of tropical 

endophytes have been conducted in dicots. In this study, tropical 

grasses were sampled at three sites across the Panamanian isthmus in 

order to describe patterns of endophyte abundance and diversity, and 

determine the extent to which environmental factors or features of the 

plant host affect endophyte community composition. Cultures of 1127 

isolates were obtained from healthy, asymptomatic leaves of 19 grass 

species sampled across a rainfall gradient. Sequences of the nuclear internal 

transcribed spacer (nrITS) region were obtained for 244 isolates, 

yielding 43 unique genotype groups conservatively delimited by 90% 

sequence similarity. Sequenced endophytes displayed BLAST affinity 

to diverse lineages of Ascomycota. Asymptomatic genotype accumulation 

curves revealed high endophyte diversity, and ecological analyses 

indicated that light and moisture environment, as well as host origin 

(i.e. native or exotic) play important roles in shaping the structure 

of grass endophyte communities. Poster 

Horn, Bruce W. 1 * and Peterson, Stephen W. 2 1 National Peanut Research 

Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Dawson, GA 39842, USA, 2 National Center for Agricultural 

Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Peoria, IL 61604, USA. bhorn@nprl.usda.gov. 

Host specificity of Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum, E. cinnamopurpureum, 

and two new Penicillium species associated with the conidial 

heads of Aspergillus. The genus Penicillium comprises species 

that mostly colonize plant matter. However, early reports suggest that 

several species are capable of parasitizing Aspergillus. More recently 

Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum and E. cinnamopurpureum, both with 

Penicillium anamorphs, have been observed sporulating on the heads 

of Aspergillus species belonging to section Flavi during the colonization 

of peanut seeds. Little is known about the host specificity underlying 

these Aspergillus–Penicillium associations. In this study, Aspergillus 

species representing nine taxonomic sections were paired in 


culture with E. ochrosalmoneum, E. cinnamopurpureum, and two new 

species described here based on morphological and molecular characters, 

P. exiguum and P. georgiense. Phylogenetic analysis using three 

loci shows that P. exiguum is a sister species of E. cinnamopurpureum 

and that P. georgiense is not closely related to P. exiguum or either Eupenicillium 

species, though its precise phylogenetic placement within 

the genus Penicillium is unresolved. Eupenicillium ochrosalmoneum, 

E. cinnamopurpureum, and P. exiguum sporulated predominantly on 

the heads of section Flavi species. In contrast, P. georgiense was restricted 

to the heads of section Nigri species. Additional studies are required 

to clarify whether the Eupenicillium and Penicillium species are 

parasitic or simply epibiotic on their hosts. Poster 

Horton, Thomas R. 1 *, Ashkannejhad, Sara M. 2 and Galante, Tera E. 1 

1 SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 246 Illick 

Hall, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA, 2 USDA Forest Service, Plumas National 

Forest, 875 Mitchell Ave, Oroville, CA 95996, USA. trhorton@esf.edu. 

Ectomycorrhizal fungi on coastal sand dunes in Oregon. 

We investigated the ecology of ectomycorrhizal fungi on coastal 

sand dunes in Oregon. Over 100 species were collected during the fall 

fruiting season for two consecutive years, with Cortinarius, Inocybe, 

Laccaria, Lactarius, Rhizopogon, Russula, Suillus, and Tricholoma 

being particularly species rich and productive. Pine seedlings were colonized 

by many of these fungi when in close proximity to mature tree 

stands, but almost exclusively by Suillus and Rhizopogon species in the 

middle of the dunes where mycelial networks were absent. Although 

many of the fungi produce binucleate spores, it was concluded that these 

spores were homokaryotic, so the establishment of new dikaryons in the 

middle of the dunes still requires two spores of opposite mating type. 

Deer feces contained tens of millions of suilloid spores per deposit, providing 

ample opportunity for spores of opposite mating type to be deposited 

together. Laboratory bioassays with deer feces yielded abundant 

mycorrhizae of Suillus and Rhizopogon species. We are now investigating 

why other disturbance species such as Laccaria, Hebeloma, Inocybe 

and Thelephora are not observed on seedlings in the middle of the dunes 

by investigating wind dispersal and survival of outplanted seedlings inoculated 

with these fungi. Symposium Presentation 

Huang, Bo 1 , Humber, Richard A. 2 and Hodge, Kathie T. 3 * 1 Anhui 

Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Pest Control, Anhui Agricultural 

University, Hefei 230036, China, 2 Dept of Plant Pathology, Cornell 

University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA, 3 USDA-ARS Plant Protection 

Research Unit, Plant, Soil & Nutrition Laboratory, Tower Road, Ithaca, 

NY 14853, USA. kh11@cornell.edu. Basidiobolus: infrageneric 

relationships and biology. The genus Basidiobolus is a pivotal one. Its 

species include opportunistic agents of human disease, cryptic inhabitants 

of leaf litter, and coprophilous fungi of frog dung. Its large primary 

mitospores are forcibly discharged by a unique mechanism involving 

explosive rupture of the sporogenous cell. Various 

molecular-based studies have assigned Basidiobolus to its traditional 

home in the order Entomophthorales; others have placed it among flagellate 

fungi. We undertook a study of infrageneric relationships in Basidiobolus, 

using isolates from culture collections plus our own collections 

isolated from decaying litter. Our results based on phylogenetic 

analysis of multiple genetic loci clarify species concepts, and unexpectedly 

reveal two major clades supported by both molecular and phenotypic 

evidence. Our sampling of Basidiobolus and its allies will ultimately 

help resolve taxon sampling issues among early-evolving 

fungal lineages. Poster 

Hughes, Karen W. 1 and Arnold, A. Elizabeth. 2 * 1 Ecology and Evolutionary 

Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA, 

2 Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 

85721, USA. khughes@utk.edu. FESIN, introduction to a new fungal/ecological 

research coordination network. The National Science 

Foundation has funded a research coordination network designed to 

bring together mycologists and ecologists (FESIN: Fungal Environmental 

Sampling and Informatics Network). The focus of FESIN is 

threefold: to coordinate the development of rapid identification methods 

for fungi from environmental samples, to create cyberinfrastructure for 

the retrieval of multiple layers of biologically relevant information on 

fungal taxa, and to stimulate educational and outreach opportunities in 

fungal ecology. This network is open to all interested people and will 

meet alternately at MSA and ESA annual meetings. Proposed topics include: 

1) Nucleic acid-based identification of fungi in ecological settings: 

current limitations and future directions; 2) Building a microarray 

for identification of fungi in the environment, a joint effort between European 

and North American Scientists; 3) Connecting sequence data 

with the ecology of taxa; 4) Ecological genetics in the -omic era: 

genomes, proteomes, and fungal ecology; and 5) Fungal ecology: cultivating 

a new generation of fungal ecologists. Symposium Presentation 

Hughes, Karen W.*, Petersen, Ronald H. and Lickey, Edgar B. Department 

of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 

Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. khughes@utk.edu. The agaric all 

taxa biodiversity inventory in the Great Smoky Mountains National 

Park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Agaric ATBI 

is in the third year of collection and documentation. As part of the documentation, 

genetic identifiers based on the ribosomal ITS region have 

been obtained where possible. Using an arbitrary criteria that 98% or 

greater sequence homology as indicating conspecificity, we calculated 

the proportion of collections which are represented in GenBank. Of 533 

collections, 23 matched a sequence deposited as an environmental sample. 

These were predominantly collections from Duke Forest generated 

by O’Brian et al. (2005) and thus may logically represent the same 

taxon as found in the GSMNP. An additional 159 collections matched 

named species in GenBank. No genetic match was found for 159 collections 

indicating that in spite of the large numbers of fungal sequences 

in GenBank, species coverage is still poor. Many of the collections 

were heterozygous for multiple indels which may be a function 

of populations from different glacial refugia rehybridizing in the Southern 

Appalachians. Several lines of evidence suggest that one glacial 

refugium was in Central America. The proportion of heterozygotes for 

indels varied among genera. At this time, the discovery curve does not 

seem to have leveled off and it is clear that much more needs to be done 

in the Great Smoky Mountains. Poster 

Hustad, Vincent P. 1 *, Vernier, Kimberly L. 1 , Methven, Andrew S. 1 and 

Miller, Andrew N. 2 1 Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920, 

USA, 2 Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. 

vphustad@eiu.edu. Terrestrial macrofungal species composition 

and richness in old growth prairie groves. This study is investigating 

species composition and richness of terrestrial macrofungi in Brownfield 

(26.1 ha) and Trelease Woods (24.5 ha), Champaign Co., Illinois. 

These woods are remnants of a larger, pre-settlement prairie grove now 

encircled by houses, fragmented forests, prairie and agricultural land. 

Although initially a virgin, deciduous upland forest dominated by oak, 

ash and maple with a high, closed canopy and fairly open (Brownfield 

Woods) to moderately dense (Trelease Woods) understory, sugar 

maple is rapidly becoming the dominant tree species. Beginning with a 

windstorm in November 1994 that damaged canopy trees in Trelease 

Woods, fallen trees in both woods have been tagged with an ID number, 

date of windfall, dbh and location relative to a network of marked 

grids. Terrestrial and wood-inhabiting macrofungi on the forest floor 

are being surveyed along twenty, 100 m long transects. Among the 

questions to be answered are: i) How does macrofungal species composition 

and richness change in relation to adjacent vegetation? ii) How 

does macrofungi production vary within and between years?; iii) How 

does macrofungi species composition and species richness change 

within and between years?; iv) How do tree windfalls perturb macrofungi 

species composition and richness patterns?; and, v) Are other parameters 

influencing macrofungi species composition spatially autocorrelated? 

Poster 

Hyde, Kevin D. 1 *, Zhang, Y. 1 , Jeewon, R. 1 and Fournier, J. 21 Centre for 

Research in Fungal Diversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University 

of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China, 



2 Las Muros, Rimont, Ariège, F 09420, France. kdhyde@hkucc.hku.hk. 

Revision of Pleosporales. We are working on a monograph revising the 

Pleosporales by examining the type specimen of each genus and other 

collections. We will provide a full description of the type specimens and 

illustrate the genera using photographic plates and line drawings. Of the 

127 genera in Pleosporales, we have presently examined 56 type specimens 

(44%). Most of the type specimens are in good condition. The 

other specimens are in the process of being loaned. We are also searching 

for fresh material of Pleosporales. We have obtained 93 fresh specimens. 

Most of these are from France, including a new genus Amniculicola 

lignicola gen et sp. nov. from freshwater. Eight fresh specimens of 

type species of Pleosporales genera have so far been obtain. By examining 

types and obtaining identical fresh material we can be sure that the 

materials we use in molecular studies are correctly identified. Where 

necessary we can also designate epitypes using the fresh material as 

these specimens also have living isolates. Our further work will be focused 

on searching more fresh material of the type species to conduct 

systematic phylogenetic analysis with rDNA sequences. We are also 

linking the teleomorphs with their anamorphs where possible. Poster 

Inderbitzin, Patrik 1 *, Schoch, Conrad 2 and Turgeon, B. Gillian. 11 Cornell 

University, Plant Pathology, Ithaca, NY, USA, 2 Oregon State University, 

Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Corvallis, OR, USA. 

prin@uckac.edu. Exploring the evolutionary origins of T-toxin, the 

Cochliobolus heterostrophus polyketide virulence factor implicated 

in the Southern Corn Leaf Blight epidemic. The polyketide virulence 

factor, T-toxin, is produced by race T of the ascomycete Cochliobolus 

heterostrophus, the cause of Southern Corn Leaf Blight. Due to complex 

structural features of the locus, Tox1, required for T-toxin production 

and the sporadic phylogenetic distribution of the 9 known T-toxin 

genes, unraveling the evolutionary history of the genes is not straightforward. 

T-toxin genes are distributed at two loci associated with the 

breakpoints of a reciprocal translocation and encompass ca. 1.2 Mb of 

A+T rich, highly repetitive DNA present in race T, but missing in non- 

T-toxin producing race O, and from all other species of Cochliobolus. 

Furthermore, the T-toxin genes are not clustered, unlike genes required 

for biosynthesis of most fungal polyketides e.g. lovastatin and aflatoxin. 

Together, these data suggest that the T-toxin genes may have been acquired 

by race T from an unknown source and that, upon integration of 

this DNA, a reciprocal translocation occurred, distributing the genes at 

two loci. To further investigate evolution of the T-toxin locus, we 

screened 117 close and distant relatives for the presence of new ChPKS1 

orthologs and found just one. We are currently investigating the origins 

of the remaining 8 T-toxin genes from race T. The data obtained so far 

do not contradict the horizontal transfer hypothesis, but a vertical origin 

cannot be ruled out. Contributed Presentation 

Isikhuemhen, O. S.* and Mikiashvili, N. Mushroom Biology & Fungal 

Biotechnology Laboratory, SAES, North Carolina A&T State University, 

Greensboro, NC 27411, USA. omon@ncat.edu. Lignin, cellulose, 

and hemicellulose degrading enzyme production by selected polypores. 

Lignocellulose degrading enzymes and biodegradation of wheat 

straw by Grifola frondosa, Grifola umbellata and two strains of Polyporus 

squamosus (1165 and 456) were investigated. Lignin, cellulose 

and hemicellulose degrading enzymes, as well as loss of organic matter 

(LOM) were assayed at 16, 30, 44 and 60 days from start of experiment. 

Lignin modifying enzymes, laccase, manganese dependent and 

manganese independent peroxidise were detected in fungi isolates tested. 

Cellulose degrading enzymes detected were carboxymethyl cellulase 

and cellobiosidase and hemicellulose degrading enzymes were xylanase, 

1,4-α-xylosidase. The two Polyporus strains tested produced 

more lignocellulose degrading enzymes than G. frondosa and G. umbellata. 

In hemicellulose degradation, Grifola strains produced more 

xylosidase than the P. squamosus strains. However, the reverse was the 

case with xylanase, for which P. squamosus strains showed activities in 

the order of 36% (456) and 10% (1165) higher than G. umbellata. The 

highest LOM (36 %) was in P. squamosus (1165), followed by 456 (34 

%), G. frondosa (20.4%) and G. umbellata (7.6%). Our results indicate 

that higher ligninolytic and cellulolytic enzyme activities resulted in 


higher levels of degradation (LOM) in wheat straw substrate. Optimization 

of wheat straw degradation under solid-state fermentation is 

under investigation. Poster 

Isikhuemhen, O.S. 1 *, Sisson, J. 2 , Liedl, B.E. 2 and Chatfield, J.M. 2 

1 Mushroom Biology and Fungal Biotechnology Laboratory, School of 

Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, North Carolina A&T State 

University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA, 2 Agricultural and Environmental 

Research Station, Gus R. Douglass Land-Grant Institute, West 

Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112, USA. omon@ncat.edu. 

Cultivation of Agrocybe aegerita on solid waste from thermophilic 

anaerobic digestion of poultry litter. Solid waste (SW) effluent from 

thermophillic anaerobic digestion of poultry litter was tested as substrate 

for the cultivation of Agrocybe aegerita (black poplar mushroom). 

Substrate combinations tested contained 0, 10, 25, 50 75 and 

100% SW. Ten replicates of each substrate combination, after sterilization 

at 121 °C for 3 h, was inoculated with spawn from the test fungus, 

incubated at 25 °C and transferred to the fruiting house upon pinning. 

Significant differences existed between substrate combinations 

evaluated by fresh and dry weight yields. Substrate combinations with 

100% and 75% SW appeared to be the best, producing mean fresh 

weight yields of 321.75 g and 308.94 g and mean dry weights of 31.79 

g and 28.26 g, respectively. They out performed the positive control, 

which had mean fresh and dry weights of 278.23 g and 22.65 g. In general, 

any substrate combination that had 50% or more SW out performed 

the positive control. Results indicate that solid waste effluent 

can be used for A. aegerita cultivation. A pilot study for commercial 

application of SW in the cultivation of A. aegerita is ongoing in our laboratories. 

Poster 

Iturriaga, Teresa 1 *, Hawksworth, David L. 2 and Crane, J. Leland. 31 Departamento 

Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, 

Apartado 89000 Sartenejas, Baruta, Edo. Miranda, Venezuela, 2 Departamento 

de Biología Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad 

Complutense, Plaza Ramón y Cajal, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid 

28040, Spain, 3 607 E Peabody Natural Resources Building, Illinois 

Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL 61829, USA. titurri@usb.ve. 

A new lichenicolous fungus on Leptogium from Venezuela. A new 

species of Sporidesmium is described from the decaying thallus of an 

unidentified Leptogium species growing on unidentified tree bark from 

the Guaramacal National Park in Boconó, Táchira State, in western 

Venezuela. This is only the second lichenicolous species to be described 

under this generic name, and differences from that species and 

similar species in Sporidesmium s. lat are discussed. A more precise 

generic placement will have to await a molecularly based taxonomy of 

the genus. The original material comes from a mycologically little-explored 

region of the country, and brief information on previous mycological 

(including lichenological) studies in the area is provided for the 

first time in English. A new combination of another species under the 

same genus Sporidesmium is also made. Poster 

Izzo, Antonio D.* and Mazzola, M. USDA Agricultural Research ServiceTree 

Fruit Laboratory,1104 N. Western Ave.,Wenatchee, WA 

98801, USA. Izzo@tfrl.ars.usda.gov. Assessing the utility of a taxonomic 

macroarray for monitoring fungal community development 

in soils exhibiting suppression of root disease. A broad range of fungi 

can impact plant health either directly or indirectly, and the interactions 

that lead to the development of a healthy or diseased plant are very 

complex. We tested the viability of a membrane-based PCR product 

taxonomic macroarray as a means to monitor the transformation of soil 

fungal communities following the incorporation of Brassica seed meals 

(BSM) known to have differential impact on members of the pathogen 

complex that incites apple replant disease (ARD). Tests with probes of 

known composition demonstrated that the approach is capable of distinguishing 

DNA sequences differing by amounts that generally translate 

into sub-generic lineages. Tests using mixed-community probes 

constructed from soils amended with either of two BSMs indicated that 

Trichoderma species were initially preferentially dominant in amended 


soils known to suppress the Pythium spp. component of ARD whereas 

the fungal community was more evenly distributed in the soils conducive 

to Pythium spp. growth. This pattern supported both visual observation 

of sporulation patterns and other molecular analyses (cloning 

and T-RFLP) of the fungal community resident to these soils. Membrane-based 

macroarrays coupled with environmental probes represent 

a very accessible and powerful tool for studying fungal communities 

and their dynamics. Poster 

Jackson, Jason 1, 2 *, Richter, Daniel D. Jr. 2 and Vilgalys, Rytas. 11 Department 

of Biology and 2 Nicholas School of the Environment and 

Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. jaj2@duke.edu. 

Quantitative PCR assessment of fungal community change. Here 

we describe a quantitative assay to measure the relative abundance of 

basidiomycete fungi in forest soils using real-time PCR. We developed 

and tested a set of novel, taxon-specific primers. The primers are nested 

hierarchically within the basidiomycota and ascomycota and target 

several known ectomycorrhizal and saprophytic groups. We use this 

assay to estimate shifts in the relative abundance of these taxa during 

old field succession in a series of grassland, pine, and mixed forest plots 

in the South Carolina Piedmont. Previous studies using clone libraries 

have found extremely high basidiomycete diversity in both pine and 

hardwood stands from this system, and that the diversity in both forests 

is dominated by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Clone libraries are a powerful 

estimate of species richness but are not quantitative. This assay allows 

for an estimate of the relative abundance of the dominant fungal taxa in 

forest soils and, combined with measures of total fungal biomass, provides 

the ability to characterize community responses to land use 

change. Contributed Presentation 

Jarvis, Elisabeth* and Volk, Thomas J. 3024 Cowley Hall, University 

of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

jarvis.elis@uwlax.edu. Preliminary studies of mycodiversity from 

differently aged prairies. Over the past 30 years the Midwest has seen 

a dramatic proliferation in acres of prairie restoration. Over time the 

quality of these restorations has improved drastically as restorationists 

have come to a better understanding of prairie plant communities. 

However, most of these restorations never achieve the complex structure 

or diversity of prairie remnants. While the proper proportions of 

plant species may be replicated today, little information exists on the 

microbe community of pre-settlement prairie soil. This is especially 

true with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Although the role of 

plant AMF interactions in prairie structure and diversity have been documented, 

the species of AMF have not. Past studies have used spores 

to identify species of prairie AMF, but recent research have shown that 

spores do not accurately reflect the whole population. In our research, 

we compared Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem) root samples from 

differently aged prairie restorations and prairie remnants. AMF species 

were identified using nested PCR with AMF specific primers. Our 

working hypothesis is that we expect to find much higher diversity of 

fungi in the older and remnant prairies. With further research, we hope 

that our mycodiversity lists can help facilitate the restoration of native 

fungi along with native plants. Poster 

Jenkinson, Thomas S.*, Celio, Gail J., Padamsee, Mahajabeen, 

Dentinger, Bryn T. M., Meyer, Michelle E. and McLaughlin, David J. 

Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, 

USA. tsjenkinson@riseup.net. Wha choo talkin bout, Suillus? ultrastructure 

of cystidia in slimy boletes. Cystidia of Suillus americanus 

and S. granulatus (Boletales) were examined cytochemically and ultrastructurally 

using cells prepared by freeze substitution. We present the 

first study showing ultrastructural details of the cystidium to be conserved 

in two closely related species. The results are presented for inclusion 

in the AFTOL Structural and Biochemical Database 

(http://aftol.umn.edu). The cystidia of these Suillus species appear to be 

united by a series of conserved characters, including secretion mechanisms, 

smooth tubular endoplasmic reticulum, and abundant free ribosomes. 

The remarkable conservation of these subcellular traits suggests 

that ultrastructural details of cystidia may provide a wealth of charac- 

ters for phylogenetic analysis. Inclusion of such characters in phylogenetic 

analyses may have the power to resolve or provide support for 

monophyletic groups at the level of family or genus. Poster 

Johnson, James E.*, Belmont, Susan F. and Wagner, R. Steven. Central 

Washington University, 400 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 

98926, USA. jjohnson@cwu.edu. Chytridiomycosis and declines of 

Pacific Northwest amphibian populations. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium 

dendrobatidis (Bd) has been implicated in mass mortalities 

and declines of amphibian species worldwide. The fungus has 

been detected on a variety of amphibians in the Pacific Northwest, but 

there has been little evidence presented of mass mortality events or 

population declines. Using PCR and microscopy the presence of Bd 

was associated with a mass mortality event at Swamp Lake (Kittitas 

Co., WA) involving several amphibian species. The fungus has also 

been associated with mortality of the endangered Northern leopard frog 

(Rana pipiens) in the Potholes Reservoir (Grant Co., WA). In a third 

population at Engelhorn Pond (Kittitas Co., WA), demographic 

changes in abundance have been estimated in a population of Hyla 

regilla since 2002 using mark-recapture methods. During the spring of 

2006, Bd was detected in the population using PCR analyses. Consequently, 

we implemented a swabbing/PCR procedure for all captured/recaptured 

individuals to measure pathogen prevalence. Initial 

prevalence of the disease was approximately 43% and mark-recapture 

results suggest a decline in the number of recaptured individuals compared 

to previous mark-recapture years. In addition, no individuals testing 

positive for Bd were recaptured. The results of this study suggest 

that Bd is responsible for a significant decline in abundance at this site. 

These data suggest that Bd is responsible for significant amphibian 

mortality, and may have widespread implications for persistence of 

other Northwest amphibians. Contributed Presentation 

Joneson, Suzanne 1 *, Dietrich, Fred 2 , Lutzoni, François 1 and Armaleo, 

Daniele. 2 1 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708, USA, 2 Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, 

Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. slj2@duke.edu. Differentially 

regulated genes and lichen symbiosis. Lichens are the symbiotic 

association of fungi (mycobionts) with green algae and/or 

cyanobacteria (photobionts). Although one fifth of all known fungi 

form obligatory lichens with photobionts, we know nothing of the genetic 

or molecular mechanisms underlying this nutritional mode. Here 

we present the first investigations into differentially expressed genes in 

early lichen development including pre-contact, and initial contact of 

the symbionts. We used Suppression Subtractive Hybridization to find 

up-regulated genes between the fungus Cladonia grayi and the green 

alga Asterochloris sp. in in vitro resynthesis. We sequenced over 2000 

fungal and algal clones, and used BLAST and FASTA algorithmic 

searches of protein and conserved protein domain databases to characterize 

our sequences. This dataset represents the first global survey of 

fungal and algal gene sequences involved in lichen symbiosis, and a 

summary of these genes and their putative functions will be presented. 

The results of this study allow us to identify candidate genes of early 

lichen development for future research. Symposium Presentation 

Jumpponen, A.*, Jones, K.L. and Blair, J.M. Division of Biology, 

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA. ari@ksu.edu. Use of a 

massively parallel sequencing (MPS) to assess soil eukaryote responses 

to altered precipitation and warming. To test eukaryote responses 

to rainfall and warming in a tallgrass prairie, we used MPS of 

the ITS1. The acquired 100bp reads were screened for quality: those 

with intact primers, without ambiguous bases, and meeting length 

thresholds were binned at ≥98% similarity. Across 24 plots, the sampling 

intensity (~1,500 reads/plot) sufficiently covered diversity and 

species-effort curves reached a plateau. A quarter of a complete MPS 

run generated 41,512 sequences across 5,066 Operational Taxonomic 

Units (OTUs) and included 1,802 non-singletons (92% of the reads) 

and 3,264 singletons. The non-singletons represented Fungi (82.1%), 

unknown eukaryotes (13.6%), Viridiplantae (1.9%), and Metazoa 



(1.7%), plus other eukaryotes (Alveolata, Stramenopila, and Mycetozoa). 

The fungi were distributed among known fungal phyla with 

37.2% ascomycetes, 15.7% basidiomycetes, 8.6% glomeromycetes 

and few zygo- (0.9%) or chytridiomycetes (0.2%). Nearly 40% of the 

fungal OTUs could not be assigned to a phylum because of unclear 

affinities or affinities exclusively to environmental reads. When the 

treatment effects were analyzed, neither the richness nor diversity responded 

to manipulations (P>0.05). However, 21 (~10%) of the 200 

most abundant OTUs responded to altered precipitation. We conclude 

that MPS is an efficient high throughput tool to assess diversity, species 

richness and community composition. Contributed Presentation 

Kariuki, George M. 1 * , Mibey, Richard K. 2 and Mutitu, Eunice W. 3 

1 NARL, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 14733 Nairobi, 

Kenya, 2 Department of Botany, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 

30197 Nairobi, Kenya, 3 Department of Crop Protection, University of 

Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197 Nairobi, Kenya. gmmkariuki@yahoo.com. 

Some potential mycoherbicides candidates for the biocontrol of 

water hyacinth in Kenya. A survey of plant pathogenic fungi associated 

with naturally infected water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes was conducted 

at different sites in Kenya. Twenty fungal isolates belonging to 

different genera were isolated. Two Alternaria spp. isolates designated 

WH3b1 and WH3b2 were found to be pathogenic to the water hyacinth 

both under green house and field conditions. On the basis of conidial 

measurements, growth characteristics and pigmentation in cultures, the 

two Alternaria spp. were identified as A. alternata and A. eichhorniae 

respectively. A. eichhorniae caused severe leaf blight. Symptoms started 

to appear between fifth and the seventh day after inoculation and 

were manifested in the form of leaf spots and leaf blotches usually on 

the older leaves. For A. alternata, symptoms appeared 3 days after inoculation 

as small yellowish, chlorotic lesions with necrotic brown centers. 

Later these lesions enlarged gradually and centers turned dark 

brown with pale yellow margins. Contributed Presentation 

Kasuga, Takao 1 *, Greenwald, Charles 2 , Wilkinson, Heather 2 , Ebbole, 

Dan 2 , Shaw, Brian 2 and Glass, Louise. 11 Department of Plant & Microbial 

Biology, Univ. California, Berkeley, CA 94501, USA, 2 Department 

of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, 

College Station, TX 77843, USA. kasugat@berkeley.edu. mRNA profiling 

revealed enrichment of orphan gene transcripts during asexual 

development of a filamentous ascomycete Neurospora crassa. 

We asked if there is any correlation between the pattern of expression 

and phylogenetic age for Neurospora crassa genes. N. crassa genes 

were classified into six mutually exclusive groups (Cai et al., J. Mol. 

Evol 2006): (1) Eukaryote/Prokaryote-core, a group of genes whose orthologs 

were identified in non-fungal Eukaryotes and/or Prokaryotes, 

(2) Basidiomycota-core, genes shared with basidiomycetes, (3) Hemiascomycete-core, 

(4) Euascomycete-specific, (5) N. crassa orphans, 

which lack sequence similarity to any of the genes in SIMPS database 

and (6) Remainder. We then examined the mRNA profiles obtained 

during vegetative growth and conidiation using N. crassa microarray 

representing all the predicted ORFs (c.a. 11,000). We found an overrepresentation 

of Euascomycete-specific genes in very young hyphae 

(0 to 3 hours old) and in mature hyphae engaged in conidiation (18 to 

27 hours old; enrichment test, p

Kennedy, Allison* and Campbell, Jinx. University of Southern Mississippi 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean 

Springs, MS 39564, USA. allison.kennedy@usm.edu. Fungal diversity 

of Gulf Coast saltmarshes: how community profiles can aid 

coastal restoration. Saprophytic fungi are the dominant decomposers 

of standing saltmarsh plants such as Spartina alterniflora and Juncus 

roemerianus and thus perform vital roles in coastal ecosystem nutrient 

cycling. Saltmarshes are critical habitats but are declining worldwide 

primarily due to human-induced disturbances. In an attempt to counteract 

these losses in the northern Gulf of Mexico, marsh restoration efforts 

have increased; however, it is currently estimated that half of these 

restoration projects fail. This study assessed the role of saprophytic marine 

fungi as indicators of coastal saltmarsh ecosystem function and the 

length of time needed for establishment of the marine fungal saprophyte 

community in created marshes. Created saltmarshes of differing 

ages were compared with two natural reference saltmarshes using marine 

fungal saprophyte diversity and abundance, and belowground fungal 

biomass. Morphological and molecular methods (ITS T-RFLP 

analysis) were used to generate fungal community fingerprints. Belowground 

living fungal biomass was measured using the index biochemical 

ergosterol. The resulting community profiles revealed similar fungal 

communities in natural saltmarshes and created saltmarshes aged 

three years and older, with a 1.5 year-old created marsh showing lower 

levels of fungal colonization. Fungal saprophyte communities can 

serve as indicators of restoration success and must be considered when 

planning coastal restoration activities. Symposium Presentation 

Kim, Hyo Jin 1 *, Kim, Kyung Mo 2 , Hong, Soon Gyu 3 , Lim, Young 

Woon 1 and Jung, Hack Sung. 1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, 

College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151- 

747, Korea, 2 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of 

Agricultural Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, 

Korea, 3 Polar Bio Center, Korea Polar Research Institute, KORDI, Incheon 

406-840, Korea. minervas@snu.ac.kr. IGS polymorphisms of 

Trametes versicolor. Sequence polymorphisms were observed in the 

IGS1 region of 19 Trametes versicolor strains. In aligned IGS1 sequences 

of T. versicolor, T. pubescens, and T. velutina, three polymorphic 

regions consisting of six types (Types 1 and 1-1, Types 2 and 2-1, 

and Types 3 and 3-1) were discovered. Based on IGS1 sequences, polymorphism-specific 

PCRs, and maximum-likelihood trees, it was inferred 

that Types 1-1 and 3-1 were diverged from Types 1 and 3 respectively 

that exist in the common ancestral state of T. versicolor and 

T. velutina. It is probable that the speciation of T. versicolor was followed 

by the occurrence of Type 2-1 from Type 2 of the most recent 

common ancestor. It is suggested that Type 2-1 occurred through the 

expansion of Type 2 with the microsatellite (TAG)2 caused by the 

replication slippage, while Type 3-1 was probably originated from 

Type 3 by intramolecular recombination or replication slippage. The 

IGS1 sequences corresponding to the region of Types 1 and 1-1 seem 

to provide some clues for the elucidation of the genetic mechanisms, 

but the polymorphism between Types 1 and 1-1 needs to be explained 

further in future. Poster 

Kokaew, J. 1 *, Manoch, L. 1 , Worapong J. 2 , Visarathanonth, N. 1 and 

Singburaudom, N. 11 Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, 

Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand, 2 Department 

of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 

10400, Thailand. agrlkm@ku.ac.th. Diversity of endophytic fungi 

from medicinal plants and antagonist activity tests against plant 

pathogenic fungi in vitro. This research aimed to isolate endophytic 

fungi from 19 families representing 21 species of medicinal plants 

namely Ampelocissus martini, Amomum sp., Ancistroclaudus extensus, 

Artabotrys spinosus, Artemisia annua, Cassia javanica, Crateva 

magna, Claoxylon indicum, Globba sp., Lepisanthes fruticosa, Melastoma 

malabathricum, Muehlenbeckia platyclada, Moringa oleifera, 

Morinda citrifolia, Myriopteron extensum, Pandanus sp., Punica 

granatum, Spondias sp. Thunbergia laurifolia, Tiliacora triandra and 

Tinospora crispa. They were collected from Khao Yai National Park, 

Nakhon Rachasrima province (March 2006), Sireerukhachart Garden, 

Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakhonpathom province (August 

2006) and Suphan Buri province (April 2007). For isolation method, 

sodium hypochlorite – ethanol surface sterilization and culture on water 

agar or half strength PDA were employed. A total of 550 isolates of endophytic 

fungi were found, comprising 14 isolates, 4 genera of Hyphomycetes: 

Alternaria sp. (1 isolate), Curvularia pallescens (3), C. lunata 

(5), Cylindrocladium sp. (3), Nigrospora oryzae (2); 250 isolates, 

5 genera of Coelomycetes: Colletotrichum capsici (5), C. dermatium 

(5), C. gloeosporioides (10), Colletotrichum spp. (30), Phomopsis spp. 

