MYCOLOGIST NEWS The newsletter of the British Mycological Society 2009 (2) 2009 BMS Council Honorary Officers President: Prof. Lynne Boddy, University of Cardiff Vice President: Dr P. Spencer-Phillips, University of the West of England Vice President: Dr F. Davidson, University of Aberdeen Immediate Past President: Prof. N. Clipson, University College Dublin Treasurer: Prof. G. Gadd, University of Dundee General Secretary (Acting): Dr. G Robson, University of Manchester Publications Officer: Prof. N. Read, University of Edinburgh Programme Officer: Dr S. Avery, University of Nottingham Education and Communication Officer: Dr P. Dyer, University of Nottingham Field Mycology Officer: Dr S. Skeates, Hampshire Membership Secretary: Dr J.I. Mitchell, University of Portsmouth Ordinary Members of Council Retiring 31.12.09 Prof. R. Marchant, University of Ulster Prof. D. Hawksworth CBE, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and The Natural History Museum (London) Ms S. Evans, Powys Prof. J.M. Whipps, Warwick HRI Retiring 31.12.10 Dr. M. Fisher, Imperial College, London Dr. P Crittendon, University of Nottingham Dr. I Singleton, Newcastle University Dr. E. Landy, University of Southampton Retiring 31.12.10 Dr. D. Minter, CABI Biosciences Dr. D. Schafer, Whitchurch Prof. S. Buczacki, Stratford-on-Avon Ms D. Griffin, Worcester Co-opted Officers - Retiring 31.12.10 International Officer: Prof. A. J. Whalley, Liverpool John Moores University Public Relations Officer: Dr. M. Fisher, Imperial College, London Contacts BMS Administrator President: [email protected] British Mycological Society General Secretary: [email protected] Works Business Centre Treasurer: [email protected] Union Street MycologistNews: [email protected] Manchester M12 4JD Tel: +44 (0) 161 277 7638 / 7639 Fax: +44(0) 161 277 7634 From the Office Welcome to the second issue of Mycologist News for 2009, and the first issue created by the team in the BMS office! Were looking to add new ideas and change the look of the Newsletter, without losing any of what made it so successful before. As with any changes response by the readers will determine Norman Porrett Allie Brown Sophie Embleton whether its a change for the better, or not! Administrator Membership Field Mycology BMS Office Assistant Assistant Whilst we create the newsletter its you, the readers who make it. Thats why were looking for news, views and articles from you, that you feel should feature in your newsletter. What Contents aspects would you like to see expanded, Council News 4 improved, dropped completely or newly covered BMS News 5 in the upcoming issues? Were here to give you an opportunity to get your group news, views, Membership News 6 and areas of interest out to a wider audience, Fungi In the News: Edible Britain 7 across the BMS membership and even beyond. Stanley Hughes Collection, NBG 8 Wales Let us know what you think of the Mycologist News as it stands, and where you think it could RHS Chelsea 2009 10 be improved. You can contact the Newsletter Fungi in the News: How to tell an Team via email at edible mushroom from a 12 [email protected] dabbled webcap Local Groups News: Or write to the office direct at: 14 Staffordshire Fungus Group British Mycological Society Mycologist News Just for Fun 16 The Works Business Centre BMS Grant Reports: Union Street Thomas Kluyver 17 Tariq Hassam 18 Ardwick Manchester M12 4JD Autumn 2008 Foray Report 19 We look forward to hearing from you, and dont BMS Lactarius Workshop 22 forget you can submit articles, features and 2010 Field Meetings 23 fungal photographs to the email address too. Fungal Cell Meeting - Booking Form 27 Bye for now, Norman, Sophie and Allie (The BMS Office Staff) UK Events 30 International Events 31 Fungi Photo Corner 32 Council News On top of their game: sexy charms of Dyer & co? Marvel at how they chose their modest partners and arranged the dates! work by BMS council member Dinners of high-quality oatmeal agar to rival Paul Dyer (Reader in Fungal those set before diners at Claridges were Biology) prepared! The lights were dimmed and the temperature raised! The fungal partners were Ever wonder what members of the BMS hot to trot, but they were not easily tempted. executive committee do to attain their lofty Only after a full six months did PhD student status? Ever asked the question how does such Céline use stealthy lenses to capture those rarefied privilege come about? Well, other than revealing structures that only David perhaps indulging in naked nepotism and Attenborough would dare to show before the 9 realpolitik(!), the answer is that they have all, in oclock watershed. Here, I draw a curtain over some fashion, advanced our understanding of those private moments, but those of you with a fungi. One excellent example