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First records of Henningsia brasiliensis outside Brazil
Volume 8, Part 4, November 1994
FIRST RECORDS OF HENNINGSIA BRASILIENSIS OUTSIDE BRAZIL MARIA NUNEZ Department of Biology, Division of Botany, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1045, N-0316 Oslo 3, Norway Present address: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, P.O. Box 16, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan Henningsia brasiliensis (Speg.) Speg. has only been known from Brazil since it was described in 1889 by Spegazzini, more than one hundred years ago (Ginns 1979, Rajchenberg & de Meijer 1990). This fungus is an example of an endemic neotropical polypore (Ryvarden 1991, 1993). During a course on tropical ecology in May 1993 in the Guanacaste Conservation area in Northwestern Costa Rica, I collected a flabelliform polypore with a white hymenial surface that reddened considerably when touched. Microscopically, the species had coloured, simple-septate generative hyphae, gloeoplerous hyphae, and globose spores up to 4 urn in diameter. As L. Ryvarden suggested that the fungus could be Henningsia brasiliensis, I borrowed the type from Stockholm (S) to assess that possibility. Macroscopically, the type is dark brown to black, and has shrunk considerably, as was also the case with the Costa Rican material. A microscopical examination showed the two specimens to be identical. Ginns (1979) has a complete description of the species, and comments on differences towards similar species. I found a new collection of H. brasiliensis during an excursion organized by the British Mycological Society to Cuyabeno (Ecuador) in July 1993. Again, these basidiocarps reddened when touched (Fig 1), a character mentioned in the original description and that makes the species easy to recognize in the field. An examination of the fresh material showed that the hymenial tubes were white, and not easily separable from the context, contrary to the description given by Ginns (op. cit.), based on herbarium material. Equally, the 'merulioid' areas mentioned by Ginns as a potentially important taxonomic character, were sterile, and subse-
quently became fertile tubes, as is the case with other polypores (Butler, 1988; Rajchenberg & de Meijer, 1990). A collection of H. brasiliensis from Venezuela deposited in Herb. 0 completed the currently known distribution of the species (Fig 2). My collections of H. brasiliensis were made in primary lowland rainforest. Basidiocarps developed on dead branches up to 30-40 em in diameter lying across the forest tracks. I have purposely looked for this species in dense forest areas out of the tracks without any success. Neither have I ever found any trace of insects in the basidiocarps. Keeping in mind that these observations can be entirely fortuitous, I want to suggest a possible explanation, based on the basidiospore dispersal strategy. Air currents in dense rainforests are almost nonexistent (Richards, 1952). Those species developing basidiocarps by the forest tracks would have an advantage for wind dispersal. The small, round basidiospores of H. brasiliensis seem to be adapted to this purpose. Material studied: BRAZIL: P. brasiliensis,
Fig 1 Fresh material of Henningsia Ecuador; upper and lower surfaces.
brasiliensis from
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Volume 8, Part 4, November 1994 COSTA RICA: Pitilla, Guanacaste Conservation area, 7 May 1993, MN (0). ECUADOR: Cuyabeno, Napo, 3 July 1993, MN260 (0). VENEZUELA: Edo. Bolivar, EI Dorado-Sta. Elena Rd., 118 km S EI Dorado, K. Dumont 5 August 1972, VE6930 (0). Acknowledgements: I thank Leif Ryvarden for suggesting corrections to the manuscript and Gordon Rutter for taking the photograph in Fig 1.
Fig 2 Known distribution of Henningsia brasiliensis.
Apiahy, leg. Puiggari, comm. Dr. Spegazzini, 'orig.' Herb. Brasadola (S); leg. A Glaziou, Herb. Sydow (S); leg. A. Puttemans, Herb. Sydow (S); Sao Paulo State, Reg. Santos, Cananeia, Ihla do Cardoso, 2-5 Feb. 1987, LR24659, LR24681 (0).