(45), Pestalotiopsis spp. (30), Phoma spp. (10), Phyllosticta spp. (25) 

unidentify Coelomycetes (90); 5 isolates of Ascomycetes, 30 isolates of 

Xylariacous fungi and 251 isolates non- sporulating fungi (sterile hyphae). 

The most dominant genera were Colletotrichum, Phomopsis, 

Pestalotiopsis and Phyllosticta respectively. Fifteen species of endophytic 

fungi were selected for antagonistic activity tests against ten 

species of plant pathogenic fungi in vitro. Five isolates of slow growing, 

non-sporulating fungi, three isolates of Pestalotiopsis spp. (E-1, E- 

41, E-107) and Xylaria sp. (M8) could effectively inhibit plant pathogenic 

fungi including Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris maydis, 

Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Phytophthora palmivora, and Sclerotium 

rolfsii. Poster 

Kropp, Bradley R. 1 *, Sirunyan, A. 2 , Matheny, P. B. 3 and Nanagulyan, 

S.G. 21 Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA, 2 Department of 

Botany, A. Manoogian St. 1, 0025, Yerevan State University, Armenia; 

Faculty of Biology, 3 Biology Department, Clark University, 950 Main 

St., Worcester, MA 01610, USA. brkropp@biology.usu.edu. Preliminary 

phylogenetic analysis of the Inocybe splendens complex. 

Species concepts for Inocybe splendens differ among mycologists. The 

most widely accepted concept for this species now encompasses a fairly 

wide range of morphological variation and includes two varieties, 

var. splendens and var. phaeoleuca. Inocybe splendens is ectomycorrhizal 

with both angiosperms and gymnosperms and is characterized by 

having smooth spores, pleurocystidia, and metuloid caulocystidia distributed 

over the stipe. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis of Inocybe 

splendens variants from Europe and the western United States indicates 

that Inocybe splendens is polyphyletic, falls into several clades, and that 

most of the specimens going by this name from Europe and the western 

United States are not conspecific. Spring-fruiting specimens from 

the Olympic Penninsula appear to represent an undescribed taxon. This 

study was supported in part by NFSAT (grant ARB-1-3230-YE-04). 

Poster 

Kurtzman, Cletus P. National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 

USDA ARS, 1815 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61064, 

USA. kurtzman@ncaur.usda.gov. Identification of yeasts from DNA 

sequence-based ‘bar codes’. The most reliable method for yeast identification 

is from DNA analysis. RAPDs can give accurate identifications, 

especially when species are from narrowly defined groups and 

the profiles are scanned and compared by pattern-matching software. 

More widely used is comparison of sequences from the ca. 450-600nucleotide 

domains 1 and 2 (D1/D2) variable region at the 5’ end of the 

large subunit rRNA gene. D1/D2 sequences for all known ascomycetes 

(1) and basidiomycetes (2) were published nearly a decade ago. The 

widespread use and expansion of these datasets has resulted in a near 

doubling of known yeasts and these datasets, which are accessible in 

GenBank, are widely used in clinical diagnostics, ecology and biotechnology. 

How well does the D1/D2 region compare with other gene sequences 

for rapid species identification, and are species relationships 

determined from D1/D2 congruent with analyses from other gene sequences? 

Examples of multi-gene analyses will be presented and the 

usefulness of D1/D2 and other single gene sequences for phylogenetics 

and for bar coding species will be discussed. 1. Kurtzman, C. P. and 

C. J. Robnett. 1998. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 73:331-371. 2. Fell, J. 

W., T, Boekhout, A. Fonseca, G. Scorzetti and A. Statzell-Tallman. 

2000. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol 50:1351-1371. Symposium Presentation 



Lau, Helen 1 * and Johnson, James. 2 1 Central Washington University, 

Science Building Room 236N, 400 E University St. Ellensburg, WA 

98926, USA, 2 Central Washington University, Science Building Room 

338J, 400 E University St. Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA. 

lauh@cwu.edu. Ectomycorrhizae communities found on Pinus pondersosa 

in two moisture regimes. Ectomycorrhizae are a type of mutualistic 

symbiotic association between the roots of forest trees and a 

fungus. This association benefits both participants, and trees, such as 

pines, grow poorly in their absence. Few ectomycorrhizal communities 

are well characterized and how ectomycorrhizal communities change 

along environmental gradients is unknown. The proposed research will 

utilize both molecular methods and fruiting structures to characterize 

the biodiversity, species composition, and relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal 

fungi associated with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa 

Lawson) growing in moist and arid environments. This research represents 

the first attempt to characterize the community of ectomycorrhizal 

fungi associated with natural stands of ponderosa pine and the diversity 

of ectomycorrhizal fungi along an environmental gradient. This 

study is building the foundation needed in order to answer other ecological 

questions about the effects and functions of these mycorrhizae 

on plant health and biogeographical distribution. Poster 

Lauer, Carrie K.* and Volk, Thomas J. Department of Biology, University 

of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. 

lauer.carr@students.uwlax.edu. Ornamental plants as potential 

reservoirs for Scedosporium apiospermum, an emerging fungal 

pathogen of humans. Scedosporium apiospermum (teleomorph 

Pseudallesceria boydii) is an emerging, opportunistic fungal pathogen. 

It can cause a degree of infections, ranging from minor allergic reactions 

to fatal systemic infections. Research suggests that many such infections 

have been misdiagnosed as more common aggressively growing 

fungi, such as Penicillium and Aspergillus species. The 

implications of misdiagnosis are significant due to the inherent resistance 

of S. apiospermum to many antifungal therapies, especially Amphotericin 

B (AmB). S. apiospermum is even able to use AmB as primary 

carbon and nitrogen sources. In general, little is known about the 

ecology, physiology, and transmission of this fungus. The objective of 

our research is to formulate a selective medium to aid in rapid and appropriate 

diagnosis. The media was supplemented with chemicals that 

S. apiospermum has a tolerance to, such as cycloheximide and AmB. 

Our second objective was to isolate S. apiospermum from common ornamental 

plants in houses, hospitals and offices. Identification was carried 

out using PCR and morphological characteristics. The purpose of 

this research is to provide insight into the ecological niche of S. 

apiospermum and to delineate possible reservoirs for its transmission to 

humans, both of which may aid in the proper diagnosis, treatment, and 

prevention of infections caused by S. apiospermum. Poster 

Lee, Keunsub 1 * and May, Georgiana. 21 Plant Biological Sciences and 

2 Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, University of Minnesota 

Twincities, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. leex1708@umn.edu. 

Competitive interactions between endophytic Fusarium verticillioides 

and Ustilago maydis reduce smut disease severity. An ascomycete 

fungus Fusarium verticillioides is widespread throughout the 

world and often causes symptomless infections. We have investigated 

the effects of endophytic F. verticillioides on the fitness of maize and a 

fungal pathogen, Ustilago maydis using in planta experiments. In planta 

interaction experiments were conducted in a greenhouse with multifactorial 

design: 2 F. verticillioides isolates X 2 U. maydis genotypes X 

3 timing of F. verticillioides inoculation. The mixture of two mating 

compatible sporidia of U. maydis was inoculated onto the whorl of 9day-old 

maize seedlings and the spore suspension of F. verticillioides 

was pipetted onto the 7, 9, and 11-day-old maize seedlings. Maize 

height and smut disease symptoms were measured at 17 and 19 days 

after planting, respectively. Our data suggested that the endophytic isolates 

of F. verticillioides do not directly enhance maize growth but can 

reduce smut disease incidence when the two fungi were simultaneously 

inoculated to maize seedlings in the greenhouse conditions. Poster 


Lee, Maria 1 *, Volk, Thomas J. 2 , Cooper, Chester R. 3 and Chandler, 

Julie M. 41 Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin, La 

Crosse, WI 54601, USA, 2 Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin, 

La Crosse, WI 54601, USA, 3 Department of Biological Sciences, 

Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555, USA, 

4 Proteomics Research Group, Youngstown State University, 

Youngstown, OH 44555, USA. lee.mari@students.uwlax.edu. Proteomics 

profiling of dimorphism in Penicillium marneffei, an opportunistic 

fungal pathogen of humans. Penicillium marneffei is a 

unique thermal dimorphic fungus. It causes disease among immunocompromised 

patients and is endemic in parts of Southeast Asia. Although 

the exact mode of transmission is unknown, inhalation of the 

spores is thought to cause initial pulmonary infection, which then disseminates 

to other organs. It can be fatal if diagnosis is not done early 

and no treatment administered promptly. The main objective of this 

proteomics research is to characterize some of the proteins produced by 

P. marneffei that effect dimorphism. P. marneffei was cultured at 25 degree 

Celcius and 37 degree Celcius for the mold and yeast phase, respectively. 

The cells of each phase were processed for two-dimensional 

gel electrophoresis. Protein profiles from each phase were compared 

for unique protein spots. These spots were excised and the proteins separated 

via mass spectrometry. From these data, specific proteins can be 

correlated with genes known to be associated with dimorphism. From 

these profiles, one protein or more can be selected and studied as possible 

diagnostic marker(s) or antifungal target(s) for the disease. A 

comprehensive molecular-based understanding of dimorphism as developed 

in P. marneffei may be useful in understanding more about 

other dimorphic fungal pathogens such as Blastomyces, Histoplasma, 

Coccidiodes, Paracoccidiodes, and Sporothrix. Poster 

Letcher, Peter M. 1 *, Velez, Carlos G. 2 , Powell, Martha J. 1 and 

Churchill, Perry F. 11 Dept. of Biological Sciences, The University of 

Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, 2 Dept. de Biodiversidad y Biologia 

Experimental, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

letch006@bama.ua.edu. Waking a sleeping giant: diversity 

in the Rhizophydiales. The genus Rhizophydium (Chytridiomycetes, 

Chytridiomycota) has long been a taxonomically challenging entity, 

with over 220 described taxa. Members of the genus occur in both soils 

and aquatic habitats as saprophytes and parasites. Traditionally, species 

were artificially characterized based on substrate or host. Thallus characters 

were similarly problematic, often intergrading with those of 

other genera. Our recent studies of the monophyletic Rhizophydium 

clade using ultrastructural and molecular analyses have revealed remarkable 

diversity and highlight the need for taxonomic revision of this 

group. A new order, Rhizophydiales, was excised from the Chytridiales 

and erected based on a unique suite of zoospore ultrastructural character 

states and molecular-based phylogeny. Kappamyces was the first 

chytrid genus established based on molecular phylogenetics. Most recently, 

ultrastructural and molecular analyses of 140 isolates in Rhizophydiales 

from diverse habitats have resulted in delineation of ten new 

families and twelve new genera. Within the new order Rhizophydiales 

there are more than twenty distinct zoospore morphologies represented, 

a variety in form that suggests we have only begun to discover the 

diversity that resides in these classically considered “little round 

chytrids”. Contributed Presentation 

Lewis, David P. 1 * and Ovrebo, Clark L. 21 Gulf States Mycological Society, 

RR 2, Box 194-L, Newton, TX 75966, USA, 2 Department of Biology, 

University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034, USA. 

plewis@jas.net. New species described and bibliography of Agaricalean 

fungi from East Texas. East Texas is an area of great biodiversity, 

is a transition zone from the mesophytic gulf coast into the 

more xeric southwest, and with abundant moisture and tree diversity 

provides excellent habitats for the appearance of fleshy higher fungi. 

While plants have been documented in eastern Texas for over 150 

years, little work has been accomplished on the higher fungi. Fortynine 

taxa of agarics and boletes have been described from east Texas. 


Harry Thiers initiated the first survey of the agaric and bolete mycota 

of East Texas in the mid 1950s. He described 30 new taxa and reported 

over 200 species of agarics and boletes. Starting in the 1970s, David 

Lewis and Bill Cibula began surveys of the Big Thicket National Preserve 

and surrounding areas and reported their findings in various publications 

and reports and helped document several new taxa. O.K. 

Miller, E. Both, R. Singer, S.L. Miller, B. Buyck, H.V. Smith, A.H. 

Smith and N.S. Weber are other mycologists who have documented or 

described new species from this region. Despite these initial inventories, 

eastern Texas remains an area in need of critical analysis of its 

agaric and bolete mycota where it is estimated that over 3000 species 

of higher fungi exist. An All Taxa Biotic Inventory project was initiated 

in the Big Thicket National Preserve in 2006 to further document the 

fungal diversity. Poster 

Lewis, David P. 1 *, Ovrebo, Clark L. 2 and Mata, Juan L. 3 1 Gulf States 

Mycological Society, RR 2, Box 194-L, Newton, TX 75966, USA, 

2 Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, 

OK 73034, USA, 3 Department of Biology, University of Southern Alabama, 

Mobile, AL 36688, USA. plewis@jas.net. New species described 

and bibliography of Agaricalean fungi from Louisiana, 

Mississippi and Alabama. The United States Gulf Coast is an area of 

great biodiversity, is a transition zone from the mesophytic gulf coastal 

plain into the more humid tropics, and with abundant moisture and tree 

diversity provides excellent habitats for the appearance of fleshy fungi. 

Early research on the agarics and boletes of the three Gulf States, 

Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama was prevalent from the 1890s to 

the 1920s. W. A. Murrill, F. S. Earle, L. M. Underwood and C. H. Peck 

described many species. Centers of collecting activity include New Orleans, 

Biloxi and Ocean Springs, (Mississippi) and Auburn, Alabama. 

Many of these new taxa were reported in North American Flora and 

Mycologia by W.A. Murrill, although F. S. Earle and L. M. Underwood 

made many of the collections. Many of the taxa described over a 

century ago have not been collected since their original description. Recently, 

from the 1970s to the 1990s, new taxa of agarics and boletes 

were described by W. G. Cibula, G. M. Mueller, T. Feibelman, R. 

Singer, A. Bessette, E. Both, T. Baroni, D. Jenkins, N. Weber, A. H. 

Smith and L. Hesler. It is estimated that from 3000 to 5000 species of 

fleshy fungi occur along the Gulf Coast, but no extensive treatment is 

available. Poster 

Lindley, L.A.*, Brown, M.W., Lawrence, A., Silberman, J.D. and 

Spiegel, F.W. Department of Biological Sciences, SCEN 632, University 

of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA. 

lalindl@uark.edu. Schizoplasmodium: a genus reconstituted. When 

the Protostelid slime mold genus Schizoplasmodium was described in 

1966 it included a single species, S. cavosteliodes. Two new species 

were described that same year, S. ovatum and S. gracile. In 1970, Olive 

moved the long-stalked species S. ovatum and S. gracile to a new genus 

Nematostelium. The discovery of an amoeboflagellate stage in the lifecycle 

of an organism that otherwise looked like Nematostelium 

“Schizoplasmodium” gracile led to the description of a third genus 

Ceratiomyxella. In 1976, Olive added two rare ballistosporous species 

to the genus Schizoplasmodium, S. obovatum, and S. seychellarum. We 

performed detailed morphologic reassessment and molecular analyses 

of these taxa to assess their phylogenetic relationships. Gene sequences 

from the small subunit of the ribosome (SSUrDNA) place these organisms 

into a well supported clade. Additionally, the characters which 

separate the organisms as individual species: stalk-length, spore dispersal 

method, and presence/absence of an amoeboflagellate stage in 

the life-cycle are overwhelmed by the majority of life-cycle, morphological, 

ultrastructural, and molecular characters that hold these organisms 

together as a monophyletic group. Here we present morphological 

and molecular evidence that shows that these organisms are all 

closely related. Both morphology and molecular data support the synonomy 

of Nematostelium gracile and Ceratiomyxella tahitiensis therby 

casting doubt on the validity of genus Ceratiomyxella. On this basis we 

propose to move the species Nematostelium ovatum, Nematostelium 

gracile, and Ceratiomyxella tahitiensis into the genus Schizoplasmodi- 

um and to rename them as Schizoplasmodium ovatum, Schizoplasmodium 

gracile, and Schizoplasmodium tahitiensis respectively. Poster 

Lindner, Daniel L.* and Banik, Mark T. Center for Forest Mycology 

Research, Madison Field Office of the Northern Research Station, 

USDA-Forest Service, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 

53726, USA. dlindner@wisc.edu. A comparison of direct sequencing 

versus cloning and sequencing for studying fungal associates 

of spruce roots. To better understand DNA sequencing as a tool 

to assess fungal root associates, 40 root tips were collected from a single 

Picea glauca root system. Genomic DNA was isolated from 20 

small root tips (SRT, 1.0 - 2.0 mm long) and 20 large root tips (LRT, 

5.0 - 6.0 mm long). All 20 of the SRT and 17 of the LRT yielded visible 

PCR bands with primers ITS1F/ITS4. The resultant PCR products 

were sequenced directly using primer ITS4 and also cloned using the 

Promega pGem-T Vector System II. The 20 SRT all yielded DNA that 

was identified with direct sequencing as one of four commonly associated 

root fungi. Thirteen of the LRT also yielded DNA whose sequences 

matched one of these same four fungi while the other 7 yielded 

no useful sequence from direct sequencing. Cloning of the PCR 

products followed by sequencing resulted in the detection of additional 

fungi beyond those found via direct sequencing in 7 SRT and 2 LRT. 

In addition all 7 of the LRT that yielded no usable sequences with direct 

sequencing produced identifications when cloned. Overall, direct 

sequencing indicated the presence of 4 fungal taxa on both SRT and 

LRT, while cloning indicated the presence of 8 taxa on the SRT and 14 

on the LRT. Furthermore cloning resulted in the recovery of usable sequences 

from 100% of the root tips sampled compared to 83% for direct 

sequencing. Poster 

Lombard, Lorenzo 1 , Bogale, Mesfin 1 *, Montenergro, Fernando 2 , Wingfield, 

Brenda D. 1 and Wingfield, Michael J. 11 Forestry and Agricultural 

Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 

2 Fundacion Forestal Juan Manuel Durini, Ecuador. lorenzo.lombard@fabi.up.ac.za. 

A bark canker disease of the tropical 

hardwood tree, Cedrelinga catenaeformis in Ecuador. Cedrelinga 

catenaeformis is an indigenous leguminous tree that occurs naturally in 

the Amazonian regions of Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. This tree is an 

economically valuable component of local forestry industries and it is 

also culturally important to rural communities in these countries. A 

canker disease has recently emerged on C. catenaeformis in Ecuadorian 

plantations of this tree. The disease is characterized by severe cracks in 

the bark, from which gum exudes, wood discoloration associated with 

these cracks as well as die-back and stunted growth. Isolations from 

cankers consistently yielded species of Fusarium. These species were 

identified as F. solani, F. oxysporum and F. decemcelluare based on 

morphology as well as on comparisons of their partial translation elongation 

factor-1 alpha gene sequences. In inoculations, all three Fusarium 

species gave rise to cankers similar to those found on trees under natural 

conditions and they were consistently re-isolated from the lesions. 

The canker disease on C. catenaeformis appears to be caused by three 

species of Fusarium, all of which are equally pathogenic. Poster 

Luangsa-ard, Janet Jennifer*, Tasanathai, Kanoksri, Ridkaew, Rungpet 

and Hywel-Jones, Nigel. National Center for Genetic Engineering and 

Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand Science Park, 113 Paholyothin 

Rd., Khlong 1, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. 

jajen@biotec.or.th. Phylogenetic distribution and relationships of 

Ophiocordyceps producing Hymenostilbe and Hirsutella 

anamorphs in Thailand. Hymenostilbe has its known teleomorph in 

the genus Ophiocordyceps and is closely related to the Hirsutella 

anamorphs producing the same teleomorph. There are about 13 species 

of Hymenostilbe known worldwide, all are pathogens of arthropods and 

several of these are found in Thailand. These are Hy. dipterigena (O. 

dipterigena), Hy. nutans (O. nutans), H. aurantiaca (O. myrmecophila/O. 

irangiensis), Hymenostilbe spp. linked to O. sphecocephala and 

O. pseudolloydii. There are ca. 80 known species of Hirsutella worldwide 

with teleomorphs in three genera: Ophiocordyceps, Torrubiella 



and Cordycepioideus. This suggests of a polyphyletic nature of the 

genus. In Thailand Ophiocordyceps species linked with Hirsutella 

anamorphs are O. unilateralis, O. brunneapunctata, O.communis, O. 

humbertii, O. cf. acicularis and O. rhizoidea. Of these six teleomorphs, 

only two were formally linked to Hirsutella anamorphs (O. unilateralis 

– H. formicarum and O. humbertii – H. saussurei) although on the host 

Hirsutella anamorphs have been identified. Molecular work has shown 

the close relationship of Hymenostilbe and Hirsutella and there are 

species sharing features of these two genera in their morphology. Our 

results show that the genus Hymenostilbe is derived from Hirsutella, 

occupying more the upper branches in the tree infecting dipteran flies 

to wasps and ants. Contributed Presentation 

Manoch, L.*, Jeamjitt, O., Dethoup, T., Eamvijarn, A. and Pikulklin, S. 

Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, 

Bangkok 10900, Thailand. agrlkm@ku.ac.th. Some noteworthy 

ascomycetes from soil and plants in Thailand. During the course 

of an ecological survey on the ascomycetes of Thailand, soil samples 

and diseased plants were collected from various locations. Alcohol and 

heat treatments, soil plate, dilution plate methods and Gochenaur’s glucose 

ammonium nitrate agar were used to isolate soil fungi. The supplement 

of actidione (cyclohexemide) to agar media was employed to 

isolate keratinolytic fungi. The tissue transplanting technique and half 

strength potato dextrose agar (PDA) were employed for isolation of 

plant parasitic fungi from diseased tissues. Morphological characteristics 

of the ascomycetes were determined, such as growth rate, color, 

texture on different agar medium. Microscopic characters were examined 

under stereo, light and scanning electron microscopes. The results 

revealed that a number of Pyrenomycetes were found from soil including 

Echinopodospora spinosa, Gelasinospora dictyophora, G. hippopotomata, 

Nectria viridescense with Acremonium anamorphic state, 

Neurospora africana and N. dodgei. Species of Eurotiales (Trichocomaceae) 

from soil included Emericella rugulosa, E. variecolor, Eupenicillium 

spp., Eurotium spp., Hamigera avellanea, and Talaromyces 

spp. Several species of keratinolytic fungi were found 

including Arachniotus sp. and related genera. Pyrenomycetes from diseased 

plants were Nectria hematococca with Fusarium solani anamorphic 

state (blight of orchid leaf), Gnomonia sp. on cinnamon leaf, Leptosphaerulina 

sp. with Phoma sp. anamorphic state (blight of cabbage), 

and one unidentified species of Pyrenomycetes on decaying Ficus twig. 

Pure cultures of all fungal isolates are being maintained at the Fungal 

Culture Collection at the Department of Plant Pathology, Kasetsart 

University for further investigations. Poster 

Mata, Juan L. 1 * and Ovrebo, Clark L. 21 Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36695, USA, 2 Dept. of Biology, 

University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 73034, USA. 

jmata@usouthal.edu. New reports of Gymnopus for Costa Rica and 

Panama. Field trips to the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica and Panama 

in the last two decades have yielded several dozen collybioid collections. 

Morphological examination of those collections has resulted 

in the discovery of species not previously reported for this region of 

Central America. The distribution range for Gymnopus luxurians, initially 

described from southern United States and recently reported in 

Dominican Republic, is extended into the Caribbean lowlands of Costa 

Rica and Panama. Similarly, G. subpruinosus, known from the Greater 

Antilles, is reported for Panama. Other new reports for Panama, but 

previously recorded from Costa Rica, are G. neotropicus, G. omphalodes, 

G. subcyathiformis, and G. luxurians var. copeyi. Poster 

Matheny, P. Brandon 1 *, Aime, M. Catherine 2 , Buyck, Bart 3 , Desjardin, 

Dennis E. 4 , Horak, Egon 5 and Lodge, D. Jean. 61 Biology Department, 

Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, Massachusetts 01610, 

USA, 2 USDA-ARS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, 

Room 304, Building 011A, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, Maryland 

20705-2350, USA, 3 Museum National D’histoire Naturelle, Départment 

Systématique et Evolution, Bâtiment de Cryptogamie, Herbier de 

Mycologie, Case postale 39 – 57, rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, 

France, 4 Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San 


Francisco, California 94132, USA, 5 Ex-Curator Cryptogamic Herbarium 

ZT, Federal Institute of Technology, ETH, CH-8092 Zurich, 

Switzerland, 6 International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest 

Service-FPL, PO Box 1377 Luqillo, Puerto Rico 00773-1377. pmatheny@clarku.edu. 

The evolution of tropical species of Inocybaceae 

(Agaricales). Neotropical and paleotropical species of the ectomycorrhizal 

(EM) mushroom family Inocybaceae currently comprise 18 percent 

of the species-level diversity in the family from tropical latitudes, 

including lowland and montane habitats. This poor representation of 

tropical taxa, combined with the assumption that morphological traits 

of tropical species are advanced, suggests that tropical taxa may be recently 

derived, and that the family as a whole had a temperate Northern 

or Southern hemisphere ancestral area (center of origin). As a consequence, 

species of Inocybaceae are thought to have migrated or 

dispersed relatively recently into tropical areas. A corollary of these hypotheses 

would suggest the EM symbiosis has switched repeatedly to 

tropical angiosperm partners of Casuarinaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, 

Dipterocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, Polygonaceae, Uapacaceae, and perhaps 

other partners from temperate gymnosperm and angiosperm partners. 

Our recent research has uncovered multiple novel lineages of Inocybaceae, 

almost all of which likely contain endemic undescribed species 

from tropical latitudes. In particular, the diversity of the family has been 

undersampled in Miombo woodlands of Zambia, mixed dipterocarp/Fagaceae 

forests of Thailand and India, and in the neotropics. We 

test these hypotheses in a phylogenetic context using a molecular 

dataset of multiple nuclear genes. We report that tropical taxa of Inocybaceae 

tend to be diffuse (polyphyletic) throughout the family phylogeny, 

and that tropical clades represent both early diverging and recently 

derived lineages. Poster 

McDonald, Tami R.*, Armaleo, Daniele and Lutzoni, François. Department 

of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. 

trm5@duke.edu. Epigenetics of the lichen symbiosis. DNA methylation 

is a key regulator of development in higher eukaryotes. Although 

present at negligible levels in many fungi, DNA methylation is considerably 

higher in lichen-forming fungi. In the lichen Cladonia grayi, the 

DNA of the aposymbiotically grown fungus is relatively unmethylated, 

while the DNA of the fungus in symbiotic association with its algal 

partner is highly methylated. As DNA methylation is one hallmark of 

epigenetic gene silencing, this observation suggests that gene silencing 

may be a critical step in the formation or maintenance of the lichen 

symbiosis. To determine which sequences are subject to methylation, 

we made a library of methylated DNA from the fungal component of 

the lichen. Analysis of clones from the library suggests that most targets 

of DNA methylation are protein-coding sequences rather than intergenic 

regions, transposable elements or repeated DNA. The implication 

is that these regions are downregulated or silenced in the 

symbiotic state. The correlation between DNA methylation on these 

candidate regions and the presence of related marks of epigenetic silencing, 

including trancriptionally repressive histone H3 methylation, 

presence of linker histone H1 and heterochromatin binding protein are 

being investigated. Poster 

McLenon-Porter, Teresita 1 *, Skillman, Jane E. 1 and Moncalvo, Jean 

Marc. 1, 2 1 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University 

of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, 2 Department 

of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, 

Toronto, ON M5S 2C6. terri.mclenon@utoronto.ca. Application of 

phylogenetic methods to assess fungal diversity and community 

structure from DNA sequences. Advances in molecular biology techniques, 

expansion of nucleotide sequence databases, and development 

of novel bioinformatic tools are collectively making large DNA-based 

environmental microbial surveys more common. These methods routinely 

detect hundreds of divergent sequences from even small halfgram 

samples of soil that are often difficult to identify because they 

poorly match sequences of known taxa in public databases. Phylogenetic 

methods can be used to classify unknown sequences, detect new 


taxa, and assess the functional diversity of taxa in a sample by comparison 

with known references. However, easy-to-use methods to cluster 

sequences and determine significant taxonomic and functional differences 

among samples are still in their infancy. Our objective is to 

compare four methods that are currently available: 1. Phylogenetic diversity 

measure (Faith 1992 Biol Cons 61:1); 2. Phylogenetic test 

(Martin 2002 AEM 68: 3673); 3. Libshuff analysis (Schloss et al. 2004 

AEM 70: 5485); and 4. Unifrac analysis (Lozupone & Knight 2005 

AEM 71: 8228). For this comparison we use LSU-rDNA sequence data 

obtained along a single core of forest soil to test whether or not fungal 

community structure changes significantly in relation to depth. The significance 

of our findings is discussed in the more general context of estimating 

fungal biological diversity from environmental samples. Contributed 

Presentation 

Mena Portales, J. Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica, Carretera de 

Varona Km 3.5. Capdevila. Boyeros. A.P. 8029. Ciudad de la Habana 

10800. Cuba. julio.mena@infomed.sld.cu. Preparing a national conservation 

strategy for fungi: the Cuban experience. Cuba, as a signatory 

to the 1992 Rio Convention on Biological Diversity, developed 

the National Study on Biological Diversity in the Republic of Cuba, finished 

in 1995 and published by Vales et al. (1998), and the National 

Strategy of Biological Diversity and Action Plan in the Republic of 

Cuba (Vilamajo et al., 2002). These diagnoses of Cubas fungal biodiversity 

status were no more than a start which left many holes because 

of the unique characteristics of these organisms and the dispersed nature 

of mycological information. A national conservation strategy explicitly 

for fungi was therefore developed, based on information in the 

computerised databases of the UK Darwin Initiative project, Fungi of 

the Caribbean (1997-2000) and Cuban mycological literature. The 

document is probably the first in Latin America specifically to address 

conservation of fungal diversity and is one of only very few in the 

world. The strategy has two parts: in the first, the current state of 

knowledge of Cuban fungi is reviewed and analysed in respect of taxonomic 

and ecological groups, while legislative aspects, environmental 

education and resources available for study and conservation of Cuban 

fungi are also covered; in the second, the strategy itself and an action 

plan are set out in respect of the holes identified in the first part. The 

document has the same goals as those of the Cuban National Strategy 

of Biodiversity, but it focuses more fully on the issues which must be 

addressed before this unique and key group of organisms can be conserved 

and at the same time used sustainably and rationally. Symposium 

Presentation 

Miller, Bradley W.* and Fox, Thomas R. Forest Nutrition Cooperative, 

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Department of 

Forestry, Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. bwmillergk@hotmail.com. 

Ectomycorrhizal rhizosphere affects on longterm 

inorganic and organic P pools in forest soils. Phosphorus is one 

of the most limiting nutrients in the soil due to strong sorption to amorphous 

Fe and Al oxides. Ectomycorrhizal fungi secrete a variety of organic 

acids, such as oxalate, to solubilize P from amorphous surfaces. 

A loblolly pine plantation established in 1980 was fertilized once with 

250 lbs. per acre of diammonium phosphate. Twenty years later pine 

trees responded with a height increase greater than six feet. Soil samples 

analyzed suggest that the majority of P applied is now sorbed to 

Fe- and Al-oxides with a small but significant increase in organic P in 

fertilized plots. We will present results of the effects of the ectomycorrhizal 

rhizosphere (ER) on organic and inorganic P pools in fertilized 

and control plots of a loblolly pine stand 27 years after fertilization. Ectomycorrhizal 

short roots in fertilized and control plots will be compared 

for total P content by ICP. The effects of the ER on organic P 

pools in fertilized and control plots will be compared to the bulk soil 

using NMR. Total P content of amorphous Fe- and Al-oxides will be 

also be compared. We will also report the results comparing P released 

by single and sequential oxalate additions to soil fractions in an attempt 

to measure the long-term affects of the ER and P fertilization on organic 

and inorganic P pools. Results will advance our understanding of 

the ER on P pools in forest soils. Contributed Presentation 

Mims, Charles W. 1 *, Richardson, Elizabeth A. 2 and Taylor, 

Josephine. 3 1 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, 

Athens, GA 30602, USA, 2 Department of Plant Biology, University of 

Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA, 3 Department of Biology, S. F. 

Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA. 

cwmims@uga.edu. Orange rust of Rubus: a fascinating challenge 

for mycologists. Orange rust is a common disease of blackberry 

(Rubus spp.) in the U. S. and has been studied at the light microscopic 

level by numerous early workers. The disease is very important in the 

northeastern but also is widespread in southern states. From a mycological 

standpoint, orange rust is particularly interesting because of the 

fact that it is caused by two different pathogens that produce virtually 

identical symptoms. One is Gymnoconia peckiana which is demicyclic 

while the other is a microcyclic species known as Gymnoconia nitens. 

Both are autoecious rusts that cause permanent systemic infections involving 

roots. Crowns on infected roots give rise to weak spindly 

shoots with pale green stunted leaves whose undersides become bright 

orange as the result of the development of sori filled with bright orange 

spores. In the case of G. peckiana these spores are aeciospores but in 

G. nitens they are actually teliospores. The study of orange rust disease 

becomes even more complicated because of the fact that G. nitens has 

been shown to exist in two forms that likely were confused with one 

another prior to 1924. One of these forms possesses spermogonia and 

produces four-celled basidia while the other typically lacks spermogonia 

and produces two-celled basidia. In this study we used a combination 

of light and electron microscopy to examine nuclear behavior during 

both teliospore formation/germination and basidium/basidiospore 

formation in both forms of G. nitens. At this time it is unclear if karyogamy 

and meiosis occur in either of these two forms. Contributed 

Presentation 

Minter, D.W. CABI, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, UK. 

d.minter@cabi.org. Microfungi - orphans of the conservation movement. 

Despite evidence of decline in many populations, fungi are almost 

completely unprotected worldwide. Most conservation law covers 

only animals and plants. Most protected areas lack policies to manage 

fungi in their care. The need for fungal conservation is rarely vocalized, 

so most policymakers are unaware of the issue. The few existing resources 

are directed only to Basidiomycetes and perhaps lichen-forming 

fungi. For the non-lichen-forming microfungi, the conservation gap is 

total. This symposium presentation will describe a new initiative which 

aims to address the problem. Three specialist groups are being established 

for conservation of microfungi at a global level. These groups will 

aim to work in collaboration with the two existing IUCN Species Survival 

Commission Specialist Groups (one for fungi in general, the other 

for lichens) and with conservation-minded mycologists worldwide. The 

groups will prepare global conservation plans for the organisms they 

represent and seek to stimulate awareness of threats, including climate 

change. A draft and preliminary website for each group has been constructed 

(www.cybertruffle.org.uk/ascos for non-lichen-forming ascomycetes 

& conidial fungi, www.cybertruffle.org.uk/rustsmut for rusts 

& smuts, and www.cybertruffle.org.uk/moulds for chromistans, 

chytrids, myxomycetes and zygomycetes). Those websites will make 

available each plan and, it is hoped, will evolve to become a focus for 

conservation of microfungi, providing information and advice. Symposium 

Presentation 

Mongkolsamrit, Suchada, Luangsa-ard, Janet Jennifer* and Hywel- 

Jones, Nigel. National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology 

(BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development 

Agency, 113 Paholyothin Rd., Khlong 1, Khlong Luang Pathum Thani 

12120, Thailand. jajen@biotec.or.th. Phylogenetic relationships of 

Hypocrella species producing orange stromata in Thailand. 

Hypocrella discoidea is a fungal pathogen of white flies producing an 

Aschersonia samoensis as the anamorph. It was described by Petch 

(1921) and a complete re-description was made by Hywel-Jones & 

Evans (1993). Field material provisionally labeled as Hypocrella cf dis- 



coidea were compared with H. discoidea strains because they were 

morphologically similar, having orange color and producing perithecia 

and pycnidia embedded in the stromata. These were all Hypocrella 

teleomorphs with orange stroma and producing whole ascospores. For 

the molecular study a phylogeny based on sequences of the 5.8S rDNA 

and flanking internal transcribed spacers regions clearly showed that 

Hypocrella cf discoidea is distinct from a clade of H. discoidea. This 

indicates that there is more than one species based on orange stromata. 

A review of all Hypocrella specimens stored at Kew Gardens (UK) 

showed that this material (mostly on bamboo but also on dicotyledonous 

plants) has not been previously collected and named. Work is underway 

to describe this as a new species in the genus Hypocrella from 

Thailand. The name Hypocrella calendulina is proposed to highlight 

the orange color of the stromata. Poster 

Morgenstern, Ingo* and Hibbett, David S. Department of Biology, 

Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA. imorgenstern@clarku.edu. 

Characterization of a manganese peroxidase 

gene in Fomitiporia mediterranea (Hymenochaetales). White-rotting 

fungi in the basidiomycetes are capable of degrading lignin, thereby 

performing an ecologically important role in the global terrestrial carbon 

cycle. Lignin degradation is achieved by the secretion of extracellular 

peroxidases, namely manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase 

(LiP) and versatile peroxidase (VP). Although white rot taxa 

occur widespread over the phylogenetic tree in almost all major clades, 

the presence of genes encoding for lignin degrading peroxidases based 

on sequence data has only been established in a few lineages. These include 

the polyporoid, euagarics, and russuloid clades. Recently, we reported 

the presence of a MnP encoding gene based on a partial sequence 

in Fomitiporia mediterranea, which is a member of the 

hymenochaetoid clade. In a phylogenetic analysis this sequence takes a 

basal position in a well defined clade of “classical” MnPs. Our current 

research is aimed at obtaining a full-length sequence for this gene and 

to compare it with characterized full-length MnP sequences found in 

polyporoid and euagarics species. Results from this analysis may not 

only help us to better understand the evolution of lignin degrading enzymes 

in the basidiomycetes, but may also be of interest in an applied 

field. F. mediterranea is associated with a plant disease (Esca) affecting 

grape vines in Europe and other parts of the world. Symptoms of 

the disease include an extended white rot in the trunks of affected vines. 

Poster 

Mueller, Gregory M. * and Hosaka, Kentaro. Department of Botany, 

Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, 

IL 60605-2496, USA. gmueller@fieldmuseum.org. Using the Laccaria-Hydnangium 

clade as a model to study diversity, biogeographic, 

and host specificity patterns of macrofungi. Due to its cosmopolitan 

distribution, frequency of collection, manageable size 

(75-100 species worldwide), and utility in studies on ectomycorrhizas, 

the Laccaria - Hydnangium clade is an appropriate model system to 

study diversity, biogeographic, and host specificity patterns of macrofungi. 

Multigene phylogenetic analyses were undertaken with material 

covering the distribution and much of the morphological range of the 

clade. Hydnangium is nested within Laccaria, consistent with our preliminary 

data. A number of previously undescribed species were uncovered. 

All taxa from temperate South America and Australasia, including 

3 of 4 taxa from Papua New Guinea, form a basal paraphyly. 

Taxa from Northern Hemisphere, including tropical America and Asia 

form a well-supported clade nested within the austral grade. While we 

detect a strong vicariance signal, dispersal and subsequent radiations 

are responsible for the current distribution patterns. Historical host 

specificity is not strongly supported in our phylogeny. Some New 

Zealand Nothofagus-associated taxa form a monophyletic group, while 

others are intermixed within the austral grade that is represented mostly 

by Myrtaceae-associated taxa. Our data suggest Nothofagus-associated 

taxa dispersed into New Zealand after the reestablishment of 

Nothofagus on the islands. Presidential Address 


Murrin, F.* and LeCointre, C. Department of Biology, Memorial University 

of Newfoundland, St. Johns, Newfoundland, A1B 3X9, Canada. 

fmurrin@mun.ca. Mycorrhizal mushroom communities in the 

boreal forest of Newfoundland: the impact of introduced moose. 

Within the boreal forest of Terra Nova National Park on the island of 

Newfoundland, disturbances due to insect activity and browsing by 

moose (Alces alces andersoni) are resulting in the replacement of Balsam 

Fir (Abies balsamea) with species such as Black Spruce (Picea 

mariana), thereby changing the landscape and reducing biodiversity 

within the Park. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact 

of these disturbances on the ectomycorrhizal communities in Balsam 

Fir/Feather Moss stands and we report here preliminary results of 

two seasons of study. Fruiting bodies were collected in control and 

moose exclosure plots within five previously-established study sites 

with different levels of past insect disturbance. Species identifications 

and fruiting body numbers were recorded to determine species richness, 

frequency and similarity among plots and sites. At selected sites, 

fruiting bodies of non-mycorrhizal species were also processed. While 

preliminary data support the hypothesis that lack of moose browsing 

has a positive effect on ectomycorrhizal community structure, we 

found no evidence that the ectomycorrhizal community varies with 

level of past insect disturbance. While moose are native to much of 

Canada, they were introduced to the island of Newfoundland in 1878 

and again in 1904. The insular, and thus isolated, nature of Newfoundland 

may increase the effect of this invasive herbivore on forest community 

structure and mycorrhizal diversity. Poster 

Ndiritu, George, G. 1, 2 * and Spiegel, Fredrick, W. 11 Department of Biological 

Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, 

2 Centre for Biodiversity, National Museums of Kenya, 40658 00100, 

Nairobi, Kenya. gnderit@uark.edu. Assessment of protostelid diversity 

from natural and anthropogenic impacted tropical habitats in 

Kenya. Protostelids are unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms which 

have amoebal trophic cells and fruiting bodies in their life cycles. They 

tend to show a ubiquitous distribution and are primarily microbivorous 

of bacteria, fungi, algae and often abundant, on or in decaying plant material. 

In spite of their omnipresence in most habitats where they are suspected 

to play an important ecological role, protostelids are still some of 

the most understudied organisms world wide. In order to contribute 

more information, a rapid assessment survey was carried out in August 

2005 to determine protostelid occurrence in Aberdare region, in central 

Kenya. Samples were collected from 45 sites (20 by 20 m each) along 

an elevation gradient (1785 to 3396 m) in habitats under different land 

use regimes and different vegetation types. Seventeen species were recovered 

from all substrates. Species richness was highest in ground litter 

(16), followed by aerial litter (13), aerial bark (10) and ground bark 

(7). The most frequent species on the ground litter were Protostelium 

mycophaga, Soliformovum, irregularis, Schizoplasmodiopsis pseudoendospora 

and S. ameboidea whereas P. mycophaga and S. irregularis 

were most abundant in aerial litter. Species richness, composition and 

microhabitat preferences in Aberdare region compared more strongly to 

those reported in temperate countries than to those recorded from relatively 

similar tropical habitats in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico. However 

some of the shared species showed significant morphological variation. 

Species richness and abundance decreased with increase in elevation 

whilst land use regimes seemed to influence protostelid assemblages but 

in an unclear way. Poster 

Ndiritu, George, G.*, Spiegel, Fredrick, W. and Stephenson, Steven L. 

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

AR 72701, USA. gnderit@uark.edu. Distribution and ecology 

of the assemblages of myxomycetes associated with major vegetation 

types in Big Bend National Park, USA. A study was carried out 

to obtain data on the distribution and ecology of the assemblages of 

myxomycetes associated with aerial litter and ground litter in Big Bend 

National Park in Texas. Twelve plots (each 30 by 30 m) were established 

along an elevation gradient (564 to 1807 m) during March 2005. 

Samples of bark from living trees and litter were obtained from these 


plots, which encompassed all of the major vegetation types in the Park: 

For the 447 moist chambers prepared, 95.8% (428) produced some evidence 

(either fruiting bodies or plasmodia) of myxomycetes. Overall, 

68 species were recorded (57 from aerial litter and 54 from ground litter, 

respectively). The most abundant species were Perichaena depressa 

(13% of 975 records), Arcyria cinerea (9%), P. chrysosperma (8%), 

Badhamia gracilis (8%), Didymium squamulosum (5%), Physarum 

pusillum (5%) and D. anellus (5%). Species composition of the assemblages 

of myxomycetes present varied between aerial litter and ground 

litter as well as among the major vegetation types. Environmental factors 

such as site moisture conditions changed spatially in the Park while 

values of pH differed for the various substrates sampled. Presumably, 

these factors are largely responsible for the observed differences in 

species assemblages and distribution patterns in the Park. Poster 

Neves, Maria-Alice 1 *, Binder, Manfred 2 and Halling, Roy E. 1 1 The 

New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458, USA, 2 Clark University, 

Worcester, MA 01610, USA. mneves@nybg.org. Phylloporus revisited: 

a new story from the gilled bolete. Phylloporus has been seen 

as an unnatural group and was reduced to synonymy with Xerocomus 

based on limited DNA sequences from two north temperate taxa. While 

most Phylloporus species are pantropical, no studies have included the 

majority of known tropical species along with north temperate taxa. 

Species of the genus are unusual in Boletaceae because of a lamellate 

hymenophore. Placement in the family has been confirmed by morphological, 

chemical, and molecular data. In this study, morphological 

and molecular data were combined to test the monophyly of the genus 

and establish the sister group relationships within the Boletaceae. We 

present results toward clarifying infrageneric phylogenetic relationships 

in Phylloporus, including the largest selection of species represented 

in a study to-date. Phylogenetic relationships of 73 selected taxa 

were estimated by MP and ML. Aureoboletus auriporus was used as 

outgroup. A combined analysis for LSU and ITS regions plus morphological 

characters for Phylloporus from the Americas, Europe and 

South East Asia indicates that Phylloporus is monophyletic and confirms 

Binder’s hypothesis that it is closely related to the Xerocomus 

subtomentosus group and not a synonym. This study establishes hypotheses 

for species distribution and morphological evolution in this 

important ectomycorrhizal genus, and establishes the groundwork for 

further analyses. Contributed Presentation 

Norvell, Lorelei L. Pacific Northwest Mycology Service, Portland, OR 

97229-1309 USA. llnorvell@pnw-ms.com. Fungi under the International 

Code of Botanical Nomenclature. “Unambiguous names for 

organisms are essential for effective scientific communication; names 

can only be unambiguous if there are international accepted rules governing 

their formation and use. The rules that govern scientific naming 

in botany (including phycology and mycology) are revised at ... successive 

International Botanical Congresses.” Given that we accepted 

fungi as Not Plant only recently, the ICBN is well suited for the naming 

of fungi. The venerable yet mutable Code is a legal document, one 

governing peculiarly fungal quandaries (dual nomenclature for pleomorphs) 

and peppered with enough mycological examples to satisfy 

the most exacting nomenclaturalist. That we revise the ICBN only 

every 6 years helps preserve the effective scientific communication it 

was founded to protect. The Code does remain responsive to the mycological 

community, as one who has served the Committee for Fungi 

for the past decade can attest. Yes, we now have codes for botany, zoology, 

bacteria, and phylos, but why must overworked mycologists 

abandon something not broken merely to buy an unimproved lot in a 

new subdivision? It would be better not to reinvent another wheel but 

simply to round the wheel we have. Let us unite instead to move the 

fungal kingdom from perceived handmaiden of the plant kingdom to 

full-fledged partner via the International Code of Botanical and Mycological 

Nomenclature. Symposium Presentation 

Oliver, Jason P. 315 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Me 

04469, USA. jason.oliver@umit.maine.edu. Wood decay mechanisms 

of species in the family Coprinaceae. Many species in the fam- 

ily Coprinaceae use coarse woody debris and buried wood as a substrate 

for growth and reproduction. Because these fungi are uncommonly 

found on wood in service and are not commonly considered 

“wood decay fungi”, with the exception of the isolation of some ligninolytic 

enzymes, their wood degrading mechanisms have remained 

poorly understood. As these species exist in a wood/soil matrix and can 

decompose the amorphous, aromatic structure of lignin, they show 

great potential as agents of bioremediation and bioconversion. We are 

currently conducting physiological studies on various species of the 

genera Coprinus, Coprinellus, and Coprinopsis, to elucidate mechanisms 

of wood decay and to screen for bioremediation and bioconversion 

potential. These include investigations into enzyme kinetics, decay 

rates, substrate modification, copper tolerance, and aggressiveness toward 

other pollutants. Poster 

OReilly, Bernadette*, Willmarth, Kirk and Armaleo, Daniele. Box 

90338, Biological Sciences Building, Duke University, Durham, NC 

27708, USA. bernadette.oreilly@duke.edu. Sizing the lichen mycobiont 

genome. Unpublished data (Armaleo) suggest a comparatively 

large genome size for the mycobiont genome of the lichen Cladonia 

grayi. No lichen genome size has yet been determined. To assess size, 

we used quantitative fluorescence microscopy and a novel quantitative 

PCR-based method. For a typical fluorescence microscopy experiment, 

Cladonia mycobiont spores were rained from lichen apothecia on poly- 

L-lysine coated slides and incubated at 25˚C for several days. After 

spore germination and initial hyphal growth, suspensions of either Saccharomyces 

cerevisiae or Aspergillus nidulans conidia were added to 

the slides as standards of known genome size. Nuclei were stained with 

a mixture of Sybr green and paraphenylenediamine and viewed under 

blue light excitation. Equal-focus nuclei from the mycobiont and the 

standard were compared on digital images and their fluorescence was 

quantified using ImageJ software. Genome size estimates from fluorescence 

microscopy and qPCR were compared. Final results will be 

discussed. Poster 

Osmundson, Todd W.* and Halling, Roy E. Institute of Systematic 

Botany and The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Program for Molecular 

Systematics Studies, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 

10458, USA, and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental 

Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. tosmundson@nybg.org. 

Phylogeography of the widely distributed ectomycorrhizal 

bolete Tylopilus ballouii. Dispersal over historical and contemporary 

time scales influences numerous processes including speciation, 

metapopulation dynamics, and responses to environmental change. Todate, 

most biogeographic studies of hymenomycetes have focused on 

saprobic species; however, ectomycorrhizal (EM) taxa are likely to exhibit 

different patterns due to their obligately symbiotic life cycles. As a 

widely-distributed, easily recognized morphospecies, Tylopilus ballouii 

is a promising model for biogeographic and population genetics studies 

for EM fungi over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Here, we present 

a phylogeographic analysis of T. ballouii from both Old and New World 

populations using RPB1 sequence data. The recognition of several wellsupported 

clades and significant sequence divergence in both protein 

coding and non-coding regions suggests that T. ballouii is a species complex 

rather than a single species. While the analysis does reveal some evidence 

for geographic structuring, it also yields some unexpected results; 

while these results cannot discount the possibility of infrequent long-distance 

dispersal, the degree of observed sequence divergence indicates 

that populations have been isolated for a significant time. We are currently 

sampling additional loci for an expanded dataset with improved 

geographical representation and additional samples from within geographical 

areas. Contributed Presentation 

Ovrebo, Clark L. 1 *, Hughes, Karen W. 2 and Halling, Roy E. 3 1 Department 

of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK 

73034, USA, 2 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, 

Knoxville, TN 37996, USA, 3 Institute of Systematic Botany, 

The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10458, USA. covre- 



o@ucok.edu. A new species of Tricholoma from Costa Rica. Collections 

of an undescribed species of Tricholoma sect. Genuina were 

made in the oak forests of Costa Rica. The fungus is characterized by 

the light yellowish brown, viscid pileus, very pale yellow lamellae and 

stipe, and by crowded lamellae. DNA was extracted using a modified 

CTAB buffer followed by alcohol precipitation. Primers ITS1F and 

ITSF4 were used for PCR of the ribosomal RNA ITS region. Dideoxy 

sequencing was primed with ITS5 in the forward direction and ITS4 in 

the reverse direction with alignment and trimming done manually. Parsimony 

analysis was performed in PAUP using 1000 bootstrap replicates. 

A monophyletic clade of nine Tricholoma collections resulted. A 

second clade appeared as a sister to the first clade, the latter containing 

two collections deposited in GenBank as Tricholoma ustale and T. 

ustaloides respectively, but with poor bootstrap support. Two additional 

collections comprise a third clade which is basal to the putative T. 

ustale/T. ustaloides clade. Collections in the first clade represent a hitherto 

unnamed species of Tricholoma apparently related to the second 

white-gilled clade from California. Collections in the third clade differ 

in ITS sequence from the first clade by only 1.52%. The third clade 

may represent a sibling species or all three clades may represent a single 

large species complex which has diverged over distance and time. 

Poster 

Padamsee, Mahajabeen 1 *, Matheny, P. Brandon 2 and McLaughlin, 

David J. 11 Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, 

MN 55108, USA, 2 Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, 

MA 01610. USA. pada0003@umn.edu. Rocking the coprinoid boat: 

a phylogenetic study of the little brown mushroom genus Psathyrella. 

The first broad phylogenetic study of the mushroom genus 

Psathyrella was based on 132 sequences from the nuclear ribosomal 

large subunit gene and parsimony and Bayesian analyses. For this study 

Psathyrella sequences were generated and analyzed to represent approximately 

one tenth of the known species worldwide, and most subgeneric 

subdivisions. Representatives of the coprinoid genera (Parasola, 

Coprinopsis, and Coprinellus) were included to evaluate 

relationships in Psathyrellaceae with Coprinus in the outgroup. 

Psathyrella was found to be polyphyletic, with representatives in seven 

clades. Most species of Psathyrella, including its type species P. gracilis, 

formed a large clade with Coprinellus. Generic limits of Parasola, 

Lacrymaria, and Coprinopsis are affected. Morphological characters 

traditionally used to subdivide Psathyrella and the two major 

taxonomic systems are evaluated based on phylogenetic analyses. Contributed 

Presentation 

Palencia, Edwin R. 1 *, Klich, Maren 2 and Bacon, Charles W. 31 University 

of Georgia, Plant Pathology Department, Athens, GA 30604, USA, 

2 USDA, ARS, SRRC, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA, 3 USDA, ARS, 

Russell Research Center, Athens, GA 30604, USA. 

edwin.palansia@ars.usda.gov. Molecular differentiation of species 

within the Aspergillus section Nigri by using an automated repetitive-PCR 

method. Some species in the Aspergillus section Nigri, are 

known for their production of mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A, a 

chlorinated cyclic polyketide compound. Ochratoxin A has been classified 

as possible carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency 

for Research on Cancer, and the evidence suggests nephrotoxic, teratogenic 

and carcinogenic activities in laboratory animals. The accurate 

classification and identification of ochratoxigenic species within the A. 

niger aggregate has been elusive since the morphology of most of the 

members is very similar. Molecular biology techniques have been developed 

in order to differentiate species within this aggregate, however 

most of them are impractical for routine identification and they required 

too much time. In this work, we report the use of an automated 

repetitive-sequence-based DNA fingerprinting method which reduces 

the time and labor required by other molecular methods. We used 27 

Aspergillus section Nigri species and strains that were previously identified 

by microscopy and our results indicated a high concordance between 

the automated DNA fingerprinting system and morphology. 

Poster 


Palmer, Jonathan M. *, Perrin, Robyn M. and Keller, Nancy P. Plant 

Pathology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, 

USA. palmer3@wisc.edu. Chromatin remodeling mutants affect 

development and secondary metabolism in Aspergillus fumigatus. 

The worldwide frequency and the profile of patients at risk for invasive 

aspergillosis (IA) continues to expand, owing to increased numbers of 

immunocompromised patients including those afflicted with 

HIV/AIDS, malignancy, and organ dysfunction. Over 90% of IA cases 

are caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Despite the recent steady increases 

in IA, new and effective treatments have not been discovered in part 

because little is know about virulence attributes of A. fumigatus. Like 

other aspergilli, A. fumigatus produces various secondary metabolites, 

including gliotoxin, an immunotoxin that has been implicated in contributing 

to virulence. However, disruption of a few components of the 

gliotoxin biosynthetic gene cluster does not reduce virulence in a 

mouse model, but gliotoxin does appear to be involved in apoptosis. 

Therefore, gliotoxin may be contributing to virulence but is not acting 

alone. Recent studies have implicated the importance of a global regulator 

of toxin production, LaeA, in IA development. Because chromatin 

remodeling is important for genetic regulation and has been implicated 

in LaeA control of secondary metabolism gene clusters, we are exploring 

the possibility that A. fumigatus chromatin remodeling mutants 

could be affected in both fungal and IA development. We constructed 

gene disruption mutants of dimE, a methyltransferase of histone 3 lysine 

9 (H3K9) and lsdA, a de-methylase of H3K4. Both mutants show 

alterations in development and/or secondary metabolite profiles. Contributed 

Presentation 

Pereira-Carvalho, Rita C. and Dianese, José Carmine. Departamento de 

Fitopatologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 Brasília, DF, 

Brazil. jcarmine@unb.br. An Actinocymbe species on Alibertia sessilis 

from the cerrado. A fungus belonging in family Chaetothyriaceae 

was for the first time found on leaves of Alibertia sessilis, and identified 

as a new species of Actinocymbe, a rare epiphytic ascomycete previously 

known from India. The fungus shows colonies epiphytic; 

mycelium septate, superficial, thin; ascomata 216-300-444 µm, dimidiate-discoidal, 

textura meandriformis, setose, ostiolate; setae 153,6-324 

x 4,8 - 9,6 (7,2) µm, septate, brown, with a wider 12-48 (24) µm base; 

asci 35 -47,5- 57 x 12-20-20 µm, prostate, bitunicate; ascospores 13- 

19-41 x 3-5-8 µm, 1-2-4 septate. Poster 

Pérez-Martínez, José M. 1 * and Piepenbring, Meike. 2 1 Tropical Research 

and Education Center, University of Florida, 18905 SW 280th 

Street, Homestead, FL 33031, USA, 2 Botanisches Institut, J. W. 

Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, D-60054 Frankfurt am Main, 

Germany. jperezma@ufl.edu. New records and new hosts of smut 

fungi (Ustilaginomycetes) from Cuba. Field work yielded new data 

on smut fungi in Cuba. Ustilago chrysopogonis is recorded for the first 

time for Cuba and the Neotropics on the new host plant Schizachyrium 

hirtiflorum. Sporisorium bicornis known from Brazil and Colombia is 

found for the first time in Cuba. Sporisorium ellisii known only from 

USA and Mexico is now reported on the new host Andropogon glomeratus 

from five localities for this country. The presence of Sporisorium 

andropogonis is confirmed. Descriptions, illustrations, and notes on 

distribution and ecology of the new records are provided. Poster 

Perry, Brian A. 1 *, Desjardin, Dennis E. 1 and Moncalvo, Jean-Marc. 2 

1 Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, 

CA 94132, USA, 2 Center for Diversity and Conservation Biology, 

Royal Ontario Museum and Department of Botany, University of 

Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada. 

brian_perry@post.harvard.edu. Molecular systematics of the 

mycenoid fungi (Mycena and allied genera). Our research focuses on 

phylogenetic systematics in the mushroom genus Mycena s.l. and allied 

mycenoid fungi (Tricholomataceae, Euagarics). With over 1880 

species epithets published in Mycena alone, the mycenoid fungi represent 

one of the most diverse groups of saprotrophic mushrooms. 

Mycenoid taxa play major roles in litter decomposition, nutrient recy- 


cling and retention, soil genesis, litter binding, and as a food source for 

innumerable animals. Within the group, morphological diversity is remarkably 

high. Body forms range from stipitate-lamellate or pleurotoid 

forms to reduced-cyphelloid forms with smooth hymenophores and 

tiny cupulate basidiomes, and even poroid forms. To date no comprehensive 

classification system exists for the mycenoid fungi, and very 

little is known about the natural relationships and phylogenetic placement 

of the over 60 described genera within the euagarics. To determine 

the phylogenetic relationships of these fungi and infer patterns of 

character evolution and biogeography, we are generating multi-locus 

sequence datasets from three nuclear and two mitochondrial loci for 

both tropical and temperate mycenoid taxa. Preliminary results suggest 

Mycena s.l. is a non-monophyletic assemblage, and the mycenoid fungi 

appear to represent several independent lineages within the Euagarics. 


Picard, Kathryn T.*, Powell, Martha J. and Letcher, Peter M. The University 

of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486, USA. 

kathryn.picard@gmail.com. Chytrid fungi diversity of the Scottish 

mainland and northern isles. The Scottish mainland is divided into 

two distinct geographical areas, the Highlands and the Lowlands. The 

Highlands are characterized by thin, rocky soils and acidic peat bogs, 

while the Lowlands possess richer soils resulting from glacial till deposition. 

We investigated the diversity of chytrid fungi in both Highland 

and Lowland soils. A third sampling from the Orkney Islands, whose 

topography is similar to that of the Lowlands, was also included in this 

study. Soil samples were prepared in aquaculture with four baits representative 

of refractory materials found in soil detritus. Observed taxa 

were recorded and, when possible, isolated and brought into culture. 

Preliminary data indicate that the predominant chytrids in both Highland 

and Lowland soils are members of the family Terramycetaceae 

and genus Kappamyces, which exhibit cosmopolitan global distribution. 

However, these taxa were more common in Lowland soils, which 

also exhibited higher frequencies of two other cosmopolitan species, 

Rhizophlyctis rosea and Chytriomyces hyalinus. The Orkney samples, 

despite geographical similarities to the Lowlands, had a low overall frequency 

of taxa. The absence of chytrids in Orcadian soils may be due 

to alkaline soils or heavy concentrations of bacteria resulting from agriculture. 

In future studies, the chytrids isolated from these soils will be 

analyzed molecularly to determine their evolutionary proximity to 

other global populations. Poster 

Podila, G.K. 1 *, Martin, F. 2 , Kohler, A. 2 , Duplessis, S. 2 , Grigoriev, I.V. 3 , 

Rouze, P. 4 , Detter, C. 3 , Richardson, P. 3 and Muratet, M. 11 Dept. of Biological 

Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, 

AL 35899, USA, 2 INRA-Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France, 3 US 

DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA, 4 Flanders 

Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), B-9052 Ghent, Belgium. 

podilag@uah.edu. Genomics and transcriptomics of ectomycorrhizal 

symbiont Laccaria bicolor. Laccaria bicolor is a ubiquitous 

ectomycorrhizal symbiont of tree roots. The mycorrhizal basidiomycetes 

have a beneficial impact on plant growth and nutrient cycling 

in forest ecosystems, yet our understanding of this ectomycorrhizal symbiosis 

is highly limited. To elucidate the genetic basis of this ecologically 

and biologically important behavior, the L. bicolor genome sequence 

has been determined. The genome assembly contains about 

20,355 predicted protein-encoding genes. A complete transcription profile 

of the L. bicolor genome was analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays 

representing the predicted gene models, then queried with 

messenger RNA from multiple tissues and life stages. 74% of the predicted 

genes were expressed in either free-living mycelium, mycorrhizal 

symbiotic tissues or fruit body. These results also provide independent 

support and validation for predicted gene models. Genomic and transcriptomic 

analysis of this first symbiotic fungal sequence yielded insights 

into unexpected aspects of the symbiont biology. This fungus also 

possesses expanded protein families associated with plant interactions, 

such as signaling proteins and mycorrhiza-regulated small-secreted proteins. 

WD40- and TPR-repeat containing proteins – key integrators of 

stress and nutrient availability signals – are very abundant and mainly 

expressed in symbiotic tissues. The L. bicolor genome illuminates the 

dual ecological behaviors of ectomycorrhizal fungi with their hyphal 

networks permeating the soil and their symbiotic tissues interacting with 

plant root cells. Symposium Presentation 

Porras-Alfaro, Andrea 1 *, Herrera, Jose 2 , Sinsabaugh, Robert L. 1 and 

Natvig, Donald O. 11 Department of Biology MSC03 2020, 1 University 

of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA, 2 Division of 

Science, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, USA. aporras@unm.edu. 

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on fungal communities 

in a semiarid grassland. Although drylands constitute one-third of 

the Earth’s terrestrial surface, our knowledge about fungal communities 

and the impact the nitrogen deposition has on these communities is 

very limited. We studied the effect of long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization 

on the diversity and composition of soil, endophytic, and arbuscular 

mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in a semiarid grassland. Soil and 

Bouteloua gracilis root samples were collected at the Sevilleta National 

Wildlife Refuge (New Mexico, USA) from control and N-amended 

plots. Small subunit and internal transcribed spacer rDNA were amplified 

using AMF and fungal specific primers. Soil and root fungal communities 

were dominated by Ascomycetes and B. gracilis roots were 

mainly colonized by dark septate fungi. Differences in fungal diversity 

were found among samples (roots, cyanobacteria-crust and rhizosphere 

soil) and between treatments (nitrogen vs. control plots). Soil samples 

have higher fungal diversity than roots. Roots collected in nitrogen 

plots have higher fungal diversity than control roots. In contrast to 

roots, fungal diversity in the rhizosphere declined with nitrogen amendment 

while diversity in crusts appeared unaffected. Our data suggest 

that the heterogeneous micro-topography, characteristic of semiarid 

grasslands, may be influencing a differential response of fungal communities 

to N enrichment. Contributed Presentation 

Promputtha, Itthayakorn 1 *, Hyde, Kevin D. 2 , Peberdy, John F. 3 and 

Lumyong, Saisamorn. 41 Section for Biodiversity, Illinois Natural History 

Survey, 1816 S. Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820, USA, 2 Centre for 

Research in Fungal Diversity, Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, 

The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, 

China, 3 University of Nottingham, Institute for Enterprise and Innovation, 

Nottingham University Business School, Jubilee Campus, Nottingham 

NG8 1BB, UK, 4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, 

Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50200. 

ppam118@yahoo.com. How can endophytes survive as saprobes 

after host senescence? Endophytic fungi live in healthy plants and can 

change their mode of lifestyle to become saprobes when leaves decay. 

