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Taxol is a potent anticancer drug used widely in the treatment of a variety of cancers. An endophytic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (strain JGC-9) was isolated from Justicia gendarussa, a medicinal plant and screened for taxol production. The fungus was identified based on the morphology of the fungal culture and the characteristics of the spores and screened for taxol production. The amount of taxol produced by this endophytic fungus was quantified by HPLC and it produced 163.4 mg/L, thus the fungus can serve as a potential material for fungus engineering to improve the production of taxol. This fungal taxol isolated from the organic extract of this fungal culture also had strong cytotoxic activity towards BT 220, H116, Int 407, HL 251 and HLK 210 human cancer cells in vitro, tested by Apoptotic assay and it is indicated that with the increase of taxol concentration from 0.005 – 0.05 mM, taxol induced increased cell death through apoptosis. This fungus may serve as a potential material for fungal engineering to improve taxol production.

Twenty-eight lichen species and five species of lichenicolous fungi are reported new to Serbia. Moreover 68 species that previously only rarely have been reported from Serbia are listed. The genera Cliostomum, Endococcus, Mycoblastus, Mycocalicium, Ropalospora, and Schismatomma are reported from Serbia for the first time. Tara National Park harbours several macrolichens that, although having been recorded previously but usually only long ago, most likely are rare and threatened in Serbia today, e.g. Collema auriforme, Evernia divaricata, Menegazzia terebrata, and Nephroma parile. Accompanying these are numerous crustose lichens with similar habitat preferences, some of them forming rich communities of calicioid lichens. Several species new to Serbia were also found on calcareous rock outcrops.

67 species in 44 genera of lichenicolous fungi and lichens are reported from Russia, of which 44 species are from its Arctic. The new combination Sphaerellothecium icmadophilae (R. Sant.) Zhurb. is introduced. Cercidospora verrucosaria, Lettauia cladoniicola, Sphaerellothecium icmadophilae, and Stigmidium collematis are new to the Arctic. Lichenochora constrictella, Lichenopeltella cladoniarum, Marchandiomyces corallinus, Sphaerellothecium icmadophilae, Stigmidium collematis, S. leucophlebiae, and Thamnogalla crombiei are new to Russia and Asia. Another five species are new to the Russian Arctic, four species new to Siberia and 18 species new to various Russian provinces. Five lichen genera and nine lichen species are new hosts to various species of lichenicolous fungi.

Seventy-seven species of coprophilous fungi, including Podospora macrodecipiens sp. nov., were recorded from 43 herbivore dung samples collected from fifteen Aegean islands (from 35-41^o N and 24-28^o E) and subsequently incubated in moist chambers. Collections are described and the occurrence and distribution of species is discussed. The species richness of the Aegean coprophilous mycota is lower than might be expected from simple latitudinal considerations, possibly because of a reduced diversity of herbivores and the island nature of the collections.

The genus Agaricus includes saprotrophic species occurring in a variety of ecosystems. Most of them, however, are confined to grasslands. Forty one taxa have been recorded in Greece to date. Some species, although heavily picked for their gastronomic value, seem to appear in abundance while others, which are inedible, seem to be infrequent or rare. As in recent years grass and pasturelands in Greece have been included in “improvement programmes” and subjected to the use of fertilizers, there is concern about the disturbance caused to the habitats of the Agaricus species and consequent changes in the fungal biodiversity. It is obvious that further research on the ecology and particularly the factors governing the fruiting and spreading of Agaricus species is necessary before any concrete conclusions are reached and any conservation measures are imposed.

During studies concerning the occurrence of some fungi and fungus-like organisms in the Biała River in Bialystok, forty-three species were established. Among 34 straminipilous fungi, the most common species were Achlya americana, A. debaryana, A. polyandra, Aphanomyces laevis, Dictyuchus monosporus, Pythium debaryanum, Saprolegnia ferax, and S. parasitica. New for the Polish fungal biota were Achlya ambisexualis, Calyptralegnia basraensis, and Achlya papillosa. Achlya crenulata, A. diffusa, A. flagellata, Aphanomyces stellatus, and Pythium afertile were considered rare. Physical and chemical analysis showed that the water of Biała River in Białystok had a high content of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate, reflecting poor cleanliness.

