Mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) have the greatest morphological diversity and complexity of any group of fungi. They have radiated into most niches and fulfill diverse roles in the ecosystem, including wood decomposers, pathogens or mycorrhizal mutualists. Despite the importance of mushroom-forming fungi, large-scale patterns of their evolutionary history are poorly known, in part due to the lack of a comprehensive and dated molecular phylogeny. Here, using multigene and genome-based data, we assemble a 5,284-species phylogenetic tree and infer ages and broad patterns of speciation/extinction and morphological innovation in mushroom-forming fungi. Agaricomycetes started a rapid class-wide radiation in the Jurassic, coinciding with the spread of (sub)tropical coniferous forests and a warming climate. A possible mass extinction, several clade-specific adaptive radiations, and morphological diversification of fruiting bodies followed during the Cretaceous and the Paleogene, convergently giving rise to the classic toadstool morphology, with a cap, stalk, and gills (pileate-stipitate morphology). This morphology is associated with increased rates of lineage diversification, suggesting it represents a key innovation in the evolution of mushroom-forming fungi. The increase in mushroom diversity started during the Mesozoic-Cenozoic radiation event, an era of humid climate when terrestrial communities dominated by gymnosperms and reptiles were also expanding.

2006. Assemblages of woodinhabiting fungi along the gradients of succession and naturalness in boreal pinedominated forests in Fennoscandia. Ecography 29: 75 Á/83. In boreal forests, the level of naturalness and the stage of succession explain most of the variation in forest structure within a particular forest type. Thus, these two factors should also have a major effect on species assemblages in forests, at least on species groups associated with wood. The present study is the first attempt to analyze empirically the simultaneous effects of forest succession and naturalness on woodinhabiting fungi, a taxonomic group of special ecological importance. The study area was situated in eastern Finland, middle boreal zone. A total of 41 study plots were established in Pinus sylvestris forests representing three levels of forest naturalness: natural, seminatural and intensively managed forests. Five stages of succession were distinguished according to the age of the dominating tree layer (B/10, 40, 70, 110, and /150 yr old), except in managed forests where only four stages were available. A total of 5328 records of 195 species of fungi were made. The first, open stage of succession was clearly the most species-rich period of succession in all levels of forest naturalness. In natural and seminatural forests, the first stage of succession was also very distinctive in its fungal composition, and thus of special value in protecting biodiversity in boreal forests. In the succession following the first stage, the level of naturalness had more effect on assemblages of fungi than did the stage of succession. Intensive forest management affects threatened species particularly. In conclusion, natural young stages of succession should also be included in the network of boreal forest reserves. K. Junninen

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Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.

The total polypore flora was studied in four nearby forest areas in southern Central Finland (pro ince Etela-Hame), including the Edessalo nature reserve, and the Vesijako National Park, which is one of the oldest and densest virgin spruce forests in Finland. The field work was done in the years 1978-1980, when 855 specimens were collected and about 720 sight records were made. In all, 97 species were found. The ecology of most of the species is discussed , and their abundance and the host tree species are presented. Species reported as new to Finland are Antrodia salicina (B res.) Niemelii, Onnia triquetra (Lenz) Imaz., Rigidoporus vitreus (Fr.) Donk, Strangulidium rennyi (Berk. & Br.) Pouz., Tyromyces lowei (Pi!.) Dom. and T. undosus (Peck) Murr. The total distribution of some rare species in Finland is given, and the concept of the so-called 'taiga element' is discussed. Preliminary observations are presented on the existence of some fungal communities e.g., the co-occurrence of Amylocystis /apponica (Rom.) Sing., Fomitopsis rosea (Fr.) Karst. , Phellinus ferrugineofuscus (Karst.) Bourd. and Phlebia centrifuga Karst. on fallen trunks of Picea abtes (L.) Karsten. The susceptibility of different tree species to wood-rotting polypores is discussed, and problems in the taxonomy of some rare species are briefly reviewed.

Distribution maps are presented for all the species of Phellinus occurring in Finland and host plant statistics are given for each species. The ecological characteristics and pathogemcity of the species are discussed, and an evaluation made of their economic Importance as pathogens and wood-rotting fungi on merchantable timber and ornamental trees and shrubs. At present 18 species of Phellinus are known to occur in Finland, 13 on deciduous and 5 on coniferous trees. The most important hardwood-decaying species is P. igniarius (L.) Que!., followed by P. tremulae (Bond.) Bond. & Borisov, which infects Populus tremula. Of the conifer-decaying species, the most harmful is P. chrysoloma (Fr.) Donk (on Picea abies, especially in northern Finland), followed by a much less important species, P. pini (Brat.) A.Ames on Pinus sylvestris. The generic concept of Phellinus is briefly discussed, and some author citations are altered in the specific names according to the changes in the Code of Nomenclature enacted in 1981 .