References Butler, G.M. (1988) Pattern of pore morphogenesis in the resupinate basidiome of Phellinus contiguus. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 91: 677-686. Ginns, J. (1979) Henningsia (Polyporaceae) and a description of the type species. Mycologia 71: 305-309. Rajchenberg, M. & de Meijer, A.A.R. (1990) New and noteworthy polypores from Parana and Sao Paulo states, Brazil. Mycotaxon 38: 173-185. Richards, P.W. (1952) The Tropical Rainforest. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. 450 pp. Ryvarden, L. (1991) Genera of polypores. Nomenclature and taxonomy. Synopsis fungorum 5. Fungiflora: Oslo. 363 pp. Ryvarden, L. (1993) Tropical polypores. In: Aspects of tropical mycology. (Eds. S. Isaac, J. Frankland, R. Watling & A.J.S. Whalley), pp. 149-170. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
BOOK REVIEW Crop Protection and Sustainable Agriculture: Ciba Foundation Symposium 177 edited by D.J. Chadwick & J. Marsh (1993 Wiley-Liss, New York). Pp. 285, hard back, ISBN 0-471-93944-7 Price £45.00. This Symposial volume is a notable attempt to consider the complex task of how crop protection can contribute to sustainable agriculture. The initial chapters present some reasons why crop yields in Western countries have risen while the numbers of those engaged in agriculture have fallen. The explanation of the concept of sustainable agriculture and its preoccupation with protecting the potential for future production is stressed. Among the many specific and regionally based topics, Zadoks deals with the why and how of crop protection. He states that although many traditional systems had man-made ecological sustainability they lack economic sustainability
today. The answer he suggests is to combat outbreaks with a combination of old and new ecological tricks, with the application of pesticides in emergency cases only. This move from chemistry to ecology will require an investment from farmers' current family income. Thus crop protection faces new technical and ecological dilemmas as the green revolution doctrine fades, and too many of the high energy inputs disguised as fuel, fertilizers, pesticides or equipment are revealed. Integrated crop management incorporating pest, water and nutrient management is concerned with managing a production system to optimize the use of natural resources, reduce environmental risk and maximise output. This volume is a modest start to a great and important debate on which much depends. Roland Fox
FIRST RECORDS OF HENNINGSIA BRASILIENSIS OUTSIDE BRAZIL MARIA NUNEZ Department of Biology, Division of Botany, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1045, N-0316 Oslo 3, Norway Present address: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, P.O. Box 16, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan Henningsia brasiliensis (Speg.) Speg. has only been known from Brazil since it was described in 1889 by Spegazzini, more than one hundred years ago (Ginns 1979, Rajchenberg & de Meijer 1990). This fungus is an example of an endemic neotropical polypore (Ryvarden 1991, 1993). During a course on tropical ecology in May 1993 in the Guanacaste Conservation area in Northwestern Costa Rica, I collected a flabelliform polypore with a white hymenial surface that reddened considerably when touched. Microscopically, the species had coloured, simple-septate generative hyphae, gloeoplerous hyphae, and globose spores up to 4 urn in diameter. As L. Ryvarden suggested that the fungus could be Henningsia brasiliensis, I borrowed the type from Stockholm (S) to assess that possibility. Macroscopically, the type is dark brown to black, and has shrunk considerably, as was also the case with the Costa Rican material. A microscopical examination showed the two specimens to be identical. Ginns (1979) has a complete description of the species, and comments on differences towards similar species. I found a new collection of H. brasiliensis during an excursion organized by the British Mycological Society to Cuyabeno (Ecuador) in July 1993. Again, these basidiocarps reddened when touched (Fig 1), a character mentioned in the original description and that makes the species easy to recognize in the field. An examination of the fresh material showed that the hymenial tubes were white, and not easily separable from the context, contrary to the description given by Ginns (op. cit.), based on herbarium material. Equally, the 'merulioid' areas mentioned by Ginns as a potentially important taxonomic character, were sterile, and subse-
quently became fertile tubes, as is the case with other polypores (Butler, 1988; Rajchenberg & de Meijer, 1990). A collection of H. brasiliensis from Venezuela deposited in Herb. 0 completed the currently known distribution of the species (Fig 2). My collections of H. brasiliensis were made in primary lowland rainforest. Basidiocarps developed on dead branches up to 30-40 em in diameter lying across the forest tracks. I have purposely looked for this species in dense forest areas out of the tracks without any success. Neither have I ever found any trace of insects in the basidiocarps. Keeping in mind that these observations can be entirely fortuitous, I want to suggest a possible explanation, based on the basidiospore dispersal strategy. Air currents in dense rainforests are almost nonexistent (Richards, 1952). Those species developing basidiocarps by the forest tracks would have an advantage for wind dispersal. The small, round basidiospores of H. brasiliensis seem to be adapted to this purpose. Material studied: BRAZIL: P. brasiliensis,
Fig 1 Fresh material of Henningsia Ecuador; upper and lower surfaces.