Excretion into the environment of dissolved organic matter produced during photosynthesis is a characteristic phenomenon for several species of aquatic macrophytes (Wetzel 1969 a, b). Several of these substances are imbibed by heterotrophic microorganisms and may also inhibit the growth of other hydrobionts. An examination of the interactions between macrophytes and aquatic fungi showed that during the growing period (spring, summer and autumn), relationships between these organisms change. At the beginning of the growth period, the number of species of aquatic fungi rose in the presence eight macrophytes; during the summer there was a decrease in the number of fungi observed; while in the autumn (end of the growing season) there was an inhibitive influence of macrophytes on the growth of aquatic fungi, which was higher in eutrophic water. This inhibitive influence depends probably on the storage of any secondary compounds during aging of several macrophytes, which inhibit the growth of several species of fungi and fungus-like organisms.

In 1999 and 2007 mycobiota of several locations in the Eastern Carpathians, Ukraine was studied. The Chornohora, Svydovets and Horhany mountain massifs were visited, especially locations with natural (primeval or near-natural) forests. Records of 32 rare, threatened or overlooked species of macrofungi are published. Ten of them are probably new to Ukraine (Cordyceps rouxii, Gymnopilus josserandii, Hydropus atramentosus, H. marginellus, H. subalpinus, Hypholoma subviride, Hypoxylon vogesiacum, Lopadostoma pouzarii, Omphalina cyanophylla, Skeletocutis carneogrisea) and 10 can be considered bioindicators of natural forests (Cystostereum murrayi, Hohenbuehelia auriscalpium, Hydropus atramentosus, Hypoxylon vogesiacum, Multiclavula mucida, Omphalina cyanophylla, Phellinus nigrolimitatus, P. pouzarii, Rigidoporus crocatus, Skeletocutis stellae). The records are compared with the mycobiota of the Poloniny National Park, Slovakia and with data on indicator species of fungi from abroad. The Eastern Carpathians (covering parts of Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Romania) seem to be the best refugee for rare (especially lignicolous) fungi of mountain beech and mixed forests in Europe.

Restilago capensis gen. et sp. nov., a smut fungus found in flowers of Ischyrolepis capensis (Restionaceae) in South Africa, is described. The ultrastructure of the septal pores indicates that it belongs to the ascomycetes. In addition to the genus Schroeteria, this is the second genus of smut fungi of ascomycetous origin. The current definition of the term ‘smut fungus’ is briefly discussed in the introduction.

Data are presented on the second record in Europe of Entoloma exiguum. A full description and illustration of the Ukrainian collection, as well as information about its habitat are provided.

A gasteromycetous fungus, Geastrum minimum is newly recorded for the Tunisian mycobiota. It is described and illustrated based on its morphological characteristics.

After a short revision of the genus Stegocintractia, a new species, S. capitata on Juncus capitatus is described and illustrated. A key to the six known species of Stegocintractia is presented.

The genus Cystolepiota is new for Israel. In Israel it is represented by two species: Cystolepiota bucknallii and C. moelleri. Locations, dates of collections in Israel, general distribution, detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions and illustrations are given.

The rare Urocystis jaapiana, collected on a new host plant species, Ruscus hypophyllum in Algeria, is described, illustrated, and compared with the type specimen on R. aculeatus.

Entoloma occultipigmentatum var. cystidiatum, a very rare taxon known only from two, Austrian localities, is reported as new for Italy and the Mediterranean region and compared with similar taxa.

Physarum galbeum is reported for the first time from Turkey. Four species of fungi are recorded for the first time from Bulgaria (Botryosphaeria visci on Viscum album, Erysiphe elevata on Catalpa bignonioides, Erysiphe flexuosa on Aesculus hippocastanum, and Scleroderma polyrhizum). Additionally, Botryosphaeria visci is a new record for Romania.

This study has clarified the conidiomatal development of Pestalotiopsis cruenta by using light and transmission electron microscopes. Based on light microscopic studies of the isolated fungus, it was shown that this species forms non-ostiolate pycnidial conidiomata in culture, whereas it is known to produce only acervular conidiomata on leaves. One of the interesting observations is the ultrastructure of the conidial wall in the pigmented cells as well as the basal and apical hyaline cells with the appendages. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first ultrastrucural examination of conidiomata and conidia of Pestalotiopsis cruenta.

Several species of smut fungi not previously recorded in Thailand were collected in December 2007. Amongst these were two new species, Sporisorium likhitekarajae on Ischaemum sp. and Tilletia isachneicola on Isachne globosa, which are described and compared with related species.