To illustrate the way in which endophytes can acquire nutrients after 

host senescence and survive as saprobes, the succession of fungi during 

leaf decay of Magnolia liliifera and the expression of enzymes in 

individual 9 species that were found as both an endophyte and a 

saprobe were determined. Freshly fallen senescent leaves of M. liliifera 

were incubated in trays covered with gauze. The trays were placed outdoors 

and sprayed with sterile water once a day. The leaves were collected 

over a period of 88 days and assays were conducted for cellulase, 

laccase, mannanase, polygalacturonase and xylanase using sterilized 

leaves as the control. A succession in enzyme production starting with 

xylanase, followed by beta-mannanase and cellulase, and finally polygalacturonase 

and laccase was observed. An isoform of beta-mannanase 

was also compared using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis 

and activity staining techniques and was found to be similar 

among endophytes and their saprobic counterparts. These results suggest 

that endophytes possess the necessary enzymes required to change 

lifestyle and directly become saprobes after host senescence. Poster 

Pruett, Grechen*, Bruhn, Johann and Mihail, Jeanne. Division of Plant 

Sciences, University of Missouri - Columbia, 110 Waters Hall, Columbia, 

MO 65211, USA. gebc07@mizzou.edu. Native fungal community 

composition on roots of truffle infected oak seedlings. Ectomycorrhizal 

fungi play integral roles in many forest ecosystems. 

Anthropogenic factors have caused precipitous declines in fruiting by 



some ectomycorrhizal mushroom species. Truffles, the hypogeous ascocarps 

of the ectomycorrhizal genus Tuber, are currently cultivated in 

orchards to offset declining wild production. Truffle cultivation begins 

by germinating host seeds, inoculating the host seedlings with truffle 

spores, growing the seedlings in greenhouses until the mycorrhizal relationship 

is well established, and then outplanting the seedlings. Little 

is known in the USA about the effect of native ectomycorrhizal species 

on colonization of host trees by the European Burgundy truffle fungus 

(Tuber aestivum). Here we identify the fungal community composition 

in the greenhouse in three types of potting media, and then track fungal 

community composition for two years after outplanting. We found that 

the infection rates of fungal species commonly present in the greenhouse 

decline to low levels in the field. We also found that after two 

years of field growth, both Tuber aestivum colonization levels and native 

ectomycorhizal species richness and abundance increased, indicating 

that native species, in the short term, do not displace the introduced 

Tuber spp. Contributed Presentation 

Raja, H.A.*, Ferrer, A. and Shearer, C.A. Department of Plant Biology, 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, 

USA. raja@uiuc.edu. The latitudinal, habitat, and substrate distribution 

of freshwater ascomycetes. Freshwater ascomycetes play an 

important ecological role in aquatic ecosystems as decomposers of organic 

matter. Despite evidence of their ecological role, there is a lack 

of knowledge of freshwater ascomycete identities, phylogenetic relationships, 

geographical distributions and species richness patterns. To 

address these issues, we are surveying freshwater ascomycetes using a 

latitudinal approach by collecting submerged herbaceous and woody 

debris in freshwater habitats through North and Central America to answer 

the following questions: 1) Do community composition and 

species richness differ along latitudinal gradients from the subarctic to 

tropical areas? 2) Do species richness and composition differ between 

lentic and lotic habitats? 3) Are species substrate specialists or generalists? 

Research to date reveals; 1) Species composition is quite different 

among subarctic, temperate and tropical latitudes, but we found high 

species overlap at temperate and tropical latitudes between the eastern 

and western hemisphere; 2) Some geographically broadly distributed 

species occur in both lentic and lotic habitat types, but more species 

occur only in one or the other habitat; 3) More species occur on wood, 

while fewer species are found on herbaceous material; species occurring 

on wood were also observed on herbaceous substrates, while those 

colonizing herbaceous substrates were seldom recorded on wood. Contributed 

Presentation 

Raja, H.A. 1 *, Miller, A.N. 2 and Shearer, C.A. 1 1 Department of Plant 

Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 

61801, USA, 2 Illinois Natural History Survey, Center for Biodiversity, 

1816 Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. raja@uiuc.edu. 

Aquapoterium pinicola gen. et sp. nov. from freshwater habitats in 

Florida. During investigations of freshwater ascomycetes along the 

Florida peninsula, a very small, hyaline discomycete fungus was found 

on submerged pine needles from lotic and lentic habitats. Based on 

morphological characteristics and 28S large subunit nuclear ribosomal 

sequence data, the new genus is placed in the Helotiales (Leotiomycetes). 

The characteristic features of this new fungus are white to 

cream colored, minute apothecium, stipitate or sessile, appearing goblet 

like; cylindric-clavate, slightly cymbiform asci; hyaline smoothwalled, 

1-celled, guttulate, short clavate-cylindric ascospores surrounded 

by an irregular mucilaginous sheath; subhymenium, ectal 

excipulum, medullary excipulum of the apothecium simple and composed 

of textura oblita type of tissue. The fungus differs from other 

closely related species in the Helotiales such as Aquadiscula and Hymenoscyphus 

in having a relatively simple excipulum made up of only 

one type of tissue. Aquapoterium pinicola, a new genus and species, 

will be described and illustrated. Poster 

Redecker, Dirk 1 *, Raab, Philipp 1 , Oehl, Fritz 1 , Camacho, Francisco J. 2 

and Courtecuisse, Regis. 3 1 Botanical Institute, University of Basel, 

Switzerland, 2 Dept. of Environmental Science, University of Califor- 


nia, Riverside, USA, 3 Dept. of Botany, University of Lille, France. 

dirk.redecker@unibas.ch. Phylogeny of a novel clade of sporocarpforming 

species of glomeromycotan fungi. Since the early times of 

taxonomy of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota) the focus 

has shifted from sporocarpic species to species forming spores singly. 

For many of the sporocarpic species described in the 1970’s and earlier, 

no molecular data have been available and their phylogenetic position 

thus has remained unclear. We obtained nuclear-encoded ribosomal 

DNA sequences from specimens of glomeromycotan sporocarps 

from tropical islands that were assigned to the morphospecies Glomus 

fulvum, Glomus pulvinatum and the newly-described species Glomus 

megalocarpum. Molecular phylogenetic analyses placed all species analyzed 

as a monophyletic sister group to the Diversispora spurca/Glomus 

versiforme clade (Glomus group C) within the Diversisporales. 

The phylogenetic divergence from other known species suggests 

that this clade may constitute a new genus. The consequences of these 

findings for taxon definition within the Diversisporales and the possible 

adaptation of these taxa to islands will be discussed. Contributed 

Presentation 

Redhead, S.* Neatby Bldg., ECORC, CEF, Agriculture & Agri-Food 

Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0C6. redheads@agr.gc.ca. 

Naming pleomorphic fungi – the debate on how to deal with Article 

59 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Fungi 

are the only living organisms that are legitimately permitted by any 

Code of Nomenclature to bear multiple Latin scientific binomial 

names. This convention is rooted in the historical treatment of fungal 

names before their life-cycles were fully understood. It has been allowed 

to continue because it is still extremely difficult to precisely 

match morphological forms with others expressed by the same holomorph, 

and, at the generic level, to recognize as congeneric taxa that 

may not resemble each other morphologically. The advent of phylogenetic 

analyses of fungi using DNA-DNA sequence comparison independent 

of phenetic morphological comparisons has re-opened the 

door on the methodology for describing and naming fungi with multiple 

morphologies. Molecular based phylogenies now allow mycologists 

to directly compare and confidently place morphologically dissimilar 

taxa leading to the recognition of or confirming previous 

suspicions of conspecificity or other close relationships. However, with 

over 250 years of historical names, agreed upon rules for naming and 

describing different morphological forms (anamorphs, teleomorphs), 

and a lack of consensus or alternatives, mycologist face the dilemma of 

trying to standardize the naming of fungi in line with other sciences, 

without creating chaos. The issue is so divisive amongst mycologists 

that it served as the lightning rod for debate at the 8th International Mycological 

Congress (IMC8) on whether to abandon completely the International 

Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN). Previous discussions 

at IMC7 resulted in proposals to change ICBN Art. 59, which 

deals with names for pleomorphic fungi, published by David 

Hawksworth. Changes were made to ICBN Art. 59 at the 17th International 

Botanical Congress, based upon these suggestions, and epitypification 

of anamorph names by teleomorphs is now permitted. However, 

this action has not yet been tested and several published 

recommendations were sent to a Special Committee assigned to draw 

up recommendations for the next IBC. This Committee is now examining 

all of Art. 59 as well as the outstanding previously published proposals. 


Rehner, Stephen A. 1 * and Meyling, Nicolai. 21 Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, 

USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA, 2 Department of Ecology, 

The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, 

Denmark. Stephen.Rehner@ars.usda.gov. Local phylogenetic and 

population genetic diversity of the entomopathogen Beauveria in 

adjacent agricultural and non-agricultural habitats. The hierarchical 

genetic diversity of Beauveria in a tilled agricultural field and an adjacent 

naturally vegetated hedgerow in Denmark was determined. Beauveria 

isolates originated from soil, phylloplanes and latent-infected in- 


sects. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of three 

distinct lineages: 1) B. bassiana s.l., for which five phylogenetic species 

were observed, 2) B. pseudobassiana nom. prov., a lineage that is unrelated 

but morphologically similar to B. bassiana s.l., and 3) B. brongniartii. 

All species detected were present in hedgerow soil samples but 

only one species of B. bassiana s.l. was recovered from the agricultural 

soils. Mating type determination and multilocus microsatellite genotyping 

results suggest a local clonal genetic structure for four of the five B. 

bassiana s.l. phylogenetic species. The study results suggest that 

hedgerows may be important reservoirs of entomopathogenic fungi in 

agricultural landscapes. Contributed Presentation 

Reynolds, Hannah T.* and Vilgalys, Rytas. Department of Biology, 

Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. htr@duke.edu. Competitive 

ability of the sooty mold S. spongiosa. Scorias spongiosa, a 

sooty mold in the Capnodiales (Dothidomycetes), grows on the honeydew 

of the beech aphid Grylloprociphilus imbricator. In the Duke Forest, 

the fungus was found growing in large quantities on any surface 

covered in honeydew: beech leaves and bark, understory plants, rocks, 

and even rotting leaf litter. Scorias spongiosa was isolated from conidia 

and grew at a relatively slow rate, suggesting it produces antimicrobial 

compounds in order to thrive in environments generally dominated 

by communities of fast-growing fungi and bacteria. To test this 

hypothesis, bioassays were conducted on Potato Dextrose Agar plates. 

Scorias spongiosa was grown with several other microbes, including 

fungi and bacteria isolated from the beech phylloplane and leaf litter. 

Zones of inhibition and growth rate of both microorganisms on the 

plate were then measured. To investigate whether S. spongiosa produces 

diffusible antimicrobials, it was grown in potato dextrose broth 

(PDB) for one month and the broth tested. The results of these experiments 

on the competitive ability of S. spongiosa against a host of ecologically 

relevant microorganisms will be presented. Contributed Presentation 

Rivera, Karol 1 *, Urb, Mirjam 2 , Thorn, R. Greg 2 , Louis-Seize, Gerry 1 

and Seifert, Keith A. 11 Biodiversity (Mycology & Botany), Agriculture 

& Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6, 2 Department of Biology, 

University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B7. riverak@agr.gc.ca. 

An undescribed species of Penicillium from Costa 

Rican caterpillars. About 20 strains of a new species of Penicillium 

were isolated from the digestive track of the leaf-eating caterpillar 

Rotschildia lebeau collected from Spondias mombin leaves in the Area 

de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The fungus produces a 

monoverticillate and slightly vesiculate penicillus that is characteristic 

of Penicillium subgenus Aspergilloides, and subglobose, slightly 

roughened conidia. On CYA the fungus produces turquoise grey to 

greenish grey, velutinous colonies, and clear, yellow exudates. On 

MEA colonies are greenish grey to grey. Phylogenetic analyses of partial 

beta-tubulin (BenA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear 

rDNA suggest that the new species is closely related to P. sclerotiorum, 

another monoverticillate species of Penicillium. Other genes 

(cytochrome oxidase 1, calmodulin) will be analysed to confirm this relationship, 

and to determine whether genealogical concordance supports 

the recognition of a single, new species following the phylogenetic 

species concept. Poster 

Rizvi, Leena* and Moncalvo, Jean-Marc. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 

Queen’s Park, Toronto, ONM5S 2C6, Canada. leenatoronto@hotmail.com. 

Identifying the host in the lobster mushroom. The 

lobster mushroom consists of basidiomycota fruiting body hosting a 

parasitic ascomycete, Hypomyces lacitfluorum (Hypocreales). Lobster 

mushrooms have so far been reported from North and Central America. 

It is considered to be a prime edible, but questions remain about the 

taxonomic identity of the host mushroom. The identification is important 

to ensure that the host is not toxic. The taxonomic identity of the 

mushroom host, however, is difficult to ascertain because the parasite 

alters its morphology and renders it sterile. Based on tissue anatomy it 

has been suggested that the host belongs to the Russulaceae. In this 

study, we used DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal internal 

transcribed spacer region (ITS) in order to identify the mushroom host 

of H. lacitfluorum from a broad geographic sampling in its geographic 

range. Results have so far shown that the host species of H. lacitfluorum 

belong to genera Russula and Lactarius. Several species so far 

identified belonging to the genus Russula are species of subsection 

Lactarioideae (R. brevipes complex). Preliminary data also suggests 

that their distribution may follow a geographical pattern. Lactarius 

hosts could not be assigned to species from currently available ITS sequence 

database. Poster 

Robbertse, B.*, Reeves, J., Schoch C.L. and Spatafora, J.W. Department 

of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 

OR 97331, USA. robberba@science.oregonstate.edu. Characterization 

of ascomycotan proteome profiles using phylogenomics. 

Conventional phylogenetic analyses with more limited character sampling 

have more difficulties in resolving deep node relationships. However, 

using the data from whole genomes holds promise for elucidating 

deep evolutionary relationships. We have developed a pipeline of perl 

scripts that connects several stand-alone programs to perform phylogenomic 

analysis and produce robust phylogenetic trees without excessive 

user input. Phylogenomically generated phylogenies provided a 

well supported framework and are useful for creating phylogenetically 

informed protein clusters. Protein clusters were identified and the profiles 

of different ascomycete proteomes compared. This process was 

also used to compare the profiles of multi-copy proteins and singletons. 

Overlaying phylogenetically informed clusters with GO predictions 

and SignalP analyses revealed an adaptation in certain protein families 

which contributed to the success of each fungus in their specific biological 

niche. Symposium Presentation 

Robert, Vincent A. Curator of the Yeast Division, Centraalbureau voor 

Schimmelcultures, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands. 

robert@cbs.knaw.nl. Registration of new fungal names: MycoBank 

in practice. The Mycobank initiative was launched in 2004 and was 

aimed as a repository of all available fungal names and associated data. 

In 2005, a first Internet portal was proposed and allowed registered 

users to deposit their new names and associated data to the MycoBank 

database. In 2006, a new and user-friendlier version of the website was 

released. Very soon, we’ll introduce new features to the system that 

will allow, among many others, to perform polyphasic identifications, 

automated curation of sequences associated with Genbank, etc. A short 

demonstration of the system will be made. Symposium Presentation 

Robertson, Larry D. 1 * and Horner, Hollis. 2 1 Indoor Environmental 

Consultants, Inc., 2484 Hwy. 39 North, Jewett, Texas 75846, USA. 

ldr@iecinc.net. Post remedial assessment and clearance criteria for 

mold remediation projects. Post-remedial collection of 2,193 fungi 

samples were evaluated as a component of a three (3) tiered clearance 

criteria for mold remediations projects. Criterion #1 was the visual 

evaluation of remediated areas for the absence of fungal growth. Criterion 

#2 was the visual evaluation of surfaces in remediated areas for the 

absence of visible debris. Criterion #3 involved the evaluation of total 

fungal bioaerosol samples with a pre-defined post-remedial clearance 

criteria of < 2,000 particles/m 3 of total fungi, with individual sub-categories 

composed of

latitude exists with respect to evaluating levels of all categories of fungal 

spores and the potential impact of an outdoor bias on a case-by-case 

basis. Contributed Presentation 

Rojas, Carlos* and Stephenson, Steven L. Department of Biological 

Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. crojas@uark.edu. 

Ecology of myxomycetes from high-elevation areas 

of the Neotropics. Results from recent studies of myxomycetes in 

high-elevation areas of the Neotropics suggest that the assemblages of 

species present are consistent with a pattern that reflects the occurrence 

of temperate islands in a tropical landscape. For this reason, the ecology 

of myxomycete assemblages in selected study sites in Mexico, 

Guatemala and Costa Rica are being investigated. All three general 

study areas are reported to have been glaciated in the last 15 thousand 

years, which means that major recolonization events may have played 

an important role in determining the taxonomic composition of the assemblages 

of species associated with these areas. Preliminary results 

show a correlation between species richness and soil nutrient status and 

suggest that for some species of myxomycetes there may be specificity 

in the myxomycete-plant relationship, which is sometimes reflected 

at the microhabitat and/or temporal level. Forested and non-forested 

areas also differ in the species composition of the assemblages of myxomycetes 

present, and differences in composition were also found 

among different types of forests. These results may favor the idea that 

for these Neotropical areas, species of myxomycetes are responding 

more directly to microenvironmental pressures than predicted by the 

neutral theory, which may be an indication that, after all, some myxomycetes 

are not cosmopolitan. Contributed Presentation 

Rojas, Carlos 1 *, Stephenson, Steven L. 1 and Biffi, Daniela. 21 Department 

of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 

72701, USA, 2 Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Ricardo 

Palma, Lima, Peru. crojas@uark.edu. Resource partitioning and 

niche overlap in three species of Ceratiomyxa. The mycetozoan 

genus Ceratiomyxa seems to have a cosmopolitan distribution; however, 

two of the three macroscopic species within the genus have been reported 

only from tropical regions of the world. In theory, these two 

tropical species might be expected to display more narrow niches than 

their cosmopolitan counterpart, due to their specialization for tropical 

environments. However, ecological data documenting this phenomenon 

in mycetozoans are largely lacking. As part of an ongoing investigation 

of these organisms in the Amazon forests of southeastern Peru, 

the ecology of the three macroscopic species of Ceratiomyxa was studied. 

The results from in-situ measurements of environmental factors associated 

with their fructifications show a clear separation of niches between 

species, which may be an indication of resource partitioning in 

the genus. Interestingly, the cosmopolitan species C. fruticulosa shows 

a broader niche than either C. morchella or C. sphaerosperma, a pattern 

reported for generalist species. The latter species is characterized 

by the lowest overall niche overlap values, a possible indication of specialization. 

Additional data are necessary to more firmly substantiate all 

the patterns observed. This project was supported by a grant from Amazon 

Conservation Association. Poster 

Rollins, Adam W. 1 *, Landolt, John C. 2 and Stephenson, Steven L. 1 

1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

AR 72701, USA, 2 Department of Biology, Shepherd University, 

Shepherdstown, WV 25443, USA. arollin@uark.edu. Dictyostelids 

associated with North American grasslands. Dictyostelids (cellular 

slime molds) are phagotrophic bacteriovores that have been widely 

studied in forested ecosystems worldwide. These organisms are commonly 

recovered from the soil-litter interface zone that consists of highly 

decayed leaves and other plant debris. In contrast, the dictyostelids 

associated with grassland ecosystems have received relatively little attention. 

Eight grassland study areas were sampled for dictyostelids to 

further elucidate the assemblages of dictyostelids present and their 

ecology within grasslands. For the most part, the results obtained reinforce 

earlier more limited studies that reported lower species richness 

and diversity for dictyostelids in grasslands when compared to forested 


ecosystems. Interestingly, intensive sampling at the Konza LTER study 

area in Kansas found unique assemblages of species associated with 

grasslands and gallery forests. In addition, the effects of fire and grazing 

were evaluated with respect to the assemblages of dictyostelids 

present. Poster 

Rollins, Adam W.* and Stephenson, Steven L. Department of Biological 

Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. 

arollin@uark.edu. Ecology of grassland myxomycetes. Myxomycetes 

are phagotrophic eukaryotes that produce fungus-like fruiting 

bodies. Their occurrence has been documented worldwide in virtually 

every type of ecosystem from the Polar Regions to the Tropics. However, 

with the exception of studies carried out in gallery forests or those 

that have examined dung as a substrate, grasslands have been largely 

neglected. Myxomycete surveys conducted across mid-continental 

United States tall grass, mixed grass, and short grass study areas indicated 

that myxomycetes are abundant components of grassland ecosystems. 

Distinct assemblages of myxomycetes were found to be associated 

with each grassland type. In addition, the ecological factors 

associated with various microhabitats were found to influence the distribution 

and occurrence of the species of myxomycetes present. The 

microhabitat represented by dung supported the most distinct assemblage 

of myxomycetes, and the assemblages of myxomycetes associated 

with aerial microhabitats in grasslands were found to differ from 

those occurring on ground microhabitats. This research was supported 

in part by grants from the Prairie Biotic Research Inc. and the 

Wyoming Native Plant Society. Poster 

Rossman, Amy Y. USDA ARS Systematic Botany & Mycology Lab, 

Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. arossman@nt.ars-grin.gov. Towards one 

generic name for monophyletic lineages. With the integration of 

asexually reproducing fungi into meaningful phylogenies, the need to 

use the same generic name for a monophyletic lineage has become urgent. 

At present Article 59 of the International Code of Botanical 

Nomenclature (ICBN) requires the use of a sexual state name for sexually 

reproducing species (teleomorph) while a second generic name 

must be used for asexually reproducing species (anamorph) in the same 

lineage. As a result two different generic names must often be used for 

species in one lineage. This dual nomenclature is confusing to non-mycologists 

as well as many mycologists and needs to be changed. Allowing 

asexually reproducing fungi to be placed in teleomorph genera 

would be a major step forward in solving this problem. Various proposals 

will be presented on how to move in this direction using examples 

from both well-studied and under-studied groups of fungi. In examining 

this issue care must be taken to separate nomenclatural from 

taxonomic issues such that nomenclatural guidelines can be developed 

that apply to unknown situations and unintended consequences of 

changes to nomenclature rules are anticipated. The goal is to formulate 

proposed changes to the ICBN that will solve this problem that mycologists 

can agree on so that changes can be implemented at the next International 

Botanical Congress in 2011. Symposium Presentation 

Ryberg, Martin 1 *, Nilsson, R. Henrik 1 , Kristiansson, Erik 2 , Jacobsson, 

Stig 1 and Larsson, Ellen. 11 Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, 

Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden, 2 Department of Mathematical 

Statistics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, 

Sweden. martin.ryberg@dpes.gu.se. Prospects of using emerencia to 

fetch sequence metadata from GenBank – a case study of the ectomycorrhizal 

genus Inocybe (Basidiomycota). The lack of well identified 

reference sequences hampers DNA-based species identification. 

This has lead to a situation where many environmental samples remain 

unidentified. We used emerencia, a bioinformatics tool for automated 

downloading and BLAST:ing of fungal ITS sequences, to fetch 

unidentified sequences of Inocybe from GenBank. The unidentified sequences 

were divided into species that were identified using a reference 

dataset of sequences from a phylogenetic study. For species delimitation 

and identification both phylogenetic methods and sequence similarity 

based clustering were used. 177 unidentified sequences divided 


into 97 species were found. Of these species 33% were identified to 

species level. The ecology and distribution of the genus and its species 

were explored using sequence metadata stored in GenBank as well as 

data from the papers in which the sequences were originally published. 

We conclude that Inocybe is widely geographically distributed, from 

snowy and fully humid climate in Northern Europe to equatorial savannah 

in South East Asia. Many species were reported to form associations 

with several hosts, including ecto-, arbutoid and orchid mycorrhiza. 

The methods used here hold a great potential to utilize valuable 

information available from environmental samples for use in a species 

and taxonomy oriented framework. Contributed Presentation 

Schoch, Conrad L.*, Sung, Gi-Ho and Spatafora, Joseph W. Dept 

Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, 

Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. 

schochc@science.oregonstate.edu. When the forest is a single tree: 

towards a complete phylogeny of Ascomycota. The Assembling the 

Fungal Tree of Life project (AFToL) generated large amounts of data 

that resulted in multiple publications and resolved numerous deep 

nodes within the Fungi. These results have informed the working phylogenetic 

classification of Fungi and tested and developed hypotheses 

regarding the evolution of fungal morphology, ecology, and life histories. 

As part of this process several large multigene data sets devoted to 

class level lineages were recently produced in the Deep Hypha edition 

of Mycologia (vol. 98. No. 6). We mined these datasets and combined 

all relevant data in a phylum wide analysis with unpublished data from 

the AFToL project to present the most complete and extensive Ascomycota 

phylogeny to date. This study includes more than 400 taxa, 

representing 56 orders and the majority of known Ascomycota diversity, 

and provides the first opportunity to combine all classes presented 

in the current classification. We use this phylogenetic hypothesis as a 

template to test and present hypotheses about character evolution, radiation 

events, and the existence of novel fungal lineages. The framework 

will also be used to point towards areas that will be productive for the 

next generation of phylogenetics and the emerging field of phylogenomics. 


Simpson, Nicholas* and Jumpponen, Ari. Division of Biology, Kansas 

State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, USA. fungi@ksu.edu. 

Inter- and intraspecific variation in the carbon and nitrogen nutritional 

preferences of arctic ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. Ericoid mycorrhizal 

fungi utilize a broad range of organic sources to acquire both 

nitrogen and carbon. Although capable of using diverse nutritional 

sources, individual fungi within these communities will show preference 

to one or more sources. It remains unclear, however, whether this 

variability in nutritional preference occurs mainly within a species or 

among species. To address this question, we isolated 540 fungal pure 

cultures from the surface-sterilized hair roots from twelve individuals 

of five ericaceous plant species from Toolik Lake LTER in northern 

Alaska. The cultures were segregated into RFLP phenotypes and the 

dominant fungi were then identified by sequencing. Four strains from 

four of the most dominant species groups were then randomly selected 

and grown for four weeks in liquid culture with a single nitrogen source 

and ten days in liquid culture with a single carbon source. The six 

amino acids used as nutritional sources represent resource pools that remain 

constant throughout the growing season, fluctuate across the 

growing season, and those that are only available at certain points of the 

growing season. Using biomass as proxy for successful uptake of a particular 

nutritional source and pH as a proxy for extra-cellular enzymatic 

activity we will partition the variance within and among species and 

determine the relative importance of the inter- and intraspecific variation. 


Six, Diana L. 1 *, Stone, W. Doug 2 and Woolfolk, Sandra W. 21 Department 

of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and 

Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 ,USA, 

2 Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State 

University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. 

diana.six@cfc.umt.edu. Ambrosiella and Geosmithia species associ- 

ated with an exotic ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus mutilatus 

(Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), in Mississippi. Xylosandrus 

mutilatus is an ambrosia beetle of Asian origin that has recently 

established in the US. Female X. mutilatus transport fungi to plants in 

highly specific mesonotal mycangia. The mycangial fungi provide a 

primary nutritional resource for the beetles. Our objective was to identify 

the fungi associated with X. mutilatus in Mississippi where the beetle 

is best established. Isolations from mycangia revealed an Ambrosiella 

species, Geosmithia obscura, G. lavendula, and a yeast, 

Candida homilentoma. The Ambrosiella species appears to be undescribed 

but closely related to Ambrosiella hartigii. The presence of the 

two Geosmithia species with this beetle was surprising. Associations 

between Geosmithia and scolytine beetles have previously only been 

observed for phloem-colonizing bark beetles in Europe. This is the first 

record of these fungi in association with a sapwood-colonizing ambrosia 

beetle. Our results indicate that several fungi are associated with 

the mycangia of X. mutilatus in the US. It is likely that most, or all, of 

these fungi are exotic, and have been introduced along with the beetle. 

Because X. mutilatus is highly polyphagous, our results indicate that its 

establishment will result in the exposure of many new plants in North 

America to these fungi. Poster 

Smith, Matthew E.* and Jaffee, Bruce A. Department of Nematology, 

University of California at Davis. mesmith@ucdavis.edu. PCR 

primers with enhanced specificity for nematode-trapping fungi 

(Orbiliales). Nematode-trapping fungi are a monophyletic lineage 

within the Orbiliales that use specialized structures to capture and consume 

nematodes in soil, litter, wood and other substrates. These fungi 

have been studied because of their unique predatory life histories and 

because they are potential control agents of plant- and animal-parasitic 

nematodes. Ecological studies of nematode-trapping fungi have mostly 

used culture-based methods, but molecular detection techniques are 

now available and should be useful. We developed Orbiliales-specific 

PCR primers for the ITS and 28s rDNA to detect nematode-trapping 

fungi from soil without culturing and also to screen isolates for phylogenetic 

placement in the Orbiliales. We used these primers to selectively 

amplify, clone, and sequence Orbiliales directly from soil, litter, 

and wood and we compare the results of molecular detection with those 

obtained using a culture-based method. Of the eight species of nematode-trapping 

Orbilliales detected with our culture-based assay, only 

three were detected with PCR. Our molecular sampling, however, detected 

18 species of uncultured Orbiliales, many of which are closely 

related to nematode-trapping fungi and parasites of nematode eggs. Our 

results suggest that the combined use of Orbiliales-specific PCR 

primers and culture-based techniques may enhance future studies of 

nematode-trapping Orbiliales. Poster 

Snetselaar, Karen*, Vasta, Lauren, Jennings, Joseph and McCann, 

Michael. Biology Department, Saint Josephs University, Philadelphia, 

PA 19131, USA. ksnetsel@sju.edu. Location of Ustilago maydis infection 

structures on maize silks. The corn smut fungus Ustilago 

maydis can only complete its life cycle by infecting living epidermal 

cells of its host plant. Infection begins with formation of appressoria on 

susceptible plant surfaces. Despite considerable efforts, appressoria 

have not been induced to form on artificial surfaces. In order to better 

understand the factors that induce appressorium formation, we examined 

and characterized numerous infection structures on maize silks. 

Silks were examined 14 hrs after inoculation with compatible fungal 

cells. An initial survey indicated that more appressoria were found on 

silks that were about 180mm in length than on longer or shorter silks, 

so study focused on silks of this length. While more appressoria were 

found in the bottom and middle third of the silk compared with the top 

third, further analysis indicated that the size of the epidermal cell was 

more important than its location along the silk. Most appressoria 

formed over epidermal cells that were about 300 micrometers long. In 

addition, out of more than 200 appressoria examined, more than 90% 

formed over the long sidewalls of adjacent epidermal cells rather than 

either the short endwalls or in the middle of cells. We speculate that the 



fungus preferentially forms appressoria between epidermal cells that 

are elongating. Poster 

Sogonov, M.V. 1 , Castlebury, L.A. 2 *, Mejía, L.C. 1 , Rossman, A.Y. 2 and 

White, J.F. 11 Dept. of Plant Biology and Pathology, Cook College, Rutgers 

University, New Brunswick, NJ 08902, UDA, 2 USDA ARS Systematic 

Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, 

USA. Lisa.Castlebury@ars.usda.gov. Revision of genera in the Gnomoniaceae, 

Diaporthales, Ascomycota. The Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales) 

is a common but inconspicuous family of fungi associated 

with plants. Fungi in the Gnomoniaceae occur mostly as symptomless 

endophytes of hardwood trees, usually forming ascomata on overwintered 

leaves or twigs. However some are pathogenic and capable of 

causing various anthracnose, blight and canker diseases. This family 

also includes some species associated with herbaceous plants and 

conifers. Here we present a taxonomic revision of the family based on 

multigene phylogenetic analyses. Analyses of a dataset consisting of 

five gene regions (beta-tubulin, EF1A, RPB2, ITS and LSU) for 98 

gnomoniaceous strains (ca. 80 species) showed little correlation with 

classical generic concepts. Revised generic concepts for Gnomonia, 

Plagiostoma, Cryptosporella, Pleuroceras, and Ophiognomonia are 

proposed based on the results of our analyses. One additional as yet unnamed 

genus is also proposed. Eighty additional species were placed in 

these genera using the ITS gene region. Morphological and biological 

tendencies are identified for each clade and compared with previous 

morphological generic concepts. Contributed Presentation 

Spiegel, F.W. 1 *, Shadwick, J.D. 1 , Brown, M.W. 1 and Hemmes, D.E. 2 

1 Department of Biological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

AR 72701, USA, 2 Biology Discipline, University of Hawaii, 

Hilo, HI 96720, USA. fspiegel@uark.edu. Protostelids of the Hawaiian 

Archipelago. During a series of trips from 1998 to 2007, the major 

habitats on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and 

Kauai have been collected for protostelids, the morphologically simplest 

members of the slime mold taxon, Eumycetozoa. Though the 

Hawaiian Islands are the most remote archipelago on Earth, this isolation 

has not proven to be a barrier to the establishment of protostelids. 

All 33 described species of microscopic protostelids have been recorded 

on the island of Hawaii and at least one other island. In addition, 

over twice that many possible undescribed species have been observed. 

Some of these are relatively common and are in the process of being 

isolated and described. The range of habitats in the archipelago is extensive. 

