Authors: Novozhilov, Yuri & Schnittler, Martin & Stephenson, Steven L.
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 77-97.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.342
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Key words: myxomycetes, biodiversity, ecology, Arctic, Russia, Taimyr Peninsula

Abstract:  Fifty-six species of myxomycetes representing 26 genera were identified from 371 collections that originated almost exclusively from 270 moist chamber cultures prepared with samples of decaying plant material collected on the Taimyr Peninsula (Russia, north-central Siberia) and in the adjacent Putorana Plateau. Species numbers decrease progressively from northern taiga and forest-tundra over southern tundra to the typical tundra subzone. Forty species in 18 genera were recorded in the northern taiga subzone, 40 species in 19 genera in forest-tundra, and 25 species in 17 genera in the tundra subzones. A taxonomic specificity or community endemism of myxomycete assemblages in tundra as compared to those of northern taiga communities was not found. In general, the myxomycete biota of the tundra zone of the Taimyr Peninsula can be considered as an impoverished biota of the northern taiga subzone. Ten ubiquitous species were recorded from at least one half of all studied localities. The average number of species per genus (2.1) calculated in our study indicates a rather low species diversity for high latitudes, contrary to the biotas of temperate and tropical zones where this ratio ranges from 2.2 to 4.6. Values for coefficient of community, calculated for all pairwise combinations of different study areas in the Arctic, ranged from 0.45 to 0.63, thus indicating fairly high levels of similarity among arctic and subarctic myxomycete biotas.

Authors: Kaitera, Juha
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 69-75.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.341
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Key words: Cronartium flaccidum, germination, Peridermium pini, pine stem rust, Pinus sylvestris, storage, temperature

Abstract:  The effect of temperature and time of storage on the germination of aeciospores of Cronartium flaccidum (one source) and Peridermium pini (5 sources) were studied on malt agar with added pine needle extracts, and water agar. The storage temperatures ranged from -160 °C to +25 °C, and the time of storage from 7 days to 2 years. The rate of aeciospore germination remained higher after storage at low temperatures than at high temperatures, as spores stored at high temperatures lost their viability within a few months after storage. The two-year period of storage, however, reduced the germinability of the aeciospores significantly even at low temperatures. Aeciospores of C. flaccidum lost their viability more rapidly than those of P. pini.
Storage strongly reduced the subsequent ability of germ tubes to form vesicles. No vesicles were formed on a water agar substrate after 3-6 month-storage at +4 – +25 °C. At lower temperatures, the ability to form vesicles decreased more slowly, but vesicles were formed in individual spore samples as abundantly as at the beginning of the experiment when these were stored at between -22 °C or -70 °C for 2 years. The results suggest that aeciospores should be stored at low temperatures when needed for future inoculations in order to retain the highest possible viability.

Authors: Currah, Randolph S. & Niemi, Mari & Huhtinen, Seppo
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 65-68.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.340
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Key words: Ericoid mycorrhizas, Myxotrichaceae, Hymenoscyphus ericae

Abstract:  Scytalidium vaccinii was isolated from roots of Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Oidiodendron maius was isolated from roots of Vaccinium vitis-idaea, V. myrtillus, and Empetrum nigrum, all of which were collected on a fjell at Kevo Subarctic Research Station in northern Finland. Both fungal species are mycobionts in ericoid mycorrhizas. These reports extend the known range of the common endomycorrhizal fungi and indicate that these taxa have a circumboreal distribution with ericaceous plants.

Authors: Holm, Lennart & Holm, Kerstin & Barr, Margarete E.
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 59-63.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.339
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Key words: Ascomycetes, Hyponectriaceae, Dothideaceae, taxonomy, morphology

Abstract:  Discosphaerina Hohn. is reinstated as a valid generic name, typified by D. discophora Hohn., for some small, amerosporous, unitunicate Ascomycetes that fit best within the family Hyponectriaceae. The new combinations D. niesslii (Kunze ex Rehm) L. Holm, K. Holm & M.E. Barr, and D. lonicerae (Dearn. & Barthol.) L. Holm, K. Holm & M.E. Barr are made, and the new species D. sorbi L. Holm, K. Holm & M.E. Barr is described. Guignardia Viala & Ravaz, nom. cons., is accepted for similar small, amerosporous but bitunicate Ascomycetes in the Dothideaceae.

