Lichen communities in many National Parks are diverse and perform essential but often poorly understood ecological roles. However, lichen diversity in many National Parks is poorly characterized. Because of this, limited interpretive resources are currently available. Here we report a preliminary checklist of the lichen species found in Great Basin National Park, White Pine County, Nevada, USA, including 230 species in 84 genera, identified predominantly from recent field surveys. While our study documents an impressive diversity of lichen species in the Park, we anticipate that a significant percentage of the lichen flora remains to be discovered. Our hope is that this preliminary checklist will provide a foundation for additional lichenological research in Great Basin National Park.

Two new species from the Russulaceae, Lactifluus aurantiotinctus and Russula pallidirosea, are described from American Samoa. Based on analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region barcodes (ITS), L. aurantiotinctus has an affinity to subgenus Lactariopsis and strong phylogeographic ties to Papua New Guinea. The ITS data indicate that Russula pallidirosea has an affinity to subgenus Heterophyllidia and suggest that it also has phylogeographic ties to Australasia. Both species were associated with the ectomycorrhizal tree Intsia bijuga.

A new species in the Sarcoscyphaceae from the Samoan Islands, Cookeina cremeirosea, is described and illustrated. This species is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the other eight species that are currently accepted for the genus. It is closely related to the Asian species Cookeina indica from which it can be separated by color and spore morphology.

Hebeloma ifeleletorum is described as a new species from American Samoa. Based on analyses of ITS and combined nLSU-ITS datasets H. ifeleletorum clusters with but is distinct from described species that have been placed in the genus Anamika by some. The phylogenetic relationship of H. ifeleletorum to the genus Anamika from Asia and to other species from Australia and New Caledonia suggests that H. ifeleletorum has origins in the western Pacific.

Cercopemyces is described as a new genus based on collections of a newly discovered agaricoid species from the arid Cercocarpus forests of Utah and Colorado. The new genus is near Ripartitella and Cystodermella based on nLSU, rpb1 and ITS molecular sequences but distinctly different from these taxa. The ornamented basidiospores and inflated cells in the scales of the pileus surface of Cercopemyces indicate a close relationship to some species of Ripartitella, and the molecular analyses support the sister group relationship. Morphologically Cercopemyces crocodilinus is reminiscent of the genus Amanita in the field, but the inamyloid, cyanophilic, ornamented basidiospores and lack of acrophysalidic hyphae in the trama indicate otherwise. A rare eastern USA species, Ripartitella ponderosa, is transferred to Cercopemyces based on morphological and molecular data.

Results of a study on species of Inocybe section Rimosae sensu lato in Utah are presented. Eight species, seven from the Pseudosperma clade (section Rimosae sensu stricto) and one from the Inosperma clade (section Rimosae pro parte), are documented morphologically and phylogenetically. Five of the eight species, I. aestiva, I. breviterincarnata, I. cercocarpi, I. niveivelata and I. occidentalis-all members of the Pseudosperma clade-are described as new from Utah and other western states. Two European species, I. spuria and I. obsoleta, are confirmed from Utah. Inocybe aurora, originally described from Nova Scotia, is synonymized with I. obsoleta. The only member of the Inosperma clade recorded from Utah is I. lanatodisca, a widely distributed species for which three geographical clusters were detected. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that the Pseudosperma clade includes 53 clusters or species worldwide and that the Inosperma clade includes 47 such clusters. Many of these probably correspond to undescribed species. A key to species of section Rimosae sensu lato from Utah is provided together with illustrations of the eight species found in the state.

Baeospora occidentalis is described as a new species associated with melting snow in montane coniferous forests of the western USA. The species is springfruiting and is characterized by a long tapering pseudorhiza covered with white basal rhizomorphs which extends deeply into the needle litter or woody debris. It possesses a multiallelic, tetrapolar mating system. Monokaryotic mycelia produce arthroconidia.

