complete issue - IMA Fungus
complete issue - IMA Fungus
complete issue - IMA Fungus
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OOk NEWs<br />
The phylogenetic systematics of the<br />
order is now much clearer than it was in<br />
the pre-molecular age in which the 1987<br />
monograph was produced. A series of papers<br />
giving an overview of the current systematics<br />
and evolution of these fungi was published<br />
separately in Mycoscience 52 (3) last year (see<br />
<strong>IMA</strong> <strong>Fungus</strong> 2: (60)–(61), 2011).<br />
Four tribes are now accepted within<br />
Erysiphales. Thirteen genera are recognized,<br />
which can be distinguished morphologically<br />
by the teleomorphs, but not always so readily<br />
by the anamorphs. A fourteenth “genus”,<br />
Microidium comb. stat. nov., is pragmatically<br />
used for three species only known from the<br />
anamorph which appear to form a distinct<br />
taxon, while 27 of uncertain affinity are left<br />
in “Oidium”. Keys to the genera and sections<br />
are presented based on teleomorph and<br />
anamorph features, with a separate key to<br />
species based on the host families. Within<br />
each genus or section account, however, I<br />
was pleased to see that the characters used<br />
in making separations in the couplets were<br />
almost exclusively of the fungi rather than<br />
the hosts.<br />
The species accounts are meticulously<br />
prepared, with full synonymies, information<br />
not only on types, but exsiccatae, illustrations,<br />
and literature reports; details not generally<br />
seen in many modern monographs.<br />
Comprehensive descriptions and informa-<br />
tion on host species and distribution are<br />
followed by often full and informative notes<br />
about the species, including doubtful or erroneous<br />
reports. Careful line drawings illustrate<br />
both teleomorph and anamorph where<br />
known. In such cases, the names of named<br />
anamorphs are presented with separately<br />
grouped synonyms under that of the teleomorph.<br />
The changes in the Code, effective<br />
from 30 July 2011, under which one fungus<br />
species can have only one correct name came<br />
too late to enable the new provisions to be<br />
accommodated in the nomenclatural presentations.<br />
Very few names, a mere<br />
2 %, need any change as a result, and Braun<br />
(2012) has helpfully provided details of 18<br />
cases where there is an earlier anamorphtypified<br />
name for inclusion in a future approved<br />
List of accepted names. In reality,<br />
the full slate of 873 accepted names could be<br />
included in such as List to stabilize the nomenclature<br />
of this order for posterity.<br />
The use of “Taxonomic” in the title<br />
should not put off the non-specialist, and<br />
might have been expanded to “Taxonomic<br />
and Identification” as there is so much information<br />
here that it can be utilized by the<br />
neoerysiphalean with little or no previous<br />
knowledge of these fungi. This work is the<br />
pinnacle in the careers of two exceptional<br />
and dedicated mycologists, and is destined<br />
to be of everlasting value. Individual my-<br />
cologists and plant pathologists, as well as<br />
institutions, are urged to secure a copy of<br />
this superb work while they can.<br />
Braun U (1987) A monograph of the Erysiphales<br />
(powdery mildews). Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia<br />
89: 1–700.<br />
Braun U (2012) The impacts of the discontinuation<br />
of dual nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi: the<br />
trivial facts, problems, and strategies. <strong>IMA</strong> <strong>Fungus</strong><br />
3: 81–86.<br />
conspectus of World Ethnomycology: fungi in ceremonies, crafts, diets, medicines,<br />
and myths. by Frank m. Dugan. 2011. IsbN 978-0-89054-395-5. Pp. viii + 151, figs 27<br />
(18 col.), tables 6, Appendices 2. st Paul, mN: APs Press (American Phytopathological<br />
society Press). Price Us$ 69.95.<br />
Frank Dugan has already addressed the role<br />
of fungi in ancient civilizations (Dugan<br />
2008), but now goes global. APS Press), but<br />
is much broader in scope and has a wealth of<br />
vignettes that have the potential to liven-up<br />
mycology classes.<br />
There is perhaps almost no end to what<br />
might be encompassed in such a title, especially<br />
as Dugan adopts a particularly broad<br />
definition of “ethnomycology”, as the study<br />
of the multifarious uses of fungi by humans<br />
since pre-historic times. The first chapter of<br />
the book provides a well-referenced global<br />
overview, while the second has an interesting<br />
take on the role of women, specially<br />
market women, as sources of information<br />
for herbalists since at least the sixteenth century<br />
– and accompanied by several pertinent<br />
early illustrations. The bulk of the volume,<br />
however, is organized by regional chapters:<br />
Europe and the Mediterranean; Asia and the<br />
Pacific; Sub-Saharan Africa; Latin America<br />
and the Caribbean; and North America. He<br />
aims to list the exploited fungi in each of<br />
these regions, which conclude with a table<br />
of those “commonly documented as ethnomycologically<br />
important”. This is an almost<br />
impossible task, and the author makes a<br />
laudable effort, but mycologists who have<br />
visited rural markets and traditional medicine<br />
shops in Africa and China in particular<br />
will note numerous species they encountered<br />
remain uncited. A final chapter looks<br />
at the nature of “folklore”, and touches on<br />
the <strong>issue</strong> of the exploitation and conservation<br />
of wild mushrooms. The literature cited<br />
covers over 25 pages, and this compilation<br />
is of considerable value in its own right as<br />
some sources are little-known, but again is<br />
inevitably in<strong>complete</strong>, and I missed Findlay’s<br />
(1982) book in particular. The whole<br />
concludes with lists of utilized fungi available<br />
from selected fungal genetic resource<br />
collections, and some 20 recipes compiled<br />
(36) ima funGuS