This work deals with 25 species and 4 varieties of fungi; which were collected in the north-east of Portugal. All of them were associated with Cistus ladanifer except Terfezia olbiensis, which was associated with Cistus ladanifer × Cistus salviifolius. Significant diagnostic characters are given for some of the collected specimens. Several species are of special interest: Amanita muscaria var. inzengae, Cortinarius asiduus var. plesiocistus, Cortinarius cystidifer and Terfezia olbiensis.

A comparative evaluation was conducted to assess the effects of some environmental parameters such as pH, type of carbon source and temperature on the mycelial growth of two species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, Tricholoma caligatum and Morchella angusticeps. All carbon sources were found to be equally beneficial for mycelial growth. However fructose and sucrose were better sources of nitrogen. Maximum mycelial growth in Petri dishes was achieved at 25 °C after 8 and 20 days for T. caligatum and M. angusticeps respectively. Growth was reduced significantly below 15 °C and above 35 °C. Different pH levels (4.5 to 8.0) markedly affected the mycelial growth of the fungi.

Thirty five isolates of Armillaria were obtained from 15 different host species in fruit orchards and forest regions of Iran. In order to identify species, diploid and haploid cultures were paired with two or three known haploid tester isolates from each intersterile group. Sexual compatibility was evaluated after 6 to 8 weeks based on changes in morphology of haploid colonies from white, with aerial mycelium (fluffy) to brownish, without aerial mycelium (crustose). Citrus aurantium and Abies alba were identified as new hosts of Armillaria mellea; Carpinus betulus was identified as a new host of Armillaria gallica in Iran, which previously has been reported from Serbia and Montenegro. Armillaria spp. isolated from Diospyros lotus, Carpinus betulus, and Alnus subcordata, were not compatible with any tester strains. Diospyros lotus, Citrus aurantium, and Abies alba were new hosts of Armillaria spp. from Iran.

The current article presents information about six species of Agaricus recorded for the first time from Bulgaria: A. albosericeus, A. fissuratus, A. maskae, A. moelleri, A. pseudopratensis, and A. tenuivolvatus.

Two new Thecaphora species, T. ulicis on Ulex minor from England, and T. hosackiae on Hosackia parviflora from the U.S.A., are described.

109 epiphytic lichen taxa are reported for the first time from Şerif Yüksel Research Forest in the province of Bolu in Turkey, 38 of which are new for the province and 5 are new to Turkey.

In 2007 the epiphytic and epixylic lichen mycota of old beech forests in Bulgaria was investigated: 138 lichen species were found, of which 30 are reported as new to Bulgaria: Acrocordia cavata, Bacidia arceutina, B. incompta, B. neosquamulosa, Biatoridium monasteriense, Caloplaca lucifuga, Cetrelia monachorum, Chaenotheca brachypoda, C. chlorella, C. hispidula, Cladonia parasitica, Flavoparmelia soredians, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta, Lopadium disciforme, Megalaria grossa, Menegazzia terebrata, Micarea micrococca, M. prasina, Omphalina ericetorum, Opegrapha rufescens, O. vermicellifera,  Pertusaria pustulata, Phaeocalicium polyporaeum, Placynthiella icmalea, Ramalina baltica, Rinodina efflorescens, Schismatomma decolorans, S. pericleum, Strigula stigmatella and Usnea esperantiana; several of these are rare in Europe: Caloplaca lucifuga, Cladonia parasitica, Megalaria grossa, Pertusaria pustulata and Strigula stigmatella.

The distribution and ecology of forty hypogeous fungi from Sicily (southern Italy) is here pointed out. Hysterangium stoloniferum, Protoglossum aromaticum, Sclerogaster compactus and Tuber maculatum are reported as new records from Sicily. Gymnomyces xanthosporus and Melanogaster umbrinigleba are also new for Italy.

Cladosporium aecidiicola on spermogonia of Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae on Anemone ranunculoides is reported from Austria. It is the first record of this species from spermogonia. The following new records are reported for the first time: Merendera attica, as a new host of Urocystis colchici (from Bulgaria); Helleborus orientalis, as a new host of Urocystis floccosa – a new species for Turkey; Cantharellus amethysteus from Bulgaria; and Badhamia dubia from Turkey. New combinations of Microbotryum viviparum on Polygonum viviparum in Bauhinus, and Neovossia japonica on Alopecurus geniculatus in Tilletia are proposed.