N. S. Afshan

New records of Uredinales from Fairy Meadows, Pakistan

Puccinia pygmaea var. angusta and P. urticata var. urticata were collected in Fairy Meadows and are new records for Pakistan. Similarly the aecidial stages of Uromyces hedysari-obscuri and U. polygoni-avicularis are an addition to the rust flora of this country. Puccinia alpina, P. leveillei, and P. ribis are redescribed and illustrated from Fairy Meadows.

Three new species of rust fungi from Pakistan

During a study of the rust fungi of the northwestern region of Pakistan, three species were collected that are new to science: Puccinia dichanthii on Dichanthium annulatum, P. leersiae on Leersia oryzoides, and P. sporoboli-coromandeliani on Sporobolus coromandelianus. These have been collected from and near the vicinity of Ayubia National Park, Bara Gali, Khanspur and Nathia Gali.

Additions to the rust fungi of Fairy Meadows, the Northern Areas of Pakistan

Puccinia silenigena on Silene sp. is described as a new rust fungus from Fairy Meadows in the Pakistan Northern areas while Leucotelium pruni-persicae is a new record for Pakistan.

The genus Parasola in Pakistan with the description of two new species

Abstract Parasola is a genus of small, veil-less coprinoid mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae (Agaricales). The genus is not well documented in Asia, specifically in Pakistan. In this study we describe two new species Parasola glabra and P. pseudolactea from Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogeny based on three DNA regions: nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 along with the 5.8S rDNA (ITS), nuc 28S rDNA D1-D2 domains (28S) and translation elongation factor 1α gene (TEF1α) show that the new taxa are clustered in a clade formed by the members of section Parasola of genus Parasola. Parasola glabra with grayish pileus, slightly depressed pileal disc, lamellae separated from the stipe by pseudocollarium, basidiospores 14.5–16.5 × 9.5–11.5 × 8.0–10.5 µm, in front view broadly ovoid to oblong, some with rhomboidal outline, in side view ellipsoid, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diameter. Parasola pseudolactea with yellowish brown to dull brown pileus, disc indistinctly umbonate, lamellae free, pseudocollarium absent, basidiospores 13.5–14.5 × 10.5–12.0 × 9.5–10.5 µm, in face view rounded triangular to heart shaped, rarely ovoid to subglobose, in side view ellipsoid to oblong, with eccentric germ-pore of 1.5 µm diam. In addition to these new species, P. auricoma and P. lilatincta were also studied. Morphological descriptions for the new species and comparison with known Parasola species are provided. Our observations highlight the diversity of Parasola in northern Pakistan and further document the need for additional systematic focus on the region’s fungi.

Puccinia species new to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan.

Puccinia persistens subsp. agropyrina on Elymus semicostatus and P. variabilis on Taraxacum officinale are newly recorded for Pakistan while P. punctiformis on Cirsium arvense and P. absinthii on Artemisia brevifolia are additions to the rust flora of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Puccinia anaphalidis-virgatae, a new species, and a new variety of rust fungi from Fairy Meadows, Northern Pakistan.

Puccinia anaphalidis-virgatae on Anaphalis virgata is described as a new species from Pakistan. Previous records of rusts on genus Anaphalis have been species of Miyagia, Phakopsora, and Uromyces; this is the first Puccinia species recorded on this host genus. A new variety P. helictotrichi var. pakistanica is described based on its resemblance to P. helictotrichi; however, it differs in size and number of germ pores of urediniospores and apical thickness of teliospores.

The genus Coprinellus (Basidiomycota; Agaricales) in Pakistan with the description of four new species

Abstract Mushrooms with a thin-fleshed pileus that becomes plicate on opening, deliquescent lamellae and dark brown to blackish basidiospores are commonly called coprinoid mushrooms. The genus Coprinellus is one of the important lineages of coprinoid mushroom in the family Psathyrellaceae. Species-level taxonomy in Coprinellus is based mainly on the presence or absence and the structure of veil and cystidia on the pileus, of cystidia on the lamellae and on basidiospore morphology. In this study, four new species of Coprinellus (Co.campanulatus, Co.disseminatus-similis, Co.pakistanicus and Co.tenuis) are described from Pakistan. Species descriptions are based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuc rDNA ITS region show that the new species Co.campanulatus and Co.disseminatus-similis are clustered in a clade including members of section Micacei; Co.tenuis falls in a clade with members of section Domestici; and Co.pakistanicus recovered in a separate clade adjacent to other recently described clades of genus Coprinellus. Morpho-anatomical descriptions of the new species and comparison with closely allied taxa are provided. With this study, the number of known species of Coprinellus in Pakistan has reached eight.

New records of Puccinia species on Poaceae from Fairy Meadows, Pakistan

During a survey of rust fungi of Fairy Meadows, Puccinia brachypodii var. major on Poa attenuata and P. substriata var. indica on Pennisetum orientale were reported for the first time. These new rust fungi records bring to 70 the number of Puccinia species reported on Poaceae from Pakistan. Puccinia brachypodii var. poae-nemoralis and P. poarum are also reported for the first time from Fairy Meadows.

Species of the genus Uromyces (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales) from Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K), Pakistan

During a survey of rust fungi from Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K), Pakistan, four species of Uromyces were found parasitizing four plant species. These include Uromyces appendiculatus on Vigna mungo , Uromyces capitatus on Desmodium elegans , Uromyces penniset i on Pennisetum lanatum and Uromyces vossiae on Phaselurus speciosus . Among these, U. appendiculatus is a new record for Pakistan, while U . capitatus, U. penniseti and U. vossiae represent new records for Leepa Valley, AJ and K, Pakistan. In addition, U. appendiculatus on Vigna mungo is reported as new host from Pakistan. Keywords : Bean rust, Poaceae, Uromyces