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The aim of this paper was to investigate the occurrence of AMF associated with plants colonizing sandy soils of the Bledowska Desert. A total of 134 mixtures of soils and roots were sampled during the study in 1995-97. The mixtures represented 26 plant species in 14 families and one unrecognized plant. Spores of AMF were found in 188 soil-root mixtures. The AMF spore populations comprised 20 described species of the genera Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Glomus and Scutellospora, as well as two underscribed morpho-species of the Glomus. The overall spore in 100 g dry soil. The highest abundance of spores occurred among roots of the families Cupressaceae, followed by the Rosaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae

In the years 1994-1995, the occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) in eight successional stages of vegetation of a deflation hollow no. 12 of the Łeba Bar, Poland, was investigated. Early successional stages were colonized by members of the families Gramineae and Juncaceae, being gradually replaced by ericaceous plants in the middle and later stages and by trees in the most advanced stage corresponding to the Empetro nigri-Pinetum plant association. From the 96 soil samples collected, 21 species in three genera of AMF were recovered. The fungi most frequently found were members of the genus Acaulospora. The overall spore abundance, the species_ richness of AMF and the level of AM colonisation increased from stage 1 to reach a maximum in the middle stages and then gradually declined, being lowest in the forested stage 8. The values of the overall spore abundance and those of the abundances of the most frequently occurring AMF species strongly evidenced functioning in nature of the process of host-dependent differentiation of AMF communities. Of the five most numerously represented AMF species, the early colonizer and quickly diminishing in later successional stages was Glomus 107. The mid-late successor was A. koskei, and the latest - Glomus aggregatum. All measures of AMF presence negatively correlated with the content of organic C in the soil and most of them were negatively correlated with soil N-NO3 and P concentrations. In contrast, the occurrence of AMY and AM generally was positively correlated with soil pH and the K content of the soil.

Nomenclatural rule changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants, adopted at the 18th International Botanical Congress in Melbourne, Australia, in 2011, provide for a single name to be used for each fungal species. The anamorphs of Epichloë species have been classified in genus Neotyphodium, the form genus that also includes most asexual Epichloë descendants. A nomenclatural realignment of this monophyletic group into one genus would enhance a broader understanding of the relationships and common features of these grass endophytes. Based on the principle of priority of publication we propose to classify all members of this clade in the genus Epichloë. We have reexamined classification of several described Epichloë and Neotyphodium species and varieties and propose new combinations and states. In this treatment we have accepted 43 unique taxa in Epichloë, including distinct species, subspecies, and varieties. We exclude from Epichloë the two taxa Neotyphodium starrii, as nomen dubium, and Neotyphodium chilense, as an unrelated taxon.

The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with 19 plant species from 12 families growing in the Brda river valley in the Tuchola Forests is presented. The most frequently investigated plans were those from the families Cupressaceae and Plantaginaceae. Examination of trap cultures established from rhizosphere soil-root mixtures of the plans sampled revealed 20 described species of AMF, two undescribed Glomus spp., and three species of the genus Glomus that were difficult to recognize. The dominating AMF were members of the genus Glomus. Among the AMF found, G. claroideum was present, a species recorded for the first time in Poland. The distribution in Poland and in the world of the AMF encountered is shown.

In a pot experiment conducted in a greenhouse, the response of 6 plant species dominating in the succession of vegetation of a deflation hollow of the Łeba Bar to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was investigated. The inoculum was a mixture of soil, roots and spores of 5 species of AMF with the dominant species Glomus aggregatum. Except for Corynephorus canescens and Festuca rubra subsp. arenaria, both the growth and the dry matter of above-ground parts of plants of Agrostis stolonifera, Ammophila arenaria, Corynephorus canescens, Juncus articulatus and J. balticus inoculated with AMF were higher than those growing in soils lacking infection propagules of these fungi. Inoculation with AMF decreased the dry matter of root: shoot ratios in 5 plant species. This property was not determined in Festuca rubra subsp. arenaria due to the death of all control plants. The level of mycorrhizal infection was low and did not correlate with the growth responses found. The high growth reaction of Juncus spp. to AMF found in this study suggests that the opinion of non-mycotrophy or low dependence of plants of Juncaceae on AMF was based on results of investigations of plants growing in wet sites known to inhibit the formation of mycorrhizae.

Ustilago trichophora, a smut fungus found for the first time in Poland, is characterized and illustrated. Ustilago trichophora affected Echinochloa crus-galli growing in the Lower Silesia voivodeship. In laboratory investigations, the germinability of teliospores, the morphological properties of promycelium, sporidia and colonies produced on potato dextrose agar, Sabouraud-glucose agar, and in water were determined. Attempts to infect seeds and seedling of E. crus-galli in a greenhouse pot experiment failed.

Glomus rubiforme is described and illustrated. as well as its occurrence in Poland and in the world is presented. Glomus rubiforme forms pale yellow to light brown spores arranged in blackberry-like sporocarps. The spores develop from a centrally positioned, inflated, thick-walled cell. The spore wall consists of two layers: a sloughing, hyaline outer layer adherent to a coloured, laminated layer. Glomus rubiforme is a new arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus to the mycota of Poland.

Results of 3-year investigations of the occurrence of fungi of the order Erysiphales and their hyperparasite, Ampelomyces quisqualis in the Drawsko Landscape Park (N-Poland) are presented. Among the fungi found, 26 species belonging to 7 genera were identified. Many of the causal agents of the powdery mildews revealed were previously rarely found in Poland. Microsphaera vanbruntiana var. sambuci-racemosae parasitizing Sombucus nigra is a fungus new to the Mycota of Poland. Ampelomyces quisqualis was found associated with Mirosphaera symphoricarpi colonizing Symphoricarpos albus and with Sphaerotheca mors-uvae parasitizing Ribes nigrum; these powdery mildew fungi are fungal hosts of A. qulsqualis not recorded in the literature to date.

Spores of Acaulospora mellea and A. trappei are described and illustrated. Acaulospora mellea occurs relatively infrequently in Poland. It was found in 30 of the more than 1300 soil samples examined representing different uncultivated and cultivated sites. Spores of A. trappei were only found in six field-collected soils. However, the occurrence of this fungus in many pot cultures with soils from various uncultivated and agricultural sites indicated that the species was common among arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Poland.

Epichloë species with their asexual states are specialized fungi associated with cool-season grasses. They grow endophytically in tissues of aerial parts of host plants to form systemic and mostly asymptomatic associations. Their life cycles may involve vertical transmission through host seeds and/or horizontal transmission from one plant to other plants of the same species through fungal propagules. Vertical transmission has been well studied, but comparatively little research has been done on horizontal dissemination. The goal of this review is to provide new insights on modes of dissemination of systemic grass endophytes. The review addresses recent progress in research on (i) the process of growth of Epichloë endophytes in the host plant tissues, (ii) the types and development of reproductive structures of the endophyte, (iii) the role of the reproductive structures in endophyte dissemination and host plant infection processes and (iv) some ecological and evolutionary implications of their modes of dissemination. Research in the Epichloë grass endophytes has accelerated in the past 25 y and has demonstrated the enormous complexity in endophyte-grass symbioses. There still remain large gaps in our understanding of the role and functions of these fungi in agricultural systems and understanding the functions, ecology and evolution of these endophytes in natural grass populations.