Altitudes range from sea level to over 4000m, and rainfall 

ranges from less than 10cm per year to over 1200cm per year. This results 

in wet, mesic, and dry forests, grasslands, and scrub. In addition, 

there is both extensive human and natural, volcanic, disturbance. While 

protostelids are found in all habitats except the highest elevation alpine 

scrub, they are most abundant in dry to mesic forests. The biota of each 

island differs in some respects from each of the others, and some possible 

explanations for this will be suggested. Contributed Presentation 

Spriggs, Ekaterina 1 , Schlect, Joseph 1 , Barnard, Kobus 1 and Pryor, 

Barry M. 2 * 1 Department of Computer Science, University of Arizona, 

Tucson, AZ 85721, USA, 2 Department of Plant Sciences, University of 

Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. bmpryor@u.arizona.edu. Modeling 

complex 3-dimensional structure in Alternaria and applications 

to morphometric analysis. Statistical analysis of complex morphological 

structures represents one of the most challenging aspects of 

comparative biology. This task is even more daunting for structural 

analysis of lower organisms due to the added challenges of time-consuming 

microscopy, image processing, and subsequent data analysis. 

This project focuses on diversity in sporulation structures among smallspore 

catenulate species in the fungal genus Alternaria, which exhibit 

considerable morphological plasticity in reproductive structures that is 

dependent upon cultural conditions of substrate, temperature, light and 

humidity. Further complicating taxonomic structure for this group of 

fungi is the presence of numerous isolates with intermediate characteristics 

that do not clearly segregate into recognized species. To develop 

a high-throughput method for statistically supported morphometric 


analysis of diversity in fungal reproductive structures, systems are 

being developed to fit complex fungal morphological data from 2-D 

microscopy into predictive 3-dimensional models. Initial efforts are focused 

on computer modeling of spore and hyphal stuctures using 

Bayesian inference to fit models to image data. A second effort is toward 

building a system for fitting data from 3D models to a stochastic 

Lindenmeyer system (L-system) for computer generated reconstructions 

of Alternaria morphology, including a web interface for domain 

specialists to create instantiations of various species under various conditions. 

A third effort is to build a visualization interface for large scale 

3-dimensional (holographic) facilities where domain specialists can optimally 

see the effects of various choices of structural parameters, optionally 

overlaid or connected to real data from 3D microscopy. Given 

model fits, mycologists can then engage in large scale quantitative morphometric 

and taxonomic studies, which will enable the subsequent 

linkage to other complex data sets such as gene expression data, 

metabolite profiles, and measurements of ecological fitness. Contributed 

Presentation 

Stajich, Jason E. 1 *, Rosenblum, Erica B. 2 , Taylor, John W. 1 and Eisen, 

Michael B. 21 Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of 

California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, 2 Department of Molecular and 

Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720,USA. 

jason_stajich@berkeley.edu. Comparative genomics of fungal kingdom: 

a view from the chytrids. The availability of genome sequences 

from most phyla of fungi provides an opportunity to study shared and 

unique genes and features of fungi. We have developed computation 

pipelines to explore evolution of genes and gene families across fungi. 

Using the recently available genome of the Chytrid Batrachochytrium 

dendrobatidis, Zygomycete, Basidiomycete, and Ascomycete genomes 

it is possible to infer loss and gain events of genes, genomic features 

such as introns, and biosynthetic pathways. We have found lineage specific 

expansions and contractions of gene families that may correlate 

with changes in life history or ecological niche of sampled fungi. In addition, 

comparisons between fungal and animal genomes allow inference 

of genes and processes specific to individual clades of fungi and 

to the fungi themselves. We have focused on interesting patterns of 

genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis across the fungi, saproprobic 

lifestyles of Onygenales fungi, and lignin and cellulose degrading pathways 

in the Basidiomycetes. Symposium Presentation 

Stefani, F.O.P. 1 *, Moncalvo, J-M. 2 and Hamelin, R.C. 31 Centre d’étude 

de la forêt, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, (QC), Canada, G1K 7P4, 

2 Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 

100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2C6, 3 Natural 

Resources Canada, Canadian Forest service, 1055 du Peps, Sainte- 

Foy, QC, G1V 4C7, Canada. frstefani@cfl.forestry.ca. Fine scale 

analysis of ectomycorrhizal diversity from transgenic poplar roottips 

and cloned soil samples to assess impact on non-target organisms. 

Genetically engineered trees are currently developed to improve 

fiber quality, growth or tree resistance against insects and pathogens. 

Addressing the impacts of GMOs before their deployment is an important 

step during the research and development process as the genetic 

constructs and the new traits expressed may lead to detrimental effects 

on non-target organisms. We compared fungal diversity in root-tips and 

soil in 3 untransformed and 3 GUS-transformed Populus tremula x P. 

alba grown in a plantation in Quebec, Canada. Four roots and 4 soil 

samples were sampled in the proximity of each tree. We amplified and 

sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of 1152 root-tips and of 

1152 clones from the organic layer and the mineral layer. We identified 

46 ectomycorrhizal OTUs from the root-tips analysis, 23 from the 

clones in the organic layer and 21 from the clones in the mineral layer. 

A Cortinarius sp. represented 41.5% of the root-tips identified, 71% of 

the clones sequenced from the organic layer whereas the mineral layer 

was largely dominated by Acremonium sp. (77%). Significant differences 

between the 2 treatments were recorded from the root-tips analyses 

and from the clones in the organic layer. Contributed Presentation 


Stephenson, Steven L. 1 *, Schnittler, Martin 2 and Novozhilov, Yuri K. 3 

1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 

Arkansas 72701, USA, 2 Botanical Institute and Botanical Garden, 

Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Grimmer Str. 88, D- 

17487 Greifswald, Germany, 3 V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the 

Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Popov St. 2, 197376 St. Petersburg, 

Russia. slsteph@uark.edu. Global distribution patterns of 

myxomycetes. The myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds or myxogastrids) 

are a group of eukaryotic microorganisms usually present and 

sometimes abundant in terrestrial ecosystems. Evidence from molecular 

studies suggests that the myxomycetes have a significant evolutionary 

history. However, due to the fragile nature of the fruiting body, fossil 

records of the group are exceedingly rare. Although most 

myxomycetes are thought to have very large distributional ranges and 

many species appear to be cosmopolitan or nearly so, results from recent 

studies have provided evidence that spatial distribution patterns of 

these organisms can be successfully related to (1) differences in climate 

and/or vegetation on a global scale and (2) the ecological differences 

that exist for particular habitats on a local scale. A detailed examination 

of the global distribution of four examples (Barbeyella minutissima, 

Ceratiomyxa morchella, Leocarpus fragilis and Protophysarum 

phloiogenum) demonstrates that these species have recognizable distribution 

patterns in spite of the theoretical ability of their spores to bridge 

continents. (Funded by grant DEB-0316284 from the National Science 

Foundation). Poster 

Stolze-Rybczynski, Jessica L.* and Money, Nicholas P. Botany Department, 

Miami University, 316 Pearson Hall, Oxford, Ohio 45056, 

USA. stolzejl@muohio.edu. Ballistospore discharge in Tilletia 

caries. Tilletia is a genus of smut fungi (Ustilaginomycetes) that includes 

T. caries and T. foetida, that cause common bunt (or stinking 

smut) of wheat. These fungi invade wheat seedlings and sporulate within 

the mature ovary walls to form the bunt balls. Teliospores are released 

and can spread when the delicate bunt balls rupture upon harvesting 

of the wheat. When the teliospores germinate they form 

primary sporidia, and these give rise to ballistospores. A few seconds 

prior to the launch of the ballistospore, a drop of fluid (called Buller’s 

drop) develops at its base. The drop enlarges until it approaches the volume 

of the spore and then spore and drop are catapulted into the air. 

Until recently, the launch process eluded analysis, but spore motion has 

now been studied using ultra high speed video microscopy. Images of 

this mechanism by T. caries were obtained at 50,000 frames per second 

and demonstrate that spore discharge occurs when the expanding 

Buller’s drop merges with fluid on the spore surface. Although this coalescence 

may result from the directed collapse of Buller’s drop onto 

the spore, it may also involve the movement of the spore toward the 

drop. The release of surface tension at coalescence provides the energy 

and directional momentum to propel the spore and drop into the air. 

The estimated velocity of ballistospore discharge is 0.95-1.20 meters 

per second. Understanding the biomechanics of spore discharge by this 

pathogenic smut is a vital part of efforts to develop effective control 

strategies for pathogen management. Contributed Presentation 

Suh, Sung-Oui 1 *, Nguyen, Nhu H. 2 and Blackwell, Meredith. 1 1 Department 

of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton 

Rouge, LA 70803, USA, 2 Department of Plant and Microbiology, University 

of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. ssuh@lsu.edu. 

Yeasts near Candida albicans isolated from plant-associated insects. 

Ascomycete yeasts were isolated from the digestive tracts of phytophagous 

beetles in 8 families, and other plant-associated insects including 

earwigs, crickets, and roaches. Based on a comparison of DNA 

sequences and other taxonomic characteristics, a total of 41 isolates 

were identified as Candida orthopsilosis, C. pseudorhagii, C. maltosa, 

C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Lodderomyces elongisporus, and eight 

novel Candida species. A phylogeny based on SSU and LSU rDNA sequences 

indicated that most of the new species and other yeasts isolated 

in this study were closely related to members of the C. albicans/L. 

elongisporus clade which includes many clinically important yeasts, 

such as C. albicans and C. dubliniensis. None of ~1000 yeast isolates 

associated with mycophagous insects that we examined was related to 

the C. albicans clade. The results showed that the habitats and diets of 

host insects are closely correlated with the gut yeast distribution in insect 

hosts. Furthermore, certain insects may be vectors of certain clinically 

important yeasts. Contributed Presentation 

Taerum, Stephen J. 1 *, Klepzig, Kier D. 2 , Six, Diana L. 3 , Hofstetter, 

Rich W. 4 and Ayres, Matt P. 1 1 Department of Biological Sciences, 

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA, 2 Southern Research 

Station, USDA Forest Service, Pineville, LA 71360, USA, 3 Department 

of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, 

Missoula, MT 59812, USA, 4 School of Forestry, Northern Arizona 

University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. 

Stephen.Taerum@dartmouth.edu. Abiotic factors that influence the 

co-occurrence of fast- and slow-growing genotypes of Ophiostoma 

associated with southern pine beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis). A 

major goal in life history theory is to understand why organisms vary 

in their growth rates. Growth rate is a major fitness component because 

of its generally strong effects on survival and reproduction. Despite 

this, we have a limited understanding of the factors that maintain genetic 

variation in growth rates in nature. Fungi are of particular interest 

because they have been surprisingly neglected in life history theory, despite 

their ubiquity, diversity of ecological roles, and their frequent 

functions as ecological engineers. Preliminary studies suggest that 

species within Ophiostoma have very high genetic variation in growth 

rates. We are examining how different abiotic factors affect the growth 

rates of blue stain fungi (Ophiostoma spp.) associated with southern 

pine beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis). Using growth assays, we are 

testing if Ophiostoma strains vary in their growth rates because selection 

for high fitness in favorable abiotic conditions yields genotypes 

with relatively low fitness in unfavorable environments. We are testing 

how the strains grow under the following abiotic conditions: 1) unfavorable 

temperatures; 2) low nutrient substrates; and 3) unfavorable 

water potentials. This study will demonstrate if selection maintains 

variable growth rates in Ophiostoma because optimal growth strategies 

vary among heterogeneous environments. Contributed Presentation 

Taylor, John W. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University 

of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. jtaylor@nature.berkeley.edu. 

Fungal barcoding. The study of fungi 

stands to gain a great deal from barcoding, the use of variable DNA regions 

to identify individuals to species. Barcoding will identify fungi in 

collections and also in nature where, due to their size, microscopic 

fungi are routinely overlooked. Barcoding seems likely to allow ecologists 

to account for the microscopic fungal community as easily as they 

now account for macrobes. To be useful for microscopic fungi, primers 

used for PCR amplification associated with barcoding from the environment 

must amplify fungi from all known clades and have a high 

likelihood of amplifying fungi from unknown clades. Recent careful 

work on the main barcoding region, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 

1 (CO1), shows that the priming regions are too variable to be practical 

(Seifert et al. 2007 PNAS 104:3901). This work, and that of others, 

also shows that CO1 harbors many large introns, which complicate barcoding. 

A molecule different than CO1 is needed for fungi. Recent 

studies have successfully barcoded fungi from environmental samples 

and recovered species and clades new to science (e.g., Schadt et al. 

2003. Science 301:1359; Suh et al. 2004. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 

54:2409). These studies have employed regions of nuclear rDNA. At a 

recent meeting on fungal barcoding, it was proposed that the internal 

transcribed spacer (nuc rDNA ITS) be used for fungal barcoding. Symposium 

Presentation 

Thiery, Odile* and Redecker, Dirk. Institute of Botany, University of 

Basel, Hebelstr.1, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland. 

Odile.Thiery@unibas.ch. Development of mitochondrial genes as 

molecular markers in the Glomeromycota. The only molecular 

markers available covering all families of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi 

(AMF, Glomeromycota) are the nuclear-encoded ribosomal genes. 



However, these genes show numerous variants within a single fungal 

isolate. The mitochondrial large subunit rDNA (mtLSU) has been 

shown to be homogeneous within isolates of Glomus, but the sequence 

data were limited to G. intraradices and G. proliferum. By using previously-designed 

and new specific primers, we obtained mtLSU sequences 

from other taxa of the Glomeromycota. Although clearly 

showing a phylogenetic relationship, partial mtLSU sequences of 

Scutellospora verrucosa differ from Glomus in their intron content and 

are distinct in their exon sequence. Additional mtLSU sequences from 

the Gigasporaceae and other families are investigated. Using these data, 

the variable regions might help in distinguishing genotypes and the 

more conserved regions will be used to elucidate the phylogeny of the 

Glomeromycota. Poster 

Thompson, Lisa*, Goldmann, Lauren, Wright, Angela and Weir, Alex. 

Department of Environmental & Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental 

Science & Forestry, 241 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, 

Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. lithomps@syr.edu. Laboulbeniales from 

Costa Rica. There has been much recent interest in documenting the 

mycota of Costa Rica, with particular emphasis on the macrofungi, and 

lichenized and non-lichenized ascomycetes associated with wood. The 

diversity of fungi associated with insects, however, has received little 

attention to date. As one of the focal collection areas for our NSF-PEET 

Grant investigating the phylogeny of Laboulbeniales, we have unveiled 

a surprising richness of Laboulbeniales taxa within this region. To date 

only limited sampling has taken place in Puentarenas Province and at 

Monteverde, yet, more than 50 species of Laboulbeniales have been 

recorded. This represents a significant addition to the approximately 20 

known species recorded by Thaxter, and more recently by the late R.K. 

Benjamin. Of the 50 newly recorded taxa approximately half are 

thought to represent undescribed species. We are continuing to examine 

our collections and are confident that much more remains to be discovered 

about the Laboulbeniales of this region. Poster 

Toledo-Hernandez, Carlos, Zuluaga-Montero, Anabella, Rodriguez, 

Jose A. and Bayman, Paul.* Departamento de Biologia, Universidad de 

Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras, PO Box 23360, San Juan PR 00931. pbayman@uprrp.edu. 

Variation in fungal communities of sea fans (Gorgonia 

ventalina). Diseases are threatening many species of corals in the 

Caribbean. One of the best-known diseases of corals is aspergillosis of 

sea fans, caused by Aspergillus sydowii. However, the source of inoculum 

and the mycoflora of healthy sea fans are largely unknown; it is not 

clear if the presence of the pathogen is sufficient to cause aspergillosis 

or how the microbial community changes when a colony becomes diseased. 

We isolated fungi from sea fans (Gorgonia ventalina) with aspergillosis, 

healthy sea fans and sea water in Puerto Rico from 2003- 

2007. Fungi were identified by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal ITS 

region. Different methods of isolation of fungi were compared. For A. 

flavus, one of the most common species, aflatoxin production in vitro 

was determined by HPLC. We found variation in fungal communities 

of sea fans at several different levels: differences between healthy and 

infected tissues, differences between sea fans and seawater, differences 

between sampling dates, differences in fungi isolated from different 

sizes of tissue pieces, and differences in aflatoxin production among 

isolates. In many cases these differences were significant. This variability 

complicates efforts to understand the disease, and suggests that 

several opportunistic pathogens may be responsible. Poster 

Trail, Frances 1, 2 * and Hallen, Heather E. 11 Department of Plant Biology 

and 2 Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East 

Lansing, MI 48824-1312, USA. trail@msu.edu. Identification of genes 

involved in sexual development in Gibberella zeae (anamorph 

Fusarium graminearum) by expression analysis. We have used 

Affymetrix GeneChips to track differences in transcript abundance during 

a sexual development time course, from vegetative hyphae (control) 

to mature perithecia with asci and multiseptate ascospores. For approximately 

ten percent of the genes, transcripts were present during one of 

the five sexual development stages, yet were absent from vegetative hyphae 

and several other vegetative growth conditions. While this distri- 


bution does not prove that the genes corresponding to these probesets 

are unique to sexual development (some genes may be expressed in vegetative 

growth conditions not yet studied), it does provide a distinct 

group of genes associated with development on which to focus further 

studies. At 72 hours following induction of sexual development, the 

timepoint at which transcripts for meiotic processes and ascus and ascospore 

differentiation are likely to be first detected, the highest number 

of uniquely-expressed genes is present. This is the first whole-genome 

analysis of expression during sexual development in a filamentous ascomycete. 


Trail, F. 1,2 *, Hallen, H. E. 1 and Cavinder, B. 31 Department of Plant Biology, 

2 Department of Plant Pathology, and 3 Genetics Program, Michigan 

State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. trail@msu.edu. Update 

on the genetics and physiology of the mechanism of forcible ascospore 

discharge. With an acceleration of 8,500,000 m s -2 within the 

ascus, the ascospores of Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum) 

hold the biological record (Trail et al., 2005). However, the 

minute size of the spores compared to most other far-flung propagules 

goes hand in hand with prodigious acceleration, and there do not appear 

to be any unusual structures driving the spore release. We have begun 

structural and genetic dissection of the ascus to determine the components 

that drive its unusual function. We will present an update of the 

genetic and physiological components we have identified that contribute 

directly to spore release. Poster 

Trusty, Paul* and Cripps, Cathy L. Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, 

Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. 

pauletrusty@yahoo.com. Ectomycorrhizal fungi of whitebark pine 

seedlings on burned and adjacent unburned forests in regard to 

restoration strategies. Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a keystone 

species in the Northern Rocky Mountains critical to watersheds and 

maintenance of wildlife diversity at high elevations. Blister rust, mountain 

pine beetles, and fire suppression have compounded the decline of 

whitebark pine forests throughout its range. Serious efforts are underway 

to restore these forests using natural and prescribed fires as a management 

tool to eliminate competitors and stimulate whitebark pine 

seedling regeneration. An important restoration component is post-fire 

plantings of rust resistant whitebark pine seedlings. This study is evaluating 

the mycorrhizal colonization of rust resistant nursery seedlings 

in the Fridley Burn, (Gallatin County, MT) in comparison to those regenerating 

naturally in the burn and on adjacent unburned forest. Morphotyping 

and ITS analysis of ectomycorrhizal roots revealed that 1) all 

seedlings were colonized with fungi, 2) the severe burn reduced diversity 

and caused a shift in fungi (burned: Pseudotomentella, Amphinema, 

Wilcoxina, Thelephoroids: unburned: Piloderma, Cenococcum, 

Rhizopogon spp; both: Rhizopogon), and 3) exotic nursery fungi persist 

after 5 years. This study will help determine if appropriate mycorrhizal 

fungi are available on severe burns for effective mycorrhization of 

whitebark pine seedlings planted after a severe fire for restoration purposes. 

Poster 

Tuggle, Alicia A., Melhart, Christy A., Slay, Michael E. and Stephenson, 

Steven L.* Department of Biological Sciences, University of 

Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. slsteph@uark.edu. Cave 

crickets as vectors for dictyostelids in caves. A study was carried out 

to determine if dictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids), which 

are known to occur in cave habitats, were associated with a species of 

cave cricket (Ceuthophilus gracilipes) in Pigeon Roost Cave in Benton 

County, Arkansas. Cave crickets were captured alive and rinsed in a 

water/wetting agent solution in a small sterile plastic tube. The rinsed, 

live crickets were then placed in a container to collect any fecal matter 

they might deposit. The tubes with the water/wetting agent solution as 

well as the fecal matter left in the container were plated out on hay-infusion 

agar and these plates examined for colonies of dictyostelids. 

Four species of dictyostelids were recovered from the rinse wash and/or 

the fecal matter, which suggests that the cave crickets can serve as vectors 

to transport dictyostelid spores within the cave habitat. Since the 


crickets can forage outside the cave, it is possible that they also introduce 

spores to cave habitats from outside sources. Poster 

Tunlid, Anders. Department of Microbial Ecology, Lund University, 

SE 223 62 Lund, Sweden. anders.tunlid@mbioekol.lu.se. Evolutionary 

genomics of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus. It is 

well known that ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can differ markedly in 

their ability to form mycorrhizae and to promote the growth of the host 

plant. Generally such phenotypic differences could be the result of variations 

in gene content, quantitative differences in gene expression, and 

structural differences in gene products. We have used cDNA microarrays 

to compare the trancriptome and genomes of strains of Paxillus involutus. 

The analyses included Nau, that is not compatible with birch 

and poplar, and the two compatible strains Maj and ATCC200175. The 

array contained reporters for 1075 putative unique genes in P. involutus, 

derived from a collection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). On 

the genomic level, Nau and Maj were very similar. Only 16 out of 

1,075 genes analyzed by microarray-based hybridizations had signals 

indicating differences in gene copy numbers. In contrast, 66 out of the 

1,075 genes were differentially expressed in Maj compared to Nau after 

contact with birch roots. Thirty-seven of these symbiosis-regulated 

genes were also differentially expressed in the ATCC strain. Comparative 

analysis of DNA sequences of the symbiosis-regulated genes 

showed that two of them have evolved at an enhanced rate in Nau due 

to relaxed or positive selection. Symposium Presentation 

Untoo, Showkat Ahmad, Singh, Rama S.*, Singh, Narinder and Mann, 

S.K. Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, 

Ludhiana-141004, India. ramassingh@rediffmail.com. Efficacy of single 

and combined formulations of Trichoderma harzianum and 

Pseudomonas fluorescens against foliar blight of wheat. Trichoderma 

harzianum (Th38) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf2) have been 

reported as potential biocontrol agents against various soil born plant 

pathogens. These antagonists are present in the Biocontrol Lab, Department 

of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 

(India). Both the isolates were compatible to each other. The talc based 

formulations were developed singly and in combinations of the 2 bioagents 

and evaluated against foliar blight of wheat (Drechslera / Alternaria 

spp.) on two varieties i.e. HD 2329 and PBW 343 in field experiment. 

The Treatments were given as seed treatment @ 6.0g 

formulation / Kg seeds (ST), and combination of ST + one / two foliar 

spray (FS) @ 6g / litre. The seed germination and disease intensity 

were recorded. The seed germination was significantly higher due to 

treatments of bioagents as compared to control and fungicide treatment. 

Seed germination was 66.3 – 77.5; 66.9 – 73.4 and 70.9 – 73.0 % due 

to seed treatments of Th38, Pf2 and Th38+Pf2, respectively, whereas 

68.7 and 56.2 % seed germination was observed with treatment of 

Raxil and control, respectively. The incidence of foliar blight also decreased 

significantly due to treatments of bioagents. On HD 2329, the 

disease intensity was 29.6; 28.3 and 27.1 % due to ST; ST + 1 spray 

and ST + 2 sprays of T. harzianum, respectively. Similar treatments of 

P. fluorescens gave 29.4; 25.4 and 25.2 % foliar blight intensity. However, 

the ST; ST + 1 spray and ST + 2 sprays with combined formulation 

of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens gave 27.9; 25.2 and 27.1 % foliar 

blight intensity. Disease intensity of 30.4 and 41.5 % was observed 

due to seed treatment of Raxil and control, respectively. The similar 

trend of data was recorded on PBW 343. The ST; ST + 1 spray and ST 

+ 2 sprays gave disease intensity of 36.9; 34.4 and 33.7 % due to T. 

harzianum; 34.2; 32.3 and 27.5 % due to P. fluorescens and 35.0, 32.7 

and 29.4 % with combined formulation of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens, 

respectively, compared to 33.3 and 43.8 % due to treatment of 

Raxil and control, respectively. Overall, the treatments of combined 

formulation of T. harzianum + P. fluorescens were the best with maximum 

plant stands as well as minimum foliar blight intensity. Poster 

URen, Jana M. 1 *, Gallery, Rachel 2 , Dalling, James W. 2 and Arnold, A. 

Elizabeth. 1 1 Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Department 

of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, 

USA, 2 Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana- 

Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. juren@email.arizona.edu. Diversity 

and origins of seed-associated fungi in tropical forests. In intact 

tropical forests, pioneer trees establish by seed germination in 

canopy gaps, but gap formation is spatially and temporally unpredictable. 

Some pioneers increase recruitment success through soil seed 

banks, but soil-borne microbes can severely limit seed survival over 

time. Recent studies examining seeds of the neotropical pioneer Cecropia 

in Panama and Costa Rica recovered diverse assemblages of Ascomycota 

similar to endophyte communities in the same forests. We 

examined soil-incubated seeds of C. insignis in Panama to address the 

hypothesis that seeds harbor vertically transmitted symbionts (endophytes) 

that enhance survival in soil. In contrast to expectations based 

on vertical transmission, diversity of seed-associated fungi was high. 

Dominant fungi differed among and within seed lots. When incubated 

together, seeds from different origins (Panama, Costa Rica) had highly 

similar fungal communities. Little genotypic overlap was observed between 

seed-associated and foliar endophytic fungi; however, phylogenetic 

analyses indicated a close evolutionary relationship between these 

guilds. Our data suggest a shared evolutionary history for endophytes 

and seed-associated fungi, and indicate that if fungal symbionts enhance 

the survival of Cecropia seeds in soil, they are likely acquired – 

like foliar endophytes – by horizontal transmission from the surrounding 

environment. Poster 

Vernier, Kimberly 1 *, Hustad, Vincent 1 , Methven, Andrew 1 , Meiners, 

Scott 1 and Miller, Andrew 2 . 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern 

Illinois Univerisity, Charleston, IL 61920, USA, 2 Illinois Natural 

History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820-6970, 

USA. fungusfairy@hotmail.com. Communities of wood decay in old 

growth prairie groves. This study is investigating communities of 

wood-decaying macrofungi associated with Quercus rubra and Acer 

saccharum tree windfall in Brownfield (26.1 ha) and Trelease Woods 

(24.5 ha), Champaign Co., Illinois. These woods are remnants of a larger, 

pre-settlement prairie grove and are now encircled by houses, fragmented 

forests, prairie and agricultural land. Although initially a virgin, 

deciduous upland forest dominated by oak, ash and maple with a high, 

closed canopy, sugar maple is rapidly becoming the dominant tree 

species. Beginning in November 1994, fallen trees in both woods have 

been tagged with an ID number, date of windfall, dbh and location relative 

to a network of marked grids. Data is being collected on 40 Quercus 

rubra and Acer saccharum logs in decay stage II and decay stage III. 

The following objectives are being addressed: I) Do species diversity 

and richness on decay stage II and decay stage III logs differ between 

study sites? II) Do fungal communities differ between tree species? III) 

Will species diversity be lost from the stand as oak is replaced by sugar 

maple? IV) Which environmental and abiotic variables can best explain 

the species composition and richness of wood-decaying fungi on logs in 

decay stage II and III? and V) Compare the distribution of fungal species 

within and on the logs. Contributed Presentation 

Virella Perez, Carlos R.* and Cafaro, Matias J. Department of Biology, 

University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR 

00681. cr.virella@gmail.com. Mycelial fungi associated with the 

guts of millipedes found in Puerto Rico. Millipedes are an ecologically 

important group of arthropods. They are responsible for 5-10% of 

leaf litter degradation annually. However, in the tropics they may consume 

up to 25% of the litter, making it available for other organisms 

for further processing. The intestinal microflora of the millipede may 

play an important role in this process. We identified the fungal components 

of the intestinal microflora of three widespread millipede species 

of southwestern Puerto Rico; Trigoniulus lombriurius, Spiroptreptus 

soronus and Anadenobolus monilicornis. Digestive tracts were obtained 

by dissection using fine scissors and forceps. Midguts and 

hindguts were dissected separately and their contents inoculated in Potato 

Dextrose Agar and Yeast Malt Agar. Colonies were counted and 

identified. Aspergillus niger and other Aspergillus species were the 

most abundant organisms comprising 30% and 14% of all isolated 

colonies, respectively. Trichoderma hamatum, Paecillomyces lilaci- 



nus, Penicillium spp., Rhizopus sp. and some yeast species among others 

were also found to be living inside the digestive tract of these millipede 

species. The role of these fungi inside the digestive tract is not 

well understood but they can be essential to the process of recycling nutrients 

into the environment. Poster 

Wakefield, William S.*, Powell, Martha J., Letcher, Peter M. and 

Brooks, Micheal C. University of Alabama, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 

411 Hackberry Ln., Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA. wswakefield@gmail.com. 

Phylogenetic and monographic research on 

spizellomycetalean chytrids (Chytridiomycota). The Phylum 

Chytridiomycota is commonly considered aquatic fungi because they 

reproduce with zoospores. However, despite their adaptations to dispersal 

in water, chytrids are common in soil. The University of Alabama 

and University of Maine are training three graduate students and 

are working together to collect and culture spizellomycetalean chytrids 

from soils representing a broad geographic range. As a beginning to the 

revision of the order Spizellomycetales, we used over 70 cultures in 

molecular and ultrastructural analyses to evaluate backbone support for 

groups in the Spizellomycetales. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian 

methods of phylogenetic inferences are used to analyze separate and 

combined sequences of ribosomal genes. Phylogenetically informative 

zoospore ultrastructural characters are also explored. Results support 

the monophyly of genera analyzed thus far, except for the genus Spizellomyces. 

Establishing well-supported sub-clades of spizellomycetalean 

chytrids allows the University of Maine to concentrate on Powellomyces 

sub-clade cultures and the University of Alabama to concentrate 

on the core Spizellomyces and Rhizophlyctis sub-clades. The 

high degree of genetic divergence in this group demonstrates that new 

genera and new orders will have to be erected. It is clear that broad geographic 

sampling is needed to fully reveal the genetic diversity found 

within the Spizellomycetales. Poster 

Wang, Zheng*, Savelkoul, Elizabeth and Logsdon, John M. Jr. Department 

of Biology & Roy J. Carver Center for Comparative Genomics, 

University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. zhengwang@uiowa.edu. 

Using a meiotic gene inventory to study the 

evolution of sex in fungi. The diversity of reproductive modes is a central 

theme in the evolutionary history of fungi. However, a comprehensive 

study of the evolution of sex in fungi is difficult given the lack of 

physical evidence of sexual life cycles in many fungal lineages, including 

some serious pathogens. Since meiosis is a cellular process crucial 

for sexual reproduction, an investigation of the presence and evolutionary 

histories of meiotic genes will illuminate the evolution of sex 

in fungi. Available data from more than 40 fungal genome projects and 

a robust framework phylogeny of fungi from the AFTOL project allow 

the study of meiotic gene evolution from a wide diversity of fungi. 

