All Articles

Mycosphaerella ambigua, M. bracteophila, M. effigurata, M. eriophila, M. eryngina, M. euphorbiae, M. hieracii, M. hyperici, M. implexicola, M. molluginis, M. polycarpa, M. populi, M. pterophila, M. sarracenica, M. urticae-dioicae, and M. viburni are reported for Bulgaria. Most species are new for Southeast Europe. The morphological features of these species are described and illustrated.

Data on the species diversity of macromycetes and bryophytes from montane peat habitats of three floristic regions in Bulgaria are here reported. Twelve macromycetes are new to Bulgaria: Cortinarius sphagneti, C. sphagnogenus, Galerina paludosa, Hygrocybe ceracea, Inocybe acutella, I. napipes, Lactarius sphagneti, L. vietus, Mycena concolor, M. megaspora, Pholiota myosotis, and Psilocybe elongata. Five macromycetes are rare for Bulgaria: Arrhenia lobata, Cortinarius paleaceus, Galerina sphagnorum, Mycena adonis, and Psilocybe polytrichi. A number of recorded macromycetes grow on Bryophyta. As regards bryophytes two are new to Rhodopi Mts and one to Rila Mts. Besides new chorological data are reported for three bryophytes. Nine macromycetes and two bryophytes, reported in this paper, are of high conservation importance.

A total of 117 species and 1 variety of macromycetes belonging to 37 families of phylla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota has been recorded on the Serbian side of Stara Planina Mts. All taxa are new for this area and 12 species and 1 variety are reported for the first time for Serbia. Nine species are included in national and/or European Red Lists.

An overview of the research projects recently activated in Sicily (South Italy) for the assessment of fungal diversity together with considerations on stress factors responsible of changes in the composition of mycological flora and decline of fungal communities, respectively, are here reported. The paper also deals with the problems concerning fungal conservation and the needs to co-ordinate future actions at European level.

Alarming reports of recent loss of biodiversity have emphasized the importance of studies of the natural heritage with a view to its conservation. Basic steps for the conservation of fungi by means of the Tuscan experience are here reported.

New and interesting records of macrofungi are reported in the framework of a detailed inventory on 
selected ecosystems of Greece and they are further evaluated on the basis of existing pertinent data. Various  types of habitats were investigated consisting mainly of conifer, oak and beech forests and their mycofloristic wealth is presented. In addition, information is provided on taxa which could be considered as rare and/or endangered in conjunction with notes on conservation priorities.

The current article presents data about seven species of Agaricus, new for Bulgaria, A. deylii, A. impudicus, A. leucotrichus, A. maleolens, A. mediofuscus, A. spissicaulis, and A. subfloccosus. The specimens were collected from the Forebalkan, Toundzha Hilly Country, Pirin Mts, Mt Sredna Gora, and the Western Rhodopes.

Three genera, Lophiosphaera, Montagnula, and Trematosphaeria, and 36 species of ascomycetes are reported for the first time from Bulgaria.

The genus Stenella (S. lythri), Cercospora plumbaginea, and Ramularia geranii var. erodii are reported as new to Bulgaria. Also presented are two new records of fungus/host combinations and seven new localities for Ramularia spp.

Entorrhiza casparyana is reported as new for Austria. This is the third report of this smut on Juncus tenuis.

Three species of the Gnomoniaceae, Gnomonia betulina, Hypospilina pustula, and Plagiostoma arnstadtiense, are reported as new to Romania. Gnomonia setacea is found on a new substratum.

The anamorphic genus Phloeosporina (Ph. fraxini) and Septoria dearnessii are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Seven fungus-host combinations, new for Bulgaria, are also recorded.

A consistent number of records for Clathrus ruber have been reported for the Adriatic coast while the presence of this basidiomycete in the continental part of the ex-Yugoslav countries is still rare. In Serbia, C. ruber had not been recorded until 1983, when it was found during a botanical field trip. This record has not been published until now, although it is the first record of C. ruber for Serbia.

The genus Gibellula is reported for the first time from Turkey. Gibellula pulchra on a spider is a new addition to the Turkish mycobiota. This fungus was found in a subtropical forest in canyons.

Of the 73 specimens of Erysiphales collected in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria in 1996, 1998, and 1999, and another 3 Bulgarian specimens present in herb. BUCM, one species (Erysiphe caulicola (Petr.) U. Braun), and 42 fungus-host combinations are reported for the first time from this country. In addition, 17 new localities for previously known such combinations are recorded from Black Sea Coast, Northeast Bulgaria, and Sofia region.

Puccinia campanulae and P. galanthi are added to the Mycoflora of Romania, and Uromyces dianthi is recorded on a new host, Dianthus leptopetalus.

