MYCOLOGIST NEWS The newsletter of the British Mycological Society 2011 (2) Edited by Dr. Pieter van West, and Dr. Anpu Varghese 2011 BMS Council BMS Council and Committee Members 2011 President Prof. Naresh Magan Vice-President Dr. Stuart Skeates President Elect Dr. Geoff Robson Treasurer Prof. Geoff M Gadd Secretary Position vacant Publications Officer Dr. Pieter van West International Initiatives Adviser Prof. AJ Whalley Fungal Biology Research Committee representatives: Dr. Simon Avery; Prof Nick Read Fungal Education and Outreach Committee: Dr. Paul S. Dyer; Ms. Carol Hobart Field Mycology and Conservation: Dr. David Minter; Prof. Bruce Ing Fungal Biology Research Committee Dr. Simon Avery (Chair) retiring 31.12. 2012 Dr. Elaine Bignell retiring 31.12. 2013 Dr. Mark Ramsdale retiring 31.12. 2013 Prof. Nick Read retiring 31.12. 2013 Dr. Pieter van West retiring 31.12. 2013 Dr. Peter Crittenden retiring 31.12. 2011 Dr. Fordyce Davidson retiring 31.12. 2011 Dr. David Minter (FMC link) retiring 31.12. 2011 Fungal Education and Outreach Committee Dr. Paul S. Dyer (Chair and FBR link) retiring 31.12. 2013 Dr. Matt Fisher retiring 31.12. 2011 Dr. Ali Ashby retiring 31.12. 2013 Ms. Carol Hobart (FMC link) retiring 31.12. 2012 Dr. Sue Assinder retiring 31.12. 2013 Dr. Kay Yeoman retiring 31.12. 2013 KS4 representative still needed Field Mycology and Conservation Committee Dr. Stuart Skeates (Chair and website) retiring 31.12. 2011 Prof. Bruce Ing (Conservation) retiring 31.12. 2012 Dr. Paul Kirk (Database) retiring 31.12. 2012 Ms. Carol Hobart (Events and FEO link) retiring 31.12. 2012 Dr. Dave Minter (FBR Link) retiring 31.12. 2011 Dr. Derek Schafer (membership database and accounts) retiring 31.12. 2011 Mrs. Sheila Spence (Recorders network co-ordinator) retiring 31.12. 2013 Contacts BMS Administrator President: [email protected] British Mycological Society Treasurer: [email protected] City View House Mycologist News: [email protected] Union Street BMS Administrator: [email protected] Manchester M12 4JD BMS Membership: [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 161 277 7638 / 7639 Fax: +44(0) 161 277 7634 2 From the Office Hello and welcome to the 2nd issue of the BMS Newsletter for Contents 2011. BMS President - Prof Naresh Magan 4 The reports of a potential drought seem at odds From Another Kingdom moves to Wales 5 with the sporadic monsoons which seem to BMS 2010 Overseas Foray Report 6 occur with increasing regularity. Hopefully the BMS Small Grant Report—West Weald coming fungus season will be more fruitful than 9 last year and the planned BMS forays will have Fungus Group lots to report. As we go to press the Spring BMS Bursary Report 10 Meeting has taken place at Northern College, Stainsborough, South Yorkshire on May 16th- BMS Autumn Open Meeting 11 21st, following on from the Ascomycetes Workshop held from the 13th of May to the BMS 2010 Autumn Foray Report 12 15th. Hopefully we should have a clutch of Obituary - Dr Jack Marriott 13 articles reporting on this for inclusion in the next issue. Field Meetings 2011 14 BMS 2011 Annual Scientific meeting 18 In this issue on page 13 you will find an obituary for Jack Marriott who sadly passed away on the Jack Marriott Memorial Foray details 20 19th of December 2010. A memorial foray to mark his passing has been organized to take place on Saturday September 24th in the Forest of Dean. Further details can be found at the end of this newsletter. Potential attendees should let the organizers know of their intention to attend as soon as possible, to give an idea of numbers. The Main BMS Scientific Meeting will take place in Exeter in September from Tuesday 12th to Norman Porrett Friday 16th. Anyone wishing to attend should Sophie Embleton Administrator BMS Office look at the BMS website for further information, Field Mycology Assistant or contact the office for a programme of events etc. The BMS AGM will take place on the evening of Thursday September 15th at 18:30 Newsletter Articles in Newman A. (Peter Chalk Building) Stocker Road, University of Exeter during this event. Do you have any items you would like to see published in the Newsletter which would be of As ever, please let us know if you have any interest to members? items you would like to see featured in the newsletter, or anything you would like to see We would love to receive short reports of any more about. activities, upcoming events, items of interest, etc. Enjoy the summer (whenever it arrives!) Please send items to the office or email to: [email protected] The BMS Office Team Deadline for article submission into next issue: 1st September 2011 3 Prof. Naresh Magan BMS President 2011-2013 permanent home at the Welsh Botanical Gardens. We have our annual conference in a different University every year. This year we look forward to the Conference in Exeter University where the focus will be on “Fungal Biology and Pathogenesis” in September. I am