Those fungi from which completed genomes are available represent 

comparatively well-studied systems and comprise various life-styles, 

including some putatively asexuals. An investigation of fungal meiosis, 

a process requiring numerous genes and gene families, may also be 

helpful in resolving some phylogenetic puzzles and assisting genetic 

studies of meiosis in fungi other than yeasts. We have conducted a phyloinformatic 

analysis of key meiosis genes across 30 fungal genomes 

representing major fungal lineages. Our initial results show that homologs 

of the meiosis specific genes Mnd1, Hop2 and Dmc1 (encoding 

proteins that act in the same meiotic pathway) were independently 

lost from Ustilago maydis, Candida guilliermondii and Neurospora-related 

fungi. In contrast, the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi 

has homologs of Hop2 and Mnd1 but not Dmc1. To extend our survey 

beyond the completed fungal genomes, we have designed degenerate 

PCR primers for ten meiosis specific genes: Rad51, Dmc1, Spo11, 

Hop2, Mnd1, Msh4, Msh5, Rec8, Rad21, Rad54 and Rdh54. We are investigating 

the presence of these genes among twenty ascomycetes; 

these selected taxa include pathogens, endophytes, some lichen-forming 

fungi, and species not known to have a sexual life cycle. Results 

from these ongoing analyses will be presented. Contributed presentation 


White, Merlin 1 *, Siri, Augusto 2 , Ferrington, Leonard 3 and Strongman, 

Doug. 4 1 Boise State University, Department of Biology, Boise, ID 

83725-1515, USA, 2 CEPAVE (Centro de Estudios Parasitologicos y de 

vectores) (CONICET- UNLP), La Plata, ARGENTINA, 3 University of 

Minnesota, Department of Entomology, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA, 

4 Saint Mary’s University, Department of Biology, Halifax, Nova Scotia 

B3H 3C3, Canada. merlinwhite@boisestate.edu. New records of 

Austrosmittium (Harpellales) in North and South America. In 1990 

four species of the new genus Austrosmittium Lichtwardt and Williams 

(Harpellales) were described from the hindguts of larval midges 

(Diptera: Chironomidae) in two papers by the same authors. Harpellales 

is the only order of fungi with biconical zygospores. The biconical 

zygospores, documented for three of four of the Austrosmittium 

species, were medially swollen and quite distinctive. The unusual nature 

of the sexual spore and the apparently narrow distribution led to the 

general notion that Austrosmittium may be restricted to Australia and 

New Zealand. Over the last several years, amongst various collections 

and surveys of gut fungi, we now have gathered clear evidence (particularly 

with medially swollen biconical zygospores) that Austrosmittium 

also occurs in both North and South America, including collections 

from Canada, USA and Argentina. We consolidate and report our accumulated 

data on Austrosmittium in the new world to displace earlier 

notions that it may be restricted in distribution and to encourage further 

collections which will undoubtedly lead to new species descriptions 

from the Americas and possibly worldwide. Poster 

Williams, Calvin L. and Silliker, Margaret E.* Department of Biology, 

DePaul University, 2325 N. Clifton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. 

msillike@depaul.edu. RNA editing of Didymium iridis large and 

small mitochondrial rRNA genes. Didymium iridis is a member of 

the Myxogastria (plasmodial slime molds). Mitochondrial rRNA genes 

have been used to understand evolutionary relationships, however, the 

DNA sequence of these genes, in D. iridis and other myxomycetes, are 

edited so that the functional rRNA molecules differ from their genomic 

sequence. In this study we determined the editing pattern for most of 

the large (LSU) and small (SSU) mitochondrial rRNA genes and compared 

the editing pattern to Physarum polycephalum, a related Myxogastria. 

cDNA products generated by RT-PCR were cloned and sequenced. 

Clustal W was used to align edited and unedited D. iridis 

sequences and to make comparisons to P. polycephalum. In D. iridis, 

C insertions were the major single nucleotide insertions, consisting of 

45 insertions in the LSU and 32 insertions in the SSU, over 2601 and 

1859 base pairs, respectively. Comparison of RNA editing insertion 

sites between D. iridis and P. polycephalum revealed a similar pattern 

of editing, though no editing sites were conserved in the LSU between 

the two organisms. By contrast, a large majority of the SSU insertion 

sites were shared. The majority of C insertions followed purine-pyrimidine 

nucleotides. This feature could signal the RNA editing machinery. 

The higher degree of conservation of editing sites in SSU genes 

could be due to greater constraints on a smaller molecule. Poster 

Winsett, Katherine E.* and Stephenson, Steven L. Department of Biological 

Sciences, SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 

72701, USA. kwinset@uark.edu. Morphological variation within 

one species of cosmopolitan myxomycete. Intraspecific variation is 

common in cosmopolitan species of myxomycetes. However, there is 

little information on the limits of this variation, and no study of a cosmopolitan 

myxomycete has included a consideration of the growth of 

each specimen under standard conditions. It is hypothesized that the 

variation among specimens may be the result of phenotypic plasticity, 

but few previous studies have attempted to provide data to answer this 

question. In order to understand the intraspecific variation of Didymium 

squamulosum, a cosmopolitan species, molecular analysis of a mitochondrial 

marker for isolates representing specimens from worldwide 

collecting sites was carried out. A morphological analysis 

revealed appreciable variation in micro and macro characters and developmental 

features. Characters used in the analysis were measured or 


determined from both herbarium specimens and agar cultures of those 

same specimens. Characteristics measured from culture including time 

to germination, color of plasmodium and time until fruiting varied 

among specimens. Also, a preliminary comparison of features showed 

variation between the herbarium specimen collected in the field or from 

moist chamber culture and the fruiting bodies from agar culture of the 

same isolate. Contributed Presentation 

CANCELED Winsett, Katherine E. 1 *, Stephenson, Steven L. 1 , Cavender, 

James 2 and Cavender, Nicole. 3 1 Department of Biological Sciences, 

SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, 

USA, 2 Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, 

Athens, OH 45701, USA, 3 Restoration Ecology, The Wilds, Cumberland, 

OH 43732, USA. kwinset@uark.edu. Eumycetozoa of South 

Africa. The first survey for myxomycetes in South Africa since the first 

decades of the twentieth century was undertaken during October and 

November of 2006. The major ecosystems of the country including indigenous 

forest, savanna or bushveld, grassland, and fynbos were sampled. 

The survey was the first to involve collecting material for moist 

chamber cultures, which should, based on the results obtained in surveys 

elsewhere, result in significant additions to the list of species 

known for the country. Notably, collections from the fynbos represent 

material unique to a region in South Africa, since this biome is not 

found anywhere else in the world. The data generated from this survey 

are a part of the NSF-funded Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) effort 

for eumycetozoans and represent one of only a few extensive sets 

of data available for the African continent. Poster 

Winsett, Katherine E. 1 *, Stephenson, Steven L. 1 and Packard, Jane M. 2 

1 Department of Biological Sciences, SCEN 632, University of 

Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, 2 Department of Wildlife and 

Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 

77843, USA. kwinset@uark.edu. Slime molds of the Big Thicket National 

Preserve, Taxonomic Working Group of the All Taxa Biodiversity 

Inventory (ATBI). An All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory 

(ATBI) project of the type originally undertaken in the Great Smoky 

Mountains National Park, is now ongoing in the Big Thicket National 

Preserve (BTNP) in eastern Texas. A Taxonomic Working Group for 

eumycetozoans (slime molds) has been organized to collect and report 

the slime molds of this park unit. BTNP represents the remnants of a 

once vast and diverse ecological region that is now fragmented by commercial 

land use. The types of ecological communities present include 

indigenous forests of hardwoods, pine savannas, swamps and bogs. 

The vegetation of the Big Thicket is an association of species from the 

surrounding land types, including prairie and savanna species from the 

west and tropical or coastal species from the south. This survey is also 

part of an effort to catalog the slime molds of the United States for the 

NSF-funded Planetary Biodiversity Inventory of eumycetozoans 

through the use of units in the National Park System as collecting sites. 

Poster 

Witiak, Sarah Melissa 1 *, Samson, R.A. 2 , Varga, J. 2 , Rokas, A. 3 and 

Geiser, D.M. 11 Department of Plant Pathology, Penn State University, 

University Park, PA 16802, USA, 2 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

Utrecht 3058, The Netherlands, 3 Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge 

Center, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA. dgeiser@psu.edu. A manylocus 

phylogeny of the genus Aspergillus. The extensive biological 

diversity of the genus Aspergillus is reflected in its high degree of DNA 

sequence diversity. Inferring a comprehensive phylogeny for the genus 

is important for many reasons, particularly for taxonomy, comparative 

genomics, and for species discovery. Phylogenetic analyses using one 

or a few loci generally resolve relationships at the sectional level, but 

fail to provide strong inferences in backbone nodes, due in part to the 

high degree of sequence variation between subgenera and sections. 

Here we utilized the available complete genome sequences to design 

primers that amplify across most of the genus, providing new loci useful 

for phylogenetics in the genus. Phylogenetic analyses using eight of 

these new loci in combination with others already available produced 

the same tree topology as inferred by complete genome comparisons. 

Initial results indicate that the application of this many-locus approach 

to a broad set of taxa will lead to strong phylogenetic inferences useful 

for the study of the genus. Contributed Presentation 

Woolfolk, Sandra W.* and Baird, Richard E. Department of Entomology 

and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, 

USA. sww3@entomology.msstate.edu. Fungi associated with red 

imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta Buren and mounds in Mississippi. 

A study is being conducted in Mississippi to determine fungi associated 

with red imported fire ants (RIFA) and their mounds. Active 

mounds containing RIFA, mound soils and plant debris were collected 

from Hinds, Madison, and Leake Counties along Natchez Trace Parkway, 

Mississippi in March, July, and November 2004. The three counties 

were selected because they have been confirmed to be occupied by 

RIFA. Five mounds were collected per time per sampling location. 

Once transported to the laboratory, samples were processed and isolated 

onto Sabouraud’s dextrose agar plus yeast (SDAY) amended with 

streptomycin sulfate and chlortetracycline. Approximately 1500 isolates 

of fungi were obtained. Isolated fungi were initially grouped based 

on morphological features. Two representative isolates from each 

group were selected and molecular identification is currently being performed 

using molecular technique. The initial molecular procedures 

(DNA extraction, polymerase chain reactions, and DNA purification) 

have been completed. The DNA sequencing procedure is in progress to 

obtain all fungal sequence data. Fungal taxa that have been shown as 

potential entomopathogens in other insects will be tested as potential 

microbial control agents against RIFA. Poster 

Wu, Wenying 1, 2 *, Hotton, Carol L. 2 and Labandeira, Conrad C. 2 

1 Spezielle Botanik und Mykologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps- 

Universität, Marburg, D-35032, Germany, 2 National Museum of Natural 

History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC121, Washington 

DC 20013, USA. chwenyingwu@gmail.com. Fungal fossils 

and plant-fungi interactions from a 300 million-year-old coal-ball 

deposit. We present our study on fungal fossils and their associated 

plants from a 300 million-year-old Late Pennsylvanian coal-ball deposit 

collected in the Calhoun Coal of Berryville, Illinois. The dominant 

plants are species of the extinct tree-fern Psaronius. Both symbiotic 

and parasitic fungal structures have been found endophytically in 

the root and rhachis, respectively. Spores and vesicular and arbuscular 

mycorrhizae with intracellular and intercellular hyphal structures frequently 

appear in root tissues. The fungus in the rhachis cells features 

entire reproductive and vegetative life stages, including spore germination, 

formation of coiled hyphae, and hyphal termination at a vesicle. 

This condition resembles the structure of extant mycorrhizal fungi. In 

one endophytic association between an insect galler and its Psaronius 

plant host, there was fungal colonization in the area among the insect 

coprolites (fossilized fecal pellets) and galled tissue, indicating a diffuse 

tritrophic relationship. We tentatively identify species of fossil 

fungi, using morphological characters from light microscopy and SEM. 

We also utilized X-ray SEM with an energy dispersive spectroscopy 

system to elucidate the nature of fossil preservation. This investigation 

is an effort to further understand the currently poorly known paleomycological 

world. Poster 

Yafetto, Levi 1 *, Davis, Diana J. 2 and Money, Nicholas P. 11 Department 

of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA, 2 Department 

of Chemistry and Physical Science, College of Mount St. Joseph, 

Cincinnati, OH 45233, USA. yafettl@muohio.edu. Mechanics of rhizomorph 

development in Armillaria mellea. The extraordinary destructive 

abilities of some wood decay fungi and pathogens lies in their 

ability to form root-like organs called rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs are 

complex structures that conduct water, nutrients, and oxygen over long 

distances, allowing fungi to spread through hard-packed soils between 

food sources. The pathogen Armillaria mellea forms rhizomorphs in 

culture and serves as an excellent model for developmental studies. 

This poster presents information on (i) the stimulation of rhizomorph 

extension in A. mellea by increasing medium gel strength; (ii) features 



of rhizomorph anatomy that support their invasive behavior; (iii) data 

on osmolyte accumulation, and (iv) novel measurements of the forces 

exerted by rhizomorph tips. These experiments reveal similarities and 

differences between the development of rhizomorphs and their constituent 

hyphae that begin to explain the effectiveness of rhizomorphs 

as exploratory organs. Poster 

Yeo, Sumin, Kim,Yunjung, Song, Hong-Gyu and Choi, Hyoung T.* 

Division of Life Sciences and Research Institute of Life Sciences, 

Kangwon National University, chunchon 200-701, S. Korea. 

htchoi@kangwon.ac.kr. Degradation of hormone mimicking chemicals 

by genetically transformed Irpex lacteus. As disposable plastic 

ware use increases, so does the risk posed by human exposure to hormone 

mimicking chemicals (HMCs) which are generated during the 

treatment of the plastic waste. White-rot basidiomycetes have the enzymes 

including laccase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase 

for the degradation of lignin. They also degrade many recalcitrant compounds 

such as dyes, explosives and many pesticides. We have isolated 

a white-rot fungus Irpex lacteus from Korea, and examined its degrading 

activity against several HMCs. It showed very good degrading 

activity against bisphenol A and phthalates even though it showed very 

low laccase activity. We have cloned laccase cDNAs from Phlebia 

tremellosa and Trametes versicolor, and introduced the cDNA to I. lacteus 

through genetic transformation. The insertion of the laccase cDNA 

has been confirmed by Southern hybridization, and laccase activity was 

also determined using a chromogenic substrate. The degradation of 

HMCs by the transformants has been compared with the wild type, and 

the removal of estrogenic activity of the HMCs has also been analyzed 

using the yeast (two hybrid) reporter system. Contributed Presentation 

Zanzot, James W. 1 *, de Beer, Z. Wilhelm 2 , Eckhardt, Lori G. 1 and 

Wingfield, Michael J. 2 1 School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 

Auburn University, AL, USA, 2 Department of Microbiology and Plant 

Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University 

of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. zanzojw@auburn.edu. A new 

Ophiostoma species in the O. pluriannulatum complex from loblolly 

pine roots. Various Ophiostomatoid fungi have been implicated as 

contributing factors to the decline of pines in the southeastern USA. 

During a survey for these fungi in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) roots at 

Fort Benning, GA, we encountered a species of Ophiostoma with a 

Sporothrix anamorph, morphologically similar to O. pluriannulatum. 

This species has not been reported from pine roots in this region. Moreover, 

a closely related congener, O. subannulatum, is reported to infect 

conifer roots, and we sought to identify this fungus based on morphology, 

as well as ITS and beta-tubulin sequence comparisons. Isolates observed 

were grossly similar to those of O. pluriannulatum, with unusually 

long perithecial necks, but different in culture morphology. 

Sequences of the ITS rDNA were identical to those of O. pluriannulatum, 

and similar to O.multiannulatum and O. subannulatum. Sequence 

data from the beta-tubulin gene region revealed the absence of intron 4 

and presence of intron 5, similar to the latter two species, but distinct 

from O. pluriannulatum, which has intron 4 and not intron 5. Phylogenetic 

analyses of beta-tubulin sequences showed that all of our isolates 

group together in a clade distinct from O. multiannulatum and O. subannulatum. 

Given the arrangement of introns, we believe that our isolates 

represent a novel species. This new fungus is currently being described, 

and its pathogenicity, biology and ecology are also being 

studied. Poster 

Zanzot, James W. 1 *, de Beer, Z. Wilhelm 2 , Eckhardt, Lori G. 1 and 

Wingfield, Michael J. 2 1 School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 

Auburn University, AL, USA, 2 Department of Microbiology and Plant 

Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University 

of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. zanzojw@auburn.edu. A PCR- 

RFLP based test to distinguish Leptographium serpens and Leptographium 

huntii isolated from roots of declining pines in the 


southeastern US. Leptographium species (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales) 

are commonly isolated from the roots of declining pines and 

root feeding scolytids in the southeastern United States. Among the 

species most often recovered are Leptographium serpens and L. huntii 

(teleomorph = Grosmannia). These species can be difficult to distinguish, 

as they both produce serpentine hyphae, and their conidiophore 

morphology is highly variable in freshly isolated cultures. To aid in 

rapid identification of L. serpens and L. huntii, we used sequence data 

from the beta-tubulin gene region to develop an RFLP-based diagnostic 

test. This gene region was chosen because other more frequently sequenced 

regions (e.g. rDNA) do not amplify consistently in Leptographium. 

Following optimization of genomic DNA preparation and 

PCR amplification, sequence data from representative isolates of L. 

serpens, L. huntii and other Leptographium spp. commonly isolated 

from pine roots in the region were analyzed using the web application 

Webcutter 2.0. The restriction endonucleases PstI, SacI, and BsaAI 

were selected for their predicted amplicon digestion patterns, and relative 

cost. This test will provide diagnosticians with a rapid and inexpensive 

method for identifying these morphologically similar members 

of an intransigent genus. Contributed Presentation 

Zhang, Ning 1 *, McCarthy, M. L. 2 and Smart, C. D. 11 Department of 

Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA, 2 Department 

of Biological Sciences, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 

Geneva, NY 14456, USA. nz35@cornell.edu. A macroarray system 

for the detection of multiple fungal and oomycete pathogens of 

solanaceous crops from field samples. Rapid and accurate detection 

and identification of pathogens is critical for plant disease management. 

Recently, DNA array technology has been successfully applied for simultaneous 

detection of multiple microorganisms from various habitats. 

The goal of this project was to develop a multiplex detection/identification 

system for all major fungal and oomycete pathogens 

of solanaceous crops. To facilitate this goal, we utilized membranebased 

macroarray technology including at least three specific oligonucleotides 

per pathogen. Based on the internal transcribed spacer sequences 

of the rRNA genes, a total of 141 oligonucleotides (17-27 

bases long) specific for 30 pathogens were designed and spotted on a 

nylon membrane, including Fusarium oxysporum (Fusarium wilt), 

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white rot), Rhizoctonia solani (Rhizoctonia 

canker), Phytophthora infestans (late blight), and Synchytrium endobioticum 

(potato wart). The specificity and sensitivity of the array was 

tested against 22 pathogens in pure culture as well as infected field and 

greenhouse samples. Our results indicate that the oligonucleotide-based 

macroarray detection system is a reliable and effective method for 

pathogen detection/identification even when multiple pathogens are 

present on a field sample. Contributed Presentation 

Zhou, Fang* and Weir, Alex. Environmental and Forest Biology, State 

University of New York, College of Environmental Science and 

Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. fzhou01@syr.edu. Light- and 

transmission electron microscope studies on the penetration of 

Hesperomyces virescens (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) parasitic on 

Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). The interaction between 

Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales) and the lady beetle 

Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) was studied using light 

(LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thin sections 

through developing spore stages revealed the presence of a very narrow 

penetration peg originating at the foot of the Hesperomyces thallus and 

extending through the outer layers of the cuticle of the insect. Beneath 

this, in the hemocoel of the host, a small bulb-like haustorium was 

formed from which rhizoid-like fungal hyphae developed. In some sections 

presence of those rhizoids was observed throughout a large area 

of the hemocoel. Here we compare the penetration apparatus observed 

to those known in a range of entomopathogenic and plant parasitic 

fungi. Poster

MYCOLOGICAL NEWS 

Fig.1. Participants in the myxomycete training session held at the Mushroom Research Centre. 

Northern Thailand and the Mushroom Research Centre 

During the period of January 5 to 19, 2008, three individuals 

(Steve Stephenson and two of his graduate students, Adam 

Rollins and Carlos Rojas) from the Laboratory for the Study of 

Eumycetozoans at the University of Arkansas made a planning 

visit (funded by a grant from NSF) to northern Thailand. The primary 

objective of the visit was for Stephenson to discuss the possibility 

of future collaborative research projects involving the 

University of Arkansas and researchers and students at Chiang 

Mai University, Mae Fah Luang University and the Mushroom 

Research Centre. 

Our trip began at the Mushroom Research Centre (MRC), 

which is located in a mountainous area 64 km northwest of the 

city of Chiang Mai. MRC promotes the study of fungal biodiversity 

by providing a place where graduate students can live, 

work and conduct their research, ultimately leading to an advanced 

degree. MRC is equipped with a lecture hall, a lab, and a 

well-stocked mycology library as well as various chalets and a 

cozy pond-side restaurant with an inviting crackling fireplace to 

warm oneself during the cool mountain evenings in the winter 

months. Our primary host during the visit to MRC was Thida 

Win Ko Ko, a graduate student who is currently studying the 

myxomycetes of northern Thailand. 

During our visit to MRC, we presented a three day training 

session on myxomycetes, which began with a general introduction 

to the group and progressed to the biology, taxonomy and ultimately 

the ecology and the global distribution of these organisms. 

Participants in the training session consisted of students 

and scientists from seven countries (China, Indonesia, Laos, 

Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) throughout 

Southeast Asia (Fig. 1). As part of the training session, partici- 

pants had the opportunity to collect and study specimens in the 

field, and they now have the knowledge to pursue further research 

relating to the myxomycetes (Fig. 2). As part of this activity, 

Adam and Carlos also gave presentations on their PhD research 

projects, which involve developing a better understanding 

of biogeographical patterns in myxomycetes. This experience 

provided a great opportunity for us to interact with the various 


Fig. 2. Students collecting myxomycetes in the forests 

of Northern Thailand; from left to right: Carlos Rojas 

(Costa Rica), Adam Rollins (USA), Thida Win Ko Ko 

(Myanmar) and Tran Thi My Hanh (Vietnam). 


students and researchers. We were able to gain insights and an 

understanding of the educational process as it exists in Southeast 

Asia and to establish research linkages with other students and 

researchers across the region. This part of the trip proved a valuable 

experience for us. 

After the conclusion of the training session, we visited the 

Doi Inthanon (the “roof of Thailand”). The summit of this mountain, 

with an elevation of 2565 m, is the highest point in Thailand 

and represents the last substantial peak of the Himalayan system. 

The high elevation of this mountain nestled in a region of surrounding 

lowlands creates a unique situation. Here there are 

many co-occurring vegetation types, which result in the mingling 

of tropical species and some species more commonly associated 

with higher latitudes (Fig. 3). Given these factors, Doi Inthanon 

is one of the most biodiverse areas in Thailand, and we obtained 

samples from various microhabitats for the isolation of fungi and 

all three groups of eumycetozoans. In addition, Carlos established 

two study plots that will be used to provide the data necessary 

to compare and contrast the results obtained from his ongoing 

work, which involves examining the myxomycetes 

associated with high elevation mountaintops in the Neotropics. 

We then traveled north to visit with students and researchers 

working at Mae Fah Luang University (Fig. 4), which is located 

in the city of Chiang Rai. Here we met with Kevin Hyde, Director 

of the Mushroom Research Centre and a professor of mycology 

at Mae Fah Luang University. Stephenson presented a seminar 

on his ongoing studies of myxomycete biodiversity, and we 

met with faculty members and graduate students to discuss possible 

future collaborative research projects involving researchers 

at this institution and the University of Arkansas. In addition, we 


Fig. 3. General aspect of the mountains from Doi Inthanon. 

traveled to two forest study sites, one located near the Nanglaenai 

Waterfall and the other in Lamnamkok National Park, to collect 

specimens of myxomycetes and samples for laboratory isolation. 

During this portion of our trip, we visited a picturesque 

rural village where the road ended and the people existed by 

growing crops and planting teak. 

The trip concluded with a visit to Chiang Mai University 

(CMU) in the city of Chiang Mai. We met with Professor 

Saisamorn Lumyong and discussed the possibilities of future collaborations 

between our two universities. While at CMU, Adam 

and Carlos interacted with graduate students and gave presentations 

on their respective research projects. In turn, Professor 

Lumyong’s graduate students gave short presentations about 

their own research projects, which ranged from mycorrhizal relationships 

to the production of biofuels. While in Chiang Mai, 

we visited the Chiang Mai night bazaar and climbed the “stairway 

to enlightenment” to visit the famous Wat Phrathat Doi 

Suthep Rajvoravihara temple. 

The trip, which was an extraordinary educational experience, 

was both productive and enjoyable. We learned valuable 

scientific lessons with respect to international interactions, collaborations 

and research linkages, while becoming fully immersed 

in a cultural experience that taught us about such things 

as ghost houses and elephant souls. At present, Southeast Asia is 

a relatively understudied region with respect to fungi and particularly 

the myxomycetes. However, the prospect of research collaborations 

is strong, since people we met are willing and eager 

to establish such collaborations. We would encourage our fellow 

mycologists to consider working in this region of the world. 

Fig. 4. Campus of Mae Fah Luang University in Chiang Rai. 

—Adam W. Rollins —Carlos Rojas 

arollin@uark.edu crojas@uark.edu

Did Fusarium or Warm Temperatures Kill New York Bats? 

In the past two winters, thousands of bats 

were found dead in caves near Albany, New York 

and a cave in Vermont, where about 200,000 

local bats hibernate each year. Dubbed as “White 

Nose Syndrome”, a remarkable “symptom” is 

that white Fusarium mycelia surround the noses 

of some of the bats (Figure 1), both dead and living. 

Cladosporium and Candida also were observed 

occasionally. New York State wildlife 

pathologist Dr. Ward Stone believed that Fusarium 

was not the cause of the bat deaths because it 

only presented in the “outermost part of the 

skin” and “no tissue reaction was found” except 

for a couple of cases. Stone said that bats were 

seen flying in daylight over wide areas of eastern 

New York in the past a few winters. Apparently, 

the unusual weather woke the hibernating bats up 

and had resulted in widespread malnutrition and stress for 

bats to find food when little or none was available. However, 

another New York State wildlife biologist Alan 

Hicks said that a new pathogen may have been introduced 

to the Albany-area caves and spread from there. Further 

investigation is underway. 

A University of Central Missouri research team from 

the Department of Biology was featured on the PBS program 

“Wild Chronicles,” broadcast in February as 

Episode #318 on PBS television stations nationwide. Entitled 

“Smoky Mountains Treetop Exploration,” the 5-7 

minute segment was taken from footage filmed by National 

Geographic Society television producer Jason Orfanon 

during July 2008 in the Great Smoky Mountains 

National Park. Boyd Matson served as the host and narrator. 

The storyline documents the exploration of the tree 

canopy using the double rope climbing technique by the 

UCM research team. Two graduate student climbers, 

Sydney E. Everhart and Courtney M. Kilgore, demonstrate 

how to access, climb, and gather samples (myxomycetes, 

macrofungi, lichens, mosses, liverworts, and 

ferns) from the tree canopy. Dr. Harold W. Keller, visiting 

professor of biology at UCM, coordinates the ground 

crew and serves as the principal investigator for the research 

project titled “RUI: Biodiversity and Ecology of 

Tree Canopy Biota in the Great Smoky Mountains National 

Park.” This project was financially supported in 

part by the National Geographic Committee for Research 

and Exploration Grant, National Science Foundation, 

Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories Award, Division of 

Environmental Biology, and Discover Life in America 

Award. 

Fig. 1. A cluster of bats with “White Nose Syndrome” in a New 

York cave. The arrows point to their noses surrounded by 

Fusarium hyphae. Photo by Nancy Heaslip. 

Links to local news: Bat deaths tied to warm temperatures 

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/feb/06/0206_bats/ ; 

Why are thousands of bats dying in NY? 

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/2/14/324949.html 

-Ning Zhang 

334 Plant Science Building 

Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology 

Cornell University 

Ithaca, NY 14853 

nz35@cornell.edu 

Smoky Mountains Treetop Exploration Airs on Wild Chronicles 

Wild Chronicles looks at the human relationship with 

nature, highlighting breakthrough science that offers real 

hope for the future. This television series airs on public 

television stations supported by National Geographic Society 

Mission Programs—the arm of the Society that supports 

pioneering research and field expeditions through 

programs such as the Committee for Research and Exploration, 

the Expeditions Council, the Conservation Trust, 

and the Explorers-in-Residence Program. “Season three 

of Wild Chronicles continues to build on the strong success 

of reporting directly from the field, as the story happens,” 

said Boyd Matson, host of Wild Chronicles. “Visiting 

the field sites of the scientists and adventurers that 

we work with every day and becoming part of the story 

helps this series transport viewers into an otherwise unseen 

world of exploration.” 

Boyd Matson also conducted a 20-minute interview 

with Kilgore and Keller about their adventures, which 

aired on National Geographic Weekend. This is a new 

radio program hosted by Boyd Matson that highlights stories 

of “exploration to the far corners of the planet and 

the hidden corners of your own backyard”. It airs on radio 

stations on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Attribution: Quotations from “Wild Chronicles” web site. 

—Harold W. Keller and Courtney M. Kilgore 

haroldkeller@hotmail.com 


Announcing the 2008 Annual 

Mycological Society 

of America Meeting 


10 – 13 August, 2008 

State College, Pennsylvania 

MSA FORAY: Sunday, 10 August 

THREE FULL SESSION DAYS: Monday – Wednesday, 11-13 August 

SOCIAL AND AUCTION: Wednesday, 13 August 

For information on all aspects of the upcoming meeting please go 

to the MSA Website and follow the links: 

http://www.msafungi.org/ 

IMPORTANT DATES: 

Registration: Early deadline for registration is April 15, 2008. 

Abstract submission: The deadline for abstract submission is April 15, 

2008, for contributed presentations and posters. 

We look forward to seeing you at Penn State. Please check the 

MSA website for continually updated meeting and foray information 

and for links to our meeting registration, housing, and 

abstract submission sites.

MNRC 2008 Award for Best Student Poster 

Christopher D. Crabtree from the University of Central 

Missouri received the MNRC 2008 Award for best student 

poster. The Missouri Natural Resources Conference 

(MNRC) was held at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Osage Beach, at 

Lake of the Ozarks, in central Missouri, January 30 to February 

1, 2008. Graduate student Christopher D. Crabtree 

from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) was honored 

with the award for best student poster by the Society for Conservation 

Biology (SCB) Missouri Chapter. This award is 

given annually for the best student poster and is based upon 

biological/ecological significance and importance, experi- 

mental design, and poster aesthetics. This award carries with 

it a one year membership to SCB and a one year subscription 

to Conservation or Conservation Biology, SCB’s publications. 

Christopher also won the honor of best graduate student 

poster at the Central Scholars Symposium at UCM in 

April of 2007 for preliminary results of his research. His research 

and MNRC poster are entitled “Macrofungi and myxomycetes 

associated with specific community types of Ha 

Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri”. 

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology 

On behalf of the University of Toronto, I am pleased to 

invite you to attend the relaunched Great Lakes- St. 

Lawrence Spring Workshop in Mycology, to be held on 

April 26 and 27, 2008 at the University of Toronto, Chestnut 

Street Conference Centre in Toronto. 

The format we are planning for this meeting will follow 

that of its predecessors, with registration beginning Saturday 

morning at 8-10 AM followed by a program of 15 min oral 

presentations, lunch, and more oral presentations, concluding 

at 4 pm. We are planning an optional group dinner and 

keynote address on Saturday evening. The workshop will 

conclude with a final session of oral presentations from 9 am 

ending at noon on Sunday. Details including a preliminary 

program, registration information, accommodation options 

John W. Rippon Fellowship in Medical Mycology 

John W. Rippon is among the foremost 

medical mycologists of our time, having 

written seven books and more than 80 scientific 

publications on medical mycology. 

John was among the first mycologists to see 

the importance in fungi that infected people, 

and he also is an excellent field mycologist—a 

very rare combination of qualities. 

He was honored by the Mycological Society 

of America as a Distinguished Mycologist 

in 1996. 

John grew up in Toledo, Ohio and 

showed scientific promise at an early age, 

winning a Westinghouse Scholarship for 

Science. John received his Ph.D. from the 

University of Illinois in 1959. After teaching at Loyola University 

of Chicago for a few years, he became a professor at 

the University of Chicago Department of Medicine, where he 

researched from 1963-1989. Besides overseeing the mycology 

diagnostic lab there, he taught courses in medical mycology, 

medical microbiology, and dermatology. During that 

time, he was also a guest Professor at Hines VA Hospital in 

John W. Rippon 

—Harold W. Keller 

haroldkeller@hotmail.com 

will follow shortly. 

This is an excellent opportunity for you and your students 

to showcase new and interesting research within our 

local mycology community. In other words, please send us a 

couple of talk titles - we need you on our program! 

I recognize that April is not far off, but do hope that you 

will be able participate. I would greatly appreciate it if you 

could provide Agatha Blancas with confirmation of your 

planned attendance, and we will include you on the workshop 

mailing list (agatha.blancas@utoronto.ca, 416-978- 

5883). Thank you very much. 

—James Scott 

james.scott@utoronto.ca 

Chicago, where he was an Infectious Disease 

faculty consultant. Dr. Rippon was 

much sought after throughout the world for 

his expertise, lecturing in a “couple dozen” 

countries on every inhabited continent, including 

almost every country in South 

America. Dr. Rippon’s recognition of the 

value in studying medically important 

fungi became very important in the early 

1980’s because of the combination of several 

immunosuppressive issues: the AIDS 

epidemic became apparent, and various 

clinical therapies such as corticosteroid 

therapy and chemotherapy became available—thus 

the incidence of human fungal 

infection skyrocketed. During that time Dr. Rippon wrote the 

first major textbook on medically important fungi. By the 

time the third edition of “Medical Mycology: the pathogenic 

fungi and the pathogenic actinomycetes” was published in 

1988, it had become the gold standard for medical mycology 

throughout the world, translated into Spanish and Polish (and 



pirated into Chinese). Because of Dr. Rippon’s polished 

writing style and meticulous attention to detail, his textbook, 

long out of print, is still coveted by medical professionals 

and mycologists. 

