Volume 41(1), 2001

Novelties and records of poroid Basidiomycetes in Finland and adjacent Russia
Tuomo Niemelä, Juha Kinnunen, Mariko Lindgren, Olli Manninen, Otto Miettinen, Reijo Penttilä, Olli Turunen
Karstenia 41: 1-21.
Postia alni Niemelä & Vampola, spec. nova (Basidiomycetes, Aphyllophorales), is a narrow-spored relative of Postia caesia (Schrad. : Fr.) P. Karst., growing on broadleaved trees, e.g., alder and aspen. Skeletocutis friata Niemelä & Saarenoksa, nom. novum, will replace S. friabilis Niemelä & Saarenoksa, a homonym of S. friabilis (Corner) Quanten. The following combinations are proposed: Fibroporia norrlandica (Berglund & Ryvarden) Niemelä, comb. nova (Oligoporus norrlandicus Berglund & Ryvarden); Junghuhnia lacera (P. Karst.) Niemelä & Kinnunen, comb. nova (J. separabilima (Pouzar) Ryvarden). The following polypores are reported as new to Finland: F. norrlandica (also reported from France), Sistotrema dennisii Malençon, Skeletocutis ochroalba Niemelä, and Postia mappa (Overh. & Lowe) M.J. Larsen & Lombard. Skeletocutis krawtzewii (Pilát) Kotl. & Pouzar is reported from eastern Leningrad Region, Russia; this is the second find of the species after its description from Siberia. Junghuhnia fimbriatella (Peck) Ryvarden was found in Leningrad Region; this is the first record in northern Europe. Skeletocutis borealis Niemelä and many other rare species are discussed, including new localities from Finland and/or NW Russia. Some of them are illustrated, and many species are supplied with detailed spore measurements. 143 polypore species were recorded and collected by the authors and their co-workers in virgin forests of Russian Karelia in wide sense; 12 of them are new to the area.

The genus Rhizopogon in Finland. I. R. abietis and R. ochraceorubens
María P. Martín
Karstenia 41: 23-24.
Rhizopogon abietis A. H. Smith and R. ochraceorubens A. H. Smith are recorded for the first time for Finland. Both species should be considered as threatened in Europe. New collections of R. roseolus (Corda) Th. Fr. have been studied.

A noteworthy Diderma species from Tanzania
Tarja Ukkola, Marja Härkönen
Karstenia 41: 25-29.
An unidentified species of Diderma, new to Tanzania, is discussed and illustrated. A scanty specimen developed in a moist chamber culture prepared from bark of living Juniperus procera. This moist chamber was cultured for the first time in June 1989 and produced then no Diderma species after one month of incubation. The dried petri dish was stored for ten years in a closed, dark laboratory cupboard and was rewetted in May 1999. After 60 days of incubation an interesting Diderma species developed with walnut-shaped spores bearing an equatorial ring or two perpendicular rings. This specimen may represent a new species, but also seems to have affinity to Diderma punense. We have not been able to obtain the type specimen of the latter species from India to compare it to our specimen. For comparison, some specimens of Diderma cor-rubrum with similar spore morphology were studied with SEM.

The invasion history of Microsphaera palczewskii (Erysiphales) in Finland
Seppo Huhtinen, Yrjö Mäkinen
Karstenia 41: 31-36.
The invasion of Microsphaera palczewskii Jacz. – an Asian-origin parasitic fungus of Caragana Fabr. – in Finland is reported. The first specimen was collected in South Finland in 1981 and now the species is distributed throughout the country to all areas where Caragana arborescens Lam. is cultivated. The epidemic spread caused a total decline of the occurrence of M. trifolii (Grev.) U. Braun on Caragana. The last record of M. trifolii dates back to year 1987. Mature cleistothecia of M. palczewskii can be found from mid-July onwards, conidial stage from the beginning of June. Specimens showing conidial stage only can be observed even in September and October, which indicates a continuous infection activity. Recent field observations do not support the reported overwintering in wooden parts. The source of infection is most probably fallen leaves with plenty of cleistothecia.