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The catalogue of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi of Bulgaria is based mainly on a comprehensive compilation of published data. The lichen mycota as currently known includes 910 taxa (893 species with 6 subspecies, 10 varieties, and 1 forma) of lichenized fungi, 9 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 14 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1625 infrageneric epithets. Eighteen species are reported for Bulgaria for the first time: Adelolecia kolaensis, Anaptychia runcinata, Arthonia calcicola, Bacidina chloroticula, Chaenotheca subroscida, Cladonia klementii, Lecanora saligna, Lecidea swartzioidea, Lepraria rigidula, Lopadium pezizoideum, Nephroma bellum, Opegrapha subelevata, Phaeophyscia endophoenicea, Phlyctis argena, Placopyrenium tatrense, Rinodina mniaraea, R. obnascens, and Tuckermanopsis chlorophylla.

A comparison of two cemeteries in Belgrade, Serbia, has been made in order to show how the different environmental factors affect their lichen diversity. The importance of cemeteries as refugia for lichens and as habitats for lichen recolonisation under ameliorating conditions in urban areas is stressed.

One genus (Ditopellina) and three species (Ditopellina saccardiana, Gnomonia nantensis, and G. rosae) of Diaporthales are reported as new to Bulgaria. Nine species (Apiognomonia errabunda, Apioplagiostoma carpinicolum, Apioporthella vepris, Ditopellina saccardiana, Gnomonia comari, G. nervisequa, G. rosae, Hypospilina pustula, and Plagiostoma arnastadtiense) are established on new substrata, and 21 species are recorded from new Bulgarian localities.

The paper provides information about the first findings in Bulgaria of four rare and noteworthy taxa of Boletus. A new combination, B. persicolor, is proposed for the accommodation of Xerocomus persicolor into Boletus. Boletus depilatus, B. luteocupreus, B. permagnificus, and B. persicolor are described and illustrated. In addition a second locality in Bulgaria is reported for B. dupainii, which is one of the candidates for inclusion of the Appendix I of the Bern Convention. The potential conservation status of the five species is briefly discussed.

The authors investigated aquatic fungi and chromistan organisms (fungus-like organisms) growing on dead fragments of 7 species of floating-leaved plants (Limnanthemum nymphoides, Nuphar luteum, Nuphar pumilum, Nymphaea alba, Nymphaea candida, Polygonum amphibium f. natans and Potamogeton natans) in the water from three limnological and trophical different water bodies (spring, river and pond). They identified 106 species including 42 chromistan organisms and 64 fungus species, found on the fragments. A number of chromistan organisms and fungus species (Catenomyces persicinus, Nowakowskiella profusa, Polyphagus parasiticus, Rhipidium americanum, Rhipidium interrupta, Rhipidium partenosporum, Sporodina grandis, Endophragmiella latifusiformia, Pseudocercospora manuensis and Saprochaete ramosissima) are recorded as new to Polish waters.

Two new species of smut fungi, Macalpinomyces tilletioides and Sporisorium penniseticola, are described and illustrated, both on Pennisetum sphacelatum from Ethiopia.

Phylogenetic analysis of four species of Lundquistia revealed the genus to be polyphyletic. Morphological characters and phylogenetic relationships demonstrate that Lundquistia should be reduced to synonymy with Sporisorium. Three new combinations are proposed: Sporisorium dietelianum, S. duranii, and S. mexicanum. Sporisorium fasicularis is considered a synonym of S. panici-leucophaei.

A new smut fungus, Macalpinomyces arundinellae-setosae, is described on the grass Arundinella setosa from Queensland, Australia. It is compared with the eight known smut fungi on Arundinella and a key for identifying these species is given.

A new genus, Eriomoeszia, is described for Tolyposporium eriocauli (Moesziomyces eriocauli) on Eriocaulon. It is compared with Moesziomyces bullatus, the type species of the genus Moesziomyces, found on Echinochloa and other grass genera.

Two new genera, Eriocaulago and Eriosporium are described. The following new combinations are proposed: Eriocaulago eriocauli, Eriocaulago jagdishwari, Eriosporium hessii, and Eriosporium mesanthemi. Lectotype is designated for Eriosporium mesanthemi.

This paper attempts to compile available data on Turkish myxomycetes and macromycetes published between 1915 and February, 2005, and obtained from 294 publications. Two main lists of myxomycetes and macromycetes are given where the taxa are alphabetically arranged. The total number of correct names of species, recorded from Turkey and presented in both checklists, is 1778, including 177 myxomycetes and 1601 macromycetes. For each taxon, references are cited. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Turkey is appended. It includes 671 species and infraspecific taxa. Information about the species distribution in the European or/and Asian parts of Turkey is also given.

Two species of Crepidotus from the Crimean Mountain (Ukraine) are described and discussed, C. malachius var. trichiferus and C. macedonicus, both very rare in Europe.

This study is based on the macrofungal specimens collected from West Anatolia between 2003 and 2004. Three species identified among these specimens have been recorded for the first time in Turkey. These species are described and illustrated.

The 470 smut fungi, published in the book European smut fungi by Vánky (1994), and a further fourteen species, missed or recorded after 1994, are listed according to their recent nomenclature. Extensive changes in the classification and nomenclature of the smut fungi has resulted in changed generic names of one third of the European smut fungi since 1994.

The powdery mildew fungus Leveillula helichrysi, so far only known from the Ukraine, is recorded, described, and illustrated from Germany, including the anamorph, which has been found for the first time. Based on the anamorph, the correct assignment of this species to Leveillula could be confirmed. L. helichrysi belongs in Leveillula subgen. Obtusispora.