brasiliensis from
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•
Volume 8, Part 4, November 1994 COSTA RICA: Pitilla, Guanacaste Conservation area, 7 May 1993, MN (0). ECUADOR: Cuyabeno, Napo, 3 July 1993, MN260 (0). VENEZUELA: Edo. Bolivar, EI Dorado-Sta. Elena Rd., 118 km S EI Dorado, K. Dumont 5 August 1972, VE6930 (0). Acknowledgements: I thank Leif Ryvarden for suggesting corrections to the manuscript and Gordon Rutter for taking the photograph in Fig 1.
Fig 2 Known distribution of Henningsia brasiliensis.
Apiahy, leg. Puiggari, comm. Dr. Spegazzini, 'orig.' Herb. Brasadola (S); leg. A Glaziou, Herb. Sydow (S); leg. A. Puttemans, Herb. Sydow (S); Sao Paulo State, Reg. Santos, Cananeia, Ihla do Cardoso, 2-5 Feb. 1987, LR24659, LR24681 (0).
References Butler, G.M. (1988) Pattern of pore morphogenesis in the resupinate basidiome of Phellinus contiguus. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 91: 677-686. Ginns, J. (1979) Henningsia (Polyporaceae) and a description of the type species. Mycologia 71: 305-309. Rajchenberg, M. & de Meijer, A.A.R. (1990) New and noteworthy polypores from Parana and Sao Paulo states, Brazil. Mycotaxon 38: 173-185. Richards, P.W. (1952) The Tropical Rainforest. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. 450 pp. Ryvarden, L. (1991) Genera of polypores. Nomenclature and taxonomy. Synopsis fungorum 5. Fungiflora: Oslo. 363 pp. Ryvarden, L. (1993) Tropical polypores. In: Aspects of tropical mycology. (Eds. S. Isaac, J. Frankland, R. Watling & A.J.S. Whalley), pp. 149-170. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
BOOK REVIEW Crop Protection and Sustainable Agriculture: Ciba Foundation Symposium 177 edited by D.J. Chadwick & J. Marsh (1993 Wiley-Liss, New York). Pp. 285, hard back, ISBN 0-471-93944-7 Price £45.00. This Symposial volume is a notable attempt to consider the complex task of how crop protection can contribute to sustainable agriculture. The initial chapters present some reasons why crop yields in Western countries have risen while the numbers of those engaged in agriculture have fallen. The explanation of the concept of sustainable agriculture and its preoccupation with protecting the potential for future production is stressed. Among the many specific and regionally based topics, Zadoks deals with the why and how of crop protection. He states that although many traditional systems had man-made ecological sustainability they lack economic sustainability
today. The answer he suggests is to combat outbreaks with a combination of old and new ecological tricks, with the application of pesticides in emergency cases only. This move from chemistry to ecology will require an investment from farmers' current family income. Thus crop protection faces new technical and ecological dilemmas as the green revolution doctrine fades, and too many of the high energy inputs disguised as fuel, fertilizers, pesticides or equipment are revealed. Integrated crop management incorporating pest, water and nutrient management is concerned with managing a production system to optimize the use of natural resources, reduce environmental risk and maximise output. This volume is a modest start to a great and important debate on which much depends. Roland Fox