Since his retirement in 1989 John now spends half 

his time at his retirement home in Michigan and half the 

year in Florida (can you guess which half where?). John 

has been a lifelong birdwatcher and has seen more than 

3000 species of birds in his world travels. He spends his 

Introduction to Food- and Air-Borne Fungi. 9-13 

June 2008, Ottawa, Canada. More than 100 mould and 

yeast species common in indoor air and on food will be 

examined, including important species of Penicillium, 

Aspergillus, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Stachybotrys, Cladosporium, 

Mucor, Rhizopus, Alternaria and Scopulariopsis. 

This five day course is appropriate for those interested 

in food spoilage, indoor air quality, industrial 

hygiene, mycotoxins, pharmaceuticals, biodeterioration, 

etc. Instructors: Robert A. Samson and Jos Houbraken, 


Fleshy Fungi of the Highlands Plateau, Highlands 

Biological Station, Highlands, North Carolina. July 14- 

26, 2008. An introduction to the fleshy ascomycetes and 

basidiomycetes that occur in the Southern Appalachian 

Mountains. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of 

macro- and micromorphological features to aid in species 

identification. The daily routine will consist of a morning 

lecture on identification, ecology, and phylogeny of 

fleshy fungi followed by a field trip until early afternoon. 

Collections will be examined and identified after returning 

from the field, providing an opportunity to assemble 

an impressive collection of fleshy fungi. 

Housing is available at the station for $60-100 per 


free time leading birding expeditions, flower walks, 

mushroom walks and lecturing about natural history. He 

has recently begun writing online book reviews on vertebrate 

paleontology and DVD reviews of opera performances. 

He is a dedicated oenophile and continues to identify 

molds as a consultant for various companies. John is 

truly a renaissance man, and we are honored to have this 

fellowship in his name. 

—Tom Volk 

volk.thom@uwlax.edu 

Middle Atlantic States Mycology Conference (MASMC 2008) 

The annual Middle Atlantic States Mycology Conference 

has taken place every spring since 1979. MASMC 

meetings also coincide with the appearance of many 

spring fungi including Morchella spp. This small meeting 

provides new students and postdocs an opportunity to 

present their research findings in a less formal venue than 

larger national and international meetings. This year’s 

MASMC and morel foray will be hosted April 18-20 by 

your friends at Duke University, Durham NC. 

Introduction to Food- and Air-Borne Fungi 

Registration forms are now available on the MASMC 

web site (www.biology.duke.edu/masmc/). Registration 

is due by March 31. Both oral and poster presentations 

are welcome. For additional information, please contact: 

Dr. R. Vilgalys (email: fungi@duke.edu), Biology Department, 

Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 

We look forward to seeing you in Durham this 

spring! 

—Rytas Vilgalys 

fungi@duke.edu 

Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures. Keith A. Seifert 

and John Bissett, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 

For more information, please contact Keith A. 

Seifert, Biodiversity Theme (Mycology & Botany), Eastern 

Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling 

Ave., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario 

K1A 0C6 CANADA. Phone: 613-759-1378. Fax: 

613-759-1701. Email: seifertk@agr.gc.ca or visit the 

course web site at http://www.indoormold.org. 

—Keith Seifert 

seifertk@agr.gc.ca 

week (with linen). The station does not serve meals but a 

fully equipped kitchen is available, with grocery stores 

and restaurants available in town. Three semester hours 

of credit is available from Western Carolina University or 

UNC-Chapel Hill. Comprehensive course fee is $400. 

For additional information contact Dr Andrew S. 

Methven, Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern 

Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920; phone (217) 

581-6241; Email: asmethven@eiu.edu or Dr James 

Costa, Director, Highlands Biological Station, PO Box 

580, Highlands, NC 28741; phone (828) 526-2602; 

Email: hbs@email.wcu.edu; Website: www.wcu.edu/hbs 

—Andrew Methven 

asmethven@eiu.edu

2008 Seminars at the Humboldt Institute 

ANNOUNCING....2008 Seminars at the Humboldt 

Institute on the coast of Maine! 

June 29 – July 5. Calicioid Lichens and Fungi: Identification, 

Ecology, and Role in Assessing Forest Continuity. 

Steven Selva. 

July 6 – 12. Lichenicolous Fungi: North America’s 

Second Sick Lichen Masterclass. David L. Hawksworth. 

August 3 – 9. Polypores, Tooth Fungi, and Crust 

Fungi. Thomas Volk and Sean. 

Aug 31 – Sept 6. Mycology for Naturalists: Diversity, 

Biology, and Ecology of Fungi and Fungal-like Organisms. 

David Porter. 

Sept 28 – Oct 4. Advanced Mycology: Freshwater 

and Marine Ascomycetes. Carol A Shearer. 

Natural History Seminars 

In support of field biologists, modern field naturalists, 

and students of the natural history sciences, Eagle 

Hill offers specialty seminars and workshops at different 

ecological scales for those who are interested in understanding, 

addressing, and solving complex ecological 

questions. Seminars topics range from watershed level 

subjects, and subjects in classical ecology, to highly specialized 

seminars in advanced biology, taxonomy, and 

ecological restoration. 

Eagle Hill has long been recognized as offering hardto-find 

seminars and workshops which provide important 

opportunities for training and meeting others who are 

likewise dedicated to the natural history sciences. 

Eagle Hill field seminars are of special interest be- 

APS Centennial Celebration 2008 

Greetings, MSA members! As the American Phytopathological 

Society’s affiliate representative to MSA, I invite 

you to join plant pathologists in the APS Centennial Celebration. 

The Centennial meeting in Minneapolis, 

Minnesota, July 26-30, 2008, will celebrate a “History of Excellence 

and a Future of Promise.” The meeting will feature 

extended special plenary sessions with internationallyrenowned 

speakers, covering the topics of “Agriculture, 

Food Security and Public Health: Global Issues – Global Solutions” 

and “Tomorrow’s Agriculture – Six Trends You 

Can’t Afford to Miss.” More details, including a list of 

speakers and topics, are available at: http://www.apsnet.org/ 

The Mycology Committee of the American Phytopathological 

Society is sponsoring and organizing a special session 

entitled: “Assembling the Fungal Tree of Life: From 

cause they focus on the natural history of one of North 

America’s most spectacular and pristine natural areas, the 

coast of eastern Maine from Acadia National Park to Petit 

Manan National Wildlife Refuge and beyond. Most seminars 

combine field studies with follow-up lab studies and 

a review of the literature. Additional information is provided 

in lectures, slide presentations, and discussions. 

Seminars are primarily taught for people who already 

have a reasonable background in a seminar program or in 

related subjects, or who are keenly interested in learning 

about a new subject. Prior discussions of personal study 

objectives are welcome. 

Descriptions of seminars may be found at 

http://www.eaglehill.us/mssemdes.html. Information on 

lodging options, meals, and costs may be found at 

http://www.eaglehill.us/mapinfo.html. There is a printable 

and online application form at 

http://www.eaglehill.us/mapweb.html or 

http://www.eaglehill.us/mapprn.html. 

Syllabi are available for these and many other fine 

natural history training seminars on diverse topics. 

For more information, please contact the Humboldt 

Institute, PO Box 9, Steuben, ME 04680-0009. 207-546- 

2821. Fax 207-546-3042. E-mail: office@eaglehill.us. 

Online general information may be found at 

http://www.eaglehill.us. 

—Anne Favolise-Stanton 

Assistant Editor 

Humboldt Field Research Institute 

office@eaglehill.us 

Linnaeus to Deep Hypha and Beyond.” Speakers will include 

mycological systematists from the Deep Hypha Research 

Coordination Network and the Assembling the Fungal Tree 

of Life (AFTOL) project. Scheduled speakers are Meredith 

Blackwell, David McLaughlin, Conrad Schoch, Cathie Aime 

and André Levesque, and the session will end with a panel 

discussion of the importance of phylogenetic studies. 

MSA members may also enjoy reading the February 

2008 feature article on www.apsnet.org which is an excerpt, 

“Poisonous Fungi and Mycotoxins,” from the new book by 

Frank Dugan entitled Fungi in the Ancient World (APS 

Press, 2008). 

See you in Minneapolis! 

—Carol Stiles 

APS Affiliate Representative to MSA 

cstiles@ufl.edu 


China-Japan Pan-Asia Pacific Myclogy Forum 2008 

The organizing committee warmly invites you to attend 

the China-Japan Pan Asia Pacific Mycology Forum, 

Changchun, China, 28 July – 5 August, 2008. The forum will 

provide an opportunity for sharing information on all aspects 

of mycology and foster constructive interaction between participants 

from all over the world. The working language of 

this conference will be English. 

Main Topics 

I. Symposia 

(1) Mycotoxins 

(2) Edible and medicinal mushrooms 

(3) Phylogeny and taxonomy of fungi 

(4) Ecology of fungi 

(5) Molecular biology and genetics 

(6) Medical mycology 

Seeking Air-Dried Collections of Red Nectaria-Like Fungi 

Priscila Chaverri, Howard University, with Amy Rossman 

and Gary Samuels, SMML, USDA-ARS, received funding 

from NSF to study the systematics of three genera of red 

nectria-like fungi including true Nectria species. If anyone 

collects these fungi and is willing to share them, please send 

Fungal Conservation in Canada and the USA 

There has been a lot of superb work on fungal conservation 

carried out in North America but, as yet, there seems to 

be no continental-level or national groups dedicated to this 

topic. MSA Members involved in fungal conservation in 

Canada and/or the USA, with views on this topic, or with an 


II. Workshops 

(1) Identification of clinically important micro-fungi (Aspergillus, 

Penicillium, yeasts etc.) 

(2) Identification of powdery mildew and rusts and other 

plant pathogens 

(3) Identification of slime molds 

(4) Biology of entomogenous fungi 

(5) Methods for molecular phylogeny 

For more details, please visit: http:// www.junwusuo.com 

Conference Contact details 

Email: yuli996@126.com, puliu1982@yahoo.com. 

Tel: 0431-84510966, 0431-84532989, 13500812634 / Fax: 

0431-84510966 

For more information about this conference, please visit: 

http:// www.junwusuo.com 

International Congress on Systematics and Ecology of Myxomycetes 

The Sixth International Congress on the Systematics and 

Ecology of Myxomycetes will be held from 4-10 October 

2008 in Nikita Botanic Garden, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine. Participation 

is essential for those interested in myxomycetes, 

and the Congress provides the further opportunity to enjoy 

the wonderful scenery and historical treasures of the Crimean 

coast. The Organizing Committee looks forward to welcoming 

you! Full information about this event can be obtained 

from the Congress website: www.icsem6.org. 

Saccardo’s Sylloge Fungorum Now Available Online 

The Cyberliber website (www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber) and 

the LibriFungorum website (http://194.203.77.76/LibriFungorum/) 

now have the whole of Saccardo’s Sylloge Fungorum freely 

available on-line. Although individual volumes are stored on 

different servers, a co-operative arrangement means that all 

of them are equally available from both sites. At this juncture, 

it is appropriate to recognize the terrific achievement of 

Dr P.N. Chowdhry whose far-sighted efforts lay behind most 

of the monumental work of digitizing these volumes. 

Completion of the Saccardo volumes on-line means 

that Cyberliber and LibriFungorum now provide open access 

to all the main historical catalogues of the fungi and of my- 

—David Minter 

d.minter@cabi.org 

cological literature - something which probably no other biological 

kingdom has yet managed. These websites now provide 

free access to more than 131,000 scanned images of 

pages of mycological literature. Cyberliber, in particular, 

hosts more than 30 volumes of Mycologia, 66 volumes of 

Mycotaxon, 8 volumes of Acta Mycologica, 10 volumes of 

Sydowia, 8 volumes of Catathelasma, all of Grevillea, all of 

Michelia, all of the sanctioning works of Fries and Persoon, 

and much much more. 


d.minter@cabi.org 

air-dried specimens to Amy Rossman, SMML, Rm. 304, 

B011A, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705. 

Thank you so much. 

—Amy Rossman 

Amy.Rossman@ars.usda.gov 

interest in establishing such a group are invited to contact 

Dave Minter who is trying to collect information on this 

topic. 


d.minter@cabi.org

MYCOLOGIST’S BOOKSHELF 

Eight books are reviewed in this issue—thanks to the MSA reviewers! Ten new books were received since the 

last Mycologist’s Bookshelf. If you would like to review a book or CD, let me know. I will send it to you, you 

write the review, and then you can keep the book. All requests for books to review should be sent to Amy Rossman 

at Amy.Rossman@ars.usda.gov. 

Mycology, Vols. 1 and 2, DVD-ROM 

Mycology. Vol. 1. Lower Fungi and Fungus-like 

Organisms. DVD-ROM. 2007. John Webster with 

Roland W.S. Weber. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, 

St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 978-3-88222-085-8. 

Price: $139.00. 

Mycology. Vol. 2. Higher Fungi. DVD-ROM. 2007. 

John Webster with Roland W.S. Weber. APS Press, 3340 

Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 3-88222-086-4. 

Price: $139.00. 

This two-volume DVD set includes line drawings of fungal 

structures, still photographs, and videos arranged in life 

cycle format. The contents are interactive through a menu 

system and are arranged in taxonomic categories. Much to 

the delight of many teachers, the videos are converted from 

the earlier highly praised videos and film clips prepared by 

John Webster in collaboration with IWF. The images are of 

the highest quality. The line drawings and life cycles parallel 

those used in Webster and Weber’s 3 rd edition of Introduction 

to Fungi published by Cambridge University Press in 2007; 

the contents of the DVDs follow that classification. This classification 

offers a practical approach for teaching about fungi 

in all their ecological and taxonomic diversity. Volume 1 

contains Chytriomycota and Zygomycota as well as “slime 

mold groups” and Oomycota; volume 2 contains Ascomycota 

and Basidiomycota. 

Students are drawn to the video material showing hyphal 

growth, development of structures and events leading 

to spore discharge and dispersal. One can, for example, 

show students zoospores in action, one can watch 

clamp connection formation, and see the life cycle of an 

ascomycete in ways that inform lecture and laboratory 

work. The time-lapse photographs bring students to an 

understanding of what they may previously only have 

conjectured from observations in the laboratory or in the 

field. I worry a bit that these wonder time lapse videos 

make laboratory work with real specimens more challenging 

to present particularly if a student is impatient for the 

fast pace these images provide. 

In practical terms one should know that these are PC 

products. MAC users are out of luck. The DVD contents 

are rightly and justifiably protected and the proprietary 

software that operates the programs allows one to enter 

the system via a series of menus or optionally to scan barcodes 

in order to by-pass the menus. Barcodes are printed 

from a PDF that is contained on the disc and using it allows 

the presentation to be interspersed and integrated 

with others lecture materials. For those accustomed to 

presentations with embedded graphics there is no option 

but to switch to the DVD to show the images. 

The DVDs offer an effective backbone around which 

to structure laboratory tutorials. They allow students to 

explore in parallel the images and living material. In this 

way the navigational awkwardness is alleviated to some 

extent because of the more directed observations and the 

slower pace of study. It is also possible to purchase a local 

area network (LAN) license that might be practical for 

large laboratories with multiple workstations. 

In whatever way teachers use these discs, the videos 

in particular will draw students into a more serious study 

of the fungi and will engender puzzlement and surprise, 

stimulate questions, and generally bring students to a 

deeper understanding of the fungus world. 

—Donald H. Pfister 

Farlow Herbarium 

Harvard University 

Cambridge, Massachusetts 

dpfister@oeb.harvard.edu 


Exploitation of Fungi: Symposium of the British Mycological Society 

Exploitation of 

Fungi: Symposium of 

the British Mycological 

Society held at the 

University Manchester 

September 2005. 

2007. G.D. Robson, P. 

Van West, & G.M. 

Gadd (eds). Cambridge 

University Press, 

www.cambridge.org. 

ISBN 978-0-521- 

85935-6-hardback. 345 

pp. Price: £80.00. 

This volume arises 

from the BMS Symposium 

on Exploitation 

of Fungi held at 

the University of Manchester 

in September 2005, the purpose of which was 

twofold: to highlight current and future fungal exploitation, 

and to serve as an interface between current research 

and future commercialization. It does the mycological 

community a great service by stressing the importance of 

fungi in biotechnology, including the latest developments 

in biological, biochemical, and molecular research methods. 

Cambridge University Press states that this volume 

“will have broad appeal, not only to mycologists and microbiologists, 

but also to biomedical scientists, biotechnologists, 

environmental and molecular scientists, plant 

pathologists and geneticists” and I wholeheartedly agree. 

Recent advances in molecular genetics and the release 

of whole genome sequences are catapulting fungal 

exploitation forward. This volume outlines how the fungal 

ability to secrete large quantities of proteins, in combination 

with complex secondary metabolic pathways, 

produces a diverse range of bioactive compounds now 

highly sought-after by the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, 

fungal products are increasingly being developed 

as alternatives to conventional pest control strategies, 

while certain fungal species can serve as bioremediation 

agents capable of transforming environmental pollutants 

into less-harmful compounds. Seventeen wide-ranging 

chapters present fungal exploitation from a modern perspective, 

and are authored by a selection of leading researchers 

from thirteen countries. 

A section on “Comparative and Functional Fungal 

Genomics” begins this volume. The application of these 

powerful tools to the creation of biorefineries is discussed, 

noting that nine of the U.S. Department of Ener- 


gy’s top 12 chemical building blocks can be produced by 

fungal fermentation processes. The Aspergillus niger and 

Trichoderma reesei genome projects and their industrial 

implications are examined in light of the challenges of 

making use of genomics information now available. Lessons 

learned from rice blast disease (Magnaporthe grisea) 

genomics are then presented, followed by a section on 

bioactive molecules. This includes a molecular and genetic 

analysis of symbiosis-expressed secondary metabolite 

genes from two mutualistic fungal endophytes of grasses, 

and the potential of fungal metabolites to serve as lead 

compounds for the synthesis of agricultural fungicides. 

The largest section of this well-written volume is devoted 

to fungal bioremediation, covering such intriguing 

subjects as “Metal stress and the single yeast cell” and 

“Bioluminescence-based fungal biosensors”. The latter 

details an exciting monitoring tool for biologically assessing 

remediation sites prior to and during clean-up. In 

Chapter 12, “White rot fungi and xenobiotics”, Harvey 

and Scheer present this highly oxidizing, non-specific biological 

system and its potential to solve a broad suite of 

contamination problems via bioaugmentation. Clear explanations 

and illustrations of several metabolic pathways 

associated with xenobiotic metabolism are given and the 

types of wastes treatable are outlined. Challenges facing 

white rot fungi in bioremediation are discussed: competition 

from native fungi, interactions with pre-existing soil 

conditions, and the issue of “scaling up” when inoculating 

large areas. The importance of microcosm studies is 

stressed, concluding that the whole fungus, rather than individual 

enzymes, may be best suited to in situ bioremediation. 

This thread continues in Chapter 13, “Metal and 

mineral transformations: a mycoremediation perspective”. 

Other topics well-covered in this diverse volume include 

protein folding and secretion, and fungal biocontrol 

of subterranean pests, perennial weeds, fungal plant 

pathogens and fungal invertebrate parasites. 

The fungi comprise a highly diverse kingdom of eukaryotic 

organisms, and this book thoroughly conveys the 

biotechnological implications of this diversity. It benefits 

from the inclusion of commercialization success stories, 

such as Trichoderma-based biofungicides, and proteome 

and genome analyses that illustrate the potent role of 

functional studies in future research. Finally, a comprehensive 

index increases the value of this volume for readers. 

—Allison Walker 


Department of Coastal Sciences 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

allison.kennedy@usm.edu

Compendium of Brassica Diseases 

Compendium of 

Brassica Diseases. 2007. 

S. Roger Rimmer, 

Vernon I. Shattuck, Lone 

Buchwaldt. APS Press, 

3340 Pilot Knob Road, 

St. Paul, MN 55121, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. 

ISBN 978-0-89054-344- 

3. 136 pp. Price: $59.00. 

This guidebook of 

Brassica diseases is 

one of the most anticipated 

compendia 

awaited by those who 

work in plant pathology, 

students, farmers and others. This book cannot be missing 

in any mycology collection. 

Fifty-nine international reserarchers could be 

considered authors of this compendium. Separated into 

three parts, this book has over a hundred pages in which 

one can obtain a complete review of these crop plants from 

their taxonomy and genetic relationships among Brassica 

Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests 

Compendium of 

Rose Diseases and Pests, 

Second Edition. 2007. R. 

Kenneth Horst, Raymond 

Cloyd. APS Press, 3340 

Pilot Knob Road, St. 

Paul, MN 55121, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. 

ISBN 978-0-89054-355- 

9. 96 pp. Price: $59.00. 

Who has a rose at 

home and would like 

to know what disease 

is affecting it? Well, in 

this guidebook, you 

will find over eighty 

pages and twenty-nine international authors answering all 

those questions related to phytosanitary conditions and 

management of your roses, because it is a practical guide to 

the diagnosis of diseases of these plants. 

Larger than the former edition, this book is divided into 

three parts with chapters covering general subjects about 

rose parentage/hybrids, cultivar classification, general 

maintenance/production practices to more specific and varied 

topics such as rose diseases, infectious and noninfec- 

species, considering their production management, through 

different diseases that affect them: fungi and oomycetes, 

bacteria, mollicutes, viruses and nematodes. The last part 

of the book is dedicated to noninfectious diseases, those 

caused by pollution and environmental effects as well as 

genetic abnormalities, herbicide injuries, nutritional 

deficiencies and postharvest disorders. Furthermore, the 

book has a detailed glossary in which one can find all the 

terminology used in the book as well as a species index. 

Every one of the chapters dedicated to diseases is supported 

by pictures showing symptomology and disease 

signs in the case of fungi as well as diagrams of disease cycles 

and charts. Pictures are found in every chapter of the 

book. This characteristic helps to understand the subjects in 

a practical and didactic way. For this reason this book can 

be used as a reference for everybody who needs to diagnose 

and solve problems related to diseases of these crops destined 

for the vegetable market, seeds, oil and spices, and 

livestock feed. 

—Carolina Martinez 

Unidad de Fitopatología. 

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero. 

Lo Aguirre, Chile 

carolina.martinez@sag.gob.cl 

tious diseases/disorders, and disease and pest management. 

The chapters related to infectious diseases include 

those caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and associated organisms, 

and nematodes. Similar to other editions, each 

specific subject is supported by pictures showing symptomology 

and disease signs in the case of fungi as well as diagrams 

of disease cycles. This feature helps to understand 

each topic in which one can compare symptoms and 

pathogen agents as you read the book. This situation is repeated 

in the other chapters. For example, the chapter of 

noninfectious symptoms, such as those caused by pollution 

and toxicities, is discussed and illustrated with color photographs 

that help distinguish them from bacterial, fungal, 

nematode, and viral symptoms. Also a new section with 

color illustrations of pests and the symptoms they cause 

helps to identify the insects and mites that attack roses. 

At the end of the compendium, an appendix is included 

with the scientific and common names of all the 

pathogen agents mentioned, plus a complete glossary with 

all the terminology used in this review and finally an index 

to look for the different subjects. 

—Carolina Martinez 

Unidad de Fitopatología. 

Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero. 

Lo Aguirre, Chile 

carolina.martinez@sag.gob.cl 


Field Guide to North American Truffles 

Field Guide to North American 

Truffles. 2007. Matt Trappe, 

Frank Evans, James Trappe. Ten 

Speed Press, www.tenspeed.com. 

ISBN: 978-1-58008-862-6. 136 pp. 

Price: $16.95. 

Truffles have long been obscured 

by myth and folklore. This 

Field Guide to North American 

Truffles is the first of its kind and 

delivers truffles, illustrating much 

of the diversity and astonishing 

growth forms produced by these 

fungi in North America. Although 

not comprehensive, this field guide covers most of the common 

species and summarizes information from specialized 

or rare scientific literature, making it a pragmatic starting 

place for anyone interested in “Hunting, Identifying, and Enjoying 

the World’s Most Prized Fungi”. 

This guide can be carried comfortably in any pocket 

while in the field, and is a welcomed companion to the microscope 

where spore structures can be compared to the photos 

provided. It is concise, informative, well-structured, and 

very reasonably priced. 

The first section offers suggestions for developing truffling 

skills and advice on preparing dishes with these culinary 

delights. Similar to mushroom hunting, the pursuit of 

truffles requires a basic understanding of the ecology of the 

fungi and the need for a sharp eye. As the authors explain, 

most truffle fungi are mycorrhizal, so “the first step to finding 

truffles is to find habitats with appropriate host trees.” 

The reader is briefed on truffling tools and techniques, microhabitats 

to search, e.g. low spots or areas adjacent to rotting 

logs, and is reminded to push the duff back over the 


areas that have been disturbed. The experienced truffler is 

also aware of activity by the “local experts, the small animals” 

and where they have been creating little digs in the 

earth recently. 

The second section of the Field Guide to North American 

Truffles profiles ninety species of truffles, arranged alphabetically 

by genera. The inclusion of a short identification 

key in this front section would have been a beneficial 

addition. Each profile provides a concise description of the 

species and its fruiting season, distribution, morphological 

features, and also includes general comments and a gastronomic 

desirability rating (delicious, tasty, palatable, insipid, 

or inedible). One key feature adds tremendous utility to this 

book. Each species profiled contains color photographs of 

both the fruiting body and the spores. 

A glossary of terminology and a section on “the Meaning 

of Scientific Names” covers common truffle terms, Latin 

and Greek nomenclatural roots, and truffle names that honor 

esteemed mycologists. An index follows. Lastly, information 

is provided about the thirty-year old North American Truffling 

Society to which readers may join or contact regarding 

questions about truffles or the identification of specimens. 

There is no book comparable to the Field Guide to 

North American Truffles. This book could only happen 

thanks to a group of people so passionate and knowledgeable 

about these fungi. Whether you are just piqued by truffles, or 

are already well acquainted with these underground fungal 

jewels, the Field Guide to North American Truffles will be a 

valuable field companion. Amateur and professional mycologists 

alike will find great value in this book and it will be a 

welcomed addition to any mycology classroom and lab. 

Annotated List of Polypores for the Iberian Peninsula 

and Balearic Islands 

Annotated list of polypores for the Iberian Peninsula 

and Balearic Islands. 2007. Melo, I., J. Cardoso, M.T. 

Telleria. Bibliotheca Mycologica, Band 203, 1 Fig. 183 p. 

tear resistant paper cover, on permanent paper, J. Cramer, 

14129 Berlin, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany. 

mail@schweizerbart.de, www.borntraeger-cramer.de, 

ISBN 978-3-443-59105-2, ISSN 0067-8066. Price: €54.00. 

This commendable effort is a top quality presentation 

for a part of the planet for which many of us have little 

knowledge. More than a list, the book provides the following: 

a map of the provinces, a list of the fungal herbaria that 

hold voucher specimens including private collections, a bibliography 

of Spanish literature (852 references), of course, 

the list of specimens arranged alphabetically according to 

—Gregory Bonito 

Duke University 

Durham, NC 27704 

gmb2@duke.edu 

genus, bibliographic references cited in the catalogue, and finally 

an index to genera, species and infraspecific taxa. In 

the list of species, one finds a full citation for each genus and 

species, synonymy, type location and other data, chorology, 

substrate, herbaria and occasionally notes that reflect the 

specific knowledge of the authors. This is a valuable little 

book for polypore specialists, regional conservation biologists, 

libraries and those interested in global distributions of 

fungi as a measure of the changing world. The book may 

also serve as a model presentation for other regions. 

—Ed Setliff 

Professor Emeritus 

Cazenova, New York 

esetliff@hotmail.com

Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology 

Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology. 2007. Jean B. 

Ristaino (ed.), APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, 

MN 55121, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN: 978-0- 

89054-359-7. 339 pp. Price: $89.00. 

Yes, we all know many women who are plant pathologists, 

and most of us know of one or two who were working 

in our field long before women were accepted members of 

the professional societies. This book details the careers of 27 

remarkable women who had a profound influence on the science 

of plant pathology. The authors have taken care to provide 

references to important publications of these pioneering 

women and also provide information about their lives. 

Women biologists working in the U.S. and Europe were 

often relegated to positions assisting the men who ran the 

labs. They slowly made their influence felt by making detailed 

studies of life cycles and by developing ways to control 

bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes that were serious 

threats to plants. Some of these women compiled lists of 

mushrooms common in their areas and published their 

records in journals and books. 

Recently Received Books 

• Aspergillus systematics in the genomic era. 2007. R.A. 

Samson, J. Varga (eds.). Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

P.O. Box 85167, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm. Studies 

in Mycology 59: 1-206. Price: €65.00. Review needed. 

• Atlas of Invertebrate-Pathogenic Fungi of Thailand. 

Volume 1. 2007. J.J. Luangsa-ard, K. Tasanathai, S. 

Mongkosamrit, N. Hywel-Jones. National Center for Genetic 

Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 113 Thailand 

Science Park, Phaholyothin road, Khlong 1, Khlong 

Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand, lab@biotec.or.th. 

ISBN 978-974-229-522-6. 82 pp. Price: $35.00. Review 

needed. 

• Checklist of Polish Larger Ascomycetes. 2006. M.A. 

Chmiel. Biodiversity of Poland. Vol. 8. W. Szafer Institute 

of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow. 149 pp. 

Price: €30.00. Review needed. 

• The genus Cladosporium and similar dematiaceous hyphomycetes. 

2007. P.W. Crous, U. Braun, K. Schubert, 

J.Z. Groenewald. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, 

P.O. Box 85167, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm. Studies 

in Mycology 58: 1-253. Price: €65.00. Review needed. 

• Conservation of Rare or Little-Known Species. Biological, 

Social, and Economic Considerations. 2007. M.G. 

Raphael, R. Molina. Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Ave. 

NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. ISBN 978-1- 

59726-166-1. 375 pp. Price: hardcover $90.00, softcover 

$45.00. Review needed. 

These stories provide insights into our beginnings as 

partners in our own rights. Some of these women married and 

raised families in addition to pursuing their passion for science, 

whereas others devoted their lives to the work. These 

women slowly became recognized in their fields, often with 

the help of male colleagues. 

I loved reading this book. I now have a good reference 

for the details of lives about which I’ve read a little, but 

which I have occasionally referred to in lectures (for example, 

Flora Patterson, in 1905, was the first person to identify 

as a fungus the pathogen responsible for chestnut blight disease). 

As a graduate student in the 1960’s, I heard stories 

about the exploits of women who commanded attention at 

meetings and proved their hypotheses with clearly stated 

facts. These stories gave me the courage to report my work 

and this book will be an inspiration to women and men who 

continue the search for scientific knowledge. 

—Sandra L. Anagnostakis 

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 

New Haven, CT, USA 

Sandra.Anagnostakis@po.state.ct.us 

• The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. J.F. Leslie, B.A. 

Summerell. 2006. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa 

50014, www.blackwellprofessional.com. ISBN: 978-0- 

8138-1919-8. 388 pp. Price: $125.00. Review needed. 

• Index of Fungi Inhabiting Woody Plants in Japan – 

Host, Distribution and Literature. 2007. T. Kobayashi. 

Zenkoku-Noson-Kyoiku Kyokai, Publishing Co, Ltd. 

http://book.geocities.jp/indexfungi/ ISBN 978-4-88137- 

129-9. 1227 pp. Price: unknown. Review needed. 

• Indian Sarcoscyphaceous Fungi. 2008. D.C. Pant, V. 

Prasad. Scientific Publishers (India), P.O. Box 91, Jodphur 

– 342 001, India, www.scientificpub.com, ISBN: 978-81- 

7233-525-0. Price: $55.00. Requested from publisher. 

• Microfungi of the Tatra National Park- a Checklist. 

2004. M. Wieslaw, M. Kozlowska, B. Salara. W. Szafer Institute 

of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow. 72 

pp. Price: €25.00. Review in progress. 

• Phylogenetic classification of Cordyceps and the 

clavicipitaceous fungi. 2007. G.H. Sung, N.L. Hywel- 

Jones, J-M Sung, J.J. Luangsa-ard, B. Shrestha, J.W. 

Spatafora. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, P.O. 

Box 85167, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm. Studies in 

Mycology 57: 1-63. Price: €40.00. Review in progress. 


Previously Listed Books 

• Alternaria: An Identification Manual. 2007. Emory G. Simmons. Centraalbureau 

voor Schimmelcultures, P.O. Box 85167, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 

http://www.cbs.knaw.nl/publications/index.htm. CBS Biodiversity Series 6. 

700+ pp. Price: €170.00. Review in progress. 

• Annotated List of Polypores for the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. 

2007. I. Melo, J. Cardoso, M.R. Tellería. Gebrüder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlunh, 

Berlin, http://www.schweizerbart.de. ISBN: 978-3-443-59105-2. 

Bibliotheca Mycologica 203: 1-183. Price: €54.00. Reviewed in this issue. 

• Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions. Volume 5. 2006. F. Sánchez, C. 

Quinto, I.M. López-Lara, O. Geiger (eds). APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, 

St. Paul, MN 55121, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 978-0-9654625-4-9. 

744 pp. Price: $89.00. Review needed. 

• Compendium of Brassica Diseases. 2007. S. Roger Rimmer, Vernon I. Shattuck, 

Lone Buchwaldt. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 978-0-89054-344-3. 136 pp. Price: 

$59.00. Reviewed in this issue. 

• Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests, Second Edition. 2007. R. Kenneth 

Horst, Raymond Cloyd. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 

55121, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 978-0-89054-355-9. 96 pp. Price: 


• Compendium of Soil Fungi, Second Edition. 2007. W. Gams (ed). IHW-Verlag 

& Verlagsbuchhandlung, Postfach 1119, D-85378 Eching b. München, 

dr.schmid@ihwverlag.de. ISBN 978-3-930167-69-2. 700 pp. Price: €149.00 

plus postage. Requested from publisher. 

• Ecology and Management of Morels Harvested from the Forests of Western 

America. 2007. D. Pilz, R. McLain, S. Alexander, L. Villarreal-Ruiz, S. 

Berch, T.L. Wurtz, C.G. Parks, E. McFarlane, B. Baker, R. Molina, J.E. Smith. 

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-710. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 161 pp. Price: Unknown. 

Review in progress. 

• Essential Plant Pathology. 2006. Gail L. Schumann, Cleora J. D’Arcy. APS 

Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 0-89054-342-9. 338 pp. plus CD. Price: 

$79.95. Review in progress. 

• Exploitation of Fungi: Symposium of the British Mycological Society held 

at the University Manchester September 2005. 2007. G.D. Robson, P. Van 

West, G.M. Gadd, eds. Cambridge University Press, www.cambridge.org. 

ISBN 978-0-521-85935-6-hardback. 345 pp. Price: £80.00. Reviewed in this 

issue. 

• Field Guide to North American Truffles. 2007. Matt Trappe, Frank Evans, 

James Trappe. Ten Speed Press, www.tenspeed.com. ISBN: 978-1-58008-862- 

6. 136 pp. Price: $16.95. Reviewed in this issue. 

• Forest Pathology: From Genes to Landscapes. 2005. J.E. Lundqvist, R.C. 

Hamelin, eds. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, 

aps@scisoc.org, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 0-89054-3334 (Softcover). 

175 pp. Price: $69.00. Review in progress. 

• The Fungal Community: Its Organization and Role in the Ecosystem, 

Third Edition. 2005. John Dighton, James F White Jr. and Peter Oudemans, 

eds. CRC Press. 960 pp. ISBN 0-82472-3554. $139.95. Reviewed in this issue. 


• Fungal Families of the World. 2007. Paul F. Cannon, Pau M. Kirk. CABI, 

www.cabi.org. ISBN: 978-0- 8519-98275. 456 pp. Price: $190.00. Review in 

progress. 

• Fungi of Cameroon. 2007. Clovis Douanla-Meli. Gebrüder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlunh, 

Berlin, http://www.schweizerbart.de. ISBN: 978-3-4435- 

91045. Bibliotheca Mycologica 202: 1-410. Price: €89.00. Review in progress. 

• Fungi in the Environment. 2007. Geoff Gadd, Sarah C. Watkinson, Paul Dyer 

(eds). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-5218-50291. 386 pp. Price: 

$150.00. Review in progress. 

• The Identification of Fungi: An Illustrated Introduction with Keys, Glossary, 

and Guide to Literature. 2006. Frank Dugan. APS Press, 3340 Pilot 

Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 0-89054-336-4. 182 pp. Price: $65.00. Review 

in progress. 

• Introduction to Fungi. Third Edition. 2007. John Webster, Roland W.S. 

Weber. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, www.cup.cam.ac.uk. ISBN 

0-521-80739-5. 841 p. Price: hardbark $140, paperback $75. Review in 

progress. 

• MycoKey 2.1 DVD. Keys to 850 Genera of Asco- and Basidiomycota from 

Northern Europe. 2007. Thomas Laessoe, Jens H. Petersen. Available from 

www.mycokey.com. Review in progress. 

• Mycology. Vol. 1. Lower fungi and fungus-like organisms. DVD-ROM. 

2007. John Webster with Roland W.S. Weber. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob 

Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, aps@scisoc.org, http://www.shopapspress.org. 

ISBN 978-3-88222-085-8. Price: $139.00. Reviewed in this issue. 

• Mycology. Vol. 2. Higher fungi. DVD-ROM. 2007. John Webster with 

Roland W.S. Weber. APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, 

aps@scisoc.org, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN 3-88222-086-4. Price: 


• Mycorrhizae in Crop Production. 2007. Chantal Hamel, Christian Plenchette 

(eds.), Haworth Food & Agricultural Products Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, 

NY 13904-1580, www.HaworthPress.com. ISBN: 978-1-56022-307-8. 366 

pp. Price: soft $49.95, hard $69.95. Review in progress. 

• Pioneering Women in Plant Pathology. 2007. Jean B. Ristaino (ed.), APS 

Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121, 

http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN: 978-0-89054-359-7. 339 pp. Price: 


• Ramaria of the Pacific Northwestern United States. 2007. Ronald L. Exeter, 

Lorelei Norvell, Efrén Cazares. Bureau of Land Management, Salem, OR. 

Email: rexeter@blm.gov. 157 p. plus 190 photos. Price: $27. Review in 

progress. 

• The Study of Plant Disease Epidemics. 2007. Laurence V. Madden, Gareth 

Hughes, Frank van den Bosch, APS Press, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 

55121, http://www.shopapspress.org. ISBN: 978-0-89054-354-2. 432 pp. 

Price: $89.00. Review in progress. 

REMINDER: MSA Directory Update 

Is your information up-to-date in the MSA directory? The Society is relying more and more on 

email to bring you the latest MSA news, awards announcements and other timely information, and our 

newsletter. To ensure that you receive Society blast emails and the Inoculum as soon as it comes out, 

and so that your colleagues can keep in touch, please check the accuracy of your email address and contact 

information in the online directory. This can be accessed via our web site at www.msafungi.org. If 

you need assistance with updating your membership information, or help with your membership log-in 

ID and password, please contact Kay Rose, Association Manager at Allen Press, at 

krose@allenpress.com.

MycoLotus 1 Crossword 

COUNTER-CLOCKWISE 

1. Ovens used to dry wood to prevent 

fungal decay 

2. Spanish for fungus 

3. Fungus in Ultima Online role 

playing game 

4. Hard shelving polypores 

5. 5th or 7th day in Roman calendar 

6. Hardened in pottery ovens 

7. Son of Orgon in Moliereʼs 

Tartuffe 

8. Voudun pantheon Papa 

9. Fifth Kingdom 

10. Larch Needle Cast 

genus 

11. Plant tissue for moving 

water, also used as a highway 

for hyphae 

12. Binding agreements 

13. Ustilago scitaminea 

smut makes sugar _____ 

grow black whips 

14. Uredinales members 

15. Friend of fungi like 

Chaga, Piptoporus and 

Leccinium scabrum 

16. Amsterdam term for 

(now outlawed) shroom 

17. Tove before it gimbals 

18. Typical substrata for 

lichens like Verrucaria, Rhizocarpon, 

Caloplaca 

CLOCKWISE 

1. Pejorative term for eccentrics 

2. Sharpened 

3. e.g. Growth, absorption, 

storage and senescence, in 

hyphal tips 

4. (Latin) Leathers or skin 

layers 

TAKE A BREAK 

All words are 5 letters in length. For example, Clockwise clue #1 and Counter-Clockwise 

clue #1 both start from the same letter/square marked #1, then curve in to the center. 

Except for personal use, this puzzle may not be reproduced without permission. 

15 

14 

5. Dark rain-filled clouds 

6. Kuwaiti term for desert truffles 

7. Wash this in Trichoderma cellulase 

enzymes for a hip 1990ʼs look 

8. e.g. Zoophagusʼ “lethal lollipops,” 

or cheese in a mousetrap 

9. Makes matted material 

10. (suffix) Fungi 

11. (abbr. prefix) Yellow 

12. (Latin) To graze or forage 

16 

13 

17 

12 

18 

11 

1 

10 

—Juliet Pendray 

aloe@netrover.com 

Vancouver Mycological Society 

13. These form when bacteria culture 

or vinegar is combined with 

milk 

14. Amusement park attractions 

15. Hits shins against coffee table 

16. (prefix) Spore produced in a 

pycnidium 

17. This apparatus is a dictyosome 

18. Some Agaricus species have 

two of these 

2 

9 

Inoculum 59(2), March 2008 59 

3 

8 

4 

7 

5 

6

Cookery Corner 

1. Wash mushrooms then cut and slant into oyster 

style. Wash broccoli and cut into bite-size pieces. Cut 

green onion into 3-cm lengths. Slice and ground the 

garlic and ginger; set aside. 

2. Heat wok: add 1 tablespoon oil; and stir-fry oyster 

mushrooms with ¼ cup cooking wine and ¼ teaspoon 

salt. Stir, add green onion segments and ginger slices, 

continue to stir fry for a few seconds. 

3. Simmer: add in 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 1 teaspoon 

sugar. Simmer until juice is absorbed by oyster 

mushrooms and liquid is reduced to approximately ½ 

cup. 

4. Last steps: add broccoli and continue to stir for five 

seconds. Add garlic and thicken with cornstarch. Drizzle 

with ½ tablespoon hot oil (heated separately) and 

serve. 

10. Myces 

11. Xanth 

12. Pasco 

13. Curds 

14. Rides 

15. Barks 

16. Pycno 

17. Golgi 

18. Rings 

—Mo Mei Chen 

mmchen@nature.berkeley.edu 


Stir-fried Oyster Dish 

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. 

6 (1 ½ cups) Oyster mushrooms 

2 ½ tablespoons cooking oil 

1 (1 ¼ cups) broccoli 

1 stalk green onion 

1 oz ginger sliced 

2 pieces ground garlic 

¼ cup cooking wine 

¼ teaspoon salt (to taste) 

1 tablespoon soy sauce 

1 teaspoon sugar 

1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water 

MycoLotus 1 Answers 

1. Kooks 

2. Honed 

3. Zones 

4. Coria 

5. Nimbi 

6. Fagga 

7. Denim 

8. Lures 

9. Felts 

Clockwise 

10. Meria 

11. Xylem 

12. Pacts 

13. Canes 

14. Rusts 

15. Birch 

16. Paddo 

17. Gyres 

18. Rocks 

1. Kilns 

2. Hongo 

3. Zoogi 

4. Conks 

5. Nones 

6. Fired 

7. Damis 

8. Legba 

9. Fungi 

CounterClockwise

MYCOLOGICAL JOBS 

Faculty Position in Molecular Plant Pathology at Ohio State 

A 9-month tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor 

level is available in the Department of Plant 

Pathology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural 

Research and Development Center (OARDC), located in 

Wooster, OH. The position is 90% research and 10% 

teaching. 

The successful candidate will conduct basic research 

on plant pathogens and their interactions with host plants. 

Candidates should have documented experience with 

modern techniques of cell biology, biochemistry, molecular 

biology, genomics and/or proteomics. The individual 

selected for this position will be expected to develop a 

strong interdisciplinary and extramurally-funded research 

program in pathogen biology. Potential research topics 

may include but are not limited to: the molecular basis of 

pathogen interactions with their hosts, comparative and 

functional genomics of plant pathogens, molecular ecology 

of plant pathogens in managed or natural ecosystems, 

and/or the evolution of pathogenicity in oomycetes, fungi, 

bacteria or nematodes that infect plants. The assigned laboratory 

is housed in the same building as the Molecular 

Cellular Imaging Center, a premier core facility housing 

the latest instrumentation for conducting molecular research. 

Collaborations with other faculty in the Department 

and OSU’s Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 

(PMBB) Program will be encouraged. 

The incumbent should have a strong commitment to 

Ph.D. or Postdoctoral Fellow in Food and Bioproduct Sciences 

The Opportunity: A Ph.D. graduate student or Postdoctoral 

Fellow is sought to carry out a research project 

with financial support from a Saskatchewan Agriculture 

and Food - Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) grant. 

The funded project will investigate the topic “Development 

of Novel Microbial Biopesticides for Efficient Plant 

Pathogens Biocontrol.” 

Qualifications: The applicant should have a strong 

academic background in molecular biology, microbiology, 

biochemistry or one of the natural sciences. A strong 

commitment to pursue a research career, good communication 

and writing skills, and the ability to work in a team 

environment are essential qualities. For Ph.D. studies, the 

candidate should have a minimum overall weighted average 

(University of Saskatchewan grade system equivalent) 

of 72% before considering submission of an application. 

A successful application to the College of Graduate 

Studies at the University of Saskatchewan will be required. 

Information on College admission requirements 

and application forms can be obtained at 

http://www.usask.ca/cgsr/. 

graduate education, teach an advanced course in molecular 

plant pathology, and participate in team-taught courses 

in support of the Department’s core curriculum. A 

Ph.D. in plant pathology or related biological sciences is 

required. Research experience in molecular-plant microbe 

interactions, a strong publication record in pathogen biology, 

grant writing experience, and postdoctoral experience 

are preferred. 

The application deadline is March 21, or until a suitable 

applicant is found. Applicants must submit a curriculum 

vita, a copy of academic transcripts, a concise statement 

of research plans and teaching goals, a copy of two 

relevant manuscripts, and the names and complete addresses 

of four references to be contacted. Applications 

materials should be sent to Dr. Brian McSpadden Gardener, 

MPP Search Committee Chair, Department of Plant 

Pathology, The Ohio State University-OARDC, 1680 

Madison Avenue, Wooster, OH 44691 or via e-mail as a 

single pdf document to mcspadden-garden.1@osu.edu. 

For additional information or questions please contact the 

Department Chair, Dr. Mike Boehm, at 614-292-1375 or 

boehm.1@osu.edu. 

The Ohio State University is an Equal Opportunity, 

Affirmative Action Employer. Women, minorities, Vietnam-era 

veterans, disabled veterans and individuals with 

disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

Stipend: For the successful Ph.D. candidate, the standard 

rate for a University graduate stipend will be awarded. 

Deadline: April 1, 2008 

Contact Information: PRIOR TO MAKING AN AP- 

PLICATION, please send your CV to Dr. Vladimir Vujanovic 

at vladimir.vujanovic@usask.ca; Fax (306) 966- 

8898. 

How to Apply: For Ph.D. studies, send a complete 

application package which includes: an application form 

(GSR101), curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, English-equivalency 

test results, three letters of recommendation 

forms (GSR100) (each in individually sealed envelopes), 

an application fee, and a covering letter stating 

how your background and qualifications match the position. 

Please quote position #vv2008.02 and mail package 

to: Graduate Secretary, Department of Food and Bioproduct 

Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, 51 

Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, 

SK, Canada, S7N 5A8. 


M.S. or Ph.D. Graduate Assistantship in Marine Mycology Research 

The Department of Coastal Sciences 

(http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/coastal_sciences/) at the University of 

Southern Mississippi (http://www.usm.edu) is requesting applications 

from highly qualified students for its MS or PhD program 

in coastal sciences with a focus in marine mycology. The Department 

of Coastal Sciences is located at the Gulf Coast Research 

Laboratory (http://www.usm.edu/gcrl) in Ocean Springs, 

MS (http://www.oceanspringschamber.com/) on the Gulf of 

Mexico. 

Current research in marine mycology at GCRL includes 

the diversity of saprophytic marine fungi in natural 

and created saltmarshes; marine fungi as indicators of 

human impact on coastal environments; improving saltmarsh 

restoration using symbiotic fungal associations; 

MYCOLOGICAL CLASSIFIEDS 

Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats (Vols. I and II), 1949 

For sale: Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats (Vols 

I and II), 1949, by Alexander H. Smith and illustrated by 

William Gruber, on 33 viewmaster reels. $2750. More in- 

Mold Testing and Identification Services 

Identification and contamination control for buildings, 

food technology, animal and plant diseases. Specializing 

in identification of parasitic watermolds on Amphibians 

and Fish. ASTM & Mil-Spec testing for fungal 

resistance of materials. 10% discount for regular and sus- 


fungal infections of captive and wild-stranded bottlenose 

dolphins; and colonization and species succession on artificial 

reefs. 

Successful applicants will be provided a 12-month 

Research Assistantship with a tuition waiver. Candidates 

should possess a relevant BS degree (GPA >= 3.0), and 

MS (GPA >= 3.5) if applying for the PhD program. The 

position is available starting summer 2008 and will be 

open until filled. Interested individuals should contact: Dr 

Jinx Campbell, Asst Professor Marine Mycology, Department 

of Coastal Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 

Gulf Coast Research Lab, 703 East Beach Drive, 

Ocean Springs, MS, 39564; (228) 818-8878; e-mail: 

jinx.campbell@usm.edu. 

formation at: http://bookzing.com/blog/index.php. 

—Michael Elmer 

info@michaelsbooks.com 

taining MSA members. Email microbe@pioneer.net. 

Voice mail 541.929.5984; Surface mail Abbey Lane Laboratory, 

LLC, PO Box 1665, Philomath, OR 97370 USA. 

For more information see www.abbeylab.com. 

Mycological Society of America — Gift Membership Form 

Sponsoring a gift membership in MSA offers tangible support both for the recipient of the membership as well as for 

mycology in general. Providing both Mycologia and Inoculum, a gift membership is an excellent way to further the efforts 

of our mycological colleagues, especially those who cannot afford an MSA membership. In addition to a feeling 

of great satisfaction, you also will receive a convenient reminder for renewal of the gift membership the following year. 

I want to provide an MSA Gift Membership to the following individual: 

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Institution ______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Complete Address ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Phone _____________________ FAX _________________________ Email _______________________ 

Please send renewal notices to: 

(YOUR name) __________________________________________________________________________________ 

(YOUR address) ________________________________________________________________________________ 

Phone _______________________ FAX _______________________ Email _______________________ 

I agree to pay $98* for this membership by check (payable to MSA, drawn on US bank) ___ VISA ___ Mastercard ___ 

Acct. # _________________ Name (as it appears on card) _____________________________ Exp. date __________ 

Send this form to: MSA Business Office, PO Box 1897, Lawrence KS 66044 

or FAX to (785) 843-1274, Attn: Processing Department 

*If this membership is given after June 1, please add $10 to cover postage for past issues.

A New Web Page About Tropical Fungi, 

Hongos Del Parque “El Haya” (58-5) 

hongosdelhaya.blogspot.com/ 

MYCOLOGY ON-LINE 

Below is an alphabetical list of websites featured in Inoculum during the past 12 months. Those wishing to add sites to this 

directory or to edit addresses should email . Unless otherwise notified, listings will be automatically 

deleted after one year (at the editors discretion). 

Ascomycota of Sweden 

www.umu.se/myconet/asco/indexASCO.html 

Australasian Mycological Society Website (53-4) 

bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/AustMycolSoc/Home/ams.html 

Authors of Fungal Names (54-2) 

www.indexfungorum.org/AuthorsOfFungalNames.htm 

Bibliography of Systematic Mycology 

www.speciesfungorum.org/BSM/bsm.htm 

British Mycological Society (54-1) 

www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/ 

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Meetings & Courses Programs (58-2) 

meetings.cshl.edu 

Collection of 800 Pictures of Macro- and Micro-fungi 

www.mycolog.com 

Cordyceps Website 

www.mushtech.org 

Cornell Mushroom Blog (58-1) 

hosts.cce.cornell.edu/mushroom_blog/ 

Cortbase (58-2) 

andromeda.botany.gu.se/cortbase.html 

Corticoid Nomenclatural Database (56-2) 

www.phyloinformatics.org/ 

Coverage in Ukraine of Higher Fungal Ranks (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/lists/index.htm 

Cyberliber Mycological Publications (57-4) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/index.htm 

Cyberliber (58-3) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/ 

Cybertruffle’s Fungal Valhalla (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/valhalla/index.htm 

Dictionary of The Fungi Classification 

www.indexfungorum.org/names/fundic.asp 

Distribution Maps of Caribbean Fungi (56-2) 

www.biodiversity.ac.psiweb.com/carimaps/index.htm 

Distribution Maps of Georgian Fungi (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/gruzmaps/index.htm 

Distribution Maps of Ukrainian Fungi (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/ukramaps/index.htm 

Electronic Library for Mycology (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/index.htm 

Entomopathogenic Fungal Culture Collection (EFCC) 

www.mushtech.org 

Fun Facts About Fungi (55-1) 

www.herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/funfacts/factindx.htm 

Funga Veracruzana (53-6) 

www.uv.mx/institutos/forest/hongos/fungavera/index.html 

Fungal Environmental Sampling and Informatics Network (58-2) 

www.bio.utk.edu/fesin/ 

HighWire Press (58-3) 

mycologia.org 

Index of Fungi 

www.indexfungorum.org/names/names.asp 

ING (Index Nominum Genericorum) Database (52-5) 

ravenel.si.edu/botany/ing/ 

Interactive Key, Descriptions & Illustrations for Hypomyces (52-6) 

nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/fungi/keydata.cfm 

Interactive Key to Hypocreales of Southeastern United States (57-2) 

nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/fungi/keydata.cfm 

ISHAM: the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 

www.isham.org 

JSTOR (58-3) 

jstor.org 

Libri Fungorum Mycological Publications (58-3) 

194.203.77.76/LibriFungorum/ 

Mold Testing and Identification Services (58-2) 

www.pioneer.net/~microbe/abbeylab.html 

Mountain Justice Summer (58-3) 

www.MountainJusticeSummer.org 

Mycologia On-Line (53-3) 

www.mycologia.org 

Mycological Progress (52-3) 

www.mycological-progress.de 

The Myconet Classification of the Ascomycota 

www.fieldmuseum.org/myconet 

Mycosearch web directory/search engine (51-5) 

www.mycosearch.com 

Mushroom World [new Korean/English site in 2001] (51-6) 

www.mushworld.com 

NAMA Poison Case Registry (51-4) 

www.sph.umich.edu/~kwcee/mpcr 

Northeast Mycological Federation (NEMF) foray database (58-2) 

www.nemfdata.org 

Pacific Northwest Fungi 

A peer-reviewed online journal for information on fungal natural history 

in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon 

and Washington), including taxonomy, nomenclature, ecology, and 

biogeography. 

www.pnwfungi.org/ 

Pleurotus spp. 

www.oystermushrooms.net 

Rare, Endangered or Under-recorded Fungi in Ukraine (56-2) 

www.cybertruffle.org.uk/redlists/index.htm 

Registry of Mushrooms in Art 

members.cox.net/mushroomsinart/ 

Searchable database of culture collection of wood decay fungi (56-6) 

www.fpl.fs.fed.us/rwu4501/index.html 

Small Things Considered. 

A microbe blog on microbes in general, but carries occasional pieces 

specifically on fungi. 

schaechter.asmblog.org/schaechter/ 

Species of Glomeromycota Website (55-3) 

www.amf-phylogeny.com 

Systematics of the Saprolegniaceae (53-4) 

www.ilumina-dlib.org 

Tree canopy biodiversity project University of Central Missouri (58-4) 

faculty.cmsu.edu/myxo/ 

Tripartite Similarity Calculator (55-1) 

www.amanitabear.com/similarity 

The TRTC Fungarium (58-1) 

bbc.botany.utoronto.ca/ROM/TRTCFungarium/home.php 

U.S. National Fungus Collections (BPI) 

Complete Mushroom Specimen Database (57-1) 

www.ars.usda.gov/ba/psi/sbml 

Website for the mycological journal Mycena (56-2) 

www.mycena.org/index.htm 

Wild Mushrooms From Tokyo 

www.ne.jp/asahi/mushroom/tokyo/ 


CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

NOTE TO MEMBERS: 

Those wishing to list upcoming mycological courses, workshops, conventions, 

symposia, and forays in the Calendar of Events should include complete 

postal/electronic addresses and submit to Inoculum editor Jinx Campbell at 

jinx.campbell@usm.edu. 

April 5–8, 2008 

9th European Conference 

on Fungal Genetics (ECFG9) 

Edinburgh, Scotland 

www.ecfg.info 


Middle Atlantic States Mycology 

Conference (MASMC 2008) 

Duke University, Durham, NC 

www.biology.duke.edu/masmc/ 


Great Lakes-St Lawrence Spring 

Workshop in Mycology 

University of Toronto, Canada 

June 9–13, 2008 

Introduction to Foodand 

Air-Borne Fungi 

Ottawa, Canada 

www.indoormold.org 

June–October, 2008 

Seminars at the Humboldt Institute 

Humboldt Institute, Maine 

www.eaglehill.us/mssemdes.html 

July 14–26, 2008 


Highlands Biological Station 

Highlands, NC 

www.wcu.edu/hbs 

July 26–30, 2008 

APS Centennial Celebration 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 

www.apsnet.org 


Myxomycete Seminar 

Humboldt Field Research Institute, Maine 

www.eaglehill.us 



China-Japan Asia Pacific 

Mycology Forum 2008 

Changchun, China 

www.junwusuo.com 


IUMS (International Union 

of Microbiological Societies) 

Congresses 2008 

XII Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology 

XII International Congress of Mycology 

XIV Congress of Virology 

Istanbul, Turkey 

Abstract deadline: 31 January 2008 

www.IUMS2008.org/ 


MSA Meeting 

State College, Pennsylvania, 

United States 

www.outreach.psu.edu/programs/mycology 

September 4–7, 2008 

North American Mycological Association 

(NAMA) Annual Foray 

In memory of Dr. Orson K. Miller 

Hosted by: Southwest Idaho Mycological 

Association (SIMA) 

McCall, Idaho 

October 4–10, 2008 

Sixth International Congress 

on the Systematics and Ecology 

of Myxomycetes 

Nikita Botanic Garden, Yalta, Ukraine 

www.icsem6.org 

July 25–30, 2009 

BSA/MSA meeting 

Snowbird, Utah

inoculum 

The Newsletter 

of the 

Mycological 

Society of America 

Supplement to Mycologia 

Volume 59, No. 2 

March 2008 

Inoculum is published six times a year and 

mailed with Mycologia, the Society’s journal. 

Submit copy to the Editor as email (in 

the body, MS Word or WordPerfect attachment 

in 10pt Times font), on disk (MS Word 

6.0, WordPerfect, *.tif. *.jpg), or hard copy. 

Line drawings and sharp glossy photos are 

welcome. The Editor reserves the right to 

edit copy submitted in accordance with the 

policies of Inoculum and the Council of the 

Mycological Society of America. 

Jinx Campbell, Editor 

Dept. of Coastal Sciences, 

Gulf Coast Research Lab 


703 East Beach Drive 

Ocean Springs, MS 39564 

(228) 818-8878 Fax: (228) 872-4264 

jinx.campbell@usm.edu 

MSA Officers 

President, Donald E. Hemmes 

Department of Biology 

University of Hawaii 

Hilo, HI 96720 

Phone: (808) 974-7383 

Fax: (808) 974-7693 

hemmes@hawaii.edu 

President-Elect, Roy Halling 

The New York Botanical Garden 

The Bronx, NY 10458-5126 

Phone: (718) 817-8613 

Fax: (718) 817-8648 

rhalling@nybg.org 

Vice President, Rytas Vilgalys 

Biology Department 

Duke University 

Durham, NC 27708-0338 

Phone: (919) 660-7361 

Fax: (919) 660-7293 

fungi@duke.edu 

Secretary, M. Catherine Aime 

Dept. of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology 

Louisiana State University AgCenter 

Baton Rouge, LA 70803 

Phone: (225) 578-1383 

Fax: (225) 578-1415 

maime@agcenter.lsu.edu 

Treasurer, Sabine Hundorf 

Department of Botany 

The Field Museum 

Chicago, IL 60605-2496 

Phone: (312) 665-7855 

Fax: (312) 665-7158 

shundorf@fmnh.org 

Past president: Gregory Mueller 

gmueller@fmnh.org 

MSA Homepage: msafungi.org 

MSA Endowment Funds 

Contributions 

I wish to contribute $________ to the following named fund(s): 

____ Alexopoulos ____ Denison ____ Miller 

____ Barksdale/Raper ____ Fitzpatrick ____ Thiers 

____ Barr ____ Fuller ____ Trappe 

____ Bigelow ____ Korf ____ Uecker 

____ Butler ____ Luttrell ____ Wells 

Research Funds Other Funds 

____ Backus Graduate Award ____ Alexopoulos Prize 

____ Martin-Baker Award ____ Karling Lecture Fund 

____ A.H. & H.V. Smith Award ____ Uncommitted Endowment 

____ Clark T. Rogerson Award ____ Other (specify) 

I wish to pledge $_____________ a year for ____________ years 

_____ to the following fund (s) ____________________________ 

_____ to some other specified purpose ______________________ 

_____ to the uncommitted endowment 

Name: ________________________________________________ 

Address: _________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________ 

___ Check ____ Credit Card (Visa, MC, etc): ________________ 

Credit Card No. ____________________ Exp. Date: _________ 

Signature: __________________________________________ 

Please send this completed form and your contribution to: 

A. Elizabeth Arnold, Chair 

MSA Endowment Committee 

Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology 

Dept. of Plant Sciences 

University of Arizona 

Tucson, AZ 85721 

arnold@ag.arizona.edu 

(520) 621-7212 

Please make checks payable to the 

Mycological Society of America 


The Mycological Society of America 

Sustaining Members 2008 

The Society is extremely grateful for the continuing support of its Sustaining 

Members. Please patronize them and, whenever possible, let their representatives 

know of our appreciation. 

Fungal & Decay 

Diagnostics, LLC 

Attn: Harold Burdsall, Jr. 

9350 Union Valley Rd. 

Black Earth, WI 53515-9798 

United States 

Email: burdsall@fungaldecay@aol.com 

Fungi Perfecti 

Attn: Paul Stamets 

P.O. Box 7634 

Olympia, WA 98507 

United States 

Ph: (360) 426-9292 

Fax: (360) 426-9377 

Email: mycomedia@aol.com 

Web: www.fungi.com 

Genencor Internation, Inc. 

Attn: Michael Ward 

925 Page Mill Rd. 

Palo Alto, CA 94304 

United States 

Ph: (650) 846-5850 

Fax: (650) 845-6509 

Email: mward@genencor.com 

You are encouraged to inform the Sustaining Membership Committee of 

firms or foundations that might be approached about Sustaining Membership 

in the MSA. Sustaining members have all the rights and privileges of individual 

members in the MSA and are listed as Sustaining Members in all issues 

of Mycologia and Inoculum. 


Novozymes Biotech, Inc. 

Attn: Wendy Yoder 

1445 Drew Ave. 

Davis, CA 95616 

United States 

Email: wendy@wtynovozymes.com 

Sylvan, Inc. 

Attn: Mark Wach 

Research Dept. Library 

198 Nolte Drive 

Kittanning, PA 16201 

United States 

Ph: (724) 543-3948 

Fax: (724) 543-3950 

Email: mwach@sylvaninc.com 

Triarch, Inc. 

Attn: P.L. Conant - President 

P.O. Box 98 

Ripon, WI 54971 

United States 

Ph: (920) 748-5125 

Fax: (920) 748-3034

An Invitation to Join MSA 

THE MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 

(Please print clearly) 

2008 MEMBERSHIP FORM 

(You may apply for membership on-line at msafungi.org) 

Last name ______________________________ First name _________________________________ M.I. ______ 

Dept./Street _______________________________________________________________________________________ 

Univ./Organization __________________________________________________________________________________ 

City __________________________ State/Prov. __________ Country ____________________ ZIP_________________ 

Telephone: (____)______________________ Email _______________________ Fax (____)______________________ 

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP 

Cyber Memberships 

____ Regular $98 (Includes on-line access to Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Student 

Hardcopy Memberships 

$50 (Includes on-line access to Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Regular $98 (Includes print Mycologia, and on-line access 

to Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Student $50 (Includes print Mycologia, and on-line access 


____ Sustaining $278 (Includes print Mycologia, and on-line access to Mycologia 

and Inoculum, plus listing in Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Life $1,500 + $20 for each family member (One-time payment, Includes print 

Mycologia, and on-line access to Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Family $98 (Includes one print copy of Mycologia, and on-line 

access to Mycologia and Inoculum) 

____ Emeritus 

Other Memberships 

$50 (Includes print Mycologia, and on-line access 


____ Associate $50 (Includes on-line access to Inoculum) 

____ Emeritus $0 (Includes on-line access to Inoculum) 

AREAS OF INTEREST 

Mark most appropriate area(s) 

____ Cell Biology – Physiology (including cytological, ultrastructural, metabolic regulatory and developmental 

aspects of cells) 

____ Ecology – Pathology (including phytopathology, medical mycology, symbiotic associations, saprobic 

relationships and community structure/dynamics) 

____ Genetics – Molecular Biology (including transmission, population and molecular genetics and molecular 

mechanisms of gene expression) 

____ Systematics – Evolution (including taxonomy, comparative morphology molecular systematics, 

phylogenetic inference, and population biology) 

PAYMENT 

_____ CHECK [Payable to Mycological Society of America and 

drawn in US dollars on a US bank] 

_____ CREDIT CARD: _____ VISA _____ MASTERCARD 

Expiration Date: ____________________________________________ 

Account No: _______________________________________________ 

Name as it appears on the card: _______________________________ 

Mail membership form and payment to: 

Mycological Society of America 

Attn: Kay Rose 

P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 

Phone: (800) 627-0629 or (785) 843-1221 

Fax: (785) 843-1274 

Email: krose@allenpress.com

March 2008 - Mycological Society of America

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