Phylogenetic analyses based on nLSU and ITS sequence data indicate that the sequestrate genus Gigasperma is polyphyletic. Gigasperma cryptica, which is known only from New Zealand, has affinities with the Cortinariaceae whereas G. americanum and two additional undescribed taxa from western North America are derived from Lepiota within the Agaricaceae. The three North American taxa appear to be recently evolved and are closely related. They occur in similar environments and form a well supported clade indicating that adaptive radiation has occurred within this group of fungi. An independent genus with sequestrate fructifications, Cryptolepiota is proposed to accommodate the three species in this clade. Cryptolepiota microspora and C. mengei are described as new, and G. americanum is transferred to Cryptolepiota. Gigasperma cryptica is illustrated and compared with the species of Cryptolepiota.

Baeospora occidentalis is described as a new species associated with melting snow in montane coniferous forests of the western USA. The species is springfruiting and is characterized by a long tapering pseudorhiza covered with white basal rhizomorphs which extends deeply into the needle litter or woody debris. It possesses a multiallelic, tetrapolar mating system. Monokaryotic mycelia produce arthroconidia.

A new species of Moniliophthora is described from the Samoan Islands. The new species is characterized by its bright orange pileus and pale orange stipe and lamellae. It occurs commonly on woody debris in moist littoral forests and has not been found in upland forests. A phylogenetic analysis of nLSU and ITS sequences indicates that Moniliophthora aurantiaca has an affinity with the Central and South American members of the genus. Possible mechanisms for the dispersal of fungi from the Neotropics to the Samoan Islands are discussed.

Molecular data support the recent transfer of Hydnodon thelephorus to the genus Trechispora. These data also provide preliminary evidence that the pileate-stipitate basidiome morphology of Trechispora thelephora is ancestral to the resupinate morphology typical of the genus Trechispora. A photo, description, and line drawings of Trechispora thelephora are provided.

Inocybe tauensis is described as a new species from the island of Ta'u, American Samoa. The species occurs in native littoral forest and is associated with the ectomycorrhizal tree Pisonia grandis. Based on an analysis of nLSU, RPB1, and RPB2 sequence data, I. tauensis appears to be derived from ancestors with a Paleotropical biogeographical distribution. Alternative explanations for the unexpected presence of an Inocybe species in the Samoan Archipelago are discussed.

A phylogenetic and taxonomic study of the Inocybe splendens complex in western North America is presented. Our analysis indicates that western North American and European specimens referable to I. splendens sensu lato cluster into eight clades and that European and western North American representatives of this taxon are not conspecific. Section Splendentes and supersection "Marginatae" of Inocybe, smooth-spored taxa characterized by a syndrome of unique developmental characters (entirely or mostly pruinose stipe, absence of cortina, frequent presence of marginate basal bulb) are not monophyletic. The species concept for I. splendens is discussed, and a lectotype for I. splendens sensu Heim is designated. Two new species, I. monticola and I. praecox, are illustrated and described. The poorly known species I. bakeri is redescribed from type material, and a key for 22 species is provided for identification of these and other non-reddening species with smooth spores and a caulocystidiate stipe reported from North America and Europe.

A phylogenetic and taxonomic study of the Inocybe splendens complex in western North America is presented. Our analysis indicates that western North American and European specimens referable to I. splendens sensu lato cluster into eight clades and that European and western North American representatives of this taxon are not conspecific. Section Splendentes and supersection "Marginatae" of Inocybe, smooth-spored taxa characterized by a syndrome of unique developmental characters (entirely or mostly pruinose stipe, absence of cortina, frequent presence of marginate basal bulb) are not monophyletic. The species concept for I. splendens is discussed, and a lectotype for I. splendens sensu Heim is designated. Two new species, I. monticola and I. praecox, are illustrated and described. The poorly known species I. bakeri is redescribed from type material, and a key for 22 species is provided for identification of these and other non-reddening species with smooth spores and a caulocystidiate stipe reported from North America and Europe.