of great work that more intrusive curiosity are welcome to pry the is being done by a member of the BMS council matrimonial secrets of A. fumigatus at the is the publishing last year of the discovery of the Nature website. The work, which was in part teleomorph (sexual stage) of Aspergillus supported by a BMS small grant, also featured fumigatus, Neosartorya fumigatus sp. nov., by as news on websites as diverse as those on Paul Dyer (University of Nottingham) and American Gardening through to Richard collaborators Céline OGorman and Hubert Dawkins site for reason and science! Are there Fuller (University College Dublin). The fungi other fungi that are even more modest than imperfecti (or Deuteromycota) have long been Aspergillus? Are there even truly asexual fungi? dissolved, however many of the fungi that were Even Paul probably cannot quite yet answer held within its classification still cling to their those questions, however Im prepared to bet modesty by inconveniently refusing to be caught that hes going to give it his best shot. And as an in flagrante delicto. A. fumigatus is one such esteemed member of the BMS, that is exactly fungus and, despite indirect evidence that what we would expect of him. sexual reproduction is occurring among Matthew C. Fisher members of this heterothallic species, it has steadfastly maintained an illusion of virginity. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/ However, what fungus could resist those subtle n7228/full/nature07528.html Ballot Form Reminder Annual General Meeting Just a quick reminder to all qualifying The BMS AGM will take place in the Sidlaw members! Ballot Forms for the Election of Suite, Main Lecture Theatre, West Park Ordinary Members to Council must be Conference Centre, University of Dundee st returned or received by July 31 . Each form at 18.30pm, on Thursday September 3rd has a unique identifier number on the front. 2009 Please ensure where faxing it to the office that this number is included! 4 BMS News Gold at Chelsea Congratulations to the BMS Chelsea team whose hard work and dedication has resulted in a prestigious RHS Gold Medal being awarded for the BMS Display. For a fuller account of the Show go to pages 10 and 11. Lynne Boddy displaying the Gold certificate Newsletter Articles Do you have any items you would like to see published in the Newsletter that would be of interest to members? Not a BMS Member? We would love to receive short reports of any activities, upcoming events, items of Not a BMS Member but wish to be? Go to the Membership interest, items for sale/wanted etc. section on our website and find out how to become a Please send items to the office or email to member. [email protected] www.britmycolsoc.org.uk 5 Membership News We have had a great response from members FIELD MYCOLOGY renewing their membership, so would like to Field Mycology is running to schedule with no extend a big Thank You to those members changes to the original dates: Vol/Issue Cover date Est. who have paid their 2009 subscription. Despatch 10/ 3 Jul-09 06-Jul-09 For members who have yet to renew, please 10/ 4 Oct-09 05-Oct-09 be aware that, as agreed at the last AGM, the FUNGAL ECOLOGY grace period for renewing membership has Issue 4 due to be despatched October. been changed from 12 months to 3 months. FUNGAL BIOLOGY REVIEWS This means that non-renewed memberships Volume 23 (2009), issues 1-2 should be ready around October. Details TBC. have now lapsed, so we are unable to send journals or allow any other members benefits FUNGAL ECOLOGY BACK ISSUES such as small grant applications until Some members have been enquiring about back membership has been renewed. issues of Fungal Ecology as they were unaware of its launch last year. If you would like to receive the four 2008 back issues please contact All members were sent personalised renewal Allie and she will arrange it for you. The price is forms in December and a blank one in April. If £36, with payments to be made by card, or by you do not have either form or have a query cheque made out to British Mycological about your membership or journal delivery, Society. Email: [email protected] please email Allie at [email protected] WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS We have had 29 new members join since the last newsletter and extend a warm welcome to them all: 2009 JOURNAL DESPATCH SCHEDULES Elsevier have provided us with updated journal ASSOCIATE MEMBER POSTGRADUATE Dr M.I. Bidartondo MEMBERS despatch dates. We will keep members informed Mr N.A. Brown of any changes to these dates, but please do Dr O Bouquet bear in mind that they are estimates, so are HONORARY MEMBER Mr C Gostincar Dr A Ramon Mr I Hatam subject to change/delay. (Update provided c/o Professor Claudio Mrs K Heron 28/05/09).