Of the 83 specimens of Peronosporales collected in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria in 1998 and 1999, and some 16 specimens collected earlier and present in herb. BUCM, two genera (Basidiophora and Bremiella), 6 species (Basidiophora entospora, Bremiella baudysii, Peronospora affinis, P. holostei, P. medicaginis-minimae, and Pseudoperonospora cannabina), and 32 fungus-host combinations are for the first time reported from this country. In addition, 30 new localities for previously known such combinations are included.

Book Review

Studies on the occurrence of aquatic fungi in the bathing sites of the river Supraśl in Podlasie Province of northeastern Poland were conducted in the years 2001-2003. Some hydrochemical analyses were performed using standard methods. Bait method was used to isolate the fungi. The following species were identified: fish pathogenic fungi – Achlya orion, Aphanomyces laevis, Dictyuchus monosporus, Saprolegnia ferax, S. monoica, and S. parasitica; human pathogenic fungi – Aspergillus candidus, Candida albicans, Lagenidium humanum, Penicillium mycetomagenum, Rhizophydium keratinophilum, and Trichosporon cutaneum; and phytopathogenic fungi – Achlya racemosa, Pythium butleri, P. myriotylum, and P. debaryanum. Physicochemical parameters of water in the bathing sites had no important effect on the presence of fungi.

This paper provides information about the distribution of 22 species of Boletales. New data are reported or confirmations of previous older records are made.

The species of the genus Chamaemyces present in Israel and their distribution are considered. Detailed data on Chamaemyces fracidus var. pseudocastaneus, new to Israel’s mycobiota, and Ch. carmelensis M. Didukh et S. Wasser, sp. nov. are presented.

A taxonomic revision of Phragmidiaceae in Bulgaria was carried out. The study yielded distribution of 5 genera, among which Frommeëla (F. tormentillae) is a new Bulgarian genus record, and 16 species on 46 hosts from Rosaceae, making 61 rust-host combinations. Trachyspora pentaphylleae is reported for the first time from Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula. Twenty-two rust-host combinations are new records for Bulgaria, viz. Phragmidium bulbosum on Rubus canescens and R. praecox; Ph. mucronatum on Rosa canina var. andegavensis, R. dumalis, and R. pendulina; Ph. potentillae on Potentilla bornmuelleri and P. pedata; Ph. sanguisorbae on Sanguisorba minor subsp. muricata; Ph. tuberculatum on Rosa centifolia, R. chinensis, R. damascena, R. dumalis, R. pendulina, and R. turcica; Ph. violaceum on Rubus canescens var. glabratus, R. geniculatus, and R. radula; Trachyspora intrusa on Alchemilla catachnoa, A. connivens, A. gorcensis, A. incisa, and A. jumrukczalica. Twenty-six rust-host combinations, previously recorded for Bulgaria, are treated here as doubtful or wrong records, viz. Phragmidium bulbosum on Fragaria vesca, Rubus corylifolius, R. fruticosus, R. glandulosus, R. nemorosus, R. thyrsanthus, and Rubus thyrsoideus; Ph. fragariae on Fragaria vesca and Potentilla patula; Ph. fusiforme on Rosa gallica and R. pulverulenta (R. glutinosa); Ph. mucronatum on Rosa micrantha; Ph. potentillae on Potentilla crantzii; Ph. tuberculatum on Rosa arvensis, R. myriacantha, R. sepium, R. spinosissima, and R. vosagiaca; Ph. violaceum on Rubus fruticosus, R. macrostachys, and R. nemorosus; Kuehneola uredinis on Rubus caesius and R. glandulosus; Trachyspora intrusa on Alchemilla gracilima, A. heterophylla, and A. pubescens.

The growth of aquatic fungi and fungus-like organisms on the predatory heteropter Notonecta glauca was investigated in laboratory conditions. Water samples were collected from four sites varying in trophicity: Cypisek Spring, Biała River, Supraśl River, and Komosa Lake situated near Białystok. Certain physico-chemical parameters were determined in the samples. The highest contents of carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrogen, phosphates, and chlorides were noted in Biała River. Twenty-eight fungi and fungus-like organisms were isolated from Notonecta glauca, including 6 species of Chytridiales, 2 species of Blastocladiales, and 20 species of oomycetes. Fourteen fungi and fungus-like organisms were identified in Cypisek Spring, 8 in Biała River, 17 in Supraśl River, and 10 in Komosa Lake. Worthy of note is the finding of some aquatic fungi which have been commonly encountered on chitin-containing substrata, namely Aphanomyces astaci, A. amfigynus, Chytriomyces hyalinus, Phlyctorhiza endogena, Podochytrium chitinophilum, Rhizidium chitinophilum, and Rh. nowakowskii.