particularly looking forward to this meeting as I completed both my 1st degree and MSc in Plant Pathology at Exeter and am keen to see the changes made since I studied there in the 1970s!. In 2012 we have a Symposium in Alicante, Spain which again demonstrates the commitment we have to broadening the involvement of mycologists in the BMS internationally. We encourage student members to attend our annual meetings and fungal forays and offer subsidies to facilitate their involvement. Prof. Naresh Magan So whether you have an interest in educating school BMS President 2011-2013 children, to making mycology interesting at undergraduate level, carry out research at a post- During the past two years Prof. Lynne Boddy graduate or post-doctoral research level, enjoy fungal (immediate past-President) initiated some significant forays or have an interest in conservation issues, or changes which were followed through in 2010. This generally increase your knowledge of mycology, momentum to move the BMS forward by continuing there is a home for you in the BMS. its involvement in all spheres of mycology by the creation and focus of its work in three areas: Field I became interested in mycology as an Mycology and Conservation, Fungal Biology and undergraduate at Exeter University under the Fungal Education and Outreach, will help to both guidance of Prof. John Webster and then during my broaden our involvement in mycological education MSc where I was fortunate to also be taught by Prof. and dissemination as well as focussing on key areas Alan Rayner. I joined the BMS when I started my which we hope will be attractive to all members and PhD in 1979-1980, first as a student member and encourage new members to get involved. The subsequently as a full member. I personally found outstanding success of the International Mycological the contacts and interaction both as a student and Congress in Edinburgh (IMC9) under the excellent subsequently during my career working on local co-ordination of Prof. Nick Read and colleagues ecophysiology and molecular biology of spoilage and also demonstrated the impact that the BMS can mycotoxigenic and biocontrol fungi very useful and make internationally. beneficial over the last 25 years. We are actively involved in publications at all levels Despite the present economic restraints which are and this includes the Journals Fungal Biology, being imposed on us in all spheres of activity, I Fungal Ecology, Fungal Biology Reviews and Field believe that the impact that mycology will have in the Mycology which cater for the whole spectrum of coming 5-10 years will be significant. The increasing mycologists. BMS members were also directly importance being placed on global food security involved in the writing of Chapters in “From Another issues, sustainability and climate change means that Kingdom - the amazing world of fungi” which was mycological expertise will be essential and play an jointly edited by Prof. Lynne Boddy and was increasingly important role in solving these issues. If launched at IMC9 in conjunction with an exhibition at you have an interest in any aspect of mycology then the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Gardens. This was please join us! extremely successful and attracted school children, Prof. Naresh Magan families, field mycologists and scientists alike. This Roadshow is now destined to have a more 4 From Another Kingdom moves to Wales The grand opening on 18th March was attended by mycologists from the surrounding area who were welcomed by Dr Rosetta Plumber, Director of the National Botanic Garden of Wales to this outstanding venue. Professor Lynne Boddy of Cardiff University then gave a brief introduction to the exhibition itself, explaining its background, evolution and diversity before ‘cutting the ribbon’ and announcing the exhibition to be officially open. The exhibition was very well received by all for both its educational and its wow factor, appealing to all age groups and knowledge levels. Dr Rosetta Plumber welcoming the attendees prior to the opening of the exhibition. Photograph © Sheila Spence. From the huge model toadstools as you walk through the From Another Kingdom, the first major entrance, past the exhibition in the UK to focus on the fascinating bowl of ‘rotting’ food, world of fungi has taken up residence in Wales through the labyrinth following its initial launch at Royal Botanic of wonderful Gardens Edinburgh in Autumn 2010. Now on photographs and show at the National Botanic Garden of Wales models including this imaginative and fascinating exhibition will mycorrhizal fungi be hosted here until 28th February 2013. seen from the underground The interactive exhibition reveals the intimate details perspective and of fungi in a way they have never been shown indeed the lifelike before, challenging misconceptions and showing forest of model fungi, how they are vital to the survival of life on earth.