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Specific features of the growth and development of wood-decomposing basidiomycetes wide-spread in the right-bank Volga forest-steppe have been studied under natural conditions and in pure culture. The results show that the strains of parasitic species are characterized by low growth rates and an increased demand for easily accessible carbon sources, while the strains of saprotrophic species from different substrates grow well in culture. Additional sources of cellulose and lignin have a favorable effect on the growth of saprotrophic strains was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matings and RAPD-PCR analysis were used to differentiate two closely related basidiomycetes fungi, Pleurotus pulmonarius and P. ostreatus, which are widespread in Russian forest biocenoses with moderate continental climate. Monokaryon-monokaryon (mon-mon) and dikaryon-monokaryon (di-mon) matings demonstrated complete reproductive isolation of the two species, which have partly overlapping morphological traits. The prevalence of a particular species in nature was shown to depend to a great extent on the natural conditions, namely, the day and night temperature fluctuations. The clustering of natural Pleurotus strains displayed two trends: one was associated with natural reproductive isolation of the two species ( D = 0.61) and the other, with the geographical factor ( D = 0.39). A relatively recent origin is suggested for the divergence of the two species and the reproductive barrier between them. Adaptation to natural conditions was considered to be the main factor causing the divergence of natural Pleurotus populations and, eventually, allopatric speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A psychrophilic yeast with a basidiomycetous developmental cycle and properties corresponding to the genus Leucosporidium Fell et al. was isolated from the fruiting body of the edible spring mushroom Gyromitra esculenta Pers. picked near Moscow. However, the isolate differed from all Leucosporidium species described to date in a number of characteristics. The results of the study of the developmental cycle and of the cultural, morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of the new isolate, strain KBP Y-3696, allow it to be assigned to a new species of the genus Leucosporidium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the hyphomycete Osteomorpha fragilis hitherto unrecorded in Russia are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]