The mycologist最新文献

Black scurf of Potato is a serious disease commonly observed in most potato-producing areas of the world. Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 (teleomorph Thanatephorus cucumeris [Frank] Donk), this disease is favoured by the capacity of fungus to survive in soil as sclerotia and mycelium in plant debris for long periods, and environmental conditions of low soil temperature and high soil moisture. Management of the disease requires an integrated approach since no single tactic is totally effective. An effective control program combines cultural practices, fungicides, biological control, and solarization.

A new approach to the management of one of the UK's alien superweeds, Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), is currently being investigated. The classical biological control strategy is based on the premise that those neophytes which become invasive and problematic are depauperate in natural enemies, both coevolved and new encounter species. Surveys have confirmed the absence of any significant natural enemy pressure in the UK, and the presence of an extensive guild of specialist arthropod and fungal natural enemies in Japan. The results of these surveys and the follow-up studies in the UK with selected fungi are discussed.

The one place it's almost impossible to find fungi is in the UK National Curriculum for schools. The state of the National Curriculum (NC) is a real concern because the current specifications all contain material on animal and plant comparisons with little or no consideration for the largest group of higher organisms on Earth: Kingdom Fungi. This means that children are missing out on being taught about the importance of an entire Kingdom of higher organisms. To try to compensate for this educational deficiency, the British Mycological Society has taken up the challenge by devising resources teachers can use within the current NC because they address NC topics and also give proper representation to fungi. These resources include specially-produced and ready-to-use lessons and classroom activities, teacher's guides and pupil class sheets, all classroom tested and well received by pupils. But the resources also feature articles published over many years in the Society's journals that need to be brought out of the library archives and made immediately accessible to schools. These resources are available now for free download from the British Mycological Society's new education website at www.fungi4schools.org, which is described in this article.

The British Mycological Society (BMS) has created a Roadshow exhibition of over 20 square metres of mobile display boards, educational models, posters, booklets, leaflets, and a staff of enthusiastic volunteers that travels around the UK. The aim is to make the general public aware of the science of fungal biology in food, pharmaceuticals, environment – and every-day life. In the past four years or so, we've contributed events to National Science Week, several Excellence in Cities programmes, and Science Fairs and Festivals. The backbone of the Roadshow calendar, though, is the Royal Horticultural Society's Flower Show programme. The BMS has contributed displays to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for several years. Now the BMS Roadshow goes to RHS shows around the country, appearing at the Tatton Park Flower Show in July, the Malvern Spring Gardening Show in May, and Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show towards the end of September. Our displays always attract enormous public interest. In July 2004 (the first time it was submitted for judging) the BMS Roadshow was awarded a Silver-Gilt Lindley Medal at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, and success has continued with a Gold Medal at the Malvern Autumn Garden and Country Show in 2004, a Silver-Gilt at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show 2005, Gold at both Tatton Park 2005 and the Malvern Autumn Show 2005, and Silver at the Chelsea Flower Show 2006. The total “through the turnstile” audience of all these shows totals something like one million people and even if only a small fraction of that total stops at our display, then we are communicating awareness of fungal biology to a crowd that would fill a Premiership football stadium! That's an audience that few others can claim.

Walls of rooms with an atmosphere enriched in ethanol often show thick coatings with mycelium of Racodium cellare. Wine cellars and distilleries in which alcoholic beverages are stored in barrels seem to be the main habitat of this mould which is credited with beneficial effects on the cellar atmosphere by removing malodorous volatile substances. The present article examines the taxonomy and biology of this remarkable fungus.