Ramularia liliicola sp. nov. on living leaves of Lilium candidum and L. martagon from Germany and Slovakia is described, illustrated, discussed, and compared with allied taxa.

Silene thymifolia is reported as a new host of Thecaphora saponariae.

The European Council for the Conservation of Fungi (ECCF) promotes and co-ordinates efforts for protection of fungi in Europe. Activities over the last 19 years are summarised. The ECCF is seen as a link between research and practice, with provision of information as its most important task. Current projects include European-level mapping of selected species and a European Red List of larger fungi. Examples from various countries are given of conservation strategies (e.g. monitoring, mapping, selection of Important Fungus Areas), public relations (protected species, flagship species, species of the year), and management guidelines for macromycetes.

Current knowledge of fungal diversity in Sicily is reported based on historical data and recently field records. A preliminary list of rare and infrequent fungal species is also provided.

In some European countries, highly prized truffles of the genus Tuber generate more economic benefits than any other woodland product. In this preliminary study of the ecology and truffle producing capacity of Tuber melanosporum in the central region of the Iberian Peninsula, we examined 433 sites producing this truffle in 8 types of high forest habitats associated with Quercus faginea, Q. ilex subsp. ballota, Corylus avellana, Cistus laurifolius, and Tilia platyphyllos. The production of this truffle in these natural, un-managed stands was confirmed in interviews conducted with 14 truffle-gatherers from the Alto Tajo Basin.

The presence of truffles in Sicily and perspectives for their cultivation on the island are assessed, with a brief analysis of basic and applied research on truffles and truffle cultivation in Italy, focusing on successful production and on reasons for failure in some artificial truffle-beds. Truffle cultivation has progressed in recent decades and there is now sufficient know-how for creation of productive truffle plantations. Further research is needed on host plant growing techniques.

Results from all studies on soils where the main edible truffles occur naturally are assessed. For Tuber melanosporum soils, the main physical and chemical characteristics have been established in the field and in the laboratory. They are always well-aired and have an optimal particle aggregation, good water-drainage, the constant presence of a limestone skeleton, parent material composed of limestone detritus or intensely fractured limestone rocks. Their pHH₂O, pHKCl, organic carbon, and EDTA extractable Mn are fundamental parameters to define the suitability of a soil for this species. For T. magnatum, research to date has not been able to determine the main pedological parameters, but has managed to characterize parent material and geomorphological dynamics which lead to the formation of soils suitable for this truffle. Those soils are well-drained and show a great number of pores, with a bulk density always around 1 and constant humidity. For T. aestivum, research has been inconclusive because results have been so variable. That variability can be correlated with a strong genetic variability in this species which, in its several forms, has adapted itself to many soil environments. Not much is known about soil characteristics for T. brumale, except that it prefers soils much more humid than those of other truffles; water stagnation is frequent and EDTA extractable Mn is always much higher. Nearly nothing is known about T. borchii.

A project investigating natural truffle-beds in Sicily is presented here, with preliminary data on recorded species and ecological features.

The number of mushrooms on Earth is estimated at 140 000, yet perhaps only 10 % (approximately 14 000 named species) are known. They make up a vast and yet largely untapped source of powerful new pharmaceutical products. Particularly, and most important for modern medicine, they present an unlimited source for polysaccharides with anticancer and immunostimulating properties. Many, if not all Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides in fruit bodies, cultured mycelia, and culture broth. The data about mushroom polysaccharides are summarized for 651 species and seven intraspecific taxa from 182 genera of higher Hetero- and Homobasidiomycetes. These polysaccharides are of different chemical composition; the main ones comprise the group of b-glucans. b-(1→3) linkages in the main chain of the glucan and further b-(1→6) branch points are needed for their antitumor action. Numerous bioactive polysaccharides or polysaccharide-protein complexes from medicinal mushrooms are described that appear to enhance innate and cell-mediated immune responses, and exhibit antitumour activities in animals and humans. Stimulation of host immune defense systems by bioactive polymers from medicinal mushrooms has significant effects on the maturation, differentiation, and proliferation of many kinds of immune cells in the host. Many of these mushroom polymers were reported previously to have immunotherapeutic properties by facilitating growth inhibition and destruction of tumour cells. Whilst the mechanism of their antitumor actions is still not completely understood, stimulation and modulation of key host immune responses by these mushroom polymers appears central. Recent evidence suggests that mushroom polymers (b-glucans) may trigger the stimulation of many kinds of immune cells in animals and humans. Several of the mushroom polysaccharide compounds have proceeded through Phases I, II, and III clinical trials, and are used extensively and successfully in Asia to treat various cancers and other diseases. The present review analyzes the pecularities of polysaccharides derived from fruit bodies and cultured mycelia (two main ways of biotechnological production today) in selected examples of medicinal mushrooms.

Recent activity and current problems in conservation of fungal diversity in Bulgaria are discussed. The need for complex investigation, conservation, and monitoring of fungal diversity is presented. A preliminary red list of smut fungi in Bulgaria (as an example for redlisting of microscopic fungi), evaluated with IUCN criteria, is proposed, including 16 species: two Regionally Extinct (RE) (Ustilago bulgarica and Doassansia punctiformis), four Critically Endangered (CR) (Entyloma urocystoides, Urocystis aquilegiae, Microbotryum holostei, and M. jehudanum), three Endangered (EN) (Schizonella intercedens, Sporisorium schweinfurthianum, and Urocystis leimbachii), two Vulnerable (VU) (Microbotryum violaceo-verrucosum and Thecaphora thlaspeos), and five Data Deficient (DD) (Entorrhiza casparyana, Entyloma corydalis, Schizonella cocconii, Urocystis eranthidis, and U. junci). Information about their distribution, threats, and conservation actions is also given.