Original paper
A list of novel fungi described from the Middle East, mostly from non-soil substrata
Mouchacca, Jean
Nova Hedwigia Band 68 Heft 1-2 (1999), p. 149 - 174
66 references
published: Mar 15, 1999
DOI: 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/68/1999/149
ArtNo. ESP050006801006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Succeeding a compilation of novel soil-borne fungi, 143 new taxa described since World War II from habitats other than soil from the Middle East area are critically evaluated. The area covered includes Libya and The Sudan. Half of these taxa have collecting sites in former Palestine territory including present Israel; Egypt and Irak together share equally one third of the total binomials; eight come from the Arab Peninsula. Taxa introduced belong to 95 genera, comprising 35 Ascomycetes, 34 deuteromycetes and only 15 Basidiomycetes, half of the latter being plant-pathogens; lowest figures concern Zygomycetes, Oomycetes and Chytrids. More soil-borne than plant-related forms were described in the Ascomycetes and deuteromycetes. Basidiomycetes are less explored on the regional scale, in spite of considerable numbers of plant-pathogenic forms being of economic importance. Five of the six new genera proposed are still unispecific. The inclusion of the invalidly published Adlerocystis parkeri and A. ornithodori in the Zygomycetes is questioned. The ascomycete yeast genus Clavispora is recognized as valid; Neobroomella was re-examined and is retained, while Thryptospora awaits reassessement. Two recently described dematiaceous form-genera, Mucobasispora and Setosporella, were found in Egyptian cultivated soils. Several taxa proved to be invalidly published either for absence of Latin diagnosis (Art. 36 ICBN), or lacking specification of type material (Art. 37) (or both). Following recently published information, justification of many infraspecific taxa is considered insufficient. Few fungal taxonomic studies have been published in relation to the vast arid zone that is presumed to harbour a specific mycobiota. Most attention to such studies was given in Egypt, Irak and Israel. T. Rayss made notable contributions to the mycobiota of Israel. Taxonomic developments in both other states started later. A reactivation of mycological activities is advocated. A lack of collaboration is observed among local taxonomists. They maintain, however, sporadic links with mycologists of European centres and less so with those in North America or elsewhere. Inter-state contacts will be necessary to share present expertise and favour information exchange. The establishment of a regional centre devoted to fungal taxonomy should be a positive measure for enhancing our knowledge of this major group of micro-organisms in the Middle East region.
Keywords
novel fungi • documentation • biodiversity • taxonomy • phytopathogens • oomycetes • chytridiomycetes • zygomycetes • ascomycetes • basidiomycetes • deuteromycetes • Middle East • Egypt • Irak • Israel