Seven species of Pleosporales (Leptosphaeria linearis, L. macrospora, Nodulosphaeria megalospora, N. modesta, N. pellita, Phaeosphaeria emilii, P. juncicola) are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria; three species (Leptosphaeria agnita, L. doliolum, Nodulosphaeria dolioloides) are reported on substrata new for Bulgaria; five species are recorded from new localities.

We found 131 species of wood-inhabiting fungi in two different beech forest types in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine. The corticioid and poroid aphyllophorales (Basidiomycetes) showed a remarkably high species richness. Among them species highly depending on large amounts of dead wood, especially logs for growth and fruiting, such as Dentipellis fragilis. The woodruff beech forests (Galio-Fagenion) harbour a greater number of fungal species than the fir beech forests (Abieti-Fagenion). These beech forests in the Carpathian Mountains provide an interesting opportunity to study the beech forests in Europe in their natural appearance, not or hardly influenced by human activity.

Information about Neoerysiphe galii (Erysiphales), a powdery mildew fungus new for Israel, is provided. The necessity of additional examination of Neoerysiphe and Golovinomyces specimens collected on Galium species is emphasised since some of these host species can be infected, apart from N. galii and G. riedlianus, by another fungus similar to G. cichoraceorum.

Seven species of lichenized fungi (Bagliettoa parmigerella, Collema callopismum, Dermatocarpon intestiniforme, Opegrapha demutata, O. subelevata, Phaeophyscia hirsuta, and Rinodinella dubyanoides) that are new to the Near East were reported. New localities of 54 other species were recorded. Data on distribution of these species in various regions of the Near East and in the world were given.

The occurrence of Phomopsis diachenii on caraway (Carum carvi) was established in 2001. This is the first report of P. diachenii in Bulgaria. The pathogen produced black pycnidia and two types of conidia (alpha- and beta-conidia) on infected plant tissues as well as on nutrient media. Another Phomopsis species was found on the same host plant in 2003. It produced mainly alpha-conidia. In addition, mature perithecia assigned to Diaporthe angelicae were observed on stem fragments taken from annual caraway (C. carvi var. annuum) in 2003. Phomopsis spp. were isolated from wild growing caraway and Heracleum plants collected in the region of Rila monastery, too. All fungi mentioned were studied on the host plant and in agar culture.

Studies concerning the occurrence of some parasitic and predatory fungi and fungus-like organisms, collected in different water reservoirs: springs, lakes, and ponds of Podlasie Province, were made in the years 2001-2004. Bait method was used to isolate the fungi and fungus-like organisms. The following species of parasitic and predatory fungi and fungus-like organisms were found: Ancylistes netrii, Arthrobotrys brochopaga, A. dactyloides, A. oligospora, Euryancale sacciospora, Sommerstorffia spinosa, Zoopage phanera, Zoophagus insidians, and Z. tentaclum.

A new smut fungus, Sporisorium cymbopogonis-bombycini, is described on the grass Cymbopogon bombycinus from Australia. The fourteen known smut fungi, all Sporisorium species, on Cymbopogon are enumerated with their taxonomic synonyms, host plant range and distribution. A key for identifying and differentiating these fungi, and a host plant – smut fungus list are given.

Based on molecular sequence data and morphological characters of the sori a new genus, Pilocintractia, is described for Cintractia fimbristylidicola. The importance of sterile fungal filaments between mature spores for the classification of smut fungi is discussed. Presence of gelatinised fungal filaments between spores is a useful tool for separating Pilocintractia from other genera of the Cintractia sensu lato group.

The alarming loss of biodiversity of the earth is briefly mentioned, to show the importance of herbaria in the inventory and conservation of gene-pools of plants and fungi in general, and those of smut fungi by the activity of H.U.V. (Herb. Ustil. Vánky) in special.

After a short historical review, taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus Microbotryum in general, and those of the anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae in special, are presented. Problems in species delimitation of these smut fungi are discussed, which is still not solved satisfactorily. Until a better classification of the anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae will be elaborated, the use of the name of M. violaceum s. lat. is proposed for M. dianthorum, M. lychnidis-dioicae, M. silenes-inflatae, Ustilago coronariae, U. silenes-nutantis, and U. superba.

Three new taxa of Peronospora described from Bulgaria are revised: P. jordanovii is invalid and the type not extant, P. parietariae is most probably based on contaminated material, and P. knautiae var. longispora is apparently based on two fungi but only P. knautiae var. knautiae is present in the holotype. The presence in Bulgaria of Plasmopara on Geranium is not confirmed.

The paper provides a preliminary checklist of Boletales in Bulgaria. It includes 77 species belonging to 18 genera. For each recorded taxon the distribution throughout the country, references to literature sources as well as the collection in which herbarium specimens are kept are given.