Authors: Härkönen, Marja & Ukkola, Tarja & Pekkala, Kati
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 49-57.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.338
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Abstract:  The following species of myxomycetes are reported for the first time from Finland: Arcyria affinis Rostaf., A. globosa Schwein., Colloderma oculatum (Lippert) G. Lister, Cribraria violacea Rex, Dianema harveyi Rex, Diderma asteroides (Lister & G. Lister) G. Lister, Hemitrichia leiotricha (Lister) G. Lister, Lamproderma gulielmae Meyl., Licea castanea G. Lister, L. marginata Nann.-Bremek., L. operculata (Wingate) G. W. Martin, Physarum bitectum G. Lister, and P. gyrosum Rostaf. All the specimens of Fuligo septica sensu lato in the Finnish collections have been re-examined, and two additional species, Fuligo leviderma H. Neubert, Nowotny & K. Baumann and F. luteonitens L. G. Krieglst. & Nowotny, are recognized and illustrated. The second record of the rare species Didymium obducens P. Karst. in Finland is reported and the plasmodium illustrated. The third report of Cribraria microcarpa (Schrad.) Pers. emend. Nann.-Bremek confirms the presence of that species in Finland. The known biota of myxomycetes in Finland now includes 191 species.

Authors: Hintikka, Veikko & Niemi, Karoliina
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 43-48.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.337
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Key words: Nitrite (NO2-), tolerance, ectomycorrhizal fungi, wood and litter decomposing fungi

Abstract:  The effect of nitrite (NO₂-) on the in vitro radial growth of 10 ectomycorrhizal and 11 wood- and 19 litter-decomposing fungi was studied by cultivating mycelia on malt extract (ME) agar supplemented with different amounts of NaNO₂. Nitrite tolerance differed very much between fungus species. Piptoporus betulinus and Collybia butyracea were the only fungi, which were not able to grow on NO₂-media, while a mycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum as well as a litter-decomposing fungus Coprinus cinereus grew even at 2500 mg 1-1 NaNO₂. Generally, the litter-decomposing fungi thriving in gardens, dung and other nitrogen (N) rich places were the most NO₂– tolerant species which shows that they have adapted to continuous high supply of nitrogen. The possible mechanisms involving in NO₂-tolerance are discussed.

Authors: Hintikka, Veikko & Niemi, Karoliina
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 39-41.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.336
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Key words: aseptic culture, Cortinarius, growth rate, Russula

Abstract:  Aseptic cultures of several Cortinarius and Russula species were obtained by transferring first a piece of the context of the sporocarp aseptically on malt extract agar, and after 2-4 weeks, if not contaminated with bacteria or molds, into liquid MMN medium. It took several months before mycelia slowly started to grow in the solution. When cultivated on MMN- agar media, most species grew only few millimetre/month, remarkably less than many other ectomycorrhizal species tested. Fungal species reacted very specifically to different sources. The slow growth rate of Russula and Cortinarius species may be related to specific requirements (nutrients and/or vitamins) not yet known. Possible role of hidden infection of bacteria is also discussed.

Authors: Harmaja, Harri
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 2, pages 37-38.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.335
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Key words: Boletellus, Finland, taxonomy, Xerocomus

Abstract:  The new species Boletellus fennicus Harmaja (Boletales) is described. The species is known from several localities in southern Finland. It has been misidentified as Xerocomus (Boletus) rubellus (Krombh.) Quel. in Finland. Recently the species was, likewise erroneously, thought to represent Boletellus ripariellus (Redeuilh) Redeuilh described from France.

Authors: Renvall, Pertti & Junninen, Kaisa
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 1, pages 33-35.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.334
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Key words: Betula, old-growth forest, Rigidoporus crocatus, threatened fungi

Abstract:  Oligoporus folliculocystidiatus Kotl. & Vampola, . lowei (Pilát) Gilb. & Ryvarden, Piloporia sajanensis (Parmasto) Niemelä, Rigidoporus crocatus (Pat.) Ryvarden and some other rare polypores (Basidiomycetes) are reported from the old-growth forests of eastem Finland. The collection of R. crocatus is the first in this century from the country. The species was considered to be extinct until the present find from Ilomantsi.

Authors: Kytövuori, Ilkka
Journal: Karstenia, Volume 39 (1999), Issue 1, pages 11-31.
Doi: https://doi.org/10.29203/ka.1999.333
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Key words: Stropharia, Psilocybe, coprophilous, Fennoscandia, mapping, taxonomy

Abstract:  Six species are recognized in the Stropharia semiglobata group in NW Europe: S. alcis Kytöv., spec. nova, S. arctica Kytöv., spec. nova, S. dorsipora Esteve-Rav. & Barrasa, S. islandica Kytöv., spec. nova, S. luteonitens (Vahl : Fr.) Quél. and S. semiglobata (Batsch : Fr.) Quél. S. semiglobata is common throughout the study area and S. alcis in Fennoscandia, S. dorsipora and S. luteonitens are rare or very rare and possibly decreasing in Fennoscandia, S. islandica is known from Iceland, and S. arctica from Iceland and arctic Russia. The distribution of each species in the study area is mapped, and their taxonomy, ecology and relationships are discussed.