Dyer's woad (Isotis tinctoria) has been shown to have unusually high quantities of indole glucosinolates. It is known that production Of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products is part of a plant's defense response to pathogens and insects. In Arabidopsis thaliana, which, like dyer's woad, is in the family Brassicaceae, the gene sequences encoding CYP79B2 and CYP79B3 catalyze the conversion of tryptophan to indole-3-acetaldoxime during the biosynthesis of indole glucosinolates. In this Study, a sequence encoding CYP79B2 was isolated front dyer's woad. ItCYP79B2 front l. thictoria shows 97% sequence identity with CYP79B2 and 89% sequence identity with CYP79B3 from A. thaliana. Thus, it can be inferred that the l. thictoria sequence, like that of A. thaliana, is involved in the biosynthesis of indole glucosinolates. The kinetics and amplitude of ItCYP79B2 expression during the first 72 h after infection by the pathogenic rust fungus Puccinia thlaspeos were also studied. There was a significant down-regulation of ItCYP79B2 during the first 8 h after infection of the host that coincides with fungal penetration. This was followed by induction of ItCYP79B2, coinciding with the formation of haustoria. However, after haustoria formation, ItCYP9B2 was again suppressed during the time period coinciding with Successful asymptomatic systemic colonization of the host. The results of this study indicates that Suppression of a gene involved in indole glucosinolate production during the penetration and post-haustorial phases of infection plays a role in pathogen establishment. They also imply that the pathogen possesses mechanisms for circumventing the elevated expression of this gene during the haustorial phase.

The ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mushroom family Inocybaceae is widespread in north temperate regions, but more than 150 species are encountered in the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. The relative roles of recent and ancient biogeographical processes, relationships with plant hosts, and the timing of divergences that have shaped the current geographic distribution of the family are investigated. Africa, Australia, Neotropics, New Zealand, north temperate zone, Palaeotropics, Southeast Asia, South America, south temperate zone. We reconstruct a phylogeny of the Inocybaceae with a geological timeline using a relaxed molecular clock. Divergence dates of lineages are estimated statistically to test vicariance-based hypotheses concerning relatedness of disjunct ECM taxa. A series of internal maximum time constraints is used to evaluate two different calibrations. Ancestral state reconstruction is used to infer ancestral areas and ancestral plant partners of the family. The Palaeotropics are unique in containing representatives of all major clades of Inocybaceae. Six of the seven major clades diversified initially during the Cretaceous, with subsequent radiations probably during the early Palaeogene. Vicariance patterns cannot be rejected that involve area relationships for Africa-Australia, Africa-India and southern South America-Australia. Northern and southern South America, Australia and New Zealand are primarily the recipients of immigrant taxa during the Palaeogene or later. Angiosperms were the earliest hosts of Inocybaceae. Transitions to conifers probably occurred no earlier than 65 Ma. The Inocybaceae initially diversified no later than the Cretaceous in Palaeotropical settings, in association with angiosperms. Diversification within major clades of the family accelerated during the Palaeogene in north and south temperate regions, whereas several relictual lineages persisted in the tropics. Both vicariance and dispersal patterns are detected. Species from Neotropical and south temperate regions are largely derived from immigrant ancestors from north temperate or Palaeotropical regions. Transitions to conifer hosts occurred later, probably during the Palaeogene.

Dermoloma inconspicuum is reported from Belize for the first time, extending its known distribution from Venezuela into Central America. Based on nLSU and 5.8s sequence data, D. inconspicuum has phylogenetic affinities to the Agaricaceae rather than to the Tricholomataceae where it has traditionally been placed by taxonomists. Since the species was previously known only from the holotype consisting of a single basidiome, photographs and a detailed description from fresh material are provided here.

Puccinia thlaspeos is being studied as a potential biocontrol agent for Isatis tinctoria. The goal of the work reported here was to gather information pertinent to the integrated use of herbicides and P. thlaspeos. The effect of three herbicides currently used to control I. tinctoria on viability of teliospores from inoculum was studied along with common surfactants. Neither chlorsulfuron nor metsulfuron-methyl had a significant impact on teliospore germination when used alone but the 2,4-D formulation used in these studies decreased teliospore viability. The surfactants Sylgard and IFA-S90 reduced spore germination while Regulaid had little effect. However, when rust-infected plants were sprayed with different combinations of herbicides and surfactants, the viability of teliospores produced on those plants was not decreased.