Mycology
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS (2001-2005)
- Checklist of the British & Irish Basidiomycota. The first comprehensive checklist of this phylum in the British Isles. Book version (517 pages, A4 sized) published July 2005.
- About 150 research papers published on British and overseas fungi
- c. 25,000 additions made to the British & overseas mycology collections at Kew
- c. 28,200 additional mycology collections databased, bringing the total for the Kew Mycology Database (Herbtrack) to over 115,000
- English Nature funded project Population Diversity and Speciation in Hydnellum and Phellodon Species completed and published
- A Royal Society grant for DNA barcoding of British fungi was obtained, with some initial successful results from over 280 fungi
- 762 strains of British fungi screened for biologically active secondary metabolites
- Initiated in 2004 chemosystematic work on British lichen-forming fungi, building up a library of chemical markers (35 at the end of 2005) for use as reference standards.
- Appointed a specialist in mycorrhiza ecology, as part of a joint research position with Imperial College to strengthen the research expertise in mycorrhiza-plant interactions. Secured two grants (NERC, Royal Society) in 2005.
- PhD thesis Molecular systematics of Cryptococcus and Filobasidiella was successfully defended by S. Sivakumaran (2004; Birkbeck College), supervised and mainly undertaken at Kew.
KEY ELEMENTS OF FUTURE PLANS (2006 onwards)
- Produce a fully-searchable, freely accessible database version of Checklist of the British & Irish Basidiomycota, with continuous updates
- Publish the first illustrated reference guide to British clavarioid and ramarioid fungi
- Continue with DNA barcoding of British fungi (subject to funding), thereby demonstrating the value of herbarium collections for molecular systematics, developing a high specimen throughput facility for DNA barcoding, investigating options for enhancement of Kew's fungal identification services and investigating intraspecific genetic diversity and species delimitation.
- DNA barcoding British lichenised fungi project (collaborative). The project aims to provide molecular identification aids for lichenised fungi used in conservation work and form the basis for a DNA barcoding approach for all British lichenised fungi.
- Research and publish on poroid fungi from Korup National Park, Cameroon in collaboration with Oslo University
- Ectomycorrhizal tree invasion of British lowland heathlands project (funded by NERC) to investigate whether there are keystone fungi that mediate conversion of threatened lowland heathlands to woodland
- Research and publish descriptive keys to British Ascomycetes. We aim to collate and extend the unpublished work undertaken for the Ascomycete Flora of the British Isles, funded by English Nature. Due to be published at Kew as a single-volume book (from 2008, publication 2011).
- Isolate and identify the active metabolites in the fungi screened for activity at Kew.
- Research fungal-insect interactions by dentifying more of the compounds in the timber-rotting fungus, Donkioporia expansa, that could modulate the host selection behaviour of the Deathwatch Beetle
- Compare the metabolites in fast- and slow-growing softwood timbers (Pinus spp) that could influence susceptibility to attack by the Dry Rot fungus, Serpula lacrymans.
- Continue chemosystematic study of British lichen-forming fungi and extend the library of chemical markers